Apple : Microsoft Fluid took Office collaboration to the next level at Build 2020 |
- Microsoft Fluid took Office collaboration to the next level at Build 2020
- Microsoft, Sony to partner on intelligent surveillance kit for businesses
- There's a new PS4 Pro coming out – and it's The Last of Us 2-themed
- The best Memorial Day sales 2020: deals from Home Depot, Best Buy, and more
- Google Pixel 5 price leak explained: it may have a slower chipset than Samsung's Galaxy S20
- Apple's HomePod speaker gets a $100 price cut ahead of Memorial Day sales
- Microsoft Build 2020 showcases Project Reunion, Windows Terminal, WSL2, and more
- Celebrity law firm hackers say they have a buyer for Trump data, now targeting Madonna
- Best e-commerce platforms in 2020: website software for an online store
- PayPal rolls out QR Code payments for a touch-free way to buy and sell in-person
- Best Mac 2020: the best Macs to buy this year
- iOS 13.5: release date, beta features and changes coming to your iPhone
- Best WordPress hosting 2020
- The best 13-inch laptop 2020: the top 13-inch laptops we've reviewed
- Best laptops for photographers in 2020: Photo editing in Photoshop
- Samsung Galaxy S20 is coming to Verizon – and its 5G speeds are even faster
- Best RAM 2020: the top memory for your PC
- Microsoft Build 2020: everything you need to know about the developer's conference
| Microsoft Fluid took Office collaboration to the next level at Build 2020 Posted: 19 May 2020 02:48 PM PDT Microsoft Fluid is a new Office framework ready to take document collaboration in the cloud to the next level, from what we saw at the Microsoft Build 2020 event. Fluid, introduced at the company's streaming event, isn't just an Office document, but a document built out of a series of interactive blocks for components like tables, lists, graphs, and the like. These elements can be edited by any Office user invited to edit them and they can be edited in any Office app. What's more, the components don't live in any one specific document, so if you have a graph or table you want to include in a report written in Word, but also use it in a PowerPoint presentation that accompanies the report, you only need one component for both. Importantly, these components aren't finalized after they've been added to a document, so you can stick them in the document and as users edit the Fluid component, the component in your specific document will be updated automatically, whether or not you are editing the document at the time. Taking a cue from Google Docs, Microsoft has moved more toward the collaborative shareable document model that has grown in popularity over the last decade. The Fluid component itself lives on the web and demonstrates how Microsoft is pushing to break out of the restrictive desktop application paradigm that even Google Docs, Sheets, and other apps are still tethered to. Microsoft's Fluid components to be open-sourceMicrosoft will also make Fluid components open-source, allowing the community to build on the framework to innovate the technology to new heights and accelerate their adoption. Their adoption of open-source development continues their acceptance of the movement that even a decade ago would have been anathema. With Microsoft's Edge browser rebuild being based on the open-source Chromium (the open-source tech that is also the foundation of Google's Chrome browser), moving Office into the open-source realm is a logical step. This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
| Microsoft, Sony to partner on intelligent surveillance kit for businesses Posted: 19 May 2020 02:36 PM PDT Sony and Microsoft have announced a new partnership to create AI-powered smart camera solutions aimed at making it easier for enterprise customers to perform video analytics. The partnership will see the two companies embed Microsoft Azure AI capabilities onto Sony's recently announced IMX500 intelligent vision sensor. The IMX500 is the first image sensor with built in AI and it contains both a pixel chip and logic chip, which is dedicated to AI signal processing. In a press release, corporate vice president and commercial chief marketing officer at Microsoft, Takeshi Numoto explained how the partnership will benefit both companies' customers and partners, saying:
“Video analytics and smart cameras can drive better business insights and outcomes across a wide range of scenarios for businesses. Through this partnership, we’re combining Microsoft’s expertise in providing trusted, enterprise-grade AI and analytics solutions with Sony’s established leadership in the imaging sensors market to help uncover new opportunities for our mutual customers and partners.” Smart camera managed appSony and Microsoft also announced that they will create a smart camera managed app that will be powered by Azure IoT and cognitive services. The app will allow independent software vendors (ISVs) and smart camera OEMs to develop new camera models that can utilize AI. This will allow them to create industry-specific video analytics and computer vision solutions that use Sony's new IMX500 image sensor. Additionally, the app will simplify key workflows and offer increased security measures to protect user's data privacy and security. Enterprise customers will be able to use the app to more easily find, train and deploy AI models for video analytics scenarios. Sony and Microsoft will also work together with partners and enterprise customers on computer vision and video analytics as part of Microsoft's AI & IoT Insider labs program. The program offers businesses access and facilities to build, develop, prototype and test customer solutions while working in partnership with Microsoft experts and solution providers like Sony.
Via ZDNet This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
| There's a new PS4 Pro coming out – and it's The Last of Us 2-themed Posted: 19 May 2020 02:16 PM PDT Sony is releasing a limited edition PS4 Pro console alongside The Last of Us Part II, the company announced today on its PlayStation Blog. The Last of Us Part II Limited Edition PS4 Pro Bundle comes with a custom console and controller, a physical copy of the game and exclusive digital items, and will be available at launch on June 19 for $399.99 / $499.99 CAD (sorry UK and AU readers, it's a North American exclusive). According to the blog post, the exclusive digital content includes a Last of Us Part II PS4 dynamic theme and avatars, as well as a few other goodies that you can redeem on PlayStation's online store. In addition to the custom controller, Sony is launching a matching The Last of Us Part II-themed Limited Edition Gold Wireless Headset as well as an officially licensed Seagate 2TB Game Drive with a laser-etched design of Ellie’s tattoo, which will be available for $99 and $89, respectively. Oh, and they're making a Last of Us Part II beer, tooAlthough it's not included in the special edition bundle (boo!) Sony has also used the blog post to announce a limited edition Last of Us Part II-themed IPA from Kansas City's Boulevard Brewing Co. The beer, called Space Camper Cosmic IPA, will be sold in special edition six-packs and the company is offering legal-aged gamers a chance to win one of the limited edition PS4 Pro consoles through its website. While we may or may not shell out for another special edition console – especially this close to the launch of the PS5 – the idea of kicking back on June 19 with a cold IPA while surviving the wild in The Last of Us Part II is pretty darn tempting...
This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
| The best Memorial Day sales 2020: deals from Home Depot, Best Buy, and more Posted: 19 May 2020 01:49 PM PDT Memorial Day 2020 is less than one week away! The holiday weekend not only marks the unofficial start to summer, but it also means you can find incredible deals from your favorite retailers like Lowe's, Best Buy, Home Depot, Amazon, and more. Memorial Day sales include discounts on everything from patio furniture, lawnmowers, appliances, and grills to laptops, mattresses, clothing, and TVs. The best Memorial Day sales:
Our best Memorial Day sale picks:When is Memorial Day 2020?Memorial Day is an American federal holiday that always falls on the last Monday in May to honor the men and women who died while serving in the U.S. military. This year Memorial Day is on Monday, May 25, with the long holiday weekend kicking off on Friday the 22. When do Memorial Day sales start?Most Memorial Day sales start the week before the actual holiday on Monday the 18, and some retailers don't start their promotions till the weekend before. All sales will last through the holiday weekend, and most will end on Memorial Day. What are the best Memorial Day sales?The biggest categories discounted during Memorial Day include appliances, patio furniture, mattresses, and laptops. Because Memorial Day is the unofficial start to summer, you can find discounts on several outdoor items such as grills, patio furniture, planters, and camping equipment.
This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
| Google Pixel 5 price leak explained: it may have a slower chipset than Samsung's Galaxy S20 Posted: 19 May 2020 01:18 PM PDT If the recent Google Pixel 5 price leak made it seem dramatically cheap for a 2020 smartphone, there seems to be an explanation: it may use the slower Snapdragon 765 chipset, not the top-tier Snapdragon 865, according to a brand new leak. In fact, no Google Pixel 5 phone released this year will have the Snapdragon 865 a source told Android Police's David Ruddock, who relayed the information in a tweet. This seems to explain why we’ve seen rumors that claim the Pixel 5 price will be cheaper than the Google Pixel 4: instead of increasing the unit price to include a 2020’s best chipset, Google’s next flagship could be its most affordable in years. That's something Google's Nexus (pre-Pixel) smartphones were known for. It'd qIn Google’s bid to make its Pixel phones competitive with other flagship smartphones, it’s featured each year’s top chipset – but if the Pixel 5 doesn’t pack the Snapdragon 865, it doesn’t necessarily mean it will be less competitive. So long as it doesn’t impair the Pixel’s prime selling points – camera capability and a pure Android experience – fans may not mind any lower performance. That performance might not be too noticeable given how many smartphones have come out this year packing the Snapdragon 865 – handsets like the Motorola Edge and Nokia 8.3, as well as upcoming phones like the OnePlus Z and LG Velvet, which are priced and specced above mid-range devices but below leading flagships.
Why cut chipset corners? One word: costWe’ve been hearing for months that companies have hesitated to incorporate the new Snapdragon 865 for its high cost – and Google and LG were among the companies who planned to skip the chipset in favor of a cheaper one, according to an ArsTechnica report in March. In fact, we’ve been hearing about a Pixel phone running the Snapdragon 765 since January, but we weren’t sure if that would end up being the mid-range Google Pixel 4a or the Pixel 5. It’s not just price, either: the Snapdragon 865 has a built-in 5G modem, practically requiring phones packing it to connect to the next-gen 5G cell networks. That’s required phones to get bigger and run hotter to accommodate all that power. It’s possible that the Pixel 5 could run the recently-announced Snapdragon 768G chipset, which is a beefed-up version of the 765 built for 5G connectivity with an external modem that connects to both mmWave and sub-6 5G networks, so the Google Pixel 5 being a 5G phone isn't out of the question. That would explain how the phone could work with some carriers who have mmWave 5G, like Verizon, but we’ll wait for further confirmation: in all the codebase leaks we’ve seen, the Pixel 5 has been connected to the Snapdragon 765. In fact, a follow-up tweet by Ruddock alleges the Pixel 5 phones released on Verizon will, indeed, have 5G, but he isn't certain whether they'll have mmWave.
This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
| Apple's HomePod speaker gets a $100 price cut ahead of Memorial Day sales Posted: 19 May 2020 12:55 PM PDT Best Buy is offering a fantastic deal on Apple's HomePod speaker just ahead of the Memorial Day sales event. For a limited time, you can score a $100 price cut on the powerful HomePod speaker. That's brings the cost down to $199.99, which is the best price we've seen for the smart speaker. Apple HomePod deal:Shop more offers with our roundup of the best Memorial Day sales 2020. This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
| Microsoft Build 2020 showcases Project Reunion, Windows Terminal, WSL2, and more Posted: 19 May 2020 12:52 PM PDT Microsoft kicked off its Microsoft Build 2020 conference via livestream this morning. A developer-centric event, the livestream is light on consumer-facing products and heavy on developer tools. It still did not disappoint, showing off some major new developments that will excite anyone developing on Windows 10. Microsoft shows off Project Reunion, which unifies Win32 API and UWP API buildsDuring the show, Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella announced the company's latest efforts to make app development easier, by unifying win32 and universal windows platform (UWP) APIs into a single package: Windows apps. The latest Windows 10 builds use UWP APIs to access the latest features that aren't accessible on older versions of Windows 10. As a result, most developers specifically target win32 systems by default (which every Windows 10 system supports) when building their apps so they can reach the largest install base possible. That hurts the development of the latest Windows features, however, since many developers can't take advantage of Microsoft's newest developments without sacrificing a segment of the Windows install base that isn't running the latest Windows 10 update. Nadella announced that Microsoft has found a way to bridge this gap between the old and new APIs, using something they call Project Reunion. "We're unifying the Windows platform allowing for seamless integration across both win32 and UWP APIs," Nadella said during the Microsoft Build 2020 livestream. The way Project Reunion works is developers can use the open-source NuGet package manager to download the latest Windows API and compile it directly into their apps, which bypasses the need for the user's operating system to support those features. Project Reunion is also enabling Windows 10 applications to stream from the cloud and make it accessible to any device, regardless of whether it is running a specific version of Windows 10. While the idea of streaming a web app isn't revolutionary in itself, Microsoft hopes that Project Reunion makes it easier to move older apps onto the cloud-based model rather than have to rewrite them specifically to run on Azure, Microsoft's cloud-based computing solution. Microsoft announces Windows Terminal and WSL2, a real Linux kernel running inside Windows 10 itselfRunning a Linux kernel on a virtual machine is a pretty common practice for developers working in Windows, but during Microsoft Build 2020, Microsoft engineers Scott Hanseman and Kayla Cinnamon showed off the new Windows Terminal tool that launched today. During this demonstration, they discussed the new Windows Subsystem for Linux 2 (WSL2), which is an upgrade over Microsoft's earlier efforts to more closely integrate a Linux terminal into Windows powershell. While WSL1 was powered by a Linux binary translation layer, WSL2 is powered by an actual Linux kernel that runs on an integrated virutal machine from within Windows 10 itself. Without getting too into the weeds, Windows and Linux kernels use different, and therefore incompatible, system calls to do things like request memory allocation, write to I/O, and similar interactions with system hardware. This makes it impossible for some programs built for one kernel from ever running on the other without being fundamentally rewritten. WSL2 aims for full system call compatibility, letting developers run Linux applications directly from the new Windows Terminal and for Windows developers to develop and test Linux builds of their apps directly from popular developer tools like Visual Studio. This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
| Celebrity law firm hackers say they have a buyer for Trump data, now targeting Madonna Posted: 19 May 2020 12:48 PM PDT After stealing data on numerous celebrities from one of the world's top entertainment law firms, the REvil ransomware group now claims to have buyers for its damaging information on US President Donald Trump while it prepares to auction off data on Madonna. The hackers recently gained access to the network of the law firm Grubman Shire Meiselas & Sacks (GSMLaw) and stole 756GB of data on its clients. They tried to charge GSMLaw $21m to decrypt the files they had stolen but the firm refused to pay the ransom. Once negotiations with the law firm broke down, the group published an archive containing 160 of Donald Trump's emails which were not quite as damning as the hackers initially said they would be. The REvil ransomware group also said that they would hold an auction every week selling celebrities' data in order to get paid for the hack.
Now though, the hackers have announced that they were contacted by individuals interested in buying all of the data they have on the US president. The group is content with the proposal and they also promised to delete their copy of the data once the sale is complete. Celebrity dataAs GSMLaw did not agree to pay the hackers proposed $21m ransom, the group now plans to auction off files about Madonna in addition to selling the data about Donald Trump. The auction for Madonna's data will start at $1m and will follow the same rules as before. REvil, which is also known as Sodin and Sodinokibi, has set up a highly profitable ransomware-as-a-business (RaaS) operation that relies on affiliates to make money. In a statement to Page Six, GSMLaw denounced the REvil ransomware group and declared that it would not pay their ransom, saying: “The leaking of our clients’ documents is a despicable and illegal attack by these foreign cyberterrorists who make their living attempting to extort high-profile U.S. companies, government entities, entertainers, politicians, and others. We have been informed by the experts and the FBI that negotiating with or paying ransom to terrorists is a violation of federal criminal law. Even when enormous ransoms have been paid, the criminals often leak the documents anyway.”
Via BleepingComputer This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
| Best e-commerce platforms in 2020: website software for an online store Posted: 19 May 2020 11:50 AM PDT There is a huge variety of e-commerce platform packages from which to choose, so building an online store has never been easier. To begin, first you'll need ecommerce web hosting, which is to say hosting that will scale up with your business without interruption. Next you'll need shopping cart software to run with your ecommerce site. This will probably include a payment gateway for credit card processing, though if you're already established and have a decent enough credit rating you could apply for merchant services to reduce transaction costs. Your ecommerce website doesn't have to be expensive to design, either, as there are plenty of ecommerce themes available. Additionally, if you also have a bricks-and-mortar store than a Point of Sale (POS) system for mobile credit card processing can be particularly desirable. Which e-commerce software is best for your business depends entirely on your specific requirements. If you're an online-only outfit, then POS integration won't be necessary, but you may get a lot of business from overseas, in which case foreign currency support would be a requirement. In this article, we’re going to highlight some of the best e-commerce platforms available right now, before moving on to consider other options you might want to explore in terms of creating your own e-commerce solution. The best e-commerce platforms - at a glance
Shopify is perhaps the most well known e-commerce platform available. It was set up in 2006 by founders Tobias Lütke, Daniel Weinand and Scott Lake who, as the story goes, felt that there wasn't a simple-to-use e-commerce platform available and so built their own. The company claims that: "You don't need to have any technical or design experience to easily create a beautiful online store." According to Shopify, it's possible to get one of its online stores up-and-running within minutes. Users can choose from a wide range of templates, or they can design the look and feel of their store themselves. It accepts a comprehensive range of credit cards, has Level 1 PCI compliance and 256-bit SSL encryption for security, and it offers 24/7 support via phone, instant messaging or email. The platform provides a full CMS with which users can manage the functionality and layout of their online store. Users can manage their store on-the-go using Shopify's mobile apps, and the platform itself is fully responsive, meaning the store will be optimized for visitors regardless of whether they access it from a desktop computer or a mobile device. Also, a live chat function is available which allows you to have a real time conversation with your customers. There's a built-in support for 3D models and video too. There's also an option to create customizable storefronts on Facebook and Instagram. Until October 1, 2020, you can now craft email campaigns tailored to your brand with Shopify Email, for free. Shopify also offers users unlimited hosting for their stores, in-depth analytics of how visitors are using the store, and functionality for marketing such as SEO optimization, a discount and coupon engine, gift cards and email marketing tools. You can test out Shopify with a 14-day free trial. Bigcommerce was established in 2009 and promises to "support your business, not just your store." In addition to offering support via phone, instant chat and email, it also offers articles and videos to help with e-commerce, and access to a team of e-commerce experts who can provide advice and guidance about online selling. Their experts are qualified in both Google Analytics and Adwords. Like Shopify, Bigcommerce provides a variety of templates and themes to help stores look their best and get up-and-running quickly. Alternatively, users can design their own store or use Bigcommerce designers to do so. The platform incorporates a full-featured CMS that allows users to run an entire website, rather than just a store. Users can benefit from detailed and flexible product management, optimized search engine rankings, along with a variety of integrated marketing tools and analytics. Payments can be accepted via 40+ pre-integrated gateways and shipping details can be customized as per the business's requirements. As of late, some new features have been added like support for Amazon Import and Link and Shopping in Instagram Stories. The platform offers automated order processing, flexible tax rules depending on where orders are made and shipped, and support for multiple currencies. You can test out Bigcommerce with a 15-day free trial. Volusion has been around for almost two decades, having been set up in Texas over in the US in 1999. The company touts its platform as being an "all-in-one e-commerce solution", and offers a free 14-day trial (no credit card required). As with other e-commerce platforms, users are offered a variety of templates from which to choose, and can also customize templates if they so wish. Should a more complex design be required, Volusion offers a custom design service that can incorporate branding and a firm's social media presence. The platform provides the site and product management tools you'd expect, marketing functionality for SEO, social media, and affiliate outlets, along with emails and order management functionality for fast order processing, accepting payments, tax calculations and POS integration. In addition to its platform and associated services, Volusion offers apps from its partners, support for users and a knowledge-base for help with e-commerce. Users can draw upon blog posts, guides and webinars. As of October 8th 2018, there are no more transaction fees. CoreCommerce was set up in 2001 and focuses on providing e-commerce services to small and medium-sized businesses. The company places an emphasis on simplicity and transparency, promising that its platform is easy-to-use and that customers will not fall foul of any hidden charges. Perhaps CoreCommerce's most unique aspect is that all of its features are offered to all customers regardless of what plan they are on. Price plans are determined by the number of products, the number of email addresses, the amount of bandwidth and the amount of storage required by the user (and higher-end plans also benefit from additional support). As with other e-commerce providers, CoreCommerce offers functionality for store design, product management, order processing and marketing. Of its headline features, the platform offers unlimited product customization options, a built-in blogging engine, and secure hosting that is provided by Rackspace and comes with a 99.9% uptime guarantee. You can try CoreCommerce out with a 15-day free trial. Having been founded in 1997, 3dcart is the oldest of our featured providers here. It was set up with a view to incorporating as many of the most requested e-commerce features into one platform as possible. The company says it has six core values by which it operates: ongoing innovation, good service, simple solutions, fostering trust, keeping employees and customers happy, and stimulating prosperity amongst employees and customers. Some of the platform's innovative features include a module that users can install to offer gift-wrapping, a purchase order system, the option of running a loyalty program and the ability to offer recurring orders. Many of these features are very specific, meaning that stores can be highly tailored to the needs of each business. Stores can be designed using one of the many templates offered by 3dcart, or users can design their own store. A quick edit bar means that making changes to the design of a store is simple. Product images are fore-fronted with 3dcart's auto-zoom feature and products can be sold via Facebook with its store integration. As with some other platforms, users can blog directly from 3dcart and tools are provided for setting up coupons, sending newsletters and affiliate marketing. 3dcart is regularly updated and new features are constantly added, like the drag and drop HTML builder, the home page editor or scheduled promotions. Users can also make use out of "make an offer" feature, which basically lets you and your customers to negotiate on a price. There is also a B2B quote system, which provides customers with a temporary quoted price after discussing their order via phone. In addition to its platform, 3dcart offers a number of professional services. Users can request help with SEO, PPC, shopping feed management, social media, Facebook ads and conversion consulting. Help can also be provided to ensure that a user's store is set up to the highest standard. Services such as site cloning, setting up custom tracking, data migration and training are offered. In addition, 3dcart can provide SSL certification. Hosting is guaranteed at 99.9% uptime and 24/7 support is provided via phone, email or online chat. You can test out the service with a 15-day free trial. Also consider: Alternative meansIf you don’t want to go the route of using an off-the-shelf package, what other options are available for you to explore? That’s what we’re going to look at in the second half of this piece… Is eBay right for your business?Opening its doors in 1999, eBay UK now has over 14 million users, with over 10,000 people using the site for a business that is their primary means of income. It's not just about people selling unwanted goods - businesses have used the simplicity that eBay offers to set up lucrative operations. Even the larger brands such as Argos, Debenhams and House of Fraser are using eBay to sell online. With sophisticated tools now available you can be up and running with your store in just a few hours. The eBay Seller Centre has all the information you need. Each store is managed via eBay's familiar user interface, and there are a number of eBay-provided tools to help manage, track and promote your shop once it's established. Using eBay as the platform for your business could be ideal if your business wants to sell goods on a fixed price basis. The complete integration of the PayPal e-payments system into eBay takes care of this essential component of your store. The key with eBay is to look closely at the costs involved and also the transaction fees that PayPal charge before moving forward and setting up your own store. How to create your own e-commerce solutionOf course if you want complete control over every aspect of your new online store, building each page yourself will be the best course of action. Hiring someone to code your website is one option. If you decide to do this follow these steps:
You also don't have to build your site completely from scratch. Buying a template can give you all the basic pages your site needs. You can then either modify them yourself using an application like Dreamweaver, or hire a coding expert to make the changes. Website templates are available from a number of vendors including Template Monster. If you already have a website and want to add e-commerce functionality, this can be easily achieved with a number of applications including: Final adviceWhichever route you decide to take when building your website always remember:
Setting up your online store should be approached carefully and diligently to ensure you put a professional and efficient site live. Internet shopping continues to expand. Make sure your business doesn't miss out on a sales channel that shows no signs of slowing down.
This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
| PayPal rolls out QR Code payments for a touch-free way to buy and sell in-person Posted: 19 May 2020 11:35 AM PDT PayPal has rolled out the ability to use QR Codes to buy and sell goods in the UK and 27 markets around the globe. From local takeaway coffee shops to selling secondhand goods - the rollout of the QR code functionality in the PayPal app allows customers to buy or sell in in-person, safely, securely and touch free. “We know that in the current environment, buying and selling goods in a health-conscious, safe and secure way is front of mind for many people around the world. As the coronavirus situation has evolved, we have seen a surge in demand for digital payments to transition to include new in-person environments and situations,” said John Kunze, Senior Vice President of Branded Experiences, PayPal. “The rollout of QR codes for buyers and sellers not only incorporates the safety, security and convenience of using PayPal in-person, but also takes into consideration ongoing social distancing requirements, even as we start to see some restrictions be lifted around the world.” Lisa Scott, Senior Director, PayPal, said: “Covid-19 has changed the shopping experience in the UK as we know it. The need for security and convenience is there, as always, but we now need to be able to sell and buy in a way that is quick, safe and involves limited social contact. Digital payments, and this QR code functionality, provides people and small businesses in the UK with the means to pay and get paid during the crisis and hopefully thrive in the future.” Additionally, for a limited time, PayPal is waiving its standard seller transaction fees incurred on sales conducted using a QR Code.
Safer purchasingUsing the QR code functionality in the PayPal app is a quick and safe way to complete a transaction in-person utilising a PayPal wallet, eliminating the need to handle cash. For example, customers who are selling items in-person at local coffee shop can print a QR code, place it on their table and have their consumers simply scan, enter the amount they’re paying and send money immediately. This allows the seller to minimise physical interactions with the customer, while also limiting the customer’s interaction with checkout technology. There is no technology to touch or purchase - just aim a smartphone camera at a QR Code that is printed or present on another screen. For a buyer looking to pay, customers can go to the PayPal app, click ‘Send’ and tap the QR code symbol in the top right-hand corner. The camera will open and customers can scan a seller’s QR code and follow the prompts to complete the transaction. Sellers can create a PayPal-generated QR code by following the steps outlined here. PayPal is rolling this functionality out to 28 markets around the globe including: Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hong Kong, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Portugal, Slovenia, Slovakia, Sweden, Switzerland, Spain, United Kingdom and the United States. This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
| Best Mac 2020: the best Macs to buy this year Posted: 19 May 2020 11:22 AM PDT The best Mac and MacBooks occupy a space of their own in the computing world. Apple’s PC offerings have been extremely influential, thanks to their svelte, yet surprisingly tough, chassis, modern minimalist design and some pretty powerful specs under the hood. And, that’s on top of that OS environment that delivers such a seamless experience, especially for professionals and content creators. Simply put, your computing experience on one of the best Macs and MacBooks is going to be an incredibly smooth and unique one. It’s no surprise that many are getting on the Mac bandwagon, even though every single one comes with a price tag that’s noticeably higher than their rivals. And, especially since they last you quite a while, they pay for themselves in the long run. Whether you’re looking for your very first or currently upgrading your aging one, our guide for the best Macs and MacBooks is the only list you’ll need. These are our top picks, from the latest MacBook Pro (16-inch, 2019) to Apple’s impressive all-in-ones like the Mac Pro 2019. The MacBook Pro (16-inch, 2019) is truly the best MacBook for content creators, designers and other creative professionals. While we are sad that Apple has retired the 15-inch MacBook Pro, we’re more than happy to see the MacBook Pro (16-inch, 2019) hit the shelves. As thin, light and sleek as ever, this doesn’t feel like a 16-inch behemoth. If you’re worried that this was going to be bulky and awkward to use, don’t be. Yet, despite its svelte frame, you’re still getting that extra real estate on that stunning display, as well as the latest and greatest components behind it. Apple then rounds those out with amazing (and loud) speakers and a much, much better keyboard. This is truly the best MacBook for content creators, designers and other creative professionals. Read the full review: MacBook Pro (16-inch, 2019) Apple Mac mini (2018) is packed with 8th-generation desktop processors. Mac Mini fans, rejoice! The Mac Mini has finally been upgraded with modern hardware, ushering Apple’s smallest Mac to the modern age and naturally warranting it the top spot in our best Macs list. This tiny thing is packed with 8th-generation desktop processors, a ton of RAM and some of the fastest SSDs we’ve seen – all while keeping the same adored form factor. It’s a tad pricier this time around, but with the raw speed on offer, you’ll find that it’s worth the price increase. Read the full review: Mac Mini 2018 MacBook Pro (15-inch, 2019) is refreshed with hexa-core 9th-generation processors. If you want the most performance you can get in a MacBook without needing to pull off a heist, you’ll want to look into the MacBook Pro 15-inch. Now refreshed with hexa-core 9th-generation processors and up to 32GB of RAM, you won’t be held back by anything you throw at it – especially now that you can get Radeon Pro Vega 20 graphics. With that kind of performance, the MacBook Pro takes a lofty spot on our best Macs list without breaking a sweat. Read the full review: MacBook Pro (15-inch, 2019) If you're looking for an all-in-one Mac, the new 27-inch iMac might just be the best Mac for you. The iMac has long been one of the cheaper ways to get into the macOS ecosystem, and we’re glad that hasn’t changed. Though what has changed, we also appreciate. The new iMac is packing with 8th- and 9th-generation desktop-class processors, letting this stylish all-in-one reach that fabled 8-core performance. If you’re looking for an all-in-one Mac, the new 27-inch iMac might just be the best Mac for you, at least if you’re on a budget. Read the full review: iMac (27-inch, 2019) The MacBook Pro with Touch Bar (13-inch, mid-2019) is quieter and more reliable. The biggest issue with the older MacBook Pro was that it was still packing Kaby Lake processors while its rivals had moved ahead. Luckily, the MacBook Pro 2018 changes everything, making it more powerful than ever. It still has the controversial Butterfly keyboard, but that’s also been improved so that its quieter and more reliable. It’s not hard to recommend the 13-inch MacBook Pro 2019 to anyone looking for the best Macs. Read the full review: MacBook Pro with Touch Bar (13-inch, mid-2019) Apple's thinnest and lightest MacBook is back in 2020 with a vengeance. Apple’s thinnest and lightest MacBook is back in 2020 with a vengeance. Not only has it fixed a lot of the complaints with its predecessors – namely, that problematic keyboard is now gone, replaced by a drastically improved keyboard. But it also comes with new and more powerful internal components, even more storage space options, and a lower price of entry. There are a couple of things we’d do better, like the muted screen and the average battery life, but this model of the MacBook Air is better than anything we’ve seen from the line to date. Read the full review: MacBook Air (2020) iMac Pro can handle any workload you can possibly throw at it. Professionals and creatives need something that can handle any workload they can possibly throw at it. If you’re one such user, the iMac Pro isn’t just one of the best Macs for you; it’s the only Mac to consider. Not only does it have a vibrant 27-inch 5K display with a P3 wide color gamut, but it also boasts the most powerful hardware Apple could get its hands on. It’s extremely expensive though, so it’s really only meant for folks who have deep pockets and need that unbridled power to get through their daily workloads. Read the full review: iMac Pro
The MacBook Pro (13-inch, 2020)’s entry-level model may miss out on some of the lineup’s new toys. However, going for the higher-end configurations will get you new (and powerful) Intel processors and improved RAM speeds for better performance, all packed into the 13-inch incredibly svelte body. Apple rounds it all out with that incredible Magic Keyboard from the new 16-inch, finally getting rid of that problematic keyboard. Even if you don’t go for the 10th-generation Intel Core configurations, you might still appreciate the fact that all models come with more storage capacity for the same price as their predecessors. Read the full review: MacBook Pro (13-inch, 2020) If you're looking for a MacBook that's easy to take with you wherever you go, you will love the MacBook (2017). While Apple has officially taken the MacBook out of its MacBook lineup, many third parties are still carry it. And because the 12-inch MacBook has found its niche as an ultraportable and lightweight laptop, it’s still deserving of a spot on our best Macs list… that is, until stock runs out. It’s low on ports, but that’s hardly a surprise in a laptop this thin. It can support basically everything under the sun with its Thunderbolt 3 port, anyway. It’s not as powerful as the MacBook Pro, but if you’re looking for a MacBook that’s easy to take with you wherever you go, look no further. Read the full review: Apple MacBook (2017) Michelle Rae Uy, Bill Thomas and Gabe Carey have also contributed to this article What to look for in the best Macs and MacBooksWhether it’s the new 16-inch MacBook Pro that just came out or the Mac Pro 2019 that’s also just released, it’s not hard to see why the best Macs are the weapons of choice of creative professionals. And, even if you don’t go for the newest releases, there’s already a few excellent options to choose from, especially with Apple recently giving its MacBook Air, 13-inch MacBook Pro and 15-inch MacBook Pro that much-needed update. The best part is that the best Macs come in different shapes, sizes and price so that whether you want the cheapest MacBook you could find, a professional workhorse that breezes through all your extensive workloads like a pro, or an all-in-one that saves you space, there’s a Mac on the market for you.
This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
| iOS 13.5: release date, beta features and changes coming to your iPhone Posted: 19 May 2020 11:21 AM PDT Apple's iOS 13.5 continues to evolve iOS 13 with new features for your iPhone and a release date that's imminent. You won't have to wait long to download the update. In the meantime, we have a quick rundown on what to expect. The most important iOS 13.5 features play into the lifestyle changes that the Covid-19 outbreak has brought about. Face ID detects if you're wearing a face mask and brings up the passcode option. This is much better than requiring you to fail out of Face ID twice to get that option. Passcode will also become the default option in Apple Pay and other purchases that require authentication if you're wearing a mask. The iOS 13.5 update also launches Apple's framework for contact tracing apps. No, the apps aren't here yet, but when governments and public health authorities do launch them, you'll be notified – anonymously – when you come into contact with someone who tests positive for Covid-19. Apple's API is the first step to rolling out these apps. The smallest feature change for iOS 13.5 comes in FaceTime. You'll have the option to control the automatic prominence on Group FaceTime calls. This means video tiles do not annoyingly change size when a participant speaks. In case you need to know how to get iOS 13 or the forthcoming iOS 13.5 update, we have a step-by-step guide for that, although iOS 13 comes pre-installed on the iPhone 11, iPhone 11 Pro, iPhone 11 Pro Max and iPhone SE 2020. How good is iOS 13 overall? We rate the feature below: The two-minute iOS 13 reviewDark Mode: We've been getting the most use out of this iOS 13 feature. It changes up the interface (except for some third-party apps), exchanging bright white and light gray colors for black and dark gray hues. That's more pleasant on the eyes, especially at night. iOS 13 pro tip: You can schedule iOS 13 Dark Mode to turn on and off at particular times, and add it as a Control Center menu shortcut. iOS 13 compatibility: iOS 13 is compatible with a lot of iPhones – as long you have the iPhone 6S or iPhone SE or newer. Yes, that means both iPhone 5S and iPhone 6 don't make the list and are forever stuck with iOS 12.4.1, but Apple didn't make any cuts for iOS 12, so it's just catching up in 2019. Fair. Dark mode makes everything, well, darker. In a good way. Photo editing tools get advanced: You can now change up photos in 15 different ways, tweaking highlights, contrast and shadows. It's more robust to the point where we're opening Adobe Lightroom less. iOS 13 pro tip: Edits also work for video, and you can edit photos without destroying the Live Photo properties. A new QuickPath keyboard: Want to swipe on the keyboard rather than tap? It's now in there. There's no line that follows your finger's movement, and it's a little tricky to get used to at first, but it's closer to what we liked about Gboard. iOS 13 pro tip: We found this most useful on any large Max or Plus phone. FaceTime correction: You know that thing in a FaceTime call where you look at your screen and therefore aren't looking at the camera? Apple will use AI to move the direction of your gaze. A bit creepy in principle, but hugely useful. Face ID is much better: We love this feature - the field of view for unlocking your phone with your face is wider, so looking at the phone on the desk will open your iPhone up without needing to lift the handset. iOS 13 is not coming to the iPad: Tricked you. iOS 13 is strictly for the iPhone (and iPod Touch). iPadOS has debuted for iPad with exclusive productivity features for the bigger tablet screen. The QuickPath keyboard is slick to use in our testing. 'Find my iPhone' and 'Find my Friends' are fused: The two apps are now in one 'Find My' app, and Apple's added in functionality that can find offline devices from other iPhones or iPads. Best of all, we got fewer timed out tracking errors. iOS 13 improves battery life: By that we mean 'lifetime of the battery' not 'time between charges' - the new iOS 13 platform is smarter at charging and will curtail the power input at the right times. Dark mode should help too on iPhone OLED displays, though we're testing that. Reminders gets a huge (and useful) overhaul: A clear new design, Reminders now allows for attachments and better sorting. Might not sound massive, but a big jump for those that use it. The camera is getting a big upgrade: Portrait mode (if your phone supports it) will offer more customizable lighting and a new 'High Key Mono' mode for when you want to look like you're in a Calvin Klein advert. Siri sounds better: A refined voice with more natural diction, Siri is much nicer to talk to now. You might not notice it without a side-by-side comparison, but it's here. All new Memoji to play with: You can add make-up, throw in Memoji stickers from the keyboard - if you're into your own cartoon face there's a lot to try here. iOS 13 pro tip: Stickers works on iPhone 8 and older iPhones, even if you don't have the TrueDepth camera for moving Memoji. Look for this logo to get a secret email address. Control Wi-Fi and Bluetooth more simply: We love this: long-press (or 3D Touch for certain iPhone models) on the Wi-Fi / Bluetooth buttons in the Control Center and you can access all your connections in one simple place. Use your PS4 controller on your phone: Does what it says... now you can pair your console controller to play games in a more immersive way. PS4 support is here today, while Xbox One support is coming. Perfect for Apple Arcade, right? OK, that's the key stuff out of the way - but if you want to know more about the smaller features, or just a bit more depth on what your iPhone or iPad can do, read on: Video: How to download iOS 13 right now (without having to wait): iOS 13 release date and time
The official iOS 13 release date was Thursday, September 19, a little over three months after the first beta in which we got to test out the software early. The iOS 13 release date was later than usual. Apple previously launched its mobile operating update on the Monday or Tuesday following its new iPhone launch event, but this time round it gave itself a couple of extra days. But you didn't have to wait that long, as the iOS 13 public beta is still out there and has been through a few iterations after launching on June 24. It's technically up to iOS 13.2... iOS 13 has been through a lot already, and most of those have been bug and issue fixes to solve the plentiful iOS 13 problems. Here's the iOS 13 timeline as we saw it: 1. iOS 13 developer beta: First launched at WWDC 2019, this version was restricted to paid Apple developers, and initially required Xcode or macOS 10.15 to install. The second developer beta fixed that with an over-the-air (OTA) update. Simply put, it was not meant for average consumers, but for serious app developers. 2. iOS 13 public beta: Apple's larger-scale features test began on June 24, and went through 8 versions, culminating, oddly, with a beta for iOS 13.1 (before iOS 13 was even out). 3. iOS 13 golden master: Pushed out on September 10, this was the final version of the iOS 13 software for beta testers. It was very stable and gave app makers nine days to adapt before the final software launched to the masses. 4. The official iOS 13 release date and time: Apple launched the iOS 13 software in its final, stable form on September 19, just 24 hours ahead of the iPhone 11 delivery date. 5. iOS 13.1 update rolls out: Apple follows up its iOS 13 rollout with the iOS 13.1 update arriving just under a week later, on Wednesday 25 September. Video: The best iOS 13 features we've tested: iOS 13.1 updateAs we've mentioned, Apple pushed out the iOS 13.1 update within a week of officially launching iOS 13 on iPhones, and it brought a number of bug fixes as well as some new features. iOS 13.1 bug fixesThe release notes for iOS 13.1 reflects how buggy the initial release of iOS 13 actually was, with the new update bringing fixes for issues with Mail, Siri not working with CarPlay, faulty app icons and sign-in failures. Another major issue with iOS 13 was with location permissions – Fast Company recently reported that if a user had selected to never share location details for an app, a privacy flaw changed that selection to “Ask next time”. Those privacy issues are also addressed in the new iOS 13.1 release, along with a fix for a lockscreen bypass bug that could let others access a user’s contact list by simply making a FaceTime call and using Siri’s voiceover feature to gain access. iOS 13.1 new featuresWe have highlighted some of the key new features in the iOS 13.1 update below in more detail, but there's more too including updated Fonts settings and Personal Hotspot pages. If you test beta apps, they will now be indicated with an orange dot in iOS 13.1, and the old dynamic bubble wallpapers that disappeared when Apple added dark mode-friendly wallpapers in iOS 13, are back. There's a new 'Peak Performance Capability' feature in the iPhone XS, iPhone XR and the XS Max, as they're now a year old and may start having battery issues as they continue to age. This means that as the battery begins to degrade, the performance management feature will be triggered to throttle the CPU, although an option to disable this will be available at that point. Share ETA in Maps Google Maps added this feature a while back, and now Apple Maps users can also share their approximate time of arrival with friends and family right from the app itself. When you set up directions to a location and start the journey, an option to 'Share ETA' shows up at the bottom of the screen. From there you can choose the contact you want to share your approximate time of arrival with, which gets sent as an iMessage (to another iPhone user) as a regular text. If Maps detects you’ll likely arrive later than expected, a message will automatically be sent to the contact to let them know you’re running late. Lyrics view in Apple Music If you’re an Apple Music subscriber, you’ll find a new icon – like a speech bubble – on the bottom left of the Now Playing pane. When selected, it brings up lyrics to the song you’re currently listening to. The lyrics will also automatically scroll like a karaoke machine. Lyrics are available only if songs have been downloaded from Apple Music, not for tracks added from an external source via iTunes. AirDrop update This is specific to the 2019 iPhones, making use of the "spatial awareness" of the Ultra Wideband technology in the new U1 chip in the iPhone 11, 11 Pro, and 11 Pro Max. If you're using the new handsets, you'll be able to AirDrop files to other compatible iOS devices by simply pointing towards the device, meaning the two devices are aware of their position relative to each other. Automation tab in Shortcuts The Shortcuts app has become smarter, with an easier way to set up new routines. For example, you can trigger off your morning routine by setting up a Shortcut that loads your drive to work on Maps, brings up your day's appointments on Calendar and so forth. You can set a time for each trigger, meaning Maps will launch automatically at, say, 8am when you're ready to leave home. iOS 13 compatibility list
iOS 13 compatibility requires an iPhone from the last four years. That means phones like the iPhone 6 won't be getting iOS 13 – if you've got one of those devices you'll be stuck with iOS 12.4.1 forever. iOS 13 sheds several old devices (Image credit: Apple) You'll need an iPhone 6S, iPhone 6S Plus or iPhone SE or later to install iOS 13. With iPadOS, while different, you'll need an iPhone Air 2 or iPad mini 4 or later. The iPhone SE fits into an odd category, as it has iPhone 6 era specs, but came out after the iPhone 6S. Don't worry, everyone's favorite little iPhone will get iOS 13. iOS 13 is compatible with just one iPod – the newest version. No surprise, the new iPod Touch 7th gen is the only devices of its class that gets iOS 13 support.
iOS 13 Dark Mode
Dark Mode in iOS 13 a system-wide, meaning it changes the hues from bright white and light grey to black and dark gray on all supported apps. It's a nice feature when you're using your iPhone at night and want to avoid bright white hues shining in your face. It may also save battery life on the OLED-equipped iPhones, from the iPhone X onward. Apple didn't talk about this at all, but we know that OLED displays essentially 'turn off' pixels when rendering blacks. Turning on iOS 13 Dark Mode can be done in Control Center inside the Display slider (right next to the Night Shift and True Tone toggle), according to Apple, or you can set it automatically to turn on at night through a schedule or custom time. The yellow-tinting Night Shift mode finally gets a bright-light dimming companion, and a lot of people couldn't be happier. iOS 13 offers 'FaceTime attention correction'This is an interesting one. There's now an option for FaceTime Attention Correction, and it's as wild as it sounds. What does it do exactly? It makes it so that it appears as if you're looking straight into the front-facing camera during a FaceTime video call, when you're actually looking at the adjacent screen. That distracted look could be a thing of the past soon. iOS 13 on iPad is iPadOS, and it's a big changeSome of the biggest changes for iOS 13 on the iPad are actually coming in an update called iPadOS. Apple is signaling that the iPad needs its own platform. That means big improvements to your iPad workflow, starting with the home screen redesign. Pinned Widgets, as we predicted in our iOS 13 rumors roundup, lets you add widgets from the Today View screen (that left-mode screen on your iPhone and iPad). So far, it's iPad-exclusive, and not coming to iOS13 for the iPhone. Slide Over lets you have multiple apps open and cycle through them like rolodex. You can also fan to preview them all at once with a swipe gesture, kind of like the recents menu on many phones and tablets. It's multi-tasking made easier. Split View has been enhanced to let you open one app on both sides of the screen (it wasn't possible before), and Apple demoed this by showing Notes side-by-side with Notes. You can also pair an app with more than one app – so now Safari can be paired with Pages in one space and Safari can be paired with Mail in another. App Expose is new to the iPad software, letting you see all of the space you have open. There's an App Expose icon on the Dock, requiring only a single press to get into the convenient overview mode. New copy, paste and undo gestures are coming to iPadOS. Three fingers scrunched down was shown to copy text, three fingers expanding (in the opposite direction) dropped the text on the page, and sliding three fingers across the screen undid the last action. We'll have to see how this performs when the software lands. Apple's keyboard can float around the screen in a smaller form, and it's debuting a swiping gesture keyboard, which it calls QuickPath Typing. There are also more keyboard shortcuts (a lack of shortcuts was a complaint we had about previous iOS versions). There are actually too many iPadOS changes to detail here in the iOS 13 explainer, so we've spun the full rundown off into a separate iPadOS release date, news and features article. iOS 13 features a QuickPath keyboardWith iOS 13, Apple's default QuickType keyboard will be incorporating swipe-to-type, a popular way of sliding across the keyboard to form words. We've used this in prior iOS keyboard extensions like Google's Gboard and SwiftKey. Here's QuickPath keyboard in action (Image credit: Apple) You can use the QuickType and QuickPath methods of typing interchangeably, and so far supported languages include English, Simplified Chinese, Spanish, German, French, Italian, and Portuguese is now included. iOS 13 debuts new 'Find My' appApple combined Find My Friends and Find My iPhone in iOS 13, and the union lets you locate your friends and missing gadgets with a faster, easier-to-use interface. Find My iPhone and Find My Friends come together in one app (Image credit: Apple) What's really neat is that it use a crowd-sourced encrypted Bluetooth signal to help you track down devices that aren't connected to Wi-Fi or cellular. That's mostly a big help for Macs, but it could also help with an iPhone in rare cases, too. Best of all, while Find My Friends didn't always work for us, Apple seems to be making a bigger push to get location tracking right with this new iOS 13 app now in the limelight. iOS 13 makes your old iPhone faster, last longerMore people are holding onto their iPhones for longer, and that's something Apple seems to recognize – and the company is speeding up iOS 13 to accommodate them. The most important iOS 13 stats: app launch speed is up to twice as fast according to Apple, and Face ID unlocking will be 30% faster than before. Apple also found a way to make app downloads smaller, up to 60% on average; iOS 12 gave us a faster update, and iOS 13 looks to build upon that. Battery life is also something Apple is tackling this year. Its aim is to slow the rate of battery aging by reducing the time your iPhone spends fully charged. iOS 13 is supposed to learn from your daily charging routine so it can wait to finish charging past 80% until you need to use it. Reminders gets a big overhaulOf all the built-in apps, Reminders has gotten the biggest iOS revamp. It's better organized, and includes shortcuts that make it easier to add reminders. Reminders has gotten the freshest reimagining among iOS 13 apps (Image credit: Apple) Big, color-coded buttons for Today, Scheduled, All and Flagged categories offer you a better oversight of your pressing tasks, while the keyboard when you're in this app has a top-line Quick Toolbar that acts as a shortcut to easily add times, dates, locations, flags, photos and scanned documents. Making plans in Messages? Siri will step in to suggest reminders that can be created, like a personal assistant who chimes in at all the right times. Camera and Portrait Mode changesThe iOS 13 offers important changes to camera features, starting with enabling you to change the intensity of light in Portrait Mode, which is something we've wanted for a while. Portrait mode is also getting a new monochromatic effect called High‑Key Mono. The new Photos tab in the iOS 13 Photos app – Apple sees it as becoming your photo diary (Image credit: Apple) The Photos gallery is becoming what Apple called "a diary of your life", with a new tab designed to document your best photos by day, month and year. You'll also have more pinch controls to zoom in and out of the Photos gallery. You can now do something that most people have been crying out for on an iPhone - change the aspect ratio of the picture you take in the camera app. That means square options, or 16:9 even, are there in the settings - although when you export the pictures off the phone the files are still in the original 4:3 format. Photo editing is refined with iOS 13, adding adjustment controls and filters, while the video editing portion mirrors this almost entirely: nearly every photo tool and effect – including filters, rotating and cropping – makes it over to video. If you're not good at tinkering with video, there'll even be an 'Auto' adjustment button. New Siri voice sounds more naturalA new Siri voice debuts with iOS 13, and it sounds more natural than before – we've heard a sample and the tone is the same, but it sounds less robotic. It uses advanced neural text‑to‑speech technology, according to Apple, and you'll particularly notice this when Siri says longer phrases, like reading the Apple News aloud or answering knowledge questions. The timing is good, because Siri can also do a lot more talking if you wear AirPods – Siri can read incoming messages and pipe them through the buds, which is convenient. One more new Siri perk: your voice assistant on HomePod will understand the voices of the various family members in your home. This should mean, for example, that asking "What's on my Calendar?" won't bring up someone else's irrelevant information. Memoji gets makeup, Messages gets info sharingApple has put more of 'Me' in Memoji, allowing one trillion configurations: new hairstyles, headwear, makeup, and piercings to name a few categories. Examples on the WWDC stage showed that these personalized Animoji masks allow for such granular accessory detail as eyeshadow, braces and even AirPods. Memoji gets better in year two (Image credit: Apple) Memoji Stickers are something entirely new – iOS 13 brings more iPhone and iPad users into the Memoji fold, TrueDepth camera or not. You can customize a Memoji and iOS 13 will automatically create a fun-looking sticker pack that lives in a sub-menu on the keyboard, which you can use in Messages, Mail, and third‑party apps. You can share your personalized Memoji with contacts through iMessages, but only when you grant them access. The same applies to sharing your name and photo with contacts, so you can chose how people see your name, for example. According to Apple, you can decide whether you want your profile shared with everyone, with only your contacts, or just once. New HomePod featuresYou might not know this, but the HomePod is part of the iOS family, and it has gotten iOS 13 updates too. First, you can transfer songs from your iPhone by simply holding your phone closer to the HomePod speaker. Previously, you had to tell Siri to do this, but now this hand-off feature is a bit easier, and you don't have to talk to do it. The HomePod also introduce Live Radio – you can ask Siri to play 100,000 stations from all around the world. And HomePod will allow you to recognize who in your family is talking, and personalize the response – great with Apple Music, where selections will be based on your taste and history. It goes beyond Music, Messages, Notes, Reminders, and more. Sign-in with AppleApple wants app developers and sites to use its sign-in feature, and there are some perks for user privacy, too (Image credit: Apple) Apple is taking on Facebook Connect, Google and other platforms that allow you to conveniently sign in to third-party accounts. Sign-in with Apple is poised to protect your privacy more than Facebook and Google do. What's neat is that if you don't want to fork over your email to an app developer or website, Apple will create a unique random email for you, and the email will be unique to that site or app. We're still waiting for this to roll out through developers, but over time you'll start seeing it more regularly. Maps get revampediOS 13 Maps looks a lot better, even if everyone likes to hate on it. Will it ever be better than Google Maps? No, probably not. But for people who want Apple's pre-loaded maps app on iOS 13, it's much better. 360-degree city tours are coming to Apple Maps (Image credit: Apple) There's way more detail here by way of Apple rebuilding maps from the ground up. There's more realistic detail for roads, beaches, parks, and buildings, and you can now explore cities with a 3D 360-degree experience. Favorites were a part of Maps before, but iOS 13 makes these saved locations easier to navigate to with one tap – they appear at the very top of a search menu. Sometimes Google Maps on iOS doesn't get this right (but does better on Android). That's one reason to keep Apple Maps installed, even if you're a Google Maps person. Text formatting in MailMail is getting some changes when it comes to writing out properly formatted email. You'll have more control over font style, size, color, alignment, indenting and outdenting text, and numbered and bulleted lists. What we're really hoping to see one day in iOS 13.1 or iOS 14 is the ability to insert a hyperlink into some text in an email. On both iOS and Android devices, that's just not possible in their default mail clients (that we've seen) – you have to paste long URLs, and that's not a computer, no matter what you call your operating system. Connect to Wi-Fi and Bluetooth from Control CenterThis is huge – and we've been asking for it for several years. You can now select Wi‑Fi networks and Bluetooth accessories right from Control Center. Android has had this for years, and it was always convenient to connect to new Wi-Fi networks or Bluetooth earbuds without having to navigate away from your current app and dive into five Settings submenus. Apple is finally coming around in iOS 13. Xbox One and PS4 game controller supportIf you're going to play games on your phone, you might as well do it with one of the two best controllers available (and maybe something you already own). Enter PS4 and Xbox One game controller support for iOS 13. Apple didn't say if all games will support this or if it'll be limited to Apple Arcade, but whatever the case may be, we're happy to be able to put our PS4 controller to use everywhere we roam. Silence Unknown CallsNuisance spam calls drive us crazy every day, and iOS 13 wants to fix the issue with the help of Siri, which scans your Contacts, Mail and Messages to see if you've previously been in contact with the caller. Silence Unknown Calls sounds fairly smart, if you're not expecting business numbers cold-calling you for work. Those that do call you and aren't on your personal 'VIP list' will go straight to voicemail. iOS 13 features exclusive to iPhone 11 phones
We thought we knew all about iOS 13 in June, but it turns out there were a few new features geared toward the newly announced iPhone 11 phones. Since the iPhone 11, 11 Pro and 11 Pro Max are almost all about the new cameras, the iOS 13 software lends itself to the new ultra-wide lens and special night mode. Switching between the cameras lenses (two lenses on the iPhone 11 and three on the iPhone 11 Pro series) is supposed to be seamless, with quick taps or a wheel to transition between zoomed-in and zoomed-out perspectives. Holding down on the familiar shutter button in iOS 13 start recording video, akin to the Snapchat and Instagram UI. Apple claims it's new handsets offer the highest-quality video ever in a smartphone, so it's putting a big emphasis on how easy it is to shoot video. On any other iPhone running iOS 13, holding down the same shutter button captures burst photos. The front TrueDepth camera on a iPhone 11 phones can capture wide-angle selfies when held in the landscape orientation, and record up to 4K60fps video. Before, we were all deprived with 1080p60fps selfie videos. Sure to be the ire of everyone older than millennial age, you're going to starting to see 'Slofies'. Love it or hate it (because of the name), this iPhone 11-exclusive iOS 13 feature captures epic-looking slo-mo video from the front camera. It works best when you have long hair to capture in motion. Sharing iCloud Drive foldersWith the release of iOS 13.4, iPhone users can finally share their iCloud Drive folders with other iCloud users - specifically using the Files app. Much like Google Docs, they can also limit access to either who they explicitly invite or give anyone access who has a link to the folder. They can also choose who makes changes vs. view only, as well as who can upload files to the selected folder and who can only download files. Universal PurchaseAs of iOS 13.4, appmakers can now opt to sell software across some or all Apple device platforms at once - meaning they could buy an app and have the respective versions unlocked across iOS, iPadOS, macOS, and tvOS. This feature, called Universal Purchase, is live now. This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
| Posted: 19 May 2020 11:18 AM PDT Getting started with WordPress web hosting doesn't have to be expensive, after all the 17-year old WordPress is free (and open source). Even the cheapest shared hosting plan usually comes with a one-click WordPress installer, allowing the greenest of blogging newbies to have their first post ready in less than 60 seconds (we tried it). Managing a blog over time is much more challenging, though. You'll need to find your own themes and plugins. And also keep them, and WordPress itself, up-to-date (although you can even get that done automatically). Blogs are often targeted by malware, so it's important you have some way to detect and remove any threats, and you'll want regular backups to help get a broken blog working again. There's a long list of hosting companies offering WordPress plans, but we've picked out five of the best to point you in the right direction. Whether you're a first-time user or a big business, there's something for you here, and with prices starting at around a pound per month, it's well worth taking the time to find out more.
These are the best WordPress hosting services of 2020Image Credit: Bluehost Budget WordPress hosting can have a lot of appeal, but it usually won't deliver the features, performance or reliability that high traffic sites need. If you're the demanding type, opting for a premium hosting plan will give you much better results. Bluehost has created its own VPS-based architecture to deliver optimum WordPress performance via NGINX, a custom PHP-FPM setup and intelligently allocated resources through KVM hypervisor. (If you're not a hosting geek, this just means Bluehost has taken the time to optimize the low-level setup of its platform for WordPress, rather than simply making do with a standard configuration.) The company doesn't waste time by pretending to offer ‘unlimited’ resources, and instead tells you exactly what you're going to get. For the Basic plan which starts at $2.75 per month for the first term (renews at $7.99), this means 50GB SSD storage, a single website, a free domain for one year and $50 Marketing Credit. Additional features for all plans include free SSL, unmetered MySQL DB, site analytics dashboard, unlimited parked/sub domains and Bluehost Marketplace where users will have access to premium themes and plugins at exclusive prices. New Bluehost accounts will also get a free service called Blue Spark, which is designed to help newcomers with everything WordPress related. The Plus plan which starts at $5.45 per month for the first term (renews at $10.99), adds unlimited websites and website space, and additional features like spam protection, free CDN and WP staging environment. The Choice Plus plan costs $5.45 per month for the first term (renews at $14.99) and adds even more features. Bluehost also offers a 30-day money-back guarantee if you feel the service doesn't deliver. If you need more power, BlueHost has a managed hosting solution called WordPress Pro that has been optimized for WordPress websites, with prices starting at $17.95 per month. These plans have many additional features like unlimited everything, malware detection and removal, JetPack site analytics, business review tools and more. Image Credit: Tsohost Managed WordPress packages can often feel overpriced. Many hosts charge significant premiums for impressive sounding claims – optimized servers, malware scanning – that are difficult to evaluate or confirm. The UK-based Tsohost isn't interested in any of that, instead focusing on providing the core WordPress essentials at a very fair price. The baseline Economy plan gives you a free domain name, will migrate your existing site, includes 50% discount on Standard SSL and has no limits on bandwidth. You get daily backups and can restore any of the last 30 days with a click. There's 24/7 support via ticket and email, and phone and live chat is available from 7am to midnight. You get a hundred 200MB mailboxes, and the plan restricts you to 100GB storage and 100,000 page views a month. If that's enough for you, the plan costs ~$4.9(£3.99) a month paid annually (the first year is ~$3.7 (£2.99) a month). If that's just too underpowered, opting for the Deluxe plan gets you unlimited storage, 500x1GB mailboxes, and unlimited hosted websites. That's significantly more capable, yet still very reasonably priced at ~$7.8(£5.99) a month paid annually (the first year is ~$4.9 (£3.99) a month). The "most popular" Ultimate plan is priced at ~$11.7(£8.99) a month paid annually (the first year is ~$7.4 (£5.99) a month) and supports unlimited storage, unlimited hosted websites, unlimited 10GB mailboxes and a free SSL certificate among other things. Tsohost doesn't offer all the frills and extras you'll get with some products. There's no talk of SiteLock malware protection, optimized WordPress add-ons or a custom CDN. But it's hard to complain at this price, and Tsohost is still delivering a capable service with more than enough power for smaller sites. Image Credit: Inmotion Hosting Most web hosts offer only a few WordPress plans, and even these might be set up to point you in a particular direction. You'll often see an underpowered plan, an overpriced one, and a special deal on the mid-range plan they really want you to buy. That makes it easy to decide, but it also limits your upgrade options if your site grows over time. InMotion Hosting is unusual in offering six WordPress plans, covering everything from small personal blogs to resellers and big business. Figuring out which is the best product for you will take a little more thought, but at least there's room to upgrade – or downgrade – if your circumstances change. Better still, InMotion hasn't artificially limited the low-end plans by removing key features. Even the baseline WP-1000S plan – which costs $5.99 (£5.15) a month initially (1-year plan), $9.99 (£7.70) on renewal – gives you 40GB storage, unlimited bandwidth and email addresses, preinstalled WordPress, SSL, backups, automatic updates, SiteLock security, cPanel site management, and extras like BoldGrid and WP-CLI. The only significant issue is InMotion's suggestion that the plan works best for blogs with up to 20,000 monthly visits, and even that won't be a problem for many smaller sites. Upgrading your plan gets you some extras – premium themes and plugin subscriptions, a dedicated IP address, support for hosting more sites – but it's mostly about giving you more resources. For example, the top-of-the-range WP-4000S plan supports 300,000 monthly visitors across up to 6 sites for $29.99 (£23) a month initially (1-year plan), $36.99 (£28.3) on renewal. There are cheaper deals around, but in previous reviews, we've found InMotion to be reliable, professional and honest, and any price premium is likely to be worth paying. You don't have to take our word for it, though – an exceptional 90-day money-back guarantee gives you plenty of opportunity to find out for yourself. Image Credit: 1&1 IONOS Web giant 1&1 IONOS seems to have a hosting product for every possible need, and WordPress is no exception. Novice users can try out its service for a nominal $3 (£2.4) a month, yet the plan still outperforms many competitors. The bundled 25GB of storage means you won't be running out of space in a hurry, for example. There are no bandwidth or visitor limits, and you can set up as many email accounts as you need. 1&1 IONOS offers the core WordPress management functions that you would expect: a setup wizard, preinstalled plugins, automatic updates and 24/7 support (including by telephone). Also, you get a personal consultant free of charge. All this is built on a capable platform – NGINX, PHP 7.2, OPcache, up to 2GB RAM guaranteed – to enhance your blog's performance. There's SSL included and even a free domain thrown in, which is a ridiculously good value at this price. If you're a WordPress novice, it might be worth taking out the plan for an initial year, claiming your free domain and taking the time to learn how the blog works. When you time is up, renew if you're happy, or if you're not, use your knowledge and experience to find a better plan. 1&1 IONOS isn't just about newbies, though: there's value for more demanding users, too. In particular, the Unlimited plan gives you unlimited Wordpress sites and storage space, unlimited databases (1GB max), and unlimited email accounts (2GB each). Bonus features include a Wildcard SSL, a CDN and SiteLock malware scanning, as well as RailGun content delivery network, and the price looks good at $18 (£14.6) Image Credit: HostGator Choosing the best WordPress hosting package can seem like a complicated business, with a stack of low-level details and issues to consider. But it doesn't have to be that way. If you don't have special requirements then opting for a reliable company will get you capable mid-range products that can handle everything most users need. HostGator generally delivers powerful hosting plans for a fair price, and its managed WordPress range is no exception. Its Starter product may only cost $5.95 (£4.25) ($3.98 with our promo code) per month for three years, $9.95 (£7.10) afterwards, but you still get a free site migration, an SSL certificate, automatic malware detection and removal, unlimited email addresses and unmetered storage and bandwidth, and it can handle up to 100,000 visits a month. Ramping up to the high-end Business plan gets you more CPU power, support for up to three sites and 500,000 visits a month, yet still costs only $9.95 (£7.10) ($9.18 with our promo code) a month for the first three years, $22.95 (£16.40) a month afterwards. Smart caching and a CDN are on hand to enhance your website's performance, 24/7 support helps keep your site up and running, and surprise bonus features include free domain privacy to protect from identity theft and reduce annoying spam. We've had good experiences with HostGator's service, but if you're not so lucky, there's a generous 45-day money-back guarantee. As with other hosting companies, this won't cover any domain registration fees, but it's still a better deal than you'll often find elsewhere. You might also want to check out our other buying guides:
This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
| The best 13-inch laptop 2020: the top 13-inch laptops we've reviewed Posted: 19 May 2020 11:14 AM PDT When it comes to combining lightweight designs and powerful performance, the best 13-inch laptops have mastered the craft. While 15-inch laptops offer a bigger screen real estate and room for more powerful internals, portability is the name of the game for their smaller 13-inch counterparts. And, it’s a form factor that quite a lot of laptop users appreciate, including students looking for the most affordable portables and professionals who want a svelte machine. Still, just because they’re thin and light, doesn’t mean they can’t compete with the best of them in performance. The best 13-inch laptops tout more than enough power in their svelte form to get you through demanding tasks like photo editing, music production and even light gaming. In fact, they’re powerful enough to make our best laptops or best Ultrabooks lists. And, we’ve got the best candidates for the job right here. Whether you’re in the market for a 2-in-1 laptop, looking for something specific like one of the best Acer laptops, or still deciding between the best Windows laptops or the best Macs, you’ll find a worthy choice in our best 13-inch laptops list. HP’s beloved and highly praised 2-in-1 is back with a vengeance, this time with more powerful components like the 10th-generation Intel Core processors and Intel Iris Plus graphics. Of course, that impeccable 2-in-1 design and pristine gem-cut chassis are back, as are its security features and Bang & Olufsen speakers. That killer combination makes it, now more than ever, one of the best Windows laptops out there. Is it a wonder that this is one of our favorite laptops of 2020? If you care about aesthetics as much as you do performance and overall quality, this is the laptop for you. Read the full review: HP Spectre x360 (2020) Google Pixelbook Go boasts many of its high-quality features, but without that steep price tag. If you’ve long been admiring Google’s premium Chromebook but the price is holding you back, then you might want to consider the new Google Pixelbook Go instead. Freshly-baked by Google, this alternative to the manufacturer’s pricey Pixelbook boasts many of its high-quality features, but without that steep price tag – namely, an incredible battery life and that coveted keyboard. If your computing use is limited to sending and responding to emails, creating documents and excel sheets on Google Docs and Sheets, and streaming movies and videos after work, then this one’s a winner. Read the full review: Google Pixelbook Go The Dell XPS 13 (2020), much like its predecessors, earns a well-deserved spot among the best Windows laptops. It keeps everything we've come to love from Dell's flagship 13-incher, from the gorgeous and light design, to the powerful modern components that power it. The Dell XPS 13 now rocks 10th-generation Intel Core i5 or i7 processors and a bezel-less ‘Infinity Edge’ display, which means the Dell XPS 13 (2020) is a brilliant performer, while remaining thin and light. What’s more, there’s a wide range of customization options, so you can really make the Dell XPS 13 the best laptop for your needs. Read the full review: Dell XPS 13 Surface Book 2 will handle your daily workload effortlessly and in style. While the 13-inch version isn’t the most powerful Surface Book 2, it still makes for one of the best 13-inch laptops on the market. Whether you’re a professional or a creative or even a student, the Surface Book 2 will handle your daily workload effortlessly and in style. What’s more, the dynamic fulcrum hinge is much improved this time around, complementing the robust quad-core processor. And, unlike many other 2-in-1 laptops, the keyboard is removable to make it much more manageable, as well as thinner, when in tablet mode. Read the full review: Microsoft Surface Book 2 Surface Laptop 2 is one of the best 13-inch laptops right now. The early Surface Laptop had our vote for one of the best 13-inch laptops, due to its stunning screen, competent internals and solid build quality. We are, therefore, happy to see its sequel, the Surface Laptop 2, doing everything better and taking some features to a new level. You won’t find any major changes, but the faster 8th-generation CPUs, 8GB of RAM and, most importantly, the removal of Windows 10 S all add up to making the Surface Laptop 2 one of the best 13-inch laptops right now. Read the full review: Surface Laptop 2 Razer has spruced up its Blade Stealth 13 Ultrabook with the latest internal components without affecting its super-quiet operation. The “world’s first gaming ultrabook” doesn't just talk the talk; it also walks the walk. Razer has spruced up its Blade Stealth 13 Ultrabook with the latest internal components without affecting its super-quiet operation. Packed with a 10th-generation Intel Core i7 processor and better graphic options, 13-inch laptop delivers and much better than its predecessor. In fact, it might just be the best gaming experience we’ve ever had on integrated graphics with the Iris Plus configuration. Round that out with extremely quiet fans, low thermal power, extended battery life and that delightful Mercury White color, and we are sold. You will be too, if you can afford the price. Read the full review: Razer Blade Stealth 13 (2019) Lenovo Yoga C930 has a few aces up its sleeve. While slightly bigger than your usual 13-inch laptop, this nearly 14-inch 2-in-1 challenger has a few aces up its sleeve – including longevity, power and durability. This means that the latest Lenovo Yoga C930 will last users long enough to get through their day-to-day workload and squeeze in some entertainment at the end of each day. To round it all out, this device also has a nice display with deep colors, a great keyboard and a decent trackpad. It may not have the best graphics performance, but it definitely more than makes up for that, making it one of the best 13-inch laptops 2020 has to offer. Read the full review: Lenovo Yoga C930 The MacBook Pro (13-inch, 2020)’s entry-level model may miss out on some of the lineup’s new toys. However, going for the higher-end configurations will get you new (and powerful) Intel processors and improved RAM speeds for better performance, all packed into the 13-inch incredibly svelte body. Apple rounds it all out with that incredible Magic Keyboard from the new 16-inch, finally getting rid of that problematic keyboard. Even if you don’t go for the 10th-generation Intel Core configurations, you might still appreciate the fact that all models come with more storage capacity for the same price as their predecessors. Read the full review: MacBook Pro (13-inch, 2020) Though previous Snapdragon-powered Windows laptops have fallen short in terms of performance, the Lenovo Yoga C630 has proven otherwise, offering users with an excellent performance for daily workloads, power-hungry tasks and even intensive games. It’s not perfect, but it does the job. And the integration of 4G connectivity is highly useful when you’re on the go and need an Internet connection. If you’re looking for one of the best 13-inch laptops that’s lightweight, both inside and out, this is a top choice. Read the full review: Lenovo Yoga C630 HP Envy x360 13 (2019) boasts a premium build, 9 hours of video playback and a stellar performance. Thanks to its sleek 13-inch design, this 2-in-1 is slimmer that you would have expected, which works in your favor when using it in tablet mode. There are other excellent reasons why you must consider the HP Envy x360 (2019) when sorting through the best 13-inch laptops on the market. This one boasts a premium build, 9 hours of video playback and a performance that will get you through most of your schoolwork and project, all without burning a hole in your pocket. Read the full review: HP Envy x360 (2019) Bill Thomas, Gabe Carey and Michelle Rae Uy have also contributed to this article
This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
| Best laptops for photographers in 2020: Photo editing in Photoshop Posted: 19 May 2020 11:06 AM PDT The best laptops for photographers tick a few boxes other equally powerful laptops don’t. Photo editing requires more than just enough horsepower to rival traditional desktop computers. After all, you’re not just working with high resolution files and utilizing advanced effects. Besides a powerful processor, the best graphics card for content creation and the fastest RAM, you also need pixel-perfect displays with accurate color reproduction, as well as wide contrast to keep highlight and shadow detail consistently visible. In addition, you’ll need features that will give you a more seamless workflow, whether that’s a comfortable keyboard and an extremely reliable trackpad or an abundance of ports, so you can keep focus on your creative process. From the crowd-favorite MacBook Pros to their Windows-based rivals, there’s quite a selection of the best laptops for photographers out there. To make your search easier, we put together a short list for you that includes some of the best laptops and best Ultrabooks. Whichever photo editor you’re using – whether it’s Adobe Photoshop, Lightroom or GIMP, or a combination of two, your pick is guaranteed to handle your photo editing demands. Best laptops for photographers 2020 at a glance
The MacBook Pro (16-inch, 2019) feels just as compact as the 15-inch MacBook Pros that preceded it. As thin, light and sleek as ever, the MacBook Pro (16-inch, 2019) doesn’t actually feel like a 16-inch behemoth. If you’re worried that this was going to be bulky and awkward to use, don’t be. Whether you’re a nomadic photographer or you have your own studio, this laptop will feel just as compact as the 15-inch MacBook Pros that preceded it. Only, you’re still getting that extra real estate on that stunning display, as well as the latest and greatest components behind it. Apple then rounds those out with amazing (and loud) speakers and a much, much better keyboard. This is truly the best laptop for photographers. Read the full review: MacBook Pro (16-inch, 2019) Apple's MacBook Pro 15-inch laptops are better and more powerful than ever. With Apple having recently fitted its MacBook Pro 15-inch with Intel’s latest 9th-generation processors, these laptops are better and more powerful than ever, which means it’s just the ticket for demanding post-processing tasks. Of course, the fact that it boasts Touch ID and an improved Touch Bar, and is upgradeable to 4TB of SSD storage means that you can have a more seamless experience doing so. Although you will have to adjust to not having an SD card port and only two Thunderbolt 3, this is still one of the best laptops for photographers. Read the full review: MacBook Pro 15-inch Razer took its famous gaming laptop and turned it into one of the best mobile creative workstations. Razer’s idea of taking its famous gaming laptop and turning it into one of the best mobile creative workstations on offer has paid off. Razer Blade 15 Studio Edition takes the mantle from one of HP’s most powerful laptops as among the best laptops for photographers. Without a doubt, this model was designed with photographers – as well as video editors and game designers – in mind, rocking powerful graphics cards and an absolute stunner of a 4K display. You’ll be spending a lot of money to take this laptop home. But, make no mistake, it will be one of the smartest investments you’ll ever make. Read the full review: Razer Blade 15 Studio Edition This 2019's MacBook now boasts 8th-generation processors. The MacBook Pro (13-inch, 2020)’s entry-level model may miss out on some of the lineup’s new toys. However, going for the higher-end configurations will get you new (and powerful) Intel processors and improved RAM speeds for better performance, all packed in the 13-inch incredibly svelte body. Apple rounds it all out with that incredible Magic Keyboard from the new 16-inch, finally getting rid of that problematic keyboard. Even if you don’t go for the 10th-generation Intel Core configurations, you might still appreciate the fact that all models come with more storage capacity for the same price as their predecessors. Read the full review: MacBook Pro (13-inch, 2020)
The Acer ConceptD 7 is a formidable laptop capable of handling complex and demanding tasks. For those who think that MacBook Pros are overpriced but still need a powerful mobile workstation, there’s the Acer ConceptD 7. This formidable laptop capable of handling complex and demanding tasks such as photo editing, thanks in part to its Nvidia RTX graphics, was designed specifically with creative professionals in mind. Beyond that sheer power it delivers, it also offers decent port selection, a minimalist solid white design and that stunning Pantone-validated 4K IPS display. Obviously, it’s still pretty pricey, but if you’re looking for a Windows-powered MacBook alternative for video and photo editing, it’s certainly among the best laptops for photographers. Read the full review: Acer ConceptD 7 The Surface Laptop 3 certainly has a lot going for it. With an impressive, reasonable price tag and some of the best battery life we’ve experienced in a 15-inch laptop, the Surface Laptop 3 certainly has a lot going for it. That also includes the fact that it’s got a great look and feel, as well as a weight that surprisingly light for a product its size. Performance-wise, it certainly knocks it out of the park. While it isn’t the most powerful 15-inch laptop out there, it has Intel’s 10th-generation chips and the Iris Plus graphics. That’s more than enough to make it one of the best Ultrabooks out there for 2020. Read the full review: Surface Laptop 3 Dell XPS 15's impressive specifications mean it will keep up with all your edits. One of our top favorite laptops here at TechRadar must be Dell’s XPS line, thanks to their gorgeous displays and powerful components inside. So, it isn’t surprising that the Dell XPS 15 has made it to yet another list. There’s not much redesign here beyond Dell finally fixing that awful webcam placement, thank goodness, but as they say, if it isn’t broken… What matters here are the innards, and this laptop’s definitely got power with those 9th-generation Intel Core processors leading the charge. If you’re looking to invest in one of the best laptops for photographers, this is definitely an affordable one to consider. Read the hands-on review: Dell XPS 15 Dell XPS 13 boasts a similar resolution and pixel density to the MacBook and Surface Book. This laptop's claim to fame is being the smallest 13.3-inch laptop on the market. It's slim screen bezel helps contribute to a svelte 304mm x 200mm x 15mm form that needs to be held to be truly appreciated. But it’s also among the best laptops for photographers. The XPS 13's screen is touch-sensitive, and it boasts a similar resolution and pixel density to the MacBook and Surface Book. Image quality is more in line with the ZenBook though, falling slightly short on colour and contrast intensity compared to Apple and Microsoft's displays. A highly portable package with little compromise other than battery life. Read the full review: Dell XPS 13 HP Spectre x360 (2019) takes things to another level, power-wise. Sartorially-conscious photographers will love the look of this 13-inch stunner, sure. But the Spectre x360 also takes things to another level, power-wise. With its gem cut design and sleek profile, it’s this one of the most beautiful laptops on the market right now. However, HP also fitted this with powerful Intel Whiskey Lake processors and long battery life, which means that you’re getting one of the best laptops for photographers. Read the full review: HP Spectre x360 (2019) Lenovo Yoga C930 is one of the best 2-in-1 laptops to date. Sleek, slim and with solid specs to boot, the new Lenovo Yoga C930 not only deserves to be voted one of the best 2-in-1 laptops to date, but it’s also a worthy addition in our best laptops for photographers list. That’s without mentioning the fact that it now touts a 4K display model, which is just excellent for editing those high resolution full-frame shots. This 2-in-1 is a strong contender for photographers on the budget, but if you do decide to go for gold, you might have to break the bank. Read the full review: Lenovo Yoga C930 Key things to look out forWatch the video above for the top 7 things to consider when buying a laptop. It's easy to get bogged down in the tech and spec soup of computer terminology, but there are a couple of key areas photographers need to think about. The first is the quality of the screen. This used to be more eye-sore than eye-candy, with appalling contrast and viewing angles, but thankfully IPS display tech fixes this and you shouldn't settle for anything less. An SSD (solid state drive) is a must as your primary storage in any new laptop. A conventional hard disk drive will bottleneck performance like flat tires on a Ferrari, and while dedicated graphics cards are great for gaming, they're not a necessity here. Today's processors can fill in for them, and they pack enough pixel-pushing punch for photo editing. The MacBook is favoured by many photographers, and for good reason. But don't rule out comparably priced laptop PCs, which can offer more bang per buck with better upgradability.
This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
| Samsung Galaxy S20 is coming to Verizon – and its 5G speeds are even faster Posted: 19 May 2020 10:37 AM PDT The Samsung Galaxy S20 is finally coming to Verizon, and while it's launching more than two months after the smartphone's initial debut on other American carriers, it has one new perk: faster 5G than the S20 on other networks – potentially. Starting on Thursday, May 21, you'll be able to buy the 'Galaxy S20 5G UWB', as it's officially called. The 'UWB' stands for Ultra Wideband, which is Verizon's name for how it connects to the fast millimeter wave 5G spectrum. The difference in 5G speeds on Verizon vs T-Mobile is stark. In our tests, 5G phones with millimeter wave (mmWave) have gotten peak download speeds of 1.9Gbps in New York City. Major caveat: the range is limited select city blocks among Verizon's 34 UWB-equipped US cities. You also have to be outdoors. The Samsung Galaxy S20 on AT&T, T-Mobile, and Sprint, meanwhile, uses sub-6, the other form of 5G. We got slower speeds of 400Mbps, but at a greater range – it even works indoors. It's not as headline-pleasing, but it is reliable at a distance. Verizon Galaxy S20 5G UWB price and colorsThe Samsung Galaxy S20 5G UWB price won't see an increase through Verizon. It'll cost $999 or $41.66 a month for 24 months, according to the carrier. There's no increase in the price or the dimensions, despite inclusion of the mmWave radio. It also has the same specs we saw two months ago: a 6.2-inch screen, 120Hz display refresh rate, 128GB of internal storage (with a microSD card slot), and a 64MP telephoto camera with Samsung's novel 30x 'Space Zoom'. Verizon will sell Galaxy S20 5G UWB in three colors: Cloud Pink, Cosmic Gray and the Verizon-exclusive Cloud White. It's basically dropping the Cloud Blue color for white. Verizon already sells the Samsung Galaxy S20 Plus and Galaxy S20 Ultra, which came equipped with mmWave from the start.
This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
| Best RAM 2020: the top memory for your PC Posted: 19 May 2020 10:30 AM PDT Fitting your PC with the best RAM will not just improve your gaming and video editing process. More importantly for most people, it will eliminate sluggishness when your computer is trying to keep up with your most demanding tasks. And, while it might be an afterthought to some, especially when they’re mostly focused on getting the best processor and the best graphics card, your computer’s memory is just as important. With increasing demands from memory hungry operating systems like Windows 10 or macOS Mojave and software like photo and video editing applications as well as best PC games, it’s more crucial than ever to have the best RAM under the hood. That computer you just spent money on won’t cut it without one. A fast RAM with a solid performance will give you a much smoother computing experience overall, even if all you do is open 20 or so tabs at once when browsing the Internet in your spare time. Whether you’re building your next PC or your current one is already slowing down, it’s time for you to pay more attention to your RAM – including its size, speed and capacity. Let us help you find one with our picks for the best RAM. Best RAM at a glance
Corsair Vengeance LED is just as fast and responsive as it is aesthetic. (Image Credit: Corsair) Corsair is one of the most trusted names when it comes to the best RAM on the market. Its Vengeance series, especially, has something for everyone with its LED DDR4 offerings. On top of giving PC builders that extra touch of vibrant lighting, this RAM has robust heat spreaders that maximise cooling for higher overclocking and maximum performance. Corsair’s Vengeance LED DDR4 series also features CL16 latency and whopping 3,466 MHz speeds, so it’s just as fast and responsive as it is aesthetic. It's hard to argue with the G. Skill TridentZ RGB as the best RGB RAM. (Image Credit: G.Skill) At this point, everyone kind of knows about G. Skill and its Trident Z RGB series of RAM. This is some of the best RAM not just because it’s fast, but the top of every DIMM features a full-spectrum rainbow wave light bar that you can use to match your RGB lighting across your entire system. Trident Z RGB DDR4 RAM features CAS latencies between 14 and 19 which is awesome enough, but with speeds up to 4,266, it’s almost perfect. No matter your aesthetic, it’s hard to argue with the G. Skill TridentZ RGB as the best RGB RAM. Kingston HyperX Predator is particularly tuned for speed and extreme-performance. (Image Credit: Kingston) Kingston’s high-performance HyperX has some of the best DDR3 RAM on the market and the Predator models is particularly tuned for speed and extreme-performance that’s further expandable with XMP profiles. The Predator DDR3 series achieves CL9 to CL11 latencies and speeds between 1866MHz to 2666MHz. Kingston HyperX Fury can have a huge impact on the performance of your rig. (Image Credit: Kingston) This Kingston HyperX Fury is auto overclocked memory that won’t empty your wallet. This smart DDR3 or DDR4 RAM auto-detects system components to overclock to the highest speeds possible, optimizing performance for all of Intel’s latest chipsets. It comes with latencies between CL14 and CL16, and has speeds between 2,133 and 2,666MHz. While it’s inexpensive, it really can have a huge impact on the performance of your rig. Corsair Dominator Platinum RGB is the best RAM around in 2019. (Image Credit: Corsair) If you want the best of the best, and you don’t care about pricing, Corsair’s Dominator Platinum memory has always been at the top of the list. However, in 2019, it’s been refreshed to include Corsair’s new Capellix RGB LEDs, leading to a much richer and more colorful design. It’s the same high-end RAM we know and love, with speeds up to 3,600 MHz, but the better RGB make the Corsair Dominator Platinum RGB the best RAM around in 2020. With speeds of up to 3,733MHz and CL15–19 latencies, HyperX Fury RGB 3733MHz is simply fast. The HyperX Fury RGB 3733MHz is not just pretty with its RGB design. With speeds of up to 3,733MHz and CL15–19 latencies, it’s just as fast as it is stunning, making it well-deserving of the best high frequency RAM accolade. What’s more is that it’s fitted with predefined Intel Extreme Memory Profiles for maximum performance as well as yperX’s patent-pending infrared sync technology. For an even more immersive gaming experience, you can daisy chain this RAM to sync with multiple other RGB devices. This is some of the best RAM to invest in right now. If you need a lot of RAM without taking up too many DIMM slots, G.Skill Trident Z RGB DC is for you. (Image Credit: G.Skill) Sometimes, especially when you’re looking for the best gaming components, ‘go big or go home’ is the best advice. And, when you want more RAM than you’ll know what to do with, you’re going to want to go with the G.Skill Trident Z RGB DC memory. The DC stands for double capacity, as in, 32GB per stick. Now, this is definitely not the fastest memory in the world, right now it’s only available in up to 3,200 MHz, but if you need a lot of RAM without taking up too many DIMM slots (like if you have a big CPU cooler or a Mini-ITX board), you can’t go wrong with the G.Skill TridentZ RGB DC. Adata Spectrix D80 is great for your all-out gaming rig. (Image Credit: Adata) If you’re building an all-out gaming rig, you’ll want the flashiest hardware on offer – who doesn’t want a gaming rig that lights up the entire room? If this sounds appealing, the Adata Spectrix D80 is the RAM to go for. Not only is it available in frequencies up to 5,000MHz, but it’s also liquid cooled, meaning you don’t have to worry about it overheating. The Adata Spectrix D80 is going to be the best RAM for gaming in an RGB-lit cavern. The TridentZ Royal memory gets our vote as the best RGB RAM on the market. Finding RAM that fits in perfectly with your light up gaming rig is easy with G.Skill. In fact, its TridentZ Royal memory gets our vote as the best RGB RAM on the market right now, thanks to its unique crown jewel design. That means that it’s fitted with a crystalline light bar that basically scatters the eight customizable RGB colors for lighting that dazzles and sparkles. The RAM itself is polished with aluminum heatspreaders of gold or silver colors to keep the whole thing cool. Of course, it’s not all looks – the G.Skill TridentZ Royal also delivers great reliability and performance. Corsair Vengeance LPX is essential for PC builds with massive CPU coolers. (Image Credit: Corsair) Corsair’s Vengeance LPX RAM is made for users who want the maximum performance with minimum footprint. This low-profile RAM is essential for PC builds with massive CPU coolers. Despite being so low-profile, they still feature an eight-layer heat spreader to cool while overclocking. While its thin design doesn’t allow for LEDs, but you can get it in three colors: black, red or blue. G.Skill Mac RAM has memory upgrades for Macs. (Image Credit: G.Skill) G.Skill isn’t just dedicated to laptop and desktop RAM, but it also has memory upgrades for Macs. You see, Apple charges inordinate amounts for RAM upgrades, so going with a third party kit can save a ton of money. Well, as long as your Mac is old enough to still have upgradeable RAM. These SO-DIMM kits have a CAS latency between 9 and 11 and feature speeds between 1,333MHz and 1,600MHz. The best bang for your buck seems to be the G.Skill DDR3-1,333 for Mac. Crucial Ballistix Sport boasts efficient battery life and delivers fast speeds for multi-tasking. (Image Credit: Crucial) Crucial is by far the best RAM for laptop systems. This manufacturer has designed its Crucial Ballistix Sport SODIMMs for efficient battery life while still delivering fast speeds for multi-tasking. It’s ideal for anyone wanting to speed up the best laptops, and this memory likely offers higher memory speed than anything coming stock in your laptop. Just make sure your laptop actually lets you upgrade the RAM – repairability is falling out of fashion these days. This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
| Microsoft Build 2020: everything you need to know about the developer's conference Posted: 19 May 2020 10:27 AM PDT Microsoft Build 2020 is a lot different than past versions of the conference, for better or worse. Stating safety concerns – understandably due to the pandemic and shelter in place orders – Microsoft decided to shift gears and turn its biggest software conference into a 48-hour digital-only event. Originally scheduled to take place in Seattle for four days, Microsoft’s massive developers conference is now a “48-hour digital experience.” What that means is that Microsoft is producing continuous content, both pre-recorded and live, spanning all timezones in that 48-hour period starting May 19 at 8AM Pacific. And, it’s now completely free to all attendees. As disappointing as this may be to many, the fact that Microsoft is proceeding with the event, considering the actual cancellations of such events as Google’s I/O and Facebook’s F8, is still great news. Unfortunately, it doesn’t look Microsoft has much to share concerning its consumer-related products at this event. Even though Microsoft Build has always been for developers, the Redmond company has slipped in consumer-related news in the past. This year’s event, however, is more focused on developers than ever, judging from its session catalog. It has, however, shared some news regarding its Microsoft 365 and Microsoft Edge products on the consumer and business side, according to Thurrott. Here’s everything you need to know about Microsoft Build 2020, from what Microsoft has confirmed so far to what we hope to see. When is Microsoft Build 2020 and where will it take place?Instead of its typical four-day event, Microsoft is now holding Microsoft Build for 48 hours. It is slated to start on May 19, 2020 at 8AM PST and end on May 21, 2020 at 8AM PST, with the first day live-streamed and kicking off with a keynote from CEO Satya Nadella. What does that mean exactly? Basically, Microsoft is packing four days’ worth of sessions – from keynotes to live Q&As to user-generated content – into a continuous 48-hour conference. All these sessions will be available to all participants at all times, regardless of timezone, during this 48-hour duration, which allows you to switch between sessions anytime no matter where you are in the world. Just pay close attention to that time difference. Obviously, since it’s a digital-only event, it’ll take place on your PC, and you won’t even have to leave the bed, if you don’t want to. Simply go to the Microsoft Build 2020 website to register for free and to sign-in. Microsoft Build 2020: what to expectIt doesn’t seem like Microsoft will be making any major announcements on the consumer side this year. Last year, it shared some Cortana improvements, unveiled the new version of its Chromium-based Edge browser, and teased us with a new Minecraft AR game. However, if we were to go by this year’s session catalog, the upcoming event will be even more focused on developers and A.I.-leaning, with sessions like Expert Q&A: Cloud AI and Machine Learning, and Latest and greatest with Azure AI. Products on the consumer end, it seems, might take a backseat. Still, we’re hoping to see Microsoft share a bit of news about its OS, which is slated to get its next update this month, Microsoft Office, and perhaps Windows 10X. Windows 10 May 2020 Update This close to its release date, we hoped that Microsoft be using its developers conference to share a bit of May 2020 Update news, possibly even unveil it. According to Digital Trends, Microsoft is scheduled to give Windows a breakout session at the conference. Additionally, the Windows Insider team has already announced on Twitter that they will be hosting two webcasts for the event. Unfortunately, while Microsoft did shares some new things for Windows developers, it has not revealed any new information for consumers. Microsoft Office So, while there will be some Office-related workshops for developers at Microsoft Build 2020 like Focus Group: Office Extensibility and Automate spreadsheets with Office Scripts in Microsoft Excel, it’s not very likely that Microsoft will be making any major announcements concerning its productivity suite. It has, however, shared some new additions to Microsoft 365 that are meant to improve businesses' experience with the suite:
Microsoft Edge The web browser's Collections feature is getting Pinterest integration and the ability to export to OneNote. Edge is also getting Sidebar Search, which allows users to quickly search the web for a word or phrase from a page by highlighting that word or phrase, right-clicking and selecting “search in sidebar." For businesses, the browser will now have Automatic Profile Switching, which allows users to switch between their work and personal profile credentials much easier. Surface Duo, Android and Windows 10X With rumors circulating about the Duo’s potential early release, and its possible final specs leaked, Microsoft might take this opportunity to set records straight and perhaps share exciting news of their own. It’s also likely that it will release more details about its plans to support dual-screen devices through its new upcoming version of Windows, Windows 10 X. The catalog doesn’t reveal much about these. However, sessions like Unifying and evolving the Windows app platform and Focus Group: Cross-Platform Native App development will certainly give Microsoft plenty of opportunity to do so. This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
| You are subscribed to email updates from TechRadar - All the latest technology news. To stop receiving these emails, you may unsubscribe now. | Email delivery powered by Google |
| Google, 1600 Amphitheatre Parkway, Mountain View, CA 94043, United States | |
No comments:
Post a Comment