Apple : GoDaddy + Marketing makes running your business online easier |
- GoDaddy + Marketing makes running your business online easier
- Nation-state hackers abuse flaw in Microsoft Exchange servers
- Best Buy TV deals: March Madness savings from Samsung, LG, TCL, and more
- RB Leipzig vs Tottenham live stream: how to watch Champions League football online tonight
- Ubisoft will be sticking with Nvidia GeForce Now as publishers abandon service
- Google launches machine learning framework for training quantum models
- When is the next episode of RuPaul's Drag Race season 12, and who's the next guest judge?
- The best Mother's Day flower delivery services available now
- How to watch The Bachelor season 24 Finale online from anywhere
- Boris Johnson survives government revolt over Huawei 5G
- Millions more Facebook users have their data exposed online
- Best headphones 2020: your definitive guide to the latest and greatest audio
- DJI Mavic Air 2 photos leak as the new drone prepares for lift-off
- Are these the Apple headphones to finally beat the Sony WH-1000XM3?
- The Google Pixel 4 hits lowest price ever at Amazon
- Philips Hue smart bulbs crash in price thanks to this starter pack bundle
- Google Pixel 4a hands-on video details design and specs of unreleased phone
- Best blogging platforms of 2020
- Command & Conquer Remastered boasts 4K graphics and a pile of fan-requested features
- The best wedding photo book providers in 2020
| GoDaddy + Marketing makes running your business online easier Posted: 10 Mar 2020 02:00 PM PDT GoDaddy Websites + Marketing integrates everything the modern entrepreneur needs to build a successful business. GoDaddy has all of the tools needed to put together a beautiful, on-brand website. With easy-to-use tools and a wide range of templates, you can get your site set up in minutes. A full suite of e-commerce features ensures you can easily manage inventory, keep tabs on incoming orders, and process payments painlessly. Getting your products onto Amazon, eBay, and Etsy are just a few clicks away with GoDaddy; once your products are listed, you can manage your inventory across all of those platforms from your GoDaddy dashboard with their Marketplaces feature. InSight is a new tool that provides a running score of how you’re managing your online business and offering actionable, industry-specific guidance on what to do next. To dig even deeper, a full video series of Guides helps you tackle specific problems head-on. Promoting your business with GoDaddy is a breeze. For example, you can prepare e-mail newsletters to keep your customers up-to-date. GoDaddy also plugs into Facebook, Yelp, and Google My Business so your most important information is readily accessible to customers wherever they might see your brand online. GoDaddy provides top-of-the-line SEO tools to ensure you rank on the first page of relevant search terms. GoDaddy can also help you gain visibility on social channels thanks to Instagram integration to manage your posts. Visit godaddy.com/websites-marketing to learn how to take your business to the next level. This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
| Nation-state hackers abuse flaw in Microsoft Exchange servers Posted: 10 Mar 2020 01:33 PM PDT Multiple nation-state hackers have begun exploiting a vulnerability in Microsoft Exchange email servers that was recently patched. The UK-based cybersecurity firm Volexity first spotted the vulnerability being exploited in the wild but the firm did not name any of the hacking groups involved. The vulnerability, tracked under the identifier CVE-2020-0688, was patched by Microsoft last month. If exploited though, the remote code execution vulnerability could be used to read all of an organization's emails as it gives attackers full control of a Microsoft Exchange email server.
While Microsoft has already patched the vulnerability, a technical report from the Zero-Day Initiative, who first reported the bug to the company, provided extensive details on the bug and how it works. This report served as a roadmap for security researchers who used the information it contained to create proof-of-concept exploits to prepare their own servers for possible attacks. Following the release of Zero-Day Initiative's report, hacker groups began to scan the internet for vulnerable Exchange servers which they could launch attacks against in the future. Weaponizing the vulnerabilityIn a new blog post, Volexity revealed that cybercriminals' scans for vulnerable Exchange servers have turned into actual attacks, saying: “Volexity has observed multiple APT actors exploiting or attempting to exploit on-premise Exchange servers. In some cases the attackers appear to have been waiting for an opportunity to strike with credentials that had otherwise been of no use. Many organizations employ two-factor authentication (2FA) to protect their VPN, e-mail, etc., limiting what an attacker can do with a compromised password. This vulnerability gives attackers the ability to gain access to a significant asset within an organization with a simple user credential or old service account.” Thankfully though, the vulnerability in Exchange is not easy to exploit and to do so, hackers need to have the credentials for an email account on the server they're trying to attack. This means that less advanced hackers will be unable to do so while nation-state hackers have the resources to exploit the vulnerability. All Microsoft Exchange servers are considered vulnerable to these attacks including versions that have reached their end-of-life (EoL). Organizations should apply the latest patch as soon as possible and if they're running an EoL version, they should consider updating to a newer Exchange version.
Via ZDNet This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
| Best Buy TV deals: March Madness savings from Samsung, LG, TCL, and more Posted: 10 Mar 2020 12:58 PM PDT March Madness is almost here and to celebrate Best Buy is discounting a number of best-selling TVs. You can find incredible deals on a range of 4K TVs from top brands like Samsung, LG, TCL, and more. Shop more of Best Buy's TV deals below that include a range of different sizes and features. These discounts are limited-time offers, so you should act fast before they're gone. Best Buy TV deals:See more TV offers with our roundup of the best cheap TV deals and sales that are happening now. This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
| RB Leipzig vs Tottenham live stream: how to watch Champions League football online tonight Posted: 10 Mar 2020 12:41 PM PDT With a 1-0 deficit to overcome plus a forward line injury crisis to contend with, Spurs have a battle on their hands if they're to make the Champions League quarter-finals tonight - don't miss a moment of the big match tonight by following our RB Leipzig vs Tottenham live stream guide and tuning in right now. The pressure is beginning to mount on Jose Morinho, with Tottenham having failed to win a match in their last five games - a period which has seen them exit the FA Cup, among other things. A win here will be vital to keep the north London club's fans onside. Last month's first leg at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium ended in a 1-0 win for Leipzig, with Timo Werner scoring the only goal of the game. Werner, along with key midfielder Konrad Laimer, both shook off injuries to feature in RB's goalless draw away at Wolfsburg on Saturday so it looks like Leipzig will be able to field their preferred 11 tonight. With his team flying high in third place in the Bundesliga and no major injuries to report, coach Julian Nagelsmann will likely be in a confident mood going into tonight's match. In contrast, Spurs need for goals is hindered by the loss of recent signing Steven Bergwijn, with the Dutch winger joining fellow forwards Son Heung-min and Harry Kane on the long-term Tottenham injury list. Read on to find out how to watch the Champions League encounter now, no matter where you are in the world, with our simple guide to getting good a RB Leipzig vs Tottenham live stream.
Use a VPN to watch Champions League football when abroadScroll 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 like Leipzig vs Tottenham 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. RB Leipzig vs Tottenham live stream: how to watch tonight's match in the UKHow to live stream RB Leipzig vs Spurs in the US
How to live stream Leipzig vs Tottenham for free: watch the match in Canada todayHow to live stream RB Leipzig vs Tottenham in AustraliaHow to watch RB Leipzig vs Tottenham in New ZealandHow to live stream tonight's UEFA Champions League match in IndiaThis posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
| Ubisoft will be sticking with Nvidia GeForce Now as publishers abandon service Posted: 10 Mar 2020 11:37 AM PDT Ubisoft has thrown its weight behind Nvidia by pledging to “fully support” the company’s beleaguered GeForce Now cloud gaming service. It’s been a rough couple of weeks for Nvidia. Since GeForce Now left its beta period just a few weeks ago, dozens of games have been removed from its catalogue from a number of high-profile publishers. These include 2K, Activision-Blizzard and Bethesda, the latter of which left just one game - Wolfenstein: Youngbloods - available on the platform. This move, which Activision-Blizzard brushed off as a “misunderstanding”, is believed to be due to the fact that there was no commercial agreement between Nvidia and publishers when GeForce Now exited its free closed beta.
Raphael van Lierop, director of The Long Dark, wrote last week that Nvidia never asked permission to stream the game on its service: “Please take your complaints to them, not us. Devs should control where their games exist,” he said. Ubisoft, however, has thrown Nvidia a much-needed lifeline by reaffirming its support for the controversy-sparking service. In a statement sent to Kotaku, the publisher said that it “fully supports” Nvidia’s GeForce Now with “complete access to our PC games from the Ubisoft Store or any supported game stores.” “We believe it’s a leading edge service that gives current and new PC players a high end experience with more choice in how and where they play their favorite games,” Ubisoft added. The state of GeForce NowThis leap of faith comes just days after Epic confirmed it was standing by the service, with the company’s CEO Tim Sweeney calling GeForce Now “the most developer-friendly and publisher-friendly of the major streaming services”. “Game companies who want to move the game industry towards a healthier state for everyone should be supporting this kind of service,” he said. Sweeny went on to confirm that not only will Fortnite be staying on Nvidia’s service, but that publisher will offer support for Epic Games Store titles, including exclusives, if developers are willing. Nvidia also recently announced that CD Projekt Red’s upcoming Cyberpunk 2077 would be available on GeForce Now from day one. Ubisoft’s vote of confidence will no doubt come as a relief to Nvidia, but it remains to be seen whether it will encourage other publishers to follow suit.
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| Google launches machine learning framework for training quantum models Posted: 10 Mar 2020 11:29 AM PDT Google has managed to bring together its machine learning and quantum computing initiatives with the launch of TensorFlow Quantum. The machine learning framework has the ability to construct quantum datasets, prototype hybrid quantum and classic machine learning models, support quantum circuit simulators and train both discriminative and generative quantum models. According to a Google AI blog, TensorFlow Quantum is able to create quantum models with standard Keras functions and by providing quantum circuit simulators and quantum computing primitives compatible with existing TensorFlow APIs.
The release of TensorFlow Quantum comes after Microsoft's launch of Azure Quantum and the recent news that Honeywell is developing a quantum computer with a quantum volume of at least 64 which will be available in the next three months. TensorFlow QuantumIn an abstract for a paper, authored by members of Google's X unit, The Institute for Quantum Computing at the University of Waterloo, NASA's Quantum AI Lab, Volkswagen and Google Research, submitted to the preprint repository arXiv, the authors explain what they believe TensorFlow Quantum can achieve, saying: “We hope this framework provides the necessary tools for the quantum computing and machine learning research communities to explore models of both natural and artificial quantum systems, and ultimately discover new quantum algorithms which could potentially yield a quantum advantage.” The paper provides details on the TensorFlow Quantum software stack that combines the open source quantum circuit library Cirq with the TensorFlow machine learning platform. TensorFlow Quantum's ability to simulate properties will hopefully lead to advances in the fields of life sciences, decryption, chemical or material development and optimization.
Via VentureBeat This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
| When is the next episode of RuPaul's Drag Race season 12, and who's the next guest judge? Posted: 10 Mar 2020 10:39 AM PDT With both premieres of RuPaul's Drag Race season 12 out of the way, the next episode of the reality TV phenomenon continues this Friday in the US, and this Saturday in the UK. Below, we'll explain exactly when you can watch the next dramatic episode, and who this week's guest judge is. Viewers have been introduced to contestants Aiden Zhane, Brita, Crystal Methyd, Dahlia Sin, Gigi Goode, Heidi N Closet, Jackie Cox, Jaida Essence Hall, Jan Sport, Nicky Doll, Rock M. Sakura, Sherry Pie (who's been disqualified from the finale) and Widow Von'Du. Guest judges for the season were announced ahead of airdate – below, so keep reading hennies as we'll explain who's up this week. So if you're ready to sissy that walk, make sure you check out our guide on how to watch RuPaul's Drag Race season 12 online to make sure you don't miss a single episode. Here, then, is what we know about RuPaul's next episode.
When is RuPaul's drag race season 12 episode 3 released?RuPaul's Drag Race season 12 episode 3 airs on VH1 on Friday March 13 at 8PM ET/7PM Central in the US. You can also stream it directly on VH1's website if you've got your cable provider details. In the UK, Netflix has the rights to new episodes, and you can watch them on Saturday mornings from 8am. Who is the next guest judge on RuPaul's Drag Race season 12?None other than actress Olivia Munn (X-Men, The Newsroom) is this week's guest judge on RuPaul's Drag Race, as shown briefly at the end of episode 2 last week. You can find the complete list of RuPaul's Drag Race season 12 guest judges below:
Next week, the two sets of contestants will meet each other, which should result in some big drama. The challenge this week will be around improving a show called 'World's Worst' – this will be the first week of eliminations, too.
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| The best Mother's Day flower delivery services available now Posted: 10 Mar 2020 10:39 AM PDT You may already be thinking about ordering Mother's Day flowers, and you're not the only one. There are plenty of Mother's Day flower delivery services offering up enticing discounts as we near the big day, and if move fast you might even be able to save on delivery costs. There are loads of fantastic florists across the UK waiting to take your Mother's Day flowers order, each offering beautiful bouquets and thoughtful extras at competitive prices already. Online Mother's Day flower delivery from a specialist company means you don't have to worry about the usual hassle of buying from a regular florist and getting them home safely through the commuter crowd. Plus, plenty of online florists also offer hand delivery because there's nothing quite like answering the door to a whole bouquet of flowers direct from the florist themselves. That said, if you're concerned about your Mum not being home to receive her Mother's Day flowers, there are plenty of letterbox and courier-delivered options to take advantage of. So shop smarter this year for Mother's Day flowers and leave it to the professionals in our list below. If you're thinking of something else that could be a great gift for Mother's Day, how about creating a unique gift via our roundup of the best photo books for a more personalised gift? If you have siblings and you want to win Mother's Day, doubling down with some memories is the way to go. Mother's Day flower delivery in the UKWhat are letterbox flowers? Easy Mother's Day flower deliveryIf you don't want to rely on your mum being home to receive her Mother's Day flowers, letterbox flowers are here to keep everything running smoothly. These are flower bouquets, delivered in bud, within a letterbox-sized parcel to be slipped through the door while the recipient may not be home. The result is a stress-free Mother's Day flower delivery service perfect if you don't know when she's going to be home. This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
| How to watch The Bachelor season 24 Finale online from anywhere Posted: 10 Mar 2020 10:29 AM PDT In case you missed the first part of the finale we won't spoil it for you, but we did get to see who Pete Weber picked and let's just say it really was one of the most dramatic Bachelor finales yet. Ready to see if the couple will make it? Keep reading to find out how to watch The Bachelor online from anywhere in the world. It's safe to say that season 24 of The Bachelor has been both dramatic and entertaining, with Peter struggling to make decisions and group dates consisting of American Football games. And now it's down to the two finalists: Madison Prewett and Hannah Ann Sluss. And if you're still catching up we won't spoil anything for you, but we will say is that you can expect this to be one of the most complicated and unexpected ending in the entire history of The Bachelor! Ready to see if the couple will make it and what's next for them? Keep reading to find out how to watch The Bachelor season 24 Finale online from anywhere in the world.
Watch The Bachelor Finale online from outside your countryIf you happen to be away from home when all the drama goes down don't panic, you can easily still watch the final rose being handed out. Simply go ahead and download a VPN - this will allow you to watch The Bachelor online no matter where you are. This simple bit of kit changes your IP address so that you can access episodes live or on demand as they become available, just as if you were at home. How to watch The Bachelor Finale online in the US
How to watch The Bachelor Finale online in CanadaHow to watch The Bachelor Finale online in the UKHow to watch The Bachelor Finale online in AustraliaThis posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
| Boris Johnson survives government revolt over Huawei 5G Posted: 10 Mar 2020 10:13 AM PDT Prime Minister Boris Johnson has survived his first Commons rebellion, with a number of senior MPs supporting an amendment that would have seen Huawei banned from supplying UK operators with 5G equipment. The amendment would have blocked Huawei's participation from 2023 if it had been passed, however the government defeated the bill by 24 votes. The mutineers, led by former party leader Iain Duncan Smith, were concerned that Huawei equipment posed a threat to national security - a sentiment backed wholeheartedly by the US, which has repeatedly advised its allies to follow its lead in banning the Chinese firm.
Rejected amendmentThe UK government announced in January it would allow Huawei to contribute to Britain’s 5G rollout, but barred the manufacturer’s equipment from sensitive parts of the network. Under this guidance, “high-risk” vendors are excluded from the core layer of 5G networks and from networks used to power critical national infrastructure. Such vendors are also limited to 35 per cent of the radio layer. The long-awaited decision was designed to offer clarity to mobile operators embarking on nationwide 5G projects, and appease the US with the imposition of some restrictions. Huawei has welcomed the result of the vote, once again denying any allegations of wrongdoing. “We were reassured by the UK government’s decision in January that we could continue working with our customers to keep the 5G roll-out on track,” said Victor Zhang, VP at Huawei. It was an evidence-based decision that will result in a more advanced, more secure and more cost-effective telecoms infrastructure. “The government has examined the evidence and concluded that Huawei should not be banned on cyber security grounds and two parliamentary committees have done the same and agreed. An evidence-based approach is needed, so we were disappointed to hear some groundless accusations asserted. The industry and experts agree that banning Huawei equipment would leave Britain less secure, less productive and less innovative.” Huawei 5G dilemmaPrior to the vote, the government made a last ditch effort to convince the dissenters Huawei’s proposed role in the project does not pose a threat to national security, bringing in Dr Ian Levy, Technical Director at the National Cyber Security Centre, to allay fears. And in a statement delivered to TechRadar Pro, Huawei UK Advisor and former Chairman of BT group Sir Mike Rake highlighted the potential consequences of a 5G setback. “We are fortunate in this country to have in GCHQ one of the best intelligence gathering agencies in the world. They are clear that this risk can be managed with the safeguards and limits which have been established.” “Any attempt to further restrict Huawei 5G equipment, or to remove existing 4G equipment will not only incur very significant costs, but prejudice trade relationships with China and will significantly set back the Government’s broadband ambitions.” “This in turn will further damage our competitiveness as an economy, at what is a critical moment,” he added. Culture Secretary Matt Warman said the revolt had highlighted dissenters' concerns, while Digital Secretary Oliver Dowden said the government wanted to get to a point where it no longer relied on high-risk vendors in the near future.
Via BBC This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
| Millions more Facebook users have their data exposed online Posted: 10 Mar 2020 10:12 AM PDT A security researcher has discovered two exposed databases online which contain the records of over 300m Facebook users including their user IDs, phone numbers and names. The discovery was made by security researcher Bob Diachenko who found the first exposed database in December of last year. He believes that the large collection of Facebook user data was collected by cybercriminals in Vietnam either through an illegal scraping operation or by abusing the social network's API based on the evidence he uncovered. In situations such as this, Diachenko usually notifies database owners first but since this data likely belonged to a criminal organization, he notified the internet service provider managing the IP address of the exposed server instead. Unfortunately, the leaked data was also posted on a hacker forum where others can download it and use it to launch phishing and other cyberattacks online.
A second server containing the same data along with an additional 42m records was also discovered online and it appears to be operated by the same group of cybercriminals. However, shortly after the second server was found, it was attacked by an unknown party and the information it stored was replaced with dummy data and database names which read “please_secure_your_servers”. Exposed dataThe first exposed database contained 267m records and most of the affected users were from the US. Each record contained a unique Facebook ID, a phone number, a full name and a timestamp. The second exposed server contained the same 267m records plus an additional 42m records and was hosted on a US Elasticsearch server. 25M of the records it contained had similar information as that contained in the first server but 16.8m of the new records contained additional information including users' profile details, email addresses and other personal details. While it is still unclear at this time whether the data was obtained through the Facebook API or through a process called scraping where automated bots copy data from websites, Comparitech (who partnered with Diachenko on this discovery) does have some recommendations on how you can avoid having your data scraped. To minimize the chances of having your profile scraped by strangers, the firm recommends that users go to their Facebook settings, click on “Privacy” and set all relevant fields from “Friends” to “Only Me”. Additionally, users should set the “Do you want search engines outside of Facebook to link to your profile” option to “No” to reduce the chances of having their profiles scraped by third parties.
Via Comparitech This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
| Best headphones 2020: your definitive guide to the latest and greatest audio Posted: 10 Mar 2020 10:01 AM PDT The best headphones of 2020 combine incredible audio fidelity an stunning design, and come packing in tons of cool features like noise cancelation, built-in voice assistants, and wireless connectivity. A great pair of headphones are a necessity for many of us – aside from breathing new life into our favorite songs, they keep us entertained with music, podcasts, and audio books when we're working out, commuting, or just trying to disconnect from the world around us. We spend a lot of time with our headphones – and if you're looking for some new cans, you're going to want a pair of the best headphones you can find that your budget allows. There's so much choice these days, and there could be even more on the way, with rumors of the first-ever Apple over-ear headphones and the AirPods Pro Lite circling. With all those options out there, making the right buying decision can be tricky – and it's our mission to hook you up with the perfect headphones for your needs (and your budget). We encourage you to take a look at all the headphone lists here on TechRadar – however, if you're in a hurry and just want to find the best headphones your money can buy, check out our top picks below. The Sony WH-1000XM3 Wireless Headphones are the best headphones you can buy in 2020 – for now, anyway. They're pretty consistent with what Sony has released in the last two years in the form of the Sony WH-1000XM2 and Sony MDR-1000X, improving on some already fantastic models. A dominant noise-cancelling pair of headphones, the Sony WH-1000XM3 can beat anything Bose has with ease. That’s because, while Bose has done a tremendous job working out its noise cancellation algorithm over the years, Sony has spent that time perfecting audio playback while simultaneously creating an adaptable algorithm that doesn’t just create a single sterile sound barrier, but multiple kinds that can tailor itself to whatever situation you’re in. Beyond being exceptional at keeping external noises at bay, these impressive Sony headphones are Hi-Res Audio-ready, sporting aptX, aptX HD and LDAC codecs, and offer the smarts of Google Assistant right on-board. If you need a pair of headphones that can live up to any challenge and excel in any environment, these are the pair for you. We could soon see a new contender for the top spot though; rumors of an imminent Sony WH-1000XM4 release date have been circling since an FCC filing from Sony revealed the model number of what could be a brand new pair of noise-canceling headphones. Read more: Sony WH-1000XM3 review After spending a few weeks with both the 1MORE Triple Driver in-ear headphones, we were blown away by the great value for money they represent. For $100 / £100 (about AU$168), it’s hard to think of a better-sounding and more well-built pair of earphones than the 1MORE Triple Drivers. (That said, if you want just that little extra refinement and luxury materials, the 1MORE Quad Drivers are still a bargain at twice the price.) There’s very little we can fault the Triple Drivers for. Sure, the inbuilt remote feels a little cheap, but that's more than made up for by the lush sound quality offered by these luxe-looking earbud. For the price, it’s impossible to do better than 1MORE's Triple Driver in-ear headphones. Read more: 1More Triple Driver In-Ear Headphone review If you have a tendency to lose or break headphones, but you still value sound quality, it’s hard to think of a better value pair of earbuds than the RHA S500u. These in-ear headphones have no business sounding so good for $40 / £30 / AU$52, sporting a balanced soundstage with a slight mid-bass bump to power you through your workouts and make your music sound great. Bass is slightly emphasized but not egregiously and features good impact while maintaining good control – and highs, while sibilant at times, makes music sound more exciting. In short, these are the best earphones you can buy if you're on a strict budget. Read more: RHA S500u review For your money, you can't do any better than Grado's SR60e. The third-generation of the Brooklyn, NY-based company's Prestige Series are its best and most refined yet. The SR60e in particular are a smart choice if you're looking for an entry-level pair of headphones that sound far more expensive than they really are. Their open-backed earcup design makes them feel more breathable than most on-ear headphones, delivering a wide, natural soundstage. In a few words, they're our gold-standard when it comes to on-ears. (Our review is for the SR60i, but the newer SR60e headphones are largely similar in design and performance.) Read more: Grado SR60e review While the original Plattan headphones were just fine for a pair of on-ear headphones, Urbanears wasn’t satisfied with being mediocre. The company took customer feedback to heart and addressed many complaints about comfort, sound quality and isolation. For the most part, Urbanears succeeded, making the Plattan II a worthy sequel to the company’s most popular headphone. In short, these are basic headphones without a ton of features. But, because they're feature-light, you get a good-sounding pair of wired headphones for significantly less than you would otherwise. Read more: Urbanears Plattan II review While Beyerdynamic may not be as well known as its German brother, Sennheiser, the audio company has a history of creating some of the best sounding audio gear on the market – the company’s DT770, DT880 and DT990 were renowned for their excellent build and sound quality. Above them all, however, stand the Beyerdynamic DT 1990 Pro, an open-back version of the Beyerdynamic DT 1770 Pro, which won our Editor’s Choice for its imaging, design and value for the money. Both headphones are priced the same ($599 / £589 / AU$1,159), so you won’t find a deal picking up one over the other. The difference here comes down to sound. As they’re open-back, the DT 1990 Pro are meant to be used at home or in the studio for serious analytical listening. Sound is able to get in and out, but the good news is that the open-back design gives the DT 1990 Pro a great sense of space. The soundstage is quite wide, too, allowing even the most lackadaisical listener to pinpoint the exact location of where each instrument is playing. If you've been searching for a pair of high fidelity cans that are used by some of the world's leading audio engineers, these are the best headphones for you. Read more: Beyerdynamic DT 1990 Pro review At $200 / £180 / AU$250, the JBL Live 650BTNC punch above their weight in terms of sound quality, build, and features. They offer a choice of either Google Assistant or Amazon's Alexa voice assistant, and sport an adjustable EQ thanks to the JBL Headphones app. Battery life is rated at 20 hours with ANC and wireless enabled, while wired listening will get you upwards of 30 hours from a single charge. If you don’t want to splurge on the Bose QC35 II or Sony WH-1000XM3, you’ll be satisfied with the JBL Live 650BTNC knowing that you’re getting 80% of the performance at 50% of the price tag. JBL has just launched a new pair of noise-cancelling headphones, the JBL Tune 750BTNC – stay tuned to find out if they make it into this round up. Read more: JBL Live 650BTNC review If the Sony WH-1000XM3s are the true king of noise-cancelling headphones, the Bose Noise Cancelling Headphones 700 are next in line for the throne – and for the sake of offering an alternative, we've included them in this list. Traditionally, noise-cancelling headphones have been designed to block out the environmental sounds around you, so that you can hear your music more clearly (or catch some shut-eye on a noisy flight). This can be really effective if you’re listening to music. If you’re making a phone call however, the person you’re speaking to can still hear everything that’s happening around you, whether you’re standing on a busy street or trying to speak on a rumbling train. The Bose Noise Cancelling Headphones 700 seek to remedy this, by applying noise-cancelation to phone calls as well as music. The sound quality is undeniably good, with a vibrant, lively character and well-balanced soundstage. If you’re trying to decide between buying the Sony WH-1000XM3s and the Bose Noise Cancelling Headphones 700, we’d recommend going for the former because of that lower price and better battery life. That being said, you wouldn’t be making a mistake if you opted for the Bose cans instead (and we wouldn’t blame you if you did) – they sound great, look stunning, and the noise cancellation is out of this world. Read more: Bose Noise Cancelling Headphones 700 review Sennheiser is well-known for its great-sounding noise-cancelling headphones, and its latest, the $199 / £159 (about AU$280) Sennheiser HD 450BT, offer a cheaper alternative to previous models like the Momentum 3 Wireless and class-leaders like the Sony WH-1000XM3. With a minimal design and built-in noise cancellation, these fully-foldable wireless headphones are aimed squarely at the commuting crowd. Their well-balanced profile should appeal audiophiles and bass-hunters alike. Battery life and connectivity are both very good, and the noise-cancelling works well enough, although you might find that these headphones don’t quite block out all external noise. Read more: Sennheiser HD 450BT review Again, the Sony WH-1000XM3 are our true winners in this category, but if you want an alternative, the Jabra Elite 85h are a fantastic choice. Offering class-leading battery life, stylish design, and plenty of personalization when it comes to sound profiles, the Elite 85h are easy to recommend. That said, purists will bemoan the lack of high-end codec support and there are punchier headphones on the market at this price point. When you consider that Jabra’s Elite 85h headphones are the company’s first attempt at premium wireless ANC headphones, the result is quite commendable. We can’t wait to see what the company’s next premium ANC headphones will accomplish. Read more: Jabra Elite 85h review For years, the Plantronics BackBeat Pro 2 were among our favorite wireless headphones because of their excellent sound, build quality and features. Unfortunately, they were also kind of expensive. For a lot less ($150 / £140 / AU$240), Plantronics now sells the brilliant BackBeat Go 810, which use less premium materials but sound nearly identical to its more expensive predecessor – and sport an equally chic design. With that in mind, the BackBeat Go 810 are an affordable pair of ANC headphones that will please travelers and commuters who don’t want to spend too much money on headphones. Read more: Plantronics BackBeat Go 810 review The Focal Stellias are perhaps the best-sounding headphones on the planet. Their wide-open soundstage and detailed, accurate sound treatment means they make any genre of music sound brilliant. If you listen to songs you think you know inside out, the Stellias' precise separation of the frequencies means that you will probably hear details you’ve never noticed before. If you like to keep things minimal in the headphones department, you probably won’t like the showy, opulent design of the Focal Stellias, and they can feel a little chunky for wearing on the commute into work. But if luxury is your thing, the full-grain leather cups, woven cables, brushed copper accents, and matching carrying case are likely to appeal. That luxury feel is translated right down to the presentation of the user manuals in a neat little leather-style wallet – and you may well expect to find this level of detail in exchange for parting with $3,000. Ouch. Read more: Focal Stellia headphones review The NuForce BE Sport4 wireless earbuds are a rare find: earbuds that are grear for basically all situations, whether you're looking to take them out on a run or just wear them around town. They're ideal for exercise, although any urbanite will also find their lightweight functionality and impressive sound isolation highly appealing when traveling on crowded trains or navigating busy streets. If you want proof that wireless earphones can now compete with the best wired earphones, look no further. Read more: Optoma NuForce BE Sport4 review Considering it's still rare to get noise-cancelation in wired earbuds at all, the fact that Sony has managed to pack it into a pair that are not only wireless, but true wireless is very impressive indeed. The Sony WF-1000X manage to offer a level of noise-cancelation that's very good for a pair of earbuds – they won't offer the same isolation as a pair of over-ear cans, but if you're after a sleek form factor then the compromise is worth it. That being said, in spite of a few minor problems we feel that Sony has knocked the ball out of the park with the WF-1000XM3: not only are these hands-down the best-looking true wireless earbuds out there, but they also combine serious noise cancelling tech with fist-pumping musicality. If you don’t want the inconvenience of carrying full-size cans, they’re a persuasive and smart alternative. Read more: Sony WF-1000XM3 Wireless Earbuds review The best headphones of 2020, at a glance
Choosing the right headphones for you can be an agonizing decision – but it doesn't have to be if you look for a few key features. Above all, sound quality is the most important thing to look for. That doesn't mean you have to buy the most expensive audiophile headphones on the market; it just means that you should have an idea of what kind of sound you like. How you define good sound quality depends on your personal taste. Do you like a warm, well-rounded sound, or do you prefer ultra high-fidelity that allows you to hear every single detail of your music? Are you a dedicated bass head or a classical music junkie? If you're all about that bass, you'll want to look out for dynamic drivers that displace lots of air, leading to a bassy soundstage. If detail is everything, look for large frequency ranges – 20Hz to 20 kHz is the standard, so anything larger than this may allow for more detail in the highs and lows. It's also important to consider the soundstage as a whole; if you love a wide, open sound, try a pair of open-back headphones. Worried about sound-leakage when you're in the company of others? Try a pair of closed-back cans with a secure fit to stop your tunes bothering the people around you. You also need to consider the design of your new headphones. Do you want the freedom of true wireless earbuds or the security of a pair of sturdy over-ear headphones? Wireless or wired is also an important consideration. A few short years ago, we may have tried to dissuade you from buying a pair of wireless headphones (the technology had issues with wireless connectivity over Bluetooth and sound quality took a dive as a result). Nowadays however, advances in Bluetooth technology means that wireless headphones can sound fantastic and rarely experience annoying dropouts. If you're going for wireless headphones, make sure the battery life is decent, too. You should also think about what you'll be using your new headphones for; if you need to soundtrack your workout, you'll want to look at headphones specifically designed for running or swimming. Lastly, you need to consider price. You don't have to break the bank when your buying a pair of headphones, as evidenced by our guide to the best cheap headphones of 2020. Press on to page two to see how to pick out a good pair of headphones along more of our recommendations. Check out our videos below for a roundup of the best headphones available. There's usually more to a set of headphone than meets the eye. As such, we've provided a breakdown of what you can expect to find in each kind of headphone. Not only will learning more about headphones help you make a more informed purchase, but you'll know when you're really getting your money's worth. What headphones should you buy? Check out our video below for everything you need to know. In-ear headphones1More Triple Driver In-Ear Headphones This type of headphone, more commonly referred to as an earbud or earphone, is usually the cheapest and easiest way to pump audio into your ears. If you've purchased an MP3 player, or more recently, the new iPod touch (7th generation), it's likely that a set was included with the purchase. Earphones rest in or just outside the ear canal, creating a tight seal to keep air out and sound in. Compared to other types of headphones, these are the most discreet ones you'll find. Their small form-factor also makes them the king/queen of portability and the prime choice for athletes. You're not likely to find strong performers at the low-end of the price spectrum. Their sound delivery is generally muddled, lacking bass and overcompensating for that with harsh mids and highs. That said, it won't cost you much money at all to find a value-packed option complete with inline controls and a microphone. On-ear headphonesGrado's GW100 Wireless on-ear headphones While similar to over-ear headphones in appearance, they fit to your head a little differently. Instead of enveloping your ears with a soft cushion, on-ear headphones create a light, breathable seal around your ear. Thus, the noise isolation is much less effective than in-ear or over-ear options. This might be a dealbreaker for some, but there are big benefits to consider here. On-ear headphones are usually more portable than their over-ear brethren, and as such they appeal to travellers and the fitness crowd. Taking a walk or a jog around town is also safer, as you can hear traffic go by and be aware of potential hazards. Over-ear headphonesThe Beyerdynamic DT 1990 Pro headphones This ear-muff style of headphone generally provides greater richness and depth of sound, which allows listeners to pick apart the instruments and sounds much easier. Additionally, over-ear, or circum-aural headphones, go around the ear and offer a generous amount of padding. The price range for a set of on-ear headphones begins around $100 and from there, the sky's the limit. For example, the Oppo PM-1, while excellent, are priced exorbitantly at $1,099. It's definitely not necessary to spend that much. That said, you tend to get what you pay for. If your headphone budget is in the $2-300, you'll start getting into options that have excellent build quality, premium materials and amazing sound and features like ANC (active noise cancellation.) Wireless headphonesThe OnePlus Bullets Wireless 2 Wireless headphones can be split into three different categories: wireless earphones connected via a neckband, wireless on-ear headphones, and wireless over-ear headphones – all are battery-powered and use Bluetooth to connect to your smartphone, laptop, portable music player, or even your turntable. For wireless over-ear and on-ear models, you simply lose the wire connecting them to your device – otherwise, they look pretty much the same as your regular pair of wired cans, and give you the noise-isolating prowess of over-ears without the need for cumbersome wires to connect to your device. Wireless in-ear models, earphones, or earbuds (depending on your preferred vernacular), have a neckband connecting each earbud, making them ideal for runners who want the freedom of a wireless connection with the security of a wire keeping their earbuds firmly around their neck. Opting to go wireless will cost you a premium of anywhere between $50-100 over the price of wired cans. Going futuristic isn't cheap. One important thing to consider is that your music player must support the Bluetooth wireless protocol, as it's required to use this type of headphone. Speaking of Bluetooth, it has become exponentially more reliable over time, but it's always susceptible to disturbances in the force. True wireless earbudsTrue wireless earbuds on the other hand, have no cord whatsoever; no wires to get caught in your zipper, and nothing to keep each bud connected to each other. For some, this means true freedom; for others, untethered true wireless means constant danger of losing their expensive audio kit down the drain – or terrible connections. The latter, at least, has changed now – thanks to advances in Bluetooth technology like aptX HD, the best wireless headphones have never sounded better. These advances have also paved the way for true wireless earbuds to dominate the audio market. You just have to look at the popularity of the Apple AirPods (2019), Beats Powerbeats Pro, and Samsung Galaxy Buds, to understand how successful the true wireless market has become in recent years.
Noise-canceling headphonesBose's QuietComfort 35 II headphones This category, like wireless headphones, isn't limited to a form factor. You can find this clever mix of technologies integrated into the ear pieces of in-ear and over-ear headphones alike. Many companies falsely claim to offer true noise cancelation with just the padding included around the ear cups. Don't believe it. This is PNC (passive noise cancelation), and it doesn't amount to much. You can even replicate this effect by cupping your hands around your ears, so why shell out the big bucks for it? On the other hand, ANC (active noise cancelation) is the real deal. This technique employs a set of external microphones, which detect the decibel level outside. Once it has an idea of the incoming noise level, the headphone speakers inside transmit a noise generated to dampen the racket. The end result is an effect that hushes the outside noise, allowing you to focus.
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| DJI Mavic Air 2 photos leak as the new drone prepares for lift-off Posted: 10 Mar 2020 10:01 AM PDT Photos of the new DJI Mavic Air 2 drone appear to have leaked, after a usually reliable source posted them on Twitter alongside the message "time to sell your Mavic Air". Twitter user @OsitaLV, a verified DJI drone pilot, published five photos that appear to give us a good look at the forthcoming mid-range drone, which is rumored to be launching in April 2020. If you're not familiar with DJI's drones, the Mavic Air sits in between the small, beginner-friendly Mavic Mini and the pricier Mavic 2 Pro, which is currently top of our best drones guide. This has made it something of a sweet spot for non-professionals who want a highly portable 4K drone, though it's now over two years old. So what do the photos tell us about the DJI Mavic Air 2? Well, its folding design closely resembles the Mavic 2 series, although it's likely to be a little smaller than those models. One of the photos shows a new controller, which looks a little larger and sturdier than the current one and lets you attach your phone above the controls, rather than below them. There are all of the usual controls, including a central switch to flick it between 'normal, 'tripod' and 'sport' mode, with the latter turning it into more of a racing drone with a faster top speed. Perhaps the most interesting new features are to do with safety. There are two rear sensors on the back, which means the Mavic Air 2 should have 360-degree obstacle avoidance. This would be step up from the current model's three-directional environment sensing. DJI also announced in May 2019 that all of its new drone launches weighing more than 250g (so not including the 249g Mavic Mini) would include 'AirSense' technology. This receives ADS-B signals from nearby planes and helicopters and warns drone pilots if they're on a collision course, so the Mavic Air 2 would almost certainly include this too. The drone resurgenceAside from these physical clues, we don't yet know a lot else about the DJI Mavic Air 2. Given its smaller size, it seems unlikely that it'd match the one-inch sensor seen on the Mavic 2 Pro. An upgraded version of its predecessor's 1/2.3-in CMOS chip is more likely. We're excited to see what new features it could bring to the table, though, because the original Mavic Air was already very capable for its size, with the ability to shoot 4K video at up to 100Mbps and 12MP HDR stills. It's also symbolic of a potential new resurgence for consumer drones, which had a very quiet year in 2019 due to some highly publicized safety incidents, including one at the UK's London Gatwick airport. Although the involvement of a drone was never confirmed in that incident, it did lead to something of a public backlash against the flying cameras, which meant there were no notable new launches last year. But with new safety features like AirSense, along with new laws requiring drones above 250g (which would include the Mavic Air 2) to be registered in the US and UK, it seems drones could be about to return in 2020. And that can only be a good thing for those who like to shoot stunning photos and footage like the ones you can see in our recent DJI Mavic 2 Pro review.
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| Are these the Apple headphones to finally beat the Sony WH-1000XM3? Posted: 10 Mar 2020 09:55 AM PDT The first pair of over-ear Apple headphones have been revealed, after 9to5Mac reportedly discovered icons representing the rumored cans in iOS 14 code. Two icons – one light, one dark – depict a pair of over-ear headphones with padding on the earcups and headband, and appear to show two different color options for the headphones (likely space gray and the same white as the AirPods). These new headphones – which some are calling the Apple AirPods X – could prove to be a new rival for the best headphones of 2020, the Sony WH-1000XM3. Only if the first Apple headphones come with premium features like stellar noise cancelation and unbeatable audio quality, that is.
According to 9to5Mac, "these glyphs are used in iOS 14 to represent the unreleased headphones throughout the operating system including Apple’s battery and charging status widget" – just like the icons you'll find in iOS 13 to represent the AirPods and the AirPods Pro on the volume bar. If Apple is intending the new headphones to become part of the AirPods family, they could come with some of the true wireless earbuds' best features, like the H1 chip that allows for the 'Hey Siri' and speedy Bluetooth pairing. We still don't know what the headphones will be called, but current predictions include the Apple AirPods X and the Apple StudioPods. iOS 14 is expected to launch sometime between September and November 2020, which suggests that Apple's over-ear headphones could be released at the same time. However, a report by respected analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, who correctly predicted the release of the upgraded Apple AirPods and the AirPods Pro in 2019, claims that the wireless headphones will launch earlier in the year, alongside a number of new products. That would mean that – were the new Apple AirPods over-headphones to be launched alongside the iPhone 9 in March at the expected spring event -–this appearance in iOS 14 will also be found in future versions of iOS 13, so the release date is pretty broad. In any case, the discovery of these iOS 14 glyphs adds credence to claims that we'll be seeing the first pair of Apple over-ear headphones in 2020 – and they're the clearest image so far of how the headphones might look. Check out the glyphs for yourself below: Mounting rumorsDespite no official confirmation from Apple of the existence of the over-ear headphones, rumors have been mounting since the start of this year. Most recently, an inventory listing from US store Target, may have revealed the price of the hotly-anticipated cans. YouTuber Jon Prosser posted an image to Twitter, which appeared to show the upcoming over-ear headphones in Target's system, mysteriously listed as "Apple AirPods (X Generation)". The product in the image appears to cost $399, which works out at around £300 / AU$600 – if these are the rumored Apple StudioPods, then the brand is aiming for the higher end of the price scale, surpassing the cost of competitors like the Sony WH-1000XM3 and the Bose Noise Cancelling Headphones 700. We've been hearing rumors for a lot longer than that, though. In June 2018, Bloomberg reported that Apple was planning “studio-quality over-ears headphones” that will “use Apple branding and be a higher end alternative to the company’s Beats line”. Speaking to people close to the matter, Bloomberg reported that Apple originally intended to “introduce the headphones by the end of 2018, but has faced development challenges”, and was instead targeting a 2019 launch. Of course, they never materialized, making a 2020 release date all the more credible. This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
| The Google Pixel 4 hits lowest price ever at Amazon Posted: 10 Mar 2020 09:47 AM PDT If you're looking for a discount on the all-new Google Pixel 4, then you're in luck. For a limited time, you can get an unlocked Pixel 4 on sale for $549 at Amazon. That's a $250 discount and the lowest price we found for the 64GB Google phone. Learn more about the latest Google phone with our hands-on Google Pixel 4 review. This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
| Philips Hue smart bulbs crash in price thanks to this starter pack bundle Posted: 10 Mar 2020 09:47 AM PDT Philips Hue smart bulb deals have been few and far between over the last few months, and in general, you'll find that these particular bulbs sit at the premium end of the smart home market. That's because there's such a massive variety of applications, devices, and systems that work with Philips Hue smart bulbs, and you're picking up a premium bit of kit. That all changes, today, however, with this $159 smart bulb deal from Walmart. We're seeing this collection of four white and color ambiance smart bulbs (E26 fitting) and the included hub going for closer to $200 at other retailers, so strike while the iron's hot with this one. Plus, not only are you picking up the premium starter kit, but Walmart has also thrown in an extra white bulb for free to maximize your value. Philips Hue color bulbs are known for their price tags, but thanks to these smart bulb deals, you'll find this cheap Philips Hue bundle available for far less. Sure, you can pick up a white-only starter kit of four bulbs and a hub for $109 at Amazon, but for just $50 more it's worth it to upgrade to an extra bulb and that colorful experience. Not in the US? Check out the latest Philips Hue deals where you are below. Today's best Philips Hue smart bulb deals
Now that you've got all the lights sorted, why not control them with your voice? We're tracking all the latest Amazon Echo deals and Google Home sales to bring you your smart speaker for less. Plus, you can stay on top of all the latest smart home deals with our dedicated page. This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
| Google Pixel 4a hands-on video details design and specs of unreleased phone Posted: 10 Mar 2020 09:36 AM PDT The Google Pixel 4a is coming soon – that's not been confirmed, but it's looking very likely, especially given a video review of it was just posted online. This video comes from a small Spanish-language YouTube channel called TecnoLike Plus, which posted a video reviewing Google's expected (yet unannounced) new smartphone. The video is in Spanish, but Google's translated captions are fine for understanding it.
The video has a few red flags, which we'll get to, but the hands-on segments match up with previous hands-on pictures we've seen. We'll break down why we're finding the video dubious later on. Assuming the video is correct, the Google Pixel 4a has a 12MP rear camera and an 8MP front-facing selfie snapper. Inside there's a Snapdragon 730 chipset, which is reasonable for a mid-range phone (as this likely will be), but a rather small 3,080mAh battery. There's a 5.81-inch screen with FHD resolution. Finally, there's set to be 6GB of RAM and 64GB of storage. What's up with the video?There are a few weird parts of the video – the narration and hands-on segments are entirely separate, with the latter shot in a different aspect ratio and noticeably sped up. This makes it seem like the phone footage was actually obtained from another source, a fact possibly backed up by the narration which is roughly translated to "we have been able to get videos to show [the phones]", implying the video is from another source (if the translation is accurate). Perhaps the video title 'Pixel 4a review' is a slight misnomer then, but the footage of the phone actually looks legitimate anyway, so it could still be a device leak. Since most of the information is shown in that footage, not the narration, the information is likely accurate too. We can't be sure though, at least until the Google Pixel 4a has been officially announced. But that's likely to happen soon, as the Google Pixel 3a was announced in mid-2019, so we'd expect its successor in mid-2020. TechRadar will cover the announcement when it happens, but before that we'll bring you analysis of all the notable leaks and rumors. Via 9to5Google This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
| Best blogging platforms of 2020 Posted: 10 Mar 2020 09:32 AM PDT The popularity of blogging (which originally derives from ‘personal web log’) continues, whether for profit, or just to have a voice on the web, since over a decade ago when it first captured the internet as the ‘next big thing’. Some blogs are standalone sites, but others are a more personal section that fits into a larger, corporate web site. In order to blog, a blogging platform is required, which takes care of formatting the content in the form of text and images, and provides a framework for getting it onto a website. The blogging platform also makes it easier for a search engine to categorize the blog entries, and to be able to take advantage of marketing and advertising opportunities. So before you start cranking out posts, and welcoming your virtual visitors from around the world, you need to choose the best blogging platform to suit your needs. Check out these great options.
Blogger Ask any old-time blogger about what platform they started their blog with, and chances are they'll answer that it was Blogger. To this day, Google’s offering in the blogging space still retains several advantages, including that your existing Google account already means you have a Blogger account. A broke startup blog will appreciate that it is free to use, and it will even provide the blogspot.com domain name, as well as the option for a custom domain name. It is also one of the easier platforms to use, and provides a choice of templates that can be flexibly modified. As it is a Google offering, it easily integrates with other Google products, including Google Analytics that can provide information about your website’s visitors that should be used to help grow traffic. Also, your blog can be integrated with Google’s Adsense, that will analyze your content, and display relevant ads to monetize your blog, so you can pay for the coffee as you sit in Starbucks and blog into the night. With all that going for it, is there any reason not to use Blogger? Well, the problem is that as your blog grows, its simplicity means that you may outgrow Blogger at some point. In addition, it can be difficult to transition from Blogger to another platform. WordPress WordPress is a popular blogging platform which is used on a claimed 30% of web sites, that offers an excellent balance between ease of use, and more powerful options. They can handle all the details, and take care of the domain name, the security and the hosting for a one stop shopping option. WordPress offers hundreds of themes, with flexibility in fonts and options for a custom look. They also offer expert support, and credit card payments can be accepted via an available plugin. Pricing starts at the Personal plan for $4 (€3.6, £3.1) monthly billed annually, which removes all WordPress advertising. There is also a free tier available, which is suitable for a noncommercial blog as there is WordPress advertising and no way you can monetize it. Jekyll The latest version of Jekyll (4.0.0.) is a “simple, blog-aware, static site generator.” Content gets created in TXT files, which get placed into folders. Then you build your site via Liquid language templates. Jekyll then merges the content and the template together, and voila, a website is generated that can be uploaded to a server. For those that need a host, there is integration with Jekyll to host the website for free on GitHub. While there is a comprehensive ‘quick-start guide’ on the Jekyll website, it hardly offers the simplicity of some competing blogging platforms that can do this all from a web interface. However, the benefits that Jekyll offers are the advanced features, which include options for paginating posts, available plugins, templates, and community maintained themes. It also supports blog migration from other platforms. The plus here is that there is no cost to the platform, but the downside is that there is only community support, and the work takes place in the Ruby development environment, so many newbies will be put off. Tumblr While some blogs are well developed, and blur the line between a blog, and a full fledged website, at the other end of things we have Tumblr. It seems to be doing something right as it claims a staggering 450+ million different blogs. It focuses on the more concise end of the spectrum, with an emphasis on shorter content, like just an image, or link, that can appear as more of an alternate social media platform. Content is definitely more short-form, with posts consisting of a variety of material, for example, pics, jokes, quips, Spotify tracks, and video (just remember that adult content is no longer welcome). Like a social media platform, you can also follow other blogs, and republish posts you like to your own blog. The pro is that Tumblr is quite simple to use, costs nothing, and is ideal for use on a mobile device. However, this is not ideal for a more developed blog, as the content remains in the Tumblr ecosystem, and there is no way to monetize it. Typepad Typepad is a fully developed blogging platform, designed for the professional blogger. It offers a ton of flexibility, including the ability to publish from email, a web browser, or mobile. It also easily integrates with Google Analytics, and has its own affiliate plan. Typepad supports design customization with a Theme Builder for a custom look, and the option for creating your own custom template or modifying a theme with custom CSS. Typepad is also fully hosted, and has support available. After the initial 14-day trial, plans start at $8.95 (£8) per month for up to four blogs with unlimited storage.
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| Command & Conquer Remastered boasts 4K graphics and a pile of fan-requested features Posted: 10 Mar 2020 09:30 AM PDT EA has just announced that the Command & Conquer Remastered Collection will be released on June 5 for PC gamers via Steam and its own Origin store. The remastered compilation, which has been put together in celebration of the 25th anniversary of the venerable RTS series, consists of Command & Conquer: Tiberian Dawn, Command & Conquer: Red Alert, plus three expansion packs – Covert Ops, Counterstrike and The Aftermath.
The compilation is the fruits of the labors of EA along with some original Westwood Studios team members, and input from the wider C&C community (many fan-requested features have been incorporated, such as a skirmish mode for Tiberian Dawn). 4K and moreSo what exactly do you get with the Remastered Collection? The visuals have been modernized as you might expect, with revamped graphics and textures, plus support for 4K resolution (you can see the difference between the old graphics, on the left, and the shiny 4K remaster in the comparative image below). Furthermore, the interface has been overhauled with input from the aforementioned community members. That includes a fresh look for the UI, new controls, alongside a map editor feature. Multiplayer has also got a good deal of reworking with a system of ELO-based matchmaking and leaderboards, plus the ability to play custom games or a one-on-one quick match. It’s also possible to view match replays. Finally, it’s worth noting that the soundtrack – in excess of seven hours of it – has been remastered by the original composer of the music, Frank Klepacki. Jim Vessella, Lead Producer at EA, observed: “Our team has been working hand-in-hand with the C&C community since day one and we hope this transparent dialogue will result in the Command & Conquer Remastered Collection being a love letter to our fans.” Note that a limited edition of the compilation is being produced with all manner of extra goodies in the physical box, and is up for pre-order now, as per the below announcement on Twitter.
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| The best wedding photo book providers in 2020 Posted: 10 Mar 2020 09:27 AM PDT When the vows have been uttered, the cake has been cut and the flower arrangements have wilted away, the only tangible reminder of your special day will be your wedding photos. In this modern, digital age it’s sadly all too easy to let images languish on hard drives. However, the best thing you can do to preserve your memories is create a wedding photo book that celebrates your wonderful day. However, with so many photo book providers to choose from, it can be difficult to know which company will give you the best service. Luckily, to help you decide, we’ve rounded up the best suppliers that provide easy-to-use software and top quality printing. Whether you prefer a fully-designed template or a blank canvas for you to make your own, glossy or matte paper, or a square or landscape format, there’s sure to be the right wedding photo book for you in our round-up.
The 5 best wedding photo book providers 2020:Printique is an online printing service from Adorama, a camera store based in New York. This level of photographic expertise means that Printique is widely regarded as a fantastic provider of beautiful high quality prints. Printique offers a wide range of wedding photo book designs, but our favorite part about them is how clean and unfussy they are. Printique’s designs truly allow your photos to shine and give a highly professional effect. Once you’ve chosen your design, you can then select the cover finish. We were very impressed by Printique’s range of covers, which included genuine leather and linen in a variety of colors. However, it’s worth noting that Printique is somewhat pricier than the other options in this list, with a genuine leather photo book starting at $167.99. The photo book creator tool was fairly easy to use, but it can be a little buggy at times. The range of text, layout and sticker options were a little more limited than other providers on this list, but there were still plenty of choice. Mixbook offers one of the most stress-free user experiences out of all the wedding photo book providers. All of its wedding photo book designs are in its own separate category for you to peruse and you can even flick through each design without leaving the main page with its Quick Preview function. Once you’ve chosen your design, it’s incredibly easy to customize it by adjusting the page layouts and adding text in a wide range of fonts and colors. There are a beautiful range of themed stickers to add onto the page, including floral illustrations and romantic quotes. You can even adjust the opacity, saturation and brightness of these stickers. This means you can truly make your wedding photo book your own. Mixbook also offers a variety of paper and style options. You can order your book in landscape, square or portrait format and choose from emi-gloss (the standard option) or Premium Matte Lay Flat paper. You can also choose your cover from options including softcover, hardcover and even leather. Snapfish has divided its wedding photo books into eight different formats that you can choose from depending on what images you’re looking to showcase. This means that if you’d prefer to print your honeymoon or engagement photos rather than your wedding day shots, then Snapfish has a format already designed specifically for that. However, if you’re specifically looking to print photos of your wedding day, then you’ve still got plenty of options to choose from. Once you’ve chosen your format, you can then adjust the design of your wedding photo book by changing the layout of the pages. This is super simple, as there’s a menu that lets you select how many photos you want on the page and then supplies you with various design options for your chosen number. As with Mixbook, there are also a wide range of stickers you can use as well. We love Snapfish’s easy-to-use software and design process, but it’s worth keeping in mind that the budget-friendly nature of Snapfish means you might want to look elsewhere if you’re looking for professional-quality prints. Shutterfly offers a variety of beautifully designed templates for you to choose from depending on the vibe and style of your wedding. There are also plenty of sizes and cover options to select, which means you can perfectly tailor your photo book to you and your partner. Similar to many photo book providers, Shutterfly offers you the option for the creator tool to automatically place the photos itself. While this can be a good option if you’re in a hurry, we generally don’t recommend this as you can almost spend more time fixing the order of the images than if you just arranged them yourself. We did find the Shutterfly creator tool a little more difficult to navigate than others on this list, as we struggled to figure out how to adjust photos within their frame or delete unwanted objects. Considering that creating a photo book is already an investment of your time, we would really expect the creator tool to be as intuitive as possible for a smooth process and to help prevent mistakes. While Picaboo Picaboo offers significantly fewer design options than others on this round-up, the small amount they do have can be completely customized to suit your tastes. Once you’ve selected your favorite wedding photo book style, you can get deep into the design process. There are so many background, theme, style, text and sticker options that we recommend setting aside a decent amount of time to go through all the choices. One of the interesting things that Picaboo offers is the ability to add text onto the spine of your photo book. There aren’t many other photo book providers that offer this, so this is definitely a nice perk. Prices start at $19.99 for a Picaboo photo book, which definitely makes this an affordable option. However, we would say that most of Picaboo’s designs don’t tend to feel very modern and you could find slicker styles for similar prices elsewhere. Read more:
5 top tips on making the best wedding photo book
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