Apple : GTA 6 news and rumors: when will Grand Theft Auto 6 be announced? |
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| GTA 6 news and rumors: when will Grand Theft Auto 6 be announced? Posted: 03 Jun 2020 02:10 PM PDT Is GTA 6 in development? Although Rockstar Games hasn't officially confirmed that it's working on another instalment in the Grand Theft Auto franchise, there are plenty of reports and rumors suggesting it's on the way. Believe it or not, it's been seven years since GTA 5 launched at the tail end of the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 generation of consoles. That's a long time ago, so we don't think it's impossible that GTA 6 is in the pipeline, especially after the remarkable and ongoing success of GTA 5. With the end of 2020 approaching, bringing with it the launch of the PS5 and Xbox Series X and the start of the next console generation, it feels like the right time to hope that Rockstar might have something to reveal sometime soon, even if any release date is likely to be a while away. Although we still don't have an official confirmation and details are thin on the ground, that hasn't stopped us gathering together the best pieces of gossip, rumor and fact for your perusing pleasure. Here's everything we know so far about GTA 6. Cut to the chase
GTA 6 release date: when is GTA 6 coming out?Red Dead Redemption 2 has now been in the wild for nearly two years now and GTA 5 for nearly seven, which means we're hoping a GTA 6 announcement isn't far away – even though we're likely to be waiting a while to play it. According to some rumors, we could see the next Grand Theft Auto announced in 2020, with a potential release in 2021. However, Rockstar has been focused on getting Red Dead Online up and running - and GTA Online is still raking in the dough - which may have diverted attention, not to mention the delays potentially caused by Dan Houser's departure from Rockstar and the ongoing Covid 19 pandemic. At the more conservative end of the scale, reputable industry analyst Michael Pachter predicts the game's actual release could be as far away as 2022. In an interview with Gaming Bolt, Pachter said that he thinks a 2020 announcement with a 2021 release would be the best case scenario, while a 2021 announcement with a 2022 release or later would be more likely. But the most solid GTA 6 release date hint comes from publisher Take-Two Interactive's marketing budget. Reported by VentureBeat, Take-Two's 10-K SEC filing (which lays out financial plans for the next five years) shows that the company expects to spend $89 million on marketing between April 2023, and the end of March 2024 - that's a huge spike and, as the report points out, more than half the marketing budget expected for any other fiscal year over the next decade. This has led industry analyst Jeff Cohen to predict that this spike is because GTA 6 is expected to release within this period. In a note to investors, included in VentureBeat's report, Cohen pointed out that previous marketing budgets have predicted the releases of other big releases from Take-Two Interactive, including Red Dead Redemption 2. If this prediction is correct then we would expect to see GTA 6 release sometime between April 2023 and March 2024. Originally this spike was expected to take place in the fiscal year 2023, however its been pushed back to 2024. If it is GTA 6 that has caused this spike, this would suggest that a delay has incurred - potentially due to Covid-19. Take-Two Interactive has already revealed it has 93 "full game releases" planned for the next five years. During an earnings call (via GamesRadar), Take-Two president Karl Slatoff said that this line-up is the strongest in the company's history. According to Slatoff, 63 of these games are "core gaming experiences", 17 will be "mid-core or arcade" and 13 are casual games. However, out of these 93 games, 21 will be exclusively mobile titles - with the other 72 landing on PC, consoles and streaming platforms. But, perhaps the most interesting stat from this meeting is that half of this games line-up are from existing IPs. This has suggested that we could see GTA 6 in that five-year window, with the highly-anticipated next GTA falling into that "core gaming experiences" category. So a release date sometime in 2023 would definitely fall into that window. This is all still speculation at the moment and this marketing budget increase could be due to another factor. Until Take-Two Interactive or Rockstar Games confirms GTA 6's official release window, or makes an official GTA 6 announcement, we can only speculate about when GTA 6 is coming. Hopefully we won't have much longer to wait.
GTA 6 trailer: when can I watch one?The thing about Rockstar Games is that it’s an incredibly secretive games publisher. No trailer is getting out of that studio unless someone seriously screws up. Just look at what Rockstar did with both GTA 5 and Red Read Redemption 2. It teased an announcement a few days before dropping the first trailer for either game. If there’s a GTA 6 trailer, you’ll know about it because the internet will explode – and we'll let you know too, of course. But we're not expecting one anytime soon. GTA 6 news and rumors: what do we know so far?Grand Theft Auto (Image credit: Rockstar Games) Below we've collected all of the latest leaks and rumors that hint at when GTA 6 might be launched – and what we can expect from the new game. As always, take these details with a pinch of salt – some are old, some are from now deleted sources and others might just be keen fans getting carried away. GTA 6 release date might have just been discovered - and it's bad news This has led industry analyst Jeff Cohen to predict that this spike is because GTA 6 is expected to release within this period. In a note to investors, included in VentureBeat's report, Cohen pointed out that previous marketing budgets have predicted the releases of other big releases from Take-Two Interactive, including Red Dead Redemption 2. "We are not sure how much we should be reading into this shift, but we would note that this disclosure accurately predicted the launch of Red Dead Redemption 2 prior to that game’s announcement," the note reads. "Management has spoken very confidently about the pipeline over the next five years and existing live services execution has been excellent. However, the timing of the next Grand Theft Auto remains top-of-mind for investors, particularly with the stock near all-time-highs." If this prediction is correct then we would expect to see GTA 6 release sometime between April 2023 and March 2024. Originally this spike was expected to take place in the fiscal year 2023, however its been pushed back to 2024. If it is GTA 6 that has caused this spike, this would suggest that a delay has incurred - potentially due to Covid-19. Take-Two Interactive has 93 games in the works During anearnings call (via GamesRadar), Take-Two president Karl Slatoff said that this line-up is the strongest in the company's history, but what can we expect? Well, according to Slatoff, 63 of these games are "core gaming experiences", 17 will be "mid-core or arcade" and 13 are casual games. However, out of these 93 games, 21 will be exclusively mobile titles - with the other 72 landing on PC, consoles and streaming platforms. But, perhaps the most interesting stat from this meeting is that half of this games line-up are from existing IPs. Suggesting we could be seeing GTA 6 in that five-year window, with the highly-anticipated next GTA falling into that "core gaming experiences" category. "This is a larger pipeline than we've had before, we've been talking about this for quite some time. Our expectation is that we'd like to keep up this velocity," Slatoff said. "It's really important for us to build scale, and this is one way that we're doing it. We need more at-bats." CEO Strauss Zelnick explained that the publisher plans to smooth out its financial results with "a handful or greater of new significant releases every year". And it looks like the company believes it may have some big successes in the pipeline. "With our strong catalog, with our live service offerings, and with our annual releases, we can have great strength, even in a light year, even though it's not our goal to have a light year, and then do even better in the year when we're able to launch a number of titles, which is our strategy, and even better than that if we're fortunate enough to have a blockbuster title. And we have some of those as well," Zelnick said. Story reportedly finished Chris ‘Liberty93’ from Rockstar Mag (a French fan site) claims the story for Grand Theft Auto 6 was wrapped up prior to the departure of Rockstar’s head writer, Dan Houser, and that the next GTA entry will still have the “soul” of a typical Rockstar game. Although a finished story might suggest a release date for GTA 6 is close, Chris did point out that many changes were made to Red Dead Redemption 2’s story during development, despite it being 'completed' way back in 2012. “They still made changes in late 2017, early 2018, and many little details were modified," Chris explained. GTA 5 voice actor calls for fans to stop believing 'leaks' GTA 5 voice actor for the character Michael de Santa, Ned Luke, has been getting questions about the series' next steps for a long time and he's taken to Instagram Stories (via GameSpot) with Franklin Clinton voice actor, Shawn Fonteno, to tell fans to stop believing "clickbait" rumors and leaks, saying "if you hear it from Rockstar, then you know." The video has since disappeared from Instagram but was posted to Twitter: Reports of early development The report goes on to say that this new instalment is planned to be a "moderately sized release" (so, probably still pretty big) which will be "expanded with regular updates over time". The hope is that this approach will lessen stress and crunch. It's worth noting, though, that the report emphasises that the game is still in the very early development stages so plans could quite easily change over time as the development process evolves. PS5 exclusive? The original poster also claimed that "Sony paid 'huge money' in order to secure a 1-month PS5 exclusive". It's possible GTA 6 will have PS5-exclusive launch content like Red Dead Redemption 2 did, but a one month timed exclusive release on PS5 seems a bit short. Rumored "Fall 2021" release date Website artwork The first piece of artwork is an android hugging a champagne bottle with the year 1998 on it (that's Rockstar's founding year) while the second is a red and blue logo with Rockstar's various slogans on it. Like we said, this isn't much at all but any changes Rockstar makes tend to grab the attention of fans hoping for some kind of new game announcement. After all, the announcement of Red Dead Redemption 2 was preceded by a Twitter logo change so it's not like subtlety like this would be off the cards. Or this could simply be Rockstar updating its website with some interesting new evergreen imagery—the fact that the images are generally relevant to Rockstar as a company and that they appear in the background of the site's menu suggests that they're not hugely important. Until any kind of official announcement is made we won't know for sure. Take-Two plays down AAA releases "Given that we're a company that depends on our creative teams to make as close to perfect products as possible," said Zelnick, "we have to be willing to live with the vagaries of product deliveries. And that means, sometimes, we will have thin frontline years." Dan Houser leaves Rockstar Houser, who has variously acted as writer, producer and voice actor at Rockstar, led Rockstar Games to become one of the biggest developers in the industry. It's currently unknown whether this will have an impact on GTA 6's development. CJ voice actor dismisses rumors This doesn't rule out the return of CJ as a character entirely (Rockstar could always cast someone else in the role) but it does confirm that Bellard isn't involved and doesn't intend to be if asked. Rockstar hasn't commented on rumors and we won't know anything certain about any cast for GTA 6 until it speaks out. Steven Ogg at Brazil Game Show Ogg's reasoning, rather than any kind of inside knowledge as far as we can tell, is that Rockstar games "take 7-8 years to make, do the math." Doing the math from GTA 5's 2013 release date would mean that GTA 6 could release in 2020 or 2021, right in time for the next generation of consoles. That seems very soon for a game we've seen very little about but, hey, it's not impossible. We'll be watching this space. Scouting areas in Florida The letter was to a Florida store asking permission for Rockstar Games to inspect the premises, presumably for use or inspiration in the forthcoming game – mentioning a location scout Leah Sokolowsky who hinted at a large digital media client in a podcast back in May 2019 (via Daily Star). Grand Theft Auto (Image credit: Rockstar Games) Project Americas Regardless, it's still fun to get our imaginations going for what the future of the Grand Theft Auto franchise may hold. According to the Reddit poster behind the leak, the game, known as Project Americas, has been in production since 2015 though it was placed on ice while Red Dead Redemption 2 was the focus. GTA 6 could be expansive, set across multiple decades (1970s to 1980s) and locations (one of which is Vice City, another Liberty City and another is a fictional city based on Rio de Janeiro). The game will apparently deal with one playable protagonist named Ricardo and play through their story as a rising drug lord with heavy inspiration from Netflix's Narcos series. The story will be told through chapters, with a heavy emphasis on the visuals of changes in time as the story progresses. While there's no estimated release date given, the post says that the plan is to release the game for the next generation only. While it's unlikely that the whole report is true (even the poster says that the game's pre-alpha status means things are likely to change) that's not to say some elements are impossible. Certainly a next-gen only release seems entirely plausible. Before you get too excited,though, the post has already been debunked by Kotaku's Jason Schreier. Another rumor leak? According to the post, GTA 6 will allow players to travel between several big cities, including Liberty City and Vice City. The poster also claims you start off as a small-time drug runner before joining an infamous gang and kicking it with the big dogs. In addition, the post claims Rockstar is waiting to see how the new-generation consoles sell as GTA 6 wouldn't be able to be released on the PlayStation 4 or Xbox One due to memory restrictions. The anonymous poster also claimed GTA 6 will feature both major cities along with a vast stretch of highways and Blaine County-like countryside in the middle of it all. Finally, the post claims that, despite the game being set in a timed era, there will be flashbacks between missions and Red Dead Redemption 2-type stranger dialogues that implement the greet/antagonise format. While location rumors seem to be leaking in abundance, the anonymous Pastebin post has been backed up by review on Glassdoor by a Rockstar Games QA tester, which has since been removed (via Dexerto). Alongside reading out Rockstar for its institutionalized crunch, the post leaves a cryptic message that sees the first letter of each sentence spelling out 'GTA6LSVCLC'. This may be pointing to the potential locations of Grand Theft Auto 6: Los Santos, Vice City, and Liberty City. Wonder what these locations would look like together as an actual map? Graphic designer RealityDesign posted a concept image on GTA Forums, showing what this map could potentially look like. Check it out below: Image credit: RealityDesign Job listings The Know report on Vice City The reason for this code name is apparently because players will be able to fly between the US and South America in the game, though the majority of the action will take place in the former. This in combination with the source's assertion that the game will largely be set in Vice City (the Rockstar version of Miami) suggests there could be a focus on drug running which would draw on the popularity of shows and movies like Narcos and Tom Cruise's Made in America. Particularly if Rockstar holds on to that 80s setting. With no comment from Rockstar, these rumors remain nothing more than, well, rumors. But they do pose an interesting proposition that would seize upon the particular fondness many fans of the series have for Vice City. Grand Theft Auto (Image credit: Rockstar Games) GTA 6 is definitely coming and there are ideas “We don’t know what GTA 6 will be, but we’ve got some ideas,” said Benzies in the interview. Okay, so it’s not much, but it’s certainly a snippet of solid information direct from the source. Benzies went on to talk about what kind of ideas get the creative juices flowing over at Rockstar. “We’ve got about 45 years’ worth of ideas we want to do,” he added. “We’ll pick the right ones," Benzies said. “It comes from the idea first. Where it is going to be set is the first question. That then defines the missions; you’re doing different things in LA than in New York or Miami. The map and story get worked up together, and the story is a basic flow of how it works out so you can layer the mission in.” We’re just pleased that Rockstar has so many ideas for what it wants to do with GTA 6. We just hope it sorts them into some kind of organised system and gets that game to us sharpish. GTA 6 map: where will GTA 6 be set?Grand Theft Auto (Image credit: Rockstar Games) Although there haven’t been any concrete reports as yet, every online titbit and juicy gossip morsel is pointing towards GTA 6’s map being absolutely massive. We’re even not talking city-size massive, we’re talking potentially the entire of the United States massive. Some rumors are suggesting that GTA 6 may end up spanning the entirety of the US, with some kind of teleportation system that cuts down the journey time between cities. There are even some incredibly exciting rumours that Rockstar Games might have a ‘70s theme up its sleeve, so crack out those old bell-bottoms and disco balls. But there’s also another rumor that’s gathering strength, which would put GTA 6 a little closer to Rockstar Games’ British home – a London setting. The reports actually started with a comment from Rockstar Games’ co-founder Dan Houser: “At the moment, it feels like GTA’s DNA is contemporary-ish, American-ish, English-speaking-ish, because that’s what it has been… But that doesn’t necessarily limit it to those, that’s just what we’ve done so far.” Rockstar Games sources suggest that London is the only non-US location to be whispered as a potential GTA setting. For our money, we think a return to Vice City is on the cards, which would tie in to the rumors mentioned above. A recent report from The Know suggests that a return to Vice City in the 80s is actually in the works and that players will explore the rise in drugs at the time through the missions. In this rumored game, players will move between Vice City and South America, which would create a very interesting and entirely new kind of map. The GTA 3 trilogy was set across three locations, Liberty City, Vice City, and San Andreas. This mirrored the original Grand Theft Auto Game, which was also set across the same three locations. The most recent Grand Theft Auto games, GTA 4 and GTA 5, have so far been set in Liberty City and San Andreas respectively, meaning that Vice City is the only location yet to be explored by the recent games. The only question now is whether Rockstar will be tempted to complete the set.
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| XPS 13 price cut: the powerful Dell laptop is on sale for $879.99 Posted: 03 Jun 2020 02:10 PM PDT Upgrade your machine and save money with the all-new Dell XPS 13 that's on sale for $879.99. That's a $20 discount and a fantastic price for a powerful laptop. Today's best XPS 13 laptop deal:See more laptop sales with the best cheap laptop deals: prices start at just $129 today. This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Data breach victims aren't changing their passwords Posted: 03 Jun 2020 01:23 PM PDT A new study by academics from Carnegie Mellon University's Security and Privacy Institute (CyLab) has revealed that only a third of users actually change their passwords after a data breach announcement. The study, titled “(How) Do People Change Their Passwords After a Breach?”, is not based on responses from survey participants but on their actual browser traffic. To compile their study, the academics analyzed real-world web traffic collected by the university's opt-in research group Security Behavior Observatory (SBO) which collected the full browser history of those who signed up for the purpose of academic research. The research team then used information collected from the home computers of 249 participants between January 2017 and December 2018. This dataset not only included web traffic but also the passwords used to log into websites and those stored in participant's browsers.
By analyzing this data, the academics found that only 63 of the 249 users had accounts on breached domains that had publicly announced a data breach during that time. According to CyLab, only 21 (33%) of these 63 users visited the breached sites in order to change their passwords. To make matters worse, of these 21 users, only 15 changed their passwords within three months after the data breach announcement. Password securityAs the SBO also captured the user's password data, the CyLab team was able to analyze the complexity of the users' new passwords. The research team revealed that of those who changed their passwords, only a third changed them to a stronger password. The rest of the users created passwords of weaker or similar strength and many reused character sequences from their previous password or used passwords that were similar to their other online accounts. While the study shows that users are still not receiving proper education when it comes to password security, the researchers argue that the hacked services are also to blame as they rarely tell users to reset their similar or identical passwords on their other accounts. If you're worried about your own password security, you can visit Have I Been Pwned to see if any of your online accounts have been involved in a data breach. If this is the case, you should change all of these passwords immediately and make sure that your new passwords are both strong and complex.
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| Breath of the Wild 2 release date, news and trailers for the next Zelda game Posted: 03 Jun 2020 01:19 PM PDT The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild 2 is in development for Nintendo Switch and that means that, hopefully soon, we'll be running, climbing and gliding through Hyrule on another thrilling adventure. Nintendo first confirmed that the sequel to The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild is in development at the end of its E3 2019 presentation, treating fans to a trailer that gives a tantalising glimpse of what's to come. Given Breath of the Wild is still considered one of the best Switch games available and one of the best open-world experiences generally three years after its release, it's not surprise that Nintendo is working on a sequel. Of course, after such a wild success, Breath of the Wild 2 is now one of the most anticipated games for the Nintendo Switch and expectations are high. Following its E3 2019 announcement, Nintendo has been rather tight-lipped with regards to Breath of the Wild 2 and very little is known about it—we don't even have a confirmed release date yet. Now that E3 2020 has been cancelled it's hard to predict when the next piece of official news will land. While Nintendo hasn't given us a whole bunch to go on, however, there are plenty of clues to be found in that announcement trailer and there's no shortage of rumors around so we've gathered up everything we know and suspect so far about The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild 2 below for your perusal. Cut to the chase
Breath of the Wild 2 release dateNintendo hasn't shared much information on Breath of the Wild 2 other than an announcement trailer and a few sparse comments—which we'll run through below. One thing to hold on to is that the trailer closed off with a line stating the game is "in development". That doesn't guarantee the game is coming anytime soon but it is coming. Last year, leaker Sabi (via wccftech) suggested that Breath of the Wild 2 is due for release in 2020, but warned that, "Zelda release dates are historically delayed, internally or publicly". And it seems they were right, as the leaker has since claimed that Breath of the Wild 2 has been delayed, likely into 2021. While it's always worth taking rumors with a big pinch of salt, Sabi is a pretty reliable leaker. The Twitter user leaked most of the big announcements from E3 2019 before they happened – reportedly even earning a cease and desist order from Nintendo. Breath of the Wild 2 trailersWe got our first glimpse of BOTW 2 at E3 2019, with this spooky trailer that shows Zelda and Link exploring an underground chamber – with some mysterious runes, glowing hands, and a brand-new haircut that has set the internet on fire. Suffice it to say we're excited. The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild 2 trailer is just 82 seconds long and there's no dialogue whatsoever but there are some clues to be gathered from it. It features a torch-carrying Link and Zelda traversing a dark dungeon beneath Hyrule (no big surprise there). Spirit-like tendrils creep around the musty tomb they're exploring, with the pair riding a large elephant-like beast. Something shocks the pair, and then we cut to what appears to be the resurrection of some long-dead (and creepy looking) warrior. Could this be the return of Ganondorf? The video then cuts to a long shot of Hyrule Field, with Hyrule Castle in the distance. There's a tremor, the castle is smothered with dust... and that's the end. The clip finishes with a message that reads: "The sequel to Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild is in development." We wouldn't usually expect so much animation to be done so early in development, but it probably helps that Nintendo already has the in-game engine from Breath of the Wild. Breath of the Wild 2 news and rumorsCould Zelda have a bigger role this time around? (Image Credit: Nintendo) E3 uncertainty and a Mario-dominated 2020 With E3 2020 officially cancelled (physically and digitally) it's currently unclear what Nintendo is planning to do with regards to its traditional June Direct in which it lays out its plans for the latter half of the year and beyond. Uncertainty has been increased by a report from GamesBeat (corroborated by VGC) suggesting that the ongoing pandemic and switch to a work-from-home model has caused complications for Nintendo, which may have to push its Direct from June to the end of the summer. Though Nintendo has not commented on this recent report, following the cancellation of E3 Nintendo said it will “continue to be flexible and redirect our efforts to other ways of keeping our fans up to date about our activities and products" but no specifics have been confirmed. Though it was by no means certain that there would be any kind of Breath of the Wild 2 news during Nintendo's E3 Direct, fans were no doubt hoping for at least an indication of how the game is progressing given June will mark a full year since the game's announcement with little news in between. Interestingly, a further recent report from Eurogamer and Video Games Chronicle has said that for the rest of 2020, the Nintendo Switch's first-party lineup is going to be very Mario-heavy in celebration of the franchise's 35th anniversary. Though this report hasn't been confirmed by Nintendo, if it's true then 2020 being heavily dominated by Mario doesn't bode well for any kind of Breath of the Wild 2 release. It's worth pointing out, though, that February 2021 is The Legend of Zelda's 35th anniversary so if Nintendo does go big for Mario there's a precedent for it doing the same for Zelda next year in some form or another. It would certainly be the perfect year to focus on Breath of the Wild 2. Of course, this is just conjecture and we won't know anything for sure until Nintendo makes some official announcements about the game. Rumors spreading It's been a long time since anything solid on Breath of the Wild 2 has been announced and, as ever, in the absence of solid news rumors tend to creep in. The latest rumor has come from Tyler McVicker. Known primarily for his YouTube channel dedicated to Valve rumors, McVicker has recently announced he's setting up a Nintendo news channel and on a recent stream (around the 11 minute mark) teased some unconfirmed information (via NintendoLife) on the Zelda sequel. According to McVicker, Breath of the Wild 2 will take players back to the same Hyrule layout but introduce new things like "miasma"-like corruption and dungeons to add depth and detail to the map, taking inspiration from Red Dead Redemption 2 and another unnamed game. Anything said about Breath of the Wild 2 that hasn't come from Nintendo itself should naturally be taken with a huge pinch of salt. A 2020 release date? It may be delayed And it seems they were right, as the leaker has since claimed that Breath of the Wild 2 has been delayed, likely into 2021. Monolith recruitment Hiring extra hands for the development of such a highly-anticipated game can't be a bad thing and suggests that the teams are working hard on getting the game ready for whatever the as-yet-unrevealed release date is. Behind the scenes We haven't seen much from the game since this trailer but some are hoping that we'll get an update sometime soon. More hiring calls One hint comes from a Nintendo Japan tweet regarding some job listings for a “scenario planner” and a “level designer” for the game. The fact that such core roles are still being filled suggests that the game is still in the fairly early stages of development and isn’t likely to be a 2020 release. We can’t know for certain, of course, until Nintendo confirms an exact release date but we’re inclined to say later rather than sooner. All the DLC that never was "Initially we were thinking of just DLC ideas," says Anouma. "But then we had a lot of ideas and we said, 'This is too many ideas, let’s just make one new game and start from scratch.'" A darker turn for the series We've heard from Zelda series producer Eiji Aonuma that the game is going to have a darker tone than Breath of the Wild, and will even be "a little bit darker" than Majora's Mask (via IGN). The trailer certainly supports this, with what looks like Ganondorf's corpse being resurrected by a disembodied hand, and seemingly imagery from 2006's Twilight Princess, which saw Hyrule turned into a bleak shadow realm – largely in response to the far cheerier and cartoonish The Legend of Zelda: Wind Waker. A Gerudo corpse, possibly Ganon, is grabbed by a mysterious force (Image Credit: Nintendo) The Twilight realm We know that BOTW's dev team originally toyed with the idea of an alien invasion, and seeing shadow creatures teleport out of the sky could well have been what they have planned this time around. A clue in the audio u/ReroFunk also suggests we could see the demon king Demise return for the next Zelda game. Demise was the final boss in Skyward Sword, and revealed to be the original form of Ganondorf. The below still from the Zelda trailer also looks a lot like Demise when you think about it. Ganon, Demise, or something else entirely? (Image Credit: Nintendo) Lots of dungeons (and an extended map) Zelda's turn in the spotlight? Zelda's devs have seemed pretty dismissive of the idea of a female Link in the past – sadly – but we may in this game see sections playing as Zelda, or at least with her playing a more active role in the story.
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| Amazon deal alert: the Ring Doorbell Pro hits lowest price ever Posted: 03 Jun 2020 01:05 PM PDT Just in time for Father's Day, Amazon has the best-selling Ring Doorbell Pro down to its lowest price ever. You can get the certified refurbished video doorbell on sale for $119. That's a $70 discount and the lowest price we've found for the Ring Pro. Ring doorbell deal:Shop more gadgets with our roundup of Father's Day gift ideas 2020: the 10 best gifts for tech-savvy dads. You can also check out our best Ring Doorbell deals page that we always keep updated with the latest prices and sales. This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Samsung Galaxy Note 20 shows up in a leak, despite doubters Posted: 03 Jun 2020 12:26 PM PDT While we were expecting just two Samsung Galaxy Note 20 phones to launch this year, we could be getting a high-specced Samsung Galaxy Note 20 Ultra anyway, as new documents suggest. Earlier in 2020, the three models in the Samsung Galaxy S20 line included the high-specced and high-priced S20 Ultra, so we expected one to come alongside the Note 20 line. But recently, a tipster alleged that Samsung’s stylus-packing flagships would only come in two models this year: the standard and larger Note 20 Plus. And yet, a new Bluetooth SIG certification appeared that mentioned the Note 20 Ultra by name, as first noticed by MySmartPrice. That certification also mentions a model number, SM-N986U, which might sound familiar, as PhoneArena points out: a Geekbench listing with that number appeared in April, which was assumed to be referring to the Samsung Galaxy Note 20 Plus 5G (especially since that lined up with the Samsung Galaxy Note 10 Plus 5G’s number, SM-N976U). But now that we’ve seen a different model number associated with the Galaxy Note 20 Plus (SM-9860), and assuming Samsung’s next stylus phones are all 5G-capable like the Galaxy S20 line, we could theorize that the ‘Plus 5G’ version is, in fact, a higher-powered Ultra model. This does require us to connect some dots, so we’ll wait and see whether more evidence emerges that points to a Note 20 Ultra.
Note 20 Ultra: a game of rumorsIf you need more reason to question the existence of another Ultra phone, just look at the last one. While we were technically impressed with the Galaxy S20 Ultra, its few advantages over the standard S20 and S20 Plus phones didn’t justify its exorbitant price hike. So we haven’t been too surprised hearing rumors like the latest that claims the Note 20 Plus will pack cameras which max out at 50x digital zoom – which is impressive, but they wouldn’t quite reach the absurd level of the S20 Ultra’s, which could reach 100x digital zoom. Of course, the rumor noted that only the Note 20 Plus would get the expansive zoom, while not specifying whether the standard Note 20 would also have it. There’s still a lot to hear about which of the lineup’s handsets get what features, so stay tuned for more leaks and rumors as we inch toward the Note 20’s expected release date later this year.
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| This cybercriminal group has created an underground auction site for stolen data Posted: 03 Jun 2020 12:16 PM PDT In an effort to further profit from their illegal activities, the operators of the REvil ransomware have launched a new auction site which will be used to sell stolen data from victims to the highest bidder. REvil, which is also known as Sodinokibi, is a massive ransomware operation known for breaching corporate networks though exposed remote desktop services, spam, exploits and hacked Managed Service Providers (MSPs). After gaining access to a victim's network, the ransomware gang spreads laterally though the company while stealing any unencrypted data available on workstations and exposed servers. Once they gain administrative access to a domain controller, REvil deploys its ransomware to encrypt all of the computers on a network.
The operators of the REvil ransomware created a data leak site called the “Happy Blog' earlier this year which the group uses to publish a victim's data if a ransom is not paid. The site is used to post samples of stolen data in order to persuade victims to pay the group's ransom. However, if the ransom is not paid, the stolen data is made available for free via a link so that other cybercriminals can use it for their own operations. Underground auction siteLast month, REvil began leaking the data of celebrity law firm GSMLaw after a ransom was not paid. The ransomware group claimed that it had incriminating data about US President Donald Trump which it was auctioning off to the highest bidder at a starting price of $1m. The group later claimed that it had sold its data on the US President and that it would auction off data about Madonna in the future. In order to continue generating revenue from its operations, the operators of REvil have added a section dedicated to conducting online auctions to their Happy Blog site. The group is currently auctioning off the stolen data of a US food distributor at a starting price of $100,000 but this data can be purchased outright at a “Blitz price” of $200,000. At the same time, the data of a Canadian agricultural company is also being auctioned off at a starting price of $50,000 with the option to purchase it right away for $100,000. To bid on an auction, bidders must agree to make a deposit of 10 percent of the starting price and if they win, they'll have to pay the full amount in the Monero cryptocurrency. In its announcement, the REvil group also hinted that other auctions of stolen data are coming soon.
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| NASA contractor reportedly hit by ransomware Posted: 03 Jun 2020 11:13 AM PDT After congratulating SpaceX and NASA on their successful launch, the operators of the DopplePaymer ransomware announced that they had infected the network of one of NASA's IT contractors The DopplePaymer ransomware gang revealed in a blog post that they had successfully breached the network of Maryland-based Digital Management Inc. (DMI). The company provides managed IT and cybersecurity services to several Fortune 100 companies and a number of government agencies, including NASA. At this time though, it is still unclear how far into DMI's network the DopplePaymer gang was able to get or how many customer networks were breached. The company has also yet to release a statement on the breach on its website or in a press release.
However, based on the evidence so far, it is clear that the cybercriminals did manage to acquire NASA-related files from DMI. DMI breachIn an effort to support its claims, the DopplePaymer gang has posted 20 archive files on a dark web portal it operates. Everything from NASA HR documents to project plans are included in the archives and the employee details found in them also match up to public LinkedIn records. Additionally, the ransomware operators posted a list of 2,583 servers and workstations they claim are part of DMI's internal network. These servers and workstations have now been encrypted and are currently being held for ransom. The reason the DopplePaymer gang released the archives and list of servers and workstations is to intimidate DMI into paying its ransom. If the company refuses to do so, the cybercriminals will likely leak the rest of the files it has as revenge.
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| iPad sale: the latest model Apple iPad gets a $50 price cut at Amazon Posted: 03 Jun 2020 10:38 AM PDT Amazon is currently offering a fantastic deal on Apple's latest model iPad. For a limited time, you can get the 10.2-inch iPad on sale for $279. That's a $50 discount and the lowest price we've found for the 32GB tablet. iPad deal at Amazon:Interested in other iPad models? We've listed even more of the cheapest iPad deals and refurbished iPad sales. This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now | ||||||||||||||||||||
| The Mandalorian season 2: release date, cast, Boba Fett, Ahsoka Tano and what we know Posted: 03 Jun 2020 10:03 AM PDT The Mandalorian season 2 has an official release date of October 2020 on the Disney Plus streaming service, which isn't long to wait for the return of the Star Wars TV show. Baby Yoda will be back on our screens in no time, and the show won't be delayed by the current health crisis. What do we know about The Mandalorian season 2? A lot. From Star Wars characters appearing this year to the Darksaber teased in the Chapter 8 finale, we've learned plenty about the next set of episodes. If you're a diehard Star Wars fan, you're in for a treat in The Mandalorian season 2. Below, we'll explain everything we know about The Mandalorian season 2, including the rumored appearances of Ahsoka Tano from The Clone Wars animated series and a certain iconic bounty hunter, played by a key actor from Star Wars' past. We'll also explain the significance of the Darksaber in The Mandalorian season 2, and what else we expect from Din Djarin (Pedro Pascal) and company this year.
The Mandalorian season 2 release date: October 2020The Mandalorian season 2 release date is October 2020. Disney announced this back in February 2020, and even with everything else that's happened since then, Disney's Bob Chapek confirmed it'll still hit that date on Disney Plus. The Mandalorian season 2 finished filming before the health crisis, and now post-production work is underway remotely. The Mandalorian season 2 cast: Boba Fett, Bo-Katan and Ahsoka Tano reportedly join the seriesPotential spoilers for The Mandalorian season 2 follow. Since the show debuted, rumors about characters popping up in The Mandalorian season 2 have gone haywire. Below, we've only included the ones from sources with a good track record of Star Wars reports. According to THR, Boba Fett will appear in The Mandalorian season 2, this time played by Temuera Morrison, who previously played Jango Fett in Episode 2: Attack of the Clones. It will be a guest-starring role, apparently, but this presumably means Boba Fett has escaped his fate in the Sarlacc Pit. He's not the only Star Wars character from the past making an appearance this year. Timothy Olyphant, famous for his roles in Deadwood and Justified, will also appear in season 2 based on a THR report. According to a report by Slashfilm, Olyphant will wear Boba Fett's armor in the second season, but he'll actually be playing a Star Wars character called Cobb Vanth. Created for Chuck Wendig's Aftermath Star Wars novels, the character is apparently a sheriff-type of a small Tattooine location called Freetown. The books suggested he was wearing Fett's armor, and surely this sets him up for an encounter with the bounty hunter himself. Rosario Dawson will reportedly play The Clone Wars favorite Ahsoka Tano in The Mandalorian season 2. This would mark the character's first appearance in live-action. Variety, too, confirmed the report, saying it's a guest-starring role. Speaking to Variety, Dawson explains how excited she would be for such a role. "That's not confirmed yet," she said, "but when that happens I will be very happy." Aliens and Terminator's Michael Biehn is reportedly part of The Mandalorian season 2 cast, too, possibly playing a bounty hunter (via The Hollywood Reporter). In May 2020, Slashfilm reported Katee Sackhoff will be reprising her role as the Mandalorian warrior Bo-Katan Kryze from Star Wars: Rebels, only this time in live-action.
The Mandalorian season 2 story: the search for Baby Yoda's homeworld?Everything about the finale of season 1 suggests that The Mandalorian season 2 will focus on the search for “the Child” – aka Baby Yoda’s – home. This would certainly contradict George Lucas' famous rule about not revealing the origin of Yoda's species... During the season 1 finale, the Mandalorian Armorer on Nevarro tells the Mandalorian that because Baby Yoda is a foundling (and therefore probably not, as previously speculated, a clone), “By creed it it is in your care.” She then adds that, “You have no choice, you must reunite it with its own kind.” Unfortunately for Mando, however, the Armorer didn’t have any information on where he might find them: “This you must determine,” she teases. But as ever in Star Wars, there’s a degree of ambiguity here – and the identity of who the Mandalorian is actually looking for may come down to your own point of view. Perhaps Mando is, as it seems at first glance, looking for the homeworld of Yoda’s species. Or maybe he’s simply looking for Jedi who survived the Emperor’s Order 66 purge in Revenge of the Sith, some three decades earlier. Why the confusion? In the Outer Rim worlds that provide the setting for The Mandalorian, the Force exploits of the Jedi are just myth – indeed, the Mandalorian simply says of Baby Yoda’s Force abilities that “it can move objects with its mind”. “I know of such things,” the Armorer reveals. “The songs of aeons past tell of battles between Mandalore the Great and an order of sorcerers called Jedi that fought with such powers.” Crucially, when Mando asks if Baby Yoda is an enemy, the Armorer states: “Its kind were enemies but this individual is not.” So seeing as Mandalore’s battles were with the Jedi, rather than specifically with Yoda’s species, this implies that Mando’s new bounty may actually be the Jedi. Either way, actor Pedro Pascal suggested he knows what Baby Yoda is in conversation with us. Expect more of Moff Gideon (Giancarlo Esposito) in season 2 of The Mandalorian, probably looking for revenge after the battle at the end of season 1. "Major, major, epic, epic lightsaber action happening on this show," the actor said at Fan Expo Canada (via Comic Book). Could this mean a lightsaber duel makes it into The Mandalorian season 2? The Mandalorian season 2: spin-offs may be in the works, and season 3 is reportedly confirmedIn an earnings call, Disney's Bob Iger hinted at more characters being introduced in The Mandalorian season 2, with possible spin-offs being set up. He teased it as, "more coming from The Mandalorian thereafter, including the possibility of infusing it with more characters and the possibility of taking those characters in their own direction in terms of series". The exact phrasing suggests spin-offs will focus on newer characters, rather than existing ones. We're sure a lot of fans would argue Gina Carano's Cara Dune would be a good fit... The Mandalorian season 3, too, appears to be in the works already. Variety confirmed that Jon Favreau is deep into writing season 3, with Lucasfilm's art department beginning work on the next set of episodes already. The Mandalorian season 2: the Darksaber explainedWhen Moff Gideon cuts himself out of his stricken TIE Fighter at the end of The Mandalorian season 1 finale, he uses a blade that sounds much like a lightsaber, but looks rather different to the weapons we’re used to seeing in the hands of Jedi and Sith. More sword-like in shape, with a black blade surrounded by a bright glow, it should, however, be familiar to viewers of Star Wars: The Clone Wars and Star Wars Rebels. Because unless we’re very much mistaken, this looks like the legendary Darksaber. This unique weapon is a key part of Star Wars – and particularly Mandalorian – lore. Originally created by Tarre Vizsla, the first Mandalorian warrior to join the Jedi order, it became a symbol of power on the planet of Mandalore. At the conclusion of Star Wars Rebels (set two years before the events of Star Wars: A New Hope) it ended up in the hands of Bo-Katan Kryze, who was deemed the rightful heir to the Mandalorian leadership. But how did such an important weapon end up in Moff Gideon’s hands? We do know that at some point between the end of Rebels and Return of the Jedi, the Empire carried out the so-called “Great Purge”, all but wiping out the Mandalorians. We also know that Gideon was an officer in the Imperial Security Bureau (ISB) during the Purge, so could have obtained the Darksaber from Bo-Katan at that time. With Sackhoff reportedly playing Bo-Katan in The Mandalorian, it makes sense that she's survived, and could be looking for revenge. Alternatively, the Darksaber could have been in the possession of the Mandalorian “Tribe” living underground on Nevarro throughout The Mandalorian season 1 –Gideon may simply have obtained it when his Imperial remnant wiped out most of the Mandalorians in hiding. This seems less likely, however – surely the surviving Armorer would have protected such an important weapon with her life. The Mandalorian season 2 directors: Jon Favreau, Peyton Reed and Robert Rodriguez confirmedDespite being the creator and main writer of The Mandalorian season one, Iron Man director Jon Favreau didn't direct a single episode – it didn't hurt the show at all, but The Mandalorian season 2 will benefit from his input. "I didn’t get a chance the last time around because I was doing Lion King," Favreau mentioned to EW. "So I'll step in for one of them." Other directors confirmed for season 2 are Peyton Reed (Ant-Man) and Robert Rodriguez (Sin City). Dave Filoni and Rick Famuyiwa also return to direct from season 1, along with actor Carl Weathers. George Lucas has been on the show's set, too, resulting in this amazing photo: The Mandalorian season 2: Original Trilogy characters rumored to appearAccording to Deadline, “Insiders have hinted that several established characters from the Skywalker saga’s feature films mythology will make appearances during the show’s sophomore season.” Jon Favreau’s release date tweet above showed a picture of a Gamorrean, one of the so-called Pig Guards from Jabba’s Palace in Return of the Jedi, but we suspect that – if this insider's rumors are accurate – they’re referring to someone who’s a significantly bigger deal in the saga than that. Boba Fett is likely who that Deadline report is referring to, but the wording suggests multiple characters are possible. Luke Skywalker is unlikely to crop up away from the saga that bears his name, but there are plenty of big names in the Star Wars universe who’ll be operating around the time of The Mandalorian. It's set five years after the destruction of the second Death Star in Return of the Jedi, after all. Original trilogy survivors Han Solo, Princess Leia, Chewbacca, Lando Calrissian, C-3PO, R2-D2, and even Rebel legends Wedge Antilles, Admiral Ackbar and Nien Nunb could feasibly cross paths with the Mandalorian and Baby Yoda. But we’d be much more interested to see General Hux’s dad, Brendol – a former Imperial officer who was instrumental in the formation of the First Order – or even (SPOILER ALERT) Rey’s parents. Now that we know they lived in hiding – pretending to be “nobody” before giving Rey away – any new glimpses at their backstory could enhance what we learned in The Rise of Skywalker. Perhaps most likely, however, is the reappearance of various bounty hunters hired by Darth Vader to capture the Millennium Falcon in The Empire Strikes Back. IG-88, Zuckuss, Dengar, Bossk and 4-LOM are still theoretically looking for work in the time of The Mandalorian season 2, and definitely operate in the same hives of scum and villainy as our friendly neighborhood Mando. How could Boba Fett return? The bounty hunter did manage to escape 1000 years of digestion in the old Expanded Universe “Legends” stories, a plot that could be ported over into official canon. And there’s also been plenty of speculation online that the mysterious figure on Tatooine who finds the body of the deceased Fennec Shand in Chapter 5, “The Gunslinger”, may be Fett himself – the jangling spurs might just be a clue... And even if the owner of the spurs wasn't Fett, one particularly interesting theory suggested on Inverse suggests it could be a member of the family – Ailyn Vel, his daughter in the Legends stories. Could this be the identity of this mysterious Funko Pop! Vinyl figure? Will we see more than one member of Fett's family in season 2? The Mandalorian is the best Star Wars has been in yearsThe Mandalorian season 2 can't come soon enough. If the next set of episodes weaves together the simple storytelling style of the show with big guest stars from Star Wars' past, this is going to be a real TV event. Not long to wait now...
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| New AMD graphics cards will arrive before the PS5 and Xbox Series X Posted: 03 Jun 2020 09:52 AM PDT We've known for a while that AMD RDNA 2 would be powering both the next generation consoles and new graphics cards, but now it seems certain that Big Navi GPUs will arrive before the PS5 and Xbox Series X. This news comes out of the Bank of America Securities Global Technology Conference, where AMD CFO Devinder Kumar confirmed that the much-sought after Big Navi will be the first RDNA 2 based product. And, because we know that both next-generation consoles will be using AMD's next-generation GPU architecture and that these consoles will be coming out around November 2020, we'll likely be seeing a top-end GPU from AMD in the very near future.
Right now, all the rumors are pointing to the high-end graphics card hitting the market in October, and we've even seen signs of the GPU popping up in Linux drivers of all things. The GPU can't come soon enough either: the Nvidia GeForce RTX 2080 Ti, the graphics card that the Big Navi flagship will likely tackle head-on, has been around since October 2018. In the conference, Kumar even reinforced the target release window, and reassured both investors and computing enthusiasts that AMD is "on track to launch our next-generation Zen 3 CPUs and RDNA 2 GPUs in late 2020". If we had to guess, AMD will announce both its next-generation Ryzen 4000 desktop processors and RDNA 2 graphics cards in August or September, with actual retail availability following within a couple of months. So, if you've been waiting for these graphics cards so you can get in on the ray tracing action without going with an Nvidia Turing graphics card, it looks like you'll be able to get your hands on a beefy AMD graphics card in just a few months. Here's to hoping that these products hit the streets sooner rather than later. Via PC Gamer
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| CES 2021 will happen in-person, so expect plenty of new tech in January Posted: 03 Jun 2020 09:51 AM PDT The organization behind CES says that it’s going ahead with plans for an in-person event in Las Vegas in January 2021 – with a few modifications, of course. CES, if you haven’t heard of it, is the event where companies like Samsung, LG, Sony, Lenovo, Acer and more come together to announce the latest batch of TVs, laptops, phones and speakers, as well as talk about the trends that they think will shape the future of technology. It’s easily one of the most important tech events of the year and serves as a showcase for all things tech. When it’s held next year, CES 2021 will have widened aisles between booths to maintain social distancing guidelines, contactless scans and payments, and regularly cleaned and sanitized spaces throughout the entire Las Vegas Convention Center and beyond. In a post about the new guidelines, the company behind the event says that it will issue best practices to convention attendees and says it will be evaluating thermal scans at checkpoints to make sure attendees aren’t spreading the virus, though hasn't said whether either will be mandatory for entry yet. For those unable to attend the event in-person, CES 2021 will have portions of the show available online: “You can expect to see a wider selection of livestreamed CES content, along with many other engaging digital and virtual opportunities, enabling you to connect with the world’s leading technology innovators, thought leaders and policymakers,” the CTA said in the post. “We will showcase our exhibitors’ products, technology breakthroughs and ideas to the world, both physically in Las Vegas and digitally.” CES 2021: what's the big deal?CES is basically the confluence of every tech industry with companies, journalists and retailers all getting together for a week to check out what's coming next. It's both a hype-building machine and industry-driving vehicle. For sites like TechRadar, it's the chance to bring readers a first look at new TVs and laptops, with basically around-the-clock coverage that isn't feasible to produce in any other way besides being at a show with all the manufacturers there. That being said, it's surprising that CES isn't following suit with the dozen-or-so other events that have been postponed until mid-2021 at the earliest – as some health experts expect that the Covid-19 pandemic could extend into next year. Microsoft has cancelled all of its in-person events until that point, and many other companies have committed to similar timelines. From the sound of things, though, the show will go on one way or another.
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| New iPhone 12 release date, leaks, price, news and everything you need to know Posted: 03 Jun 2020 09:47 AM PDT The iPhone 12 is a matter of months away with Apple expected to unveil four new iPhones at a launch event in September 2020. For the first time ever, we’re expecting four new iPhone models to debut later in September. The current leaks suggest those will be two lower-cost models – the iPhone 12 and iPhone 12 Max – and two higher-cost versions in the iPhone 12 Pro and iPhone 12 Pro Max. The iPhone 12 series are also expected to have the biggest design changes since the iPhone X eliminated the home button and introduced a notch back in 2017. Expect the next Apple flagships to look a little bit more like an iPhone 5 with a more square design that is adorned with a metal frame… or at least, that’s what the leaks have told us so far. We already have a good idea of what to expect from the iPhone 12 series. Everything from prices to design to core specs, camera details, and more have been leaked, so below we're able to give you a clear picture of what could be coming in the next iPhones. Update: The latest leak supports 5G in all four iPhones as 3D-printed models show a relocated SIM card slot from the right side to the left, with a source suggesting they were moved to make room for 5G antennas.
We've been covering the new iPhone cycle since the very first device in 2007 perfectly placing us to breakdown the rumors of the iPhone 12. We're keeping this article constantly updated with all the latest iPhone 12 leaks and rumors, so make sure to check back regularly if you want to stay up to date on Apple's next flagship. iPhone 12: cut to the chase
When will the iPhone 12 come out?An exact release date for the iPhone 12 hasn't been made official yet, but we're almost certain Apple will unveil the new iPhone by the end of 2020. September 2020 is likely to be when Apple unveils the iPhone 12, and it's usually around the second week of the month. It's almost always unveiled on a Tuesday too, so we'd put our money on it being revealed on September 8 or September 15. Normally, we'd predict that you'll be able to pick it up 10 days after that so you might need a Friday off work if you're desperate to get your hands on one. That said, we can't be as confident of these dates as usual, because there's a chance that the Covid-19 pandemic's impact on the production of the next iPhone may push things back. Some previous reports had suggested that development would be unaffected, and there are even reports that the main manufacturing factories are fully staffed up. Plus, an executive at Foxconn (the main manufacturer of the iPhone) has said that company aims and hopes to make up for lost ground. But elsewhere there are reports that the phone will be delayed until October or November, with Apple apparently not even having finalized the design in late March 2020. The most recent release date rumor suggests November is likely, but we may see the phone unveiled beforehand. Some sources even say it could slip into 2021 with Reuters also claiming a delay could be likely. The iPhone 11 Pro Max So what is going to happen? No one knows for certain yet, but there's a strong possibility that the iPhone 12 release date may be staggered by model. This is something said by respected analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, who says it would likely be the larger models of the phone that would come later than September. One report in The Wall Street Journal also suggested production of the iPhone 12 has been delayed by around a month. If production is delayed, we may still see Apple unveil the iPhone in September but it won't be out as soon after its reveal as it has been in previous years. What will be the price of the iPhone 12?The iPhone 12 price is something that leaks have made a little clearer than the release date. It's likely to stay broadly in line with 2019's iPhone range. The iPhone 11 started at $699 / £729 / AU$1,199, the iPhone 11 Pro starts at $999 / £1,049 / AU$1,749, and the iPhone 11 Pro Max starts at $1,099 / £1,149 / AU$1,899. That's backed up by the rumors too, and one big leak from YouTuber and prolific leaker Jon Prosser has shared information on how much he believes the phones will cost in the US. This is according to a source close to Apple, and we've put it into a handy chart below:
There's no accurate information about prices for the UK or Australia, but it seems to largely match the iPhone 11 series with the cheapest model being slightly less this year for the iPhone 12. Having said all that, one previous report suggested that the cost of materials for the iPhone 12 range might go up, which could mean even higher prices at retail. We won't know for certain until Apple announces this on stage. And however much the iPhone 12 range costs, you might in one way get less for your money, as it's rumored that Apple won't bundle free EarPods with them. We do not expect Apple to throw in a pair of free AirPods to make up for that loss either. What will the iPhone 12 look like?So far, leaks suggest the iPhone 12 design is set to be a very different look to the last few devices. It's likely going to take elements we've seen on previous iPhone models and use them here. Remember the iPhone 4? You may recognize some of the elements. First off, you'll have four sizes to choose from. According to the most recent information on models, there will be the below:
That offers a larger screen size for those who don't want to spend lots on an iPhone 12 Pro model, and essentially means you'll have the choice of two devices are each of the price points. Jon Prosser - a Twitter leaker who proved to have consistently correct information on the iPhone SE and MacBook Pro 13 - this information is correct and you can see some of the specs below. Consistent leaks have suggested the iPhone 12 will have a metal frame, and the most trusted source before Prosser was Apple analyst Ming-Ch Kuo. The rear of all four phones is is still expected to be made of glass, but the edges are expected to be more squared than the rounded ones on current models. Prosser's information suggests it'll be aluminum used on the iPhone 12, while the iPhone 12 Pro and Pro Max will come with a stainless steel body. Some sources speaking to Bloomberg claim similar, and they make comparisons to the design of the iPad Pro, saying that the iPhone 12 Pro and iPhone 12 Pro Max will have flat stainless steel edges, more sharply rounded corners, and flat screens. That look has been further backed up by CAD renders that you can see in a video made by EverythingApplePro and Max Weinbach. One of the examples of what the devices will look like is included below, but note that these are just renders made using information from their sources. The reports above also point to smaller notches on all four rumored models, which is something we've heard consistently since new Face ID technology was first rumored in October 2019. You should still expect a notch at the top of the phone's display, but it looks like it'll be a lot smaller than before but won't be drastically different to previous models. One of the upcoming phones might even lack a notch according to analysts, with the front-facing camera potentially set to be embedded under the screen instead. If this happens we’d expect it to be the most expensive iPhone 12 model that has this feature – likely the iPhone 12 Pro Max, or whatever it launches as. One report has also suggested Face ID will be dropped entirely in favor of an under screen fingerprint scanner, though this seems unlikely. This would be a big change for the brand, since current models don’t have a fingerprint scanner at all. That said, if the camera really is in-screen then it might not be possible to have all the Face ID sensors, so it could be that this fingerprint scanner will replace Face ID, though we're not convinced Apple would go that far. Will the iPhone 12 be waterproof? We're currently expecting Apple to retain its IP68 water and dust resistance rating for the iPhone 12, and that means it'll be able to be submerged in water but it won't be entirely waterproof. What colors will the iPhone 12 come in?As for the iPhone 12 colors, we've heard a rumor that Apple will be debuting a navy blue on its top-end models. Reports say the Midnight Green color that debuted on the iPhone 11 Pro sold beyond Apple's expectations, so it may decide to keep that or it may be replaced in the lineup by this navy shade. The iPhone 11 Pro and Pro Max were available in Space Gray, Silver and Gold alongside the Midnight Green. Those shades may remain for the iPhone 12 Pro and Pro Max, but we've yet to hear any firm evidence those colors will return. As for the standard iPhone 12, we're expecting a similar pastel range to the iPhone 11. That phone is available in Black, Green, Yellow, Purple, Red and White, so you should probably expect some of those colors to return for 2020's device. Will the iPhone 12 be 120Hz?We've touched upon display a little bit above and the four different models you can expect in 2020, but here we're going to dive into the rumors about the tech for the screens being used. Ming-Chi Kuo has also said that all the iPhone 12 models may come with OLED screen tech for the first time. That’s a claim we’ve heard more than once, and Prosser's source has also confirmed the same thing. That said, the iPhone 12 and iPhone 12 Max displays are expected to be manufactured by BOE while Samsung will make the OLED tech on the top-end two models. The iPhone 11 features an LCD display, while the iPhone 11 Pro features OLED technology. That may allow for a far stronger screen on the standard iPhone 12 models, although we don't yet have any clear details on the resolution you can expect from any of the four phone's displays. The iPhone 11 Pro Another source has said that the two Pro models will use a form of OLED that's both thinner and cheaper to produce than the screens used in the iPhone 11 Pro range. That could mean lower prices, but we wouldn't count on it. The other big rumored change for the 2020 iPhone display is the move to a 120Hz refresh rate. The current iPhones - and a lot of other smartphones - sport a refresh rate of 60Hz, so upping that to 120Hz makes the screen reload quicker and gives you a smoother experience when scrolling through social media feeds or gaming. Max Weinbach shared some leaked information on the iPhone 12 Pro that suggested this was the model that would get the improved screen tech. Prosser since suggests that tech would also come to the iPhone 12 Pro Max. This is a claim we've now heard more than once, and some phones already have higher refresh rates than 60Hz, as do some iPads, so this isn’t unbelievable. That's especially true as top-end phones like the Samsung Galaxy S20 and OnePlus 8 Pro now feature the tech too. All of this said, the source that provides information to Prosser has said that Apple may "nerf" the technology. That may mean there are limitations to when the 120Hz refresh rate works, and that may come down to the battery life of the handsets. We've also heard that at least some iPhone 12 models could have thinner, cheaper and more energy-efficient screens than the iPhone 11 range. This in turn may allow the phones themselves to be thinner, as well as lasting longer between charges. Will the iPhone 12 be 5G-ready?Another big change could take the form of 5G, which has been widely rumored for the iPhone 12 as many of its competitors now sport the technology. Back in July 2019, Kuo predicted that all models will support 5G. At the time, we only expected this feature to come to one model in the iPhone 12 range but it now looks like it'll be on all four devices. Prosser has suggested as much in his specs that he learned from a source at Apple. The big caveat here is that the base iPhone 12 models may not support mmWave 5G technology. It's expected this will be a feature reserved for the two top-end models, so those on carriers like Verizon in the US will have to opt for those. And yet, another early leak revealing 3D-printed models of all four iPhones suggests that all four have had their SIM slot relocated from the right side to the left, with a source stating they were moved to make room for 5G antennas – even in the two cheaper models. What other iPhone 12 specs should you expect?How are these phones going to power 5G connectivity? One rumor suggests it'll have a custom-made 5G antenna alongside a 5nm A14 Bionic processor. What that means for the average consumer is an iPhone with an even longer battery life and more power than ever. That would be rather impressive, given the iPhone battery life is currently the best we've ever seen from Apple. The RAM could also get a boost, with analysts claiming that the iPhone 12 Pro and iPhone 12 Pro Max will have 6GB of the stuff, up from 4GB on their predecessors - though the standard iPhone 12 will apparently stick with 4GB. This is something we've now heard again and again, so it may well be true. The chipset seems ready to wow too, as an A14 Bionic leaked benchmark showed it had a single-core and multi-score score that was ahead of the Snapdragon 865, the processor we've seen in almost all Android flagships in 2020. And the iPhone 12 might also support the new 802.11ay specification, which could allow it to share content at speeds of at least 20-30Gbps. So in every sense this phone is likely to be fast. The iPhone 11 from 2019 How much storage will you have? You may have seen earlier up the page, but a pricing leak from Prosser showed us the iPhone 12 and iPhone 12 Max will come in 128GB and 256GB models while the iPhone 12 Pro and iPhone 12 Pro Max will come in both of those and 512GB. Battery capacity is an unknown at the moment for the iPhone 12 range. One rumor from late 2019 suggested that Apple may be using a smaller battery protection module for the iPhone 12 that would allow it to pack in a larger cell. Whether that happens or not is currently unknown, and we may not even know that until someone manages to get one to do a teardown on the exact internals of the new iPhone. Will the iPhone 12 use USB-C? The rumors currently suggest it'll be sticking with a Lightning cable. Multiple sources have said USB-C won't happen, with the iPhone 12 likely sticking with Lightning, and the iPhone 13 potentially switching to a portless design. That said, a recent EU ruling may also mean future iPhones won't be able to use Lightning cables in Europe. That may force Apple to switch the connector on future phones to USB-C, and while it's not clear yet whether this will be the case for the iPhone 12 it may be something to consider. Another report from Chinese publication Caifa news also suggests Apple and other manufacturers may soon use GaN power adapters. These are currently used by Xiaomi, and allow for fast-charging speeds up to 65 watts. There's no guarantee this will debut on the iPhone 12 - or any future iPhone for that matter - but it may mean we see an improved fast-charging experience along the line. Will the iPhone 12 camera be vastly improved?The camera may be one area where the new iPhone excels, and the main change is likely to be the addition of a LiDAR scanner, just like we've seen on the iPad Pro 2020. This can accurately judge distances and therefore depth, and would allow for improved augmented reality and Portrait mode. We've heard specific mentions of a LiDAR scanner being included on the iPhone 12 Pro and iPhone 12 Pro Max (alongside three lenses), while the basic iPhone 12 and iPhone 12 Max are said to have two camera lenses and no LiDAR scanner. These claims have been made by multiple sources, and the below image shows how it could look on the iPhone 12 Pro (made by Phone Arena). An example of what the iPhone 12 Pro camera could look like We've also seen a leaked sketch supposedly showing four rear lenses on the iPhone 12 Pro. This sketch supposedly came from a build of iOS 14 and is backed up by lots of sources. Three of the lenses look like those on the iPhone 11 Pro, if perhaps slightly bigger, but the new fourth lens looks like the LiDAR scanner found on the iPad Pro 2020, backing up other claims of such a lens. What the iPhone 12 camera may look like Before all the LiDAR scanner rumors, we'd heard that a laser-powered 3D camera was rumored for inclusion. This would be on the back, and while only one rumor mentions lasers, another also talks about a depth-sensing snapper, while one mentions 3D sensing. Another report from Fast Company cites sources close to production of the phone and also says a rear-facing 3D camera is in development. One of the sources for this rumor claims the two top models would get this, along with a triple-lens camera, while the two lower end ones would just get a dual-lens camera without 3D sensing. All of this sounds along the same lines as the LiDAR scanner we're now expecting, so this is one very likely feature. Elsewhere, one source says the iPhone 12 might have a 64MP main camera, over the 12MP snapper on the previous few versions, which would be a huge upgrade. This leak also suggests that the phone will have multiple lenses that support night mode shooting, and the ultra-wide snapper could have a dedicated macro mode. We've also heard that the top-end iPhone 12 (likely the iPhone 12 Pro Max) will get a new image stabilization tech called 'sensor-shift', which would allow the sensor to move in order to counteract camera shake. Plus, reputable leaker Max Weinbach says he has heard that the iPhone 12 Pro will feature Smart HDR functionality for improved low-light performance. That's alongside a 3x optical zoom, which is an increase from the 2x zoom capability featured in the iPhone 11 range. And we've also heard that all four iPhone 12 models might get a camera improvement in the form of a 7-element wide-angle lens. That's one more element than current models, which could lead to fewer aberrations and less distortion. While there are lots of sources collaborating the LiDAR scanner rumors, the actual core specs of the iPhone 12 series cameras are still a little unclear and there's plenty more for us to learn here in the coming months. What will iOS 14 bring to the iPhone 12?Apple's big software developer conference is set to start on June 22. It's called WWDC 2020 and it's expected to be the event where we first hear about iOS 14, which is likely to debut on the new iPhone. It's also likely to come to your existing handset, but the iPhone 12 will be where it originates and it's likely to come with a few major upgrades over iOS 13. That said, little is actually rumored about iOS 14 so far. There are rumors of a new Fitness App that will come to iPhone, Apple Watch and Apple TV that allows you to watch fitness related videos on your phone. iMessage is heavily rumored to be getting some upgrades too with an ability to tag people - with an @ sign like you can do on other messaging platforms like Slack - as well as a way to delete your messages after you've sent them. Will the iPhone 12 come with AirPods?The short answer to the above question is, no. It's very unlikely Apple will put a pair of AirPods in the box with a new iPhone as they've a major money maker for the company when sold separately. Apple may choose to unveil the rumored AirPods 3 alongside the new handset at its event, but it's heavily rumored that the company will also not be including a pair of earbuds headphones alongside the iPhone 12 this year. That may mean you won't get any headphones in the box alongside the iPhone 12. This is all just rumored for now, but it also means the company may not be bundling any accessories with its iPhones as it dropped the 3.5mm to Lightning adapter in 2018. Should I wait for the iPhone 12?The iPhone 12 release date is still a long way away even if the September 2020 launch window stays constant, so you should probably consider the iPhone 11 series if you need a new iPhone in the next few days, weeks or even months. If you need a new top-tier Apple phone now, you’re looking at the iPhone 11 or the higher-spec iPhone 11 Pro or iPhone 11 Pro Max. Here are the best prices in your region: What we want to see from the next iPhoneThe iPhone 11 range was a strong - but safe, and thus a bit dull - upgrade for Apple. So for the iPhone 12 we want to see bigger, riskier changes, such as the following. We wrote these elements that we want to see soon after we reviewed the iPhone 11 range, so some may match the leaks we've seen since then. 1. Exciting new featuresFirst things first - the new iPhone needs to be good. Brilliant. Better than expected. We’re talking things that we haven’t even thought of. Things that we’re hoping Apple’s brightest minds are currently dreaming up in the company’s labs. This might sound like a very vague request, but Apple is one of the biggest companies in the world and if any brand could make a decent folding handset, or one with detachable VR glasses, it's Cook's Crew. Because a tweaked design and improved specs are expected, ordinary, and no longer enough as consumers are holding onto their handsets for longer than ever. Come on Apple, give us something mind-blowing. 2. A new designPerhaps the thing we want most from the iPhone 12 is a new design. Apple has been rolling out basically the same design for several years now, ever since it refreshed the look with the iPhone X. Sure, some things get tweaked, but the core is the same. And it’s starting to look a bit dated. That’s thanks mostly to the large notch, which might be necessary for all the camera components needed for Face ID, but which we’d like to see shrunk or removed if possible. Beyond that, we’d really like a whole new look. There’s not too much wrong with the rest of the iPhone 11 Pro’s design, but it certainly feels overly familiar at this point. 3. An in-screen everythingWe’d like the iPhone 12 to have an all-screen front, and one way to achieve that is to move the front-facing camera under the display. If Apple can effectively achieve that, it’s sure to impress. While it’s on, we’d like Apple to re-add a fingerprint scanner, for those times when Face ID isn’t working quite as slickly as it should. But we want this in the screen too, or better yet, make the whole screen one big fingerprint scanner, as it has been rumored Apple might be planning for a future phone. 4. A higher refresh rateOne way some companies are further improving their displays is by upping the refresh rate from the standard 60Hz. The OnePlus 7 Pro for example has an optional 90Hz refresh rate, while the Razer Phone 2 goes up to 120Hz. This can help make interactions with the handset and animations feel silky smooth, so we’d like to see Apple offer a higher refresh rate of its own. It’s not out of the question, especially as some iPad Pro models have a refresh rate of up to 120Hz. Indeed, exactly that refresh rate has been rumored for the upcoming iPhones. 5. Further battery boostsFor the first time in years, with the iPhone 11 range it feels like Apple has really prioritized battery life in its phones, but we want the company to go even further with the iPhone 12. Or at the very least not go backwards. We’re still waiting on an iPhone that can comfortably last two days, and we’d like the iPhone 12 (or at least the iPhone 12 Pro Max) to be it. 6. 5G supportApple is behind when it comes to 5G, as none of the iPhone 11 range offer it, while rival handsets like the Samsung Galaxy S20 family and OnePlus 7 Pro 5G do. Apple’s lack of support isn’t a big deal right now, as 5G coverage is still very sparse in most countries, but by the time the iPhone 12 launches it will be more widely available and a large number of other handsets will support it, so it will be time for Apple to jump on board. The good news is that it’s heavily rumored that 2020’s iPhones will support 5G, so this is one thing we’re likely to get. 7. A lower priceWe ask for this every year with new iPhones and this year we actually kind of got it, with the base iPhone 11 starting at less than the iPhone XR did. So it’s actually not impossible that we could see an even lower price – or a reduced price for the rest of the range – with the iPhone 12. We wouldn’t count on it, but Apple’s more affordable phones are typically its best-selling in recent years, so there should be some incentive to cut costs where possible.
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| Best free blogging site of 2020 Posted: 03 Jun 2020 09:38 AM PDT Free blogging sites have come a long way in recent years, and it’s now easier than ever to create a professional-looking blog to share a hobby with likeminded people, express your opinions, and establish an online presence. These free blogging sites are aimed at hobbyist bloggers – blogs are created and managed online, and hosted on the blogging platform’s own servers. If you want to create a self-hosted blog, the downloadable version of WordPress is an excellent option, with total flexibility, support for third-party plugins, and as much storage as your hosting plan allows. If you're interested in making a static website rather than an online journal, take a look at our guide to the best free website builders. Wix makes it dead easy to design and realize your blog, and you can do a lot more besides Wix has a range of paid-for subscription plans, but also a free offering, although it’s best to note upfront that this has some caveats. With the free product, your site will have Wix branding, and you’ll be limited to 500MB of data transfer per month, so it’s not for heavily trafficked sites. You also only get 500MB storage, too, so bear that in mind. You are, however, free to build a blog with an unlimited number of pages, and where Wix really shines is with its powerful blog functionality. The editor may be simple, but you get access to all the stuff you need – from image galleries through to videos and music – and there are a ton of ways to customize a post. There’s also a lot of flexibility in the way you can schedule posts, and neat touches like being able to set things up so that posts are automatically pushed to Facebook when they’re published. For instance, you have a feature called WiX Bookings, that allows customers to schedule appointments and classes right on your website. And what makes Wix truly compelling is on top of this, you get the run of the rest of what this website builder offers aside from blog support. That includes using Wix’s ADI (Artificial Design Intelligence) editor to make building your site a snap even for novices, plus impressively diverse support for various different types of media, and quality customer support to boot (yes, even on the free plan). As of recently, Wix introduced Wix Turbo, which increases the speed and performance of websites considerably. When you consider what you’re getting for nothing, the bandwidth and data limits don’t seem like such a heavy set of shackles. And you can always upgrade at a later date if you want to break free of them in the longer run. Try it online: Wix Powerful and highly customizable, WordPress is a brilliant platform for blogs of any size, and bloggers of any level of experience. Creating your first blog is very straightforward, with a simple wizard that guides you through the process of choosing a name and suitable theme. You can leave it there and begin writing posts immediately, but the real fun lies in the more advanced editor, which lets you customize virtually every aspect of your blog’s appearance. Unlike some blogging sites, WordPress isn’t a drag-and-drop affair, and you’ll have to familiarize yourself with its system of menus. It’s well worth the effort, though, and enables you to create something truly personal. The editor also lets you create static pages – like a writer’s biography, for example. The post-writing interface is much like an ordinary desktop word processor (though some options are presented in a toolbar at the top, while others are in a menu at the side, which can be a little confusing at first). Again, time spent getting to know the interface is rewarded with advanced features like customizable social media sharing buttons, geotagging, and the ability to pick a custom style for individual posts. Sometimes you might want to create a photo gallery, for example, and other times a more text-focused style would be more appropriate. You can also view and edit the HTML source. As your blog grows, WordPress lets you track its stats, including page views, visitors, likes and comments over time. You can also see how readers reach your site, which content they viewed, and where they are in the world, so you can tailor your content accordingly. Your site is hosted on WordPress servers, with an address in the format yoursite.wordpress.com. Users of the free service don’t get email or live chat support, but the WordPress community forums are very active and questions are usually answered within a few minutes. Additionally, privacy protection for domains that are registered at WordPress.com is free. WordPress displays ads on free blogs, but provided you can live with that, it’s a top-notch solution for a free blogging site. Try it online: WordPress Blogger has been around for many years, but has kept up with current trends and technology, including responsive blog templates Blogger is another superb blogging platform. It’s not quite as powerful as WordPress, but more accessible for new users, which comes as no surprise when you learn that it’s owned by Google. Blogger offers an excellent selection of templates, all of which include mobile versions optimized for smaller screens – a very sensible addition with so many people accessing online content through smartphones. Blogger is also web responsive. Blogger’s post-editing tool is much like WordPress, but offers fewer options. As a result, its toolbars are less confusing – a trade-off between power and usability. One of Blogger’s best features is its integration with other Google apps and services. For example, it uses your Google Drive account to store images and other files for your blog. Google Drive gives you 15GB of space free, so Blogger is a good choice if you’re planning to share a lot of high-res photos. Spam comments are a big problem on blogs, so Blogger’s automatic spam filter can help save your sanity. You can monitor comments via Blogger’s dashboard, which also lets you see visitor stats. There are some handy visualizations here, including a world map to show the global distribution of your readers. Your blog will have an address in the format yoursite.blogger.com, and, like all Google services, will include ads. Support is available through the Blogger user forum, which is very active but has a strange layout that can be a little off-putting. In all other respects, Blogger is brilliant – one of the best free blogging sites if you prioritize ease of use over flexibility and are a fan of the Google ecosystem. Try it online: Blogger Weebly takes a modular approach to blog building, with a drag-and-drop editor that lets you choose which elements to add to your site, and where. Pick a basic template, then plonk various types of content onto the page, including social media links, text, images, maps, and sections of code. It’s a refreshingly simple way to build a blog that feels unique to you, but doesn’t require any messing about with menus. It’s worth noting, however, that certain content blocks can only be positioned in certain areas; it isn’t a total free-for-all. This makes sense – forcing you to stick within the confines of your chosen template stops the page looking messy – but you might find it limiting. Blog posts are made in the same way: drag text boxes, picture frames, buttons and page breaks into position, then click to edit them. One particularly nice feature is the ‘secret draft link’, which lets you preview your unpublished post, and even share it with others via email before releasing it into the wild. Weebly has some other interesting tricks up its sleeve too, including an area for pasting in Google Analytics tracking code (though it doesn’t offer analytics itself). You’re only given 500MB for uploaded content, so photographers might want to look elsewhere. Weebly puts an ad in your site’s footer, but it doesn’t obscure any of your content. Try it online: Weebly Penzu is a personal blogging tool that lets you create your own private diary Whereas the other free blogging sites are designed to get as many eyeballs on your posts as possible, Penzu is the equivalent of a locked diary stashed in a safe. Penzu is a journal platform that makes your posts private by default and locks them down with at least one password (even after you’re logged in, you need a second one to read or edit your posts). That’s because it’s designed for private thoughts and personal reflection. There are free apps for iOS and Android that enable you to update your Penzu diary anywhere, but the contents are for your eyes only. Penzu isn’t a tool for self-promotion, so although it’s far from ugly, it understandably focuses on function rather than looks. Custom colors and backgrounds come at a price – currently $20 (about £14, AU$25) per year. It’s a shame that 128-bit AES encryption is also limited to the paid-for version, and there’s a fair amount of pressure to upgrade. Extra options are often dangled under your nose then yanked away, but the core offering is a good one, and if you simply want a place to record your thoughts and practise writing, Penzu could be just what you need. Try it online: Penzu
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| Father's Day gift ideas 2020: the 10 best gifts for tech-savvy dads Posted: 03 Jun 2020 09:30 AM PDT Father's Day 2020 is just around the corner (Sunday, June 21 to be exact), and if you're still searching for the perfect gift for dad, then you've come to the right place. We've rounded up some fantastic tech-savvy Father's Day gift ideas that include something for everyone. Where to buy Father's Day gifts
Father's Day gift ideas:The perfect fitness companion for dad, the Fitbit Versa is a fantastic activity tracker with added smartwatch perks. The Fitbit Versa 2 helps dad track activity, workouts, and calories burned while also continuously monitoring his heart rate. The smartwatch includes an updated design with a bright AMOLED touchscreen and an always-on display option. The Fitbit also works with Amazon Alexa, so he can send and receive messages, check the weather, and control other smart home devices completely hands-free. Read our Fitbit Versa 2 review The Sony WH1000XM3 headphones claim to be the best noise-canceling headphones on the market, offering industry-leading digital noise cancellation technology. Whether dad is traveling, walking, or in a busy office, the Sony headphones will adapt to the sounds around him and adjust background noise accordingly. The Bluetooth headphones also deliver powerful audio that can be easily controlled with the touch sensor. The Sony headphones provide up to 30-hours of battery life with quick charging if he needs a fast recharge. Smart displays are truly useful and they don’t even need to be connected to other smart devices to make the best use of them – and the Google Nest Hub is one of the best you can get your dad. The 7-inch smart home display has Google Assistant built-in which allows you to ask questions, set reminders, play music, watch videos, and more completely hands-free. The Nest Hub is also compatible with other smart home devices so you can adjust your lights, set the temperature, and turn on your TV - all with the command of your voice. You can also use the display as a digital photo frame and ask Google to show any picture or album you've ever taken in Google photos. Read our Google Nest Hub review For the father that likes to cook, get him the hottest kitchen gadget, the Anova Sous Vide. Sous Vide is a method of cooking that involves preparing food in pouches, submerged in water that's held at a precisely controlled temperature. To use a sous vide, he just has to fill a pot with water, set the desired temperature and time, and dad can cook everything (meat, souffle, carrots) to perfection. The compatible app allows him to cook remotely, so he doesn't have to stay in the kitchen, waiting for the food to cook. Dad will also have access to over 1,000+ recipes as well as videos and guides for each recommended meal. Doesn’t the best dad in the world deserve the best Bluetooth speaker money can buy? If that’s what you’re after, the Sonos Move stands head and shoulders above the rest. It sounds incredible, serving up living room-worthy sound from a portable device that can be used both indoors and out. That means it’s the perfect speaker if your dad loves to entertain, or if he just appreciates high-fidelity sound. He won’t have to worry about it getting knocked about at a party either – it’s durable with an IP56 rating and can withstand more than a few spills. Read our Sonos Move review The 4K Fire TV Stick allows dad to stream his favorite content in 4K Ultra HD resolution. All he has to do is plug the stick into the TV, connect to the internet, and he can watch his favorite movies and TV shows from apps like Hulu, Amazon Video, Netflix, and more. He'll get access to tens of thousands of channels with storage capacity for thousands of apps, games, and Alexa skills. The Fire device also includes an Alexa voice remote so he can browse shows, launch movies, adjust the volume, and more completely hands-free. Read our Amazon Fire Stick 4K review Dad can stay connected while also keeping track of health and fitness stats with the best-selling Apple Watch 5. The feature-packed smartwatch features an Always-On Retina display, which allows him to easily read the time, messages, and other important notifications. The waterproof smartwatch also tracks activity, workouts, and calories burned and provides up to 18 hours of battery life. Does your dad often find himself searching for his keys before heading out the door? Then you might want to get him a Tile Mate Bluetooth tracker. It’s designed like a keychain and can be attached to a variety of items: keys, remote, or even the family pet (if it has a habit of hiding away). Clip it to his frequently misplaced items, so next time dad says “have you seen my…” he can use the companion app to help find it. It has a 200m range and the Tile Mate will ring out when he’s near the lost item. Give dad the gift of home security with the Ring Video Doorbell Pro. The Ring Pro works with Alexa, and sends alerts to Echo devices, allowing you to hear and speak to visitors entirely hands-free. The Ring Video Doorbell Pro will also send alerts to his smartphone when motion is detected, or when someone rings the doorbell, so he can monitor the home from anywhere. The Pro model features advanced motion detection, with a camera view that generates motion alerts within user-set motion zones. Dad can brew the perfect cup of coffee in the comfort of his own home with the Nespresso VertuoPlus. The VertuoPlus brews five different cup sizes, and can make standard coffee with crema or an authentic espresso. Lear more about the upcoming Amazon Prime Day 2020 event. This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Best free website builder 2020 Posted: 03 Jun 2020 09:25 AM PDT Creating a website used to be the domain (geddit?) of professional designers and coders, but thanks to free website builder applications, these days it's something anyone can tackle. The problem is that there are so many website creation applications and services vying for attention that it can be difficult to know which one to opt for – this is where we can help. We've collated the very best free website builders available, including a mixture of offline software and online tools. It's usually quicker, easier and more efficient to create and edit a site entirely online with a WYSIWYG editor, but if you want complete control over every aspect of your site's design and web hosting, you'll need a desktop-based free website builder. So whether you're looking to create a site for your business, a new blog, or you just fancy creating an online presence for yourself, here are the best free website builder services to help you out.
Wix makes it very easy to design a website, while giving experts plenty of power to customize elements if they need it Wix is a big-name website builder which offers a free plan, enabling you to have the run of this service without having to put your hand in your pocket. And you benefit from one of the most impressive website editors in the business. This editor can be run in ADI (Artificial Design Intelligence) mode, which has a very basic interface to keep everything really simple and user-friendly. This is great for beginners, as you can create a basic site without even remotely breaking a sweat (a range of attractive templates are provided, as well). Those who want to get more involved with tweaking the design of their website can step up to the full Wix editor, which boasts powerful functionality, and the ability to really hone your website and get it looking just as you want. Visual previews of page elements make it easy to pick what you need for any particular part of a web page, too. Wix is so polished that putting together your site using the editor feels more like using a native application rather than a website builder, and it also sports excellent support for a diverse range of media, and quality customer support as well, even on the free plan. In addition, Wix Turbo was recently released which improves the performance and speed of all Wix websites. Powerful blogging functionality rounds things off nicely, and you’re getting a truly high quality offering with the free version of this website builder. Constant Contact provides an intelligent website builder and ecommerce store platform, both of which are free to use. Setting up a website is easy using drag-and-drop functionality, allowing you to set up a design simply and easily, and insert the features you need. Settings are automatically optimized for mobile platforms and SEO, and there is a free image library with over 50,000 images included as part of the package. The ecommerce platform allows for online payments through Paypal, Mollie, or Stripe. There are order and inventory features that automatically updates inventory with orders, and sends an email alert when items become out-of-stock. While the basic level website is free, there are paid plans which add more features. Additionally, there is also a paid email marketing option available to allow you to reach new customers. Overall, Constant Contact does a good job of setting up the basics. The free plan is a great way to set up your website, but if you want to publish a website, you'll need to pay. If you want to create a website as quickly as possible, look no further than Weebly. It's so easy to use, you'll have a great-looking site online in mere minutes Weebly offers you two ways to build your website. Both involve creating it online, and both are as quick and painless as possible. The simplest option is to use the basic editor builder which will guide you through a series of questions before automatically creating a site for you. There is scope for customization, but the focus here is really on fast results for anyone who is terrified of designing websites. A more hands-on approach is available if you decide to use the standard Editor. There are literally hundreds of stylish templates to choose from – and, yes, they are genuinely impressive – which you can tweak and tailor to your needs using a beautiful WYSIWYG editor. Despite being a cloud-based website builder, Weebly gives you a great degree of control over the look of your site and placement of page elements. You can also liven it up using additional features such as a newsletter and live chat. This power and flexibility make Weebly a top-notch website builder. WordPress is the tool of choice for many blog owners. It takes a little getting used to, but once you've mastered it, you'll love its flexibility Causing a slight degree of confusion, there are actually two different versions of WordPress. The more complex variant can be downloaded from wordpress.org, and you will need to upload it to your own web space and install it using the automated online installer. You can then customize the templates and use add-ons to make the site your own. This is the route many bloggers go down, but there is a simpler option for people who don’t want the hassle of fiddling about with scripts and getting dirty with hardcore editing. The hosted version of WordPress lets you create your own site on wordpress.com. You can create everything from a blog or photo site, to a fully fledged online store, and there are a number of templates to choose from. Additionally, Mailchimp users have a benefit of adding a Mailchimp block, which can grow your mailing list among other things. Whether you're creating a static site, or a blog-style site with regularly updated content, the online editor is a joy to use and allows just about anyone to create an impressive, professional-looking site. The only downside is the limited range of plugins and templates compared with the desktop website builder. WebSite X5 makes building a website on your desktop easy, with good-looking templates and an intuitive site builder Incomedia WebSite X5 received an overhaul in April 2019 with new templates, an updated interface, new paid versions and more. The main thing to note is that the service now has a free version for everyone (note that the free version for TechRadar readers is still available to download). There are two paid versions, Evo and Pro, priced at €29.95 ($27.5) and €69.95 ($64.3) respectively. This is a one time purchase and naturally, both versions come with additional and improved features compared to the free one. There is also a demo version of both paid versions that you can try out. Unlike WordPress and Wix, WebSite X5 is a desktop website builder, which means you can work on your site offline and have more freedom to make your website look exactly the way you want. There's a range of ready-made templates to choose from, or you can create your own design from scratch. Next, build up your site map, showing the hierarchy of your pages and how they connect to one another – a feature you won't find in most web-based site builder apps. There is also e-commerce support with features like product search page and optimized checkout. Once that's done, you're ready to start building your pages using Website X5's simple drag-and-drop interface, which includes tools for editing both rich text and photos. If you don't want to be tied down to an online site builder, WebSite X5 is the tool for you. CoffeeCup Free HTML Editor isn't a WYSIWYG website builder, but it provides a live preview of your site as you create it CoffeeCup Free HTML Editor is one of a dying breed of web building programs that don't use a CMS (content management system). While not in the same league as the likes of Adobe Dreamweaver, Free HTML Editor packs quite a professional punch. With split screen code/preview views, it's possible to see the effect the changes you make have straight away. To help you get started quickly, there are a number of templates built into the program, and there are some very nice features such as tag and code suggestions as you type. For absolute beginners, the program might seem a little overwhelming to start with, but it's worth sticking with – assuming you have some HTML knowledge. There is one slight issue; a number of features, such as spell-checking and code optimization, are only included in the paid-for version of the program. If you've used WordPress before, you might be interested in the power of Joomla. It's not as easy to use though, so beginners are better off sticking with a simpler option like Wix Joomla is a well-known name in the CMS world. It may not be as popular as WordPress, but it offers the same two options: build a site using the web app at launch.joomla.org and have it hosted on the company's servers, or download the software from joomla.org and host it yourself. If you choose the latter option, you'll notice that the interface is much less approachable than WordPress. It's not completely impenetrable, but there are lots of menus and options to work through and it doesn't feel quite as polished as WordPress. Joomla's online website builder is nearly as complex, but doesn't involve the same setup process, making it a better option for beginners. Its key selling point is a huge collection of themes and extensions, which provide endless ways to customize the way your site looks and works. You might also want to check out our other website hosting buying guides:
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| Posted: 03 Jun 2020 09:23 AM PDT Companies all over the world have ordered employees to work from home in response to the widespread introduction of coronavirus lockdown measures. Top of the list of concerns for many businesses is whether employees are properly equipped to go virtual. The lack of appropriate software could prove a significant stumbling block for workers asked to suddenly abandon their office workstations. Thankfully, technology vendors of all shapes and sizes have come to the rescue, with many offering free access to premium services for a limited time. Here’s a rundown of the best free products and services to help your business navigate the ongoing pandemic: *We update this guide daily with all the latest offers, so be sure to check back regularly.
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| The best Now TV pass offers, boxes, smart sticks and deals in June 2020 Posted: 03 Jun 2020 09:10 AM PDT If you're looking for the best Now TV offers (pass related or not) then you're in luck as that just so happens to be our speciality here at TechRadar. We constantly analyse and search through all the offers to find the cheapest and best Now TV deals. And you can rest assured - as we regularly update this page - we will always have the best and latest offers for you, especially as we compare the current deals directly from the website and retailers around the UK, to get you the best prices and deals. The best bit? We've got the best Now TV offers on everything - including passes, voucher deals for new and existing clients, boxes, the Now TV Smart Box 4K and the Now TV Stick (both of which come with a voice-remote control). But don't worry if you don't want these gadgets, you don't need a Now TV Smart Stick or box as you can get the Now TV app on plenty of devices including smart TVs, tablets, or even on your PS4/Xbox One. And of course, if you also are looking for broadband with your TV, the streaming service also has some tempting broadband broadband and TV deals. Ready to find the best Now TV offer for you? Just keep scrolling.
You can go directly to Now TV to check out the latest pass offers...or we can tell you about the best ones right here! And the good news is, you probably already have a device which is very capable of running the Now TV app (tablets, gaming consoles, Smart TV etc), so once you select your Now TV pass offer you're set to go! Now don't be disheartened if you don't happen to have a device, because we've also listed for you further down this page how you can get a cheap Now TV Smart Box or Now TV Stick and which are the current best deals on both devices. The only bad news we have to deliver is that these offers are usually for new members only, but you can often find other discounts by picking up Now TV passes from other retailers instead. The Now TV Smart Box 4K is ideal for anyone who wants access to a wide range of apps, which includes Netflix, YouTube, and all the UK TV catch-up services. It's easy set-up and reasonable pricing which include the voice remote make it an easy choice. However, it is important to note that you'll only be able to stream Netflix along with Sky Sports Pass channels and select Entertainment and Cinema pass channels in 4K, as the rest of the services such as BBC iPlayer is limited to HD. And currently, Now TV is only selling the smart stick, it seems they are focusing more on promoting the device as it's much smaller and easier to transport yet still has the same functions as the Now TV smart box. So, basically you won't be able to purchase the Now TV smart box from the website - but you will be able to get it from other retailers, you've got a few options below. If you don't want the Now TV smart box, the good news is you probably already have a device which is very capable of running the Now TV app (tablets, gaming consoles, Smart TV etc), so once you select your Now TV pass offer you're set to go. And if you don't have a device, why not get a Now TV smart stick instead? Now TV BoostFinally, after two years of waiting - you can now watch Now TV content in HD (at an added cost). If you pay an extra £3 a month, you get access to the streaming platform's bolt-on Now TV Boost, which you can add to your Sky Entertainment, Sky Sports or Kids Pass. However, this is only available on Sky Sports channels, Entertainment except Fox and Gold, all Sky Cinema channels and all kids channels except for Cartoonito and Nickelodeon. So Hayu isn't included in there. Not to mention, Now TV's mobile app isn't included in the list of supported devices. So you'll be stuck with plain old 720p - so it's not great value for money. Now TV Smart Stick dealsThis is by far the cheapest hardware option for the Now TV family, not only is it quite affordable but it is excellent value for money. Most purchase options from our price comparison chart now include a Now TV Entertainment or Cinema pass too to get you going. It's extremely similar to the Amazon Fire TV Stick, but a fair bit cheaper - simply plug it into an HDMI slot on your TV and get streaming. The added bonus is that it comes with a remote control that supports voice-commands and search too! If you’ve already got a Now TV box, gaming console or another device that can stream the service (such as a Roku player or a Chromecast) then all you need is a Now TV pass to get subscribed to the various streaming packages offered on the service. There are currently four passes available for Now TV; Entertainment, Sky Cinema, Kids and Sky Sports. These are available for subscription periods as short as one day (for Sky Sports), or as long as one month. Ironically, the cheapest way of getting your hands on cheap passes is often to get them bundled in with a Now TV box, but you can also find cheap Now TV passes available. Below, we have compiled a selection of the best deals around for each pass below. Now TV entertainment pass offersThe Now TV Entertainment pass gets you access to Sky Atlantic shows like Chernobyl, Tin Star, Catherine the Great, Watchmen and more. With this pass you also get access to Sky Living, Sky 1, FOX, Comedy Central, MTV and many more - so you can watch all the movies and shows available on these channels. It costs £8.99 a month, but this pass gets you fresh content to watch on a regular basis across multiple genres and you won't find the same programs on the likes of Netflix or Amazon Prime Video. Below you can see our favorite Now TV Entertainment pass deals from a few retailers. Now TV Sky Cinema pass (aka Sky Movies pass) offersIf you're more interested in film than television, then the Now TV Sky Cinema pass is the subscription for you. With this you'll get access to an immense amount of films, as well as the added bonus that Sky Cinema has a new premiere every day! Make sure to check the Now TV website for offers, our current number one pick is below - and don't forget that we have our comparison chart below that always shows the latest and best Now TV Sky Cinema pass deals (so make sure you keep an eye on this page!) Now TV Sky Sports pass dealsSky's sporting selections are all represented and available via a Now TV Sky Sports pass, which also has the added benefit of not needing a lengthy and expensive contract commitment. With the Sky's Sports Pass you get access to all 11 Sky Sports channels including: Sky Sports News, Sky Sports Main Event, Sky Sports Cricket, Sky Sports Action, Sky Sports Arena, Sky Sports Golf, Sky Sports F1, Sky Sports Premier League, Sky Sports Football (for Football League, La Liga and more), Sky Sports Mix, and Sky Sports Racing. The monthly pass is usually £33.99 a month but if this seems a bit too expensive you can always get a mobile month pass for £5.99 (although you'll only get five Sky Sports channels). And the mobile pass isn't your only option - if you're just looking to watch one event or you just want to try it out then the day pass at £9.99 or the one week pass for £14.99 might be the one for you. Now TV kids passAt just £3.99 a month, the Kids pass is one of the cheapest of the Now TV subscriptions, and as such, it takes some beating. It features a range of shows such as Peppa Pig, Paw Patrol, SpongeBob SquarePants and plenty more, making it ideal for the little ones. The best news? If you're unsure if you want to get it or not it does offer a seven-day free trial, it has no contract but it does have a rolling monthly membership. As things stand, the cheapest way to get the subscription is to buy it from Now TV directly at the link below. Sign up: for just £3.99 a month Now TV Hayu passIf reality TV is your thing then a mere £3.99 a month Hayu pass is ridiculously hot value for all the reality TV fans out there. We're talking Project Runway, Keeping Up with the Kardashians, all of the Real Housewives saga, The Simple Life and much more! So if you're looking for your reality TV fix this pass is the way to go. Sign up: for just £3.99 a month
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| These new Star Wars Disney Plus rumors sound too good to be true Posted: 03 Jun 2020 09:10 AM PDT The success of The Mandalorian on Disney Plus, coupled to rumors that season 2 of the show will reintroduce key characters from the Star Wars universe, has seemingly sent the rumor mill into overdrive on what's coming next. Two reports from the past few days have focused on possible live-action debuts of other notable Star Wars icons, and they both raise an eyebrow. The first is Grand Admiral Thrawn, a character with a long history in the Star Wars universe. Originally introduced in the Thrawn trilogy of books by Timothy Zahn starting in 1991, the character was then reintroduced into Disney's Star Wars continuity via the animated series Rebels. Zahn has since written more books featuring the character, who's a Star Wars fan favorite villain. According to The DIS Insider (via writer Daniel Richtman), Disney is looking to cast a live-action Thrawn for use in future Star Wars projects, with the report mentioning a rumor that it could be for his own series. And, that's all there is to it. The other recent story comes from The Illuminerdi, which claims Disney is looking to cast a live-action version of Ezra Bridger from the animated series Star Wars: Rebels, played by an actor in their 30s-40s. While the report doesn't cite which project the casting is for, it does suggest the project will be on Disney Plus. Nothing has been said on either matter by Lucasfilm, of course, so treat both as wild rumors and nothing more for now.
Why we're not convincedThere's a whole industry of Star Wars rumors on the internet. Previous reports about Boba Fett and Ahsoka Tano turning up in The Mandalorian season 2 felt more convincing because they came from the Hollywood Reporter, a long-established film industry publication with demonstrably spot-on sources. Indeed, the outlet has a recent confirmed scoop, in that it revealed Russian Doll creator Leslye Headland is making a series for Disney Plus. Lucasfilm then formally announced that series on May the 4th 2020, also known as Star Wars Day. That suggests what we've learned about the cool cameos in The Mandalorian's next set of episodes is pretty airtight. In the case of these newer rumors, we're reticent to believe them. It's not impossible Lucasfilm wants to bring more elements of the wider Star Wars universe to its Disney Plus shows, given that the universe is managed through one unified Lucasfilm Story Group. There are just a lot of stories like this on the internet. Disney Plus already has four confirmed Star Wars series in the works: The Mandalorian, Headland's untitled series and the two spin-off shows focused on Obi-Wan Kenobi and Rogue One's Cassian Andor. This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Best website builder of 2020: Wix, Squarespace, Hostgator, Weebly and more tested and rated Posted: 03 Jun 2020 09:04 AM PDT If you're looking to get online fast, welcome to our choice of the best website builder options of 2020. Website builders have been around for many years, but a new generation now make excellent use of new technologies like responsive and mobile platforms to offer an even better service. The best website builder software allows businesses and individuals to build anything from a single-page site to a professional online store, without the need for any HTML or design experience whatsoever. Whether you're a sole trader or a multinational corporation, just about every business needs an online presence – in other words, a website. A growing number are adding bells and whistles like an email list or form facility, domain name registration and much more. While most cost money, there are also some free website builders available, though they tend to have more limited functionality than ones developed for business use. Additionally, there are website builders that cater specifically for musicians, photographers, and online art portfolios. But here, we'll give you a rundown of the best website builder choices currently available.
More experienced users can customize and fine-tune the design to suit their own needs, or perhaps install a more traditional web design package that allows them to build the perfect site from scratch. There are free options, but these often have major restrictions, including limits on the size of the site and the lack of any ability to use your own domain. Fortunately, the commercial options are very reasonably priced, from around £5/$5 to £10/$10 a month, with hosting included. To help you decide which option is best for your needs, we’ve picked out the cream of the crop: these are the five top best website builder services in the world right now. A popular web hosting choice, Hostgator also has some great website builder capabilities. The Starter plan starts at $3.84 (£3.25) per month for a two-year plan (With our "TECHRADAR" code, you'll pay $3.46 per month). This will get you unmetered storage and bandwidth, unlimited pages, 1-year free domain and hosting, free SSL certificate, $200 ad vouchers and a few other things. The top tier plan will also grant you eCommerce functionality. You’ll have the simple and powerful drag and drop builder at your disposal so you can quickly and easily build your website and you can choose around 30 fully customizable mobile-friendly themes to help you with the website building. Hostgator also gives you analytical tools so you can always check how well your website is performing. Additionally, you’ll have access to live feeds from Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook. All the features work very well and the website builder itself is very simple to operate so even the most non-tech savvy users will have no problem with it. Unfortunately, if you want to create a blog, the features there are lacking when compared to the competition. There is no option to schedule posts and the only comments you can post are the Facebook comments. Still, if you want a simple blog it will be good enough, although more demanding users probably won’t be satisfied. The support is great and it’s available 24/7 with telephone, live chat, or email. Although, to get the best support you’ll need to purchase something other than the Starter plan. All in all, Hostgator’s website builder is an excellent choice for anyone who wants to start making a website and they are quite capable hosting provider too. Wix has more than 100 million registered users Wix is one of the most popular online website creators, offering a range of plans and products. The free version has Wix branding, limited storage space (500MB) and bandwidth, but move up to the most popular plan (unlimited) and there’s no Wix ads. You get unlimited bandwidth (hence its name) and 10GB storage, along with a free domain, Google Ad vouchers and much more. The e-commerce plans start with the "Business Basic" plan with a price of $17 (£13.30) per month. An excellent collection of 500 plus templates gets the design process off to a quick start. The drag-and-drop editor gives you all kinds of tools and features to explore – an image editor, video backgrounds, animations, social buttons, an integrated site blog – and just about everything can be tweaked, tuned and restyled. Furthermore, as of recently, Wix introduced Wix Turbo, which increases the speed and performance of websites substantially. All the core editing functions are really smartly designed, and operate more like a native app than your average website builder. Wix does have some weaknesses, with tech support seeming a little sluggish and limited in some respects. But there’s no denying that the superb editor and range of top-notch templates make it easy for web building novices to create something impressive. Another capable provider, Squarespace’s website builder offers a plethora of features with some gorgeous looking templates. The service is a bit pricey with the cheapest Personal plan is priced at $12 (£10) a month, paid annually. To be fair, you do get a lot of features like SSL security, unlimited bandwidth and storage, SEO features, intelligent image optimization, image and video galleries, performance boosting CDN support, professional web store, a powerful blogging platform, and several others. One of the first things to catch your eye are the templates. They are beautifully designed and easily accessible, as you can switch them at will if you decide later that you don’t like a particular template. The website editor itself is very minimalistic and kinda bland looking, but don’t let that fool you, as there are a bunch of options and features available here. This is because they are only shown when you put your mouse cursor over its individual elements. This will take some time to get used to, but once you do, you’ll appreciate all the features you get. If you encounter any issues Squarespace offers good support and their support team is quite knowledgeable. Apart from their support pages that have FAQs, guides, video tutorials and other support like articles, there is a live chat available on workdays from 4 am to 8 pm EST, and email support is available 24/7. Weebly is one of the few website builders that offer a free hosting tier. Weebly is another big name in the website building world which offers a powerful editor and capable set of features. There’s a free plan, which like Wix limits space to 500MB and imposes ads on your site. However, if you move up to the Professional plan – at $12 (£9.5) a month – the ads and storage limit are dropped, plus you get a free domain, and even support for a web store containing up to 25 products. The supercharged Business plan lets you create sites with unlimited web store products and high-end store features like product reviews and discount coupons, retailing at $25 (£19) a month. The service offers hundreds of professionally-designed web templates, covering just about any site type. The drag-and-drop editor is neatly designed, although you don’t get full control over where you can position elements on the page, and the interface can seem a little cluttered. A further niggle is that there is no global Undo feature. Like Wix, we found tech support was a little wobbly in terms of sluggish responses, but Weebly offers a host of powerful features, some very stylish templates, and easy access to free images for your site is another definite boon. 1&1 IONOS is one of the biggest web hosting companies in the world There’s a lot to like here in terms of a powerful drag-and-drop editor bristling with professional features and highly customizable templates, but at the outset, let’s make it clear that this isn’t the cheapest service around. There’s no free plan (or indeed trial – although there is a 30-day money-back guarantee), and the most basic plan is priced at $5 a month (£5 for UK) (first month is free). That gives you unlimited pages and web space, a simple integrated blog, limited SEO settings, plus website backup and restore, so it’s a touch pricey for what you get. That said, 1&1 IONOS MyWebsite offers a wide range of responsive templates, and an editor which provides loads of potential adjustments and tweaks, all with plenty of visual feedback and context-sensitive menus to help streamline the whole process. What’s clever here is that the top-level stuff is easy to use and understand for beginners, yet expert users can dive more deeply into the menus to really play around and customize elements. You also get your own personal consultant free of charge. Other highly useful features include the ability to point to your old website in order to import media content from there straight into your new site. This could be a huge timesaver for some. There also an e-commerce plan starting at $20 per month. Also considerAs we’ve seen, many a website builder pitch themselves towards novices and making life easy for the less site-savvy out there, but what about experts who want powerful low-level control? Those are the users Voog has in mind. So you don’t get many templates here, for example, and there’s the bare minimum of media support – but what you do get is a compact drag-and-drop editor which does its best to stay out of your way. There are weaknesses here, and the interface is somewhat clunky in respects – and it’s another which lacks a global Undo function – but it has some real power you can drill down into. For example, clicking a text box gives you the option to use bullet-point lists, insert tables or videos, or even edit the HTML source to customize effects. Voog also lets multiple users easily collaborate on a site project, and if you’re after nifty, unusual features like these, you won’t see them elsewhere. The entry-level Standard plan is priced at $8.80 (£7.10) per month (billed annually) and gives you 5GB storage, and all the core features you’ll need, including SSL security (although it’s limited to 30 pages). If you know what you’re doing in terms of website design, and want some true power and customization capabilities, there is a 30-day trial you can check out (no credit card details needed). Jimdo is a somewhat quirky website builder targeted largely at novice users, but it’s well worth your attention for a number of reasons, not the least of which is a free plan which boasts more than the average offering. Yes, there are the usual limitations including adverts, a 500MB storage limit, no custom domain, and very limited SEO. But there are a few features you won't get in other free plans, like a password protected area, for example. The site editor itself is simple and consistent, even if it’s somewhat unconventional in terms of its design. Also, the editor doesn’t have as many functions and features as some rivals. For example, there aren’t that many templates, and the widgets on offer aren’t as plentiful as you might find elsewhere – plus there’s no global Undo (although Jimdo isn’t alone in this respect). Another neat touch is a good web knowledgebase which means help is generally close at hand when it comes to troubleshooting. Overall, this is a compelling product, that is well worth giving a whirl. You might also want to check out our other website hosting buying guides:
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