Apple : Riot Games inches closer to challenging Overwatch and CS:GO with Valorant reveal |
- Riot Games inches closer to challenging Overwatch and CS:GO with Valorant reveal
- Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary is coming soon to PC, listing suggests
- LogMeIn offers free “Emergency Remote Work Kits" following coronavirus
- Death Stranding for PC has a release date and some bonus Half-Life content
- The best March Madness TV sales: 4K TV deals from Best Buy, Walmart and Amazon
- GTC 2020 isn’t cancelled, but it’s now online-only due to coronavirus
- The Kindle Paperwhite is down to its lowest price ever at Amazon
- HTC Vive reveals new VR headset bundles for enterprises
- OnePlus 8 release date, price, news and leaks
- Free Games with Prime: the free PC games on Twitch Prime
- Google and Facebook ad revenue to top TV spend for first time
- Another key Google Pixel 4 feature is coming to the Google Pixel 2
- Portsmouth vs Arsenal live stream: how to watch FA Cup football from anywhere
- The cheapest Nintendo Switch bundle deals and prices in March 2020
- Home security sale at SimpliSafe: save 20% off all security systems
- The best cheap laptop deals and sales for March 2020: prices from just £79
- A massive Nvidia graphics card just leaked, could it be the Nvidia GeForce RTX 3080?
- Huawei P40 Pro leaked image shows gigantic front camera cut-out
- Google Pixel 5: what we want to see
- Nokia 9.2 concept renders show a new quad-camera implementation
| Riot Games inches closer to challenging Overwatch and CS:GO with Valorant reveal Posted: 02 Mar 2020 02:06 PM PST We learned late last year that Riot Games was working on new projects, with some focus on expanding the League of Legends universe. One of those games - codenamed Project A - would be a team-based, tactical shooter, and falls into Riot Games's push to challenge Blizzard, per PCGamer. Now, Riot Games has given the world a first look at the game, which is officially named Valorant. While an official Valorant tweet lists a suggestive date of 'Summer 2020,' The game will get a Q2 or Q3 2020 release, depending on how things go in the beta, PCGamer reports. That's surprisingly soon considering how little information was previously known about the mysterious Project A, including its actual name. Riot Games is already stressing the serious competitive nature of the game. On the official Valorant website, Riot Games details how it plans to use 128-tick servers spread out globally to achieve latency below 35ms in major cities around the world. The company has also focused on optimization to offer low-spec computers an attainable 30fps and high-spec rigs a consistent 60-144fps. Of course, that all matters only if there's an actual competitive scene for the game. That's where the game design comes in. From the gameplay reveal, we can see that Valorant borrows plenty from other popular, competitive shooters. Have a look:
The video shows an Alpha playtest that starts off with players buying their weapons and even purchasing them for one another. The feel is much like CS:GO, as are the semi-realistic weapons themselves. The playtesters even regularly switch over to their knives as the move around, something frequently seen in CS:GO. But, the game features more cartoonish textures and special character abilities that Overwatch players are sure to find familiar. One character can be seen channeling an ability that lets them jump extra-high. Another character pulls out a bow to fire off a sensor arrow that reveals enemy positions in true Hanzo fashion. Yet another character is seen surrounded by floating knives that presumably fire out like Zenyatta's orbs. The goal the players are seen fighting for is more like CS:GO in nature: 5v5, no respawning, with an objective the offensive team is trying to accomplish. At the end of the video, a player on defense defuses a bomb planted by the enemy team. Of course, the look and feel of the game does have time to change between now and its launch. It is still in Alpha after all. Riot Games plans to slowly reveal more over various social media platforms. A closed beta for the game is also coming, but no date has been provided.
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| Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary is coming soon to PC, listing suggests Posted: 02 Mar 2020 02:00 PM PST It looks like we’re getting a new Halo title very soon. A new listing for Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary Edition recently appeared on the Microsoft Store. And, according to Wccftech, this could mean we might get a release date for the remastered version of the game soon. This listing comes after Halo Waypoint released another MCC development update in February, wrapping up the test flight of Halo Anniversary on PC. Spotted by True Achievements, the listing includes some screenshots and a store description saying that Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary Edition will support 4K UHD and HDR, as well as PC features like mouse and keyboard optimizations. The game will also come with a bunch of new features like cooperative play, new challenges and a fresh story for fans to immerse in.
A new teaser trailerUnfortunately, Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary Edition won’t be available as a standalone game. Instead, it will be part of the Halo: The Master Chief Collection, which includes the first three titles in the series by Bungie plus Halo: Reach. Following the listing is a new teaser trailer for Halo: Combat Evolved joining the MCC for PC, which 343 Industries released on Twitter. Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary Edition will be available on Xbox One with Xbox GamePass and for PC on Steam and the Microsoft Store. This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
| LogMeIn offers free “Emergency Remote Work Kits" following coronavirus Posted: 02 Mar 2020 01:46 PM PST Remote working has become increasingly popular over the last few years but the recent coronavirus outbreak has led many organizations to accelerate their plans to allow employees to work from home. During the early days of the outbreak, LogMeIn saw usage of some its collaboration products more than double in Asia and now the company has announced that it will provide government, educational, healthcare and non-profit organizations with free “Emergency Remote Work Kits” to help them stay connected when it matters most. Starting immediately, the company will be offering critical front-line service providers with free, organization-wide use of many of its products for three months through Emergency Remote Work Kits.
These kits include solutions for meetings, video conferencing, webinars and virtual events, IT support and management of remote employee devices and apps as well as remote access to devices in multiple locations. Emergency Remote Work KitsIn addition to making its Emergency Remote Work Kits available to front-line service providers, LogMeIn has also decided to provide them to its existing customers. Current LogMeIn customers will now be able offer GoToMeeting, GoToWebinar and other tools to cover all of their employees for up to three months at no additional cost to their current subscription. The company will also be working to offer assistance with deploying and training users who are new to remote working. LogMeIn has set up a remote work resource center that contains useful articles along with tips and best practices on how to master the shift to remote working for employees, managers and IT teams. The company plans to continue updating its resource center and social channels with educational materials about remote working from both LogMeIn staff and third party experts in the coming days and weeks.
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| Death Stranding for PC has a release date and some bonus Half-Life content Posted: 02 Mar 2020 01:17 PM PST We learned late last year that Death Stranding was officially coming to PC, and now a proper release date has been offered that lines up with the earlier window we'd learned. There are still some months to wait, but Death Stranding will arrive on PC on June 2 this year, and it will come to both Steam and the Epic Games Store. The release on both stores will surely assuage many gamers, as the divide between game stores has been felt ever more prominently whenever blockbuster titles come out with store-front exclusivity. Curiously, Death Stranding for PC will launch with some special Valve content, as it's pulling parts of the Half-Life world. In the trailer, we can see the protagonist, Sam Bridges, with a Valve stem coming out the back of his head as he readies himself with a pair of the Gravity Gloves that will feature in Half-Life: Alyx. The trailer also ends with Sam trying on one of the iconic head crabs as a hat. You can see the trailer here:
(Sam) Bridging the gap to PCCuriously enough, the Valve crossover content doesn't appear to be a Steam exclusive. The product listing for Death Stranding on the Epic Game Store also mentions the Half-Life content. Beyond the crossover content, Death Stranding for PC will bring a number of other improvements. It will support high frame rates and ultra-wide monitors, letting PC players enjoy games as they prefer. It also incldues an advanced Photo Mode for snapping shots of your gameplay moments. It's impressive to see the PC port of this game coming so quickly, as Death Stranding originally launched on November 8, 2019, as a PS4 exclusive. By comparison, Red Dead Redemption 2 and Grand Theft Auto V took much longer to make the leap from console to PC. Of course, there is still time for the PC release of Death Stranding to run into delays. In the meantime, you can see and pre-order Death Standing on Steam or from the Epic Games Store starting now. Via: Android Central
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| The best March Madness TV sales: 4K TV deals from Best Buy, Walmart and Amazon Posted: 02 Mar 2020 01:09 PM PST March Madness 2020 is just around the corner (March 17 to be exact), and that means it's a fantastic time to find incredible TV deals. You can find price cuts on a range of 4K TVs from top brands like Samsung, LG, Sony, and more. To help you sort through all offers, we've rounded up the best March Madness TV sales from Best Buy, Walmart, and Amazon. To make things easier for you, we've split our selection of TVs into three categories: the outright best TVs for watching your favorite team, the best mid-range TVs, and the best budget TVs. We've included a range of different sizes in each category, and we've also picked a standout bargain for our March Madness TV deal of the week. The best March Madness TV deals 2020:
Shop more of our top picks for the best budget TV deals. Shop more TV offers with our roundup of the best cheap TV deals and sales that are happening now. This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
| GTC 2020 isn’t cancelled, but it’s now online-only due to coronavirus Posted: 02 Mar 2020 12:44 PM PST Nvidia’s GPU Technology Conference (GTC) 2020 isn’t planning on joining the list of tech conferences outright cancelled out of concern for the coronavirus. However, due to public health concerns, it’s now going to be an online only event. VideoCardz.com has reported that while GTC 2020 itself isn’t technically cancelled, Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang’s opening keynote will now be an online-only event. Speakers of the event are also now being asked to publish their talks online. According to the GTC website, Nvidia made the decision to turn it into a digital conference because “the coronavirus situation is not improving," per a statement. "Jensen will still give a keynote. We will still share our announcements. And we’ll work to ensure our speakers can share their talks. But we’ll do this all online. We will provide updates here soon about when you can tune in.” What’s more is that attendees who bought the GTC pass need not worry about getting their money back. Nvidia says that it will be in touch with every pass holder to give them a full refund.
Tech world in coronavirus crisisThe tech world has been taking quite a beating due to the deadly novel coronavirus. Major conferences like the MWC 2020 in Barcelona and the Game Developers Conference (GDC) 2020 in San Francisco have been cancelled. Factories in China have been shut down, causing a halt in production and decline in supply. The demand for PCs and devices has reportedly started to drop. And, even Apple Stores in China are temporarily closed. This isn’t a surprise, considering the fact that COVID-19 has now infected more than 89,000 people and killed over 3,000 worldwide since December 30, with the US announcing its first two coronavirus casualties in the last few days. In addition, four cases of community transmission have now been reported. However, some are still hanging in there. Besides GTC 2020, Microsoft is also planning to host a “digital-only event" from March 16-18, so it’s still set to make the announcements it planned to make at the now-postponed GDC 2020. Some shows are still going forward: while big names like Sony and PUBG Corp pulled out, PAX East still took place as scheduled last weekend with “enhanced cleaning and sanitization across the show.” This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
| The Kindle Paperwhite is down to its lowest price ever at Amazon Posted: 02 Mar 2020 12:01 PM PST If you didn't snag a deal on an Amazon Kindle during Black Friday, then fear not. For a limited time, you can get the best-selling Kindle Paperwhite on sale for $84.99. That's a $45 discount and the lowest price we've found for the e-reader. You can also get the all-new Kindle on sale for $59.99. The 2018 Paperwhite features a 300ppi glare-free 6-inch display, and twice the storage of the previous generation. The e-reader is also thinner and lighter than previous models, and has a battery that will last for weeks on a single charge. Perhaps the coolest feature of the all-new Paperwhite, though, is its IPX8 water resistance protection, so you can enjoy reading your Kindle at the beach or the pool, or in the bath, and not worry about it getting wet. Amazon Kindle deals:If you're interested in other Amazon ereader and tablet deals, check out our roundup of the best Kindle sale prices and deals, and our best cheap Amazon Fire deals. This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
| HTC Vive reveals new VR headset bundles for enterprises Posted: 02 Mar 2020 11:24 AM PST In an effort to make it easier for businesses to adopt virtual reality (VR), HTC VIVE has announced a full suite of VIVE Pro Eye solutions in the form of a range of pre-bundled packages. These new packages are designed to meet the business needs of VR in the enterprise including training and simulation, consumer feedback and analytics and gaze-oriented navigation, among others. HTC has expanded the Vive Pro Eye family to include the new Vive Pro Eye Office and Vive Pro Eye Office Arena Bundle which offer extended business and warranty services for expedited customer support as well as additional base stations to support larger play spaces.
Vive Pro Eye is built for business and professional users and the company's enterprise VR headsets offer native eye tracking, high resolution, increased comfort and the precision of external tracking. Vive Pro Eye bundlesHTC's Vive Pro Eye Office and Vive Pro Eye Office Arena Bundle will be available in the second quarter of this year. Vive Pro Eye Office will cost $1,599 (£1,248) and will include all of the features of Vive Pro Eye along with Vive Enterprise Business Warranty & Services which provides expedited customer service and an extended warranty in a single offering. The Vive Pro Eye Office Arena Bundle will cost $2,350 (£1,813) will include one of HTC's Vive Pro Eye headsets as well as two additional SteamVR 2.0 base stations and a 20m fiber cable to allow for expanded play spaces of up to 33' x 33'. Additionally, HTC has discounted its Vive Pro Eye headset to $1,399 (£1,095). HTC's CEO Yves Maitre provided further insight on the company's new enterprise VR bundles in a press release, saying: "Companies today need access to a diverse set of hardware and VR solutions built for their specific needs, and we developed these offerings to provide our enterprise customers with increased choice and the important tools and services to make VR an integrated tool within their business. As business use cases for extended reality become more prominent and diverse, the new Vive Pro Eye series delivers multiple ways to address the majority of VR use cases today."
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| OnePlus 8 release date, price, news and leaks Posted: 02 Mar 2020 11:13 AM PST The OnePlus 8 is one of the most anticipated smartphones of 2020, along with the OnePlus 8 Pro – and possibly also a OnePlus 8 Lite, as rumors would have us believe. 2019 was an interesting year for OnePlus, which split its lineup between the flagship specs at a mid-range price in the OnePlus 7 and the more polished (and pricey) true budget flagship OnePlus 7 Pro. Those were refined with additional features in the 7T versions later in the year, as follows the phone maker's traditional tick-tock schedule. As such, we’re expecting the new phones coming early in 2020 to make a similar tech leap. And who knows, OnePlus might follow other phonemakers and release a Lite version of the handset as an even more streamlined and affordable version. But what will the OnePlus 8 series include? Beyond that we can speculate about some things. For example, both the OnePlus 7 Pro and the 7T Pro had 5G versions, so we can expect a OnePlus 8 Pro 5G - especially as those advanced wireless networks start rolling out more coverage. Heck, 5G might even come standard given the Snapdragon 865 that will very likely power the devices effectively mandates 5G connectivity. You'll find everything else we've heard or suspect below. Latest leak: A massive specs leak has revealed all the possible specs of the OnePlus 8, OnePlus 8 Pro and the OnePlus 8 Lite, while another source has hinted at proper water resistance. Cut to the chase
OnePlus 7T OnePlus 8 and 8 Pro release date and priceGiven the release windows OnePlus has followed for years, we can expect the OnePlus 8 and OnePlus 8 Pro to launch in late spring or early summer - the last two non-T versions came out in May 2018 and 2019, respectively, so mid-May 2020 is a good guess. We’re expecting at least two phones, but probably three, and given the prices for its predecessors, we don’t expect the standard OnePlus 8 to cost less than $599 / £549 / AED 1,949 (around AU$868). Likewise, we don’t anticipate the OnePlus 8 Pro to cost less than $699 / £699 / AED 2,699 (around AU$1,010). However, there's now talk of a OnePlus 8 Lite, which could prove a cheaper option, though it's anyone's guess how much it would be. OnePlus 7T Pro OnePlus 8 and 8 Pro rumors and leaksHere, we've compiled a list of all of what we've heard on the OnePlus 8, 8 Pro and 8 Lite. We've organised it by feature, so you can easily find what you want to know. OnePlus 8 design and displayWhile the OnePlus 7 Pro introduced a pop-up selfie camera that allowed an unblemished front bezel, the OnePlus 7 didn’t - it kept the teardrop notch of its predecessor. An early leak suggests the OnePlus 8 will go for a simple punch-hole in the top-left corner for the front-facing camera. That leak also suggested the Pro would shrink from 6.67 inches down to 6.5 inches, or possibly even 6.44, and other rumors also suggest it'll be smaller than its predecessor. This could be the case of the Pro too, as a leak suggests the pop-up camera was removed to make room for other features like wireless charging, but it’s easy to speculate other possible reasons: the pop-up mechanism could have been had reliability issues (not that we’d heard of any). That mechanism could’ve also been a vector for water and dust to get in - unlike other phones, OnePlus handsets don’t have an IP dust/water resistance rating, which are almost industry standard. On that note, one or more OnePlus 8 models might have an IP rating, according to a tease from a reliable source. We've seen how the front camera might look in the leaked sketches below, which show both single-lens and dual-lens punch holes, with the dual-lens one likely being the OnePlus 8 Pro. Images above also show minimal screen bezel and a quad-lens rear camera, but as with all leaks we'd take them with a pinch of salt. One huge leak, which has informed a lot of this article, suggests none of the phones will have three rear cameras. That big leak suggests the OnePlus 8 Pro will have a 6.7-inch screen with a 120Hz refresh rate, and the OnePlus 8 and 8 Lite will have a 6.44-inch screen with 90Hz refresh rate. Each of them is set to have a Super AMOLED display. This 120Hz refresh rate could be slightly better than the one on the Samsung Galaxy S20, as another leak suggests it'll work whatever resolution you're viewing the screen in. As well as the OnePlus 8 and OnePlus 8 Pro (or whatever they launch as) we might also get a OnePlus 8 Lite, as just such a phone has also now leaked. The render above shows how it might look, with the source (@OnLeaks - a reliable leaker) saying it's likely to have a 6.4 or 6.5-inch screen. That would make it smaller than the OnePlus 7T range, but not necessarily smaller than the rest of the OnePlus 8 range if other leaks are accurate. It's also apparently 8.6mm thick, putting it between the OnePlus 7T and OnePlus 7T Pro on that front, and it's shown as having two rear cameras and a punch-hole camera on the front. It's unknown what the specs are, but this could be the cheapest OnePlus phone in a while. Another source has also leaked full specs for the range, and they don't quite line up with the big leak above. This source claims the OnePlus 8 will have a 6.55-inch FHD+ screen, the OnePlus 8 Pro will have a 6.5-inch FHD+ one, and the OnePlus 8 Lite will have a 6.4-inch one (with no resolution listed). They're all said to be AMOLED and all but the Pro apparently have 90Hz refresh rates, with the OnePlus 8 Pro having a 120Hz one, as previously rumored. We'd take this leak with a pinch of salt though, as it's unlikely the OnePlus 8 Pro would have just a FHD+ screen. OnePlus 8 cameraA leak suggests the OnePlus 8 Pro will include a fourth rear camera, introducing a Time of Flight depth sensor to the trio of main, ultra-wide and telephoto lenses, which are still vertically aligned in the center. However we've heard other rumors questioning the presence of this extra lens. The aforementioned huge leak suggests the OnePlus 8 and 8 Pro will come with 60MP cameras, joined by a 16MP on each, then a 13MP on the Pro and 12MP on the base device. That leak didn't mention what lenses they have, though. This extra camera rumor is also supported by a leak of an alleged case for the upcoming OnePlus 8 Pro, which shows a cutout next to the main camera blip that could house an extra depth sensor. Then, the OnePlus 8 Lite looks set to have a 48MP main camera, then the same 16MP and 12MP combo as the OnePlus 8. That said, another specs leak disagrees with some of this, saying that the standard OnePlus 8 will have 48MP, 16MP and 12MP lenses, with the other two phones matching what's listed above. Then, on the front, it looks like there will be 32MP cameras on all models save the Lite, which will have a 16MP sensor - a claim we've heard from multiple sources. At the moment, we don't know much about lenses, but they'll likely be an ultra-wide angle and telephoto lens on the 16MP and 12MP/13MP snappers. The fact that the OnePlus 8 Lite could have three rear cameras may seem surprising since it's the budget version of the devices, but the device was actually spotted in the wild with three cameras on the back. Therefore, the OnePlus 8 Lite could end up being a lot less 'Lite' than we expected, with camera specs to rival loads of other mid-range devices. OnePlus 8 battery lifeBoth of the biggest leaks suggest the OnePlus 8 Pro will have a 4,500mAh battery, and the others will have 4,000mAh power packs. Those are all decent sizes for smartphones, and will likely see you through a day of use. One of the leaks adds that the Pro model will have 50W charging, while the other have 30W. Another leak suggests wireless charging will be included on the next-gen version of the phone. That would be a surprise if OnePlus did opt to include the tech on the next version of the phone as it hasn't done so in the past, but a leak from a trusted source suggests that may be about to change. We don't know much about charging speeds at the moment, but OnePlus often touts its Warp Charge tech, so there could be big news to come on that front. OnePlus 8 specs and featuresWe've heard the OnePlus 8 and 8 Pro will have the upcoming Snapdragon 865 chipsets, which are top-end processors with unrivalled speeds. Then, it looks like the OnePlus 8 Lite will have a MediaTek Dimensity 1000 processor, another announced chipset that likely won't have the same speeds as the Snapdragon. It'll hopefully be good enough for everyday use, but if snappy speeds are important for you, then maybe the Lite isn't right. That news comes from the aforementioned huge leaks, so it might be incorrect, but it wouldn't be a surprise for the Lite to have a worse chipset. Another important piece of information from that leak is that the OnePlus 8 and 8 Pro could both have 5G options or, possibly, only come in 5G versions. Since 5G phones are getting even more prevalent, the latter could be likely, but we wouldn't count out the possiblity of a 4G phone. We've also now seen benchmarks backing up the possibility of a Snapdragon 865 chipset. However, the benchmarks also list just 8GB of RAM for one of the models - though we're not clear whether this is the OnePlus 8 or OnePlus 8 Pro, and it's possible there will be multiple configurations, especially as another benchmark lists 12GB for one of the phones. Clearing things up slightly is one of the specs leaks, which points to 8GB or 12GB in the OnePlus 8 Pro, 6GB, 8GB or 12GB in the OnePlus 8, and 8GB in the OnePlus 8 Lite. The leak adds that there's apparently a choice of 128GB or 256GB of storage in all three models. OnePlus 8 / 8 Pro: What we want to see1. Improved camerasThe OnePlus 7 Pro introduced a third ultrawide lens, like many other smartphones released in 2019, and it was good: the extra range makes the phone’s photo suite more versatile. But it can be better. Specifically, we’d love an improved Nightscape, the company’s night mode - and yes, it’s wholly because the iPhone 11 and Google Pixel 4 raised the bar again this year. Clarity, color vibrancy, and general brightness are being achieved to astonishing degrees, and we’d love to see Nightscape catch up. So long as we’re asking, we’d also like a few of the modes that come standard in other phones. The new Macro Mode introduced in the OnePlus 7T is neat, but we’d also like standbys such as panorama and slo-mo. Heck, we’d even love slofies. 2. Wireless chargingTrue, wireless charging still isn’t speedy, but it remains a convenient addition to any phone. Slapping your phone down on one of the best wireless chargers is more convenient than having to plug it in and yank it out every time you need to check something. And while it’s not exactly a killer feature, the “reverse wireless charging” capability to lend some of your handset’s capacity to another device is handy (in theory, anyway.) 3. Face unlockWhile fingerprint sensing is important, it’s nice not to have to perch your finger in a certain place every time you want to check something quickly on your phone. Given Android 10 enables Face Unlock, it would be great to have the feature in addition to (and not in replacement of, like in the Pixel 4) the fingerprint scanner. 4. 5G in the base OnePlus 8 modelWhile both generations of OnePlus phones in 2019 had a 5G version - the OnePlus 7 Pro 5G and the rarer OnePlus 7T Pro 5G McLaren Edition - they were both the highest-specced Pro models of the phones. While certainly more affordable than other 5G phones like the Samsung Galaxy S10 5G, they were notably pricier compared to the base OnePlus models. We'd love to see the 5G revolution come to the masses in what will assuredly be a lower-cost yet high-specced setup that OnePlus is known for. While most 5G phones have been marketed as premium devices, the Moto Z3 and Moto Z4 have still delivered respectable (though not record-breaking) speeds with the 5G Moto Mod; if we could internalize that in the base OnePlus 8, it would go a long way toward bringing 5G to folks who don't want to spend top dollar. 5. A 3.5mm headphone jackWe might sound like a broken record here, but we love the 3.5mm jack in all phones and were sad to see it go with the OnePlus 6T. While most of the industry has done away with it, we still yearn for the day when we can plug our nice headphones into our phones.
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| Free Games with Prime: the free PC games on Twitch Prime Posted: 02 Mar 2020 10:57 AM PST Amazon Prime has a number of services you might already know and love: there's Prime Music, an ad-free music streaming service, Amazon Prime Video, the video streaming service that hosts award-winning shows like The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel and Good Omens, and free two-day shipping, but there's also free games. Yes, that’s right. Free games. If you're an Amazon Prime member or a Twitch user you've probably heard about this, but if you set up an account on the company’s game streaming service, Twitch, you can link it to your Amazon Prime account to become a Twitch Prime member (or you can sign up for Twitch Prime on its own). Oh, and you'll need the Twitch desktop app too. There are a few benefits to being a Twitch Prime member, including free in-game items and no ads, but the most recent and best benefit is the free PC games each and every month, plus discounts and in-game items. So what can you play? What skins are free this month? We've got all the answers for you down below. Free games on Twitch Prime this monthNow Available Free Games with Prime - Furi, Bomber Crew, Epistory Typing Chronicles, Whispers of a Machine, Mugsters This month, you can download five games on Twitch Prime. Furi is a twin-stick shooter / action game with a colorful aesthetic and sci-fi backdrop, while Bomber Crew has you managing a military bomber and, well, its crew. Epistory Typing Chronicles combines an action-adventure game with a typing trainer and was nominated for an Indie of the Year Award back in 2016. Whispers of a Machine is a point-and-click game where you solve murders (great for an older generation that can remember the old LucasArts games) and lastly Mugsters is an isometric, adrenaline-fueled action game from 2018. Free skins on Twitch Prime this monthFebruary and March 2020 Calendar Apex Legends - Gilded Rose Revenant Skin This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
| Google and Facebook ad revenue to top TV spend for first time Posted: 02 Mar 2020 10:06 AM PST Brands are set to spend more money advertising with Facebook and Google than they are across the entire global TV sector this year according to new figures from the industry body Warc. According to the firm, advertising revenue for Facebook and Google's parent company Alphabet is forecast to reach $231.9bn in 2020. TV ad spend is set to rise by 2.5 percent this year to reach 29.2 percent of all global advertising. However, this increase will come as a result of the 2020 US election which will see over $4bn spent on promoting presidential campaigns.
Brands will spend $192.6bn advertising on TV this year which marks the first time that companies have spent more advertising with Facebook and Google than they have on TV. Global advertisingIn 2020, overall global advertising spend is set to rise by 7.1 percent to reach $600bn, thanks in part to 13.2 percent growth in online campaigns. Facebook and Alphabet are set to take 35 cents in every ad dollar spent this year. Managing editor at Warc, James McDonald explained that the amount spent on internet ads has risen significantly since 2015, saying: “Internet ad growth has been far stronger than the state of the global economy would suggest, rising seven times faster on average since 2015. But, regulation aside, online platforms are bound by the law of large numbers, and revenue growth is easing for key players like Alphabet and Facebook.” While the tech giants will surpass TV ad spending for the first time this year, Warc's figures also showed that traditional media is expected to reach record growth of 1.5 percent to reach $324.2bn this year which marks the first rise since 2011. This growth will likely be boosted by the US presidential election campaigns and the Tokyo Olympics. However, Warc's figures do not include the potential impact of the coronavirus outbreak which has the potential to result in a “notable impact” if large events such as the Olympics or the Euro 2020 tournament are canceled or postponed.
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| Another key Google Pixel 4 feature is coming to the Google Pixel 2 Posted: 02 Mar 2020 10:00 AM PST A new software update for the Google Pixel 4 adds a slew of new perks, like more Motion Sense gestures, while expanding crash detection to the UK and Australia. Plus, more of its extras are filtering down to older Pixel phones - like Live Captioning coming to the Google Pixel 2. Crash detection was one of the more exciting features to launch with the Google Pixel 4: through the Personal Safety app, the phone would use its accelerometer and other sensors to detect whether a collision had occurred and ask the owner whether emergency services needed to be called - and if it gets no response, the phone will share location and other info with emergency responders. That perk was first available in the US, but will now roll out to Pixel 4 users in Australia (000) and the UK (999). The other Pixel 4 software additions are an erratic mix, as outlined in the Google Pixel team's blog post. Selfies will have better depth effects, Duo video calls get more AR effects that follow your facial expressions, and UI tweaks like improvements to adaptive brightness that make it easier to see the display in bright light. The Motion Sense feature can now be used to pause and resume songs via a ‘tapping’ aerial gesture. The Pixel 4’s Google Pay interactions are getting more intelligent. Now you can hold the power button to rotate through connected debit/credit cards, event tickets, boarding passes, and so on. This will be available to Pixel 4 users in the US, UK, Canada, Australia, France, Germany, Spain, Italy, Ireland, Taiwan, and Singapore for now - though it’s unclear if this is also rolling out to older Pixel phones (we’ve asked Google for clarification).
What about older Pixels?Older Pixel phones aren’t left out of this one. The Pixel 4, Google Pixel 3 and Google Pixel 3a are getting smarter Google Pay features, like the ability to recognize boarding pass barcodes in screenshots and then provide the user with real-time flight updates. Live Caption, a key Pixel 4 feature that captions audio and video on the fly, will begin rolling out to Google Pixel 2 owners as well. And, finally, Pixel phones are getting 169 new emoji to use, including many more gender options and skin tones in couple combinations to, as Google puts it, “better reflect the world around us.” Cheers to this long-overdue addition.
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| Portsmouth vs Arsenal live stream: how to watch FA Cup football from anywhere Posted: 02 Mar 2020 09:36 AM PST With the Gunners having capitulated to Olympiacos in the Europa League last week, this FA Cup fifth round clash has now gained significance for Mikel Arteta's side - don't miss a kick with our Portsmouth vs Arsenal live stream guide. Pompey are very much in the mix for promotion from League One, couple their good form with the intimidating old school charm of Fratton Park, plus Arsenal's surprise exit from Europe and you have the recipe for a potential FA Cup shock. Arsenal boss Arteta would likely have taken the opportunity to rotate his squad for tonight's game, but with the FA Cup now providing Arsenal's only chance of silverware this year, the Premier League side will likely field a more familiar line up. The one exception could be the introduction of Pablo Mari. With Sead Kolasinac (shoulder), Kieran Tierney (shoulder) and Cedric Soares (knee) all out injured, the Spanish loan star could finally make his debut in defence. Pompey's record against Arsenal is lean to say the least. The south coast side have failed to beat Arsenal in any competition since a 5-4 league victory all the way back in March 1958, having draw eight and losing 13 since then. They come into the match off the back of a convincing 3- 0 win over Rochdale, but it was a victory that came at a cost, with captain Tom Naylor and winger Ronan Curtis set to face late fitness tests ahead of tonight's match after picking up knocks in the win. Arsenal are clear favourites and will want to ensure last Thursday's humiliation was a blip, but the rowdy atmosphere at Fratton Park may well play a part in a fixture that could provide an unexpected FA Cup result. 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 Portsmouth vs Arsenal. Live stream Portsmouth vs Arsenal from outside your countryIn 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 the FA Cup in the UK for free:How to watch the FA Cup: live stream in the US for FREE
How live stream Portsmouth vs Arsenal in AustraliaHow to live stream Pompey vs the Gunners in CanadaThis posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
| The cheapest Nintendo Switch bundle deals and prices in March 2020 Posted: 02 Mar 2020 09:17 AM PST Nintendo Switch deals are starting to creep back into stock, though things are still pretty sparse in the UK in particular. There's good news if you're sick of that inflated £299 price tag we've seen floating around over the last couple of weeks, Nintendo have the red and blue console available for a £279.99 price once more. That particular deal with ship on the 13th March, though, so if you're in need of one today you're still facing that slight surcharge. Over in the US, there's still a lack of bundles, but you'll find both the grey and red and blue models in stock for the usual $299 price tag. There are still plenty of ways to save cash on a cheap Nintendo Switch Lite deal, even if bundles are a little lacking. Plus, we're seeing plenty of retailers offering discounted accessories to make up for their lack of stock, so you'll likely save cash on your peripherals as well. Most of the best offers nowadays are bundling the latest version of the console with critically-acclaimed titles, cash-saving memory cards, accessory packs, and memberships. We're here to help find the best ones for you - the bundles that represent the highest value for money. While bundles are difficult to find right now, we've gathered the packages that are on offer here. The new version of the console has an improved battery (more on that below) and there's now another option with the release of the Nintendo Switch Lite. This cheaper model doesn't come with a dock or removable controllers and can only be played in handheld mode but offers a considerable chunk off the price tag. We'll show you where to get your Nintendo Switch Lite orders below too. The updated version of the original Nintendo Switch is now being rolled out with an improved battery. That's the only change, but prices are generally the same as the older model. The old version model number was HAC-001 and the box featured a lifestyle image with a hand grabbing the console. While the new model number is HAC-001(-01) and the box has an all-red background and no hand. We're listing all of the best Nintendo Switch sales right here and we're always on the lookout for the best bundles with extra games, controllers and other accessories so we can share them with you while they're hot. Scroll past the bundles on this page and we'll show you prices on extra Joy-Con and Pro controllers and Nintendo Switch memory cards too. If you want to play online multiplayer and get other benefits like free games you'll want to pick up a Nintendo Switch Online subscription deal. If you're looking for another dose of Nintendo's handheld happiness then maybe you want to consider a cheap 3DS deal. We also have a dedicated page of Nintendo Switch prices for our Australian readers. The latest cheap Nintendo Switch dealsWant to know where to buy a Nintendo Switch? Check out our comparison charts and the latest bundle highlights with extra games and accessories below for the best deals. On its own, the MSRP/RRP Nintendo Switch price is $299 in the USA and £279 in the UK, so you don't want to pay more than that unless you're getting some extras. We've highlighted our picks of the best and cheapest Nintendo Switch bundles below. Just be aware that many game bundles at quieter times of the year don't really offer much of a discount over buying the items separately. We'll steer you clear of console bundles that actively charge you more than the regular combined MSRP (not cool, guys!).
Aaaand it's gone. After a brief return to store shelves, Nintendo Switch stock is still running incredibly low in the UK right now, meaning you won't find it in all the usual places. If a store does offer the fully dockable console, they have usually inflated the price to account for such stock shortages. Thankfully, we've found a Nintendo Switch console available for £299 at Jacamo this week - still £20 more than you'd usually be paying, but nothing compared to other prices shooting up right now. This does also mean that Nintendo Switch bundles are falling short of decent value right now, so if you're looking to get your hands on a Switch this week you'd be better off going with a Switch Lite or grabbing your games separately.
The Nintendo Switch Lite was recently released at just $199.99/£199.99. That's $100/£80 less than the original Switch console. If you want to play games on the TV as well, you should go for the standard Nintendo Switch instead as the Lite is only playable in handheld mode. The Nintendo Switch Lite comes in multiple colour options. You can pick one up now in turquoise, gray and yellow. There will also be a special edition Zacian & Zamazenta Edition released on November 8 to celebrate the release of Pokémon Sword and Shield. It doesn't come with the game, but doesn't cost anything extra either. If you want to learn more about the console and see prices for every individual color and bundle, check out our Nintendo Switch Lite prices and deals guide. As with any new console we imagine you're wanting to know a bit more about the console before you put any money down. So in addition to finding the best Nintendo Switch bundle deals, we're going to help bring in answers to the burning questions. What are the Joy-Con controllers?The Joy-Con controller is actually a pair of controllers that attach to the sides the the Nintendo Switch when not in use or when playing in tablet form away from the TV. When playing the Nintendo Switch on the TV, you can remove them and play with one in each hand. The left hand gets a controller with an analogue stick and d-pad, the right hand handles the one with a second analogue and the usual A, B, X and Y face buttons. Or you and a friend can use one each in multiplayer games with the d-pad doubling up as impromptu face buttons. You get a pair with the console, but you might want to buy more to allow extra players to get involved in games like Mario Kart 8, FIFA 19 and many more. Or maybe you just fancy some different colors for your own use. What's the Joy-Con Grip controller?The Joy-Con Grip is an additional accessory that joins the two Joy-Con controllers together, forming something something a bit more solid for you to hold thanks to the extended handles and plastic block between the two sides. The square dimension form-factor may remind older gamers of the Dreamcast controller, while everyone else will mainly be thinking how it resembles an odd-looking dog face. Nintendo is providing one in the box with the Nintendo Switch, so you won't have to buy one separately. This won't charge your controller though and doesn't have a battery pack. You won't actually need a Nintendo Switch Pro controller to play any games, so don't feel pressured in to buying one. The Nintendo Switch Pro controller is a more traditional-style pad and launched alongside the Nintendo Switch. Prices aren't cheap though, starting around $69.99/£64.99. There's no sign of a Nintendo Switch Premium Edition console with one included either. Do I need to buy extra controllers for multiplayer on Nintendo Switch?Possibly not! Remember how the Joy-Con controller splits in two? Turn them sideways and you get two basic controllers, each with their own analogue stick and face buttons - the d-pad acts as face functions on the left controller. We've seen 2K's NBA series, Snipper Clips, FIFA 19, and Mario Kart being used this way for local multiplayer in both docked and tablet modes. So you get multiplayer functionality straight out of the box with no additional purchase required. However, if you want to play four-player games, then you're going to need to invest in an extra pair of Joy-Con controllers or some Pro controllers. We'd buy the Joy-Cons as a pair (see our comparison chart above) as you'll save a bit of cash over buying them separately. Better yet, if your friends own a Switch, ask them to bring their controllers to the party! Super Mario Odyssey dealsThis has been one of the best games on the Nintendo Switch so far and an absolute must for Mario and platforming fans. Like Zelda below though, this being a first-party Nintendo title, it's taking forever to go down in price. It's slowly happening though, so we've rounded up the cheapest Super Mario Odyssey prices for you below. If you're not getting this game in a bundle, we'd strongly advise picking it up separately as soon as possible. The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild dealsThe reviews have heaped huge praise upon this eagerly awaited launch title, making it an essential purchase for any Nintendo Switch buyer. As with any new console, the prices of the big games can be more expensive than usual. We've shopped around for you though and have found the best prices for The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild on the Nintendo Switch. Take a look below. With only 32GB of internal storage, you'll be wanting to pick up a cheap memory card or two for your new Nintendo Switch for any digital purchases or the inevitable game-fixing patches. Don't fret though, they're actually surprisingly cheap, with even 64GB ones coming in at under £20/$25. What memory cards does the Nintendo Switch need? Those will be Micro SD cards also known as, depending on their size, as MicroSDHC (up to 32GB) or MicroSDXC (up to a huge 2TB soon). Nintendo also has their own branded cards, but you'll be paying more just for a label. So for now, we'd take a look at this range of cheap MicroSDXC Nintendo Switch-friendly cards. This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
| Home security sale at SimpliSafe: save 20% off all security systems Posted: 02 Mar 2020 09:17 AM PST Secure your home and save money with this limited-time offer from SimpliSafe. Starting today, you can save 20% off any new system and receive a free security camera with your purchase. This promotion ends on March 10, and the discount will be applied at checkout. SimpliSafe is a well-known home security system that features 24/7 monitoring for your home or business. SimpliSafe allows you to build a system that's tailored to your space and needs, or you can select from several pre-configured security systems. You'll always feel secure with a 24/7 monitoring center that alerts police when your home needs help. There are no contracts with the easy-to-install system that's built to withstand power outages, downed Wi-Fi, cut landlines, and anything else you can think of. SimpliSafe Home Security Sale:You can find more home security sales with the best cheap home security camera deals that are currently available. This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
| The best cheap laptop deals and sales for March 2020: prices from just £79 Posted: 02 Mar 2020 08:53 AM PST You can save plenty of cash with this range of cheap laptop deals hitting store shelves this week across the UK. In the latest payday sales, these laptop deals are offering some incredible specs at a low price point right now, helping you pick up the machine of your dreams for less. We've got a load of laptop deals offering cheap but roomy SSD storage options, and we've even spotted some 10th generation Intel processors dropping in price this week as well. That means there's plenty up in the £300 - £600 price range to get your teeth into, but we're also seeing some particularly cheap laptop deals on Chromebook machines like this £79 bare necessities laptop up for grabs. In general, an everyday laptop used for basic web browsing, entertainment, and email won't cost you more than £300, but once you push past £400 you'll open yourself up to machines that can run higher performance programs with far better specs to support them. That means if you're looking to use Adobe programs or other high-performance software suites, you might want to take a look further down the page. The top half will suit those looking to study, browse the web, and take on a few more processing-intensive programs every now and then. We've split our deals by price, so if you know exactly what you want to spend, you'll find a wealth of models and brands available to fit your budget. If you're not sure what you can get for your cash, we'd recommend browsing through a few of the laptop sales on this week below. We've also combed each listing for those vital stats to give you the numbers straight up. Compare the models and laptop deals we've found from across the web to find the one that suits your needs perfectly - we'll also give you a bit of background info about each laptop we highlight. For you Apple fans, you might be interested in our MacBook prices and deals page too. If you're from the States or Down Under, be sure to check out our selection of the top laptop deals in the US or Australia. Cheap laptop sales and deal highlights
We'll continue adding the best cheap laptop deals in the latest sales as we find them. Up next, you'll find the latest prices on some of the most popular laptops around along with a list of retailers who often have a great selection of laptop sales if nothing else takes your fancy here.
The cheapest laptop deals on these popular picksOn release, the Chromebook Flip reached new heights for the Windows-free laptops as it came rocking a proper Intel Core processor along with a HD screen. Most models nowadays come with 64GB of storage instead of the 32GB which is plenty for running apps and storing regular documents and a fair few media files - you can always use a USB drive for more space. For most users, the newer PixelBook is what we'd call 'overkill', not to mention considerably more expensive, so we'd recommend this model if you just need something for work, browsing the net and so on. The Chrome OS works beautifully in this 2-in-1 laptop's tablet mode too. A sturdy choice for a study laptop for school/college/uni. The HP Pavilion 15 has plenty of power for the average student's needs while keeping the costs sensible. There are plenty of configurations available too. Some favour speedy SSDs, while others go for larger regular hard drives, so it all depends on what you're going to need more really. Faster loading or more space for storing media files and downloads. The Asus Transformer Mini series is one of the most reliable brands of 2-in-1 tablet/laptop hybrids on the market. This upgrade includes a fingerprint sensor and double the RAM at 4GB for speedier performance compared to the older models. For your money, this is one of the most impressive two-in-one transformer models out there. Available in orange/white as seen above, or in a traditional grey steel colour. Ready to stretch that budget a bit (ok, maybe a lot) further? Then be sure to check out our selection of the very best laptops money can buy as we've used our dedicated price comparison technology to find the cheapest prices for them too. You can always come back to this page if they seem a bit overpowered (and over-expensive) for what you need. This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
| A massive Nvidia graphics card just leaked, could it be the Nvidia GeForce RTX 3080? Posted: 02 Mar 2020 08:47 AM PST With Microsoft announcing the Xbox Series X's specs and placing emphasis on its 12 teraflops performance, it seems like everyone is paying attention to teraflops. And now we've seen a leaked benchmark that may hint towards what the Nvidia GeForce RTX 3080 may look like. This benchmark was spotted by PCGamesN, and shows an Nvidia GPU with a whopping 33 teraflops of theoretical floating point performance. However, since teraflops aren't necessarily the most useful metric, it's lucky that the benchmarks for these unidentified graphics cards come with quite a bit more info.
The two graphics cards showed up in Geekbench with 118 Streaming Mulitprocessors in one and 108 in the other. Following past Nvidia conventions, that would translate to 7,552 CUDA Cores in the former and 6,912 CUDA Cores in the latter. That quantity of CUDA Cores would certainly set these new graphics cards up for high performance, well beyond what's seen in the current lineup for Nvidia chips. The larger chip packed some 24GB of memory, ran at 1.11GHz and pulled off an OpenCL score of 184,096 in Geekbench. That's a tidy lead over both the Nvidia Quadro RTX 8000 and Titan RTX, which both manage around 130,000. Even the smaller chip, even though it has a whopping 48GB of VRAM and a lower 1.01GHz clock, managed a score of 141,654. Not the cards you're looking forThere's quite a bit going on with these benchmarks, the reported specs, and what that means for the potential performance. For one, their measurement of FP32 performance is based on an assumption Nvidia may be doubling its floating points units in the next generation of GPUs, which would have the effect of doubling its performance in teraflops. But, if Nvidia doesn't double those floating point units, there will be no doubling of the teraflops, and we'll actually be looking at a big card delivering a little under 17 TFLOPs and a smaller card delivering a hair under 14 TFLOPs. Those aren't figures to scoff at, though, considering they're calculated from clock speeds that could still ramp up dramatically before these graphics cards ever hit the streets. Even if the bigger card is just at 17 TFLOPs right now, increasing its 1.11GHz clock speed to match the Titan RTX's 1.77GHz would boost its floating point performance to over 26 TFLOPs. As spicy as that is, the specs and performance of these chips don't have that familiar scent of a consumer-oriented, gaming graphics card. In particular, the 24GB and 48GB of VRAM stand out. The Nvidia RTX 2080 Ti only offers 11GB of VRAM – the same amount as the GeForce 1080 Ti. So, there's little room to expect Nvidia to suddenly make such a massive boost to VRAM capacity. It's more likely we're seeing professional cards that will just give us more hints at what will come down to the consumer level. With any luck, Nvidia won't keep us waiting too much longer, as an announcement of the Nvidia's next-gen GPUs at GTC is expected later this month. This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
| Huawei P40 Pro leaked image shows gigantic front camera cut-out Posted: 02 Mar 2020 08:27 AM PST We've heard the Huawei P40 Pro might have two front-facing cameras, to take impressive selfies, and a new hands-on picture (below) has given us an idea of what this may look like in practice. The image comes from Slashleaks, and while it has a low trust rating on that site, we've decided there are a few reasons to believe the picture is accurate (which we'll get into). Not much is shown, but you can see the top half of the front of the phone with a curved screen and a pretty sizeable punch-hole cut-out for the front facing-cameras.
Punch-hole cameras are pretty common in 2020, and there are even several phones with large cut-outs for two front-facing cameras, like the Samsung Galaxy S10 Plus, S10 5G and Oppo Reno 3 Pro. These can be quite divisive though, as they take up lots of screen space, which could be why Samsung opted to stick with just a single-lens punch-hole camera in the Galaxy S20 line. The cameras on the phone shown here certainly do seem to take up lots of space. We'd expect, at least, the Huawei P40 Pro to take pretty great selfies with two front-facing cameras, and the loss of some screen space may be a worthwhile compromise to some. That is, if the picture actually is of the device, but not everyone is convinced. Is this really the Huawei P40 Pro?On Slashleaks, where the picture was posted, users can vote on how trustworthy they think the leak is, and this one in particular has a rather low rating of 33% (at the time of writing). However we've got reason to believe this really could be the Huawei P40 Pro. Firstly, the device can't be any existing phone that has two front-facing cameras. It isn't one of the Samsung devices, as they have the snappers on the right (not the left, as in the image), and the Oppo Reno 3 Pro doesn't have a curved screen (at least, not for the Indian-region version of the phone, which has two front-facing cameras. The Chinese-region variant has a curved screen but only one selfie camera, and a European version is just rumored at this stage). The upcoming Realme X50, with front-facing cameras in the correct place, also has a flat screen. In addition, the user interface (UI) seems to resemble EMUI, which Huawei lays over the top of Android, with the battery icon and the font being similar to what we've seen on previous Huawei handsets. So for now, we're hesitantly accepting this as the Huawei P40 Pro, although as that phone hasn't come out yet we can't say for certain. It could be the European version of the Oppo Reno 3 Pro, or a phone with a single front-facing camera that's using a skin to make it look like there's a second front-facing camera, or just a good Photoshop job. The Huawei P40 range is expected to be unveiled on March 26, less than a month away, so we'll find out soon if the Huawei P40 Pro really does have two front-facing cameras, and if they're nestled in a punch-hole cut-out. Via Pocketnow This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
| Google Pixel 5: what we want to see Posted: 02 Mar 2020 08:23 AM PST It's going to be a long wait for the Google Pixel 5 release, but that just means that the search engine giant has time to retool and learn from the feedback on the Pixel 4 and Pixel 4 XL phones. Before the Pixel 5, we're expecting to see the Pixel 4a phones, mid-range versions of the Pixel 4s in the same vein as the Pixel 3a. When the Google Pixel 4 phones launched in late 2019, we unsurprisingly loved their photo capabilities, but found they fell short in some other areas. Those shortfalls give us ideas for what we'd like to see in the Google Pixel 5, and since there aren't many real leaks or rumors about the upcoming Pixel 5 devices just yet, we've taken this opportunity to make a wish list for Google's next flagship smartphone. The Pixel 4 and 4 XL were popular devices, but didn't get quite the enthusiastic welcome of the Pixel 3 phones, so the upcoming handsets could be Google's opportunity to wow buyers who could benefit from what Google does best. Read on to discover where we think the Google Pixel 5 could succeed. Update: The Google Pixel 5 could come with a reverse wireless feature that lets you power up other devices. That's according to Android 11 code, so it could be likely. Cut to the chase
Google Pixel 5 release date and priceGoogle Pixel 4 in hand The Pixel 4 devices are still fresh in our mind (and hands), so it's still a bit early to assert with confidence when the Pixel 5 release date will be. But given precedent, we can take an educated guess. The Pixel 4 launched on October 24 of 2019, and we can reasonably expect another release around that point in 2020, given every previous flagship Google Pixel has launched in October. It's unclear exactly when in the month we'll see the Pixel 5 though: the first three Pixel phones were unveiled in the first week or so of the month, while the fourth came out at the end. Your guess is as good as ours. In terms of how much you'll pay, the Google Pixel 5 price will likely be at the same price or a bit higher than the Pixel 4. The phones have been slowly climbing in price, up from above-mid-range territory to true flagship price tags, and Google seems to be pitching its flagship phones as equal to that tier - so expect them to keep apace with rising flagship costs, too. Of course these are both guesses at this point, and when we hear some concrete leaks we'll update this article. Google Pixel 5 leaks and newsThe biggest Google Pixel 5 leak so far actually relates to the Pixel 5 XL. A high-quality render showing a supposed prototype of the phone has leaked, which you can see below. As you can see, the camera design is rather different and likely to be divisive, but the source claims this is just one of three prototypes, and the others have a more conventional square camera block. One of the three lenses pictured here is apparently wide-angle, which would be new for the range. As for the front of the phone, that isn't pictured but is apparently similar to the Pixel 4, including a large top bezel - though this is apparently slightly smaller this time. We've also heard the Google Pixel 5 could have a reverse wireless charging feature, according to Android 11 code found in a developer beta. This would let you power up other devices, like earbuds, a watch, or another phone, using the Pixel 5 as a charging mat. This feature can be a bit of a power drain though, so has the company found any ways to fix our biggest Pixel 4 gripe? Well, possibly, because we've also heard of an 'ultra-low-power mode' which could come to the phone as well as the Pixel 4. This mode will likely turn off a load of features of the phone like location tracking and auto-syncing apps, in order to keep your handset ticking along as long as possible. Check back for more Google Pixel 5 news and leaks, as clearly we're a bit early into the process to see anything concrete. That should change over the next few months and maybe even weeks, as manufacturing of Google Pixel 5 prototypes continues. Google, last year, actually provided its own 'leak' of the Pixel 4 in shadow in June, so we can keep our fingers crossed that it spoils its own surprise when it comes to the Pixel 5. Stay tuned for more updates as that happens. What we want to see in the Google Pixel 5The Google Pixel 4 refined on its predecessor, but it left a lot to be desired in certain very obvious areas (read: the Pixel 5 battery must improve). But there are also features and perks Google still hasn't put into its flagship phone. Here's everything we want to see in the Google Pixel 5. 1. Expand the Google Pixel 5 batteryWill the Google Pixel 5 battery life improve? By far the biggest gripe about the previous Google Pixel phone was its short battery life. While capacity isn't necessarily indicative of how long it takes for the percentage to tick to zero, the 2,800mAh battery is small by 2020 standards - and many users found the battery dying before the end of the day. The Google Pixel 4 XL fared somewhat better with its 3,700mAh capacity, but even that lasted only a bit more than a day. If Google wants to play with the big phone boys, it has to keep up with the 4,000mAh-and-greater batteries out there. 2. Bring back the fingerprint scannerThe Google Pixel 4 has no rear-mounted fingerprint scanner like the Pixel 3, nor does it sport an in-screen finger sensor like many premium smartphones as a backup biometric. All it had was facial recognition, and...it wasn't the best. Some might find it easier to use, but others are likely frustrated to have to stare into their phone until it unlocks. In the Pixel 5, we'd prefer both facial recognition and a physical or screen-mounted fingerprint sensor. Heck, just put a button on the back - we're not picky. We just want to be convenienced. 3. Add an ultra-wide lens to the Pixel 5Google, we come on bended knee. We entreaty. We plead. Make like every other Android flagship in 2020 and give us an ultra-wide lens on the Google Pixel 5. The addition of a telephoto lens was very welcome, justifying a lot of hopes that a second lens would enhance the Pixel's portrait photography and expand its versatility. But the phone could be so much better, and have so much more range, with an ultra-wide camera. We can, and will, still dream. 4. Give the Pixel 5 a microSD slotA minimum 64GB of storage and a maximum 128GB? Is this a joke? Google's not-so-subtle nudging for users to offload their storage to the cloud is pretty egregious. People store locally for reasons - especially when they don't have reliable signal. It's frustratingly limited not to cheaply expand what's typically the easiest auto-include in an Android smartphone. Truthfully, we doubt a microSD card slot will be a part of the Google Pixel 5 – it wasn't in any previous Pixel phone, nor was it part of the Nexus series. But there's ample reason to desire a microSD card slot. 5. Stick with the weird designThe Google Pixel 4 smartphones sure do look a bit odd compared to their dual-finish, single-hued predecessors. They're bare-backed except for a questionably stylish camera block, with a matte glass finish encased with a rubber frame around the edges. It's an odd, distinct aesthetic. And, of course, there was a return to a top bar bezel instead of a notch. All in all, the Pixel 4 devices are far from 'conventional' Android phones - far from the nearly full-screen sleek flagship phones put out by Samsung or Huawei, but darn if they aren't unique and particular in a market of gleaming black rectangles.
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| Nokia 9.2 concept renders show a new quad-camera implementation Posted: 02 Mar 2020 08:17 AM PST The Nokia 9 PureView had one of the most ambitious camera packages on a smartphone at its time but was a rather uncompetitive flagship otherwise. It’s been more than a year since its launch, which could mean its successor could be in the works, called the Nokia 9.2. Nokia’s short refresh cycles across multiple product lines mean we usually get many of these phones to launch together. With MWC 2020 canceled, a lot of the premium and mid-range devices will have to wait for a little longer to be introduced to the world. HMD Global isn’t a company that excites its upcoming products, but speculation suggests that the Nokia 9.2 is also ready to be unveiled. However, we don’t have any leaked images or specifications of the upcoming Nokia flagship. All we have is a render from concept creator Ben Geskin, who has historically had a strong track record. His imagination shows a device that is a lot more understated on the outside. The most significant change comes with the cameras, as it no longer has the spider-eyed five-camera arrangement. Instead, the supposed Nokia 9.2 has a much more digestible quad-camera setup. On the Nokia 9 PureView, all cameras mostly had the function as they all had the same focal length. The five cameras would work in tandem to gather more information about the image in terms of depth and dynamic range information. Unfortunately for Nokia, that didn’t go too well, making this switch to a “regular” quad-camera arrangement understandable. We’d expect a primary shooter, alongside an ultrawide and a telephoto lens, with the last one being for depth information. The render also notably skips on a notch or a hole for the selfie camera(s). It will supposedly have an actual in-display camera. If things turn out that way, it could be one of the first mass-market phones to do so. The bezels on all sides are also wishfully slim. No specifications were mentioned alongside the concept image. Still, it’s safe to assume that it will be powered by the latest Snapdragon 865 chipset, ample RAM and storage, and a bigger battery. Reports also talked about the device being delayed to not be obsolete at launch in terms of specifications. Current estimates point at a Fall 2020 launch. Keep in mind that this is a pretty early render, with the creator explicitly stating that these aren’t based on any leaks. With time, and as more information surfaces, it will be updated to be more accurate. This design doesn’t seem all that far fetched.
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