Wednesday, February 19, 2020

Apple : How to watch Survivor online: stream Winners at War from anywhere

Apple : How to watch Survivor online: stream Winners at War from anywhere


How to watch Survivor online: stream Winners at War from anywhere

Posted: 19 Feb 2020 02:37 PM PST

TV show Survivor is the very epitome of endurance. A group of contestants stranded together for over a month are forced to live off their wits, complete tough team challenges, and try to avoid eviction to win a million dollars and become "Sole Survivor". The show's longevity is equally impressive. Hosted by Jeff Pabst from its inception in 2000, it remains one of the most popular television shows on broadcast television - and we'll help you make sure that you can watch Survivor online no matter where you are in the world.

The producers have significantly upped the ante for Survivor: Winners at War. Dubbed "the biggest battle in Survivor history," it unites twenty past winners – the best of the best – to compete against each other for an unprecedented $2 million prize. Among them are "Boston Rob" Mariano, Parvati Shallow, and the only two-time winner in the show's history, Sandra Diaz-Twine.

Bringing even more heat to the Fijian island is the return of Edge of Extinction – a lifeline for contestants previously voted out – while the premiere introduced Fire Tokens, which allow individuals to purchase luxuries, food, and advantages. Expect drama. Expect deviousness. Expect more twists than The Usual Suspects

To avoid missing out on the trials and tribulations of this epic 40th season, read on. We detail how to watch Survivor: Winners at War online from anywhere, and what to do if you find yourself stranded far from home.

Watch Survivor: Winners at War online from outside your country

Geo-blocks making you feel like a pariah on the Edge of Extinction? If you find yourself away from home for business or on an extended vacation when the latest episode drops, don’t despair. You can still enjoy all the latest Survivor schemings.

Or say you’re in a region where this content hasn’t been made available. Utilizing a VPN will let you stream Survivor: Winners at War no matter where you’re watching from. This basic bit of software can change your IP address so you can access each episode live or on demand as episodes become available, just as if you were at home.

How to watch Survivor: Winners at War online in the US

  • FuboTV: $55 p/m for around 90 channels, including local stations like CBS.
  • Hulu + Live TV: One basic plan with over 65 channels and On Demand content for $54.99 p/m. Numerous add-ons are available.
  • AT&T Now: Of their numerous plans, the cheapest is $65 p/m for over 40 channels, including HBO.
  • YouTube TV: $44.99 for over 70 channels.
  • Amazon Prime Video: You’ll need to sign up to Prime for $12.99 p/m and include CBS All Access, which is an additional $5.99 p/m. Both come with free trials though.

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How to watch Survivor: Winners at War online in Canada

How to watch Survivor: Winners at War online in Australia (for FREE)

How to watch Survivor: Winners at War online in the UK

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The best TV 2020: 10 big-screen TVs worth buying this year

Posted: 19 Feb 2020 02:24 PM PST

There's never a bad time to buy one of the best TVs of 2020. In January and February you can find deep discounts on last year's models; March, April and May bring a slew of new TVs from Sony, LG, Samsung, Vizio, Hisense and TCL, then those TVs get progressively cheaper from June to December. 

There's certainly cheaper times to buy a new TV (*cough* Black Friday) but no matter what month you're shopping, it's always a good time to buy. 

That said, if you can't wait a few more months until new models arrive, there are plenty of amazing TVs from 2019 that are still well-worth buying - below you'll find a list of 10 TVs total from this year and last year, with some budget models from Vizio, TCL and Hisense that offer great performance at a really good price and high-end options like QLED TVs from Samsung and OLEDs from LG.

We're expecting a number of new television sets to hit the market in the coming months, but with 2020 only having just begun, we're still recommending the best TVs from the previous year until their replacements officially come around.

  • Editor's note: While every TV on our list offers both a 4K resolution and High Dynamic Range (HDR) support, we also have a list specifically tailored to those features in the form of our best 4K TV list. 

Best TV at a glance:

  1. Samsung Q90R QLED TV
  2. LG C9 OLED Series
  3. Vizio P-Series Quantum X
  4. Samsung Q900R QLED TV
  5. Sony A9G Master Series OLED
  6. LG B9 OLED Series
  7. Samsung Q70R QLED TV
  8. TCL 6-Series QLED (R625)
  9. Hisense H9F Series
  10. Sony Bravia X950G Series

Best TV 2019

Image credit: Samsung

Last year, the Samsung Q9FN was the TV to beat. It won plaudits galore for its features and image quality, not to mention its excellent, improved smart platform that came with Bixby support and Samsung SmartThings.  

However it wasn’t perfect and there were legitimate complaints about viewing angles and an over-aggressive local dimming system that crushed detail just above black. 

Samsung has clearly taken these criticisms to heart, and directly addressed them in the Q90. The new model has a visibly superior viewing angle that holds its own against an OLED TV, and the local dimming delivers deep blacks without losing shadow detail. To that end, the new Ultra Black Elite filter is nothing short of a revelation, rejecting ambient light in a way that just staggers belief.  

The Q90 is able to deliver images that can directly compete with an OLED, with natural colors, bright highlights, deep blacks, and well defined shadows. It can also surpass any OLED when it comes to HDR, with images that are often breathtaking in their detail and dynamic range.

In fact our only real criticism would be that, unlike some of the competition, the Q90 doesn’t support Dolby Vision. However in all other respects the Samsung Q90 is an absolutely stellar TV that takes QLED to another level.

Read the full review: Samsung Q90R QLED TV

LG C9 OLED Series (2019)

LG C9 OLED Series (2019)

The LG C9 is a truly exceptional 4K OLED TV that takes what was so impressive about last year’s C8 OLED and builds on it. The major difference is the inclusion of the 2nd generation Alpha9 processor, which uses AI enhancements to deliver stellar SDR and HDR images, and helps make the upscaling and processing second-to-none with incredible levels of detail and image fidelity.

As is the case with all OLED TVs the panel brightness pales when compared to an LCD TV, but brightness isn’t everything. The absolute blacks and pixel level of precision afforded by the self-emissive technology ensures that HDR looks stunning. There’s support for Dolby Vision as well, and only the absence of HDR10+ disappoints.

There are other OLEDs worth considering this year (see: LG's own E9 Series) but we think the OLED C9 offers the best price-to-performance ratio of any TV under the sun – true in 2019, and still true in 2020.

Read the full review: LG C9 OLED (OLED55C9, OLED65C9, OLED77C9)

The Vizio P-Series Quantum X is a home run for Vizio. Sure, the SmartCast interface isn’t all the great, and the speakers are worth bypassing, but the TV is packed with awesome features and backed up by an excellent image quality. We’re looking forward to AirPlay 2 and HomeKit support, but even without those features the TV is still one of the best options in its price range. 

If you truly have deep pockets and want the best image quality out there, then it’s still worth going for LG's OLED or Samsung's QLED TVs - but in the absence of a six-figure salary, the $2,199 Vizio P-Series Quantum X PX-65G1 is clearly an excellent option for those that want quantum dot tech in a smart TV at Vizio-level prices. 

Read the full review: Vizio P-Series Quantum (PQ65-F1)

Samsung Q900R QLED TV

With most people - *cough* content providers - only just getting to grips with 4K resolution, you’d be forgiven for thinking that Samsung had gone nuts by introducing the world’s first true 8K TV. And yet, while it's easy to be critical about the Samsung Q900R, it truly does usher in a new era of TV picture quality. 

Its native 8K pictures are incredible, looking just like the real world - only better. But even more crucially given the dearth of true 8K content for the foreseeable future, the 85Q900R makes all today’s lower resolution sources look better than they do anywhere else, too.  

Whether 8K delivers the same impact on smaller screens remains to be seen, but if you have a big enough room and budget, the 85Q900R is a vision of the future that’s actually spectacularly worth buying today. 

Sony Bravia A9G OLED (2019)

A direct replacement for last year's Sony A9F/AF9 OLED, the Sony A9G/AG9 Master Series OLED is the new flagship of Sony’s TV fleet. It embraces a characteristically minimalist design that disguises a host of cutting-edge features like Dolby Vision and Dolby Atmos support, plus Netflix Calibrated Mode (of interest to many), and IMAX Enhanced certification (of interest to few).

This is a screen that looks premium, and has a spec on the right side of righteous. The Android platform is easy to live with, that vibrating sound system entertaining and picture quality top notch. Offering Dolby Vision is a welcome refinement, but the caveat is a lack of support for HDR10+. That said, it does a fabulous job up-scaling HD/SDR so it's easy to overlook the lack of at least one HDR format. 

It's undoubtedly expensive but, all things considered, this glass is class.

Read the full review: Sony A9G Master Series OLED

LG B9 OLED Series (2019)

LG B9 OLED Series (2019)

The LG B9 OLED absolutely delivers on its promise – to give shoppers a cheaper way into a world of OLED, with the sharp contrast and vivid colors that involves.

Inevitably there are some corners cut to get there, and you’re not getting the excellent experience of the C9 or E9 – while the delayed launch of the budget B9 model, and continuing price cuts to more premium sets, means this year’s B Series isn’t quite the deal it would have been a few months ago.

If the B9 is all your budget allows for, it’s a solid purchase, though scrimping and saving for the LG C9 OLED – and keeping an eye out for it in the Black Friday and Cyber Monday sales – may be a better decision in the long run.

Samsung Q70R QLED TV (2019)

Samsung Q70R QLED TV (2019)

Samsung’s flagship Q90R QLED TV blew us away recently with its wider viewing angles, deeper blacks, and superior HDR images - sadly, however, not everyone can afford the flagship model. So what can Samsung offer for those wanting to experience QLED picture quality on a budget? 

Despite sitting lower down in the QLED line-up, the Q70R includes the same comprehensive smart platform, extensive connections, and cutting-edge features found further up the range. This isn’t the flashiest-looking TV that Samsung has ever made, but if your funds are limited the Q70 is a cracking QLED all-rounder that’s worth checking out. 

Read the full review: Samsung Q70R QLED TV

Best TV

TCL 6-Series (R625) (2019)

Few TVs have changed the home entertainment space in the same way that the TCL 6-Series has - it’s made high-end features like Dolby Vision support, full-array panels and Wide Color Gamut available to consumers at a third of the cost of high-end TVs. This year's addition to the storied series, the TCL 6-Series QLED (2019), adds a Quantum Dot filter that makes colors more vibrant and contrast even more extreme and the new AIPQ upscaling engine that better converts HD video to 4K resolution.

It's still not as good as the leading TVs from Samsung, LG and Sony in the upscaling department and has some motion issues due to the underlying 60Hz panel, but at just $599 we can easily overlook these issues. To that end, it’s absolutely fair to say that the TCL 6-Series is the best TV you can possibly get in this price range.

Read the full review: TCL 6-Series QLED (R625)

Hisense H9F (55H9F, 65H9F) (2019)

Hisense H9F (55H9F, 65H9F) (2019)

The latest model in Hisense’s ULED line is the Hisense H9F, and on paper, it has a lot going for it: With up to 132 local dimming zones, a modern design, and Android TV built right into it, this could be the TV to beat for under $1,000. 

When it comes to raw picture quality, the Hisense H9F is simply the best TV in this price range. At $600, the TV offers a stellar image quality, with beautifully deep black-levels and crisp colors - all in a manageable 55-inch package. 

Sure, the audio leaves a lot to be desired, and you may or may not like Android TV, but you can always buy a Roku streaming stick or Apple TV, and use the TV with a stereo surround system or other speakers - leaving the Hisense H9F to do what it’s best at: display a great image.

Read the full review: Hisense H9F (55H9F)

Sony Bravia X950G Series (2019)

OK, so you don't want (or can't afford) Sony's new A9G OLED or the fantastic-but-pricey Z9G. So what should you buy? Check out the X950G series. With superb 4K image clarity, powerful SDR-to-HDR remastering, and a smooth direct LED backlight, Sony is offering something very different with the X950G. 

Right out of the box, the best way to describe the image quality of the X950G is… well, natural. It’s not flashy. It’s not overly bright. Colors aren’t oversaturated. It’s just a really natural picture with subdued colors and great black levels perfect for HD/SDR content. That said, if you’re the kind of person that wants a bit more pop to your images all you need to do is turn on Live Color in the picture settings. This mode works on HD/SDR content to add a bit more color saturation to the image and helps to make the image ‘pop’ in a way that really grabs your attention.

It’s a shame that poor sound quality ruined such a great 4K/HDR TV, however, taken by itself, the Sony X950G is an immaculate screen with a ton of potential.

Read the full review: Sony BRAVIA X950G (XBR-65X950G) 

Continue on to page two to read about what to look for when buying a TV! 

What TV technology is best? Which is the best LCD TV? Which screen size is best for your living room? What's the difference between LCD and LED TVs?

The answers aren't always obvious. In fact, buying a new TV can be stressful even for the tech-savvy - there are so many brands, so many features, so many screen sizes, colors, technologies and flavors to choose from.

So which one is right for you, your family and your living space? In this guide, we'll walk you through everything you need to know about buying a new TV.

What types of TV are there out there?

There are a lot of different screen types out there, all working in different ways to produce the same results. Each technology has its own unique strengths and weaknesses so here are some basics to consider:

LCD TV: CCFL
A few years back, all LCD TVs were backlit by always-on, CCFL (cold cathode fluorescent) lamps. This ageing technology has been superseded by the superior LED method on more expensive sets, but is still standard on some cheaper models.

LED TV: Direct LED
These displays are backlit by an array of LEDs (light emitting diodes) directly behind the screen. This enables localised dimming – meaning immediately adjacent areas of brightness and darkness can be displayed more effectively – and greatly improves contrast. LED TVs are also more power efficient and capable of a wider colour gamut than CCFL sets. Because of the extreme cost of mounting these arrays of LEDs, cheaper TVs usually use Edge-Lit LED screens over Direct or Full-Array LED screens.

LED TV: Edge LED
With these TVs, LEDs of the backlight are mounted along the edges of the panel. This arrangement enables radically slender displays and offers superior contrast levels to CCFL, but can't achieve the same picture quality as directly lit LED sets. However, they do come in far cheaper which is why most LED TVs out there now use this technology.

OLED TV
The backlighting on OLED (organic light emitting diode) sets is achieved by passing an electric current through an emissive, electroluminescent film. This technique produces far better colours and higher contrast and also enables screens to be extremely thin and flexible. This is the holy grail display technology and LG, Sony, Philips and Panasonic have all adopted it in their flagship sets.

Quantum Dot

Quantum Dot
Quantum Dot is Samsung's big play in the LED TV space. With it, the brand claims that it's able to produce more colorful pictures than LG and Sony while offering even brighter panels. LG's Super UHD TVs all use a variation of Quantum Dot called Nano Cell, and Hisense makes a number of Quantum Dot TVs for the US and China.

Plasma TV
Plasma has almost entirely been phased out at this point, but PDP (plasma display panel) TVs use glass panels containing millions of tiny cells filled with a mixture of inert gases. Electricity excites the gases, causing them to illuminate the pixels across the screen. Plasma, while arguably superior to LCD in terms of contrast and colour accuracy, is only viable on large (42in+) screens and has been dropped by all but a handful of manufacturers. You'll be lucky to find one on the shelves these days.

Curved TV
Some manufacturers are now making TVs that have slightly curved screens. But unlike old CRT TVs, the curve is inwards rather than outwards. The idea is that this makes every pixel equidistant from your eyes, delivering a more satisfying picture. However, there are drawbacks for this type of screen - the main one being that if you sit far enough to one side – more than 40 degrees or so – the curve clearly starts to affect the image's geometry, foreshortening content near to you and compressing the image's centre.

What resolution tech should I go for?

HD
HD TVs come in two resolutions. Sets with the HD ready are required to be able to display a minimum 720p picture, and generally has a screen resolution of 1366 x 768 pixels. Meanwhile, Full HD TVs have a higher resolution of 1920 x 1080 pixels. It's highly advisable that you don't go for anything less than full HD in this day and age, and really you should be looking almost exclusively at 4K sets.

Ultra HD and 4K
The resolution of Ultra HD is exactly four times higher than full HD - 3840 x 2160. It means a far more detailed picture, with content requiring a lot more bandwidth and storage space. 4K TVs tend to be good at upscaling HD video to Ultra HD but there are currently a few options for watching native 4K content, but terrestrial broadcasters in the US have yet to adopt it as the new standard. Read more about 4K.

HDR
The next big thing in TVs, HDR produces astounding levels of visual fidelity and can be found in some of the latest Ultra HD TVs. HDR is a technology and a standard. Content needs to be mastered in HDR and you need an HDR TV to see it. What HDR offers however, is worth the extra steps to get it - you'll see increased contrast and more realistic colors, enhancing the image to a more cinematic level.

What else should I consider?

Buying a flatscreen television is a major investment and one that you can't afford to take lightly. Just popping into the closest store and grabbing the first plasma or LCD you see won't get you the best deal, the screen that suits your needs, or the gear you require to make the most of your new purchase.

Size matters

People tend to pick the size of their flat TV based on the amount of space they have for it, this isn't necessarily wise. Flat TVs take up much less space than you might think, so your new TV may end up a foot or two further away from your viewing position, making the picture appear smaller.

Also, with hi-def, you can have a bigger screen and the same viewing distance without worrying about seeing blemishes inherent to the source. A 4K TV's lack of noise means that the ideal distance to sit from the screen is three to four times the height of the TV.

how to calculate the best tv size for you

How to calculate the right size HD TV:

The trick here is to ensure that your TV is big enough to fill your line of vision, but small enough to be sharp and clear. Remember, if you intend to only watch standard-definition sources, the bigger the screen gets, the worse the image will look.

The ideal screen size can be calculated by multiplying the distance that you intend to sit away from it by 0.535 and then rounding this up to the nearest size.

So, if you sit 80in away from your TV, the ideal size is 42-inch (80 x 0.535= 42.8).

What features should I look out for?

Features are too numerous to go into here, but here are some things you should consider.

Photo viewing: If you have a digital camera, a TV that has a slot for memory cards or a USB socket for a card reader will let you view your photos onscreen.

Here are some of the things we look for when we review a screen, so you should, too...

Contrast: Bright whites shouldn't have any signs of green, pink or blue in them, while blacks should look solid and not washed out, grey, green or blue.

Colours: Look at how bright and solid they are; how noiseless their edges are; how 'dotty' richly saturated areas are and how natural skin looks, especially in dim scenes.

Fine detail: How much texture does the screen give? Does a tree look like a green lump, or can you see the individual leaves

Edges: Check for ghosting, bright halos and jaggedness, especially around curves.

Motion: Check moving objects and quick camera pans for smearing or blurring, trailing, jerkiness and fizzing dotty noise.

Image artefacts: Look for blockiness, colour bands, grain, smearing, dot crawl: anything that looks like it's added by the TV picture processing or a weak TV tuner. Tinker with a TV's picture settings before making a final decision. Factory settings are rarely good for everyday viewing.

Sony Ultra HD

What about sound?

To provide the best audio to complement the pictures, your TV should be hooked up to a surround sound system, but this isn't always an option. So, here's what we listen for when testing a TV's speakers:

Bass: Deep, rounded rumbles that don't cause the set to rattle or speakers to distort, cramp or overwhelm the rest of the sound; but that expand when needed.

Vocals: Voices should sound open, rich and clear, not boxed in, nasal or thin.

Trebles: Treble effects should sound clean, rounded and smooth in loud scenes and shouldn't dominate the soundstage.

Soundstage width/depth: A good TV should throw the sound away from the TV, to the sides, forward and back, to give an extra dimension to what's on screen, without losing any coherence.

How many HDMI sockets do I need?

For a living room TV you should be looking for a minimum of 3 HDMI inputs. If you want to attach a set-top box as well as games consoles etc, those HDMI ports will fill up fast.

Do I want to hang my TV on the wall?

First off, you'll need to consult a construction expert to check that the wall in question is strong enough to support a flatscreen. Then find out if the set you want is designed to be wall-mounted and, if so, ask if the relevant bracket is included in the basic package or as an optional extra.

Will I be connecting it to a home cinema?

If the answer is no, you might want to think more carefully about your set's audio performance. Look for a screen that can go as loud as you'll need without distortion or cabinet rattle. Consider how dialogue sounds and how much low-end rumble the bass is capable of.

Conversely, it's pointless paying out more cash for exceptional built-in speakers if you already have a decent home cinema system.

Happy shopping!

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Consumer PCs are twice as likely to get infected, compared to business PCs

Posted: 19 Feb 2020 01:36 PM PST

OpenText has released its new 2020 Webroot Threat Report revealing that consumer PCs are still twice as likely to get infected as business PCs.

To compile its report, the company analyzed samples from over 37bn URLs, 842m domains, 4bn IP addresses, 31m active mobile apps and 36bn file behavior records.

According to the report's findings, the reason consumer PCs are more susceptible to infections is due to the fact that many are running outdated operating systems such as Windows 7 and because consumers aren't employing the same security solutions used by businesses which offer greater protection.

Of the infected consumer devices analyzed by Webroot,more than 35 percent were infected over three times and nearly 10 percent encountered six or more infections. The continued insecurity of consumer PCs also underscores the risk businesses face by allowing their employees to connect to corporate networks from their personal devices.

Increase in phishing and malware

Over the course of last year, Webroot observed a 640 percent increase in phishing attempts and a 125 percent increase in malware targeting Windows 7.

Facebook, Microsoft, Apple, Google, PayPal and DropBox were the top businesses impersonated by cybercriminals or phishing sites last year. However, phishing sites also impersonated cryptocurrency exchanges (55%), gaming sites (50%), email services (40%), financial institutions (40%) and payment services (32%).

Now that Windows 7 has reached its End of Life, cybercriminals have begun to increasingly target the outdated operating system with malware. Webroot also found that 85 percent of threats hide in a user's temp, appdata, cache or windir folders though over half of threats (54.5%) on business PCs hide in a user's temp folders. Thankfully this risk can be easily mitigated by creating a Windows policy to disallow programs from running from the temp directory.

Senior vice president and CTO of SMB and consumer at OpenText, Hal Lonas explained that there is no single silver bullet solution when it comes to cybersecurity, saying:

"In the cybersecurity industry the only certainty is that there is no certainty, and there is no single silver bullet solution. The findings from this year's report underline why it's critical that businesses and users of all sizes, ensure they're not only protecting their data but also preparing for future attacks by taking simple steps toward cyber resilience through a defense-in-depth approach that addresses user behavior and the best protection for network and endpoints." 

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Microsoft admite que Windows 10 tiene un problema serio — y explica cómo solucionarlo

Posted: 19 Feb 2020 01:11 PM PST

Ya sabíamos que la actualización Windows 10 KB4532693 es un desastre: borra configuraciones del menú de inicio, destruye tu escritorio y hasta ha borrado ficheros de muchos usuarios. Pero Microsoft no había dicho esta boca es mía — hasta ahora.

El blog Windows Latest ha contactado con varios empleados de Microsoft que trabajan en el grupo de soporte técnico y estos le han contado que “Microsoft está al tanto de este problema y [sus] ingenieros están trabajando diligentemente para encontrar una solución”.

Habrá que ver qué significa “diligentemente” porque, hasta ahora, Microsoft no parado de romper funciones de Windows 10 con numerosas actualizaciones fallidas.

Lanzada el 11 de febrero, Windows 10 KB4532693 salió a la calle para resolver varios problemas de seguridad pero también introdujo varios fallos irritantes.

Pronto varias personas publicaron comentarios en internet sobre los problemas de la actualización. Algunos denunciaron que sus escritorios y su menú de Inicio habían vuelto a su configuración original — cualquier fondo de escritorio, iconos y atajos que esos usuarios había creado se esfumaron por arte de magia.

Al poco tiempo, la cosa se fue complicando y poniendo seria: al parecer algunos de los ficheros que estaban en el escritorio se habían eliminado. Claramente, el problema era mucho más serio de lo que en principio parecía y Microsoft retiró el parche.

El hecho de que Microsoft haya finalmente admitido que el problema existe y que están trabajando en un nuevo parche es un paso adelante pero, para aquellos que han sido afectados, Windows Latest afirma que el equipo de soporte de Microsoft ha sido capaz de replicar el bug y tienen una solución.

Cómo arreglar el borrado accidental de ficheros de Windows 10

El equipo de Microsoft ha podido observar que, por alguna razón por ahora desconocida, Windows 10 no ha borrado esos ficheros completamente sino que los ha depositado en una cuenta de usuario temporal.

La solución para recuperar tus ficheros pasa por crear una nueva cuenta local de usuario en tu PC o laptop y transferir los datos de tu cuenta temporal a la nueva. Eso debería solucionarlo.

Es un método complicado que incluye trastear con cuentas de usuario — especialmente cuando Microsoft generalmente intenta disuadirte sobre la creación de cuentas de usuario locales, insistiendo que utilices una cuenta Microsoft.

Sin embargo, algunos de los usuarios que han visto cómo sus ficheros desaparecían no han podido recuperarlos utilizando ese método. De hecho, los ficheros no aparecen en la cuenta de usuario temporal.

Así que, aunque esta ”solución” puede ayudar a algunas personas, está claro que no todo el mundo va a poder beneficiarse de ella. Esperemos que Microsoft encuentre una solución pronto.

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11 best open world games on PC today

Posted: 19 Feb 2020 12:30 PM PST

The best open world games of 2020 showcase just how far the best PC games and gaming PCs have come in the last decade. They’re not just incredibly immersive and beautiful to explore, but they also typically have a bunch of extra side quests to make the experience more interesting. It’s no wonder they’ve become among the most popular titles in gaming.

Take a spin around one of our top picks of the best open-world games, and you’ll know immediately why the open-world concept has infected every corner of the gaming world. Even the best indie games have followed suit, proving that you don’t have to be a huge studio to take advantage of the open world design. The Witcher 3, for example, took its more conventional RPG predecessors and opened it up for what most would consider one of the best open-world games ever made. 

We’ve put together a list of the best open-world games 2020 has to offer. Dig into these entries, from the immensely popular Assassin’s Creed Odyssey and Grand Theft Auto V to co-op titles like Ghost Recon Wildlands, and start exploring.

The first two Witcher games were compelling, complex and challenging, even though it only relished minor success. All the word of mouth about the first two games led to the Witcher 3 getting big when it was released. It was a huge step up in quality as well, which makes it undoubtedly one of the best RPGs of all time. 

You step in the shoes of Geralt, a mutated monster hunter or witcher, and you’re tasked to scour the world for your adopted daughter in a medieval period ravaged by war. Geralt can walk, ride or sail across the war-ravaged lands (and seas) of Novigrad, Velen and Skellige. You can even forage for herbs, explore under the seas or the city back alleys, and encounter all kinds of folk and creatures. The other elements of the game are spectacularly polished as well - limber, agile combat, a deep levelling system and a storyline with some unusually-smart storylines. Plus, with the Blood and Wine expansion, you’ll be able to take on a clan of Vampires in the colorful land of Toussaint, too.

The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt is now four years old, but it definitely stands the test of time and is still one of the best open world games on the market right now. This well-realized world blows the likes of Skyrim out of the water.

One of the reasons open-world games are so popular is because of how immersive they can be, and Red Dead Redemption 2 draws you in like almost no other. Explore a fictionalized Wild West where you can spend hours just hunting, robbing trains or coaches, or just riding and bonding with your favorite horse. Or just spend hours just gambling, if you want.

It’s not just the world-building that makes RDR2 such a fantastic game, however. The tale of Arthur Morgan and his gang, and their exploits as they try to stay a step ahead of the law is about as epic and operatic a story as they come. On top of that, this game is gorgeous. Let’s just say there’s a reason this game features a cinematic mode camera view.

2017’s Assassin’s Creed: Origins felt like a revelation of what an Assassin’s Creed game could become. It traded many of the gameplay mechanics with what those that are more immersive, organic and even fun. However, Ubisoft went even farther with Assassin’s Creed: Odyssey. It has polished everything that made Assassin’s Creed: Origins so great, weaving it into the best game in the series so far.

Assassin’s Creed Odyssey puts you in the shoes of Alexios or Kassandra in the middle of ancient Greece, as you take on the role of a mercenary trying to find his or her family. Everything else you do is completely up to you – you choose your alliances, you choose your missions and the world is your oyster.

The incredible RPG mechanics from Origins make a return in Assassin’s Creed Odyssey, along with some much-needed enhancements. In many ways, this game perfects the legendary series’ formula, making for one of the best open world games of all time.

Plus, if the massive world wasn’t already enough content for you, there’s more good news: Ubisoft is constantly updating it with new content, new mercenaries to hunt down and even some fresh expansions. If you pick up the season pass, you get access to Assassin's Creed III Remastered, which includes Assassin’s Creed: Liberation.

Grand Theft Auto V has been out for quite a while now, but because we’re still waiting for Red Dead Redemption 2 on PC, it remains to be the best open world game on PC from Rockstar. It’s a massive pastiche of L.A. through which you can fly, run or drive across. It’s an incredible achievement, and the fact that it works in multiplayer is amazing.

What makes it such a success, however, is the freedom it gives you. When you’re not running around and robbing banks during the campaign, GTA V basically lets you do whatever you want – even if it breaks the game. You can go anywhere, do anything and commit however many brutalities as your wicked heart desires.

There are also a number of activities on hand for you on the side. This means that when you’re not busy initiating all sorts of mayhem, you can alternately take up tennis, do yoga or even kick your feet up and watch some TV. There’s a reason this game is so beloved.

The plot may not have made much sense, but Hideo Kojima’s last addition to the Metal Gear franchise was a legend of layered open world mechanics, which is why we’re so psyched about Death Stranding.

In the twin deserts of Afghanistan and Angola, Big Boss – or Venom Snake – has a range of objectives to tick off. As him, you wander the areas on foot, horseback or in an assortment of ground vehicles. You can arm yourself with either lethal or non-lethal weapons, as well as take a variety of AI companions. 

The world of Metal Gear Solid V is extremely bleak, weather-torn and heavily guarded. Uniquely, it learns from your behavior – abuse of a particular tactic, and your enemies will adapt. For instance, rely too much on headshots, and they’ll start wearing metal helmets.

Away from the frontline, you can develop Mother Base by building new facilities and airlifting enemy soldiers, prisoners, resources, vehicles, animals and anything else you want to from the battlefield to beef up your armory.

Bethesda has made a name for itself over the last couple of decades by producing some of the best open world games, and Fallout 4 is an excellent example of why. You’ll be dropped in post-apocalyptic Boston, where you’ll explore the ruins of the city in all its retro-futuristic glory.

While the plot ultimately revolves around saving your kid from their kidnappers, you might momentarily forget all about that with all those side missions, as well as pillage loot from super mutants and bandits.

Once you get everything done (if you ever do), Bethesda’s games have a tendency to be immensely re-playable because of the way different character builds can interact with the world around you.

Get even closer to the action by playing through Fallout 4 in VR, with the HTC Vive.

When Middle Earth: Shadow of Mordor was released almost five years ago, it was acclaimed for its portrayal of Tolkien’s Mordor as well as its distinctive nemesis system. The sequel, Middle Earth: Shadow of War, takes this concept and turns it up to 11, allowing you to roam in the last human stronghold in Mordor. 

This is one of the best open world games you can immerse yourself in during 2020. Especially after the removal of the microtransactions that plagued the game at launch, the Nemesis system still feels fresh. In addition, the combat is just as good as ever, with a wealth of new skills you can unlock during its extensive campaign.

Later in the game, it will start introducing some RTS elements as you command an army of dominated orcs to retake different strongholds. The Middle Earth series has shown some real innovation, and we can’t wait to see what else Monolith Studios has in store in the near future.

Last year, Ubisoft took one of the most highly acclaimed squad-based shooter series in its lineup, Ghost Recon, and honed it into an open-world paradise. You’re set loose in Bolivia, tasked with taking down a drug cartel that has taken power over the region – by set loose, we mean you’re free to pursue this goal however you feel like.

Ghost Recon Wildlands may be one of the best open world games when you’re playing by yourself, but where it really excels is when you’re playing with friends. This is because Ghost Recon, at its very core, has always been a tactical shooter that’s built around working with a team of AI companions. Inherently, when you team up with your friends, this gameplay is elevated to a whole new level completely. 

Just keep in mind that this game is an absolute stunner, which means it requires a pretty beefy setup to run properly, so make sure to pay close attention to those system requirements before you start.

When the first Crackdown was released in 2007, it kind of changed the game, with you taking the role of a superpowered cop out to catch a cast of zany criminals. While Crackdown 3 hasn’t changed much in the 12 years since, it still boasts its own identity.

Crackdown 3 takes the super-powered hijinks of the original and scales it to modern graphics without changing too much of what made the original game so great. This might make it feel a little antiquated to some folks. However, if you were into the first one, there’s much love here. 

What really stands out here, however, is the new Wrecking Zone multiplayer game mode. It uses the power of Microsoft Azure cloud computing to make the whole city destructible.

Far Cry 5 might just be the archetype of what the best open world games on PC should be in 2020. This game is distinctive in the fact that it lets you to truly go anywhere on the map – not to mention, do anything. As it doesn’t water this freedom down by limiting the amount of space you have open to you, it’s also perhaps one of the biggest game maps we’ve ever roamed in. 

Far Cry 5 takes place in the middle of the Montana wilderness, and while it does boast a plot that involves cultists or something, that all falls into the background as you wander around and get lost in the massive world. We haven’t finished Far Cry 5, and we don’t think ‘finished’ exists in this game. 

We’re not the only ones that love Far Cry 5, either. At the Game Awards 2018, Ubisoft announced Far Cry: New Dawn, a direct follow-up – a first for the classic shooter series.

For years, the Yakuza franchise has been somewhat of a best kept secret. Lately, however, these incredible games have gotten some well-deserved mainstream success. And, thanks to this success, these classic titles are finally, albeit slowly, making their way to PC with Yakuza Kiwami leading the charge. 

It’s a remake of the first Yakuza title, which was rolled out nearly 13 years ago in the US. With it, PC gamers can finally see how the franchise got its start, putting players in the shoes of Kazuma Kiryu as he battles his way through the Yakuza’s ranks. More than that, it’s a gripping mix of serious storytelling and silly moments – something that the Yakuza series would become famous for over the years.

When Rage came out back in 2010, it was critically lambasted for being a technical mess on PC. Now, almost ten years later, Rage 2 is here, it has perfected dramatically on almost every aspect of the original. So much so that it’s made our best open world games of 2020 list.

id Software teamed up with Avalanche Studios to bring the perfect blend of brilliant gunplay and open-world shenanigans. You’re let loose in the middle of an unexpectedly colorful post-apocalyptic wasteland, where you’re free to destroy everything that gets in your way.

Not only are there a ton of big guns, but you also get a bunch of deadly Ark powers that you can use to exterminate your enemies. The mark of a true Rage 2 pro will be the ability to combine all of these abilities together into visceral chains of carnage. 

The gameplay feels excellent. In fact, you’ll have so much fun blowing everything up that you’ll hardly notice how empty the open world is. And, really, that’s exactly what we wanted out of an open world shooter from id Software, especially after the excellent Doom 2016.

You might not quite get why Forza Horizon 4 is even on a list of the best open world games. After all, Forza is a racing series, not an open world game. However, you’d only be half right. Yes, it’s indeed a racing game, but the Forza Horizon series has always sat among the best open world games to date. And, Forza Horizon 4 takes that winning formula even further.

Not only are all of the systems that were in place in 2016’s Forza Horizon 3 present here, but they’ve also been polished to craft one of the smoothest open world racing games we’ve ever had the pleasure of playing.

The map is slightly smaller than the previous offering, but Forza Horizon 4’s world changes seasons every week, which changes how each track plays every time you play it (or, at least until you’ve played it on 4 separate weeks). Simply put, Forza Horizon 4 is one of the most fun racing games on the market. With all the added open world content – like collectible cars and randomly placed ramps – it’s also one of the best open world games on the market.

In addition, there are new expansions getting added, like Forza Horizon 4: Fortune Island, for even more content.

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Pokémon Go updates: all the news and rumors for what's coming next

Posted: 19 Feb 2020 12:12 PM PST

Pokémon Go: the world's first augmented reality app to become a household name. Niantic's mobile AR game is still going strong two years after it first released, with a constant drip of events and updates keeping budding trainers glued to their phones and pounding the streets.

And while it hasn't managed to top the peak of its popularity in 2016, it's still going strong and finding plenty of new ways to improve its player experience.

So what's the latest news for Pokémon Go? As you'd expect, brand new features are being added all the time and community events are still going strong. Plus we have some more themed events and brand new Gen 5 Pokémon to catch!

But without further ado, here's our guide to all the latest Pokémon Go news and updates.

Pokémon Go news and Pokémon Go updates

  • What's new? Fossil Pokémon have started hatching from 7km eggs!

Fossil Pokémon

An unusual phenomenon is taking place in the Pokémon Go universe, fossil Pokémon are now only hatching from 7km eggs. That means players will only be able to hatch Omanyte, Kabuto, Aerodactyl, Lileep, Anorith, Cranidos, Shieldon, Tirtouga, and Archen from 7 km Eggs. The fighting-type Pokémon Riolu will now hatch from 10km eggs. 

Pokémon Go Battle League

Niantic has rolled out the long-awaited Pokémon Go Battle League to trainers of Level 10 and above.

At the moment, the League is in Preseason, the time before competitive play really begins. Niantic is using this as a kind of testing period in which they can "optimize and balance" the new feature as well as decide on things like season lengths and ranks. 

Trainer Battles within the GO Battle League will rotate between three leagues and players will be able to rank against fellow Trainers, earning rewards for ranking.

For preseason, the GO Battle League is beginning with the Great League, which will be followed by the Ultra League then the Master League. Even though preseason isn't competitive, players can still rank but it will be partially reset when Season 1 properly starts. Rewards for battling and winning can also be earned during preseason.

Entering the Battle League isn't possible until a player has walked 5km (although in preseason this requirement is waived). They'll then unlock five online matches up to three times a day by doing this. Players can earn Stardust depending on rank and number of battles won as well as items like Rare Candies and TMS as well as the chance to get exclusive Pokémon encounters. 

Other rewards will include Pikachu Libre and exclusive avatar items inspired by it.

Niantic has also announced that it's turning Premium Raid Passes into Premium Battle Passes. The pass will have a double function, allowing players to enter Raid Battles or the premium track in the Go Battle League. Winning using the Premium Battle Pass could yield better rewards and will lower the number of wins needed to earn a Pokémon encounter.

The Great League is currently underway and will rotate to the Ultra League on Monday, February 10, before going into the Master League on Monday 24 February. Things will go back around to the Great League on March 9. Niantic has promised more details on when Season 1 of the Go Battle League will officially begin soon. 

Woobat debut

Woobat is making its debut in Pokémon Go through the February Research Breakthrough. From February 1 until March 1 the psychic-flying type from Unova will be available as an encounter in Research Breakthroughs with bonus Candies.

What's the next Pokémon Go Event?

Celebrating Valentine's Day

Most of Pokémon Go's Valentine's event has now passed but there's still a special friendship weekend to come. 

From February 21 until February 24 players will be able to enjoy some friendship-focused bonuses including friendship levels increasing faster, double Trade Candy, halved Stardust costs and an increase in the number of Gifts you can open and carry to 40 and 20 respectively.  

Live Events

Niantic has announced that Pokémon Go Live Events will be coming to Taiwan, the US and the UK this year. The first event in Taiwan which celebrated the Lantern Festival has passed, while the others are still to come and will be ticketed at a cost of $12/£12 for General Admission and $18/£18 for Early Admission. 

  • March 27 - 29: Safari Zone St. Louis, Missouri, US
  • April 17 - 19: Safari Zone Liverpool, UK
  • May 8 - 10: Safari Zone Philadelphia, US

When's the next Pokémon Go Community Day?

  • What date is the next Community Day? February 22
  • Who's the starring Pokémon? Rhyhorn

The votes are in and Niantic has confirmed that Rhyhorn is going to be the starring Pokémon for February's community day with the special attack Rock Wrecker. 

Then, the Community Day will take place on February 22, running from 11am to 2pm on the Northern Hemisphere and 3pm to 6pm on the Southern Hemisphere. 

Pokémon Go update: what's next?

Now that Go Battle League has arrived in Pokémon Go, Niantic has ticked another big promised feature off its list. At the moment, we're not sure what's next for the game aside from, naturally, new Pokémon being added. We'll update here when the roadmap becomes more clear.

Pokémon Go Plus deals

Want to buy yourself a Pokémon Go Plus wearable? Check some of today's best deals down below.

(Image credits: Niantic/Pokémon Company)

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OnePlus 7T price drop isn't just a good deal, it signals OnePlus 8 is near

Posted: 19 Feb 2020 12:03 PM PST

The OnePlus 7T is getting a price cut, dropping the budget flagship’s cost even lower in what seems like a preparatory move before the phonemaker introduces the OnePlus 8.

In the US, the OnePlus 7T will drop its cost by $100 down to $499, which is a better value on an already competitively-priced phone. (It’s unclear if these cuts are coming to other markets - we’ve reached out to check, but in the meantime, check below for the lowest price in your region.)

While OnePlus hasn’t announced the OnePlus 8 or revealed when it’s coming, given the OnePlus 7 and OnePlus 6 before it both came out in May (of 2019 and 2018, respectively), we’re guessing the company will follow suit with its next flagship. And if so, we wouldn’t be surprised if this price cut is a way to clear out the old to make way for the new.

  • This puts the OnePlus 7T even more securely in our best cheap phones list
  • If you're considering the 7T, check out what we're expecting the OnePlus 8 to pack
  • If you're looking for a cheaper alternative to the priciest best Android phones, the 7T is it

The 7T – a return to value

The OnePlus 7 was certainly the budget flagship of its generation as the OnePlus 7 Pro forked off into true top-tier territory. But it wasn’t available in all areas, notably the US – meaning the later-released 7T was the first cheaper OnePlus to be released in some markets.

Given how little changed between the 7 and 7T, at least in specs, this isn’t a huge loss – but with the new price cut, the phone can be bought for the cost of a mid-range handset. That gets you a Snapdragon 855 Plus-powered beast with 8GB of RAM, 128GB of baseline storage, a 48MP main camera, and a FHD+ AMOLED display with a 90Hz refresh rate. Not bad. 

If you really want value, the OnePlus 6T from 2018 has been discounted down to $349, but you’ll miss out on a few of the new goodies.

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Best Nvidia GeForce GTX 1660 Ti: which version is best for your PC?

Posted: 19 Feb 2020 12:00 PM PST

The Nvidia GeForce GTX 1660 Ti is the best budget Nvidia graphics card on the market (though admittedly both the GTX 1660 and GTX 1660 Super have done a great job narrowing the gap). It’s also the fastest growing Nvidia Turing card out there.

Anyone who is looking for an affordable GPU will find that this Nvidia Turing card is the best graphics card to hit that sweet spot between price and performance. By taking the RT and Tensor cores that power its new RTX and Deep Learning Super Sampling (DLSS) technologies out of the equation, Nvidia has managed to make this card more affordable while also delivering a performance that rivals the best of them.

While Nvidia didn’t roll the Nvidia GeForce GTX 1660 Ti with its own Founders Edition, there’s a wide variety of these cards on the market. However, they are also going for varying prices. If you’re looking for the best Nvidia GeForce GTX 1660 Ti, you’ve come to the right place. We found all the best models to give you the best value for your money.

PNY GeForce GTX 1660 Ti XLR8 Gaming OC

PNY GeForce GTX 1660 Ti XLR8 Gaming OC delivers the dream of 1440p Ultra quality gameplay at 60 fps.

The PNY GeForce GTX 1660 Ti XLR8 Gaming OC may not look like much, being tiny and all. But, this one’s small yet mighty, packing a punch with its 70MHz factory overclock and solid specs. This card delivers the dream of 1440p Ultra quality gameplay at 60 fps, and it’s guaranteed to blow you away. If that isn’t enough, all of this performance will cost less than 300 smackers. This is the one of the best bang-for-your-buck graphics cards you’ll find right now; your wallet will thank you.

Read the full review: PNY GeForce GTX 1660 Ti XLR8 Gaming OC 

Asus ROG Strix GTX 1660 Ti OC

Thanks to its extreme cooling system, overclocking the Asus ROG Strix GTX 1660 Ti OC is a breeze.

If you’re looking to max out the performance of the GeForce GTX 1660 Ti, then the Asus ROG Strix GTX 1660 Ti OC might just be the card for you. It’s an ace in our book, especially considering that it delivers the highest factory overclock we’ve seen on this mid-range graphics card yet. In addition, its enormous heatsink and triple axial fans keep this card running a full 10C cooler than most of its rivals. Thanks to its extreme cooling system, overclocking this card is a breeze.

Read the full review: Asus ROG Strix GTX 1660 Ti OC review 

Gigabyte GeForce GTX 1660 Ti Windforce OC

Gigabyte GeForce GTX 1660 Ti Windforce OC utilizes 3D molded curves on its fan blades for an extremely effective airflow.

Prefer a more middle of the road Nvidia GeForce GTX 1660 card? The Gigabyte GeForce GTX 1660 Ti Windforce OC is the nearest thing you can find to the average GeForce GTX 1660 Ti. It’s only packed with a middle-of-the-road dual-fan cooler. However, Gigabyte offsets that by utilizing 3D molded curves on its fan blades for an extremely effective airflow, which is further improved by the graphics card’s fans also spinning in alternate directions. Rounding its features out is a 1,845MHz boost clock. This card undoubtedly delivers more performance for not much more cash.

Palit GeForce GTX 1660 Ti StormX OC

Palit GeForce GTX 1660 Ti StormX OC packs all the power of a full-sized GTX 1660 Ti.

Besides being one of the best Nvidia GeForce GTX 1660 Ti available, Palit GeForce GTX 1660 Ti StormX OC is one of the most compact graphics cards ever designed, intended to fit in the tiniest of PC cases. Don’t let the small size fool you, however: this graphics card still packs all the power of a full-sized GTX 1660 Ti and then some, with a factory set 1,815MHz boost clock. Best of all, you won’t have to pay extra for this mini GeForce GTX 1660 Ti, so it will also save you some silver.

MSI GeForce GTX 1660 TI Gaming X 6G

The MSI GeForce GTX 1660 TI Gaming X 6G is easily the best looking of the bunch.

Just because it’s a mid-range card doesn’t mean it can’t also be trendy. If you’re building a cool-looking and immersive gaming rig, the MSI GeForce GTX 1660 TI Gaming X 6G is easily the best looking of the bunch, with a stylish aesthetic and fully programmable RGB lighting. You can personalize how it glows in sync with an MSI motherboard, which only enhances your immersion in the game. As far as performance, this card also delivers a solid one, which it couples with a Twin Frozr cooler to keep things chilled.

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Xbox Series X games: all the games confirmed and expected on the next Xbox

Posted: 19 Feb 2020 11:59 AM PST

We're starting to hear more about Xbox Series X games as the next-gen console's launch date creeps ever closer. Microsoft officially revealed Xbox Series X (formerly known as Xbox Project Scarlett) during the Game Awards 2019, giving us a better look at Microsoft's next-gen console and what we can expect to see on it.

Faster and capable of more advanced graphics than its predecessors, the next-generation hardware promises to be the most powerful games console (or perhaps consoles) in the world when it launches late in 2020 – even more so than the PS5, which is expected to hit shelves around the same time.

Microsoft has been slow to announce exclusive launch titles for the console given its release is still a while off, but it has been more forthcoming with its plans for backwards compatibility and cross-generational potential

Similarly, release confirmations and suggestions from third party developers are only now beginning to trickle out. But these announcements are still coming and it's essential if you're thinking about signing up for Xbox in the next generation then you'll want to keep track of what titles you might be playing. 

So without further ado, we've gathered together this handy guide to all the Xbox Series X games Microsoft has confirmed – and some that we expect to see.

Confirmed Xbox Series X titles

Halo Infinite

Xbox Series X games

Image credit: Microsoft

Halo Infinite is was the first title that Microsoft confirmed for Xbox Series X - so we definitely know Master Chief is making the jump to the next-generation console. 

Not only that, but Halo Infinite will be a launch title for Series X, releasing in Holiday 2020 alongside the console (or consoles). It's not particularly a surprise, considering Master Chief has served as the face of Xbox for nearly 18 years... 

Gothic

After gauging interest with a playable teaser, developer THQ Nordic has confirmed that it's going to remake its 2001 cult classic and bring it to Xbox Series X.

Nordic is planning to "stay as faithfully as possible to the original experience" and modernise gameplay mechanics but it's also promised fans that it'll be playing close attention to player feedback from the playable teaser; already the developer has said that it's hearing calls for a "grittier and less colourful world".

Development is still in the very early stages, though, and we shouldn't expect to see it launch on Microsoft's console in 2020.

Rainbow Six Siege

Rainbow Six Siege director, Leroy Athanassof, has confirmed in an interview with Windows Central that Ubisoft's plan is to have the online tactical shooter be available on Xbox Series X from the console's launch day. 

Ubisoft doesn't want players to face being split up from their friends just because some have jumped into the new generation when others haven't so it's also been confirmed that the game will support cross-gen play. That means Xbox Series X players will still be able to play with the Xbox One friends. 

Senua’s Saga: Hellblade 2

Xbox Series X games

Xbox Series X's name and design was officially revealed during the Game Awards 2019. Alongside a look at the next-gen console we also recieved an official announcement that there's another Hellblade on the way - and it's coming to the next Xbox. 

We don't know much about what Senua's Saga: Hellblade 2 will be about but the announcement trailer, harnessing the Series X's next-gen technology, was extremely impressive.

Outriders

Outriders

People Can Fly has confirmed that its upcoming co-op shooter Outriders will land on both PS5 and Xbox Series X in "Holiday 2020" (AKA between October and December this year) - the same release window that we have for both next-gen consoles.

We don't know a huge amount about Outriders just yet, but the developer has described it as "a co-op RPG shooter for a new generation set in an original, dark and desperate sci-fi universe".

The Lord of the Rings: Gollum

PS5 games

Announced in March 2019, Daedalic's Gollum game has now been confirmed for PS5 and Xbox Series X. 

The developer confirmed to Edge, that The Lord of the Rings: Gollum will be a "stunning next-gen adventure". Previously Daedlic confirmed Gollum will release in 2021 for PC and "all relevant console platforms at that time". Whether the game will be cross-generation (releasing on PS4 and Xbox One also) is still unconfirmed however.

But what will the game actually be about? Gollum is an action-adventure which focuses on the ring-obsessed creature. According to Daedalic, the narrative-driven game"tells Gollum's story from a perspective never seen before ... while staying true to the legendary books."

Gods and Monsters

Xbox Series X games

Just like Watch Dogs Legion, Gods and Monsters is another title from Ubisoft announced for Xbox at E3 2019 that's been delayed from its original early 2020 release into the next financial year. 

Knowing now that we could see Gods and Monsters released any time between April 2020 and March 2021, we've long thought it's likely that the title will make an appearance on the Xbox Series X platform. 

This has now been officially confirmed. Along with Rainbow Six Quarantine and Wathdogs: Legion, Ubisoft CEO Yves Guillemot has said it will be coming to the next-gen platform.

Rainbow Six Quarantine

Xbox Series X games

Rainbow Six Quarantine was first confirmed during Ubisoft's E3 2019 press conference. It was never given a solid release date but it has since been delayed into the 2020-2021 financial year. 

So, while we still don't know a release date, this delay has pushed the game closer to the Xbox Series X launch and increases the likelihood we'll see it playable on the next generation of consoles. Of course this has now been officially confirmed by Ubisoft CEO Yves Guillemot in an earnings call to investors in November, 2019.

Watchdogs: Legion

Xbox Series X games

First announced at E3 2019, Watch Dogs Legion was initially confirmed for a March 2020 release. However, since then Ubisoft has confirmed that the game will now be delayed into the next financial year which runs from April 2020 to March April 2021, meaning Watch Dogs Legion could see a delay of as little as a month or up to a year. 

This delay does, however, make it more likely than ever that Watch Dogs Legion will launch for Xbox Series X as a cross-generation title. Which has now been officially confirmed by Ubisoft CEO Yves Guillemot in an earnings call to investors in November, 2019. Watchdogs: Legion will be joining Rainbow Six Quarantine and Gods and Monsters on the next-gen platform.

Suspected Xbox Series X titles

Everwild

Xbox Series X games

A surprise announcement during XO19 was Rare's next original title: Everwild. This game is still in the very early stages of its development and there's no release date just yet. This certainly suggests that the game could be a cross-generational title, launching on Series X and Xbox One as an exclusive. 

We don't know much about Everwild just yet but Rare has said that it will "give you memorable, engaging and meaningful experiences for players everywhere to share."

Cyberpunk 2077

Xbox Series X games

Image credit: CD Projekt Red

CD Projekt Red has been reticent to say whether or not its upcoming title will be releasing on the next generation of consoles. 

In an interview with VG247 last year, CD Projekt Red revealed that Cyberpunk 2077 will be able to work with future gaming technology.

“Next gen hasn’t been announced yet, so we can only speculate,” CD Projekt Red president Adam Kiciński explained. “Technology-wise, Cyberpunk is very advanced. Our technology is ready to interface with future generations.

“The game is developed in such a way that it can use very powerful future equipment."

However, since this time the developer has admitted (via GameSpot) that while the possibility of a Series X release is being explored it's not in its "area of interest right now". Instead, the studio wants to focus on what it's doing right at this moment, rather than look too far ahead and lose sight of what's important: launching the game well. 

This is perhaps unsurprising as Cyberpunk 2077 is due for release in April 2020 and Xbox Series X is not due to launch until late 2020. If the game did launch on Series X it'd be a cross-generational title. At the moment though, as far as CD Projekt Red is concerned, this is still only a "maybe."

Starfield

Xbox Series X games

Image credit: Bethesda

Bethesda has quite a lot of projects in the works, but the one we seem to know the least about is Starfield. All we know so far is that Starfield is the gaming behemoth's first new IP in 25 years and will be a single player RPG set in outer space.

Having only seen an announcement trailer, we don't expect Starfield to release until at least 2020 which means it will land in the prime window to become an Xbox Series X game. Bethesda hasn't let slip if this will be the case, but it seems likely we will be venturing into Bethesda's galaxy on next-generation consoles.

The Elder Scrolls 6

Xbox Series X games

Image credit: Bethesda

As we said, Bethesda has been pretty busy behind the scenes since E3 2018. Not only is Starfield on the cards, but the long-awaited Elder Scrolls 6 has also been confirmed to be in the works. 

Bethesda's Todd Howard has already stated that The Elder Scrolls 6 won't be coming out until after Starfield. So it'll be a while before we venture into Tamriel again, likely on next-generation consoles. 

Grand Theft Auto 6

Xbox Project Scarlett games

Image credit: Rockstar Games

Ok, yes, we are being a bit hopeful here - mainly because Grand Theft Auto 6 has not been announced by Rockstar Games. But it's almost guaranteed that we will see a new instalation in the Grand Theft Auto series, and it's not going to be for a while. 

Therefore, it is likely that a release date will fall into the next generation, making GTA 6 an Xbox Series X game.

Final Fantasy 7 Remake

Xbox Series X games

Image credit: Square Enix

Again, the Final Fantasy 7 Remake has not been confirmed to be an Xbox Series X game but Square Enix has confirmed the title will come to PS4 first - with an Xbox One and PC release likely in the future .

Given the age of the Xbox One, and the ambitious nature of the game - it's coming in multiple episodes across a multi-year release schedule - a cross-generation title with next-gen platforms isn't out of the question. So we're definitely hoping to see the Final Fantasy 7 Remake on Xbox Series X.

Battlefield 6

Xbox Series X games

Electronic Arts has confirmed that Battlefield 6 is on the way, and that it's coming to next-generation consoles. 

EA didn't confirm which consoles (so we will keep Battlefield 6 in the rumored section for not) but, regardless, it'll be a few years before we see the shooter on any next-gen consoles as the publisher wants to give the platforms time to build a strong player base. But Xbox Series X looks very likely.

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SMBs aren't doing enough to protect themselves from cyberattacks

Posted: 19 Feb 2020 11:55 AM PST

New research from the cybersecurity company BullGuard has revealed that an alarming number of small businesses in the UK and US are not properly prepared for a potential cyberattack or data breach.

The firm surveyed 3,083 small business owners in the UK and US to learn that one third of companies with 50 or fewer employees are using free, consumer-grade cybersecurity products while one in five companies use no endpoint security software whatsoever.

BullGuard's study also found that 43 percent of SMB owners have no cybersecurity defense plan in place which leaves their most sensitive financial, customer and business data at significant risk.

CEO of BullGuard, Paul Lipman provided further insight on the results of the study in a press release, saying:

“Small businesses are not immune to cyber attacks and data breaches and are often targeted specifically because they often fail to prioritize security. Caught between inadequate consumer solutions and overly complex enterprise software, many small business owners may be inclined to skip cybersecurity. It only takes one attack, however, to bring a business to its knees.”

Myths vs reality

BullGuard's study also highlighted some glaring discrepancies between what SMB owners believe versus what is actually occurring in the market.

Of those surveyed, almost 60 percent of SMB owners believe their business is unlikely to be targeted by cybercriminals. However, the results of BullGuard's survey show that 18.5 percent of SMB owners have suffered from a cyberattack or data breach within the past year.

Companies that did fall victim to a cyberattack often experience significant downtime which seriously impacts productivity, data privacy and even revenue. Once breached, 25 percent of SMB owners said that they had to spend $10,000 or more to resolve the attack and this can be devastating for a small company. When it came to time lost, 50 percent of SMB owners said it took 24 hours or longer to recover form a breach or cyberattack while 25 percent reported they lost business as a result and almost 40 percent said they lost crucial data.

Despite these numbers, many SMB owners are overly confident when it comes to the safety of their company and customer data with one in five respondents stating that their organization has zero vulnerabilities. To make matters worse, 50 percent of SMB owners stated that their employees do not receive any cybersecurity training.

Putting the right security measures in place is an essential step to protecting any business no matter how big or small it is and BullGuard's survey shows that SMBs need to do more when it comes to securing their organizations against potential cyberattacks and data breaches.

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PS5 games: all the games confirmed and expected on the PlayStation 5

Posted: 19 Feb 2020 11:47 AM PST

PS5 games are almost here. Sure, you may not be able to play them yet, but with a confirmed release window for the next-gen PlayStation console – end of 2020 – and specifications for the PS5 starting to drop, it's no surprise to see developers start announcing titles for the hardware. 

There aren't many confirmed PS5 games so far, and we don't know the PS5's launch titles quite yet, but they're slowly trickling in and we're expecting to see developers announce even more in the coming months. In fact, rumors point to a PS5 reveal event in February, which may give us a better idea of what we'll be playing on Sony's next-gen console.

So what games are we expecting to see on the PlayStation 5? Well, we've gathered together this handy guide to all the PS5 games that have been confirmed so far – and some that we expect to see.

Confirmed PS5 games

Gothic

After gauging interest with a playable teaser, developer THQ Nordic has confirmed that it's going to remake its 2001 cult classic and bring it to PS5. 

Nordic is planning to "stay as faithfully as possible to the original experience" and modernise gameplay mechanics but it's also promised fans that it'll be playing close attention to player feedback from the playable teaser; already the developer has said that it's hearing calls for a "grittier and less colourful world". 

Development is still in the very early stages, though, and we shouldn't expect to see it in 2020. 

Rainbow Six Siege

Ubisoft has confirmed to Windows Central that it's planning for its online tactical shooter, Rainbow Six Siege, to be available on PS5 from launch day (whenever that launch day may be). In order to avoid forcing early next-gen adopters from having to leave their Siege friends behind, Ubisoft has also said that the game will support cross-generational multiplayer, so PS5 owners will still be able to play with their PS4 friends. 

Outriders

Outriders

People Can Fly has confirmed that its upcoming co-op shooter Outriders will land on both PS5 and Xbox Series X in "Holiday 2020" (AKA between October and December this year) - the same release window that we have for both next-gen consoles.

We don't know a huge amount about Outriders just yet, but the developer has described it as "a co-op RPG shooter for a new generation set in an original, dark and desperate sci-fi universe".

The Lord of the Rings: Gollum

Gollum

Announced in March 2019, Daedalic's Gollum game has now been confirmed for PS5 and Xbox Series X. 

The developer confirmed to Edge, that The Lord of the Rings: Gollum will be a "stunning next-gen adventure". Previously Daedlic confirmed Gollum will release in 2021 for PC and "all relevant console platforms at that time". Whether the game will be cross-generation (releasing on PS4 and Xbox One also) is still unconfirmed however.

But what will the game actually be about? Gollum is an action-adventure which focuses on the ring-obsessed creature. According to Daedalic, the narrative-driven game"tells Gollum's story from a perspective never seen before ... while staying true to the legendary books."

Godfall

Godfall

Announced at the Game Awards 2019, Godfall is an action RPG from Gearbox that kind of looks like Destiny with swords and shiny hardware. We don't know exactly what the gameplay is going to look like, but it can be said that Gearbox popularized the "looter shooter" with its Borderlands franchise, so we imagine that the gameplay loop will be just as satisfying. 

But, because Gearbox hasn't really made a hack and slash before, we'll just have to wait and see what the actual gameplay will look like and whether the slashing will be as satisfying as Borderlands' shooting. 

We don't have a specific release date, but we do know that Godfall will be coming to PlayStation 5 and Epic Games Store "Holiday 2020". 

New Bluepoint Studios game

PS5 games

The announcement of a new Bluepoint game was the first time a company came out into the open and said that it is indeed developing a title for Sony's next-generation console.

Bluepoint Studios is the team best known for ports of classic games, having put out the incredibly well received Metal Gear Solid: HD Collection, Uncharted: The Nathan Drake Collection and astonishing Shadow of the Colossus remaster.

Talk early in 2019 pointed to the studio's next project being yet another re-imagining of a classic game, and with rumors swirling around a Demon's Souls remake happening (an IP owned by Sony unlike the rest of the Bandai Namco franchise), it's looking like a relatively good guess that'll be the company's next title.

Watch Dogs: Legion 

Watch Dogs: Legion

First announced at E3 2019, Watch Dogs Legion was initially confirmed for a March 2020 release. However, since then Ubisoft has confirmed that the game will now be delayed into the next financial year which runs from April 2020 to March April 2021, meaning Watch Dogs Legion could see a delay of as little as a month or up to a year. 

This delay does, however, make it more likely than ever that Watch Dogs Legion will launch on the PS5 platform, which was officially confirmed by Ubisoft CEO Yves Guillemot at the end of 2019.

Gods and Monsters

Gods and Monsters

Just like Watch Dogs Legion, Gods and Monsters is another title from Ubisoft announced for PS4 at E3 2019 that's been delayed from its original early 2020 release into the next financial year. 

We could see Gods and Monsters released any time between April 2020 and March 2021 and have now had official confirmation that it'll be coming to the PS5. 

Rainbow Six Quarantine

Rainbow Six Quarantine

Rainbow Six Quarantine was first confirmed during Ubisoft's E3 2019 press conference. It was never given a solid release date but it has since been delayed into the 2020-2021 financial year. 

So, while we still don't know a release date, this delay has pushed the game closer to the PS5 launch. And, according to Ubisoft CEO Yves Guillemot, it's one of a number of games that's been officially confirmed for the next-gen console.

Rumored PS5 games

Cyberpunk 2077

Cyberpunk 2077

Image credit: CD Projekt Red

CD Projekt Red has been reticent to say whether or not its upcoming title will be releasing on the next generation of consoles. 

In an interview with VG247 last year, CD Projekt Red revealed that Cyberpunk 2077 will be able to work with future gaming technology.

“Next gen hasn’t been announced yet, so we can only speculate,” CD Projekt Red president Adam Kiciński explained. “Technology-wise, Cyberpunk is very advanced. Our technology is ready to interface with future generations.

“The game is developed in such a way that it can use very powerful future equipment."

However, since this time the developer has admitted (via GameSpot) that while the possibility of a PS5 release is being explored it's not in its "area of interest right now". Instead, the studio wants to focus on what it's doing right at this moment, rather than look too far ahead and lose sight of what's important: launching the game well. 

This is perhaps unsurprising as Cyberpunk 2077 is due for release in September 2020 (after being delayed from April) and the PlayStation 5 is not due to launch until late 2020. If the game did launch on PS5 it'd be a cross-generational title. At the moment though, as far as CD Projekt Red is concerned, this is still only a "maybe."

Death Stranding 

Death Stranding

Image credit: Kojima Productions

Hideo Kojima and Sony have been pretty tight-lipped about whether we will be seeing Death Stranding as a PS5 game. 

Death Stranding has already launched on the PS4 but in an interview with Wired, Sony's Mark Cerny hinted that we could be seeing the allusive title on PS5 too.

When asked by Wired about the transition from PS4 to next generation, and how Death Stranding will fit into this process, Cerny gave a "pregnant pause" and a glib smile before a spokesperson interjected that game would be released for PS4. 

It's not exactly a confirmation but Cerny's response has definitely fuelled speculation that Death Stranding will be a cross-generation release.

Ghost of Tsushima 

Ghost of Tsushima


Perhaps more wishful thinking on our part, but we haven't heard much in the way of Ghost of Tsushima news since the new IP was revealed at Paris Games Week 2017. 

SuckerPunch's historical open world adventure will take players back to Feudal Japan, and now we have a much clearer picture of when that will happen. At the Game Awards 2019, SuckerPunch revealed that Ghost of Tsushima will be hitting the streets in Summer 2020, which means the wait is very nearly over. 

That means that the game will arrive ahead of the PS5, but given how beautiful the graphics have been so far, we wouldn't be surprised if it launches on Sony's new console. Still, we haven't heard word one from Sony about whether Ghost of Tsushima will be a PS5 game.

The Last of Us: Part 2

PS5 games

Image credit: Naughty Dog

We now know that The Last of Us: Part 2 will release on May 29, 2020 - much earlier than the PS5's late 2020 release date. However we think it's a safe assumption that any Sony exclusives coming in 2020 will likely be cross-generation titles.

It would seem slightly odd for Sony to release one of its most eagerly anticipated sequels for just the PS4 at the end of the console's life cycle. So we think it's a safe bet to assume Joel and Ellie will make their way to the PS5, instantly becoming one of the best PS5 games.

Starfield 

Starfield

Image credit: Bethesda

Bethesda has quite a lot of projects in the works, but the one we seem to know the least about is Starfield. All we know so far is that Starfield is the gaming behemoth's first new IP for 25 years and will be a single player RPG set in outer space.

Having only seen an announcement trailer, we don't expect Starfield to release until at least 2020 which means it will land in the prime window to become a PS5 game. Bethesda hasn't let slip if this will be the case but it seems likely we will be venturing into Bethesda's galaxy on next generation consoles.

The Elder Scrolls 6 

The Elder Scrolls 6

Image credit: Bethesda

As we said, Bethesda has been pretty busy behind the scenes since E3 2018. Not only is Starfield on the cards, but the long-awaited Elder Scrolls 6 has also been confirmed to be in the works. 

Bethesda's Todd Howard has already stated that The Elder Scrolls 6 won't be coming out until after Starfield. So it'll be a while before we venture into Tamriel again, likely on next generation consoles. 

Grand Theft Auto 6 

GTA 6

Image credit: Rockstar Games

Ok, yes, we are being a bit hopeful here - mainly because Grand Theft Auto 6 has not been announced by Rockstar Games. But it's almost guaranteed that we will see a new instalation in the Grand Theft Auto series, and it's not going to be for a while. 

Therefore, it is likely that a release date will fall into the next generation, making GTA 6 a PS5 game.

Final Fantasy 7 Remake

PS5 games

Image credit: Square Enix

Again, the Final Fantasy 7 Remake has not been confirmed to be a PS5 game but Square Enix has confirmed the title will come to PS4 first - with an Xbox One and PC release likely in the future .

Given the age of the PS4, and the ambitious nature of the game, a cross-generation title with next-gen platforms isn't out of the question. So we're definitely hoping to see the Final Fantasy 7 Remake on PS5.

Horizon Zero Dawn 2

Horizon Zero Dawn 2

Now, it's worth noting this title hasn't been officially confirmed nevermind being confirmed for PS5. 

Sony has had huge success with its PS4 exclusives, particularly post-apocalyptic RPG Horizon Zero Dawn. Horizon Zero Dawn is one of the best-selling games on the PS4, selling over 10 million copies and cementing itself as a must-have title. So it would make perfect sense for Guerrilla Games to develop a sequel, right?

It seems that is exactly what's happening. While neither Sony nor Guerrilla Games have announced a Horizon Zero Dawn 2 is in the works, one of the game's voice actors spilled the beans earlier this year and essentially confirmed a sequel is on the way. But with no release date in sight, it looks likely that Horizon Zero Dawn will land on PS5.

God of War 2 

God of War 2

Much like Horizon Zero Dawn 2, God of War 2 hasn't officially been confirmed to be in the works. 

It's only been a year since the critically acclaimed (and our Game of the Year 2018 winner) God of War reboot launched exclusively on PlayStation 4, but we're already looking to the future.

Despite Sony remaining tight-lipped on the subject, the success of God of War means a sequel is probably on the way (perhaps another God of War 2?). In addition, Sony Santa Monica has posted job listings for a number of roles across its teams - with one listing clearly citing the God of War reboot. 

At this point, it's most likely that God of War 2 will come to PS5 than the PS4.

Battlefield 6

Battlefield 6

Electronic Arts has confirmed that Battlefield 6 is on the way, and that it's coming to next-generation consoles. 

EA didn't confirm which consoles (so we will keep Battlefield 6 in the rumored section for not) but, regardless, it'll be a few years before we see the shooter on any next-gen consoles as the publisher wants to give the platforms time to build a strong player base. But a PS5 looks very likely.

Gran Turismo 

Gran Turismo

There are rumors abound that the next Gran Turismo title will be a part of the PS5's launch lineup. While nothing has been confirmed, it does seem likely that a Gran Turismo game will appear on the console at some point as it's PlayStation's landmark racing series. 

Wired has reported that developer Polyphony Digital has Gran Turismo Sport running on a PS5 devkit while an even more recent leak has suggested that Gran Turismo 7 will release on November 20 as a launch title for the console. 

We don't know for sure when a Gran Turismo title will appear on PS5, or what form it will take, but we think it's likely it will happen at some point. 

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Tottenham vs RB Leipzig live stream: how to watch Champions League 2020 football online from anywhere

Posted: 19 Feb 2020 11:45 AM PST

With Son Heung-min now on the long-term injury list thanks to a fractured arm, depleted Spurs may have to change tack in tonight Champions League first leg clash against RB Leipzig. To see how the Special One plays it, use our Tottenham vs RB Leipzig live stream watching guide (no matter where in the world you are).

Jose Mourinho's trademark defence-first grinding of results hasn't been a feature of Spurs' play since he took over in north London, with their leaky back-line meaning they've had to resort to out-scoring the opposition in many games.

But Son's injury, coupled with long-term absentee Harry Kane, means Spurs are now somewhat light up top and are unlikely to take the game to their high-flying opponents who are currently just one point off leaders Bayern Munich in the Bundesliga.

Leipzig received a boost at the weekend, with a 3-0 win over Werder Bremen which ended a recent dip in form. While Julian Nagelsmann's has a defensive crisis to deal with due to Dayot Upamecano being  suspended and Ibrahima Konate and Willi Orban injured, he can at least call upon the formidable forward trio of Dani Olmo, Patrick Schick and Timo Werner to take the heat of their diminished backline.

Read on to find out how to watch what looks set to be fascinating Champions League encounter, no matter where you are in the world, with TechRadar's guide to getting a Tottenham vs RB Leipzig live stream.

Use a VPN to watch Champions League football when away from home

Scroll down to find out your football viewing options for tonight's match in some of the major Champions League watching countries around the world. And if you're out of the country and are worried that you won't catch the game, don't sweat. With the option of using a VPN service, you can tune into this fixtures no matter where you are in the world. And best of all, it's really easy to do.

A VPN allows you to change your IP address so you appear to be in a completely different location. We've tested hundreds of VPNs and can recommend ExpressVPN as the best VPN service currently available.

And don't forget that a VPN isn't just for football...there's loads you can do with them. From unblocking restricted sites and watching Netflix in other countries to adding an extra layer of security for online shopping and banking.

How to stream Tottenham vs RB Leipzig live in the UK 

How to live stream Spurs vs RB Leipzig in the US

How to live stream tonight's Champions League match in Canada for FREE

How to live stream Tottenham vs RB Leipzig in Australia

How to watch Tottenham vs RB Leipzig in New Zealand

How to live stream tonight's UEFA Champions League match in India

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Huawei P40 release date, news and leaks

Posted: 19 Feb 2020 11:10 AM PST

The upcoming Huawei P40 (and its expected big brother, the P40 Pro) is one of the tech industry's biggest enigmas – will it actually ever be released or not? Despite Huawei's claims the phone will land in March, we're unsure.

Because of the ongoing Huawei ban, new smartphones from the company can't use any Google apps (including the Play Store), greatly restricting their capabilities and value versus other smartphones. That will likely include the Huawei P40 Pro in a similar way to how the Huawei Mate 30 Pro was impacted.

Despite the dubious future laid out for Huawei's handsets, we're eagerly anticipating the upcoming Huawei P40 smartphone. The Huawei P30 and P30 Pro from 2019 are some of our favorite phones, with the latter topping our best camera phones list for a long time thanks to its 5x optical zoom Periscope lens and great software. 

New phones like the Samsung Galaxy S20 family as well as the rumored iPhone 12 are sure to be tough competition for Huawei and its P40 phones, so it'll be exciting to see what the company includes in 2020.

We’ve listed what we want to see in the Huawei P40 below, as well as what we already know or have heard rumored. We'll be constantly updating this article with all the latest Huawei P40 leaks and rumors as they happen, to bring you the best idea of what to expect ahead of the handset's official launch.

Latest news: It seems increasingly likely that both the presumably lower-end Huawei P40 and the P40 Pro will be 5G-capable phones, with a regulatory body in China seemingly confirming that fact in a listing.

Cut to the chase

  • What is it? The latest in Huawei's P range of smartphones
  • When is it out? Late March 2020
  • What will it cost? Probably a tiny bit more than the P30 series

Huawei P40 release date and price

Huawei has confirmed that the Huawei P40 will be announced in Paris at the end of March.

This comes as no surprise, since the P30 and P30 Pro were unveiled in Paris in March 2019, and the P20 and P20 Pro launch event look place in March 2018. We had anticipated it being launched at MWC 2020, but that event has now been cancelled

March makes sense as Huawei likes to separate its phone launches from other big tech events like the Samsung Galaxy S20 launch. It had previously launched new P series handsets at MWC in Barcelona at the end of February, but that's a show which features a huge number of launches and it gets more exposure by delaying by a couple of weeks and holding its own event in March.

The Huawei P40 price is a more interesting conversation. At launch the Huawei P30 cost £699 / AU$1,099 (roughly $910), and the P30 Pro started at £899 (AU$1,599, around $1,140), which were both pricier than the previous year’s entries.

We've heard the Huawei P40 price could roughly match the P30, but the Pro model might actually be a little bit more affordable than its 2019 equivalent. The rumored Huawei P40 Pro Premium Edition is apparently going to set you back a whopping €1,200 (around $1,320, £1,015, AU$1,955), which is enough to rival the most pricey phones on the market.

One thing we’re not expecting though? For the Huawei P40 to be available in the US, as previous Huawei phones haven’t been.

Huawei P40 news and rumors

Since Christmas 2019, the flow of Huawei P40 leaks and rumors have picked up somewhat, and we're starting to get a clearer picture of what the phone could look like. Well, we would if some of the leaks weren't slightly contradictory.

The first piece of news is the biggest: despite the Huawei ban throwing the future of the company into disarray, it seems like Huawei still plans to launch the Huawei P40 globally

Even if the ban is still in place when the phone is set to release, the launch will go ahead – the handset will just come without Google apps. This might make it a little useless, since most people only use a smartphone for its apps.

The Huawei P40 and P40 Pro could both be 5G phones, as a listing for a Chinese regulatory body suggests. This makes sense as they're expected to run on the Kirin 990 chipset which supports that next-gen connectivity.

A Huawei exec has also said that the P40 will have a "never seen" design, suggesting big changes to the look, and that it will run Android 10 (without Google services), and have performance and photo quality improvements.

Leaked renders of the phone, and subsequent hands-on pictures, suggest it'll actually look pretty familiar, with a design that's incredibly similar to what we're expecting the Samsung Galaxy S20 and OnePlus 8 to also look like too. It seems 2020 is the year all phones look the same. Those renders do show the different colors the phone could come in, from expected options like black and white to some more interesting tones like almond and blue-ish.

The design of the Huawei P40, at least the Pro model, might actually come without the curved screen of the P30 Pro, according to leaked screen renders. The leak seems tentative, so it might be wrong, but we could see the newer device be a little less top-end compared to its predecessor. We've seen screen protectors that suggest there will be a curved screen though, so the flat screen leak seems dubious.

We've also seen a leaked image of the Huawei P40 camera bump. The rear lump seems to be in the top-left of the phone's back, same as in the Huawei P30, and it doesn't seem too intrusive either, at least compared to devices from other companies. A leaked render gives us a different angle, and it looks like the bump could be just as long, but much wider, than the P30's. 

But we know what you really want to know, the exact specs, and we've heard many rumors of the Huawei P40 Pro camera specs. The device is said to have a five-camera array consisting of a 64MP main snapper, 12MP zoom camera (which is supposed to facilitate up to 10x optical zoom, which would be the best in a smartphone), and ultra-wide, depth sensing and macro cameras of unspecified resolution.

Saying that, a separate leak suggests the main camera will be a 52MP snapper, and the fact that leaks are contradicting each other suggests we shouldn't take any of them as gospel just yet.

That 52MP claim has now been made again, with a source adding that it would use 'Quad Quad Bayer' tech to combine 16 pixels into 1, resulting in snaps of just 3.25MP, but with a massive pixel size which would likely allow for superb low light shots.

Of course, you wouldn't have to shoot at 3.25MP, as it's also rumored to support 4-in-1 pixels for 13MP shots, and would likely allow you to shoot in full 52MP quality as well.

This source also reiterated the claims of a 10x zoom lens, saying that this would be possible by using two prisms in the mechanism, rather than the single prism that current periscope lenses on smartphones use.

One of the above sources also stated that the base Huawei P40 would have four rear cameras, dropping either of the latter two cameras, but another rumor suggests the Huawei P40 will have the same three cameras as the Huawei P30

We've got our reservations about that, because it wouldn't make sense for a device that'll put such an emphasis on photography to not innovate in the camera department, but perhaps Huawei has something else up its sleeves.

Another render (shown above) showed three rear cameras on the Huawei P40, but two front-facing cameras, so it seems there could be improvements for selfies but not for typical pictures.

We'll leave you with some bizarre information that we're not sure what to make of. A rumor has suggested that as well as the Huawei P40, P40 Pro and P40 Lite, there could be a Huawei P40 Pro Premium Edition, with the most top-end specs of the lot. That's a strange name, and it seems weird that Huawei would add yet another phone to a line that might not be available in many places (if the Mate 30 series is anything to go by) which is why we're not totally sold just yet.

What we want to see

1. A new camera lens

When the Huawei P30 Pro came out with four lenses, it was one of the first smartphones to do so, and even the P30’s three were impressive.

But now more affordable smartphones have four cameras, like the Honor 20, so one way for Huawei to continue its photography dominance, and distinguish itself from the competition, would be to add yet another lens.

Our top choice for this extra lens would be a Motorola One Action-style 'Action Cam' for recording video, as video-specific cameras are things we haven’t seen too much in cameras. 

An anamorphic lens would also be great for recording video, as that type of lens is used by professional film-makers as it letterboxes the footage and captures lens flare, with other perks too.

2. Wireless charging

This is something we ask for in every new phone, as it’s a feature that’s becoming bigger over time, but wireless charging on the Huawei P40 would be a really useful feature that would fit its premium status.

We’re hopeful this feature will be added – the Huawei P30 Pro had wireless charging, as did the Mate 20 Pro, so it’s probably on a matter of time before Huawei brings the feature to its non-pro phones. 

The P30 Pro

3. Improved display technology

If we were to sum up the Huawei P30 and P30 Pro displays, it’d be ‘good not great’ – the OLED are HDR10, which is fine for viewing content, but nothing on competitors with QuadHD or even 4K displays.

Huawei is always trying to be competitive in the camera department, and to view increasingly amazing pictures you’re going to need better and better displays, so it would make sense for Huawei to update its range. 

Perhaps by fitting the Huawei P40 with AMOLED tech in the screen, with QuadHD or even 4K, Huawei could stay ahead of the competition.

4. Keep the notch

We’d like the Huawei P40 to keep the notch of the P30. This is something of a controversial stance, so stay with us here – but we don’t want Huawei to follow the trend of increasingly bizarre and gimmicky notch alternatives.

The reason for this is that, currently, there are no better solutions to the front-facing camera problem. Punch-hole cut-outs take up as much, if not more space, and pop-up cameras are a gimmick that can be an inconvenience when done well, and very annoying when not.

It’d be good if Huawei could shrink the P30 Pro’s notch, which is rather thick, but the P30’s is slim and inoffensive compared to that of many other phones. Better to imitate this than try something different, that ends up backfiring.

5. A redesigned user interface

This is going to be less of a controversial opinion – we’d like Huawei to redesign EMUI, its own-brand user interface, in time for the Huawei P40.

EMUI

Currently, EMUI is arguably rather bright (some would call it garish), and it comes with quite a bit of bloatware that you’ll find yourself uninstalling straight away. Chinese phone manufacturers frequently have UIs that are popular in China, but not as much elsewhere, and EMUI is a prime example.

If Huawei could dust up this UI for the Huawei P40 (which may be a simple task if the phone runs on Harmony OS), it’d certainly be much more pleasant to use.

6. Even further camera zoom distance

One of the most impressive Huawei P30 features was the digital and optical zoom available on the camera, but we’d like to be wowed again if the Huawei P40 zoom saw an upgrade.

The Huawei P30 allowed for 3x optical zoom and 30x digital, and the P30 Pro saw up to 5x optical and 50x digital – that’s pretty impressive sight. But now that smartphones like the Oppo Reno 10x Zoom support a crazy 60x zoom (despite the name), Huawei is going to have to pull out the big guns to keep competitive.

Perhaps we could see an improved telephoto lens in the P40 and P40 Pro, as well as a better megapixel count so that digital zoom creates less grainy results.

7. Dual-lens front camera

Huawei’s smartphones are noted for their rear camera arrays, but we’d like to see the Huawei P40 cameras on the front to also allow for competition-crushing pictures, and the best way for Huawei to achieve this would be by having multiple front-facing cameras.

We’ve already seen this done in phones like the Samsung Galaxy S10 Plus, which has two cameras on the front which ‘see’ depth in order to add appropriate ‘bokeh’ background blur. If there was something similar in Huawei’s upcoming phones, even just the Huawei P40 Pro, it’d give the device a competitive edge.

8. Increased IP protection rating

While the Huawei P30 Pro had IP68 protection, making it pretty much accident-proof (it means it’s dust resistant, and can be submerged up to 2 metres for half an hour), the P30 was had only an IP53 rating, so it was dust and splash protected, but if you dunk it in the bath along with your P30 Pro, it’s not turning on afterwards.

We’d like the Huawei P40 to have resistance to match its P40 Pro counterpart – we don’t like having to worry about the safety of our smartphone at all times, and if the P40 could match the P30 Pro’s protection, it’d help us sleep safe and sound at night (and by bodies of water).

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Best laptop 2020: our pick of the 15 best laptops you can buy this year

Posted: 19 Feb 2020 10:32 AM PST

Welcome to our pick of the best laptops of 2020. On this page you'll find the very best laptops for a wide range of budgets and uses.

Not only have we got the very latest ultra-powerful laptops, but also the best budget laptops, brilliant Chromebooks and gaming laptops as well – plus everything in between.

No matter what kind of device you're after, our best laptops list is here to give you top buying advice. Every device in our best laptops list has been extensively tested by us, while our price comparison tool will make sure you get the best deals for the best laptops.

During our testing process, we make sure that these laptops offer the best battery lives, design, performance and value in their respective fields. 

Buying any of the laptops in this best laptop list ensures you're getting an incredible mobile PC.

We are constantly reviewing and updating our list of the best laptops, so if a new device comes out and is worthy of inclusion, we'll add it here. This means you're getting the very latest advice on what the best laptop of 2020 is.

Best laptops 2020 at a glance:

  1. Best laptop overall: HP Elite Dragonfly
  2. Best laptop runner up: Dell XPS 13 (2019)
  3. Best laptop for pure value: Huawei MateBook 13
  4. Best 2-in-1 laptop: HP Spectre x360 (2019)
  5. Best Apple laptop: MacBook Pro (16-inch, 2019)
  6. Best gaming laptop: Alienware Area-51m
  7. Best Chromebook: Google Pixelbook Go
  8. Best laptop by Microsoft: Microsoft Surface Laptop 3
  9. Best laptop for productivity: Dell XPS 15 2-in-1
  10. Best budget gaming laptop: Dell G5 15 5590
  11. Best affordable Chromebook: Asus Chromebook Flip
  12. Best mid-range laptop: Asus VivoBook S15
  13. Best affordable laptop: Acer Switch 3
  14. Best cheap MacBook: Apple MacBook 12-inch (2017)
  15. Best looking laptop: HP Spectre Folio

The best laptops 2020:

This new laptop from HP is a deserving winner of our best laptop award – put simply, this is one of the most stylish and slimline laptops you'll ever see, and it's also packed with some brilliant features and powerful components.

While the HP Elite Dragonfly is primarily aimed at business users, don't let that put you off. Its incredible design and gorgeous screen makes this the best laptop for anyone who can afford it. Battery life is excellent, the keyboard is a joy to type on, and it also has LTE connectivity. This lets you plug in a SIM card and access mobile internet wherever you are, without having to connect to slow (and potentially compromised) Wi-Fi hotspots.

For a long time our best laptops list has been dominated by the Dell XPS 13 (below), but the HP Elite Dragonfly has finally dethroned it. It's expensive, but if you can afford it, it's easily the best laptop of 2020.

Read the full review: HP Elite Dragonfly

The Dell XPS 13 has been a regular of our best laptops list for years, and the 2019 model is no exception. It retains everything we've come to love from Dell's flagship 13-incher, from the gorgeous and light design, to the powerful modern components that power it. The Dell XPS 13 rocks an 8th-generation Intel Core i5 or i7 processor and a bezel-less ‘Infinity Edge’ display, this Dell XPS 13 continues to be the most popular Windows laptop in the world. 

What’s more, there’s a wide range of customization options, so you can really make the Dell XPS 13 the best laptop for your needs. The 2019 model doesn't bring a huge amount of improvements, but then not that much about the Dell XPS 13 needs improving. Its webcam has been placed at the top center of the screen, rather than at the bottom, which a lot of customers have been asking for.

Read the full review: Dell XPS 13

Huawei has done it again, and its latest laptop is one of our picks for the best laptop of 2019. As with last year's Huawei MateBook X Pro, the MateBook 13 comes with some of the latest components, including a discrete Nvidia MX150 graphics card, and a gorgeous lightweight design, that you'd expect to find on a much more expensive laptop. 

The fact that the MateBook 13 offer so much, yet comes with an impressively low price – compared to its Ultrabook competitors, makes it our choice for the best value laptop. Sure, you may be missing a few minor niceties here and there to achieve such a competitive price, but on the whole, this is the most value-packed flagship laptop that we’ve ever tested.

If you're after a few more bells and whistles, like super-fast Thunderbolt 3 ports and a 4K display, then the Dell XPS 13 or MacBook Pro (also on this list of best laptops) may be better choices. Recently, the US government blacklisted Huawei, which many feared would have implications on whether the Chinese company's laptops would still get support from the like of Microsoft and Intel. 

The good news is that both Microsoft and Intel have confirmed that they will continue to support Huawei laptops, which means the MateBook 13 and other models will still get important Windows 10 updates.

Read the full review: Huawei MateBook 13

The HP Spectre line of Ultrabooks and 2-in-1 laptops has always consisted of extraordinarily attractive devices. So, when we say that the 2019 Spectre x360 takes things to another level, that should mean something. 

This is one of the most beautiful laptops on the market right now, with its gem-cut design and sleek profile. Couple that with the powerful Intel Whiskey Lake processors and long battery life, and you get one of the best laptops on the market right now. Its ability to flip into a Windows tablet is just icing on the cake. 

Read the full review: HP Spectre x360 (2019)

While we are sad that the 15-inch MacBook Pro is no more, we’ve welcomed the MacBook Pro (16-inch, 2019) with open arms. As thin, light and sleek as ever, you wouldn’t think this was a 16-inch behemoth. Yet, you’re getting that extra real estate on that stunning display, as well as the latest and greatest components behind it. This is, without a doubt, the best MacBook for content creators, designers and other creative professionals. With amazing (and loud) speakers and a much, much better keyboard to boot.

Read the full review: MacBook Pro (16-inch, 2019)

The Alienware Area-51m is our pick for the best gaming laptop of 2019, so naturally, it also deserves a place in our list of the best laptops money can buy. With an eye catching design and brilliant build quality, which we've come to expect from Dell's Alienware brand, this is an incredible performer, offering a choice of some of the very best gaming components on the market right now, including a choice of 9th generation Intel Core processors, and Nvidia's latest RTX range of GPUs. 

Sure, it's pretty expensive, but if you're serious about getting the best gaming laptop money can buy in 2019, then you'll need to expect to splash out a little bit, and the Alienware Area-51m really is worth every penny. However, if this is out of your budget, check out the much more affordable Dell G5 15 5590 later on in this list.

Read the full review: Alienware Area-51m

Google's new Pixelbook Go is the best Chromebook money can buy right now, with the company showing everyone else how it's done. Its previous Chromebook, the Pixelbook, was a brilliant Chromebook in its own way, but it cost a small fortune. 

The Pixelbook Go, on the other hand, is a more affordable Chromebook that retains a lot of its predecessor's premium features, while bringing some brilliant upgrades as well, including an astounding battery life and fantastic keyboard. 

It features some impressive specs for a Chromebook, which ensures that Chrome OS positively flies on this device, and puts its performance on par with many of the more expensive Windows laptops and MacBooks that grace the rest of this best laptops list. If you're looking for the ultimate Chromebook, or just one of the best laptops released in 2019, then the Pixelbook Go is the one to get.

Read the full review: Google Pixelbook Go

With the third version of the Surface Laptop 3, Microsoft has made its best laptop yet. While it's not a huge leap over its predecessor, the Surface Laptop 3 does improve on almost every aspect. 

Best of all, with the 15-inch version you now get a choice of either Intel or AMD hardware. Previously, only Intel tech was included. Elsewhere, the Surface Laptop 3 continues the Surface Laptop's reputation for being a stunningly designed laptop. 

These are some of the most desirable laptops in the world that don't have a logo of an apple on them, with a new aluminum body that gives it a premium feel, while protecting it from knocks and drops. There are still a few niggles, like the continued lack of ports, but in general this is one of the best laptops in the world right now.

Read the full review: Microsoft Surface Laptop 3

Last year’s Dell XPS 15 was already one of the best laptops you could buy, but now  Dell has taken the beautiful redesign of the Dell XPS 13 and applied it here – while also making it a convertible. 

Well, it’s amazing. Not only do you get one of the most aesthetically pleasing 15-inch laptops on the market, but it also packs one of those new Intel Kaby Lake G-series CPUs featuring ‘discrete-class’ Radeon graphics. This means that this laptop packs serious power – even if it can get a little loud.

Read the full review: Dell XPS 15 2-in-1 

While the Alienware Area-51m (featured earlier in this best laptops list) is the best gaming laptop for people with a lot of money to spare, if you're on a tighter budget, then the Dell G5 15 5590 gaming laptop is a fantastic choice. 

Dell’s 15-inch G5 doesn't have the highest specs, but it will see you through 1080p gaming and last you up to 10 hours of battery life as well – which is pretty remarkable for a gaming laptop. 

It also features a stylish design and great build quality, and Dell also allows you to configure the Dell G5 15 5590 to better suit your budget and needs.

Read the full review: Dell 5 15 5590

When it comes to the best Chromebook laptop, you have a choice between two stark alternatives. There's the more expensive Chromebook Pixel Go (featured earlier in this list), and then there's the excellent Asus Chromebook Flip C302, which combines premium features in a much more affordable package. 

For many people, Chromebooks are affordable laptops that are perfect for students, and the Asus Chromebook Flip C302 is easily one of the best Chromebooks, and one of the best laptops, money can buy. 

It comes with an Intel Core processor, full 1080p display, touchscreen, backlit keyboard and USB-C port.

Read the full review: Asus Chromebook Flip

The new Asus VivoBook S15 hasn't been out for long, and it's made its way straight into our best laptops list. This is because it combines a thin and light design with great performance and an excellent price. 

If you're looking for a mid-range laptop that doesn't cost too much, but still performs brilliantly, then this is the best laptop for you. 

Thanks to its powerful Intel processor, 8GB of RAM and fast SSD storage, this is a laptop that can handle almost any task with ease – though gaming is out of the question. Its 15.6-inch screen is bright and vibrant, and it has loads of ports that makes it easy to hook up your favorite peripherals. 

However, it doesn't have the longest battery life for a laptop, and the ScreenPad, which replaces the traditional touchpad below the keyboard with a touchscreen, takes a bit of getting used to.

Read the full review: Asus VivoBook S15

If you want the Microsoft Surface Book 2 but you want to spend a lot less, the Acer Switch 3 2017 is definitely the your best option. 

If you're looking for one of the best Acer laptops, this one's designed around essentially the same concept as the Surface Book 2 and it's a less capable thanks to slightly lower power innards, but for most tasks it's a brilliant little machine. 

What's more, to add further value this 2-in-1 laptop/tablet comes with the keyboard upgrade which means no little extras to pay for. As usual it comes in several different versions, with USB Type-C, 8GB RAM, an IPS display and Intel Core i3 7100U CPU coming with the more expensive option.

Read the full review: Acer Switch 3 

The MacBook is another win for Apple, and it's once again won us over with a gorgeous design, excellent performance and best-in-class battery life. 

Apple has updated the processors with Intel's 7th-generation Kaby Lake range, which means you get improved performance and longer battery life without sacrificing the thin and light design that the MacBook is famous for. 

While the MacBook 2017 is not designed as a pure productivity machine, like the more powerful and versatile MacBook Pro above, or as a gaming machine, it's still one of the best laptops in the world right now thanks to being a super slim and light MacBook that you can take anywhere without even noticing the weight.

Read the full review: Apple MacBook

When HP unveiled the HP Spectre Folio, it made some big claims about how the 2-in-1 laptop would reinvent the PC. While it doesn't quite match the hype, what we do have is one of the most beautifully-designed laptops we've ever tried. 

Billed as "modern vintage meets technology", the HP Spectre Folio is built directly into a piece of genuine leather. That's not a fancy cover, it's a part of the laptop. It's not just looks that has put it on this list of the best laptops of 2019, the HP Spectre Folio is also a brilliant performer as well, with modern components powering the device.

It is very expensive, though, so if you're on a budget, check out the more affordable 2-in-1 Acer Switch 3. But, if you want the best laptop for making a statement as soon as you pull it out of the bag, then the HP Spectre Folio is the one to get.

Read the full review:  HP Spectre Folio 

What should you look for when buying a new laptop?

There are certain things you can look out for when buying a new laptop that can ensure you get the best laptop for your money.

Make sure you take a look at the specifications of a laptop before buying. This is a good way of quickly seeing how powerful a laptop is, and what it is capable of – as long as you know what you’re looking for.

First of all is the processor. This is essentially the brain of the laptop, and a laptop will usually have a processor (also known as a CPU) made by either Intel or AMD. Intel is by far the most popular CPU maker for laptops, though we’re seeing an increasing number of AMD-powered laptops as well.

As a general rule of thumb, Intel processors offer better performance, but AMD processors are better value.

To make things more simple, both Intel and AMD have numbered their processors to give you a rough idea of what sort of tasks a laptop with that processor can perform.

If you’re after a budget laptop for simple tasks like browsing the web or watching Netflix, then a laptop with an Intel Pentium, Intel Core i3 or AMD Ryzen 3, processor will do that job without making the laptop too expensive.

If you’re after something with a bit more oomph – perhaps to do more complex task like editing your home videos or playing games – then go for a laptop with an Intel Core i5 or AMD Ryzen 5 processor as a minimum.

The best laptops for media creation, and more complex tasks, come with an Intel Core i7 or Core i9 processor, or an AMD Ryzen 7 processor. Laptops with these processors in them are top-of-the-range laptops that will provide brilliant performance no matter what you want to do – but be warned that they are often found in the most expensive laptops.

Finally, keep an eye on how new the processor is. Intel handily gives its processors generations, so the higher the generation, the newer it is. The latest generation is the 10th generation, though 9th generation Intel Core processors are also pretty recent.

A newer processor performs better and is more power efficient – so battery life will last longer. They are more expensive, though.

RAM (Random Access Memory) is another important specification to look for in a laptop. You’ll want 4GB at the very least for a Windows laptop – though we’d actually recommend for many people to go for 8GB. That will ensure that the laptop runs well for years to come.

When it comes to graphics, you don’t need to worry too much, as laptop processors come with built-in (integrated) graphics. However, if you want to play PC games on your laptop, then you’ll want a gaming laptop with a discrete GPU – either from Nvidia or AMD.

Battery life considerations

Finally there’s battery life. This is likely to be one of the most important considerations you have when choosing what laptop to buy. The best laptops need to be able to let you work - and play - for hours on end without you having to scramble for a power adapter. Modern laptops are getting ever more power-efficient, which has led to longer battery lives. For a laptop to be included in our best laptops list, it needs to offer a battery life of five hours or more.

Bear in mind that the battery life that the laptop makers claim their device has could be quite different to what you actually experience. This is because many laptop makers test their batteries in very controlled environments, with the laptop used in ways that you might not necessarily use. So, while a laptop might have a claimed battery life of 10 hours, you may find that when using it for certain tasks – like streaming high definition content – your battery life could run out faster.

That’s where our in-depth reviews come in, as we run a series of tests on each laptop in this best laptops guide to see how long the battery life lasts under certain conditions. If a laptop’s battery is ridiculously short (or impressively long) we’ll tell you.

Which type of laptop is best for you?

General laptops: Where the best cheap laptops are found, devices that focus more on practicality than style, portability or power. That’s not to say they can’t be fast, but you’ll typically find a non-Ultrabook clamshell laptop with an HD screen and spinning drive-based storage for less than $600 or £400.

Ultrabooks: Where you’ll find thin-and-light notebooks sporting SSD storage and display resolutions that exceed 1080p. Paired with powerful, albeit mobile-centric components and especially long battery life, the best Ultrabooks will cost a pretty penny – $700 or £500 to $2,000 or £1,800.

2-in-1 laptops: Where notebooks that double as tablets are located. The Surface Book 2 might be a ways off, but many of the best 2-in-1 laptops are available right now. Outfitted with both detachable and 360-degree rotating hinges, these hybrids are the most versatile way to experience Windows 10 (or Chrome OS) on a touchscreen.

Chromebooks: Where you’ll find the best Chromebooks running Chrome OS. These do much of what Windows and macOS can in the browser, focused on cloud storage over local, while recently getting Android app support for touchscreen models. They generally cost less than $300 or £200 and some can even withstand a slight tussle.

Gaming laptops: Need a laptop to play games (almost) just like a shiny desktop PC can? Then you’ll want one of the best gaming laptops. These machines generally cost from $800 or £600 to upwards of $3,000 or £2,800 and they’ll likely be the ones to take advantage of AMD’s laptop-grade Ryzen processors first.

Laptop-tablet hybrids: Designed from the tablet-first approach to laptop-tablet hybrids, the best Windows tablets pack beyond-HD touchscreens, sometimes with kickstands in their frames or provided via keyboard covers. These generally shine with a stylus, and range from the budget to the premium price ranges.

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Critical bug in WordPress plugin could allow hackers to wipe entire sites

Posted: 19 Feb 2020 10:25 AM PST

Security researchers at WebARX have discovered a critical bug in a popular WordPress plugin that could allow unauthenticated users to gain administrative privileges and restore a site's entire database to its default state if left unpatched.

The vulnerability was found in the ThemeGrill Demo Importer plugin that ships with WordPress themes sold by the web development company ThemeGrill. 

The plugin is installed on over 200,000 sites and it allows site owners to import demo content in to their ThemeGrill themes to provide them with examples which they can use to build their own sites.

According to a new report from WebARX, versions 1.3.4 to 1.6.1 of the ThemeGrill Demo Importer plugin are vulnerable to the bug which could allow unauthenticated hackers to launch remote attacks on WordPress sites that have the plugin installed.

Remote attacks

Hackers can exploit the vulnerability in ThemeGrill Demo Importer by sending a specially crafted payload to sites that have an older version of the plugin installed to trigger a function inside the plugin.

This function can be used to wipe the database of a WordPress site where a ThemeGrill theme is active and the vulnerable plugin is installed. Additionally, if the site's database contains a user named “admin”, then the attacker is granted access to that user along with full administrator rights over the site.

Researchers at WebARX first discovered the vulnerability earlier this month and quickly reported their findings to ThemeGrill. The company has since released a new version of ThemeGrill Demo Importer which fixes the bug.

However, at the time of writing, the latest version of the plugin, version 1.6.3, has been installed over 100,000 times which means that many users have yet to update their sites. If you have the ThemeGrill Demo Importer plugin installed on your site, it is highly recommended that you update it immediately to prevent falling victim to any attacks that exploit the vulnerability present in earlier versions.

Via ZDNet

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Latest Amazon sales: save big on Fire TV, headphones, and fitness tracker deals today

Posted: 19 Feb 2020 09:48 AM PST

Amazon are offering some fantastic iPad, laptop, Xbox One, and headphone deals on right now, with particular savings on the Amazon Fire HD tablets and some nice Echo Dot bundles as well. We've found top sales on everything from cheap 4K TV deals to Fitbit and Garmin smartwatches. In fact, fitness tracker deals are so popular this weekend that you'll probably find just about every brand has a sale going. 

We've rounded up our favorite Amazon sales below, but you can also check out all our picks further down the page.  

Amazon Daily Deals: today's top sales

Cheap Garmin and Fitbit fitness trackers

AirPods sale prices stick around 

Brand new cheap Fire tablet deals

PC gaming deals offer excellent savings

Save on your Fire TV stick with an Echo Dot bundle

The latest 4K TV sales

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Xbox Series X could sport immersive sound to rival the PS5

Posted: 19 Feb 2020 09:43 AM PST

Another console, another 3D audio chip? Rumor has it that the hotly-anticipated Xbox Series X could feature the kind of immersive spatial audio that we're expecting to see in the also soon-to-be-released PS5.

A description of a GDC 2020 presentation that will be held on March 18 by Microsoft's Senior Technical Audio Specialist Robert Ridihalgh, reveals that "newer generation Xbox consoles" will sport "dedicated hardware-acceleration". 

Hardware acceleration is the use of a special processor to speed up certain tasks - much like the 3D audio chip that PS5 architect Mark Cerny has confirmed will come with the next-gen PlayStation. 

In an April 2019 interview with Wired, Cerny confirmed said that the PS5 will support what he calls "3D audio" – something he says will "make you feel more immersed in the game as sounds come at you from above, from behind, and from the side".

While Cerny didn't elaborate on exactly how the technology works, he confirmed that it won't require "any external hardware", with the audio chip forming part of the third-generation AMD Ryzen chipset that will power the PlayStation 5. 

Chips at the ready

We know that the Xbox Series X will feature its own custom AMD chipset, so it's not beyond the realms of possibility that the two consoles will boast very similar audio specs. 

The talk will cover the collaboration between Microsoft and Dolby, and how it "kicked off a revolution with spatial sound that turns any pair of headphones into a multi-dimensional gateway to another world."

That sounds more than a little reminiscent of the kind of audio processing we're expecting from the PS5. It's worth nothing however, that the Xbox One already supports Dolby Atmos upmixing, but this processing is done on their console's own CPU, which only features a separate card for graphics acceleration. 

So, the use of audio hardware acceleration could result in better audio for the Xbox Series X than that of the previous generation, creating yet another rivalry between the Microsoft and Sony consoles – either way, it's clear that both companies are going big on audio for their latest launches. 

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Two of the world's best VPN providers are battling things out with these ace VPN deals

Posted: 19 Feb 2020 09:16 AM PST

We know that birthday celebrations aren't typically marked with VPN deals, but we suppose its no surprise that this exactly how NordVPN and IPVanish are celebrating theirs.

By sheer coincidence, both of these market-leading VPN providers are enjoying their eighth year anniversary this month - and both have some pretty sweet discounts to mark the occasion.

With IPVanish, for $47.88 or the equivalent of $3.99 a month you'd be getting one year's worth of its VPN service and a year's access to SugarSync cloud storage absolutely FREE. That's a full 250GB space for all your photos, tunes and videos - a add-on that would normally cost in excess of $100.

Now if you select NordVPN instead, you'd be paying $125.64 for three years worth of the service! Not only does that only work out to only $3.49 a month, you also get one of the following randomly selected freebies when you sign up: one month, one year, two years, or three years extra of NordVPN.

Not sure which provider to go for? Scroll down to see both deals in full, or why not also check out our best VPN deals guide for all of the very best offers on cyber privacy.

These brilliant birthday VPN deals in full:

Battle of the VPNs: NordVPN vs IPVanish

Don't worry, this won't be a Fury vs Wilder vs Fury-style showdown - we'll just give you the pros of these popular providers.

If we're talking streaming, we love the fact that NordVPN can unblock not only Netflix but BBC iPlayer too - meaning there's a whole new world of content for you. But if we're talking best value for money, IPVanish is unbeatable, you're getting 10 simultaneous connections on one device for under $4 a month! 

But when it comes to security, we really rate the fact that NordVPN boasts a very strict zero-logging policy and an effective kill switch. We know in terms of security the NordVPN hack caused panic but the provider has taken significant steps to correct this, which is why we still rank it so highly and are confident in recommending its service.

However, we need to commend IPVanish's excellent download speeds so you don't need to worry about the VPN slowing down your device and it's got plenty of powerful, configurable apps.

Still undecided? Check out our NordVPN review and our IPVanish review.

NordVPN and IPVanish specs

IPVanish VPN

IPVanish

**Number of servers:** 1,300 | **Server locations:** 75 | **IP addresses:** 40,000+ | **Maximum devices supported:** 10

NordVPN

**Number of servers:** 5,600+ | **Server locations:** 60+ | **IP addresses:** N/A | **Maximum devices supported:** 6

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Dell laptop sale: the XPS 13 laptop gets a $250 price cut

Posted: 19 Feb 2020 08:58 AM PST

Dell's President's Day sale has been extended and that means you can still find incredible deals on laptops, monitors, TVs, and more. Our top sale pick is the Dell XPS 13 laptop that's on sale for $649.99. That's a $250 discount and the best price we've found for the powerful laptop. 

The Dell XPS 13 laptop features a 13.3-inch InfinityEdge display and packs 4GB of RAM, 128GB SSD, and an 8th Gen Intel Core i3 processor. The powerful laptop received an upgraded battery life of up to 21 hours, and the new 2.25mm webcam is now placed above the display. Perfect for students and travel, the lightweight XPS 13 is Dell's smallest 13-inch laptop and weighs just 2.7 pounds.

This is a fantastic price for a powerful laptop, and this deal also qualifies for free shipping. Dell's Presidents' Day sale is ending soon, so you should take advantage now before it's too late.

See more laptop sales with the best cheap laptop deals: prices start at just $129 today.

You can also see more of the best cheap Dell laptop deals and prices.

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You can save big on Xbox Game Pass Ultimate deals and subscriptions - here's how

Posted: 19 Feb 2020 08:55 AM PST

Not only are there plenty of Game Pass deals to take advantage of at the moment, but there are also loads of different ways to save on your cheap Xbox Game Pass subscription. There are plenty of Game Pass deals going around at the moment, and we've found one to suit any situation. That means we've found cheap Game Pass Ultimate prices for those with a new Xbox Live account, even cheaper memberships for those who are new to the service, and astonishingly low prices on three-month Game Pass subscriptions. 

We're running through three ways to save money with a cheap Xbox Game Pass membership, thanks to some excellent Game Pass and Game Pass Ultimate deals going right now. There are now more ways than ever to save - whether you're new to the service entirely, or if you're simply topping up your subscription.

These deals come from CDKeys, a well trusted digital marketplace specializing in digital content across the world. If you want to shop around other retailers, you can check out the latest Game Pass deals from around the web further down the page, or check out the best Game Pass prices we've found right here on TechRadar. 

You can grab three months of Xbox Game Pass (without online play) for just $9.99 / £7.41 right now. That's an astonishingly cheap price if you're just after access to Microsoft's 100+ game library. If you're already a Game Pass member and you're just looking to top up, or if you've picked already grabbed a Game Pass Ultimate subscription and want to calm down that monthly expenditure this is a great deal.

If you're new to Xbox, however, there are plenty more savings to be found. We've also been spying some excellent Game Pass Ultimate deals that package the Game Pass library with Live Gold online play that may swerve your decision. 

You can pick up a six-month Xbox Game Pass Ultimate deal for just $34.79 / £25.99 at CDKeys right now. That nets you access to the Game Pass library, online play, and exclusive discounts as well - all for a fantastic low price right now. Note that these codes will only work with new Xbox Live accounts, so if you've already got an existing account you might want to check out our best Xbox Game Pass prices or check the Game Pass deals above. 

The latest deals from CDKeys offer some of the lowest prices we've seen on six-month Xbox Game Pass Ultimate subscriptions so far. Nevertheless, there are more savings to be had for the savvy shopper. Before you dive straight in, however, you might also want to look at those 12-month Live Gold deals because Microsoft has a little trick up its sleeve that can save you a wad of cash on your 2020 gaming. 

Microsoft is still running its own Xbox Game Pass Ultimate deals, which offer the first month of the service for just $1 / £1. Similarly, you have to be new to the Game Pass Ultimate service, but if so there's a kicker in this deal that makes this all-in-one subscription particularly cheap at the moment. 

Microsoft states that when you redeem your first month for $1 / £1, all your existing Live Gold or Game Pass months will be upgraded to Game Pass Ultimate, up to 36 months. That means a stacked Xbox Live Gold subscription, a substantially cheaper service, can be converted into a premium Game Pass Ultimate membership.

Six months of Xbox Live Gold can be found for the same price as this particular Game Pass Ultimate deal right now, but picking up 12 months for $52.19 / £39.99 gives you far more value for money and sets you up with free games for the whole year once you convert your months. Just make sure you redeem your Live Gold membership before signing up to Game Pass Ultimate.

Looking for more great Xbox Game Pass prices? We've got them all right here on TechRadar. We're also tracking all the latest Live Gold membership prices to keep you ahead of the game. While you're shopping, it might also be time to refresh your equipment - check out all the best Xbox controller deals around right now. 

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