Saturday, January 25, 2020

Apple : Australian Open live stream: how to watch 2020 tennis online from anywhere

Apple : Australian Open live stream: how to watch 2020 tennis online from anywhere

Australian Open live stream: how to watch 2020 tennis online from anywhere

Posted: 25 Jan 2020 12:10 PM PST

Well, the decade's first tennis Grand Slam has certainly come to life. The last few days of the 2020 Australian Open has seen Serena's shock exit, Nick Kyrgios playing out an epic and Coco Gauff going from strength to strength. To make sure you don't miss a moment more, you can watch all the tennis action unfold from absolutely anywhere in the world with our handy Australian Open live stream guide below.

The familiar names of Novak Djokovic, Rafa Nadal and Roger Federer head up the men's odds, while local hero  Ashleigh Barty is now the name in the frame to take the women's tournament.

The start of the 108th edition of the Aussie Open saw the aforementioned Novak Djokovic and Naomi Osaka defending their titles with the latter falling to the awesome Coco Gauff.

Djokovic will be buoyed by recent success in Australia after he started in Serbia's win at the inaugural ATP Cup Down Under earlier this month. Will the old guard reign supreme once more in Melbourne?

Tennis fans will be hoping the haze won't impact on what looks set to be the most eagerly contested Australian Open for some time. Find out how you can live stream all the Australian Open 2020 tennis action from wherever you are in the world below. 

How to live stream Australian Open tennis for FREE Down Under

Live stream the Australian Open tennis 2020 from anywhere in the world 

For your watching options in Australia, the US, UK, Canada and New Zealand, we have more details below - just scroll down the page.

But if you try to watch your domestic coverage from somewhere outside your home country, you'll soon find a problem...geo-blocking. That's where the broadcaster prevents you from watching the feed overseas.

How to watch the Australian Open 2020: US live stream

How to live stream Australian Open tennis in the UK

The best ways to stream the Australian Open 2020 in Canada

The best way to stream the Australian Open in New Zealand

Who has won the most Australian Opens?

Novak Djokovic currently stands as the most successful men’s player at Melbourne having won the Aussie Open on seven occasions (2008, 2011–2013, 2015–2016, 2019) – that’s one more than Swiss rival Roger Federer.

Serena Williams leads the pack for women’s titles during the Open era, having also been crowed champion on seven occasions (2003, 2005, 2007, 2009, 2010, 2015, and 2017).

How much do the winners get at the 2020 Australian Open?

There’s a record prize pot of AUD$71 million in prize money up for grabs in Melbourne this year. Both the Men’s and Women’s winners this year will each pocket a tidy AUD$4,120,000.

What is the format of the Australian Open tennis?

As with all Open tournaments, Men’s matches are the best-of-five sets, while Women’s and Doubles matches are best-of-three.

Which city hosts the Australian Open tennis?

The Australian Open is played at Melbourne Park, which is located in the Melbourne Sports and Entertainment Precinct; the event moved to this site in 1988.

How have the bushfires affected this year's Australian Open?

Melbourne hasn't been as badly affected as Canberra or Sydney by the fires, however, thanks to changing winds air pollution shot up to "hazardous" levels in the week running up to the event.

While the tournament is set to go ahead as scheduled, umpires have been told to stop play if air monitoring shows it is too dangerous to continue.

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What is AWS Console?

Posted: 25 Jan 2020 11:09 AM PST

Amazon Web Services (AWS) includes over 175 different products and services, all of them geared to help you run your cloud computing environment. It’s quite an extensive catalog, including tools to help you manage, deploy, and maintain compute, online storage, cloud databases, networking, analytics, robotics, machine learning, Internet of Things, security, VR and AR, media, and application development, and mobile apps -- to name but a few.

AWS Console is the primary point of control for all of the services you use, and it has the power to help you scale and manage your cloud computing environment. It’s a “one-stop-shop” that even provides access to the AWS Marketplace for finding and deploying more services and a way to view your services and any associated costs for using those services. And yet the console itself is easy to use and not overly complicated for new users.

As a way to cover what this tool and do for your business, this overview will start by explaining AWS itself and then the main core functions of the AWS Console.

AWS is actually a company and a product at the same time. A subsidiary of Amazon, the company started in 2006 and provides a host of services for cloud computing. In fact, AWS includes 175 different services, including 60 that are free to try and deploy in a real-world setting. The most popular services include Amazon Simple Storage Service (or S3) for object storage in the cloud and Amazon Elastic Compute Cloud (EC2) for virtual server access.

It would over-simplify AWS to say it’s just for apps, storage and servers. Companies use AWS for a wide variety of cloud computing functions, including code deployments, Big Data analytics, reliably running popular mobile apps, operating vast data lake projects and for data warehousing, and media streaming. If you name a random company, like Netflix or Uber, and wonder if they use AWS for their cloud computing needs, it’s a good bet they already do.

That’s why it’s interesting that AWS Console even exists because it should be far more complicated. Any company can sign up for AWS Console in a few minutes, then select the services to deploy and have them up and running a few moments later. This might explain the vast popularity of AWS and AWS Console -- that there is all of this power and flexibility, a way to scale the computing performance of a company, and yet getting started is so straightforward. With competing cloud computing services, the on-ramp is much more complex.

AWS Console provides access to all of your users, service usage, cloud computing health, and monthly billing. When you need assistance with any service, you can generate a support ticket right from the app. AWS Console also allows you to deploy an API (Application Programming Interface) and keep track of the revisions and code deployments for apps.

Benefits of using AWS Console

The key benefit here is having one point of management and control for all of these services, in a way that almost seems unlikely in the age of technical complexity in the cloud. To say there is one interface you can use for adding and removing services, for seeing a deployment map for your IT infrastructure, for reviewing the costs for all services in one place almost seems impossible. The fact that AWS Console is so extensive and accessible to anyone to get started with cloud computing is a major advantage to using the product.

AWS Console provides a great degree of flexibility as well. You can choose the operating system you want to use, the services you want to deploy, and the level of security needed for your apps and data. AWS Console is designed for any company and removes much of the initial complexity, configuration requirements, and up-front costs associated with the cloud.

Once you dive into AWS Console, it’s also worth noting that there is extensive online support for every service, including a vast array of tech support material. Because AWS has become so popular with so many companies, there is a wealth of case study information, practical guidance, and advice for anyone who wants to deploy multiple services in the cloud.

Another interesting perk to using AWS Console is that it’s the same tool Amazon uses to run Amazon.com, which is a multi-billion dollar e-commerce operation. This means it’s reliable, secure, and operationally sound enough for one of the most-used web portals today.

What this all means for any business is that the compute power you need is accessible, available, and affordable to get started, and then allows you to scale up your services and take advantage of more and more AWS products as your needs evolve. In the end, any company can experiment with cloud services without the usual complexity and high costs.

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iPhone 12 release date, leaks and what we're expecting

Posted: 25 Jan 2020 10:12 AM PST

We'll say it now: the iPhone 12 needs to be a huge change to Apple's smartphone. The iPhone 11 range brought very little in terms of an upgrade. With new camera tweaks and some more power inside, they were modest updates to the popular iPhone range.

So what will the next iPhone - the first of a new decade - bring? Is Apple going to give us a truly new iPhone instead of an incremental upgrade?

The good news is that in the build up to the iPhone 11 launch we heard lots of rumors and leaks of a much-altered iPhone. These include the possibility of a 5G iPhone model, new cameras, a new design, a supercharged screen... if all of those rumors were referring instead to the iPhone 12, it could prove to be the big upgrade we’re hoping (and waiting) for.

We've mixed together all the latest leaks and updates on the new iPhone in the article below, and added in some thoughts on what we're expecting, based on well over a decade of monitoring the growing rumor mill around the latest iPhone...

Latest story: A leak suggests the iPhone 12 range might not have a new design after all. Plus, some iPhone 12 models could get a big RAM boost, along with thinner, cheaper and more energy-efficient screens.

Cut to the chase

  • What is it? The new iPhone from Apple
  • When is it out? Almost certainly September
  • What will it cost? We're expecting well over $700 / £700 for the base model

iPhone 12 release date and price

There aren't any official iPhone 12 release date rumors as yet, but come on - we're almost certain that we know when it'll appear. Apple launches its new phones almost metronomically, and while every year there's a rumor of it changing, it's always held to a similar time.

Firstly, the new iPhone release date will definitely be September 2020 - and it's always around the second week. So we're going to guess that we'll see Apple unveil the iPhone 12 on 8 September (or possibly 15 September if it wants to hit a later on-sale date).

You'll be able to pick it up 10 days after that, so you'll need a Friday off work if you're desperate to get your hands on one..

iPhone 11 Pro

When it comes to the iPhone 12 price, it’s likely to stay broadly in line with the current models. For reference, the iPhone 11 starts at $699 / £729 / AU$1,199, the iPhone 11 Pro starts at $999 / £1,049 / AU$1,749, and the iPhone 11 Pro Max starts at $1,099 / £1,149 / AU$1,899.

Having said that, one report suggests that the cost of materials for the iPhone 12 range might go up, which could mean even higher prices at retail.

iPhone 12 name

First things first: we're pretty confident the 2020 Apple phones will be called the iPhone 12 series, not the 11S or similar thanks to an industry analyst (with a great track record) saying as such.

That's why we're calling it the iPhone 12, even though Apple hasn't confirmed this name. Others might be calling it the iPhone 2020 or the 'new iPhone' - but we're not thinking that will be the moniker Apple plumps for.

iPhone 12 design

Apple could be making some big changes to the design and screen for the iPhone 12 range, including getting rid of the notch.

Or at least, one of the upcoming phones might lack a notch according to analysts, with the front-facing camera potentially set to be embedded under the screen instead. If this happens we’d expect it to be the most expensive iPhone 12 model that has this feature – likely the iPhone 12 Pro Max, or whatever it launches as.

Another leak suggests Apple is developing new Face ID tech which will lead to a redesigned and potentially slimmer notch. Allegedly, the company is trying out several combinations, including ones that minimize the front-facing optics so much that they fit in the top bezel.

One other report has also suggested Face ID will be dropped entirely in favor of an under screen fingerprint scanner.

We might get more than just a notch removal, with Kuo also saying that he expects the metal frame to be more like the iPhone 4’s frame, suggesting it won’t be curved like on current models. He also says that overall the design is likely to be “significantly” different to current iPhone models.

Then again, a more recent leak suggests that the designs will actually be staying much the same, other than some differences in the camera layout and the dimensions. Based on this leak, the 5.4-inch iPhone could be around 131mm tall, the 6.1-inch could be around 147mm, and the 6.7-inch model could be slightly taller than the 158mm iPhone 11 Pro Max.

However, it's also said to be thinner, apparently coming in at 7.4mm thick, while the iPhone 11 Pro Max is 8.1mm thick.

In any case, the leak above from Kuo affirmed several much-rumored trends, like the iPhone 12 Pro versions adding a time-of-flight sensor, the budget flagship adding a telephoto lens, and series-wide support for 5G as well as finally switching to USB-C. 

It might not just be the camera that’s built into the screen either, as Apple is also rumored to be equipping its next phones with an in-screen fingerprint scanner.

iPhone 11 Pro

This would be a big change for the brand, since current models don’t have a fingerprint scanner at all. That said, if the camera really is in-screen then it might not be possible to have all the Face ID sensors, so it could be that this fingerprint scanner will replace Face ID, though we're not convinced Apple would go that far.

As for colors, we've heard a rumor that the iPhone 12 will drop the forest green of its predecessor for a navy blue - a svelte hue more in line with dress colors, for sure. But like the divide between the 'fun' pastel colors in the standard iPhone 11 and the classier hues in the iPhone 11 Pro and Pro Max, we might not see the blue come to the lower-priced model.

A new display for the iPhone 12?

One or more 2020 iPhone models might also have a 120Hz refresh rate, up from 60Hz on current models. This – which has been rumored by a reputable leaker - could make interactions feel smoother. This is a claim we've now heard more than once, and some phones already have higher refresh rates than 60Hz, as do some iPads, so this isn’t unbelievable.

The screen sizes could be changing too, with respected Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo saying that the iPhone 12 Pro Max could have a 6.7-inch screen (up from 6.5 inches on the iPhone 11 Pro Max), and the iPhone 12 Pro could have a 5.45-inch screen (down from 5.8 inches on the iPhone 11 Pro).

He adds that the standard iPhone 12 will apparently stay at 6.1 inches, but will get upgraded from LCD to OLED. That’s a claim we’ve heard more than once, and would mean all three 2020 iPhones would have an OLED screen.

Another source has broadly agreed, but said to expect a 5.4-inch screen on the iPhone 12 Pro. They also said that the two Pro models will use a form of OLED that's both thinner and cheaper to produce than the screens used in the iPhone 11 Pro range. That could mean lower prices, but we wouldn't count on it.

iPhone 11 Pro

Elsewhere we've heard a similar selection of sizes, but that Apple could launch four new models in September. According to an analyst, Apple will launch a 6.7-inch phone, a 5.4-inch one, and two 6.1-inch ones.

They don't go into any more detail but that suggests there will be both a top-end and slightly lower end model in a 6.1-inch size, if this claim is accurate.

And it might well be, because it's claim that we've now heard again, this time from reputable Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, who adds that all four models will have OLED screens and 5G, but that one of the 6.1-inch models and the 5.4-inch one will have two rear cameras, while the other two models will have three.

We've also heard that at least some iPhone 12 models could have thinner, cheaper and more energy-efficient screens than the iPhone 11 range. This in turn may allow the phones themselves to be thinner, as well as lasting longer between charges.

iPhone 12 specs and camera

Another big change could take the form of 5G, which has been widely rumored for the iPhone 12. Kuo even says that he thinks all three models will support 5G. We fully expect at least one of them will, given that multiple sources have suggested as much and that a number of other phones already support 5G.

That could well be supported by a 5nm A14 Bionic processor inside the iPhone 12 - what that means for the average consumer is an iPhone with an even longer battery life and more power than ever. That would be rather impressive, given the iPhone battery life is currently the best we've ever seen from Apple.

The RAM could also get a boost, with analysts claiming that the iPhone 12 Pro and iPhone 12 Pro Max will have 6GB of the stuff, up from 4GB on their predecessors - though the standard iPhone 12 will apparently stick with 4GB. This is something we've now heard again, so it may well be true.

The iPhone 12 might also get a camera upgrade, with a laser-powered 3D camera rumored for inclusion. This would be on the back, and while only one rumor mentions lasers, another also talks about a depth-sensing snapper, while one mentions 3D sensing, so this might well be something we see in some form.

The last source adds that the two top models would get this, along with a triple-lens camera, while the two lower end ones would just get a dual-lens camera without 3D sensing.

Finally, there’s a chance that Apple could add a further handset to its line-up in 2020, likely the iPhone SE 2 (but with a different name). By the sounds of things this could be a lower-end option, but we’d take its existence with a serious side of salt.

What we want to see from the new iPhone

The iPhone 11 range is a strong - but safe, and thus a bit dull - upgrade for Apple. So for the iPhone 12 we want to see bigger, riskier changes, such as the following.

1. Exciting new features

First things first - the new iPhone needs to be good. Brilliant. Better than expected. We’re talking things that we haven’t even thought of. Things that we’re hoping Apple’s brightest minds are currently dreaming up in the company’s labs. 

This might sound like a very vague request, but Apple is one of the biggest companies in the world and if any brand could make a decent folding handset, or one with detachable VR glasses, it's Cook's Crew.

Because a tweaked design and improved specs are expected, ordinary, and no longer enough as consumers are holding onto their handsets for longer than ever. Come on Apple, give us something mind-blowing.

2. A new design

iPhone 11 Pro

Perhaps the thing we want most from the iPhone 12 is a new design. Apple has been rolling out basically the same design for several years now, ever since it refreshed the look with the iPhone X.

Sure, some things get tweaked, but the core is the same. And it’s starting to look a bit dated. That’s thanks mostly to the large notch, which might be necessary for all the camera components needed for Face ID, but which we’d like to see shrunk or removed if possible.

Beyond that, we’d really like a whole new look. There’s not too much wrong with the rest of the iPhone 11 Pro’s design, but it certainly feels overly familiar at this point.

3. An in-screen everything

We’d like the iPhone 12 to have an all-screen front, and one way to achieve that is to move the front-facing camera under the display. If Apple can effectively achieve that, it’s sure to impress.

While it’s on, we’d like Apple to re-add a fingerprint scanner, for those times when Face ID isn’t working quite as slickly as it should. But we want this in the screen too, or better yet, make the whole screen one big fingerprint scanner, as it has been rumored Apple might be planning for a future phone.

4. A higher refresh rate

iPhone 11 Pro

One way some companies are further improving their displays is by upping the refresh rate from the standard 60Hz. The OnePlus 7 Pro for example has an optional 90Hz refresh rate, while the Razer Phone 2 goes up to 120Hz.

This can help make interactions with the handset and animations feel silky smooth, so we’d like to see Apple offer a higher refresh rate of its own. It’s not out of the question, especially as some iPad Pro models have a refresh rate of up to 120Hz. Indeed, exactly that refresh rate has been rumored for the upcoming iPhones.

5. Further battery boosts

For the first time in years, with the iPhone 11 range it feels like Apple has really prioritized battery life in its phones, but we want the company to go even further with the iPhone 12. Or at the very least not go backwards.

We’re still waiting on an iPhone that can comfortably last two days, and we’d like the iPhone 12 (or at least the iPhone 12 Pro Max) to be it.

6. 5G support

Samsung Galaxy S10 Plus 5G

Apple is behind when it comes to 5G, as none of the iPhone 11 range offer it, while rival handsets like the Samsung Galaxy S10 5G and OnePlus 7 Pro 5G do.

Apple’s lack of support isn’t a big deal right now, as 5G coverage is still very sparse in most countries, but by the time the iPhone 12 launches it will be more widely available and a large number of other handsets will support it, so it will be time for Apple to jump on board.

The good news is that it’s heavily rumored that 2020’s iPhones will support 5G, so this is one thing we’re likely to get.

7. A lower price

We ask for this every year with new iPhones and this year we actually kind of got it, with the base iPhone 11 starting at less than the iPhone XR did. So it’s actually not impossible that we could see an even lower price – or a reduced price for the rest of the range – with the iPhone 12.

We wouldn’t count on it, but Apple’s more affordable phones are typically its best-selling in recent years, so there should be some incentive to cut costs where possible.

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Samsung Galaxy S20 Plus release date, price, news and leaks

Posted: 25 Jan 2020 10:09 AM PST

Among the Samsung Galaxy S20 line of phones, the Samsung Galaxy S20 Plus is expected to be the larger-sized version that may boast higher specs, a bigger battery, and possibly even more features. We’ll find out for sure on the February 11 launch date, which we know thanks to Samsung’s official invites.

This could land as the Galaxy S20 Plus even though we originally expected it to be called the Galaxy S11 Plus. Rumors suggest Samsung is skipping S11-S19 for the round S20 in order to align the nomenclature with the year 2020. Cute.

What we’ve heard so far comes from leaks and speculation - like suspecting the S11 Plus will be a 5G phone. That’s because the next flagship chipset in line, the Snapdragon 865, requires a 5G modem installed on the device - but to save costs, we could also see a 4G model.

There's a greater question of what role the S20 Plus plays though, now that the S20 Ultra is rumored to sit above it as the maximum-spec'd model in the S20 line.

It could just be a larger S20, but given that Samsung typically follows Apple’s lead in phone lineups, we could see the standard S20 become the new affordable flagship, in a similar way to the iPhone 11. That would be in place of an S20e, so in that case the S20 Plus could be a 'standard' spec'd version, a larger version, or both. 

We've also heard that Samsung might be upping the display refresh rate to 120Hz paired with a 1080p screen, with the option to push it back down to 60Hz for a QHD+ resolution. 

Most other rumors refer to either the S20 or the rumored full-spec'd S20 Ultra, so we've referenced those that could potentially apply to the S20 Plus, too. Below then you'll find what little we know for sure along with the many leaks and rumors that we've heard, which together start to paint a picture of the Samsung Galaxy S20 or S11 Plus.

Cut to the chase

  • What is it? The next larger-sized Galaxy S flagship from Samsung
  • When is it out? Tuesday, February 11
  • What will it cost? Probably upwards of $999 / £899 / AU$1,499 

Samsung Galaxy S20 Plus release date and price

The Samsung Galaxy S11 or S20 range is set to be announced on Tuesday, February 11 in San Francisco.

Based on past form, that means we could see the Galaxy S11 phones in stores the first week of March. That said, while the Galaxy S10 release date was March 8, this year's launch event is nine days sooner than last year's, so it's possible the S11 Plus will hit stores at the very beginning of March.

Samsung Galaxy Unpacked launch 2020

Samsung's Galaxy launch invite that was sent to TechRadar

The Galaxy S11 Plus price could be the same as the S10 Plus's was at launch. That phone was $999 / £899 / AU$1,499 at launch for its cheapest storage size, rising to $1,599 / £1,399 / AU$2,399 for the largest 1TB/12GB version.

There's always a chance Samsung could price the Galaxy S11 Plus to be even more expensive - either because of its increased specs or for the inclusion of 5G, especially given the Samsung Galaxy S10 5G's starting price was $1,299 / £1,099/ AU$1,850. However, we won't know for sure until Samsung officially launches the S11 Plus.

But the initial price leak we've seen pegs the starting price at  €1,099 (around $1,215 / £926 / AU$1,775). That's for the Galaxy S20 Plus 5G - we haven't heard whether there might be a lower-priced 4G model.

The Galaxy S11 Plus could launch along with new premium wireless earbuds designed to rival the Apple AirPods Pro. These are rumored to be called the Samsung Galaxy Buds Plus.

Given the original AirPods-rivaling Galaxy Buds were released alongside the Galaxy S10, it would make sense for the new model to launch with the S11 range.

Samsung Galaxy S20 Plus name

While it makes sense that the Samsung Galaxy S11 Plus would be the next numbering in the line after the Samsung Galaxy S10 Plus, we could see it leap ahead, with rumors calling it the Samsung Galaxy S20 Plus.

Since the handset will come out in 2020, we've heard Samsung might want the phone names to match the release year, for this model and those thereafter.

Specifically, according to few sources including a reliable leaker and potentially even the Samsung CEO himself, the whole line could be branded as the Samsung Galaxy S20, Samsung Galaxy S20 Plus, and Samsung Galaxy S20 Ultra, instead of (respectively) the S11e, S11 and S11 Plus we've been assuming.

Until we know for sure, we'll still mostly refer to this device as the Galaxy S11 Plus, but that will change if we get official word from Samsung that the new devices will be the S20 series. Confusing, but necessary.

We haven't heard much mention of a distinct 5G model in the lineup, though this isn't much of a surprise given how likely it is that Samsung will include 5G in each of the standard models. This would follow what the phone-maker did with the 5G version of the Galaxy Note 10 Plus, as opposed to crafting a unique 5G handset, as it did with the Galaxy S10 5G.

As a last naming rumor, we've heard the Galaxy S line could be discontinued: one source suggests that the S11 and Galaxy Note 11 will merge to create the Galaxy One, a new series that would combine all of Samsung's premium features into one smartphone line. While that's still a moonshot rumor, it would be unwise not to even consider it.

Samsung Galaxy S20 Plus news and rumors

Perhaps the most important leaks are the ones showing us how these new Samsung flagships could look, and we've seen leaks of the entire lineup.

In fact, we’ve seen several leaked renders of the Samsung Galaxy S11 range, and while the designs vary, there are a lot of similarities. Check out some here, others here, and even more here.

Just about every render we've seen shows the rear cameras as being in a large bump at the top left of the back of the phone. How they're laid out is less certain though, with some of the renders showing them in a single neat row while others point to a more haphazard arrangement, but some allegedly real images suggest something different to either of those options.

Hands-on images of the Samsung Galaxy S20 Plus, as it's called in the leak, show the lenses and flash laid out in two vertical rows within the camera bump, domino-style. 

We've also heard that the S11 Plus could have a punch-hole camera in the top-center of the display, similar to where it is in the Galaxy Note 10 range, which we've seen in leaked images. The source adds that the camera would be smaller than on the Note 10 range though, which lines up with leaked images that show a noticeably smaller punch-hole. 

Samsung Galaxy S11e leak

The most prevalent sizing rumor implies that the Samsung Galaxy S20 (which could launch as the lowest-cost model instead of the S11e) will have a 6.2-inch screen, while the S20 Plus (or S11 Plus) will have a 6.7-inch display, and the S20 Ultra will have a 6.9-inch screen. That’s a noticeable size increase over the previous generation's screens.

A remarkably complete spec leak, shown below, echoes those sizes, adding that the S20 Plus will have a 1440 x 3200 20:9 screen with 525 pixels per inch, and that the body of the phone will be IP68 certified and come in at 162 x 74 x 7.8mm and 188g.

As for the rest of the design, one rumor we've heard is that the standard Galaxy S11 might come in blue, grey and black colors, while the cheaper Samsung Galaxy S11e might come in more playful blue, grey and pink shades. Another leak suggests official colors: Cosmic Black, Cosmic Grey, and Cloud Blue.

That's a lot like how Apple has split hues on its iPhones between more restrained colors in the 'Pro' models and fun, vibrant hues for the less expensive version. The source doesn't say which colors to expect for the Samsung Galaxy S11 Plus (or Ultra), but we wouldn't be surprised by a premium color for the premium version.

The screen meanwhile could feature a maximum 120Hz refresh rate, offering smoother interactions than the 60Hz offered by the S10 range. A 120Hz mode was allegedly spotted in a beta for Samsung's smartphone software, an assertion supported by another source.

A further leak backed this up with a fuzzy image specifically of an S11 Plus showing these options as well as a maximum display resolution of 3,200 x 1,440 WQHD+ - but crucially, the 120Hz mode can't operate at this resolution, which only supports 60Hz refresh rate.

That same leak suggests that the S11 Plus, and conceivably the rest of the line, is finally doing away with the headphone jack.

While we couldn't exactly see whether this was true with the alleged hands-on video included by the source of the leak (below), it would make sense, with the Galaxy Note 10 range and most other flagships already lacking such a port.

The Samsung Galaxy S11 Plus might come with new screen tech though, given that Samsung has trademarked the name SAMOLED. That sounds a whole lot like a new take on the AMOLED screens used by its flagship handsets, though we have no idea how SAMOLED would differ.

Samsung Galaxy S20 Plus camera

We’re anticipating that the the Samsung Galaxy S11 Plus (or possibly the Ultra) will come with a 108MP sensor, an idea which is supported by not one but two leaks. This 108MP sensor is expected to combine nine pixels into one, which becomes the equivalent of 12MP shots that can take in plenty lot of light for far more vivid photography.

Exciting as this sounds, some more recent rumors (highlighted below) suggest that the Galaxy S11 Plus will actually just have a 12MP main snapper, with the 108MP lens reserved for the S11 Ultra, so don't count on seeing this on the mid model.

One source alleges that the S11 line's telephoto lens meanwhile could have a 5x optical zoom, and it might use a 48MP sensor. That would make for the most high-res zoom lens sensor we’ve seen on a phone yet.

While we haven’t heard too much about other lenses in the array yet, we’re expecting an ultra-wide angle lens, likely a depth sensor and perhaps even a macro lens, given that the recently-launched Samsung Galaxy S10 Lite has a macro lens.

We've also seen how the camera arrangement on the Galaxy S11 Plus (or Galaxy S20 Ultra) might look, as evidenced by the tweet below. A more recent rumor from the same source meanwhile implies a four-camera array on the rear of the Galaxy S11 Plus.

They previously claimed it would have five rear lenses, but they note that this new information is from a more recent prototype - which leads them to believe that four lenses is more likely.

This also aligns with one of the most recent renders we've seen leaked, but with so many different renders leaked into the wild, we have no serious idea what the rear array will look like.

We have seen an incredibly detailed spec dump - which would be more suspect if three sources who simultaneously revealed information on the cameras.

CameraSamsung Galaxy S20Samsung Galaxy S20 PlusSamsung Galaxy S20 Ultra
Main12MP12MP 108MP
Telephoto64MP64MP 48MP
Wide-angle12MP12MP12MP
ExtrasToFToF

If accurate, those would be some impressive specs, although it's suspect that the telephoto lenses have more megapixels on the smaller handsets.

This does however match the complete specs leak further up in this article, which adds that there's likely to be a 10MP front camera, 3x optical zoom and 30x digital zoom.

Indeed, we've heard a range of zooms cited for the telephoto lenses, but the general consensus seems to be 3x optical / 30x digital for the Galaxy S20 and S20 Plus, and a whopping 10x optical / 100x digital for the S20 Ultra, although that seems too good to be true.

We’ve also heard of plenty of neat features that Samsung trademarked which may end up in the S11 series, from a ‘Space Zoom’ astrophotography mode to a 'Bright Night Sensor'. The latter sounds a lot like a 'low light' mode but bolstered by dedicated hardware.

Elsewhere, hints toward several new camera features have been unearthed in official Samsung software code. There's Single Take Photo, which could use AI to automatically shoot photos at the prime moment; a Director's View mode for tracking a subject; the return of Samsung's Pro Video mode, allowing you to adjust the ISO, exposure and the like when shooting video; and a selection of new Live Focus bokeh and depth effects.

Samsung Galaxy S20 Plus specs and features

We’re almost positive the Samsung Galaxy S11 Plus will come with the Snapdragon 865 chipset unveiled in late 2019, which has been benchmarked with scores that beat any other phone. At least in the US, as has been tradition; everywhere else will very likely get an upgraded Exynos processor, likely dubbed the 9830 or Exynos 990.

We've also heard that the Samsung Galaxy S11 range will all come with a base 12GB of RAM, although that may spike up to 16GB or potentially beyond at the top end. What you could need this much RAM for in a smartphone is beyond us, but it shows just how high-end this range is set to be. Storage meanwhile is rumored to be 128GB, along with a microSD card slot.

As for battery size, one leak suggests that one of the Galaxy S11 models will have a 4,500mAh battery with another set to get a 5,000mAh one. The latter size is probably for the Samsung Galaxy S11 Ultra, but we'd expect at least 4,500mAh in the S11 Plus.

We've heard another rumor that the Samsung S20 Plus will debut an AirDrop-like service called Quick Share to, you guessed it, quickly share files. It seemingly only works between Galaxy phones, so it's unclear if it will eventually become as versatile as Apple's multi-platform service.

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Samsung Galaxy S20 / Galaxy S11 release date, leaks and everything we know so far

Posted: 25 Jan 2020 09:56 AM PST

The Samsung Galaxy S20 launch event will be on February 11, which is an official fact  because Samsung itself sent out official invites to its next big Unpacked keynote.

We're expecting three smartphones in this year’s lineup, consisting of the main Samsung Galaxy S20 and a top-end S20 Ultra, and also the Galaxy S20 Plus, the latter of which we've given an individual page because there's so much there to cover. 

We consider all three phones on this page, though, as new features are coming to all three - and all of them could end up being 5G phones. We know that because the next-in-line chipset, the Snapdragon 865, makes including a 5G modem mandatory. In other words, Samsung would seemingly have to go out of their way not to include connectivity to the next-gen mobile networks.

Originally, we expected this phone to be called the Galaxy S11 but most rumors are now pointing toward the company skipping S11 through S19 to go straight to S20.

There are also features we can work out might come to the Galaxy S11 or S20, from perks we expected but didn't see in the Samsung Galaxy S10 to aspects of the Samsung Galaxy Note 10, Samsung Galaxy A80, Galaxy S10 Lite and Galaxy Fold that would work well in a new Galaxy S flagship.

Inspired by all these phones, we've also drawn up a list of the things we'd like to see in the Samsung Galaxy S20, or whatever the next Galaxy S phone ends up being called. We've also done a separate guide for the Samsung Galaxy S20 Plus.

It may be introduced alongside the Samsung Galaxy Fold 2, or Galaxy Bloom, or Galaxy Z Flip, as various different leaks have suggested Samsung's new foldable phone will be called.

Here's everything that we've heard about the Samsung Galaxy S20 so far, including the plenty of leaks we've seen.

Update: We've seen potential renders of the Samsung Galaxy S20 Ultra, the most premium of the range, which show off its rumored 48MP telephoto lens in a two-tone camera bump. Plus, we’ve got initial pricing - and the Ultra’s cost is looking steep.

Cut to the chase

  • What is it? The next Galaxy S smartphone from Samsung
  • When is it out? Tuesday, February 11
  • What will it cost? Likely more than $899 / £799 / AU$1,349 

Samsung Galaxy S20 release date and price

The Samsung Galaxy S11 launch date is locked in for Tuesday, February 11 in San Francisco. That's the same month and city venue as 2019's trio of Galaxy phones.

That means we could see the Galaxy S11 phones in stores the first week of March. For context, the Galaxy S10 release date was March 8, though this year's launch event is nine days sooner than last year's, so things may shift a bit.

Samsung Galaxy Unpacked launch invite 2020

Samsung's Galaxy launch invite that was sent to TechRadar

The Galaxy S11 price could be the same as the S10 at $899 / £799 / AU$1,349 for its cheapest storage size, and all the way up to $1,149 / £999 / AU$1,699.

There's always a chance Samsung could price the Galaxy S11 to be more expensive though, indeed one leak suggests it might be a little more, with prices in euros rumored to start at €900-1,000 for the 5G version, with the 4G model apparently likely to start at around €100 euros less than that.

Another leak listed prices for all three models (conversions estimated by us): the S20 prices for 4G/5G versions conform to those above, while the Galaxy S20 Plus 5G seemingly starts at €1,099 (around $1,215 / £926 / AU$1,775). And the top-tier Samsung Galaxy Ultra 5G comes in at a whopping €1,349 (around $1,491 / £1,136 / AU$2,179) for the 128GB version, while the 512GB model could cost €1,549 (around $1,712 / £1,305 / AU$2,502).

The price in dollars is likely to be similar, with the price in pounds probably set to be slightly lower than that. Note however that with rumors of a Samsung Galaxy S20 Ultra at the top of the range, the base S11 / S20 is likely to essentially be the S11e in all but name, making these prices high if accurate.

Accompanying the launch of the Galaxy S11 might be new premium wireless earbuds to rival the Apple AirPods Pro called the Samsung Galaxy Buds Plus. Given the original Galaxy Buds were introduced alongside the Galaxy S10, it makes sense that the new ones would come out with the next Samsung flagship.

Samsung Galaxy S20 name

While the Samsung Galaxy S11 is the most obvious name for Samsung's next flagship, coming as it does after the Samsung Galaxy S10, it's not the only possible one, with Samsung Galaxy S20 having also been rumored. This is reportedly done because the handset will come out in 2020, and Samsung wants the phone names to match with the years.

Specifically, according to few sources including a reliable leaker and possibly the Samsung CEO himself, we could get a Samsung Galaxy S20, Samsung Galaxy S20 Plus, and Samsung Galaxy S20 Ultra, instead of the S11e, S11 and S11 Plus as we've been reporting on.

There's also no mention of a 5G model, though this is no surprise, as it's likely Samsung would include 5G in the standard models, much as it did with the 5G version of the Galaxy Note 10 Plus, rather than making a unique 5G handset, as it did with the Galaxy S10 5G. Some later leaks have included 5G in the name - e.g. the Samsung Galaxy S20 Ultra 5G - so it’s unclear whether each 5G-capable version will have it appended.

How about this for a rumor though: could the Galaxy S line be discontinued, and the Galaxy S11 never see the light of day? That's what one source suggests, that the S11 and Galaxy Note 11 will merge to create the Galaxy One, a new series that combines all Samsung's premium features into one smartphone.

Sure, we've heard that before about Samsung phones and it turned out to be wrong, but given the similarities between both ranges, it's not something we can totally rule out.

Samsung Galaxy S20 design and display

We’ve seen plenty of leaked renders of the Samsung Galaxy S11 or S20 series, and while there are variations between lots of them, they all are clearly variations on the same idea. You can see some here, others here, and even more here.

Nearly all renders point to the rear cameras being housed in a large bump in the top left of the back of the phone. The exact layout of them is unclear though, with some renders showing them in an organised row and others pointing to a more messy splattering.

Hands-on images of the Samsung Galaxy S20 Plus, as it's called in the leak, make us think that the lenses and flash will be arranged in two rows in the camera bump, as that's what the pictures show. The chin under the display looks worryingly thick though.

We've also seen renders of cases and images of a screen protector that back up these ideas.

A later leak with another screen cover reference model suggests the device will have thin bezels, though the leaker noted that the 'S11's "forehead" and "chin" are very optimistic', suggesting they could be thicker than the reference expects.

We've also heard that the Samsung Galaxy S11 could move the punch-hole camera to the top center of the screen, similar to the Galaxy Note 10 range, as we've since seen in leaked images. The source adds that the camera would be smaller than on the Note 10 range though. You can see how this might look in the images above and the one below.

Samsung Galaxy S11e leak

The most enduring size rumor suggests that the Samsung Galaxy S20 (which could launch instead of the S11e) will have a 6.2-inch screen, the S20 Plus (or S11) will have a 6.7-inch one, and the S20 Ultra (S11 Plus) will have a 6.9-inch one. That’s a pretty sizeable increase on the previous generation.

In terms of materials, we'd expect the front and back to be Corning Gorilla Glass as most phones use, but while premium devices typically have an aluminium frame between, the Samsung Galaxy S20 Ultra could have a top-end stainless steel frame. Currently only top-end iPhones and certain other handsets use this pricey and heavy material in their builds, so if true this shows the S20 Ultra is set to redefine 'premium' smartphone design.

As for the rest of the design, one thing we've heard is that the standard Galaxy S11 might come in blue, grey and black shades, while the Samsung Galaxy S11e might come in blue, grey and pink. The source doesn't say what colors to expect the Samsung Galaxy S11 Plus in though.

A later leak points to official colors: the S20 will come in Cosmic Grey, Cloud Blue, and Cloud Pink; the S20 Plus in Cosmic Black, Cosmic Grey, and Cloud Blue; and the S20 Ultra in Cosmic Grey and Cosmic Black. Interestingly, this leak also suggests the curved 3D edges typical of the S-line will be toned down to more subtle 2.5D angles.

These displays might have a 120Hz refresh rate, offering smoother interactions than the 60Hz found on the S10 range. That theory is mostly based on a 120Hz mode being spotted in a beta for Samsung's smartphone software. There's no guarantee the feature will arrive on the Galaxy S11 range, but it seems a likely candidate, especially as a source has now said as much.

A huge phone leak backed up the Galaxy S20 refresh rate and screen size rumors, adding the resolution of each would be 3200 x 1440. That would make the smallest device have technically the best pixel-per-inch count.

The S11 could also use a new screen tech, as Samsung has trademarked the name SAMOLED, which sounds like a new take on the AMOLED screens used by its phones, though we don't know how SAMOLED would differ.

Samsung Galaxy S20 camera

We’re expecting the Samsung Galaxy S11 (or S20 Plus, but maybe not the ‘Lite’ S20 model) to come with a brand new 108MP sensor, as we’ve heard not one but two leaks suggesting that. This 108MP sensor used will apparently combine nine pixels into one, for 12MP shots that can take in a lot of light.

One source has pointed to a 5x optical zoom lens on the smartphone too, which we’ve heard could be 48MP, the most high-res sensor we’ve seen paired with a zoom lens so far. We’ve finally seen some leaked renders of the S20 line, and the camera bump is pointedly different between the S20 and S20 Plus models with an all-glossy block and the S20 Ultra, which has glossy on the top and a small matte section on the bottom housing the supposed 48MP telephoto - to spotlight it, we presume.

We haven’t heard much about other lenses but we’d expect an ultra-wide angle lens as well as possibly a depth sensor and maybe even a macro lens, as the recent Samsung Galaxy S10 Lite introduced the series’ first.

We've seen how the camera arrangement on the Galaxy S11 Plus (or Galaxy S20 Ultra) might look, and you can see this below. A more recent rumor from the same source suggests there will be a four-camera array on the rear of the Samsung Galaxy S11 and Galaxy S11 Plus (or S20 Plus and S20 Ultra)

Esteemed leaker IceUniverse previously claimed it would be a five camera setup, but says this new information is from a more recent prototype so they believe this to be the accurate details. That matches up with one of the most recent renders we've seen leaked, but so many different renders have leaked that we’ve no concrete idea at what the rear array will look like.

We have heard an incredibly detailed spec dump, when three sources simultaneously revealed information on the cameras, and it gives us a huge look at what to expect (if true). We'll detail it below.

CameraSamsung Galaxy S20Samsung Galaxy S20 PlusSamsung Galaxy S20 Ultra
Main12MP12MP 108MP
Telephoto64MP64MP 48MP
Wide-angle12MP12MP12MP
ExtrasToFToF
Front-facing camera10MP10MP40MP

We've added the selfie camera count to that list which came not from the aforementioned leak but a subsequent one. This latter leak echoed the camera specs with the addition of the selfie camera megapixel resolution.

Those are some pretty impressive specs if true, although it's curious the telephoto lenses are better on the smaller devices. We've heard a range of zooms cited for the telephoto lenses, but it seems to be 3x optical / 30x digital for the Galaxy S20 and S20 Plus, and a whopping 10x optical / 100x digital for the S20 Ultra, although that seems too good to be true. We have heard quite a few 100x digital zoom leaks though, so who knows?

That latter spec could be wrong though, as we've also heard that all the devices will have 5x optical zoom. This comes from news that a company has been supplying this type of zoom lens to Samsung for the devices, and it's a slightly more plausible spec than 10x zoom.

We’ve heard loads of cool features trademarked by Samsung that could end up in the handset, from ‘Space Zoom’ astrophotography mode to the 'Bright Night Sensor', which sounds a lot like a low light mode but with dedicated hardware.

Samsung is also rumored to be putting the best optical image stabilization (OIS) of any phone in the Galaxy S10 Lite - and if it does, it's likely to also include the tech in the S11. That would make sense, as low light and especially night sky photos could benefit from longer exposures, which usually need either a tripod or decent OIS to prevent blur.

Elsewhere, mention of several new camera features has been found in official Samsung software. There's a Director's View mode for tracking a subject, Single Take Photo, which could use AI to automatically take photos at the optimal moment, the return of Samsung's Pro Video mode, allowing you to adjust the ISO, exposure and the like when shooting video, and some new Live Focus bokeh effects.

With regards to video recording, a rumor has suggested that the Samsung Galaxy S11 will support 8K video recording.

Samsung Galaxy S20 battery life

We've heard that the Samsung Galaxy S11 (or Galaxy S20 Plus, based on the new naming rumors) will come with a 4,500mAh battery – that's based on a photo shared by a certification website in Korea, so it seems legitimate, but you can never be totally certain. If this is true, the Galaxy S11 will have the same capacity as the Galaxy Note 10 Plus, which should compensate for the new tech we're expecting to see in the device. 

We've heard from another source that the Samsung Galaxy S11 Plus (or Galaxy S20 Ultra) will use a 5,000mAh battery, which would be the biggest used in a Galaxy S device. Another source has since backed up that 5,000mAh claim. This rumor makes sense, because it would be an expected step up between the S11 and S11 Plus, but we don't know for sure.

Plus, one rumor suggests the Galaxy S11e will have a larger battery than the Galaxy S10e, though again this could refer to the base Galaxy S20 in the suggested new naming conventions. We’d expect this, as new generations of handsets often bring upgrades like this, and one leak has suggested it'll be 4,000mAh.

An industry insider has suggested the reason the smartphones can use such big batteries is due to shrinking one part of the internals, a technique which the iPhone 12 could use too.

It also looks like Samsung is working on a battery health feature, which could tell you how worn out your S11's battery is.

Samsung Galaxy S10

Samsung Galaxy S10 with its reverse wireless charging

Samsung Galaxy S20 specs and features

We’re pretty certain the Samsung Galaxy S11 will come with the Snapdragon 865 chipset unveiled in late 2019, which has been benchmarked with scores that beat any other phone. Well, it’ll have this processor in the US, but most other regions will likely get an upgraded Exynos processor, probably the 9830.

We've heard that the Samsung Galaxy S20 devices (as the leak suggests) will all come with a base 12GB RAM, although that could go up to 16GB or possibly even beyond. Who would need this RAM in a smartphone is beyond us, but it's indicative of the premium nature of the device.

A rumor also suggests the Galaxy S20 Ultra, the top-end device, will have 128GB / 256GB / 512GB storage options, with a slot for a microSD card that'll add another 1TB space. We don't know the options for the other devices, though.

All three Samsung Galaxy S20 / S11 phones are expected to be IP68 waterproof and dust resistant, according to one leak.

A more unlikely feature that the S11 could pack is a spectrometer, which could be used to determine the chemical composition of objects. Samsung has patented a phone-like device with just such a feature, so it's possible, but it sounds a bit far-fetched and niche.

We can also look to the Samsung Galaxy Note 10 for some possible specs and features. The Galaxy S11 for example probably won't have a headphone port, since Samsung has ditched it for the latest Note. Similarly, it likely won't have a Bixby button.

However, by freeing up space that would have been used for a headphone port, Samsung could potentially make the battery bigger and/or the body thinner.

We could see the Galaxy S11 range launch without an in-screen fingerprint sensor, judging by the news that the upcoming Galaxy phone could use facial recognition unlocking tech instead. The iPhone 11 and Google Pixel 4 have similar systems, where instead of using in-screen fingerprint sensors, they use facial recognition, and this is a rather secure form of unlocking (compared to Samsung's current photo-based facial recognition) but it's slower than using a fingerprint.

There’s also a leak suggesting Samsung phones will get an AirDrop-like service called Quick Share to easily swap files between nearby Galaxy phones. This could be extended to older Samsung phones with a software update, though it’s unclear if it will come to other Galaxy products (like the Tabs). 

Samsung Galaxy S20: what we want to see

While early rumors have started to swirl, in reality there's still a long way to go before we see the Samsung Galaxy S11, which is good news as it gives Samsung plenty of time to take our suggestions on board.

So, listen up Samsung, here's what we want to see from the Galaxy S11. Please don't let us down.

1. Better camera specs 

The Samsung Galaxy S10 has three rear cameras: the 12MP main sensor with a regular lens, the 12MP second sensor with a telephoto lens for distance shots, and the 16MP third sensor with an ultra-wide lens.

The three lenses are generally what we'd expect in a smartphone camera, but the resolution of each is a lot lower than in many other phones.

Handsets like the Honor 20 Pro have a 48MP main snapper, which is a big step up from 12MP, and even affordable handsets sometimes now come with four lenses (the extra is usually a time-of-flight or macro sensor for close-up shots), so to stay competitive in the smartphone camera game Samsung needs to up its game with the Galaxy S11.

Honor 20 Pro

The Honor 20 Pro's four cameras. Image credit: TechRadar

We've heard that Samsung is working on a 64MP smartphone camera that could be put in the Samsung Galaxy S11 – if this is true, the new phone would blow its competitors out of the water.

2. A 3.5mm headphone jack

If you're scratching your head thinking "the Samsung Galaxy S10 does have a 3.5mm headphone jack", then you're right – but it may be the last of its kind.

Newer Galaxy smartphones like the Samsung Galaxy Note 10 and Galaxy A80 have ditched the headphone jack, so it seems Samsung is following suit behind many other smartphone companies in getting rid of the physical headphone port.

But since many, many people still use non-Bluetooth earphones, it's a feature that we'd love to see return in future Samsung smartphones, especially given it's one of the only high-end smartphone manufacturers to still be using them.

3. Different front-facing camera arrangement

The Galaxy S10 was one of the first phones to have a 'punch-hole' front-facing camera, which means the front snapper was in a cut-out section inside the screen, in the corner.

Galaxy S10 Plus

The Galaxy S10 Plus' punch-hole camera. Image credit: TechRadar

In theory this is a useful feature that replaces the top notch, so you get more screen real estate – but in practice the punch-hole takes just as much space, as there's a sliver of screen between the camera and the edge that just isn't used.

Going forward, we'd like to see the Samsung Galaxy S11 take a different tack – Samsung itself has said it's planning to drop the punch-hole in favor of a camera under the screen, but that could still be a few Galaxy S phones down the line.

4. Greater battery capacity

The Galaxy S10 had a 3,400mAh battery – that's fine, but you've got no hope of that lasting more than a second day of use, especially if you use your phone a lot.

We'd hope the Samsung Galaxy S11 battery life would surpass that – it will definitely have to have a bigger capacity to cater for all the new tech the phone uses, but we'd like to see a serious improvement on the capacity, perhaps 4,000mAh or above.

5. More launch colors

The Galaxy S10 comes in a few colors, most commonly prism white and black – but we always love a vibrant design in a phone, and so far Samsung handsets have often seemed a little dull.

Samsung Galaxy S10e

The vibrant Samsung Galaxy S10e. Image credit: TechRadar

We're not asking for the crazy back patterns of a Huawei or Honor phone, but it would be nice for the Samsung Galaxy S11 to launch in a few different colors.

The Galaxy S10 has a few colors that are only available in certain regions, like yellow, green or red, but if Samsung made these designs available from the get-go in all regions, we'd appreciate the design a lot more.

6. Affordable 5G

We're expecting there to be a Samsung Galaxy S11 5G – there was a Samsung Galaxy S10 5G, after all, and by the time the S11 launches 5G will be available in many countries.

However, the Galaxy S10 5G is even bigger than the Galaxy S10 Plus, and so is massive and expensive. Currently there are no affordable 5G smartphones on the horizon, but Samsung could really get ahead of the curve if the Galaxy S11, or Galaxy S11e, had a low price and ran on 5G networks.

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Garmin fitness trackers up to 60% off in massive sale this weekend

Posted: 25 Jan 2020 08:18 AM PST

We're pulling into the end of January now, so if you haven't picked up your cheap fitness tracker yet now's the time to do so! The first month of the year is well known for its fitness tracker deals, with so many New Years resolutions requiring a tech treat to get started with. That trend continues this weekend, with a whole haul of Garmin fitness tracker deals to get you up and out in 2020. 

Savings abound on everything from the cheap and simple Garmin Vivosmart 3 for just $52.99 all the way to the Forerunner 935 with $136 off at $363.21 this weekend. Such is the range of Garmin fitness tracker deals on offer right now, you can pretty much pick up a cheap smartwatch for whatever you need. Whether you're just picking up a simple tracker for steps and heart rate monitoring or you're after something a bit more complicated, with added navigational systems and onscreen training. 

We've found excellent Garmin deals on the Vivosport series as well as the popular Forerunner models with the cheapest Forerunner 35 coming in at $99 right now. There's even an excellent price tag on the rugged Garmin Instinct model - a perfect smartwatch for adventurers holding a $100 discount right now, bringing it down to $199.

We've rounded up all the latest Garmin fitness tracker deals for you right here so you can find out which cheap smartwatch you'd like to pick up this weekend. 

Not in the US? Scroll down for Garmin fitness tracker prices in your region. 

Fancy more Garmin fitness tracker sales? We're keeping tabs on the best prices right here on TechRadar. If you fancy something that works better with your iPhone, you might also want to check out these Apple Watch prices and even cheaper refurbished Apple Watch deals. Or, check out our selection of the best fitness trackers out there. 

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Byte app launches to fill the 6-second video gap left by Vine

Posted: 25 Jan 2020 07:00 AM PST

If you've been missing the ability to make and share short videos from your phone since Vine shut down, some good news: its replacement Byte has now officially launched for iOS and Android devices.

Byte is a lot like Vine – it's been developed by Vine co-founder Don Hofmann, and it sticks to the same 6-second recording limit of its predecessor.

Having launched at the start of 2013, Vine found a reasonable level of success before being picked up by Twitter. It was then shut down by Twitter as a cost-cutting exercise.

That happened in 2017, but shooting and sharing short videos has continued to be hugely popular among users – just take a look at the success of TikTok, for example.

Taking a Byte

Byte's backers will be hoping that it can tap into some of TikTok's success using even shorter video clips. For now the apps are fairly basic, without any of the filters or effects you might find in something like Snapchat.

One feature that is coming soon, and which is apparently a priority for the developers, is a way for creators to easily make money from their videos (something that apps like this don't always get right).

"Byte celebrates life, community, and pure creativity," runs the blurb alongside the newly released mobile apps. "Nostalgia is our starting point, but where we go next is up to you."

It's free to install and sign up for Byte, so point your phone towards the download pages for iOS or Android if you feel you've got some content sharing to do (and want to claim your username before anyone else does).

Via TechCrunch

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Philips TV 2020: every OLED, LED, and Ambilight set coming this year

Posted: 25 Jan 2020 07:00 AM PST

What’s new with Philips TVs in 2020? We’re only a short while into the year, but all the major TV brands have already started to showcase the latest sets to join their TV ranges – and while Philips didn’t make many announcements at CES 2020, the cat’s now out of the bag.

Yes, there are a number of new Philips TVs coming this year, from OLED beauties to more pedestrian (but still likely impressive) LCD sets. Philips is a company with great options, whether you’re buying on a budget or for the fanciest centerpiece television you can afford, and the sets announced so far look set to continue that tradition.

With the Philips OLED 804 now coming stateside, it looks like some big things are in the pipeline too. Given Funai currently licenses the Philips brand over in the US, it’s a welcome move that should bring some stiff competition to the nation’s TV market.

You can find every new Philips TV announced for 2020 below, with a rundown of the specs, processing and format support to expect from this year’s TV range. Make sure to check back every few weeks, though, as we’ll be adding new televisions as they’re formally unveiled.

New Philips TVs for 2020

Philips OLED 805 / 855 (available in 55, 65 inches): This pair of OLED TVs may differ in design – only the TV stand, really – but they should both offer the same level of high-end excellence. Philips’ OLED sets are largely spectacular, thanks in no small part to the three-sided Ambilight projection built in their frames – and this year’s cohort promises greater AI processing too.

These aren’t quite the flagship sets in the range, as the Philips 984+ (which launched in late 2019) is still the top dog for now. Expect Dolby Atmos audio and 50W speakers, though – with a release sometime in May. (Pricing not announced.)

Philips 9435 4K HDR LED (available in 55, 65 inches): Even as we drop down to LCD panels, this 4K HDR television still packs in a 50W 2.1.2 channel audio system – from Bowers & Wilkins – with upwards-firing drivers to make the most of Dolby Atmos content. Same Ambilight features as above. (Pricing / availability not announced.)

Philips 9235 4K HDR LED (available in 43 inches): 40W 2.1 channel speakers should still give this smaller 4K set something to shout about – while three-sided Ambilight should help too. (Pricing / availability not announced.)

Philips 8505 4K HDR LED (available in 43, 50, 58, 65, 70 inches): This Philips set is at the tail end of the premium range, or the top end of the mid-range, depending on your perspective. You’ll get the same three-sided Ambilight and P5 picture processor as the sets above, with a smaller 20W audio output from built-in speakers (no soundbar here.) The stand design varies between panel sizes, but you should get the same picture quality from the 43-inch to 70-inch model.

Philips TV 2020 technology

What marks out Philips TVs from the rest? The most eye-catching feature would certainly be Philips Ambilight: a projection technology that throws onscreen colors onto the wall behind your television, upping the ambience (hence the name) and making for a light-show you won’t get with Sony or Samsung TVs.

It has a good reputation for sound, too – though not through Philips own audio arm. The company collaborates with audio specialists Bowers & Wilkins for its high-end televisions, fitting them with dedicated Dolby Atmos soundbars to really hear those movie soundtracks or cheering crowds at their best.

Like most other TV brands today, Philips offers a range of LCD and OLED sets, with the latter panels saved for its more premium offerings.

Only quite premium sets have been announced so far, with every set listed above featuring the P5 Perfect Picture Processor, now in its fourth iteration. Last year’s chip was certainly impressive, but it looks like there’ll be an even bigger jump this year with the addition of AI processing / neural networks able to analyze millions of video clips and learn how to best display the content sent its way, fine-tuning the “source, color, contrast, motion and sharpness” for each frame.

A press release for Philips claims that, “By analyzing all elements of the content, frame by frame, the 4th Gen P5 reproduces a much more realistic, natural image that no longer feels like TV but creates images that closely mirror real life.”

Like Panasonic, Philips is agnostic towards HDR formats, and makes sure to support both the dynamic Dolby Vision and HDR10+ standards (unlike Samsung, which sticks only with the latter). You’ll also get the HLG (hybrid log gamma) broadcasting format, though these formats drop off when you get down to more affordable mid- or low-end sets.

Philips uses the Android smart TV platform across its TV range, with 2020 models getting the latest Android Pie (9.0) version. It’s the most common TV platform and the most unremarkable – though Android’s stability issues have generally improved over the past couple of years, thanks to updates from Google.

Perhaps most importantly though – depending on your priorities – we now know that every new Philips set this year will come with Disney Plus at launch, meaning you won’t have to wait around for a firmware update later in the year to bring the app to your television.

Philips 2019 4K OLED TVs

Of course, there are still plenty of Philips TVs released in 2019 you can still find on the market:

Philips OLED+984 Ambilight TV (available in 65 inches): The top-of-the-range TV for Philips in 2019, we loved the OLED+984 Ambilight TV when we reviewed it earlier this year. It's the ultimate high-end lifestyle 4K OLED. It does exactly what a flagship TV should, setting a high bar for image quality, audio and design, without significant compromises. It comes in just one size: 65-inches and costs £4499 / approx $5908 (about AU$8633).

Read more in our 5 star Philips OLED+984 Ambilight TV review.

Philips OLED+903 (available in 55, 65 inches): When we reviewed the OLED+ 903 earlier this year, we loved that it delivered punchy HDR pictures. Which at the time was better than any OLED TV we’d tested so far. The 55-inch model costs £2,499 / approx $3282 (about AU$4795). and the 65-inch model is £3,499 / approx $4596 (about AU$6713)..

Read more in our Philips OLED+ 903 review.

Philips OLED 854 and OLED 804 (available in 55 and 65 inches): We're looking forward to spending more time with these screens. Identical apart from stand differences (the 854 centrally mounted, the other with a pair of legs) these 4K screens will be available in 55 and 65-inch sizes.

Image Credit: TechRadar

They’re very similar to last year’s Philips OLED+ 903, except with one key omission – they lack the impressive Bowers and Wilkins sound system, opting for a Philips-own build instead. 

Running Android TV, working with Alexa and Google Assistant and with all four of their HDMI ports HDR-ready, these Ambilight screens will be ones to watch for those looking top-notch OLED visuals.

For a deeper look at these screens, read our hands-on: Philips OLED 804 / OLED 854 review.

Philips 2019 4K LCD LED TVs

Though OLED TVs have become Philips’ showstoppers, the majority of its range still consists of LCD TVs. Though LCD can lack the richness of a well-tuned OLED TV, they shouldn’t be sniffed at in their own right – Philips has done some stellar work not only in the picture stakes, but also with audio, thanks to a partnership with Bowers and Wilkins.

Philips 8804/PUS 8804 (available in 50, 55 and 65 inches): One of the most promising LCD screens we’ve seen in a while. It’s 4K visuals are available in 50, 55 and 65-inch sizes, and will have the full house of HDR10+, HLG and Dolby Vision support, as well as Dolby Atmos sound. It’s also the only screen revealed so far this year from Philips to include that show-stopping Bowers and Wilkins sound system again. 

For more info, read our hands-on review: Philips 8804 TV review.

Image Credit: TechRadar

Philips 9104/PUS9100 (available in 55-inches): If style is more important than sound quality, check out this TV. It’s another 4K LCD panel, but has been designed in conjunction with design house Georg Jensen, and has striking chrome finish aluminum feet. It too has standard HDR support covered but drops HDR10+ and Dolby Vision, only features Dolby Atmos audio passthrough, and will only come in a single 55-inch screen size. It has a three sided Ambilight though, so this may be one to check out for its aesthetic value.

Philips 7304 Performance Series/PUS7304 (available in 43, to, 55, 58, 65 and 70-inches): This is the TV Philips is pushing most heavily for this half of the year, which is nicknamed ‘The One’. Why? Because it’s ‘the one’ TV they think will suit most people, ticking lots spec boxes will aiming to come in at a mid-range price point. 

The Ambilight 4K LCD screen will come in a range of size – 43, 55, 58, 65 and 70-inches – has the full suite of HDR options and features Dolby Atmos. For more information, check out our Philips The One first look impressions. 

Philips 7504/PUS7504 (available in 50 and 55-inches): This TV looks set to be a similar screen, coming in 50 and 55-inch screen sizes, trading a less striking stand for beefier 25W 2.1 built in speakers. The One only has two-channel 20W speakers.

From here down the range of LCD Philips TVs, you lose access to the top-notch P5 image processing engine, instead being left with the Pixel Precise Ultra HD processing engine. They also run the SAPHI operating system, rather than the more versatile Android TV. 

Philips 6814/PUS6814 (available in 43, 50, 55 and 65-inches), Philips 6704/PUS6704 (available in 43, 50, 55, 65 and 70 inches), Philips 6504/PUS6504 (available in 43, 50, 58 and 65 inches): The key differences here? The 6814 has a T-Bar centrally-mounted light finish stand with 3-sided Ambilight, while the 6704 has Ambilight, a dark frame finish and two feet supporting it. The 6504 looks pretty much the same as the 6704, but doesn’t have any Ambilight features.

Philips 2019 HD TVs

It says a lot about the dominance of 4K TV now that, not only is there only a single non-4K TV in Philips range this year, but it’s not even 1080p – just a 24-inch HD-ready 1366x768 screen. 

Philips 4304: has no smart features, no HDR, and only two HDMI port ports. This is very much one for the kitchen, or a “my first TV” for the kids’ bedrooms.

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The AMD Radeon RX 5600 XT launch is a mess: here's what you need to know

Posted: 25 Jan 2020 06:00 AM PST

AMD announced the Radeon RX 5600 XT back at CES 2020, and the pitch is solid: provide the ultimate 1080p gaming experience at a price that makes it competitive with the GTX 1660 Ti. 

And that's the way it would have played out, at least until Nvidia decided to drop the price on the GeForce RTX 2060 down to $299 (£274, AU$539) to put the pressure on AMD. That's where the drama starts - but it only gets spicier from here.

Now, when we reviewed the AMD Radeon RX 5600 XT, it actually holds its own against the RTX 2060, even beating it in several tests. But, after we did our tests for the review, aftermarket graphics card manufacturers pushed out VBIOS (VGA Basic Input Output System) updates that enhanced performance even further. If that sounded like a whole bunch of nonsensical jargon, that's because it was - which highlights a major problem with the launch of the AMD Radeon RX 5600 XT.

So, we thought it'd be a good idea to not only dive into the performance gains that we found when we updated the VBIOS of the Sapphire Pulse model of the Radeon RX 5600 XT we reviewed, but also dive into the often confusing world of aftermarket graphics cards. Our end goal is to help you make the right decision, so if you do buy a Radeon RX 5600 XT or any other graphics card, you can make sure you get one that doesn't ultimately disappoint you. 

What's the deal with aftermarket graphics cards, anyway?

Imagine this: you're in a Best Buy and you walk into the computing section. You've always been tempted to get into PC gaming, and you heard a whole bunch of people tell you that you have to buy your own. When you look at the graphics cards, not only do you see AMD and Nvidia graphics cards, but there are other brand names on the boxes like EVGA, Sapphire, XFX or MSI. 

For anyone that's just getting into the PC components scene, this can definitely be a point of confusion. So, here's the deal: 

Both AMD and Nvidia design GPUs, or graphics processing units, which is how they've both have built their reputation (AMD also makes CPUs). And, while both Team Red and Team Green will produce their own graphics cards, they only typically tend to do so for the higher end of their respective founders stacks. For Nvidia, these graphics cards are called "Founders Edition," which right now are exclusively found with the GeForce RTX 2060 and above. AMD will also manufacture its own versions of its high-end GPUs, though right now it's limited to the Radeon RX 5700 and RX 5700 XT. 

AMD and Nvidia both tackle these differently, though. Nvidia's Founders Edition cards feature premium coolers and are overclocked over the base spec, whereas AMD's cards are the basic spec. These are both the versions of the cards Nvidia and AMD will send us for review when a new GPU hits the market. For the most part, you can pick up these versions of the graphics cards, and you're pretty much guaranteed a good experience.

But, what about the lower end of the market? 

Well, with more affordable graphics cards like the recently-released AMD Radeon RX 5600 XT, both graphics card manufacturers will simply design the GPU, along with a general design for the board with power requirements, VRAM capacity, and so on. Everything else beyond the GPU, like the cooler design, BIOS, any additional overclock or lighting - that's all up to aftermarket graphics card manufacturers. Which is why you'll see so many different versions of every GPU. 

Typically, when Nvidia or AMD announce a graphics card at, say, $300, that's going to be the base-level price. You will be able to find graphics cards at this price point, but they'll typically be very basic. You'll get the bare minimum base clock speeds, along with a cooler that will get the job done but won't leave a ton of room for overclocking. 

You'll also find the same GPU in graphics cards that are much more expensive, too. These will typically have extremely beefy coolers with up to three fans and hefty overclocks that can see them perform much faster than the base-level spec, sometimes even seeing double-digit performance improvements.


What's the deal with the Radeon RX 5600 XT?

Seemingly in response to Nvidia dropping the price of the GeForce RTX 2060, AMD gave the green light to its aftermarket partners to release new VBIOS software, raising power consumption and performance to have a performance edge over Team Green's card. 

So, there will be a small window of time where users may have to update the VBIOS of their own graphics cards. Because historically this has been a risky procedure, we reached out to Sapphire, the manufacturer behind the specific Radeon RX 5600 XT we reviewed and we were told "The good news is that cards on sale in NA have already been updated to the latest BIOS". There is a chance, though, that a card slipped through the cracks and didn't get the update. But, in those cases Sapphire is still recommending customers make the update.

For the specific model we reviewed, we were assured that "with the card having dual BIOS the chances of causing a non-repairable error is very limited." We did specifically ask whether or not the cards would be covered by warranty if the BIOS flash went wrong, however, and we didn't get a very assuring answer. Instead we were just told that if anyone has any concerns to just "contact regional support". 

So, it seems like most of the Sapphire Pulse graphics cards that are out there either have the VBIOS already, or will be easy to update. And, of course, going forward, you won't have to worry about the whole VBIOS mess at all. But, the Sapphire Pulse is one graphics card in a sea of Radeon RX 5600 XTs.

Obviously, if there's a deluge of graphics cards out there, and only some of them are going to be updated with these new clock speeds and power targets, that would make it extremely confusing to consumers who are going to be jumping into the market for the first time. When we think of the people that would be going for a graphics card in this price range, there's probably a sizable portion that are just going to buy it right off the shelf at Best Buy for their first PC build. 

This isn't the same enthusiast audience that would go for an RTX 2080 Ti, who we expect would relentlessly scan through product pages to make sure it has the highest clock speeds and most robust cooling. 

To that end, we reached out to AMD for some clarity on this. Most importantly, we wanted to know if the entire Radeon RX 5600 XT lineup would be featuring this new VBIOS. AMD stopped short of confirming this is the case, instead telling us that "AMD has made the VBIOS update available to all its AIB partners. AIBs can choose to update select existing or upcoming RX 5600 XT models, depending on their respective product plans."

This basically tells us nothing. Of course AMD made the update available to all of its AIB, or aftermarket, partners. From the sound of it, though, this VBIOS update wasn't mandated for the 5600 XT lineup, which means that they won't all be created equal. 

Over the next few months, then, we're probably going to see a vast majority of Radeon RX 5600 XTs out there with the new VBIOS that are absolute beasts. However, particularly right around the lower end of the Radeon RX 5600 XT pricing scale, it's possible that some of the graphics cards won't be rocking this new software. 

Now, we have to be abundantly clear here. At TechRadar, we don't typically review a wide range of aftermarket graphics cards. There are simply too many of them, and we on the computing team simply don't have the bandwidth for that many graphics cards. As a general rule, if you want to be safe when buying a graphics card we've reviewed, you should go with the specific model we reviewed. We understand that there are a ton out there, and we definitely want to help if you have questions, so please reach out on Twitter or through email if you have any questions about any particular graphics card. 

There are plenty of outlets out there, however, that do review a wide swath of graphics card for every GPU, like our friends over at Tom's Hardware. We urge you to make sure you read reviews of the specific graphics card you're looking at to make sure it's up to snuff.  

Is the Radeon RX 5600 XT still worth getting?

Like we mentioned earlier, we tested the Radeon RX 5600 XT out of the box with the old VBIOS, so our star rating is entirely based on that basic VBIOS. Even if you get a basic Radeon RX 5600 XT, you can still expect a strong 1080p performer. 

After hearing about all of this commotion surrounding the Radeon RX 5600 XT, we went back, flashed the new VBIOS onto our review sample and ran through all of our testing again, and we included the new numbers down below. 

As you can see, after the new VBIOS, the Sapphire Pulse Radeon RX 5600 XT is now very comfortably ahead of the RTX 2060 in all tests except for Time Spy Ultra and Middle Earth: Shadow of War – and that's due to the limited 6GB VRAM. And, it's also important to keep in mind that the Sapphire Pulse Radeon RX 5600 XT is $289 (£269, about AU$420), rather than the $299 (£274, about AU$440) of the RTX 2060 Founders Edition. 

Especially here in a couple months when all of the cards on the market have the new VBIOS and customers are no longer at risk of bricking their cards by flashing the wrong VBIOS, this performance advantage puts AMD in the lead. Nvidia still has the RTX feature, though, something that AMD's cards simply can't do right now, no matter the VBIOS. 

So if ray tracing is a thing you're into, and it is very freaking cool, our advice is the same as what we came to in our review: buy Nvidia 100% of the time. But, if you just want raw performance and you're comfortable with potentially flashing the VBIOS, the AMD Radeon RX 5600 XT is potentially significantly faster and less expensive. 

Of course, that recommendation comes with a meaty caveat. You should absolutely do some research into the Radeon RX 5600 XT model you buy. At the end of the day, we've only tested one, so we can only speak to that specific unit. 

All the Radeon RX 5600 XT cards will be using the same GPU, however, so the variance isn't going to be like night and day. At the bare minimum, you should still be able to expect a passable 1080p experience, you just might not get as much as someone with a more expensive version of the card. So be wary, and again, feel free to reach out to us on the TechRadar computing team if you have any questions at all, and we'll be happy to give you some advice. 

At the end of the day, the way AMD handled this launch was not great, and it wasn't very consumer-friendly. The fact that it is willing to launch out a VBIOS update last minute like this, potentially putting consumer's purchases at risk is not a good look. But we still don't think it's a deal breaker, and the Radeon RX 5600 XT is still a beast of a graphics card – just make sure you do your research before jumping in. In fact, we think that's good advice for any graphics card you buy, period.

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Switch Pro: developers tell us what they want from the rumored Switch upgrade

Posted: 25 Jan 2020 05:00 AM PST

While it hasn't been officially announced by Nintendo, we've been hearing plenty of rumors that suggest the company will release a third variant of the Switch this year. However, unlike the Switch Lite – which was very much focused on expanding the market at the lower end of the spectrum thanks to its more affordable price – the mooted "Switch Pro" will improve on the base console in new and meaningful ways, offering a more premium experience.

We're sure Switch owners have plenty of hopes and dreams for an upgraded Switch, but what about the people who will create software for this enhanced system? What new features would they like to see which would make their jobs easier, or allow them to take their titles to the next level? 

We spoke to a bunch of Nintendo Switch developers to ask them exactly what they'd like to see in the rumored Switch Pro.

More powerful hardware

When it comes to the most requested feature from a development standpoint, "more power" is perhaps the most obvious option. 

"I’d love to see a model that has a 1080p screen and the necessary processing power to run Switch docked performance in portable mode," says Thomas Kern of FDG Entertainment, the company responsible for bringing the likes of Oceanhorn and Monster Boy to Nintendo's console. 

"It would also be good to see improved hardware to boost framerate just enough to keep existing Switch titles, such as Witcher 3, running at 30fps – or even 60fps – without frame drops. I think technically that’s feasible."

Joel Kinnunen, vice president of Trine studio Frozenbyte, has similar hopes. "Devs always want 'bigger, faster, better', so a beefier CPU and GPU would be nice."

"Devs always want 'bigger, faster, better', so a beefier CPU and GPU would be nice."

Joel Kinnunen - Frozenbyte

Andres Bordeu, founder and game designer at Rock of Ages studio ACE Team, would also see increased power as the biggest benefit of a new Switch console. 

“We probably differ from many independent developers since our projects, while still indie in nature, also aim to deliver incredible visuals powered by the latest tech and we invest a lot of time in research and development. In the indie community, we consider ourselves power users of Unreal Engine 4, which is used to build many Switch games, so a more capable GPU is something that definitely enables studios like ours to bring their creations to Nintendo’s platform.” 

Philip Barclay of The Messenger developer Sabotage concurs. “As developers and huge fans of the Nintendo Switch console, one of the things that would be great for a 'Pro' version would be to support additional hardware rendering techniques for larger resolutions. If the Pro version ups the GPU, we could start to see even more amazing content in Switch games.”

 Omar Cornut, Technical Director of Wonderboy: The Dragon's Trap developer Lizardcube, is more cautious and warns against hoping for more powerful hardware. "I have to say I love my Switch and I wouldn't want to change it too much; it's a perfect fit for the games we are making. More powerful hardware is convenient, but it also creates a tendency to drive the average game budget higher in order to be competitive, and this has knock-on effects on developers' ability to experiment. 

"That said, technical progress is unstoppable; as a player, I wish for the extra power to allow for more Switch games to hit steadier and higher frame-rates across the entire lifetime of the console. A few more gigabytes of RAM and CPU cores would also facilitate porting of cross-platform projects."

Better screen

The 720p display on the Switch is hardly what you'd call cutting edge, so it should come as no surprise to learn that developers are keen to see that improve as well – although reports that suggest it could come with a 4K panel are frowned upon; Kern doesn't expect to see 4K on the new system himself, saying: "I don’t expect anything 4K, and I personally wouldn’t want 4K on Switch." 

Cornut feels that boosting the Switch's resolution could result in an awkward balancing act. "When higher resolutions are available, the tendency is to sacrifice frame-rate. I would much rather have a console where most games are 1080p in stable 60 FPS rather than added support for 4K when docked, which would lead us down the line to more games aiming at 20-30 FPS."

Improved controls

More power under the hood and an improved screen seem to be obvious picks, but some developers want to see other elements of the Switch hardware get the upgrade treatment. 

"As the developers of a racing game, we'd be really happy to see support for analogue triggers on the Switch's Joy-Con," says Edwin Smith of Feral Interactive, which ported GRID to the Switch with impressive results. 

Cyrille Lagarigue, of Streets of Rage 4 developer Guard Crush Games, would also like to see the control setup expand with the Switch Pro. 

"Personally, I'd like Nintendo to take advantage of the ingenious way the Joy-Con slide on the side of the Switch to propose more Joy-Con variants, for bigger hands, or maybe a left Joy-Con with a D-Pad and no joystick for 2D games! Having a Switch Pro would be a great opportunity to add this kind of devices; Pro means more choice!"

Faster internal storage

As we know from the hype surrounding the PS5 and Xbox Series X, the topic of memory speed is going to be a key one in the next-gen war – and Lizardcube's Omar Cornut would love to see some kind of improvement in this area for Switch, too. 

"I hope for the internal storage to become a little faster as well as maybe raising the minimum specs of supported SD cards. We have to be considerate of loading data both from internal storage or from a variety of SD – some fast, some slow – and aiming for lowest common denominator can create lots of constraints on game design; for games with large streamed worlds, for example." 

Faster RAM would potentially allow for more immersive titles on Switch Pro, which would allow it to maintain some degree of parity with Sony and Microsoft's upcoming systems.

Wireless audio

The topic of wireless audio also cropped up when we spoke to Switch developers, with many citing the lack of Bluetooth audio support as being a real negative to the current console. The console lacks a microphone, too, which means that Switch players are missing out when it comes to online multiplayer.

"I’d like to see an aptX low latency Bluetooth chip implemented that supports Bluetooth headphones," says Kern. 

Dotemu's Fabien Borel – who is currently hard at work on Windjammers 2 – couldn't agree more, and adds another wish for the Switch Pro. "I think everybody will appreciate the possibility of support of Bluetooth devices such as headphones – and having some kind of achievement system, without it being mandatory for game companies, which is awkward!"

We'll leave the final word for Jérôme Fait of Young Souls developer 1P2P:

"We would be happy if the new one brings better specs, a sharper and brighter screen and maybe better Joy-Con with an official cross D-pad; a 5G connexion or better WiFi and Netflix, and if it could print money [laughs] – but I think that the Switch is perfect as it is."

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Dell’s new 86 inch mega monitor is quite the specimen

Posted: 25 Jan 2020 04:00 AM PST

Computing giant Dell has announced an upgrade to its gargantuan 86-inch 4K touch monitor, and TechRadar Pro got hands on with the C8621QT at BETT 2020 in London. 

It only takes a glance at Dell's latest offering to understand just how far the smart display industry has come. The scale of the interactive monitor is quite something to behold, and it improves upon previous iterations in a handful of small but significant ways.

The new 4K UHD interactive monitor features a smaller bezel, which makes the screen feel even larger than it is. It also boasts USB-C connectivity, which means both power and data are pushed through a single connection.

The C8621QT is also far lighter than its predecessor, which improves portability. The new lightweight model - competitor to Microsoft's Surface Hub 2S - is easily transported between meeting spaces or classrooms, catering to the needs of its core audience: schools and businesses. 

Dell says that the product can offer improved real-time collaboration, and comes with 20-point multi-touch.  It also features Dell’s own Screen Drop Feature, which helps improve accessibility for users of different heights - meaning everyone in the business can get involved.

Longevity

The product’s greatest selling point is the ability to swap out the OptiPlex Micro PC driving the display. Dell’s modular approach means a new OptiPlex can be easily installed whenever the old model begins to slow, extending the lifespan of the touch monitor significantly.

Dell’s approach is designed to provide customers with access to best-in-class functionality, without becoming tethered to a high-value unit than quickly become outdated.

The previous model is being sold by Dell for £8,239.20 (AU$8,897.81 or around $10,792) per unit at the time of writing. The company tells TechRadar Pro the new model will come in at a similar price point when it goes on sale in April.

Dell concedes the C8621QT’s price-point might prove prohibitive in some instances (e.g. for state schools that receive no private funding). But, despite the significant upfront cost, the company says the total cost of ownership is still far lower than all-in-one solutions that need replacing more regularly.

This impressive new piece of kit will tick boxes for schools and businesses looking for a high-quality collaboration solution that will last and last, provided they can abide the initial price.

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Apex Legends Season 4: latest update news, tips, patch notes and more

Posted: 25 Jan 2020 03:55 AM PST

EA surprised many with the sudden announcement of Apex Legends back in February 2019, a free-to-play battle royale shooter that sees the publisher going toe-to-toe with genre mammoths PlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds and Fortnite Battle Royale.

Developed by Respawn Entertainment and set in the Titanfall universe, Apex Legends is a squad-based battle royale shooter where teams of three go up against 57 other players to try to gather loot and be the last person (or squad) standing.

However, unlike Fortnite and PUBG, Apex Legends sees players take on one of eight classes, each represented by a unique character (imagine Fortnite mixed with Overwatch and you’ll be on the right track.) 

Apex Legends is getting ready to wrap up its third season, Meltdown, and players are now looking ahead to the launch of Season 4, Assimilation, on February 4 2020. 

If you're new to Apex Legends and looking to see what you're missing or you've dropped off the map for a while and you'd like to catch up on the latest, we're here to keep you up to date on what's fresh in Apex Legends. 


As we said in our full Apex Legends review:

"Truth be told, the Battle Royale movement has never quite grabbed me. I dabbled in PUBG and spent a dozen hours or so with Fortnite, yet nothing ever quite stuck the landing. Apex though, has got me hook, line and sinker. Featuring intuitive controls, an outstanding comms system and remarkable rogue’s gallery, Respawn has created what feels like the AAA outing for the genre." 

Apex Legends update news

  • What's new? Respawn is gearing up for the anniversary of Apex Legends by revealing some of the changes that will be coming to Season 4.

Grand Soirée Event

Apex Legends' third Season is almost at an end and to celebrate this it's throwing a Grand Soirée. The event will run from January 14 until January 28 and will feature seven limited time modes as well as some new skins. 

The seven limited time modes (some new and some old favorites will feature) are the real focus of this event and a new one will begin every two days with the schedule being as follows:

  • January 14 - 15: Gold Rush Duos
  • January 16 - 17: Live.Die.Live
  • January 18 - 19: Third Person Mode
  • January 20 - 21: Always Be Closing
  • January 22 - 23: Armed and Dangerous World's Edge
  • January 24 - 25: King's Canyon
  • January 26 - 28: Dummie's Big Day

As well as the modes, there's a new prize track. Each mode will have three challenges worth 1000 points and players will be able to unlock new weapons and skins as they collect points. Taking part in every mode won't be necessary to get all the points but those who do will also get a special badge. Those who are short of points can take part in a special bonus scoring weekend from January 17 to 20. 

To really get into the spirit of the party, players will be able to visit the Direct Purchase shop where they can pick up special Art Deco accessories and some special legendary skins which will rotate through the event. 

Apex Legends Assimilation

Season 3 of Apex Legends will soon be wrapping up and on February 4 2020 Season 4: Assimilation will begin. 

So what can we expect? Well, in a recent Dev Stream Respawn gave us some insights into the new Legend, weapons and Ranked Series that are on their way. 

New Legend

As with previous seasons, Apex Legends Season 4 will introduce a brand new Legend. This time, Forge is coming to the game. Described as the "exact opposite" of Season 3's Legend, Crypto, Forge is essentially a super-buff champion fighter with cybernetic enhancements. Respawn describes Forge as: "Confident yet humble, Forge uses his size, strength, and heavy-duty Shatter Gauntlets to batter his opponents into submission."

Forge is apparently sponsored by Hammond Robotics, a company already known by those familiar with the Titanfall universe.

Other than that, we don't know a huge amount about him just yet as his exact abilities are yet to be confirmed. Given his size and fighting skills, though, we're expecting Forge to be the kind of Legend who runs into the fray and gets up close and personal with his enemies. We're sure that his mechanical arm will come into play as well. 

New Weapon

The Sentinel has been confirmed as the new weapon coming to Season 4 of Apex Legends. It's described as a powerful bolt-action sniper rifle which stands apart from other weapons of its ilk as it comes with a charge mechanic. In the dev stream, it was hinted that this mechanic will give players a little more decision making to do when making a shot and could provide some interesting gameplay. 

Map Changes

In the Dev Stream above, it was confirmed that Season 4 will bring some map change to World's Edge but no specifics were revealed. It was teased that Hammond Robotics "might have something to do with" the alterations but nothing more was said. 

Players have already started to notice (via GameSpot) that areas in the game are being marked out for future construction by Hammond Robotics, including an area between the Fuel Depot and Thermal Station.

Anniversary Event

As Season 4 is launching on the one year anniversary of Apex Legends, there's going to be a special event. According to Respawn, those who log into the game in the first week of Season 4 (that's February 4 to February 11) will receive an Anniversary Gift. this includes a Year 1 Origami Flyer charm, a Year 1 loyalty badge and 10k XP for your first match of the day for every day the event is running. 

Battle Pass

It wouldn't be a new season of Apex Legends without a brand new Battle Pass. 

Like the others, this Battle Pass will be brand new for the Season and will bring with it 110 levels to climb by completing daily and weekly challenges, with more than 100 exclusive items including Legendary Skins, Apex Packs, Loading Screens and Music Packs to earn. 

Ranked League Series 3

Alongside Season 4, Ranked League Series 3 is also going to launch.

Ranked League Series 3 is expected to bring a few changes including Splits and a new tier: Master Tier.

As Respawn is seeing more players move into the upper echelons of the rankings to become Apex Predators, it's finding that it's getting harder to "showcase the skill between any two Apex Predators this season." As a result, a new tier, Master Tier, is being added between Diamond and Apex Predator. 

Players will need to reach 10,000 RP to make it to Master Tier as was the case with Apex Predator. The Apex Predator Tier will now be exclusive to the top 500 players per platform, so players who reach Apex Predator Tier could find that they drop down to Master Tier if other players earn more RP than them. Respawn has said "We feel this should give more prestige to making and keeping your Apex Predator rank, while still keeping the tiers above Diamond very exclusive."

As far as Splits are concerned, after looking at the lengths of previous Ranked Series, Respawn has decided that Series 3 will be three months long, like Series 1, but that it will be divided into two Splits. 

This means that Ranked Series 3 will essentially come with two parts, with Split 1 taking place on World’s Edge, while Split 2 will freshen things up by taking place back at King’s Canyon. 

Split 1 is to take place between February 3 and March 23, and Split 2 will follow on from March 24 to May 5. 

Soft resets will take place between each Split and Respawn has confirmed that "ranked rewards will be granted for the highest tier achieved in either split of the series, but exclusive animated badges will be granted if you can make it to the same tier both splits."

There will also be some new party restrictions as the game moves into the new Ranked Series. Players will find that once they get to Platinum Tier or higher, they'll only be able to party with players who have 1 Tier of difference from them. It's hoped this will keep matches more tight when it comes to higher skill levels. 

As far as what's staying the same, players will still see soft resets take place going into the new series. So, "at the start of Series 3 everyone will be soft reset on their ranked position by 1.5 Tiers down. That means if you ended Season 3 in Gold II, you’ll be reset to Silver IV. Players in Platinum IV will be reset to Silver II, and Apex Predators will be reset to Platinum II." As previously said, the soft reset will also now take place at the beginning of each Split.

Entry RP cost to Ranked Series will also stay the same and there won't be any further changes to the scoring system. 

Apex Legends tips and tricks

Apex Legends can be difficult to get to grips with. There are a lot of different characters each with their own abilities and skills, plus this battle royale arguably leans more heavily on strategy and teamwork than some of its competitors. 

Get ahead of the pack with our selection of Apex Legends guides, designed to help you become a champion.

Apex Legends

How to download Apex Legends

Apex Legends can be downloaded for free from the PlayStation Store, Xbox Store, Origin Store or Apex Legends website. Simply search for the title, download the game and enjoy! 

But do keep in mind that a good internet connect and subscription to either PS Plus, Xbox Live or Origin Access is required to play.

The good news is that Apex Legends is also coming to mobile in the future, following in the footsteps of Fortnite and PUBG.

Apex Legends


Apex Legends roadmap - what's next?

Respawn Entertainment has shared the season roadmap for Apex Legends. Apex Legends Battle Pass seasons run for approximately three months. Currently four seasons have officially been announced:

  • Season One: March 19, 2019 until June 18, 2019. 
  • Season Two: July 2, 2019
  • Season Three: September 2019
  • Season Four: December 2019

Apex Legends

Now that Season 4's launch date has been confirmed for February 2020, we're reaching the end of the known world for Apex Legends. No doubt, in the coming months, Respawn will establish and reveal its new goals for the game's second year. 

Is Apex Legends coming to mobile?

Yes. In EA’s quarterly earnings report, the publisher announced that it’s looking at bringing the Respawn Entertainment-developed game to mobile platforms and to both South Korea and China. 

“We’re in advanced negotiations to China and mobile”, EA’s CFO Blake Jorgenson stated, before later mentioning South Korea as another expansion point. 

We shouldn't expect to see Apex Legends on mobile for at least a year, though. According to EA Chief Executive, Andrew Wilson, the game won't launch until the fiscal year 2021.

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Windows 7 should live on as open source, spectacularly optimistic petition demands

Posted: 25 Jan 2020 03:41 AM PST

Windows 7 may have reached end-of-life, with official support no longer provided (at least not for free), but the veteran OS could live on if Microsoft released it as open source.

That’s the demand – and it is a demand, not a suggestion – from the Free Software Foundation (FSF), which has issued a petition calling for Microsoft to ‘upcycle’ Windows 7 by turning it open source.

After all, Microsoft is huge on everything open source these days, right? It’s all about open source, listening to user feedback, and acting on it.

The feedback from FSF might raise a few hackles at Microsoft, though, as the wording of the petition is, shall we say, on the strong and blunt side.

It reads: “On January 14th, Windows 7 reached its official ‘end-of-life,’ bringing an end to its updates as well as its ten years of poisoning education, invading privacy, and threatening user security. The end of Windows 7’s lifecycle gives Microsoft the perfect opportunity to undo past wrongs, and to upcycle it instead.

“We call on them to release it as free software, and give it to the community to study and improve. As there is already a precedent for releasing some core Windows utilities as free software, Microsoft has nothing to lose by liberating a version of their operating system that they themselves say has ‘reached its end.’”

And FSF further directly addresses Microsoft executives to “demand that Windows 7 be released as free software”, and urges them “to respect the freedom and privacy of your users – not simply strongarm them into the newest Windows version.”

Nothing to lose?

Of course, the truth is that making Windows 7 open source would be an unprecedented and radical move, and there are obvious problems with this idea.

FSF might insist that Microsoft has ‘nothing to lose’, but that’s not really the case, is it?

Microsoft could obviously potentially lose users who will soon – or eventually – upgrade to Windows 10 (if they don’t look entirely elsewhere for an OS).

And remember that Microsoft is still making money from Windows 7, by charging for extended support beyond end-of-life (business users can get an extra year of support with certain versions of Windows 7, and there’s a scheme that allows companies to pay for additional support on top of that). 

Moreover, there would be obvious dangers for Windows 10 in such an endeavor, because a good deal of Windows 7 code was carried on into Microsoft’s most recent OS, of course.

In short, there’s vanishingly-little-to-no-chance of this actually happening, in spite of how many signatures the petition might end up gathering – with the tally currently standing at just over 1,000. FSF wants to get 7,777 supporters on board, and that might just happen as word of the petition spreads.

But no matter how much Microsoft might be pushing the angle that it wants to work with open source projects across all fronts, in all kinds of different ways, Windows 7 being opened up to all and sundry just isn’t going to happen.

Via The Register

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Google Cloud is now able to store all your secrets

Posted: 25 Jan 2020 03:21 AM PST

Google Cloud has announced a new tool aimed at helping users securely store their API keys, passwords, certificates and other data online.

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:

“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.

Via TechCrunch

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Audi Q5 TFSI e: Audi's plug-in hybrid SUV delivers a smooth, comfortable, quiet ride

Posted: 25 Jan 2020 03:00 AM PST

The Audi Q5 is a mid-range premium SUV with plenty of space for five people and their luggage. With the TFSI e though, it’s also trying to be a little friendlier to the planet thanks to its plug-in hybrid motor.

It means you can drive the Audi Q5 as a fully electric vehicle (EV) during short journeys, reducing petrol consumption (and cost) and harmful emissions. For longer journeys - and when you needed a boost of power - the petrol engine can step in to deliver a powerful punch.

The Audi Q5 55 TFSI e starts at $52,900 / £49,735, however we drove the quattro S Line Competition model, with a host of extras on it (including the comfort and sound pack, parking assistance pack and tour pack), which brought the total up to £61,805 (around $80,000).

It’s not cheap then, with the price tag moving it out of the range for many families, but for those families and business people that can afford the Audi Q5, you’re going to like what you find.

Audi Q5 TFSI e design and drive

The Audi Q5 is a good looking car. It follows the design of Audi’s premium saloons, with a contoured hood and large grill giving it a powerful stance.

Open the door and slide inside, and you’ll appreciate the ride height of the Q5. Not too high as to prove tricky to enter and exit, but high enough to provide an excellent view of the road ahead. In fact, visibility is good all round, with large windows and plenty of cameras to guide you in the areas you can’t see - but more on those later.

Allow the door to close and the sound-proofing is instantly recognizable. The cabin is spacious, comfortable and quiet. Even when travelling at speed, the Audi Q5 does a good job of deadening exterior sounds and road noise, providing a more relaxing driving experience.

The seats provide ample support, and as well as being heated, in this model they also include a massage function. A small circular dial on the side of the two front seats (sorry rear-seat passengers, no heating or massage functions for you) allows you to control the location, type and intensity of massage. Initially we found the controls a little tricky, and we had to check the manual to completely understand what was required of us.

There are three different types to choose from; wave, stretch and knead, each with three levels of intensity to select. It’s a luxury feature, but one that works well and was welcome on our long drives.

There are three seat massage options available in the Q5 TFSI

Hit the road and the Audi Q5 cruises comfortably around town, and is effortless to shift on highways. The start/stop motor and automatic electronic parking brake which activate when you come to a stop provides some good petrol saving and the security that you won’t roll forward if you lift your foot off the brake.

Press the accelerator and the engine springs back to life and the parking brake releases itself, allowing you to pull away without any fuss.

The seven speed automatic gearbox works well, with smooth changes and very little lag between you pressing the pedal and power being provided to all wheels. If you’d like manual control over gear shifts, you can opt to use the paddle-shifters mounted just behind the wheel. They don’t get in the way of driving, but are equally easy to reach when required.

Really put your foot down, and despite the Audi Q5 being a mid-size SUV, it gets going at a healthy rate, with a 0-62mph time of just 5.3 seconds. It’s impressive, and means you can get up to speed quickly and easily, without feeling out of control.

This is possible thanks to the combination of petrol and electric power in the hybrid engine, but you don’t always have to burn fossil fuels to get around in the Audi Q5.

Audi Q5 TFSI e charging and EV mode

As we mentioned at the start, the Audi Q5 has the ability to drive as a fully electric vehicle. There’s a button on the center console - cleverly labeled ‘EV’ - which you can press to enter this all-electric mode.

There are a couple of limitations, however. First up, you’ll need to plug the Q5 into a charging station to top the battery up - the car isn’t able to replenish the battery (located at the rear of the car, under the trunk floor) by itself.

Plugging it into a standard three-pin UK residential socket and we were looking at around 11 hours for a full charge. That’s hardly speedy, but if you find a public charging station, Audi also provides a fast charging cable to top up at these, allowing you to cut that time down from hours to minutes.

Press the EV button to go all-electric

You can always install a faster charger at your home too, although you may want to stick to overnight charging from a standard socket.

That’s because the Audi Q5’s battery only has a range of around 26 miles (depending on your driving style and road conditions). It’s not surprising, as generally most plug-ins offer this sort of all-electric range.

What it does provide is enough distance to pop to the shops, do the school run or, if you’re lucky, commute to work and back without using any fuel.

Finally, when in EV mode the top speed is limited to 84mph, while acceleration also takes a hit, with the 0-62mph time dropping to 14.3 seconds. Considering its short range, that’s not really an issue as it’s design for city driving.

The virtual cockpit shows you how many electric and petrol miles you have left

Audi Q5 TFSI e specs and tech

The Audi Q5 TFSI e we got our hands on came fully laden with tech from more standard fare such as climate control, auto wipers and lights, and adaptive cruise control to smart lane assist, wireless phone charging, multiple cameras around the car and a couple of sizable displays.

The main display, located at the top of the central console was bright, clear and colorful, however it’s not a touchscreen. Instead you have to use the circular dial, sitting just in front of the gear shift, to navigate around the screen. 

Its rotating bezel allows you to cycle through menus and lists, it clicks in to select and you can move it in four directions (up, down, left, right) to open up additional menus or to go back.

There’s also a touch pad in front of that, with core buttons such as menu and back, for those who find the click wheel a little too much. After a short bit of practice we picked up the controls and were able to enter navigation addresses, select radio stations and adjust various car settings with ease.

The second display is behind the steering wheel, and takes up the entire space of the instrument cluster. This isn’t the first time we’ve come across Audi’s 12.3-inch virtual cockpit display, and we’re still big fans.

The default display is two large instrument gauges left and right, with a map in the middle. However, click the ‘View’ button on the steering wheel and the gauges shrink into the corners of the display, giving you a full-width map view.

Use the arrow keys on the wheel and you can skip between the map navigation, audio select, your phone’s call list (if connected via Bluetooth) and various vehicle information screens. It’s intuitive, feature rich and great to look at.

Switching focus back to the main display, and there’s DAB digital radio and the option to play audio from your smartphone via Bluetooth - however you can get deeper integration than that.

Plug your phone into the visible (and illuminated) USB port, and you’ll be able to use Apple CarPlay and Android Auto on the Audi Q5. This gives you access to your handset’s maps and navigation app (such as Apple Maps and Google Maps), as well as other apps including Spotify, iMessage and WhatsApp.

That said, the stock navigation built into the Q5 is very good. It uses Google Maps, provides you with three route options to choose from for most journeys and comes with live traffic updates so give you accurate arrival times.

If you’re fortunate enough to have a modern smartphone which supports wireless charging you can place it on the charging pad which slides out from under the central armrest for cable-free charging (there’s a second USB port and an AUX port under the armrest too).

A nice touch on the Q5 is when you park up and open the driver’s door, a voice reminds you to take your phone from the charging pad, so you don’t leave it in the vehicle.

When you’re stopped (or stuck in traffic) you can dive into the menu of Audio’s MMI infotainment system and get live weather and news bulletins - a handy way to pass the time while you wait.

Audio - be it navigation instructions, a podcast or music - sounds fantastic thanks to the Bang and Olufsen sound system in the Audi Q5, which includes a powerful subwoofer for deep bass.

Another tech-inclusion we found useful was the multiple cameras all the way around the Q5. Put the car in reverse and you’ll be shown two camera views - one shot of behind the bar and another birds-eye-view from above, which uses all the cameras to give you a 360 degree view around the car. It ensures you won’t miss any low obstacles, and lets you check you’re inside the lines of your parking bay.

There’s a front facing camera too, and an array of parking sensors to give you all the visual and audible warnings required to not put a dent in the Q5.

If you can afford it (and that’s an ask for most), the Audi Q5 TFSI e provides an excellent, premium experience. It’s comfortable, quiet, spacious, powerful and laden with tech to keep you safe, make your drive easier and simply entertain you.

The addition of the plug-in hybrid engine makes it a little easier on the wallet when it comes to running costs, not to mention the environment, and the EV mode is great for short trips.

  • John McCann is getting behind the wheel to give you an alternative look at the wealth of cars – and the tech inside them – available today. From super-fast sports cars to tech-packed hatchbacks, he'll take you through a range of makes, models, power and price tags in his regular TR Drives column.

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Samsung could launch a true Galaxy Fold successor later this year

Posted: 25 Jan 2020 03:00 AM PST

It seems that Samsung is going all-in on foldable phones in 2020, with two new folding devices set to launch before the middle of the year – one in February and one a few months afterwards.

We've already heard a lot of unconfirmed details about the foldable phone that's expected to be unveiled at Unpacked 2020 on February 11, a phone which is going to be called the Samsung Galaxy Flip Z if the rumors are to be believed.

Now prolific leaker Max Weinbach of XDA Developers says that another folding device is coming in Q2 (April, May or June) – and this one is apparently going to be a true successor to the original Samsung Galaxy Fold.

Whereas the Galaxy Flip Z is said to be a smaller, clamshell device along the lines of the rebooted Motorola Razr, this other smartphone is being tipped to follow the same design as the first Galaxy Fold.

Based on the rumors that have hit the web so far, the true successor to the Samsung Galaxy Fold is going to come with an 8-inch display, a 108MP camera, 5G connectivity, the Snapdragon 865 and an S Pen stylus.

Its fold will run down the middle of the device too, so you'll get more screen for your money than on the Galaxy Flip Z. Let's just hope Samsung has managed to sort out the hinge.

We're all for having as much choice as possible when it comes to the foldable phone market, and it looks like by the middle of the year you'll be able to pick between the pocket-friendly Galaxy Flip Z and the more substantial Galaxy Fold 2.

Those names are still to be confirmed – it's not clear yet exactly how Samsung is going to label these new products – but we'll bring you all the news on the Galaxy Fold 2 as it breaks over the next few months.

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Fortnite Chapter 2 Season 2 release date, news and updates

Posted: 25 Jan 2020 02:56 AM PST

Since its launch in 2017, Fortnite has been a worldwide phenomenon and its headline-making move into a second chapter in October 2019 was only further confirmation of that. 

After Epic Games dumped its beloved game world into a massive black hole, leaving players without warning, assurance, or confirmation of what was to come next, it came back with its biggest update ever: Fortnite Chapter 2.

Fortnite Chapter 2 brought plenty of tweaks and, most significantly, a brand new map for players to explore. 

Now, though, what was new is becoming old and after one of Fortnite's longest seasons to date, players are ready to see some change. It's probably just as well, then, that Epic has confirmed Fortnite Chapter 2's second season is coming on February 20 2020. 

What is Fortnite?

Fortnite is one of the biggest video games of all time – and that’s not hyperbole. Since its launch in 2017, millions of players have tuned in to the free-to-play battle royale game, which sees 100 players duke it out to be the last one standing.

All battle royale games take place on the same map – known as ‘the island’ – though Epic Games tends to tweak its exact features and geography for each new Season, or for timed events and alternative game modes.

With a fun, cartoon style, blend of shooting and building mechanics, and accessible gameplay – with a fiercely competitive goal for each 1 v 100 game – it’s not hard to see why Fortnite has been so popular and permeated pop culture so broadly, with hordes of young’uns, teenagers, and adults all chipping in to give the game a try. Yes, even Drake plays it.

There’s a campaign mode called Save The World, though it’s not usually what people refer to when they talk about Fortnite.

What is Fortnite Chapter Two?

Back in 2019, Fortnite had a reboot of sorts. Players were given a rude awakening on Sunday 13 October, when a massive black hole destroyed the game's island map and shut down all of the battle royale servers. 

It came at the end of a long-winded sci-fi plot that will likely only make sense to players who have been with the game for a significant amount of time – but what’s important is that the game disappeared, allowing Epic to make a completely fresh start with Fortnite Chapter 2, Season 1, rather than the Season 11 continuation that many expected. 

The new chapter brought some notable changes to Fortnite as well as a brand new map for players to explore. Now, this first season of Fortnite Chapter 2 is coming to a close and players are beginning to look ahead to what's next. After the dramatic end to the first chapter of the game, expectations are high and the possibilities feel endless. 

When will Season 2 of Fortnite Chapter 2 start?

After much speculation, Epic Games has now confirmed that the second season of Fortnite Chapter 2 will begin on Thursday, February 20 2020. 

Fortnite Chapter 2 Season 2: what's coming?

Now that we know when the second season of Fortnite Chapter 2 is coming it's only natural to wonder what's coming with it. Unfortunately, we don't really know for sure just yet. 

In its announcement of the game's launch date, Epic kept its cards pretty close to its chest, offering only a redacted sentence which said the season will "feature" something unknown "with multiple" other unknowns. 

Given it was a chapter-ending finale, we're not expecting the scale of Fortnite's last big update this time around but some kind of change is reasonable to expect along with a brand new Battle Pass. Historically, Epic has allowed a story to evolve over the course of several seasons and we could see something begin to pick up now that Season 1 is coming to an end. 

One thing we know for sure is that Epic is moving the game onto Unreal Engine's Chaos physics engine in early February as part of update 11.50. It's not clear just how much of a difference this is likely to make to player experience as Epic has promised that "at launch, the goal is to ensure that Fortnite still feels like Fortnite." Epic is, however, expecting that "along the way there will be some bumps" and as such it's "starting tests with a small group of players" with the intention to monitor feedback and "make improvements over time.

What's still to come in Season 1?

There are still a few weeks left of Chapter 2 Season 1 and naturally Epic Games isn't going to let things get quiet. 

In its Season 2 announcement, the developer confirmed that players will be able to enjoy more overtime challenges as Season 1 comes to an end, as well as a brand new two-week event. 

Now, what exactly this event is hasn't been confirmed. However, there have been rumors that it could be some kind of tie-in with the new Birds of Prey movie featuring the character Harley Quinn.

When Warner Bros posted a tweet about the film, the official Fortnite account sent a reply which reads "See you soon Harley". Given the game's previous tie-ins with Star Wars and Marvel movies, this is a pretty convincing hint that the final event of Season 1 could involve Birds of Prey. 

That said, nothing has been confirmed by Epic Games just yet so we'll have to sit tight and wait a bit longer to know for sure. 

Where can I play Fortnite?

Fortnite is a free-to-play game available to download on Android and iOS mobile, Xbox One, PS4, Nintendo Switch, and PC.

Epic makes it money through optional purchases of skins and customizable items, though they are purely cosmetic and won’t improve your chances of winning – notwithstanding the ability of your sick outfit to intimidate other players.

Can I play Fortnite on mobile?

Yes you can! Well, maybe. After months of waiting, Fortnite is finally on both iOS and Android, though you'll need a phone that can actually run the game.

iOS users can download straight from the App Store. As long as you're using iOS 11 on iPhone 6S/SE, iPad Mini 4, iPad Air 2, iPad 2017, iPad Pro devices or later you'll be fine. Oh, and you'll need an internet connection, naturally.

Fortnite also hit Android phones and finally came out of beta in October 2018. You can see the full list of phones – and how to find the Fortnite Installer – on our Fortnite on Android page.

Is it the full game?

It is the full Fortnite game. There are some small differences: it’s not quite as visually impressive as it is on more powerful devices, the controls are touchscreen, and a lot of audio cues have been made visual so you can play comfortably in public without the need for headphones. But you won’t be missing out on any key features.  

What's the deal with cross-play?

A sweet deal is what it is. While previously Xbox One and PS4 owners couldn't play the game together, Sony's U-turn on the matter means that now everyone across Xbox One, PS4, Nintendo Switch, iOS, and Android can all take part in the crossfire.

So if you've got friends that prefer PC, others that prefer console and you're off on holiday with your mobile, that's no reason for the fun to stop.

There's also cross-progression. So, if you're logged into your Fortnite account on mobile and you later log into your console to play there, everything you did on mobile later that day is carried over.  

Sounds great, how do I get it?

We have a guide on how to get Fortnite on mobile on TechRadar and we're constantly updating it with the latest rollout news. If your device isn't there yet, keep checking back and one day it probably will be.

What's a Fortnite Battle Pass?

The Battle Pass is a purchasable item in Fortnite that gives you access to exclusive in-game rewards. 

As players complete daily challenges and level up their rank, they earn Battle Stars which can then be used to unlock Tiers in their Battle Pass. Each new Tier you unlock will bring both Free and Premium rewards. Season 10 has also seen the introduction of missions to the battle pass. These are thematic objectives that span the island and on completing them you'll unlock additional rewards. 

Everyone who has a Battle Pass will get the Free reward they unlock, but only Premium Pass holders will get the Premium reward. Battle Pass Premium can only be purchased with in-game V bucks and not with real money.

You can purchase a Battle Pass for around £7/$10 in the Battle Pass tab of the game’s menu. 

Twitch Prime benefits

Those who use Twitch Prime and play Fortnite will be glad to know that they have access to free loot right now. Those with a Prime account can claim the Fortnite Twitch Prime Pack and the Fortnite Twitch Prime Pack 2 which include a host of cosmetic items and are available across all platforms.

The first pack includes two exclusive gliders and outfits: the Havoc Outfit and Back Bling, plus the Sub Commander Outfit and Slipstream Glider.  The second pack contains three exclusive items for Fortnite’s Battle Royale mode including the camouflage-heavy Trailblazer Outfit, the True North Back Bling, and the Tenderizer Pickaxe. There’s also a brand new dance emote for those that like the dance floor as much as the battleground. 

The packs can only be claimed on a single platform, but they can be shared across PC/console and mobile as long as you use the same Epic account across these platforms. You can’t however, share your loot across PS4 and Xbox One even if you are using the same Epic account. 

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9 things besides the Samsung Galaxy S20 we're expecting from Unpacked 2020

Posted: 25 Jan 2020 02:02 AM PST

The Samsung Galaxy S20 launch is in a matter of weeks, and we’re eager to see everything that might be unveiled at this year’s Unpacked event. The tech giant often takes the opportunity to debut more than just phones, and some much-anticipated gadgets could see the light of day.

Case in point: at the Samsung Galaxy S10 launch back in February 2019, the phonemaker introduced the AirPods-like Samsung Galaxy Buds. Now that Apple’s released its AirPods Pro, we expect Samsung to fire back by debuting the much-rumored Samsung Galaxy Buds Plus.

We’re also curious if we’ll see the Samsung Galaxy Tab S6 5G, a version of the company’s pro tablet that could connect to the next-gen networks - something that would put Samsung ahead of Apple in the tablet game.

Speaking of getting ahead, we’re also awaiting news on the Samsung Galaxy Fold 2 as well as the rumored Samsung S Flip foldable. 

At the less likely end of the spectrum are much-wanted but little-rumored products like the Samsung Galaxy Watch 2, which we haven’t heard much about in the years since its much-beloved predecessor hit the market. And, of course, we might see a Bixby Speaker. 

If there’s one thing we can virtually guarantee, it’s that the Samsung Galaxy S20 won’t debut alone. Here’s what we’re looking forward to at the event.

Samsung Galaxy S10 phones

Samsung Galaxy S20 / S20 Plus

The Samsung Galaxy S20 along with the likely larger Samsung Galaxy S20 Plus will take center stage at Unpacked. We’re expecting a few innovations from the new flagships, but there’s still a lot we don’t know about these phones. First and foremost: will they all be 5G-capable?

Either of these phones will almost certainly pack the Snapdragon 865 chipset, which requires a 5G-capable modem like the Qualcomm Snapdragon X55, so we could reasonably assume the phones will be able to connect to the next-gen networks out of the box. It’s still possible that Samsung will release cheaper 4G-only versions alongside 5G ones, but it seems like it would be more trouble than it’s worth.

Most of what we’ve heard about the phones has involved incremental improvements: thinner bezels, centerline selfie camera, larger 6.2-inch (S20) and 6.7-inch (S20 Plus) displays - but a few, like a souped-up 64MP telephoto lens with 3x zoom and 120Hz max screen refresh rate, have us excited. However it seems like Samsung is saving the most substantial improvements for the biggest, baddest model... 

Samsung Galaxy S20 Ultra

This is more like it. The largest, highest-specced version of the S20 line is rumored to be called the Samsung Galaxy S20 Ultra. It might be called the S20 Ultra 5G, which makes it an even more obvious inheritor of the massive Samsung Galaxy S10 5G that launched in mid-2019; this time, we’re expecting the top-top-tier phone to arrive at the same time as its smaller siblings.

The Ultra is rumored to pack a max-sized 6.9-inch display and seriously souped-up cameras: a 108MP main shooter, a 48MP telephoto with 5x zoom, and a 40MP front-facing camera. (All S20 phones are rumored to pack the same 12MP ultrawide lens, while the S20 Plus and S20 Ultra both come with time of flight sensors.) Put simply, the S20 Ultra is poised to be the highest-tech phone out there, with a rumored 100x digital zoom packaged as ‘Space Zoom.’ 

Samsung Galaxy Note 10 Lite

Samsung Galaxy S10 Lite / Note 10 Lite price and release date

Curiously absent in the S20 lineup is a follow-up to the S10e budget flagship. It’s entirely possible that Samsung is following Apple in making its prime-named phone (the standard Galaxy S20) the cheapest option. Or Samsung could be slotting its recently-announced Samsung Galaxy S10 Lite and Samsung Galaxy Note 10 Lite into the budget flagship role.

We’ve already seen and played with these phones at CES 2020, but we could finally learn when they’ll be sold and how much they’ll cost. While their specs are technically a year behind the new S20 line, that should work in their favor when it comes to affordability, and they’ll likely cost less than the S10e did at launch - making both these handsets strong contenders for the best mid rangers out there.

There’s another possibility, of course: both the S10 Lite and Note 10 Lite were specifically created to appeal to different markets than those that embrace Samsung’s priciest flagships. If that’s the case, we may not hear about the S10 Lite and Note 10 Lite at all.

Samsung Galaxy buds

Samsung Galaxy Buds Plus

The Samsung Galaxy Buds Plus are rumored to be Samsung’s answer to Apple’s AirPods Pro - noise-canceling premium true wireless earbuds, but in this case, for Android phones. At least, that’s what we’re expecting - but rumors have both supported and refuted the possibility of noise-canceling. 

Even without packing the AirPods Pro’s standout feature, the Galaxy Buds Plus could outshine the Pro in terms of battery life - one rumor suggests they could last up to 12 hours. 

Samsung Galaxy Watch 2

The original Samsung Galaxy Watch was a powerhouse with a neat rotating bezel that made navigating the smartwatch easier - and a more fun, tactile experience. While the Samsung Galaxy Watch Active 2 introduced a digital haptic version of this feature, it’s not the same and we’re eager for the Samsung Galaxy Watch 2.

We haven’t heard much at all about the Galaxy Watch 2, which itself suggests we probably won’t see this smartwatch at Unpacked 2020. But we can still dream.

Samsung Galaxy Fit e

New fitness tracker?

It’s entirely possible we get a successor to the Samsung Galaxy Fit, or perhaps even another budget fitness tracker like the Samsung Galaxy Fit e. We haven’t heard any news or rumors, so there’s no real hype building around a new device from Samsung. But if we don’t get another smartwatch this year, it might make sense for the company to whet appetites with a refreshed fitness tracker.

Samsung Galaxy Tab S6 5G

The Samsung Galaxy Tab S6 was a welcome surprise: a higher-specced tablet to rival the iPad Pro, but with a few extras that stand out in contrast. The Tab S6 includes an S Pen in the price (which is lower than the iPad Pro), has an improved desktop-simulating Dex mode, and its keyboard accessory (sold separately) has a touchpad. It’s an intriguing contender that only gets more exciting with 5G.

A Samsung Galaxy Tab S6 5G launching at Unpacked 2020 would beat Apple to the punch, which hasn’t released a 5G-capable iPad yet. It would also be rather useful for on-the-go professionals that need to upload and download files rapidly, like media editors. 

Of course, 5G networks are still in early days - and a Tab S6 5G would need to be keyed to each provider’s 5G network. We’ll see how Samsung handles this if it does release a 5G tablet.

Samsung Galaxy Z Flip

Ah, the enigmatic Samsung Galaxy Z Flip. It’s unclear if this is simply a code name for the Galaxy Fold 2 or a forked device in its own right that, rumor has it, will be a clamshell-style foldable that hinges on its horizontal access, somewhat similar to the Motorola Razr. 

We’ve also heard that it could have two hinges - so that it can be folded into a Z-shape, hence the name - but that’s uncertain, and sounds finicky for a company to attempt just a year after its first foldable was famously delayed for screen durability issues.

Samsung Galaxy Fold 2

For all the vertical-fold diehards, we’ve also heard that the Samsung Galaxy Fold 2 will follow its predecessor’s footsteps as a ‘hot dog style’ foldable - but bigger and better. Specifically, leaks have told us it could have bigger battery, faster charging speeds, better cameras, and other incremental improvements. 

While Unpacked 2020 seems soon after the original Fold’s delayed launch in late 2019, it could be a jumping off point to leave behind the baggage and start anew with a (much more tested) successor device.

samsung smart speaker

Samsung Bixby Speaker

There’s long been rumors of a Bixby-supporting smart speaker in the works at Samsung - or, as it might be known, the Samsung Galaxy Home. Whether this ends up surfacing is unclear, but the appeal is obvious: a smart speaker housing the unpopular but ubiquitous-on-Samsung-devices AI assistant Bixby to compete with all the Amazon Echo and Alexa-powered speakers in the world. We haven’t heard rumors of one coming - but anything’s possible at Unpacked 2020.

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These are the five broadband deals most worth investing in right now

Posted: 25 Jan 2020 02:00 AM PST

With so many broadband deals floating around now, it can be hard to know which ones to go for. Do you go for the fastest fibre plan? Or drop your costs with the cheapest ADSL? Or should you even be tempted by the many incentives on offer?

No matter what you need from your internet, we've made that search slightly easier by narrowing the competition down to the five most worth considering. And with options from Virgin, BT, Vodafone, Plusnet and the Post Office, you only have to deal with the big names.

We've listed these five top picks below for you to compare. Or, if we've wrongly guessed what you're looking for (sorry) then consult our guide to the best broadband deals to see everything all in one place.

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Fortnite Chapter 2’s second season now has a launch date

Posted: 25 Jan 2020 01:51 AM PST

Epic Games has confirmed that the long first season of Fortnite Chapter 2 will soon be coming to an end.

In an official blog post, Epic stated that the second season of Fortnite Chapter 2 will begin on Thursday, February 20. We suppose 02.20.2020 is a pretty satisfying launch date for the second season of a second chapter, at least numerically. 

So far, there’s no information on what we can expect from this second season, as Epic has made sure to add some cheeky redactions to its announcement. 

New season, new physics engine

As well as revealing the launch date of season two, Epic also announced that Fortnite will be moving to a new physics engine: Unreal Engine’s Chaos system. 

The move will happen in early February with update 11.50 and Epic says its main goal at launch, “is to ensure that Fortnite still feels like Fortnite” which suggests that the change over shouldn’t make a game-changing amount of difference to what players experience. In order to keep things running smoothly, Epic has said it will be “starting tests with a small group of players”.

The final release date for season two has come after a couple of extensions to season one, first from December 2019 into early February 2020 and now, it seems, from early to late February. 

But things won't be quiet in the meantime; Epic has stated that in season one’s final days, players can expect some more overtime challenges as well as a yet-to-be-revealed “new two-week event” which should see the time fly by. 

There have been suggestions that the event could be some kind of Birds of Prey movie tie-in after Fortnite’s official Twitter channel responded to a Warner Bros tweet about the movie saying “see you soon Harley”, but this is yet to be officially confirmed. Given previous Star Wars and Marvel events, though, there's good precedent. 

February is fast approaching, though, so it’s likely we don’t have too long to wait to find out what the rest of the season has in store. 

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