Apple : Best Apple Watch charging stands: how to dock and charge your smartwatch

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• Best Apple Watch charging stands: how to dock and charge your smartwatch
• The Steam Winter Sale is on – time to break out those wallets
• Last-minute Christmas gifts from Walmart: here are the 10 best deals
• IBM is using seawater to make its new batteries
• Stream music in higher fidelity with TIDAL's holiday sale - only $1/month!
• The 2019 MacBook Air is still on sale, and it's still the best Mac deal around
• Mac Mini 2019: what we want to see
• Mac Pro 2019: release date, price and specs
• macOS Catalina is here: everything you need to know about macOS 10.15
• The best gaming monitor 2019: the 10 best gaming screens of the year
• The best gaming PC 2019: 10 of the top gaming desktops you can buy
• Best computer 2019: the best PCs we've tested
• Best monitor 2019: the top 10 monitors and displays we’ve reviewed
• The Sony Xperia 6 might be Sony's first 5G smartphone
• Best Nvidia GeForce GTX 1660 Ti: which version is best for your PC?
• Best wireless routers 2019: the best routers for your home network
• LG’s 38-inch monitor looks like it could be a dream screen for ultrawide fans
• AMD Ryzen 3000 release date, news and rumors
• Best Asus router 2019: the top Asus routers for any budget
• Apple, Google, and Amazon team up to build open-source smart home standard

Best Apple Watch charging stands: how to dock and charge your smartwatch Posted: 19 Dec 2019 01:13 PM PST After launching the Apple Watch way back in April 2015, Apple took eight months to release a charging stand for it. Accessory manufacturers stepped in with their own dock, stand and cradle chargers in the meantime, and the rest is history. That's not to say Apple's Magnetic Charging Dock isn't a stylish and worthwhile option - it's made our list, after all - but it won’t suit everyone. So here are all the best Apple Watch chargers we've found. We've collected together some of the best Apple Watch, Apple Watch 2, Apple Watch 3, Apple Watch 4 and now Apple Watch 5 docks below, ranging from handcrafted wooden designs to docks machined from aircraft-grade aluminum. So check out the list below to find the finest stands available for your bedside table. Just remember to bring your charging cable along with you. These are products that we haven't had in our test labs, but based on our experts' opinion and knowledge of the most reputable brands around, we think these are worth looking at. Our selections, with the newest entries at the top, takes into account online reviews, brand reputation, product capability or unique features, to help you pick through the maze of choices available to you. Apple Watch 5 vs Apple Watch 4: which Apple smartwatch is for you? The Control Option, the standard upon which all the other chargers in this lineup are based, is Apple's signature Apple Watch Magnetic Charging Cable that comes in the box. It's little more than that - a pad the watch snaps to and a meter-length of cable ending in a USB-A port. The cable is functional and inexpensive, but it doesn't prop the watch up to double as a nighttime visible clock - plus, it tends to separate from Apple Watches at slight jostling. But in a pinch or if you don't have much room, this could be the right pick - at least until you see what else we have in store.  Note that the cable also comes in a USB-C option, as well as lengths of 0.3m, 1m, and 2m options. If you have an Apple Watch then you almost certainly also have an iPhone and there’s a good chance you have AirPods as well, and if you have all of them, then you should definitely consider the OLEBR 3 in 1 Charging Stand, as it can charge all three of those devices at once. It holds your Apple Watch at an angle that allows you to see the screen, so you can use it in Nightstand mode, and it supports all Apple Watch sizes, so whether you’ve got a 38mm, 40mm, 42mm or 44mm one, you’re covered. The OLEBR 3 in 1 Charging Stand also has a reasonably stylish design, in a choice of black, rose gold, space grey or silver colors, so you should be able to get one that matches your iDevices. We’re always big fans of wood here at TechRadar, and charging stands are an ideal place to use it, as shown here by the AICase Bamboo Wood Charging Holder. This dock houses both your Apple Watch and iPhone, and it looks great doing so. That’s thanks mostly to the aforementioned wood – bamboo in this case. As well as providing a great look, the use of wood also makes this charger sturdy, so it’s not going to go skidding across your desk with the slightest nudge. It’s quite compact too, at least for a dock that charges multiple devices. The horizontal angle it positions your watch screen at perhaps isn’t ideal, but since you can dock your iPhone at an easily viewable angle it’s not a big deal. The Mercase Apple Watch Stand is a cheap option, but you get quite a lot for your money. For one thing it’s partially clad in aluminum, giving it a more premium finish than even some pricier docks. It also has a compact design, so it won’t take up your whole bedside table, and it can charge both your iPhone and your Apple Watch at the same time. There are some reports of it toppling over when charging a watch with a heavy band, so that’s something to be aware of, though if you charge your iPhone at the same time it should help weigh the stand down. And if you have a light watch strap there’s nothing to worry about. Most docks are rigid, inflexible things, but not the unique Bobine Watch from Fuse Chicken. The cable-like device can be twisted into all manner of shapes, meaning you can get the perfect angle for your desk or bedside table every time (to activate Nightstand mode, for example). We managed to wrap this thing around pretty much anything - coiling it around a lamp, an iPhone stand, and even a bed post for some in-your-face screen interaction. Of course, flexibility is key to its adaptability, but crucially the stand holds position on its own and doesn't droop under the weight of even the heaviest metal wrist straps. The only drawback is the lack of cable routing beyond a small plastic clip tucked behind the charging disc holder – ideally you'd be able to channel it through the inside of the stand – but to be fair you can wrap the cable around the neck pretty easily instead. The Bobine also comes with stabilisation clips for mounting in your car. TwelveSouth has taken the same brushed aluminum of its mainstay HiRise for iPhone device and machined it into a wide-base stand that gives great stability if you like to interact with your watch when it's not on your wrist. The charging disk fits snugly into a silicone recess in the reclining stand and the cable runs down a rear channel and underneath the base's band-friendly leather-lined platform, which raises for easy routing and storage. Silicone padding on the cut-outs protects from any mishaps when placing and removing your watch, making for a solid, yet surprisingly lightweight, stand all round. Your Apple Watch is a gorgeous thing to behold, so it's no surprise Griffin has designed this totemic stand to help you show it off when it's not on your wrist. At the top of the plastic stand lies an angled cradle for your Watch's charging connector and a hole for the cable to wind around the detachable rubber inner core and slip out the rear of the base. The Watch sits securely on top with the band either buckled round the back or open and hanging down the front (hint: not the best look). The weighted, non-slip base provides confident footing to the display and has a thoughtful lip at the front to rest your iPhone against lengthways; there's no power outlet for it, mind, but that's where Griffin's WatchStand Powered Charging Station (£41/US$60/AU$84) comes in - it takes care of your iPhone's power needs too. If you're not so taken by the idea of twinning your all-metal Watch with a plastic stand, take a look at this artful option from Just Mobile. Machined from a single block of aluminum, the cylindrical bar feels nice and weighty in the hand but stays kind to bedside cabinet surfaces thanks to its protective rubber-lined base. The Apple Watch charger slots in to an angled recess in the top, which has a channel running out from the side and down to the base to route the cable neatly. And that sculpted cylindrical hole isn't just for looks - your Watch's buckled wristband tucks in here when you mount it on the stand (in portrait orientation at least). The price seems about right, too. This aluminum stand keeps things simple from the moment you open the box. The included quick start guide explains how to place your Watch's inductive charger into the circular cut-out and feed the cable down a rubber channel inside the vertical arm, through the base and out the back. Faux leather padding on the angled cradle provides a safe buffer between the metal and the back of your watch, while a rubber pad on the base provides protection for your desk/table. At four ounces, it's fairly light, but provides a stable mid-size mount for both sizes of watch. Some might find the price a bit steep though. Native Union's minimalist dock comes in two parts: a heavy block base made of rubbery-soft matte graphite silicone, and a plastic/aluminum cylinder. The Apple Watch charging disk snaps into a moulded cradle on the cylinder, which has an elliptical groove inside where the cable feeds through and runs out of the bottom from a discreet well. With the charger in place, the cylinder slots magnetically into the reversible base, where it can be rotated freely. Your Watch snaps onto it securely, buckled or not, while the base can be reversed and placed horizontally or vertically, depending on how you want to view and interact with the watch display. Nightstand mode works fine as well. Apple's Midnight Blue wristband color really looks the part with this design. The dock works with both watch sizes, too. The price is a bit steep for something so simple-looking, but at 450g, the sheer heft of the dock feels like money well spent – unless you're packing it for travel, of course... The second TwelveSouth stand to feature in our roundup, the Forté goes one better in the style department and genuinely looks great from any angle, on any surface. The chrome and leather combination helps, but it's actually the open design of the curved stand that puts your watch's band front and centre. The clasp goes over or through the curve, which is where your charging cable routes through (it has a rubber-lined open back). The chrome mount has a metal ring that pops off, revealing the rubber enclosure for your charging disc. The 45-degree angle of the mount activates Nightstand mode in sideways orientation and provides ample support for interacting with the screen. And the leather lining of the base provides a soft rest for open clasps, for when you just can't be bothered to buckle up. If you want a stylish charging solution for your Apple Watch who better to go to than Apple itself? This official dock is every bit as simple and elegant as you would expect from a company with Apple’s eye for design, and it’s a perfect companion to the Apple Watch. The design allows you to charge the Watch flat, or on its side – the latter of which puts it into Nightstand mode, so you can use it as an alarm clock. The only real downside to this dock is that - in typical Apple fashion – it’s expensive, but if you’re invested in the Apple ecosystem that’s something you’re probably used to. The Belkin Powerhouse isn’t cheap, but it is well thought through, letting you charge both your Apple Watch and your iPhone, with the latter working even if the phone is in a case thanks to an adjustable Lightning connector that can be moved forwards, backwards, up and down. The PowerHouse looks sturdy too, yet it shouldn’t take up too much space, and it’s designed to charge both watch and phone quickly. Disappointingly, the position it holds your Apple Watch in means Nightstand mode won’t work when using this dock, but if you can live without that – and live with the price – it’s a great two-in-one option that won’t force you to take your phone out of its case. We've curated a list of the best Apple Watch apps too This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now

The Steam Winter Sale is on – time to break out those wallets Posted: 19 Dec 2019 12:53 PM PST It's that time of year again: the snow is falling, the air hurts your face, everyone is getting together with their family for the Holidays and, of course, the Steam Winter Sale is here.  Just as every year, there are thousands of games on sale on the biggest PC game distributor out there, including some of the biggest PC games of the year like Bloodstained: Ritual of the Night and Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice.  Here are the best PC games you can buy today Check out our list of the best indie games for more game ideas Here are the best gaming PCs However for the last few years the Steam Winter Sale has been including more complicated extras, and this year is definitely no different. There is, of course, the Steam Awards, where the Steam community can vote on their favorite games from a number of different categories like "Game of the Year," "Outstanding Story-Rich Game," or even "Best Game You Suck At." This isn't anything new, of course, as the Steam awards have been going on since 2016. The new addition this year is the Steamville Holiday Market. This little meta event will let you acquire tokens, which you can then use to buy chat stickers, chat room effects and other holiday-themed cosmetic effects for Steam. Our recommendation, though, is to bank them up, then spend 5,000 of them to get $5 off a game – we're all for cheap games getting cheaper. As for how long the sale will last, it looks like you have time to really think about what games you'll use to engorge your Steam library. While there isn't a big banner on the store telling you when it will end, all the sales conveniently end on January 2, so that means you have a good two weeks to pick up a bunch of games for less.  What's worth buying, though? Steam has probably the largest catalog of games out of any distribution service on the internet, so finding the best deals is not exactly a walk in the park. Not only are there a ton of games, but there's a lot of bad games on the platform that are really just a waste of your time.  Luckily, here at TechRadar, we tend to spend an inordinate amount of time looking through storefronts to find good deals to pass on to our readers, and Steam's confusing mess of a store is no different. So, we found the best Steam Winter Sale deals, so you can spend less time shopping and more time gaming.  This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now

Last-minute Christmas gifts from Walmart: here are the 10 best deals Posted: 19 Dec 2019 12:28 PM PST Christmas is less than a week away, and if you're still on the lookout for gift ideas, then you're in luck. Walmart's Daily Deal Drop sale is happening now and includes discounts on best-selling items that qualify for free two-day shipping. To help you sort through all the offers, we've rounded up Walmart's ten best last-minute gifts below. Walmart's top bargains include the Fitbit Versa 2 Smartwatch on sale for $130, the Xbox One S All Digital Edition 3-game Bundle on sale for $160, and the all-new Apple iPad on sale for $329. You can also find discounts on best-selling appliances like the iRobot Roomba 670 Robot Vacuum on sale for $244 and the Keurig K-Compact Single-Serve Coffee Maker on sale for $59. As we mentioned above, all of Walmart's last-minute gifts qualify for free two-day shipping. Sunday is the last day for free delivery to ensure your items get there by Christmas Eve, so you should take advantage of these deals now before it's too late. Shop the rest of Walmart's last-minute gifts here  Walmart's 10 best last-minute Christmas gifts: Shop more last-minute deals with our roundup of the best Christmas sales of 2019. This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now

IBM is using seawater to make its new batteries Posted: 19 Dec 2019 10:57 AM PST IBM has revealed that it has created a new battery design that uses materials extracted from seawater as opposed to cobalt as the mineral is in now in high demand from the electric vehicle market. The software giant partnered with the research wing of Mercedes-Benz, the battery electrolyte supplier Central Glass and the battery manufacturer Sidus to help with the commercial development of the new design. However, according to vice president at IBM Research, Jeff Welser, the first working prototype of the new battery won't arrive for at least a year or so and the company may not necessarily end up making a product using the design. IBM launches huge open-source security platform European Commission is investing billions into building better batteries This is everything you need to know about electric vehicles Environmental impact In a blog post announcing the breakthrough, manager for material innovations for next-gen batteries at IBM, Young-hye Na explained why the company is exploring using non-traditional materials for its new battery, saying: “Many battery materials, including heavy metals such as nickel and cobalt, pose tremendous environmental and humanitarian risks. Cobalt in particular, which is largely available in central Africa, has come under fire for careless and exploitative extraction practices. Using three new and different proprietary materials, which have never before been recorded as being combined in a battery, our team at IBM Research has discovered a chemistry for a new battery which does not use heavy metals or other substances with sourcing concerns.” Battery makers are currently trying to reduce the amount of cobalt content in their lithium-ion batteries as the growth of the electric vehicle industry is expected to result in shortages of the mineral which is mainly found in the Democratic Republic of Congo. In addition to being better for the environment, IBM says its technology is able to outperform lithium-ion batteries when it comes to cost, charging time and energy efficiency. We've also rounded up the best portable laptop chargers and power banks Via Reuters This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now

Stream music in higher fidelity with TIDAL's holiday sale - only $1/month! Posted: 19 Dec 2019 10:42 AM PST TIDAL is having a monster of a sale for the holidays. From now until January 15th., you can sign up for 5 months for only $5. Considering the standard plan normally costs $10/month, that’s a total steal.  Odds are you’ve already been using a streaming music service in some capacity without a big reason to switch. TIDAL really changes things up with their HiFi plans. The music under this plan streams in a lossless format. It may have been a while since you’ve listened to uncompressed CD-quality music, but the difference between that and what we normally listen to on streaming services is substantial. You don’t know what you’re missing until you’ve tried higher fidelity audio, which is what makes this promo so great. For five months, you can get a taste of what better sound is like. The selection is phenomenal too. It has over 60 million songs, and over 250,000 videos (yes, videos). These are supplemented by exclusive behind-the-scenes footage, livestreams, and ticket giveaways to live performances. You’ll find all of the features you’d expect from a modern music service here as well: connecting to smart speakers, offline music storage, following favorite artists, and more.  Best of all, TIDAL has a seasoned editorial team putting together expertly-curated playlists. As a part of the holidays, TIDAL got 150 of their favorite artists to put together their own playlists to share with their community. Check out Now Playing to see what the stars are listening to.  TIDAL is owned by artists, so they’re uniquely positioned to bring fans closer than ever to the musicians they love. Give TIDAL a try today and discover what you’ve been missing.  This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now

The 2019 MacBook Air is still on sale, and it's still the best Mac deal around Posted: 19 Dec 2019 10:39 AM PST There’s a new MacBook Air in town, and it’s better than ever. Not only is it thinner, lighter and more stylish, but it’s also brandishing built-in Touch ID and a Retina display. So if you’ve been looking for a thin and light stunner to do all your casual computing on, now’s definitely the time to buy. Especially with the killer Cyber Monday MacBook deal at Micro Center that lets you own it for cheaper. Rocking an Intel Core i5 processor, paired with 8GB of memory and 128GB of storage space, perfect for casual users, you can pick up this MacBook Air configuration for only $779 at Micro Center. To take advantage of this Cyber Monday laptop deal, you do have to make a trek to your nearest Micro Center (if you're lucky enough to have one nearby). But, seeing as this is the best Mac deal around, the trip is absolutely worth it. Before you make the trip, however, make sure that the MacBook Air is the right one for you. It’s designed specifically for casual, everyday computing tasks. Think doing emails, surfing the web and streaming videos. Perhaps you can get away with some light photo editing work. However, this isn’t a MacBook Pro, which means it won’t be enough if you plan on doing video editing or AutoCAD design. Not that this model does come with the oft-maligned Butterfly keyboard that was swapped out in the newest MacBook Pro – though Apple will replace it if anything bad happens. At the end of the day, if you're just looking for a sleek laptop for school or home, that you can show off in your local Starbucks, you can't go wrong here. Black Friday deals around the web Amazon.com: Black Friday countdown  Adidas.com: Sales on trainingwear Belk.com: Daily doorbusters - 75% off BestBuy.com: Today's daily deals Dell: Sales incoming on Black Friday Disney Plus:  Get a free 7-day free trial here Google Store: Large sums off Pixel phones HomeDepot.com: Daily deal Black Friday savings JCPenney.com: Pre-Black Friday deals Kohls.com: Coupons aplenty in big sale Lowes.com: Deals on tools and smart home Mixbook: See the new Black Fri-yay deals NewEgg.com: Pre-Black Friday deals Nike.com: Big savings on apparel Sears.com: Hefty savings on TVs Stage.com: Up to 60% off a range of apparel Target.com: Sneak Peek deals Walmart.com: The early Black Friday sales TechRadar is scouring every retailer and rounding up all the top deals over the Black Friday period, and we’ve put all the best Black Friday deals and Cyber Monday deals in easy-to-navigate articles to help you find the bargains you’re looking for.  This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now

Mac Mini 2019: what we want to see Posted: 19 Dec 2019 10:36 AM PST The new Mac mini hasn’t made an appearance this 2019, unfortunately, with Apple focusing on rolling out a refreshed MacBook Air and sweeping us off our feet with the truly impressive MacBook Pro 16-inch instead. That’s on top of the Mac Pro 2019, which is slated to come out soon.  However don’t take that to mean that Apple has forgotten about the Mac mini. The company has swept us off our feet with a stunning return to form late in 2018, and they are still highly likely to give this popular mini PC an update sometime soon. Even at its base configuration, the Mac mini 2018 delivers high performance, touting desktop-class 8th-generation Intel Coffee Lake processors to keep up with intense workloads and a decent Thermalk architecture to keep temperatures under down.  Obviously, it isn’t the perfect piece of hardware (is there such a thing?). The integrated graphics isn’t as powerful for the more graphic-intensive tasks, and the SSD storage is the bare minimum, so an external hard drive is certainly recommended. Plus, while it is the cheapest Mac available, it’s still pretty pricey. But all that is necessary for the Mac mini to keep its extra portable form factor, which has its own advantages. The question now is, when will its newest model make an appearance? It’s very likely that Apple is saving the next Mac mini generation for 2020, so we’ve whipped up a wish list in anticipation. Keep this page bookmarked as we’ll update it with Mac mini updates as they come. Cut to the chase  What is it? The next Mac Mini computer  When is it out? October 2019, if at all  What will it cost? Possibly starting around $799 (£799, AU$1,249)  Image Credit: Apple  Mac Mini 2019 release date  It took Apple four years to release the 2018 update, so it’s hard to know if it will release a Mac mini in 2019 at all. In fact, we may have to wait until a new MacBook Air or Mac Pro refresh. Still, if a new Mac mini does release this year, it probably won’t happen until October, when it typically reveals new Mac releases.  At least that’s how it played out last year, when the company broke the news of the Mac Mini 2018 at the Apple Event in late October, with the mini desktop hitting the shelves a few days later in November.  If so, this will put it right around the same time as macOS Catalina will be made available to users, which means you will be enjoying the Mac mini 2019 alongside macOS' cool new features like Sidecar, Voice Control and Screentime. But again, whether Apple will release a 2019 Mac Mini model is pure speculation at this point, but we’ll update this story once we hear anything more concrete. Keep your eyes peeled. Image Credit: TechRadar Mac Mini 2019 price  At the moment, the Mac Mini 2018 has two configurations: the $799 base configuration, which has a Core i3 processor, 8GB DDR4 RAM, a UHD Graphics 630 integrated graphics and a 128GB SSD; and the $1,099 “high-end” configuration, which boasts a Core i5 processor a 256GB SSD, and the same integrated graphics and RAM. With these two configurations, the Mac Mini 2018 has been dubbed the “cheapest” Mac on the market, and we definitely want to see the same prices on the 2019 update. Unless Apple has some big, expensive feature it plans to add –  e.g. the MacBook Pro and its wonky Touch Bar – we expect the prices to stay in the same ballpark.  Although if Apple were to upgrade the storage, something that may not be entirely necessary considering most creatives (its target users) have their own heavy-duty external drives anyway, the price might go up a little. Image Credit: TechRadar What we want to see Again, while the Mac Mini 2018 has been largely well-received due to its superior performance packed in a compact form factor, it does still leave some things to be desired. If Apple’s tiny computer does get its update this year, there are a couple of things we’d like to see improved, plus some new things we’d like added. A cheaper base model When the Mac Mini first released, it was priced at $499 and supposed to compete with PCs as an affordable entry into the Apple ecosystem. Though the Mac Mini is five times faster than its predecessor and is still the cheapest Mac around, at $799 it’s still more expensive than comparable PC desktops.  And that’s without the monitor, keyboard and mouse you might have to shell out for, which essentially puts you at almost the same price as an iMac ($1,099) with more storage space to start. The Mac Mini 2018 may boast impressive performance, but its price point is nowhere near competitive. We’d love to see the same level of performance and a much affordable price in its 2019 iteration, if the computer does get an update this year. More storage While the Mac Mini’s target market is creatives, most of whom may already own one or two external hard drives to keep up with their storage demands, paying $799 for a base configuration with only 128GB of SSD storage still feels pretty steep.  These days, that is the bare minimum for desktops, and hardly enough for storing a handful of apps and software, let alone big files, like images and videos. At least 256GB of space to start is essential for a would-be 2019 model. Better integrated graphics One of the main complaints about the Mac Mini is the fact that its integrated graphics are underwhelming in just about every graphics-intensive application, whether you’re streaming and rendering videos or gaming. Dropped frames, low frame rates and slow video rendering are some of the reported issues. Considering that many of Mac users handle graphics-heavy files and work, that’s not a good sign. Some folks have resorted to adding an external GPU to their setups, but that only adds to the cost and defeats the computer’s minimalist purpose. So we’d love to see Apple step up its game, and improve the Mac Mini Intel Iris integrated graphics or even a discrete GPU inside. Perhaps something similar to what the MacBook Pros have, which are considerably better. Separate the power supply While the Mac Mini has an improved thermal architecture, some units have experience thermal throttling and overheating, at times peaking at over 90 degrees Fahrenheit, according to end users. It’s become such an issue, in fact, that some have resorted to replacing the thermal paste with third-party stuff just to keep the heat down, though not by much. Separating the built-in power supply could be an effective way to manage this heat issue, giving the Mac Mini an even better performance and possibly a smaller form factor (or enough space for a dedicated graphics card). More user upgradability The earliest Mac Mini models were known for their upgradability, but this latest generation has very limited user upgrade options. Before, you could update the CPU, RAM and storage to your heart’s content; now, however, only the RAM is upgradeable; and it’s hardly an easy undertaking. The CPU, RAM and storage in the Mac Mini 2018 may be upgraded when you’re ordering them, maxing the price out at $3,999. However, since Apple’s doing it for you, it can get expensive quickly. We’d like to see Apple bring back the old generation’s user upgradability in the Mac Mini 2019, especially if the computer largely sticks to the same specs at purchase. Better speakers This is more of an afterthought, but the Mac Mini 2018’s speaker is considered poor by some critics’ standard. A headphone jack is on hand so you can attach better speakers, but it would be a welcome upgrade to give the 2019 model a better speaker – or remove it entirely for an even smaller form factor. Check out our list of the best Macs you can buy today This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now

Mac Pro 2019: release date, price and specs Posted: 19 Dec 2019 10:33 AM PST The new Mac Pro 2019 had tongues wagging when Apple first unveiled it at its WWDC 2019 event. And, unsurprisingly so, considering it’s been years since it’s gotten an update, and it’s looking like an absolute workstation.  Apple showcased it at WWDC 2019, brimming with the latest and greatest high-end hardware, making it Apple’s most powerful computer to date. The cheese-grater looking Mac Pro 2019 will come with up to a 28-core Intel Xeon processor and 1.5TB of 6-channel ECC system memory, which means that you’ll be hard pressed to find any task that will slow it down or prove too demanding for it. Not only that, but this latest model also allows for modular upgrades. You know, in case having up to a 28-core Xeon processor just won’t cut it.  With Apple confirming its December 10 release date, it’s probably the best time getting to know this powerhouse to see what it’s made of so you can decide whether it’s worth its rather hefty price tag for you. The Mac Pro 2019 features a stainless-steel frame that abandons the cylindrical 'bin' look of the 2013 model in favor of a more conventional tower chassis that hearkens back to older Mac Pro models. Visually though, the front and back are filled with uniquely designed vent holes, distinguishing it from the more traditional and cleaner look. The power and design come together when you open up the computer from the top. You can lift off the aluminum housing for 360-degree access to just about every component. Mac Pro vs iMac Pro: which pro Mac is best for you? Along with the Mac Pro 2019, Apple rolled out a new professional monitor – the Pro Display XDR – which comes with a matching design that compliments the Mac Pro 2019’s new look. This monitor features a 32-inch Retina 6K display (the world's first), and boasts the next level in high-dynamic range (HDR) or what Apple calls Extreme Dynamic Range (or XDR). This 32-inch 6K display comes with a Nano-Texture surface meant to reduce reflections without affecting the overall image quality. Additionally, because every single LED is calibrated at the factory level for HDR, Apple is able to deliver high-dynamic range like never seen before. Apple achieves this by using a unique lattice cooling pattern on the back of the display in order to maintain 1,000 nits of brightness at all times – with 1,600 nits of peak brightness. This monitor is able to produce stunning images, as well, thanks to its 1,000,000:1 contrast ratio. These specs all combine to deliver a new technology Apple has dubbed Extreme Dynamic Range or XDR, the next generation of HDR. This monitor will set you back monstrous $4,999 (about £3,950, AU$7,270) for the standard version, and $5,999 (about £4,730, AU$8.720) for the Nano-texture equipped version. However, if you really want to pack the computer with the heaviest hardware in the game, it's going to set you back a whopping $52,748 (£47,588, AU$84,778). That does come with the 28-core Intel Xeon-W processor, 1.5TB of RAM and a 4TB SSD, but that's still a lot of cash.  The Pro Display XDR looks stunning. Naturally, the new Mac Pro 2019's companion screen is sold separately, as is the color-tweaked keyboard, mouse and trackpad. That's always been the case with Mac Pro configurations – it's going to be an investment for everything, which also means that it’s not for everyone. In fact, Apple is targeting the new Mac Pro 2019 at production crews and serious creators. This isn't a computer made for the average consumer, as you'll find the spec and price to be far in excess of what you’ll likely need – and can probably afford. Cut to the chase What is it? Apple's new dedicated desktop When is it out? December 10, 2019 What will it cost? Starts at $5,999 (about £5,499, AU$9,999) Mac Pro 2019 release date and price The Mac Pro 2019 finally hit the streets on Tuesday, December 10, 2019. This is after the new Mac Pro had a vague "Fall 2019" release window for most of the year.  The Mac Pro 2019 price begins at $5,999 (about £4,730, AU$8.720). That’s for the base configuration with an 8-core Intel Xeon processor (CPU), Radeon 580X graphics processor (GPU) and 32GB of ECC memory (RAM). Remember, however, that the Pro Display XDR – for $4,999 (about £4,000, AU$7,150) – is a separate purchase, as is the Pro Stand for $999 (about £800, AU$1,400) and VESA Mount Adapter for $199 (about £160, AU$285). We only know the price for the base model at the moment, but a recent estimate suggests it could cost as high as $45,000 (around £35,000, AU$65,000). A new design Folks who were indifferent with the older Mac Pro's design will be happy to know that Mac Pro 2019 has been created to be far more industrial and modular. The Mac Pro's leanings are more traditional with the combination of brushed aluminum and heat sink holes adorning the outer shell, which unfortunately makes it look like an industrial cheese grater. It's brutal and sends the message that 'this is for working, not for looking good.’ Still, it’s slightly portable as it is rack-mountable, and you can screw wheels on the bottom to cart it around an office or studio. We'll get to the performance of the new Mac Pro in just a second, but one thing that's worth mentioning about the new model is how much innards you can pack inside such a small space. In fact, one music producer told us that beforehand one would have to use multiple machines to mix a score, whereas those three or four could now be squeezed into the body of Apple's Mac Pro 2019. Apple has also fitted the Mac Pro 2019 with a unique cooling system to maximize airflow while keeping the noise down. Even with the massive fans, this powerhouse won’t distract you from your work. There's also the benefit of the multiple Thunderbolt ports placed on top of the machine, allowing for easier access inside. Mac Pro 2019 specs and performance When it comes to specifications, Apple isn’t pulling any punches, stuffing some seriously impressive hardware into the body of the new Mac Pro 2019. The rear view of both the Mac Pro and Pro Display XDR. The base model sports a new 8-core Intel Xeon processor, putting a lot of horsepower for multitasking at your fingertips. The Xeon line of CPUs are created for professional workstations – and, this can be configured up to a Xeon processor with an astonishing 28 cores. The more cores, the better it can run multiple tasks at once – so the processor powering the new Mac Pro will indisputably handle even the most exacting creative tasks without a problem. Just like Apple’s other prosumer computer, the iMac Pro, the Mac Pro 2019 boasts an AMD graphics card, beginning with the Radeon Pro 580X and up to the Radeon Pro Vega II, which features 32GB of high-bandwidth memory – 1TB/s to be precise. That makes it the highest memory bandwidth of any GPU. If that’s not enough, you can also load it up with the AMD Radeon Pro Vega II Duo, which features two Vega II GPUs for a total of 64GB of memory – making it the world’s most powerful graphics card. The removable lid and shell via the semi-circle handle. These GPUs are placed into the Apple MPX Module, which easily slot into the Mac Pro, providing quiet operation while being kept cool by the Mac Pro’s own cooling system. Remarkably, the Mac Pro 2019 can have two MPX Modules installed at once. This means that if you have the need – and the budget – you can install two Vega II Duos for a crazy 128GB of video memory and 56 teraflops of graphics performance. All this output needs a lot of power, which is why there's a 1.4kW power supply driving the machine. However, the noise is fairly muted despite the fans inside, and when seeing it running at full power, we didn't feel a large amount of heat emanating from the rear, nor heard anything like a light aircraft trying to take off. This kind of graphical grunt will demolish most video encoding and rendering tasks – even at resolutions of 8K and above. While we’d love to imagine what the gaming capability of this level of firepower would be, this machine is going to be purely of interest to video professionals that have to render ultra-high resolution footage quickly. Seeing it in real time, you could see and feel the raw power of the rendering capabilities of the Mac Pro 2019. 3D imagery could be manipulated in real time with multiple shading and lighting changes, meaning the need to ship projects off to a rendering farm might not be necessary for many tasks in the future. One creative artist estimated the raw power of the extra cores gave him around four times the performance previously available, meaning he had far more time to allot to his artwork and creative process rather than standing around to see if the images and videos had shown as intended. Being able to manipulate 8K streams so flawlessly is more than impressive - an engineer we spoke to claimed that using the Mac Pro 2019 was akin to when '1080p was finally able to be used properly,’ meaning that the speed of manipulation was finally able to be used properly. Memory-wise, the Mac Pro 2019 supports six-channel memory and comes with 12 slots, which allows you to install up to 1.5TB of RAM.  Not a bad look for Apple's newest professional gear. Memory-wise, the Mac Pro 2019 supports six-channel memory and comes with 12 slots, which allows you to install up to 1.5TB of RAM.  In a demonstration, this allowed a full orchestra-worth of instruments to be rendered within that RAM space, which means that a rack of PCs can now be swapped out by a single Mac Pro unit, with the output slickly creating right in front of our eyes. Again, this makes the Mac Pro 2019 a workstation that’s designed to breeze through multitasking. PCI Express slots also make a comeback, with eight in total, to offer plenty of options to expand the Mac Pro’s capabilities in the future. Even at the entry level with a 8-core Intel Xeon processor with a max turbo boost of 4.0GHz and 32GB of ECC RAM, you should be able to handle most situations. The Mac Pro 2019 is definitely not meant for everyday computing, not that most users would feel comfortable paying such a high price. The entry model Mac Pro comes with a 256GB SSD, which is the only part of the specifications that seems a bit low since that doesn't offer much storage space these days. However, you'll have the option to upgrade it with up to a 4TB drive. That's a gigantic SSD and will be a major bonus to any video editors considering this machine. Unfortunately, you will be expected to shell out at least $2,000 (about £1,580, AU$2,900) more to upgrade to such an enormous drive. On the upside, most creative professionals have their own, more powerful external SSD drives anyway, so a smaller storage space isn’t really a deal breaker. The fact that the new Mac Pro 2019 offers such high expansion possibilities is notable, however. This desktop system boasts eight PCIe expansion slots, so you can keep the Mac Pro current with the latest hardware for the foreseeable future. This is backed up by the new Apple Afterburner accelerator card, which lets users play back multiple 8K RAW video streams. This should be especially handy for video editors that shoot in very high resolutions. You'll be able to upgrade the RAM as well. Even if you only pick up the 32GB model (which is expensive enough as it is), the new Mac Pro features 12 physical DIMM slots, so you can upgrade your system memory as your needs change. Apple will facilitate new graphics cards with its new MPX module, a PCIe expansion card that not only allows you to slot in more powerful graphics cards, but will also feature native Thunderbolt integration and 500W of power. You can have two of these cards in the Mac Pro, allowing you to use two Radeon Pro Vega II GPUs at once. The best part? Getting access to the innards of the new Mac Pro 2019 is remarkably easy, thanks to the unique chassis design. The outer aluminum housing is also designed for easy expansion, as it lifts off in one motion, granting easy access to the entire system.  These specs certainly sound impressive on paper (if, perhaps, a little overkill for most people), and we cannot wait to see how the Mac Pro 2019 really performs in a full review. Here's what Mac Pro will run on: macOS Catalina Images Credit: TechRadar This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now

macOS Catalina is here: everything you need to know about macOS 10.15 Posted: 19 Dec 2019 10:13 AM PST Apple's macOS Catalina is officially here, and available for you to download install on your Mac. That is, provided your device is new enough to actually install it. So we’re going to dive into macOS Catalina, all of its features and how to download it. This way, you can decide whether or not you’d like to update your computer. First a little bit of history: Apple first unveiled macOS Catalina at its WWDC 2019 conference in San Jose, California earlier in the year. During the event, the company showed off many of the incredible fresh features that macOS Catalina brings to the table. That includes, most notably, its nifty capability to use newer generation iPads as a secondary screen. After what seemed like forever, this awesome update is now available for everyone to download and install on their computers. This is a major update, and comes with this new feature called "Project Catalyst," which allows iOS 13 and iPadOS developers to easily port their work over to the macOS environment. This means if you update to macOS Catalina, many of your favorite apps on your phone and iPad will be available to your computer. There are a few things that are going away, however, and it’s worth noting them in case you’d rather not lose them. For one, iTunes, the media software that's been a mainstay for almost two decades, is finally retiring. In its place, we get a new Mac-flavored Apple Music app, alongside Apple Podcasts and Apple TV.  This isn’t a cause for concern, as you can still listen to and watch all your music, TV shows and movies – including your past downloads. However, if you’d rather keep all your media in a single place, it’s important to know that updating to Catalina will home them in separate apps. All of this is just the tip of the iceberg for macOS Catalina, so let’s run through everything the macOS 10.15 has to offer, from the features to which Mac models are able to actually download it. Be sure to bookmark this page as well, as we'll keep it updated with all the latest macOS 10.15 Catalina news as they come. If you're having issues, check out our macOS Catalina problems: how to fix the most common issues guide for help. Cut to the chase What is it? macOS 10.15 Catalina, successor to macOS 10.14 Mojave When is it out? Out now How much will it cost? Nothing. Apple software updates are always free The macos 10.15 features Sidecar so you can use your iPad as a secondary screen. macOS Catalina release date Apple held its iPhone 11 event on September 10, but the show came and went without so much of a mention of macOS 10.15. Still, Apple's macOS 10.15 Catalina page was updated with an "October 2019" release window. Apple didn't share any more specifics about the release, so when it launched it caught us all by surprise. Fortunately, this does mean you can now download macOS Catalina, so long as you have a compatible Mac. You might want to wait until the next update comes out, just to ensure that any serious bugs are squashed. You see, updating your operating system is definitely a large undertaking, and you could possibly break something, losing a lot of valuable data. So, if you don't absolutely need the new software, waiting may be your best bet. We'll update this hub as soon as we know a new update is on its way, but if you want to live on the edge, go ahead and hit that download button. We'll show you how. macOS Catalina compatibility If you want to get your paws on the latest macOS update, you'll have to make sure your Mac can really support it. Fortunately, if you already have macOS Mojave installed, you're probably in the clear. Unless, of course, you circumnavigated Apple's restrictions. 12-inch MacBook (2015 and later) MacBook Air (2012 and later) MacBook Pro (2012 and later) Mac mini (2012 and later) iMac (2012 and later) iMac Pro (2017) Mac Pro (2013 and later) Goodbye, iTunes – hello, Apple Music, Podcasts Books and TV It's official, iTunes is no more. From its ashes, however, rises a unique collection of magnificent apps for macOS: Apple Music, Apple TV, Apple Podcasts and Apple Books – and they will be polished versions of those already found on iOS. Apple Music gives macOS Catalina users access to their entire music libraries regardless of whether the tracks have been downloaded or are being streamed. This also holds music that's been ripped from CDs, incorporated into the same libraries. Apple TV, on the other hand, is home for the app's channels and offers more than 100,000 iTunes movies and TV shows that you can browse to buy or rent. And, content will be available in 4K HDR video and Dolby Atmos audio wherever it’s offered. Apple TV+ can also be accessed courtesy of this app now that the service has rolled out. At the same time, Apple Podcasts brings the service's more than 700,000 podcasts, as well as new episode updates, to the Mac in a totally fresh interface. This rendition of the app also offers better search functions that can pull up episodes by hosts, guests or even discussion topics. Finally, Apple Books is the portal to all the audiobooks you would want to purchase, download and listen to. Similar to the other new apps, it also features a familiar interface for anyone who is used to iTunes. Concerned about all your existing music and playlists, as well as iTunes gift cards and credit? Don’t worry. All your music and playlists will be transferred over to the Apple Music app in macOS Catalina. Plus, any iTunes gift cards or unspent iTunes credits are still valid to be used in these new apps. In macOS 10.15 Catalina, the iTunes Store, which is accessible through the Sidebar in the Apple Music app, is still available to buy new music. And of course, you can also subscribe to the Apple Music streaming service using the app – if you do, you can hide the iTunes Store for a cleaner, more minimalist interface. You'll sync your devices via Finder in macOS Catalina. With iTunes making its exit, syncing devices in macOS Catalina is now taken care of courtesy the Finder app. It can back up and sync those devices. According to Apple, it will be easier to drag and drop files for quick transfers as well. Apple Sidecar at work in macOS Catalina.  Sidecar turns your iPad into another display This is perhaps the most thrilling update that macOS 10.15 Catalina offers: the ability to extend your Mac's display to a nearby iPad, whether wired or wirelessly. A good amount of MacBook users are already own an iPad, so this essentially means that a significant number of mobile workers just received a secondary display for free. Possibly even more notable for designers is that this connected iPad can also be used as a drawing tablet with specific supported apps. Final Cut Pro X, Adobe Illustrator and iWork are the first apps listed that support this capability. The Sidecar feature is supported by those models that can also run the new iPadOS, specifically the iPad Pro (all models), iPad (6th generation or later), iPad Mini (3rd generation or later), and the iPad Air (3rd generation). Apple says that the following Mac apps will support Sidecar's Apple Pencil input and other enhanced features: Adobe: After Effects, Illustrator, Premiere Pro Affinity Designer & Affinity Photo Cinema 4D CorelDRAW DaVinci Resolve Final Cut Pro & Motion Maya Painter Principle Sketch Substance Designer & Painter ZBrush Screen Time for macOS has a special "One more minute" feature. Screen Time comes to macOS One of Apple's most meaningful changes to iOS 12 was Screen Time, an app that tracks your iPhone or iPad usage time and offers insights into the trends. This time around, this feature will not only come to macOS with Catalina, but also offer a new “One more minute” feature, giving you more time to save your work or finish up a game. This information will also be synced across your other Apple devices, so that you have a complete profile of how often you look at your collective screens, as well as get tips on what to do with that information. Additionally, it will also include parental controls on time spent using a Mac, as well as with whom kids are able to interact with on those devices. Twitter's return to macOS was made possible by Project Catalyst. Project Catalyst Thanks to Apple's new Project Catalyst initiative, macOS 10.15 Catalina will soon be populated with a slew of iOS and iPadOS apps. There are a number of them available at launch, but the real potential of this initiative is that it opens up the floodgates for all kinds of apps to come over to the Mac. For developers, it all seems to start with simply checking off a box within the Xcode app in macOS 10.15 Catalina. A series of new features and protocols then become available to the app in the development phase, from which the developer can choose to add to their apps – presumably with additional yet lighter coding. It looks to make the process smoother and even quicker, with even the likes of Twitter using the tool to more effortlessly bring its native app back to macOS from iOS. Other fun improvements Safari browser now has a new startup page that uses Siri Suggestions to surface commonly visited websites, bookmarks, iCloud tabs and more. Mail now lets users block messages from senders, mute message threads from issuing push notifications and send unsubscribe requests from within the app to mailing list providers. Lastly, Reminders gets an overhaul in the visual interface so that it will allow users to more easily create, keep track and organize their reminders. This is the new Mac Pro for 2019 This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now

The best gaming monitor 2019: the 10 best gaming screens of the year Posted: 19 Dec 2019 10:10 AM PST The best gaming monitors aren’t just for practical viewing purposes; they are also essential to your gaming experience. If you want the best and smoothest gaming experience possible, you need a monitor that can keep up with the best PC games’ graphical demands. It doesn’t matter whether you’re running around ancient Greece in Assassin's Creed: Odyssey or doing a quick Overwatch game on your lunch break. Admittedly, with so many monitors on the market to choose from, it can be a tad confusing sorting through them to find the best gaming monitor for your needs. To make it even more complicated, there are a few considerations to choose from – do you need ray tracing, for instance? Will you be requiring 4K resolution and HDR, or will a 1080p screen be enough? Is speed of utmost important – particularly high refresh rates and low response times – so when coupled with the best graphics cards and processors, your monitor will make you the fastest gamer on the block? Don’t get overwhelmed. We know that’s a lot of technical jargon so we put together a list of the best gaming monitors 2019 has on offer. We tested and reviewed each of these monitors ourselves, so you know they’ve got our seal of approval. If you’re in the market for the best best gaming monitor, you’ll find something here. Best gaming monitors at a glance: Samsung CRG9 Alienware AW3418DW AOC Agon AG352UCG6 Asus ROG Swift PG27UQ BenQ PD3200U MSI Optix MPG341CQR BenQ Zowie XL2540 Samsung CHG90 AOC Agon AG322QC4 MSI Optix MAG271CR The Samsung CRG9 is the best gaming monitor if you've got the extra cash laying around. It may be very expensive and requires a killer gaming PC setup to run, but the Samsung CRG9 is completely worth it and the best gaming monitor if you’ve got the extra cash laying around. This bigger-than-average 49-incher boasts bezels thinner than most gaming monitors and a picture by picture mode feature that lets you use two different inputs, simulating a dual monitor setup in a single monitor. And, that’s without mentioning that the Samsung CRG9 produces an out-of-this-world image right out of the box. Read the full review: Samsung CRG9 The Alienware AW3418DW delivers a level of immersion that only a 21:9 aspect ratio can. The Alienware AW3418DW is one of the few gaming monitors that deliver a level of immersion that only a 21:9 aspect ratio can, while also offering up a high refresh rate. With a dense 3,440 x 1,440 resolution, ridiculously fast 4ms response times and a speedy 120Hz refresh rate, this ultrawide monitor gives you the best of both worlds. All these features don’t come cheap though, so budget-minded gamers might want to look elsewhere or start saving up. Still, it’s not hard to see why it’s one of the best gaming monitors 2019 has to offer. Read the full review: Alienware AW3418DW The AOC Agon AC352UCG6 carries over the original's best features. The AOC Agon AG352UCG was one of the best gaming monitors we ever got our hands on, so when we heard that a follow-up was coming – one that comes with a higher refresh rate and better contrast – it was hard not to get excited. The AOC Agon AC352UCG6 Black Edition carries over the original’s best features but ramps them up to 11, making it a stunning display on which to experience ultra-wide gaming. It’s expensive, yeah, but if you have the hardware to back it up, you’ll be doing yourself a disservice by not investing. Read the full review: AOC Agon AG352UCG6 Black Edition  The Asus ROG Swift PG27UQ might just be the most advanced gaming monitor to add to your arsenal. The Asus ROG Swift PG27UQ might just be the most advanced – not to mention, best – gaming monitor to add to your arsenal... as long as you’re ready to pay for it. This display features a gorgeous 4K Ultra-HD resolution and HDR, as well as G-Sync and a lightning-quick 144Hz refresh rate. These specs add up to one of the most impressive gaming monitors that’s ever existed – and when you see it in action, it will blow you away. The only thing that holds this gaming monitor back from true greatness is its ridiculous price tag. But, then again, if you have this kind of cash lying around, you should be able to afford a PC powerful enough to drive it. Read the full review: Asus ROG Swift PG27UQ  Originally made for CAD professionals, the BenQ PD3200U is also great for gaming. While originally made for CAD professionals, the BenQ PD3200U is also great for gaming, making it one of the best gaming monitors you can buy today. This is mostly thanks to its rock-solid focus on graphic design so it’s able to offer incredibly wide viewing angles, which means that your friends can watch your game in comfort. And, unlike most 4K monitors on the market, you won’t have to mess around with the settings to get the best picture, since every unit is individually calibrated by BenQ before shipping. This is definitely one of the best gaming monitors out there, even though it wasn’t actually designed for gaming. Read the full review: BenQ PD3200U The MSI Optix MPG341CQR's super-wide 1440p resolution and 144Hz refresh certainly give gamers an edge. While all of its extra frills make the MSI Optix MPG341CQR an even more appealing selection for potential buyers, it does an outstanding job of standing out on its own. The use of VA rather than IPS panel technology, for one, is a welcome advantage, offering punchier colors and better contrast. Plus, its super-wide 1440p resolution and 144Hz refresh certainly give gamers an edge. The best part might be that this display is also reasonably priced, making it one of the best gaming monitors to consider in 2019. Read the full review: MSI Optix MPG341CQR The BenQ Zowie XL2540 forgoes flashy lighting effects for a blazing 240Hz refresh rate. Don’t be turned off by its limitations. The BenQ Zowie XL2540 still absolutely deserves its place right up there on the best gaming monitors list. It forgoes flashy lighting effects for a blazing 240Hz refresh rate and rapid 1ms response time. This monitor is both FreeSync and G-Sync compatible, and if you have a setup that’s able of keeping up with this refresh rate, then this gaming display will blow you away. The BenQ Zowie XL2540 keeps things simple by supplying you with a ton of visual presets, an “S Switch” control pod for managing those presets and even a pair of adjustable light screens. This is one of the best gaming monitors to consider if you’re a pro or hardcore gamer. Read the full review: BenQ Zowie XL2540 The AOC Agon AG322QC4 has a lot of aces up its sleeves. A bit of HDR is always a welcome addition, even if it’s not true HDR. And yet, the AOC Agon AG322QC4 has more aces up its sleeves. That includes a 144Hz refresh rate, FreeSync 2 and a 3,000:1 contrast ratio, ranking this among the best gaming monitors of 2019. And it offers users beautiful, super smooth visuals, all while looking good doing so. It’s not exactly a steal, but the Agon AG322QC4 is still reasonably priced for gamers who aren’t shopping in the bargain basement. Read the full review: AOC Agon AG322QC4 The MSI Optix MAG271CR proves that the best gaming monitors in 2019 are all about the high refresh rates. When you’re playing competitive first-person shooters like Overwatch or Counter-Strike: Global Offensive, you’ll need speed above all else in order to stay on top of the leader boards. That’s where displays like the MSI Optix MAG271CR come in handy. With a 1080p resolution, 144Hz refresh rate and 1ms of latency, you’re equipped with incredibly fast, super smooth gameplay, as long as you have the hardware to drive it. After all, 60Hz panels are so 2014 – the best gaming monitors in 2019 are all about the high refresh rates. Read the full review: MSI Optix MAG271CR How to buy the best gaming monitor in 2019 If in the market for the best gaming monitor 2019 has to offer, know that there are a few things to keep in mind before choosing which display should grace your desk. You’ll want to familiarize yourself with the following terms and specifications to help guarantee that you’re getting the best gaming monitor that’s most ideal for you. It also means you won’t have to pay extra for additional features that you might not actually care about. Screen size: When looking for the best gaming monitor, one of the most important things to consider is the screen size. Larger display sizes can lead to more immersive gaming experiences as the game fills more of your field of vision, but you'll also have to make sure that you have the space to keep a large monitor. And, it goes without saying that the larger the monitor, the higher the price as well. Aspect ratio: The aspect ratio of a gaming monitor helps determine the width and height of the display. Most widescreen monitors have an aspect ratio of 16:9, while older monitors have closer to a square format of 4:3 that might feel pretty out of date in 2019. Ultra-wide monitors with aspect ratios of 21:9 are rapidly growing in popularity, as they offer a wider view of your games, which is why many ultra-wides have made our list of the best gaming monitors 2019. Resolution: One other critical factor to consider when searching for the best gaming monitor for your needs is the resolution. The higher the number, the sharper the picture. You will, however, require a more powerful graphics card for anything over Full HD (1,920 x 1,080), even if many gaming monitors feature resolutions as high as 2,560 x 1,400 (WQHD) and 3,840 x 2,160 (4K). Refresh rate: When you’re mostly looking to play Counter-Strike and other first-person shooters like it, refresh rate is even more vital. The higher the refresh rate, the more frames per second (fps) the monitor can support, leading to a considerably smoother gaming experience. A 60Hz refresh rate is still the most common in 2019, but refresh rates of 144Hz and even 200Hz are becoming more prominent – not to mention, more and more necessary. Response time: The best gaming monitors offers low response times, which means you’re getting fast and fluid actions, with little to no input lag. The lowest response time for TN monitors (we’ll get to this in the next section) is 1 millisecond, whereas the newer IPS monitors typically have slower 4ms response times. When you’re playing games competitively, it’s vital to keep this number as low as you can in order to avoid latency. Panel type: This is where things get a little technical. The type of panel a gaming monitor uses will largely contribute to its response time and image clarity. TN (twisted nematic) panels, which are often more affordable, have the lowest response times but usually don’t come with great viewing angles. IPS (in-plane switching) panels, on the other hand, have fantastic viewing angles and color reproduction, but usually have higher response times. Meanwhile, VA (vertical alignment) panels are between the two, although its slow response times makes these panels rare in the gaming world. Viewing Angle: While most people play games right in front of their gaming monitor, this isn’t always be the case, particularly when there is an audience. A monitor’s viewing angles tell you what angle you can look at the monitor from and still make out a clear image. The closer these numbers are to 180, the better your viewing experience will be when standing further to either side of the monitor or looking at it from above or below. G-Sync and FreeSync: You've probably noticed that many of the best gaming monitors in 2019 come with either G-Sync or FreeSync technology – sometimes even both. These help keep frames per second (fps) smooth, combat screen tearing and minimize input lag. G-Sync is developed by Nvidia, so it requires an Nvidia GPU. And, the tech is built into the monitor, which can bump up their price tag. FreeSync, on the other hand, was made by AMD. Since it is free to use by manufacturers, the monitors that have them are usually more economical. Check out our HDR Explained video below. Gabe Carey, Bill Thomas and Michelle Rae Uy have also contributed to this article Image Credit: TechRadar Looking for a more general monitor? Check out our list of the best monitors This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now

The best gaming PC 2019: 10 of the top gaming desktops you can buy Posted: 19 Dec 2019 10:08 AM PST You’re going to want one of the best gaming PCs on your side, if you’re even remotely serious about gaming. Even if you’re far from turning pro, you’ll need a bit of firepower, especially when you’re playing the newest, greatest and most demanding PC games. After all, gaming should be immersive, and there’s nothing that can ruin your gaming experience more than having below average internals that aren’t powerful enough. In fact, if you’re planning on playing the latest and upcoming AAA games, you must get one of the best gaming PCs packed with the most cutting edge internals possible like Nvidia’s Super RTX graphic cards or AMD’s Navi cards. Of course, just because a gaming PC is that powerful, that doesn’t mean it’ll cost you an arm and a leg. There are quite a few out there touting the  best processors and best graphics card, alongside a price tag that’s affordable to many. You just have to scour the market to find them. To cut through the overwhelming options out there, we’ve put together a list of the best gaming PCs you can get right now, all of which we’ve personally reviewed. There’s a variety of options to check out on this list, whether it’s from stalwarts like Alienware or newer firms like Corsair. Best gaming PCs at a glance Corsair One i160 HP Omen Desktop PC Alienware Aurora R8 Intel Hades Canyon NUC HP Omen Obelisk Origin Millennium Alienware Area 51 Threadripper Edition MSI Trident X Corsair Vengeance 5185 Gaming PC Dell G5 Gaming Desktop The Corsair One has been among the best gaming PCs ever since it came on the scene a few years ago. The Corsair One has been among the best gaming PCs ever since it came on the scene a few years ago, and the Corsair One i160 only takes things to the next level with Nvidia Turing graphics and Intel Coffee Lake Refresh processors. This gaming PC can handle 4K gaming in a chassis that’s not much bigger than your average gaming console. It’s pricey – that much power kind of has to be – yet it’s certainly worth it if you’re looking for a small form factor machine without compromises. Read the full review: Corsair One i160  There's definitely something for everybody as far as HP Omen Desktop PC's configurations go. While the Decepticon look this gaming PC sports might only be for some, there’s definitely something for everybody as far as configurations go – whether you’re a casual gamer on a budget or a hardcore one willing to drop a lot of dough for a souped up rig. At less than $1,500 (about £1,180, AU$2,170), you’re getting more than enough power to get you through AAA games, albeit probably not on Ultra. At $2,335 (about £1,835, AU$3,235) or more, you’re getting a considerable amount of power and storage. Plus, HP Omen Desktop PC comes in a tool-less design, making it upgradeable. There isn’t any doubt that this one belongs on our best gaming PCs list. Read the full review: HP Omen Desktop PC The Alienware Aurora R8 is a stunning gaming machine that gives you the latest and greatest inside. The Alienware Aurora R8 can cost a pretty penny, especially if you’re getting one of the souped up configurations. But this stunner of a gaming machine gives you the latest and greatest inside, delivering an excellent and immersive gaming experience in a cool-looking chassis with appealing RGB lighting. If you’re more than a casual gamer who needs a setup that can tackle 1440p and even a bit of 4K gaming, this is one of the best gaming PCs on the market today. Read the full review: Alienware Aurora R8 If you're looking for the best gaming PC under $1,000, the Intel Hades Canyon NUC may just be your dream machine. If you’re looking for the best gaming PC under $1,000, the Intel Hades Canyon NUC may just be your dream machine. This teeny gaming PC isn’t just cost-effective, but space-saving as well. In fact, it resembles a set-top box more than a gaming PC. Don’t let its size fool you, however – it houses all the power that the best gaming laptops should to handle the best laptop games, with an 8th-generation Intel Core i7 processor and discrete AMD Radeon graphics. You’ll have to provide your own RAM, storage and your own OS, but if you have extra PC hardware lying around, there are still plenty of savings to be had. Read the full review: Intel Hades Canyon NUC  This rectangular monster is definitely worthy of its moniker as it boasts lots of power. This rectangular monster is definitely worthy of its moniker as it boasts lots of power… more than enough, in fact, for most gamers’ needs. When you’ve the funds for an upper-tier configuration, you’ll get a behemoth. Unfortunately, budget minded buyers will have to be satisfied with gameplay at medium settings, since the lower end models don’t pack the same firepower. Still, because of its high upgradability and tool-less design, such buyers are only an upgrade or two from the best gaming experience on Ultra or Max settings either. Plus, we’ve honestly seen more expensive machines for those specs. Read the full review: HP Omen Obelisk review Because of its svelte design and flexible specs, the Origin Millennium is among the best gaming PCs right now. When you grab a new machine from Origin, it’s almost like you’ve built it yourself. But, you do have to be acquainted with PC components to decide for yourself what goes into the rig and how much money you’re willing to spend. So, our only real criticism of the Origin Millennium is that you can put together a similar gaming PC yourself and save hundreds of dollars. On the other hand, because of its svelte design and flexible specs – not to mention, the convenience, we bet you won’t even want to. Read the full review: Origin Millennium  This product is only available in the US as of this writing. UK and Australian readers: check out a fine alternative in the Overclockers 8Pack Asteroid. The Area 51 Threadripper Edition pushes the boundaries of both technology and your bank account. In true Alienware fashion, the Area 51 Threadripper Edition pushes the boundaries of both technology and your bank account. It’s extremely powerful, distinctly boasting the latest AMD Ryzen Threadripper 1950X across all of its configurations. The Area 51’s triad-design hasn’t altered much since its release back in 2014, but the inside of this desktop is basically tool-less to upgrade, not that you would even need to consider it’s already one of the best gaming PCs of 2019. Read the full review: Alienware Area 51 Threadripper Edition  This product is only available in the US at the time of this writing. UK and Australian readers: check out a fine alternative in the Corsair One   The small MSI Trident X PC doesn't pull any punches. It was only a matter of time before the best gaming PCs started rolling out with the newest Coffee Lake Refresh and Nvidia Turing parts, and the MSI Trident X was the one to lead the charge. This small chassis PC doesn’t pull any punches, and will absolutely demolish any game you throw at it, at any resolution. Just remember that the thin metal build is a little flimsy for travel, and its price tag is a bit hefty. However, if you’re seeking no-holds-barred power that will fit right in your living room, you can’t do much better than this. Read the full review: MSI Trident  The Corsair Vengeance 5185 will, without a doubt, get you back in the game. True to its name, the Corsair Vengeance 5185 will, without a doubt, get you back in the game, if your existing PC has been holding you back. This highly-customizable gaming PC is among the best gaming PCs out there with its powerful components, massive storage space and an effective cooling system that keeps that heat down. A fan of RGB lighting? This has no shortage of that, all wrapped in a tempered glass chassis that’s just the ticket for showing those innards off. The Dell G5 boasts 9th-generation Intel chips as well as Nvidia's most powerful gaming GTX and RTX graphics cards. A unique chassis coupled with a price to beat, Dell’s latest in its G series gaming PCs is a solid contender in budget gaming. The Dell G5 boasts 9th-generation Intel chips as well as Nvidia’s most powerful gaming GTX and RTX graphics cards, starting with an i3 processor and the GTX 1650 to handle many powerful games without burning a whole in your pocket. Of course, if you’ve got more case to spare, it’s VR ready configurations are also on hand, though even those are absolutely affordable. Bill Thomas, Gabe Carey and Michelle Rae Uy have also contributed to this article This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now

Best computer 2019: the best PCs we've tested Posted: 19 Dec 2019 10:06 AM PST Purchasing the best PC you can afford is perhaps one of the most important investments in your life, especially if your computer is vital to your day-to-day productivity, personal life or family. Lucky for you, computers are more powerful than ever before, so there’s a lot to choose from.  These days, the strongest contenders for the best PCs pack powerful 8th- and 9th-generation processors, as well as super high-end graphics cards from Nvidia (some with real time ray tracing) or AMD. These best PCs will demolish every computing task that comes their way. However, the best PC can also mean the one that offers the best value to performance ratio. It might not be an absolute workhorse, but it’s plenty powerful for what you need. Whether you’re looking for an all-in-one desktop powerhouse, a future-proof or easily upgradeable tower, or the most robust machine rocking the latest and greatest PC components, like fast SSDs, more RAM and possibly even the best graphics card, you’ve stumbled into the right place. You’ll certainly find something on our list of the best PCs. Best computers at a glance Dell XPS Tower Special Edition – best PC Microsoft Surface Studio 2 – best all-in-one PC Intel Hades Canyon NUC – best mini PC Alienware Aurora R8 – best gaming PC Corsair One Pro i180 – best living room PC Apple Mac mini (Late 2018) – best Mac Intel Compute Stick – best stick PC Lenovo Yoga A940 – best in features iMac Pro – best for content creators Raspberry Pi 4 Model B – best single-board computer One of the best PCs right now, the Dell XPS Tower is packed with high-end components. The Dell XPS Tower looks unremarkable, like that PC your parents used to have hidden away underneath the desk when you were a kid. However, its no-nonsense chassis hides quite a selection of exciting internals. One of the best PCs right now, the Dell XPS Tower is packed with up to an RTX 2070 graphics card, a 9th-generation Intel Core processor, and a large hard drive and/or SSD. This special edition PC configuration is only available in the US. However, UK and Australian readers can grab the regular Dell XPS Tower and then add similar upgrades, though there are some limitations such as the graphics card options topping out with the GTX 1060. Read the full review: Dell XPS Tower Special Edition This device is meant for the digital artist or other visually-focused content creators. The Surface Studio 2 isn’t going to compare well against most PCs, but that’s only because it was never designed to compete with them in the first place. This device is meant for the digital artist or other visually-focused content creators, and even with aging parts, it’s still the most robust digital drafting table on the market. It boasts a bright, vibrant display, and improved specs next to its predecessor. If you’re a digital artist or a content creator who’s visually-focused, this is the best computer for you. Read the full review: Surface Studio 2 See more like this: the best all-in-one PCs If don't have a lot of desk space, then Intel Hades Canyon NUC may just be ideal for you. If you want an excellent desktop experience, but don’t have a lot of desk space, then Intel Hades Canyon NUC may just be ideal for you. This small bare-bones PC has an absurdly fast 8th-generation Intel Core i7 processor and discrete-class AMD Radeon graphics. Adding some RAM and storage to the mix, and you will be conquering the best PC games without breaking a sweat. It won’t compete against a full-sized desktop, but when you’re short on space – or you want a PC that looks like a set-top box – this is one of the best PCs to consider. Read the full review: Intel Hades Canyon NUC  The Alienware Aurora R8 has all the makings of a powerful gaming PC. While costing a pretty penny when souped up, the Alienware Aurora R8 has all the makings of a powerful gaming PC, including 9th-generation Intel Core chips and some of the best Nvidia GTX and RTX graphics for gaming. This model has been succeeded by the Alienware Aurora R9, which boasts a cool-looking exterior, but their specs are practically comparable. Only, the R8 will set you back a couple of hundred dollars/pounds less, giving you more for your money. Get ready to be impressed by this PCs’ 1440p gaming performance. Read the full review: Alienware Aurora R8 See more like this: the best gaming PCs The Corsair One Pro i180's breathtaking performance should be enough to convince you to splurge. If that cool, slimline design and that Corsair One name aren’t enough to convince you to upgrade to this latest offering, then the Corsair One Pro i180’s breathtaking performance should. This is among the most powerful desktop computers we’ve ever had the pleasure of testing, albeit the most expensive as well – so get a hammer and break that piggy bank. This will more than handle your favorite AAA games, as well as see you through your creative workload quietly and without breaking a sweat. And, it’s reasonably upgradeable as well, making it future-proof. Read the full review: Corsair One Pro i180 Your bank account will be spared if you jump on the Mac mini bandwagon. It’s easy to think of Apple computers as overpriced, but your bank account will be spared if you jump on the Mac mini bandwagon. The Mac mini 2018 is a small form-factor PC that looks adorable and also packed tight with high-end desktop parts. And, that’s all for a much more accessible price than any other Mac on the market, making it a great buy for anyone who already has a slew of Mac-ready peripherals or for a Mac fan who doesn’t have the budget for a Mac Pro. What’s more, unlike many of Apple’s recent products, the Mac mini is relatively upgradeable – you can boost your memory up to 64GB of RAM. Read the full review: Apple Mac mini See more like this: the best Macs 2019 Looking more like a thumb drive than an actual computer, this tiny renegade can connect to any monitor. Some people have issues with desktop PCs, as they’re often rather bulky. The Intel Core Compute Stick has made that irrelevant. Looking more like a thumb drive than an actual computer, this tiny renegade can connect to any monitor with an HDMI input. Its base starts with a lowly 1.33GHz Intel Atom processor running Linux, but can be configured up to an Intel Core m5 processor. This is one of the best PCs, but one that you can literally slip in your pocket, whether you need to get some work done during your daily commute or squeeze in some PC time while you’re traveling. Lenovo Yoga A940 is full of impressive features.  As a designer, if you don’t fall in love with Lenovo Yoga A940’s thoughtful design, then we don’t know what will. This innovative all-in-one desktop boasts a stunning 27-inch 4K UHD display with up to 25-degree tilt, pen support and a rotating hinge for stability. It’s full of impressive features as well, like the Lenovo Precision Dial that you can attach on the left or right side of the hinge, whatever feels most comfortable for you and your process. And, unlike the best Macs, it offers 100% Adobe RGB support, an LED light at the bottom of the screen and even wireless smartphone charging. If you’re a content creator or designer, and you’re looking for an AIO that allows you a truly seamless workflow, this is the best computer for you. Read the full review: Lenovo Yoga A940 iMac Pro is designed specifically for professionals and creatives. Unfortunately, what does hold Lenovo Yoga A940 back are its less powerful, slightly aging internals. If you want an all-in-one powerhouse that absolutely blows you away in terms of performance, then the iMac Pro is the best computer for you. This AIO designed specifically for professionals and creatives may not be super rich in features, but it’s got a lot to offer where it truly counts. That includes its vibrant 27-inch 5K display with a P3 wide color gamut, mind-blowing Radeon Pro Vega graphics, and plenty of memory for all your exacting workloads. Just be prepared to shell out a bunch of cash, as this doesn’t come cheap. Read the full review: iMac Pro Raspberry Pi 4 Model B is a powerful computer with the fantastic update it rightly deserves. Despite its tiny size – it’s so small, it doesn’t even have its own chassis, the Raspberry Pi boards have proven themselves to be utterly capable little machines, surprisingly capable of handling everyday productivity tasks like word processing and spreadsheets. And, with the Raspberry Pi 4 Model B, we see this powerful computer getting the fantastic update it rightly deserves. Finally, the Raspberry Pi line gives you a desktop computer and a platform to experiment and create. Read the full review: Raspberry Pi 4 Model B Specifications (as reviewed) Product Dell XPS Tower Special Edition Microsoft Surface Studio 2 Intel Hades Canyon NUC Alienware Aurora R7 Corsair One i160 Apple Mac mini (Late 2018) Intel Compute Stick CPU Intel Core i7-8700 Intel Core i7-7820HQ Intel Core i7-8809G Intel Core i7-8700K Intel Core i9-9900K Intel Core i3-8100 Intel Atom x5-Z8500 Graphics Nvidia GeForce GTX 1070 Nvidia GeForce GTX 1070 Radeon RX Vega M GH graphics Nvidia GeForce GTX 1080 Ti Nvidia GeForce RTX 2080 Ti Intel UHD Graphics 630 N/A RAM 16GB DDR4 32GB DDR4 16GB DDR4 32GB DDR4 32GB DDR4 8GB DDR4 2GB LPDDR3 Storage 256GB PCIe NVMe SSD, 1TB HDD (7,200 rpm) 1TB PCIe SSD 118GB Intel Optane SSD 800P Series (NVMe), 512GB Intel SSD 545s Series (M.2 SATA) 512GB M.2 PCIe NVMe SSD, 2TB HDD 480GB M.2 NVMe SSD, 2TB HDD 128GB PCIe SSD 32GB Bill Thomas and Gabe Carey have also contributed to this article Image Credits: TechRadar While you’re at it, we’ve also found the best gaming desktop PC you can buy This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now

Best monitor 2019: the top 10 monitors and displays we’ve reviewed Posted: 19 Dec 2019 10:04 AM PST Make your life simpler by adding one of the best monitors 2019 has to offer to your setup. A monitor, after all, is like the window to your computer’s soul, and it can make or break your computing experience. The better the monitor, the more immersive your experience will be – whether for gaming, light and casual computing, or long creative processes like video editing and 3D design. That’s not all – utilizing one of the best monitors will be easy on your eyes. If you’re spending hours and hours staring on your display, this is especially integral. To find one of the best monitors for you, consider a few things. Do you want one with insanely fast refresh rates that’s perfect for gaming, or do you need a massive screen (an ultrawide monitor, perhaps) so you have more than enough real estate when video editing? Or do you want USB-C monitor to serve as the secondary screen for your Ultrabook? Whatever it is you’re looking for, you’ll certainly find it here. We’ve put together a list of our picks for the best monitor – all rigorously evaluated by us – for your consideration. Whether you’re a gamer, a video editor, or a casual user simply looking for a better display, you’ll find the best monitor for you below. Best monitors 2019 at a glance: BenQ PD3200U AOC Agon AG352UCG6 Black Edition Asus ROG Swift PG27UQ Acer Predator X34 Asus Designo Curve MX38VC Dell UltraSharp UP3218K BenQ EX3203R Alienware 25 BenQ Zowie XL2540 MSI Optix MPG341CQR 3D designers particularly love the BenQ PD3200U. Now that the best PCs can handle 4K easier than ever before, the best 4K monitors are all over the place. That’s why BenQ released the PD3200U, a massive 32-inch Ultra HD display, as part of its Designer Monitor range. 3D designers particularly love this display, thanks to the factory-calibrated color accuracy and CAD/CAM mode. Marketed to creatives and professionals, BenQ has designed, seemingly by mistake, a panel that gamers will enjoy as well, making it one of the best monitors all-around – so long as they can find the space for it on their desks. Read the full review: BenQ PD3200U The AOC Agon AG352UCG6 Black Edition is one of the best monitors if you're wanting an ultra-wide display. Though the AOC Agon AG352UCG6 Black Edition is a gaming monitor through and through, it’s one of the best monitors if you’re wanting an ultra-wide display. With its exceptional color support, strong contrast ratio incredibly speedy 120Hz refresh rate, everything you do on your PC will look better and feel faster. It’s on the more expensive side, but this ultra-wide monitor can significantly boost productivity, making it totally worth the hefty price. As long as you have the hardware to drive it, it’s one of the best monitors money can buy. Read the full review: AOC Agon AG352UCG6 Black Edition  The Asus ROG Swift PG27UQ combines so many high-end features. If you’ve been searching for one of the best monitors, and you’re ready to just give up and buy the most expensive monitor you can find, you’re in luck. The Asus ROG Swift PG27UQ combines so many high-end features that it almost seems like too much. It doesn’t just feature a 4K UHD display at 144Hz, but it also rocks Nvidia G-Sync and HDR. This is simply the best monitor on the market, but it will also cost an arm and a leg. If you’re playing games, doing photo and video editing work, or even just general desktop work, you can’t go wrong with this monitor, as long as you have the cash to shell out. Read the full review: Asus ROG Swift PG27UQ  The Acer Predator X34 is a fantastic example of what an ultra-wide monitor can do. When you’re growing tired of the same old 16:9 aspect ratio, nothing hits the spot like a cinematic 21:9 display. It’s not the best for watching Netflix or YouTube, but the Acer Predator X34 is a fantastic example of what an ultra-wide monitor can do. Boasting an eye-catching aluminum bezel and polygonal stand that looks like a bird’s foot, this massive 34-inch monitor is a marvel to behold. More significantly, armed with Nvidia’s G-Sync tech, you won’t require V-Sync stressing out your graphics card. The Acer Predator X34 does all the heavy lifting for you. This is about as immersive as a gaming monitor can get, and one of the best monitors to buy this 2019. Read the full review: Acer Predator X34 The Asus Designo Curve MX38VC has a massive 3,840 x 1,600 resolution. Ultrawide monitors have been around for a while: they’ve constantly made it on folks’ the best monitors list for a few years now, in fact. These wide monitors are lifesavers when it comes to productivity, and they’re only increasing in popularity. The Asus Designo Curve MX38VC, however, takes it to the next level. Not only does this monitor have a massive 3,840 x 1,600 resolution, but with USB-C compatibility and a Qi wireless charger built into the base, it’s going to be a workplace companion you won’t want to live without. It’s a tad pricey, and doesn’t feature HDR, but that’s a worthy sacrifice, especially for professionals. Read the full review: Asus Designo Curve MX38VC  The Dell UltraSharp UP3218K's build quality and color reproduction are the best in the business as well. We don’t usually run into technology that’s so far ahead of the curve that we’re left dumbfounded, which is why the Dell UltraSharp UP3218K has impressed us even more. Finding one of the best monitors that can reach the raw gorgeousness this one can should be next to impossible. It’s not just the resolution, either. Dell went so far as to ensure that the build quality and color reproduction are the best in the business as well. The Dell UltraSharp UP3218K is aimed at professionals, obviously, so if that sounds like it’s made for you, it’s probably the best monitor you’ll ever find. Read the full review: Dell UltraSharp UP3218K  This product is only available in the US and UK at the time of this writing. Australian readers: check out a fine alternative in the BenQ PD3200U  The BenQ EX3203R offers a ton of high-end features in a product that is very reasonably priced. If you’re looking for a first-rate 1440p monitor with HDR for multimedia and gaming, then the BenQ EX3203R might be the display for you. One of the best monitors this 2019, this one’s noteworthy as it offers a ton of high-end features in a product that is very reasonably priced. Sure, 32 inches might sound like a bit much for a monitor, but the 1800R curvature on this BenQ panel means that it’s easy to use, both for productivity, as well as for immersion in your games and media. Read the full review: BenQ EX203R  This product is only available in the US at the time of writing. UK and Australian readers: check out a fine alternative in the Acer S277HK   The Alienware 25 will all but eliminate screen tearing. If you’re on a tight budget, then this might break the bank – like any Alienware product would. Still, Dell’s 25-inch gaming monitor will all but eliminate screen tearing, and whether you’re using an AMD Radeon VII or an Nvidia GeForce RTX 2080, there’s a configuration for you. With G-Sync or FreeSync taking some of the heavy lifting off the GPU that would otherwise be spent on VSync, the Alienware 25’s 120Hz refresh rate might actually be reasonable. The 1ms response time? Well, that’s just the cherry on top. Read the full review: Alienware 25  The BenQ Zowie XL2540 gives up dazzling lighting effects for a ridiculous 240Hz refresh rate. It might seem farfetched, but the BenQ Zowie XL2540 is every bit the gaming monitor that the Asus Predator X34 is. While it may not appear like it from the outside looking in, it does its job incredibly well too, giving up dazzling lighting effects for a ridiculous 240Hz refresh rate and almost-instantaneous 1ms response time. There’s no G-Sync or FreeSync, as this monitor assumes you already have a rig that’s more than capable of eliminating screen tears without any help. Instead, this monitor keeps it simple by providing you with lots of visual presets, an “S Switch” control pod for managing those presets and a pair of adjustable light screens. Read the full review: BenQ Zowie XL2540 The MSI Optix MPG341CQR has a super-wide resolution, incredibly fast response time and a viewing angle of 178 degrees. If you’re searching for a gaming monitor with a super-wide 1440p resolution, incredibly fast response time of 1ms, a viewing angle of 178 degrees and a quick refresh rate, then the MSI Optix MPG341CQR is something you should consider. If not for those, then perhaps for the fact that MSI has decided to go with a VA panel, as opposed to IPS, giving it more contrast and punchier colors. A few bonuses are included, as well: snazzy “Mystic Light” RGD LEDs, USB-C connectivity, an integrated camera and a competitive price. Read the full review: MSI Optix MPG341CQR Gabe Carey, Bill Thomas and Michelle Rae Uy have also contributed to this article Image Credits: TechRadar This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now

The Sony Xperia 6 might be Sony's first 5G smartphone Posted: 19 Dec 2019 10:02 AM PST Sony's next mid-range smartphone might pack a Snapdragon 765 chipset, if this Geekbench test result is to be believed.  A screenshot of the result, found by AndroidNext, shows a phone labeled similarly to Sony's particular naming scheme (a letter and four numbers). In this case, 'K8220' starts with a letter that identifies it as coming out this year; since all of 2019's Sony phones had technical names starting with J, then K is probably what will be used for handsets in 2020, reasons GSM Arena.  Here are the best Android phones Read our Google Pixel 4 review As for the chipset, the test result lists an 8-core Qualcomm processor with an identifier we've seen before - on the Geekbench test results for the Oppo Reno3 Pro 5G, which we just learned will pack the Snapdragon 765G. Finally, a 5G Sony phone? Yes, 5G - Oppo's phone will be capable of connecting to the next-gen networks thanks to its version of the new Snapdragon premium mid-range processor that Qualcomm just introduced. It's unclear if this new Sony phone would pack the standard or 5G version - we'll have to wait and see.  If so, it could be Sony's first 5G phone - and given that the Snapdragon 765 is meant for phones under top-tier flagship, it could be a more affordable 5G device. In other words, a phone somewhere in power between the flagship Xperia 5 and the affordable mid-range Xperia 10. This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now

Best Nvidia GeForce GTX 1660 Ti: which version is best for your PC? Posted: 19 Dec 2019 10:01 AM PST For anyone who is looking for an affordable GPU, the Nvidia GeForce GTX 1660 Ti is perhaps the best graphics card that offers great value without compromising on what’s most important. This Nvidia Turing card hits that sweet spot between price and performance.  By taking the RT and Tensor cores that power Nvidia’s new RTX and Deep Learning Super Sampling (DLSS) technologies out of the equation, Nvidia has managed to make this card more affordable while also delivering a performance that rivals the best of them. So you’ve got the best budget Nvidia graphics card on the market (though admittedly the GTX 1660 does a commendable job of catching up) – not to mention, one that’s growing faster than other Nvidia Turing cards. As the company didn’t roll the Nvidia GeForce GTX 1660 Ti with its own Founders Edition, there’s a wide variety of these cards going for varying prices. To give you the best value for your money, we found all the best Nvidia GeForce GTX 1660 Ti models on the market today. Rest assured, you’re getting your money’s worth with every single card on this list. PNY GeForce GTX 1660 Ti XLR8 Gaming OC delivers the dream of 1440p Ultra quality gameplay at 60 fps. The PNY GeForce GTX 1660 Ti XLR8 Gaming OC may not look like much, being tiny and all. But, this one’s small yet mighty, packing a punch with its 70MHz factory overclock and solid specs. This card delivers the dream of 1440p Ultra quality gameplay at 60 fps, and it’s guaranteed to blow you away. If that isn’t enough, all of this performance will cost less than 300 smackers. This is the one of the best bang-for-your-buck graphics cards you’ll find right now; your wallet will thank you. Read the full review: PNY GeForce GTX 1660 Ti XLR8 Gaming OC  Thanks to its extreme cooling system, overclocking the Asus ROG Strix GTX 1660 Ti OC is a breeze. If you’re looking to max out the performance of the GeForce GTX 1660 Ti, then the Asus ROG Strix GTX 1660 Ti OC might just be the card for you. It’s an ace in our book, especially considering that it delivers the highest factory overclock we’ve seen on this mid-range graphics card yet. In addition, its enormous heatsink and triple axial fans keep this card running a full 10C cooler than most of its rivals. Thanks to its extreme cooling system, overclocking this card is a breeze. Read the full review: Asus ROG Strix GTX 1660 Ti OC review  Gigabyte GeForce GTX 1660 Ti Windforce OC utilizes 3D molded curves on its fan blades for an extremely effective airflow. Prefer a more middle of the road Nvidia GeForce GTX 1660 card? The Gigabyte GeForce GTX 1660 Ti Windforce OC is the nearest thing you can find to the average GeForce GTX 1660 Ti. It’s only packed with a middle-of-the-road dual-fan cooler. However, Gigabyte offsets that by utilizing 3D molded curves on its fan blades for an extremely effective airflow, which is further improved by the graphics card’s fans also spinning in alternate directions. Rounding its features out is a 1,845MHz boost clock. This card undoubtedly delivers more performance for not much more cash. Palit GeForce GTX 1660 Ti StormX OC packs all the power of a full-sized GTX 1660 Ti. Besides being one of the best Nvidia GeForce GTX 1660 Ti available, Palit GeForce GTX 1660 Ti StormX OC is one of the most compact graphics cards ever designed, intended to fit in the tiniest of PC cases. Don’t let the small size fool you, however: this graphics card still packs all the power of a full-sized GTX 1660 Ti and then some, with a factory set 1,815MHz boost clock. Best of all, you won’t have to pay extra for this mini GeForce GTX 1660 Ti, so it will also save you some silver. The MSI GeForce GTX 1660 TI Gaming X 6G is easily the best looking of the bunch. Just because it’s a mid-range card doesn’t mean it can’t also be trendy. If you’re building a cool-looking and immersive gaming rig, the MSI GeForce GTX 1660 TI Gaming X 6G is easily the best looking of the bunch, with a stylish aesthetic and fully programmable RGB lighting. You can personalize how it glows in sync with an MSI motherboard, which only enhances your immersion in the game. As far as performance, this card also delivers a solid one, which it couples with a Twin Frozr cooler to keep things chilled. Find the best processors to go with this budget graphics card This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now

Best wireless routers 2019: the best routers for your home network Posted: 19 Dec 2019 09:57 AM PST You might think that having the best wireless routers isn’t necessary, but you’d be wrong. Especially if you’re a gamer battling opponents from all over the world, a remote worker who works from home or a parent with several kids at home sharing the family network, having a high-quality router is vital for your online connection.  You don’t want your router to be the bottleneck that’s keeping your internet service chugging along at a snail’s pace. A weak or intermittent connection is more than just frustrating. And, a wireless router that’s extremely reliable will ensure that you won’t get a bad connection in the middle of an intense game on PC, while working on a project with your team or when streaming Netflix on movie night.  As the options for wireless routers are extensive, we’ve put together a list of the best wireless routers on the market. We’ve tested these devices so you know they’re up to the task. So that when you’re ready to upgrade, you won’t have to spend a lot of time doing research. Best wireless routers 2019 at a glance Google Nest Wifi  Google Wifi Asus RT-AC86U Netgear Nighthawk Pro Gaming XR500 TP-Link Archer C5400 v2 Netgear Orbi Pro Netgear Orbi AC2200 RBK23 TP-Link Deco M9 D-Link Covr-C1203 Eero Home Wi-Fi System Google Nest Wifi takes the Google Wifi and gives it the capabilities of Google Home. Google kicks things up a notch in its Google Wifi line with its latest installment. Don’t get us wrong; the original Google Wifi is still among the best wireless routers today. However, if you’re all about the smart home life, then you’ll appreciate the pure genius of Google Nest Wifi. This wireless router takes the Google Wifi, gives it the capabilities of Google Home and wraps it all up in an even sleeker and more appealing package. It’s a mesh router and a smart speaker in one, all with the simplicity that Google Wifi is known for. Read the full review: Google Nest Wifi Google Wifi is proof that the mesh revolution is coming. The days of traditional wireless routers are coming to an end; the age of the wireless mesh routers is here. Google Wi-Fi, alone, is proof that the mesh revolution is upon us, which means that you might be saying goodbye to the days when the only way to have wireless bliss was to install a number of wireless extenders. The idea of Google Wi-Fi is simple: purchase a set of points, put them in strategic places around the house and then scan a QR code. And, just like that, you’re connected anywhere you are in your home. It’s no surprise that this wireless mesh router claims the loftiest spot on our best wireless routers list of 2019, as it’s also the one that’s most effortless to set up and get going. Read the full review: Google Wifi Asus RT-AC86U easily outclasses practically all the wireless routers on the market. If you’re well-acquainted with Asus, especially its gaming computers, then you likely have a general idea of what the Asus RT-AC86U brings to the table. This wireless router may look like the lovechild of Doritos and Mountain Dew, if they spent a night together in a router making machine. But, inside that kitschy gaming aesthetic is a wireless router that, for its price, effortlessly outclasses almost all of its rivals on the market. Even better, you’re also not paying a premium for a gaming device, so if you’re looking for a high-speed connection with an affordable price tag, the Asus RT-AC86U should be at the top of your list. Read the full review: Asus RT-AC86U  Netgear Nighthawk Pro Gaming XR500 is supercharged for your online gaming needs. The Netgear Nighthawk Pro Gaming XR500 might be pricey and lacks a broadband modem. However, this is still a router that delivers, especially on getting those pings down. Designed for homes with gamers in-house, it’s supercharged for your online gaming needs, keeping those high “ping” and latency rates down to deliver an excellent connection whether you’re playing Call of Duty or PUBG. If you’re willing to pay a pretty penny – and if you’re a serious gamer, you should be – this is one of the best wireless routers to consider. Read the full review: Netgear Nighthawk Pro Gaming XR500 This product is only available in the US and UK at the time of this writing. Australian readers: check out a fine alternative in the Google Wifi.  TP-Link Archer C5400 v2 can bridge consumer and enterprise users by offering high-end functionality at a reasonable price point. Are you in the market for one of the best wireless routers of 2019 and don’t mind a quirky design. If a ‘90s-inspired sci-fi design sounds like it will fit right in your home, then the TP-Link Archer C5400 v2 might be the best wireless router for you. It’s not exactly the most modern-looking mesh router out there, but it’s unique in that it can bridge consumer and enterprise users by offering high-end functionality at a reasonable price point and with a relaxed setup. It’s peculiar looking, yes; however, if you’re scouring the market for a wireless router that can cover a mid-sized home, you can’t go wrong with this. Read the full review: TP-Link Archer C5400 v2 Netgear Orbi Pro is a modular Wi-Fi mesh router. If you need to bring your office’s networking into the modern age with one of the best routers of 2019, then you must seriously consider getting the Netgear Orbi Pro. It’s a modular Wi-Fi mesh router that takes some design and performance inspiration from its business-grade competitors. It’s on the more expensive side. However, if you’re running a business where you cannot afford any lags due to poor Wi-Fi, then it’s absolutely worth every penny. Read the full review: Netgear Orbi Pro Netgear Orbi AC2200 RBK23 is an economical alternative for casual users. When the Netgear Orbi hit the streets, it changed the wireless router scene. Then, in 2019, Netgear released the Netgear Orbi AC2200 RBK23, an economical alternative for casual users who don’t have a grand manor to cover. This makes it a worthy contender for the best wireless routers. Sure, it comes with fewer antennae and ethernet ports than its higher end counterpart. However, it does deliver more than enough to provide very solid network coverage. Plus, the small form factor means that it will have no issues blending in­ – not that you will feel the need to hide it. Read the full review: Netgear Orbi AC2200 RBK23  TP-Link Deco M9 incorporates IoT smart home support, alongside industry standard speeds and coverage. The market is now flooded with wireless mesh routers, but it’s hard to complain when the level of coverage these wireless routers brings tops anything we’ve seen before. With devices like the TP-Link Deco M9, one of the best routers of 2019, we can see how they’re only getting better and better. By incorporating IoT smart home support, alongside industry standard speeds and coverage, the TP-Link Deco M9 is, without question, an excellent choice for a smart home supporter. Fair warning though, this router is a tad expensive. However, you’re also getting all these features and an outstanding performance in exchange. Read the full review: TP-Link Deco M9 D-Link Covr C1203 is one of the best wireless routers if you want to upgrade and save at the same time. Ready to jump on the mesh wireless router bandwagon, but without breaking open that piggy bank? You’re in luck with the affordable D-Link Covr C1203. It’s one of the best wireless routers, if you want to upgrade and save at the same time. It offers comparable coverage to that of the Google Wi-Fi while also being affordable, and it also looks futuristic in a great way. It’s somewhat slower than Google’s legendary router, but it will still be fast enough for the typical user. It’s no surprise that the D-Link Covr C1203 gets our vote as one of the best wireless routers of 2019. Read the full review: D-Link Covr-C1203  Eero Home Wi-Fi System gives users total control over their network while touting a secure connection through AI. If you’re in the market for a wireless mesh router that gives you a lot of control over your network, then the Eero Home Wi-Fi system might just be the answer. It has a price more premium than that of your standard router, but it also gives users total control over their network while touting a secure connection through AI. Even better, the Eero Home Wi-Fi System comes with subscriptions to 1Password, MalwareBytes and Encrypt.me VPN, which should keep everyone linked to your network safe and secure.  Read the full review: Eero Home Wi-Fi System  Joe Osborne, Bill Thomas, Gabe Carey and Michelle Uy have also contributed to this article Images Credit: TechRadar We’ve also picked out the best best wifi extenders of 2019 This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now

LG’s 38-inch monitor looks like it could be a dream screen for ultrawide fans Posted: 19 Dec 2019 09:53 AM PST LG has lifted the curtain on a bunch of monitors which it will show off at CES 2020, including a 38-inch ultrawide which has a seriously tempting spec. LG’s new 38-inch ultrawide has a curved screen with a resolution of 3,840 x 1,600, and it’s another big ‘Nano IPS’ monitor, meaning it gives you an IPS panel (with those vivid colors, and great viewing angles) along with a 1ms response time (normally IPS tech is much slower). Alienware 55 OLED Gaming Monitor: How big is too big? These are the best ultrawide monitors for 2020 And check out the 10 best gaming monitors of the year On top of that, you also get a 144Hz refresh rate, and the 38WN95C is officially Nvidia G-Sync compatible, so it’s easy to imagine how gamers who fancy a 21:9 panel might be salivating at this point. And ultrawide monitors are certainly proving more and more popular these days, for those who want a truly immersive and cinematic experience with the latest games. Furthermore, the LG 38WN95C also sports Thunderbolt 3 connectivity, and that IPS display is certified as covering 98% of the DCI P3 color space, meaning colors are highly realistic and true to life (plus on the HDR front, the display is also certified as VESA DisplayHDR 600). If you don’t want ultrawide, then LG has new UltraGear gaming monitors on offer, with a 27-inch model, 34-inch and 38-inch (pictured top). These are 4K screens, again with an IPS panel that has a 1ms response time, and a refresh rate of 144Hz; although in this case it can be overclocked to 160Hz. The main difference between these three models, aside from the size, is that the 34-inch will support VESA DisplayHDR 400, whereas the 27-inch and 38-inch are certified as VESA DisplayHDR 600. All these monitors are getting an upgraded stand, by the way, which LG says offers more stability than its previous design, not to mention it looks better (which never hurts). These screens support adaptive sync tech and are G-Sync compatible. Stands to reason Finally, the hardware manufacturer has something a little different in the form of the LG UltraFine Ergo Display, which as the name suggests, offers some ergonomic benefits – although considerably beyond what we normally see in the monitor world. This is a 32-inch 4K IPS monitor that’s on an arm attached to a stand which is essentially a cylinder that is clamped to your desk (see the image above). So the monitor effectively takes up no space, and using the flexible arm, it can be adjusted to all manner of different positions. In the workplace, this means you can even swivel it around to face in the opposite direction, to quickly show a colleague something on your screen, for instance. LG’s 32UN880 also promises excellent color reproduction and accuracy – it’s an UltraFine display after all – and the company notes that its ‘USB-C One Cable’ solution means you won’t have any clutter of leads, either. This is one minimalist monitor, that’s for sure. The full specs include a 4K resolution, as mentioned, a 5ms response time, 60Hz refresh rate, and it supports HDR10, as well as FreeSync. No pricing has been mentioned for any of these products yet, although we could hear more about the potential damage to your wallet – which may well be substantial in some cases here – at CES 2020. CES 2020: Here's what you can expect to see at the world’s biggest tech event This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now

AMD Ryzen 3000 release date, news and rumors Posted: 19 Dec 2019 09:52 AM PST Now that AMD Ryzen 3000 is here, Team Red is on a fast track to the top of the processor food chain. This has long been expected, especially with the first generation Ryzen chips changing the market for the better and the Ryzen 2nd Generation managing to double Intel’s sales in 2018. With the highly anticipated Ryzen 3rd Generation processors bringing the 7-nanometer (nm) Zen 2 architecture to the mainstream for the very first time while keeping the cost low for the mass consumer, there’s no stopping AMD. Especially with Intel having a lot of issues with introducing 10nm Cannon Lake chips and its next HEDT lineup staying on 14nm. On top of that, these new AMD Ryzen processors bring up to 16-cores and 32-threads to the mainstream for the first time in the Ryzen 9 3950X, which is already breaking world overclocking records.  For everything you need to know about Ryzen 3000, we put everything on this page. Be sure to keep it bookmarked, as we’ll update it with any new Ryzen 3rd generation information that comes our way. Cut to the chase What is it? AMD’s next line of mainstream processors When is it out? Out since July 7, 2019 What will it cost? Starting at $199 (about £160, AU$290) AMD presenting the AMD Ryzen 3rd Generation at CES 2019. (Image Credit: TechRadar) AMD Ryzen 3rd Generation release date The AMD Ryzen 3rd Generation processors, first announced at CES 2019, finally arrived on July 7 – with one notable exception. The AMD Ryzen 9 3950X, the surprise reveal of E3 2019, was supposed to be out now. However, we recently heard it has been delayed to November, not because of supply issues, but because of alleged problems with ‘unsatisfactory’ clock speeds. As for future models, apparently AMD could be working on unannounced Ryzen 3000-series processors, including the Ryzen 9 3900, Ryzen 7 3700 and Ryzen 5 3500. And, if Intel really does launch something that could compete with the AMD Ryzen 9 3900X, we’re sure AMD will have something waiting in the wings with which to compete. AMD presenting the AMD Ryzen 3rd Generation at CES 2019. (Image Credit: TechRadar) AMD Ryzen 3rd Generation price At AMD’s Computex 2019 keynote, Team Red showcased several processors from the Ryzen 5 3600 to the Ryzen 9 3900X. These CPUs offer seriously impressive options from the mid-range to the high-end. Curiously, there have been no announcements of any 7nm Zen 2 processors for the budget sector, but at least AMD launched new APUs in the Ryzen 3 3300G and Ryzen 5 3400G at $99 (£94, AU$144) and $149 (£139, AU$240), respectively. AMD Ryzen 9 3950X: $749 (about £590, AU$1,080) AMD Ryzen 9 3900X: $499 (about £390, AU$720) AMD Ryzen 7 3800X: $399 (about £310, AU$580) AMD Ryzen 7 3700X: $329 (about £260, AU$480) AMD Ryzen 5 3600X: $249 (about £200, AU$360) AMD Ryzen 5 3600: $199 (about £160, AU$290) AMD Ryzen 5 3400G: $149 (£139, AU$240) AMD Ryzen 3 3300G: $99 (£94, AU$144) The AMD Ryzen 3rd Generation delivers significant performance bumps, with power consumption taking a nosedive. (Image credit: TechRadar) AMD Ryzen 3rd Generation specs Now that the AMD Ryzen 3rd Generation lineup has been released, we know exactly what’s inside these new 7nm processors for consumers. You should experience significant performance bumps, with power consumption taking a nosedive. Improvements all around. The 7nm Zen 2 architecture found in AMD Ryzen 3rd Generation processors not only allows AMD to bring TDP down to just 65W in the Ryzen 5 3600 and the Ryzen 7 3700X, but it also implements a considerable 15% improvement to IPC (instructions per clock) performance. This should see performance go up, resulting in some of the best processors for gaming. On the high-end, there’s the Ryzen 9 3950X, an absolute monster of a processor sporting 16-cores and 32-threads, with a 4.7GHz boost clock. These specs are stunning in their own right, but what really takes it to the next level is that it manages to do it with a relatively low 105W TDP.  Then, there’s the AMD Ryzen 9 3900X, and while it’s not as impressive as the 3950X – at least on paper – it still packs 12-cores and 24-threads of high-performance power. With boost clocks up to 4.6GHz, it’s an impressive amount of power for that 105W TDP, even if temperatures get a little high. And, for about the same price point, the Ryzen 9 3900X is between 25%-40% faster than the Intel Core i9-9900K in multi-threaded loads. And there’s the AMD Ryzen 7 3700X, which boasts 8-core, 16-thread and a TDP of just 65W. Just like the Ryzen 9 3900X, it’s also an absolute beast when it comes to multi-threaded workloads. As far as the rumored new wave of Ryzen 3000 processors, well, the AMD Ryzen 9 3900 would be a lower-powered version of the excellent AMD Ryzen 9 3900X, with a similar relationship between the Ryzen 7 3700 and the Ryzen 7 3700X. They are apparently will have the same core and thread counts as their X counterparts, only with TDPs of 65W. But, AMD Ryzen 3rd Generation is more than just the mid-range and the top-end. We went ahead and listed out all the specs below: AMD Ryzen 9 3950X – 16-cores, 32-threads | 4.7GHz boost, 3.5GHz base | 105W AMD Ryzen 9 3900X – 12-cores, 24-threads | 4.6GHz boost, 3.8GHz base | 105W  AMD Ryzen 7 3800X – 8-cores, 16-threads | 4.5GHz boost, 3.9GHz base | 105W AMD Ryzen 7 3700X – 8-cores, 16-threads | 4.4GHz boost, 3.6GHz base | 65W AMD Ryzen 5 3600X – 6-cores, 12-threads | 4.4GHz boost, 3.8GHz base | 95W AMD Ryzen 5 3600 – 6-cores, 12-threads | 4.2GHz boost, 3.6GHz base | 65W AMD Ryzen 5 3400G – 4-cores, 8-threads | 4.2GHz boost, 3.7GHz base | 65W At every level, AMD Ryzen 3rd Generation brings better performance and concurrently lowers power consumption over the previous generation. Of course, AMD boasted some benchmarks where it flexed on the competition, but that’s par for the course. The X570 chipset also marks a generational improvement in computing. Along with the faster processors, the biggest improvement is the support for PCIe 4.0, exclusive to AMD. This new generation of PCIe brings faster graphics cards and SSDs to AMD’s platform. It delivers up to 51% faster SSD performance, along with 69% faster graphics performance – though that will be exclusive to AMD Navi graphics cards for now. X570 also brings native support to four SuperSpeed USB ports, with a maximum bandwidth of 10Gbps. This will support both USB-A and USB-C connections, and while it’s not as fast as Thunderbolt 3, the native support should lead to wider adoption across desktop motherboards. Ryzen isn’t just about desktop components. At E3 2019, Microsoft revealed that its follow up to the Xbox, Project Scarlett, will be powered by a custom SoC made of a Zen 2 processor and an AMD Navi GPU. Slated for a "Holiday 2020" release, Project Scarlett is rumored to be four times more powerful than the Xbox One X having the ability to run games at 120FPS and potentially 8K resolutions. Michelle Rae Uy also contributed to this article. Images Credit: TechRadar AMD Ryzen Threadripper 3rd Generation HEDT processors could be even more impressive This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now

Best Asus router 2019: the top Asus routers for any budget Posted: 19 Dec 2019 09:48 AM PST If you’re looking for an excellent router, the best Asus routers are the ones to consider. They are not only the most popular models around, but they’re also some of the most competitive in the Wi-Fi router world. Asus has quite a collection of models as well, with offerings for both personal and business networks. So whatever it is you need – whether you’re a gamer who needs the absolute fastest wireless speeds or you simply want the best Wi-Fi coverage without shelling out a lot of money, you’ll certainly find the best Asus router for you. On this list, specifically, you’ll find the top performers in different departments, as well as the best overall model for those looking to find the right balance between price and performance. These are our top picks for the best Asus routers. Whatever it is you’ll need, you’ll find something here. Considering all brands? These are the best wireless routers of 2019 Image credit: Asus Okay, so our top overall pick for an Asus router might look like the head of a decapitated robot – with dark red eyes and an untidy antenna hairdo – but it’s performance, not appearance, we’re interested in here. The Asus RT-AC86U gives you AC2900 wireless speeds, range boosting for better Wi-Fi coverage around your home, and even gaming acceleration technology. In actual fact, the RT-AC86U is positioned as a gaming router – which explains the aesthetics – but don’t let that put you off. It’s very easy to set up and a fantastic all-rounder. The icing on the cake is that this Asus router, being one of last year’s models, can now be had (at the time of writing) for around a whopping 40% less than its launch price. It’s simply an incredible bargain in terms of price/performance ratio. Read the full review: Asus RT-AC86U Image credit: Asus For those whose budget can’t stretch to our overall champ above, the Asus RT-AC66U is a sterling more affordable option which still offers great performance levels for the asking price. It’s easy to get going with the RT-AC66U, and speeds remain impressive for what is by now quite an old router (the reason why the asking price has been cut in half compared to the original RRP). You also get a good range of features including Adaptive QoS to prioritize your internet traffic. Think of this as a workhorse Asus router which is still fully capable of getting the job done without breaking a sweat, and can be had without any danger of breaking the bank, too. Image credit: Asus If you want the cheapest possible Asus router out there, without having to resort to buying some ancient – or indeed possibly dust-caked, second-hand – hunk of plastic which will likely only give you heartache in the long run, this is the model to go for. In fact, we’d argue the RT-AC51U is pretty much as cheap as you can go while still getting a useful router. And it’s a reasonable enough model, offering 802.11ac dual-band Wi-Fi at solid enough speeds with a single USB (2.0) port for hooking up your printer or external storage. It’s a completely no-frills router, for sure, but the best Asus option at the true bargain-basement end of the market. Image credit: Asus Now, this is a slight curveball in that gamers will be well-served by our best overall router above, the Asus RT-AC86U, and its fantastic value proposition. But if you want to spend more for the absolute best router for gaming, then you need the Asus ROG Rapture GT-AC5300. This is a juiced-up-for-gamers version of the already excellent RT-AC5300, and like that model, it boasts strong tri-band Wi-Fi coverage thanks to eight antennas. While gamers of course swear by wired connections, wireless is still important for general usage (and gaming on mobile devices). Speaking of wired, the GT-AC5300 has no less than eight LAN ports, twice the amount of the RT-AC5300, plus it has a slightly higher spec elsewhere (like double the memory). Moreover, it bristles with advanced features, including gamer-specific adaptive QoS and acceleration to optimize your connection. As a gaming router, it really flies, but it isn’t cheap – although now this router has been around for a couple of years, it’s considerably more affordable than when first launched. The aforementioned RT-AC5300 is a good slightly cheaper alternative, but the price difference is so little at the time of writing, the clear choice for us is the ROG. Image credit: Asus The RT-AX88U is built around the latest 802.11ax wireless standard (newly renamed Wi-Fi 6, but manufacturers are still using the ‘ax’ label) for the fastest Wi-Fi speeds, while remaining a relatively affordable model – it’s far, far from cheap, but you’ll always pay through the nose for the very latest tech. This Asus router boasts superfast 5GHz speeds, and the 802.11ax tech also helps for better performance in congested wireless environments (where a lot of devices are being used over Wi-Fi). Remember, though, that you’ll need client devices which also support 802.11ax to get the full benefit of the router’s ax speeds, and there aren’t many around right now (Samsung’s Galaxy S10 smartphone is one). The good news, however, is that Wi-Fi performance is still blazingly quick even with 802.11ac devices. Image credit: Asus If money is no object, and you want the absolute highest-end Asus router bristling with all the very latest whistles and bells, then here it is. The ROG Rapture GT-AX11000 is a gaming model, as the ROG brand denotes, and the device has game boosting features – but it’s good for everything you might want to throw at it, not just online games. Like the above AX88U it sports 802.11ax, the very latest wireless standard (Wi-Fi 6) for extremely fast speeds even throughout a large house (there are eight antennas to help with Wi-Fi coverage). It also has a 2.5Gbit gaming Ethernet port, another nifty innovation. You get a very reliable router that copes well with potential network congestion (thanks to 802.11ax), with plentiful features including Adaptive QoS for prioritizing traffic and parental controls. That said, you do pay for all this. Image credit: TechRadar While we’ve pointed out some Asus routers with strong Wi-Fi coverage already, if you have a really big house, or other Wi-Fi dead-spot issues – perhaps caused by thick walls for example – then a mesh networking solution could be the way to go for the best wireless coverage. In this case, Asus offers up the Lyra Trio, a three-pack of dual-band mesh Wi-Fi devices. The idea here is that one device acts as a router unit, and the other two are satellites placed throughout the home, grabbing the signal from the router unit and extending the Wi-Fi coverage. The Lyra Trio should cover a two or three story home of up to 375 square meters, according to Asus. The main caveat here is that while we found overall performance solid enough in our review, the Lyra Trio was a tad inconsistent in terms of dropped connections, although potentially, firmware updates since then may (hopefully) have helped remedy this. Otherwise, Lyra is easy to install and configure, and competitively priced compared to rival mesh router products. As an extra bonus, you can also do your ironing with the Lyra Trio (okay, so you can’t – but you’d be fully forgiven for thinking otherwise, looking at the devices). Read the full review: Asus Lyra Trio (AC1750) Image credit: Asus For those after something a little different with a router – and a device to fit well into any burgeoning smart home – consider the Lyra Voice. This is actually an AC2200 router crossed with an Alexa smart speaker, so one of the immediate benefits is that you’re combining two devices into one. And you’re getting a neat-looking router that will blend in nicely in any living room (or wherever you place it). This tri-band router’s Wi-Fi performance is fairly impressive, and as a speaker, it actually sounds pretty good considering its relatively compact nature. The Lyra Voice is also a doddle to set up (via an app). Downsides are that you only get one Gigabit LAN port (and a WAN port), and furthermore on the wired connectivity front, you don’t get any USB ports to hook up other devices to your network. Still, this remains a novel all-in-one solution which definitely has its appeal.  We’ve also picked out the best Wi-Fi extenders This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now

Apple, Google, and Amazon team up to build open-source smart home standard Posted: 19 Dec 2019 09:34 AM PST Apple, Google and Amazon have announced that they will team up to develop an open-source smart home standard to make it easier for manufacturers to create new devices that work together. The goal of the new project is to ensure than any smart device a consumer buys will work in their home regardless of which smartphone or voice assistant their using. Google Nest's VP of engineering Nik Sathe and the company's principal engineer Grant Erickson explained how the new open-source smart home standard will benefit both developers and consumers in a blog post, saying: Smart home devices are being hit with more cyberattacks than ever Protecting your data in the age of smart homes Smart home security: 10 hacks to protect your home from hackers “Developers and consumers will benefit from this new universal smart home connectivity standard. For developers, it simplifies product development and reduces costs by giving them one standard for building their products. You will then have the power to choose how you want to control your homes, independent of which smart home technology you choose. Smart home devices will be compatible with various platforms, so you can choose between Google Assistant, Amazon Alexa, Apple Siri or other platforms.”   Project Connected Home over IP Apple, Google and Amazon have joined forces to form a new group called Project Connected Home over IP that will also be joined by the Zigbee Alliance smart home protocol whose board members include Ikea, Samsung SmartThings and Signify, the company behind Philips Hue. Technology from each of the three tech giants' existing smart home systems, Apple's HomeKit, Amazon's Alexa and Google's Weave, will also be contributed to the new standard and they plan on releasing an initial draft in late 2020. Project Connected Home over IP will also work alongside existing connectivity protocols such as Wi-Fi and Bluetooth as opposed to trying to replace them. According to the group, devices will likely have to support Wi-Fi, Bluetooth Low Energy or Thread in order to work with the new system. The new standard will also be based around internet protocol (IP) as should be clear from its name. However, not all devices will need to be directly connected to the internet and IP will be used for sending messages from a smart home device to “another device, app, or service” with “end-to-end security and privacy”. According to CNBC, Project Connected Home over IP will focus on physical safety devices such as smoke alarms, door locks, smart plugs, security systems and thermostats at its onset with other consumer devices coming down the line. We've also highlighted the best VPN services Via The Verge This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now

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