Apple : Samsung Galaxy Note 11: what we want to see

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• Samsung Galaxy Note 11: what we want to see
• The all-new Facebook Portal TV gets a $50 price cut
• The best indoor TV antennas
• Intel Rapid Storage app bug lets malware evade AV
• The best iPhone 7 Plus cases
• The best SSDs
• The best laptop bag
• What is hybrid cloud?
• The best laptop for writers
• Why Rogue One is the greatest Star Wars movie (according to some people)
• Microsoft Edge opens add-ons store
• Sony WH-1000XM3 noise-canceling headphone deals hit lowest price yet
• Apple Watch sale at Best Buy: save $100 on the Apple Watch 4
• Grab a PS4 Pro deal for just £249 in 2019's Christmas sales
• More new Android phones won't get Google apps
• What is AWS Step Functions?
• Forget the P30 Pro - our favourite Huawei P30 deal just came crashing down in price
• These incredible Xbox One deals are slashing bundle prices everywhere

Samsung Galaxy Note 11: what we want to see Posted: 17 Dec 2019 01:38 PM PST The Samsung Galaxy Note 11 release date is still months away, but it's likely the next – and only – new smartphone with a stylus you consider in 2020. Samsung's S Pen has really cornered the best stylus phone market year after year. The Note 11, like the Galaxy Note 10 this past August, will be a powerful phone. But we'd like to see it do more than act as a squared-off, slightly bigger version of the forthcoming Galaxy S11 with a stylus. The next Note phone could be much more.  How? Since the stylus is so central to the phone’s identity, we want to see the S Pen become a true extension of the Samsung Galaxy Note 11: more physical controls, more reason to pull it out of the phone. We’d also like to see the usual improvements, like better camera, sharper screen, and so on. Those improvements are probably coming no matter what. (We also hope to see a stronger glass back in case we run into more, uh, accidents.) We haven't seen many concrete Samsung Galaxy Note 11 leaks in the news yet – that usually occurs shortly right after the flagship Galaxy S phone makes its debut. But we're running with our expectations and have our finger on the update button once the rumor mill kicks into full gear. Cut to the chase What is the Samsung Galaxy Note 11? The next stylus-packing flagship phone from Samsung. When is the Samsung Galaxy Note 11 launch date? Probably August 2020. How much will the Samsung Galaxy Note 11 cost? The price may be around $949 / £869 / AU$1,499 Samsung Galaxy Note 11 release date and price Given previous phones in the line came out in August or September of their year, we’re expecting the Samsung Galaxy Note 11 to be released in August 2020. As for cost, the Note 10 was released at a starting price of $949 / £869 / AU$1,499, so we’d expect a starting pricetag around there or even higher. The larger Note 10 Plus cost $100 / £130 / AU$200 more, so we expect a similar price jump for the inevitable Note 11 Plus. This price scheme has become pretty standard for top-tier flagship phones. It’s likely that Samsung’s flagship phones will come with 5G capability across the whole range – the Snapdragon 865 chipset is expected to be at the heart of the almost all flagship Android phones, and Qualcomm's new chipset is coupled with a 5G modem. That brings up an issue for all 5G phones in 2020. The Note 10 Plus 5G was sold by Verizon in the US for $1,299 (around £974 / AU$1,888), so we’d expect a higher-than-normal pricetag for any 5G-capable version of the Note 11. Samsung Galaxy Note 11 leaks and news The Samsung Galaxy Note 11 is still the better part of a year away from being released, but there’s been a few potentially revealing leaks.  First up is a rumor that there might not even be a Note 11 - not in name, anyway. Samsung might combine both of its flagship lines into a single phone called the Galaxy One that would essentially be ‘an S-series with an S Pen’ according to reputable leaker Evan Blass. Patents suggest that either the Samsung Galaxy S11 or the Note 11 might pack a spectrometer - a component that analyzes objects to discover its chemical composition. While it wouldn’t be the first phone to pack the device after the Changhong H2, as pointed out by LetsGoDigital, the Note 11 would be a phone with a much wider release. The Note 11 could pack an in-screen front-facing camera, which would sit under the full display instead of within a notch or pin-hole, industry sources told South Korean tech site The Elec - and backed up by a tweet from notable leaker @UniverseIce. Of course, some or all of these things could come in the Galaxy S11 first, since the S-series has often debuted new tech which that year’s Note entry inherits. Make sure to check out the Samsung Galaxy S11 page for all the rumors we’ve heard about features coming to that phone, like this one about a 5,000mAh battery and 108MP camera. Samsung Galaxy Note 11: what we want to see Since we haven't heard many rumors about the Note 11, we'll speculate as to what we want to see - improvements on last year's model and innovations we think would set the upcoming phone apart. 1. More capabilities in the S Pen The S Pen has been the real selling point for the Note series - a stylus tucked neatly in the phone for those who hold a torch for Palm Pilot-style productivity. But aside from a couple of new capabilities introduced over the last couple years - a button that operates as a camera shutter, a few half-baked gestures - the S Pen remains primarily a writing implement. Instead, we’d love to see the S Pen evolve into more of a proxy for the phone. If they can introduce one button, why not a couple more? It would be very handy to keep the phone in your pocket or perched for video and use the stylus to fiddle with volume and media navigation. Better yet, it would be great if the S Pen was used as a more universal remote across Samsung’s device family - maybe substituting a four-way joystick for the click-top so users can navigate. All we really know is the S Pen is not living up to its potential. 2. ‘Budget flagship’ version We’re big fans of the Samsung Galaxy S10e and the standard iPhone 11 for their value as budget flagships of their respective lines, and we’d love to see a more affordable version of the Note family. This isn’t a crazy idea - there already seems to be a Note 10 Lite in production, if this leak to is to be believed. But if a Lite version of the last Note isn’t in the cards, getting one in for the next version would be a great opportunity not just to get the S Pen in more hands, but to play around with the Note design in general. Previous phones in the line are sleek yet wide phablets, but why not take a page out of the Google Pixel 4’s book and give the Lite/budget flagship version a funky look? 3. Better cameras, specs, etc Like every year, we’re hoping the Note 11 gets improvements on its predecessor - most importantly in the cameras. And since they usually get similar if not identical lens suites as in that year’s Samsung Galaxy S-series, we can hope that the developments coming in the Galaxy S11 get ported to the Note 11. So the rumor of a 108MP camera headed to the S11 Plus would be great to look forward to in the Note 11 - and in the same report, a 5,000mAh battery. Both are good improvements, and we’d love to see battery life extend to breach two full days, especially with the screen-intensive S Pen functionality.  One thing we pretty much know for sure: the Note 11 will get the same Snapdragon 865 chipset headed to all top-tier Android phones in 2020, which we recently got our hands on - and found it outperformed Apple’s A13 chipset that’s in the iPhone 11 line. 4. Seamless display While the punch-hole is certainly a less obstructive upgrade from the notch, there are still compromises: we’d love to see a screen without any break whatsoever. That probably means an under-display window for the front-facing lens, which is something a leak actually suggests might happen.  The Note 11 might not end up being the first phone with this development, but given its status as the sleeker design-oriented flagship in Samsung’s lineup, we would like to see that big phablet display go seamless. 5. Cheaper 5G The Galaxy Note 10 5G cost far more than its 4G counterparts with only minor spec and camera upgrades, putting connectivity to the next-gen networks out of the hands of most folks. It would be great to see this cost shrink, full stop.  2020 probably won’t be the year that every flagship phone comes 5G-capable as a standard, but it’s going to be a lot harder to access if every 5G phone costs half again as much as its standard version. Given the Note line traditionally comes out toward the end of the year, though, Samsung could get ahead of the curve by trimming the price for a 5G Note 11 - and further differentiate it from the upcoming Galaxy S11. See where the Note 11 might fall on our best US phones list This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now

The all-new Facebook Portal TV gets a $50 price cut Posted: 17 Dec 2019 12:40 PM PST Just in time for the holidays, Facebook is discounting its all-new Portal TV. Starting now through December 24, you can save $50 on the video chat service and receive free shipping. The Portal TV is part of Facebook's mission to improve video calling by making it completely hands and distraction-free. The device allows you to make video calls on the biggest screen in your home and features a smart camera that automatically pans and zooms to keep up with the action so you can move and talk freely and always stay in frame. The Alexa-enabled Portal also works with other smart home devices so you can see who’s at the front door, watch the news, check the weather and more completely hands-free. You can also enjoy movies and TV shows from Portal TV with special programming just for kids. Facebook knows that privacy is a big concern, so it's enabled controls that allow you to easily disable the camera and microphone, and video calls are always encrypted. As we mentioned above, this offer ends on December 24, and you'll also receive free shipping for a limited time. The Portal TV would make a fantastic gift for anyone on your list, so you should take advantage of this fantastic deal before it's too late. You can learn about Facebook's other device with our hands-on Facebook Portal TV review. This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now

The best indoor TV antennas Posted: 17 Dec 2019 11:50 AM PST Yes, the rumors are true: there are actually more than a dozen over-the-air channels that you can get for free with an indoor TV antenna. These are the evolution of the rabbit-ear antennas you remember growing up but with the added bonus that they can pick up 1080p HD broadcasts.  Unfortunately the fact that TVs can receive these channels is a fact that has largely been obscured by cable companies that are all-too-eager to sign you up for an expensive cable plan. That said, while over-the-air broadcasts are much more limited than any cable package out there, they're totally free and still usually carry the biggest sports match-ups (the NFL on Sunday, the NBA Finals and the Stanley Cup), plus sitcoms, dramas and comedy shows from NBC, ABC, CBS and more.  How do you get access to this treasure trove of content? Well, you buy an antenna obviously, and for both better and worse, there are dozens of options that can make the process harder than it needs to be. You've got a lot of different types of antennas to pick from – those that sit (or stick) near your TV, those meant for an attic, and others that can be mounted to the side of your building. With that in mind, knowing the right one to buy can be challenging, but we're here to help you decide. We've done the research to find the best indoor TV antennas to suit every budget.  Best indoor TV antenna: AmazonBasics Ultra-Thin Antenna Amazon hardware is usually cheaper than the competition and lacking some flash, but when it comes to an indoor TV antenna, most people don't need anything fancy.  The AmazonBasics Ultra-Thin Antenna is boosted via USB cable or power adapter to provide a strong 50-mile range, and it works just as well as any other flat antenna we tried. We pulled in more than 50 channels in crisp 1080p HD with supported content. It's no-frills from start to finish: it comes in a plain brown box and is a simple sheet of plastic with white on one side and black on the other. It comes with pins and Velcro dots for affixing it to a wall (if you want to), and it only takes a couple of minutes to get it set up and plugged into your TV. It's easily the best value of the antennas we've tested. There are cheaper 35-mile and 25-mile versions that aren't amplified, so you might save a few bucks if you live close to a downtown area.  Best indoor TV antenna: TERK MTVGLS Indoor Plate Antenna TERK's MTVGLS model indoor antenna is flat like some of the others on this list, but it's not paper-thin – instead, it's just over an inch thick and runs about a foot in either direction. It comes with a little stand that can be screwed in on the bottom if you want to lay it flat, or on a side if you wish to stand it up, or you can opt to mount the antenna to a wall. No matter how you choose to arrange it, TERK's amplified plate antenna should satisfy: it proved to be the most consistently powerful antenna of the bunch of TV antennas we tested, yielding 58 channels with the ground-floor TV and 60 channels upstairs. The 1080p channels looked sharp, plus it's capable of 4K signals once that becomes a reality. Also, the 65-mile range of this omnidirectional antenna could come in handy if you're further out from the towers. However it's quite a bit pricier than some other nicely-capable devices on our best indoor TV antennas list. Best indoor TV antennas: Antop AT-127 Paper Thin Indoor Antenna It's obvious from a glance that the Antop AT-127 is different than the flat competition. It's sturdier than Amazon's antenna, but the faux wood grain – dark walnut on one side and light oak on the other – is also an intriguing touch. Antop has plenty of plain-looking antennas, but we can't help but dig the look. It feels certifiably retro, like the casing of a decades-old TV. The AT-127 isn't amplified, so it just connects via a coaxial cable. Still, we found more than 50 channels in both locations, and everything looks crisp and clear in 1080p. Antop says it's 4K ready, but we'll have to test that whenever American networks begin broadcasting in Ultra HD resolution (probably not any time soon). You can mount this one to a wall or window, but Antop also provides a little black, plastic stand that you can slot the antenna into, in case you want to tuck it behind your TV. Best indoor TV antenna: Antop Flat-Panel Indoor/Outdoor Antenna AT-402 Antop's AT-402 antenna isn't like any other on our best indoor TV antennas list. It's two feet tall and stands on its own with a removable stand, looking almost like a shrunken tower fan – and it can also be mounted outside. In fact, the "indoor" part of the description seems like an afterthought. Between the large size and 40-foot cable, it almost seems silly to set something this large next to your TV. But it sure is powerful. The AT-402 doesn't require an amplifier, yet it still offers a 60-mile range, making it an ideal option if you're a fair distance from the city. In our testing, it pulled a few more channels on the ground floor than the paper-thin antennas we tried, comparable to the TERK antenna on that front (although the TERK antenna found a couple more upstairs). Also, the AT-402 and TERK antennas were the only ones to pull a clear CBS signal on the ground floor. The AT-402 is pricier than some other antennas on this list. But the extra range and seemingly stronger pull might make this a good option for anyone worried about signal issues, or anyone who hopes to snag a few extra fringe channels in the lineup. Best indoor TV antenna: Winegard FlatWave Amped FL5500A Winegard's amplified FlatWave FL5500A antenna checks all of the same boxes as the AmazonBasics model listed above. It offers a 50-mile range, is flat and nearly paper-thin with black and white sides, and delivers a strong 1080p signal. In our testing, it found just over 50 channels in both locations. We have no complaints about the device itself. Really, our only issue that the FlatWave FL5500A costs more than double the price of the AmazonBasics 50-mile option, and truth be told, we couldn't tell a difference between them in use. They are nearly identical across the board, but based on current pricing, you'll save lots with Amazon's model. It's great, but there's no clear reason to pay extra that we could see. Best indoor TV antenna: Mohu Blade Indoor/Outdoor Bar Antenna Mohu's new Blade antenna is a one-of-a-kind – instead of a floppy sheet, it's a thicker, rectangular plastic panel that you might not be compelled to hide. You could mount it on the wall below the TV like a soundbar, or there's a little attachable kickstand if you'd rather put it on a TV stand. In any case, it's stylish in a way that most antennas simply don't strive to be. And if you want, you can mount it in an attic or even outside. But that style comes with frustrations. We struggled mightily to attach a coaxial cable or 90-degree coaxial adapter to the back of the antenna, because its coaxial connector is wedged so tight to the backing. Ultimately, we used a screwdriver to remove the spongey support ring on the back to give our hands a bit more room, and then had to use pliers to tighten the adapter because it wouldn't budge using our fingers. It was a real pain. Once it was finally up and running, we searched multiple times and found fewer channels with the ground-floor TV – just 44 max, compared to 50+ with the others. None of the omissions were crucial, but it was still a difference. Upstairs, we had to play around with the location before hitting the same 50+ mark as the other antennas. The Blade is sleek and stylish, but the smaller size brings a couple of frustrations along with it. This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now

Intel Rapid Storage app bug lets malware evade AV Posted: 17 Dec 2019 11:49 AM PST SafeBreach labs has discovered a vulnerability in Intel Rapid Storage Technology (Intel RST) that could allow malicious programs to bypass antivirus software. Researchers from the firm discovered that in older versions of the software, the IAStorDataMGRSvc.exe executable will try to load four DLLs (Dynamic-link libraries) from the Intel Rapid Storage Technology folder on a user's C drive. However, these DLLs do not exist in the same folder as the program's executable which means that  IAStorDataMGRSvc.exe will instead try and load these DLLs from other folders on a user's computer. Intel snaps up Israeli chipmaker Habana Labs for $2bn Windows malware turns PCs into zombies Security flaw in Bitdefender Antivirus Free 2020 leaves millions at risk SafeBreach took advantage of this to create their own custom DLL that is loaded once IAStorDataMGRSvc.exe starts. Since this executable runs with system privileges, the researchers' DLL is loaded with the same privileges and thus has full access to the computer. Intel Rapid Storage Technology flaw The vulnerability SafeBreach discovered cannot be exploited by an attacker for privilege escalation since it requires administrative privileges to create a custom DLL in the first place. However, the vulnerability could be used by an attacker to bypass antivirus scanning engines as the custom DLL will be loaded by the trusted Intel application. SafeBreach researcher Peleg Hadar explained to BleepingComputer how an attacker could leverage this vulnerability, saying: "An attacker can evade the antivirus by running within the context of Intel and perform malicious actions. Tested, and it works, very interesting and useful technique." SafeBreach first reported the vulnerability to Intel back in July and the chipmaker has since released updated versions of its Intel Rapid Storage Technology software that patch the issue. It is recommended that users running older versions of Intel RST update their software to the latest version to prevent falling victim to any attacks that exploit this vulnerability. We've also highlighted the best antivirus software Via BleepingComputer This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now

The best iPhone 7 Plus cases Posted: 17 Dec 2019 11:43 AM PST If you bought an iPhone 7 Plus, you'll definitely want to keep your investment safe and uncracked. The best thing to protect your purchase is keep it wrapped in a case to ensure its metal body stays unscathed and that its screen is safe from shattering. A regrettable number of smartphone owners find out the hard way that all it takes is one bad drop for your iPhone 7 Plus' screen to splinter into a cracked mess of sharp glass shards. Sure, the phone could still function, but it’s better to just get an iPhone 7 Plus case and avoid those tragedies altogether. Here are our recommendations to keep your iPhone 7 Plus safe and sound for a long life of service, especially now that it's been updated with iOS 13 and should continue to get updates in the foreseeable future. The only thing better than a case is no case, at least until you drop your phone, and this Dockem sleeve aims to combine the best of both worlds, by giving your iPhone 7 Plus a cosy case when you’re not using it, and leaving it naked and free when you are. The inevitable downside of this is that your phone also has no protection when in use, but if you’re more concerned about your phone’s safety when it’s out of your hands than in them this could be a good option, and it doesn’t hurt that it looks suitably classy too. The Torras Slim Fit case is perfect for those who want a simple, inexpensive case that won't glitz up their iPhone 8. It won't have the multi-stage protection of an OtterBox, but buying one of these is certainly better than keeping your phone naked, and this is the next closest thing: aside from a 1mm lip around the camera, the Torras Slim Fit is only fractionally larger than the phone itself.  This is the case for those who want a no-frills case that will fit in pockets and small bags. Wooden cases are arguably among the most stylish around, and definitely among the most unusual. This YFWOOD case mixes things up further though by using three different shades of wood for a distinctive patterned finish. Like most other wooden cases the edges are still plastic, which slightly spoils the look when viewed from an angle, but viewed from the back this is a stunning case and one that won’t break the bank. The Spigen Tough Armor [2nd Generation] case offers decent protection for a low price. It has a flexible TPU body that wraps around your phone, plus a polycarbonate plate to cover the backside. The latter includes an integrated kickstand if you enjoy watching media on your iPhone 7. Where most wallet cases have little slots to slide cards in, ZVE opted for a fully-enclosed zippered pocket to store your stuff. That likely makes it a bit cumbersome for folks who carry their case-covered phones in their pockets, but at least this would keep your ID and other cards safely tucked away and not scattered on the street. Simple and classy, the Cygnett UrbanShield is the kind of case we can get on with. This year Cygnett has dumped the cut-out for the Apple logo too, and the case looks a lot sleeker as a result. It's a basic case - a clip-on plastic shell designed to avoid dings to your iPhone's aluminum frame, but it has some sweet finishes tailored to match the classic pink, silver and black colors. The two silvery versions have a thin plate of brushed aluminum on the back, while the black uses carbon fiber, and the pink a panel of silicone for a soft-touch feel. We've shied away from featuring too many super-tough iPhone 7 Plus cases, because they tend to add so much girth to the already-large phone's thickness and width. However, the X-Doria Defense Gear is one of the slimmest cases to boast of having 'military-grade' protection. What this means in practice is that you can drop the phone case'd-up from a height of 6 feet 6 inches and it should survive. The case is made from a mixture of rubber, hard plastic and anodized aluminum. The special sauce is what X-Doria calls DropShield. Like most advanced materials used in cases, this hardens on impact, a state change that absorbs a lot of energy. If you want a simple leather case but don't want to be an iSheep and buy Apple's own one, take a look at the Knomo Snap-on case. It looks great and is much cheaper than Apple's, partly because the leather is just an inlay in a fairly standard polycarbonate shell. It's still real leather, however, and this means the parts that will take the brunt of abuse will be plastic, which don't rip as a leather veneer can after serious mistreatment. Knomo makes the Snap-on case for iPhone 7 Plus in five different shades, ranging from a pretty eye-popping orange to a much more interior design-inspired "lido" blue-gray. Torro makes funky-looking leather flip cases that double as stands, and a stand comes in particularly handy with an iPhone 7 Plus, with its big screen just begging to be used for a bit of movie-watching while you're bored on a long plane or train journey. The case is made of real leather, and there's neat stitching along the sides for a hand-made look. The black version has red stitching, while the tan one uses thread that blends into the leather much more. Other notable features include a magnet to stop the screen cover flapping about, and a pouch on the front that'll hold a travel or debit card. If you want your iPhone to look serious and professional, you can't go far wrong with a Cygnett UrbanWallet Flip. It's a simple folio case that uses a real leather 'lid' and a plastic shell into which your iPhone 7 Plus clips. There's a metallic finish on this part that holds your phone, in a semi-successful attempt to trick your eyes into believing the shell is actually metal. The main draw here is that it's a flip case, though, and a fairly smart-looking one at that. The tricky part of designing a case is to find ways of sucking up impact damage without effectively wrapping the phone in bubble wrap. Belkin's Air Protect SheerForce tactic is to use arches in the case's bumper sides, creating little compressible air pockets that absorb force rather than transmitting it to the aluminum sides of the iPhone. It's a cheap, low-bulk way of protecting the phone. This is a deliberately low-key case, with a transparent or translucent finish. The non-clear ones are tinted to match the various colors of iPhone too. This is a good pick if you want protection without lots of bulk or weird style influences. The Spec Presidio Grip case doesn't just to try to make dropping your phone no big deal, it wants to stop those drops in the first place. As well as some basic protection, this slimline case makes your iPhone much grippier, using embossed strips of rubber across its back. If you do drop your iPhone 7 Plus a layer of - don't laugh - Impactium will reduce the force transferred to the phone. This compressible material, which sounds like it was nicked from the Marvel universe, sits underneath a hard polycarbonate exterior. OtterBox is best known for its ultra-protective cases. But unless you have hulk-like hands, you're not going to want to live with a brute of a case on your iPhone 7 Plus. It'll just be too much of a handful. The OtterBox Symmetry does its best to find a middle ground. It's a slim-ish case, but one with a chunky lip above the screen and dual rubber and plastic construction, to put more layers between the pavement and your iPhone. It comes in a selection of finishes, including the funky pattern you see here. One of the classic iPhone cases is Apple's own leather model. On the surface, it seems as simple as they come, a clip-on cover that keeps the phone's aluminum exterior looking good as new without downgrading the look. Leather is as classy as aluminum, right? There are some touches that deserve a mention, though. First, the finish is real "French" leather rather than a synthetic alternative. This means it'll wear and age naturally rather than starting to peel off six months in. The case also has its own buttons, sitting on top of those on your iPhone, and has a microfiber lining that hugs your phone. It comes in a whopping seven colors too. The Portlandia of iPhone cases, the Grovemade Walnut & Leather is all-natural and, as it happens, made in Portland. Its frame is made of walnut wood finished with vegetable oil, its leather rear tanned with vegetable extracts. It's delightfully artisanal, and pretty delightful all-round actually. As Grovemade says, though, "the wood used in this product may be damaged by drops or other impacts. If a case that may break is not for you, please consider a rubber or plastic case." You've been warned. Grovemade also makes bumper-style cases, an all-walnut standard case and a flip case. The Otterbox Stada case for the iPhone 7 Plus does an excellent job combining a high level of protection with a premium design. It uses multiple layers to defend the phone from scrapes and drops, while the folio cover can protect the display from damage. On the outside, the Strada case is actually made with leather, which gives it a wonderful look and feel. If you're going to cover up all of the iPhone, it may as well be with a case that looks almost as good. If you don't mind covering your iPhone 7 Plus from head to toe in a case, then the Lifeproof Fre is a great option. It covers all sides of the iPhone, even with a display cover. That protects your phone from a lot more than just the occasional ding. Lifeproof claims the case will offer your iPhone protection in up to 6.6-feet of water for an hour. And, that's on top of dust, dirt, and snow protection. Not many other cases try to raise the bar that high, but it comes with the trade-off that you won't see much of your iPhone's original design. This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now

The best SSDs Posted: 17 Dec 2019 11:34 AM PST Invest in one of the best SSDs, and stop putting up with those slow, loud and unreliable hard drives. Not only are solid state drives more durable, but they’re also faster, more efficient and produces less fan noise. In fact, the best SSDs are here to free you from the mechanical shackles of hard drives. A few years back, SSDs were expensive. Now, however, they’re more affordable than ever, so you can buy one of the best SSDs on the market without breaking the bank. What’s even better is that you won’t even need to purchase one of the best PCs to take advantage of the huge speed boost the best SSDs offer. Even the best Ultrabooks out there boast the best SSDs.  And, if you’re not ready to replace your current computer yet, don’t worry. Pick one on our best SSDs list and slot it yourself, as they’re easy to install. You can even slot one of the best SSDs into your PS4 Pro to seriously slash loading times.  You’ll find the SSD for you on our best SSDs list, no matter your budget and requirements. And, with Black Friday coming, you might even find excellent deals out there. Samsung 970 Evo Plus is one of the fastest drives on the market. (Image Credit: Samsung) Samsung is no stranger to creating some of the best SSDs, so when it launched the Samsung 970 Evo Plus with higher speeds and new silicon, even we were surprised. The Samsung 970 Evo Plus is simply one of the fastest drives on the market, but the fact that Samsung is selling it at such a bargain price is just the icing on the cake. Because of how affordable this drive is, it’s not hard to recommend it as the best SSD for anyone.  WD Black SN750 has extremely high random read speeds of 412.5MB/s. (Image Credit: Western Digital) Western Digital has been busy making a name for itself producing many of the best SSDs and hard drives for a few years now, and the WD Black SN750 continues that tradition, claiming the best gaming SSD throne. This NVMe SSD has extremely high random read speeds of 412.5MB/s, which should make games load before you get a chance to chug some of that Mountain Dew. And, when you consider that this is one of the most affordable NVMe SSDs, it’s easy to recommend it to any gamer looking for a new SSD, whatever their budget. Intel Optane 905P is certainly a fast solid-state drive. (Image credit: Intel) The Optane SSD 905P is hardly a newcomer, but with a random read rated at 575,000 IOPS and random write rated at 555,000 IOPs, it’s definitely one of Intel’s fastest drives. Granted, its 2,600MB/s sequential read and 2,200MB/s sequential write speeds might seem a bit pedestrian, especially next to the Samsung 970 Evo and WD Black NVMe SSDs, that doesn’t stop it from being a fast solid-state drive, not to mention one of the best SSDs on the market. The Samsung 970 Evo is still the best SSD you can buy if you're after raw speed. (Image Credit: Samsung) Again, Samsung has been behind some of the best SSDs that have been hitting the streets for years, and even though other manufacturers like Western Digital and Adata are trying their best to give it a run for its money, the Samsung 970 Evo is still the best SSD you can buy if you’re after raw speed. The read speeds haven’t improved over the previous generation’s 960 Pro, but the write speeds see a significant bump – up to 2,700MB/s – which is how it retains its ‘fastest SSD’ crown. If you’re looking for the best SSDs to choose from, with no compromises, you can’t go wrong adding the Samsung 970 Pro to your list. Toshiba OCZ RD400 drives are some of the best SSDs to consider. (Image Credit: Toshiba) If you're looking for several options, looks- and size-wise, then Toshiba OCZ RD400 series of drives are some of the best SSDs to consider. They come in 4 sizes and three different form factors: M.2, M.2 2280, and add-in card (AIC). Not all sizes are in all form factors, so if you're looking for a fast 1TB drive, make sure you have room in your computer case.  There isn't a single drive out there that can match the Adata XPG SX8200 SSD's raw price to performance ratio. (Image Credit: Adata) If you’ve been waiting to jump on the M.2 train for an SSD that’s both fast and affordable, you’ve come to the right place. The Adata XPG SX8200 isn’t one of the best SSDs because it’s the fastest drive on the market, but because there isn’t a single drive out there that can match the raw price to performance ratio that it offers. Sure you can get any of the much faster, much more pricey SSDs on the market, but this is the drive we can recommend to anyone. The Samsung 860 Pro is among the best SSDs for anyone still clinging to SATA 3. (Image Credit: Samsung) People might not be going crazy about SATA 3 anymore, but the Samsung 860 Pro proves that there’s still plenty of life in the aging interface after all. With storage up to 4TB and transfer speeds that approach the theoretical maximum of the SATA 3 interface – not to mention top-of the-line reliability and security – the Samsung 860 Pro is among the best SSDs for anyone still clinging to SATA 3. Intel 750 Series can be plugged it into the PCIe slot on your motherboard. (Image Credit: Intel) The U.2 standard allows for bigger SSD capacities and uses your computer's PCIe x4 slot to send all that data back and forth. The Intel 750 series includes a cable so you can mount the drive in the bay on your case and still plug it into the PCIe slot on your motherboard, making it among our favorite, as well as among the best, SSDs on offer today. Samsung 860 Evo delivers improved read/write speeds and an array of form factors. (Image Credit: Samsung) Samsung had a hard act to follow – the Samsung 850 Evo was beloved for its stunning performance and affordability. Luckily, the Samsung 860 Evo absolutely succeeded in, well… succeeding it. Though limited by the SATA3 interface, the Samsung 860 Evo delivers performance that iterates on its predecessor with improved read/write speeds and an array of form factors, while still maintaining its budget price. The 860 Evo is, without a doubt, best SSD for anyone looking for an entry-level SSD without having to break open their piggy banks. HP S700 Pro will far exceed its warranty. (Image Credit: HP) If you need an SSD that will last through multiple computers, the HP S700 Pro is exactly what you want. Its life will far exceed its warranty, offering up to 2 million hours of use and up to 650 terabytes written. This is one of the best SSDs you can buy if you need something that’s built to last, even if the SATA interface may slow things down a bit in the read/write department, as this technically helps it last even longer.  Intel 760p Series SSD has a fantastic price to performance ratio. (Image Credit: Intel) The best NVMe SSDs used to be way too expensive for most users. But, those days are coming to an end – the Intel 760p Series SSD changes everything. This SSD features impressive performance that’s only slightly behind the beloved Samsung 960 Evo, boasting speeds of 3,056 MB/s read and 1,606 MB/s write. But, what really makes the 760p stand out is the fantastic price to performance ratio. Yeah, there are faster NVMe drives on the market, but you’ll be paying a premium them, and frankly, it’s not worth it. This is one of the best SSDs out there, not just because it’s fast, but because the Intel 760p makes us excited about the future. Samsung X5 Portable SSD is fast, secure and durable. (Image Credit: Samsung) If you’re a creative or a professional, and you need an external NVMe SSD that’s going to save you time rather than waste it, you might want to give the Samsung X5 Portable SSD a look. Thanks to its use of Thunderbolt 3, rugged magnesium build and AES 256-bit encryption, it’s fast, secure and durable – everything you want in an external SSD in which to store all your hard creativework. This isn’t a cheap accessory, but this is one of the best SSDs and is priced as such. Everyday users may want to look elsewhere, this is all about sheer speed. This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now

The best laptop bag Posted: 17 Dec 2019 11:13 AM PST The best laptop bag is naturally going to be the one that can protect your laptop well and make it easy to tote around. But, just about any bag can do that, so part of the equation is going to come down to style and the extra features you'll find on laptop carrying case. We've looked over all sorts of laptop backpacks, satchels and bags to find some of the most capable options available. This way, you can worry more about a style and feature set that works for you and worry less about whether a big might be low quality. We picked out laptop bags from a wide variety of manufacturers, giving you a great range of options at a number of different price points. All of them will do the job of holding your laptop securely, but beyond that, they'll offer their own approach to securing the rest of your items. So, here's our pick of the best laptop bags and backpacks for business users, students or just day-to-day use, based on our expert research from around the web, picking the popular options we think you should check out. The tried and true JanSport is tough to go wrong with. A full-canvas bag with nylon mesh inside including a 15-inch laptop sleeve, this version of the JanSport comes in several colors for a variety of prices. Included in the price are also a media pocket lined in fleece as well as a removable storage pouch, making it an excellent business laptop backpack. With a simple, yet stylish, design, the Out Of Office laptop backpack is ideal for business users that makes carrying around your laptop comfortable, while also protecting your device from the rigours of daily life. One of the best features about this backpack is its 30 year warranty, which means you shouldn't have to worry about getting another laptop backpack for a long, long time. The distinctive design of the Mammut Xeron Courier 25, along with the name, suggests that this is a laptop bag that is designed for people who work or commute by bike. Even if that's not your usual mode of transport, this is a business laptop bag that's still worth considering thanks to its comfortable design that protects both you and the laptop when worn. If you're not looking to pay huge amounts of cash for a laptop backpack, then this is a great budget choice. Made and sold by Amazon through its Basics program, this all-black backpack has a laptop sleeve for machines up to 15 inches, and several types of pockets, for but a pittance compared to most. The Herschel Pop Quiz backpack is clearly designed with students in mind. It has a simple style and reasonable price, but comes with no shortage of features to meet your daily needs. It has a padded laptop sleeve with fleece lining to keep your computer safe, and its front pocket includes built-in organizers so you can keep all your school supplies in order. It even has waterproof zippers to help protect all your belongings. And, with a wide variety of styles, you can find a design that fits your personality. If you like the sound of a budget - yet dependable - laptop bag, but you don't want a backpack, then Amazon also does a laptop bag. This can be carried over your shoulder and can fit larger laptops as well. It's not as fancy as some of the other bags on this page, but it does the job well, and for a low price. This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now

What is hybrid cloud? Posted: 17 Dec 2019 11:13 AM PST Cloud computing drives an increasing variety of online services, including popular SaaS (Software as a Service) offerings. In order to enable cloud computing, programs and data need to be taken off the local PC or mobile platform, and instead stored in this nebulous cloud, on a server in a location remote from the device accessing the resource. Delving deeper, there are three main types of clouds in cloud computing: public, private and hybrid. A public cloud provides cloud services to the public, whether to you personally, or to your organization, with the resources shared by many people. As they typically support multiple customers, they are considered less secure, and therefore less suited to sensitive information, such as confidential medical data for example. The resources are accessed over the internet, which becomes a requirement for use, so mission critical applications that cannot tolerate any internet connectivity downtime should not be put onto the public cloud. Public cloud solutions are available from the major tech behemoths, including Amazon Web Services, Google Cloud Platform and Microsoft Azure. Private cloud At the other end of the spectrum is a private cloud solution. In this model, the shared computer resources are dedicated to one organization. An immediate advantage is that there can be much tighter security to limit access, making this well suited for more sensitive data that can comply with industry standard and security regulations which are imposed on such industries as the financial, medical or legal sectors (or any data that needs to remain classified). For a private cloud solution, the server can be on the company premises, known as a local server, or off premises, designated as a remote server. The resources on the server can be either owned directly by the company, or contracted via a vendor who sets up the software on the company server, and supports the company’s infrastructure through a contract. The middle ground Now that we understand the two extremes of cloud solutions – public and private – we can more easily comprehend the middle option, known as hybrid cloud, which is a combination of a public and private cloud solution. It can be thought of as connecting a public cloud to an in-house data center. While some folks often think of a hybrid cloud as a mix of the other two types of cloud solutions, James Sanders at ZDNet points out that: “The public and private clouds (or infrastructure) in a hybrid cloud arrangement are distinct and independent elements. This allows organizations to store protected or privileged data on a private cloud…” Combining public and private clouds into a hybrid cloud brings its own set of pros and cons. The downside of a hybrid cloud is that it is a more complex undertaking with a blend of resources across multiple platforms, and that requires a higher level of knowledge to manage and support it. Another drawback of a hybrid cloud is that the cost is frequently higher than a public or private cloud setup as there are both the hardware costs of the private cloud, and the ongoing subscription fees of the public cloud. There are also security issues as the public portion of the hybrid cloud still has the multiple user security issues of a pure public cloud solution. There can also be latency concerns as data is shuffled between the private and public portions of the cloud. Attention must also be paid to the data center that supports the private cloud portion of the hybrid cloud, with appropriate choice of hardware in terms of the servers, storage, the network connecting everything, and load balancers for traffic management to keep it all running smoothly. However, the big upside is that a hybrid solution offers more choice in available resources, with the ability to use the best of each of the other solutions. It also offers a higher degree of scalability, with the potential to share resources as needed. Finally, the public cloud component facilitates easier access for mobile and remote workers with a hybrid cloud solution, compared to a private cloud-only solution. Secret sauce The ‘secret sauce’ to marry the public and private clouds into what the end user sees as one system depends on a virtualization layer, also known as a hypervisor. This virtualization layer supports the virtual machines (VMs) that access the resources on the hybrid cloud. Installed on top of the virtualization layer is another layer, called the cloud software layer. This higher layer provides the cloud capabilities to users. Due to the complexity of setting all this up, the services of a private cloud architect are employed. For example, a common challenge is the choice of a virtualization layer, and the cloud software layer to provide the proper compatibility to the target public cloud service. This will allow the desired services to migrate smoothly between the private cloud and the public cloud element, into the larger hybrid cloud ecosystem. This will in turn allow developers to create a service that draws on resources from both the public and private cloud components. A hybrid cloud is particularly well-suited to a dynamic workload situation. For example, a cloud service can run during normal business conditions on the company’s private cloud. In situations of peak demand, for example, during a busy time at a company when the need exceeds 100% of the resources of the private cloud, the overflow traffic can be directed to the public cloud portion. This ensures that things run smoothly without any interruption in availability. It is also cost-effective as the business only pays for the extra resources of the public cloud for the limited time that it is required, rather than paying to build out a more robust private cloud all year round, which is only used for a relatively small portion of time. In short, this is effectively additional capacity available on-demand, and it’s known as ‘cloud bursting’. We also discuss Software as a Service This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now

The best laptop for writers Posted: 17 Dec 2019 11:04 AM PST If you think that the best laptops for writers can be any laptop on the market, you’re sadly mistaken. Writers, much like photographers, video editors and designers, have specific needs when it comes to laptops, even if it seems to outsiders that all they need is a word processing software and a functional keyboard. As a writer, you have specific needs you’ll want addressed in the laptop of your choosing. First and foremost, you don’t just need a functional keyboard. You need a keyboard that is comfortable to use, has a nice tactile bounce and is very accurate. In fact, you’ll need one of the best keyboards on a laptop, if you hope to type on it all day without fatiguing. This is also true of displays. You’ll need one with an excellent display, one that lets you see things when you’re outdoors and isn’t eye-straining even when you’re indoors. Additionally, the best laptops for writers are ideally sleek and compact, because you never know when inspiration will strike. It could be on your couch in the comfort of your own home, or it could be at a park outside the city.  And, finally, because when inspiration does strike, you never know how many hours you’ll spend writing, it helps to have a laptop with a great battery life as well. With these considerations in mind, we put together a list of the best laptops for writer this 2019. This way, you won’t have to scour the computing market yourself, and sort through hundreds of options. Microsoft Surface Go is an insanely portable laptop that is a delight to type on. (Image Credit: Microsoft) If you’re looking for the best laptop for writers, but you want something with tons of modern aesthetic that’s portable to boot, you can’t go wrong with the Microsoft Surface Go. Sure, you’re going to have to buy the keyboard separate, but once you get it, you’ll have an insanely portable laptop that is a delight to type on. The gorgeous PixelSense display is great for watching some Netflix in your down time, too. Asus Zenbook UX310UA is a sleek machine that's powerful and portable. (Image Credit: Asus) When you’re a writer, sometimes you just need a sleek machine that’s powerful and portable – and the Asus Zenbook UX310UA is a prime example of this. It’s one of the best Ultrabooks for writers – you’ll get a brilliantly performing notebook that you won’t need to upgrade for years. And, thanks to its ultra-slim design, it’s easy to carry around, which will be great if you do a lot of writing while travelling. The keyboard is a decent size which makes writing on it a breeze. Like most Asus laptops, you can spec it out to be as cheap or powerful as you want.  Asus Chromebook Flip is a great way to save cash. (Image Credit: Asus) The best Chromebooks don’t run Windows or macOS. Instead, they’re powered by Google’s own Chrome OS – a super lightweight operating system based on the Chrome web browser. That might sound restrictive, but it’s a great way to save cash. Plus, if you’re going to primarily be writing, it’s a great choice, as Google Docs can be used as a word processor, and you also have the Chrome browser for research. The Asus Chromebook Flip is one of the best Chromebooks out there at the moment, offering truly premium build quality, a fabulous touchscreen and keyboard, on top of excellent performance. This is all while offering great value for the money.  Surface Laptop 2 is the culmination of all the best laptops for writers. (Image Credit: Microsoft) Even in the face of the best touchscreen laptops, sometimes you just want a powerful, traditional laptop that feels great to type on. And, while the Surface Laptop 2 does, in fact, have a touchscreen, everything else about it is the culmination of all the best laptops for writers. The keyboard is tactile and comfy, the screen is the perfect size and resolution, and it’s got plenty of power for all the Chrome tabs you’ll have open while researching. One of the only things that holds it back is the lack of Thunderbolt 3, but with everything else this laptop does right, it’s easy to see why it’s one of the best laptops for writers. Microsoft Surface Pro 6 is the best laptop for writing on the move. (Image Credit: Microsoft) If you’re going to an event or traveling, you’ll want to get your writing done on a device that’s both lightweight and capable. And, the Surface Pro 6 is the best laptop for writing on the move. With the latest quad-core processors from Intel and plenty of RAM, you won’t be held back by the hardware. It’s just a shame that you have to buy the keyboard separately – but it’s still worth your time. MacBook Air (13-inch, 2018) has modern and powerful components. Last year's model of the MacBook Air brought a long-awaited refresh for Apple's lightweight MacBook, with a thinner, lighter and Retina display for the first time, it’s easily the best MacBook Air we’ve ever tested, and it makes it one of the best laptops for writers as well. It's thin and light design makes it perfect for carrying around with you, if you like writing on the go, and it's got modern - and powerful - components, such as 8th generation Intel Core processors, that helps it feel speedy and responsive. There are two versions, including a newer version for 2019, but it only adds the True Tone feature, which isn't much use to writers, so we still think the 2018 model is the one to get - especially if it gets a price cut. Lenovo Flex 6 14 boasts respectable components behind a beautiful and responsive touch screen. (Image Credit: Lenovo) Lenovo is known for making some of the best laptops for writers – once you use one of its keyboards, it’s kind of hard to go back. The Lenovo Flex 6 14 is no exception. For a bargain price, you’re getting respectable components behind a beautiful and responsive touch screen. And, it’s light enough that it’s actually bearable to use in tablet mode – more than can be said of some of the best 2-in-1 laptops. If you’re looking for the best laptop for writers that can get a lot of work done on a budget, look no further. Acer Switch 3 is a brilliant little machine. (Image Credit: Acer) If you have your eyes on a Surface Pro, but you don’t want to spend that much money, the Acer Switch 3 is definitely up your alley. It’s designed around the same basic concept as the Surface Pro and it’s only a little less capable. However, for most tasks, especially if you’re a writer, it’s a brilliant little machine. What’s more, to add further value, this 2-in-1 laptop/tablet comes with the keyboard upgrade which means little extras to pay for. As usual, it comes in several different versions, with USB Type-C, 8GB RAM, an IPS display and an Intel Core i3-7100U processor coming with the more expensive option.  Acer Chromebook R11 is probably the best cheap laptop around at the moment. (Image Credit: Acer) The Acer Chromebook R11 is probably the best cheap laptop around at the moment, and it's a great laptop for wirters. Like the Acer Chromebook Flip higher up this page, this laptop runs Chrome OS so does away with all the overheads that Windows brings. Consequently it's able to run nice and fast on less powerful components, which means a very cheap price! Its touchscreen is decent, though it's only HD, and it will flip to become a tablet too. What's more, it'll run practically all day thanks to its excellent battery life. So if you're looking for a capable but very cheap laptop that you can whip out and begin writing on, then this one is your best bet. HP Spectre X360 is one of the best 2-in-1 laptops you can buy today. (Image Credit: HP) If you’re looking for a laptop that you can fold up and play with when you’re done writing for the day, look no further than the HP Spectre x360. Not only is this one of the best 2-in-1 laptops you can buy, but thanks to the keyboard’s stiff force curve, you’ll find typing is a breeze for any touch typist. And, thanks to its long battery life, you’ll be able to write all day on this comfortable keyboard without having to worry about scrambling for your charger. That’s not to mention the beautiful 4K display, which will make text look nice and crisp with no pixelation.  This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now

Why Rogue One is the greatest Star Wars movie (according to some people) Posted: 17 Dec 2019 10:27 AM PST Star Wars fans struggle to agree on what they want these days.  2015's The Force Awakens was largely praised, but received criticism for hewing too closely to the structure of A New Hope – and it therefore felt a bit familiar to some. 2017's The Last Jedi, meanwhile, got hit with backlash for a number of reasons, some dubious, some fair, but whatever you think of the film, it is markedly different to Star Wars movies of the past.  Rogue One is both of those things at the same time: familiar, but different. It's jammed onto the front of A New Hope, ending moments before the older film starts, and it holds the distinction of killing off its entire cast of newly-introduced characters, which no Star Wars movie has tried before. It mixes pleasing classic Star Wars imagery of X-Wings, Darth Vader, Yavin and the Death Star with the extremely vague structure of a heist movie. Rogue One also features an ensemble of characters that aren't of the regular hero archetypes we see in the Star Wars saga films.  Watch the Star Wars movies on Disney Plus with a 7-day free trial Perhaps that combination is why people love Rogue One so much. This past weekend, the movie trended on Twitter, with people praising various elements of the film, like its cinematography and memorable scene of a Darth Vader rampage. Since Lucasfilm paused its plans for yearly Star Wars movies after Solo: A Star Wars story flopped, Rogue One will likely remain the sole successful standalone spin-off.  But is it the best Star Wars film? Not really, we'd argue, because despite an extremely strong second half featuring arguably the best Star Wars space battle in history, it's a wonky film in terms of characterization. This is a pretty common complaint leveled at Rogue One, but it's not for nothing.  Blank slates Considering Felicity Jones' Jyn Erso leads the assault on the Empire at the end of the film, she's otherwise a pretty unassertive presence in Rogue One. She's someone we're told has a criminal past, who hasn't seen her father since he was taken by the Empire, but the film doesn't sell you on the sense of a journey. Her eventual commitment to the Rebel cause comes out of nowhere, barring her father's death, which is at least partly caused by a Rebel Alliance bombing raid. You don't feel like you truly get to know Jyn in Rogue One, or what she's about.  And that lack of attention to characterization extends to the movie's co-lead, too. When we meet Diego Luna's Cassian Andor at the start of the film, the Rebel officer murders his own contact because he lacks the ability to escape the surrounding stormtroopers. This is presumably intended to show us he's a man who'll do drastic things to get the job done and keep the Rebel Alliance safe, but he doesn't really do anything this dark again for the rest of the movie, save for briefly considering pulling the sniper trigger on Jyn's father.  Why show that sequence to begin with, then? If you took that scene out, Andor would risk being a bit of a blank slate. As it stands, it's hard to see how he's compelling enough to be the lead of his own Disney Plus series. When you consider that K2S0 will be joining him, though – the reprogrammed Imperial droid played sarcastically by Alan Tudyk that steals the movie – that premise does start to sound more interesting. The wider ensemble cast is collectively just likeable enough in Rogue One for you to be invested in their theft of the Death Star plans, but you don't have one great protagonist to carry this film.   That space battle, though If you grew up obsessing over the details of the Star Wars universe, you've probably got a lot of fondness for the spaceships. And the Battle of Scarif that caps off Rogue One – taking place on both the planet's surface and in orbit above – is a terrific set piece, featuring some of the most thrilling action ever seen in the movies. For all the unfair criticism The Last Jedi gets, its overly long space sequences of big, slow ships getting blown up by the First Order don't compare to the zippy dogfights and capital ship collisions going on above Scarif.  A great Star Wars film needs a good space battle, then, and Rogue One brings it. The sequence of an X-Wing coming out of hyperspace into the fleet is one of the best in a beautiful-looking movie:  The Battle of Scarif features an enjoyably videogame-y conceit: that the planet is blocked off by an Imperial 'shield gate', which stops communications and ships moving between the surface of the planet and orbit. That basically dooms everyone trapped on Scarif, including the X-Wings of Blue Squadron (RIP), and when the Death Star turns up to destroy all evidence of the skirmish, Jyn, Cassian and villain Orson Krennic. This is the other reason why Rogue One is memorable: wiping out your entire cast of heroes is different for a Star Wars movie. That makes it an easy 'left field' choice for the best one.  The closing minutes transition this movie into a direct prologue for A New Hope. The story is no longer about the characters, because they're all gone. It's about the Death Star plans as they pass from one doomed Rebel soldier to another, evading a murderous Darth Vader so they can get into the hands of a slightly eyebrow-raising CG Princess Leia.  It's a thrilling finale to an inconsistent movie. But it's cool that it got made. With Solo flopping at the box office, it feels unlikely that we'll ever see another risky proposition in this vein from Star Wars in the cinema. Instead, Disney Plus is likely to become the domain of more out-there ideas for Star Wars fiction, and The Mandalorian's success shows that being on a streaming service will have no negative impact on the amount of attention it can get.  As The Rise of Skywalker hits cinemas, it feels like the first era of Star Wars movies under Disney is coming to an end. And we know that, like Rogue One, the story of Episode 9 owes something to at least a few Star Wars movies from the past, with the return of Emperor Palpatine. The next phase of Star Wars films would do well to take us away from the characters and imagery of movies from 40 years ago. As iconic as they are, a fresher approach is needed if people are still going to be as invested in this universe 10 or 20 years from now. Still, if you're a Star Wars fan, you can't help but wonder where these spin-offs might've gone if Solo was a success. Rogue One says that these franchise pictures can be risky and rewarding, even if it only truly works because it leads into a movie you already love.  How to watch the Star Wars movies in order This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now

Microsoft Edge opens add-ons store Posted: 17 Dec 2019 10:11 AM PST Microsoft has announced that the add-ons store is now open for its upcoming Chromium-based Edge browser and developers can begin submitting their own add-ons for approval. The software giant has been previewing a new version of its Edge browser, which will be powered by the popular Chromium rendering engine, for some time now and Windows 10 users will finally get to try the official version of the browser when it is rolled out via an over-the-air update on January 15, 2020. Desktop users have been reluctant to make the switch to Edge and have instead continued using either Google Chrome or Mozilla Firefox because of the fact that Microsoft's latest browser did not offer support for add-ons at launch. However, this will change with the launch of the Chromium version of Edge and the browser may finally be able to compete with its rivals. Microsoft Edge is phasing out Flash New Microsoft Edge browser will launch on January 15 Millions of Microsoft users are reusing passwords Edge add-ons One of the biggest advantages of swapping out the old rendering engine for Chromium in Edge is the fact that its users will soon be able to easily install extensions built for Chrome. To do so, users will just need to open Edge's settings menu, select extensions and then enable the option to allow extensions from other stores. Google Chrome already has a massive library of extensions available with a large base of developers creating new extensions for the browser. Thankfully, porting these extensions over to Microsoft's add-ons store will not be too difficult as the company says that extensions built for Chromium “will work without any modifications in the new Microsoft Edge”. Microsoft Edge will likely see a big uptick in users next year as it will be available instantly in Windows 10 and users will finally be able to use the extensions their familiar with on other browsers. Developers interested in creating an add-on for Microsoft Edge or porting their existing extensions over to the new browser can find out more on Microsoft's site. We've also rounded up the best web hosting services Via The Next Web This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now

Sony WH-1000XM3 noise-canceling headphone deals hit lowest price yet Posted: 17 Dec 2019 10:01 AM PST Any Sony WH-1000XM3 deals are worth checking out in our opinion, these top noise-canceling headphones have been named TechRadar's favorite for two years now, and they've earned it. You can pick up this amazing set of Sony's finest noise-canceling headphones for just $278 right now at Walmart, an incredible saving over the $350 you'll be paying on a normal day. This is a noise-canceling headphone deal you don't want to miss - on an exceedingly good set of cans.  Originally released in 2017, the Sony WH-1000XM3 headphones still bring industry-leading noise cancellation to the party, with the sound quality to match. Not only that, but they still clean up the competition with a 30-hour battery life and a fantastic wireless range to match. These Sony headphones are renowned for their quality, stability, and second-to-none noise cancellation, and today they're coming in at a far lower price than their more recent competitors. They've always offered fairly unbeatable audio, and now that they've been around for a couple of years, they're starting to enter the world of unbeatable price as well.  This Sony WH-1000XM3 deal is a fantastic opportunity to pick up a pair of industry-leading headphones for their lowest price yet. Noise-canceling headphone deals abound at this time of the year, so whether you're grabbing a last-minute gift or securing your own cheap headphones you'll want to check out this top saving.  Today's best Sony WH-1000XM3 noise-canceling headphone deals If these Sony headphones aren't for you, why not check out our full selection of the best noise-canceling headphone sales around today. Or, if you're an iPhone user, you might want to see these fantastic AirPods deals. Not fussed about having the latest gadgets on your cups? Try these cheap headphone deals that are sure to give you high-quality sound on a budget.  This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now

Apple Watch sale at Best Buy: save $100 on the Apple Watch 4 Posted: 17 Dec 2019 09:52 AM PST If you're still on the lookout for a last-minute gift idea, the best-selling Apple Watch is a fantastic option, and lucky for you, it's currently on sale. Best Buy has the Apple Watch 4 with cellular on sale for $349. That's a $100 discount and the best price we've found for the 40mm smartwatch. If you're interested in a larger display, Best Buy also has the 44mm Apple Watch 4 with cellular on sale for $379. The Apple Watch 4 is packed with health-focused features and includes a built-in ECG to notify you when a high or low heart rate is detected. The smartwatch tracks popular workouts and calories burned and offers personalized coaching to keep you motivated. The swim-proof smartwatch also features a 30% larger display making it easier to see health stats, messages, and notifications. The Series 4 smartwatch provides an impressive 18-hour battery life and includes new features such as fall detection and emergency SOS. This specific deal is for an Apple Watch 4 with Cellular, which allows you to get internet and phone connectivity on your watch even when your iPhone is far away. Stocks are limited, so you should take advantage of this amazing deal before it's too late. Apple Watch 4 deals: Discover more Apple watch sales with the best cheap Apple Watch prices and deals on every model still stocked by retailers. This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now

Grab a PS4 Pro deal for just £249 in 2019's Christmas sales Posted: 17 Dec 2019 09:50 AM PST If you're looking for some fantastic last minute PS4 Pro deals this holiday season, Currys, AO and Amazon have got you sorted. Ranging from just £249 to £269, you can pick up some amazing PS4 Pro bundles in these late Christmas deals - perfect for that last-minute shopping, or if you've been holding out on a cheap PS4 up to now. These are particularly amazing prices when you consider that the PS4 Pro console itself first launched at £349, plus you're picking up a game worth £40 - £50 at the same time.  The PS4 Pro is the mid-generational refresh of the PS4 console family. Introduced in 2016 to offer a step up from the standard gaming of the original console, the Pro delivers crystal clear 4K gaming both natively with select titles and upscaled. Your games will look immeasurably better on the Pro, with one of its main selling points being this updated 4K output, as well as smaller improvements to the way visual effects and distances display on your screen. The PS4 Pro is an amazingly powerful console, but it's in these visual enhancements that you really see your money working.  This PS4 Pro deal is a monster of a saving. Whereas we typically see bundles like this retailing at around the launch price of the console, you're saving an amazing £100 and picking up some great games to boot. While more recent games like Call of Duty: Modern Warfare, FIFA 20, and Death Stranding will save you the most cash this week, the overall cost of the console at the moment means it's perfectly acceptable to pick up some cheaper bundled games if those don't take your fancy.  Check out all last minute Christmas deals at Currys Check out all last minute Christmas deals at AO Check out all last minute Christmas deals at Amazon The best PS4 Pro deals live today White PS4 Pro 1TB | God of War | £249 at Currys PS4 Pro 1TB | Marvel's Spider-Man | £249 at Currys While you're upgrading your console or simply trying out a PS4 for the first time, you might also want to check these great PlayStation Plus deals for online gaming, free titles, and exclusive bonuses. If you're looking to get the most out of your new console, you might want to take a look our best PlayStation VR deals. Or, if you're after the standard console, you can take a look at our best PS4 prices from this week.  This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now

More new Android phones won't get Google apps Posted: 17 Dec 2019 09:48 AM PST Google applications such as Maps and Gmail will not come pre-installed on Android smartphones sold in Turkey following an antitrust ruling in the country. The Turkish regulator has fined Google 93 million lira (£12m) for failing to offer consumers a choice of search engine following a complaint from Russian rival Yandex. Google was given time to alter its practices but despite offering some concessions, authorities deemed them to be insufficient and imposed the penalty. EU government websites littered with Google ad trackers Google can limit "right to be forgotten" in EU The EU may force Google to make significant changes to Android Android Turkey The company has 60 days to appeal the ruling but has told Turkish partners it will be unable to issue new licences for its applications in the meantime. Existing handsets are unaffected, and the company has said it is working to overturn the decision. “We’ve informed our business partners that we will not be able to work with them on new Android phones to be released for the Turkish market,” a Google spokesperson is quoted as saying. “Consumers will be able to purchase existing device models and will be able to use their devices and applications normally. Google’s other services will be unaffected.” Google is no stranger to antitrust action, with its dominance of the search market and its commanding position in the smartphone operating system sector attracting the interest of regulators around the world. Last year, the EU issued a €4.34 billion fine following allegations Google used its favourable position in the mobile market to block competing search and browser services. Google has also received penalties for its advertising practices. The best mobile phone deals for December 2019 Via Reuters This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now

What is AWS Step Functions? Posted: 17 Dec 2019 09:47 AM PST Modern applications are often complex and highly integrated, and that’s a good thing. With the advent of cloud computing services, it’s possible to build applications that can connect to multiple transactional services, process photo uploads, connect databases stored on multiple platforms, and make it all work smoothly and efficiently, at a high rate of performance, and with high reliability. AWS Step Functions is a way to make that all happen. After its debut in 2016, the service became known for its visual interface -- essentially, every application has requirements for how the app will function and what it can accomplish, and AWS Step Functions provides a way to turn those requirements into a visual roadmap. Unlike the more complex non-visual procedures that programmers might need to execute, the service is more like a workflow or a diagram that spells everything out and allows helps admins and IT service management visualize the app. The best way to understand AWS Step Function is to think about some typical use cases and how having a workflow can help. One common use is to create a business app that processes company information for reporting and analysis, which helps business managers to make decisions. An app for this type of reporting might use AWS Strep Functions to create what is called a state machine diagram. Essentially, this shows all of the steps that are required to execute the application, including which data is pulled from a database and which transactional information and financial data is used to generate the final reports and analytics data. Another example has to do with the connected home. A developer might decide to create an application that pulls data from smart home devices and other Internet of Things devices like a security cam or a water detection system, pulling the data collected by each device and generating a summary that is presented to the user. This is all diagrammed in a workflow such that the entire application is easier to understand even for non-technical staff. Benefits of AWS Step Functions That means one of the main benefits of AWS Step Functions is that it is not rocket science to execute code and manage the application. Non-programmers can be privy to the functions that are baked into the app, and when there are changes needed for new features to add, these can be revisualized in the app. And, there are advantages in how the code is executed. Also baked into AWS Step Functions are error reporting functions. All of the state, checkpoints, and restarts are managed by the app workflow so that the executes occur automatically. Because of how an application looks like a workflow diagram, it’s easier to manage what actually happens in the app, to add additional services and functions, and to tweak the functions for the business requirements you have. This can involve all of the branching, parallel execution, and timeouts that a modern web application uses. Another major advantage to AWS Step Functions is that the entire workflow executes in the cloud, which means there is no infrastructure to manage, no databases to configure and maintain, and no memory or storage allocations to adjust as the application changes, expands, or scales down. The service runs alongside other AWS functions to help with storage needs, performance attributes, security, memory allocations, and backups. What is SaaS? Everything you need to know What is IaaS? Everything you need to know What is PaaS? Everything you need to know How it all works After that, AWS Step Functions manages the automation, connections, services, backups, and other variables needed to effectively and reliably run a web application. There are no additional steps in order to continue running the web application or manage the cloud storage and performance since that is all handled by the cloud computing infrastructure AWS Step Functions follows four basic steps in how to executes a web application. The first step is called Configure and it has to do with the steps needed to perform tasks in the application. This is where the idea of translating your business requirements into actual tasks comes into play, and also how the visual approach can help. The next step is called Populate, and it is when you define what the tasks do and which data is linked to those tasks. The tasks are connected to the functions, containers, and instances that exist in the serverless environment. After that, the next step is called Run and this is where you execute the code and test/simulate the web application. A final step called Evolve is where you can make adjustments to the visual diagram and workflow, swapping out tasks or adjusting the order of the steps. Because this is all part of a workflow, it means you don’t have to adjust any of the code. It’s really more about adjusting the order of the step functions in your web applications using a visual interface. Find the best cloud management software here. This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now

Forget the P30 Pro - our favourite Huawei P30 deal just came crashing down in price Posted: 17 Dec 2019 09:39 AM PST Yes, flagship phones are an appealing prospect but their massive price tags are tear-jerking and debt-inducing at best. So what do you do if you want some impressive specs without going all out on costs? Well, a recently cut price Huawei P30 deal could well be the answer. While, the P30 falls short of the kind of abilities the likes of the iPhone 11 Pro or Samsung Galaxy S10 Plus can offer, this deal makes up for those shortcomings in two ways - affordable pricing and tonnes of data. Offering a whopping 100GB of data for just £27 a month, this is the best Huawei P30 deal around by far. And considering this device comes in the sixth position on our best smartphone guide, it might just well be the cheapest price you'll get on a top handset. Find out more about our favourite Huawei P30 deal below or head on over to our guide to the best mobile phone deals to see what else is currently available. How good is the Huawei P30? As we said above, the Huawei P30 is an impressive handset but the thing that really stands out here is the camera. At this price tag, we're happy in saying that this might just be the best camera phone around. With its triple lens set-up featuring a 30x zoom, wide angle, portrait mode and smart AI features, this camera will shine no matter the situation. Inside the phone, there's a large 3650mAh battery, the processor is incredibly powerful and there's even a headphone jack on board! Yes, the device lacks wireless charging and doesn't have the highest IP rating but those are factors we're more than willing to forgive. Read our review of the Huawei P30 Read more: Discover all of today's best mobile phone deals in the UK Explore the competition with our guide to the best iPhone deals This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now

These incredible Xbox One deals are slashing bundle prices everywhere Posted: 17 Dec 2019 09:28 AM PST These Xbox One deals are hitting store shelves just in time for that last Christmas rush, so if you're still yet to pick up a cheap Xbox console you'll want to take a look at the savings below. Xbox deals have been falling in price since the Black Friday sales event, and today is no different. We're seeing excellent new savings with some fantastic Xbox One S and Xbox One X deals and that cheap Xbox One S All Digital Edition deal has stuck around well into the holiday season.  All of these Xbox One deals are bundled with heavy-hitting games like Star Wars: Jedi Fallen Order and the ever-popular Gears of War bundles, as well as extra controllers and digital download codes on offer. Both the Xbox One S and Xbox One X are seeing fantastic discounts on both sides of the pond, as is the Xbox One S All Digital Edition.  With Xbox Series X roaring into life in its recent announcement, these Xbox One deals are rapidly shifting in price to grab those final few gamers before the new console takes over. That's not to say you're going to be abandoning your Xbox One deal in a year's time. With Microsoft's focus on a seamless ecosystem of Xbox products like Game Pass and its PC investment, you're likely going to be reaping the rewards of such a cheap Xbox One deal for a long time.  Microsoft themselves have discounted their Xbox One models, but here's our top picks from your favorite retailers.  The best Xbox One deals available today The Xbox One S is the standard version of the Xbox console. The One S grants you access to the Xbox library and a decent spec worthy of its current-gen standing. If you're looking to play some exclusives you missed this generation, or simply want to expand your collection for the cheapest price possible, now is the time to do so.  The Xbox One X, on the other hand, is Microsoft's most powerful console to date. Running in 4K HDR with Dolby Atmos spatial audio, you're getting a premier gaming experience for your cash. You may be looking to upgrade your One S, or simply grab a beast of a machine straight from the off. The specs inside the Xbox One X make it buttery smooth and mean it can handle intense 4K resolution with fantastic ease, but that's also thanks to its 12GB of GDDR5 graphic memory. You're getting speedier load times, high-performance cooling, and enhanced gameplay with this beast of a console.  If you're after the cheapest way to get into the Game Pass system, or you're just curious to see what all the fuss is about over Halo or Gears of War, the cheapest Xbox One deal you can pick up today is the Xbox One S All Digital Edition. You're paying a meagre price tag for a simple digital existence, but if you think you might like to try some cheap second games later on down the line you might want to think twice.  If you're looking for more of the best Xbox One X prices, we've been scouring the web to find all the bundles you should be looking at. If you've just bought your new console, you might also want to check out the best Game Pass deals or the best Xbox Live Gold prices around.  This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now

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