Monday, February 17, 2020

Apple : Chelsea vs Manchester United live stream: how to watch Premier League football online from anywhere

Apple : Chelsea vs Manchester United live stream: how to watch Premier League football online from anywhere

Chelsea vs Manchester United live stream: how to watch Premier League football online from anywhere

Posted: 17 Feb 2020 12:56 PM PST

With the news last week that Manchester City are set to banned from the Champions League, this showdown at Stamford Bridge has now taken on extra significance. Which is why you'll inevitably be eager to see how to live stream Chelsea vs Manchester United, no matter where in the world you are today.

Where Man United's top four campaign looked all but over, their noisy neighbours punishment means a win tonight would leave them just two points behind fifth place Spurs.  For fourth place Chelsea it's now a case of protecting what they have - there's now the very real chance of not just qualifying for the Champions League, but maintaining their position will likely ensure they skip the qualification rounds.

Chelsea come into the game off the back of two draws on the spin, the most recent being a hard-fought 2-2 stalemate with Leicester.

United are now on a run of three games with out a win and look to be missing Marcus Rashford badly, having not scored since the striker sustained his back injury. The good news for the Reds is that Nemanja Matic will return from his one-game ban.

The winter break wasn't quite long enough, however, for Chelsea star Christian Pulisic, who looks set to be unavailable for this match.

Tonight's match promises to be vital one for both sides, and you can watch all of the action as it happens by checking out our Chelsea vs Manchester United live stream guide below.

Use a VPN to watch Premier League football from outside your country

If you're abroad this weekend but still want to watch your home coverage, you'll need a VPN to do so. That's because your normal coverage will be geo-blocked. It's really easy to do and stops you having to tune in to some dodgy stream you've heard about on Reddit.

How to stream Chelsea vs Man United live in the UK 

How to watch Chelsea vs Manchester United US live stream 

How to watch a Premier League live stream in Canada

How to live stream Chelsea vs Man United in Australia

How to watch Chelsea vs Man United: New Zealand live stream 

How to live stream Chelsea vs Manchester United in India

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PhotoSquared data leak puts thousands of users at risk

Posted: 17 Feb 2020 12:26 PM PST

Researchers have discovered that a popular photo app leaked the personal data and images of thousands of customers as a result of an unsecured Amazon Web Services (AWS) storage bucket.

The discovery was made by vpnMentor whose researchers found that a misconfigured S3 database belonging to the company PhotoSquared, which creates printed photo boards from customers' digital images, was left online without any password protection.

The S3 database stored 94.7GB of data and contained over 10,000 records from November 2016 to January 2020. User photos, order records, receipts and shipping labels were all exposed as a result of the data leak.

As the full names and home delivery addresses of PhotoSquared's customers were left exposed online, any hacker could use this information to launch attacks against them.

PhotoSquared data leak

According to vpnMentor, PhotoSquared's reputation could suffer as a result of the data leak and the company could also face compliance fines. Additionally, in its report detailing the investigation, vpnMentor notes that PhotoSquared customers could be targeted by both hackers and thieves, saying:

“By combining a customer’s home address with insights into their personal lives and wealth gleaned from the photos uploaded, anyone could use this information to plan robberies of PhotoSquared users’ homes. Meanwhile, PhotoSquared customers could also be targeted for online theft and fraud. Hackers and thieves could use their photos and home addresses to identify them on social media and find their email addresses, or any more Personally Identifiable Information (PII) to use fraudulently.”

The data leak was found through a simple port scanning exercise but thankfully PhotoSquared was able to fix the leak just 10 days after the company was contacted by the researchers.

Via Infosecurity Magazine

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Presidents' Day sales offer great Surface Book 2 deals but you'll have to act fast

Posted: 17 Feb 2020 11:48 AM PST

Presidents' Day sales are in their final hours, so be quick to jump on these cheap Surface Book 2 deals. If you're after a top of the range Microsoft laptop with powerful specs and a gorgeous portable design, look no further than the Surface Book 2. You can save up to $500 on powerful machine, with configurations right up to a 512GB SSD with a speedy i7 processor available in these Presidents' Day sales. 

These Surface Book 2 deals offer a fantastic laptop built with power and portability in mind, and prices start at just $1,599 for an i7 processor, or $1,099 for an i5. With an all-day battery life and a sleek, lightweight form factor, the Surface Book 2 is a powerhouse of on-the-go productivity - and creative types will get even more out of an eye-wateringly pretty display and fantastic Nvidia graphics as well. 

There's still time to grab these Surface Book 2 deals in the Presidents' Day sales, but time's running out. You'll need to pick up yours by midnight tonight for maximum savings. We're tracking all the latest Presidents' Day sales right here on TechRadar, so be sure to check out all the top deals from your favorite retailers before time runs out. 

Presidents' Day sales: last minute Surface Book 2 deals

We're rounding up all the best Surface Go prices, but we've also found a great selection of Surface Pro 7 deals as well. If you're not set on a Microsoft computer, why not check out these top cheap laptop deals while you're at it? 

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Google Cloud reveals major restructuring plans

Posted: 17 Feb 2020 11:12 AM PST

Despite the fact that its cloud business brought in $8.9bn in revenue last year, Google has revealed its plans to restructure its cloud group internally which will also include eliminating some positions.

A company spokesperson shared additional details on the restructure in an email with CNBC, saying:

"We recently communicated organizational changes to a handful of teams that will improve how we market, partner, and engage with customers in every industry around the globe. We made the difficult, but necessary decision to notify a small number of employees that their roles will be eliminated."

Thomas Kurian has been the CEO of Google Cloud for one year and during that time, he's made a number of changes to the search giant's cloud business including hiring additional sales people to better help the company compete against Microsoft and Amazon in the cloud computing space.

Google Cloud restructure

According to one person close to the company, Google Cloud's restructuring plans are geared at realigning focus on international markets and less than 50 current employees will be affected. While the company did not say exactly how many employees will be affected by the restructure, it did say that internal mobility teams will work to find them new roles within the company.

Kurian also outlined the company's strategy going forward in a recent keynote presentation in which he revealed that Google Cloud will target businesses in the retail, healthcare, financial services, media and entertainment and manufacturing industries.

For the first time ever, Alphabet recently revealed Google Cloud revenues in its fourth quarter earnings report. The company's cloud business brought in $8.92bn in revenue in 2019 which is up significantly when compared to the $5.84bn it generated in 2018.

While Google Cloud has has continued to grow at a steady rate, its revenue is far behind its largest rival, Amazon Web Services which brought in over $35bn in revenue last year.

Via CNBC

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24 hours with Samsung Galaxy Z Flip: the foldable that offers more than nostalgia

Posted: 17 Feb 2020 11:00 AM PST

The Samsung Galaxy Z Flip is the best modern-day foldable flip phone I've tested, and it didn't take a whole 24 hours to determine that. OK, sure, it has only one flip-style rival so far, the new Moto Razr, but the Z Flip beats in it in every category that matters.

Walking around New York City with both phones attracted a lot of attention. People couldn't fathom how a smartphone with a large screen – 6.7 inches in the case of the Galaxy Z Flip – could bend in half. They wanted to fold and unfolded it themselves to be sure.

I love testing gadgets for TechRadar that spark imagination, from Google Glass to the DJI Osmo Pocket all the way through to the Samsung Galaxy Fold. The formula is always the same: people are awe-struck, ask "what is this?" and upon being filled in, begin to spout off ideas of how they'd use this technology in their lives once it becomes more readily available.

This is what I found in my first 24 hours with the Galaxy Z Flip.

1. The Z Flip is much better than the Moto Razr

The Razr wins on nostalgia – that's what I've heard in person and via Twitter. It didn't matter that I said Samsung's foldable has longer battery life, more superior cameras, and a slightly stronger thin glass screen. Them: "Razr for me. I remember having one." Me: "Yeah, but..."

The Z Flip has a larger 3,300mAh battery (the Razr has a capacity of 2,510mAh), and it's much easier to recommend a phone that will get you through a whole day. That said, I'm more likely to tell people to stick with the Samsung Galaxy S20 series – the S20 Ultra has a hulking 5,000mAh battery if they don't crave something as unique as the Z Flip.

The Razr cameras were what I struggled with most. In the poor light of a dim restaurant, the autofocus just refused to work. Moto's Night Vision mode helped brighten things up, but when a lot of shots came out blurry, it really didn't matter. 

The Galaxy Z Flip has three cameras (front, rear wide and rear ultra-wide) and all of them take superb photos, even if they aren't going to match the quality of the S20 cameras. The Z Flip also includes Samsung's new 'single-take' mode that captures a variety of photos and videos at the same time over 10 seconds. It's useful even if it does surface a lot of so-so shots along with a few winners.

2. I took it on a tour – and it turned heads

Carrying around the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip makes a statement: "I have something brand new that you haven't seen before", and that hasn't happened with any new iPhone in quite a while. It used to.

I took it to two offices, a radio station and a restaurant, and everyone wanted to see it fold and unfold. Most people wanted to try it themselves – at least one person was too anxious about potentially breaking it to give it a whirl. 

The 1.1-inch Cover Display, while small, always proved to be a popular way to take selfies with one hand, even if it's not very effective at framing a shot. There's excitement about foldables as a refreshed product category. Smartphones are getting a second act.

The best part is probing people's imagination with the Z Flip. "I could fit that and my AirPods Pro in the same pocket," a friendly stranger opined to me at a restaurant. I'm sure Samsung would've loved if they said that about new Galaxy Buds Plus, but, hey, maybe they just converted an iPhone 11 user with this phone.

Samsung Galaxy Z Flip

3. Its specs fall between the S10 and S20 series

"Is this Samsung's best phone?" That's one of the most frequent questions I've been getting from people when carrying around the Z Flip. The answer is both yes and no.

It's Samsung's best concept for the future of smartphones, tied with the Galaxy Fold, which I found to be more productivity-focused, but far too expensive and likely to be bested by a Samsung Galaxy Fold 2 in the near future. (I called the Fold 'the most forward-thinking phone you shouldn't buy.'). Neither is 'best' based on specs and performance, though.

I hardly care about chipset speeds these days. Today's phones are fast enough, and when we review something on TechRadar, we're less about speed than whether it suits everyday tasks. It's more about the end value of getting tasks done, getting photos that look good the first time around, and the longevity of the battery in a single charge. That stuff actually matters.

The Z Flip aces all of this with specs that, for the most part, fall in between what I've experienced on the S10 and new S20 series. Tellingly, its chipset, the Snapdragon 855 Plus, is the souped-up version of the S10 and Note 10's 855 chip, but not quite the S20's new Snapdragon 865 chipset. With a healthy 256GB of internal storage, a solid 8GB of RAM and three cameras, we end up with Samsung's most cutting-edge-looking phone with great, but not 'the best' specs.

4. Everyone wants to see it flick open

Folding the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip with two hands isn't fun; quickly snapping it open and folding it down again with one hand is how to show off this stylish new phone.

It's actually not easy – flicking the seemingly-spring-loaded Razr is way simpler – but that's due to the fact that Samsung's hinge is meant to keep it propped open at any angle along 180 degrees.

I did like sitting the top half of the phone screen upright, allowing the bottom half to rest on a table, as if this were a laptop. This is something the Galaxy Fold couldn't do, and Samsung has designed Flex UI software around it. 

Taking a video call puts the camera screen on the top screen unobstructed, while the mess of controls all rest on the bottom half of the screen. This also eliminates me very awkwardly leaning over a desk or table to do hands-free video calls while I'm working on a keyboard.

So yes, it's possible to flick the phone open with style by using a lot of force but it's not exactly easy to do and there's good reason for that.

Samsung Galaxy Z Flip

5. This seems like just the beginning

I can't tell if the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip is for me – I need more than 24 hours with the new phone to decide its practicality, test its cameras, and drain its battery a few times. There's still a lot more testing to be done, and that's why you'll have to wait for our full review.

The best gadgets change lives – they don't all have to be revolutions like the iPhone, but when they make your daily life a little better, even if it's by fitting in your pocket a little easier than your previous device. That's when tech, often fairly maligned, makes us happy.

I'm a believer in the Galaxy Fold design, as I've long wanted something the size of an iPad mini that I can use on the train and shove in my pocket without always having to stow it in a bag. I'm hoping that Samsung continues with that design, too, for the productivity users out there like myself. 

But the Z Flip? It's the most chic phone I've seen in my time reviewing smartphones, and I love reclaiming pocket space when it's folded up like a clamshell. There's room for two foldable designs, and this one brings back some of the things we loved and missed about flip phones.

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Nazi-killing show Hunters, starring Al Pacino, is Wolfenstein meets The Avengers

Posted: 17 Feb 2020 10:45 AM PST

It's America in 1977, and Nazis are living in secret across the country. A group of Nazi hunters led by Meyer Offerman (Al Pacino) is determined to root out the war criminals of the Third Reich living among everyday citizens. The hunters' newest recruit is Jonah Heidelbaum (Logan Lerman), whose grandmother was murdered by a stranger with connections to the resurgent Nazi threat.

We've seen the first five (of ten) episodes of this big-budget Amazon Prime drama, and it somehow alternates between being an over-the-top action show and a serious drama about the Nazis' abhorrent treatment of Jewish people without falling apart. In fact, Hunters is very watchable, and these tonal extremes just about work in tandem. 

Not everything here is successfully handled. It has a few too many characters, and after an extremely cinematic and focused first episode about Jonah's initiation into the group, it settles down into a slower Nazi-hunt-of-the-week format that only intermittently hits the heights of its opening episode. 

Hunters has a lot on its side, though: the sheer novelty of Pacino taking on his first major TV role, for example, and how it conveys the period setting. The Nazis are portrayed as conspirators hiding in plain sight in a way that's scary to watch. 

Each of the titular hunters has their own reason for being part of the group – but the drawback of having a large ensemble cast is it takes a bit too much time to get a proper sense of each hunter's inner life. The first episode stands out because it's mostly about Jonah's superhero-style origin story, while subsequent episodes are weighed down by having more characters to accommodate. 

Hunters has a parallel storyline, too, of FBI agent Morris (Jerrika Hinton) trying to uncover both the Nazis living in secret and the hunters tracking them down. This arc isn't that successful. Morris is one of the better-developed characters in the show, with her own secrets she feels she needs to keep, but this B-plot doesn't generate much interest because you already know the answer to this mystery: yes, there are Nazis in America, and yes, a group of vigilantes are tracking them down and killing them. She's trying to figure out the premise of the show. 

Hunters isn't exactly Inglourious Basterds the TV series, even though it features similarly heightened violence, stylistic flourishes and 'big' characters. 

The Nazis themselves, too, are very well cast opponents, with Travis (Greg Austin) as the cold, terrifying American face of '70s Nazism who's shockingly open about the ideologies he lives by (if he was around these days, you just know he'd have a significant social media presence). Dylan Baker plays a needy officer who's infiltrated the highest level of American government. The Colonel (Lena Olin), meanwhile, steers this secret faction towards the aim of implementing a Fourth Reich. 

Hunters is like a superhero team show crossed with the recent Wolfenstein videogames, which themselves blurred the lines between ridiculous comedy and gratuitous violence around this subject. These first five episodes are mostly enjoyable, even if you get the sense you'll have to wait until the season's end for all of its threads to really come together. 

Season one of Hunters releases on Amazon Prime Video on February 21. 

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Mark Zuckerberg wants Facebook to be treated differently from media organizations

Posted: 17 Feb 2020 10:04 AM PST

Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg believes that content posted on social networks should be regulated using a system somewhere between the existing rules for telecoms and media industries.

At the Munich Security Conference in Germany, Zuckerberg explained that Facebook has made significant progress in fighting online election interference. He also once again called for regulation of social media companies, saying:

“I do think that there should be regulation on harmful content ... there’s a question about which framework you use for this. Right now there are two frameworks that I think people have for existing industries - there’s like newspapers and existing media, and then there’s the telco-type model, which is ‘the data just flows through you’, but you’re not going to hold a telco responsible if someone says something harmful on a phone line. I actually think where we should be is somewhere in between.”

Fighting misinformation

Since the 2016 election in the US, Facebook, Twitter and Google have come under increased pressure to prevent governments and political groups from using their platforms to spread misinformation.

According to Zuckerberg, Facebook now employs 35,000 people to review online content posted on the social network and to implement stricter security measures.

Along with the company's automated technology, these teams suspend over one million fake accounts every day and most of these accounts are detected within minutes of being created. One reason for this is the fact that Facebook's budget has grown significantly over the last few years as Zuckerberg pointed out in his speech at the conference, saying:

“Our budget is bigger today than the whole revenue of the company when we went public in 2012, when we had a billion users. I’m proud of the results but we will definitely have to stay vigilant.”

  • Also check out our complete list of the best VPN services

Via Reuters

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Best email providers of 2020: Free, Paid and business services

Posted: 17 Feb 2020 10:02 AM PST

Getting hold of an email account is easy. Sign up with an ISP and you’ve got one account for starters. Creating an account with Google and other big names will get you more. Buy a decent web hosting package and you'll probably get enough email addresses to power a large business, all for no extra charge.

Getting the right email account is more difficult, as there's a lot to consider. What are the spam filters like? How easy is it to keep your inbox organized? Can you access the account from other email clients? And what about using the service with a custom domain and address of your own (yourname@yourdomain.com)?

Keep reading and we'll highlight some of the best email providers around. All have decent free services, perhaps with ads and some limits, but we'll also talk about their business-friendly commercial products which deliver the power, functionality and enterprise-level extras that demanding users need.

The best email services of 2020 are:

Image credit: Proton Technologies

Signing up with an email provider will often involve some privacy compromises. Yahoo Mail asks for your name and mobile number, for instance. Gmail and other services might scan your messages to carry out useful actions (such as adding events to calendars), and just about everyone serves you with ads.

ProtonMail is a Swiss-based email service which focuses on privacy above all else. You can sign up anonymously, there's no logging of IP addresses, and all your emails are end-to-end encrypted, which means there's no way ProtonMail (or anyone else) can read their contents. Also, address verification (which allows you to be sure you are securely communicating with the right person) and full support for PGP email encryption is available. In late April 2019, elliptic curve cryptography was introduced, which adds additional security and faster speeds.

There are some significant limits. The free product has a tiny 500MB storage space, only supports sending 150 messages a day, and is distinctly short in terms of organizational tools (no folders, labels or smart filters). As the end-to-end encryption is specific to ProtonMail, it also ensures that you can't use the service with other email clients.

Still, it seems a little unfair to complain about a service which is no-strings-attached free, and doesn't even show ads. In reality, ProtonMail is a specialist tool which is intended for use alongside services like Gmail – not to replace them – and overall it performs its core tasks very well.

If you do need more, ProtonMail's $5 (you can choose to pay in USD, Euro and CHF) a month (or $48 yearly) Plus account gives you 5GB storage, a 1,000 message-per-day allowance, custom domains (you@yourdomain.com) and support for folders, labels, filters as well as some addition features like contact groups.

A further Professional plan brings more storage, email addresses and a second custom domain, as well as adding a catch-all email address and multi-user support. It's priced from $8 per month per user (75$ yearly), which is reasonable if you need ProtonMail's security, although it's also notably more expensive than the business accounts of the big-name competition.

best email providers

Image credit: Google

First released back in 2004, Google's Gmail has become the market leader in free email services with more than a billion users across the globe.

Gmail's stripped-back web interface is a highlight. Most of the screen is devoted to your inbox, with a minimum of toolbar and other clutter. Messages are neatly organized via conversations for easier viewing, and you can read and reply to emails with ease, even as a first-time user.

There's plenty of power here. Dynamic mail makes Gmail more interactive, with the ability to take action directly from within the email, like filling out a questionnaire or responding to a Google Docs comment. Messages can be automatically filtered into tabbed categories like Primary, Social and Promotions, helping you to focus on the content you need. Leading-edge spam blocking keeps your inbox free of junk, you can manage other accounts from the same interface (Outlook, Yahoo, any other IMAP or POP email), and there's 15GB storage for your inbox, Drive and photos. 

You can also access Gmail offline, although you'll need Google Chrome for that to work. Furthermore, there is a neat snooze feature that allows you to, well, snooze an email for a specified amount of time (it also automatically labels that email as important).

Other features are more questionable. Instead of organizing messages into folders, for instance – a simple metaphor which just about every user understands – you must filter them using a custom labelling system. This works, and has some advantages, but isn't popular with all users. Still, Gmail is an excellent service overall, and a good first choice for your email provider.

Google makes a paid business-oriented version of Gmail available in the shape of its G Suite product.

This more professional product drops the ads and allows using a custom email address on your domain (yourname@yourcompany.tld). Business-oriented migration tools can import mail from Outlook, Exchange, Lotus and more. Storage space doubles to 30GB on the Basic plan, and you get unlimited group email addresses, 99.9% guaranteed uptime and 24/7 support.

G Suite is Google's answer to Microsoft Office, so of course you also get apps for working with documents, spreadsheets and presentations. Shared calendars keep you better organized, there's video and voice conferencing for online meetings, and again, there’s 24/7 support to keep your system running smoothly.

This more Office-like power makes for a more expensive product than the email-only competition, with prices starting at $6 a user for the simplest plan. You're getting a lot for your money, though, and if you'll use G Suite's features then it could be a smart choice. A 14-day free trial provides an easy way to help you find out.

best email providers

Image credit: Microsoft

Outlook's web interface follows the same familiar style as its desktop incarnation, and most other email clients: folders and organizational tools on the left, the contents of the current folder in the center, and a simple preview pane on the right (with adverts in the case of the free account).

A toolbar gives you speedy access to common features, and right-clicking folders or messages shows you just about everything else. If you've ever used another email client, you'll figure out the key details in moments.

Despite the apparent simplicity, there's a lot going on under the hood. The service automatically detects important emails and places them in a Focused Inbox, keeping any distractions out of sight. Events including flights and dinner reservations can automatically be added to your calendar. It's easy to share that calendar with other Outlook.com or Office 365 users, or you can save your events to a Family calendar that everyone can access. In addition, there are some interesting features too, like the ability to add polls directly to your Outlook emails.

Excellent attachment support includes the ability to directly share OneDrive files as copies or links. You can also attach files directly from your Google Drive, Dropbox and Box accounts, and a chunky 15GB mailbox allows storing plenty of files from other people.

This all worked just fine for us, but if you're unhappy with the service defaults, there's a chance they can be tweaked via Outlook.com's Settings dialog. This doesn't have quite as many options as Gmail, but they're well organized and give you plenty of control over layout, attachment rules, message handling and more.

If that’s still not enough, Microsoft offers a bunch of app-based integrations to take the service further. You get built-in Skype support via the beta, and apps give you easier access to Evernote, PayPal, GIPHY, Yelp, Uber and more.

Upgrading to Office 365 gets you an ad-free inbox, 50GB mail storage and a vast 1TB of OneDrive storage. Extras include offline working, professional message formatting tools, phone or chat-based support, file recovery from malicious attacks like ransomware and more. Oh, and the latest versions of Word, Excel and PowerPoint. All this can be yours for the equivalent of $7 a month on the single user Office 365 Personal plan or you can pay 70$ for a year.

best email providers

Image credit: Yahoo

Yahoo Mail doesn't make the headlines so much, these days, but its latest version is a polished and professional service which stands up well against the top competition.

The well-designed interface resembles Gmail, at least initially, with a large view of your inbox, one-click filters for common messages and content (Photos, Documents, Travel), and easy browsing of all the emails in a conversation. But you can also organize mails into custom folders, and the layout can be tweaked to display a message preview in a couple of clicks. Mobile users have some additional features like the option to unsubscribe to newsletters and such, without ever leaving the Yahoo Mail inbox.

A powerful underlying engine can integrate with Facebook, supports sending SMS and text messages, is accessible via web, POP and (in some situations) IMAP, and can forward email to another address. Valuable extras include disposable email addresses to protect your privacy, and a mammoth 1TB of mailbox storage means you can keep just about everything you receive, for a very long time.

Demanding users might find issues, over time. Mail organization can't quite match the flexibility of Gmail's labelling scheme, for instance, and there aren't nearly as many low-level tweaks, settings and options as you'll often see elsewhere. But overall, Yahoo Mail is an appealing service which needs to be on your email shortlist.

As with other providers, Yahoo offers a Business Mail plan with more features. The highlight is an option to use the service with a custom domain (yourname@yourdomain.com), although there are other advantages, too. The service can import contacts from Facebook, Gmail, Outlook and more. You can view all your mailboxes on the same screen, and there are all the usual business-friendly productivity tools (multiple calendars, document handling, analytics and more).

Prices start from $3.19 per mailbox per month, billed annually, and they drop as you add mailboxes – $1.59 for 5, $1.19 for 10, and for 20+ you'll need to contact them. Additionally, another pricing plan called Yahoo Mail Pro is available at $3.49 per month. This gives you ad-free inbox, priority customer support and additional features.

There's even a free domain name included, and not just the initial registration: Yahoo will also renew it for as long as your subscription is active.

best email providers

Image credit: Zoho

Zoho Workplace is a business-oriented email service which throws in an online office suite, document management, and a host of collaboration tools and other extras.

Zoho's free plan supports up to 25 users, although there's an extra 25 available if you can refer others to the service (update: Zoho is currently remodeling the referral program so this isn't available at the moment), each with 5GB of mailbox storage, and can be used with one domain of your own. These are features you'll normally only find in commercial products, and when you factor in the spreadsheet, word processor, presentation and other tools, it looks like a real bargain.

The email service is easy-to-use, and provides a decent set of features to help organize your emails: folders, tags, filters, smart searches, and more. You can also create custom hotkeys to expand and replace easy abbreviations of your choice with full words and phrases as you type. Zoho also has an offline mode, which allows you to read and respond to your emails even when your internet connection fails you.

The free plan is still a little basic. It gives you web access only, for instance, and there's no support for email forwarding.

Fortunately, the Zoho Standard plan fixes that. A mere $3 per user (paid annually) gets you IMAP and POP access, email forwarding, active sync, multiple domain hosting, domain aliases, 30GB storage, a 30MB attachment limit (up from 25MB with the free plan) and some major improvements elsewhere (the ability to send cloud files to non-Zoho users, for instance). You also have Lite plan which is a cheaper Standard plan ($1 per user) with less features, and a Professional ($6 per user) plan which adds more features.

A number of these features are available elsewhere for free, of course, but businesses or anyone who will use the custom domain support or Office tools will find a lot to like here. Well worth a closer look.

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Wilder vs Fury 2: live stream, date, time, and undercard

Posted: 17 Feb 2020 09:55 AM PST

There's no doubt Fury vs Wilder 2 will be a fight for the ages, so why mess around? We're here to tell you everything you need to know about 2020's biggest boxing event, including complete details of how to live stream Wilder vs Fury 2 and watch the big fight on PPV TV - plus key information like the Fury vs Wilder time, date and undercard.

This week's big fight is being promoted as 'Unfinished Business', after the first Wilder vs Fury clash in 2018 ended in a controversial split draw decision. Nothing less than the WBC heavyweight title is at stake in Las Vegas, with both boxers also defending undefeated records.

Standing at an imposing 6ft 7in in height, Deontay Wilder is simply a knockout artist. The 34-year-old American boasts a 42-0-1 record that includes a staggering 41 wins by KO. The most recent saw the Bronze Bomber floor Luis Ortiz in November 2019 for yet another decisive victory.

On the opposite side of the ring, British man-mountain Tyson Fury's height is an even more intimidating 6ft 9in. The Manchester fan favorite will fly out to Vegas with a 29-0-1 record that features 20 wins by KO. He's best known for defeating Wladimir Klitschko in 2015 to become the undisputed heavyweight champion of the world.

By now, you probably can tell that this has the potential to become a legendary fight, so allow us to tell you how to live stream Fury vs Wilder 2 and watch all the action from Vegas as it happens.

How to watch Wilder vs Fury 2: live stream the big fight from outside your country

Read on for specific information on who is showing Wilder vs Fury 2 on TV and PPV in different countries including the US, UK and Australia. But the first thing worth mentioning is that anyone who finds themselves abroad for the big fight can still watch Tyson Fury vs Deontay Wilder via their usual home broadcaster or service by using a VPN. Otherwise known as a Virtual Private Network, it's a nifty bit of software that lets you access content from your home country completely legally. Crucially, this means you and won't have to loiter around the internet's sketchier corners for a stream.

Wilder vs Fury 2 live stream: watch the fight in the US

Watch Wilder vs Fury 2: live stream in the UK 

How to watch Wilder vs Fury 2: live stream this week's big fight from Australia

Wilder vs Fury 2: UK time and date

Wilder vs Fury 2 takes place on Saturday, February 22 at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas. The action gets underway at 6pm US Pacific time, which is 9pm ET and 2am UK time. However, with a full undercard to get through before Fury and Wilder take to the ring once again, the main event isn't expected to start until around 5am UK time. This means you'll be burning the midnight oil or setting an early alarm if you want to watch all the action live. Should you want to make a full night of it, here's what you can look forward to.

Fury vs Wilder 2: undercard details 

In addition to watchin Tyson Fury take on Deontay Wilder, there are a number of other blockbuster fights set for this Saturday in Vegas.

The first undercard encounter of the night will be a junior middleweight bout between Sebastian Fundora and Daniel Lewis. While neither of the two are household names, it's an intriguing clash for boxing fans eager to get a potential glimpse of the future. The main talking point here is the fact that Fundora stands at 6ft5in tall but still manages to make the 154 pounds. Lewis, for his part, is a promising Australian fight who has previously fought at the Olympics.

After that, Emanuel Navarrete will defend his WBO super bantamweight title on the night against challenger Jeo Tupas Santisima just prior to the main event.  Heavyweights Charles Martin (27-2-1, 24 KOs) and Gerald Washington (20-3-1, 13 KOs) will also enter the ring in a potential title eliminator. 

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Best Presidents' Day sales at Dell: grab top Inspiron, XPS, and G3 laptop deals

Posted: 17 Feb 2020 09:44 AM PST

The Presidents' Day sales are looking fantastic for cheap laptop deals, and the latest offerings from Dell are no disappointment. You can grab everything from cheap and cheerful Inspiron computers all the way to incredibly powerful Dell XPS deals for far less in these Presidents' Day sales. Plus, we've even found a Dell G3 gaming laptop on offer as well. This extensive Presidents' Day sale covers a wide array of price ranges and specifications, so there's truly something for everyone. 

The Inspiron range of Dell laptop deals available right now starts off with a $229.99 15-inch laptop made for on the go browsing with plenty of storage and screen real estate. You'll also find the higher-powered Dell Inspiron 17 3000 among today's laptop deals, bringing some smart specs to a $479.99 price tag in the Presidents' Day sales. 

If you're looking for something with a bit more of an impact, the XPS line is one of Dell's most popular laptop ranges with creatives. You'll find the most power in the Dell XPS 13 2-in-1, a tablet/laptop hybrid offering a 10th generation i7 processor with 16GB of RAM for just $1,249 right now. 

For the gamers, we're seeing some fantastic Dell G3 gaming laptop deals going in the Presidents' Day sales. For just $899.99 you can pick up the latest Intel processor as well as a massive 512GB SSD and Nvidia GeForce 1660Ti graphics. 

We've rounded up our top picks of the best Dell laptop deals going right now, and we've broken them up their Inspiron / XPS / G3 families. 

Presidents' Day sales: Dell Inspiron laptop deals

Presidents' Day sales: Dell XPS deals

Presidents' Day sales: Dell gaming laptop deals

Looking for more? We're running through all the latest cheap laptop deals available right now but we've also got plenty of gaming laptop sales up our sleeve as well. If you're looking to stick with Dell, we're also on the hunt for the best XPS 13 and 15 prices. 

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Canon EOS R5 will make its public debut at The Photography Show in March

Posted: 17 Feb 2020 09:36 AM PST

The Canon EOS R5 is the latest big headline act to join the line-up at this year's The Photography Show, with the mirrorless brute making its public debut at the event in March.

One of the most exciting cameras of the year, the Canon EOS R5 will be the high resolution leader of Canon's EOS R mirrorless camera lineup when it arrives later this year. 

Canon has said that the EOS R5, RF 100-500mm F4.5-7.1L IS USM lens and new extenders will all be making an appearance at the show on its stand, which takes places at the Birmingham NEC, UK, between 14-17 March 2020. They'll also be joined by the Canon EOS 1DX Mark III, a pro sports camera that will be heading to the Tokyo 2020 Olympics.

The Canon EOS R5 is so new that it still hasn't been fully announced, with Canon making a development announcement last week that revealed a few of its main specs. These include in-body image stabilization (a first for a Canon camera), plus the ability to shoot 8K video and rattle off 12fps using its mechanical shutter, or up to 20fps when using its electronic shutter.  

The fact that so little else is known about the EOS R5 suggests that Canon will be revealing more about the camera between now and when The Photography Show starts on 14 March. To find out all of the details about the mirrorless flagship so far, though, check out our Canon EOS R5: everything we know so far roundup.

The Glasto of photography

The Photography Show

With the Canon EOS R5 and 1DX Mark III both appearing at show, it's shaping up to be a must-visit for for photography fans. 

You can buy tickets online now (with 20% off using the special Canon discount code CANTPS20) or on the day at the show, which is taking place at Hall 5, NEC, Birmingham NEC, UK.

They'll be far from the only new cameras making their bow at The Photography Show either. Nikon has already announced that the Nikon D6, its answer to the Canon 1DX Mark III, and Nikon D780 will both be at its booth. 

We're expecting announcements from other major exhibitors including Sony, Fujifilm and Panasonic soon too, so whatever your system there's bound to be something new and shiny to try out. 

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Leaked TCL is an alternative to foldable phones, but still has a tablet-like screen

Posted: 17 Feb 2020 09:34 AM PST

TCL had a lot to show off at CES 2020 with the likes of 5G and foldable phones under $500, but the company has another design that it was waiting to show off until MWC 2020, and it has a slide-out display, according to sources for CNET.

The images obtained by CNET show the TCL concept phone in a variety of positions and from varying angles. In all, it gives a fairly comprehensive view of the unique design.

It appears the phone has a basic smartphone form factor when it's all closed up, with a cutout at the front for selfie cameras and a vertical array of cameras on the rear. While closed, it would be hard to tell the difference between this and any other premium phone.

But TCL appears to have hidden a lot more screen inside the phone as one edge can slide away to pull out the rest of the display.

Design mysteries

The design is certainly intriguing. It manages to do what the Samsung Galaxy Fold set out to do, but appears to stay smaller in its closed form. It also seems to remain thinner and avoid the need for another display on the back of the device.

But, because we're only seeing renders of the device, it's hard to tell just how TCL is achieving this design and how good the screen will actually look in person. After all, renders of the Galaxy Fold didn't show off the crease that has been present in reality.

TCL's slider phone appears to have one seamless display when in its open position. But, the extended portion of the display has to slip under the rest of the screen somehow. That's the big question here.

If the extra portion of the display curls up underneath, it would require extra space and be subject to some very extreme bends. If it's bent too sharply, it would seem very likely to develop the much maligned crease or even break.

Another possibility (and one we feel may be the most plausible) is that the device simply uses two displays, with one on the top, and another that slides under. Since OLED displays can be incredibly thin, it may be possible for TCL to keep the layers very close, so that when the phone is in the extended position, the height difference of the separate displays is hard to see. 

The only catch is that no matter which way TCL has managed the extra screen section, the very right edge is always present. Whether closed or open, the front-facing cameras are present, and so is the portion of screen around them. If TCL has gone with two screens or a single foldable one that tucks away, the closed position of the phone seems certain to have a small but distinct gap between the left and right sides of the display. 

Unfortunately, because of the MWC's cancellation as a result of the coronavirus, we don't know when we'll have a chance to see TCL's concept in real life and figure out just how this sliding display works.

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Apple AirPod alternatives: these are the best true wireless earbuds around

Posted: 17 Feb 2020 09:15 AM PST

Ready to finally try out a pair of the best true wireless earbuds? There's never been a better time to cut the cord, and we're here to help you choose the perfect true wireless buds for your needs (and your budget). 

If you haven't noticed, headphone cables are going out of fashion. That's because wireless audio sounds better than ever, compression formats for Bluetooth 5.0 are more reliable, and flagship smartphones are shipping without headphone jacks. The best true wireless earbuds of 2020 even come with high-spec tech like active noise cancellation and built-in artificial intelligence.

On the other end of the scale, we're seeing an increasing number of super-basic cheap true wireless earbuds entering the market; while you won't find the JLab Go Airs on this list – the audio quality isn't up to scratch – their $29 / £29 / AU$40 price tag is compelling enough in its own right.

True wireless means there aren't any cables between the two earbuds at all, so there's no wire or neck band to contend with. Nothing to get tangled in your pocket or caught on your zipper, nothing to whack around your neck in the middle of that run, and also nothing to keep your singular earbuds together. 

The original Apple AirPods were the first model to truly bring true wireless to the mainstream, but there are far better options out there in terms of audio quality, battery life, design, and crucially, price – and that includes the new AirPods Pro, which have made it onto this list. So, before you buy a pair of old-school 'Pods, check out our list of the best AirPod-alternatives you can buy in 2020. 

  • Try Amazon Music Unlimited with a FREE trial: US | UK | AU

Sony WF-1000XM3

Considering it's still rare to get noise-cancellation in wired earbuds at all, the fact that Sony has managed to pack it into a pair that are not only wireless, but true wireless is very impressive indeed. 

While models like the AirPods Pro have tried to replicate this, Sony is still top of the true wireless table. 

That's because the Sony WF-1000XM3 manage to offer a level of noise-cancellation that's exceedingly good for a pair of earbuds – they won't offer the same isolation as a pair of over-ear headphones, but its a worthy trade off for that sleeker form. 

Sony has really knocked the ball out of the park with the WF-1000XM3. Not only are these hands down the best-looking true wireless earbuds on the market, but they also combine serious noise-cancelling tech with fist-pumping musicality. If you don’t want the inconvenience of carrying full-size cans around, they’re a persuasive alternative.

Battery life is above average, and that compact charging case is pretty slick too. Constantly improving, a recent update has brought volume control to the buds themselves, as well as support for Amazon Alexa. We reckon the true wireless jungle has found a new king.

Read more: Sony WF-1000XM3 review

cambridge audio melomania 1


Cambridge Audio is known for its high-end audio equipment, but until now, hasn’t ventured into the world of true wireless earbuds. Enter the Cambridge Audio Melomania 1s: with an outstanding 45 hours of battery life, they combine the brand’s award-winning engineering with the convenience of truly wireless listening. 

For a pair of true wireless earbuds, the sound quality offered by the Cambridge Audio Melomania 1s is sensational. In fact, it rivals that of some of the best over-ear headphones.

They may not have the noise cancellation technology offered by the Sony WF-1000XM3 Wireless Earbuds, but they are $100 / £100 cheaper – and they have a superior battery life.

They certainly outperform the Apple AirPods (2019), in all respects apart from the lack of wireless charging case. This is a small price to pay for that exceptional audio quality, though, and we think they represent much better value for money, too.

Read more: Cambridge Audio Melomania 1 review

lypertek tevi

You may not have heard of up-and-coming audio brand Lypertek yet, but expect to hear a lot from it soon – its Lypertek Tevi true wireless earbuds are among the best we’ve tried, especially given their low price tag ($130 / £99 / AU$185).

With USB-C charging, a well-balanced sound, lengthy battery life, and waterproofing, they tick every box you could ask for, from what are basically a pair of budget buds. 

The Lypertek Tevi, surprisingly, might just blow you away, punching well above their weight and rivaling buds from some of the biggest audio brands on the planet. 

Consider us pleasantly surprised.

Read more: Lypertek Tevi true wireless earbuds review

klipsch t5

They're not cheap, but the T5 hold their own against the very best true wireless headphones – in fact, we'd argue that they're among the best models on the market right now. That's because they offer stellar sound, high build quality, long-lasting battery life, and one of the coolest cases we've ever seen.

Featuring the signature Klipsch sound, these buds sound warm, clear, and never harsh. Acoustic music is lush and detailed, with that clarity extending to the highs as well, allowing the headphones to sing in the higher registers without ever being sibilant. 

Battery life is rated at eight hours per charge with the case providing an additional 24 hours – these are true wireless earbuds that can last you an entire flight from New York to San Francisco (or wherever you're next trip takes you). 

Read more: Klipsch T5 True Wireless review 

rha true wireless


Although the TrueConnect are RHAs first true wireless earbuds, they stand among the best AirPod-alternatives on the market today. The combination of sound quality, battery life, and wireless reliability means these are a pair of buds you can rely on everyday. 

The Jabra Elite 65t set the standard for what true wireless earbuds should be and, regardless of what RHA has done here with the TrueConnect, they’re still great headphones. Compared to the RHA TrueConnect, the Jabra have more features with its useful ambient noise mode to help with situational awareness and an app that lets you tailor sound. 

The RHA don't have either of those features but we didn’t miss them, thanks to better sound quality and wireless reliability. The RHA also feels more like a premium product than the all-plastic Jabra. 

All said, if you’re shopping for a pair of true wireless headphones, the $170 / £150 (about AU$265) the RHA TrueConnect should be at the very top of your list.  

Read more RHA TrueConnect review

jabra elite 75t


The Jabra Elite 75t improve upon their predecessors, the Jabra Elite 65t, in just about every way – except for tonal balance. 

The headphones and charging case are much smaller, battery life makes an immense jump, catching up to the competition, and the customization features we enjoyed in the 65t remain. 

While they don't have the best sound quality and they lacks active noise cancellation, neither stops the Jabre Elite 75t from being a solid pair of true wireless headphones to use, especially if you make frequent calls with your your headphones on. I

Read the full review: Jabra Elite 75t review

cheap AirPods Pro


Apple has launched its new true wireless earbuds, bringing active noise cancellation, a (finally) much better fit, and an improved design, in a bid to lure more iPhone users into the true wireless fold.

However, at $249 / £249 / AU$399, they’re pretty pricey too, and as such can’t be called the very best wireless headphones out there.

That said, if you’re an iPhone user looking for some well-fitting earbuds with strong sound quality, you could do a lot worse than the new AirPods - the redesign means they’re far less likely to fall out, and the additional microphones provide strong noise-cancelling (particularly when commuting), as well as a useful Transparency mode, which really does let the outside world in.

The sound quality of the AirPods Pro has certainly improved since the previous iteration – there’s a notable emphasis on vocals and bass, meaning these earbuds are better for pop fans than those that enjoy a more natural presentation that lends itself to classical music or more orchestral sounds.

Apparently, there's a new AirPods model on the horizon to join the original buds and the newer Pros. The AirPods Pro Lite are rumored to be a new variant of the company's popular true wireless earbuds, and they could be released this year.

Read more: Apple AirPods Pro review

beats powerbeats pro


The new PowerBeats Pro true wireless Beats headphones aren't exactly the earbuds analysts have been predicting, sure, but they are something special – they’re supremely comfortable, sound decent and seem to never, ever fall out. 

That said, they are going through – in our opinion – Apple’s best true wireless earbuds to date thanks to small additions like the pressure-reducing micro-laser barometric venting hole, their longer battery life and their superior sound quality. If we had to choose between wearing these and the AirPods around the house or office, these are what we’d wear.   

Read more: Beats PowerBeats Pro review

sennheiser momentum true wireless


Sennheiser enters the race with its Momentum True Wireless earbuds. An extension of its reputable Momentum range, these cordless buds offer Sennheiser's trademark high-fidelity audio in a gorgeously sleek package.

You only get four hours of charge in the earbuds, but the carry case will be able to charge them two times over on top of that, giving you 12 hours in total when on the go.

The main thing holding these back is the price: at £259 / $299 (about AU$400) they're almost double the cost of the Apple AirPods. You do get a range of touch-based controls to stop you reaching for your phone every time you want to skip or pause a track, but the act of prodding things in your ear could be more comfortable – while the volume control is oddly imprecise.

Overall though, Sennheiser's first true wireless earbuds combine style and sound like few others.

Read more: Sennheiser Momentum True Wireless review

bang & olufsen Beoplay E8 Wireless Earphones


Let’s get one thing out of the way – the B&O Beoplay E8 are some of the best-looking and most expensive wireless earphones you can buy at $350 / £300 (around AU$570).

Audio quality is undeniably excellent, and you can tweak the sound to your liking using the accompanying Beoplay app on Android and iOS.

Even without tinkering around with ToneTouch, the E8 2.0s sounds crisp and clear, with punchy bass frequencies. So, the Bang & Olufsen E8 2.0 truly wireless earphones look great and sound great, although the touch-sensitive buttons are a little too sensitive at times, and there's no active noise cancellation. 

However, it's hard to not find these earphones appealing, and if you want your true wireless earbuds to look as good as they sound, they could be the perfect model for you.

Read more: B&O Beoplay E8 2.0 Wireless Earphones review

samsung galaxy buds


It feels as though Samsung has finally got it right with the Galaxy Buds, and they represent serious competition for the Apple AirPods (2019) in terms of design, sound, and ease of use. 

We loved the pearlescent effect on the buds outer housing and the sleek design of the case, and we found they felt comfortable and secure. 

The sound quality offered by these true wireless buds is also very good indeed, with deep bass, and a wide open soundstage; although, audiophiles may want to look elsewhere for a more natural sound treatment, as the Galaxy Buds do sound very warm.

The downside here is that other features that are available on the app like ambient noise and the equalizer presets are useful to have, but didn’t always work as effectively as we hoped. These features are also pretty much out of bounds for iOS users, as you can only download the app on devices running Android 5.0 or later. 

Of course, there's a new pair of true wireless Samsung earbuds on the block now. Check out our hands-on Samsung Galaxy Buds Plus review for our first impressions of the upgraded earbuds – and stay tuned for the full review to find out whether the Galaxy Buds Plus will make it onto this round up. 

Read more: Samsung Galaxy Buds review

wireless earbuds

With a promising battery life and well-managed bass enhancement over Audio-Technica’s usual neutral sound, the Audio-Technica ATH-CKS5TW true wireless earbuds have a lot going for them. 

They've one of the most complete and well-rounded sound profiles we've seen from true-wireless earbuds, and that's despite the claimed bass enhancement. It's a very enjoyable sound that they make.

However, they are let down a bit by their fit – mileage will vary of course depending on your preferred bud style and the size of your ears, but all will find the fiddly case fit will annoy over time. Still, the quality audio here may be a worthy trade-off.

Read more: Audio-Technica ATH-CKS5TW review

What about the Apple AirPods?

cheap apple airpods deals prices


It's been a big year for the Apple AirPods; in March last year, the true wireless earbuds were given an upgrade to give us the AirPods (2019), and most recently, Apple announced the Apple AirPods Pro. 

The second generation Apple AirPods, the AirPods (2019), aren't a huge improvement on their predecessors, but they still sport some cool features, that may make them worth buying if you're an iPhone user in particular. 

They still feature the iconic design of the original AirPods (a good or bad thing depending on your point of view), and sound quality hasn't changed at all – it's lively, but not on par with the best true wireless earbuds in this guide. The bulk of the upgrade comes from the new H1 headphone chip, which improves connectivity and battery life, and allows for a new ‘Hey Siri’ voice activation feature.

The AirPods (2019) also come with an optional wireless charging case means you can use a Qi-compatible charging mat to power the case, rather than sticking a cable into the Lightning charging port in the bottom of the case. 

Like their predecessors, they are super easy to pair, but they are very much optimized for using with iPhones. The best true wireless earbuds give you more flexibility when it comes to your device of choice, and can offer superior sound quality – as well as sleeker designs. 

There’s also no getting away from the fact that these are an expensive pair of headphones, and for that kind of money we think that you can find better products elsewhere – especially if you're looking to pair with anything other than an iPhone. 

Read more Apple AirPods (2019) review

True wireless vs wireless: what's the difference?

Wireless headphones are traditional over-ear or on-ear headphones without the wire – the two earcups are connected by a headband. To learn more, head to our round up of the best wireless headphones.

Wireless earbuds – the focus of this guide – have existed for a while now, basically since Bluetooth was invented. Though battery-powered and not physically connected to your phone, they have a cord connecting both buds – and sometimes a band around the neck too. Check out the best wireless earbuds for more.

True wireless earbuds - the focus of this guide – have no cord whatsoever. While wireless allows us to wear headphones a few feet away from our music players, true wireless cuts the cord between the earbuds, giving us true freedom. 

Best true wireless earbuds at a glance

  1. Sony WF-1000XM3 True Wireless Earbuds
  2. Cambridge Audio Melomania 1
  3. Lypertek Tevi 
  4. Klipsch T5 True Wireless
  5. RHA TrueConnect True Wireless Eabuds
  6. Jabra Elite 75t
  7. Apple AirPods Pro
  8. Beats Powerbeats Pro
  9. Sennheiser Momentum True Wireless
  10. B&O Beoplay E8 2.0 Wireless Earphones
  11. Samsung Galaxy Buds
  12. Audio-Technica ATH-CKS5TW

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Best e-commerce platform of 2020: website software for an online store

Posted: 17 Feb 2020 09:15 AM PST

The rise of the web has allowed countless businesses to reach a wider market. Not only that, it has given rise to countless new online-only businesses, fueled by the exponential rise of mobile connections.

It's not surprising, then, that one analyst claims that the SMB e-commerce platform market will break the billion dollar barrier.

There's no doubt that the web provides a huge opportunity for companies, but it’s important for organizations to make the most of that opportunity. In order to sell your products or services online, your website has to be appropriately equipped.

Building an online store from scratch is a mammoth task, and fortunately, an unnecessary one. Today, there is a huge variety of e-commerce platform packages from which to choose. 

Most e-commerce platforms will provide businesses with standard functionality such as the ability to showcase products in an online catalog, take payments online, manage customers and provide with after-sales.

Others will provide more sophisticated functionality, such as online marketing features, the ability to manage or integrate with in-store systems and the provision of APIs.

Which e-commerce software is best for your business depends entirely on your specific requirements. If you're an online-only outfit, then POS integration won't be necessary, but you may get a lot of business from overseas, in which case foreign currency support would be a requirement.

In this article, we’re going to highlight some of the best e-commerce platforms available right now, before moving on to consider other options you might want to explore in terms of creating your own e-commerce solution.

The best e-commerce platform packages

Shopify is perhaps the most well known e-commerce platform available. It was set up in 2006 by founders Tobias Lütke, Daniel Weinand and Scott Lake who, as the story goes, felt that there wasn't a simple-to-use e-commerce platform available and so built their own. The company claims that: "You don't need to have any technical or design experience to easily create a beautiful online store." 

According to Shopify, it's possible to get one of its online stores up-and-running within minutes. Users can choose from a wide range of templates, or they can design the look and feel of their store themselves. It accepts a comprehensive range of credit cards, has Level 1 PCI compliance and 256-bit SSL encryption for security, and it offers 24/7 support via phone, instant messaging or email.

The platform provides a full CMS with which users can manage the functionality and layout of their online store. Users can manage their store on-the-go using Shopify's mobile apps, and the platform itself is fully responsive, meaning the store will be optimized for visitors regardless of whether they access it from a desktop computer or a mobile device. Also, a live chat function is available which allows you to have a real time conversation with your customers.

Shopify also offers users unlimited hosting for their stores, in-depth analytics of how visitors are using the store, and functionality for marketing such as SEO optimization, a discount and coupon engine, gift cards and email marketing tools. You can test out Shopify with a 14-day free trial.

best e-commerce packages

Bigcommerce was established in 2009 and promises to "support your business, not just your store." In addition to offering support via phone, instant chat and email, it also offers articles and videos to help with e-commerce, and access to a team of e-commerce experts who can provide advice and guidance about online selling. Their experts are qualified in both Google Analytics and Adwords.

Like Shopify, Bigcommerce provides a variety of templates and themes to help stores look their best and get up-and-running quickly. Alternatively, users can design their own store or use Bigcommerce designers to do so. The platform incorporates a full-featured CMS that allows users to run an entire website, rather than just a store.

Users can benefit from detailed and flexible product management, optimized search engine rankings, along with a variety of integrated marketing tools and analytics. Payments can be accepted via 40+ pre-integrated gateways and shipping details can be customized as per the business's requirements. As of late, some new features have been added like support for Amazon Import and Link and Shopping in Instagram Stories. The platform offers automated order processing, flexible tax rules depending on where orders are made and shipped, and support for multiple currencies. You can test out Bigcommerce with a 15-day free trial.

best e-commerce packages

Volusion has been around for almost two decades, having been set up in Texas over in the US in 1999. The company touts its platform as being an "all-in-one e-commerce solution", and offers a free 14-day trial (no credit card required).

As with other e-commerce platforms, users are offered a variety of templates from which to choose, and can also customize templates if they so wish. Should a more complex design be required, Volusion offers a custom design service that can incorporate branding and a firm's social media presence.

The platform provides the site and product management tools you'd expect, marketing functionality for SEO, social media, and affiliate outlets, along with emails and order management functionality for fast order processing, accepting payments, tax calculations and POS integration.

In addition to its platform and associated services, Volusion offers apps from its partners, support for users and a knowledge-base for help with e-commerce. Users can draw upon blog posts, guides and webinars. As of October 8th 2018, there are no more transaction fees.

best e-commerce packages

CoreCommerce was set up in 2001 and focuses on providing e-commerce services to small and medium-sized businesses. The company places an emphasis on simplicity and transparency, promising that its platform is easy-to-use and that customers will not fall foul of any hidden charges.

Perhaps CoreCommerce's most unique aspect is that all of its features are offered to all customers regardless of what plan they are on. Price plans are determined by the number of products, the number of email addresses, the amount of bandwidth and the amount of storage required by the user (and higher-end plans also benefit from additional support).

As with other e-commerce providers, CoreCommerce offers functionality for store design, product management, order processing and marketing. Of its headline features, the platform offers unlimited product customization options, a built-in blogging engine, and secure hosting that is provided by Rackspace and comes with a 99.9% uptime guarantee. You can try CoreCommerce out with a 15-day free trial.

best e-commerce packages

Having been founded in 1997, 3dcart is the oldest of our featured providers here. It was set up with a view to incorporating as many of the most requested e-commerce features into one platform as possible.

The company says it has six core values by which it operates: ongoing innovation, good service, simple solutions, fostering trust, keeping employees and customers happy, and stimulating prosperity amongst employees and customers.

Some of the platform's innovative features include a module that users can install to offer gift-wrapping, a purchase order system, the option of running a loyalty program and the ability to offer recurring orders. Many of these features are very specific, meaning that stores can be highly tailored to the needs of each business.

Stores can be designed using one of the many templates offered by 3dcart, or users can design their own store. A quick edit bar means that making changes to the design of a store is simple. Product images are fore-fronted with 3dcart's auto-zoom feature and products can be sold via Facebook with its store integration. As with some other platforms, users can blog directly from 3dcart and tools are provided for setting up coupons, sending newsletters and affiliate marketing. 3dcart is regularly updated and new features are constantly added, like the drag and drop HTML builder or the home page editor. Users can also make use out of "make an offer" feature, which basically lets you and your customers to negotiate on a price.

In addition to its platform, 3dcart offers a number of professional services. Users can request help with SEO, PPC, shopping feed management, social media, Facebook ads and conversion consulting. Help can also be provided to ensure that a user's store is set up to the highest standard. Services such as site cloning, setting up custom tracking, data migration and training are offered.

In addition, 3dcart can provide SSL certification. Hosting is guaranteed at 99.9% uptime and 24/7 support is provided via phone, email or online chat. You can test out the service with a 15-day free trial.

best e-commerce packages

Also consider:

Alternative means

If you don’t want to go the route of using an off-the-shelf package, what other options are available for you to explore? That’s what we’re going to look at in the second half of this piece…

Many serious businesses have taken to eBay these days


Is eBay right for your business?

Opening its doors in 1999, eBay UK now has over 14 million users, with over 10,000 people using the site for a business that is their primary means of income. It's not just about people selling unwanted goods - businesses have used the simplicity that eBay offers to set up lucrative operations. Even the larger brands such as Argos, Debenhams and House of Fraser are using eBay to sell online.

With sophisticated tools now available you can be up and running with your store in just a few hours. The eBay Seller Centre has all the information you need. Each store is managed via eBay's familiar user interface, and there are a number of eBay-provided tools to help manage, track and promote your shop once it's established.

Using eBay as the platform for your business could be ideal if your business wants to sell goods on a fixed price basis. The complete integration of the PayPal e-payments system into eBay takes care of this essential component of your store.

The key with eBay is to look closely at the costs involved and also the transaction fees that PayPal charge before moving forward and setting up your own store.

How to create your own e-commerce solution

Of course if you want complete control over every aspect of your new online store, building each page yourself will be the best course of action. Hiring someone to code your website is one option. If you decide to do this follow these steps:

  1. Ask the company for live examples of their work to look at
  2. Write a detailed brief of the site you want created. The more detail the better to avoid confusion
  3. Ensure you understand the price you are being charged and how many revisions this price includes
  4. Always have a signed agreement or contract before work commences
  5. Ask whether the designers will host your site and if you will be able to make updates yourself or if all updates must go through the design agency at an additional cost
  6. Ask for the copyright of your design to be assigned to your company, as your website is an important part of your business' intellectual property
  7. Put into your contract, details of how the agreement can be amicably dissolved if things go wrong

Choose a website design from Template Monster


You also don't have to build your site completely from scratch. Buying a template can give you all the basic pages your site needs. You can then either modify them yourself using an application like Dreamweaver, or hire a coding expert to make the changes. Website templates are available from a number of vendors including Template Monster.

If you already have a website and want to add e-commerce functionality, this can be easily achieved with a number of applications including:

Final advice

Whichever route you decide to take when building your website always remember:

  1. You need to ensure your store can be easily updated and managed.
  2. Good professional web hosting is vital to ensure your site is always available.
  3. Look for payment and shopping carts that are intuitive and efficient to use.
  4. Customer service is king these days. Businesses shouldn't just efficiently take customers' money, but should also properly support them.
  5. Make sure that your store is fully integrated with all the leading social media sites.
  6. Put security first – shoppers are now more comfortable buying online, but always ensure your site uses SSL (Secure Socket Layer) which is now the industry standard for online payments.
  7. Above every other consideration should be your site's visitor experience. Don't forget your competitors are just a mouse click away in the world of e-commerce. 

Setting up your online store should be approached carefully and diligently to ensure you put a professional and efficient site live. Internet shopping continues to expand. Make sure your business doesn't miss out on a sales channel that shows no signs of slowing down.

This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now

GeForce Now lost all Activision Blizzard games due to an Nvidia blunder

Posted: 17 Feb 2020 09:09 AM PST

Activision Blizzard’s library of games disappeared from GeForce Now shortly after the game streaming service was officially launched, but it seems like that might have been Nvidia’s fault, after all – in terms of a misunderstanding over the terms of the deal between the two firms.

At the time, Nvidia didn’t give an actual reason as to why all Activision Blizzard’s titles were dropped from the service, but in a statement noted that this was “per their request”, and that it was “unfortunate”.

However, Nvidia has told Bloomberg that the reason for the move was a misunderstanding in that it believed the agreement with Activision Blizzard regarding its involvement in the beta of GeForce Now applied to the initial post-launch trial period of the service, too (in other words, the first three months of going live).

Evidently this wasn’t the case, and Activision Blizzard wanted some kind of a commercial agreement (which sounds sensible enough, let’s face it) before proceeding to the full launch of GeForce Now, and this didn’t happen – hence the publisher requested its games library to be pulled.

This seems like a pretty big oversight, one way or another, but it perhaps does give some hope to GeForce Now subscribers – those who signed up to play the likes of the Call of Duty games, Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice, Overwatch, World of Warcraft and many more besides – some hope that the issue might be resolved.

When Nvidia first announced that the games had been dropped, the company said that it hoped “to work together with Activision Blizzard to re-enable these games and more in the future”.

Nvidia repeated that sentiment in another statement published by Bloomberg: “Recognizing the misunderstanding, we removed [Activision Blizzard’s] games from our service, with hope we can work with them to re-enable these, and more, in the future.”

Returning to the fold

So perhaps, at least theoretically, there is no reason why these games might not return, given that Activision Blizzard was certainly happy enough to be part of the beta test. But of course an agreement will need to be hammered out, and who knows how many hurdles might stand in the way on that front. The use of a word like ‘hope’ in Nvidia’s statement doesn’t inspire full confidence, either.

If the situation was rectified, that would go a long way to restoring the faith of those who specifically subscribed to GeForce Now and bought games like the latest episode of Call of Duty (Modern Warfare) to play via the service (those whose own PCs aren’t up to the task of running these titles).

Remember that the key to GeForce Now is that you’re effectively paying to rent a powerful gaming PC you can connect to remotely – you still have to buy all the games you wish to play yourself (and they have to be supported by GeForce Now, of course).

The incident has served to highlight one of the major potential weaknesses of Nvidia’s service, in that if publishers do turn around and decide they no longer want to be involved with GeForce Now, those who bought specific games to play solely on the streaming service are obviously out of luck.

Via PC GamesN

This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now

Best turntables 2020: the best record players for any budget

Posted: 17 Feb 2020 09:04 AM PST

The best turntables of 2020 are completely different beasts to the dusty old record players you might find tucked away in your attic – the best turntables in the world today are thoroughly modern devices, essential for any music lover who can't get enough of the warm sound of vinyl. 

These days, the best record players are well-equipped with mod-cons like built-in Bluetooth connectivity and USB outputs that allow you to record your LPs straight onto your computer. That means you can listen to your vinyls anywhere. 

With the vogue for vinyl still in full swing, sales of turntables having been growing steadily worldwide since 2012 – and there's never been a better time to invest in a new record player. 

So, blow the cobwebs off your old record collection and get ready to spin your favorite tunes with the best turntables of 2020. 

What's the best turntable?

Audio-Technica AT-LP120-USB


The Audio-Technica AT-LP120-USB is a great introductory turntable for any budding vinyl enthusiast.

Out of the box, it features the ability to play 33 ⅓, 45 and 78 RPM, which means there will never be an album you can’t play. There’s also a built-in phono preamp so you never have to worry about finding one on your own. 

New record collectors will love the easy setup and features while more vetted users will love the option to dial in the vertical tracking angle, tracking force and easily replaceable headshell. Sure, it looks like a Technics SL-1200 ripoff but at a fraction of the price, it’s entirely worth it. 

The AT-LP120-USB also comes with a USB output that allows you to record your record collection if you want. To put it simply, this deck strikes the perfect balance of ease of use for beginners while still including some more advanced features for you to grow into.

Audio-Technica AT-LP60


If you don't want to spend a fortune on the best turntable in the world and you're not worried about squeezing every last drop of fidelity from your LPs, the Audio-Technica AT-LP60 is a perfect starting point.

It’s portable, can play most vinyl and is by far the most inexpensive turntable we have on this list. It’s also totally automatic, meaning it’ll queue a record and return the arm to resting position without requiring a manual lever. 

The only caveat with a turntable this cheap is that it won’t grow with you as your vinyl collection expands. The built-in phono preamp means you’re stuck with it, however you can replace the needle once it wears out.

While there are cheaper, poorly engineered turntables on the market, it’s not worth it, as you risk damaging your precious records with poorly aligned and improperly weighted tonearms. Vinyl is expensive so we recommend the AT-LP60 for beginners just looking to get started. 

Make sure you check out our hands-on Audio-Technica AT-LP5x turntable review, too – it's another great starter record player from the Japanese company.

Denon DP-300F


The Denon DP-300F is a gorgeous turntable that sounds just as good as it looks. The included DSN-85 cartridge isn’t the most accurate but it nevertheless manages to make your music sound airy and reasonably detailed, especially for it’s price.You’ll need  to spend a lot more cash to hear more detail.

While the DP-300F lacks the USB outputs of some of the turntables listed here, it’s still a great starting turntable for anyone who doesn’t want to manually queue their albums or have a habit of falling asleep while listening to music. The Denon’s automatic start/stop feature means your needle won’t be worn down at the end of the record as the arm immediately returns when an album is done. 

Build quality is decent for an all-plastic turntable, but its buttons feel cheap – a minor problem but shouldn't be a deal-breaker for you. If the Audio-Technica AT-LP120-USB doesn’t fit your aesthetic, consider the Denon DP-300F instead.

Read the full review: Denon DP-300F review

best turntables

Fluance RT81


The Fluance RT81 is an excellent starter turntable for the enthusiast. It’s simple to set up and use for newbies but you can switch out the cartridge to squeeze out more performance later on. Newbies also won’t have to worry about getting a separate phono preamp, as one is built in. However, you can turn it off if you want to use a better external preamp. 

The only downside is that Fluance’s advertised “auto-off” feature simply turns off the platter, preventing excessive needle wear but you’ll still have to return the arm to its resting place yourself. You’ll also have to manually queue records, which isn’t a deal breaker by any means but is something to consider for those looking for a fully automatic turntable. The Denon DP-300F is a great choice for those looking for a fully automated record listening experience. 

Read the full review: Fluance RT81 review

Pro-Ject Debut Carbon


From here on out things start to get a little bit more ‘real’: The Pro-Ject Debut Carbon is in the runnings to be the best entry-level hi-fi turntables you can buy. 

While vinyl newcomers may cringe at the price, the Debut Carbon is really an incredible bargain. For the money, you get an very well made deck that’s damped properly for fantastic sound quality. The carbon fiber tonearm is lightweight and stiff, and is usually reserved for turntables costing much more.

The Pro-Ject Debut Carbon is for the budding enthusiast that’s committed to the record collecting hobby and because of that commitment, it doesn’t feature niceties like an auto-returning tonearm, buttons for changing speed or an included phono preamp. Newbies may be turned off by the manual changing of the belt position to change speeds and the lack of an included preamp. However, if you want to extract more detail and resolution from your records than the cheaper options on this list, or if you want to get started on the path of being a true vinyl collector, the Debut Carbon is probably your best bet.

Like the Pro-Ject Debut III, but want a subtler look? Check out the Crosley C10, which features a chic wooden-look plinth combined with a Pro-Ject tonearm.

Read the full review: Pro-Ject Debut Carbon review

Rega Planar 1


There’s a lot of debate whether the Rega Planar 1 or the Pro-Ject Debut Carbon is the best entry-level Hi-Fi turntable. It’s a close match and there are no clear winners, each providing an excellent starting place for audiophiles on a budget. 

While the Rega may lack the fancy carbon tone arm of the Pro-Ject, the Planar 1 still sounds excellent and is well damped with its phenolic resin platter. And for newbies, the Rega Planar 1 is still easy to setup, though you’ll have to provide your own phono preamp. 

Ultimately, the Rega Planar 1 just sounds so good that it’s hard to fault it too much. Vocals are revealing and you can hear the texture from instruments like the violin. The included Rega Carbon cartridge isn’t anything special but manages to be a great match for the turntable. It’s a tough choice between the Planar 1 and the Debut Carbon but you can’t go wrong with either.

Marantz TT-15S1


The Marantz TT-15S1 costs a serious bit of change, but you’re actually getting a killer bargain. The Clearaudio Virtuoso included with the turntable is $1000 when purchased separately. Additionally, you get a killer tonearm and gorgeous turntable at a price that’s definitely an investment, but not unreasonable. 

So what does the Marantz TT-15S1 get you over the competition? Attention to detail. Just about every part of the turntable has been poured over to be the best it can be for the price. The fit and finish are excellent and it’s a pleasure to handle the high-quality components. This is a turntable you’ll find yourself admiring its visual and audible qualities. 

Newbies should not get this turntable as it requires more knowledge to set up properly than the entry-level turntables on this list. But if you’re ready to take your record collecting and listening to the next level, the Marantz TT-15S1 is the perfect place to start.

Read the full review: Marantz TT-15S1 review

Clearaudio Concept


If the Clearaudio Concept and Marantz TT-15S1 seem familiar, that’s because the Marantz was built by Clearaudio to Marantz’s specifications. This means everything about the excellent build quality of the Marantz carries over to the Clearaudio Concept (i.e. this is a turntable that is as gorgeous as it sounds). 

One small but notable difference between the Marantz and the Clearaudio is the ability to play 78 rpm records. While most people will never come across 78s, it’s nice to know that the Clearaudio Concept is capable of playing them. The Concept also has a handy speed dial on the plinth, meaning you don’t have to swap the belt position manually.

As for negatives, the Clearaudio Concept has no notable flaws. Yes, it’s expensive but you’re still getting a bargain in this price range. The included Clearaudio Concept moving-coil cartridge costs $1,000 by itself. Yep! 

Read the review: Clearaudio Concept review

Sony PS-HX500


The Sony PS-HX500 is a great entry-level turntable for those just getting started with record collecting. Its standout feature is its ability to record Hi-Res audio from its USB output in 96kHz/24bit resolution. This is an excellent feature for those looking to digitize their records. 

In terms of sound quality, the Sony PS-HX500 sound spacious and provides good detail. However, the included needle sounds a bit harsh and sibilant at times and lacks the resolution of more expensive cartridges. 

While some may like the minimalist design of the Sony, it’s utterly forgettable and its plastic build leaves a lot to be desired. Handling the turntable on a daily basis leaves us wanting more premium materials that don’t rattle. 

Cambridge Audio Alva TT turntable


$1700 / £1500 (around AU$2750) for a record player is expensive no matter the brand, and it’s Cambridge’s most expensive-ever turntable by a mile. But it’s uniquely specified, and intends to deliver all the many and various advantages of the vinyl format with very few of the compromises. 

The fact it’s able to stream wirelessly to a 24bit/48kHz aptX HD standard makes it number one in a field of one. No other record player from any better-established brand in this sort of market - Rega, for instance, or Clearaudio - is able to come close to this level of convenience.

Read the review: Cambridge Audio Alva TT review

Audio-Technica AT-LP60XBT


With a budget-friendly price, easy assembly, and the convenience of wireless playback, the AT-LP60XBT could make a fantastic first turntable for any fledgling vinyl enthusiast. 

While the plinth does feel somewhat insubstantial, and the sound might not be detailed enough for some, it's brilliant price more than makes up for that – and the inclusion of Bluetooth connectivity makes the AT-LP6XBT feel like very good value for money. 

Audio-Technica is known for producing high quality cartridges, and the one used on this turntable is no exception; the ATN3600L conical stylus fits perfectly into the grooves of the record and reveals details in songs you may have never noticed before – in short, it makes your music an absolute joy to listen to. 

Read the review: Audio-Technica AT-LP60XBT turntable review

Technics SL 1500c

Meet the budget-friendly Technics SL-1500C that will only set you back £899 / $999 / AU$2499. It's still not the most affordable turntable on the market, but it's first the reborn Technics has so far delivered really remind listeners of what they loved about the brand in the first place.

Sound-staging is impressive, with recordings given plenty of elbow-room for individual instruments to make their presence felt. There’s depth and height to the Technics’ stage, as well as width, but despite all this breathing-room there’s no lack of unity to the sound the SL-1500C delivers.

Read the review: Technics SL-1500C Turntable review

What makes a good turntable?

One downside of the renewed interested in turntables with all their modern trappings and tricky naming conventions, is that navigating the market for the best record players can be pretty confusing – but stick with us and we’ll help you find the best turntable for you.

To start, we'll walk you through all the little details that go into choosing the best record player for your listening needs and budget. Do you want to go on the high end with a belt drive? Or how about a more user-friendly direct drive turntable or a Bluetooth-enabled model? What about phono preamps? Do you need one? 

All of these questions will be answered right here, so before you know it, those dusty old records will be spinning once more on your brand new turntable.

On of the most vital components to look for when you’re shopping for the best record player for you, is how well damped it is. 

Damping is essentially the method by which manufacturers combat vibrations – whether internal or external. They do this through the use of different motor configurations, and through the use of various components. 

Most of the time, belt-driven turntables are going to be a lot quieter and offer higher fidelity than their direct drive brethren, as direct drive turntables have a motor that is directly connected to the platter. However, there are some great direct drive turntables out there, so don’t write them off quite yet. 

Your own personal needs are important too, though, so don’t forget about them. If you’re just starting out, you probably don’t need to be fooling around with a complex turntable with an adjustable vertical tracking angle, anti-skate and azimuth. You may even want a turntable that connects to your speaker wirelessly over Bluetooth. Do you want to rip your vinyl to your digital library? If so, look for a turntable with a USB output and reliable software to get the job done.

Best turntables 2020 at a glance

  1. Audio-Technica AT-LP120-USB
  2. Audio-Technica AT-LP60
  3. Denon DP-300F
  4. Fluance RT81
  5. Pro-ject Debut Carbon
  6. Rega Planar 1
  7. Marantz TT-15S1
  8. Clearaudio Concept
  9. Sony PS-HX500
  10. Cambridge Audio Alva TT turntable
  11. Audio-Technica AT-LP60XBT
  12. Techics SL 1500c

This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now

Oppo Reno 3 and Reno 3 Pro release date, price, specs, and what you need to know

Posted: 17 Feb 2020 09:00 AM PST

The Oppo Reno, Reno 10x Zoom and Reno 2 were some of the most intriguing smartphones of 2019, with the middle of those making it onto our list of the best smartphones, so we were, of course, looking forward to the Oppo Reno 3 launch...

...until it turned out that the Oppo Reno 3 reveal, in late 2019, was a China-only launch, and at the time of writing three months later there's still no sign of the devices being available in Europe, the US or Australia.

We're still crossing our fingers for a European launch at some point though, as the first and second generation of Oppo Reno devices were pretty popular, and it seems that the company is slowly bringing its handsets to more regions.

So if you were a fan of previous Oppo phones and want to know all about the new devices in anticipation of a further roll-out, or if you have never heard of the brand before but want to find a great new affordable smartphone, here's everything you need to know about the Oppo Reno 3 range.

Cut to the chase

  • What is it? The third generation of Oppo's mid-range Reno series
  • When is it out? Sometime in early 2020 – hopefully
  • How much will it cost? Around £449 / $575 / AU$850 for the lowest memory option

Oppo Reno 3 price and release date

The Oppo Reno 3 series was launched in China on December 26 2019, and is slated for an India launch on March 2, so it seems the phone is slowly making its way around the world – perhaps, then, we could see a European launch in April or May.

We were initially expecting to see the Reno 3 at MWC 2020 at the end of February, but shortly before that whole event was cancelled, Oppo confirmed it would actually be the Find X2 shown off there.

In terms of price, we're not totally sure, but conversions from Chinese prices suggest the Oppo Reno 3 could cost between the price of the Reno 2Z and Reno 2 at around $485 / £375 / AU$725.

Then, the Oppo Reno 3 Pro could cost slightly more, as conversions from the Chinese price place it at almost exactly the Reno 2's tag of £449 (around $575, AU$850).

Of course, these conversions may not end up being exact when the device is launched in different regions around the world, but they do suggest there's still no 'top-end' device in the series to replace the Oppo Reno 10x Zoom.

Oppo Reno 3 design and display

The Oppo Reno 3 and Reno 3 Pro lose the distinctive feature of the rest of the Reno handsets, in that they don't have pop-up front-facing cameras.

It's a shame to see them go, especially since they're replaced with the all-too-common alternatives: a notch breaking up the screen instead in the base device, and a punch-hole cut-out in the Pro.

The rear cameras are housed in a bump in the top left of the rear of the phone, and it seems like this bump might stick out quite a bit, so apparently Oppo is also dropping its distinctive camera arrangement from the other Reno devices, in which the lenses were flush with the rear of the phone in a sleek design.

There's a 3.5mm headphone jack on the Oppo Reno 3, but not on the Pro version, so if you want to use wired headphones you should stick with the more affordable option (or use an adapter).

The non-Pro and Pro models have 6.4- and 6.5-inch 1080 x 2400 AMOLED screens respectively, so they're not hugely different in terms of size or quality, but the Reno 3 Pro's display curves around the edges, as premium handsets often do.

The Oppo Reno 3 Pro also has a 90Hz refresh rate on its screen, a step up from the 60Hz of the base device, and HDR10+ support, so it should give you a better viewing experience.

Oppo Reno 3 camera

Both the Oppo Reno 3 and Reno 3 Pro have front-facing cameras with a 32MP resolution, so selfies you take with them should look pretty similar.

Saying that, pictures leaked before the Indian launch event showed two front-facing cameras, at least one of which is 44MP, which Oppo quickly confirmed, so it seems the handsets will have hardware differences between regions. 

That leak also throws the rear camera specs into question, because it suggests the Oppo Reno 3 Pro could have a 64MP main camera. In China, the main snapper on this version is 48MP. It doesn't seem like any of the other snappers on this high-end model are in doubt though.

That means the Oppo Reno 3 Pro could have a 13MP telephoto, 8MP ultra-wide and 2MP black and white snapper, which is a fairly decent if not extraordinary camera collection.

The base Oppo Reno 3, meanwhile, is set to have a 64MP main camera, the 8MP ultra-wide and 2MP black and white shooters from the Pro, as well as an extra 2MP depth sensor. These latter two cameras typically try to make standard shots better rather than giving you more options, so the lack of a telephoto camera for zoom shots will be felt here.

It seems that the Oppo Reno 3 Pro has better video-shooting capabilities than its sibling, as it seems to be the only one of the two that can shoot in 4K or at 60fps, so people who like to shoot lots of footage on their smartphone might want to consider the top-end device.

Oppo Reno 3 features, specs and battery life

Both Oppo Reno 3 smartphones come with a 4,025mAh battery, so they should have similar battery lives unless you turn on the 90Hz option on the Pro model, as that can increase power drain.

For charging the phone up, both also support a 30W fast charge using Oppo's VOOC technology. That's quite far behind the 50W charging it has used in some other phones, but still a jot above competitors like the Samsung Galaxy S20.

If you want a top-end chipset in your smartphone, you may want to stay away from the Oppo Reno 3 phones – the 'main' device has a MediaTek Dimensity 1000L and the Pro has a Qualcomm Snapdragon 765G. The latter should return slightly faster processing speeds, but neither is groundbreaking and you wouldn't have to spend much more to get a phone with a better processor.

Saying that, the RAM is quite high in both models, as they both come in 8GB and 12GB variants. Storage space is 128GB in all except the 12GB Oppo Reno 3 Pro, which has 256GB of space.

Finally, it seems there is a 5G version of the Oppo Reno 3 Pro, but not of the basic device, and it's expected this version will cost a bit more, but we don't know by how much just yet.

This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now

Best earbuds 2020: the best earbuds, earphones and in-ear headphones for any budget

Posted: 17 Feb 2020 08:58 AM PST

The best earbuds (AKA earphones, in-ear headphones, or whatever you want to call them) are undoubtably one of the most convenient ways to listen to your music, whether you opt for wired models, wireless earphones, or true wireless earbuds. 

This guide will include all kinds of earbuds, but if you have a particular form factor in mind, you might want to check out our dedicated guides to the best wireless earphones and the best true wireless earbuds.

Even though true wireless earbuds like the Apple AirPods, Sony WF-1000XM3, and the Beats Powerbeats Pro have boosted the popularity of cord-cutting models, wired earphones and neckbuds are still worth a look, thanks to enhanced security and better audio quality.

With so much choice out there, making the right choice can be tricky – that's why we've rounded up the best earbuds in terms of value for money, as well as sound quality, design, and extra features.

1More Triple Driver In-Ear Headphone

If you like your headphones to come with a wire, these are the best earbuds you can buy in 2020. After spending a few weeks with both the 1MORE Triple Driver in-ear headphones and the 1MORE Quad Driver in-ear headphones we were blown away at just how much value each one gave in their prospective price ranges. 

For $100 / £100 (around AU$168), it’s hard to think of a better sounding and built headphone than the 1MORE Triple Driver. That said, if you want just that little extra refinement and luxury materials, the 1MORE Quad Drivers are still a bargain at twice the price. 

There’s very little we can fault the Triple Drivers for. Their rubber cable is annoying and its remote control feels cheap but these are just nitpicks. But, for their price, it’s impossible to do better than 1MORE's Triple Driver in-ear headphones. 

Read the full review: 1More Triple Driver In-Ear Headphone review

Sony WF-1000XM3

Considering it's still rare to get noise cancelation in wired earbuds at all, the fact that Sony has managed to pack it into a pair that are not only wireless, but true wireless is very impressive indeed. 

The Sony WF-1000X manage to offer a level of noise cancelation that's very good for a pair of earbuds – it won't offer the same isolation as a pair of over-ear cans, but if you're after a sleek form factor then the compromise is worth it. 

That being said, in spite of a few minor problems we feel that Sony has knocked the ball out of the park with the WF-1000XM3: Not only are these hands down the best-looking true wireless headphones out there, but they combine serious noise cancelling tech with fist-pumping musicality. If you don’t want the inconvenience of carrying full-size cans, they’re a persuasive alternative.

Battery life is above average, and that compact charging case is pretty slick too. On-ear volume controls similar to the PowerBeats Pro have just been introduced via a firmware update, making them even better than they were at launch. 

Read the full review: Sony WF-1000XM3 review

RHA True Connect

While truly wireless earbuds are undoubtedly the future of portable audio, they still present compromises in battery life and wireless reliability. Plus, they’re easy to lose if you’re not careful. Neckbuds, or earbuds that are worn around the neck, are a great alternative to true wireless earbuds as they offer longer battery life for continuous listening and stronger wireless performance. 

That being said, if you're interested in picking up a pair, it's hard to do better than the RHA MA390 Wireless, which easily stands as one of the best neckbuds on the market. After spending several weeks with them, we came away impressed with the package RHA has come up with: The headphones are built extremely well, have a fun sound signature, can take a beating and still remain relatively affordable. 

It’s main rival, the OnePlus Bullets Wireless (featured below), are also excellent, however the RHA MA390 offer more dynamic sound and better build quality. 

 Read the full review: RHA MA390 Wireless review

Cambridge Audio Melomania 1


Cambridge Audio is known for its high-end audio equipment, but until now, hasn’t ventured into the world of true wireless earbuds. Enter the Cambridge Audio Melomania 1s: with an outstanding 45 hours of battery life, they combine the brand’s award-winning engineering with the convenience of truly wireless listening. 

For a pair of true wireless earbuds, the sound quality offered by the Cambridge Audio Melomania 1s is sensational. In fact, it rivals some of the best over-ear headphones, which is all but unheard of for buds of this size. 

They may not have the noise cancellation technology offered by the Sony WF-1000XM3 Wireless Earbuds, but they are $100 (around £80) cheaper – and have a superior battery life. 

Read the full review: Cambridge Audio Melomania 1 review

RHA T20i


Good sound is subjective, yes, but there are things that we can all agree on that make a headphone sound good: Bass should be tight and impactful, highs detailed but not harsh, and mids that are smooth like honey. 

Most headphone manufacturers shoot for these specs, but what if you want a little more bass or want to increase the energy of the highs? For most headphones, your only option is to mess with equalization. But RHA has a different idea. 

The RHA T20i is an excellent sounding pair of in-ear headphones with a neat party trick: customizable filters. These filters thread into the headphone housings and let you choose from Bass, Treble, and Reference. Each filter makes an audible impact and are easy to swap out on the go. 

As a package, the build quality, sound, and customizable filters make the RHA T20i a must-have for audiophiles on the go. In fact, they sound so good, they made us want to give up our wireless headphones.

Read the full review: RHA T20i review

Optoma NuForce BE Sport4


The NuForce BE Sport4 wireless earbuds are that rare find: earbuds that are good for basically all situations. While they're specifically designed for use in the gym and on the track, the BE Sport4 do an awesome job isolating audio in a crowded city environment and are even good enough for home listening.  

The BE Sport4 earbuds have claimed 10-hour battery life, which we found to be pretty close to the mark in our time with them, and from empty you can get two hours of use from just a 15-minute charge – ideal for those needing a quick top-up while they put on their trainers and pack a gym kit. 

Consider this a warning shot fellow audio manufacturers: build and audio quality do not need to be sacrificed in order to keep earbuds affordable. 

Read the full review: Optoma NuForce BE Sport4 review

OnePlus Bullets Wireless 2


OnePlus is most known for its “flagship killer” phones like the OnePlus 7 and OnePlus 7 Pro, but the company also makes headphones – the best example of which are the company’s excellent Bullets Wireless 2, which offer an incredible value in the neck-bud headphone category. 

In terms of audio quality, they boast a lively sonic presentation and an accurate-feeling soundstage, although bass-heads may want to look elsewhere for headphones that pack a bassier punch. 

They're comfortable to wear too, but it's just a shame that they don't have a waterproof rating and the inline remote is so fiddly, because otherwise they could make a decent pair of running headphones. 

They may be $30 more expensive than their predecessors, but the improved battery life and sound quality makes up for that; it also makes it worth upgrading if you have the originals and are due a new pair of wireless earbuds. 

Read the full review: OnePlus Bullets Wireless 2 review

true wireless earbuds


If you're looking for budget-friendly true wireless earbuds, then the Lypertek Tevi are a great choice – they're among the best earbuds we've tried, especially given their low price tag ($130 / £99 / AU$185).

With USB-C charging, a well-balanced sound, lengthy battery life, and waterproofing, they tick every box you could ask for, from what are basically a pair of budget buds. 

The Lypertek Tevi, surprisingly, might just blow you away, punching well above their weight and rivaling buds from some of the biggest audio brands on the planet. 

Consider us pleasantly surprised.

Read more: Lypertek Tevi true wireless earbuds review

Sennheiser CX Sport wireless earphones


If the most important aspect of running earphones for you is the audio quality, these wireless earbuds from Sennheiser could be a fantastic choice. 

With a lively, bass-heavy presentation, and a comfortable fit, the Sennheiser CX Sport wireless earphones can really bolster your running performance through sound quality alone. 

They don't come with a heart rate monitor, but the inclusion of ear fins and sporty neon color scheme makes them ideal for casual workouts. 

With a battery life of six hours, they're great for your average running session, or even your daily commute – but marathon runners will want to look elsewhere. 

 Read the full review: Sennheiser CX Sport Wireless earphones review

1More Quad Driver In-Ear Headphones


They're expensive, but the 1MORE Quad Driver in-ear headphones are worth every penny. 1MORE hit it out of the park with this flagship pair of in-ear headphones with its balanced sound build quality, smartphone compatibility and price. These in-ear headphones will make mobile audiophiles very happy. 

The only reservation that we have is that the Quad Drivers face tough competition from 1MORE’s own cheaper Triple Driver sibling which costs half the price (which sit pretty at the number one spot on our list). 

In terms of value, the 1MORE Triple Driver headphones are the winner but for those who want just a bit better build and more detailed sound, the 1MORE Quad Driver headphones are worth the extra money. 

Read the full review: 1More Quad Driver In-Ear Headphones

How to choose the best earbuds for you

The best pairs of in-ear headphones need to be ultra-comfortable to wear for extended periods of time, and must fit securely in your ear for decent noise isolation. 

If you're looking for a pair of running headphones, your new buds should have an IPX4 water-resistance rating or above; this means that they'll be able to withstand a little sweat as well as a spot of rain.

There are wired and wireless earbuds on this list, but newer models can be completely wire-free. Our current favorite true wireless earbuds, the Sony WF-1000XM3 go one step further, combining truly wireless sound with high quality noise cancelation tech.

If you do opt for wireless or true wireless earbuds, make sure the battery life is up to scratch, otherwise you could find yourself caught short without any music in the middle of your commute. 

Most importantly, they need to sound good. If you're a dedicated audiophile, look for buds that support Hi-Res Audio codecs like LDAC and aptX HD Bluetooth for stellar connectivity. 

The best earbud and in-ear headphones FAQ: quick questions answered

Which brand's earphones is the best? That totally depends on what you're looking for – but we're careful with our lists. That means all of the earbud and in-ear headphones below come from brands we trust. Still, if you're not sure where to start looking, respected brands like Sony, Apple, Cambridge Audio, JBL, and Optoma are good places to start.

What are the best cheap earbuds? At least half of the buds in this list are below the $80 / $80 mark, which makes them ideal for those who need a new set of headphones but can't justify a splurge. We recommend taking a good look at the RHA MA390 Wireless, as well as the 1More Triple Drive In-Ear Headphones. If they're still too pricey for your current budget, then check out our guide to the best cheap headphones of 2020.

Which is better, earbuds or headphones? It's up to you. Some people love the feel and immersive sound experience of over-ear headphones, others prefer the freedom and compact size of in-ear headphones and earbuds. It all depends on what your priorities are. 

How do I keep my earbuds from falling out? Although most of the high-end in-ear buds and headphones are designed to stay put, everyone's ears are different. Which means there's still a chance they'll fall out – especially if you're running or moving. If this keeps happening, we recommend opting for a pair built with sports in mind, these tend to have better support and even a different design that anchors them into your ear better.

Should I buy wireless earphones? Wireless and true wireless earbuds are a great option for those who want to listen to music on the go without the hassle of tangled cables getting in their way. However, some audio purists think that the sound quality afforded by Bluetooth connections still doesn't compete with traditional wired models.

Best earbuds 2020, at a glance:

  1. 1More Triple Driver In-Ear Headphone
  2. Sony WF-1000XM3 True Wireless Earbuds
  3. RHA MA390 Wireless
  4. Cambridge Audio Melomania 1
  5. RHA T20i
  6. Optoma NuForce BE Sport4
  7. OnePlus Bullets Wireless 2
  8. Lypertek Tevi
  9. Sennheiser CX Sports Wireless
  10. 1More Quad Driver In-Ear Headphones

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Presidents' Day TV sales: the best deals on 4K TVs from Samsung, LG, Sony and more

Posted: 17 Feb 2020 08:56 AM PST

Presidents' Day 2020 is officially here, and that means you can score incredible deals on a range of cheap 4K TVs from retailers like Best Buy, Walmart, and Amazon from top brands such as Samsung, LG, Sony, and more. 

To help you sort through all the offers, we've rounded up the best Presidents' Day TV sales that are available online. Our top picks include everything from a small-screen 43-inch TV to a massive 75-inch set, at a range of prices and from brands like Samsung, LG, Sony, and more.

Shop our best Presidents' Day TV deals below and keep in mind, most sales end today so you'll need to take advantage of these amazing bargains before it's too late. If you're interested in more offers, you can see our roundup of the best Presidents' Day sales, which include discounts on home items, laptops, mattresses, and more.

Presidents' Day TV deals:

More Presidents' Day sales

  • Walmart - save on TVs, appliances, furniture and more
  • Best Buy - save up to 40% on appliance hottest deals
  • Best Buy - save on TVs, laptops, Apple devices and more
  • Amazon - save on Amazon devices, appliances and more
  • Dell - save on laptops, monitors, TVs and more
  • Overstock - 70% off 1000s of items + free shipping
  • Nectar - save $100 off your mattress
  • Dreamcloud Sleep - take $200 off your mattress
  • Temper-Pedic - save up to $500 on select mattress sets
  • Casper - save 15% on accessories when you spend $100+
  • Mattress Firm - save up to $600 on king and queen size mattresses
  • Purple - free sheets + premium sleep mask
  • Saatva - take $100 off your order of $500 or more
  • Amerisleep - $250 off any mattress + free shipping with code PRESDAY250
  • Zoma - $150 off mattresses + free shipping with code PRES150
  • Lenovo - save up to 65% off doorbusters
  • Target - deals on furniture, appliances, clothing, and more
  • Wayfair - discounts sitewide
  • Home Depot - up to 30% off appliance special buys
  • Lowe's - save on appliances, tools, bath and more
  • Bed Bath & Beyond - up to 50% off Presidents' Day specials
  • HP - save big on laptops, desktops, accessories, and software
  • Microsoft - deals on laptops, consoles and more
  • eBay - extra 15% off top brands
  • Rosetta Stone - get a lifetime subscription of Rosetta Stone for $199

Shop more offers with our roundup of the best Presidents' Day sales 2020: deals from Best Buy, Walmart and more.

You can also see more of the best cheap TV deals and sales that are happening now.

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