Apple : Zoom is buckling under the strain of remote working and distance learning |
- Zoom is buckling under the strain of remote working and distance learning
- 15 things to do at home this weekend when you're bored in self-isolation
- Bot traffic fueling rise of fake news and cybercrime
- Grab Norton AntiVirus or 360 for up to 60% off in ANZ Easter sale
- Sling TV deal: last chance to get free cable TV for the next two weeks
- Amazon Prime Day date reportedly delayed until August at earliest
- Amazon Prime Day 2020 in the US: is it going to be in August this year?
- Amazon Prime Day 2020 in the UK: will the date be August this year?
- Apple Watch price cut: get the Apple Watch 3 on sale for just $199
- Black Widow gets November 2020 release date as Disney resets its theatrical calendar
- GoToMeeting adds more features
- Having pets doesn’t mean ditching your robot vacuum
- Smartphone deal at Sprint: switch to Sprint and get a $300 Mastercard
- VR is the future of remote working
- How to keep your business secure with remote workers
- Zoom-related domain names grow significantly as malware threat rises
- The best Dell laptops 2020
- Surface Book 3: what we want to see
- Firefox 'keeps private files sent over Twitter for a week'
- The best PC gaming headsets of 2020
| Zoom is buckling under the strain of remote working and distance learning Posted: 03 Apr 2020 05:02 PM PDT Zoom Video Communications recently experienced an outage as more people are now using the video conferencing service to work from home or for distance learning. Zoom users on the East Coast of the US and in parts of Europe reported seeing error messages while attempting to log in to the company's web client on Friday morning. The outage also affected parts of California, Florida and the Midwest as well as Malaysia. At the time of the outage, Zoom's status page said that its web client was “under maintenance”. On its developer forum page though, the company tried to reassure users, saying:
"During these tough times, we are seeing a massive increase in demand for our services. To continue serving our incredible services to our customers and developers, we may be making changes rapidly." When Zoom's web client briefly went down, the company advised users to download and install its desktop application instead until the issues were resolved. Surge in video conferencingSince the coronavirus outbreak began, businesses as well as consumers have turned to video conferencing software to work remotely as well as to stay in touch with friends and family. In fact, video conferencing apps saw record downloads on both Apple's App Store and on the Google Play Store in mid-march. Although there are loads of video conferencing apps and services to choose from, Zoom Video Communications quickly became a favorite during the outbreak due to its ease of use and compatibility across devices and browsers. However, a number of privacy issues were recently discovered in the company's software including how the service was sending data to Facebook (which was later fixed) and the fact that its video calls don't actually use end-to-end encryption. Zoom's CEO Eric S. Yuan has since apologized for major security vulnerabilities and promised to do better going forward. As lockdown measures around the world are still in place and employees and students are now working from home, Zoom and other video conferencing services could likely see more outages in the future due to increased demand during this trying time.
Via CRN This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
| 15 things to do at home this weekend when you're bored in self-isolation Posted: 03 Apr 2020 05:00 PM PDT Finding fun things to do at home when bored has become the premier challenge we didn't foresee when making our 2020 predictions. Right now, weekdays and weekends are kind of blurring into each other right now, so you need this. So, freshly updated for this first weekend of April, we present our comprehensive list of great ideas to keep yourself entertained. Think of it this way: we're your digital tour guide to help you ride out the coronavirus outbreak, and the world's seemingly indefinite confinement. Let us be your distraction from today's surreal situation, as we point you in the direction of entertaining and productive activities. You can do anything you want – so long as it's indoors and you're still self-distancing, which, sure, kind of limits your options. But our things-to-do ideas include new movies, live sports alternatives, and fresh games that will eat up your time. There are also podcasts and cleaning tips to boot. So enjoy - and we'll keep doing our bit to help make self-isolation bearable, and keep you safe, as we all ride out these challenging times. 1. Watch at-home movies that released earlyThere are a number of big movies that are supposed to either still be in theaters or weren't due to be available on demand until much later. Theaters are closed down, so major studios have turned to streaming them to you at home early. New movies to buy: Sonic the Hedgehog sped up its release to meet the demand at everyone bored at home and looking for things to do, and so did Bad Boys for Life, The Invisible Man, Call of the Wild, Bloodshot, Birds of Prey, The Hunt, Dolittle, Emma, I Still Believe and The Wayback. All are priced to own. New rentals to rent: 1917, Jumanji: The Next Level, Richard Jewell, and Bombshell, while Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker has now hit pay-to-own status. Note: Disney's Onward is priced-to-own, too, but it's on Disney Plus as of today in the US and Canada, so subscribers there should opt for that free trial. We've put together a series of short videos to help keep you entertained and informed at home – see below for our roundups of the best headphones, webcams and tablets, advice on cleaning your phone and more... 2. Tune into late-night shows – they're backThe world need comedy right now, and late-night comedians are providing just that this week after a brief hiatus due to coronavirus self-isolation. No, they're not in their usual studios, but Conan O'Brien, Jimmy Kimmel, Jimmy Fallon, Stephen Colbert, and James Corden are yucking it up at their respective home. The production quality, well, that varies. But the laughs are authentic enough that is has some charm. There are a couple of options to tune in: Sling TV, YouTube TV, Hulu Live and, for the two Late Shows, CBS All Access. 3. Find your live sports fix in these gamesNormally, our things to do at home when bored list includes live streaming sports games, especially baseball at this time of year. That's all caput thanks to this self-isolation period, and the brief thought of teams playing without crowd was quickly scrapped when NBA players started testing positive for coronavirus. Here's the next best thing – and one that keeps everyone safe: you are the one going through the season playing at your favorite sports teams in various video games. No Wimbledon? No problem.
4. Rewatch the iHeart Living Room ConcertCoronavirus and self-isolation knows no bounds – royalty, movie stars and musicians have been affected by this novel virus. With many performers forced to cancel tours, iHeart Radio and Fox came up with an idea: stream a concert from celebrity homes. It raised $8 million during and after the streaming concert, with the money going to the First Responders Children's Foundation and Feeding America. The actual video is free, but you may need a cable login or VPN to watch it, depending on your location. The hour-long video is hosted Sir Elton John, with performances by Alicia Keys, the Backstreet Boys, Billie Eilish, Green Day's Billie Joe Armstrong, Mariah Carey and Tim McGraw. Don't miss: Dave Grohl does a wonderful acoustic version of the Foo Fighters' "My Hero" and it's dedicated to selfless caretakers fighting Covid-19. 5. Apple Arcade's latest is built for the whole familyOur best Apple Arcade games list now includes Crossy Road Castle, a platform title that thrives on its four-player local multiplayer gameplay (fear not, single-player is a choice, just in case confined at home alone). The frantic action reminds us of all the New Super Mario Bros. games and the old Castle Crashers game that never made its way to iOS somehow. Developer Hipster Whale provides the next best thing. What's great about a game like Crossy Road Castle is that it's easy to get the entire family in on the multiplayer action thanks to Apple's family share feature. You're able to share this game with anyone in your iCloud family, and we just re-upped out Apple Arcade subscription (it's $4.99 / £4.99 / AU$7.99 a month) to do just that. 6. 'Tiger King' rules Netflix with absurdityEveryone is watching the new Netflix series Tiger King, and even if your video quality has been downgraded, it's worth streaming all seven episodes. It's our new favorite true crime documentary, surpassing The Staircase (also a winner if you haven't seen it). Right away, Tiger King and its colorful characters border on being so ridiculous, you'd swear they're not true. PSA: we've known some big cat lovers who couldn't stand watching it for more the five minutes, so, for them, we suggest February's rave documentary miniseries instead, HBO's McMillions. 7. Trivia is back in session, right on your phoneThere are multiple ways to partake in trivia, even though your local bar is closed. First up is HQ Trivia (iOS and Android), the once-popular live game show app that shut down in February. It's back at 9PM ET, at the exact time we need it. No, you won't find Scott Rogowsky hosting this 'trivia train' but Matt Richards was at the helm of Sunday's first game and regular quizzes followed. Shut-down bar trivia companies have transitioned to Twitch streaming due to self-distancing rules. Prominent brands include King Trivia (Sundays and Wednesdays at 10pm ET / 7pm PT) and Geeks Who Drink. It was one of the social of the things to do weekly in-person that has survived in a whole new isolation-friendly format. 8. Make a movie with free Final Cut Pro XFinal Cut Pro X and Logic Pro X are free for 90 days, meaning you have three months to make a movie or produce a song about your life in confinement courtesy of Apple. That's enough time to learn advanced techniques like color-grading without having to pay $299 / £299 / AU$499.99 for FCPX or $199 / £199 / AU$319.99 for Logic Pro X. While Adobe Premier Pro CC has become popular on Windows machines, Final Cut Pro is still king of Mac computers when it comes to making videos. 9. Take a trip... to a virtual museum or national parkYou can't go outside to do small things like go to a movie theater, never mind make much bigger plans like embarking on an expedition to another country. Trust us, it's a much better idea to stay at home during this coronavirus outbreak. Good news: our 10 virtual tours: see museums and the world without leaving home list allows you to visit world's most popular museums and US national parks virtually. You can use a VR headset, but these tours also work with a smartphone or tablet. Highlights include Machu Picchu in Peru (without the walking), The Louvre Museum in Paris (Mona Lisa told us to says "Hi"), and the Georgia Aquarium in the US (without all of the school students somehow completely blocking the giant Beluga whales). 10. Become a master chef with a meal kits serviceThe best thing to do at home mirrors what we liked doing when going out: eating. It's a harder now, with grocery store delivery time slots backed up globally. To the best of our ability, we're highlighting the best grocery delivery services in the US and grocery delivery services in the UK. Better yet, now is your chance to become a master chef with the best meal prep kits delivering step-by-step recipes to you along with the necessary ingredients. Blue Apron is our favorite in the US, while HelloFresh is available in both the US and UK. If you're not ready to flex your culinary skills, there are food delivery services in the US and similar takeaway apps in the UK that will get you ready-made foods from the restaurants you'd normally visit. You order get breakfast, lunch and dinner, and you'll be supporting many of the distressed restaurants in your area. 11. Play either Doom Eternal or Animal CrossingLast weekend, two new video games came out that couldn't be more different, and we're thankful for the variety provided by Bethesda Softworks and Nintendo.
Doom Eternal is a beautiful, but brutal reinvention of the first-person shooter series that actually makes life at the moment look... not so bad. This ride through Hell is one of the best experiences you'll have in 2020. Our full Doom Eternal review agrees, with a five-star rating and an Editor's Choice award. It's fast-paced at 60fps and has surpassed our expectations even when it played it in 8K with a $2,500 graphics card. Animal Crossing: New Horizons is on the other end of the spectrum – it's a ready to lull you into a sense that nothing is wrong whatsoever like a good ASMR. This is fine. Everything is fine, says main character Tim Nook. Nintendo's cute social life sim is ideal for today's self-isolation situation. Read our Animal Crossing: New Horizons review and think happy thoughts. One thing to note: while the new Animal Crossing is a must-have Nintendo Switch-exclusive, Doom Eternal is available on a wider set of platforms: PCs, PS4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch and even Google Stadia.
12. Watch movie series in orderNothing eats up more time than a good, long TV series, but because movies typically have bigger budgets and higher production value (outside a select few TV shows), we're switching it up (and also we ran out of TV shows to watch this weekend). Now is the perfect time to go through an entire movie franchise – in order. There are a couple different ways to watch the Marvel movies in order, and we have the links to where you can watch most of the 23 Marvel movies (Disney Plus being the easiest way to watch a majority of them). If you're looking for things to do during the coronavirus self-isolation, this will take you a total of 60 hours. We also have lists for how to watch Star Wars movies in order, Batman movies in order, James Bond movies in order (sadly 'No Time to Die' is on hold), Star Trek in order (including the new-ish Picard series), Harry Potter movies in order, and, if you're in the mood for some mindless Vin Diesel-helmed entertainment, Fast and Furious movies in order. 13 Read one of 100 top ebooksDo this... but indoors or away from people, please. It's easy to put off reading books when life gets busy and you have a commute. But you're probably free from your commute if you're working from home. So basically you have no excuse to flip through a few pages of an ebook. Where do you start? That's sometimes the hardest part, but we've been impressed with Amazon's 100 books to read in a lifetime list. Not all will be your cup of tea, but there's something here for everyone and most ebooks are conveniently discounted. Not a fan of reading? Hate the sound of your own voice in your head? Audible is the best remedy for that. The Amazon-owned audiobook company still offers a free 30-day membership. The best parts? Both ebooks and audiobooks are delivered instantly and Amazon won't run out of inventory on either. 14. Discover a new podcastPodcasts are by-and-large free and often strike the right balancing between being entertaining and informative. Notable podcasts including This American Life, Serial, and Stuff You Should Know – they're consistently in the top 50 on podcast platforms. If we can be a bit biased for a second, you should really check out Noise Cancelling, the best new tech podcast around. This is our new weekly podcast that talks about what's happening in tech, expanding on the daily written coverage of TechRadar. 15. Clean your gadgets – physically and digitallyWe launched a series of how to clean articles, which is timely given you've probably put this off for a long time in the lead up to the coronavirus outbreak. It's among the top things to do if you haven't wiped-down your filthy, germ-collecting gadgets. The biggest offender is your smartphone, so we launched a how to clean your phone guide, which mirrors our advice on how to clean your iPad or tablet and how to clean your laptop screen. It's very easy to forget about cleaning your AirPods, but they too could use a good rubdown, whether or not you see visible wax. Don't forget about your Nintendo Switch and cleaning all of your gaming peripherals. You'll hug those tightly during gaming marathons and they become germ magnets. Already done that? Now is also the best time to dive into your digital files with our how to backup your PC and how to format your Mac guides. Backing up your pictures with Google Photos is one of the best uses of your free time. We'll keep this list of things to do updated as the weeks of confinement continue and so long as we feel we're offering helpful advice. We're not in a global call to arms, but a worldwide call to couch – and we understand that can be difficult if you run out of fun ideas during the beginning of week two. We often give people buying advice, but we're just as happy to deliver enjoying advice. This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
| Bot traffic fueling rise of fake news and cybercrime Posted: 03 Apr 2020 04:05 PM PDT The coronavirus pandemic has disrupted daily life around the world and the WHO recently warned that an overabundance of information about the virus makes it difficult for people to differentiate between legitimate news and misleading information. At the same time, EU security services have warned that Russia is aggressively exploiting the coronavirus pandemic to push disinformation and weaken Western society through its bot army. The cybersecurity firm Radware has been using its bot manager to monitor internet traffic in an attempt to track the “infodemic” that both the WHO and EU security services have issued warnings on. According to its data, bots have upped their game and organizations in the social media, ecommerce and digital publishing industries have experienced a surge in bad bot traffic following the coronavirus outbreak.
The bots have been found to be executing various insidious activities including spreading disinformation, spam commenting and more. Radware also discovered that in February, 58.1 percent of bots had the capability to mimic human behavior. This means that they can disguise their identities, create fake accounts on social media sites and post their masters' propaganda while appearing as a genuine user. Scraping contentRadware's research suggests that cybercriminals are targeting media and digital publishing sites in order to scrape their unique content. This content is then published on malware-ridden websites to try and scam visitors looking for the latest news on the coronavirus. In fact, 27.7 percent of traffic on media sites in February was from bad bots carrying out automated activity, including scraping content. Ecommerce websites have also seen an increase in bot activity and during the same time period, 31.3 percent of their traffic was made up of bad bots. In a blog post revealing its findings, senior content marketer for Radware's product marketing team, Manwendra Mishra explained how bots will continue to contribute to misinformation about the coronavirus, saying: “As the coronavirus threat intensifies, bots will drive the infodemic much further, continuing to be an efficient tool for cybercriminals, nation-state actors, and conspiracy theorists alike. The impact of information — true or false — especially in times of fear, uncertainty and confusion is greater. Because communication channels are diverse, authorities have very little control of bot activity. In the coming months, we expect the use of bots to accelerate due to the COVID-19 pandemic and the US presidential election.”
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| Grab Norton AntiVirus or 360 for up to 60% off in ANZ Easter sale Posted: 03 Apr 2020 04:00 PM PDT With the world practically in lockdown, many of us have found ourselves working and learning from home on possibly unsecure networks. Cybercriminals and scammers are taking advantage of this situation and targeting devices left vulnerable to cyber attacks. The easiest way to protect yourself online while at home would be to download a strong antivirus solution, like Norton’s AntiVirus Plus or the company’s 360 range of solutions. However, a Norton subscription isn’t always cheap, and you could find yourself out of pocket each year by a couple of hundred dollars, depending on which product you opt for. You’re in luck, though, as Norton has just kicked off its Easter sale in Australia and New Zealand, with up to 60% off its entire 2020 antivirus solution line-up. In Australia, the basic solution – Norton AntiVirus Plus – is now available with a very significant 57% discount, while if you happen to be in New Zealand, you’ll be able to save a whopping 60%. These offers are available only for a limited time, so protect your devices for less by getting an antivirus package by April 17. Why choose NortonWe wouldn’t hesitate to recommend Norton’s antivirus solutions to you: the company has a long and clean history of protecting users online. Even it’s basic solution, the AntiVirus Plus, is more than enough for most users, ranking very high in our picks of the best antivirus packages available today. That said, Norton is definitely one of the more expensive options out there, but these deep discounts make sure you’re getting the best value for your money.
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| Sling TV deal: last chance to get free cable TV for the next two weeks Posted: 03 Apr 2020 03:44 PM PDT Social distancing at home just got a whole lot easier thanks to Sling TV. The TV streaming service is currently offering 14 days FREE of its Sling TV Blue plan - but this fantastic freebie ends on Sunday, April 5. This isn't a free trial and there's no commitment, contracts or payment details required - you can simply get 14 days free access to its Sling TV Blue service without paying a penny. - Head straight to the Sling website to take advantage of this offer As well as allowing simultaneous viewing on three screens, Sling TV Blue gives you access to over 45 live channels, free cloud DVR, over 50,000 on-demand titles. The Blue plan is ideal for anyone needing more news and kids orientated channels, some of which include Fox, NBC, USA, Bravo, TBS, FX, Syfy, Bloomberg TV, Fox News, Headline News and MSNBC. So ideal for anybody without cable or has recently cut the cord. But the offers don't stop there, the provider is also giving a $10 discount on all of its plans and offering a free Amazon Fire TV Stick if you prepay for two months.
Is Sling TV any good?It's definitely got TechRadar's approval! We love the fact that it allows you to customize your favorite channels on the app, and it's on-demand programming along with movies that you can rent is pretty handy. Not to mention that you can watch it on any device that can stream the app - this includes your tablet, phone, laptop, smart TV etc. What we also find it quite refreshing that there are no sneaky fees or long-term contracts - you just pay a flat fee for the this TV streaming service. Want to find out more? Make sure you check out our Sling TV review. This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
| Amazon Prime Day date reportedly delayed until August at earliest Posted: 03 Apr 2020 02:23 PM PDT Amazon’s mid-year shopping holiday - Amazon Prime Day 2020 - has reportedly been postponed until at least August, according to internal documents acquired by Reuters. The deals bonanza has become an annual tradition, typically in July, wherein Amazon drops prices on plenty of goods for a day, though discounts during Amazon Prime Day 2019 lingered for days after its July 15 launch date. While the deals are only for Amazon Prime members, free trials allow anyone to access the discounts. Though the Reuters report didn’t specify a cause, the delay is most likely due to the coronavirus outbreak, which has driven people indoors and led to such an increase in online shopping that Amazon Prime deliveries may be delayed. Overwhelmed shipping infrastructure could have made Amazon Prime Day orders much harder to fulfill. The other explanation, of course, is that Amazon delayed the holiday out of respect for the crisis itself. A rise in unemployment could have driven down sales, but the spread of coronavirus through the coming months would be a poor time to hype shoppers up for a deals holiday. In any case, the delay could potentially cost Amazon $100 million in unsold devices it was making ready for the deals holiday that it could have to discount, per the documents acquired by Reuters. That number could even be as high as $300 million, Amazon's General Counsel reportedly said in the document seen by Reuters, and could lead to the brand needing to alter its promotion schedule. Via CNET This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
| Amazon Prime Day 2020 in the US: is it going to be in August this year? Posted: 03 Apr 2020 02:07 PM PDT Amazon Prime Day 2020 is looming once again, and it's the event that will get people looking to the big savings ahead of Black Friday 2020. However, due to the effect of the coronavirus pandemic, it looks like the Prime Day date could be moved this year. When it does land, we're expecting to see another raft of discounts for Amazon's own-brand Echo speakers and smart displays, Fire Sticks for the TV and Fire tablets, and a widening of savings on its smart home wares - like the Ring camera. Last year we saw some savings that weren't even beaten on Black Friday later in the year, and even found a few bargains on Apple products like the Apple Watch, or Garmin fitness trackers too. If you're not aware, Prime Day is the time to get some big savings at the online retailer, with thousands of products discounted over the period - provided you're signed up to Amazon Prime.
Last year Prime members were snapping up products throughout the 48-hour event with over 175 million items sold. That's more than Amazon sold on Black Friday and Cyber Monday combined. That's a massive increase from an already impressive 100 million products sold during the previous Prime Day sale, which was admittedly a shorter event at 36 hours - but it shows the sales period is becoming recognized as a key time to save money. When is Amazon Prime Day 2020?'So, when is Prime Day 2020 going to be?' is the currently-key question on the lips of every consumer looking to save money on Amazon's own products this year - according to Reuters, Amazon Prime Day is now going to be in August at the earliest. This moves it from its traditional July timeslot, and although the brand hasn't confirmed the date for this year it's never been pushed back beyond that month in a bid to improve sales during that time - and it's previously worked well. Depending on the impact of the virus, Amazon Prime Day 2020 will now be a little later in the year - which will have an impact on the savings offered, although how that will manifest is currently unclear. It could see shoppers offered even wilder discounts to clear the stocks, or it could mean that third party sellers don't have the same savings in place as we move closer to Black Friday. How long will Prime Day 2020 last?Well, it's hard to say with any degree of certainty, and in light of the recent rumours of Prime Day 2020 moving back in the year it could be even longer than expected. Prime Day a few years ago was only that, a day, but in 2018 it moved to 36 hours, and last year was a full two days. We're fully expecting Amazon to move to a Prime Week any year now, and with a rumoured $100 million worth of devices that will need to be shifted thanks to the delay, it could well be this year. We can't see Amazon reducing the amount of time Prime Day lasts for, so expect Prime Day 2020 to last at least 48 hours this year, if not longer. What is Amazon Prime Day 2020?Amazon Prime Day is a summer sales event on Amazon websites around the world where members of Amazon Prime get exclusive discounts on a wide range of items. It's not just Amazon-branded items either (although they're among the most-bought every year), lots of other manufacturers and third-party merchants save their best deals for Prime Day too, knowing millions of extra shoppers will be hitting the online store. Why does Amazon have Prime Day? It's presented as a neat "thank you" to its paying members, but one that involves giving Amazon more money and shifting a lot of product at the same time. You need to either sign up for a trial or be an existing member of Amazon Prime, paying for the privilege of free, swift delivery (although that's currently being slowed down to make space for the essential items people are ordering, with the sign at the top of the site saying 'Delivery times for some items may take longer than normal') and is paid for monthly or yearly. And it's no coincidence the best deals are found on Amazon's items. Buy a Kindle and you're going to keep buying ebooks from Amazon. Buy a Fire TV Stick you're going to watch Prime Video (a great perk of membership) and maybe pay for the odd rental. Buy an Echo smart speaker and you're into the Alexa family and helping Amazon fight off competition from rival Google's Home devices. What made Prime Day 2019 special?Like we mentioned earlier, this year's Prime Day sale was the largest shopping event in Amazon history. Prime members worldwide saved more than a billion dollars throughout the two-day sale. It was also the longest sale in history, lasting a record 48hours - which was 12 hours more than the previous year. Never to outdo itself, Amazon surprised everyone and started large parts of the sale a day earlier on the Sunday, unofficially making it a 60-hour event. What were Prime Day's best-selling Devices?Millions of Alexa-enabled devices were purchased during Prime Day 2019, marking it the biggest event ever for Amazon devices. Customers also purchased hundreds of thousands of Amazon kids’ devices this Prime Day, such as Echo Dot Kids Edition, Fire 7 Kids Edition tablet, and Fire HD 8 Kids Edition tablet. What products sold the most on Prime Day?Amazon devices weren't the only popular items during the Prime Day event. The retail giant reported that Prime members bought more than 100,000 lunchboxes, 100,000 laptops, 200,000 TVs, 300,000 headphones, 350,000 luxury beauty products, 400,000 pet products, 650,000 household cleaning supplies, and more than 1 million toys. Other Prime Day best-sellers included the Instant Pot DUO60, the 23andMe Health + Ancestry kit, and Crest 3D White Professional Effects Whitestrips Kits. Some interesting non-tech best-sellers included a Dove exfoliating scrub, Coca-Cola Zero soft drink, Finish Powerbowl dishwater tablets, and Ariel laundry detergent. The best Amazon Prime Day deals of 2019Before we look forward to Amazon Prime Day 2020, we've listed the best deals from this year's sale below. While nearly all the items are no longer on sale for the prices we saw during the July sales period, you can see what sort of bargains to expect in 2020. What did Amazon's rivals do on Prime Day?Prime Day wasn't just a success for Amazon - other online retailers joined in on the shopping holiday with their own mid-summer sale. According to Retail Dive, large retailers (those with one billion dollars or more in annual revenue) rose 64% compared to an average Monday, which is up from last year's 54%. Did anything go wrong on Prime Day 2019?While Amazon's site didn't crash during Prime Day 2019, it did experience some technical issues. For the 2nd year in a row Prime members had problems checking out during the early hours of Amazon's sale. This issue seemed to work itself out, but it's still an annoyance that Amazon was still experiencing issues when last year's crash made headlines around the world. This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
| Amazon Prime Day 2020 in the UK: will the date be August this year? Posted: 03 Apr 2020 01:59 PM PDT Amazon Prime Day 2020 is looming once again, and it's the event that will get people looking to the big savings ahead of Black Friday 2020. However, due to the effect of the coronavirus pandemic, it looks like the Prime Day date could be moved this year. When it does land, we're expecting to see another raft of discounts for Amazon's own-brand Echo speakers and smart displays, Fire Sticks for the TV and Fire tablets, and a widening of savings on its smart home wares - like the Ring camera. Last year we saw some savings that weren't even beaten on Black Friday later in the year, and even found a few bargains on Apple products like the Apple Watch, or Garmin fitness trackers too. If you're not aware, Prime Day is the time to get some big savings at the online retailer, with thousands of products discounted over the period - provided you're signed up to Amazon Prime.
Last year Prime members were snapping up products throughout the 48-hour event with over 175 million items sold. That's more than Amazon sold on Black Friday and Cyber Monday combined. That's a massive increase from an already impressive 100 million products sold during the previous Prime Day sale, which was admittedly a shorter event at 36 hours - but it shows the sales period is becoming recognised as a key time to save money. When is Amazon Prime Day 2020?'So, when is Prime Day 2020 going to be?' is the currently-key question on the lips of every consumer looking to save money on Amazon's own products this year - according to Reuters, Amazon Prime Day is now going to be in August at the earliest. This moves it from its traditional July timeslot, and although the brand hasn't confirmed the date for this year it's never been pushed back beyond that month in a bid to improve sales during that time - and it's previously worked well. Depending on the impact of the virus, Amazon Prime Day 2020 will now be a little later in the year - which will have an impact on the savings offered, although how that will manifest is currently unclear. It could see shoppers offered even wilder discounts to clear the stocks, or it could mean that third party sellers don't have the same savings in place as we move closer to Black Friday. How long will Prime Day 2020 last?Well, it's hard to say with any degree of certainty, and in light of the recent rumours of Prime Day 2020 moving back in the year it could be even longer than expected. Prime Day a few years ago was only that, a day, but in 2018 it moved to 36 hours, and last year was a full two days. We're fully expecting Amazon to move to a Prime Week any year now, and with a rumoured $100 million worth of devices that will need to be shifted thanks to the delay, it could well be this year. We can't see Amazon reducing the amount of time Prime Day lasts for, so expect Prime Day 2020 to last at least 48 hours this year, if not longer. What is Amazon Prime Day 2020?Amazon Prime Day is a summer sales event on Amazon websites around the world where members of Amazon Prime get exclusive discounts on a wide range of items. It's not just Amazon-branded items either (although they're among the most-bought every year), lots of other manufacturers and third-party merchants save their best deals for Prime Day too, knowing millions of extra shoppers will be hitting the online store. Why does Amazon have Prime Day? It's presented as a neat "thank you" to its paying members, but one that involves giving Amazon more money and shifting a lot of product at the same time. You need to either sign up for a free trial or be an existing member of Amazon Prime, paying for the privilege of free, swift delivery (although that's currently being slowed down to make space for the essential items people are ordering, with the sign at the top of the site saying 'Delivery times for some items may take longer than normal') and is paid for monthly or yearly. And it's no coincidence the best deals are found on Amazon's items. Buy a Kindle and you're going to keep buying ebooks from Amazon. Buy a Fire TV Stick you're going to watch Prime Video (a great perk of membership) and maybe pay for the odd rental. Buy an Echo smart speaker and you're into the Alexa family and helping Amazon fight off competition from rival Google's Home devices. How competitive were Prime Day deals at Amazon last year?A price monitoring company called Minderest (as reported by PR Newswire) compared prices of 566 of the most in-demand products over Prime Day to see how they stacked up against rivals stores listed on Google Shopping. 58.05% of them were cheapest on Amazon UK, compared to a massive 81.9% in the US where Amazon is annihilating the competition on a regular basis. If anything, that UK figure is a testament to how competitive the UK market it is and we did notice other stores having big sales of their own around Prime Day and a lot of price matching happening too. It's also a solid reminder to double check prices elsewhere on Prime Day (we always do this before highlighting a deal for you) as you might get a better deal from the likes of John Lewis, Currys and Argos. Amazon devices, as expected, got the best deals with an average 45% reduction on their RRPs compared to 37% in 2018. According to audience research from Numerator, 65.8% of surveyed shoppers said they were extremely or very satisfied with the deals available. What were people searching for on Amazon Prime Day?Analytics experts Hitwise tracked down the data for what people were pumping into Amazon's search bar. Nintendo Switch was the winner with over a million searches in the UK - a shame that the Switch deals weren't actually that good for a second year running though. 'Laptops' was close behind (905k) and Prime Day was actually great for picking up a great deal there. 'Fitbit' was the next biggest item with close to 600k searches and multiple versions of the trackers/smartwatches were on offer for those searchers. Elsewhere, the top ten searched items were rounded out by Audible, PS4, Kindle, Fire Stick, Alexa, Echo Dot and Lego. Overall though, interest in tech and gadgets seems to once again have been the driving force behind most peoples' visit to Amazon for Prime Day. What products sold the most on Prime Day?But what actually sold well. Amazon's own devices absolutely dominated the top ten here with the Fire TV Stick coming out on top and the Echo Dot not far behind. Both had the cheapest prices we'd ever seen. The Kindle Paperwhite had a great day too. The Echo Show 5 was only released a few weeks before, but a £20 discount made it a fantastic deal for a smart speaker with a screen with a price that made it much better value than the older Echo Spot and larger Echo Show screens. The PlayStation Classic may have disappointed many at launch with its selection of installed games, but a super low price on Prime Day inspired plenty of "why, the hell not" purchases for fans of Sony's early steps into gaming. A Neos Smart Cam was another surprise inclusion in the top ten. The best Amazon Prime Day deals of 2019While we're ages away from Amazon Prime Day 2020, it certainly doesn't hurt to take a look at what the best deals were in 2019's summer event. Naturally, these prices are long gone now, but these are the sort of bargains you should expect to see in 2020. We expect to similar offers around Black Friday for sure too, although the all-time lowest prices on many of Amazon's own devices are usually saved for Prime Day to be honest. But we're only talking small amounts really. What did Amazon's rivals do on Prime Day?Currys kicked of its 'Black Tag' event before Prime Day and it was still going for a few days afterwards too. Out of all the other stores, we'd probably say Currys gave Amazon the biggest fight for TVs, laptops and gadgets. Currys' wide selection of home white goods beat out Amazon too, although Amazon has never really focused on those as much. John Lewis was very popular for Google Home products (not sold on Amazon) and while it was generally price-matching rivals rather than coming up with its own deals, we were happy to send you its way due to most items coming with a free minimum two-year warranty at no extra cost. Having to pay for delivery on items under £50 was a bit off-putting though on cheaper items and shows a key area where John Lewis are lagging behind the times a little on the UK online retailscape. So much shopping is done on mobile now either via a browser, or by using a retailer's own app. According to AppsFlyer (as reported by PerformanceIn), the top 100 retail apps took a bit of a beating during Prime Day, not only were new installs down, 53% of them had a decrease of in-app purchases. And seeing as Amazon's app got through the sale without freezing all the time like it did last year, it's not great news for rival apps. Overall, more people shopped via mobile at Amazon than ever before on Prime Day. Gone are the days when people tended to browse more on mobile, then fire up the laptop when they got home to actually finish the transaction. And to be fair, on Prime Day, you can't really afford to wait that long due to the risk of deals selling out. Did Amazon get many new Prime members on the day?It certainly did. According to Hitwise an additional 80 thousand new Prime customers signed up to Prime each day during the sale, that's a 147% increase year on year. What we don't know though is what type of membership they signed up for. If they'd never been a Prime Member before they could have signed up for a 30-day free trial, or maybe they dived into a full year via the temporary £59 offer, saving £20 on the regular annual fee. Amazon will be hoping those free trial signups don't cancel though once the 30 days are up. And with the Prime Video streaming service, free delivery, exclusive discounts free ebooks and many other perks available for members, there's certainly plenty of reason to stick with it. Did anything go wrong on Prime Day 2019?Actually, yes. The UK start at midnight was a complete flop. Amazon's site didn't crash or anything like that, but the deal prices that were supposed to go live as soon as the sale started simply didn't. So despite us, and the rest of the informed media, prepping a huge amount of content to launch around midnight to tell you about the best deals of the sale, we were left scratching our heads as all the old prices were still showing. It took until around 4am for the proper prices to come through, which was a massive disappointment to any keen shoppers who wanted to dive into the sale before heading to bed. It was a seriously poor start from Amazon and we're still shaking our heads in disappointment. You have to hope it'll up its game for Black Friday. If you decided to wait until the morning to check out the Prime Day deals then thing's were running much more smoothly. We didn't experience any other technical problems on Amazon's site or with the mobile app for the rest of the sale either. This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
| Apple Watch price cut: get the Apple Watch 3 on sale for just $199 Posted: 03 Apr 2020 01:48 PM PDT If you're looking for a cheap smartwatch deal, then you're in luck. Apple currently has the best-selling Apple Watch Series 3 in stock and on sale for only $199. That's an $80 discount and the best price we've found for the 38mm smartwatch. If you're interested in a cellular plan with your smartwatch, the Apple Watch 3 with LTE connectivity is on sale for $299. Apple Watch deals:Discover more Apple watch sales with the best cheap Apple Watch prices and deals or just out our roundup of refurbished Apple Watch deals. This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
| Black Widow gets November 2020 release date as Disney resets its theatrical calendar Posted: 03 Apr 2020 01:41 PM PDT Marvel's Black Widow is finally coming to theaters in November 2020, Mulan is coming in July 2020, and Jungle Cruise has been delayed until midyear 2021 as Disney has officially reset its cinematic release calendar for its most eagerly-anticipated films. In response to the coronavirus outbreak and government bans on social gatherings in countries around the world, theaters closed in the US, China, Europe, and elsewhere for the foreseeable future. Many studios delayed their film releases, though apparently Disney is confident enough in the reopening of the theaters that the company has laid out a schedule for its biggest anticipated releases. But to make space in its release calendar, Disney has punted other films to even later dates, resulting in cascading delays that’s pushed some blockbuster Marvel superhero film sequels to 2022, according to The Hollywood Reporter.
All the new Marvel superhero and Disney release datesMulan gets the most ambitious release date of July 24, 2020, a slot that was previously held for Jungle Cruise, which is now pushed back a full year to July 30, 2021. Black Widow is coming out on November 6, 2020, which had been the opening date for Eternals, which is now releasing on February 12, 2021. That date was reserved for Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Rings, which moves to May 7, 2021 – the original date for Doctor Strange 2, pushing that film back to November 5, 2021. That date was saved for Thor: Love and Thunder, which is nowcoming out February 18, 2022. Black Panther 2 will still come out on May 6, 2022, but Captain Marvel 2 is being shifted up two weeks to July 8, 2022. (Phew!) For all the Artemis Fowl fans eager for its May debut, the film will now be coming to Disney Plus – and apparently keeping its original release window. (We don’t have an official date yet.)
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| GoToMeeting adds more features Posted: 03 Apr 2020 01:40 PM PDT LogMeIn has announced a number of new updates to GoToMeeting which include new integrations, updates to the desktop and mobile experience, audio enhancements, security improvements and more. The new updates bring additional partnerships and integrations to the company's recently launched GoToMarketplace with the first of which being a new integration with Microsoft Teams. Through this integration, users can now quickly and easily launch GoToMeeting and GoToConnect from within the Teams environment. LogMeIn also revealed that GoToMeeting now offers plug-ins for Office 365 and Google Calendar to ensure that its customers can have a continuous workflow within the platforms they're already using. Through these plug-ins, users can easily schedule meetings directly from within their email applications.
To improve the quality of its meetings, GoToMeeting has rolled out several new features including noise suppression, better audio even with poor network conditions and a new toll-free and “Call Me” option. Security improvementsDue to the recent surge in remote working, LogMeIn is working to ensure the experience of its video, voice, remote access and remote IT support products are as secure and reliable as possible. As meetings are now generating more artifacts such as transcriptions and audio recordings, GoToMeeting has increased the security capabilities for sharing these assets. Users can now choose what content to share, with whom they'll share it with and how long to make it available for viewing from within the software's content sharing and security preferences. GoToMeeting has also added a new meeting lock feature which gives users the ability to keep uninvited guests out of a meeting. With password protected meetings, only those with the code will be able to gain entry which helps keep meetings secure from others. Additionally, all tiers of GoToMeeting include security features such as Secure Socket Layer Encryption, AES-256 Bit Encryption, a SOC2 Certified Data Center, Rich Based Authentication and HIPAA readiness to help protect users while working remotely.
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| Having pets doesn’t mean ditching your robot vacuum Posted: 03 Apr 2020 12:56 PM PDT I don’t doubt that you love your pets. Your kids probably do, as well. But the simple truth is that as incredible as cats and dogs can be, they also create their fair share of chaos throughout the house. Shredded curtains and furniture. Odd smells that never quite go away. Devoured food, destroyed rooms, and messes so extensive that you wonder if you should have simply gotten a pet rock. And let’s not even get started with how much damage they can cause where robot vacuums are concerned — we’ve all heard the horror stories. Pet hair clogged and tangled in the wheels and rollers. Unspeakable messes trailed from one end of the home to the other. A nervous pet that freaks out whenever the vacuum does its thing. At the same time, automated vacuum cleaners and mops are just so convenient. Especially now, as the ghost of spring cleaning looms over all our heads, we all want to do everything in our power to cut down on the amount of work we’ve got. It’s unfortunate, then, that prevailing wisdom says robotic vacuums aren’t compatible with pets. Except that the prevailing wisdom is wrong. You can avoid becoming yet another robot vacuum horror story circulated around the web. You can automate one of the toughest, most tedious cleaning processes in your life even if you have pets. It all starts with purchasing the right device. And in that regard, Roborock’s new S5 Max is it. Engineered with powerful suction that can draw up dirt even from deep in carpets, it’s a combination mop and vacuum capable of handling any mess your pets can throw at it. Perhaps more importantly, the S5 Max is also incredibly easy to control and customize. In order to avoid having it suction up any toys or get tangled in your wiring, you can easily set no-mop and no-go zones from within the app. Said app also allows you to exercise a ton of control over how it cleans, even down to customizing the water flow for mopping. With over 150 minutes of non-stop cleaning, the S5 Max is ideal for large homes, and its precision laser navigation and selective room cleaning means you’ll no longer have to worry about rescuing it from under your bed, at the edge of your stairs, or any other absurd places where a robot vacuum would ordinarily end up stuck, lost, and confused. We don’t doubt that you love your pets. We love ours too. But we also love not having to mop and vacuum. It used to be that you couldn’t have one without the other. Devices like the S5 Max change that. They’re the perfect addition to any smart home, regardless of whether or not they have pets. Plus, compared to other robot vacuums, this one won’t break the bank. You can get it via Walmart for just $549.99 now! This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
| Smartphone deal at Sprint: switch to Sprint and get a $300 Mastercard Posted: 03 Apr 2020 12:52 PM PDT Looking for a cheap smartphone deal? Sprint is currently offering a $300 prepaid Mastercard when you bring your phone and number to Sprint. This phone deal applies to newer devices like the iPhone 11 and Galaxy S20, or you can save on older model phones like the iPhone XR and Galaxy S10e. See more of the best Sprint plans that are currently available. This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
| VR is the future of remote working Posted: 03 Apr 2020 12:10 PM PDT Let’s set the record straight on remote work right now. Zoom and Skype won’t quite work for the long haul. While they are ideal for video chats, when a bunch of talking heads all join together in a virtual environment the interaction is limited. We can’t see or touch anything, can’t go anywhere together as a group, and can’t interact in a way that seems remotely genuine. When your boss pops onto a Zoom call and chats away, it isn’t all that different from a phone call or a teleconference from decades ago. Video conferencing offers about 10% the value of an actual in-person meeting -- an issue that becomes obvious the more you do them. Virtual reality could change that -- and quickly. By creating a virtual location to explore, handing each other documents, working on a project that involves virtual tools or holding up a prototype, walking around a new building and inspecting the design, or interacting in other ways, VR could be the one thing that makes remote work and stay-at-home office interactions more bearable. How it will all workRight now, we know that VR is mostly an experience you have as a gamer. The Oculus Rift or HTC Vive Pro are game-changing devices for exploring strange alien worlds, but they’re not common as a way to hold a business meeting or look at building floor-plans. That could change this year. Imagine this scenario. Your company consists of about 20 employees. You’re now all working in home offices, some in another country or town. Due to nationwide stay-at-home orders related to the coronavirus pandemic, none of you can meet together in an office. With VR, you decide to meet together anyway -- virtually. In what looks like an exact replica of the conference room you normally use, everyone appears to be sitting at a table. You see Sue in Accounting over to your left. Bob in Sales is fiddling with his phone, just as you remember. This type of VR is not available quite yet, but it is more than possible -- a translation of what we are doing in real life presented in a virtual world that looks ultra-realistic. The boss walks in and stands at a virtual podium. Now, in a Zoom or Skype call it would not be that different from every other talking head. In VR, you know this is the person who is leading the meeting based on the appearance, positioning at the table, and a commanding voice. The VR might even switch to a viewing mode where your field of view changes so you can’t look around the room. (That’s a whole different topic in terms of virtual environments controlling what we see and do.) As an immersive environment, however, you are all there. It means you can’t hear the kids playing in the other room because you are wearing a headset but also because you can only see the conference room. You can’t see the FedEx driver pull up in front of your house. You can’t see the family cat. Immersive environments were originally meant to transport us to Mars or a pirate ship, but there’s a distinct possibility they will transport us to the office instead where we can work collaboratively as a team and converse in private. Expanding the scope of VRThat’s one example of VR in an office setting, and it is remarkably possible. VR headsets for business are already available for this, and there have been demonstrations of how this would work. It has not become common because of the cost for headsets, but mostly because office workers have not needed to meet in VR -- they can do that in person. In the near future, VR could help us all connect in a way that is utterly convincing and helpful in more than an office setting. Let’s say you are a manufacturing company. This is not possible today with modern technology, but if a plant was outfitted with bots that could operate independently, workers could use VR to inspect the machinery, meet to discuss the product specs, and even shoot the breeze over coffee while the machines run in the background. There’s something incredibly important about this. As humans, we need to see and touch an environment -- we respond to it differently. In a game world, we jump back in shock when a bad guy appears out of nowhere or when a spaceship descends onto a landing pad. In business, we won’t jump or flinch, but we might see where there are problems with a new product design or building plan. We might meet to go over financial data in a boardroom someday, all wearing VR goggles, but we’ll be able to focus on a few “paper” handouts that look ultra-realistic. Pouring over the data, we might see where there are inconsistencies in the budget for one department. Somehow, this is more likely when we can recreate a real-world setting, sit in a chair, look someone in the eye, and interact. The question is how to make it happen as a way to help remote workers if the pandemic does last longer than any of us expect. There are quite a few hurdles, and most of them are software related. This includes creating the environment, the representations of real humans, and the real interactions we will need. It is all going to be worth it if the pandemic lasts a year or more. Expanding the scope of VR will require new ways of thinking. A virtual meeting place, a manufacturing plant, or even an outdoor location will be hard to create, but the benefit is that it will open our eyes to new possibilities and new interactions, and potentially lead to improved productivity. Humans need to be able to see, touch, feel -- interact. We were not made to sit at a desk and use Zoom. As valuable as video chats are right now, they do not replicate what meeting in person is actually like. Not by a longshot. With VR, we have a chance to make remote work more like real work.
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| How to keep your business secure with remote workers Posted: 03 Apr 2020 12:00 PM PDT In the wake of the unprecedented pandemic, many companies are mandating social distancing through remote work and are striving to ensure business as usual across their operations to minimise impact on their employees and customers. This new way of working highlights the importance of implementing procedures to avoid cybersecurity risks and business interruptions. As employees continue to migrate from in-office to remote locations, the shift in the working environment will pose new challenges. This is where guidelines and best practices are needed to ensure remote employees are working securely.
Improve security with VPNWhile companies may have taken in-house precautions such as firewalls, Domain Name System (DNS) and Intrusion Detection Systems/Intrusion Prevention Systems (IDS/IPS), these may not provide the level of security a business needs as the workforce becomes more distributed. In fact, due to the increasing number of remote workers, the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) is encouraging organisations to adopt a heightened state of cybersecurity – and this includes establishing a virtual private network (VPN) to enable remote workers to securely connect to the company’s network. VPN guidance by the CISA includes: ● Update VPNs, network infrastructure devices, and devices being used to remote into work environments with the latest software patches and security configurations. ● Alert employees to an expected increase in phishing attempts. ● Ensure IT security personnel are prepared to ramp up the following remote access cybersecurity tasks: log review, attack detection, and incident response and recovery. ● Implement multi-factor authentication (MFA) on all VPN connections to increase security. If MFA is not implemented, require teleworkers to use strong passwords. ● Ensure IT security personnel test VPN limitations to prepare for mass usage and, if possible, implement modifications – such as rate limit – to prioritise users that will require higher bandwidths Use best practices to stay secure while working remotelyAdjusting to working remotely is more than just finding a suitable office location within the home. Remote workers need to take into consideration the possibility of cyber-attacks and take the necessary precautions. The following list of best practices will help remote workers protect their new work environment, as well as the business. ● Stay connected to the company’s VPN: The additional security protection provided by the VPN is critical to prevent malicious attacks. ● Use a secure Wi-Fi network: Business work should always take place on the employee’s secure, private home network and not public network access points. When data is sent via an unsecured Wi-Fi connection, the user loses their privacy, making it possible for cybercriminals to intercept data. Not only is personal information at risk, but business data can also be compromised. ● Secure home workstations: Employees need to make sure that they have fully patched and updated antivirus and antimalware software. In addition, their in-home Wi-Fi should be secured with Wi-Fi Protected Access (WPA2 or WPA3). They also need to disable insecure features such as Universal Plug and Play (UPnP), as well as change Internet of Things (IoT) default logins. ● Follow in-office best practices: Remote workers need to continue to follow the same best practices they did in the office such as avoiding non-reputable websites or links, and promptly report any suspicious activity or concerns to their internal IT or Managed Service Provider (MSP). ● Work with cloud applications: When possible, teleworkers should have access to cloud applications to ensure data is being backed up. ● Remain vigilant: With the increasing number of attacks using COVID-19-based content as a delivery mechanism for malware, remote workers need to be especially alert when reading emails, messages and web browsing. ● Disconnect unknown devices: Devices such as USB sticks and peripherals should not be connected to the company’s hardware. ● Use strong passwords: This may sound basic, but it is important in reducing cyber-attack opportunities. ● Limit the family’s bandwidth usage: As everyone knows, the more devices in use such as phones, tablets, game consoles, etc., the slower the connection, which can hinder the employee’s ability to effectively work remotely. While it’s highly recommended that remote employees are provided with company hardware, this may not always be possible. If this is the case, the installation of a reputable antivirus and firewall should be installed on the devices being used remotely for work. These tend to be provided at no charge through the employee’s internet service provider (ISP). In addition to the applicable best practices listed above, employees using their own devices should: ● Ensure that the latest operating system and web browser updates are installed. ● Avoid the use of file sharing (P2P) and other high-risk applications. ● Use the business email only to conduct company business. Although these security measures will help to promote a secure work environment while an increasing number of employees begin to work from home, there are other considerations. Human resource policies and practices should be reviewed to ensure that they are consistent with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The CDC has put in place recommended strategies for employers, which include exploring flexible worksites such as telework or staggering shifts to increase the physical distance among employees. As the COVID-19 situation continues to escalate, putting best practices in place now will help to ensure a seamless and secure migration of in-office workers to remote workers. Ryan Weeks is CISO at Datto
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| Zoom-related domain names grow significantly as malware threat rises Posted: 03 Apr 2020 11:41 AM PDT Zoom's recent surge in popularity as a result of the coronavirus outbreak has made the video conferencing platform a prime target for hackers. Security researchers at Check Point have observed a sharp uptick in new domain registrations that contain the company's name since the public health crisis began. According to the company's research, there have been 1,700 new Zoom-related domains registered since January of this year. However, of these domains, 25 percent of them were registered in just one week during mid-March.
Check Point was also able to confirm that at least 70 of these 1,700 domains were being used maliciously by cybercriminals as phishing websites designed to steal users' personal information. Brand impersonationIn addition to using Zoom-related domains to launch phishing attacks, Check Point also discovered malicious executables that contained Zoom in their file names. Opening these files causes the InstallCore PUA to be installed on a victim's computer which could potentially lead to additional malicious software being installed on their machines. However, according to Check Point, hackers aren't just targeting Zoom as the cybersecurity firm found similar files that contained Microsoft Teams in their file names. The researchers also discovered fake domains for other popular services such as Google Classroom which is being used by teachers that have to conduct their classes virtually. In this case, hackers tried to trick users by misspelling the sites official name to lead them to phishing websites. To prevent falling victim to these and the other coronavirus-related scams making their way around the web, Check Point recommends that users check all of the emails they receive carefully, avoid opening unknown attachments or clicking on links in emails and check to make sure that the domains of the websites they visit are spelled correctly.
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| Posted: 03 Apr 2020 11:23 AM PDT If you’re considering buying one of the best Dell laptops of 2020, then you’re already on the right path. Dell laptops are some of the best laptops out there, especially when you’re looking for one that strikes a great balance between price, performance, durability and a stunning design. The best Dell laptops are built to last and boast components powerful enough to see you through your computing needs. And, there’s quite a lot of them to choose from, spanning gaming laptops, Ultrabooks and even Chromebooks. So, whatever it is you’re looking for in your next notebook, you’ll find a Dell laptop that’ll meet your needs. Lucky for you, we’ve gathered the best Dell laptops of 2020, complete with our price comparison tool. You’ll not only find your ideal laptop on this list, but also snag the best deal available right now.
Best Dell laptops at a glance
Alienware Area-51m is a performance beast fitted with high-end processors and high-end graphics cards. Hands down, the Alienware Area-51m is a stunner of a gaming laptop, with a beautiful yet unique chassis and a comfortable keyboard to complement it. But it goes beyond looks; it’s also by far the most powerful gaming laptop on the market right now (and obviously, one of the best Dell laptops). Not that it’s perfect, as it does get really hot and its fans can get very loud. However, it’s a performance beast fitted with high-end processors and high-end graphics cards, and your gaming experience with it will be an absolute pressure. Read the full review: Alienware Area-51m The Dell XPS 13 (2020) is still among the best laptops on the market years after its first release. The competition in the Ultrabook market is getting tougher every year, and early players have been finding it difficult to keep up. Not the Dell XPS 13, however. Not only has this laptop kept a lofty spot in every best Dell laptops list, but it’s also still among the best laptops on the market years after its first release. This extremely luxurious device comes with an all-day battery life, solid performance and a design that you’ll fall in love with at first sight. Due to its thin chassis that’s only about half an inch, it does compromise on a couple of things, most notably its audio and its price tag, which is pretty high for some people. However, the Dell XPS 13 is worth every penny. Read the full review: Dell XPS 13 (2020) The Dell XPS 15 2-in-1 is a beautiful device with ample grunt for gaming. The Dell XPS 15 2-in-1 cuts no corners, bringing in some serious power within a thin and light package that flits easily between its laptop and tablet modes. The XPS 15 2-in-1 weighs a shade under 2kg and is only 16mm thick, which makes it easy to travel with as well as use on the move. It's also a beautiful device, and although it doesn't have the XPS 13's discrete graphics card, it still has ample grunt for gaming. Despite those sleek lines, it also offers an impressive array of ports: two Thunderbolt 3 and two USB-C, plus a headphone jack and MicroSD card reader. The XPS 15 2-in-1 has come down in price considerably since launch, and is amazingly affordably-priced considering its specifications. It’s easily one of the best Dell laptops you can buy. Read the full review: Dell XPS 15 2-in-1 Dell Latitude 7490 has many of the makings of a great computer. (Image credit: Dell) Despite the derivative design, the Dell Latitude 7490 has many of the makings of a great computer and one of the best Dell laptops 2020 has on offer. It’s all thanks to its excellent performance, a long battery life, and more than decent memory and storage options. It isn’t the cheapest, but it’s definitely worth the price. Read the full review: Dell Latitude 7490 Dell G5 15 5590 will see you through 1080p gaming and last you up to 10 hours of battery life as well. A gaming laptop that delivers a solid performance without costing you a pretty penny is key when you’re a gamer looking to upgrade on a somewhat limited budget. Dell’s 15-inch G5 may not have the highest end specs, but it will see you through 1080p gaming and last you up to 10 hours of battery life as well. All while boasting a robust, appealing, arguably thin chassis and a port selection that’s up to par. Read the full review: Dell 5 15 5590 You'll be hard pressed to find a better machine for serious gaming. If aesthetic is as important to you as power, then look no further than the Alienware m17 (2019). Touting Alienware’s new unique design that kind of makes you think you’re in a really cool sci-fi movie, this stunning 17-inch laptop has a few things going for it. It has a lot of power under the hood, enough to make it future-proof, for one. Plus, it’s thin and light for a gaming laptop, and among the lightest 17-inch laptops in the world. To be fair, it’s not perfect – its battery life is particularly poor, and it’s only got a 1080p display. However, if you’re looking for a gaming laptop that is as good in performance as it looks, the Alienware m17 (2019) is a winner. Read the full review: Alienware m17 (2019) Alienware combines incredible performance, stunning display and gorgeous design in the m15. If you're willing to shell out a bit more money on your gaming laptop, then you'll be impressed by Alienware's combination of incredible performance, stunning display and gorgeous design in the Alienware m15. That's impressive considering this laptop's thin and light packaging. And, that's without mentioning its decent battery life. Plus, as far as premium gaming laptops go, this one's actually cheaper than its main rivals. Read the full review: Alienware m15 The Dell Inspiron 13 7000 2-in-1 is a versatile 2-in-1 with a lot going for it under the hood. The Dell Inspiron 13 7000 2-in-1 is a versatile 2-in-1 with a lot going for it under the hood. This premium laptop is more than just about its premium design; it also has high-end internals to compete with the likes of the more powerful Dell XPS 13. Rounding that out is a 4K display, and a clever stylus slot that makes us wonder whether they actually beat Microsoft to the idea. Granted, the display is a bit of a battery drain, and the speakers impressive, but this is still among the best Dell laptops out there. Read the full review: Dell Inspiron 13 7000 2-in-1 Dell G3 15 When it comes to gaming, more often than not, you have to invest in premium parts to get that gaming edge you want. That’s especially true if you’re going for smooth 1440p or 4K gaming. In other words, while there’s a number of budget gaming laptops out there, very few really get you to where you want to go. Among those few is the Dell G3 15 gaming laptop, Dell’s affordable answer for gamers who want solid performance without splurging. It's all thanks to those latest yet economically-priced internals it's fitted with. It's probably not going to get you competitive level, but if you want a cheaper laptop to game on for the sake of gaming, this will go a long way. Read the full review: Dell G3 15 The Dell Latitude 5300 2-in-1 is one of the very few that's most practical. The Dell Latitude 5300 2-in-1 may not be the most attractive option out there, if you’re looking for a 2-in-1 laptop, but it’s certainly one of the very few that’s most practical. This powerful 2-in-1 system delivers not only the latest Intel components, but also a chassis that’s easily upgradeable making it even more future-proof in terms of storage and memory. That means that it’s a laptop that will last you longer than most of its rivals, making it the most economical choice. Its form factor is a bit strange, and its battery life could be better, but those are hardly deal-breakers. Read the full review: Dell Latitude 5300 2-in-1
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| Surface Book 3: what we want to see Posted: 03 Apr 2020 10:35 AM PDT It’s unsurprising that the Surface Book 3 is one of the most anticipated devices right now. With the original Surface Book being such a great success, and the elegant Surface Book 2 refining on that winning formula enough to give the MacBook Pro a good run for its money, there’s palpable excitement for the release of the line’s third installation. Since the Surface Book 2 came out at the end of 2017, 2020 seems like a good bet for the Surface Book 3 – especially since 2019 came and went without even so much as a peep of this next iteration. In fact, we’re starting to see leaks such as the ones from @_rogame on possible Surface Book 3 configurations. So, it’s time for us to dive into everything we know and everything we want to see from the Surface Book 3, from a higher resolution display and Thunderbolt 3 to cutting edge internal components. Will the Microsoft Surface Book 3 be the best laptop once it’s released? If Microsoft takes what made what the Surface Book line such an excellent series and builds upon that, then quite possibly. Keep this page bookmarked as we’ll update this page with any news, leaks or rumors that surface. Cut to the chase
We're still hoping that Microsoft will showcase the Surface Book 3. (Image credit: Microsoft) Surface Book 3 release dateThe Surface Book 2 was rolled out in late 2017 so it’s already got a few years under its belt. However, based on the release pattern of Surface devices that aren’t the Surface Pro and the recent configuration leaks, we expect a Surface Book 3 release date of sometime in 2020. Three new Surface devices were released in late 2019 – the Surface Pro 7, Surface Pro X, and Surface Laptop 3 – but there wasn’t any sign of a new Surface Book. If you also account for the fact that Microsoft has recently given the 13.5-inch Surface Book 2 a quad-core processor, we don't expect to see a Surface Book 3 right away. While Microsoft did release three new Surface devices in 2019, we saw no sign of the Surface Book 3. Ever the optimists, we're hoping that 2020 will feature a Surface Book 3 release date. Fingers crossed that the would-be Surface Book 3 sticks well within the same price range as its predecessor. (Image credit: Microsoft) Surface Book 3 priceSince there’s no concrete information about the Surface Book 3 right now, we don’t really know what to expect when it comes to how much it will cost. Looking at the pricing of the Surface Book and the Surface Book 2, however, we can certainly speculate. Currently, due to a new lower-storage model, the 13.5 inch Surface Book 2 starts at $1,199 or £1,149, while the 15-inch iteration stays at its $2,499 or £2,349 (AU$3,649) price tag. If you ask us, that’s already plenty pricey. We won’t likely see a price drop. However, fingers crossed that the would-be Surface Book 3 sticks well within that price range, as anything more would already be too expensive for many users or potential buyers. An image from a patent shows what the writing surface could look like of the Surface Book 3 Surface Book 3 designMicrosoft's recent Surface devices have been playing it pretty safe when it comes to design, so there's a very good chance that the Surface Book 3 will look a lot like the Surface Book 2. However, a new patent has been discovered that suggests the Surface Book 3 could come with a radical new design. The patent appears to show a detachable keyboard with a panel on the back that could be used for sketching and note taking with a stylus. The user can use to write down notes or perhaps use it as a graphics tablet for hand drawing and sketching. While this isn't confirmation that the Surface Book 3 will incorporate this new detachable keyboard in its design, it's certainly an exciting prospect. We'd love to see Microsoft really innovate when it comes to the look and performance of the Surface Book 3. Microsoft has to make better use of the room provided it with the 15-inch Surface Book. (Image credit: Microsoft) What we want to see in a Surface Book 3A Surface Book 3 release still seems far away, though a 2020 release does seem likely, since we don’t have much solid information on what to expect. So, all we can do right now is put together a wish list, if you must, of what we would like to see improved in this follow up. Here are the features we’d like to see in the Surface Book 3, based on speculation, leaks and rumors. More powerful internals In fact, thanks to the leaks from @_rogame, we’ve seen configurations with both Ice Lake and an unnamed (possibly Tiger Lake) chips. However, the configurations do seem to come with Nvidia GTX 1650 Max Q and 1660 Ti Max Q so we’ll see if it can handle 4K gaming. Use the extra space accordingly Thunderbolt 3, please The good news is that looks like this might actually happen. Microsoft has patented a magnetic USB-C connector that would kind of function like the existing magnetic Surface charger. Whether or not it will actually support Thunderbolt 3 remains to be seen, but we don’t see why it shouldn’t. Better power management Regardless of who the next iteration is made for, it should come with improved power management so as to not dip into its battery reserves for extra juice. A 4K display would be nice All accessories included Black color option Just imagine, a Surface Book 3 that might not only give the MacBook Pro 2018 a run for its money, but one that has a more striking color option than the Space Gray on the latest Apple flagship.
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| Firefox 'keeps private files sent over Twitter for a week' Posted: 03 Apr 2020 10:28 AM PDT Twitter has disclosed a bug on its platform that affects all users who accessed the service from Mozilla's Firefox browser. In a blog post, the social networking giant explained that its platform stored private files inside of Firefox's cache, saying: “We recently learned that the way Mozilla Firefox stores cached data may have resulted in non-public information being inadvertently stored in the browser's cache. This means that if you accessed Twitter from a shared or public computer via Mozilla Firefox and took actions like downloading your Twitter data archive or sending or receiving media via Direct Message, this information may have been stored in the browser’s cache even after you logged out of Twitter.”
While the bug does not affect those who accessed Twitter via Firefox from their own devices, those who did so on shared or public computers could have their files accessed by others even after logging out of the service. Cached dataThe files from Twitter that were stored in Firefox's cache include files sent or received from direct messages, data archive files downloaded from a profile's settings page and others. Thankfully though the bug's impact is limited as Firefox automatically purges all of the cached data stored in its browser after seven days. However, you can also clear the cache manually by going to Tools, Options, Privacy & Security, Cookie and Site Data, Clear Data in the browser. Twitter has now fixed this bug in order to prevent its platform from caching non-public information and the company also said that the bug does not affect those using Chrome, Safari or other browsers.
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| The best PC gaming headsets of 2020 Posted: 03 Apr 2020 10:21 AM PDT The best PC gaming headsets bring the sound of any game, movie and music to life, making them an essential part of any gaming PC setup. Whether you're traversing an open world game, sniping opponents in the best PC games or watching the biggest blockbusters on your PC, poor audio is a quick way to ruin your experience. So, once you’ve gotten the best gaming PC and paired it with the best gaming monitor, set aside some time for audio and focus on getting one of the best gaming headsets of 2020. Sure, there are many excellent computer speakers out there. But, there’s really nothing more immersive than a quality gaming headset. Not only do they deliver superb sound quality, but they also bring depth to the sound with excellent sound staging and surround sound. Some even offer virtual surround sound as part of their feature set. They’re also less disruptive – when you’re battling monsters in Doom Eternal late at night, you know you won’t wake your family or neighbors with those loud weapons. Best yet, these gaming headsets cater to gamers with appropriate aesthetics such as RGB lighting and extreme comfort for those long gaming sessions. Because there are quite a few possible candidates out there, we handpicked the best gaming headsets of 2020 for you. Each one has been tested and reviewed by us, so whichever one you choose, you know you’re making a sound investment. The pure comfort and top-notch sound of the HyperX Cloud Revolver S more than make up for its high price. When we first sat down to review the HyperX Cloud Revolver S, we were a tad conflicted. On one hand, it boasts incredible 7.1-channel surround sound, delivered through Dolby's trademark digital signal processor. On the other, it's extremely expensive when compared to other similar headsets. Fortunately, as one of Kingston's most subdued pair of cans we've ever seen (or heard), the pure comfort and top-notch sound more than make up for its high price and weirdly placed detachable mic. And that’s why it tops our list of the best PC gaming headsets. Read the full review: HyperX Cloud Revolver S SteelSeries Arctis Pro takes SteelSeries' impeccable audio to the next level. SteelSeries is known for offering impeccable audio, but the SteelSeries Arctis Pro takes things to the next level. This headset doesn’t just offer up immersive surround sound for all the explosive action of your favorite games, but thanks to its included DAC (digital to audio converter), the Arctis Pro also serves you well when listening to your favorite music. One of the best PC gaming headsets to date, this one’s a little on the pricey side, but when you consider just how comfortable and exceptional sounding this headset is, well, it’s easy to see why it’s one of the best gaming headsets you can buy today. Read the full review: SteelSeries Arctis Pro For years, the Astro A50 has been one of the best gaming headsets. For years, the Astro A50 has been one of the best gaming headsets, known for premium comfort and audio quality. And, the 2019 model improves it on almost every level. Not only is the sound quality still there in full, but it looks better, with a full-black design, rather than the clashing colors of past models. The docking station is also smaller and less of an eyesore. Just keep in mind that this is still a pricey headset. Read the full review: Astro A50 Wireless Beyerdynamic CUSTOM Game is one of the best PC gaming headsets we've used in some time. While it’s more expensive than we’d like, the Beyerdynamic CUSTOM Game is one of the best PC gaming headsets we’ve used in some time. It doesn’t feature flashy surround sound or wireless functionality, unfortunately. However, this headset does excel in two of the most important categories: sound and comfort. Seriously, once you put it on and experience your games in headphones this amazing, there’s no looking back. Read the full review: Beyerdynamic Custom Game The Corsair HS50 Stereo Gaming Headset has sound and mic quality that rivals headsets. Usually when you're purchasing anything, including gaming peripherals, you get what you pay for. You don't go into Walmart, pick up a $50/£50 gaming headset and expect to be blown away, at least not usually. Well, Corsair takes this rule and turns it on its head. The Corsair HS50 is, for the budget gamer, the best PC gaming headset you can get today. Retailing at $50 in the US, the HS50 has sound and mic quality that rivals headsets that are double the price. Everything, down to the build materials, radiates quality. If you don't mind forgoing some extra bells and whistles – like 7.1 surround and Bluetooth connectivity, for example – then you need to take a look at the Corsair HS50. Read the full review: Corsair HS50 Stereo Gaming Headset You can get high quality lossless audio playback with the SteelSeries Arctis Pro Wireless. Compromises are a part of everyday life, but nobody actually enjoys making them. Luckily, you won’t have to with the SteelSeries Arctis Pro Wireless. With it, you can get high quality lossless audio playback with a wireless headset. And, when you add the unique and ultra-convenient dual-battery charging system that lets you wear this headset in perpetuity to the mix, you have a formula for one of the best PC gaming headsets we've ever had the chance to use. If you have the money, and you absolutely need the best wireless headphones money can buy, this is your best bet. Read the full review: SteelSeries Arctis Pro Wireless The Creative Sound BlasterX H7 Tournament Edition further cements Creative's legacy. Creative has made a name for itself over the years for crafting sublime audio products – and the Creative Sound BlasterX H7 Tournament Edition further cements that legacy. Instead of just sitting back and iterating on the same winning formula of its previous products, Creative gives the Sound BlasterX H7 a full overhaul, resulting in a PC gaming headset that looks just as great as it sounds. If you’re looking for a comfortable, solid and meaty-sounding headset, the Creative Sound BlasterX H7 Tournament Edition is one of the best PC gaming headsets you can get. Read the full review: Creative Sound BlasterX H7 Tournament Edition The Turtle Beach Elite Atlas Aero offers great sound quality coupled with its ProSpecs Glasses Relief system. Yes, there might be a few things that hold the Turtle Beach Elite Atlas Aero back from true greatness – namely, its tight fit and not-so-appealing aesthetic. However, when it comes to what really matters, this headset delivers. With great sound quality to start, coupled with its ProSpecs Glasses Relief system to make it more comfortable for wearers with glasses, plethora of features and incredibly powerful software, this is one of the best gaming headsets we’ve ever put over our ears. And, for it, you’ll be happy to pay what would have felt like an exuberant price. Read our full review: Turtle Beach Elite Atlas Aero The Razer Nari Ultimate has haptic motors in the ear cups that make your ears vibrate. Anyone can simply just listen to their games, but with the Razer Nari Ultimate, you can feel them as well. This gaming headset has haptic motors in the ear cups that make your ears vibrate. That’s more than enough to make this at least a curious headset, but when paired with the long battery life, amazing sound quality and comfortable build, it’s clearly one of the best gaming headsets out there. Do yourself a favor and turn off the haptic feedback, even when you’re listening to music. Read the full review: Razer Nari Ultimate The Astro A20 boasts solid stereo sound performance. If you're searching for one of the best PC gaming headsets, but the $300 price tags on those high-end cans make your stomach turn, you should take a closer look at the Astro A20. Boasting solid stereo sound performance in a wireless headset, not to mention the superb 15-hour battery life, this headset has all the necessary qualities that you might want in its price range. Sure, it doesn't come with surround sound, but it more than makes up for it with its economy and battery life. Read the full review: Astro A20 Asus ROG Strix Fusion 700 provides fantastic sound quality without being tethered with a wire. With its Republic of Gamers brand, Asus has built a reputation for being the name behind some of the best gaming peripherals to constantly meet consumer standards. The Asus ROG Strix Fusion 700 joins their ranks. Packed with 50mm Neodymium drivers and Bluetooth compatibility, this gaming headset provides fantastic sound quality without being tethered with a wire. It’s even compatible with other gaming platforms, so you won’t have to switch between different headsets. It’s a little pricey, but considering how good this headset sounds and how flexible it is, we’d say it’s worth it. Read the full review: Asus ROG Strix Fusion 700 HyperX Cloud Flight gives you two full days of gaming in between full charges. The HyperX Cloud Flight is a long-lasting wireless gaming headset that boasts up to 30 hours of battery life. This means you can likely get two full days of gaming in between full charges. There is a catch, however – unlike the Cloud Flight’s competition, namely the Astro A20, this gaming headset only offers stereo sound, ditching any surround sound capability. You can thankfully get circumvent that by messing around with the Dolby Access app, though, and the sound profile is balanced enough to make this a non-issue, making this one of the best PC gaming headsets in 2020. Read the full review: HyperX Cloud Flight Corsair HS70 Wireless Gaming Headset boasts virtual surround sound capabilities. Corsair unveiled one of the best PC gaming headsets late last year with the Corsair HS50, and now, it has taken it to the next level by making it wireless and flourishing it with virtual surround sound capabilities. These features on their own might make a great gaming headset, but when you add in the fantastic Corsair CUE software on top of it, you get a complete package that would make a great addition to your gaming setup. Read the full review: Corsair HS70 Wireless Gaming Headset The Void Pro RGB Wireless delivers great build quality, fantastic sound fidelity and RGB lighting. It wasn't that long ago that Corsair was only known for PC components. However, over the last five years or so, it has possibly become better known for its gaming peripherals. With products like the Corsair Void RGB Wireless, it's not hard to understand why. While at first glance, some may scoff at the asking price, the Void Pro RGB Wireless delivers on that price point with great build quality, fantastic sound fidelity and – perhaps most importantly – RGB lighting. Plus, if you've already got a full arsenal of Corsair peripherals, the Void Pro RGB Wireless fits in perfectly, and can even synchronize lighting effects with other peripherals through the Corsair Utility Engine. Read the full review: Corsair Void RGB Wireless Turtle Beach Elite Pro Tournament is extremely comfortable to wear and boasts top-notch sound. If you're the type of gamer who likes to let the world know you're playing games, the Turtle Beach Elite Pro Tournament may just be the best PC gaming headset for you. Not only is it extremely comfortable to wear, but its 50mm drivers mean that sound quality is always top notch – even if it could have a bit more bass in the mix. You really do have to like the 'gamer aesthetic' however, as its plastic build and orange highlights personify the style. Still, if you can get past or embrace the looks and the price tag, there's a lot to love about the Turtle Beach Elite Pro Tournament. Read the full review: Turtle Beach Elite Pro Tournament Gabe Carey has also contributed to this article
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