Apple : This fantastic VPN deal ends Tuesday - 69% off and 250GB cloud storage free |
- This fantastic VPN deal ends Tuesday - 69% off and 250GB cloud storage free
- Motorola Razr 2 release date may be four months away with big specs boost
- Malware turns Discord client into password stealer
- Phishing campaign hijacks Google Firebase storage
- Linux chief says he's picking AMD over Intel
- Memorial Day sale alert: the Apple Watch 5 hits lowest price ever at Best Buy
- The OnePlus rivals to the Apple AirPods could be called Buds
- 7 new TV shows on Netflix, HBO Max and other streamers this week
- Best PlayStation Now games: the top PS Now games to stream or download today
- Mattress Memorial Day sale: these deals cut up to $500 off Purple, Leesa, Allswell and more
- Microsoft's Memorial Day sale 2020: here are the 7 best deals
- How the first Apple over-ear headphones could beat the Sony WH-1000XM3
- Here's why you still can't find a webcam anywhere you look
- We're glad in helping people stay connected during Covid-19: Zoom India Head
- 44Tbps is officially the world's fastest internet speed
- Future AirPods could feature light sensors for better health monitoring
| This fantastic VPN deal ends Tuesday - 69% off and 250GB cloud storage free Posted: 25 May 2020 12:53 PM PDT You haven't got long left to claim one of the very best VPN deals on the market right now. One of our favorite services - IPVanish - has just unleashed a doozy of a discount, but it ends on Tuesday, May 26. Sign up to IPVanish now, and you'll get two years of its outstanding VPN protection and 250GB of secure cloud storage for the equivalent of only $3.70 per month. When it comes to VPN goodness, we rank IPVanish extremely highly - the provider (deep breath...) has 24/7 customer support, unblocks Netflix and Amazon Prime Video, keeps no traffic logs, allows unlimited bandwidth, features an excellent Windows kill switch, and lets you connect up to 10 devices simultaneously. It really is one of the very best around. Meanwhile, the free SugarSync cloud storage add-on gets you a full 250GB of secure data storage. This means that all your photos, videos and personal documents (whatever you choose to store) will remain safeguarded from outsiders. So for the next 24 months your VPN and storage needs are completely covered. Still unsure if this is the deal for you? Scroll down to see this offer in full, or why not also check out our best VPN deals guide for all of the very best offers on cyber privacy. IPVanish's limited time VPN deal in full:How good is IPVanish?As well as unblocking Netflix (hello streaming!) and being one of the best value for money VPNs, it also has a 30-day money-back guarantee and servers in over 75 countries. Plus, it boasts incredible download speeds so you don't need to worry about the VPN slowing down your device, and it's got plenty of powerful, configurable apps. So whether privacy, streaming or cost is your reason for getting a VPN, IPVanish ticks all the boxes. Still undecided? Check out our IPVanish review.
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| Motorola Razr 2 release date may be four months away with big specs boost Posted: 25 May 2020 12:51 PM PDT The Moto Razr 2 may launch sooner than you think in 2020, and it may remedy some of the biggest concerns we had with the Moto Razr when we reviewed it in February. That's good news because the reborn Razr charmed us with its nostalgic design but completely disappointed us in terms of its specs and user experience, while the more impressive Samsung Galaxy Z Flip easily won our Motorola Razr vs Galaxy Z Flip comparison. Unsurprisingly, Motorola is rushing to release a revamped Razr. What is surprising is a reported September launch for the Razr 2, just seven months after the original release date. That's a very quick turnaround to fix the Razr's many issues. A Lenovo general manager said that he thought the 'generation two' foldable phone – a 'new iteration' of the Razr – would launch sometime in September, according a podcast interview first picked up by Android Authority. A separate report, while not confirming this date, went into great detail about the Motorola Razr 2 specs. According to an XDA Developers source, the 2020 Razr, codenamed "smith", will run on a Snapdragon 765 chip with a Snapdragon X52 5G modem, lining up the Motorola Razr 2 to be a 5G phone. This will be a welcome improvement on the 710 chipset found in the original Razr. The Galaxy Z Flip, for comparison, uses a Snapdragon 855, more powerful than the 765 but without 5G connectivity. Still, reports suggest Samsung's new 5G foldable phone will use the Snapdragon 865 chip when it launches – also due later this year. (Image credit: Motorola / LetsGoDigital) The Razr 2 could feature eight sensors along its sides that will respond to gestures and swipes. Razr 2.0 will also upgrade the original's specs on most other benchmarks. RAM will jump from 6GB to 8GB; internal storage thankfully doubles from an inadequate 128GB to 256GB; and the 2,845mAh battery will outlast the original's thin 2,510mAh capacity. Another problem area in our Razr review was its 16MP rear and 5MP selfie cameras. The new model will launch with a 48MP rear camera with an 'ISOCELL Bright GM1 sensor' from Samsung, and a 20MP front camera. Our reviewer also expressed frustration with the Razr using the outdated Android 9 OS out of the box, but the Razr 2 will apparently launch with Android 10 on board. Of course, by September, we the first phones may be getting Android 11, but that update will be one month old, not seven months like we saw with February's Razr. Assuming these leaks are accurate, the Razr 2 will certainly be more comparable to the power and specs of non-foldable smartphones when it launches in September. The question becomes whether the changes will be enough to keep up with the Galaxy Z Flip 2, with its triple-lens rear camera, or with a rumored foldable Google Pixel currently in the works. We also are awaiting information on some of our other desired improvements for the Razr 2, like a less expensive price tag or a higher-quality screen.
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| Malware turns Discord client into password stealer Posted: 25 May 2020 12:24 PM PDT Hackers have updated the AnarchyGrabber trojan to a new version which is capable of stealing passwords and user tokens, disabling 2FA and spreading malware to a victim's friends as well. This is the second update the trojan has received this year as it was also updated back in April to modify Discord client files in order to evade detection by antivirus software and steal user accounts every time someone logs into the popular chat service. AnarchyGrabber is distributed for free on hacking forums and in YouTube videos and the trojan is used by cybercriminals on Discord who claim it is a game cheat, hacking tool or copyrighted software. Instead it modifies the Discord client's JavaScript files to turn it into malware that can steal a victim's Discord user token which is then used by an attacker to log into the popular chat service as the victim.
Hackers have now released a modified version of the AnarchyGrabber trojan with updated and more powerful features. AnarchyGrabber3AnarchyGrabber3 is a new variant of the popular malware which can steal a victim's plain text passwords and even command an infected client to spread malware to a victim's Discord friends. Since the attackers are now stealing plain text passwords, they can also use them in credential stuffing attacks in order to compromise a victim's other online accounts as well. When installed, AnarchyGrabber3 will modify the Discord client's index.js file to load additional JavaScript files including a custom inject.js from a 4n4rchy folder as well a malicious file called discordmod.js. The malicious scrips will then log the user out of Discord and ask them to log in again. When a victim logs in, the modified Discord client will try to disable 2FA on their account. The client then uses a Discord webhook to send the user's email address, login name, user token, plain text password and IP address to a Discord channel controlled by the attacker. The modified client will also listen for commands sent by the attacker once the victim is logged in. One of these commands can even be used to send a message to all of the victim's friends that contains malware the attackers want to spread. This trojan is particularly dangerous because it makes it hard for average users to know they're infected as the AnarchyGrabber3 executable does not stay on a user's system or run again after it has modified the Discord client files. Thankfully, it is quite easy to see if your system has been infected with AnarchyGrabber3. Simply open Discord's index.js file in %AppData%\Discord\[version]\modules\discord_desktop_core with Notepad and look for a single line of code that looks like this: “module.exports = require('./core.asar')”. If your client contains no other code, then it likely hasn't been infected with the trojan.
Via BleepingComputer This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
| Phishing campaign hijacks Google Firebase storage Posted: 25 May 2020 11:46 AM PDT Organisations worldwide are under serious threat from credential phishing campaigns. With the continuing growth of cloud technologies, threat actors are finding more and more innovative ways to harvest victims’ company credentials, which are then used to gain a corporate foothold. A recent campaign uses Google Firebase storage URLs to harvest the victims’ information. Firebase Storage is backed by Google Cloud Storage and provides secure uploads and downloads of files for Firebase apps. The URLs are embedded in the phishing emails. While this campaign appears low in volume at the moment, it appears to target certain industries. The major lures include actions such as raising payment invoice, upgrading email account, releasing pending messages, verifying the account, changing password and more.
Phishing attackUsing the COVID-19 pandemic and internet banking as a pretext, scammers lure the victims into clicking on a fake vendor payment form leading to the phishing page hosted on Firebase Storage. In another example, a fake account deactivation phishing email is sent to victims, prompting them to click a link which takes them to an Office 365 phishing page hosted on Firebase Cloud Storage. In subsequent iterations of this scheme, there are also fake bank emails to customers. The fake bank pages are also hosted on Google Firebase cloud storage, where customer/company information is harvested by scammers. Credentials harvested as a result of phishing are often used as an initial trigger for launching more advanced attacks. This is another example of scammers leveraging cloud infrastructure for their phishing attacks.
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| Linux chief says he's picking AMD over Intel Posted: 25 May 2020 10:31 AM PDT Linux overseer Linus Torvalds has revealed he has replaced the Intel processor on his PC with the 32-core AMD Ryzen Threadripper 3970x. Furthermore, he dropped hints that he hopes to someday have an ARM-powered system. In his weekly State of the Kernel blog post, Torvalds announced that the development process of the Linux 5.7 rc7 has been hassle-free and smooth, and that a regular release looks on the cards for next week.
AMD over Intel“In fact, the biggest excitement this week for me was just that I upgraded my main machine, and for the first time in about 15 years, my desktop isn't Intel-based," Torvalds wrote in his blog. "No, I didn't switch to ARM yet, but I'm now rocking an AMD Threadripper 3970x." "My 'allmodconfig' test builds are now three times faster than they used to be, which doesn't matter so much right now during the calming down period, but I will most definitely notice the upgrade during the next merge window,” he further added. There was no more information about the new system rig, but as the 3970x requires a sTRX4 socket which first appeared on motherboards in late 2019, The Register speculates that Torvalds has probably got a new PC. Whatever the case, Torvalds’ system processor has more cores than any currently offered by Intel.
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| Memorial Day sale alert: the Apple Watch 5 hits lowest price ever at Best Buy Posted: 25 May 2020 08:45 AM PDT The Memorial Day sale event is a perfect opportunity to score killer deals on best-selling tech like the all-new Apple Watch 5 that's on sale for a record-low price of $299 at Best Buy. That's a $100 discount and a fantastic price for a feature-rich smartwatch. Best Buy also has the 44mm Apple Watch 5 with LTE connectivity on sale for $429. Memorial Day Apple Watch 5 sale:See our roundup of the best Memorial Day sales that are happening now. This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
| The OnePlus rivals to the Apple AirPods could be called Buds Posted: 25 May 2020 08:07 AM PDT Such has been the runaway success of the Apple AirPods, it's perhaps no surprise that everyone else is bringing out AirPod clones of their own – even HTC. OnePlus could be next to join the party, with wireless earphones that are now being tipped to be called the OnePlus Buds. That's according to serial leaker Max J on Twitter, the same source that previously revealed that these wireless earbuds would be shown off to the world in July. While nothing's official yet, the rumors are mounting up. The same tweet features another sketch of these OnePlus Buds, featuring a charging case that looks a lot like a charging case for some Apple AirPods. An LED light looks to be visible on the front, presumably to tell you about charging status.
Speculation about some truly wireless earphones from OnePlus has been swirling since at least last December, and July would make sense for a launch window: OnePlus is also expected to unveil a budget OnePlus 8 device very soon, probably called the OnePlus Z. We haven't heard too much about what to expect from the OnePlus Buds (as we're now calling them), but it's not difficult to guess a few of the features: speedy pairing with OnePlus phones, Google Assistant support, touch controls, and so on. Given the track record of OnePlus over the last six years in the smartphone market, we'd expect these earbuds to be competitively priced, though perhaps not at a super-low level you could describe as budget. Pricing is going to be key as to how appealing these wireless earphones end up being, and so will battery life, as well as standard considerations such as sound quality. We're looking forward to seeing what OnePlus comes up with. In the meantime, when it comes to the actual AirPods, Apple has plenty of new ideas in the pipeline: we're expecting over-ear headphones called the AirPods Studio in the not-too-distant future, as well as budget AirPods that might be called the AirPods X. Via Pocketnow This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
| 7 new TV shows on Netflix, HBO Max and other streamers this week Posted: 25 May 2020 07:00 AM PDT If you're looking for new shows to stream this week, it's going to be a strong few days, especially on Netflix. A major Netflix original, Space Force, debuts this Friday on the streaming service, and it's probably the biggest comedy of the year in terms of sheer name recognition. Steve Carell leads the cast and it's written by the creator of The Office, but will it be worth watching? We'll find out very soon. Alongside Space Force, the newest horse in the streaming wars race debuts this week. HBO Max is available from May 27 in the US. Below, we've picked out one show from the line-up that's worth taking a look at if you're thinking about subscribing, although the real reason to get that service right now is its rich archive of classic HBO shows. Here, then, is what's new to stream this week. Space Force (Netflix)If there's one new show to watch this week, it's surely this new Netflix sitcom from Greg Daniels, executive producer of The Office, starring Steve Carell. Space Force is about the new, POTUS-conceived and ludicrous-sounding branch of the armed forces, the creation of which is overseen by Carell's four-star General Mark Naird. Space Force's mission to militarize the stars looks like it'll be an entertaining disaster. The ensemble cast is full of faces you'll recognize: Lisa Kudrow, John Malkovich and Ben Schwartz (AKA Jean-Ralphio Saperstein from Parks and Rec) as Space Force's social media co-ordinator. This could be a treat. Streaming on Netflix from May 29 Love Life (HBO Max)HBO Max is launching this week without anything resembling a Mandalorian-sized heavy hitter original. That is, unless you count the entire HBO back catalogue past and present, all of which forms the foundation of this new service. Love Life, though, despite some mixed reviews so far, is probably its biggest original. It's a themed anthology series that takes one person from their first ever love to their last, and this first season stars the charming Anna Kendrick. Streaming on HBO Max from May 27 Ramy season 2 (Hulu)Acclaimed Hulu original Ramy returns for a second season. Comedian Ramy Youssef won the Golden Globe for best comedy actor this year, so if you haven't checked out his self-titled show, now might be a good time. In the series, Egyptian-American Muslim Ramy Hassan (Youssef) lives in New Jersey, existing between his religious and Millennial communities and their contrasting ways of living. In this second season, Ramy dives deeper into his faith, and Oscar winner Mahershala Ali (Moonlight) makes a guest appearance. All episodes are available to stream this week. Watch it with a free 7-Day Hulu trial. In the UK, Starz has the rights to Ramy, and you can stream season 1 via the Starz channel right now. No word on season 2 yet, though. Streaming on Hulu from May 29 Hannah Gadsby: Douglas (Netflix)Following the enormous success of Gadby's previous Netflix special Nanette, the comedian returns for a brand new stand-up show this week on the streaming service, which was filmed in LA. Why is it called Douglas? It's partly named after one of her dogs, but apparently this special reveals there's more to it than that. Check out our list of best Netflix comedy specials if you want more laughs. Streaming on Netflix from May 26 Jeffrey Epstein: Filthy Rich (Netflix)Having avoided facing justice for his actions, the story of convicted billionaire Jeffrey Epstein remains an awful, frustrating example of how the wealthy don't face the same consequences as everyone else. In this four-part documentary miniseries, Epstein's victims give firsthand accounts of their experiences, in the hope that future generations get the justice that they didn't. Streaming on Netflix from May 27 Somebody Feed Phil season 3 (Netflix)Let Everybody Loves Raymond creator Phil Rosenthal (that's right, TV writers have food shows now) remind you of a time when you could eat food outside of your home in the latest season of his Netflix food series. In this new season, comprised of five episodes, Rosenthal embarks on culinary-related adventures to Marrakesh and London, among other places. Breezy viewing if you love Netflix food shows. Streaming on Netflix from May 29 Dorohedoro (Netflix)This hot new anime horror series debuted earlier this year in Japan, and Netflix has snagged the rights to stream it elsewhere. A man is taken off the streets of a grim city called 'The Hole' by sorcerers. After they perform awful experiments on him, he sadly wakes up with a lizard's head and a whole lot of amnesia. He teams up with his pal Nikaido to get revenge on the sorcerer who left him with that lizard's head to begin with. Boy, talk about predictable storytelling. Streaming on Netflix from May 28
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| Best PlayStation Now games: the top PS Now games to stream or download today Posted: 25 May 2020 07:00 AM PDT Looking for the best PS Now games? Then you’ve landed on the right page. Streaming subscriptions are now found in their abundances. Netflix helped pioneer the idea and sell it to households globally, making the term instantly recognizable in the mainstream populace. In the games space though, we are still in a period of transition as developers and platform holders work out all the kinks of what works and what does not. Sony, for instance, has been tinkering with the idea since the beginning of 2014 via its own cloud game subscription service, PlayStation Now. While not having the immediate effect that many had hoped for, the concept of gaming on-demand or the "Netflix of games" is still one that millions dream of. In the meantime, though, Sony has been carefully curating a catalogue of great PS Now games to entice users to its service. With over 650 games available on PS Now, we thought it was the right time to put together a list of the best games on offer today. It's worth noting that subscribers can stream and download all PS4 and PS2 titles, however can only stream PS3 games at this point.
Control (available until August 31)A secret government agency, paranormal phenomena and telepathic entities, sees protagonist Jesse Faden investigating the Federal Bureau of Control. As all is not what it seems, Jesse must uncover not only the mysterious secrets of the building but also her hazy past. Remedy Entertainment's action-adventure is notable for a number of reasons, such as its striking visual style and its integration of audio design. In an age where we crave originality more than ever before, Control's addictive gameplay and fascinating story will keep players hooked until the credits roll, and beyond. Check out our full Control review. Red Faction: Guerrilla Re-Mars-teredApart from having one of the best subtitles ever, Red Faction: Guerrilla is one of the most commonly overlooked games of the PlayStation 3 era. Launched originally in 2009, the third-person shooter follows Alex Mason in the year 2125 as he attempts to overthrow the tyrannical Earth Defense Force on (you guessed it) the planet Mars. What makes the third installment in the Red Faction series so special is its focused narrative and satisfying demolition mechanics. Better still, the wastelands of Mars really emphasize that feeling of isolation and commitment that you really are on another world. Injustice: Gods Amongst UsEvery now and then, it's just fun to beat up some bad guys. Injustice: Gods Amongst Us lets you play both sides, as we find DC's mightiest heroes and villains come together for an almighty clash. From the developer behind Mortal Kombat, Injustice pulls no punches with a deep control system that is easy to pick up but hard to master. Not to mention the stellar roster of playable characters unlocked from the outset, including Superman, Batman, Joker, Harley Quinn, Wonder Women, Lex Luthor, Green Lantern, Flash and more. Neartherealm Studios even went one step further than the majority of fighting games, managing to create a compelling single-player campaign that has aged like a fine Kryptonian wine. Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom PainHideo Kojima's unexpected final swansong with Metal Gear saw the creator leave in fine fashion. The Phantom Pain's refined stealth implementation makes it a joy to behold, while the freedom given allows players the chance to really think tactically about how to approach a mission. Released globally on September 1, 2015, the game shifted over five million copies before the end of the month, with many arguing it to be Kojima's best work to-date. Plus, it's pretty cool to hear Jack Bauer as the voice of Snake. Batman: Arkham TrilogyOK, we're cheating here a little bit. However, it can't be understated how much of a triumph Rocksteady's Batman trilogy is, with all three titles - Arkham Asylum, Arkham City and Arkham Knight - telling an overarching story, while still solely focusing on their own comic book adventures. Each is incredible and does justice to The Dark Knight himself. But if one must be selected: the original outing - Arkham Asylum - is the perfect choice for superhero fanatics, both introducing novices to the treasure trove of Batman mythology, alongside paying homage to those that have adored the Caped Crusader for decades. Additionally, WB Games Montréal's entry into the Arkham-verse (Batman: Arkham Origins) is equally worth your time and is too available on the service. Overcooked 2One of the newest games to PS Now, Overcooked 2 puts teamwork to the test as players must fulfill an ever-growing list of restaurant orders under increasingly farcical conditions. To add further chaos, random items can fall from the sky and platforms can move of their own accord, all while a countdown looms over Hell's Kitchen. Team17's co-op cooking simulator lets groups of up to four don the chef's hats, either via local or online play. Due to the sheer madness and hilarity that can ensue, it's highly recommended experiencing the mayhem in person. BloodborneThere are numerous types of people that play games, from the thrill-seekers and the RPG advocates to the trophy hunters and the social butterflies. Then you have the glutton for punishment types. Those who love a challenge and revel in being crushed only to rise and overcome anything thrown their way. Enter FromSoftware's critically heralded Bloodborne. Designed flawlessly from the ground up, the gothic world of Yharnam is brimming with dark secrets to discover and intricate combat for those willing to commit. Similar to a Dark Souls game, Bloodborne takes several traits but does more than enough to carve out its own sector. Atmospherically, it's jarring, stunning and unrivalled. Marvel's Spider-Man (available until July 7)Forced to wait over a decade before a return to form, Marvel's Spider-Man exceeded all expectations, somehow bringing the beloved character into the new generation while also being the game we all remember from our childhoods. It's hard to find a better Spidey story outside of the comics than here, with Insomniac Games proving it truly understands the material and its long legacy. Swinging around New York never felt better, making even the most mundane of tasks thoroughly enjoyable. On top of this, you have fluid controls, gorgeous visuals, and a sandbox to explore that is the epitome of fun. Go get 'em Tiger! Check out our full Marvel's Spider-Man review. Red Dead RedemptionThe story of former outlaw John Marston, tasked with hunting down his former associates is a must-play for any fans of the western genre. Set in 1911, the fully realized open world is still a thing of beauty to behold to this day. Rockstar Games may be best known for its Grand Theft Auto franchise but Red Dead Redemption holds up as the peak of the studio's talents. In the lead up to the sequel's 2018 launch, it was highly rumored that a re-release of Red Dead Redemption was in the works. This never came to fruition, meaning that PS Now is surprisingly the only way to experience the western masterpiece on PS4. The Last of UsNaughty Dog's crowning achievement has had every possible accolade thrust upon it at this point – and for good reason. The hopeless story of Joel and Ellie travelling across a post-apocalyptic US features an unforgettable cast, a narrative like no other, and performances from Troy Baker and Ashley Johnson at the top of their game, rounding out an experience that will be discussed about for generations to come. With The Last of Us 2 just around the corner, what better time is there than now to be introduced to two of PlayStation's biggest mascots?
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| Mattress Memorial Day sale: these deals cut up to $500 off Purple, Leesa, Allswell and more Posted: 25 May 2020 06:57 AM PDT Memorial Day mattress sales are on. In fact, we've seen one Memorial Day mattress sale after another in the run-up to today, with huge discounts on offer. But many are due to end at midnight tonight, so if you're looking for a new mattress, you'd better be quick. Of course, there's a lot to choose between. So to help you find the right deal, we've combed all the biggest Memorial Day sales and curated the very best mattress deals here on this page. Happily, there's never been a better time to buy a mattress online. Gone are the days of a quick showroom test: the only way to know whether a mattress is right is to actually sleep on it, which is why most leading mattress brands now let you test their mattresses from the comfort of your own home with a no-risk, 100-night trial. Choose one you like the look of, and it'll be delivered direct to your door. If you don't like it within the trial period, you can send it back, get a refund, and choose another until you get the perfect night's sleep. Easy. All the mattresses in this article offer at least a 100-night trial. So whether you're looking to buy the cheapest mattress possible, or a luxury option for less, read on for the best Memorial Day mattress sales and deals... Memorial Day mattress sales: quick links
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| Microsoft's Memorial Day sale 2020: here are the 7 best deals Posted: 25 May 2020 06:08 AM PDT Memorial Day 2020 has arrived, and Microsoft is celebrating with massive discounts throughout its site. You can find incredible deals on best-selling laptops, gaming consoles, phones, and more. To help you sort through all the offers, we've listed the seven best deals from the Microsoft Memorial Day sale that we think are worthy of your time. Microsoft's standout deals include up to $200 in savings on the versatile Surface Book 2, the powerful XPS 15 laptop on sale for $1,599.99, and a $129 discount on the Surface Go 2 Essentials Bundle. The best Microsoft Memorial Day sale picks:Shop more offers with our roundup of the best Memorial Day sales: deals from Best Buy, Home Depot, Lowe's, and more. This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
| How the first Apple over-ear headphones could beat the Sony WH-1000XM3 Posted: 25 May 2020 06:00 AM PDT The next few months could be huge for headphones, with the world waiting for the first Apple over-ear headphones, the so-called AirPods Studio. We’re hoping to see the Apple AirPods Studio at WWDC 2020 on June 22 – and with over two years worth of rumors flying around, and the success of its true wireless earbuds, the AirPods and AirPods Pro, expectations for the first Apple over-ear headphones are extremely high. Competition is fierce, however, and the Sony WH-1000XM3 – which have topped our list of the best headphones for two years running – will likely be the biggest rival that Apple will have to contend with if it does launch the AirPods Studio this year. And, that’s if we don’t get the long-awaited Sony WH-1000XM4 before then. So, what does Apple need to do if its first over-ear wireless headphones are to stand up to the might of Sony? We’ve taken a look at the main battlegrounds where the two tech giants could go head-to-head. PriceThe cost of the new Apple headphones will be crucial in determining its place in the market – and its popularity among consumers. It’s rumored that they’ll cost $349 (about £280 / AU$530) – the same as the Sony WH-1000XM3. However, if Apple could undercut its biggest competition, the AirPods Studio could prove a very compelling alternative to the best headphones of 2020. The Sony WH-1000XM3 headphones are Apple's biggest competition Audio qualityIf Apple wants to beat (or even contend with) the Sony WH-1000XM3, the AirPods Studio will need to offer outstanding audio quality that’s on par with the best headphones in the world – and that means they’ll have to do better than Apple’s true wireless earbuds, the AirPods and the AirPods Pro. Over-ear headphones tend to sound better than earbuds anyway, but to compete with the Sony WH-1000XM3, the AirPods Studio will need to sport large dynamic drivers that can displace lots of air and create a powerful sound. It’s not just about brawn though; as well as power, we want to see fantastic audio fidelity, with the ability to handle music with accuracy, agility, and clarity. The bass frequencies should be warm and rich, without overpowering the mid and treble sounds. Noise cancellationIf Apple wants its AirPods Studio to compete with the best over-ear headphones on the market, it should take a leaf out of Sony’s book, and offer the same high-standard of noise cancellation provided by the Sony WH-1000XM3. Apple does have some experience in this field, with the noise-cancelling AirPods Pro – and hopefully a pair of over-ear AirPods would enhance this technology even further by providing better passive noise cancellation, thanks to padded earcups. We’d also like to see a return of the Transparency mode that comes with the AirPods Pro, which lets you hear what’s happening around you without removing your earbuds – or in this case, cans. The Apple AirPods Studio could take their style cues from the Beats Studio 3 (pictured). DesignApple has a strong design aesthetic, and while the Sony WH-1000XM3s look great, the AirPods Studio could introduce a new look to appeal to a younger generation – particularly if the company takes cues from Beats headphones, which come in bright colors. Even when we finally see the Sony WH-1000XM4, we’re not expecting a huge design overhaul, based on recent leaks. Apple could do some serious damage with a line of fun, modern-looking headphones that borrow from the company’s past design triumphs. Battery life and connectivityAnother way that the first Apple over-ear headphones could top the Sony WH-1000XM3 is through battery life; Sony’s headphones offer 30 hours of wireless playback. While that’s excellent in it’s own right, we know that noise-cancelling headphones with longer battery life are possible – after all, the Marshall Monitor II ANC can last for 45 hours. Connectivity too, will have to be the best of the best if Apple is to beat Sony. The Apple AirPods are already pretty good at this, thanks to the inclusion of the 2019 H1 headphone chip, which allows for super-fast pairing times to Apple devices as well as hands-free Siri voice activation. We’d expect to see the H1 chip – or even a newer, better chip – in the new Apple AirPods Studio, and we’d also like to see an upgrade in the version of Bluetooth used. The true wireless AirPods Pro already beat the Sony WH-1000XM3 in this regard, using Bluetooth 5 as opposed to the XM3’s Bluetooth 4.2. Looking for headphones right now? Check out the best Apple AirPod and Sony headphone deals we've found below:
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| Here's why you still can't find a webcam anywhere you look Posted: 25 May 2020 05:40 AM PDT The spike in video conferencing calls triggered by coronavirus-led global lockdowns has triggered a demand-spike in home-office gear, with Logitech saying it has completely run out of webcams. Ecommerce tracking company CommerceIQ revealed that 80% of views on webcam product pages across the large online stores showed that the item has been out of stock for more than two weeks now - they went out of stock during the week-ended May 9. “Now, I think people are slowly starting to realize this is a new normal...they realize they need to get prepared for a new operating normal,” says Guru Hariharan, the CEO of CommerceIQ, which says it has noted a discernible shift from just buying food in the early stages of the pandemic to acquiring work-from-home essentials.
Webcam shortageAnd no single product has seen the sort of demand as the webcams have during the past couple of months. People who had moved towards smaller mobile devices did an about-turn to the old and trusted webcams as work-from-home professionals felt an additional camera was far easier to manage than punch-hole cameras on phones or built into laptops. Logitech CEO Bracken Darrell had told analysts last week that it took them several weeks to roll back production to pre-pandemic levels and they were just about at catch-up stage on some categories including webcams. The tracking company also noticed a surge in demand for keyboards, monitors and office chairs as more and more people working from home felt the need of a proper office space that they had not foreseen till some months ago. Manufacturers were then left struggling to cope with the growing demand, with Covid-19 closing factories and inventories depleted in double-quick time. However, things are getting better, with laptop and keyboard supplies improving. Mikako Kitagawa of consulting firm Gartner was quoted in the Washington Post as saying that laptops were catching up after a March shortfall. However, Kitagawa feels things would take longer to normalize. Laptops are made in China as are some components, which once ready still required commercial flights to ship across the world. And those that did get shipped had to be assembled for local markets for which there were not enough people. As for Amazon and Best Buy, they are struggling to clear back orders from four weeks ago while some third-party sites are offering them at double their original prices.
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| We're glad in helping people stay connected during Covid-19: Zoom India Head Posted: 25 May 2020 05:33 AM PDT "There is a difference in technology awarness" between Indian users and users in other countries, says Sameer Raje, Head, Zoom India. But that has not prevented Zoom Videoconferencing from becoming the most downloaded app on Google Play Store (India). Sameer Raje is now the most wanted man in the media, as the usage of Zoom has literally zoomed --- it has grown, overall, from 10 million daily meeting participants in December 2019 to 300 million by April 2020. But Raje is not ready to divulge India-specific numbers. He is in fact not ready to discuss business even though he did say that the company would continue to focus on its traditional base of enterprise business (as opposed to new areas like education that have emerged in the Covid-19 world). Sameer says, right now, he and is company are happy to help people stay connected during the stress-filed pandemic times.
Raje has also had to bring to the fore all his experience and ability to firefight the many issues surrounding Zoom, including the Indian Home Ministry advisory agaisnt its use. But Raje seemed unfazed and he said his company had complied with all the regulatory norms ordered by the government. And he sounded confident on weathering the crisis and continuing to grow, and also match up to the renewed rivalry from Google Meet and others who have also improved their own offerings. Raje doesn't shy away from openly speaking about where his company erred and the mistakes it made on the way when it comes to data storage and its research centres in China. Zoom has also reached out to many schools to educate safety in the virtual world. "We are having online recorded training sessions and sharing these with school authorities and students," Raje says. In this wide-ranging interview, conducted over Zoom's platform itself, Sameer addresses a variety of subjects including the "new normal in the post-Covid world", "competition from Google", "priavcy issues on Zoom", "Zoom's response to the Indian government's advisory", "sharing of its API and its new encrytion standards", "how different is the Indian market and the sensitive subject of data storage centres. Check out the entire interview: This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
| 44Tbps is officially the world's fastest internet speed Posted: 25 May 2020 05:31 AM PDT Researchers from three universities in Australia have successfully recorded the fastest internet speed of 44.2 Terabits per second - speeds capable of downloading 1000 HD movies in a split second. In the context of the sudden vital importance of internet technologies for remote working, this development has enormous potential. The research used a new device called a micro-comb, which replaces 80 lasers and is smaller and lighter than existing telecom hardware. The device was planted into and load-tested using existing infrastructure. This is the first time a micro-comb has been used in a field-trial.
While demonstrations of this level are usually carried out in labs, the team used the existing communications infrastructure, allowing them to efficiently load-test the network. This will fast-track the process of making this technology available around the world. Fastest internet speedsThe team, consisting of Dr Bill Corcoran (leader- Monash), Distinguished Professor Arnan Mitchell (RMIT) and Professor David Moss (Swinburne), installed 76.6km of ‘dark’ optical fibres between RMIT’s Melbourne City Campus and Monash University’s Clayton Campus. The micro-comb, contributed by Swinburne, was placed within these fibres. It acted like a rainbow made up of hundreds of high-quality infrared lasers from a single chip. Each ‘laser’ can be used as a separate communications channel. The researchers were then able to mimic peak internet usage by sending maximum data down each channel. “We’re currently getting a sneak-peak of how the infrastructure for the internet will hold up in two to three years’ time, due to the unprecedented number of people using the internet for remote work, socialising and streaming. It’s really showing us that we need to be able to scale the capacity of our internet connections,” said Dr Corcoran. “And it’s not just Netflix we’re talking about here – it’s the broader scale of what we use our communications networks for. This data can be used for self-driving cars and future transportation and it can help the medicine, education, finance and e-commerce industries, as well as enable us to read with our grandchildren from kilometres away.” Distinguished Professor Mitchell said that the aim for the future is to scale up the current transmitters from hundreds of gigabytes per second to tens of terabytes per second - without increasing size, weight or cost.
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| Future AirPods could feature light sensors for better health monitoring Posted: 25 May 2020 05:26 AM PDT The AirPods rumors are streaming in today, with the latest tip to reach us suggesting that Apple is planning to fit ambient light sensors to future versions of the AirPods – sensors which could make them much more useful as health monitoring devices. A report in DigiTimes (via MacRumors) passes on information from the Apple supply chain that production of these ambient light sensors is being ramped up, quite possibly to get ready for some brand new wireless earbuds. There are a lot of dots to join here, and there isn't necessarily just one way to join them – but that said, it would make a lot of sense for Apple to want to boost the fitness tracking capabilities of the AirPods, much as it did with the Apple Watch.
Indeed, we've heard several rumors along these lines before. Health and fitness is a big focus for Apple, with the aforementioned Apple Watch featuring all kinds of sensors and features to make your life a wholesome and well-balanced one. Light up, light upApple analysts have also previously weighed in with predictions that the Apple AirPods would gradually get extra fitness-related sensors over time. The more data the Apple Health app can get the better, from Apple's perspective. Light can be shone through blood vessels to gauge heart rate and pulse rate, and to measure blood oxygen levels – the amount of light that passes through can be interpreted to determine these and other measurements. As MacRumors points out though, the AirPods might need something of a redesign for this to work. It's possible that the technology will have to wait until a new version of the PowerBeats Pro, with their attached ear clips, reach the market. This is perhaps something to look out for in the 3rd-gen AirPods, tipped to be arriving at some point next year. Don't be surprised if enhanced health and fitness tracking are among the key features included to tempt people to upgrade. This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
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