Thursday, March 5, 2020

Apple : The Last of Us 2 release date, trailers, news and rumors

Apple : The Last of Us 2 release date, trailers, news and rumors

The Last of Us 2 release date, trailers, news and rumors

Posted: 05 Mar 2020 01:48 PM PST

There are only a few months left to wait until we can all finally get our hands on The Last of Us 2 - and we're getting excited.

The ending of The Last of Us was pretty conclusive. But as it turns out, that hasn't stopped developer Naughty Dog from cranking out a sequel in the form of The Last of Us 2 – or, The Last of Us: Part 2 if we're using its proper name. 

Given the first game was hailed by players and critics alike as a masterpiece with excellent, emotional storytelling and engaging, realistic characters, we have to admit that the decision to release a follow-up isn't particularly shocking. We'd probably have been more surprised if there wasn't one. And yet, when The Last of Us 2 was first announced, we'd be lying if we said our hearts didn't skip a beat. 

The Last of Us 2 was first announced by Naughty Dog at PlayStation Experience in 2016 alongside a teaser trailer, but it wasn't until September 2019 that we were finally told the game's initial release date of February 2020 during a State of Play livestream. However, Naughty Dog later announced that the release date has been delayed by a few months, and we now know we'll be joining Ellie and Joel again in May 2020. 

Now we're into 2020 there's not long to wait, so let's break down everything we know about the highly-anticipated The Last of Us 2 so far.

[UPDATE: The European steelbook cover for The Last of Us 2 has been revealed. Read on to find out more.]

Cut to the chase

  • What is it? The sequel to the critically acclaimed post-apocalyptic game The Last of Us
  • When can I play it? May 29, 2020
  • What can I play it on? PlayStation 4 and probably PS5 (rumors of PC)

The Last of Us 2 release date

The Last of Us 2 was initially due to release on February 21, 2020. However, Naughty Dog later announced that the game's release date was being pushed back to May 29, 2020.

The game's director, Neil Druckmann, apologized in a blog post and explained that the developer wanted to prioritize game quality over a punctual launch.

"We realized we simply didn’t have enough time to bring the entire game up to a level of polish we would call Naughty Dog quality," Druckmann wrote.

It seems The Last of Us 2 is still on track for this new release date and it's been confirmed the game will launch on PS4. However, it's possible we will see The Last of Us 2 as a cross-generation title, launching on PS5 also. Although, neither PlayStation nor Naughty Dog have confirmed if this is the case yet. 

The Last of Us 2 trailers 

The most recent trailer for The Last of Us 2 is also its (initial) release date announcement trailer. Shown during the September 2019 State of Play stream, it revealed the game's initial release date and shows Ellie in action as well as a glimpse at Joel. 

Check it out below:

Probably the most emotion-evoking Last of Us 2 trailer was shown during E3 2018. This trailer finally gave us a look at Ellie in an intimate scene before cutting away to some of the brutal but stealth-based combat we can expect to see in the game when it's launched.

The gameplay sequence gives us a look at Ellie fighting for her life in the wild. Success in a fight appears to require the right balance between stealth and all out attack as damage seems to have a more realistic impact. Ellie can move quietly between areas, taking weapons from bodies and crafting, before bursting out and taking down her enemies. It's a different creature in many ways to the original The Last of Us but it looks like something to look forward to, with more advanced enemies to challenge us and more complex gameplay to thrill us. 

See the gameplay for yourself below:

The Last of Us Part 2 had another trailer drop during PSX 2017. During a panel it was confirmed that the game will be set in the city of Seattle and the darker themes we know are coming were touched upon. You can watch the panel for yourself below:

Another trailer for the game was shown at Sony's press conference during the 2017 Paris Games Week. This trailer is around 5 minutes long, focusing on conflicts between the human factions in the game. It shows that part 2 is going to have a dark story, perhaps even darker than the first, and the trailer is fairly harrowing to watch. 

Visually impressive though it is, do note that it's gory before you watch it for yourself below:

The first look at The Last of Us 2 came with its announcement at PlayStation Experience in 2016. Despite the fact that the game was early in development, the trailer showed a full (non-gameplay) scene that features both Ellie and Joel. You can watch it below:

The Last of Us 2 news and rumors

European Steelbook

In a thrilling sign that the release date of The Last of Us 2 really is drawing closer, images of the European steelbook cover of the game have appeared on Reddit. The covers don't give much away about the game's still-closely-guarded plot but they do offer fantastic watercolor portraits of our protagonists Ellie and Joel looking far more mature than they did in the first game. These covers are likely to be a must-have for big fans. 

Coming to TV

The Last of Us franchise has been confirmed as coming to TV following an announcement on Twitter from HBO. The series is being led by Craig Mazin, who previously worked with HBO on the highly-acclaimed Chernobyl series, and Neil Druckmann, co-director and writer of the games, will be writing the series with an executive producer credit too. This is to be the first production from Sony Interactive Entertainment's film and TV arm, PlayStation Productions and at the moment it only has a release date of "coming soon". 

TLOU 2 will "redefine triple-A"
It seems Naughty Dog is pretty confident about The Last of Us 2, with the game's co-director, Anthony Newman, tweeting that it will "redefine triple-A in 2020". Check out the tweet below:

An update and a PAX East demo - canceled
Naughty Dog has given an update on the progress of The Last of Us 2, writing on the official blog that it's "entered the final stretch of production" and the team is "putting the finishing touches" on things. 

In addition to that tantalizing bit of information, the developer announced that The Last of Us 2 would getting a playable demo at PAX East. However, PlayStation has since canceled its PAX East appearance over concerns about coronavirus - meaning the demo won't be available. 

Members of the public would have had the chance to play an early area of the game called "Patrol" that features Ellie and Dina. The demo was due to be around an hour long and was apparently just a "small glimpse" of what the full game will offer. Guess we'll just have to wait a few more months...

Ashley Johnson has been honing her archery skills
Ellie actor, Ashley Johnson, has revealed she took archery lessons in preparation for The Last of Us 2. In an episode of Retro Replay, Johnson hesitantly said that her desire to take up the sport "came from wanting to get at better at that skill for... I don't know if I can say this... for the second game." 

We've already seen Ellie wielding a bow in trailers for the game, but perhaps we'll be relying on it as a primary weapon in the upcoming sequel. Although, Johnson did point out that her desire to learn archery isn't indicative of how heavily a bow and arrow will feature in the game.

The Last of Us 2

Much more violent and sexually explicit
The Last of Us 2 sounds like it'll be much more violent and sexually explicit than its predecessor, if its ESRB rating is anything to go by.

The game's website now features an ESRB rating of 'M' for Mature (via DualShockers) which, in itself, isn't a surprise as it's the same rating awarded to its predecessor.

However, the content warning describes 'blood and gore', 'intense violence', 'nudity', 'sexual content', 'strong language' and 'use of drugs'. And, while The Last of Us's rating warned of 'blood and gore', 'intense violence', 'sexual themes' and 'strong language', it seems that Naughty Dog is upping the nudity and sexual content in the game's sequel.

While we're not surprised that The Last of Us 2 is going to be extremely violent (the trailers have suggested that), this will be the first Naughty Dog game to feature nudity. 

But what does that mean we can expect? Well, as GameSpot points out, the ESRB defines 'nudity' as "graphic or prolonged depictions of nudity", while 'sexual content' is defined as "non-explicit depictions of sexual behavior, possibly including partial nudity". 

That means we'll be seeing a lot more nudity and sexual scenes than we did with The Last of Us, which had a "sexual themes" descriptor that warns about "references to sex or sexuality."

We're not sure exactly what form this will take, and the ESRB hasn't published the rating publicly, but it looks like things are about to get much sexier in The Last of Us.

Pointing out Parallels
Fans have been noticing some neat visual parallels between The Last of Us and The Last of Us 2. And Creative Director Neil Druckmann has been noticing this noticing. Picking up on a recent tweet comparing the beginning and end scenes from both games, Druckmann pointed out that these won't be the only parallels. 

It's a teasing comment that's left many fans asking for more information and some are theorising that there could be narrative and visual parallels between the games. Regardless, those who enjoyed the original game are likely going to be happy to see any nod of acknowledgement which will tie the titles together in a more meaningful way. 

New job listings
Naughty Dog has posted a mysterious job listing recently for an online systems programmer for a new online experience. While the listing doesn't detail which game the person will be working on, there are naturally some rumors milling around that it could be for an online experience related to The Last of Us 2, though there's an argument to be made for another Uncharted instalment. 

Last year, Naughty Dog confirmed that The Last of Us 2 won't launch with an online mode due to a wish to completely focus on the game's substantial single-player story. However, it was added that something would be coming eventually and separately from the main game. We won't know for certain what game this online project is related to but it's exciting to see that something is in the works. 

There's been another job-listing recently that also hints at some exciting news: could The Last of Us 2 be coming to a PC near you?. There's been a lot of online speculation recently thanks to a LinkedIn job posting, which specifies some interesting skills for a graphics programmer to be part of the team working on The Last of Us 2 - including PC programming chops.

Halley Gross Interview
Narrative lead and co-writer of The Last of Us 2, Halley Gross, has been talking to Official PlayStation Magazine (via Wccftech) about working at Naughty Dog and writing the character of Ellie. 

In the interview, Gross praised her colleagues at Naughty Dog as "wizards" and said that they're working together to "make the most complex, nuanced character in a videogame". This character is undoubtedly Ellie who Gross touches on later in the interview. 

Ellie, Gross explains, is a traumatized character on a "mission for justice" who is, overall, "driven by love" for other characters like Joel and Dina. 

According to Gross, the narrative is about seeing who Ellie "can become when she grows up in such a hostile environment." This, unfortunately, means putting Ellie in difficult situations which will test her values and her drive: "while we love Ellie, and we’re really excited to see her grow up, we’re certainly not going to coddle her".

The Last of Us 2

Neil Druckmann Interview
In an interview with the official PlayStation Blog, Neil Druckmann cast some light on what we can expect from The Last of Us Part 2 when it’s released later this year.

Rather than throw in new enemies just because they can, Druckmann says that the studio has carefully considered new Infected additions like the Shamblers. These new enemies emit clouds of burning acid and will force players to consider how they approach combat in a different way, especially when they’re appearing alongside the fast Runners and powerful Clickers.

Human enemies are also more dynamic. According to Druckmann, every human enemy in the game will have a unique name so that when they die their comrades might scream out their name in grief. Human enemies can become emotional and unpredictable, making combat more dynamic and realistic. 

Fans of visuals will also be happy to know that The Last of Us 2 will be making the most of the power of the PS4 like The Last of Us did with the PS3 before it. This means, according to Druckmann, that the game is “able to have much wider environments, sequences with a horde of infected, several squads of enemies looking for you in big spaces.”

Similarly, this has made it possible to give Ellie and all of the other characters a new animation system called motion mapping making their movements more responsive and more realistic:

“The fidelity we can get in the faces and the motion capture — we can better translate what the actors are doing on stage into the game, and get these nuances so we can rely more on the way someone blinks or the way they squint instead of lines of dialogue. It allows the writing to be much more nuanced than it’s been before.”

Two Discs
The Last of Us 2 is going to be an ambitious game. So ambitious that the adventure will be split across two discs. Following Sony’s State of Play livestream where the game’s release date was confirmed, it was confirmed in retail listings that Ellie’s adventure will be sold in two discs. At the very least you’ll be getting them together and not years apart. 

Allies
There are few things more frustrating than a completely incompetent ally in a combat scenario when you're playing a game and, fortunately, it seems that won't be a concern with The Last of Us 2. In an interview with GameSpot, the game's co-director Anthony Newman said that the team took criticisms with regards to allies in the first game on board and are looking to rectify them in the sequel. 

“In the past in almost all of our games, the allies have done kind of fake damage, where you see them shoot enemies and it's a little bit theatrical—like their bullets are clearly doing way less damage than yours,” Newman said. 

For The Last of Us 2, however, ally bullet “do exactly as much damage as yours do" so players can count on the AI to help them. 

Multiplayer
During September 2019's Sony State of Play event, it was confirmed that The Last of Us 2 will not launch with a multiplayer element. In a tweet, Naughty Dog stated that its main focus for the game's launch is its single player which is "far and away the most ambitious project Naughty Dog has ever undertaken".

Story
Although it was no slouch in the gameplay department, it was the story told by The Last of Us that stuck with us for months afterwards. Naturally Naughty Dog had to give us some kind of hint about where the sequel would go. 

At the moment we know The Last of Us 2 will take place in the city of Seattle, five years after the end of the original game, with a 19 year old Ellie taking the starring playable role. Joel will still appear in the game but if the teaser trailer is anything to go by, he could be a much more passive presence. 

This time around, Ellie is extremely angry about...something. From what we saw from the teaser trailer she wants revenge, which to her appears to be a dish best served deadly. 

She does, after all, promise to “kill every last one of them.” It’s not clear who “them” is but it could signal that the Fireflies, the first game's well-meaning but morally grey antagonists, will make a return. Anger, hate and revenge are going to be key themes this time around so expect to be in for an emotionally heavy ride. 

In the trailer for the game shown at Paris Games Week in 2017, we got a look at how dark the game is likely to be. The trailer focuses on the opposing relationships between human characters in the game and features some seriously cringe-inducing violence. 

It doesn't tell us much about any new characters of how they'll relate to one another but it does confirm that we're going into a dark game world in The Last of Us part 2. 

In a recent panel at PSX both Druckmann and Gross said that though the game's story will indeed be dark and there'll be a focus on the theme of hate, "there is hope" and there will be "lighthearted moments." 

We can't pretend we're not relieved to hear this after the game's controversial Paris Games Week trailer which, Druckmann said, was intended to highlight the game's exploration of the pursuit of justice.

Ellie is one of the most real and refreshing characters we’ve seen in gaming so it’s exciting that Naughty Dog are going to take her story further and put her in center stage. 

The creative director of the game, Neil Druckmann has said that the story will be about Ellie and Joel’s relationship and that though the story would be complementary to the story of the first game, it would be much larger. 

The Last of Us 2

When asked at a PSX panel whether or not Joel or Ellie may die, Druckmann responded that "no one is safe" highlighting that the game's story really could go anywhere. 

Hopes are particularly high for this larger story as it’s been revealed that one of the writers of Westworld, Halley Gross, will be co-writing the game’s story. Having someone who’s written scripts for such an incredibly popular and successful show should be a boon for the game's story. 

Gameplay
E3 2018 brought us our first proper look at the gameplay in The Last of Us Part 2. Given Ellie is now the leading playable character, it was expected that things would be a little different from the first game and the presentation at the show made this fairly clear. 

Ellie will have some moves similar to Joel but there are some things she'll be able to do that are completely different. For one thing she can jump - the new jump button should make the world of The Last of Us Part 2 more complex and more enjoyable to traverse. It also has the potential to make combat more interesting. Speaking of combat, Ellie doesn't really throw punches as her first form of attack, she has a stealthy knife. Melee combat generally appears to offer a little more than the original game, with evasions and an environment that can help as well as hinder your fighting.

Not only has Ellie matured as a character, the enemies she faces have developed and they're more realistic than ever. The Infected in The Last of Us Part 2 are smarter and more reactive than their predecessors, making them a tougher foe to face. AI has improved, allowing enemies to communicate with one another and to look for Ellie when she's hiding. Expect some tense moments to arise from this. 

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

Companies embracing IoT despite security risks

Posted: 05 Mar 2020 01:26 PM PST

New research from Kaspersky has revealed that 61 percent of businesses are already using IoT platforms despite the significant security risks that come with their adoption.

The firm's new report, titled “With superpower comes super responsibility: benefits and challenges of IoT in business”, shows that the use of IoT business platforms is growing year-on-year in almost all industries.

According to Kaspersky, the most significant growth was seen in hospitality (from 53% in 2018 to 63% in 2019), healthcare (from 56% to 66%) and finance (from 60% to 68%). As of last year though, The IT and telecom (71%) and finance (68%) industries have embraced IoT more than all other verticals.

IoT platforms currently have many use cases including smart cities, grids, metering, transportation and logistics as well as automated manufacturing and connected heating, venting and air conditioning (HVAC).

IoT security risks

The growth of IoT use has not been discouraged despite the high potential for cybersecurity risks and incidents. Kaspersky's survey shows that 28 percent of companies using IoT platforms stated that they had experienced incidents involving non-computing connected devices last year.

These incidents can be critical as sensors and smart devices are able to collect terabytes of data including sensitive information such as business data or customers' personal information. Additionally, IoT platforms can be connected to critical systems, such as traffic, power or transportation processes, which makes it vital to ensure their continuity and integrity.

In order to securely take advantage of the features and benefits of IoT platforms, Kaspersky recommends that organizations assess the status of a device's security before its implementation, conduct regular security audits, establish procedures for obtaining information on vulnerabilities in software and applications, implement cybersecurity solutions and use IoT devices that are secured by design.

Head of the KasperskyOS Business Unit at Kaspersky, Grigory Sizov provided further insight on the cybersecurity firm's latest report, saying:

“IoT is a powerful business enabler but to reap its benefits organisations need to put in a considerable amount of effort. It demands dedicated business processes, as well as expertise, to ensure it is effectively implemented. As the survey shows, cybersecurity is also a question that needs resolving in the IoT space — in terms of security of equipment, technical and organisational protection measures and data privacy, as well as other factors. It is important to consider security at an early stage of IoT implementation and we want to help our customers address this task by developing IoT security solutions and expertise within Kaspersky.”

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

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

Posted: 05 Mar 2020 01:15 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. 

Speaking of, Samsung has just announced its crop of 2020 QLED TVs that include newer versions of the Q90, Q80, Q70 and Q60, and LG should have its 2020 OLEDs out in the next month or two.

If you can't wait a few more months until new models arrive, however, 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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Derby County vs Manchester United live stream: how to watch the FA Cup 5th round from anywhere

Posted: 05 Mar 2020 01:12 PM PST

DERBY VS MAN UNITED LIVE SCORE UPDATE: United are 2-0 up and looking comfortable with the second half now well underway. But the FA Cup can spring surprises, so read on to learn how to get a Derby vs Manchester United live stream and watch the rest of the FA Cup 5th round action right now. 

There's no doubt as to this game's big talking point - former Red Devil Wayne Rooney returning to face his old club in an FA Cup 5th round showdown. Don't miss a moment of the action with our Derby County vs Manchester United live stream guide.

Now 34, Rooney has been in vintage form for Derby, playing in a deep-lying midfield role since rocking up at Pride Park back in January. Today, he'll be looking for his biggest result to date as player-coach of the Championship side, as they look to pull off a shock win against their storied Premier League opposition.

In fact, while Rooney and United may have had a less than acrimonious divorce, the former Everton and DC United star's man-of-the-match performance for United in the 2016 FA Cup final against Crystal Palace helped the Red Devils to their last triumph in the competition.

The two teams last met in a memorable Carabao Cup 3rd round clash last season, which saw the Rams pull off a shock win at Old Trafford on penalties. 

Man Utd come into this evening's tie having not lost since January, their revitalisation down partly to the signing of midfielder Bruno Fernandes. Nevertheless, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer men weren't at their best at the weekend, when they were fortunate to come away with a 1-1 draw away at Everton in the Premier League.

Home side Derby County have been in indifferent form in recent weeks, but the Rams have solid momentum going into today's game after they notched a convincing 3-1 away win against Sheffield Wednesday at the weekend. 

However, Derby boss Philip Cocu has a number of key players out injured, with both Tom Huddlestone (hamstring) and Duane Holmes (ankle) definitely missing and Ikechi Anya (calf) doubtful. On the other side of the pitch, Welsh wing wizard Daniel James is a major doubt for Man United. 

We'll talk you through the best ways to watch the action in the UK and the rest of the world below, so you can ensure you can easily live stream Derby vs Man United.

Live stream Derby vs Man United from outside your country

In the US? Then keep scrolling, as we have your viewing options below...spoiler alert, you'll need an ESPN+ subscription. And footy fans in the UK, Canada and Down Under can also see who's broadcasting there.

But if you're abroad for the game and find that you can't watch your home coverage online because it is geo-blocked, we have a handy alternative to allow you to watch as if you were back on your sofa.

How to live stream Derby vs Man United and watch the FA Cup 5th round in the UK

How to watch the FA Cup: live stream Derby vs Man United in the US 

How to watch Derby vs Man United in Australia

How to live stream Derby vs Man United in Canada

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Facebook offers WHO free ad space to combat coronavirus

Posted: 05 Mar 2020 10:57 AM PST

Facebook has decided to provide the World Health Organization (WHO) with free ad space on its social media platform in an effort to help its users stay better informed about the recent coronavirus outbreak.

In a recent post on the platform, CEO Mark Zuckerberg announced that the company will be providing the WHO with “as many free ads as they need” to get relevant information about the outbreak out to Facebook users.

Facebook is also providing millions of dollars worth of “ad credits” to other organizations while working closely with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), UNICEF and national ministries of health to help them get out timely and accurate information about the coronavirus.

Now when users search for the coronavirus on Facebook, they'll see a pop-up that directs them to either the WHO or their local health authority for the latest information. Users that live in a country where the WHO has reported person-to-person transmission will also now see this information in their News Feed.

Fighting misinformation

Just as Google is hiding coronavirus apps on the Play Store to help fight misinformation about the outbreak, Facebook is also doing its part to ensure that its users don't see hoaxes or other misinformation in their News Feeds and Zuckerberg explained why in his post, saying:

“We're also focused on stopping hoaxes and harmful misinformation. It's important that everyone has a place to share their experiences and talk about the outbreak, but as our community standards make clear, it's not okay to share something that puts people in danger. So we're removing false claims and conspiracy theories that have been flagged by leading global health organizations. We're also blocking people from running ads that try to exploit the situation -- for example, claiming that their product can cure the disease.”

In addition to mobilizing its social media platform to help with the coronavirus, scientific tools developed by the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative are being deployed as well. Through a partnership between the initiative and the Gates Foundation, researchers in Cambodia were able to sequence the full genome of the coronavirus in days which has made it much easier and faster for them to identify who has the virus.

Other tech companies have also extended their free services in response to the coronavirus and Cisco, LogMeIn, Google and Microsoft have all made their online collaboration tools readily available so that people working from home to prevent the spread of the virus can stay productive.

Via The Verge

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Watch EastEnders online: stream episodes or catch-up in the UK and abroad

Posted: 05 Mar 2020 10:45 AM PST

With over 6,000 episodes to date, EastEnders is one of the UK's longest running TV shows and is considered by many to be the gold standard of soaps. Albert Square has seen more than its fair share of drama over the years, and if you don't want to miss the latest plot twist or fall victim to yet another spoiler, we're here to tell you all the ways you can watch EastEnders, including details of how to stream it online using services like BBC iPlayer - available on a wide range of devices.

The soap is based in the London's fictional Borough of Walford and is popular for a number of reasons. Pleasingly, Danny Dyer isn't one of them. Over the years, EastEnders has gained a reputation for being unafraid to tackle hard-hitting topics like race, unemployment, assisted dying and sexual preference in a way that resonates with people all over the world.

Over 35 years, viewers have also been continually drawn to the show's focus on the community and family relationships in E20, which is why it's arguably the UK's most popular soap - though Corrie fans may well disagree!

As well as the UK, you can also watch EastEnders in a number of English speaking countries, including the US, Australia, New Zealand and Canada. Read on and we'll explain the best ways to watch EastEnders wherever you are - even if you're somewhere that doesn't broadcast the show.

How to watch EastEnders tonight in the UK 

For UK viewers, it couldn't be easier to watch tonight's episode of EastEnders - just remember the show typically only airs on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday nights. Scheduling variations aren't uncommon, but usually the next EastEnders episode will start somewhere between 7.30pm and 8.30pm on BBC One in the UK.

As the BBC is home to everything Albert Square, that means it's really easy to watch EastEnders online - and for many people, it won't cost a penny. The BBC iPlayer streaming service is your one-stop-shop for streaming BBC content in the UK, which means all you need is a valid TV license and you can watch EastEnders online for free.

You can download iPlayer on most recent iOS, Android and Amazon devices, with apps also available for the PS4, Xbox One, Roku streamers, and a wide range of connected TVs. Some older products may not support the BBC streaming app, but searching for 'iPlayer' in the download or app store section of your device will hopefully deliver the goods.

The other way to watch EastEnders online on the BBC is to go via TVPlayer.com - we actually prefer this option as the stream tends to be better quality and more robust. It's also a faster site, more responsive and quicker to get up and running with. It's still free and legal, too.

How to watch EastEnders online from outside the country

Brits who find themselves abroad as they wait to see who dies next on EastEnders may encounter a problem trying to watch the show online - geo-blocking. This basically means that certain services are only available on devices that register a UK IP address - even if you've coughed up for a TV license.

Understandably, many people want to keep up with their favourite soaps when away on holiday or with work. Fortunately, there's an easy and perfectly legal way around this - using a VPN. A Virtual Private Network, or VPN, is a clever bit of software changes your device's IP address to one back in the UK and will therefore allow you to tune in to your favourite soaps just like you would from home.

You can also watch EastEnders directly in a handful of other English speaking countries around the world - here's an idea of just a few:

  • Watch EastEnders in the US: BritBox offers the latest EastEnders episodes 24 hours after they air in the UK - get a free 7-day trial
  • Watch EastEnders in Canada: Streaming service VisionTV has the rights to EastEnders in Canada, as well as a host of other popular UK shows like Poldark and Doc Martin
  • Watch EastEnders in Australia: episodes usually air two weeks behind the UK at 8pm local time Mondays to Thursday. They can be watched on BBC UKTV
  • Watch EastEnders in New Zealand: as in Oz, EastEnders generally goes live two weeks behind the UK and typically start at 7.50pm local time Mondays to Thursday on BBC UKTV

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Best free and public DNS servers of 2020

Posted: 05 Mar 2020 10:40 AM PST

DNS (Domain Name System) is a system which translates the domain names you enter in a browser to the IP addresses required to access those sites.

Your ISP will assign you DNS servers whenever you connect to the internet, but these may not always be the best choice. Slow DNS servers can cause a lag before websites start to load, and if your server sometimes goes down, you may not be able to access any sites at all.

Switching to a free public DNS server can make a real difference, with more responsive browsing and lengthy 100% uptime records meaning there's much less chance of technical problems.

Some services can also block access to phishing or infected sites, and a few offer content filtering to keep your kids away from the worst of the web.

You need to choose your service with care - not all providers will necessarily be better than your ISP - but to help point you in the right direction, this article will highlight six of the best free DNS servers around.

Why paid DNS is better than free

As with every service, you get what you pay for and it’s no different here. Free DNS can be good but it’s nothing compared to a Premium paid version. Granted, not everyone wants to pay and depending on their needs they might not need to, but paid DNS is always a better choice. Apart from the increased website performance and security, you also get additional features.

For instance, Dynamic DNS and Secondary DNS are a staple of the premium DNS service. The Dynamic DNS works with dynamic IP addresses and it allows users to access their home computer from anywhere in the world. The Secondary DNS works as a backup of sorts which is always a plus. This is just a small fraction of what a premium DNS can do and the exact number of features will depend on the service provider.

OpenDNS

Founded in 2005 and now owned by Cisco, OpenDNS is one of the biggest names in public DNS.

The free service offers plenty of benefits: high speeds, 100% uptime, phishing sites blocked by default, optional parental controls-type web filtering to block websites by content type, along with free email support if anything goes wrong.

Commercial plans enable viewing a history of your internet activity for up to the last year, and can optionally lock down your system by allowing access to specific websites only. These aren't going to be must-have features for the average user, but if you're interested, they can be yours for around $20 (£14.30) a year.

If you're an old hand at swapping DNS, you can get started immediately by reconfiguring your device to use the OpenDNS nameservers.

If you're a newbie, that's okay too, as OpenDNS has setup instructions for PCs, Macs, mobile devices, routers and much, much more.

Cloudflare

Best known for its top-rated content delivery network, Cloudflare has extended its range to include a new public DNS service, the catchily-named 1.1.1.1.

The product doesn't have any of the extras you'll often see elsewhere. There's no anti-phishing, no ad-blocking, no content filtering or other attempts to monitor or control what you can access, and what you can't.

Instead, Cloudflare has focused much more on the fundamentals. These start with performance, and independent testing from sites like DNSPerf shows Cloudflare is the fastest public DNS service around.

Privacy is another major highlight. Cloudflare doesn't just promise that it won't use your browsing data to serve ads; it commits that it will never write the querying IP address (yours) to disk. Any logs that do exist will be deleted within 24 hours. And these claims aren't just reassuring words on a website. Cloudflare has retained KPMG to audit its practices annually and produce a public report to confirm the company is delivering on its promises.

The 1.1.1.1 website has some setup guidance, with simple tutorials covering Windows, Mac, Android, iOS, Linux and routers. These are very generic - you get one set of instructions for all versions of Windows, for instance - but there are some pluses (IPv6 as well as IPv4 details) and you should be able to figure it out. Additionally, mobile users can use WARP which secures all of the phone’s internet traffic.

If you have any problems, Cloudflare offers a community forum where you can ask questions or see what others are doing, a nice extra touch which we'd like to see followed by other providers.

Google Public DNS

Google has its fingers in most web-related pies, and DNS is no exception: it's free Public DNS is a simple and effective replacement for your own ISP's nameservers.

Privacy can't quite match the 'we don't keep anything' promises of Cloudflare, but it's not bad. The service logs the full IP address information of the querying device for around 24 to 48 hours for troubleshooting and diagnostic purposes. 'Permanent' logs drop any personally identifiable information and reduce location details to the city level, and all but a small random sample of these are deleted after two weeks.

There's a further benefit for experienced users in Google's detailed description of the service. If you'd like to be able to assess the significance of Google's privacy policy, for instance, you can read up on absolutely everything the service logs contain to find out for yourself.

Google's support site offers only very basic guidance targeted at experienced users, warning that "only users who are proficient with configuring operating system settings [should] make these changes." If you're unsure what you're doing, check the tutorials from a provider such as OpenDNS, remembering to replace its nameservers with Google's: 8.8.8.8 and 8.8.4.4.

Comodo Secure DNS

Comodo Group is the power behind a host of excellent security products, so it's no surprise that the company also offers its own public DNS service.

Just as you'd expect, Comodo Secure DNS has a strong focus on safety. It doesn't just block phishing sites, but also warns if you try to visit sites with malware, spyware, even parked domains which might overload you with advertising (pop-ups, pop-unders and more). Furthermore, you can try out the Comodo Dome Shield service, which adds additional features to Comodo Secure DNS.

Comodo claims its service is smarter than average, too, detecting attempts to visit parked or 'not in use' domains and automatically forwarding you to where you really want to go.

Performance is key, of course, and the company suggests its worldwide network of servers and smart routing technology give it an advantage. DNSPerf's Comodo stats are less impressive, unfortunately. As we write, DNSPerf reports its average query time as around 72ms.

That said, Comodo may still be interesting if you're looking for an extra layer of web filtering, and the support website has some short but useful instructions on setting the service up on Windows PCs, Macs, routers and Chromebooks.

Quad9

Quad9 is a young DNS outfit which has been providing a fast and free DNS service since August 2016.

The company sells itself on its ability to block malicious domains by collecting intelligence from 'a variety of public and private sources.' It's not clear what these sources are, but the website says Quad9 used 18+ 'threat intelligence providers' as of December 2018.

That's a little too vague for us, and we're not convinced that using a large number of threat intelligence providers will necessarily help – the quality of the intelligence is generally more important than the quantity.

There's no arguing about Quad9's performance, though. DNSPerf currently rates it seven out of ten for average worldwide query times, lagging behind Cloudflare and OpenDNS, but effortlessly outpacing contenders like Comodo.

Drilling down into the detail reveals some variations in speed - Quad9 is in eighth place for North American queries - but overall the service still delivers better performance than most.

Setup guidance is a little limited, with tutorials for the latest versions of Windows and macOS only. They're well presented, though, and it's not difficult to figure out what you need to do.

Verisign

Verisign was founded in 1995 and through the years offered various services, including several security services, like managed DNS.

Verisign DNS service is free to use and the company highlights the three features they deem the most important and those are stability, security, and privacy. The service definitely delivers on that account, especially for security and stability. As for privacy, while you can never be 100% sure when it comes to the company claims, there weren't any issues and the company assures you that your public DNS data will not be sold to third parties.

Performance, however, wasn't that great when compared to some other providers. Still, it's decent and depending on your needs, you might not be bothered by this. At the moment, DNSPerf.com ranks the service at ninth place, worldwide.

On their website, you can find tutorials on how to set up their public DNS. Tutorials are available for Windows 7 and 10, Mac, Linux, and mobile devices. There is also a tutorial on how to configure DNS server settings on your router.

All in all, Verisign offers a good alternative to some other DNS providers, plus it's free so it's worth checking out.

Got further questions about DNS? Here are some common queries along with our answers.

What is DNS?

The Domain Name System (DNS) is a phonebook for the internet, a framework which translates domain names, like facebook.com or twitter.com, into the IP addresses necessary for devices to load those internet resources.

The mechanics of DNS can be quite complicated, as information isn't held in a single database, but rather distributed in a worldwide directory including a vast number of DNS servers.

Fortunately, the average internet user doesn't normally have to get involved in any of the low-level technical details. Your ISP automatically provides you with access to a DNS server whenever you go online, and whenever you enter a URL into your browser, this will find the relevant IP address for you. 

Verisign

Your ISP DNS isn't performing? Verisign is one of many big-name companies offering a free alternative

Why might DNS matter to me?

DNS servers can vary hugely in speed, particularly in areas which don't always have the best internet coverage (Africa, South America, Oceania.) To take an example of a single day when we tested, DNSPerf.com reported Cloudflare achieved an average 4.43ms query time for Oceania, while Yandex was left trailing at 350.24ms. That's potentially more than a third of a second in extra waiting time before your browser is able to access any new website.

This is an extreme example, to be fair. European or US lookups may see less than 30ms variation between most DNS services, and as your device or router will probably cache the address for reuse later, even this delay will only occur very occasionally. Still, a sluggish DNS server can noticeably slow down your browsing in some situations, and trying an alternative – especially as the best options are all free – is generally a good idea.

There's a second possible benefit in terms of uptime. If your ISP DNS server fails, you might not be able to access some or all of your favorite sites. Big-name providers such as OpenDNS claim they've had 100% uptime going back years.

DNS Jumper

How can I find the fastest DNS service?

DNS speed depends on many factors, including your location, the distance to your nearest server, and that server having enough power and bandwidth to handle all the queries it receives.

DNS Jumper is a portable freeware tool which tests multiple public DNS services to find out which delivers the best performance for you.

The program has a lot of options, but isn't difficult to use. Launch it, click Fastest DNS > Start DNS Test, and within a few seconds you'll be looking at a list of DNS services sorted by speed.

DNS Jumper can be useful, in particular because it's checking how servers perform from your location, but it doesn't run enough tests over a long enough period to give you a definitive answer.

DNSPerf

DNSPerf tests multiple DNS services every minute from 200+ locations around the world and makes the results freely available on its own website. This gives a very good general idea of performance, and also enables seeing how services compare on different continents, as well as assessing their uptime.

How can I switch DNS servers?

The steps involved in changing your DNS service vary according to your hardware and possibly your operating system version.

Generally, you must start by finding the primary and secondary nameservers for the DNS service you'd like to use. These IP addresses are normally displayed very clearly on the service website, so, for example, Cloudflare DNS uses 1.1.1.1 and 1.0.0.1.

The simplest approach for home users is to update their router to use the new addresses. Most other devices will then pick up the new DNS settings automatically, with no further work required.

To make this happen you must log in to your router (the default password may be printed on its base) and look for the current DNS primary and secondary nameservers. Make a note of the current values in case of problems, then replace them with the nameservers you'd like to use.

If you run into problems, check out your DNS service website for any setup guidance. Keep in mind that you can also use the tutorials of other DNS providers, as long as you remember to replace their nameserver IPs with your preferred options. OpenDNS, for instance, has specific guidance for many different router types on its support site.

If router tweaks aren't right for your situation, you may have to change the DNS configuration of each individual device. Cloudflare has short and simple guidance here, while the OpenDNS website goes into more depth.

How can I find my current DNS servers?

How can I find my current DNS servers?

If you're troubleshooting your internet connection, or maybe thinking of switching DNS servers, it might be useful to check which DNS servers you're using at the moment.

The simplest way to do this is to visit DNSLeakTest.com and tap the Standard Test button. Within a few seconds the website will usually display your DNS server IP addresses, host names, and sometimes (if appropriate) the name of your ISP.

After that, life gets more complicated as there are several potential options. Your device could be set up to use specific DNS servers; it might ask your router to give it the best DNS servers every time it boots; or it might not know anything about DNS servers, and leave your router to handle everything.

On Windows, you could get started by entering IPCONFIG /ALL in a command line window. Look for your network adapter and you should see its DNS servers specified in the list.

If there's a single DNS IP address which points at your router – 192.168.x.x – that suggests the router is handling all DNS queries. Enter that IP address into your browser, log in to the router if necessary and your DNS servers should be listed amongst the settings.

How can I test a DNS service?

How can I test a DNS service?

If your browser is telling you a website's 'server IP address could not be found', even though you're sure it's up and available, then this could be due to a problem with your DNS. But you might not want to go to the trouble of changing your DNS service to find out.

Windows users can use the command line tool nslookup.exe to look at the results of any DNS server without touching their system settings.

Run cmd.exe to open a command line window, then type:

nslookup website.com

Then press Enter (replace website.com with the address of whatever website you're trying to reach).

Nslookup uses your default DNS server to look for the IP address of website.com. If it tells you it 'can't find website.com', this means your DNS server doesn't have a record for that domain.

Next, tell the tool to use another DNS service by entering a command like:

nslookup website.com 8.8.8.8

The 8.8.8.8 address uses Google DNS – replace that with any DNS service you like, such as 1.1.1.1 for Cloudflare.

If nslookup returns errors using multiple servers, this doesn't look like a DNS issue. If one server returns an IP address and another doesn't, you might want to try setting up your system to use the working DNS and see if it makes any difference.

You might also want to look over our many web hosting guides:

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UFC 248 live stream: how to watch Israel Adesanya vs Yoel Romero from anywhere

Posted: 05 Mar 2020 10:21 AM PST

On a bill that features not one, but two championship bouts, the undoubted big draw on Saturday's card in Las Vegas is the clash between undefeated middleweight champ Israel Adesanya and title challenger Yoel Romero - read on to find out how you can watch a UFC 248 live stream from anywhere in the world.

Adesanya, comes into Saturday's fight with a formidable 18-0 win record. The 30-year-old Nigerian-New Zealander will be full of confidence following his emphatic victory over Robert Whittaker in his last octagon appearance back in October in Melbourne.

He now faces Cuban veteran Yoel Romero, a former Olympic wrestling silver medallist who is widely regarded as one of most athletic fighters to ever fight in UFC. The 40-year-old has so far failed to hit the heights his skill set suggests he's capable of, but this fight provides him with another opportunity to finally become a UFC title holder.

Adesanya's ruthless dispatch of Whittaker was a feat that Romero wasn't able to match in his two meetings against the Australian star, which may give some indication as to the likely outcome of Saturday's showdown. Regarded as one of best strikers in the sport, Adesanya is 10 years younger than his opponent and has a 6.5-inch reach advantage to boot.

Ready to catch all of the action? Scroll down to find out everything you need to know about watching a UFC 248 live stream wherever you are in the world.

Live stream UFC 248 from outside your country

If you're a big combat sports fan trying to catch the UFC 248 action but aren't in the country you would normally watch the fights from, then you will likely find the coverage is geo-blocked. You can try using a VPN to change your IP address to a country where the fights are airing and watch this main card just as if you were back at home.

How to watch UFC 248 online in the US exclusively on ESPN

How to live stream UFC 248 in the UK 

Watch UFC 248: live stream details for Australia

Stream UFC 248: Adesanya vs Romero in New Zealand

Main card

·      Israel Adesanya (champion) vs Yoel Romero (UFC middleweight title)

·      Zhang Weili (c) vs Joanna Jędrzejczyk (UFC women's strawweight title)

·      Beneil Dariush vs Drakkar Klose (lightweight)

·      Neil Magny vs Li Jingliang (welterweight)

·      Alex Oliveira vs Max Griffin (welterweight)

Preliminary card 

·      Sean O'Malley vs Jose Alberto Quinonez (bantamweight)

·      Mark Madsen vs Austin Hubbard (lightweight)

·      Rodolfo Vieira vs Saparbek Safarov (middleweight)

·      Gerald Meerschaert vs Deron Winn (middleweight)

Early preliminary card

·      Emily Whitmire vs Polyana Viana (women's strawweight)

·      Danaa Batgerel vs Guido Cannetti (bantamweight)

What does a UFC fan receive with their ESPN+ subscription?

Quite a lot, as it happens - a subscription to ESPN+ opens up access to over 20 exclusive live UFC Fight Nights, alongside original content including Dana White’s Contender Series, UFC Destined, and Ariel & The Bad Guy, plus classic fights, replays, and there’s also the perk of fewer adverts. 

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Intel Ice Lake release date, news and features

Posted: 05 Mar 2020 10:09 AM PST

When Intel Ice Lake made its way into laptops in Fall 2019, we cheered as we finally got something new from Intel. These processors for laptops marked the first time 10nm processors made their way to the mainstream – since Cannon Lake completely missed the boat. 

Initially revealed way back at Computex 2019, Intel Ice Lake processors are the first time an Intel processor moved away from the aging 14nm process, even if Team Blue has continued to produce Comet Lake chips that are built on the 14nm process. 

However, Intel Ice Lake is about to face its toughest battle yet, as AMD's Zen 2 CPU architecture is about to make its way to a laptop near you in the form of AMD Ryzen 4000. The big question when those AMD laptops hit the market is going to be whether or not Intel Ice Lake can maintain Intel's lead in the mobile space. 

Until then, however, Ice Lake is uniquely featured in most of the best laptops and Ultrabooks on the market, including the beloved Dell XPS 13 2-in-1 and the Surface Pro 7. 

So we thought it would be a good time to collect all the Ice Lake information in one place, especially because the naming is a bit tricky (whoever thought "Intel Core i7-1065G7" was a good name?). Be sure to keep this page bookmarked, and we'll keep it updated with any and all 10nm developments.

Cut to the Chase

  • What is it? Intel’s next-generation, 10nm CPU lineup
  • When is it out? Out now
  • What will it cost? Depends on the laptop running it

Intel Ice Lake

The Intel Ice Lake is already featured in a ton of the best laptops and Ultrabooks on the market.

Intel Ice Lake release date

Intel announced Ice Lake  back at CES 2019, which came as a bit of a surprise, especially when Team Blue announced that it would be slated for release before the holiday season hit. Even more surprising is the fact that Intel kept its promise despite the time crunch, rolling out the Intel Ice Lake processors on August 1, 2019. 

The Dell XPS 13 2-in-1 (2019) was one of the first laptops to benefit from Intel's new tech. And, now it seems like every mainstream laptop coming out is packing these processors. In fact, the latest Ice Lake-equipped processors to hit the streets are the new Surface devices revealed by Microsoft at its October Event. 

You'll probably see entry level laptops using the Intel Core i3-1005G1. (Image Credit: Intel)

Intel Ice Lake price

Intel Ice Lake is a mobile platform. While that does mean that laptop manufacturers have to pay Intel for the right to use its laptops, the price of the laptops using the chips will differ depending on the product. 

Still, you'll probably see entry level laptops using the Intel Core i3-1005G1, while only the most powerful flagships get the Intel Core i7-1068G7.

Intel Ice Lake

It looks like there's going to be a significant bump in performance over Whiskey Lake.

Intel Ice Lake specs

The key feature of Intel Ice Lake is, of course, the new underlying 10nm Sunny Cove architecture. What’s more, these new processors are the first chips to boast next-generation Gen11 graphics. 

Intel says that these processors are supposed to deliver a 2x performance increase, thanks to the smaller fabrication processes and the die shrink from 14nm. However, Ice Lake mobile processors are limited to 4-cores.

On top of the chips’ main microarchitecture, Ice Lake CPUs also come with native support for Thunderbolt 3, Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax) and DL Boost.

The new graphics are a considerable improvement from the Gen9 GPU found in Intel’s previous line of CPUs. Those only had 24 EUs, or Execution Units, while these new Ice Lake chips offer up to 64 in the Intel Core i7-1068G7.

One thing we did observe right away is that the boost speeds these processors have are somewhat lower than their Whiskey Lake predecessors. For example, the Intel Core i7-8565U boasts a boost clock of 4.6GHz, next to the 3.9GHz boost of the Intel Core i7-1065G7. This is somewhat disturbing, but because these chips feature higher IPC performance, we should see an increase in speed anyway – something we're sure to see once we get our hands on an Ice Lake laptop and take one of these chips out for a spin.

Finally, Intel says that Ice Lake is supposed to help devices reach a battery life of over 25 hours. That’s truly impressive, and it’s mostly thanks to Team Blue performing a top-to-bottom analysis of power draw to reduce energy consumption. In addition, using AI to intelligently alter the processor's performance helps to maximize efficiency.

  • Intel Core i7-1068G7 – 4-cores, 8-threads | Intel Iris Plus | 64 EUs| 4.1GHz boost
  • Intel Core i7-1065G7 – 4-cores, 8-threads | Intel Iris Plus | 64 EUs|3.9GHz boost
  • Intel Core i5-1035G7 – 4-cores, 8-threads | Intel Iris Plus | 64 EUs|3.7GHz boost
  • Intel Core i5-1035G4 – 4-cores, 8-threads | Intel Iris Plus | 48 EUs|3.7GHz boost
  • Intel Core i5-1035G1 – 4-cores, 8-threads | Intel UHD | 32 EUs | 3.6GHz boost
  • Intel Core i3-1005G1 – 2-cores, 4-threads | Intel UHD | 32EUs | 3.4GHz boost

Ice Lake Y-Series processors: 

  • Intel Core i7-1060G7 – 4-cores, 8-threads |Intel Iris Plus |64 EUs | 3.8GHz boost
  • Intel Core i5-1030G7 – 4-cores, 8-threads |Intel Iris Plus |64 EUs | 3.5GHz boost
  • Intel Core i5-1030G4 – 4-cores, 8-threads |Intel Iris Plus |48 EUs | 3.5GHz boost
  • Intel Core i3-1000G4 – 2-cores, 4-threads |Intel Iris Plus | 48 EUs | 3.2GHz boost
  • Intel Core i3-1000G1 – 2-cores, 4-threads | Intel UHD | 32 EUs | 3.2GHz boost

That's about all we know about Intel Ice lake right now. However, we'll be sure to update this guide once we get our hands on an Ice Lake-powered laptop so we can see how well it performs. If the early numbers and Ice Lake specs are anything to go by, however, it looks like there's going to be a significant bump in performance over Whiskey Lake. 

  • Intel Core i7-1060G7 – 4-cores, 8-threads |Intel Iris Plus |64 EUs | 3.8GHz boost
  • Intel Core i5-1030G7 – 4-cores, 8-threads |Intel Iris Plus |64 EUs | 3.5GHz boost
  • Intel Core i5-1030G4 – 4-cores, 8-threads |Intel Iris Plus |48 EUs | 3.5GHz boost
  • Intel Core i3-1000G4 – 2-cores, 4-threads |Intel Iris Plus | 48 EUs | 3.2GHz boost
  • Intel Core i3-1000G1 – 2-cores, 4-threads | Intel UHD | 32 EUs | 3.2GHz boost
  • Intel Core i7-1060G7 – 4-cores, 8-threads |Intel Iris Plus |64 EUs | 3.8GHz boost
  • Intel Core i5-1030G7 – 4-cores, 8-threads |Intel Iris Plus |64 EUs | 3.5GHz boost
  • Intel Core i5-1030G4 – 4-cores, 8-threads |Intel Iris Plus |48 EUs | 3.5GHz boost
  • Intel Core i3-1000G4 – 2-cores, 4-threads |Intel Iris Plus | 48 EUs | 3.2GHz boost
  • Intel Core i3-1000G1 – 2-cores, 4-threads | Intel UHD | 32 EUs | 3.2GHz boost

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Best domain registrars in 2020

Posted: 05 Mar 2020 10:02 AM PST

Every great website needs a snappy, memorable domain name. Coming up with something new is a serious challenge, but once inspiration strikes, you'll need to register that name with a domain name registrar before you can use it online.

Registration isn't difficult, but first you must choose from the hundreds of companies competing for your business, and there are several things for you to consider before signing the virtual dotted line.

How to choose the perfect domain registrar

  • Pricing structures can be complicated. A low headline figure could become expensive on renewal, for instance. Prices vary between domain extensions, too, so a registrar that offers great value for a .com domain might give you a poor deal on when it comes to .org.
  • There may be extra costs for tasks like transferring your domain to another registrar, too. Read the small print before you sign up.
  • Look for any bundled or optional extras. A Whois privacy service prevents your address, phone number and email address appearing as public contact details for the domain, something which could otherwise get you a significant amount of spam email and phone calls. We've seen this cost as much as $11.20 a year, but several registrars provide it for free.
  • Many domain registrars offer hosting as an extra, but keep in mind that web hosting companies can also register domains. If you have an idea of which web host you'd like to use, check the details of its plans: you may be able to register a domain for free when you buy hosting, and that's often the cheapest option.
  • Finally, take a look at the support a registrar offers. You may never need any help at all, but if anything critical crops up – maybe an issue which might cause a problem with renewal – it's important that your provider is on hand to ably assist. 
  • Balancing all these priorities can be tricky, so that's why we've created this list of top domain registrars to help point you in the right direction. 

With a name like Domain.com, the EIG-owned brand, means business, focusing primarily on small and medium businesses. It offers most popular top level domains and over 25 country code top level domains and also sells premium domains as a broker.

With nearly two decades of online presence, the company - which is one of the world’s biggest domain name registrars - expanded in web hosting and now ranges a number of products including a website builder, a full design service and web hosting.

Domain.com prices tend to be average but we have managed to blag a 25% discount off almost everything in your cart*. Non-premium TLD (.Club, .Men, .Win etc) start from $2.99 for the first year ($2.24 with our code). In line with the rest of the industry, they rise significantly after the second year).

You need to pay for privacy protection, a reasonable $6.99, plus you can add email, web hosting, SSL certificates and malware protection, none of which is compulsory. You can stick with its basic website builder which is free with every domain: you get a drag and drop website builder, tons of mobile-friendly templates, up to six pages, SEO tools, Paypal integration and even access to stock image library.

Support is more than adequate with 24/7 chat, email and phone support. Domain.com may not have the cheapest prices but it provides with a very balanced offering.

*All renewals after the initial discounted period will be charged at the then current standard list price for the selected period. Coupon is not valid with sunrise registrations, landrush registrations, EAP registrations, pre-registrations, premium registrations, renewals, transfers, custom website design, other coupons, or special pricing.

Web giant GoDaddy is the world's biggest domain registrar, currently managing more than 75 million domains for 17 million customers around the globe.

The company is well-known for its low headline prices, and it's the same story here, for instance,  .mobi domain is available for $6.99 in year one. On the other hand .com and .org are less impressive (though still apparently cheap) starting at $11.99 and $10.99 respectively. Beware, though: these aren't the bargains they initially seem.

The first catch is that GoDaddy's starting prices only apply if you pay for two years upfront, and the second year is significantly more expensive (.com rises to $17.99, .uk and .co.uk domains are $12, .co, .org and .mobi are ridiculously high, $34.99 for .co, $20.99 for .org and $28.99 for .mobi. 

The second problem is that there are no bundled extras, so adding something like Whois privacy – a valuable service often included for free with other providers – costs $8 a month for year one, and $10 on renewal.

There's clearly much better value to be had elsewhere, but GoDaddy may still appeal to web beginners looking for a bundled hosting and domain registration deal. The company has an array of products covering every possible requirement, with telephone support if you need it, and buying your domain and hosting from the same provider will make life a little easier.

Just keep in mind that other providers can also combine hosting and domain registration, and GoDaddy may not provide the best package for you. Check out our various hosting guides for possible alternatives.

Hover is a popular domain name registrar owned by Tucows, which also operates eNom and the domain reselling platform OpenSRS.

Hover's website is clear and straightforward. A domain pricing page allows for checking registration costs before you start, or you can use the search box to immediately locate your preferred TLD (top-level domain).

By default the results page displays every domain you can register and their prices, giving you a lot to scroll through and read. But a handy sidebar allows filtering domains by categories including Personal, Businesses, Audio and Video, Food and Drink, and more. It's a neat touch which could help you spot an appealing domain that you otherwise might have missed.

Prices are very reasonable, with .com domains costing $12.99 for year one, .co.uk priced at $10.99, .org costing $13.99 and .mobi reaching $19.99. Shop around and you'll find slightly lower prices elsewhere, but Hover generally provides good value.

There's a welcome bonus in Whois Privacy, which comes free for as long as the domain is managed by Hover.

The company keeps upselling to a minimum, even in the final shopping cart stage. You're simply offered three email-related extras: email forwarding at $5 a year, a 10GB email account for $20, or you can opt for a 1TB inbox, file sharing, a calendar and more, for an annual $29.

If you have any questions, support is available via email and chat, although it's not 24/7. Working hours are 8am to 8pm (Eastern Time) Monday to Friday, and 12pm to 5pm at the weekend.

Most domain name registrars offer a simple identikit service with little to separate them from the competition, but Dynadot is an interesting exception which has some unusual advantages.

This starts right at the beginning, with your initial search. You can use the website much like any other – type your preferred domain, press Enter, read the results – but you also get Bulk and IDN (Internationalized Domain Name) search tools, and advanced options allow defining which domain extensions to include in your searches, as well as setting those as defaults for all future searches.

These searches can optionally return results from domain auctions, Dynadot's Marketplace (where other customers sell domains they no longer need) and other sources. There's also a Backorder option to try and grab a domain that isn't currently available, if it's not renewed.

Prices are on the low side, with Dynadot offering both special deals on some extensions and good value at renewal. .com sites are $7.99 initially, $8.99 on renewal. If you’re after a .co.uk domain, that’ll set you back $6.95, .org is $8.99 initially, $10.99 on renewal, and .mobi domains are $5.99 initially, $17.99 on renewal.

That's just the start: Dynadot also piles on the free extras. A Website Builder allows you to build and host a simple one-page responsive website. There's free domain forwarding if you'd like to redirect visitors somewhere else. DNS support allows creating 50 subdomain records, 10 email addresses, and 5 each of MX and TXT records. There's even a Grace Deletion list which allows returning a domain if you change your mind.

This requires a small fee and won't always be allowed (the details on how it works are here), but it's still a welcome extra you'll rarely find with other registrars.

Dynadot's support wasn't always as impressive, with live chat being offline when we checked. But the website does have a publicly available forum, allowing anyone to browse common questions and see how happy (or otherwise) Dynadot's customers might be.

Founded in 2000, Namecheap is a popular domain name registrar and web host which now manages more than five million domains.

Namecheap's excellent website allows searching for individual domains, or in batches of up to 50.

If the domain is taken, you can view the Whois record or offer to buy the domain (via DomainAgents) from the current user.

If the domain is available, results are displayed across four tabs: Popular, New, Discounted and International. This is a neat approach which makes it easier to browse the list and find what you need.

Prices are generally very good at $8.88 (£6.8) for .com domains - $12.98 on renewal, $7.58(£5.8) for .co.uk - $9.58 on renewal, $12.98 (£9.3) for .org - $14.98 on renewal, and $16.88 (£13) for .mobi (at the moment, you can get .mobi for $2.88 for the first year). There are some special deals available, and Namecheap has an Agent 88 set of domains which are almost always available at $0.48 (£0.35) for the first year (these usually include the following: .site .website .space .pw .press .host .tech .online and .fun – but there may be others as well).

That would be good value all on its own, but Namecheap doesn’t stop there: you get WhoisGuard domain privacy thrown in for free.

Namecheap's billing is straightforward and honest, with current and renewal prices clearly described in your Namecheap shopping cart, and Auto-Renew turned off. But if there's something you don't understand, helpful FAQ pages and live chat are just a click or two away.

Shopping around for a domain registrar can involve a lot of hassle as you research companies you've never heard of, try to separate genuine bargains from marketing tricks, and browse the small print looking for hidden catches. With potential savings only amounting to a few pounds or dollars a year, at best, you might prefer to simply sign up with a big-name provider that you know will give you a reasonable service, even if it does cost a fraction more.

Enter Google Domains, Google's lightweight domain registration arm, a straightforward provider that puts speed and simplicity at the top of its priority list.

Google Domains doesn't confuse you with endless sales, or 'special' deals that turn out to be not so special after all. Upselling is kept to a minimum. Instead, it's all about making the purchase process as easy as any other online shopping site: search, click, and check out.

The difference is obvious from the moment you reach the site. There are no animated ads at the top of the page, no 'Sale!' banners, no low headline prices: just a search box where you enter a single domain.

The results page is equally straightforward, with prices listed for nine common top-level domains, and an All Endings tab listing every option in alphabetical order (domain.academy, domain.bargains, domain.camera).

One potential problem is that Google Domains doesn't support all the domain extensions you'll get elsewhere, and this includes some quite common examples (.mobi, .tv). If you think you might ever want to buy something beyond the most popular extensions, it’s a good idea to check that your likely choices are available before you buy.

Prices are standardized to whole numbers, so for example .com, .co.uk and .org domains are all priced at $12. That's a little above average overall, but better than some, especially as Google Domains throws in free Whois privacy for as long as you're registered. That's a valuable extra which could cost $2.80 to $11.20 a year elsewhere.

If you do have any questions, a Help link displays articles on common problems. If that's not enough, the Contact Us page enables talking to a support agent by email, live chat or telephone (Google calls you), the highest level of domain registrar support we've seen anywhere.

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These Walmart PC accessory sales make working from home a little easier

Posted: 05 Mar 2020 09:43 AM PST

The latest Walmart PC accessory deals are in, and you can save plenty of cash on cheap keyboards, mice, headphones, and speakers this week. Whether you're working from home, or just looking to refresh your setup, these savings chip away at already cheap PC accessory prices. 

From wireless keyboard and mouse bundles to Full HD webcams and cost-effective PC speakers, Walmart's latest sales hit the full spectrum of home office needs. We've highlighted some of our favorite cheap accessories that will make working from home or simply just browsing the web more comfortable. 

We've spotted some fantastic prices in these sales, proving that you don't have to break the bank to enjoy a comfortable, responsive home office setup. With cheap keyboard and mouse combos from just $19.98, headphones with noise-cancelling mics from $19.50, and PC speaker deals starting at $18.84, there's never been a better time to revamp your desk with some of the latest savings. 

  • 25% off top computer accessories: shop the full sale at Walmart

Get more out of each PC accessory with the latest USB-C adapters, or keep everything tidy with the best USB-C hubs and docks. If you're looking for a full refresh, we're always keeping an eye on the latest cheap laptop deals to bring you powerful machines for less.

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Ghost of Tsushima release date, trailers, rumors and news

Posted: 05 Mar 2020 09:10 AM PST

First announced at 2017’s Paris Games Week, Ghost of Tsushima is a brand new IP from Sucker Punch which will be exclusive to Sony's PlayStation 4 – and, possibly, the incoming PS5 console too. We now know the PS4 release date, too, and the game is set for release on June 26 2020. 

Though Sucker Punch is largely known for the inFamous games, the developer is departing quite significantly from the inFamous formula with this new game. Saying so-long to high-rise cities and neon superpowers, Ghost of Tsushima will be a historical open world adventure that will take players back to Feudal Japan. 

We haven't heard much about Ghost of Tsushima since it was revealed at E3 2018, and we're anxiously waiting for Sony to shed some more light on the PS4 exclusive sometime soon. A recent appearance in a State of Play live stream didn't exactly give us much more to go on either – aside from a new trailer showing off game assets and characters.

Sound like your kind of thing? This is everything we know about Ghost of Tsushima so far.

Cut to the chase

  • What is it? A brand new PlayStation exclusive IP from Sucker Punch 
  • When can I play it? June 26 2020
  • What can I play it on? PS4 

Ghost of Tsushima release date

Ghost of Tsushima will be released on June 26, 2020. Check out the story trailer above, which shows off the different editions of the game. 

Ghost of Tsushima

Ghost of Tsushima trailers

The latest trailer came on during the Game Awards 2019, showing a bunch of new gameplay, along with finally revealing a release window. 

Before the Game Awards 2019, we got a trailer, courtesy of the State of Play live stream on December 10, showing off a gorgeously-rendered forest, and the tense moments before a samurai battle – with a smoke bomb to hand as well as a blade. You can soak up all the vibes in the video embedded below.

PlayStation showed us more of Ghost of Tsushima than ever during its E3 2018 conference with a lengthy gameplay debut. The trailer shows a huge open world that almost looks like a painting with a soaring atmospheric soundtrack. 

We see our samurai challenge Mongol invaders in a combat style that reminded us of Assassin's Creed. But as well as up front and outright combat, there will be an emphasis on stealth with players using the element of surprise to avoid being outnumbered.

Check out the gameplay debut trailer below:

Before this we saw the announcement trailer that was released at Paris Games Week.

Though it was captured in the game engine, it doesn’t feature much in terms of gameplay. What it does show, however, is the game world we’ll be playing in and it’s clear that Sucker Punch is aiming for a stunning aesthetic. 

You can watch it for yourself below:

It doesn't focus on in-game footage or gameplay but there was also an enlightening panel held at PSX with several members of the game's development team. 

Watch below for details on the above trailer and what kind of research has gone into it:

News and features

Shuhei Yoshida is impressed

Ghost of Tsushima was noted for being visually impressive during its E3 2018 presentation and president of Sony Worldwide Studios Shuhei Yoshida has made it clear that's still the case. 

In an interview with Famitsu, translated by The PlayStation Brahs, Yoshida said he's been "overwhelmed" by the game's graphics, adding that when he plays it his "hands stop" because some of the scenes double the beauty of the Japanese landscape. This is high praise, and a nice update for those who have been waiting a long time to hear more about Ghost of Tsushima. 

PS5 exclusive?

According to a 'leaked internal email' from Sony (and posted to NeoGaf), the PS5 will be unveiled at a "PlayStation Meeting 2020" launch event on February 12, 2020. This meeting, according to the rumor, aims to showcase "the future of Sony PlayStation to the whole world".

The same 'leaked internal email' claims that Ghost of Tsushima will be a PS5 exclusive.

It's worth taking this rumor with a huge pinch of salt as it hasn't been verified that this is an official internal email and it does go somewhat against the leaked presentation reported below in which the company appeared to express its commitment to the PS4 for the next three years with games that would include Ghost of Tsushima.

In response to a request for comment, a Sony spokesperson stated: "We don’t comment on rumour and speculation".

It'll still be on PS4

Information on Ghost of Tsushima has been appropriately hard to find these days and a recent job listing for a narrative writer on the game has had some fans concerned that Sucker Punch will be releasing its new IP on the increasingly-discussed PS5 rather than the PS4. 

However, Sony seems to have put these worries to bed by confirming in a leaked presentation (via GamesRadar) that it will continue to be committed to the PS4 for the next three years with "an outstanding roster of exclusive AAA games still to come". These games will include upcoming exclusives The Last of Us 2, Death Stranding and Ghost of Tsushima, as indicated by images of the games on the PS4 slide which was part of the presentation.

That doesn't mean Ghost of Tsushima won't be playable to the PS5 though - there's a lot of talk about backwards compatibility and it's likely that the game will straddle the generations, taking players from their current console to their next. If you're not going to be ready to leap into the next generation, though, don't worry - it looks like Ghost of Tsushima will still be an option.

Job Listing

After very little news for quite a while, in April 2019 Sucker Punch posted a job listing for a narrative writer on its Ghost of Tsushima team. This posting was not especially reassuring to fans who believed the game was quite far along in its development and suggests that any kind of release date or further news could be a while away. 

The job listing (via Gamasutra) asks that applicants be prepared to "write high quality dialogue" and contribute ideas to other narrative areas of the game. However, it also says that the applicant must be able to write to "tight deadlines" which could mean that development is moving apace and Sucker Punch could be looking to bolster its existing team with a new member able to neatly tie up any secondary narrative strands. 

Until any news comes from Sucker Punch itself, of course, all of this is simply conjecture. 

The main character is Jin Sakai – but he's not alone

Ghost of Tsushima focuses on samurai Jin Sakai but you will also gather allies such as archer Masako (who was you might remember from the trailer).

It’ll be set in Feudal Japan 

As revealed by the game’s announcement trailer, Ghost of Tsushima will be set in 13th century Japan - the time of the Mongol invasions. In the year 1274, the Mongols made their first stop on the island of Tsushima. You'll play Jin, one of the last of the samurai on the devastated island, determined to quash the invasion and push the Mongols out despite the odds being stacked against him.

The game's art director, Jason Connell, stated in a recent PSX panel for the game that the team are taking an "inspired by" approach to the game with the setting serving as a "jumping off point" for a completely original story. 

Ghost of Tsushima

There will be an open world and you’ll play in the third-person

Though it’s very different from Sucker Punch’s previous games in many ways, Ghost of Tsushima will bear one similarity to inFamous with its third-person perspective; this time players will take up the role of a samurai called Jin.

The game will have a huge open world. Specifically, the setting will be the large island of Tsushima, located off the coast of Japan. Tsushima is a geographically diverse place and the game’s trailer shows that players will be able to travel from lush forests, to rugged mountains and towns filled with interesting characters.

Judging by trailer footage it looks likely that the player will do the majority of terrain traversal on horseback. 

Gameplay

We’ve seen very little of gameplay thus far, but given the setting and overarching storyline it has the potential to be interesting. Playing a samurai unsurprisingly means there will be both action and stealth elements but there seem to be some plans to mix up the formula. 

The samurai the player will take control of, for example, is the one of the last of his kind and as a result he’s forced to shed traditional samurai tactics and form a new method of fighting call the ‘Way of the Ghost’. 

Ghost of Tsushima

While we don’t know what this Way of the Ghost actually involves, we're interested because it’s an entirely new method of fighting necessitated by there being only one samurai facing an entire army. All of this together makes us think there will be a heavy emphasis on tactical stealth and the use of enhanced (perhaps mildly supernatural) powers. 

According to the game's listing on the New Zealand PlayStation Store, players will be building the legend of 'the Ghost' in a tale "inspired by classic samurai stories."

There will be a range of weapons 

Naturally weapons will be key in this game and from the trailer we can see that there will be a wide range of them. Alongside the traditional samurai katana, we also glimpsed long bows, armored horses and plenty of fire.

Ghost of Tsushima

The villain will be interesting

Alongside an intriguing protagonist, we’re also anticipating a villain of substance. The player will be facing the Mongol Empire, known for its advanced horseback and archery skills as well as its ferocity. 

The leader of this army will be the player’s main enemy and Sucker Punch has described this leader as being an “uncomfortably reasonable killer.” How this will manifest itself in the game is unclear but it suggests an engaging story line and hero/villain dynamic.

It could use Japanese dialogue

During a panel at PSX, the game's creative director Nate Fox asked the audience if they'd be interested in playing the game with Japanese dialogue. After applause that couldn't be mistaken for anything other than affirmation, he stated "Noted, thank you."

While this isn't a confirmation of anything, it does suggest that Ghost of Tsushima could very well go down the route of games such as Nier: Automata with dialogue entirely in Japanese alongside English subtitles. It would certainly compliment the efforts the development team has clearly gone to in going on research trips and asking for expert advice to achieve cultural authenticity. 

(Image credits: Sucker Punch Productions)

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Ghost of Tsushima gets a release date – and it could be the last big PS4 exclusive

Posted: 05 Mar 2020 08:52 AM PST

Sony has finally announced a release date for upcoming open world PS4 historical adventure game Ghost of Tsushima – June 26, 2020. The game was first announced back at Paris Games Week in 2017, and it's the work of InFamous developers Sucker Punch Productions. It's the developer's first full game since early 2014 PS4 title InFamous: Second Son.

This PS4 exclusive is set on the Japanese island of Tsushima in 1274, and you play a samurai who has to defend his home from the invading Mongol force.

To greet the news, Sony released a new story trailer for the game, which you can check out below. It introduces us to the titular ghost, Jin Sakai, and shows him training with his uncle, Shimura. You'll mostly see cutscenes here, then, but we also catch a few glimpses of combat at the 1:30 mark. 

Ghost of Tsushima is available for pre-order  today on the PlayStation Store and physical retailers. Among four different special physical editions for the game is a collector's edition, which includes a war banner and a statue of a mask, which we're sure will look fabulous in your living room. Prices haven't been disclosed for each version yet, but take a look at the fanciest one below: 

Pre-ordering any version of the game gets you an avatar, a digital mini soundtrack and a PS4 dynamic theme based on the game's artwork. Still, we'd recommend waiting until launch to take the plunge – you can't be sure whether you're getting a lesser exclusive like Days Gone or a must-buy in the vein of God of War until release time. 

The final big PS4 exclusive?

With Dreams, The Last of Us 2, Final Fantasy 7 Remake and Ghost of Tsushima out of the way, this would appear to be the last major PS4 exclusive of 2020. This paves the way for whatever Sony has in mind for the PS5's release later in the year – details of the console and its line-up are still yet to be announced.

Ghost of Tsushima is a fantastic-looking last hurrah, if it turns out to be the case. 

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iPhone 11 deals on EE are looking extremely affordable right now

Posted: 05 Mar 2020 08:51 AM PST

For most Apple fans looking to get their hands on a new device, the iPhone 11 looks to be the most logical option. It's decked out with all of the new fancy specs and features but won't leave you regretting your financial decisions quite as much as the Pro or Pro Max will.

But where can you find the best iPhone 11 deals? Right now, it looks like EE is the place to go. Usually one of the most expensive options, EE has some of the best prices around right now.

With options on big data, low monthly costs and just all-round well-balanced offers, any fans of the UK's most popular network will be pleased with the current available selection.

We've picked out the most impressive of these EE iPhone deals and listed them below for you to look through.

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These iPhone 11 deals on EE in full:

What makes the iPhone 11 so good?

The iPhone 11 is the cheapest of Apple's latest trio and yet, really isn't much of a downgrade. You still get Apple's new incredibly fast CPU, a 6.1-inch screen, IP68 rating and even a 3046mAh battery, enough to keep you going all the way through the day on one charge.

Read our full iPhone 11 review

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Samsung TV 2020: every new QLED and LED Samsung TV coming this year

Posted: 05 Mar 2020 08:19 AM PST

At CES 2020 (the biggest tech event of the year where many brands show off new products), Samsung unveiled a lot of brand new TV concepts, as well as iterations on existing ones.

We had the near-invisible bezel and fascinating speaker system of the Samsung Q950TS 8K QLED, the swinging form factor of the TikTok-ready Samsung Sero, and even new models for the updated The Frame TV – which now comes in so many sizes that it’s hard to keep track.

Fast-forward a month later and Samsung has lifted the lid on even more new Samsung TVs coming this year, from high-end 8K displays to still-pretty-fancy 4K QLED TVs. There'll be two other 8K QLEDs: the Q900TS and Q800T, as well as five 4K TVs with QLED panels coming this year, including the Q60T, Q70T, Q80T, Q90T and Q95T.

With lots of announcements at CES 2020 and now more swiftly after, we’ve brought together every new Samsung TV for 2020 that’s been announced so far to help you keep track. As the world’s biggest seller of televisions, there was always going to be a lot of ground to cover, and this is where it starts.

We’ll be updating this Samsung TV 2020 guide as we learn about more models, and get official confirmation of release dates, features and pricing. Scroll on down for what to expect in terms of software and specs, with 2020 and 2019 televisions listed below that.

New Samsung TVs for 2020

Samsung Q950TS 8K AI QLED (available in 65, 75, 85 inches): There’s only one of the three 2020 8K QLEDs revealed so far, and it’s a real beauty. The Q950TS has a near-invisible bezel for an expansive 99% screen design, and top-of-the-range AI processing, as well as an innovative OTS+ surround sound speaker system built into the frame of the television. HDR10+ is a given too. If you want an 8K TV this year, and cash is no issue, this is likely the set you want.

Find out why we're excited in this hands-on Samsung Q950TS 8K QLED review.

Samsung Q900TS QLED TV (available in 65, 75, 86-inch): The next step down from the Q950TS flagship, this set features the same multi-dimensional OTS+ audio and high-end 8K HDR picture – though without the same all-screen design.

Samsung Q800TS QLED TV (available in 65, 75, 82-inch): This year's cheapest 8K QLED model, also with OTS+ audio. Starts at $3,499 (around £2,700 / AU$5,300) for the 65-inch model. 

Samsung Q90T QLED TV (available in 55, 65, 75, 85-inch): As the flagship 4K QLED for 2020, the Samsung Q90T features a simplified Object Tracking Sound speaker system, as well as Ultra Viewing Angle technology to help keep colors rich and contrast high even when viewing the television display from the side. The 65-inch model will retail at $2,499 (around £1,930 / AU$3,790).

Samsung Q80T QLED TV (available in 49, 55, 65, 75, 85-inch): With a direct backlight, this 4K HDR TV is a smart step-up from the Q70T and Q60T models. You'll also get Samsung's new Object Tracking Sound speaker array for immersive sound. Starts at $1,099 (around £850 / AU$1,660) for the 49-inch size.

Samsung Q70T QLED TV (available in 55, 65, 75, 82, 85-inch): Though this is an edge-lit QLED set, its Quantum Processor 4K and the glowing review we gave 2019's Q70 all bode well for this TV. Starts at $999 (around £770 / AU$1,500) for the 55-inch size.

Samsung Q60T QLED TV (available in 43, 50, 55, 58, 65, 75, 85-inch): This year's cheapest QLED, the Q60T should offer a more mid-range performance than the other QLEDs in the range, with edge-lighting rather than full array – and a less advanced processor than its siblings.

Last year's model was great for gamers, though, with low input lag and an Auto Game Mode for when game systems are plugged into the TV. Starts at $529 (around £410 / AU$800) for the smallest 43-inch size.

Samsung Sero TV (available in 47 inches): The Sero TV has a neat gimmick, being able to rotate 90 degrees to show mobile videos and photos in portrait mode. As an added bonus, anyone with the Samsung Note 10 can do so simply by connecting their handset and rotating it in their hand. Now that’s synergy!

It’s clearly aimed at Tik-Tok and Instagram users, though its niche target audience and approximate $1,600 / £1,230 / AU$2,300 price tag – we know for sure it's coming to UK and UK, with Australia being uncertain – will likely keep it out of the hands of most.

Check out our hands on Samsung Sero TV review for more on the new set.

Samsung The Frame TV (now available in 32, 75 inches): The Frame TV already exists, as a great-looking lifestyle model for those wanting to give their television a real touch of class – even if it’s at the expense of other areas. The Frame line got upgraded with a QLED panel in 2019, and 2020 will see it get a new ultra-small 32-inch size and larger-than-ever 75-inch size too.

Check out our take in this hands on Samsung The Frame review.

UPDATE: Samsung has also lifted the lid on seven more new TVs, including two other 8K QLEDs: the Q900TS and Q800T, as well as five 4K TVs with QLED panels coming this year, including the “Q60T, Q70T, Q80T, Q90T and Q95T models”. However, we don't know much about these new sets yet, so will add more information as it comes.

Samsung TV 2020 technology: the ins and outs

Eyeing up a Samsung TV in 2020? As the largest TV manufacturer in the world, with near enough a third of the global market under its belt, you're not the only one.

Samsung makes a wide range of smart TVs with its excellent Tizen OS platform, from affordable small TVs and HD goggle boxes to premium 4K QLEDs with dazzling brightness and crystal-sharp displays.

It's the 8K QLED ranges that are now getting the most attention, though, with Samsung working every year to improve its upscaling from lower-resolution sources, while angling its 1,500-2,000 nits (i.e. very bright) displays as a superior technology to the OLED panels used by much of the competition.

Samsung has been a leading voice in the push for 8K panel technologies, and is continuing that tradition with three new 8K models for 2020, of which only the Q950TS has been officially named – while also bringing 8K HDR10+ exclusively to these televisions.

HDR10+ is Samsung's open-source answer to Dolby Vision, the dynamic 4K HDR format for visually enhanced televisions shows and films. It's not quite as widespread as the Dolby version, but it is supported by Amazon Prime Video, in case that's your primary TV streaming service.

Samsung's Tizen operating system in use.

Last year's most notable improvement was Samsung's new ‘Ultra Viewing Angle’ technology, reworking the backlight to ensure improved contrast and color accuracy even at tighter angles – a necessity given the ever-growing screen sizes. We've seen it in action, and the screens' ability to look as sharp and colorful from the side is pretty astounding – even if you'll likely be watching head-on most of the time.

In 2020, there are other visual improvements we've seen on show already, including crisper upscaling that brings out more detail and sharper edges to images not originally intended for 8K.

But there's also a lot of changes on the audio side, with a new Object Tracking Sound technology (abbreviated as 'OTS') for its 4K QLEDs this year, with an even better OTS+ version for the new 8K QLEDs.

As we heard with the Q950TS flagship, OTS+ makes use of an array of audio drivers located around the panel casing – which are housed in the bottom, sides, and top of the television. With this OTS+ array, the set is able to shoot out audio from multiple places, giving a real sense of place to sound as it travels across the screen, rains down from above, or runs off into the distance. It's really, really good.

Samsung continues to show off its MicroLED panels, too, which feature millions of microscopic blue, red, and green LEDS for an incredible level of color and light control. With a modular design that enables Samsung to create various sizes and aspect ratios – as with The Wall display, which was shown off at CES 2020 in a whopping 292-inch configuration – it shows the start of a flexible future for home cinema, even if it's going to cost you a lot more than a standard consumer QLED.

Ambient Mode and Samsung's signature Invisible Cable will help these TVs seamlessly blend into their surroundings (Image Credit: Samsung)

What else do you need to know? Samsung uses its own in-house Bixby smart assistant to varying degrees – Bixby isn't really anyone's favorite – but also deploys support for Google Assistant and Alexa for mid-range and premium models, as well as Samsung SmartThings for connecting to other smart home devices. You can check out the best smart TV apps for Samsung too.

Many high-end Samsung sets also feature the OneConnect box, which outsources all of your HDMI, power inputs and the like into a piece of hardware separate from the TV, preventing a mess of cables hanging down from your new display.

Samsung also makes use of an Ambient Mode for its high-end sets, which helps the television to blend in with your decor by mimicking the color and pattern of the wall behind it – as well as stylishly display information on the news, weather, and the like.

2019 also introduced AirPlay 2 support, and an exclusive iTunes movies app for Samsung TVs, which, given the usual Samsung vs Apple rivalry, was odd (if refreshing) to see.

What is Tap View?

Samsung unveiled a number of new TVs and announcements at CES 2020. But just a month later, it also unveiled seven new TV models, as well as more details on Tap View.

We first heard about the Tap View feature back in December 2019, when a trademark from Samsung for a new casting function for its TVs came to light.

Tap View is a one-step way to mirror your phone screen to a Samsung TV, by simply tapping your smartphone against the screen: “Tap View makes it easier than ever to connect smartphones to the TV. Consumers can now mirror their phone screen to the TV by simply touching the two devices together.”

Excited? Well, we’re told that this function will only be available “using a compatible smartphone”, which probably means certain Samsung phones.

We saw a similar feature with the Samsung Sero TV – also out this year – which rotates 90 degrees if you make a twisting action with a connected Samsung Galaxy Note 10 handset. There’s also a remote, or Samsung SmartThings app you can use, but the phone looks like the smoothest way to do it.

Samsung Designer Series 2019 models

Samsung The Wall (2019)

Samsung The Wall (2019). Image Credit: Samsung

Samsung's Designer Series:

The Wall (now available in 75, 88, 93, 110, 150, 292 inches): Almost too big to be true? The Wall may not fit on most living room walls, but it's a testament to Samsung's desire to impress – featuring millions of microscopic LED for a huge level of color contrast and brightness control over each pixel. Made of a modular series of panels, the size is technically variable, though Samsung is still selling it in general size configurations as a starting point.

The first 143-inch model released in late 2018, while a whopping 219-inch version came the year after. The modular design allows for customization, though, and Samsung seems to be leading with different configurations for 2020. Whichever size you're looking at, you can be sure to expect an absolutely insane price tag. Check out our first look at The Wall by Samsung here.

Samsung The Frame (2018)

Samsung The Frame (2018). Image Credit: Samsung

The Frame (available in 43, 49, 55, 65 inches)

US model numbers (and price):  UN43LS003AFXZA ($1,299), UN55LS003AFXZA ($1,999), UN65LS003AFXZA ($2,799)
UK model numbers: UE43LS003AUXXU, UE55LS003AUXXU, UE65LS003AUXXU 

Samsung’s classiest TV gets an upgrade with a QLED panel – which feels necessary, given that the picture quality was the only thing letting this gorgeously made hunk of metal down. Blending form and function, this style-focused television may be the most attractive television Samsung has put out. Check out what we thought in our hands on The Frame (2019) review.

Samsung Serif TV (Image Credit: Samsung)

Serif TV (available in 43, 49, 55 inches) 

US model numbers (and price): QN55LS01RAFXZA ($1,599)

UK model numbers (and price): QE43LS01RAUXXU (£1,099), QE49LS01RAUXXU (£1,299), QE55LS01RAUXXU (£1,498)

Samsung's stylish Serif TV also gets a QLED panel upgrade and Ambient Mode this year, hoping to marry looks and picture quality. Mounted on four pointy legs, the set looks straight out of a fashion catalogue – and you can see what we thought of it in our hands on Samsung Serif TV (2019) review.

Samsung QLED 2019 Models

Samsung Q900R QLED TV (Image Credit: Samsung)

Samsung Q900R / Q950R QLED TV (available in 55, 65, 75, 82, and 85-inches) 

US model numbers (and price): QN55Q900RBFXZA ($2,999), QN65Q900RBFXZA ($4,999), QN75Q900RBFXZA ($6,999),  QN82Q900RBFXZA ($9,999), QN85Q900RAFXZA ($14,999)
UK model numbers: QE55Q950RBTXXU (£2,999), QE65Q950RBTXXU (£3,699), QE75Q950RBTXXU (£5,399), QE82Q950RBTXXU (£8,699)

Unbelievably, Samsung’s monstrously large 8K TV is still considered a QLED TV. It’s the top of the list for numerous reasons – size and resolution being the most obvious two – but also its ability to use artificial intelligence upscale SD content to 8K HDR. While it's an absolute beauty to behold, the 65, 75, and 85-inch (or 82-inch in the UK) sizes will put you back a pretty penny, starting at £4,999 / $4,999 (around AU$7,082) for the smallest model. There's also now a 55-inch model for more mid-sized homes – check our review link below for more info.

Samsung Q90 QLED TV (Image Credit: Samsung)

Samsung Q90 QLED TV (available in 55-, 65-, 75-, and 82-inches)

US model numbers (and price):  QN65Q90RAFXZA ($3,499), QN75Q90RAFXZA ($4,999), QN82Q90RAFXZA ($6,499)
UK model numbers: QE55Q90RATXXU (£2,099), QE65Q90RATXXU (£2,799), QE75Q90RATXXU (£3,599)

Samsung's 2019 flagship 4K QLED is the Samsung Q90 QLED TV. Like last year you can expect Ambient Mode and better black levels thanks to its Direct Full Array panel alongside the screen’s insanely iridescent peak brightness. New this year is the addition of ‘Ultra Viewing Angle’ technology, which restructures the TV’s panels so the backlight passes through the panel with lights evenly onto the screen. 

In the UK you get the choice of a smaller 55-inch model, while the US swaps this out with a larger 82-inch.

Samsung Q80 QLED TV (Image Credit: Samsung)

Samsung Q85 / Q80 QLED TV (available in 55-, 65-, 75- and 82-inches)

US model numbers (and price): QN55Q80RAFXZA ($1,999), QN65Q80RAFXZA ($2,799), QN75Q80RAFXZA ($3,799)
UK model numbers: QE55Q85RATXXU, QE65Q85RATXXU, QE75Q85RATXXU , QE55Q80RATXXU, QE65Q80RATXXU

Moving down the line a bit is Samsung’s Q80 QLED TV. Like the Q90, you’ll see a Direct Full Array panel with a feature set that includes Ambient Mode and the Bixby. The Q80 uses far fewer backlight dimming zones than its Q9FN sibling  but still looks great and has a more affordable price point. In the UK, the alternative Q85 QLED model bundles in the external OneConnect box and tidy transparent cable too, as well as coming in a larger 75-inch size.

Samsung Q70 QLED TV (Image Credit: Samsung)

Samsung Q70 QLED TV (available in 49-, 55-, 65-, 75- and 82-inches) 

US model numbers (and price): QN49Q70RAFXZA ($1,249), QN55Q70RAFXZA ($1,499), QN65Q70RAFXZA ($2,199), QN75Q70RAFXZA ($3,299), QN82Q70RAFXZA ($4,499)
UK model numbers: QE49Q70RATXXU (£999), QE55Q70RATXXU (£1,199), QE65Q70RATXXU (£1,699), QE75Q70RATXXU (£2,699), QE82Q70RATXXU (£3,499)

The Samsung Q7FN was the golden ticket to 2018's QLED line-up. Offering one of the best price-to-performance ratios in the entire line-up, it was the Q7F that roped droves of AV enthusiasts into buying a QLED TV. That said, it could be our TV of the year in 2019 as Samsung has listened to our feedback and swapped the edge-lit display for full array LED-LCD that will definitely improve contrast. 

 Samsung Q60 QLED TV (Image Credit: Samsung) 

Samsung Q60 QLED TV (available in 43-, 49-, 55-, 65-, 75- and 82-inches)  

US model numbers (and price): QN43Q60RAFXZA ($799), QN49Q60RAFXZA ($999), QN55Q60RAFXZA ($1,199), QN65Q60RAFXZA ($1,799), QN75Q60RAFXZA ($2,999), QN82Q60RAFXZA ($3,799)
UK model numbers: QE43Q60RATXXU (£699), QE49Q60RATXXU (£759), QE55Q60RATXXU (£869), QE65Q60RATXXU (£1,169), QE75Q60RATXXU, QE82Q60RATXXU (£2,999)

Last up in the QLED line-up is the entry-level Samsung Q60 QLED TV. The Q6-Series began its life as a special edition that Samsung added around the holidays in 2016, and now it appears the TV has claimed a permanent spot in the line-up. The Q60 is a bit less bright overall than the rest of its Quantum Dot-equipped brethren and still uses the old edge-lit design but if you’re looking for some of the same spectacular colors at a spectacular price, the Q60 will be the best place to get it.

Samsung 2019 Premium UHD Models

Samsung RU8000 (available in 49-, 55-, 65-, 75- and 82-inches)  

US model numbers: UN49RU8000FXZA ($799), UN55RU8000FXZA ($999), UN65RU8000FXZA ($1,399), UN75RU8000FXZA ($2,199), UN82RU8000FXZA ($3,199)
UK model numbers: UE49RU8000UXXU (£799), UE55RU8000UXXU (£849), UE65RU8000UXXU (£999)

The first highest series in Samsung's 4K UHD lineup is the RU8000, a sequel to last year’s NU8000. We expect that the RU8000 will use an edge-lit LED LCD panel and a quad-core processor, but that's yet to be confirmed. Expect both HDR10 and HDR10+ support in addition to Bixby and Samsung’s Smart TV platform. 

Samsung RU7300 (Image Credit: Samsung)

Samsung RU7300 (available in 49-, 55- and 65-inches)

US model numbers: UN55RU7300FXZA ($699), UN65RU7300FXZA ($999)
UK model numbers: UE55RU7300KXXU (£499), UE55RU7300KXXU (£599), UE65RU7300KXXU (£799)

Underneath the RU8000 is the curved Samsung RU7300. It's not available in as many sizes as its older sibling, but it should fulfill the niche of a curved screen for folks who want to upgrade to a 4K HDR TV. You’ll likely find the same edge-lit LED LCD panel and processor as the RU8000, but that's still to be determined. 

Samsung RU7100 (available in 43-, 49-, 55-, 58-, 65- and 75-inches)

US model numbers: UN43RU7100FXZA ($429), UN50RU7100FXZA ($499),  UN55RU7100FXZA ($599), UN58RU7100FXZA ($649), UN65RU7100FXZA ($899), UN75RU7100FXZA ($1,599)  
UK model numbers: UE43RU7100KXXU (£379), UE50RU7100KXXU (£449), UE55RU7100KXXU (£549), UE58RU7100KXXU, UE65RU7100KXXU (£799), UE75RU7100KXXU (£1,299)

The last entry in the RU Series is Samsung’s RU7100. We don't have a ton of information on Samsung's lowest-end screen in 2019, but we do know that you'll have your choice of screen sizes - the RU7100 will come in a 43-, 49-, 55-, 58-, 65- and 75-inch variation.

Check out all of TechRadar's CES 2020 coverage. We're live in Las Vegas to bring you all the breaking tech news and launches, plus hands-on reviews of everything from 8K TVs and foldable displays to new phones, laptops and smart home gadgets.

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AMD vs Intel: which chipmaker does processors better?

Posted: 05 Mar 2020 08:10 AM PST

If you're looking to build your first PC or workstation, you're probably at least familiar with the AMD vs Intel rivalry. And even if you're an experienced builder and looking for the best PC components, we can help you sort out the differences between AMD Ryzen 300 and Threadripper CPUs as well as Intel's latest Coffee Lake, Ice Lake, and Cascade Lake-X

Intel and AMD are like Mac and Windows 10: they don't get along with one another on a technical level, and they both have very dedicated users and fanbases. Since these two brands don't mix, it's the most important choice you'll have to make when you're looking for the best processor for your next PC build. Both brands have their benefits as well as flaws when it comes to graphics and overclocking capabilities as well as price points and component variety.

It can be a lot to take in, so we'll break down each brand's available components, including CPUs and graphics cards. We'll look at overall costs, performance, and where each brand is headed in the coming years so you won't get stuck with an obsolete build before you even get it finished.

AMD vs Intel

AMD vs Intel: price

In the past, if you were looking for a decent CPU with a budget-friendly price, your go-to choice was AMD. However, with their newest generation of Ryzen CPUs, AMD has been on par or even surpassed Intel components on price. The AMD Ryzen 9 3950X, for instance, is easily the brand's most expensive unit, retailing for around $750 (£580, AU$1130). However, the sticker shock you feel backs up some impressive technology.

The Ryzen 9 3950X boasts 16 cores and 32 threads, exceeding the previous flagship, the Ryzen 9 3900X. And it doesn't just have more cores and threads than its predecessor, the Ryzen 9 3950X has more cache memory and faster processing speeds. It also has the ability to store up to four different profiles for different performance and overclocking settings, so no matter if you're a casual or hardcore gamer or hobbyist artist and animator, you'll always have the best performance you can get out of your CPU. 

When it comes to Intel, Coffee Lake Refresh processors are designed for desktop usage, and are probably what most people are familiar with. The latest generation of Coffee Lake Refresh processors from Intel includes the i9-9900K which retails for around $550 (£420, AU$830) and gives you 8 cores to work with as well as native integrated graphics. With this CPU, you'll be able to handle not only day-to-day work, but also just about any new game that comes onto the market. Intel also has a new line of Ice Lake processors for laptops, launching the i7-10710U in August of 2019. 

This line of laptop processors retails on the high end for around $440 (£340, AU$665), adding to the cost of pre-built laptops you'll find in places like Best Buy and Walmart. Intel is planning to launch an entirely new line of laptop processors in late 2020 under the name Tiger Lake. These processors will retail for around the same price as their Ice Lake line, but provide a boost in performance.  

If you're in the market for a really high-end CPU and have super deep pockets, the third generation of AMD Threadripper units is the best choice for professional 3D modeling artists, animators, filmmakers, and data scientists. The Threadripper 3990X retails for a whopping $3,900 (£3,030, AU$5,890), putting it well out of range of casual PC builders and average PC gamers. This CPU is built with 64 cores and 128 threads to give you plenty of power to render 3D models and rip through complex mathematical models to get the most out of your workday.  

AMD vs Intel

AMD vs Intel: performance

So you've set yourself a budget for a new CPU, but you still have a ton of options when it comes to performance. On the whole, AMD and Intel Processors have been on a pretty even keel when it comes to overall performance. Between the two, it all comes down to whether you need to multitask well or want to play games at their highest settings. 

If you're looking at buying an AMD processor, be advised that very few of their available CPUs feature integrated graphics. Those that do are referred to as an Accelerated Processing Unit. The ultra-low budget AMD Athlon 240GE retails around $80 (£62, AU$120) and features Radeon Vega 3 integrated graphics. This makes it perfect for low- to mid-grade gaming as well as video streaming for high quality graphics rendering at a low price. However, if you're into higher-end gaming, you'll have to pair a Ryzen 7 or 9 CPU with a dedicated GPU to take your game to the next level.

If you're looking for a processor that can handle day-to-day work and multitasking, the AMD Ryzen line is a safe bet, as they offer the most PCIe lanes so you can use more solid-state drives for super-fast computer start up and file recall. AMD processors also tend to run hotter than their Intel counterparts, so you'll need to consider either a supplementary fan or liquid cooling system for your new CPU.

With Intel, on the other hand, each chip has on-die integrated Intel HD or Iris graphics, so you can play most mainstream games or stream quality video right out of the box, no matter what CPU you pick. However, like their AMD cousins, if you want to play more graphically demanding games, you'll need to choose a companion GPU. 

But with the newest Coffee and Ice Lake processors, each CPU will beat out AMD Ryzen and Threadripper units on core-by-core performance - though that gap is minimal. The late 2020 introduction of Tiger Lake could see even more integrated graphic rendering ability for a better streaming or gaming experience right out of the box. Intel has also heavily hinted at plans to release their own dedicated Intel Xe GPU in 2020.  

AMD vs Intel

AMD vs Intel: specs

We've reviewed both the Ryzen 9 3950X and the Intel i9-9900K to give you more insight on each processor's capabilities, performance, and price. Both processors give you plenty of power, but each has their own pros and cons.

As mentioned before, the Ryzen 9 3950X has 16 cores and 32 threads. This gives you all the power you need and then some to tackle everyday multitasking and general workloads in an office setting. It also has enough juice to give you great frame rates in both full HD and 4K gaming settings so you don't have to deal with terrible amounts of lag or screen tearing. The entire Ryzen 3000 series are all fairly evenly-matched when it comes to frame rates and multitasking abilities, so it all comes down to how many cores and threads you'll need.

The Ryzen 9 3950X features dual channel memory support and 64MB of cache. This ensures faster recall of your frequently-used files and programs. With a base clock speed of 3.5 GHz and a Max Boost Clock of 4.7 GHz, you'll be able to tackle just about any game or work task at blazing speeds.

The Intel i9-9900K has half the number of cores and threads as the Ryzen 9 3950X, but it makes up for some of that with slightly stronger single core performance. The i9-9900K has a base speed of  3.6GHz and a Turbo clock of a whopping 5GHz. It also uses just 95 watts of power compared to the Ryzen 9's 105 watts - though you are getting around half the total performance. 

With Intel's integrated graphics, you'll get both full HD and 4K video and graphical support right out of the box. You'll not only get a great picture for both streaming video and playing the latest games, you'll also get awesome frame rates as well, preventing lag and screen tearing.

AMD vs Intel

AMD vs Intel:  technical and customer support 

AMD has an entire webpage dedicated to customer and technical support of their CPUs. On this page, you can download the latest drivers for integrated Radeon graphics processors or GPUs. You can also check up on your product's warranty, download full spec sheets, and ask other AMD users questions on a dedicated forum. If you have a problem with a specific unit, you can use a drop-down menu to select your CPU to be directed to a page of driver download links and a customer support page for more in-depth troubleshooting.

Intel's official site also has a dedicated page for technical support when you have trouble with your new or existing CPU. You'll be able to browse a variety of blog posts that answer frequently asked questions, view spec sheets, download drivers, and access the support community forums if your question isn't answered by the FAQ. Intel also offers live phone or chat support if you need help walking through a solution.  

AMD vs Intel

AMD vs Intel: future speculation

AMD has had a massively successful past few years with their Ryzen and Threadripper lines of CPUs. With twice the number of cores and threads as their counterparts, they've given Intel something to worry about and proven their worth as a reliable choice for PC components. Intel, on the other hand, has seen some embarrassing failures such as their lackluster release (or lack thereof) of Cannon Lake. However, they seem to have taken their knocks and learned a few lessons to apply to future releases.

Intel has announced plans for future releases of their Tiger Lake and Comet Lake-S lines of processors for laptops and desktops, respectively. The new CPU line will most likely try to stay abreast of AMD's Ryzen and Threadripper products. However, it's unlikely that Intel will be able to top AMD any time soon, as even Intel CFO George Davis has admitted that Team Blue won't reach parity with AMD's 7nm manufacturing process until 2021.

Future generations of AMD's Ryzen processors will most likely continue to give you more cores and threads for faster and more efficient multitasking. Whenever AMD Ryzen 4000 processors for desktop make their way to market - which should be some time this year - the shift to a more efficient 7nm+ manufacturing process should see further boosts to IPC (instructions per clock) performance along with power efficiency. Threadripper's future seems to stay on track to offer powerful CPU options to industry professionals for 3D modeling and animation or data science work. 

  • Interested in graphics cards? Check out the Nvidia vs AMD smackdown

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Google IO 2020 is canceled: will we still hear about Android 11, Pixel 4a and more?

Posted: 05 Mar 2020 08:04 AM PST

Google IO 2020 (the company’s annual developer conference) was still months away from its planned May 12-14 run, but Google has cancelled it out of concerns over the coronavirus. 

What that means for all the news we expected to hear about products like the Google Pixel 4a and software like Android 11 is uncertain. However, the show might go on in a different way. 

On March 3, Google formally cancelled the physical event hat was due to take place in California.

On the official Google IO 2020 page, the company assured that everyone who bought tickets would get a full refund by March 13, 2020, and those who registered this year's show would be given the option next year to buy tickets for Google IO 2021.

But that might not be the end for Google IO 2020: Google specifically cancelled the physical event, clarifying on its site that: "Over the coming weeks, we will explore other ways to evolve Google I/O to best connect with our developer community."

This could mean the conference could still happen as an online-only event, which Google has already done for its Cloud Next event. The company will have to announce the news somehow, and it's expected there will be lots heading our way.

Whether in an online session or at a separate announcement, we’re expecting to see plenty that Android fans should be interested in – most notably the reveal of Android 11.

There’s also a high chance that the Google Pixel 4a will be unveiled then, and we may even see the long-rumored Google Pixel Watch and the new Google Pixel Buds, among many other things. So in other words, Google IO isn’t just for developers.

Below we’ve highlighted all the things that we know or expect we’re going to see then, along with some things that are longer shots but could well make an appearance. And we’ll be updating this article as more news and rumors pour in, plus we'll be providing the latest on what shape the event will take once we know it.

Android 11

Android 11 is likely to be the biggest reveal during Google IO 2020 and we’re almost certain we’ll see it there, as Google tends to at least partially unveil its major Android updates at IO.

That said, it probably won’t appear on phones until September or October, likely landing alongside the Google Pixel 5 range. Certain features also probably won’t be unveiled until after IO.

So far we haven’t heard much about Android 11, but one thing we do know is coming is ‘Scoped Storage’, which changes the way apps access other files on your device, with a view to increasing speed and security.

That’s not much to go on, but we should learn plenty more about Android 11 during IO 2020, and it’s likely that a developer beta will even be launched there.

Google Pixel 4a / Pixel 4a XL

Google Pixel 3a

While the Google Pixel 5 range probably won’t land until around October, there’s a high-chance that we’ll see the mid-range Google Pixel 4a during Google IO 2020, given that the Pixel 3a range was announced at IO 2019.

You can think of these as more affordable alternatives to the main Pixel 4 handsets, though some sources reckon there won’t be an XL model, so we might only see one Pixel 4a.

In any case, leaks suggest the 4a might actually have a fairly different design to the Pixel 4, with a punch-hole camera and a 3.5mm headphone port. It might also have 5G, which no current Pixel does.

Not much else is known about the Google Pixel 4a yet, but it’s unlikely to have the Motion Sense feature from its pricier siblings, which to be honest is probably no great loss for most people.

Wear OS updates

Wear OS has felt a bit neglected, with no significant updates to the platform since the launch of Wear OS 2 in August 2018, but if Google is going to release a big new update then the software-focused IO is the obvious place for it to happen.

We’re not actually expecting to see any big changes, as no such things have been rumored, so if you’re hoping for Wear OS 3 you’re probably going to be out of luck, but you never know.

And it wouldn’t be at all surprising if the platform saw a smaller, more incremental update, though what it would include is anyone’s guess right now. At IO 2019, for reference, Google showed off the widget-like ‘Tiles’ feature.

Google Pixel Buds

google pixel buds

The Google Pixel Buds are set to become the company's first true wireless earbuds, and they were first announced back in October at the Made by Google event that brought us the Google Nest Mini. 

Not to be confused with the original Pixel Buds, which featured a neckbud design, these sleek-looking buds completely cut the cord, just like the Apple AirPods, the Sony WF-1000XM3, and the Powerbeats Pro. 

There's a good chance that they'll make an appearance at the Google IO, as we were initially promised a release date in the first half of 2020. What's more, the new Pixel Buds received certification for wireless charging from the Wireless Power Consortium on March 4. 

In the past, Google products haven’t appeared in the Wireless Power Consortium listings until after release, so this could be a good indication that a release is imminent. 

Google Assistant

Google Assistant

Google is always working on Assistant, and at IO 2019 it unveiled tech to make Google Assistant faster, along with a driving mode.

For Google IO 2020 we’d expect more new features and improvements to be announced. Having said that, Google announced a whole bunch of new features – such as scheduled actions and a speed dial feature - at CES 2020 in January, so maybe some of them will be rolled out.

Google Search

Google Search also got some love at IO 2019, and we wouldn’t be surprised if it’s further improved during Google IO 2020.

We’re not sure yet what will change here, but for reference, Google added augmented reality (AR) images to search results at Google IO 2019.

Other software updates

Beyond the things mentioned above, we’re likely to see updates and improvements to other key Google software, such as Maps and Duplex.

Perhaps we’ll see Duplex more widely supported, while Maps may become more detailed or have other features added. That’s just speculation for now, but we’d be surprised if these or other key Google apps don’t get some sort of update.

Google Pixel Watch

We’ve been hearing rumors about a Google Pixel Watch for years, and to be honest we don’t really expect it to land during Google IO 2020, but the company has shown off wearables from other companies in past years, so it’s possible.

Right now we’re not entirely convinced the Pixel Watch even exists, and if it does, it may well not land until October alongside the Pixel 5 range, or maybe not even until next year.

If it does land at Google IO 2020 though then we might also see a bigger Wear OS update than we’re expecting, as it would make sense for Google to launch its first smartwatch with exciting new software.

New smart home devices

From speakers to screens to cameras, we could see a variety of new smart home devices during Google IO 2020.

At IO 2019 we saw the Google Nest Hub Max smart display, but Google has its fingers in many smart home pies, including the Nest Hello doorbell, Google Nest Wi-Fi, and the Google Nest Mini speaker, plus smart thermostats, smoke alarms and more.

So we may see new entries in any of these product lines, or maybe smart versions of other devices altogether.

Google Stadia

Google Stadia (the company’s game streaming service) is already here, but currently only ‘Stadia Pro’ is available – meaning you need a subscription to use the service, rather than just being able to buy the games. That will be changing at some point in 2020, so it’s possible that Google will use IO 2020 to launch the ‘free’ tier.

There are also some promised features that are currently absent, such as ‘Crowd Play’, which will let you join a streamer’s game at the press of a button. So this or other features might launch at Google IO 2020. We might also see new exclusive games announced or launched for the platform.

Perhaps most excitingly, we might see Stadia opened up to non-Pixel phones. We know this is happening at some point, and it’s one of the main selling points of the platform.

Google Play Pass

Google Play Pass, like Google Stadia, is already here, but currently it’s only available in the US. We know it’s only a matter of time before it will launch elsewhere, so perhaps Google IO will be the venue where its reach is widened.

We wouldn’t be surprised if Google also announces all sorts of new content for its Apple Arcade-like game and app subscription service.

Augmented and virtual reality

AR and VR have been very up and down over the last few years, but we wouldn’t be surprised if we see new developments in these fields during Google IO 2020.

One obvious thing we might see is improvements to ARCore – the development kit Google created that allows AR experiences to be built for Android and other platforms.

VR announcements are perhaps less likely, given Google has largely abandoned its VR headsets, but you never know.

5G

While many 5G networks and the first 5G phones arrived in 2019, it’s during this year that we’re expecting 5G to really start getting big – 5G phones will likely become more affordable and 5G networks should start becoming much more widespread.

As such, we’d expect the likes of Google to start looking at 5G too. The Pixel 4a above is rumored to come in a 5G flavor, but we might also see Google announce apps and software features that take advantage of the speed of 5G.

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These are the passwords hackers try first when attacking devices – are yours included?

Posted: 05 Mar 2020 07:59 AM PST

Researchers from F-Secure have revealed the passwords most frequently used to attack honeypots – decoy servers around the world, designed to attract the attention of would-be hackers.

Perhaps unsurprisingly, the first password most attackers tried was 'admin', with 'default', '123456' and 'root' following close behind.

Hackers also tried 'vivx' – the default password for DVRs made by Chinese company Dahua, which are used in security camera systems worldwide. Other popular passwords included '1001chin' and 'taZz@23495859', which are factory defaults for other devices, such as routers.

The vast majority of the attacks on F-secure's honeypots were from bots and malware scanning for IP addresses. These attacks can come from any device with an internet connection, including PCs and laptops, but also smart devices like toothbrushes and household appliances.

It's therefore not only important for businesses to change their devices' default passwords, but for home users to take precautions and secure their smart home devices by reading privacy policies, changing logins from their factory settings, and disabling features they don't need. 

Secure your devices

Other steps you can take to secure smart devices include resetting your router's name so its brand and model aren't immediately obvious, and enabling two-factor authentication wherever possible.

It's also important to make sure the device's firmware is kept up to date, so you have any new security patches. Look for an option to enable automatic updates, and if you can't find one, check the manufacturer's website to make sure you have the most recent release installed.

You can read the researchers' full findings in F-Secure's report.

Via ZDNet

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

Posted: 05 Mar 2020 07:55 AM PST

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

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

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

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

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

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

Sony WF-1000XM3

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

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

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

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

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

These earbuds might be getting even better in the near future, too; on March 5, the earbuds briefly appeared on the Qualcomm website, suggesting that the Sony WF-1000XM3 could be about to get aptX HD support – and therefore, support for Hi-Res Audio. 

Read more: Sony WF-1000XM3 review

cambridge audio melomania 1


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

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

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

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

Read more: Cambridge Audio Melomania 1 review

lypertek tevi

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

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

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

Consider us pleasantly surprised.

Read more: Lypertek Tevi true wireless earbuds review

klipsch t5

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

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

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

Read more: Klipsch T5 True Wireless review 

jabra elite 75t


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

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

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

Read the full review: Jabra Elite 75t review

cheap AirPods Pro


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

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

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

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

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

Read more: Apple AirPods Pro review

beats powerbeats pro


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

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

Read more: Beats PowerBeats Pro review

soundmagic tws50

With the TWS50, SoundMAGIC has hit the price/performance sweet-spot, thanks to these true wireless earbuds' fantastic price, comfortable design, great sound, and support for Bluetooth 5.0.

They offer a wide, spacious soundstage, with a good, well balanced presentation, alongside a decent battery life and comfy fit – in short, if you're looking for some cheap AirPod-alternatives, the SoundMAGIC TWS50 are well worth a look. 

Read more: SoundMAGIC TWS50 true wireless in-ear headphones review

sennheiser momentum true wireless


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

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

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

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

Read more: Sennheiser Momentum True Wireless review

bang & olufsen Beoplay E8 Wireless Earphones


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

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

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

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

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

wireless earbuds

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

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

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

Read more: Audio-Technica ATH-CKS5TW review

What about the Apple AirPods?

cheap apple airpods deals prices


2019 was a big year for the Apple AirPods; in March last year, the true wireless earbuds were given an upgrade to give us the new AirPods, and most recently, Apple announced the Apple AirPods Pro. 

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

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

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

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

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

Read more Apple AirPods (2019) review

True wireless vs wireless: what's the difference?

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

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

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

Best true wireless earbuds at a glance

  1. Sony WF-1000XM3 True Wireless Earbuds
  2. Cambridge Audio Melomania 1
  3. Lypertek Tevi 
  4. Klipsch T5 True Wireless
  5. Jabra Elite 75t
  6. Apple AirPods Pro
  7. Beats Powerbeats Pro
  8. SoundMAGIC TWS50
  9. Sennheiser Momentum True Wireless
  10. B&O Beoplay E8 2.0 Wireless Earphones
  11. Audio-Technica ATH-CKS5TW

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Skullcandy's Crusher ANC headphones get a $60 price cut

Posted: 05 Mar 2020 07:51 AM PST

If you're looking for a quality pair of noise-canceling headphones, then look no further than the Skullcandy Crusher ANC earphones. Lucky for you, Wellbots is currently offering a $60 discount on the wireless headphones when you apply the coupon code CHEAPSOUND at checkout.

The Skullcandy Crusher headphones feature active noise cancelation technology, which eliminates outside noise to keep your music crystal clear. The headphones deliver a powerful sound with a patented driver technology that allows you to adjust the bass to your liking. The compatible Crush ANC app also enables you to personalize the headphone's sound based on your hearing profile. The Skullcandy headphones provide up to 24 hours of battery life and come with a built-in Tile tracker so they'll never be misplaced.

As we mentioned above, to receive this fantastic discount, you must apply the coupon code CHEAPSOUND at checkout. We don't know how long this offer from Wellbots is valid, so you should take advantage now before it's too late.

See our roundup of the best noise-cancelling headphones and shop more of the cheapest noise canceling headphone deals that are currently available.

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