Apple : Android app privacy policies contain contradictions about data collection

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• Android app privacy policies contain contradictions about data collection
• iPhone 12 might add a somber blue hue to its color lineup
• See the Samsung Galaxy S20 Ultra 5G's 48MP periscope zoom
• Thousands of WordPress sites hacked in scam campaign
• Doom Eternal release date, trailers, modes, and gameplay
• Apex Legends has a new character - and he's an MMA fighter
• Steam Lunar New Year Sale 2020: the best deals and PC games on the Steam marketplace
• Fitbit price cut: the Fitbit Inspire HR hits lowest price ever at Amazon
• Our Top 5 Favorite Built-In Effects Tools in the Vegas Creative Software Suite
• Google Cloud can now store all your secrets
• Roborock on the future of AI and automated vacuum cleaners
• The best ever Super Bowl commercials: our favorite 5 of all time
• Google finds security flaws in Apple's web browser
• Cyberpunk 2077 lore guide: fear and loathing in Night City
• Amazon Echo vs Google Home: which is the smart speaker for you?
• Huawei to be given "limited" role in UK 5G
• Walmart's best deals: save on AirPods, Apple Watch, Xbox One, NutriBullet, and more
• Netflix in February 2020: every new movie and TV show available to stream
• Best Buy's latest cheap laptop deals can save you up to $200: sale lines include Dell, HP, Lenovo, and Acer
• The best Apple Arcade games for iPhone, iPad and Apple TV – 2020

Android app privacy policies contain contradictions about data collection Posted: 23 Jan 2020 02:49 PM PST A new study has has shown that the privacy policies of a large number of Android apps on the Google Play Store contain contradictions when it comes to how they collect user data. In an effort to better understand the language used in the privacy policies of popular apps, researchers created a tool called PrivacyLint which they used to analyze the privacy policies of 11,430 Play Store apps. They found that just over 14 percent (1,618 apps) of apps have privacy policies with logical contradicting statements about data collection. For example, some of the privacy policies stated in one section that they do not collect personal data, though in subsequent sections they went on to contradict themselves by stating that they collect emails or customer names, both of which are personally-identifiable information. Android apps are apparently now more secure than ever Google brings in new privacy policies to make Chrome extensions better Canonical now lets you host Android apps in the cloud Auto-generated privacy policies The research team was unable to determine why app makers used contradictory statements in their privacy polices but some of them believe the end goal is to mislead any users that actually take the time to read the policies. However, the reason behind these contradictory statements in regard to data collection is actually a lot simpler in some cases. The research team found 59 apps used online services to auto-generate a privacy policy. Upon further investigation, they discovered that the self-contradicting statements used in these privacy policies were actually part of a template used by the online services utilized by app makers. Unfortunately though, the vast majority of other privacy policies were unique to each app and were not created using online services. In these cases, the app makers are susceptible to fines from privacy watchdogs in the EU and US, according to the research team. In order to verify the accuracy of the PolicyLint tool, the researchers took a sample of 510 privacy policies with contradictory statements and then verified them manually. Of these 510 apps, the team found contact emails for 260 developers and emailed them about their findings. However, only 11 responded back and just three developers corrected their privacy policies to remove the contradictions. Also check out the best antivirus software Via ZDNet This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now

iPhone 12 might add a somber blue hue to its color lineup Posted: 23 Jan 2020 02:30 PM PST The iPhone 12 lineup could swap out last year’s dark green hue for a navy blue, a new set of leaked images revealed. The images of a blue iPhone first surfaced in this EverythingApplePro video (below), which credits leaker and XDA Developers writer Max Weinbach for the footage.  Like all leaks, it’s entirely possible this won’t come true, but it’s a reasonable color to pick anyway for the next generation of high-tier iPhone 12 phones - navy is a frequent pick for uniforms and dress clothes, and given the forest green in the iPhone 11 Pro and iPhone 11 Pro Max, we wouldn’t be surprised for a navy hue. Another question is whether the standard iPhone 12 will get this blue color in its lineup. The budget flagship iPhone 11 had a slate of Spring-themed pastel hues to offer, fitting Apple’s tendency to give its more affordable handsets brighter ‘fun’ colors instead of the classier gold or rose gold. Via TrustedReviews Blue would look fantastic on the handsets in our best iPhones list This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now

See the Samsung Galaxy S20 Ultra 5G's 48MP periscope zoom Posted: 23 Jan 2020 01:46 PM PST We’ve gotten early looks at some of the Samsung Galaxy S20 leaks, but none like this: a set of alleged press renders that reveal the so-called Samsung Galaxy S20 Ultra 5G - including its distinctive camera bump. Unlike the other early looks we’ve seen for the other S20 phones that show a domino-style vertical block of lenses on glossy black glass, this one - courtesy of leaker Ishan Agarwal and 91Mobiles - shows a split block with three camera lenses in the glossy top and the purported periscope zoom lens nestled in its own matte finish section at the bottom. Obviously this is drawing attention to the much-rumored telephoto lens, which has been said could pack 5x optical zoom, a 30x ‘lossless’ zoom and massive 100x ‘Space Zoom’ feature. The top glossy glass section is likely filled with the lenses we’ve heard are coming to the other S20 phones before: a 108MP lens, a 12MP ultrawide one, and a time-of-flight sensor.   Another design quirk suggested by the Samsung Galaxy S20 leak: the 3D curved edges typical of the S-series of phones will be toned down to a lower-key 2.5D degree, whatever that means. Also according to the leak, the Ultra 5G will come in two colors: Cosmic Grey and Cosmic Black. The Ultra 5G could be the next king of the 5G phones The Samsung Galaxy S20 Ultra could likewise top our best Android phones list Don't forget the standard Galaxy S20, which could contend on our best US phones ranks Otherwise, this leak suggests a lot that we’ve already heard, like a colossal 6.9-inch display, center-aligned punch-hole for the selfie camera, and maximum 120Hz screen refresh rate. The other surprise with the Samsung Galaxy S20 Ultra 5G is, of course, the name - we haven’t heard this top-tier phone with the 5G label appended to it before today. Sure, there could be a 4G version we don't know about, but that's unlikely. We're betting it's just Samsung trying to throw around the fact that it has a 5G flagship phone and that there's no iPhone 5G... yet (see iPhone 12). It’s also likely that Samsung was to finally distinguish the Ultra as the inheritor of the Samsung Galaxy S10 5G mantle. The company would be giving its highest-specced version of the S20 lineup a properly audacious title for its power. What's curious is that Agarwal does mention Galaxy S20 prices and, in that same tweet, lists the Galaxy S20 4G among the new Samsung phones. Yet we know that the Qualcomm Snapdragon 865 chipset, likely to be what powers the S20 series of phones in the US, requires a 5G modem. We're waiting to see how this shakes out. Analysis of Samsung Galaxy S20 price leak The Samsung Galaxy S20 leak includes prices in Euros along with a warner not to convert them and assume it will be accurate in any other currency. It's a reasonable assertion given Samsung's habit of setting round prices instead of equivalent ones. But in the sake of giving some idea of price, we've included them anyway.  For easy reference, they are: Galaxy S20 4G: €899 (around $993 / £757 / AU$1,452) Galaxy S20 5G: €999 (around $1,104 / £841 / AU$1,613) Galaxy S20 Plus 5G: €1,099 (around $1,215 / £926 / AU$1,775) Galaxy S20 Ultra 5G, 128GB: €1,349 (around $1,491 / £1,136 / AU$2,179) Galaxy S20 Ultra 5G, 512GB: €1,549 (around $1,712 / £1,305 / AU$2,502) Oh yes - the S20 and S20 Plus get renders, too The leak purportedly showed off press renders for both the standard Samsung Galaxy S20 and the Samsung Galaxy S20 Plus, giving us a clear view of both phones - assuming the leak is true. It also came with info that supports what we’ve heard before: the S20 will pack a 6.2-inch display, while the S20 Plus will have a larger 6.7-inch screen. On the back of each is the same glossy glass camera block with a 12MP main camera and larger 64MP zoom (but only 3x telephoto). A time-of-flight depth sensor is only on the Plus model. Color-wise, both phones will come in Cosmic Grey and Cloud Blue, though they get an exclusive hue apiece: Cloud Pink for the Galaxy S20 and Cosmic Black for the S20 Plus. More colors could be available at launch, of course, but this is a neat tidbit. In other words, nothing terribly new for the two phones we’ve already seen, but additional support for early information is always a bit reassuring. Via PhoneArena The 5G-enabled versions will likely work with Verizon 5G, T-Mobile 5G, Sprint 5G, and maybe AT&T 5G This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now

Thousands of WordPress sites hacked in scam campaign Posted: 23 Jan 2020 01:25 PM PST New research has revealed that over 2,000 WordPress sites have hacked as part of a campaign to redirect visitors to a number of scam sites which contain unwanted notification subscriptions, fake surveys, giveaways and even fake Adobe Flash downloads. The security firm Sucuri first discovered the hacking campaign when its researchers detected attackers exploiting vulnerabilities in WordPress plugins. According to the firm's Luke Leal, CP Contact Form with PayPal and the Simple Fields plugins are being exploited but other plugins have likely also been targeted. When an attacker exploits one of these vulnerabilities, it allows them to inject JavaScript that loads scripts from the sites admarketlocation and gotosecond2 directly into a site's theme.  This WordPress vulnerability could let hackers hijack your entire site It's a jungle out there: Don't leave your WordPress sites in the wild WordPress plugins hacked for fake admin accounts Once a visitor accesses a hacked site, the injected script will try to access two administrative URLs (/wp-admin/options-general.php and /wp-admin/theme-editor.php) in the background in order to inject additional scripts or to change WrodPress settings that will also redirect visitors. However, these URLs require administrative access so they will only work if an administrator is accessing the site. Scam pages The attackers have written their scripts so that visitors without administrative privileges will be redirected through a series of sites that will eventually lead them to various scam pages. These pages then tell users that they must subscribe to browser notifications in order to proceed. Clicking on the allow button to enable notifications then redirects visitors to other scam sites pushing fake surveys, tech support scams and fake Adobe Flash Player updates. Sucuri also discovered that the attackers had created fake plugin directories which are used to upload additional malware to the compromised sites. Leal provided further details on how the attackers created fake plugin directories in a blog post, saying: “Another interesting find is the creation of fake plugin directories that contain further malware and can also be generated through the attacker’s abuse of /wp-admin/ features, namely uploading zip compressed files using the /wp-admin/includes/plugin-install.php file to perform the upload and unzipping of the compressed fake plugin into /wp-content/plugins/." To see if your WordPress site has been hacked, Sucuri recommends using its free SiteCheck tool to scan for malicious content. We've also highlighted the best antivirus software Via BleepingComputer This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now

Doom Eternal release date, trailers, modes, and gameplay Posted: 23 Jan 2020 01:20 PM PST Ready to raze some hell? Well, Doom Eternal is just months from release and we can't wait to properly get our hands on the sequel to the much-loved 2016 reboot.  The new game looks even faster, more frenetic, and more gore-filled than its predecessor – and was meant to be hitting our screens in November. However, we now know that the Doom Eternal's release date has been pushed back to March 20 2020, delaying the instant gratification only tearing through hordes of the undead with our bare hands can provide us. But from what we've seen and played of Doom Eternal, we think it will still be worth the wait. It's worth mentioning that March 20 release date only applies to the PS4 and Xbox One versions too – while a Nintendo Switch release is confirmed, it will be arriving some time after the other consoles. Doom Eternal comes four years after the 2016 Doom reboot, and will feature the same unnamed marine (AKA the Doom Slayer) taking on the forces of hell – this time bringing the action to our own humble planet, and possibly even to heaven.  With a larger backdrop to the blood-fuelled action, and new online multiplayer modes confirmed for the game, there's still plenty to be excited about, even if we have to wait a little longer to get our hands on it. Here's everything we now about Doom Eternal. Make sure you check out our hands on: Doom Eternal review Cut to the chase What is it? A fast-paced, ultra-violent shooter where you beat and shoot demons to a pulp, and the sequel to 2016's Doom What can I play it on? PC, Xbox One, PS4, Stadia and Nintendo Switch. No word yet on Xbox Series X or PS5 When can I play it? March 20, 2020 Doom Eternal release date Doom Eternal will release on March 20, 2020 for PS4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, Google Stadia and PC. The game was initially due for release on November 22, 2019 but, back in October, it was announced that the release date had been pushed back. A press release from id Software stressed that this was "to make sure we’re delivering the best experience – for DOOM Eternal to live up to our standards of speed and polish." Doom Eternal trailers If the most recent Doom Eternal trailer doesn't sell you on the game then nothing will. It's got a bit of everything that you would expect from the series: demons, guns blazing, a hint of narrative and a lot of gore. Check it out below: Bethesda released a longer trailer showcasing Doom Eternal's new multiplayer Battle Mode. Check it out below: Bethesda's E3 2019 keynote included a big, bad trailer with even more incredible action, giving us a little more info on the story to come in Doom: Eternal. Y'know, so it's not just guns and gore. Bethesda also revealed Battle Mode, a 2-demons-vs-1-Doomguy versus mode for 3 players. Even if they don't introduce a multiplayer mode, this is a neat little addition to shake up the carnage. The Doom Eternal worldwide premiere gameplay reveal of Doom Eternal took place during the QuakeCon 2018 keynote, and was our first chance to see the sequel in action. You can check out the gameplay trailer below: Doom Eternal's E3 2018 trailer had everything we love about the series, dialled up to 11. Get a glimpse of its apocalyptic vision of Earth, with a suitably thumping soundtrack and some jacked-up demons staring down the barrel of a shotgun. Doom Eternal news and rumors More hands on We got to play even more of Doom Eternal at a recent event and were hugely impressed. While we found the game to suffer from some glaring issues in previous hands-on sessions, we were able to really sink our teeth into Doom Eternal this time around.  id Software has clearly said that it doesn't want Doom Eternal to be "mindless" and, while the general run and gun structure is there, there's much more beneath the surface. Doom Eternal introduces some welcome RPG elements that take it beyond a simple shooter, we enjoyed the weapon customization options, exploration factors and the well-paced action. But for those who still want to shoot up some demons to metal, you won't be disappointed.  We could tell you all about it, but you would rather see it right? Check out some epic gameplay from the event below: Centred Weapons When Doom Eternal launches in a few months, it will give players the option to play with centred weapons (via PCGamer). This classic weapon view, from a time before crosshairs and accurate aim with a mouse, was patched into the 2016 Doom after launch but Doom Eternal will have it in the options menu from the outset. It's not an easy way to aim by any means but it holds nostalgic appeal for players who remember playing some of the earliest FPS titles, like the classic Doom games.  Campaign playtime It certainly looks like we'll get a good amount of demon-bashing out of Doom Eternal, with a rough playtime of "18-22 hours", according to id Software executive producer Marty Stratton (via DualShockers). Quakecon 2019 and Battle Mode During Quakecon 2019, id Software explained how Doom Eternal's battle mode will work.  The premise of battle mode is 2v1, with one player taking on the role of the Demonslayer and the other two taking on the role of demons. Doom Eternal's battle mode will have six unique maps at launch, each designed to allow the Doomslayer and demons to partake in a hellish game of cat and mouse. These arenas include portals, monkey bars and jump pads to make play as dynamic as possible - and fun obviously. But what demons are available for you to play as? At launch, there will be five playable demons: the Revenant, Pain Elemental, Mancubus, Marauder and Arch-vile. Each demon has its own particular abilities, strengths and weaknesses to harness against the Doom Slayer. While some are more hard-hitting, others focus on stealth. id Software emphasises that it's important for the playable demons to work together to best the Doom Slayer, as a demon alone is an easy target for the BFG. When it comes to the Doom Slayer themselves, you'll be fully-loaded with all mods available. Like in the single-player campaign, you will need to manage spawning demons as well as resources - not to mention your player foes.  As the demons it is your job to kill the Doom Slayer to win, while the Doom Slayer has a harder task at hand. The Doom Slayer must kill both playable demons, but this is where it gets tricky: When you kill one demon, they have the chance to respawn after a certain amount of time if you don't kill the other within that time limit. If a demon does respawn, it will do so with half health.  Between rounds, players will be able to upgrade their demons and Doom Slayer to make things a bit more difficult - like it wasn't already, From what we've seen, battle mode certainly looks like it will be a blast and we can't wait to get our hands on it. Stadia launch title Google is entering the gaming fray via its new streaming service, Stadia, and it's bringing Doom Eternal with it. The iD shooter will be a launch title for Google Stadia. It will allow you to stream the game at maximum PC gaming graphic quality levels in 4K resolution and at 60fps to any screen capable of running the Chrome browser, or connecting to a Chromecast dongle, with apparently little latency. It's not yet certain how much it will cost to access Doom Eternal through Stadia, or when the service will launch beyond a vague 2020 window. Slayer 2.0 The team has created the most powerful Doom Slayer we’ve seen yet, with enhanced armor and an arsenal of badass new equipment, including a shoulder-mounted cannon with flamethrower, an extendable blade, and a new dash ability. In addition there's an upgraded selection of guns and mods to play with, such as the Super Shotgun's new Meat Hook attachments which pulls you into the face of enemies. A host of new demons (and returning favorites) Doom Eternal will see the return of classic demons such as the Pain Elemental, Archvile and Arachnotron, alongside an array of brand-new demons like the Doom Hunter and the corrupted Marauders. Invasion An all-new Invasion mode allows other players to invade your campaign as a demon. Likewise, you can join the demon horde yourself and invade other players' campaigns - either alone or as part of a hunting party. Hands on We were lucky enough to get hands on with Doom Eternal at Gamescom 2019 and Quakecon 2019. You make sure you check out our Doom Eternal impressions. Or will we see a VR version? The last Doom came to the HTC Vive and Playstation VR last year, albeit with some clunky navigation issues and a comparatively stripped-back three-hour story. The upcoming sequel is the perfect opportunity to build on that foundation and make a VR experience deserving of the legendary IP. Coming to Switch Seeing a bloodthirsty rampage like Doom Eternal on Nintendo's family-friendly Switch seems like an odd match, but Bethesda has confirmed Doom Eternal will indeed be coming to the Nintendo Switch. Keep checking back here for all the latest Doom Eternal news  Here's how battle mode will work in Doom Eternal This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now

Apex Legends has a new character - and he's an MMA fighter Posted: 23 Jan 2020 01:07 PM PST Apex Legends is celebrating its first anniversary, and what better way to honor the occasion than to add a brand new Legend to the roster. That's exactly what Respawn Entertainment is doing, among other things. During a devstream, the developers revealed that it will mark the battle royale's one year anniversary by kicking off Season 4 on February 4. This new season, called Assimilation, will bring with it a new battle pass, weapon and some freebies - but most importantly, it'll add a new cyborg MMA fighter character called Forge. You can check the full video out below: Who's Forge? Forge is your quintessential buff guy with a cool streak in his hair, a pretty big belt and some tattoos - oh yeah, and he's got a big ol' cybernetic arm too. According to Respawn, he's a "five-time hyper fighting federation champion" who used to take part in a sci-fi version of MMA. So, he's essentially Conor McGregor with extra metal. Here's Respawn Entertainment's profile description of this new brawler character: "Confident yet humble, Forge uses his size, strength, and heavy-duty Shatter Gauntlets to batter his opponents into submission." We don't know this Legend's exact abilities yet but, from what we gather, he likes to get up close and personal in his fighting style. Apparently his cybernetic arm will also tie in with Apex Legends lore in some way.  In addition to Forge joining the roster, Respawn also revealed that an "all-new" battle pass will be available which will add a bunch of exclusive items. We'll also be able to get our hands on a new bolt-action rifle called the Sentinel.  Ranked mode is also being updated to include a new 'Master' tier between Diamond and Apex Predator as well as limiting the rank of Apex Predator to only 500 player. Things are definitely going to get heated. You can check out more about these updates on the Apex Legends website. Apex Legends: Season 4 will kick off on February 4, 2020. Check out our full Apex Legends review This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now

Steam Lunar New Year Sale 2020: the best deals and PC games on the Steam marketplace Posted: 23 Jan 2020 12:55 PM PST The Steam Lunar New Year Sale 2020 is on, and it comes with major deals and discounts on popular games. You know the drill by now: if you're a PC gamer who uses Steam, the chances are that you've got a library of games full to bursting point that you've never even installed, let alone played. But the Steam platform's regular sales, offering such heavily discounted deals as they do, mean that you won't be able to resist picking up a couple of extra games with which to collect digital dust. And so, from now through to January 27, 2020, the Steam Lunar New Year Sale will be running, letting you get your hands on PC gaming titles you may have missed, for cheap. While there are always a smattering of 20-40% price cuts, you'll also find a good number of half-price or 75% offers on certain games and franchises, while 90% savings aren't unheard of either – and are often the best ways to get your hands on a lot of add-on or DLC content bundled in for no extra cost. This year's Steam Lunar New Year Sale has plenty of this year's top PC games on offer including the likes of Resident Evil 2 Remake and Disco Elysium. Red Dead Redemption 2 is also on sale. This guide will run you through how to get the best out of the Lunar New Year Sale, as well as the other seasonal Steam Sales throughout the year. But remember, the sale only last a few days, so make sure to grab anything that catches your eye sooner rather than later.  These are the best mice you can buy for your PC The best Steam games 2020 Image credit: Valve The best Steam Lunar New Year Sale 2020 deals There are literally thousands of games on sale through Steam at the moment, so your first port of call should be to check your Steam wishlist to see if any of your favorites have already received a discount. Once you're done with them, however, these would be the TechRadar top picks from the current Steam sale. US UK How to get the best deals in the Steam Sales Whichever way you approach a particular Steam Sale, you're guaranteed to have the chance to pick up some top gaming titles at great prices.  Finding bargains isn't too difficult, but there are a few techniques and tricks that are worth using if you want to get the most out of the sales. Use your Steam Wishlist: Fill it up with all the games you're interested in picking up, and you'll be alerted the moment they go on sale, and how much they've been discounted by. Bundles are great: Publishers often pull their titles together in sale mega-packs, ramping up the savings to even greater heights. If there's a suite of titles from a publisher like Square Enix or Activision that you've never played before, this is the best – and cheapest – way to bag them all at once. As you'd imagine, the value diminishes if you've already got a few bundled titles in your library. Highlighted deals are where the real savings are: The majority of the Steam store back-catalogue will get some sort of price cut, but it's the 'Highlighted' deals (the ones promoted on the Steam front splash page) that tend to be more heavily discounted. These are the ones where you may fall into impulse-buy territory. Which leads us on to our next tip... Only buy what you'll actually play right away: Once those 75% off signs start floating around, you're going to want to break open the piggy-bank. But the Steam Sales of yesteryear have proved that our desire for overflowing game libraries leaves us with more titles than we could ever humanly play. Save some cash, and only grab the ones you're really going to play – keep in mind that if you wait a while, the games will almost certainly get cheaper as they get older. Use this browser extension: Want to make sure you're getting a good deal? Use the Enhanced Steam browser extension. This gives you a historical look at the price of all Steam games, letting you see just how many pennies have been saved. Image credit: Valve What games will be in the Steam Sales? First off, you shouldn't expect brand-new games to get the really steep discounts that have become synonymous with the Steam sales. You may see a 5%, or even 10% discount on games that have been recent big hits, but if they're still new enough to be spinning money without needing a price cut, don't expect that to change now that the sale is here. But, with the exception of the newer titles, pretty much the entire store receives a 25% discount, if not higher, with a select few seeing a massive 90% off the list price. While the store now highlights what Valve considers the best deals, it's worth noting that flash and community sales are no longer in the mix, so feel free to pick a title on sale when you like – its discounted price will stand for the duration of the sale. Or... spend no money at all on the best free games to play right now! These are the best Steam games in 2020 you can get right now  This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now

Fitbit price cut: the Fitbit Inspire HR hits lowest price ever at Amazon Posted: 23 Jan 2020 12:55 PM PST If you're looking to get in shape for the new year, a fitness tracker can be the perfect companion, and lucky for you, Amazon has price cuts on Fitbit's best-selling activity trackers. The top Fitbit Deal is the Inspire HR which is on sale for $69.95. That's a $30 discount and the lowest price we've found for the fitness tracker. The Fitbit Inspire HR is made for everyday wear and packed with fitness and health-focused features. The ultra-slim Inspire HR tracks calories burned, popular workouts, activity and offers 24/7 heart rate monitoring. The activity tracker will send you friendly reminders to stretch your legs and keep moving and features 15+ goal-based exercise modes to help keep you motivated. The swim-proof watch also keeps you connected with the ability to receive calls, texts, and notifications and provides up to five hours of battery life. As we mentioned above, this the lowest price we've seen for the Inspire HR and a fantastic deal for a feature-rich Fitbit activity tracker. This discount is only valid for today, so you'll have to act fast before it's gone. Shop more of Amazon's best Fitbit deals below which include the Fitbit Alta HR, Charge 3, and Versa smartwatch. Amazon Fitbit deals:  You can find more Fitbit offers with the best cheap Fitbit sale prices and deals that are currently available. You can also learn more about the above activity trackers by checking out our Fitbit Inspire HR review, Fitbit Versa review, and Fitbit Alta HR review. This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now

Our Top 5 Favorite Built-In Effects Tools in the Vegas Creative Software Suite Posted: 23 Jan 2020 12:50 PM PST The Vegas family of creative software offers a wide range of built-in effects tools. Everything from Mesh Warp OFX to Slow Motion Optical Flow, Smart Split and more. Here we take a look at some of our favorites as well as a quick overview of how each one works. This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now

Google Cloud can now store all your secrets Posted: 23 Jan 2020 11:07 AM PST Google Cloud has announced a new tool designed to help users securely store their API keys, passwords, certificates and other data called Secret Manager. Secret Manager provides the company's customers with a single tool to manage their data as well as a centralized source of truth. In a blog post announcing the new tool, Google developer advocate Seth Vargo and product manager Matt Driscoll provided further insight on the kinds of problems Secret Manager will help solve, saying: Google Cloud ups security with new partnerships Azure Arc lets Microsoft cloud run on AWS and Google Cloud Google makes it easier to move data to its cloud “Many applications require credentials to connect to a database, API keys to invoke a service, or certificates for authentication. Managing and securing access to these secrets is often complicated by secret sprawl, poor visibility, or lack of integrations.” Secret Manager Google already provides an open-source command-line tool for managing secrets called Berglas. With the launch of Secret Manager, both tools will work together and users will even be able to move their secrets from the open-source tool to Secret Manager. Berglas can also be used to create and access secrets from Secret Manager. Google's Key Management Service (KMS) provides users with a fully managed system to handle their keys. However, KMS does not actually store the secrets but instead encrypts the secrets you store elsewhere. Secret Manager on the other hand, provides users with a way to easily store and manage these secrets in Google Cloud. Secret Manager includes the tools needed to manage secret versions and audit logging. The secrets stored in the tool are also project-based global resources which sets it apart from competing tools which often manage secrets on a regional basis. Google Cloud customers can begin using Secret Manager today as the new tool is currently in beta and available to all. Also check out our roundup of the best cloud storage services Via TechCrunch This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now

Roborock on the future of AI and automated vacuum cleaners Posted: 23 Jan 2020 10:28 AM PST At CES 2020 we interviewed Roborock’s Andy Knight on their smart vacuum lineup and the future of AI. What technology is being used to map the home? Is the mapping data private? What challenges face this sector of smart home products? This year Roborock announced their first hand-held stick vacuum, the H6. It is the first in the world to use a lithium polymer battery, which boasts a whole range of benefits, from weight to life cycle.   They also introduced a less expensive version of one of their more popular smart vacuums. This S6 Pure packs all of the same intelligence into a compact package that can help keep your home clean.  The H6 and will be available for $499, and the S6 Pure will be $549. Both go on sale in Q2. Learn more about the Roborock H6 here! This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now

The best ever Super Bowl commercials: our favorite 5 of all time Posted: 23 Jan 2020 10:03 AM PST Super Bowl commercials go hand-in-hand with the big game itself. Each extortionately priced ad slot is highly coveted not just for its mega viewership, but also for its place in a tradition of cinematic commercials with high impact results. Marketers have been trying harder and harder to be remembered among the high octane action of the big game for years, with the results being incredibly charming, funny, powerful commercials for some of the world's biggest brands.  Every ad break is celebrated in the Super Bowl - with brands spending big bucks to have their zany up-to-90-second clips put before the nation in a bid to 'win' the break. It's every brand's chance to cash in a high production value ad for a massively engaged audience across the world, and the rush to create the wackiest, cutest, or most emotional ad has always been on.  With the biggest advertising event of the year just around the corner, we're calling back to some of the most legendary Super Bowl commercials of the last 53 Championship games.  See where to watch (and for free!) with our Super Bowl live stream guide 5. Super Bowl XXVII commercial: McDonald's  Despite key star Michael Jordan also appearing in a Nike campaign in the same commercial slot, McDonald's still won the 1993 race for the best Super Bowl commercial with its "nothing but net" ad. The Showdown treated viewers to a Larry Bird vs Michael Jordan dunk challenge in efforts to win a Big Mac meal. With every unbelievable shot, we edge closer to that classic line and it becomes more and more obvious that McDonald's has a winner on its hands.  McDonald's weren't worried about their star sharing the limelight with Nike, and they were right not to be. The Showdown was named the winner of USA Today's Super Bowl Ad Meter the next day.  4. Super Bowl XVIII commercial: Wendy's Launching a direct attack on the Whopper and the Big Mac, the Wendy's Super Bowl XVIII commercial not only celebrated the caliber of the Wendy's burger, but also launched a slogan that would capture American pop-culture, language, and even politics for years to come.  "Where's the beef?" was a simple line uttered by a small Grandma as she glared at an oversized hamburger bun with a comically small patty in the middle. It would soon come to be used throughout the country as well as Walter Mondale's ill-fated Presidential campaign just a few months later. To this day, "where's the beef" is a classic hallmark of 1980's advertising.  3. Super Bowl XXIV commercial: Diet Pepsi "Who's the wise guy?" That's what Ray Charles wants to know when his coveted Diet Pepsi is switched for a Coke during this 1990 Super Bowl XXIV commercial. The ad hit that sweet spot of simplicity and comedy that makes all the best commercials stand out in the arena of the ad break. One of the string of ads sitting under the "you got the right one, baby" umbrella, Ray Charles would continue advertising with Diet Pepsi until 1993.  Beyond this particular clip, Ray Charles also played host to a number of Diet Pepsi Super Bowl commercials over the three year period, with the whole campaign striking a particularly groovy note. It continues to be held as a pinnacle in longer tail advertising campaigns, with the Super Bowl commercial break playing a major role in the release of each new ad.  2. Super Bowl XIV commercial: Coca-Cola While Pepsi has laid its claim to the Super Bowl, Coca-Cola wins out between the two in our roundup of the best Super Bowl commercials. All it took was a simple "hey, kid - catch!" and the world was won over.  As 'Mean' Joe Greene is limping off the pitch, a young fan approaches - it's the typical adorable child meets grumpy hero and changes him for the better with a Coke storyline we've all come to know and love. Plus, it's complete with extra long shot of the hero draining the bottle. The ad has become one of the most famous Coca-Cola commercials in history, spawning a celebrated tagline that continues to drive memories today.  1. Super Bowl XVIII commercial: Apple Rather than dealing in whimsy or using a star-studded cast to get their name out to the masses, Apple took a decidedly...Apple route to stardom in the Super Bowl XVIII. Positioned to reveal the Apple Macintosh computer, the abstract 1984-esque production sees a young athlete destroy a Big Brother screen during a dystopic rally of marching unison, Thought Police, and surveillance. The commercial concluded with a reveal of the Macintosh computer and the words "you'll see why 1984 won't be like 1984".  In an arena of quick sketches and celebrity endorsements, the commercial, named 1984, sat at a strange position of intrigue and mystery. And yet, it went on to be widely celebrated as a momentous masterpiece that would change advertising forever.  Super Bowl 2020 commercials: what to expect?  With 2020's entrants into the Super Bowl commercial space making themselves known, we have some clues as to what each ad break might bring us. One of the biggest early reveals to make headlines recently has been Donald Trump's 60-second reelection campaign slot, but we're still waiting to see exactly how that pans out against Mike Bloomberg's.  We know that Coca-Cola are returning to the in-game ad field after a brief departure in 2019 which saw a pre-game commercial buck the soda brand's tradition. Facebook will also enter the space for the first time with a commercial starring Sylvester Stallone and Chris Rock taking on the steps of the Philadelphia Museum of Modern Art. Also confirmed for a Super Bowl slot are Mountain Dew, Budweiser, Pringles, Audi, Porsche and Snickers among others. Read more: See all of today's best MacBook sale prices and deals Super Bowl 2020: where when, who's playing and all you need to know Don't miss a moment with a Super Bowl 2020 live stream This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now

Google finds security flaws in Apple's web browser Posted: 23 Jan 2020 09:44 AM PST Multiple security flaws in Apple's Safari browser have been discovered by Google researchers according to a new report from the Financial Times. The flaws were found in Safari's Intelligent Tracking Prevention feature that is designed to protect users from cross-site tracking and other online privacy issues. The report references a new paper, written by researchers from Google's cloud team, which provides a more in-depth explanation on the vulnerabilities. In total, the researchers identified five different attacks that could occur as a result of the security flaws in Safari. Safari users can bypass paywalls with new private browsing mode Chrome, Edge and Safari all fall to hackers in Chinese contest Apple reversed plans for fully encrypted backups Tracking Prevention According to Google's researchers, the Intelligent Tracking Prevention platform left users' personal data exposed because of how it “implicitly stores information about the websites visited by the users”.  One of the security flaws discovered by the researchers could even be exploited by hackers to “create a persistent fingerprint that will follow the user around the web” while other flaws “were able to reveal what individual users were searching for on search engine pages”. The irony is that security flaws in Apple's Intelligent Tracking Prevention platform actually made users vulnerable to the kind of tracking the feature was designed to prevent in the first place. Google informed Apple regarding the vulnerabilities in August of last year and the iPhone maker has since fixed them. However, Google Chrome engineering director Justin Schuh recently said on Twitter that the actual vulnerabilities have not yet been fixed, so it might be best to turn off Intelligent Tracking Prevention in Safari for now. We've also highlighted the best VPN services Via 9to5Mac This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now

Cyberpunk 2077 lore guide: fear and loathing in Night City Posted: 23 Jan 2020 09:17 AM PST “Nobody ever leaves Night City. Except in a body bag.” Those are the words of Bes Isis, Night City resident, keyboard extraordinaire, and murderer turned network news talking head. Considering we’re visiting those rough and ready streets when Cyberpunk 2077 releases in September, it’s probably wise to have some idea of where we’re heading. It’s not the sort of place you’d want to get lost in. So we've put together this handy guide to Cyberpunk's Night City based on what we know about the tabletop game, including the city's history, gangs and megacorporations you may encounter. The rise... Night City sits in Del Coronado Bay on the USA’s West Coast, in the Free State Of Northern California. It wasn’t named after nighttime either, but instead after its founder, Richard Night.  Night envisioned a capitalist utopia, and broke away from his company Halsey, Ferris and Night to form Night International. Under this business, construction work began on Coronado City, then named after the bay, in 1992. A year later, megacorporations such as Arasaka, EBM and Petrochem had all heavily invested, buying into Night’s vision of no poverty, no crime, and no laws to impede the ethically dubious work of the Megacorps. Capitalist gears freshly oiled by workers’ blood, Coronado City became a reality. Before Night could see his experiment to fruition though, he was murdered in 1998 by the organized crime syndicates muscled out of his corporate vision. Coronado City was named Night City in his honour, and quickly descended into chaos. The fall... With Night gone, the gangs and the megacorps openly battled for control. Any notion of a crime-free utopia had vanished like gun smoke, the city awash with greed, violence and desperation. By 2005, the megacorps lost their will to fight, and retreated back to the safe haven of the corporate districts, leaving the gangs to fight each other for control of Night City’s grisliest areas. This was an uneasy, frenetic time for Night City, with the lawless gangs dividing up what was left of the city for themselves. Somewhat inevitably, a full scale turf war broke out in 2009. The two years between 2009-2011 were the deadliest in Night City’s history, until the Arasuka corporation stepped in with paramilitary intervention to bring down the war with a shuddering crash. Knowing more mob warfare could drive down profits and hurt their bottom line, the megacorps retained a firm grip on the city after the war. By 2020, when the tabletop game takes place, Night City is in the calm between two storms. By the time we arrive in 2077, the city has been voted “the worst place to live in America,” suggesting that brewing storm is now at its height. Gangs There are tons of gangs in Night City, and while they’re all best avoided, some are definitely more dangerous than others. Animals Featured heavily the gameplay we’ve seen so far, the Animals are a melee combat gang addicted to the steroid ‘Juice’. They’re getting high on their own supply too, as big players in the drug racket and the underground fighting rings in Night City. Expect to encounter them a lot during your stay. Lizzies The Lizzies are superfans of singer and Night City influencer, Lizzy Wizzy. Imagine if Marnie from Pokémon was covered in chrome and Team Yell were on LSD. They’re minor players with no real territory, but you won’t want to cross them. Maelstrom The Maelstrom are a combat heavy gang, formed from the remnants of the Metal Warriors, who disbanded during Night City’s most chaotic times. In the tabletop, they ran the Old Downtown zone around the docks, but by the time we get there in 2077, they’ve moved to the Watson District’s All Food pig slaughterhouse, which is where we’ve seen these brutes in some of the gameplay footage. Scavengers We’ve seen a bit of the Scavengers in the released gameplay footage, suggesting they’ll have a big presence in the game. They don’t vie for control, but instead are small time thugs who kidnap people and harvest their cyberwear. Hide your ultra cool chest cannon around these guys. Tyger’s Claw A martial arts heavy gang in Japantown, they appear to have ditched their cyberless stance of 2020 to embrace the technology of 2077. Rumored to be backed by megacorp Arasuka.  Valentinos Not really a gang so much as they are himbos. No violence, no turf, no fighting, just a bunch of bros hellbent on sleeping with every woman in town. Voodoo Boys In the tabletop, the Voodoo Boys were the scariest gang in Night City. While they make their money from drugs, they get their fun from rape, torture and murder. Sometimes they mark potential victims’ doors in chicken blood, although sometimes they don’t bother with the warning. By 2077 though, they appear to have changed into guardians of their community, protecting the Haitian community of the Pacifica district.  Yakuza Violent and merciless, the Yakuza are everywhere in the city, involved in drugs, guns and money laundering. Megacorporations Though megacorps seem less threatening than the gangs, they might be more dangerous. Here’s what you need to know. MediaCorps Network News 54, Diverse Media Systems and World News Service are the three 24 hours news services in Night City; all three are thought to have been bribed by various government officials. Agricorps Originally agriculture was small time, family business, until the conglomerates pushed everyone out. These days, the biofuel CHOOH2 is mainly produced by Petrochem, while Russian company SovOil produce inferior CHOOH2 and sell it cheaper. ManuCorps These guys really run Night City, and remain unaffected by the turmoil. Arasaka, Militech and Mitsubishi-Sugo feed the military-industrial complex, while EBM and IEC compete for control of cybermanufacture. CyberCorps Once the parts have been manufactured, the rest of the cyber cash is split between Zetatech (who deal in software) and Microtech (who create the mainframes and servers). These megacorps keep Night City ticking. BioCorps While CyberCorps run the external tech, the body upgrades are split between Dakai Soundsystems, Cyphire Cyberware, Dynalar Technologies and Asahi Rem Tech. Dakai and Cyphire collaborate on audio upgrades, while Dynalar do style conscious implants for celebrities, and Asahi produce the more everyday stuff. There’s also Biotechnica, who deal in GMO foods and have invented V. Megasuavis wheat, crucial in making CHOOH2. ArmaCorps Arasaka and Militech are big enough to manufacture weapons and train security mercenaries, while Lazarus specializes in paramilitary contractors. Night City is a place we can’t wait to explore, especially with Keanu by our sides. Just be careful not to wander down any dark alleys… Ahead of Cyberpunk 2077, we played Cyberpunk Red – and it escalated quickly This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now

Amazon Echo vs Google Home: which is the smart speaker for you? Posted: 23 Jan 2020 09:11 AM PST If you're in the market for a smart speaker, you'll need to weigh up which you'd like. Is it one of the new options from the Amazon Echo range or one of the smart Google Home / Nest speakers? How do you decide between two of the best devices out there? Well, hopefully we can help. As you'd expect from two of the biggest names in tech, none of the Amazon Echo or Google Home devices would look out of place in your home. All of the devices in both ranges, as well as the flagship Amazon Echo and Google Home speakers, are very polished smart speakers. What's more, Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant (the smart AI voice assistants inside the smart speakers) are both maturing and becoming more useful with every passing day too. Both the Amazon and Google smart speakers (and their assistants) let you get answers to questions, set timers and alarms, control smart home devices, and much, much more – all with spoken voice commands. The Amazon Echo and Google Home devices have a lot in common then, but they are also some key differences to talk about. You need to be aware of what you're getting before you part with any of your hard-earned cash. We know that the smart speaker is at the center of most smart homes: but is the Amazon Echo or the Google Home right for you? And should you go with the flagship smart speakers or would a Google Home Mini or Amazon Echo Dot be better for you? Here's what you need to know. After a smart speaker with a screen? See our Google Home Hub vs Amazon Echo Show comparison Amazon Echo vs Google Home FAQ: quick questions answered Is Alexa better than Google? That's a tough question because they're both similar and we find it difficult to pick between the two. Which one you decide to go with may well depend on which you personally prefer and what kind of products you're using than which is technically 'better'.  Having said that, Alexa tends to be better when it comes to support for a wider range of devices, as well as better smart home integration. So if you have a lot of smart home devices already, Alexa might be your best bet.  However, lots of users who have put the two devices head-to-head believe Google Assistant could be the smarter of the two. And, with Google's A.I. learning experience, it has the biggest potential for the future.  Is there a monthly fee for Echo? No. You don't have to pay anything extra after you've purchased an Echo product. Although you do get some perks if you're an Amazon Prime member, like access to Amazon Music. Can Alexa drop in on Google Home? No. Alexa's Drop In feature only works with other Alexa-enabled devices.  What's the difference between Echo and Google Home? As we've said above – very little right now. They're both very capable smart assistants that respond to voice commands and work well with many smart home devices. Read our full head-to-head below to get a better idea of the specifics.  Which is the best Alexa speaker to buy? It really depends on what your needs are; if you want something with a screen try the Amazon Echo Show. Looking to save money? Try the budget-friendly Echo Dot. While this guide will focus on Echo speakers, Alexa is built-in to a number of third party speakers these days, including the Sonos One.  What works with Google Home? With Google Assistant, your Google Home can control your Philips Hue lightbulbs, Honeywell thermostat, Nest security camera, and smart TV (as long as it's compatible). Check out our roundup of things Google Assistant can do for more info, or head to the Google Assistant partners page for all the brands Google Home can work with. Want to know more about Google Assistant? Here's how to use Google Assistant to control your smart home Amazon Echo: the different models compared Let’s kick off with the smart speaker that started it all. Back in 2014, Amazon launched the Echo. Since then, there's been a second generation model: standing 148 mm tall and sounding pretty decent for its price, with Bluetooth and WiFi connections supported, it's an impressive bit of kit. It also features that signature blue ring around the top telling you when it's heard the "Alexa" wake word. But that's now been upgraded once again to give us the Amazon Echo (2019), which is modelled on the existing Echo Plus in terms of form and function – making the Echo Plus somewhat obsolete. With beefed-up sound at the price of a standard Echo model it's well worth looking at the third-gen Echo if you're thinking of buying a new smart speaker. The Amazon Echo Dot Perhaps the most popular Echo of all though, and one of our favorite smart home devices full stop, is the Echo Dot – that's likely because it’s the cheapest of the entire bunch and is about the same size as a hockey puck, making it a no-brainer for those who want to try smart home tech for the first time.  Now in its third generation, the Echo Dot doesn't have the best audio quality in the range, so it's best suited for rooms where music playback won’t be its primary function. That said, you can pair it up with a Bluetooth speaker or another audio device using an AUX jack connection, making it a cost-effective upgrade you can make to any aging Hi-Fi system. There's now a new version of this compact speaker on the scene – the Amazon Echo Dot with Clock takes the original, and well, adds an LED timepiece. For an extra $10, you the added functionality of an alarm clock or timer, as well as all the charms of the original Echo Dot. The Amazon Echo Plus Then there's the pricier, 2nd-gen Echo Plus: slightly taller than the vanilla Amazon Echo, with improved sound and integrated smart home hub features – meaning it can be more tightly integrated with the various other bits of smart home kit you've got installed. With the launch of the new beefed-up Amazon Echo (2019), this model has become slightly obsolete; even more so since the Amazon Echo Studio has provided an audiophile solution to the Echo lineup.  The Echo Studio comes with Dolby Atmos immersive sound and support for 360-degree sound, marking Amazon's renewed focus on audio fidelity. The Amazon Echo Show And what about the newly upgraded Echo Show? It's essentially an Amazon Fire tablet with an Alexa-enabled speaker built in, so you can get Amazon Prime Video or the weather forecast up on screen as well as having responses read out to you. It's a perfect gadget for the kitchen (think recipes and video watching). Amazon has also recently launched a mini version of the Echo Show, called the Echo Show 5. With a 5.5-inch screen, it'd designed to sit on your bedside table whilst still being big enough to watch videos on.  The other smart speaker in the Amazon Echo line to come with a screen is the Echo Spot, which you can think of as an upgraded Echo Dot – this Echo is perfect for a bedside table, with the ability to make video calls through its circular screen. It's also worth mentioning an upcoming new addition to the Amazon Echo range: its first portable Echo speaker, the Echo Input Portable Smart Speaker Edition.  The new battery-powered Echo speaker was designed exclusively for India, but will be coming to other markets in the future, according to Tech Crunch. The Amazon Echo Spot All of these devices have access to the majority of Alexa's skills (think voice-controlled apps) available, though only the Plus can truly double up as a bridge for your smart home devices – while all Echo products can talk to things like smart bulbs and thermostats, it’s only the Plus that lets you do away with individual hubs for each additional gadget family. All the Amazon Echo smart speakers have a certain sense of style about them, as you can see from the pictures above – especially after the most recent 2018 refresh, with all that fabric and all those curves. For more details on each Amazon Echo device, check out the full reviews below: Amazon Echo (2019) review Amazon Echo (2nd-gen) review Amazon Echo Plus review Amazon Echo Dot review Amazon Echo Dot with Clock review Amazon Echo Spot review Amazon Echo Show review Amazon Echo Show 5 review Amazon Echo Studio review Google Home: each model compared Google's smart speaker range is a little smaller than Amazon's, with six Google Home speakers to choose from, including the recently unveiled Google Nest Mini, the latest model in Google's partnership with smart home company, Nest. As a result, newer Google Assistant speakers come with the nest branding; so far we have the Google Nest Hub Max, and Google Nest Mini. The Google Home Mini The smallest of the three is the Google Home Mini speaker. Like the Echo Dot, the speaker is puck shaped, if a little more pebble-like with softer edges, and has a top side covered in a fabric speaker mesh. You can pick up the Google Home Mini in a range of colors, with four flashing LED lights illustrating when it's listening to your commands and showing the volume level. Recently Google launched a follow up to its smallest smart speaker; the Google Nest Mini comes with three speakers (that's one more than the original), and is made from recycled materials. The Google Home In the middle of the range taking on the Amazon Echo devices is the standard Google Home speaker, which looks considerably different to the Mini. It has the appearance of a small vase, with a two-tone color design (multiple shades are available here too) and a sloping top side that houses a touch control panel. The Google Home Max The Google Home Max, meanwhile, looks much more like a traditional loudspeaker, and is the largest of the bunch – it doesn't really have an equivalent Amazon Echo device either. It's boxy in design, closer aesthetically to the Google Home Mini (with the mesh speaker covering), and can stand in either a portrait or landscape orientation to suit the space you've got. While the vanilla Google Home is an acquired taste in terms of design, both the Mini and Max are subtly attractive, and should fit into any surroundings without much concern. Google Home Hub There's also the Google Home Hub, unveiled in October 2018, which takes on the Amazon Echo Show directly. It can show videos, the weather, recipes, music artwork and so much more, but it doesn't have a camera – so video calling is out of the question. Most recently, Google released the Nest Hub Max, putting Google Assistant in a 10-inch smart display. It's the first product to come out under the converged brand name of Google and smart home security brand Nest. Like a larger version of the Google Home Hub, the Nest Hub Max is big-screen smart display for your home, with a front-facing camera for video calls and the facility to check on your home remotely.  The Google Nest Hub Max was released in September 2019, around a year and a half on from the original Google Home Hub.  It costs $229 (£219, $349), similar to the original price of the 10-inch Lenovo Smart Display.  Google Home review Google Home Max review Google Home Mini review Google Nest Mini release date, price, and features Google Home Hub review Google Nest Hub Max review Keep in mind that, with both Alexa and Google Assistant, third-party speaker manufacturers are increasingly choosing to integrate the voice helpers into their own products.  So, if there's an audio manufacturer you're particularly fond of, it may be worth holding out to see if it has any plans to join either of the smart ecosystems – at this point, it's highly likely that most all audio devices in the near future will come equipped with some sort of microphone and voice control system. How to use Google Assistant to play music Amazon Echo vs Google Home: smart features The smart features of the Google Home and Amazon Echo lines are broadly similar – speak to them, and you’ll be able to do anything from playing back music, having general knowledge questions answered, controlling smart home gear, and setting alarms and timers... and that's just scratching the surface of the Amazon Echo vs Google Home debate. Both Google and Amazon are committed, long term, to improving their respective voice platforms, and each has done a good job so far of enticing third-party smart device manufacturers – from thermostat makers to smart lighting companies – to make their products compatible with each service. With a base level of commands available to each, with either a "hey Google" or "hey Alexa" wake command, control of the digital world is just a vibration of your vocal chords away. The Amazon Echo Plus Amazon Echo and Google Home speakers do take a slightly different approach to the way their abilities are accessed. Google Home's abilities are, by default, accessible to all – barring pairing up third-party smart home devices with your Google Home system, if you've made a request that the Google ecosystem can understand, it'l carry out the required response unprompted. Alexa, on the other hand, relies on the installation of skills – individual, app-like sets of related voice commands focussing on certain topics or abilities. Handled and activated through the Alexa app on smartphones, these can range from getting information on local transport times, or to activating voice-controlled games.  There's no right or wrong approach really – Google's is simpler, but Alexa's encourages faster and broader development and support from third-parties. Amazon Echo vs Google Home: audio As you'd expect from such a wildly varying range of shapes and sizes, you get very different sound performance across both ecosystems, let alone when comparing Amazon Echo against Google Home in general. Here's a broad breakdown of how they sound in relation to each other. If you can only afford the entry-level devices, and music remains a top priority for you, go for the Google Home Mini, which sounds a lot better than the Echo Dot. Unless you hook up a Dot to another speaker over Bluetooth or the 3.5mm jack, it's just too thin and harsh to fully enjoy.  The new Google Nest Mini is set to sound even better too, withy the inclusion of an extra speaker. If you're looking for a small Echo speaker, your best best then is the Echo Spot, which despite its size, offers a richer sound. The screen, however, massively increases its expense, so bear that in mind – if you don't want a screen, the Echo Dot with Clock is an attractive option. The Google Home Max As you move up the size scale, the Google Home is too bass-heavy to be truly enjoyable. It also has worse clarity than the latest generation of the Amazon Echo speaker and the Echo Plus. So, if you're limited to around $100/£100, the new Amazon Echo (2019) may be the best choice from an audio perspective. With a slight premium in price, and the inclusion of Dolby processing, the Echo Plus sound is more dynamic than the standard Echo, as you'd hope – the Echo Studio should improve on this further, and we'll be sure to update this article as soon as we've tested it thoroughly. And, despite its looks, the Echo Show sounds better than the Echo Plus and Echo, though not so dramatically as to forgive it some of its other failings. If you're going for pure sonic superiority between the Echo and Google Home ranges however, opt for the Google Home Max. Its bass is well tuned, its mids and highs well defined, and its top volume levels loud without verging into highly distorted territory. Amazon Echo vs Google Home: price There's such a range of prices across the two speaker platforms that, in fairness, there’s something for every wallet size when it comes to the question of Amazon Echo vs Google Home. It's more about what you’re expecting to get from your smart speaker of choice: Amazon, offering the widest spread of options, hits both the most affordable and expensive price points between the two brands, with the Echo Dot at the lower end and the screen-packing Echo Show at the top. Google, on the other hand, sits somewhere in the middle. You can compare the latest pricing between the ranges below. Amazon Echo vs Google Home: verdict There's no easy answer to the question of whether you should go for Amazon Echo or Google Home as your smart speakers of choice. Both lines are very accomplished and, so long as you temper your expectations in line with the amount of money you're going to spend on buying into one of the lines, all sound good enough for their respective price points. The choice really then comes down to the preference of ecosystem as opposed to the hardware. Are you heavily invested in Google's services? Then Google Home is probably for you, as the two areas are only going to become ever-more-closely linked. Google's natural language understanding is superior too, even if its voice implementation still needs some refinement. However, in terms of sheer value for money and the already vast reach of its collaborations and abilities, Amazon's Alexa devices seem the more sensible bet at this stage. It’s a close run race, with Google's powerful search capabilities potentially seeing it through in the long run. But there’s something to be said for Amazon’s more focussed approach – from our experience so far, Alexa currently feels like the more reliable assistant. But that could change. Either way, place your bets – you're unlikely to come away disappointed whether you opt for an Amazon Echo or a Google Home smart speaker. Amazon Alexa Easter Eggs: fun tips and tricks for your Echo speaker Google Assistant Easter Eggs: funny commands to try on Google Home This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now

Huawei to be given "limited" role in UK 5G Posted: 23 Jan 2020 08:55 AM PST Huawei is set to be granted a limited role in building the UK's 5G infrastructure, government sources have revealed. The Chinese giant will be barred from accessing the UK's core network, which hosts much of the data, as well as being blocked from government systems. However even this may not be enough to appease the US, which has long accused Huawei of attempting to spy on Western powers using its technology. The best Huawei P30 Pro deals in the January sales 2020 Huawei denies Chinese government subsidies US could tighten screw on Huawei Ongoing Reuters has published claims from two sources that say the recommendation was made at a meeting of officials from senior government departments. The sources added that the recommendations come days before the National Security Council is set to meet in order to decide how to deploy Huawei equipment. “The technical and policy guidance hasn’t changed,” one source told Reuters. “Now it is down to a political calculation.” The decision is similar to that made last year by former Prime Minister Theresa May, with a spokesman for current prime minister Boris Johnson saying, “The work on the issue of high risk vendors in the 5G network remains ongoing and when it is completed it will be announced to parliament.” Huawei has yet to comment on the news, but the company has repeatedly been force to deny allegations that its infrastructure could be used for illegal spying and surveillance.  The news comes hours after Business minister Andrea Leadsom confirmed that government discussions with Huawei had come to a head, with one of the main sticking points being a lack of viable alternatives to Huawei's expertise. The UK is set to make a final public decision on whether to allow Huawei to build its 5G infrastructure by the end of the month. Make sure you stay protected online with the best VPN Via Reuters This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now

Walmart's best deals: save on AirPods, Apple Watch, Xbox One, NutriBullet, and more Posted: 23 Jan 2020 08:49 AM PST January is a fantastic time to find incredible bargains at Walmart, and this week's deals don't disappoint. You can find massive savings on best-selling items which include TVs, smartwatches, consoles, appliances and more. To help you sort through all the offers, we've rounded up the best Walmart deals that are happening right now. Our top picks include discounts on Apple devices like the Apple Watch 3 on sale for just $199, the latest model AirPods with charging case on sale for $129, and the 6th generation iPad on sale for $349.  Walmart's game day sale includes price cuts on top brand TVs like the Samsung 65-inch 4K smart TV on sale for $477.99, and the Sceptre 50-inch 4K on sale for only $199.99. You can also find discounts on best-selling appliances on sale like a $50 price cut on the NutriBullet Pro and the iRobot Roomba 670 Robot Vacuum on sale for a record-low price of $197. Shop more of Walmart's top deals below and keep in mind, these are limited-time offers, so you should take advantage now before it's too late. Walmart's best deals: Shop more offers with our roundup of the best Walmart sales this week: deals on TVs, appliances, laptops, and more. You can also see more of the best cheap Apple Watch prices and sales and the best Xbox One prices, bundles, sales, and deals. This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now

Netflix in February 2020: every new movie and TV show available to stream Posted: 23 Jan 2020 08:49 AM PST The full list of movies and TV shows coming to Netflix US in February has been released, and there are some real highlights in there. As well as brand new seasons of Altered Carbon and Narcos: Mexico, it marks the debut of one of the most promising new Netflix Originals of 2020, horror drama Locke and Key. You might want to check out new Brazilian supernatural series Spectros, too, which made our list of 2020's best new TV shows.  Some of the non-Netflix movies look pretty good, too, with Blade Runner's superior Final Cut soon available on the service, along with Starship Troopers. On the TV side, Breaking Bad spin-off Better Call Saul's fourth season arrives on February 9.  You'll also be able to check out the entire Police Academy series, if you'd like to watch the same forgettable comedy a bunch of times, only set in different locations.  Don't forget to check out our lists of the best Netflix shows and best Netflix movies if you're looking for something good to watch. We'll keep updating those lists throughout the year as the streaming giant reconfigures its line-up. Below, we've bolded out a few of our highlights from the coming attractions on Netflix during the next month.  Disney Plus in February 2020: new shows and movies February 1 A Bad Moms Christmas A Little Princess Back to the Future Part III Blade Runner: The Final Cut Center Stage Cookie’s Fortune Dear John The Dirty Dozen Dirty Harry Driving Miss Daisy Elizabeth Elizabeth: The Golden Age Fools Rush In Hancock Love Jacked Police Academy Police Academy 2: Their First Assignment Police Academy 3: Back in Training Police Academy 4: Citizens on Patrol Police Academy 5: Assignment: Miami Beach Police Academy 6: City Under Siege Police Academy 7: Mission to Moscow Purple Rain Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves Scary Movie 2 Sex and the City 2 The Notebook The Other Guys The Pianist February 3 Team Kaylie: Part 3 Sordo February 4 Faith, Hope & Love Tom Papa: You're Doing Great! She Did That February 5 Uppity: The Willy T. Ribbs Story The Pharmacist Black Hollywood: "They've Gotta Have Us' #cats_the_mewvie February 6 Cagaster of an Insect Cage February 7 Locke and Key season 1 Dragons: Rescue Riders season 2 Horse Girl My Holo Love Who Killed Malcolm X? season one The Ballad of Lefty Brown February 8 The Coldest Game February 9 Better Call Saul season 4 Q Ball Road to Roma Good Time February 12 Anna Karenina To All the Boys: PS I Still Love You February 14 Narcos: Mexico season 2 Love is Blind Dragon Quest: Your Story February 14 Cable Girls: season 5 Isi & Ossi A Shaun the Sheep Movie: Farmageddon February 15 Starship Troopers February 17 The Expanding Universe of Ashley Garcia February 19 Chef Show season 3 February 20 Spectros February 21 A Haunted House Puerta 7 System Crasher Gentefied Babies Glitch Techs February 22 Girl on the Third Floor February 23 Full Count February 25 Every Time I Die February 26 I am Not Okay with This February 27 Altered Carbon season 2 Followers The Angry Birds Movie 2 Pokémon: Mewtwo Strikes Back – Evolution February 28 All the Bright Places Babylon Berlin season 3 Formula 1: Drive to Survive season 2 The Endless Trench Queen Sono Restaurants on the Edge  Unstoppable Jeopardy! (three collections) February 29 Jerry Maguire The best Netflix shows The best Netflix movies Our Netflix review This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now

Best Buy's latest cheap laptop deals can save you up to $200: sale lines include Dell, HP, Lenovo, and Acer Posted: 23 Jan 2020 08:26 AM PST If you're after a cheap laptop to kick off your 2020 productivity, Best Buy is offering some fantastic laptop deals to save you cash. Their discounted range includes not only super cheap chromebook laptops but also more powerful machines built for more performance-heavy programs and multi-tasking. We've put together our favorite laptop deals from Best Buy's selection right here, with prices starting at just $139.  There's something for everyone in Best Buy's laptop deals this weekend. If you're just looking for a cheap laptop to see you through schoolwork or light web browsing and emails, you'll find a range of deals offering prices under $300. Or, those looking to take on a bit more computing power can save up to $200 on larger powerhouses.  Whatever you're looking for, you'll find SSD's aplenty and even the latest generation of Intel's processors among these laptop deals, so we'll let you dive straight into the goods. In the UK? You can find all the latest laptop sales we've gathered from across the web right here.  Best Buy laptop deals available now Shop all laptop deals at Best Buy If there's nothing in these deals that suits you just right, why not check out our roundup of the best laptop sales around. Or, if you're after something to get your game on, we've collected all the latest gaming laptop prices going cheap. If you're looking for luxury at a great price, check out the latest refurbished MacBook deals.   This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now

The best Apple Arcade games for iPhone, iPad and Apple TV – 2020 Posted: 23 Jan 2020 08:23 AM PST When Apple Arcade landed, it did so with a mammoth 71 games – and that was just the start. It’s overwhelming – almost too much of a good thing. That’s why we’ve spent time working through every Apple Arcade game, so you can immediately delve into the very best that the service has to offer. Our list includes a wide range of titles, from high-octane brawlers to relaxing, thoughtful experiences. In each case, we not only outline why you should play a game, but also how. So whether you’re settling down with your iPhone, or fancy firing up your Apple TV with a connected gamepad, there are superb premium gaming experiences waiting for you. Sociable Soccer Genre: Sports Best played with: iPhone These days, soccer games seem desperate to look like real-world footage – and they have the speed and responsiveness to match (as in, not as much as you’d like). It wasn’t always like this, and Sociable Soccer harks back to a different era, when Sensible Soccer and Kick Off were kings. Although there is a side-on viewpoint, this game’s best played from above. Switch to top-down matches and what you get is a fast-paced game that’s part pinball and part how you always imagined soccer to be in your mind. There’s a player card system lurking, and a league that’s like nothing in the real world. Still, none of that will bother you when you’re hoofing the ball about and belt a 30-yard drive goalwards with five seconds until the final whistle. Get Sociable Soccer Pilgrims Genre: Puzzle Best played with: iPhone The team behind Pilgrims has form in adventure games packed full of character, having been responsible for point-and-clickers/tappers Machinarium and Samorost. If anything, Pilgrims heads further back in time, with mechanics echoing 2D arcade adventures on 1980s eight-bit home computers. In short, the aim is simply to find items and use them in the right locations, in order to progress. That probably doesn’t sound terribly exciting, but this game’s all about the execution. On trying an item on whoever (or whatever) stands before you, you’re treated to a little animation. Even failure can provide amusement. On iPhone in particular, Pilgrims is a joy – a hand-drawn slice of perfectly realised interactive entertainment. And because of the flexibility within the system, even when you finish Pilgrims, you’ll want to play through again to find alternative routes and anything else you’ve missed. Get Pilgrims Guildlings Genre: RPG Best played with: iPad When a tried-and-tested genre tries to ‘get down with the kids’, that’s usually a recipe for disaster. But Guildlings – by the team behind classic mobile puzzler Threes! – nails the balance between fantasy and modern life, in an offbeat and entertaining RPG that exists in a world of ‘wizards and Wi-Fi’. The script appears directed at a YA audience, but it doesn’t talk down to them, and so works well enough for adults as well. Conversations fly by like text messages, packed with breezy jokes. Exploration is fast and precise, and battles carefully balance challenge with a forgiving nature. It all feels very pleasant, with success often depending on keeping characters happy, and fights broadly about defence and tiring foes out rather than kicking their faces off. Chances are, the first chapter’s four or five hours will whizz by, and you’ll be left clamoring for more. Get Guildlings Pac-Man Party Royale Genre: Arcade Best played with: Any system Yellow dot-muncher Pac-Man has serious staying power, and is reportedly the sole videogame character with more widespread recognition than Mario. Him ending up on Apple Arcade is quite the coup, then. Fortunately, this battle mode take on an arcade classic is really good. The basics remain zooming about a maze, eating dots, and avoiding ghosts. Only this time, you’re playing against friends (or AI ‘Pac-Bots’, which adorably have little antennae on their heads). As you munch dots, you speed up, increasing your chances of catching a marching Super Pellet that transforms you into a temporarily unstoppable foe-devouring chomping machine. To win, you must be the last Pac-Man standing. And if you get gobbled, you at least don’t have to sit twiddling your thumbs – you come back as a colorful ghost to haunt and pursue anyone still left in the game. Get Pac-Man Party Royale Sayonara Wild Hearts Genre: Rhythm action Best played with: Apple TV/iPad with controller Described as a pop-album video game, Sayonara Wild Hearts finds The Fool, a heartbroken woman, charged by all-powerful beings with bringing balance back to the universe. As if she didn’t already have enough to deal with. The game plays out as a rhythm action game. You blaze along in 3D, scooping up collectables by getting yourself into the right lane at the optimum moment. Given the manner in which the lush visuals arrest the eyes, it’s easy to be dazzled and crash through levels at first. Also, the touchscreen controls are sub-optimal. This game is really made for a controller. When better placed to move The Fool around, though, you can learn a level’s choreography, and get fully into the zone. The effect is wonderful – akin to Guitar Hero smashed into Rez, but also its own thing. Finish the game and you unlock a superb bonus, where you can take in the entire intoxicating experience from beginning to end, soaking ears and mind alike in the full album. Get Sayonara Wild Hearts Assemble with Care Genre: Narrative puzzler Best played with: iPhone As much short story as puzzle game, Assemble with Care finds globe-trotting restorer whizz Maria passing through the sunny town of Bellariva. At each stage of her journey, she meets an inhabitant who asks her to fix something precious. Your job is to manipulate these on-screen items, take them to bits, figure out what’s wrong, and put them back together again. Which probably sounds terrifying, but this game’s intuitive, smartly conceived interface will make you think you, too, can repair an ancient watch or slide projector. (TechRadar hint: probably don’t try this at home.) It’ll also make you realize that relationships often need fixing more than mere objects. For a short game – you’ll be done in an hour – it packs quite the emotional wallop. One to be savored, then, and a title that really highlights the benefit of Apple Arcade’s try-anything subscription model. Get Assemble with Care Grindstone Genre: Match puzzler Best played with: iPhone Creeps are everywhere in Grindstone Mountain, and so it’s time to clean the place up – and nothing cleans things up better than a massive sword. (And then quite a lot of water to get rid of all of the creep blood, but whatever.) Only this isn’t a hack-and-slash brawler, but a surprisingly thinky puzzler. You enter each screen with a set number of creeps to dispatch. Tap out a path through creeps of a single color, and then let rip. (If you once loved Dungeon Raid, Grindstone may scratch that particular itch.) Over time, new features appear, like treasure chests and deadlier adversaries, and you can counter with upgradable kit and sheer brainpower. There’s a whiff of freemium in the lives and weapons system – as if the title was quickly adjusted prior to appearing on Apple Arcade. But even that grumble doesn’t knock one of the best match puzzlers on iPhone. Get Grindstone Sneaky Sasquatch Genre: Arcade/stealth Best played with: Any system For reasons unknown, a sasquatch’s existence is tolerated in a massive campsite. Why, we’ve no idea, given that the hairy critter is quite the thief, pilfering food from unwary guests, before wolfing it down at a nearby table. You play the sasquatch, in a game that manages to simultaneously echo Yogi Bear and stealth titles. One minute, you’ll have a duck ask you to steal back a suspiciously human-sized hat from an RV; the next, you’ll be tip-toeing past campers, dressed as a bush. This entire game could so easily have been a gimmick, but Sneaky Sasquatch is brilliantly designed. The controls are tight; the animation is wonderful; and the game slowly expands in a smart way that keeps you hooked. Stick around long enough, and the hairy hero may even be able to play some golf, or do some go-karting. Just stay away from that mean old ranger! Get Sneaky Sasquatch Super Impossible Road Genre: Racing Best played with: iPhone At some point in the future, humanity gets a bit bored with having people race on tarmac. Instead, they’re dumped inside metal balls and hurled along terrifying roller-coaster tracks that twist and whirl through space. Initially, your aim is merely to keep on the impossible road – either for as long as you can, or in the time gate mode until the clock runs down. But then there are the races, whereupon one other cunning tactic comes into play: cheating. In Super Impossible Road, you can leap off of the track and rejoin later, sneakily getting ahead of your opponents. Only if you miss, you’ll end up back at a restart point, with a bruised ego and ground to make up. This one’s tricky to master, but a dizzying thrill-ride once it clicks. And multiple modes, tracks, and vehicles should keep you playing for the long term. Get Super Impossible Road What The Golf? Genre: Sports-ish Best played with: Any system What the Golf? gets weird very quickly indeed. Initially, it looks every inch the cartoon golfing experience, of the kind that littered the App Store in its early days. Only when you swing, it’s the golfer who ends up hurtling through the air. The game barely lets up from this initial surprise, chucking all kinds of craziness at you with merry abandon. Some holes have you pick your way through bombs. Others have the ball sling itself around a side-on landscape like Spider-Man. Then there are takes that echo racing games, or have you attempting to pilot a missile to the green. It’s so relentlessly bonkers you’ll even be glad of the more sedate in-between bits, which find you pinging a ball around a maze to find your next challenge. Not one for purists, then, but all the better for it – unless you hate fun games packed full of imagination. Get What The Golf? Card of Darkness Genre: Strategy Best played with: iPhone From the mind of the guy who reinvented on iPhone everything from pool to crosswords, and the illustrator of Adventure Time, comes this epic quest smashed into the framework of a card game. Each challenge has you staring at piles of cards, knowing that beneath any one of them could be a stack of gold, a weapon, or a fearsome monster. Your aim is to forge a path through the cards to the exit, but once a pile’s disturbed, you must use every card within. There’s a lot going on here, and pretty soon your head will be swimming with all the many critters and their varied powers and effects. But stick with it, and take your time, and you’ll unearth one of the very finest mobile strategy games around (along, obviously, with a massive bitey spider that’ll take your face off). Card of Darkness Oceanhorn 2 Genre: Action-adventure Best played with: Apple TV/iPad with controller We’re going to use the Z word: Oceanhorn 2 is the closest you’ll get to Zelda on Apple Arcade, short of Nintendo doing an about-face and abandoning its strategy of hideous freemium mobile titles. As in the original Oceanhorn, you’re again a young knight with the fate of the world in their hands. (No pressure.) In typical RPG fare, this means you must comb varied locations, scrap with plentiful enemies, complete missions, and solve the odd puzzle. On-boarding is poor – the game oddly assumes you’ll know how to perform certain actions, and won’t tell you how. But it looks great, and once you get to grips with the controls, you’ll forgive those early blips. The title also shines on the big screen, feeling like proper console fare. Whether you consider that a compliment perhaps depends on your gaming tastes, but there’s no doubting Oceanhorn 2 is quite the achievement. Get Oceanhorn 2 Exit the Gungeon Genre: Shoot ’em up Best played with: Touchscreen There’s a smattering of a story here about a ‘Gungeon’ falling to bits, and you needing to escape. But, really, this is full-on high-octane bullet-hell shooty larks, with you leaping about in confined spaces, blowing everything away, and trying very hard to not get shot. This game is tough. The pace brings to mind  Super Crate Box, as does the weapons system that finds your firearm regularly mutating. Typically, the better you are, the more powerful the weapon you’ll end up with. In short, be rubbish, and you’ll die. Actually, you’ll die anyway – a lot at first. But you’ll gradually lengthen your runs, and give bosses a serious kicking. Not quite feeling it? Try switching control methods – there’s the full-speed high-octane take with a controller, but go touch-only and everything slows down while you leap, like the game’s merged with The Matrix. Get Exit the Gungeon Mutazione Genre: Adventure Best played with: Touchscreen One hundred years ago, a meteor struck a holiday resort in the tropics. Those few that survived showed strange mutations, rescuers took flight, and everyone left behind then tried to transform the island into a paradise. Now as teenager Kai, you travel for the first time to the island to visit a dying relative. This is every inch the exploratory adventure. It’s heavy on conversation – and just poking around. Although next steps are heavily signposted in a journal, Mutazione is often at its most rewarding when you just live life, learning how the island functions. The slow pace may irk those who like to fast-forward through games. And a gardening element at the heart of the production may well prove to be the last straw. But should you want a relaxing, engaging, stimulating handheld experience, full of heart and character, you, too, should make the journey to Mutazione. Get Mutazione Bleak Sword Genre: Brawler Best played with: iPhone Fire up the likes of Dark Souls on a PlayStation 4, and you can stomp about a beautifully rendered environment, hacking to bits all manner of adversaries with your medieval-era weapons. Bleak Sword is to a great extent the same game – albeit stripped back for mobile play, and with visuals that appear to have escaped from a 1980s PC. Protagonist and enemies alike are stylized pixelated stickmen, but the controls are all modern gestures. It quickly becomes second nature to roll, parry, and hack to pieces anything that comes your way, from giant forest critters to enemies with unfeasibly large swords. Curiously, Bleak Sword doesn’t work nearly as well with a controller. It really pays to spend a little time learning the touchscreen controls on an iPhone, and marveling at how such a game can work so well when you’re pawing at glass instead of having your mitts wrapped around a gamepad. Get Bleak Sword Shinsekai Into the Depths Genre: Platform Best played with: Any system Instead of global warming leading to Mad Max, this Capcom platform game finds mankind living in a world of ice. Humanity’s tried to escape the cold by heading below the ocean waves, but that territory is now also beginning to freeze. As terrifyingly large chunks of ice rapidly encroach on your home, your lone aquanaut must venture forth, in a bid for survival. Right from the off, this game feels unique and tantalizing. Whether you’re using slightly slippy touchscreen gestures or a gamepad, it’s fun to blast your aquanaut around, slash at underwater horrors, and prospect for resources. There’s a temptation to continue zooming about, killing anything that moves; but Shinsekai’s world is full of peril, from fearsome underwater creatures to the mundane – yet no less dangerous – threat of running out of oxygen. The title therefore quickly resolves itself as a tense, electrifying balancing act as you head further into its unexplored depths. Get Shinsekai Into the Depths The best iPhone apps we've used in 2019 This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now

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