Apple : How to watch Billions season 5 online: stream the new series anywhere for free |
- How to watch Billions season 5 online: stream the new series anywhere for free
- How to watch Killing Eve online: stream season 3 from anywhere
- How to watch Run online: stream the new show from anywhere
- How to watch Rick and Morty season 4 online: stream part 2's new episodes anywhere free
- How to watch The Last Dance: stream new episodes of the Michael Jordan documentary online anywhere
- The Mi 10 is a necessary evil for Xiaomi’s future in India
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| How to watch Billions season 5 online: stream the new series anywhere for free Posted: 10 May 2020 01:24 PM PDT Led by Hollywood A-listers Damien Lewis and Paul Giamatti, Billions was first released in 2016 and quickly established itself as one of the most popular shows on TV. Now, with a fifth series set to drop, there's never been a better time to dive head-first into the murky world of Axe Capital. Read on as we explain how to watch Billions season 5 online for free - stream every episode from anywhere in the world with the help of our guide. Billions season 5 is comprised of 12 hour-long episodes, the first seven of which will air on consecutive weekends on Showtime in the US starting May 3. Thereafter, the show will go a Covid-19 enforced hiatus, with the remaining five episodes set to air later in the year. Once again, the magnetic Lewis takes center stage as Bobby 'Axe' Axlerod, the talented but ruthless head honcho of Axe Capital. Keeping him on his toes is Giamatti's Chuck Rhoades, who begins the show as US Attorney for the Southern District of New York and is hellbent on proving that Axe's hedge fund success isn't solely down to good judgement. The supporting cast is every bit as impressive, featuring the likes of Maggie Siff (Mad Men, Sons Of Anarchy), Malin Akerman (Watchmen) and Toby Leonard Moore (Daredevil, John Wick). Ready to get started? Read on to learn how to watch Billions season 5 online from anywhere - including for free.
How to watch Billions from outside your countryIt may seem unlikely, but should you find yourself abroad during these difficult times, geo-blocking will almost certainly prohibit you from accessing the streaming services you would normally use (and pay for) at home. Fortunately, there's an easy solution. Downloading the best VPN will allow you to watch Billions season 5 online no matter where you are. This neat bit of kit changes your IP address so that you can watch all your favorite shows live or on-demand, just like you would from the comfort of your sofa.
How to watch Billions season 5 for FREE in the USHow to watch Billions season 5 online in the UK for FREEHow to watch Billions for free online in AustraliaWatch Billions season 5 online in Canada
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| How to watch Killing Eve online: stream season 3 from anywhere Posted: 10 May 2020 11:25 AM PDT First released back in 2018, Phoebe Waller-Bridge's Killing Eve is currently in the midst of its third season with new episodes being released every Sunday. Stars Sandra Oh and Jodie Comer return to continue their seemingly endless cat-and-mouse game as Eve and Villanelle - but will they both survive the new run? This is one of the many questions waiting to be answered. Ready to jump back in? Here's how to watch Killing Eve online for free - stream season 3's latest episodes no matter where you are in the world right now. It's safe to say that Killing Eve was a big hit when it was first released, one that was praised for the way to cleverly moulded classic elements of suspense with quirky dark humour - the latter being one of Waller-Bridge's specialities. Prime example - when you see that an episode of a BAFTA-winning TV show is called 'Slowly Slowly Catchy Monkey', who else could it really be? Killing Eve season 3 reviews have been less wholeheartedly enthusiastic, but anyone who has gotten this far into the show will no doubt want to see what it's like for themselves - and given the current circumstances in many countries around the world, what's to stop you? In the US, it can still comfortably rival most of the best Hulu shows around - so follow our guide as we explain all the easiest ways to watch Killing Eve season 3 and stream the show online from anywhere in the world - including for free.
How to watch Killing Eve online from outside your countryThe coronavirus may have put old paradigms like holidays and work trips to bed temporarily, but the fact is international travel will one day resume in full - and you may even be stuck outside your country of origin, for whatever reason. If and when that's the case, you could be forgiven for wanting a taste of home comforts, especially now. If that means streaming the services you normally would, geo-blocking can prove to be a major obstacle - but fortunately there's an easy solution. Using a little handy trick, you can get around these pesky digital borders using a VPN. This will allow you to gain access to Killing Eve as it happens by changing your IP to your nation of residence. But which VPN is best for you? How to watch Killing Eve free online: stream season 3 in the UK for FREE
How to watch Killing Eve season 3 online in the USHow to watch Killing Eve online in AustraliaHow to watch Killing Eve online: stream seasons 1 and 2 for freeIf you're new to Killing Eve, then there are worse things to do during a global pandemic than watch the first two seasons of the hit show. Anyone in the UK or the US has it good, as the BBC show is available on a number of convenient streaming services. In the US, the best option for binging Killing Eve right now is Sling TV, whose affordable $30 a month Orange bundle gets you the full back catalogue for on-demand streaming plus all the new season 3 episodes. Another option is Hulu, which offers a FREE trial and seasons 1 and 2 of Killing Eve on-demand, but note that you'll need its higher-end Hulu + Live TV package, which normally costs $54.99 a month. Although BBC America does also offer its own option for a free season 2 Killing Eve stream - as does AMC to the best of our knowledge. In the UK, it's all gratis provided you hold a valid TV license in the country - in which case just tune into BBC iPlayer and watch Killing Eve seasons 1 and 2 for free online. If you're in Australia, you can watch Killing Eve season 1 on Stan - but beyond that you're looking at paying to buy the show via a platform like iTunes. This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
| How to watch Run online: stream the new show from anywhere Posted: 10 May 2020 11:17 AM PDT The dynamic writing duo behind Fleabag, Phoebe Waller-Bridge and Vicky Jones have reunited for a new TV show - and this new comedy-drama is already proving to be a popular and critical hit. Read on and find out how to watch Run online and stream every new episode from anywhere in the world, including for free. The show follows Ruby (played by Emmy-winning Nurse Jackie star Merritt Wever) who walks out on her comfortable suburban family life to reunite with Billy, her former college boyfriend from Ireland (Domhnall Gleeson), who has gone on to become a successful life guru. The story unfolds as the pair go off on a whirlwind trip across America as part of a pact the pair had made 17 years earlier. Under the rules of the pact, if either one of them texted the word "run" and the other replied with the same, they would drop everything and meet in Grand Central Station to travel across America together. A transatlantic co-production between HBO and Sky Comedy, Jones serves as writer and producer, while Waller-Bridge stars as key character Laurel as well as getting an executive producer credit. Keep reading and we'll tell you where to watch Run online no matter where you are right now.
How to watch Run online in the USHow to watch Run in the UKHow to watch Run online in Canada this weekHow to watch Run online in AustraliaThis posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
| How to watch Rick and Morty season 4 online: stream part 2's new episodes anywhere free Posted: 10 May 2020 10:50 AM PDT After a hefty wait, fans of beyond eccentric cartoon series Rick and Morty have finally been rewarded for their patience, with the beloved show now into the release of a new batch of episodes. Read on and we'll tell you how to watch Rick and Morty season 4 online for free - including where you can stream all of part 2 anywhere, including the all-new episode 7 this week. Having gone off-air at the end of 2019, the show has now returned to help us get through what's hopefully the final days of Covid-19 lockdown. The part 2 trailer promised us all the unpredictability and madcap adventures we've come to expect from the show, including manga-style superhero outfits, electrocutions, and light sabres. Perhaps the latter should have come as no surprise given that the first new episode of Rick and Morty season 4 - episode 6 'Never Ricking Morty' - was first released on May 3, just 24 hours before Star Wars Day 2020, in the United States. Now, we're into the second week of brand spanking new Rick and Morty season 4 episodes - episode 7 is titled 'Promortyus' and we can't wait to see what bizarre spin the show puts on the famous Greek myth of Prometheus. Created by Dan Harmon (of Community fame) and Justin Roiland, the show originated from a short parody of Back to the Future and first aired back in 2013. Since then, it graduated from its original cult status and grown to a show that counts the likes of Taika Waititi, Elon Musk and Liam Cunningham as some of its guest stars. Not bad going for a drunken mad scientist and his naive 14-year-old grandson, really? For anyone totally new to the show, those are the titular characters of Rick and Morty, respectively. Will the wait have been worth it? We reckon so - read on and discover how to watch Rick and Morty season 4 and stream every new part 2 episode for free no matter where you are today.
How to watch Rick and Morty from outside your countryBelow we'll take yo through your Rick and Morty streaming options for various regions around the world, where you can see it for free in the likes of the US and UK. Those who already have a streaming service they use to watch Rick and Morty online may find themselves unable to access it when abroad, due to pesky geo-blocking restrictions. We know, we know - most people aren't going anywhere anytime soon right now. But global travel will one day resume and, god forbid, you may even be stuck abroad. Fortunately, there's an easy solution to geo-blocking. Downloading a VPN will allow you to watch Rick and Morty no matter where you are. This simple bit of software changes your IP address so that you can access episodes on demand. Watch Rick and Morty season 4, episode 6 FREE in the US with Sling TVWe'll cut right to the chase because, like us, you've been waiting for part 2 of Rick and Morty season 4 for a while now. Your patience has paid off, however, as you can watch new episodes for free courtesy of Sling TV and its ongoing Happy Hour promotion Sling TV's Happy Hour is even better than a free trial, as it lets you watch prime time TV every night without paying a penny - or handing over your credit card details! Alternatively, read on and we'll explain all the other ways you can watch Rick and Morty season 4 in the US and beyond. If that sounds like you and you want to watch the Rick and Morty online, all you need to do is head over to Sling and sign up with an email address - that's all there is to it.
Where else to watch Rick and Morty season 4, episode 6 in the USHow to watch Rick and Morty season 4 FREE in the UKHow to watch Rick and Morty in CanadaHow to watch Rick and Morty in AustraliaIs Rick and Morty on Netflix?In many countries, yes! For instance, Rick and Morty is one of the best Netflix UK shows around and - as we've just said - it's also available on Netflix Australia. But Rick and Morty season 4 hasn't yet dropped on the servicea nywhere - and we don't really expect it to until part 2 has finished airing on Adult Swim.
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| How to watch The Last Dance: stream new episodes of the Michael Jordan documentary online anywhere Posted: 10 May 2020 10:41 AM PDT Not quite sure what to do without the NBA and your regular dose of May hoops action? One of the few silver linings of the global Covid-19 crisis is that one of the most anticipated sports series of all-time has landed early. Basketball aficionado or not, you've heard of Michael Jordan, probably owned the sneakers, and maybe even suffered Space Jam - now, here's how to watch The Last Dance online and stream the latest episodes of the new Michael Jordan documentary from anywhere in the world today. Originally scheduled to premiere in June to coincide with the 2020 NBA Finals, The Last Dance's release date was brought forward to April due to the pandemic. It's directed by veteran sports filmmaker Jason Hehir, who's also behind the critically acclaimed Andre the Giant documentary, and charts the final championship run of the 90's Chicago Bulls dynasty and its mercurial leader, Michael Jordan. With six NBA titles to his name, Jordan isn't just the best basketball player of all time - sorry not sorry, LeBron fans - but arguably the greatest athlete in the history of US sports. Only Tom Brady and Tiger Woods even get a seat at the same table. Read on as we've got more information about this groundbreaking new series below - but first, we'll tell you how to watch The Last Dance online and stream new episodes of the Michael Jordan documentary no matter where you are right now.
How to watch The Last Dance online from abroadKeep reading for specific country-by-country options to watch The Last Dance. It's all pretty straightforward stuff - until you find yourself abroad and annoying geo-blocking restrictions cut you off from your normal streaming provider. Admittedly, most people aren't going anywhere anytime soon right now. But global travel will one day resume and, in an absolute worse case scenario, you may even be stuck abroad. Fortunately, there's an easy solution to this problem. Downloading a VPN will allow you to stream The Last Dance no matter where you are. This useful bit of software changes your IP address so that you can access episodes of your favorite shows and movies live or on-demand as soon as they become available - just as if you were lying on the couch back home. Is The Last Dance on Netflix?For a great many people, this is a firm yes - but folk in the US are not among them. Netflix is the global distribution partner for The Last Dance and new episodes of the miniseries are set to drop on the popular streaming service just after they air on the cable channel - around 3am ET or 12am PT every Monday in North America, or 8am BST in the United Kingdom, where it will likely find itself among the best Netflix UK shows sooner rather than later. Netflix Australia and Netflix Canada will also be offering the series for streaming after it first airs on ESPN in the US, so read on and we'll explain how to watch The Last Dance wherever you are. As we say though, you won't find The Last Dance on Netflix in the US for its first run. How to watch The Last Dance in the US right nowHow to watch The Last Dance: stream the documentary online in the UKStream The Last Dance online: how to watch the Michael Jordan documentary in AustraliaHow to watch The Last Dance: stream new episodes in Canada this weekWhat is The Last Dance?Far from being just a collection of standard highlight reel stuff, The Last Dance features candid new interviews and previously unseen behind-the-scenes footage. The 1997/98 NBA season is explored in such a way that draws attention to Jordan's domineering personality just as much as it does his epic dunks. It was to be his last year with the Bulls and the culmination of a return odyssey that started back in 1995 when the legend decided to furlough his ambitions as a professional baseball player in the MLB. To compile all of this, an NBA Entertainment film crew went behind-the-scenes with the Bulls throughout the campaign, having gained the approval of Jordan, Bulls owner Jerry Reinsdorf, and head coach Phil Jackson. And in addition to reminding us why we were desperate to 'be like Mike' in the 90s and would queue for hours for the latest pair of Air Jordan sneakers, the documentary also hones in on other key members of the Bulls team - fellow Hall of Famers Scottie Pippen and Dennis Rodman, as well as sharp-shooter Steve Kerr (now head coach of the Golden State Warriors). This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
| The Mi 10 is a necessary evil for Xiaomi’s future in India Posted: 10 May 2020 08:47 AM PDT Xiaomi is a household name in the Indian smartphone market. In a matter of about five years, it went from being a nobody to the overall market leader in terms of shipments. However, its dream run is once again thwarted by a nightmare that has been haunting it since years — failing at moving up the price ladder. The latest chapter in this story came with the launch of the Mi 10 in India. It was supposed to be a big day for Xiaomi. It was finally returning to the elusive flagship smartphone space of India, one that it gave up on a couple of years ago; but ended up being followed by countless comments on how the device was criminally overpriced and how nobody would consider a premium Xiaomi device. This isn’t the first time Xiaomi India will have to bear this criticism. It happened with the Mi 5 in 2016, it happened with the Redmi K20 series in 2019, and the Mi 10 is probably not going to be the last time either. One may wonder, why is the company so hesitant on playing out of its comfort zone while it already has a respectable lead in the budget segment, which comprises 95% of the Indian smartphone market? Adamant or arrogant? Aspirational.The simple answer is profits. India’s budget segment is famous for being unforgiving, and Xiaomi played a huge part in shifting the scale, and thus, consumer expectations. However, the same price war has also forced manufacturers to operate at slim profit margins in hopes of volume sales. The real profits almost always lie in the premium products, regardless of the brand or product category. With Xiaomi having aced the budget segment, it was now time to try and replicate the same success in other price segments. And this concept of brands moving up the price ladder is not all that alien. It is something that every business aims for, but very few gracefully achieve. In the smartphone space, OnePlus is probably the only one that has been able to upsell consumers with each new product; an attribute that most brands only dream of. While OnePlus started as a budget brand aimed at enthusiasts, it didn’t take them long to slowly starting tiptoeing to the ultra-premium segment. It wasn’t a digestible move as many of its original adopters felt betrayed, but OnePlus continued to try and redefine the value paradigm at newer price points. For a company whose first product was priced at a mere Rs 21K, it has done an admirable job in convincing users to stick along at the Rs 60K price point. If OnePlus would’ve given up a few years ago when the earliest complaints around its pricing emerged, we would’ve never seen a legit flagship competitor from a young brand. The constant drive of crafting a better product at each price point was what convinced users of its brand value. The worst possible timingSadly, for Xiaomi, its time of re-entry to the market with the Mi 10 was arguably one of the unluckiest ones: Flagships in 2020 were significantly more expensive across the board, half the world is currently in lockdown, it was subject to import duties in India, and worst of all, its direct competitor, the OnePlus 8 series hit it out of the park with its pricing. The OnePlus 8 series is unexpectedly cheaper in India, especially when we factor in the global pricing and the aforementioned issues. We presume this to be a case of OnePlus taking advantage of the situation and going all-in in the Indian market, while letting the Western markets take care of the profits. It wouldn’t be a surprise if it retains its segment leadership yet again.
Going a step further, the lockdown also led to unavailability of units for reviewers, leaving even fewer good points to be mentioned in discussions around the Xiaomi Mi 10 by the consumers and disheartened Mi Fans. Adding to all of that, the most prevalent comment was on their brand perception, and how “nobody would buy a Xiaomi at Rs 50K…” Simply put, for the price-sensitive Indian market, a premium phone is also a sign of pride and ego - something which Xiaomi apparently does not bring to the table. Moreover, consumers also deem MIUI unfit for a premium product, for reasons beyond system ads. In consolation, Xiaomi did mention that the Mi 10 will not show ads in the interface. While it’s too early for us to comment on whether the Mi 10 is a good phone or not, and leaving the brand perception bit up to the readers, it will really be an uphill task for Xiaomi to convince potential buyers of its prestige value. Having mentioned that, it would be foolish on our part to assume that Xiaomi India did not foresee any of this. After all, it is the company that understood Indian consumers and returned with market-redefining products, over and over. Brand perception can not be changed overnightXiaomi India probably knew what it was getting into with the Mi 10. But what it also knows is that it can take years to build a brand image. It successfully got out of the “Chinese company” stigma, when all the odds were against it, by consistently putting out great products. If it hopes to be a respectable player in the premium space, it will have to do the same - consistently show the Indian market what it is capable of. Xiaomi would’ve faced the flak regardless of when it would’ve re-entered the Indian market. It just so happened that the Mi 10’s launch fell at a rather unfortunate time. But the Mi 10 is also a way for Xiaomi to actually gauge the market with its first real flagship and better understand what the consumers expect at this price point. That feedback, combined with a steady stream of great products is the only way to convince Indian users. For example, it is now clear that MIUI will need a facelift if it wants to appeal to more users. It is neither going to be easy nor quick, but it is only after a few generations that consumers will actually start associating Xiaomi with the premium segment. Building a brand’s reputation can take years, and with the Mi 10, Xiaomi takes the first big step towards securing its place at higher price points. The Mi 10 is unlikely to be able to beat the OnePlus 8 series, but it did capture everyone’s attention. The route ahead is practically just repeating the process with each new generation of its core flagship series, in a way that consumers start associating Xiaomi with the premium segment. That will have to be followed by increased marketing spend as well. A good product is only a small part of a successful marketing mix, with convincing pricing, promotion and accessibility also playing a huge role. The road ahead
The reason why the Xiaomi Mi 10 is so expensive in India also highlights why seemingly established companies such as HTC, Sony, Motorola and others have slowly been pushed to irrelevancy. Firstly, it is one of the only devices from the house of Xiaomi that is not made in India, directly subjecting it to a 20% import duty. There has to be enough demand for Xiaomi’s flagships to consider investing in new production lines which are capable of handling something so high end. It’s a chicken and egg situation, where neither will happen without the other. Further, it will also have to be followed by making servicing and parts available throughout the country, which again is a huge fixed cost for a product that will not be fast-moving. The same goes for software support. Moreover, Xiaomi operates at pretty slim profits margins (~5%), which hinders its ability to have different prices in some regions to make up for more competitive pricing in others. Xiaomi has never really dealt in the ultra-premium space. The Rs 20-35K segment will be left for affordable flagships from Redmi and Poco, while Mi will try to carve out a name for itself at the higher price points. Every company wishes to succeed at multiple price points. If Xiaomi is serious about being considered as a premium brand down the road, the Mi 10 can not be the last flagship to land in India. It knows how to make a great product at a reasonable price, now it just has to focus on how to make a marketable product.
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| Apple Watch price cut: the Apple Watch Series 3 is on sale for $179 at Best Buy Posted: 10 May 2020 07:05 AM PDT An incredible price for a feature-rich smartwatch, Best Buy has the Apple Watch 3 in stock and on sale for only $179. That's a $100 discount and the lowest price we've found for the best-selling smartwatch. Shop more deals with our roundup of the best Memorial Day sales. This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
| Google Duo feature push continues with family mode, 32-way calls and more Posted: 10 May 2020 07:00 AM PDT Google isn't slowing down in trying to pinch some of the market share Zoom has amassed in the video chat market – having added one-click calls to Gmail for its business-focused Google Meet video app, it's now pushing out more features for its other video tool, Google Duo, as well. As announced in a blog post from Google, Duo is getting a family mode that essentially adds a lot of masks and filters for messing about with the kids (or grandchildren). The mute and hang up buttons get hidden in this mode, presumably to stop youngsters accidentally hitting them. The same video filters and effects are also rolling out to one-to-one Duo calls on Android and iOS, Google says, just in case you want to turn your face into a giant flower vase or something similar.
Google Duo on the web is also getting some improvements: browser-based group video calls will be supported in the "coming weeks" apparently, and you'll be able to join them via an invite link from your Google account. Sounds a lot like... Zoom. Upgrades aplentyThe maximum number of people you can have on a Duo video call was recently bumped up to 12 participants, but as Google has confirmed to Android Police (and has also mentioned in promotional emails), that will soon be rising to 32. It's been interesting to see tech firms scrambling to get their video calling software upgraded as quickly as possible, as more and more of us are stuck at home due to the ongoing effects of the coronavirus outbreak. HTC has launched a VR video chat application, while Skype and Facebook have both been rolling out features to make their video calling tools match the features and the interface of Zoom – the app that has so far seen the biggest growth in use. Even FaceTime is following the lead set by Zoom: in the latest iOS beta code you're able to turn off the floating face interface and use a more conventional grid instead. If you're in the market for a video calling program, the choices are better than ever. This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
| What your fitness tracker can – and can’t – tell you about Covid-19 Posted: 10 May 2020 07:00 AM PDT The fitness tracker strapped around your wrist can tell you a great deal about your wellbeing – but can it also tell you anything about the coronavirus pandemic? On a personal level, the answer is probably not – but when your data is combined with readings from thousands of other users, it could be invaluable. For example, many modern fitness trackers and smartwatches (including the Fitbit Charge 4, Garmin Forerunner 945 and Apple Watch Series 5 to name just a few, feature pulse oximetry (also known as SP02) sensors, which give you an idea of your blood oxygen saturation and how it changes in different situations. Low blood oxygen can be a symptom of coronavirus, but alone it’s not enough to make a diagnosis – particularly when it’s measured using a wrist watch, for several reasons. For starters, they just aren’t accurate enough. Garmin is particularly up front about this, stating plainly that: “Pulse Ox data is intended for recreational use only. Pulse Ox data should not be treated as any type of medical diagnosis or treatment of disease. This is not a medical device.” Similarly, Fitbit’s app makes it clear that SP02 measurements from fitness trackers are only estimates. So why aren’t they as accurate as medical devices? Part of the reason is placement. The type of pulse oximeter used in a hospital clips onto your finger, toe or ear, where the blood flow is close to the surface. Light is emitted on one side of the oximeter, and passes right through to a sensor on the other side. A fitness tracker around your wrist has both the light source and sensor on one side of your wrist, and must therefore rely on light that bounces back. The blood vessels in your wrist are also further from the surface of your skin, further muddying the waters. There’s also the matter of knowledge. Even if you splashed out on a medical-grade pulse oximeter (and shopping trends on Amazon suggest many people have), blood oxygen saturation is only part of the picture, and can’t be used for diagnosis alone. Imagine how much easier large-scale testing would be if it only involved briefly clipping a device onto your fingertip for half an hour. And if you’ve never used an oximeter before, you might simply read it wrongly, or misinterpret the results. The bigger pictureHowever, that’s not to say your fitness tracker is useless in the fight against Covid-19 – far from it. Fitness trackers can’t tell you whether you personally are sick, but they have great potential on a population level, and not just SP02 measurements. Data gathered in large amounts can show trends like reduced overall movement (indicating people aren’t feeling up to working out), increased or disturbed sleep, or increased heart rate (which can be indicative of fever as the body fights off an infection). Polar has just announced that data from its fitness trackers is being used in a new Covid-19 ‘early warning’ project. The work is being carried out by science and research firm Elysian Labs, and was commissioned by the US Army. The study aims to help identify people who may be incubating the virus and infecting others, but not yet showing symptoms themselves. It’s a particularly big problem for first responders, and identifying changes in key markers (such as heart rate, heart rate variability and sleep patterns) in people who later become symptomatic could help identify infected people and remove them from front-line work faster. Polar is particularly experienced when it comes to collecting and pooling the resulting data for research. It’s been working with researchers (including those at Elysian) for decades, and has a lot of experience producing accurate, reliable and clean data that’s suitable for serious studies. “When you’re making recommendations to the US Army and you’re tasked with that, there’s a huge amount of trust,” Tom Fowler, president of Polar USA, told TechRadar. “Whether you actually trust the data on which your study relies. For over 40 years, Polar has been well known for its accuracy, reliability and stability. “[Elysian] had already pre-selected Polar based on their own experience, and that’s just one lab. We also do a tremendous amount of work with the US Marshals Service. Again, it’s the same story – to optimize the effectiveness. That’s separate and pre-dates C-19, but those ar just two examples I the world of military, government and special forces. Over and over again because of that reliability, accuracy and stability, Polar continues to be the go-to choice.” The initial validation study includes 50 US National Guard personnel, with intentions to expand the study to 5,000 individuals in the coming months, but Polar is also working with researchers at non-profit organization PhysioQ on a project called Neo that you can take part in at home. “It’s a free app that will be available to anyone who wants to download it into their smartphone that will harvest data from the Polar Flow app to gauge if they are trending adversely around the key biometrics that might be indicative that something is amiss with you,” said Fowler. “Whether that’s not executing good sleep hygiene habits or the early onset of disease.” Neo will launch officially soon, but you can sign up for early access now if you’re interested in taking part. Improving predictionPolar isn’t the only fitness tracking company involved in coronavirus research; many others are collaborating with the Scripps Research Institute in San Diego and Stanford Medicine to see how data gathered from fitness trackers could predict the spread of viral diseases including Covid-19. Their joint project is called DETECT – a health study that analyzes data from fitness trackers, including heart rate, sleep and activity levels, which aims to detect the emergence and spread of viruses. If you’re over 18, live in the US and own a Fitbit, Apple Watch, Amazfit or Garmin device, you can pitch in and contribute your data by downloading the MyDataHelps app. “From our previously published work, we know that data collected from consumer wearables can significantly improve the prediction of influenza-like illness,” said Dr Eric Topol, director and founder of Scripps Research Translational Institute, in a statement issued at the project’s launch. Dr Topol referred to a study published in medical journal The Lancet, which aimed to see whether population trends of seasonal respiratory infections (such as flu) could be identified using heart rate and sleep data from fitness trackers. Researchers used anonymized data from 47,249 Fitbit users in the US, and found that the data (specifically increased sleep duration and elevated heart rate) significantly improved prediction of influenza-like illnesses at the state level. Yet another study, Covidentity, is using data from mobile and wearable devices including Garmin smartwatches. Garmin owners are encouraged to link their devices to the study, which is underway at Duke University, so researchers can see how their heart rate and activity levels are affected by Covid-19. The aim is not only to track the disease’s spread, but to understand if someone might be more susceptible to contracting it, or might be at risk of a worse outcome. Getting personalAll of these projects are still in relatively early stages and there are limitations to using data from fitness trackers and smartwatches. Although they’re becoming more affordable, there’s no avoiding they’re luxury items, and people who own them are likely to be more affluent on average than those who don’t – not to mention younger, more physically active, and more able to work from home. However, there’s great potential here – even after the current crisis is under control. Scripps Research says that eventually it hopes to develop more individualized approaches to health care, which compare your current vital signs to your personal average – establishing patterns and letting you investigate changing trends with a level head. “There is no silver bullet,” adds Tom Fowler. “Definitely telling an individual ‘Clearly, because your biometrics are trending in this direction you’re sick,’ that’s not happening. There’s a misunderstanding out there that wearables can detect C-19 – that’s baloney. It’s like asking if I can take a pill and lose weight, or rub a cream on my body and take 20 years off my physical appearance. “One good day in your biometric portfolio doesn’t mean you’re a superwoman – nor does one bad day mean you’re one step from the grave. It’s the trend that matters. That [change] is only illustrating that something is going on – something is causing you to decline or to be robust.” A downward trend in your wellbeing stats could be due to any number of things, and it’s up to you to consider what it might be. For example, if you’ve been having a lot of late nights, eating poorly and propping yourself up with caffeine, restless sleep and other issues would be easily explained and you can address the problem by changing your lifestyle. If, however, you’ve been eating well and looking after yourself, it might be worth considering other possibilities, which could include illness. If you’ve been in contact with someone who’s been diagnosed, it may be wise to get tested and isolate yourself until you have a proper answer. That empowerment is something that’ll extend well beyond the current crisis. “If there’s one silver lining, its increasing peoples awareness to the fact that they can gain this insight,” says Fowler. “Their lifestyle choices matter, they can live a better more vibrant life through the data they have had access to all along.”
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| Apple AirPods sale: the all-new AirPods Pro hit lowest price ever Posted: 10 May 2020 06:10 AM PDT AT&T is currently offering a rare price cut on the all-new AirPods Pro. For a limited time, you can get Apple's best-selling AirPods Pro on sale for $224. That's a $26 discount and the lowest price we've found for the wireless earbuds. Apple AirPod deals:Learn more about the earbuds with our Apple AirPods Pro review. This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
| Best Kodi XBMC streaming boxes: the best hardware for Kodi streaming Posted: 10 May 2020 05:46 AM PDT Kodi boxes (otherwise known as Android TV boxes) are a massive success no matter how you slice them. The best models deliver 4K video to your TV and allow you unfettered access to audio and video streams of every format and service. If there's a better, more versatile piece of AV software out there, we've yet to see it. On top of giving you the capability to stream video and music files over a local network, the software also includes the ability to install add-ons to stream from almost any streaming service you could think of, including Amazon Prime Instant Video, Spotify and Netflix. One of the main selling points of Kodi is the fact that it’s supported by pretty much any platform you could think of, up to and including macOS, Android, Linux and Windows. The only real drawback we can think of is that Kodi doesn’t actually manufacture streaming boxes (no, the official Kodi Raspberry Pi case doesn't count), so you need to find your own device to run it on. Luckily, dozens of manufacturers the world over are more than happy to provide some to you. In fact, to be totally honest, the requirements for running Kodi are almost laughably low: all you need is a 3D capable GPU graphics hardware controller for all rendering, a dual-core (or better CPU), and 1GB of RAM. That said, while there are plenty of boxes available with Kodi pre-installed, you have to be careful. So-called 'fully loaded' Kodi boxes come with lots of add-ons that give you access to pirated content. Unsurprisingly, there's a huge crackdown on these types of boxes, with the EU declaring them illegal. The best solution is to find a compatible media box and manually install Kodi. And with this guide, we’ve gathered together the best Kodi streaming boxes on the market in 2018. For each, we've tested how easy it is to install Kodi, how smoothly it runs, and how each handles playing 1080p or 4K video.
Well, this is a surprise. The Xbox One X is the best Kodi player of the year. Sporting Kodi 18 Leia, installing the media streaming suite is impossibly easy on Xbox One X - just head to the App Store to grab the latest version. That makes it way easier than side-loading the software on Amazon devices and, thanks to the processor and copious memory inside the Xbox One X, it runs like a dream. The only thing holding the Xbox One X (and, to a lesser extent, the Xbox One S) back from utter perfection is that some add-ons haven't been optimized for Kodi 18 yet - and, with no other options in the store, you're forced to leave some add-ons behind. Still, if you don't mind missing out on a few add-ons, the Xbox One X is our top pick for the best Kodi box this year. Read the full review: Xbox One X The Nvidia Shield The Nvidia Shield Pro is the most powerful Android set-top box that we've reviewed. It's designed with all types of 4K home entertainment in mind, from Netflix to the latest games via Geforce Now. Unsurprisingly, this power makes the Nvidia Shield Pro one of the best boxes for Kodi. Running Android TV, the Nvidia Shield Pro is one of the easiest boxes to configure Kodi on. With Google Play reconfigured for your TV screen and remote control, rather than a touchscreen, installing Kodi was an absolute breeze; in fact, we didn't have to type anything, since we were able to use the voice search provided by the remote control to find the Kodi app. Kodi started in just a couple of seconds, with the box recovering from standby in a similar amount of time. There are no lengthy waits with the Nvidia Shield. Once in Kodi performance was exceptional, with super-smooth menus and animations across the board. The menus and interface were easy to navigate using the excellent bundled remote control, too. We tested 4K and 1080p videos, with both streaming smoothly. The Shield could also easily downsample 4K video to fill a 1080p TV, too. We had no problems using the built-in 802.11ac Wi-Fi; if your network signal isn't strong enough, there's an Ethernet port in the back. Considering the small size of the Nvidia Shield, the performance is phenomenal. If you don't care about the gaming content, the Amazon Fire TV is better value for 4K playback; if you want the absolute best performance, this is the media streamer to buy. Read the full review: Nvidia Shield Putting Kodi on the Amazon Fire TV takes a bit of finagling, yes, but when it's on there the world of streaming video will be your oyster. Using Fire TV OS, a variation of Android, Amazon’s newest Fire TV Cube is, by far, our favorite Amazon streaming device – better in so many ways than the Amazon Fire TV Cube that was released in 2017 (which is also included in this list of best Kodi boxes). The processor upgrade and inclusion of Dolby Vision are great new additions and, in spite of a few shortcomings, help solidify the Cube's spot as one of the best streaming players to be released this year. The Fire TV Cube has always been rock-solid in terms of performance, but the latest version introduces a number of upgrades that make it even faster. Read our review of the Amazon Fire TV Cube here.
The Amazon Fire TV Stick is one of the most popular streaming devices among Kodi users – and it has been for a while. With the 2017 version of the Fire TV Stick, things are even better. A faster processor makes the media streamer 30% faster than the old one, according to Amazon. The new stick also features Alexa support built in (although this doesn't work with Kodi), and the device is only slightly more expensive than the original. However, getting Kodi on the Fire TV Stick can be a bit of a hassle, as the app is not listed in the Amazon app store. Instead, you have to sideload Kodi. Once installed, though, the Fire TV stick is phenomenal.
The included Bluetooth remote control effortlessly navigates through Kodi’s menus and interface. While the older Fire TV struggled a little to navigate Kodi's menus smoothly, the new model has no such trouble with the default skin. Keep in mind that the Fire TV’s HDMI output only supports up to 1080p video. Testing, we found that our 1080p videos played smoothly; 4K videos launched and were downscaled, but we soon ran into buffering problems as the Fire TV struggled to keep up with the high quality video. If you don't care about not having 4K and want a small, simple device that can handle 1080p Kodi, as well as Netflix and Amazon Prime Instant Video, this is the best Kodi streaming box for you. Read the full review: Amazon Fire TV Stick The Turewell T9 Android 9.0 TV box comes with Android 9.0 Pie, making it fast and efficient for use with Kodi. In fact, the default media player, called KD, is Kodi under another name, so you don't have to worry about installing it. This Android TV box offers a decent range of games, an attractive user interface (for the cost), and Google Play Store support which grants you access to an eclectic mix of experiences. It also supports video decoding and plays almost all popular audio and video formats, including 4K HD video. And moreover, its H.265 decoding will save 50% of streaming bandwidth compared H.264, providing the ability to play thousands of Android games on a large 4K screen while enjoying a higher quality experience with less buffering. Featuring speedy video that stretches up to 60fps, the NEO U9-H 64-bit Media Hub for Android delivers smooth, responsive, and crystal-clear picture quality thanks to its 4K capabilities. Even better, the U9-H offers impressive picture performance thanks to full HDR10 support. Its HDR (High Dynamic Range) technology widens the color spectrum, displaying brighter whites and deeper blacks, accentuating the contrast to create a more natural, vibrant viewing experience. This makes it an excellent budget Kodi box. The Raspberry Pi 3 is a brilliant little computer for all types of projects, and its diminutive size makes it an attractive option for building a tiny Kodi media centre. The Raspberry Pi Foundation makes this easy, too, with NOOBS supporting two pre-built options: LibreELEC and OSMC. We've used OSMC for this guide. Once installed, the Pi 3 boots into OSMC and runs you through a quick configuration wizard before moving to Kodi. After that, the Raspberry Pi 3 takes around 20s to power on. OSMC gives you a custom skin designed for the Pi, although you can switch back to the Classic option. We recommend avoiding over-complicated skins, as the Pi may struggle to run them. As it stands, the default skins work well, but the animations are only just on the right side of smooth. It's also worth buying a fast microSD card so that the Pi 3 boots quickly and remains responsive. Thanks to its quad-core CPU, we found that that the Raspberry Pi 3 could handle 1080p videos easily. There's no Ultra HD support from the HDMI output, and the Pi 3 can't downscale 4K movies. With our test 4K footage, the Pi showed a broken image and became very jerky to use. Given the 802.11n Wi-Fi built into the Pi 3, you may find that you need to use the wired Ethernet connection if your wireless network signal isn't strong enough and you get buffering issues. The Pi 3 comes without a case, so you'll need to budget for one. It doesn't ship with a remote, either, although you may be able to control Kodi using an HDMI CEC-compatible TV's remote; the smartphone app is otherwise the easiest method. If you have a Raspberry Pi 3 already, it will make a decent 1080p Kodi media centre. If you don't have one, the Amazon Fire TV Stick is a better choice, and cheaper considering it comes with a remote and doesn't need a case. Read the full review: Raspberry Pi 3 Powered by the S905X2, the latest chipset from Amlogic, the Mecool MK9 Pro can display YouTube in 4K and boasts HDR10 alongside HLG HDR and H.265(HEVC) video encoding for enhanced contrast, color and clarity. Handily, it sports a voice control function and comes with a Bluetooth voice control remote controller, allowing you to operate the TV box using voice commands, which is both novel and useful. With Google Assistant built in, the Mecool MK9 Pro also makes it easy to control your smart home at the same time. However, the built-in Wi-Fi antenna isn't the strongest we've seen. Unfortunately, wired speeds aren't great due to it having 10/100 LAN, not Gigabit. But, if you have it near your WI-Fi router, you've got yourself an excellent Kodi box with plenty of extra features. The PC is the most versatile platform on Earth, so why not use it to build your very own Kodi box? Yes, the total cost will outstrip that of the other models here, but you'll get a more powerful unit that can run more than just Kodi. There are lots of options to go for, too. The simplest is to buy a pre-made mini PC. We tested on the excellent, but not widely available, Asus VivoMini VC65. This tiny computer measures 197 x 196 x 62mm, so will easily squeeze underneath your TV. There's even a version with a built-in DVD drive, too. The other option is to build your own computer - check out our guide on how to build a console-sized gaming PC for a good guide. The benefit of the second option is that you can specify the exact PC you want, so that it can even play the latest games. There are a few things to watch out for. First, integrated graphics on Intel processors only support an HDMI 1.4 output. That means you're restricted to 4K at a jerky 24Hz; you have to use DisplayPort to get the full 60Hz in Ultra HD. For that reason, you will need a mini PC with a dedicated graphics card that has an HDMI 2.0 output. You don't get a dedicated remote control with most PCs, but the control options are huge: you can use a wireless keyboard, game controller or the smartphone app, amongst others. This is probably the most expensive method on this list, but the resulting satisfaction from having built an HTPC entirely yourself is worth the effort it takes several times over. This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
| More PS4 and PS5-exclusive games deserve PC releases Posted: 10 May 2020 04:00 AM PDT When Sony announced that Horizon Zero Dawn was coming to PC in March 2020, it buried the news in the second paragraph of an interview with PlayStation's Head of Worldwide Studios Hermen Hulst. Sony wasn't shouting about its newfound support for PC – in fact, it seemed so sensitive to potentially strong reactions from its user base that people had to go looking for the announcement. "And to maybe put a few minds at ease, releasing one first-party AAA title to PC doesn’t necessarily mean that every game now will come to PC," Hulst said "In my mind, Horizon Zero Dawn was just a great fit in this particular instance." Unlike Microsoft, which has brought every one of its exclusive Xbox One games to PC since 2016, Hulst confirmed there are no plans for day and date releases on PC. This makes sense. Microsoft has clear incentives to simultaneously release its games on Windows 10 and console. Among those is Xbox Game Pass for PC, a tailored service for PC players that carries a lot of PC-only games. Getting people into that ecosystem, of spending a monthly fee to access a range of games, is an important part of the Xbox strategy. Sony does have PlayStation Now on PC, but that's a streaming-based service. Horizon will be a full PC port. Sony doesn't have the same incentive to release its games simultaneously as Microsoft – that's why it'll likely never happen. It primarily makes games to sell PlayStation hardware. Instead, the experiment is probably about sales and player reaction. Like Hulst says, Horizon – with a combat system that relies on accurate use of a bow-and-arrow – seems a strong fit for PC, especially when you think about the potential of mouse and keyboard control and how amazing the game will look at more than 30fps.
"[Releasing] PlayStation games on PC is a betrayal to people that supports PlayStation since PS1. There is no reason to buy a console anymore," said one Twitter user in response to the news. Honestly, though, the reaction wasn't really that overblown unless you went searching for bad takes in the usual irrational corners of the internet. That's because it's hard to see a downside to this popular PS4 exclusive making the leap to PC, three years after the fact. It actually seems like a pretty good compromise. Horizon Zero Dawn has been discounted so frequently on the PlayStation Store since release that anyone who wanted to play it on PS4 has had the opportunity. The value of being an exclusive has been preserved, and the game has likely done its job of helping to sell consoles, given that 10 million copies of Horizon have been shifted. It's not the only PlayStation game trying this, either. Death Stranding, a Sony-published but independently-developed PS4 game, comes to PC on July 14. Quantic Dream's games Detroit: Become Human, Heavy Rain and Beyond: Two Souls all released on PC too, after being exclusive to PlayStation before that. Sony doesn't have much to lose by bringing its PS4 games to PC. It should do the same thing with its PS5-exclusive games, too. That process doesn't need to be rushed – if it takes a years-long wait to make it happen, because of the sensitivity of the audience, then so be it. If the end result is a great PC port with detailed graphics settings, and the game has already sold a ton of consoles, why not? For Sony, it's another way to monetize big-budget games that are designed to sell dedicated hardware. Horizon Zero Dawn on PC feels like an experiment, but it's hopefully the start of something. For PC players, too, this just feels like the continuation of a trend that's been occurring for a long time. When console classics come to PCOver the last decade or so, PC players have been fortunate enough to see many console classics make their way to Steam and other services. In many cases, too, it's taken a long wait for those games to get there. The Yakuza series, for example, started on PS2 back in 2005, and finally came to PC in August 2018 starting with Yakuza 0. We've seen plenty of belated PC ports of console games, from Final Fantasy 15 to Vanquish, or Metal Gear Rising Revengeance. More recently, of course, we've seen the Halo: Master Chief Collection bring a payload of classic FPS titles to PC. Most third-party publishers now release games on PC and consoles simultaneously, too, when that hasn't always been the case. For PC players, it's been exciting to see this trend emerge. At the start of the last generation of consoles, before Microsoft committed to bringing extensive backwards compatibility to Xbox One, it seemed like both manufacturers had lost interest in letting players carry their old games across to the new hardware. That meant PC gaming was the way to go if you wanted to buy a game and be more or less certain you could still play it in 10 years' time. Backwards compatibility seems more important at the start of the PS5 and Xbox Series X generation, with both consoles supporting it to different degrees. But the value of adding classic console-first games to your Steam library hasn't diminished. That's why it's so novel to see a PlayStation exclusive game come to PC, even if it's years old. And it's why Sony should build PC releases into its future plans for PS4 and PS5 titles, even if they're not releasing simultaneously – the enthusiasm for seeing console classics land on PC will never go away.
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| Xbox Series X could cost less than PS5 at launch, according to analyst Posted: 10 May 2020 03:56 AM PDT Microsoft is revealing more details about the Xbox Series X than ever but one thing it hasn’t confirmed yet is its next-gen console’s price. According to reputed industry analyst, Michael Pachter, it could be surprisingly low. Speaking on a recent live episode of Geoff Keighley’s Bonus Round (via PushSquare), Pachter suggests that Microsoft could consider taking a significant loss on its next generation console in order to launch it at $400. Launching at this price point could potentially allow Microsoft's console to undercut its main competition—Sony’s PS5—which, Pachter points out during the episode, is rumored to have a launch price closer to $500. Getting the price rightIt’s a bold strategy but according to Pachter “Microsoft has a big balance sheet” which means that “If they want to cut the price by $100, just price below and subsidise the first 10 million, they will." As a result, Pachter believes that Microsoft is waiting for Sony to "blink first, and then they’ll reveal the price and launch date. It’s going to be Holiday, so very likely sometime in November and very likely $400.” Fellow guest on the episode Peter Moore, who has previously held prominent roles at Sega, Xbox and EA before becoming CEO of Liverpool F.C., agreed with Pachter’s view: “What both companies are going through right now is how much we can afford to lose in the first 12 to 18 months? What is our attach rate of software to hardware? What is our revenue we can drive from services? What are we willing to do in year 1, 2 and 3 to hit 10 million?”
Moore went on to explain that "from the perspective of each company, Microsoft right now… the stock price, the market cap, everything is flying for them. Does Satya [Nadella, Microsoft CEO] say, ‘This is our opportunity right now as we did with Xbox 360, let’s get in, let’s price it right … Let’s dare Sony to come in at $500.'" If Pachter’s scenario played out it would see Microsoft flip what happened at the launch of the PS4 and Xbox One in 2013, when Sony undercut Microsoft’s launch price and reaped the rewards. Microsoft has previously said that it’s learned from this launch mistake, with Phil Spencer saying that this time around “we will not be out of position on power or price.” Spencer's words don't, of course, mean the Xbox Series X will have a price point as low as $400—which would actually be lower than the launch price of the Xbox One—they do at least suggest that Microsoft is aware the price of its next console should better align with the price of its competition. It's worth pointing out, though, that Sony is also no stranger to the problems caused by a high launch price following the PlayStation 3's release in 2006, so both companies are likely to be taking great care with the pricing of their consoles given these previous missteps. That said, until Microsoft and Sony officially confirm the launch prices for their consoles themselves all of this remains conjecture. Both consoles are scheduled to release in Holiday 2020 so it’s unlikely we have too much longer to wait to find out. This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
| Will Covid-19 derail investments by telecom operators in 5G infrastructure this year? Posted: 10 May 2020 03:36 AM PDT 2020 was projected to be the year of fifth-generation cellular technology (5G) but not anymore. Growth stagnation at a macro level and lockdowns due to Covid-19 pandemic in the Middle East are bound to have a causal effect on the demand and supply side, industry experts said. Karim Yaici, Senior Analyst at Analysys Mason, told TechRadar Pro Middle East that consumer demand for 5G services was expected to be small in 2020 even before the Covid-19 outbreak but now the outlook is gloomier. “We expect that the massive disruption to the supply chain will have an impact on the capex of operators looking to launch 5G in the Middle East this year. On the other hand, the large groups that have already commercialised 5G are likely to remain largely on track with their 5G rollout plans, albeit network deployments will take longer than normal,” he said. Krishna Chinta, Program Manager for Telecommunications and IoT at International Data Corporation (IDC), said that the pandemic situation has posed new challenges for the telecom operators as the mobile and fixed traffic consumption patterns have altered in unprecedented ways and this will certainly influence telecom operators to bring about certain changes to their operations as well as their cost structures as long as the impact lasts for. Moreover, he said that this could result in reprioritising their original 5G investment plans or rescheduling their 5G rollout roadmap. In the short-term, he said that telecom operators, unequivocally, see the need to roll out 5G networks to tap into technology features such as network slicing and dynamic network capacity allocation offered by 5G to deal with a situation that the world is currently faced with. Almost all the major telecom groups in the Middle East region have active 5G investment roadmaps; he said and added that 5G is a long-term investment priority for telecom operators as they are hoping to launch new use cases and business models. May face supply chain issues“As operators are making a significant amount of investments in 5G, long term return on investment will definitely continue to drive their strategic decisions. At the same time, they can't overlook the short-term market developments as they are required to take the necessary tactical measures,” Chinta said. While it is too early to judge the impact of the pandemic on operators' capex propensity, he said that operators may be considering capex reprioritisation plans to deal with more immediate operational needs. Additionally, despite strong interest, he said that operators will most likely face supply chain issues if the impact of pandemic lasts longer. In the UAE, Expo 2020 was expected to reveal technological advancements and business use cases in 5G but it is postponed to next year due to the pandemic. While a mega-event such as Dubai Expo has been postponed, it may not necessarily alter the 5G rollout plans given its long-term importance to the telecom operators, Chinta said. Furthermore, he said the event alone cannot be an influencing factor when it comes to the operators' 5G investment plans. “Both the telecom operators in UAE are among the early adopters of 5G technology in the region and they are determined to tap into the true business potential of the 5G technology. Although, there could be a shift in the operators' short-term capex priorities, in view of the current macroeconomic situation, but both the operators will continue to promise strong support to their long-term 5G investment plans,” he said. Yaici said that operators should be realistic about the revenue potential of 5G, at least in the short term and added that operators should continue to improve the performance of their 4G networks while introducing exclusive content bundles to drive data usage and showcase 5Gs’ capabilities. Moreover, he said that telecoms operators should start now forming partnerships to prepare for the new types of consumer 5G services, such as cloud gaming and VR, and explore new pricing models. "Operators will also need to work closely with businesses and regulators to identify and explore more-radical commercial use cases that could benefit from 5G in the longer term such as industrial IoT," Karim Yaici, Senior Analyst at Analysys Mason, said. Close cooperation neededAccording to market intelligence firm Omdia, the Middle East and Africa will see a 3.9% decline in mobile service revenues to $84b, representing a downgrade of 8.4% from its previous forecast. Major factors for the decline include the impact of low oil prices on Gulf economies and the fragility of economies and health care systems in parts of Africa. Worldwide, mobile communications services market revenue will fall by 4.1% year on year to $749.7b this year compared to $781.5b, down from the prior forecast of $800.3b. “Operators will also need to work closely with businesses and regulators to identify and explore more-radical commercial use cases that could benefit from 5G in the longer term such as industrial IoT,” Yaici said. If the pandemic situation improves relatively quickly in the Middle East region, Yaici said that then there is no need for the operators to significantly scale back on capex. In the unlikely event that this crisis lasts much longer, he said then the financial priorities of the operators will tilt towards addressing critical short-term needs and delaying longer-term investment plans to ensure financial stability. “Business telecoms will be hit harder than consumers because of the decrease in economic activity. Many firms will face serious financial difficulties and they will cut back on their spending on telecommunication services. These conditions will dampen the demand for the new 5G B2B services and will likely delay their commercialisation by a few months to a year,” he said. Chinta said that the business community is embracing a variety of technologies such as cloud, AI, and RPA to digitise some of their enterprise workloads or as part of their digital transformation projects as some of these technologies require faster and more resilient connectivity. "As operators are making a significant amount of investments in 5G, long term return on investment will definitely continue to drive their strategic decisions. At the same time, they can't overlook the short-term market developments as they are required to take the necessary tactical measures," Krishna Chinta, Program Manager for Telecommunications and IoT at IDC. New 5G standards to be released only in 2021“A few IoT and IIoT use cases will also need massive machine type communication capabilities offered by 5G technology to mature and scale up rapidly. Although this scenario creates a perfect business case for 5G technology, a few enterprises are going ahead with the existing communication technologies such as 4.5G, 4.5G Pro, and fibre without necessarily waiting for 5G technology to fully evolve,” Chinta said. Moreover, he said that the emergence of truly innovative enterprise 5G use cases will not take place until the availability of release 16 and 17 standards, which will bring about major improvements to the current 5G technology. As release 17 standards are expected to be released only in 2021, he said the true innovation in 5G enabled enterprise use cases can't be expected before 2021. It is undeniable that the telecoms industry played an important role during the pandemic in providing communications, video and cloud services despite the 20% to 70% increase in data traffic during daytime reported by telecoms operators worldwide. “I think in most parts of the Gulf region, the fixed networks coped well in terms of capacity due to the broad access to fibre connectivity and the recent boost in download speeds. However, the end-user experience might have been affected because of the pressure on the home Wi-Fi network as more people connect in each household. I think there is an opportunity for operators to propose software and hardware solutions to address indoor Wi-Fi coverage issues,” Yaici said. Niche near-term opportunitiesYaici said that operators, especially in this region, tend to focus on publicising some of the more radical 5G use cases but there are some niche near-term opportunities where the demand is more concrete and where the connectivity characteristics are the same in a 5G world as in the 4G world. “Many niche use cases are not very interesting and receive less attention but they would benefit from the added bandwidth provided by 5G, such as connected CCTV. The longer-term opportunities for 5G, such as autonomous cars and industrial applications, will require wide geographical coverage, high-level of network resilience and domain expertise for the operators to successfully commercialise these solutions,” he said. In countries where 5G deployments have already taken place, Chinta said the technology is demonstrating a strong ability to support mission-critical applications in the midst of Covid-19 situation. “The technology is proving to be successful in crisis management and in areas such as telehealth, public safety, as well as to support home broadband users to enable remote working and remote learning. Thus, the 5G use cases that tried and tested in the current situation will find long-lasting relevance through unlocking the value offered by the technology itself,” he said. Yaici said that 5G, by itself, will not be sufficient to address the underlying obstacles that have hindered the take-up of business services offered by operators so far, such as lack of awareness, the limited understanding of the potential of technology, and the immaturity of the ecosystem. “There is a fair bit of work to be done to educate businesses about 5G and to experiment and test the radical use cases before they become ready for commercialisation,” he said.
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| Apple's new over-ear headphones tipped to be called AirPods Studio Posted: 10 May 2020 03:00 AM PDT The new AirPods rumors are coming thick and fast right now: after the hints around production delays we heard yesterday, today we've got a tip that Apple's upcoming pair of wireless over-ear headphones are going to be called the AirPods Studio. As the tip comes from the usually reliable Jon Prosser, it carries a fair bit of weight – though as always, nothing is official until Apple says it is. Product plans can quickly change, especially with coronavirus sweeping the world. Prosser says the new AirPods Studio are going to cost $350, putting them right at the same price point as the current Beats Studio 3. With the small AirPods earbuds an unqualified hit, it's no surprise to see Apple adding more products with the branding.
And what of the AirPods X? That was the name previously attached to Apple over-ear headphones rumors, but it seems that the AirPods X will actually be a sportier version of the normal AirPods, perhaps along the lines of the Powerbeats Pro. All the AirPodsWe've already heard plenty about these over-ear headphones, though the details haven't always matched up. One of the leading Apple analysts in the industry, Ming-Chi Kuo, has said that Apple is launching a product in this category sometime this year. Previous rumors had put the price at $399, so it seems these headphones might come in at a more affordable level than we were expecting. As yet it's not clear how Apple might price these AirPods Studio internationally. We've even seen icons potentially representing the AirPods Studio in the early code of iOS 14. With iOS 14 due to be announced officially by Apple in June, that's a good bet for when these over-ear headphones might break cover. This is all separate to an update to the standard AirPods, which we're expecting any day now. It would appear that 2020 is going to be a big year in Apple's audio department, so you might want to start saving up now. Via 9to5Mac This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
| Surface Laptop 3 ‘unexpectedly’ cracked screens will be repaired by Microsoft for free Posted: 10 May 2020 02:48 AM PDT Surface Laptop 3 owners whose notebooks have suffered a mysterious issue whereby the screen cracks for no apparent reason will have their machine repaired by Microsoft for free. As you may recall, this problem reared its head around four months ago (or more), and Microsoft subsequently said it was investigating reports from owners of cracks appearing spontaneously, without the Surface Laptop 3 being knocked, dropped or mistreated in any way.
The results of that investigation are, as ZDNet spotted, that Microsoft announced the following: “We have investigated claims of screen cracking on Surface Laptop 3 and have determined that, in a very small percentage of cases, a hard foreign particle may cause a hairline fracture in the glass that may seem to appear unexpectedly or without visible cause.” Those who have been hit by this issue should contact Microsoft support to have a repair carried out free of charge – at least it will be free when the device is still under warranty. Of course, all Surface Laptop 3 notebooks are still under warranty seeing as they went on sale back in October 2019, but the warranty caveat is certainly something to bear in mind going forward. If you’ve already paid to have your Surface Laptop 3 screen repaired, then you should also contact Microsoft’s support team, in this case to discuss a reimbursement. This all applies to the 13-inch and 15-inch versions of the Surface Laptop 3. Very much a minority?Microsoft is rather downplaying the issue somewhat, with the observation that only a ‘very small’ percentage of Surface Laptop 3 owners have encountered this issue. Although there are certainly a number of reports on Reddit and Microsoft’s Answers.com forum, plus Mary Jo Foley, who wrote the ZDNet article, anecdotally observes that she knows of a few cases of folks who have suffered at the hands of the spontaneously cracking screen issue. Reportedly this is more likely to happen to those who have a Surface Laptop 3 with an aluminum chassis, and not those with the Alcantara fabric, as was observed previously. Regarding Microsoft’s explanation, exactly what the nature of the ‘hard foreign particle’ mentioned is, well, anyone’s guess – this could be something introduced externally, or coming from within the device itself, and if the latter, Microsoft has presumably resolved any issue with the hardware with models being produced going forward. Theories floated on Reddit previously include that the problem might be caused by Microsoft’s decision not to use any kind of rubber seal around the edges of the display (but obviously take that as the speculation which it undoubtedly is). We suppose the biggest worry for those who jumped on the Surface Laptop 3 bandwagon already would be that they may not feasibly encounter the problem with their device for some time, until after it’s out of warranty – and that would then be pretty frustrating to say the least. This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
| Adult streaming site leaks info on millions of users Posted: 10 May 2020 01:52 AM PDT Millions of users of a major adult live streaming platforms have had their identities leaked online after the site suffered a massive data breach. CAM4 suffered a significant incident caused by a server configuration error, making 7TB of user data (comprising 10.88 billion records in total) easily discoverable online, according to security researchers at Safety Detective. While the misconfigured ElasticSearch database did not betray users’ specific sexual preferences, it did include personally identifiable information including names, email addresses, payment details, chat logs and sexual orientation.
CAM4 data breachThe popular adult platform is used primarily by amateur webcam models to stream explicit content to live audiences. To gain access to premium content or tip performers, users must first register with the site - parting ways with both personal and financial data. According to the researchers, there is no evidence the breach was caused by a cyberattack or that data was siphoned from the database. However, incidents such as this do form the basis of the main argument against closer regulation of pornographic websites - a project abandoned by the UK over fears user privacy could be compromised in the event of a breach or hack. Neither is the timing of the CAM4 breach fortuitous, with traffic to pornography websites through the roof as a result of the coronavirus pandemic. Pornhub, for instance, saw traffic spike by 24.4% in late March, in line with the widespread introduction of lockdown measures. It is unclear precisely how many CAM4 users were compromised, but analysis suggests records relating to circa 6.6 million US users were present on the server, with Brazilians, Italians and the French also among the most widely represented demographics. Thankfully, only a few hundred entries revealed both a user’s full name and credit card information - a particularly dangerous combination due to the opportunity for financial fraud. CAM4 did not immediately respond to our request for comment, but has since secured the vulnerable server.
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| Xbox Series X's cross-gen approach is robbing players of the next-gen thrill Posted: 10 May 2020 01:00 AM PDT The Xbox Series X gameplay reveal was a huge disappointment. Where was the pizzazz? The mind-blowing graphics? The huge step in gaming experiences that we've been waiting for? Where were all those teraflops being put to use, eh? We've been waiting for a while to finally see next-gen gameplay, for both the PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X, because it's arguably one of the biggest moments in a new console's reveal road - that moment when you see just how much the games themselves, not just the hardware, have been able to advance. We want to see something mind-blowing. But we didn't get that from Microsoft. Instead we got 13 game reveals with 'Xbox Series X Optimized' badges and a lot of talk about Smart Delivery. We don't want to be told that these games will look better, we want to see it. I (personally) want a reason to upgrade, not to be stuck in a limbo between this generation and the next. All this focus on cross-gen by Microsoft is robbing us of that initial next-gen thrill.
Smart Delivery and generation limboLet's get this out of the way first. Cross-gen games are good. They allow players to enjoy new games even if they can't, for whatever reason, upgrade to next-gen consoles. After all, the Xbox Series X price is likely going to be expensive. However, in the lead up to any next-gen console, I want a thrill. I want to see games running at their very best rather than being told that they can. The Xbox Series X gameplay didn't lean on next-gen gameplay. It didn't aim to stagger us with the power of the Series X console, instead we were ploughed away with trailer after trailer which were cut together in such a way that we rarely truly got to see how the games play. There was no very little 'X-factor' for a console with so many 'Xs' to its name. Instead there was a lot of focus on the Xbox Series X's innovative Smart Delivery feature. Smart Delivery means that if you buy one version of an Xbox game that supports Smart Delivery, you'll always have access to the best version of that game no matter which hardware you're playing it on. So if you buy Halo Infinite on Xbox One, then later play it on Xbox Series X, your one-time purchase gets you the versions of the game optimized for both Xbox consoles. Microsoft has committed to Smart Delivery on all of its exclusive Xbox Games Studios titles, and CD Projekt Red has committed to doing the same with Cyberpunk 2077. So really, with these games available for current consoles and next-gen consoles, why would you want to upgrade? Especially as Microsoft has confirmed it won't have any true Xbox Series X-only exclusives for a few years. It feels a bit like Microsoft has shot itself in the foot and is taking away my desire to upgrade. Because what's the incentive? I haven't seen one yet, I've only been told about them. Let's hope it improvesI hoped the Xbox Series X gameplay reveal would be the event that made me say "I need to get that console". But it wasn't. And, following the dry PS5 specs reveal, I'm starting to lose hope that an event like that will ever happen. Especially as this was only the first of Microsoft's Xbox 20/20 monthly streams. Microsoft missed a huge opportunity on May 7 and hopefully it's something it learns from and tackles in its Xbox Game Studios focused stream in July - where we'll see the like of Halo Infinite and Hellblade 2. But if it's holding something big back, that's a strange approach – why not hit the gaming masses with a knockout punch straight away? At this rate, they may lose interest and look to the competition instead, or more pertinently given the Smart Delivery system, be considering ekeing a few more years out of ol' faithful Xbox One instead. This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
| Here’s the best value rugged smartphone on the market Posted: 09 May 2020 08:00 PM PDT We were impressed with the Ulefone Armor 7 rugged smartphone when we reviewed the device earlier this year. Now, Ulefone has released a new and cheaper iteration: the Ulefone Armor 7E. The discount version of Ulefone’s flagship rugged smartphone is available for an attractive $229.99 (£188.60/AU$370.29) from online retailer Gearbest - that's more than $100 less than the original model. The unit ships for free to the US, UK, Australia and dozens of other territories worldwide, but it's worth noting the price of the system could change in line with exchange rate fluctuations.
There are only two main differences between the Armor 7 and Armor 7E: the latter has half the memory and inferior camera sensors. All other components found in the original are still present, including a Mediatek P90 CPU with 128GB storage, 6.3-inch FHD+ display, 48-megapixel rear Samsung camera, 16-megapixel front camera and 5500mAh battery. Other features include 802.11ac Wi-FI, Bluetooth, dual nano SIM card with microSD slot, Bluetooth 5.0, NFC, IP68, wireless charging, heart rate sensor and MIL-STD-810G certification. Rivals such as the Oukitel WP6 and Doogee S68 Pro may have more memory or a larger battery, but the Armor 7E provides greater balance thanks to a superior processor and overall feature set.
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| How to watch UFC 249: live stream Ferguson vs Gaethje online from anywhere Posted: 09 May 2020 05:02 PM PDT If you've been missing live sports, then today's your lucky day, as MMA action returns in what's hopefully a sign of things to come. Yes, after weeks of back and forth between promoter Dana White and various other bodies, UFC 249 will take place behind close doors tonight at the VyStar Veterans Memorial Arena in Jacksonville, Florida. You've been waiting for this a while, so let's cut to the the chase - here's how to watch Tony Ferguson vs Justin Gaethje and live stream UFC 249 online tonight from wherever you are. We'll also outline the full card for UFC 249 and tell you all the key times you need to know about tonight, including the Ferguson vs Gaethje start time in countries like the UK and Australia. Wait or no wait, Tony Ferguson enters tonight's octagon clash as the hot favorite, with the 36-year-old American already regarded as one of the best lightweight fighters of all-time. He was hoping to secure his legacy in the original UFC 249 headline match last month, which had him set to go up against Russia's Khabib Nurmagomedov. But that was called off after The Eagle found himself stranded in Russia due to the country's Covid-19 travel restrictions. In his place steps Justin Gaethje, a 31-year-old American who currently sits at fourth in the UFC lightweight rankings. While not necessarily the blockbuster opponent Khabib represents, he's well-respected in MMA circles and poses a significant threat to Ferguson in a fight that will be shown exclusively via ESPN+ in the US. The winner of the new UFC 249 headline fight will be crowned the interim UFC lightweight champion - and no doubt fight Khabib at a later date. Tempted? Our guide explains how to watch UFC 249 and live stream Tony Ferguson vs Justin Gaethje from anywhere on the planet. Watch Ferguson vs Gaethje: live stream UFC 249 online exclusively on ESPN+ in the USTony Ferguson vs Justin Gaethje live stream: UK time and how to watch UFC 249 onlineHow to watch UFC 249 live: stream Ferguson vs Gaethje in AustraliaWatch UFC 249 online: live stream Tony Ferguson vs Justin Gaethje in New ZealandUFC 249 full card: latest fight newsAs previously mentioned, the coronavirus pandemic has already seriously impacted the UFC 249 fight card and led to multiple changes. All information was correct at time of publication but is subject to alteration. Main card Tony Ferguson vs Justin Gaethje (interim UFC Lightweight Championship) Henry Cejudo vs Dominick Cruz (UFC Bantamweight Championship) Francis Ngannou vs Jairzinho Rozentruik (heavyweight) Jeremy Stephens vs Calvin Kattar (featherweight) Greg Hardy vs Yorgan de Castro (heavyweight) Prelims Donald 'Cowboy' Cerrone vs Anthony Pettis (welterweight) Alexey Oleynik vs Fabricio Werdum (heavyweight) Carla Esparza vs Michelle Waterson (women's strawweight) Uriah Hall vs Ronaldo Souza (middleweight) Early prelims Vicente Luque vs Niko Price (welterweight) Bryce Mitchell vs Charles Rosa (featherweight) Ryan Spann vs Sam Alvey (light heavyweight) What does a UFC fan get with their ESPN+ subscription?Quite a lot, as it happens - a subscription to ESPN+ opens up access to over 20 exclusive live UFC Fight Nights, alongside original content including Dana White’s Contender Series, UFC Destined, and Ariel & The Bad Guy, plus classic fights, replays, and there’s also the perk of fewer commercials. This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
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