Apple : How to watch the Queen's Coronavirus speech online for free: stream from UK or abroad |
- How to watch the Queen's Coronavirus speech online for free: stream from UK or abroad
- iOS 14 release date, devices and rumors
- Best fitness games 2020: top exercise games to make you break a sweat
- iOS 14 leak reveals wallpaper and widget customizations for your Home screen
- WrestleMania 36 live stream: watch the WWE pay-per-view online for free tonight
- Leaked Samsung Galaxy Buds redesign ditches the earbud stems
- Good news for Nvidia as gamers embrace RTX graphics cards according to Steam hardware survey
- Xiaomi Mi 10 vs Samsung Galaxy S20
- Stuck on Skyrim? Given up on GTA? How to clear your gaming pile of shame
- Innovative ways to speed up the fight against coronavirus using drones
- Best TV 2020: the 8 best flatscreen televisions from the past year
- Best fitness tracker 2020: the top 10 activity bands on the planet
- The best noise-cancelling headphones in the UAE for 2020
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| How to watch the Queen's Coronavirus speech online for free: stream from UK or abroad Posted: 05 Apr 2020 11:37 AM PDT At this time of national (and, of course, international) crisis, it's only natural that the Queen should speak to the people in a special address. It's only the fourth such time that she has done so in almost 70 years on the throne. Want to watch the Queen's Coronavirus speech online? Read on to find out everything you'll need to know. Drastic times call for drastic measures, and the words of the 93-year old head of state will no doubt be of comfort to many. Whether it will be in the form of morale-boosting encouragement for key workers and the NHS, or as a stern warning for every member of the public to play their part in flattening the curve of the outbreak, the Queen's address will likely have a committed global audience - much like her annual Christmas speech. The address will be a recorded broadcast from Windsor Castle where the Queen has been residing since March 19. It's the first ad-hoc speech of this kind since the Queen Mother's death in 2002. She also gave similar addresses in light of Princess Diana's tragic death and during the first Gulf War. Want to tune in? We've listed everything you need to know to watch the Queen's Coronavirus speech online below - no matter where in the world you are. How to watch the Queen's speech online for free in the UK:The pre-recorded Queen's Speech will be broadcast on Sunday, April 5. The time to watch is 8pm, with the speech likely to last no more than about 10 minutes. You have a few choices for which channel to head to. It will air simultaneously on multiple TV channels, including BBC One, ITV, Channel 4, Channel 5 and Sky News. Rather watch it online? It will be available on the TVPlayer service, which hosts all of the UK's Freeview channels in one place. And because of the magnitude of this address, it is also to be made available on each of the Royal Family's Facebook, Twitter and Instagram accounts. So it should be really easy to see, as long as you have a TV signal, radio or the internet. Stream Queen's speech from anywhere else in the worldIf you happen to be somewhere in the world at the moment that won't be showing the speech, and blocks the above social media services, then you're a little bit stuck. The only option we can think of is to use a VPN, which allows you to alter your IP address to somewhere in another location (like the UK) and make it look like you're watching from there. We've tested all of the major VPN services and we rate ExpressVPN as the absolute best. It's compatible with all of your devices, supports most streaming services and ranks amongst the fastest. You can even install it on devices like an Amazon Fire TV Stick, Apple TV, Xbox and PlayStation. So for a one-stop shop, you can't go wrong with ExpressVPN. ExpressVPN comes with a 30-day money back guarantee and if you click here you can get 49% off and 3 months free, too. Once installed, simply open the VPN app, hit 'choose location' and select anywhere in the UK - it's super easy to do. Then head on over to the TVPlayer.com service or one of the Royal Family social media pages, the best free and legal way to stream the whole speech.
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| iOS 14 release date, devices and rumors Posted: 05 Apr 2020 08:21 AM PDT Even if the iOS 14 release date is still very far off given we're still enjoying the last big iPhone operating system update, iOS 13, the next one is coming later this year - and we’re very curious what iOS 14 features are headed our way. True, Apple hasn’t released anything remotely official that’s come out about iOS 14. But given what was left out this time around - and what new technology could be coming in the iPhone 12 - we can make some educated guesses about what’s coming in the next big iOS update. Some of these are obvious, like support for 5G should Apple finally decide to release a 5G iPhone that works with the next-gen phone networks. If there's somehow an Apple foldable, well, iOS 14 will have software to make that work, too. Other iOS 14 features take a little bit of speculative leaps to imagine which tweaks Apple might make in its continual improvements on its iPhone operating system. Update: The latest rumor suggests that iOS 14 will have a redesigned app switcher and Home screen widgets. Plus, we've also heard that iOS 14 may be compatible with every iPhone that can currently run iOS 13 - in other words, the iPhone 6S or iPhone SE and newer. iOS 14 release date and beta scheduleGiven last year’s big iOS updates came out on September 19, one day before this year's new iPhone line, we’re guessing that iOS 14 will launch in late September 2020. That will be just in time for the launch of the iPhone 12, which will be the first phones to get the next iOS. Assuming Apple follows prior years, it will likely unveil iOS 14 at its annual WWDC conference - WWDC 2020 will likely be in early May - and open the initial developer beta the same day. The first public beta will follow later in the month, and will accordingly get new betas after the developer versions. iOS 14 compatibilityWhile Apple didn’t leave any phones behind when it introduced iOS 12, the most recent jump to iOS 13 made up for it by stranding two generations of iPhone handsets – anything older than the iPhone 6S or iPhone SE. It’s unclear what kind of new features require Apple to raise the threshold for which iOS phones will be able to download the new version of iOS, so it’s all speculation whether a generation of older iPhones won’t be able to install iOS 14. We’ll almost surely know which iPhones won’t be able to upgrade when Apple launches the first iOS 14 betas. For now, our best guess is that the iPhone 7 will be the cut-off point, with the big question being: will iPhone SE get the iOS 14 update? All the hubbub of an iPhone SE 2 launching in March 2020 lead us to think it won’t, but another rumor suggests Apple is thinking of keeping support for the iPhone 6S and SE or newer. It's always possible that Apple changes its mind in the next few months, of course. iOS 14: rumors and predictionsiOS 14 could usher in the 5G iPhone eraThis might be the easiest feature to guess Apple will bring to the operating system in 2020. Unfortunately, as we’ve seen with other 5G phones, this feature can’t be retroactively applied to older iPhones - hooking up to 5G networks requires a particular type of modem and compatible processors. Only the newest phones with the latest top-tier chipsets and modems have been capable of harnessing 5G. iOS 14 could spill support for Apple AR glassesApple is planning to release AR glasses sometime in 2020 alongside a 5G iPhone, according to a Bloomberg report. These would initially serve as an iPhone accessory running through iOS to display text messages and map directions, though that could grow over time to run their own proprietary apps from a dedicated AR glasses store - and perhaps become a standalone successor to the iPhone itself. Before that happens, though, Apple’s AR glasses would need a killer app as its raison d’etre - or rather, reason for buying, as the lukewarm reception to Google Glasses and even Snapchat Spectacles 2 can tell us. Heck, even Amazon is couching its new Amazon Echo Frames behind an experimental product line to soften any hype. But given the years of experience developers have had with Apple’s ARKit, it wouldn’t be surprising if 2020 was the year we see Apple branch out to smart spectacles - and iOS 14 could support it. iOS 14 could add Home screen widgetsiOS and iPadOS support widgets up to a point, but based on early code snippets it looks like you might be able to add widgets to your Home screens in iOS 14 as well. At the moment though, sources say the feature could be still be scrapped. Other leaks suggest that more wallpaper options will be added in iOS 14 as well, so you'll be able to add dynamic, flat and gradient options. We've also seen a sneak peek at what some of the new wallpapers in iOS 14 will look like. iOS 14 could have a new app switcherA leaked video (below) supposedly shows an internal build of iOS 14, and as you can see it sports a new app switcher layout that's similar to the one on iPadOS. Rather than the current switcher that fans apps out like a deck of cards, this one shows four per screen with a smaller image of each. There's also (as part of the leak but not in the video) the suggestion that users might be able to choose between these two layouts, among others. However, we'd take all of this with a pinch of salt. The leak might not be genuine and even if it is, the presence of a feature in an internal build doesn't mean it will be available in the finished version - Apple might just be trying it out. iOS 14 what we want to seeSmart compositionThese days, everyone’s doing business on their phones, including sending emails at all hours. So why can’t we insert links into text in iOS’ Mail client? Or in third-party mail clients like Gmail? This isn’t just a convenience issue - inserting links just looks more professional. When responding to clients or simply wanting to save space it would be great to give the impression that we’re responding from desks - and not filling our messages with eyesores like full links. Smarter spam calls filterWhile iOS 13 introduced the capability to detect and block spam phone calls, it isn’t too smart. Silence Unknown Callers, as it’s termed, does exactly that - completely blocking any number not from your contact list and sending it straight to voicemail. That’s a good start, but a bit of a strong measure that isn’t too useful for folks with incoming calls from new business contacts or Tinder dates. Instead, it would be great to see smarter alerts that indicate probable spam calls, as some carriers have started doing and some third-party App Store apps do – for a price. Then it would be nice to have different levels of filtering - light blocking for only the most obvious spam numbers all the way up to aggressive filtering of any call that even has a chance of being a scam. Foldables supportThis is a bit of a stretch since we haven’t heard anything about a foldable iPhone. Oh, Apple is almost surely experimenting with the tech deep in its R&D labs, but without a planned model in the works, it’s unlikely iOS 14 will go to the effort of supporting foldables. This is in stark contrast with Android, which introduced foldables support with Android 10 just in time for the Samsung Galaxy Fold public release. Apple is on its own timeline, and there’s no rush to add the capability in its operating system before they have a model on the way. This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
| Best fitness games 2020: top exercise games to make you break a sweat Posted: 05 Apr 2020 08:00 AM PDT Exercise can be boring, so sometimes it's nice to spice up your workout with a fitness game. The best fitness games have you breaking a sweat and feeling the burn, but most importantly they're fun. Fitness games allow you to marry your gaming hobby with something that's good for your health - which you may need to remind yourself when you're in a sweaty pile on the floor afterwards. So here are the best fitness games – old and new – that will get your heart rate up, improve your flexibility, help with strength training and even get you dancing like no one is watching.
Ring Fit AdventureRing Fit Adventure is marketed as a game first and exercise second, but it'll certainly put you through your paces. The action-RPG game sees you squatting, crunching and downward-dogging your way to success, as you set out on a quest to defeat a hench, bodybuilding dragon called Dragaux. And that's just the story mode, there are also plenty of mini-games and individual workouts to focus on specific parts of your body. In order to play Ring Fit Adventure, you need the Ring Fit device (like a pilates ring), but this handily comes packaged with the game. Platforms: Nintendo Switch Peripherals needed: Ring Fit Fitness BoxingIf you don't want to shell out for Ring Fit Adventure then Nintendo Fitness Boxing could be a good alternative. The Switch game offers you workouts overseen by a virtual trainer, where you use your Joy-Con motion controllers to perform punches and dodging maneuvers, with the difficulty increasing gradually over time. The game uses your weight and height to estimate your fitness age and calorie burn, setting the routine, length and intensity of these workouts based on this, however these can be adjusted if you're not happy. It's a great workout for those who want a fairly-straightforward boxing workout without all the bells and whistles. Platforms: Nintendo Switch Peripherals needed: None Beat SaberBeat Saber isn't marketed as a fitness game - but it sure should be. The VR rhythm game sees you ducking and dodging while swinging your arms to slice the blocks flying your way - all to some amazing tunes. It's one of the best VR games on the market for a reason. The beauty of Beat Saber is that you don't really notice the physical exertion you're putting into it because it's so much fun - but you'll certainly feel it tomorrow. Platforms: PS4 and PC Peripherals needed: Supported VR headset required. Tracked Motion Controllers also required - these depend on platform you're playing on. Zumba: Burn It UpYet another fitness game offering from Nintendo, Zumba: Burn It Up is the newest addition to the Zumba video game series. Burn It Up essentially offers you a private Zumba lesson in your home, with 30 high-energy classes to get your heart-pumping and some great tunes for you to shake your hips to. It's an official Zumba product that features real-life instructors, so you know it's legit. Plus, you can get up to three friends to join you for the tortur- sorry, fun. Platforms: Nintendo Switch Peripherals needed: None Wii Fit PlusNow, we know what you're going to say: "Wii Fit is old". Well, actually, we've included some older fitness games on this list because you may want to drag your old consoles out of the closet, brush off the dust and get your fill of exercise - without having to pay out for the latest game and its peripherals. Wii Fit Plus is the enhanced version of Wii Fit, offering Wii Fit's original games alongside a bunch of 'new' games that help you work on aerobics, strength, balance and yoga. You can play these games, create your own fitness regimes or take part in specialized routines - and what's more, there are some multiplayer activities that allow you to play (and workout) with friends. Wii Fit Plus is a classic and, even if you don't already have one, you can pick up a Wii Fit Balance Board for pretty cheap nowadays. Platforms: Wii Peripherals needed: Wii Balance Board Wii SportsOk so, Wii Sports isn't exactly on the same level as the likes of Zumba when it comes to getting you moving- but it's still a fitness game. Wii Sports offers five sports to play: baseball, bowling, tennis, golf and boxing. You use your Wii remote to mimic the actions you would do if you were actually taking part in the sport. In addition, there are training and fitness modes available that monitor players' progress. Plus, you don't have to play alone! All the activities are available to play multiplayer so you can beat your pal at tennis without having to step on the court. Platforms: Wii Peripherals needed: None Just Dance 2020Prefer to get your exercise through the medium of dance? Then Just Dance 2020 is just the ticket. The most recent addition in long-running dance series includes tunes from artists such as Billie Eilish, Lil Nas X and Ariana Grande that will keep you grooving for hours on end - and building up one heck of a sweat. You don't even need motion controls or a console camera necessarily, as downloading the Just Dance Controller app will allow you to track all your moves through your smartphone. Smart. Platforms: Nintendo Switch, Wii (surprisingly), PS4, Xbox One and Stadia Peripherals needed: PS Move and PlayStation Camera, Xbox Kinect, or Just Dance Controller app Knockout LeagueAnother VR fitness game that will put you through your paces, Knockout League is an arcade-style boxing game that sees you immersing yourself in the fight. The game uses 1:1 tracking of your head and hands, so you'll need to make sure you duck and dodge every punch that comes your way - while landing some of your own. But it's not all that serious, some of your competitors are a tad.. out of the ordinary. So expect to go mano a mano with a moustached octopus, pirate and many more wacky fighters. Platforms: PS4 and PC Peripherals needed: Supported VR headset required. Tracked Motion Controllers also required – these depend on platform you're playing on. BoxVRBoxVR is a bit like Beat Saber meets Fitness Boxing. It's described as a "VR workout app" and offers rhythm-inspired boxing workouts that see you hitting marks while ducking and dodging obstacles. BoxVR offers a range of workouts from short three-minute bursts up to 20 minute+ endurance workouts, which are sure to give you a heart-pumping cardio workout. Plus, workouts are regularly updated to stop things from getting stale. Platforms: PS4 and PC Peripherals needed: Supported VR headset required. Tracked Motion Controllers also required - these depend on platform you're playing on.
Sports Champions 2Another oldie, but Sports Champions 2 is essentially Sony's version of Wii Sports. The fitness game allows you to take part in six activities: skiing, tennis, boxing, golf, bowling, and archery. Again similarly to the Wii, you use PlayStation Move controller to mimic the actions of each sport. Platforms: PS3 Peripherals needed: PlayStation Move and PlayStation Camera This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
| iOS 14 leak reveals wallpaper and widget customizations for your Home screen Posted: 05 Apr 2020 08:00 AM PDT WWDC 2020 might be online only this year for obvious reasons, but we're still expecting Apple to unveil its iOS 14 update on schedule in June, with a full roll out in September. A couple of new leaks hint that extra Home screen customizations are on the way with the new software. Some digging into early iOS 14 code by 9to5Mac has revealed that Apple is at least experimenting with the idea of Home screen widgets – not just a side panel as in iPadOS, but fully fledged widgets that can be repositioned as required. Android phones have offered widgets for years of course, and in recent software updates Apple has shown some willingness to move away from the uniform rows and columns of icons on iPhones and iPads.
9to5Mac says the feature is still in testing and might be scrapped, so don't get your hopes up too much just yet. Extra augmented reality features and a new app switcher are also being tipped for iOS 14. We've also got an early look at a revamped wallpaper picker for iOS 14, as revealed by @DongleBookPro on Twitter (a leaker with a fairly respectable track record when it comes to Apple reveals). As well as showing off some new wallpaper designs for iOS 14, this time split up into separate categories for more straightforward browsing, the pictures also reveal more options for how wallpapers are applied. You'll be able to set wallpapers as dynamic, or as flat, or as a gradient, according to the screenshots. You'll also be able to dim wallpapers when your phone's in dark mode, something you can already do in iOS 13. Apple hasn't announced specific dates for WWDC 2020, or said exactly how the online format will work, but the event usually takes place in early June. As well as news on iOS 14, we should also hear about software updates to all Apple's other products too. This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
| WrestleMania 36 live stream: watch the WWE pay-per-view online for free tonight Posted: 05 Apr 2020 06:46 AM PDT What many of us would call normal sports games are on vacation at the moment, due to the Covid-19 pandemic. Everything from the start of the MLB season to the NBA play-offs is delayed until further notice. However, the unmissable theatrics that we enjoy every year as part of WWE's WrestleMania are going ahead this Sunday - in spite of the coronavirus. Here's how to watch a WrestleMania 36 live stream for free today - from anywhere in the world, no less! Whether you think of it as the Show of Shows, the Showcase of the Immortals...or just another excuse to throw back some brews this weekend, there's no doubt that WrestleMania is the most prestigious event on the 2020 WWE calendar. Having said that, restleMania 36 does look slightly different to previous instalments of the bone-crushing festival. The main thing to know is that WrestleMania 36 will be held behind closed doors for the first time in its illustrious history - and that it is taking place over two nights this year. The WWE Performance Center in Orlando, Florida is the main 'venue', after the event was moved from the Raymond James Stadium in Tampa due to restrictions on mass gatherings during the coronavirus pandemic, but other locations are also set to feature this weekend - now just Sunday, April 5, but many services will let you watch WrestleMania 36 live on-demand. Prior to the first bell, there was major change to the WrestleMania 36 card. Roman Reigns pulled out of his Universal Championship showdown against Goldberg over coronavirus concerns - and his replacement, he 'Monster Among Men' Braun Strowman, didn't just take up air but beat the WWE (and WCW, if you're old enough) legend convincingly to take home the belt in one of the night's best fights. It wasn't exactly the stuff of WrestleMania lore and legend, though - veteran WWE fans will no doubt wonder what could have been if the event went ahead with fans as plans. Even the normally jovial ex-NFL and New England Patriots star Rob Gronkowski looked a shadow of his usual self hosting the PPV. But tonight is what really matters and we're here to tell you all the best ways to live stream WrestleMania 36 for free - watch WWE PPV action from anywhere today by following our expert guide.
How to live stream WWE WrestleMania from outside your countryIf you're reading this in the US, Canada, UK or Australia, feel free to scroll down, as we've outlined all your WrestleMania 36 live stream options below. If you're from Japan and want to see the Kabuki Warriors defend their WWE Women's Tag Team belts against Alexa Bliss and Nikki Cross, then hop right over to the WWE Network - where a free trial offer awaits you (more on that below). But if you're unlucky enough to be in a country where the only way to catch the wrestling is through expensive PPV or via some sketchy, illegal stream you've found in the back-alleys of the internet, you may well discover that your local coverage is geo-blocked where you are. If that's the case, you'll want to use a clever bit of software called a VPN so you can watch a more reliable and secure WWE live stream just like you would at home. Free WrestleMania 36 live stream: how to watch on the WWE NetworkHow to live stream WrestleMania 36: watch in the US for freeIf you’re watching from the United States, then subscribing to the WWE Network is your best bet as it is the most cost effective way to watch, as its free 1-month trial will let you catch all of tonight's action without dropping a dime. Pay-per-view providers like Dish and Xfinity are also showing WrestleMania 36 on TV, but pricing is set at $59.99-69.99 - a big chunk of your toilet paper stockpile budget. And if you're after more than just ridiculous costumes and trash talk, don't forget that Disney Plus is currently offering a FREE 7-day trial and boasts loads of great content - from The Simpsons to Star Wars, Marvel, and Pixar. Also, remember that if the WWE Network's free trial isn't available where you are, you can always use a VPN to access the service just like you would from home. How to live stream WrestleMania for free in CanadaAs is the case in the WWE’s home country, the WWE Network is also the cheapest, most convenient place to watch WrestleMania 36 in Canada. However, you could choose to go with SaskTel, Shaw or BellMTS - but expect to pay similar prices to PPV providers in the US. And anyone outside of Canada wanting to live stream WrestleMania 36 like they would from the Great White North should consider trying a VPN to access the services and coverage they normally would with a 6-pack of Moosehead to hand. How to live stream WWE WrestleMania 36: free UK live stream detailsHow to watch WrestleMania 2020: live stream for free in AustraliaHow to live stream WrestleMania 36 for free in JapanThe Kabuki Warriors are the reigning WWE Women's Tag Team Champions and will defend their belts at WrestleMania 36 against challengers Alexa Bliss and Nikki Cross. That means wrestling fans in Japan have every reason to want to get up early on Sunday and Monday morning, with WrestleMania action set to start at 8am Japanese Standard Time on both days. The WWE Network has been available in Japan for the last few years and, given its free trial offer, is the most affordable way to get a WrestleMania live stream in Japan. Local PPV options certainly exist - check your provider, but DMM.com, J:Com and Sukachan are likely all offering the event - but don't necessarily represent the best value for money. WrestleMania 36: full card for WWE 2020's biggest event• Brock Lesnar (c) vs. Drew McIntyre - WWE Championship • Goldberg (c) vs. TBC - Firefly Funhouse match • Edge vs. Randy Orton - Last Man Standing match • The Undertaker vs. AJ Styles - Boneyard match • Sami Zayn (c) vs. Daniel Bryan - Intercontinental Championship • Kevin Owens vs. Seth Rollins • Bayley (c) vs. Sasha Banks vs. Lacey Evans vs. Tamina vs. Naomi - Fatal 5-Way for the SmackDown Women's Championship • Aleister Black vs. Bobby Lashley • The Street Profits (c) vs. Austin Theory & Angel Garza - Raw Tag Team Championships • Elias vs. Baron Corbin • The Miz & John Morrison (c) vs. The New Day vs. The Usos - Triple Threat Ladder match for the SmackDown Tag Team Championships • Otis vs. Dolph Ziggler • The Kabuki Warriors (c) vs. Alexa Bliss & Nikki Cross - Women's Tag Team Championships This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
| Leaked Samsung Galaxy Buds redesign ditches the earbud stems Posted: 05 Apr 2020 04:00 AM PDT A new leak suggests Samsung is busy working on some new earbuds to follow the Galaxy Buds and the Galaxy Buds Plus – and based on the 3D renderings that have appeared, there are going to be big changes in the design. The news and images come courtesy of WinFuture, and it seems the small stems on the current Galaxy Buds Plus are ditched in favor of a bean-like shape – and indeed the codename for the earbuds is rumored to be "Beans". WinFuture's sources say the new Beans buds are 2.8 cm (1.1 inches) in length, so they should fit snugly in most ears. There are no silicone tips though, so any noise canceling tech might suffer as a result.
These earbuds are being tipped to come with two tiny loudspeakers embedded in them, which will produce better audio across the board. Microphones will again be included so you can make calls, get chatty with Bixby, and so on. No word yet on battery life, but WinFuture says the earbuds are at the first Engineering Validation Testing (EVT1) stage, and it's apparently possible that they could appear alongside the Galaxy Note 20 later this year. No word on pricing yet – the most recent Galaxy Buds Plus went on sale in March for $149.99 / £159 / AU$299, so expect something similar when the next earbuds arrive. The truly wireless earbud market continues to get more and more competitive: it's less than four years ago that the original Apple AirPods appeared on the scene, and since then we've seen an avalanche of similar products. The next to appear could well be the upgraded Pixel Buds from Google, which are expected to be launched in the first half of 2020. It may well be Samsung's new earbuds that win the award for most innovative design of the year, though. Here's our verdict on the Samsung Galaxy Buds Plus This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
| Good news for Nvidia as gamers embrace RTX graphics cards according to Steam hardware survey Posted: 05 Apr 2020 03:09 AM PDT Nvidia’s GeForce RTX graphics cards appear to be benefiting from some serious fresh momentum, at least going by the results of the latest Steam hardware survey. Valve’s survey shows that the top three graphics cards which made the most upward movement in terms of gaining market share for March 2020 were RTX models, led by the GeForce RTX 2060.
As you’re probably aware, that’s the most budget-friendly RTX graphics card, aimed at those who want dedicated ray tracing cores with a minimum of damage to their wallet. And in March, RTX 2060 adoption moved up to 2.71% according to Steam’s figures, representing a healthy increase of 0.53% on the previous month. The second-biggest gainer was the RTX 2070 which moved up 0.33% to reach a 2.01% share of the GPU market, and that was followed by the newer RTX 2070 Super, the pepped-up version of the graphics card which increased adoption by 0.28% to reach 1.21%. While those adoption figures might sound relatively small, we have to bear in mind that the GPU market is quite fragmented across a large number of different models, and in fact the RTX 2060 hitting 2.71% means it’s now the fifth most popular graphics card overall among the Steam gamers surveyed. It’s also more popular than any of the cheaper GTX Turing models (without ray tracing hardware acceleration) which are led by the GeForce GTX 1660 Ti in seventh place on 2.48%. The most popular cards remain Nvidia’s previous-generation 10-series offerings, holding the top four spots, and being led by the GeForce GTX 1060 which is still used by 12.67% of Steam gamers (it was down a fraction – dropping 0.01% – in March). Nvidia’s GTX 1050 Ti is in second place on 8.81% (down a quarter of a percentage point), followed by the GTX 1050 on 5.42%, and then the GTX 1070 on 4.23%. The RTX 2060 is next in line. No great surpriseIs this RTX success to be expected, though? Nvidia is clearly all-in on ray tracing, with next-gen RTX 3000 cards expected to make big advancements on this front, and they are expected to launch later in 2020, with price adjustments of existing RTX cards to doubtless follow. Hopefully more affordable and better ray tracing should help push adoption even further, and of course there’s the small matter of the next-gen games consoles – the PS5 and Xbox Series X – also supporting ray-traced graphics. And of course AMD’s getting on board with its next Big Navi graphics cards powered by RDNA 2 also coming with hardware accelerated ray tracing. So in short, the industry is clearly headed this way, so Nvidia’s current RTX cards gaining momentum really shouldn’t be much of a surprise. Particularly as the RTX 2060 has already become more affordable… As to AMD’s current performance in the Steam survey for March, the best placed Radeon graphics card doesn’t make the cut for the top 10. AMD’s Radeon RX 580 is in eleventh place with a 1.95% share, and you have to drop to nineteenth place to find the next AMD card, the RX 570 on 1.13%. Valve’s gaming platform certainly paints a picture of Nvidia domination, although again that’s no surprise, as this has been echoed by figures we’ve been seeing from other sources including analyst firms for a good long time. For example, stats from Jon Peddie Research have recently shown Nvidia having a 73% market share when it comes to discrete GPUs (with AMD holding the remaining 27%, of course).
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| Xiaomi Mi 10 vs Samsung Galaxy S20 Posted: 05 Apr 2020 03:00 AM PDT The Xiaomi Mi 10 is a more affordable flagship than the Samsung Galaxy S20, but it has many similar features. In fact, in some ways it’s even gunning for the Samsung Galaxy S20 Ultra. But as impressive as it is in many ways, it doesn’t match the Galaxy S20 in all areas. So to help you get to grips with how these two 2020 flagships compare, we’ve put them head-to-head. Below you’ll find the similarities and differences between these two phones across a range of categories, including display, design, camera, battery, and chipset, so you can make a more informed choice as to which – if either – to buy.
Price and availabilityThe Samsung Galaxy S20 is out now and starts at £799 / AU$1,349 for a 4G version with 128GB of storage and 8GB of RAM. In the US you can only get the 5G model, which starts at $999 / £899 / AU$1,499. For that you’ll get 128GB of storage and 12GB of RAM. The Xiaomi Mi 10 meanwhile only comes in a 5G flavor, and that starts at €799 (roughly £699 $820, AU$1,390) for a model with 128GB of storage. However, at the time of writing this phone hasn’t officially gone on sale yet in the west – expect that to happen either on April 7, April 15, or an undetermined later date, depending on country. DesignThe Xiaomi Mi 10 Both the Samsung Galaxy S20 and Xiaomi Mi 10 have a metal frame and a glass back, with the most obvious difference being the cameras. They both have a single-lens punch-hole camera on the front, but on the S20 it’s in the top center, while on the Mi 10 it’s in the top left. The rear camera array meanwhile is in the top left corner in both cases, but the camera block is significantly larger on the Galaxy S20. The Samsung Galaxy S20 Other differences include colors (the Samsung Galaxy S20 comes in Cosmic Grey, Cloud Blue, Cloud Pink, Cloud White and Aura Red, while the Xiaomi Mi 10 comes in Coral Green, Twilight Grey and Peach Gold), and dimensions and weight (151.7 x 69.1 x 7.9mm and 163g for the Galaxy S20, and 162.5 x 74.8 x 9mm and 208g for the Mi 10). So the Xiaomi Mi 10 is larger in every dimension as well as being heavier, though that’s no surprise as it also has a larger screen and battery. Finally, the Samsung Galaxy S20 is IP68-certified, meaning it can survive being submerged in up to 1.5 meters of water for up to 30 minutes. The Xiaomi Mi 10 on the other hand has no water resistance rating. DisplayThe Galaxy S20 has a 6.2-inch screen There’s a big difference in size here, with the Xiaomi Mi 10 having a 6.67-inch screen while the Samsung Galaxy S20 has just a 6.2-inch one. Both use AMOLED (Dynamic AMOLED 2X in the case of the Galaxy S20 and Super AMOLED for the Xiaomi Mi 10), and both support HDR10+, but the Samsung Galaxy S20 is higher resolution at 1440 x 3200, compared to 1080 x 2340 for the Xiaomi Mi 10. Combined with the S20’s smaller screen size that leads to a much higher pixels density of 563 pixels per inch (PPI), compared to the Xiaomi Mi 10’s 386ppi. The Xiaomi Mi 10 is bigger at 6.67 inches The Samsung Galaxy S20 also has a refresh rate of up to 120Hz, whereas the Xiaomi Mi 10’s is 90Hz. That should ensure content looks smoother on the Galaxy S20, but you can only use that 120Hz refresh rate if you drop the resolution to FHD+ - otherwise you get 60Hz, whereas there’s no such restriction on the Mi 10. So the Samsung Galaxy S20 can at any given time have a higher refresh rate or a higher resolution than the Xiaomi Mi 10, but not both at once. Camera and batteryThe camera is one area where the Xiaomi Mi 10 is actually closer to the Samsung Galaxy S20 Ultra in some ways, as just like that phone it has a 108MP main sensor. Specifically, it has a 108MP f/1.7 sensor with optical image stabilization (OIS), joined by a 13MP f/2.4 ultra-wide one, a 2MP f/2.4 macro one, and a 2MP f/2.4 depth sensor. The setup on the Samsung Galaxy S20 is quite different, as it has a 12MP f/1.8 main sensor with OIS, a 64MP f/2.0 telephoto one with OIS and 3x hybrid optical zoom, and a 12MP f/2.2 ultra-wide one. So you get more megapixels in total on the Xiaomi Mi 10 as well as more lenses, but we’d be inclined to take a telephoto lens over the macro and depth sensors offered on Xiaomi’s handset. There's a triple-lens camera on the Galaxy S20 Both phones can also record video in up to 8K quality, and you get a 10MP f/2.2 snapper on the front of the Galaxy S20 and a 20MP f/2.0 one on the front of the Xiaomi Mi 10. As for which phone has the better camera setup – you’ll have to wait for our full Xiaomi Mi 10 review for a clearer idea of that, but the Samsung Galaxy S20 certainly has a very capable camera. Moving on to the battery, there’s a 4,780mAh one in the Xiaomi Mi 10 and just a 4,000mAh one in the Samsung Galaxy S20 – though remember the S20 also has a smaller screen to keep lit up. The Xiaomi Mi 10 should also charge faster, with 30W power for both wired and wireless charging, while the Samsung Galaxy S20 can manage 25W wired or 15W wireless. The two phones both also support reverse wireless charging, which lets them wirelessly juice up other devices. This can be done at up to 9W on the Galaxy S20 and 5W on the Xiaomi Mi 10. Specs and featuresThe Xiaomi Mi 10 has a top-end Snapdragon 865 chipset paired with either 8GB or 12GB of RAM. That’s a similar setup to the Samsung Galaxy S20, which has either a Snapdragon 865 chipset (in the US) or a similarly high-end Exynos 990 (in most other regions), paired with either 8GB of RAM (if you buy the 4G model), or 12GB of RAM in the 5G version. As for storage, there’s 128GB or 256GB in the Xiaomi Mi 10, whereas you can only get the Samsung Galaxy S20 with 128GB, but that phone also has a microSD card slot, which the Xiaomi Mi 10 doesn’t. Both phones run Android 10, but they have different overlays. You get One UI 2 on the Samsung Galaxy S20 and MIUI 11 on the Xiaomi Mi 10. These lead to different looks and pre-installed apps, but the underlying operating system is much the same. Both phones also have an in-screen fingerprint scanner. The Xiaomi Mi 10 TakeawayThe Samsung Galaxy S20 and Xiaomi Mi 10 have broadly similar designs, chipsets, RAM amounts and storage, but the Xiaomi Mi 10 has a bigger (albeit lower resolution) screen, more camera lenses, and a bigger battery, all at a likely lower price. That makes it sound very promising on paper, but specs don’t tell the full story, so we’d advise waiting for our full review before buying the Mi 10. Plus, the Samsung Galaxy S20 does have the edge in some areas, such as its 120Hz refresh rate and water resistance, so the decision might come down to which features you most value. But we’re big fans of the Samsung Galaxy S20, and based on the specs there’s a high chance we’ll be just as impressed with the Xiaomi Mi 10. This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
| Stuck on Skyrim? Given up on GTA? How to clear your gaming pile of shame Posted: 05 Apr 2020 02:00 AM PDT How does this happen? How can we have gone from writing a letter to Santa to top up our two-games-a-year allowance to causally splashing out the cash on new games every other day? Whether it was the allure of cheap-as-chips Steam sales, the bite-sized pricing of attractive indies, or the ever growing library of ‘free’ PlayStation Plus and Xbox Live Gold subscription titles, it’s not unheard of for gamers to have dozens of games they’ve never even played, let alone finished. And so the so-called ‘Gaming Pile of Shame’ was christened online – that stack of guilt-inducing games that seem like a great purchase at the time that now stare back pleadingly at you from your shelf every time your finger hovers over that ‘buy’ button. So, with most of the world in isolation, has there ever been a better time to tackle that pile? To vanquish the last boss on the road to gaming redemption? To allow you to buy a brand new game with the clear conscience of a fully defeated library? Let’s face it – it’s now or never. Here’s our top tips to beat your gaming pile of shame. Gaming Pile of Shame: how to knock it down to sizeStep 1: Stop buying new games! It’s the obvious first step. Just stop. Put that wallet away and cleanse your mind of your credit card numbers. Your gaming pile of shame will just keep growing if you keep adding more titles to it, and you’ll be even worse than when it started. If a sale kicks off, ask yourself: do I really want this game, and might it become even cheaper by the time I get around to playing it anyway? You may save yourself some money in the long run, though exceptions can be made in the case of games that may be heavily spoiler-filled. As a compromise, work a ‘one-in, one-out’ operation – you can’t buy a new game unless you finish an old one first. Step 2: Use HowLongToBeat.com This is a great resource if you’re not sure where to start with that pile. HowLongToBeat.com is a crowd-sourced list of game lengths – players submit their completion times on ‘main story’ playthroughs, ‘main story + extras’ and ‘completionist’ runs, as well as giving an average on them all. It’ll give you an idea of what to expect on the length of a game before you start, though of course it’s not an exact art – everyone plays a game slightly differently. You can import your Steam PC gaming library list to automatically get a rundown on your entire catalogue, and there’s an unofficial mobile app for the site, too. Step 3. Start on the shorter ones Once you’ve been through HowLongToBeat and assessed your library, we’d recommend picking out a few of the shorter ones and hitting them first. There’s a sense of achievement knocking out a game like Firewatch or To The Moon in a few hours. You’ll be ticking a few easy ones off the list if you keep to walking simulators and the like, and you’ll be able to get some momentum going. Step 4. Dial back the multiplayer matches For many, the Gaming Pile of Shame refers to single-player games with campaign or story modes. Multiplayer-focused titles can be mastered, but never really finished, so they’re OK to dip in and out of without too much guilt attached. If you’re trying to get through that guilt pile, dial back your multiplayer allowance – as you’ve only got a finite amount of play time to work with, and a good multiplayer game will always be there to revisit when the pile of shame has been worked through. Step 5. Recruit a co-op buddy Playing a game with a co-op campaign mode? If it’s felt like a bit of a slog in single-player, why not recruit a friend who also has the game? You’ll feel some comradeship, crack some jokes, and feel obligated to help them reach the end too. Everything’s always more fun with a pal. Step 6. Kill your darlings You bought it. You played it for five minutes. You didn’t like it. Yes, it got 5-star reviews from all your favorite gaming publications. Yes, it’s the latest entry into a series you’ve long loved. Yes, your friends herald it as the second coming. But if it isn’t for you, don’t force it – there’s no shame in admitting that you just didn’t like a game, rather than suffering through it. Get through your other games, then swap it for something you might like instead. That’s another one off the list, too. Step 7. Don’t fear the ‘Easy’ option Unless you’re a Dark Souls masochist, most games have some sort of easy difficulty level option. If you’re struggling with a tough part of a game, or are looking forward to a title solely for its storytelling, consider dialling the difficulty level down. It’s better to see all a game has to offer at a more leisurely pace than getting stuck in the first few hours of it. Step 8. Give up on achievement chasing 100% beating a game is a rare and wondrous achievement. But many games’ achievement lists are ludicrous. Beat a game on every difficulty level? Pull off 100,000 perfect dodges? Blow up a million zombies with your bare hands? Don’t bother – just do the bits of the game you enjoy, get to the end credits, and tick it off your list. Step 9. Commit to two titles (and an on-the-go game) Committing to games on your list is the key to finishing them. Jumping between two dozen won’t see you beating any of them. But variety is the spice of life, and different games can suit many different moods, scenarios and play session lengths. Rather than burning yourself out on just one game, pick two from very different genres that you can jump between as respite from the other, and a portable or mobile game for when you’re in bed or on-the-go. You’ll have a game for all seasons then. Step 10. Have fun! It goes without saying, this one, but you play games for fun! Don’t look down upon your pile of shame like some mountain to be conquered, but a box of chocolates to be enjoyed. This is one of those rare occasions where the saying “it’s the taking part that counts” isn’t just an empty platitude. Whether you beat your pile or just give up entirely, that stack of discs and downloads will have hours of great memories waiting to be unlocked. Get stuck in! This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
| Innovative ways to speed up the fight against coronavirus using drones Posted: 05 Apr 2020 01:25 AM PDT Governments can use the capabilities of drones to speed up the fight against the coronavirus (Covid-19) without humans getting the risk of infection, an industry expert said. “Covid-19 has prompted more use cases for drones. We must put drones to our advantage as this technology offers a unique and safe way to conduct remotely without human-to-human interactions,” Rabih Bou Rashid, CEO of Falcon Eye Drones Services (FEDS), told TechRadar Middle East. FEDS is the first drone-as-a-service (DaaS) company in the Middle East and is ranked seventh globally in the ‘top drone service provider- mapping, surveying and inspection category’ as per the Drone Service Provider Ranking Report 2019 by Drone Industry Insights. Terra Drone from Japan is ranked first, followed by Aerodyne from Malaysia and Cyberhawk from the UK. According to MarketWatch, the market size of commercial drones will grow to $16.20b in 2025 compared to $2.64b in 2019, at an annual growth rate of 25.4%. The Dubai-headquartered company said that authorities do not need to send paramedics or humans to quarantine areas as drones can replace humans and do the job. “Every authority across the globe, be it the police or security people, are using drones to cover a wider area of monitoring. A police car can only monitor one road but with a drone, they can monitor a larger geographical area,” Rashid said. Dubai and Sharjah police are now utilising drones to disseminate messages to encourage residents to stay home and avoid stepping out unless necessary. Rashid said that authorities can deploy drones to monitor people who defy government decisions, allowing strict enforcement of regulations. “Surveillance drones are capable of identifying those who have broken the country’s confinement laws. The drones are also used to guide crowds and vehicles in places prone to infection in a much safer and more efficient manner,” he said. “We are in talks with Abu Dhabi authorities in case the pandemic situation gets worse,” he said. Moreover, he said that drones can be used to spray sterilisation liquid or disinfectant in an area where humans do not want to go.
Measuring body temperature from a distanceRashid said that they have drones which can carry 16 litres of spraying disinfectant to fumigate large areas without sending people into impacted places and drone sprays are estimated to be 50 times more efficient than hand sprays. In early 2020, FEDS, along with the UAE’s Ministry of Climate Change and Environment, has completed its drone seeding of 6.25 million Ghaf and Samar trees across 25 locations in a span of few days. The other use case, he said is that drones can help detect new Covid-19 cases as they are equipped with a dual visual and infrared image sensor—making it easy to measure body temperature from a safe distance and reducing the risk of further infection. “Drones can travel up to one-kilometre radius, allowing for a large area observation in a shorter period. The ability to deliver daily assistance at a distance makes it a favourable technology in the future,” Rashid said. FEDS works with all the municipalities in the UAE and Saudi Arabia, utility companies, oil and gas companies. “We have about 100 clients and have completed about 500 jobs in GCC since inception in 2014. Out of this, 90% are DaaS while 10% is selling the hardware and software. We have about 50 drones under our fleet,” he said. However, Rashid said that the delivery of goods by drones will take at least three to five years for it to become a reality. Dubai is supposed to launch flying taxis this year. “The idea has been put on hold by the regulators as a lot of things have to happen before it is to be implemented on a large scale. We have the technology but don’t have the infrastructure and Unmanned Traffic Management (UTM), which is under development for autonomously controlling operations to manage drone traffic,” he said. Drones will become part of our daily livesA drone can fly without UTM but infrastructure such as where does the drone land if you are in a high-rise building or a safe pod to land in congested places is key, Rashid said. As the skies are expected to get congested with multiple drones delivering, he said that there is a race to build UTM, which is similar to control towers in the airport and which should be assisted by AI and listen to a central command and to each drone at the same time. “If a drone is flying, it should know which are the other drones that are flying around its vicinity. Because of Covid-19, regulators might speed up the process as it is more needed than ever now,” he said. He added that a lot of companies are building UTMs and “we may see a standard global UTM or every country may have its own UTM”. In the future, he said that drones will be an essential part of the daily lives of humans and will be as vital as phones are to everyone today. “Today, phones are connected to fridges, washing machines and connected homes. In future, drones will be connected to the phones too and can go to the local store and buy things to facilitate life. E-commerce firms will be able to deliver things within an hour or two. It is only a matter of when,” he said. This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
| Best TV 2020: the 8 best flatscreen televisions from the past year Posted: 05 Apr 2020 12:46 AM PDT The best TVs of 2020 are truly a sight to behold. Offering the best picture processing, connectivity, smart platforms, format support, build and design, these are the sets that were unrivalled throughout the past year – or, rivalled only by each other. There are a huge number of televisions entering the market each year, all of them vying for your attention, and your cash. That's why we've brought together our pick of the best TVs for 2020, for a range of panel technologies like QLED and OLED, and the best affordable models among the truly high-range displays out there. We realise 2020 is still getting underway, and there will no doubt be sets in the near future replacing some of the models on this list – still largely from 2019 – so make sure you check back in the coming weeks to see what else knocks this big-hitting televisions from their perch. CES 2020 will certainly have surprises for us, too.
The most important thing to remember is that all of these sets were elevated by their impressive performance, but that not all of them may be the best TV for your own home. Making sure you're buying a set with the right sizing for your home, and capabilities for your needs, is the next step after landing on this guide. If you're feeling confused, our guide to the best TVs available will help you separate bargain-buy panels from the best 4K screens, and which sets are worth connecting to that 4K Blu-ray player you've been eyeing up. We'll help you find an awesome flatscreen without wasting hours of research comparing spec sheets. You can also check out our best 4K TVs guide, or just the cheapest 4K TV prices for a truly bargain deal. But, if you're looking for the best-of-the-best TV out there today without limits or stipulations, this is the place for you. "So, should I buy a TV now or wait it out?"This is a question we're asked a lot. Like most technology, TVs are getting incrementally better all the time – which means, yes, if you wait a year there will probably be a bigger, flashier TV out there for less money. But, that said, there has recently been a huge flurry of progress as manufacturers have rushed to embrace new display standards including Ultra HD, Wide Colour Gamut and HDR. The majority of smart TV manufacturers now support these next generation of features, but you'll have to check the small print in a few cases. So long as your next TV purchase supports these technologies (looking for an Ultra HD Premium certification is a good way to go), we reckon you won't be kicking yourself in six months' time when the next batch of sets arrive. If you do want to future-proof against the next wave of hardware specifications, though, the new HDMI 2.1 standard is going to prove crucial for serious gaming setups: allowing support for 8K resolution at 60 frames per second, 4K at 120, alongside a range of new gaming features that will be supported over HDMI. But unless you're seriously into your gaming then we reckon you're safe making a purchase now.
The best TVs of 2020Replacing the LG C8 model from last year, the LG C9 OLED is a stunning evolution of the TV-maker's OLED technology. Combining a stunning display with an immense amount of features and formats – with LG's brilliant webOS smart platform – this is undoubtedly one of the best 4K TVs ever made. There aren't huge differences with last year's model, but the addition of the 2nd Gen a9 processor means the picture processing is truly top-notch. While it's not as bright as an LCD TV, those deep blacks make a huge difference to the dynamic range of the image. It’s also capable of vibrant and gorgeous colours, not to mention an astounding level of detail with native 4K content. There are more expensive LG models in the range: notable the W9 and E9 OLEDs, though you're mainly paying for the fancier form factor and bigger audio output. For an OLED TV this year – or any TV, really – that performs for the price, you should really be considering the C9. Read the full review: LG C9 OLED (OLED55C9, OLED65C9, OLED77C9) The 8K television we've been waiting for? With only so much 4K content out there, you'd be forgiven for thinking Samsung may have jumped the gun slightly on this one. But this is still the world's first true 8K TV, and while it's easy to be critical about the Samsung Q900R, it truly does usher in a new era of TV picture quality. The 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 Q900R is a vision of the future that’s spectacularly worth buying. In the UAE, the 75-inch with the model QA75Q900RBKXZN goes for AED 24,999 and the 82-inch with the model QA82Q900RBKXZN that retails for AED 31,999. Read our full review: Samsung Q900R 8K QLED TV It looks like someone on Samsung’s TV design team has been watching 2001: A Space Odyssey. The 65-inch Q9 is a ringer for that film’s mysterious black monolith thanks to the way both its front and back sides are completely flat and feature ultra-robust, polished finishes. Ultra HD HDR playback is what the Q9F was created to do and, given Samsung’s potent HDR track record, it's no surprise to find that it does it supremely well. Even though the Q9F has 4K HDR optimisation in its DNA, it’s capable of looking seriously good with high definition standard dynamic range content too. The X930E Series builds on last year's X930D series in a few important ways, the first of which is by including one of Sony’s new X1 Extreme chipsets. These are around 40% more powerful than the original X1 chips, and introduce separate databases to help the TV analyze noise and upscale sub-4K sources to the screen’s native 4K resolution. Add in an apparently much-improved sound system and Sony’s Triluminos technology for delivering today’s wider color ranges and the X930E series seems to tick all the right boxes. Unfortunately, though, even an improved version of Sony’s Slim Backlight Drive can’t completely hide the fact that with current edge LED technology there’s always a backlight-based price to pay for all that HDR-sating brightness. Last year the Samsung Q9FN won plaudits galore for its features and image quality. But it's now been replaced on our list of the best 4K TVs by the Q90 QLED TV. The Q9FN 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. It's not too much of a leap to say that the Samsung Q90 is the most impressive QLED we have reviewed to date, incorporating comprehensive features and cutting-edge picture innovations. As a result, this TV can deliver a performance that is capable of competing with and often surpassing even the best OLEDs. Read the full review: Samsung Q90 QLED TV review If LG's OLED isn't your thing, spend some time checking out Sony's version. The 55A1 – and the A1 OLED series overall – are crowd pleasers in just about every way. Their ‘picture only’ design has been beautifully realized, managing to be simultaneously subtle and dramatic. Their vibrating screen delivers a far more powerful and effective sound performance than I’d thought possible, too. The real stars of the show here, though, are the A1’s exquisitely detailed, contrast-rich and colourful pictures. These prove emphatically what we’ve long suspected: More brands using OLED technology can only lead to good things. Only it's exceptionally high price tag prevents it from toppling LG's budget panels. The TH-65FZ1000M is a luscious OLED that puts performance first. Its colour handling is class-leading, and its HDR talents are a match for any of its rivals. In fact, it just might offer the best picture performance that we’ve seen on a 4K OLED to date. The TH-65FZ1000M isn’t the complete package, lacking as it does Dolby Vision and Atmos compatibility, but it wins more arguments than it loses. We suspect you’ll appreciate the easy sophistication of its smart platform, the quality of that low-lag game mode, and the sheer musicality of the Technics soundbar. 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 LED TV: Direct LED LED TV: Edge LED OLED TV Quantum Dot Plasma TV Curved TV What resolution tech should I go for?HD Ultra HD and 4K HDR 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. HDTV'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 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. 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. Questions to ask before you buyTaking the time to consider these questions will make choosing the best TV easier... HD or 4K?4K TVs are stunning and even though there is currently little native 4K content to enjoy, the good ones are able to upscale HD to 4K very well. That being said, unless you're buying a very large TV - we're talking 65-inches plus - full HD should be adequate. What size do I need?This is dictated by the dimensions of the room where the TV is going and the amount of cash you're prepared to spend. As a general rule of thumb, work out how far from the set you'll be sitting (in inches), multiply that distance by 0.535 and then round up the result to the nearest screen size. Bear in mind that a decent smaller telly is often a more sensible investment than a larger, less accomplished one. And if you're going to buy a 4K TV, you can sit much closer because of the higher resolution. 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. Can I connect my older, analogue kit?Most new sets carry no more than two composite connections, while S-video is fast approaching obsolescence. Check that your new TV can hook up to older digiboxes, VCRs or DVD decks that you might want to plug into it. 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! This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
| Best fitness tracker 2020: the top 10 activity bands on the planet Posted: 05 Apr 2020 12:46 AM PDT If you're after the best fitness tracker as we enter a fresh new year, then you're in luck: we've got all the best fitness wearables rounded up here, all of them able to help you get the data you need to stick to your resolutions. Think of these options like an electronic watchdog for your health, putting a finger on your pulse, constantly measuring your vitals, checking your quality of sleep, counting your steps and (most of the time) even more. Some folks even call them smart bracelets, mostly because activity bands now look as good as traditional jewelry, but they're also so light you'll barely notice them on your wrist. Before you go any further, know that we aren't evaluating all the highest-end tech wristwear in this list. For that you'll want our best smartwatch guide, which includes top-end products like the Apple Watch 5, Fossil Sport and Samsung Galaxy Watch Active 2. You also won't find the Fitbit Ionic, Fitbit Versa or Fitbit Versa Lite here either, which, despite their brand name, are all smartwatches and are priced accordingly - although they do feature on our best Fitbit guide. Right now this guide is designed to show you the best of the best that your money will get you. We'll show you how each ranks in terms of stand-out features, specs, price, design, the quality of the software you'll be using on your phone and much more.
More refined than the Fitbit Charge 2, the Charge 3 is Fitbit's newest device and has a more lightweight design that looks better on your wrist. It's also one of our favorite Fitbit products money can buy right now. The display is bigger and clearer than a lot of other fitness trackers on this list, but it's still a black and white screen. There's no onboard GPS, like some other trackers on this list have, but it's waterproof and offers a full fitness suite including a heart rate tracker. You can track GPS by pairing your phone with the tracker too. You have to spend a bit extra on this than other fitness trackers you can buy in this same list, but if you enjoy the whole Fitbit app and experience and would also like access to notifications and Fitbit's fantastic sleep tracking, you'll want to opt for this as it's one of the company's best trackers ever. Read our Fitbit Charge 3 review What's next? We don't expect to hear about it soon, but we've brainstormed what we'd like to see come to a Fitbit Charge 4. Our highest ranked Garmin product in the best fitness tracker list is also one of the most accomplished in its range of health bands. This device isn't made for serious athletes like a variety of other products from the Garmin brand, but instead this is for those who want to be able to track the odd bit of exercise and have an attractive band to do it. The screen is bigger on this version than other Garmin products, and it has a battery that should last you around a week depending on how much exercise you'll be doing. There's also an innovative feature called body battery that helps you learn when exactly is the best time to exercise depending on how much energy you have. This is great for those who are just as interested in their recovery and general wellbeing as they are clocking up the miles. Read the full Garmin Vivosmart 4 review Taking over from the Huawei Band 2 Pro is the Huawei Band 3 Pro. This is one of the best fitness trackers you can buy if you're on a strict budget, and it has some amazing features considering how much it costs. The Band 3 Pro comes with GPS onboard, it has a water resistant design (which means you can take it swimming) and there's a 0.95-inch color screen to display all of your stats on your wrist. We've found the heart rate monitor to be accurate, and while the GPS could be quicker at locking on we also found it to be precise. If you're looking for an affordable entry-level device for your first foray into the world of fitness tracking, this is a great place to start. Read our Huawei Band 3 Pro review This isn't the most capable fitness tracker in our best of list, but it does a lot considering its price and you'll get access to all of Fitbit's top-end services. The Fitbit Inspire HR unsurprisingly offers a heart rate tracker alongside a variety of other fitness tracking capabilities. It isn't as capable as the Fitbit Charge 3 as it lacks swim tracking or Fitbit Pay integration, but that's understandable as this is much cheaper. It features a slimmer and more comfortable design than a lot of other trackers you can buy, so if you're after a Fitbit that won't be heavy on your wrist you may want to consider the Inspire HR as your next fitness band. Read the full Fitbit Inspire HR review The Samsung Gear Fit 2 Pro hasn't made hefty changes to the company's wearable line since the Gear Fit 2, but there are a few improvements to an already great tracker. The Gear Fit 2 Pro has a gorgeous design that looks fantastic on your wrist and as it's sporting a big, beautiful AMOLED display you'll be able to see all of your stats nice and clearly. It also comes with GPS built-in so you can leave your phone at home while you go for a run as well as a top-notch heart rate sensor that should give you one of the most accurate readings possible from a wrist based tracker. Plus it will track your swimming too. Read the full Samsung Gear Fit 2 Pro review What's next? The Samsung Galaxy Fit was announced alongside the Galaxy Watch Active in February, but it doesn't look like it'll be a full follow-up to the Gear Fit 2 Pro. Sitting in the exact same spot as the Honor Band 3 did before it, the Band 4 from Honor is a great budget pick if you're looking to save money on your fitness tracker. This is much cheaper than a lot of the other bands on this list, and while it may not come with GPS or solid notifications it does offer good tracking for a casual runner as well as a beautiful color OLED display. It's a small screen you'll have to work with here, but the point of the Honor Band 4 is to pack the essentials into a small package and keep the cost as low as possible. It's not for everyone, but you may find it the best fitness tracker for you. Read our full Honor Band 4 review It's not as stylish as most of the Fitbit products, but the reason the Garmin Vivosport appears in this list before products from the latter company. This is cheaper than most Fitbit products but it comes with GPS built-in and offers a solid seven days battery life from a single charge. Although it's waterproof, it wont' track your swimming easily but the Vivosport excels for other kinds of workouts and is great for tracking your jogging and cycling. Read our full Garmin Vivosport review The Garmin Vivofit 4 is one of the best fitness trackers the company has ever created, and that now means it sits in this prestigious list alongside some other fantastic tracking products. We particularly like the super-long battery life of the Vivofit 4, which means you won't need to recharge your device for a whole year. That means you can wear it all day, then all night for sleep tracking and not have to worry about recharging it. You'll miss out on phone notifications by buying this tracker, but you do get the benefit of an always-on color display, accurate fitness tracking features - just note these are more limited than some other trackers on this list - as well as access to an in-depth app to break down your stats on your smartphone. Read the full Garmin Vivofit 4 review
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| The best noise-cancelling headphones in the UAE for 2020 Posted: 05 Apr 2020 12:19 AM PDT The best noise-cancelling headphones buying guide: Welcome to TechRadar's round-up of the best noise-cancelling headphones to buy in 2020. The best noise-cancelling headphones can help you slip into audio nirvana in all kinds of situations, whether you're commuting and trying to escape the sound of traffic and sniffling fellow commuters, on a long-haul flight and need to drown out the sound of kids screaming or just want to get away from everything and get comfy with your favorite music at home. Noise-cancelling headphones are true wonders of the modern era because they can totally tune out any unwanted sounds, while simultaneously making your music sound even better than any old pair of in-ear earbuds (except for the fantastic Sony WF-1000XM3s, of course). If you're yet to try a pair, we bet you'll be truly blown away by just how well they can cancel out the outside world so you can focus on your favorite music, audiobook, podcast or anything else with zero distractions. Plus, with Black Friday and Cyber Monday fast approaching, it's a great time to start researching which pair of headphones you're going to buy at a discount during the massive sales event. How to buy noise-cancelling headphonesSo what do you want to look for when looking for a pair of the best noise-cancelling headphones? Look for anything with the words "active noise-cancellation technology" on it. Active noise cancellation involves some pretty interesting processes to cancel out sound. Along with the padding which passively blocks sound, microphones planted in the ear wells of headphones actively analyze the ambient noise level and reflect sound waves back into your ear that work to zap the outside noise. The goal is to hear nothing but the music, or whatever it is you're listening to. Active noise cancelling headphones are more effective at what they do, but the downside is that this noise cancellation requires batteries in order to function, which means you'll have to remember to keep them charged. Now that you know all that, you're ready to choose a set. Let's take a look at the best noise-cancelling headphones around: Additional resources:
What are the best noise-cancelling headphones?The Sony WH-1000XM3 are the best noise-cancelling headphones in the world two years running. Sure, they might be a small refinement of last year's excellent WH-1000XM2, but subtle tweaks like using USB-C instead of microUSB and adding padding along the bridge help make Sony's award-winning cans even better. So why does everyone love these Sony headphones so much? Well, it's exceptionally good at cancelling outside noise. Put a pair on while vacuuming and you'll barely hear the motor running. For music lovers, the Sony WH-1000XM3 features aptX HD and Sony LDAC, two of the best ways to listen to Hi-Res music from your phone without a wire. Finally, all of Sony's flagship headphones offer both Google Assistant and, starting in 2019, Alexa support, making them not only the best noise-cancelling cans on the market but some of the smartest, too. Read the full review: Sony WH-1000XM3 They don't quite beat the Sony WH-1000XM3s in terms of battery life and price, but the Bose Noise Cancelling Headphones 700 are still a brilliant pair of over-ear cans. Traditionally, noise-canceling headphones have been designed to block out the environmental sounds around you, so that you can hear your music more clearly (or catch some shut-eye on a noisy flight). This can be really effective if you’re listening to music. If you’re making a phone call however, the person you’re speaking to can still hear everything that’s happening around you, whether you’re standing on a busy street or trying to speak on a rumbling train. The Bose Noise Cancelling Headphones 700 seek to remedy this, by applying noise-cancelation to phone calls as well as music, which is fantastic feature. The sound quality is undeniably good, with a vibrant, lively character and well-balanced soundstage. If you’re trying to decide between buying the Sony WH-1000XM3s and the Bose Noise Cancelling Headphones 700, we’d recommend going for the former because of that lower price and better battery life. That being said, you wouldn’t be making a mistake if you opted for the Bose cans instead (and we wouldn’t blame you if you did) – they sound great, look stunning, and the noise-cancelation is out of this world. Read the full review: Bose Noise Cancelling Headphones 700 The Bose QuietComfort 25 are the best noise-cancelling headphones we've ever used. We say that as a publication who strives for maximum performance per dollar when purchasing headphones. We say that as someone who believes that, in most circumstances, you can find a cheaper product that performs as well, if not better, than a more expensive option if you do some research. But, in the case of the Bose QuietComfort 25, that's simply not true. They are still the best noise-cancelling headphones on the planet in 2018. If you want the same level of excellent noise-cancellation as the Bose QC35s but want to save a bit of money, consider opting for the last-generation QC25s. (The biggest sacrifice you'll be making is wireless.) Nevertheless, the QC25s are a finely-tuned set of headphones that provide over 35 hours of very good noise-cancelling performance with one AAA battery. Read the full review: Bose QuietComfort 25 Coming in next is the Bose QuietComfort 35 II - a nearly identical product to the already-excellent Bose QuietComfort 35 but updated with Google Assistant. This means you still get the class-leading noise cancellation Bose is known for, good sound quality and incredible comfort, plus a convenient assistant to answer any inquiries you might have while traveling. Taken as a whole, the Bose QC35 II NC is an excellent headphone for travelers and commuters. Bose has found a good balance of features that will satisfy most mainstream listeners. While we don't love them as much as the better-sounding Sony WH-1000XM2, they're still top of the class for noise cancellation. Read the full review: Bose QuietComfort 35 II With noise-cancelling tech just as effective as that in headphones from rival Bose, and with a more musical sonic ability, the Sennheiser HD 4.50 BTNC are a definite contender for the noise-cancelling crown. More affordable and easy to travel with, these lightweight headphones are a great value all-rounder, whether for flights, commuter trains or busy offices. Design-wise, the Sennheiser HD 4.50 BTNCs seem a more slimmed-down, lighter and more focused effort than the bulky and expensive alternatives from Bose and Sony; and crucially, the HD 4.50 BTNCs are just as good with audio, and almost as good on noise-canceling. Whether you're after noise canceling for long-haul ravel, for the commute, or just to stay more productive in a noisy office, the Sennheiser HD 4.50 BTNCs are worth considering. Read the full review: Sennheiser HD 4.50 BTNC The PXC 550's greatest strength is their sound. Other wireless noise-cancelling headphones might offer a better user interface or better noise-cancellation technology, but ultimately none of the above match up to the sound quality of these Sennheisers. However, that said, there are a couple of irritations that prevent us from being able to fully and unreservedly recommend them, such as unresponsive touch controls. These annoyances aren't quite deal-breakers, but there are definitely other noise-cancelling headphones out there that don't suffer from the same issues. Read the full review: Sennheiser PXC 550 It's not often you'll find a pair of wired earbuds, let alone a pair of true wireless earbuds on a list of the best noise-cancelling headphones; considering it's still rare to find the technology in earphones at all, the Sony WF-1000XM3s are very impressive indeed, and fully deserve a place in this roundup. The Sony WF-1000XM3s manage to offer a level of noise-cancellation that's very good for a pair of earbuds – they won't offer the same isolation as a pair of over-ear cans, but if you're after a sleek form factor then the compromise is worth it. Not only are these hands down the best-looking true wireless headphones out there, but they combine serious noise cancelling tech with fist-pumping musicality. If you don’t want the inconvenience of carrying full-size cans, they’re a persuasive alternative. Read the full review: Sony WF-1000XM3 If you haven't found something quite to your liking so far, we have one last option for you to look at – the all-new Nura Nuraphone over-ear/in-ear hybrid. Their form factor means you’ve not only got an earbud sitting at the entrance of your ear canal, but also an over-ear cushion sitting over your entire ear. This effectively means you’ve got two physical barriers meaning that the noise from the outside world can’t get to your ears. While more traditional over-ear headphones do a better job offering useful features at a reasonable price, the Nuraphone will appeal to the more experimental audio crowd looking to be on the bleeding-edge of the next big thing. Read our full review: Nuraphone Headphones We're constantly reviewing new noise-cancelling headphones, but let us know on Twitterif there is a set that you'd like us to take a look at. This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
| The cheapest AMD Ryzen 4000 laptop with 8-core is about to land and it is a game changer Posted: 04 Apr 2020 08:00 PM PDT AMD’s latest Renoir Ryzen 4000 mobile processors have been the talk of the town over the past few weeks and the first devices are about to hit the market. Newegg will start to ship the Asus TUF Gaming A15 (TUF506IU-ES74) from April 9 for just under $1,000 (roughly £820/AU$1670) and you can preorder now to be among the first to receive them. The retailer doesn’t ship globally, but you can use one of many parcel forwarding services to send it from the US to almost any other country. Bear in mind, you may be charged sales tax and associated fees, and after sales can be rather problematic.
This is the cheapest laptop with an 8-core CPU and early benchmarks show some very, very promising results, both from a pure performance view and from a battery life perspective. In other words, it is very, very fast without leaving you with a sub 1-hour battery life. While the TUF Gaming A15 laptop primarily target gamers, its performance and features will make it appealing to a much wider audience. For a start, it has some interesting rugged features (e.g. MIL-STD-810G certification and self-cleaning fans with anti-dust technology) and a massive 90Whr battery. Its Ryzen 7 4800H CPU is paired with 16GB RAM, a 512GB PCIe NVMe SSD and an Nvidia Geforce GTX 1660 Ti (with 6GB dedicated GDDR6 memory), plus a 15.6-inch 144Hz IPS display. It is admittedly rather heavy, but given the components - which you’d usually find in a mobile workstation - we’re happy to compromise.
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