Apple : NordVPN boosts security with new bug bounty program

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• NordVPN boosts security with new bug bounty program
• iPhone 11 colors: the new options for the iPhone 11 and 11 Pro
• Mac Pro 2019: release date, price and specs
• Snatch ransomware reboots PCs into safe mode to get around security tools
• The best gaming chairs
• The best gaming routers
• This 50-inch 4TV deal is just $199 at Walmart
• The best tablets
• The best power banks
• The best Smart TVs
• Want wheels on the Mac Pro? That'll be $400, please
• London boroughs "aren't ready for 5G"
• Amazon blames Trump for loss of JEDI contract
• Microsoft finally puts Windows 10 Mobile to rest
• Chelsea vs Lille live stream: how to watch today's Champions League football from anywhere
• Virtually modelling surgery in real-time: a Q&A with HeartFlow
• That amazing Black Friday MacBook Air deal is still on
• Salzburg vs Liverpool live stream: how to watch Champions League football from anywhere
• The best 13-inch laptop

NordVPN boosts security with new bug bounty program Posted: 10 Dec 2019 01:45 PM PST As part of its ongoing efforts to boost the security of its VPN service, NordVPN has launched its own bug bounty program on the HackerOne platform. The new program is inviting ethical hackers and security researchers to look for potential security vulnerabilities in the VPN provider's software and report them for monetary rewards. Head of communications at NordVPN, Ruby Gonzalez explained how the company's new bug bounty program will help secure its infrastructure, saying: Microsoft paid out millions in bug bounties last year NordVPN Teams is a VPN solution for businesses Google offers million-dollar bug bounty reward “At NordVPN, we seek to make our infrastructure — and customers' data — as secure as possible. And community participation is essential for reaching this goal.” Bug bounty program NordVPN's new bug bounty program will encourage security researchers to analyze its website, applications and services. Through their efforts, the company hopes to increase both the quality and security of its VPN service. It is a win-win situation for researchers and NordVPN's users as researchers will receive cash rewards for finding bugs while users can rest assured knowing that their VPN service is scoured for bugs by thousands of people every day to make it as secure as possible. For minor issues, NordVPN will pay bounties from $100 while reporting critical flaws can earn researchers as much as $5,000. All of the findings must be reported using the HackerOne platform and the company will accept findings related to its applications, servers, backend services, website and more. NordVPN's bug pounty program is one of five measures the firm is implementing to enhance its security alongside switching to diskless RAM servers, undergoing a full infrastructure security audit, partnering with the cybersecurity company VerSprite and higher security standards. Also check out our complete list of the best VPN services This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now

iPhone 11 colors: the new options for the iPhone 11 and 11 Pro Posted: 10 Dec 2019 01:30 PM PST Apple has launched its full-featured iPhone 11 Pro and big-screen iPhone 11 Pro Max,  along with the budget flagship iPhone 11. No matter which you pick, there are plenty of fun colors to choose from, from traditional black or white to Spring pastels. Here are all the iPhone 11 hues you can get. iPhone 11 colors Six colors for the iPhone 11: Black White Green Yellow Purple Product Red The lower-cost iPhone 11, which starts at $699 / £729 / AU$1,199, comes in six colors. They don't have the fanciest names, but they do have a warmer look.  You'll have the option of black, white, yellow, green, purple and the signature Product Red. For all of these models, the color includes not only the back glass but also the metal edge around the phone. The front bezels and display notch on all versions will be black though. All colors start at the same price, including Product Red. The iPhone 11 opens for pre-order on September 13, and is available September 20. iPhone 11 Pro and iPhone 11 Pro Max colors Four colors for the iPhone 11 Pro: Space Gray Silver Midnight Green Gold The iPhone 11 Pro and iPhone 11 Pro Max share color options with each other, but they have unique colors from the standard, non-Pro iPhone 11.  Three of the color options are likely familiar to iPhone owners: Gold, Space Gray, and Silver. But, there's also one new color available: Midnight Green. And, like the non-pro models, the color scheme includes both the back glass and the metal frame. The iPhone 11 Pro starts at $999 / £1,049 / AU$1,749, and the Pro Max costs a little more at $1,099 / £1,149 /AU$1,899.  You'll get the same price regardless of which color you choose. The iPhone 11 Pro models have the same pre-order window of September 13 as the non-Pro models, and they also will be available in stores September 20. Want even more style options? Check out the Apple Watch 5 This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now

Mac Pro 2019: release date, price and specs Posted: 10 Dec 2019 01:27 PM PST Mac Pro 2019 was unveiled at Apple's WWDC 2019 event, where the company showcased the latest update to its powerful professional PC, brimming with some of the latest high-end hardware to make it Apple’s most powerful machine for years. And now it's finally here The Mac Pro 2019 comes with up to a 28-core Intel Xeon processor, on top of 1.5TB of 6-channel ECC system memory, which means that you’ll be very hard pressed to find any task that's too demanding for the new Mac Pro. We caught a first glimpse at the new Mac desktop successor to the Mac Pro 2013, and you’ll be happy to hear that this model allows for modular upgrades, just in case having up to a 28-core Xeon processor doesn’t cut it for you down the line. 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

Snatch ransomware reboots PCs into safe mode to get around security tools Posted: 10 Dec 2019 01:00 PM PST A new strain of the Snatch ransomware, which reboots the computers it infects into Safe Mode in order to bypass security solutions, has been discovered by security researchers from the Sophos Managed Threat Response team and SophosLabs. By making the infected Windows devices boot into Safe Mode, the ransomware is able to encrypt victim's files since most security tools are automatically disabled in Safe Mode. Although the Snatch ransomware was written in Google's multiplatform programming language Go, the researchers explained in a blog post that it can only run on Windows devices, saying: “The malware we’ve observed isn’t capable of running on platforms other than Windows. Snatch can run on most common versions of Windows, from 7 through 10, in 32- and 64-bit versions. The samples we’ve seen are also packed with the open source packer UPX to obfuscate their contents.” New ransomware spreads via SMS That 'new Windows 10 update' could be packed with ransomware Also check out the best free anti-ransomware software tools The Snatch ransomware was released at the end of 2018 but it first became noticeably active during April of this year as a result of a spike in ransom notes and encrypted file samples which were submitted to Michael Gillepsie's ID Ransomware platform. Snatch ransomware In order to take advantage of the fact that anti-malware solutions are not loaded in Safe Mode, the Snatch ransomware component installs itself as a Windows service called SuperBackupMan that has the ability to run in Safe Mode and also can't be stopped or paused. SuperBackupMan then force restarts the compromised machine and once it is in Safe Mode, the Snatch ransomware then deletes “all the Volume Shadow Copies on the system” according to the researchers which prevents “forensic recovery of the files encrypted by the ransomware”. Now that recovery of the files without payment is impossible, the malware will then begin to encrypt its victims' files. To prevent falling victim to the Snatch ransomware, Sophos recommends that organizations don't expose their remote desktop services to the internet or try to protect them by using a VPN. The firm also suggests that businesses utilize multifactor authentication to protect admin accounts from brute force attacks. We've also highlighted the best antivirus software Via Bleeping Computer This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now

The best gaming chairs Posted: 10 Dec 2019 12:10 PM PST For the most comfortable gaming experience of your life, get one of the best gaming chairs you can afford. Especially if you’re spending hours on that chair, grinding through the best PC games, you’ll need a chair specifically designed for that purpose. After all, what’s the use of having the best gaming PC and the highest-end gaming monitor if you can’t dedicate hours on them. The last thing that you want is to be uncomfortable, or worse, in pain when you’re in the middle of an epic fight or trying to get through that tough level. Do yourself – and your body – a favor, and invest in the best gaming chair. The options might seem endless, but trust us, finding the right one for you is more than worth the effort and perhaps the price tag. With our list of the best gaming chairs – each entry handpicked by us – your hunt for that perfect gaming throne will be easier. Since we have quite a bit of experience with sitting, we have first hand knowledge of what to look for in a gaming chair. And, you’ll definitely find something on this list that’s perfect for you. Secretlab Titan boasts SoftWeave fabric exterior and extremely plush padding. Whereas most gaming chairs try to market themselves as being luxuriously upholstered with leather, Secretlab has shown fabric is the way to go. Between the Secretlab Titan’s SoftWeave fabric exterior and extremely plush padding, you won’t find anything softer or more comfortable this. This throne of gaming chairs also comes with a larger seat, subdued molding and built-in lumbar support, so it really is unlike anything else on the market. If you're looking for a no-compromises gaming throne, the noblechairs Epic Real Leather is it. It’s no exaggeration to call the Noblechairs Epic Real Leather the best gaming chair. From the cross-thatched embroidery to the real leather of its namesake, if you’re looking for a no-compromises gaming throne, this is it. Plus, it’s surprisingly quick and easy to set up. And, once the set-up is complete, the Epic Real Leather is a dream to sit on – and you can customize your position however you want. Just do us a favor, and read the instructions while you’re setting it up. The ErgoChair 2 has a very modern and stylish aesthetic to it that will appeal to anyone. If you’re looking to sit back and play games all day in comfort, but you don’t want a chair that looks like a gaming chair, you’ll want to take a look at the Autonomous ErgoChair 2. Marketed as an office chair, the ErgoChair 2 has a very modern and stylish aesthetic to it that will appeal to anyone that doesn’t use RGB as a personality trait. It’s not all style, either, as the ErgoChair will also let you adjust basically every part of the chair, so that no matter how your body is built, you’re guaranteed to be comfortable while gaming. The SecretLab Omega 2020 doesn't just rely on looks alone. Incorporating that sleek, Mad Men-level sophistication with that SciFi gaming look, the SecretLab Omega 2020 is simply stunning, especially if you opt for the PU leather model. But, the SecretLab Omega 2020 doesn’t just rely on looks alone; one of the best gaming chairs of 2019, this one comes with a head pillow and a lumbar pillow – both memory foam – and offers even better support than its predecessor. That’s not to mention the improvements over the 2018 model, like the metal support on the armrests, that makes the SecretLab Omega 2020 feel so much more robust. So expect, after a grueling gaming session, to just go straight to napping for a couple of hours without moving an inch – without having to worry about the chair falling apart on you.  The Respawn-300 combines the racing-seat design and lumbar support. Leather and fabric have their advantages, namely to comfort and texture, but sometimes a mesh office chair is best – especially if you live in a warmer climate, where breathability is of utmost importance. The Respawn-300 combines the racing-seat design and lumbar support and mesh material from some high-end office chairs. It really does take comfort to another level and is one of the best PC gaming chairs you can buy today.  The Corsair T2 Road Warrior is covered top to bottom in breathable PU leather. Corsair is known for making popular and high-end PC components and gaming peripherals, and now it’s making a mark in PC gaming chairs. This has resulted in one of the best gaming chairs we’ve ever sat in. The Corsair T2 Road Warrior is covered top to bottom in breathable PU leather with neck and lumbar pillows wrapped in microfiber, you’ll be able to game in both comfort and style. And, with its rollerblade-style wheels, you can move it around on any surface without having to worry about scratching up your floor.  The noblechairs Icon gaming chair is more affordable than the flagship Epic Real Leather. Noblechairs is well known for crafting some of the best gaming chairs out there – and the Noblechairs Icon makes it clear why. While it’s more affordable than the flagship Epic Real Leather, it’s still extremely comfortable and one of the best PC gaming chairs out there. This is thanks to its nice lumbar pillow, which you can easily remove if you don’t like it.   Rather than sticking to a form factor that's designed to limit your movement, the Edge GX1 instead aims to give an ergonomic experience. The Edge GX1 is a gaming chair that actively avoids the popular racing style that is increasingly popular with modern gaming chairs. Rather than sticking to a form factor that’s designed to limit your movement, the Edge GX1 instead aims to give an ergonomic experience, where comfort is the priority – while also providing a premium chair. And when we say premium, we mean it, with the Edge GX1 costing £800, a huge amount for a gaming chair. It’s hand-crafted in the UK, and there’s some great touches, such as inflatable lumbar support. It’s a huge asking price, but we’ve been using it for a while now, and it is very comfortable. You’ll have to adjust a bit, but once you get it right, it’s worth the high price. It ships worldwide from the UK, but US and Australia readers should beware the high shipping costs. These people are going to be absolutely enamored with the Vertagear Triigger 350 SE. There’s a certain subset of the PC gaming community that needs to have the absolute best of everything, at whatever the cost. These people are going to be absolutely enamored with the Vertagear Triigger 350 SE. It features over 350 individual components with a mix metal, mesh, leather and high-end plastics to create the ultimate PC gaming chair. If you have the money to spare, and you can’t stand to have anything less than the best, you might want to give this chair a look.  Corsair T3 Rush is extremely comfortable with its breathable soft fabric exterior and memory foam lumbar support. Unlike its biggest rivals, the Corsair T3 Rush lacks that over-the-top gaming aesthetic. In fact, it almost looks like any computer chair out there, albeit the more premium kind – beyond that starship pilot’s look it's sporting at the headrest area, that is. But, what this gaming chair lacks in gaming aesthetic hoopla, it makes up for in comfort with its breathable soft fabric exterior, memory foam lumbar support and extremely customizable backrest position. This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now

The best gaming routers Posted: 10 Dec 2019 12:02 PM PST Make no mistake: you’re going to need the best gaming router if you’re a serious gamer. What use is having the most powerful components and the greatest best PC games, after all, if your WiFi connection is not up to par. By having one of the best gaming routers on the market, you’re ensuring a super reliable connection and uninterrupted online gaming. Gone are the days of sudden lag spike during the most crucial moments, as these routers will help avoid those spikes. In fact, the best gaming routers will prioritize network traffic for your games, thanks to a nifty little feature called Quality of Service (or QoS). This feature helps ensure uninterrupted gaming sessions, despite other users in your network trying to use a chunk of that bandwidth by downloading their own games or streaming videos. Many of these gaming routers also offer MU-MIMO technology as well, which allows multiple Wi-Fi devices to simultaneously receive multiple data streams and increase the network's throughput.  So, even though wired connections are best for online games, if you want to go wireless, you will be pleased to know that the best wireless routers will deliver impeccable connection for online gaming. They will also come equipped with features like Gigabit Ethernet ports, multiple antennae, and the reigning WiFi standards – currently, it’s still WiFi 5, though WiFi 6 is certainly well on its way. TP-Link Archer C5400 v2 pairs enthusiast grade features with a simple setup. If you’re searching for the latest router technology but you still like that old school look, the TP-Link Archer C5400 v2 might just be an ideal fit. This is one of the best gaming routers that pairs enthusiast grade features with a simple setup, packing them into a package that’s appealing to just about anyone. Factor in the Alexa support, and you have a router that can adjust to any situation, whether you’re trying to come out on top in the latest match in Apex Legends, or you have guests that are connecting to your network. Asus RT-AC86U makes online and network gaming as lag and frustration free as possible. The Asus RT-AC5300 is one of the best gaming routers – it has a collection of advanced features, making online and network gaming as lag and frustration free as possible. This includes a straightforward yet powerful interface, as well as comprehensive QoS settings. The spider-like design is somewhat of an acquired taste, but the eight antennae serve a purpose since they can be used to direct the Wi-Fi signal throughout your home, providing this router with remarkable range. TP-Link Archer C5400X is perfect for hardwiring a fleet of gaming equipment. We know we’ve already mentioned the TP-Link Archer C5400 v2 earlier, but the company added an ‘X’ to the end of this model, signifying the extreme boost in performance. It’s considerably more expensive, but that price tag is justifiable as it may be one of the highest-end and best gaming routers available. With eight ethernet ports around the back, it’s perfect for hardwiring a fleet of gaming equipment. And, the MU-MIMO and Tri-band support means that wireless connections are also top of the line. You’ll top the leaderboards irrespective of where you are in the house. Netgear Nighthawk Pro Gaming XR500 lets you do gaming all night without hitting a paralyzing lag spike. If you’re a hardcore gamer, it can be maddening when your roommates are watching Netflix or downloading their own games at the same time. You should take a look at something like the Netgear Nighthawk XR500. Not only will this elite gaming router deliver a ridiculously fast 2.2Gbps speed, but with MU-MIMO support – not to mention, unique gaming features like location-based connection filtering and QoS, you can do some gaming all night without hitting a paralyzing lag spike. Just be ready for the high sticker price and make sure you’re ok with such a gamer aesthetic. Asus RT-AC5300 is filled with a bunch of striking features. The Asus RT-AC5300 is a fantastic high-end gaming router that is filled with a bunch of striking features. This includes an incredibly simple yet powerful interface, on top of comprehensive QoS settings. The spider-like design isn’t for everyone, but the eight antennae are there for a reason, to help direct your Wi-Fi signal reach throughout your home, giving this router excellent range. Zyxel Armor Z2 AC2600 prides itself on its performance capabilities. This router might look like it’s going to abduct a close friend or family member, but we promise the Zyxel Armor Z2 AC2600 isn’t as alien in function as it is in aesthetics. Brimming with the latest MU-MIMO support, which boosts speed when multiple devices are connected to the same network, this gaming router prides itself on its performance capabilities. Since it can handle several devices, while prioritizing bandwidth depending on the needs of each connection, it’s one of the best gaming routers you can purchase today. Asus RT-AC88U enables wireless performance that can break the 1GB/sec limit. The Asus RT-AC88U is an expensive gaming router. However, it justifies its price with crazy 802.11 wireless performance. Armed with four antennae and NitroQAM tech, which pushes speeds even further, this gaming router enables wireless performance that can break the 1GB/sec limit. There’s a catch – you’ll need to grab a NitroQAM wireless adapter, like the Asus PCE AC88, to approach these mighty speeds; but with speeds like this, it’s not hard to see why this is one of the best gaming routers available. D-Link DIR 885L/R offers great range and speed. It may look like it came straight from Battlestar Galactica – the old Battlestar Galactica – but, the D-Link DIR 885L/R is a dependable mid-range gaming router with great range and speed. If you’re looking for the best gaming router, you may want to give this one a try. It comes with a good range of ports, as well as a nicely designed UI. It also touts DD-WRT open-source firmware, making this router as versatile as it is powerful. This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now

This 50-inch 4TV deal is just $199 at Walmart Posted: 10 Dec 2019 11:48 AM PST If you're looking for a cheap 4K TV deal, then you've come to the right place. Walmart's 'Daily Deal Drop' sale is happening now, and you can find incredible deals on best-selling TVs from brands like Samsung, LG, Sceptre, and more.  Walmart's top TV bargain that's sure to go fast is the Sceptre 50-inch 4K TV that's on sale for just $199.99. That's a $200 discount and a fantastic price for a mid-size 4K TV. Even if this Sceptre TV isn't the best TV in the world, it's still a 4K Ultra High-Definition TV, which displays four times the number of pixels as a Full HD display. Some people are going to find that's the upgrade they need from 1080p TVs. Sure, the Sceptre TV lacks smart functionality, but it does include four HDMI ports and that $199 price tag makes it easy to add a cheap streaming device to your cart. Shop the rest of Walmart's 'Daily Deal Drop' sale here Shop more of Walmart's best TV deals below, and keep in mind these discounts are limited-time offers that are ending soon. The best Walmart TV deals: Shop more TV offers with our roundup of the best cheap TV deals and sales that are happening now. This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now

The best tablets Posted: 10 Dec 2019 11:14 AM PST If you're looking for the best tablet you can buy right now, you've come to the right place. We've tested, reviewed, then listed the top 10 tablets you can buy right now, to help you decide on your next slate of choice. Picking the best tablet is a complicated job as a good slate acts as a powerful laptop replacement for work, entertainment, and communication, all while remaining easy to carry around. We've looked at all the factors we think you'll be interested in such as how great its display is, how long it lasts in terms of battery life, how fast it is to use, and if it supports a reliable keyboard.  The iPad Pro 11 is the best tablet you can buy today. It's expensive for sure, but it's Apple's most powerful tablet and furthers the 2-in-1 design ethos if you spring for the keyboard cover folio.  It has a laptop-like experience in design and performance, and the new Apple Pencil magnetically clips onto the frame of the new iPad Pro. With superb speakers and a great new screen-to-body ratio, it's hard not to fall in love with the finely crafted hardware design.  However, there are setbacks for the iPad Pro 11 that you should be aware of. iPadOS is better than previous versions of Apple's tablet software when you're trying to multitask and perform laptop-like tasks, but it is far from perfect. Another strictly mobile challenge: it doesn't have a headphone jack. If you want the standard 3.5mm jack in a computer-like device, you'll want to spring for an actual computer or some other tablets. Everything about the iPad Pro 11 makes it the best tablet experience if you're looking for an Apple-made slate - you'll just need to swallow the high price and keep in mind that it's not a true laptop replacement.  The iPad Pro 12.9 (2018) isn't the very best tablet but it's not far off with its huge 12.9-inch screen. We haven't ranked it in the top spot mostly down to its extraordinarily high price. Its like a giant digital canvas that fills your needs whether you need a personal workstation, easel, portable cinema, book-shaped loudspeaker, music mixing desk, or a range of other functions. However, it's also extremely expensive, and doesn't feel like such a step up from the iPad Pro 11 (2018) as its higher price would suggest. With it's unrivaled processing power, massive display, snappy operating system, and the fact you can use it with the Apple Pencil and Smart Keyboard, it's definitely a tablet you should consider if you've got money to burn – but you can do better if you're on a budget. For the average person, the iPad 10.2 is arguably the best choice for a tablet right now. It may not be the most powerful tablet on sale, but it's incredible value. The iPad 10.2 replaces the very similar iPad 9.7 (2018) that featured a slightly smaller display - you can probably work that out from the names - but sports relatively similar spec for an affordable price. This isn't as high-tech as the iPad Pro models above, but it's still a remarkably useful tablet. It comes with iPadOS right out of the box giving you all the latest features you'd expect from a tablet, plus it works with Apple Pencil and there's a Smart Keyboard you can also use to make this a productivity device. It also has the same luxurious metal unibody as the rest of Apple's iPad range, though notably it's ever-so-slightly thicker than the other models of the tablet range at 7.5mm. Battery life on this iPad is strong, it doesn't cost as much as a lot of other products in this list and it comes with a capable chipset powering it too. It's hard to go wrong if you're looking for an everyday tablet that doesn't have to sport the very best power and features. Image credit: TechRadar If you're looking for a good compromise between Apple's new Pro tablets and the base iPad 10.2, this is it. It's compatible with Apple's excellent Smart Keyboard Cover and priced right for students looking to take notes on a powerful laptop. It does have Apple Pencil compatibility like all of Apple's newer tablets, but it's not the best tablet for artists.  The Pro versions support Apple Pencil Gen 2 with extra gesture features and magnetic charging. This iPad Pro 10.5 sticks with the older Gen 1 Pencil and has just two speakers instead of four. But everyone should be fine with the fast A12 chipset. Image credit: TechRadar Apple doesn't have a foldable phone, but if it did it might look something like the iPad mini 2019 when unfolded. It hasn't really changed since the last version almost four years ago, but it doesn't need to: we love the small size. You can flip open the smart cover, scribble some notes, and toss it in a bag without too much worry.  Yes, the design is a little dated and there are thick bezels outlining this screen, but the price is right for a portable tablet with a lot of power. You really shouldn't consider buying any other small tablet on the market (notice: it's the only one on our best tablet list). The Samsung Galaxy Tab S6 is the best Android tablet available now – it's the newest slate from Samsung's Tab S line, and it comes with all the cutting-edge features you'd expect for such a premium device. There are two rear cameras, which is impressive for a tablet, as well as a high-end processor and best-in-class AMOLED display, so it's a useful piece of kit. It also comes with an S Pen stylus for notes, doodles or sketches, and you can buy a smart keyboard for a laptop-like experience. There are a few issues with the Galaxy Tab S6, like the lack of a headphone jack and an iffy user interface, but if you're looking for the best tablet and don't want an iPad, this is your best bet. Image credit: TechRadar The iPad Pro 10.5-inch is one of the best tablets for anyone who wants a serious upgrade, even though the cheaper iPad 10.2 remains good enough for most people. Apple's iPad Pro 10.5 has standout features that give it a productivity boost, including Apple Pencil and Smart Keyboard compatibility. With iPadOS on board this tablet is even a suitable laptop replacement for certain consumers. The new ProMotion screen adds an impressive layer of fluidity to daily use and the smaller bezels means you're getting far more display in a footprint not much bigger than the iPad Pro 9.7. It's an iPad for the professionals - but also one that media munchers will adore using. Microsoft Surface Pro  Can a tablet really replace your laptop or home PC? That's still up for debate, but the best tablet trying to make that happen is the Microsoft Surface Pro. We’re surprised Microsoft has refrained from calling this the Surface Pro 5, as it's a big upgrade on the 4 - although it is rather expensive, like many tablets in this list. It does a fine job with the full blown version of Windows 10, an integrated kickstand and optional keyboard attachment.  Great for for creative professionals, students and everyday folks alike, this is a top choice and one of the best Windows laptops we've reviewed. Image credit: TechRadar The Samsung Galaxy Tab S4 is an upgrade over the Galaxy Tab S3 with an expanded 10.5-inch screen size and longer battery life, but it comes at a higher price and with a lofty promise to do so much more.  We really like the idea behind Samsung Dex for its desktop interface, but it's non-touch-friendly UI, performance issues, and questionable optional keyboard case prevent it from being a true desktop replacement. If you're looking for a premium Android tablet the Galaxy Tab S4 used to top the billing, but it promises more than that and just doesn't deliver on everything. Don't get us wrong, the Tab S4 is indeed better than the Tab S3 and it's dropped in price since launch, but it's not the most premium Android tablet, with the Tab S6 higher in this ranking. Image Credit: Asus The Asus ZenPad 3S 10 isn't the most high spec tablet you can buy, but it's remarkably good for the price and that's a low price compared to a lot of other products you've read about on this list. The super bright and beautiful display on the front of the device is one of the best you'll find on an Android tablet, and it costs a lot less than the two Samsung devices you've read about above. Don't go for this if you're looking for top-end spec, but it's an option if you don't want to spend much and you want a slate just to play around with a few apps and watch videos. This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now

The best power banks Posted: 10 Dec 2019 11:09 AM PST We use our smartphones a lot and sometimes find ourselves a little lower on battery than we’d like. That’s why getting a decent power bank to let you top up while you’re away from a plug socket is a sensible investment.  Buying just one power bank covers potential battery emergencies for phones, tablets, smartwatches and even the Nintendo Switch. Some mammoth power banks can even charge laptops. If your gadget is powered up over a USB cable then a power bank will save the day.   Power banks are one of those tech accessories that you know you need, but there are too many of them to choose from. It’s hard to pick which one is best for you and your gadgets. It’s also not that exciting a tech purchase, making the range of choices overwhelming.  We’ve picked out fifteen of the best power banks based on battery capacity, safety and design. Image Credit: iMuto If you're looking for a high capacity charger that's portable, the iMuto 20,000mAh portable charger may be for you. It offers a 20,000mAh capacity that will be able to charge your average smartphone over four times and still have some charge left. It can also charge some MacBooks and laptops too, but you may want to make sure it will be compatible with your computing option before you buy it. Considering the price though, we really like the iMuto... plus you've got the color choice of white or black. Image Credit: RAVPower The RAVPower 20,000mAh doesn't look much different to a lot of the options above and below, but it offers a lot of capacity and can be cheaper than the other devices surrounding it. You have two ports here so you can charge two gadgets at the same time and it'll have enough capacity to be able to charge both a mobile and an iPad or tablet from 0% too. Image Credit: Aukey This power bank features two ports so you can charge both your phone and your tablet at the same time and also has a light to show you how much battery charge is leftover. The blocky design may not be for everyone, but this portable charger should be able to charge your phone and other gadgets a few times over with such a high capacity cell inside. Image Credit: Anker You've likely heard of Anker, and this is one of the company's best portable chargers. It comes with a huge 20,100mAh battery inside, meaning this will be able to charge up your phone or tablet multiple times before it needs a recharge. It also comes with high-speed charging for your devices if they use PowerIQ or VoltageBoost. It won't be able to use Qualcomm's QuickCharge technology, but it'll still boost your device when you're on the go. Image Credit: Mophie The Mophie Powerstation Plus XL is one of the best power banks designed for the iPhone and iPad (aside from the new iPad Pro range with its USB-C port), and we say that for several reasons.  It contains an embedded Lightning cable you can’t lose, it charges via a Lightning cable and you can charge it wirelessly with any Qi charger, so you may already have everything you need. This 10,000mAh power bank has a soft fabric finish and can charge two devices at once, one via the 10W USB-A port and another with the integrated Lightning charger. You won't find as much use from this portable charger if you're on Android, though it's still possible to use that USB-A port so you can help a friend charge.  Image Credit: Xiaomi Xiaomi has a hand in some unexpected sectors of technology, including audio and portable chargers. But don't sleep on either, as it's onto something worth checking out.  During our testing, its 10,000mAh Power Bank provided good results, both in terms of its portability and charging potential. While not the fastest charger out there, it was able to charge our Google Pixel 2 in a little over two hours. Thankfully, it's discreet enough that you can bring it with you just about everywhere to plug in when necessary. It's not rare for a power bank to come with a charging cable, but we appreciate that this one has been built with care to suit both micro USB and USB-C users with the same cable, as seen in the above gallery.  Image Credit: Veho With 10,400mAh inside, two USB outputs and fast charging technology the Pebble P1 Pro may be one of the best all-round power banks you can buy right now. This doesn't have anything to do with the defunct watch brand, but instead it's called the Pebble for its curved edges design. This should be able to recharge most phones at least two and a half times from a single charge, plus this power bank can be charged up by either microUSB or USB-C so you won't need to have a specific cable with you to pump it up again when it's out of juice.  Image Credit: Poweradd Poweradd also offers a great slim portable charger, and it's one of the cheapest options on this list yet boasts a substantial 10,000mAh cell inside. It may be quite heavy, but this is only 1.3cm thick, making it a great device to slip into your back pocket when you're out and about. You'll want to grab a cable to go with it though as unlike the Iceworks choice above it doesn't come with one built in.  Image Credit: Anker We love this little guy. The Anker PowerCore II 10,000 power bank is perhaps the most portable option on this list and allows you to have at least two full charges for your phone in your back pocket ready to go. At only 209g and 1.5cm thick, you'll be able to take this around with you and not feel weighed down while still having 10,000mAh of extra power for any of your devices. Plus it comes with Anker's own fast-charging tech that should mean you won't be plugged into it for too long. Like a lot of the chargers on this list, it doesn't come with a cable attached so you'll need to take your own out and about with you.  Image Credit: RAVPower This is the cheapest option for a portable charger we have on the list, but this option from RAVPower should suit you for recharging your mobile phone while on the go. It has a capacity of 6,700mAh, which should recharge your average smartphone at least once and maybe even twice. There are three color options here with the choices of either pink, bright blue or silver.  The LEDs on the side of the device also show you how much charge is left and there's fast-charging tech built-in too.  Image Credit: Jackery Don't you hate it when you have to pull a charging cord out alongside your pocket battery? The Jackery Bolt has both Lightning and MicroUSB cables built-in, so you won't have to juggle cords. Unfortunately, that means the latest Android phones that recharge via USB-C won't get any use out of the Bolt. But it has a decent 6,000mAh of battery, which is good for between one and two full smartphone recharges depending on your device.  Image Credit: MAXOAK This may not be the most portable charger on our list, but it features a lot of ports, so you can charge multiple devices at the same time. It'll even charge laptops as well as your phone and tablet. You can charge six devices at once, and with a 50,000mAh capacity it has the juice to do that, so if you're usually surrounded by a lot of tech this is possibly one of the best chargers to buy. Image Credit: Qi-infinity Looking for a another option with lots of ports on it? This may be a good choice for you, as there are four ports and you can charge up your MacBook as well as USB devices such as your phone. Image Credit: RAVPower RAVPower's portable charger is a great choice if you need a device that can charge both your laptop and your phone. It features USB-C and normal USB outputs as well as an AC output, so you can plug your laptop charger directly in. There's also a 20,100mAh capacity battery inside, so this will be able to juice up your phone or tablet multiple times before you need to put it back on charge. Image Credit: Poweradd The picture above may be deceptive, as this isn't a small charger and is capable of charging up your laptop or tablet as well as your phone simultaneously. You can charge up to three devices at the same time and it comes with a 23,000mAh capacity, so it should last long enough between recharges. This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now

The best Smart TVs Posted: 10 Dec 2019 11:02 AM PST Smart TVs are so common it doesn't feel necessary to add the 'smart' to them. You'd have to hunt high and low to find a new TV that doesn't come with some form of smart capability or features built-in, whether that's LG's WebOS, Google's Android TV that's used on Sony and Hisense TVs, or Samsung's Tizen. Although the majority of these smart TV platforms function in the same way: giving you access to apps, streaming services and smart home functionality, each has its pros and cons. So, for that reason, we've put together this guide to the best smart TV platforms available right now. We've come a long way from the early days of smart TVs, which were marked by sub-standard performance, non-existent software updates, and a general lack of manufacturer support.  So what smart TV platforms are out there, what do they do, and how different are they from each other? Image Credit: LG The LG C9 boasts the latest iteration of webOS and while this game changing platform remains largely the same, there have been a few tweaks. For a start there’s now a second tier on the launcher bar that’s very reminiscent of the one found on Samsung’s Tizen system. It’s rather ironic that LG should take inspiration from Samsung – especially when you consider that Tizen copied webOS in the first place – but the second tier is a useful feature, making it quicker to access content and adding an AI Preview that makes recommendations based on your viewing habits. There’s also a new Intelligent Edit feature that lists your apps based on how often you use them. That’s very handy because the C9 has a lot of apps; not to mention a comprehensive selection of streaming services that includes Netflix, Amazon, YouTube, Now TV, Rakuten, and all the UK TV catch-up services. The AI-enhanced recommendation feature monitors and analyses your viewing habits based not only on content but also the time of day. It will then make recommendations according its analysis, although there’s the option to turn this feature off if it gets annoying. There’s a new Home Dashboard that collates all connected mobile, input and home IoT devices into a single hub. You can monitor and control just about any connected device in your smart home, and LG will be adding support for Homekit later this year. LG’s ThinQ open AI platform already includes Google Assistant, and the company plans to add Amazon Alexa via a future firmware update. You can access Google by pressing the mic button on the remote, and then voice control your C9 or simply use it as a smart assistant.  Other new features include the ability to setup your C9 using an LG smartphone, and the ability to auto-detect connected HDMI devices. There’s also a mini-browser, a new TV channel banner, and an expanded Gallery mode with world famous travel attractions seasonally curated by TripAdvisor. When it comes to Sony's TV range, the A9G Master Series OLED can't be beat. The high-performing televisions offers incredible 4K HDR pictures with the masterful upscaling to make even SD and HD content shine with all those extra pixels. We’ve struggled to love the Android TV OS in the past, but its latest Oreo iteration is a tasty step in the right direction. The menu structure has been simplified, and Sony has added its own Quick Setting overlay to simplify access to elements like picture modes, not to mention the addition of Amazon Prime Video – which has been missing from Android for years over a Google-Amazon feud. Not only does the A9G use Google's TV OS, but it supports Chromecast Built-in as well. The screen can also be used with Google Home and Amazon Alexa devices for voice commands, as well as Sony’s own LF-S50G and SRS-XB501G smart speakers. (There's now Apple AirPlay 2 and HomeKit support, too.) Image Credit: Samsung While it's not Samsung's flagship TV, the Samsung Q70R is the best bang for your buck when looking for a Tizen smart TV.  For starters there’s now compatibility with Samsung's SmartThings platform, which provides an on-screen hub for monitoring and even controlling other smart devices (fridges, washing machines, lights etc) on your network, and iTunes/AirPlay 2. The latter is great if you're an iOS/Mac user, while the former allows you to dabble in Samsung's IoT platform.  There’s also much better integration of the TV listings and live broadcasting into the TV’s content searching features: there are now hour-by-hour show recommendations, for instance, as well as TV shows getting much more prominence in the content browsing menus. Samsung has delivered enhanced interactivity with your smartphones and tablets too, as well as some seriously cool new gaming related features.  Overall, a slick, easy to use and helpfully customizable interface belies the impressive sophistication and comprehensiveness of Samsung’s latest smart TV engine.    Image Credit: TCL Once you get this TCL TV up and running, you’ll be met with the familiar veneer of Roku TV – an egalitarian operating system that handily retains its top spot as (arguably) the best operating system year after year. It’s intuitive to use, if a bit boring, and its lack of ties to a particular streaming platform allow it to point you to all the places content can be found without bias.  That last bit is important, especially if you’ve ever used an Apple TV or Amazon Fire TV, both of which would much rather have you stream from their ancillary streaming services over any of the third-party ones. Because Roku doesn’t have ties to a major streaming service – other than a vague deal to include FandangoNow on the home screen of the OS – it doesn’t push you any direction you don’t want to go and happily supports everything from Netflix, Hulu, Sling TV and Amazon, to lesser-known channels like Pluto.tv, tubi, Crackle and others. That’s to say nothing of Roku’s own streaming service that it launched at the end of last year, which provides its own collection of entirely free movies that change in and out every few months. Most aren’t anything to write home about, but you do get the occasional gem in there. While it’d be nice to see the inclusion of artificial intelligence and personal assistants on Roku TV – similar to what LG is doing with webOS and Samsung has done with Tizen and SmartThings – all things considered, this is still one of the best TV operating systems and a fantastic TV overall.   Image Credit: Vizio The Vizio P-Series Quantum X is a smart TV, but that goes beyond simply offering a smart platform for streaming: This is one of the first TVs from the California-based TV manufacturer to offer Apple AirPlay 2 functionality, opening it up to the entire Apple ecosystem. That's a game-changer if you're an iPhone user.  Beyond AirPlay, the Quantum X also has direct access to Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, Hulu, and more, all from the home screen, and while the overall selection of apps isn’t massive, and there’s no real app marketplace to get more, most of the big ones are there, plus you can cast with Vizio’s SmartCast platform, which is handy.   We still find SmartCast to be one of the least appealing smart platforms out there, but we can't knock the Vizio P-Series Quantum X – it's one of this year's best TVs. Panasonic’s My Home Screen smart platform is decidedly simple compared to much of the competition, but that’s not necessarily a bad thing. Currently on its fourth generation, it remains largely the same as the Firefox OS on which it was originally based. When you press the Home button on the remote, you get a choice of three options: Live TV, Apps, and Devices. This simplicity is the platform’s greatest strength, making it easy to navigate and find things by helpfully storing all the apps in single location; you can also pin your favorite apps to the home page for quicker access. You'll find this latest iteration on Panasonic TVs, though it will run fastest – and display its apps and content in the best light – through the TV maker's high-end OLED sets, like the GZ000 featured here. Since the smart platform is relatively simple, it doesn’t require a vast amount of processing power to operate, which makes it responsive, robust, and free from crashes. My Home Screen isn’t fragmented like some platforms, nor does it bombard you with recommendations – it simply delivers all the streaming and catch-up services you need. Thanks to Freeview Play, a comprehensive list of catch-up services are included, covering BBC iPlayer, ITVhub, All4, My5, BBC News & Sport and UK Play. The iPlayer app supports 4K and HLG (Hybrid Log-Gamma – the broadcast version of HDR), both of which the BBC trialled during the World Cup. There’s also Netflix, Amazon and YouTube, all of which support 4K and HDR, along with services like Rakuten and Chili Cinema. In fact the only major streaming service missing is NOW TV. This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now

Want wheels on the Mac Pro? That'll be $400, please Posted: 10 Dec 2019 10:54 AM PST Ever since the Mac Pro was first announced, we knew that it was going to be pretty expensive – it's an Apple product marketed to professionals, after all. However, now that we've had a chance to mess around with the configuration tool, we know just how expensive it can get.  One of the most jaw-dropping price additions that the Mac Pro has is the wheels. This is a giant metal box, so it can get heavy – having wheels makes it much easier to move around an office. However, if you want to upgrade the Mac Pro chassis with these wheels, it'll set you back $400/£360/AU$640. You read that right.  We'll show you how to build a PC There's a whole world of PC components out there Here are the best PCs It's important to note that the Mac Pro isn't really intended for everyday users. This is a professional machine for rich grown-ups, and the pricing definitely reflects that. However. $400 for a set of wheels seems a little ridiculous, no matter how fancy they actually are.  This is the same company that is selling a $999/£949/AU$1,699 monitor stand for the Pro Display XDR, so the wheels almost seem like a bargain in comparison. The price of these wheels only further proves that this device probably won't be found in many people's homes, but instead in a lot of offices. Wait, there's more Because the Mac Pro configurator is out, we did what any other computing-obsessed geek would, and we turned everything up to the absolute max. Now, unless you're literally running a Hollywood rendering farm, you'll have absolutely no need for a maxed out Mac Pro, but it'll run you $52,748/£47,588/AU$84,778. That's enough to buy a pretty decent car.  For that jaw-dropping price tag, you're getting an absolutely ridiculous stack of hardware, including a 28-core Intel Xeon W processor, 1.5TB of RAM, 4TB of SSD storage and two AMD Radeon Pro Vega II graphics cards, each equipped with 32GB of VRAM. Again, you will never need this level of hardware unless you're literally Pixar. One thing we do have to call to attention, however, is the entry-level model. Just to get in on the ground floor of the Mac Pro experience, you're going to have to drop $5,999. That's a high price for any computer, to be sure, but the really insulting thing here is the paltry 256GB of storage you get. At this price point, 1TB of SSD storage should be the absolute minimum – instead, you'll have to shell out an extra $400/£360/AU$640. To put things into perspective, we can buy two fast NVMe 1TB SSDs for the same amount of money.  Basically, the Mac Pro is an obscenely expensive machine, and the pricing seems to indicate that Apple simply isn't interested in selling the Mac Pro to everyday users. If you want a desktop macOS Catalina experience, you're probably going to be going with the Mac mini for a while.  Check out the best Macs on the market This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now

London boroughs "aren't ready for 5G" Posted: 10 Dec 2019 10:32 AM PST Nearly every single London borough doesn’t have a specific strategy for the rollout of 5G networks in their jurisdiction, according to data obtained via Freedom of Information (FoI) requests. Industry body Tech London Advocates asked all 33 boroughs about their plans for next-generation networks, which are expected to deliver a range of economic and societal benefits to the capital. Although the rollout of 5G is the responsibility of major operators, local authorities play a critical role in areas such as planning permission and access to council-owned street furniture. Barriers could stop UK being a 5G leader Arqiva and CityFibre build London 5G small cell network Everything you need to know about 5G    London 5G This will be even more important with 5G due to the requirement for micro infrastructure such as small cells to boost network density. This capacity is required to power new applications that require constant, low-latency connectivity. Responses showed that 31 out of 33 boroughs don’t have a specific strategy and none has allocated any budget. Only three have a staff member responsible for 5G and none could provide an expected timeframe for full coverage. Thirteen boroughs said they had concession agreements with infrastructure providers such as Arqiva, but these have been criticised for increasing operator costs. Under the present model, mobile operators bid for contracts with local authorities for the exclusive rights to deploy micro-infrastructure such as small cells on furniture such as lamp posts and bus shelters. Any other operator wishing to use these assets must pay a wholesale charge to the exclusive rights holder. Tech London Advocates founder Russ Shaw has called for a more coherent approach to regulation: “As these results show, London is far from ready for widespread connectivity. The capital’s multi-borough system poses a unique set of challenges to network operators working towards a cohesive rollout compared with other cities. It requires co-ordination of different budgets, timelines and deals between a complex blend of stakeholders, including the challenge for [mobile operators] of working across 35 planning authorities and 34 highways authorities. “The Greater London Authority must align all the boroughs under the same policy, proactively encouraging investment from network operators and fostering collaboration between them, businesses and land owners. Otherwise, London risks being one of the worst cities in the UK for 5G coverage – an unacceptable scenario when the capital’s global future is already under question.” Planning reform Mobile operators have frequently cited difficulty in gaining access to sites and access to planning permission as a key barrier to rollout. Some have in the past called for local authorities to forego any direct revenue from concession agreements in favour of the indirect economic gains afforded by better connectivity. We think the Government’s proposed reforms to Permitted Development rights are a good start, and we encourage them to go further by cutting unnecessary red tape around local planning approvals for 5G equipment. To ensure residents benefit from 5G and improved connectivity, it’s also critical that local authorities do their part and deliver on these reforms. “We think the Government’s proposed reforms to Permitted Development rights are a good start, and we encourage them to go further by cutting unnecessary red tape around local planning approvals for 5G equipment,” said a Three spokesperson, “To ensure residents benefit from 5G and improved connectivity, it’s also critical that local authorities do their part and deliver on these reforms.” “We’re committed to continuing to roll out 5G across London, and recent independent testing from RootMetrics shows we have already made 5G available across more than 60 per cent of the capital,” added an EE spokesperson. “We were the first to launch 5G in the UK, and we’re continuing to upgrade sites every day, working closely with local councils and landlords. The process for the roll out of new mobile technology can always be improved to help remove barriers, and that’s important in ensuring that the UK is at the forefront of digital communications.” Here are the best mobile phone deals for December 2019   This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now

Amazon blames Trump for loss of JEDI contract Posted: 10 Dec 2019 10:09 AM PST Following the Department of Defense's decision to award the $10bn Joint Enterprise Defense Infrastructure (JEDI) contract to Microsoft, Amazon has filed a complaint accusing US President Donald Trump of interfering with the deal. The e-commerce giant filed a complaint in the US Court of Federal Claims in which it argued that President Trump launched “repeated public and behind-the-scenes attacks to steer” the lucrative Pentagon cloud contract away from AWS. While the complaint has been heavily redacted, it makes the case that President Trump aimed to harm Amazon's founder and CEO Jeff Bezos who also owns the Washington Post. The US President has been a vocal opponent of Bezos and has repeatedly blasted the news outlet for spreading fake news. Amazon files official JEDI contract complaint Microsoft scores $10bn Pentagon cloud contract Jeff Bezos says Amazon will need to fail to succeed According to Amazon, Trump's interference made it impossible for the Pentagon to judge a winner “reasonably, consistently, and in a fair and equal manner”. JEDI contract In its complaint, Amazon called for a reevaluation of the proposals submitted to the Pentagon and the company wants the Department of Defense to come to a new award decision. Amazon also questioned how President Trump's bias affected the DoD's decision, saying: “The question is whether the President of the United States should be allowed to use the budget of DoD to pursue his own personal and political ends.” However, during a recent congressional testimony, top Pentagon technology official Dana Deasy denied that President Trump or the White House had any influence over the JEDI selection process. With $10bn on the line over the course of ten years, Amazon's decision to appeal the contract makes perfect sense but finding out whether or not President Trump had anything to do with the DoD's decision will likely require a full investigation into the matter. We've also highlighted the best cloud storage Via Reuters This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now

Microsoft finally puts Windows 10 Mobile to rest Posted: 10 Dec 2019 10:04 AM PST Microsoft is finally saying goodbye to Windows 10 Mobile: the operating system will get no more support, including security updates and hotfixes. We knew this was coming, as Microsoft announced that support for its mobile OS would end way back in January 2019. Heck, we knew the Windows 10 Mobile was on death row in 2017 when a Windows VP tweeted that its October update would be the last one to introduce new features.  But the end of any sort of updates signals the effective demise of the last Windows mobile operating system, as the company fully cedes the field to Apple and Google. While Microsoft Office apps for Windows 10 Mobile will still be supported until January 12, 2021, Microsoft recommends users transition over to an Android or iOS device anyway. Windows 10 Mobile sunset: a move we all saw coming It makes sense to shutter Windows 10 Mobile, as it wasn’t popular even while it received support. The last ‘big’ phone with Windows 10 Mobile, the HP Elite x3, launched in September 2016.  Microsoft had let its mobile OS lie fallow with no plans to resurrect it, and even its dual screen ‘not a phone’ Microsoft Duo will run a version of Android. With CEO Satya Nadella’s moving away from Windows, this is a logical move: compete in the device sphere without spending time and resources fighting in uncontestable software arenas. Via GSMArena Probably one of these: best iPhone or best Android phone This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now

Chelsea vs Lille live stream: how to watch today's Champions League football from anywhere Posted: 10 Dec 2019 10:02 AM PST Chelsea's recent Premier League form has been shaky, but they can put that to one aside at Stamford Bridge tonight as Frank Lampard's side go into this game knowing that a win against Lille will put them through to the knockout stages of the 2019-20 Champions League. Keep reading to find out how you can grab a Chelsea vs Lille live stream, no matter where you are in the world. With Lille out of the reckoning for the next round and playing just for pride, it would come as something of a surprise should Chelsea not get the win their fans will be expecting. Despite the dead rubber nature of the tie for the French team, they're still expected to play their strongest side, with Victor Osimhen set to lead the line up front. The only expected changes to the Chelsea line up is the return of Fikayo Tomori and Emerson at the back who both missed out on the Blues 3-1 defeat to Everton on Saturday. To discover out how to watch what looks set to be an intriguing encounter keep reading and we'll explain all you need to know to grab a Chelsea vs Lille live stream. Premier League fan too? Here's how to live stream the 19/20 Premier League football season.  Use a VPN to watch Champions League football when away from home Scroll down to find out your football viewing options for tonight's match in some of the major Champions League watching countries around the world. And if you're out of the country and are worried that you won't catch the game, don't sweat. With the option of using a VPN service, you can tune into this fixtures no matter where you are in the world. And best of all, it's really easy to do. How to stream Chelsea vs Lille live in the UK  How to live stream Chelsea vs Lille in the US Catch all your favorites with our guide to the best sports streaming sites How to live stream tonight's Champions League match in Canada for FREE How to live stream Chelsea vs Lille in Australia How to watch Chelsea vs Lille in New Zealand How to live stream tonight's UEFA Champions League match in India This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now

Virtually modelling surgery in real-time: a Q&A with HeartFlow Posted: 10 Dec 2019 10:00 AM PST When we last spoke with HeartFlow’s founder and CTO Charles Taylor earlier this year, he explained how the company is using AI and deep learning to build 3-D models of patients’ hearts. These models provide doctors with a safer and more effective way of diagnosing cardiovascular disease. Now HeartFlow has developed a new technology called Planner which takes things a step further by allowing doctors to virtually model surgery in real-time. This means that cardiologists can work out the best location to place things like stents before a patient even arrives at the hospital. We spoke with Mr. Taylor to learn more about Planner and HeartFlow’s expansion within the UK and its continued work with the NHS. How AI is transforming the way doctors treat patients Democratizing healthcare through telemedicine: a Q&A with EQL Also check out the best telemedicine software We've also highlighted the best Electronic Health Record (EHR) software This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now

That amazing Black Friday MacBook Air deal is still on Posted: 10 Dec 2019 09:57 AM PST On Black Friday and Cyber Monday, one of the most standout deals we ran across was the fan-favorite 2017 MacBook Air for just $699. And, well, that deal is still running today.  This holiday MacBook Air deal cuts the price of the MacBook Air down from $999 to $699. And while it's definitely rocking some old technology, what with a 5th-generation Intel processor – it's still very much worth that $699 price tag. macOS Catalina is typically a very expensive operating system to get into. While the software itself doesn't cost a dime, you need Apple hardware, which is typically pretty expensive. This MacBook Air deal makes for the most affordable entry way into Apple's computing ecosystem, short of buying a used MacBook or building a Hackintosh. The hardware is decidedly old at this point, but that doesn't mean it's worthless. If you just want a Mac for some light schoolwork, this MacBook Air will definitely get the job done. The only thing that might hold it back from showing a Chromebook who's boss is the display, as it's stuck at 900p. But, hey, it's a cheap MacBook, right? Here are the best laptop deals and the best cheap laptop deals. This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now

Salzburg vs Liverpool live stream: how to watch Champions League football from anywhere Posted: 10 Dec 2019 09:50 AM PST Reigining Champions League champs Liverpool go their game with Red Bull Salzburg knowing a win will ensure them a place in the knock out stages of the tournament.  Scroll down to find out how you can grab a Salzburg vs Liverpool live stream, no matter where you are in the world. It's unlikely to be a procession to the next phase for the Reds tonight in Austria however. Hosts Red Bull Salzburg may be off the pace, but they still stand a chance of qualification and will be going all out for a win. Red Bull showed plenty of fight in the reverse fixture at Anfield, coming from three goals down to draw level, only to finally succumb to a Mo Salah goal. While ultimately in vain, that comeback will likely bring confidence to Red Bull as they approach playing a team who look unstoppable in their domestic completion.  They'll also draw strength from the increasingly impressive partnership being formed by in-form striking pair Erling Braut Haaland and Hwang Hee-Chan. Mindful of a busy upcoming Christmas period, Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp has been rotating his starting line-up in recent weeks, but expect the Reds to field their strongest 11 today. Read on to find out how to watch what looks set to be an entertaining encounter - it's TechRadar's guide to getting a Salzburg vs Liverpool live stream. Premier League fan too? Here's how to live stream the 19/20 Premier League football season Use a VPN to watch Champions League football when away from home Scroll down to find out your football viewing options for tonight's match in some of the major Champions League watching countries around the world. And if you're out of the country and are worried that you won't catch the game, don't sweat. With the option of using a VPN service, you can tune into this fixtures no matter where you are in the world. And best of all, it's really easy to do. How to stream Salzburg vs Liverpool live in the UK  How to live stream Red Bull vs Liverpool in the US Catch all your favorites with our guide to the best sports streaming sites How to live stream tonight's Champions League match in Canada for FREE How to live stream Red Bull Salzburg vs Liverpool in Australia How to watch Salzburg vs Liverpool in New Zealand How to live stream tonight's UEFA Champions League match in India This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now

The best 13-inch laptop Posted: 10 Dec 2019 09:33 AM PST There’s only one solid reason to go for one of the best 13-inch laptops on the market: portability. While 15-inch laptops are just right for many daily workloads and creative endeavors, and 17-inch ones are great for gaming, their small, thin and light 13-inch counterparts hit that sweet, space-saving spot for any computing tasks you’d want to do on the go. Because of the limited space in their chassis, the best 13-inch laptops may not be as powerful as the 15-inch and 17-inch models. However, they are powerful enough to see you through many tasks and some light entertainment without being a burden in your bag. In fact, many of them are powerful enough to make our best laptops or best Ultrabooks lists. Whether you’re in the market for 2-in-1 laptop, something specific like one of the best Acer laptops, or still deciding between best Windows tablets or the best Macs, you’ll find something for you on this list.  Huawei MateBook 13 ticks all the right boxes. It’s not often that we find a 13-inch laptop that ticks all the right boxes with very little compromise. The Huawei MateBook 13 is one of those very few devices. Rocking the latest Intel Whiskey Lake processors and Nvidia MX150 graphics in a chassis that really should be too small to fit them all in, the Huawei MateBook 13 is a powerful machine that can easily slip into most backpacks or medium-sized tote bags. Even better for users who cannot afford to splurge, it’s budget-friendly. What more could you ask for? The Dell XPS 13 is, without a doubt, one of the best 13-inch laptops right now. While its changes over last year’s model are subtle, there’s no doubt that the Dell XPS 13 is still one of the best 13-inch laptops money can buy. On the high end, the 4K display delivers a sharper picture across the board. But, even if you can’t afford the highest end model, the dashing design, long battery life and SD card slot aren’t going anywhere. More importantly, you’ve got a quad-core processor regardless of configuration you end up with. The Dell XPS 13 is, without a doubt, one of the best 13-inch laptops right now. Google Pixelbook Go boasts many of its high-quality features, but without that steep price tag. If you’ve long been admiring Google’s premium Chromebook but the price is holding you back, then you might want to consider the new Google Pixelbook Go instead. Freshly-baked by Google, this alternative to the manufacturer’s pricey Pixelbook boasts many of its high-quality features, but without that steep price tag – namely, an incredible battery life and that coveted keyboard. If your computing use is limited to sending and responding to emails, creating documents and excel sheets on Google Docs and Sheets, and streaming movies and videos after work, then this one’s a winner. HP Spectre x360's gem-cut build means it'll get your work done in style. One look at the HP Spectre x360, and you’ll find it to deny that it’s one of the most beautiful laptops on the market today. That gem-cut build means it’ll get your work done in style. It’s not all skin-deep, however. This stunning 13-inch laptop is packed with the latest Intel hardware as well, so you know it can get your work done. And, if that’s not enough, it can also be flipped around into tablet mode. The HP Spectre x360 really is one of the best 13-inch laptops out there. Surface Book 2 will handle your daily workload effortlessly and in style. While the 13-inch version isn’t the most powerful Surface Book 2, it still makes for one of the best 13-inch laptops on the market. Whether you’re a professional or a creative or even a student, the Surface Book 2 will handle your daily workload effortlessly and in style. What’s more, the dynamic fulcrum hinge is much improved this time around, complementing the robust quad-core processor. And, unlike many other 2-in-1 laptops, the keyboard is removable to make it much more manageable, as well as thinner, when in tablet mode. Razer Blade Stealth is thin, light, and packed with the latest Ultrabook-class internals. You may be expecting a gaming laptop, especially given Razer’s reputation. But in reality, the Razer Blade Stealth just happens to be one of the best 13-inch laptops to buy today. It’s thin, light, and packed with the latest Ultrabook-class internals – including dedicated MX150 graphics so you can play your favorite titles on the go. The 8th-generation Intel Whiskey Lake Processor makes this laptop a force to be reckoned with. Of course, that comes at a cost. However, the sheer style and build quality might be worth it. HP Envy x360 13 (2019) boasts a premium build, 9 hours of video playback and a stellar performance. Thanks to its sleek 13-inch design, this 2-in-1 is slimmer that you would have expected, which works in your favor when using it in tablet mode. There are other excellent reasons why you must consider the HP Envy x360 (2019) when sorting through the best 13-inch laptops on the market. This one boasts a premium build, 9 hours of video playback and a performance that will get you through most of your schoolwork and project, all without burning a hole in your pocket. Surface Laptop 2 is one of the best 13-inch laptops right now. The early Surface Laptop had our vote for one of the best 13-inch laptops, due to its stunning screen, competent internals and solid build quality. We are, therefore, happy to see its sequel, the Surface Laptop 2, doing everything better and taking some features to a new level. You won’t find any major changes, but the faster 8th-generation CPUs, 8GB of RAM and, most importantly, the removal of Windows 10 S all add up to making the Surface Laptop 2 one of the best 13-inch laptops right now. Lenovo Yoga C930 has a few aces up its sleeve. While slightly bigger than your usual 13-inch laptop, this nearly 14-inch 2-in-1 challenger has a few aces up its sleeve – including longevity, power and durability. This means that the latest Lenovo Yoga C930 will last users long enough to get through their day-to-day workload and squeeze in some entertainment at the end of each day. To round it all out, this device also has a nice display with deep colors, a great keyboard and a decent trackpad. It may not have the best graphics performance, but it definitely more than makes up for that, making it one of the best 13-inch laptops 2019 has to offer. MacBook Pro (13-inch, 2019) has slightly more powerful components than last year's model. The MacBook Pro (13-inch, 2019) is a minor update to last year’s model, with slightly tweaked internals. However, seeing as the 2018 model took a spot on our best 13-inch laptops list, the 2019 refresh with its small improvements is just as deserving of that spot. The design remains the same, which is good news if you’re a fan of previous MacBook Pros, but with slightly more powerful components so if you’ve been looking to upgrade your aging MacBook Pro, this one affords you that chance. This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now

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