Saturday, June 20, 2020

Apple : Smart meter installations to be increased across the UK following lockdown

Apple : Smart meter installations to be increased across the UK following lockdown

Smart meter installations to be increased across the UK following lockdown

Posted: 20 Jun 2020 12:25 PM PDT

The British government has set out plans to increase smart meter installation in households across the country. In doing so, the government hopes to cut both energy bills and carbon emissions.

During the first quarter of 2020, domestic installation of smart meters fell by 15 per cent. This was partially because coronavirus-related lockdown restrictions stopped engineers from visiting homes and fitting the systems. 

Some 980,000 smart meters were still installed by large energy suppliers, but this broke a run of 12 consecutive quarters where more than one million smart meters were installed in households across the country.

Now Britain has started to exit lockdown, energy suppliers are beginning to install smart meters again. As of this week, all of the ‘big six’ energy providers have restarted their smart meter operations to some extent. These companies are also joined by OVO, which is the second biggest energy supplier in the UK.

According to the government’s advice, fitting a smart meter in your home could help you save up to £250 on your energy bills. So, with installations restarting, now is a good time to run an online energy comparison and switch to a supplier that's fitting smart meters in your area.

Smart meter benefits

In Britain, 21.5 million smart and advanced meters have already been fitted in homes and small businesses. It's thought that these smart meters will be instrumental in cutting up to £16 billion from the annual cost of reaching net-zero emissions by 2050. 

Plus, the nationwide roll-out of energy meters will also cut carbon emissions by 45 million tonnes, which is the equivalent of taking 26 million cars off the road for a year.

In the shorter term, getting a smart meter fitted in your home is a great way of instantly letting your supplier know if your energy usage changes over time, and your bills can be adjusted immediately to reflect this.

If you still rely on a meter reader visiting your home, your bill may not accurately show how much energy you’ve been using, and you risk receiving a nasty shock further down the line when your bill arrives. With a new smart meter, you can conveniently track your usage and get accurate bills every month. Plus, you can see where you’re using your energy on a daily basis and adjust your habits accordingly to lower your bills.

Smart meters are changing the way many customers use electricity in other ways, too. For example, some suppliers offer cheaper off-peak charging for electric vehicles, while others boost household income by helping renewable energy generators export green energy to the grid. In fact, in some instances, customers on smart tariffs have even been paid to use electricity during windy days when there is excess clean energy in the system.

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Why the Cyberpunk 2077 delay is both good and bad

Posted: 20 Jun 2020 08:30 AM PDT

Cyberpunk 2077 has been delayed twice now. At E3 2019, the game was set for release in April 2020. Earlier this year, that was moved to September 2020. And this week, the game was pushed back until November 2020.

The internet's immediate reaction? This must mean the game is releasing an upgraded version in time for next-gen consoles! But don't get your hopes up. Developer CD Projekt Red previously clarified that the game would look better on next-gen consoles at launch, but that a full next-gen upgrade – while free to owners of the PS4 and Xbox One versions of the game – won't be coming until 2021. That was confirmed this week. 

Instead, the game's delay is down to numerous bug fixes and balance tweaks, which isn't unexpected for an RPG that's seemed unbelievably expansive in scope since the first trailer. It's not particularly surprising that the game had to be moved again, anyway, given the challenges posed to large-scale game development caused by the current health crisis. 

We're not too distraught by the delay. The Witcher 3 has proven to be this generation's defining RPG, in the way Skyrim or Oblivion were in the generation before. More than five years later, it still makes millions for CD Projekt, helped by an enormously popular Netflix show. And Cyberpunk 2077 is set to be its successor, with no other serious RPG contenders set to arrive in the first year of next-gen consoles, based on what we know so far.

We'll play Cyberpunk 2077 to death, we'll dissect its best and worst quests and we'll talk about its characters for years to come. That is, unless it ends up being disappointing, or we play it once and don't really discuss it all that much afterwards, like Fallout 4. 

I saw Cyberpunk 2077 demoed at two E3s, and in both cases I felt like I was looking at the most expensive open-world version of Deus Ex I could possibly imagine. The game promises multiple paths through levels, in-depth customization and a varied world based on the classic pen-and-paper RPG.

I'm looking forward to it, then, but I don't think the delay is only a bad thing. There are a few things to bear in mind with a decision like this. 

Here's one downside

Cyberpunk 2077 is meant to be done by now. In January, CD Projekt's Adam Kicinski admitted that some crunch would be necessary to finish the game. "We try to limit crunch as much as possible, but it is the final stage. We try to be reasonable in this regard, but yes. Unfortunately." 

Well... that final stage will now last for almost a year, rather than the intended three months. On paper, that does not look great at all. I hope those developers find that this delay makes their lives easier, rather than harder. 

Waiting is usually worth it, though

Game delays are extremely common. This year is exceptional in a lot of ways, but even before the pandemic, a whole bunch of games due out this year were pushed back, like The Last of Us Part 2, Final Fantasy 7 Remake and Marvel's The Avengers.  

It's nice when games hit release dates, but when projects the size of Cyberpunk 2077 arrive with a slew of bugs and annoying issues, it's simply a poorer experience. Waiting is always better. 

Timing-wise, it would've been nice to cap off this generation of consoles with Cyberpunk 2077 a few months before the PS5 and Xbox Series X got here. But missing out isn't the end of the world. 

The late summer admittedly looks a little fallow without it for major games, unless you've got a PS4 and you're planning on buying Ghost of Tsushima. If you're a PC player, too, Baldur's Gate 3 may release on Steam Early Access in August, which is another potential threat to your spare time. Everyone else can check out Marvel's Avengers on September 4.

This is just going to be a strange year for games

We've got a few major reveals coming up this summer, like Ubisoft's live stream and Microsoft's reveal of its first-party games in July. But it's hard not to see the second half of this year as being a little depleted, based on what we know about it. The PS5 is likely going to launch with Spider-Man: Miles Morales, but seemingly without any other major in-house exclusives. 

We'd argue, then, that whenever Cyberpunk 2077 does come out, it won't have to fight for people's attention. It also doesn't matter that it's a last-gen game launching at the same time as the new consoles without a next-gen edition to match. 

It's fully backwards compatible with PS5 and Xbox Series X, for one. But it's worth remembering that the last generation started just after GTA 5 released on the older PS3 and Xbox 360 consoles, and it was undoubtedly still the biggest event of that year regardless.

Even if Cyberpunk 2077 got delayed again until 2021, it would still be worth waiting for. Whatever's best for the game – as well as the people making it – is actually what matters here. 

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Google's upcoming AirDrop rival could work on desktop and mobile

Posted: 20 Jun 2020 07:30 AM PDT

We've known for a while that Google is working on an Android feature known as Nearby Share (previously Fast Share), for easy device-to-device file transfers in the style of Apple's AirDrop. Now it looks as though the feature will be coming to desktop computers too, courtesy of the Chrome browser.

Some detailed digging into Chromium (Chrome's software foundation) by XDA Developers has revealed references to the Nearby Share feature, though it's not clear at this stage exactly how it would be implemented.

It's not official until it's official – Google's plans can change, after all – but that should mean users will be able to quickly share files between Android devices and Chrome on Windows, macOS and Linux as well.


And the feature has been a long time coming: Google engineers have been working on this for at least a couple of years, before Android 10 came out. A similar feature called Android Beam was discontinued before that version of the mobile OS was released.

It seems probable that we'll hear about Nearby Share at some point before Android 11 officially launches later this year – Google has already been teasing the feature's arrival with hints in videos for Android developers.

As yet there's no sign of it in the Android 11 public beta, but the full version of the operating system won't be out for a few months yet. It's likely that Google is keeping quite a few new features up its sleeves, metaphorically speaking.

When Nearby Share does arrive, we think it will use both Bluetooth and device-to-device Wi-Fi to send files from one phone to another (or one computer to another). It will have to go some way to match AirDrop, which is usually speedy and hassle-free.

While we wait for more news on Nearby Share and on the roll out of Android 11 in general, we'll continue to keep you posted on information that does appear – like the recycle bin hidden in the new OS, or support for the Microsoft Surface Duo.

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I wouldn't bet on an Nvidia GeForce RTX 3090 appearing

Posted: 20 Jun 2020 07:30 AM PDT

Recently, rumors surrounding the next Nvidia graphics cards have been everywhere, and it's extremely likely that we're going to see new ones before the year draws to a close. However, while some of the rumors surrounding the Nvidia GeForce RTX 3080 and other potential graphics cards like it seem extremely solid, others skew to the ridiculous side of the spectrum. 

There is one particular Nvidia Ampere rumor that keeps appearing that gets my attention, however: a supposed Nvidia GeForce RTX 3090. But here's the thing: it's probably not going to happen. 

It'd be easy to just point at the Nvidia Turing lineup and say "hey, there was no RTX 2090, so there won't be an RTX 3090", but it runs a bit deeper than that. So, let's do a nice bit of deconstruction.

Back to the 90s

The last Nvidia graphics card we got with the xx90 name was the Nvidia GeForce GTX 690 all the way back in 2012. The 690, just like the GTX 590 before it, was a dual-GPU card, which basically meant that users could have a sick SLI configuration while only taking up one PCIe slot. 

Nvidia wasn't alone in releasing graphics cards like this back then, as AMD was in on the action too. The AMD Radeon HD 7990, for instance, came out in 2013, and was probably the last dual-GPU card that could be considered mainstream – with products like the R9 295x2 being way too expensive for everyday users to even consider. 

It's not a coincidence that Nvidia dropped the xx90 naming scheme after the 690, either. It wasn't Nvidia's last dual-GPU card, that honor would go to the Nvidia Titan Z, but again, that card, along with the rest of the Titan lineup, is meant for creative workloads, rather than gaming. 

Some may point to the AMD Radeon RX 590, of course, as that GPU launched just a few years ago. But again, that card was essentially just an AMD Radeon RX 580 with faster memory and an overclock. 

If you want to know more about the history of these dual GPU graphics cards, here's a video from Tech Showdown that goes into some pretty exhaustive detail, going all the way back to the Voodoo II:

That single GPU life

Since the AMD Radeon HD 7990 and Nvidia GeForce GTX 690, it seems like any dual GPUs that came out were separate from the main graphics card lineup from either GPU manufacturer, and there's definitely a reason for that. 

I reached out to Nvidia and it told me that the question ultimately boils down to diminishing returns. I was told that "dual GPUs are expensive to produce and require adequate cooling and thermal/acoustics. There’s also a limited market for them." 

The best graphics cards are already getting more and more expensive – you just have to look at the Nvidia GeForce RTX 2080 Ti for evidence of that. That graphics card launched at $1,199 (£1,099, AU$1,899), with a whopping 250W TDP. Nvidia even had to adopt a dual-fan design with its Founders Edition cards with this generation, and in our testing, temperatures still get super-hot. 

But, it's a bit more complicated than "it's expensive and hot". Games are built differently then they were a decade ago, and with the advent of DirectX 12, the onus is on developers to bake in support for multi-GPU configurations. 

When I asked Nvidia about this I was told "SLI was a huge hit for us when we launched it 16 years ago. At that time however, there were no APIs to support game scaling, so NVIDIA did all of the heavy lifting in our software drivers." In fact, SLI was even successful and "folks were eager to pair two GPUs in their system using the SLI bridge. A dual GPU like the 690, is essentially the same thing, just on a single PCB (board)."

But because of the change in software support, things have changed, and that comes from APIs changing from implicit mGPU support to explicit mGPU support. With the former, multi GPU support came down to Nvidia: it would update graphics drivers with profiles for different games, making sure that SLI configurations worked well. However, with explicit mGPU, that shifts over to the game developers, who have to bake support straight into the game engine – while Nvidia still has to do a lot of heavy lifting on its end, too. 

So, as Nvidia puts it: "explicit mGPU is rarely worth the time for the developer since the scaling result isn’t worth the investment. Plus, as our GPUs have become more powerful, and capable of doing 4K over 60fps as an example, there’s really no compelling reason to build a card with two GPUs."

It's impossible to completely rule out a future dual-GPU card entirely, but it doesn't seem very likely that we'll see one again in the near future, at least until 8K gaming becomes a thing, which will probably be a long time. 

Does it have to be dual GPU?

Now that we're back in the world of speculation, it's possible that Nvidia will just put out a single-GPU card with xx90 branding and call it a day. I don't think that's going to happen either. 

One of my colleagues pointed out the Intel Core i9-9900K and AMD Ryzen 9 3900X as an example, saying that could point to a shift in the components industry to having the number "9" as branding. But I think there's some important context missing here. 

Now, this is entirely my interpretation of the Coffee Lake Refresh release, but the Core i9-9900K appeared after AMD Ryzen 2nd generation processors like the Ryzen 7 2700X started threatening Intel's long standing desktop superiority. 

The Intel Core i9 branding was around before that, but only on HEDT processors like the Intel Core i9-7980XE – there was no 8th-generation X-series chips... oops. However, when faced with AMD's rising competition and a manufacturing process that was – and still is – stagnant, Intel had to bring in the big guns with the Core i9-9900K. 

And, in turn, AMD responded with the AMD Ryzen 9 3900X and the Ryzen 9 3950X, both of which remain unchallenged by Intel nearly a full year after Ryzen 3000's initial launch. 

While the Core i9 and Ryzen 9 branding is probably here to stay, that moment hasn't really happened in the graphics card market yet. AMD RDNA 2 is somewhere off on the horizon promising to bring ray tracing and 4K gaming to AMD Radeon users, but it's not here yet. Assuming both AMD and Nvidia are dropping new graphics cards this year, Nvidia doesn't really have much of a reason to shift up that branding. 

The biggest rumor pointing to the RTX 3090 revolves around the idea that there will be three graphics cards using the top-end GA102 GPU, but, like Nvidia Titan is a thing. If I had to just guess what those three graphics cards would be, I'd suggest an RTX 3080 Ti, and if anything two Titan cards. 

Nvidia has been going all-in on creators over the last couple years, especially with its RTX Studio program, so my money is still on one halo flagship gaming card, with any other GA102 GPUs – if that's even what it's called – being reserved for pro-level Nvidia Titan graphics cards. 

Still, this is all speculation. So, if this is wrong, Nvidia – prove it. 

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New Pokémon Snap is the killer app Nintendo Labo VR desperately needs – here's why

Posted: 20 Jun 2020 07:29 AM PDT

It’s been a big week for Pokémon games. On top of updates to Pokémon Go (Gigantamaxing!), a new puzzle game called Pokémon Cafe, and some sort of toothbrush AR game we can’t explain, Nintendo deigned to announce what we’ve really been after all these years: a Pokémon Snap sequel.

With up-to-date graphics on the Nintendo Switch, and eight whole generations of Pokémon to populate a Snap safari, it’s never been a better time to bring back Pokémon Snap – an awe-inspiring game on Nintendo 64 that tasked you with photographing Pokémon along rivers, beaches, jungle paths, and even the moon.

The real trump card for New Pokémon Snap, though, may be in the form of Nintendo Labo’s VR camera.

Released in 2019, Nintendo Labo VR was a kind of VR starter kit, using hand-assembled cardboard accessories to create virtual reality goggles and a number of peripherals to help you immerse yourself directly in the action (Blaster, Bird, Wind Pedal, Elephant – you know, the classics!).

But the VR camera accessory showcases a perfect opportunity for New Pokémon Snap, enabling players to take snapshots of their favorite pocket monsters in the wild with something more tangible and, you know, camera-like than the tablet-shaped Switch console.

While some aspects of the VR kit were less fleshed out than others – and playing Zelda in VR was simply a terrible idea – the VR camera was really a delight to use. 

Everything from peering into the camera, to the satisfying click of cardboard as we adjusted the zoom, was brilliantly immersive, even if we had only a few ways to make use of the camera – taking photos of fish, mainly – in the Labo VR Kit.

If there was one thing holding the VR Kit back, it was a lack of killer apps to really make all that crafting and building feel worthwhile. With a beloved IP like New Pokémon Snap to tie it to, Labo VR could get a whole new lease of life, and it would be a huge waste not to let the two products enhance each other.

Bundle it in, Nintendo

It’s fully possible that we’ll see Nintendo add functionality for the Labo VR Camera, though we expect it might come as a later update some time after launch.

The real victory would be getting the camera accessory bundled in with the game itself, as a re-purposed peripheral focused entirely on New Pokémon Snap – say with a Poké-centric design or different color options.

Avid fans and nostalgia junkies such as us ourselves will no doubt flock to this game regardless, but leveraging Labo’s existing camera peripheral could be the difference between might-buy and must-buy for so many players. And if Nintendo isn’t making it the best photojournalist experience they can, what really is the point of the remake?

This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now

iOS 14 update release date, beta, features, leaks and supported devices

Posted: 20 Jun 2020 07:27 AM PDT

iOS 14 is almost official, and this coming Monday (June 22) is expected to be the big day where we'll hear about it with the software likely being announced as part of Apple's WWDC 2020 event.

That's not when it will land on your iPhone though. It's likely just to be when we'll officially hear about many of the key features and upgrades that should land later in 2020.

We don't know anything official yet, but there are plenty of leaks and rumors about iOS 14 - or iPhone OS 14, if some rumors are to be believed - that we've collected together below. We can also make some educated guesses considering rumors for the upcoming iPhone 12.

Some of these are obvious, like support for 5G should Apple finally decide to release a 5G iPhone that works with the next-gen phone networks. If there's somehow an Apple foldable, well, iOS 14 will have software to make that work, too.

Below we've put together all of the leaks and rumors for the new software so far, plus a little bit of what we want to see the new software do too.

Cut to the chase

  • What is it? Apple's next big phone update
  • When is it out? Late September, unveiled in June
  • How much will it cost? Absolutely nothing

iOS 14 release date and beta schedule

iOS 13

We're not expecting iOS 14 to look drastically different to iOS 13 (above)

Given last year’s big iOS updates came out on September 19, one day before the then new iPhone line, we’re guessing that iOS 14 will launch in late September 2020. That will be just in time for the launch of the iPhone 12 family, which will be the first phones to get the next iOS. 

Assuming Apple follows prior years, it will likely unveil iOS 14 at its WWDC 2020 conference. That's set to take place virtually this year - due to the Covid-19 pandemic - and it'll be starting on June 22. 

Apple has confirmed it's hosting a virtual keynote on June 22 at 10AM PT / 1PM ET / 6PM BST so we'd expect it to be unveiled then.

Apple usually releases an initial developer beta the same day, so it may do the same in 2020. The first public beta will likely follow later in the month, and will accordingly get new betas after the developer versions.

Whether you want to use this on your phone will come down to whether you're fine with having any software problems over the coming months. The public beta can often be temperamental, so you may want to wait until September for the final edition.

iOS 14 or iPhone OS?

A new leak days before the big WWDC 2020 event threw a spanner in the works and suggested that Apple may be switching its naming structure for iOS 14 and returning to the name iPhone OS.

For its first three years of making mobile phones, Apple referred to the mobile software as iPhone OS. That all changed in June 2010 when Apple got the trademark for iOS for the first time and began using it from iOS 4 onward.

Although there's little evidence to suggest the switch to iPhone OS apart from this leak, it would make sense for Apple to do this. It would sit alongside iPadOS 14 and watchOS 7 as its software naming and it'd make things far clearer for a mainstream audience. 

Will your iPhone get iOS 14?

While Apple didn’t leave any phones behind when it introduced iOS 12, the most recent jump to iOS 13 made up for it by stranding two generations of iPhone handsets – anything older than the iPhone 6S or original iPhone SE.

However, current rumors suggest that all phones able to run iOS 13 will also support iOS 14. We first heard that back in January, and then again in June. So that's our best guess for now, which will be a relief to many who don't want to upgrade their phone.

Having said that, we would say it's questionable whether the original iPhone SE will get the iOS 14 update, given that the company has now launched a new iPhone SE. If this rumor is true, we'd expect the following devices to get the upgrade:

We expect to hear about the full compatibility list at WWDC 2020 on June 22, so you'll know if you need to upgrade your phone to be able to get iOS 14 by the end of this month.

iOS 14 interface

  • Apple looks set to make big changes to the iPhone home screen
  • It may work in a similar way to your Apple Watch
  • Widgets may become a feature in iOS 14

Now, let's move into the features you can expect in iOS 14. iOS and iPadOS support widgets up to a point, but based on early code snippets it looks like you might be able to add widgets to your home screens in iOS 14 as well. At the moment though, sources say the feature could be still be scrapped.

Other leaks suggest that more wallpaper options will be added in iOS 14 as well, so you'll be able to add dynamic, flat and gradient options. We've also seen a sneak peek at what some of the new wallpapers in iOS 14 will look like.

In other interface news, this leaked video (below) supposedly shows an internal build of iOS 14, and as you can see it sports a new app switcher layout that's similar to the one on iPadOS.

Rather than the current switcher that fans apps out like a deck of cards, this one shows four per screen with a smaller image of each. There's also (as part of the leak but not in the video) the suggestion that users might be able to choose between these two layouts, among others.

However, we'd take all of this with a pinch of salt. The leak might not be genuine and even if it is, the presence of a feature in an internal build doesn't mean it will be available in the finished version - Apple might just be trying it out.

iPhone 11 review

How apps look in iOS 13 on the iPhone 11

Apple might also let you better tailor your phone to the apps you use. It tends to put its own apps first, but with iOS 14 you might be able to set third-party options as defaults.

That could let you for example have Google Chrome be the default browser that opens web links in place of Safari, or have Gmail replace Mail. According to Bloomberg these changes are simply being discussed, so it remains to be seen whether this will happen.

If this were to happen, this would be a big deal for all iOS users and may make using alternatives like Chrome far easier.

iOS 14 fitness

  • A new dedicated Fitness app for iPhone is rumored
  • There may be improved sleep tracking features too

Apple has put a big focus on health and fitness in recent years. Mostly that's happened through the Apple Watch, but the iPhone could be getting in on the action too, with a new fitness app - possibly just called 'Fit' or 'Fitness'.

Apple Watch 4

MacRumors claims this is a standalone app that would offer guided fitness-related videos to walk users through workouts.

The site reports that these videos - which would apparently cover indoor running, cycling, rowing, stretching, core training, strength training, outdoor walking, dance, and yoga - could be viewed on an iPhone, iPad or Apple TV, and your progress through each routine could be tracked with an Apple Watch.

Sleep tracking is heavily rumored to be introduced in watchOS 7 for the Apple Watch and may debut on the Apple Watch 6. It might be added to the Health app for iPhone too, if rumors of the Apple Watch getting sleep tracking pan out.

iOS 14 apps

  • Third-party apps are rumored to be improved
  • Lots of improvements to the Messages app
  • Plus some apps may work without you installing them

For one thing, code spotted in an early iOS 14 build suggests you won't have to install apps to use some of their features.

For example, you might be able to watch a YouTube video without having YouTube installed, but mentions of Yelp, DoorDash, OpenTable and PS4 Second Screen have also been seen in the code.

This could save you clogging up your phone with apps you rarely use, or simply give you an opportunity to try an app before committing to a download.

Apple might also be adding all sorts of new features to the Messages app as part of iOS 14. According to information obtained by MacRumors, the company is testing a feature that would let you tag participants in a group chat, so you could mute a conversation and still get notifications when you're mentioned.

Other features being tested apparently include the ability to retract messages after sending them, typing indicators, and the ability to mark messages as unread, even after opening them.

However, the site notes that these features may land later than iOS 14, if they land at all.

iPhone 11 Pro Max

The iPhone 11 Pro Max

Beyond the above, a number of other apps might get tweaked or improved as part of iOS 14.

An early build of iOS 14 that 9to5Mac have used includes a translation feature that allows you to translate an entire Safari web page without being connected to the internet.

It also allows you to see the translation alongside the original text without reloading the web page. It's also expected that this feature may make its way to other apps in the Apple ecosystem too, with one example being the App Store so you can read reviews in a variety of languages.

Rumors via 9to5Mac talk for example of a Kids Mode being added to the activity app, which would replace burned calorie tracking with movement tracking.

There's also talk that CarPlay could get custom wallpapers, CarKey could be added to let you use your phone to lock, unlock, and start a car, Find My could offer alerts when someone doesn't arrive somewhere when they're meant to, as well as additional sounds and vibrations to help you find lost gadgets, and Shot on iPhone photo challenges could be added directly to the Photos app.

There's also evidence that Apple is working on a new QR code format that would use colored cones.

Another leak suggests there may be a dedicated Apple AirTags app landing in iOS 14 too. This would be the place where you'd be able to track your products using the long-rumored location tags that Apple may be unveiling soon.

iOS 14 Siri

The way Siri sounds is currently completely down to Apple, but MacRumors reports that Apple is exploring the ability for developers to use custom voice synthesizers to change it.

iOS 14


This feature would apparently be provided through a new framework called VoiceProvider, and could land as part of iOS 14.

It could allow for the addition of languages and dialects that Apple doesn't currently support, as well, potentially, as allowing for custom Siri voices.

iOS 14 security

According to 9to5Mac, Apple is working on improvements to iCloud Keychain, including the ability for it to warn users when they re-use passwords. The service could also add two-factor authentication support. With these changes, it could become a strong alternative to the likes of LastPass.

A call recording feature was also rumored to be landing in iOS 14, but the latest leaks suggest it will actually just be a feature for internal debugging. That means it's very unlikely to land in the public build of iOS 14.

iOS 14 other features

  • There may be features to prepare for 5G
  • Some rumors suggest ARKit improvements are coming
  • Plus we may see some preparation for Apple Glasses

One thing we're sure to see is 5G. In fact, this might be the easiest feature to guess Apple will bring to the operating system in 2020.

Unfortunately, as we’ve seen with other 5G phones, this feature can’t be retroactively applied to older iPhones - hooking up to 5G networks requires a particular type of modem and compatible processors. Only the newest phones with the latest top-tier chipsets and modems have been capable of harnessing 5G.

In other news, Apple may be planning to release AR glasses sometime in 2020 alongside a 5G iPhone, according to a Bloomberg report. These Apple Glasses may initially serve as an iPhone accessory running through iOS to display text messages and map directions, though that could grow over time to run their own proprietary apps from a dedicated AR glasses store - and perhaps become a standalone successor to the iPhone itself.

Before that happens, though, Apple’s AR glasses would need a killer app as its raison d’etre - or rather, reason for buying, as the lukewarm reception to Google Glasses and even Snapchat Spectacles 2 can tell us. Heck, even Amazon is couching its new Amazon Echo Frames behind an experimental product line to soften any hype. 

But given the years of experience developers have had with Apple’s ARKit, it wouldn’t be surprising if 2020 was the year we see Apple branch out to smart spectacles - and iOS 14 could support it.

Having said that, some reports suggest Apple Glass won't be available until 2021 or later, so don't count on it.

What we want to see in iOS 14

We may now know lots of rumored iOS 14 features, but before we heard about them we put together a list of features we'd like to see. You can still read those below:

1. Smart composition

These days, everyone’s doing business on their phones, including sending emails at all hours. So why can’t we insert links into text in iOS’ Mail client? Or in third-party mail clients like Gmail?

This isn’t just a convenience issue - inserting links just looks more professional. When responding to clients or simply wanting to save space it would be great to give the impression that we’re responding from desks - and not filling our messages with eyesores like full links. 

2. Smarter spam calls filter

While iOS 13 introduced the capability to detect and block spam phone calls, it isn’t too smart. Silence Unknown Callers, as it’s termed, does exactly that - completely blocking any number not from your contact list and sending it straight to voicemail. 

That’s a good start, but a bit of a strong measure that isn’t too useful for folks with incoming calls from new business contacts or Tinder dates.

Instead, it would be great to see smarter alerts that indicate probable spam calls, as some carriers have started doing and some third-party App Store apps do – for a price. Then it would be nice to have different levels of filtering - light blocking for only the most obvious spam numbers all the way up to aggressive filtering of any call that even has a chance of being a scam.

3. Foldables support

This is a bit of a stretch since we haven’t heard anything about a foldable iPhone. Oh, Apple is almost surely experimenting with the tech deep in its R&D labs, but without a planned model in the works, it’s unlikely iOS 14 will go to the effort of supporting foldables.

This is in stark contrast with Android, which introduced foldables support with Android 10 just in time for the Samsung Galaxy Fold public release. Apple is on its own timeline, and there’s no rush to add the capability in its operating system before they have a model on the way.

This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now

WWDC 2020 keynote date, leaks and what we expect from Apple’s big show

Posted: 20 Jun 2020 07:20 AM PDT

Apple's big WWDC 2020 conference is set to start on Monday (June 22) and we're expecting to hear lots about new software at the show including iOS 14, iPadOS 14, macOS 10.16 and watchOS 7.

To give it its full name, the conference is Apple's Worldwide Developers Conference and for 2020 the event will be online-only owing to the Covid-19 pandemic. You'll be able to watch the keynote live for free, as in previous years.

WWDC is primarily a software based show, but it's possible that we'll see new hardware at the event too. There may be new Mac hardware, plus we're expecting to hear more about the long rumored Apple AirTags as well.

Apple has already introduced us to the iPhone SE 2020, new iPad Pro and even the new MacBook Pro this year, so our current bet is that we won't see a huge amount of hardware surprises.

Excited for Apple's big show? Below we've put together all of the details you need to know about the event including the start time, key dates and what we're expecting to hear about on June 22.

Cut to the chase

  • What is it? Apple's next big launch event
  • When is it? Starts June 22 and runs until June 26
  • How much will it cost to watch? It's free

When is the WWDC 2020 keynote?

WWDC 2020


Apple has confirmed WWDC is set to start on June 22. We're not hugely surprised as this show often takes place in June, but it's a little later in the year this year and it's thought that's due to the move to an online-only format rather than a physical event.

Want to watch the main keynote? It starts on Monday, June 22 at 10AM PT / 1PM ET / 6PM BST or 3AM AEST on June 23. This main keynote is set to be the highlight of the event, and then there's an entire week for developers to dig into the details of the new operating systems further.

It runs until June 26, and if you're a developer you can tune in to a variety of events for free. Previously, you've had to pay $1,599 (around £1,284 / AU$2477) per ticket but as it's an online-only event WWDC is free in 2020. Remember this is online-only though, and you'll need specific credentials to join in away from the main keynote.

They'll be able to access the event through the Apple Developer Program app – developers who want to tune in can start there or use the program's website. If you're just looking to tune into the main keynote, that'll be easy to watch and you won't need a developer account.

What we expect to see at WWDC 2020

As WWDC is focused on software, the most likely announcements are all software related, but there’s a significant amount of hardware that is rumored and could make an appearance too.

We've put together a bit on each of the updates and products we're expecting to see at the event. Bear in mind all of this is based on rumors and leaks, so there's no gurantee we'll see all of this unveiled..

iOS 14 and iPadOS 14

WWDC 2020

This is what iOS 13 looks like on iPhone

While we’re not certain that all the things below will make an appearance at WWDC 2020, iOS 14 and iPadOS 14 seem like safe bets, since Apple has a long history of announcing new mobile software at the event.

That said, this isn’t when the finished versions of the software will land on phones and tablets. Rather, Apple will likely announce many of the key features and changes, and release an early developer build.

This, while aimed at developers, will likely be accessible to users willing to jump through a few hoops, though a public beta will probably follow soon after anyway, with the finished software likely launching in late September alongside the iPhone 12.

New features coming in iOS 14 include a dedicated fitness app, a variety of new messaging features and performance improvements. 

There haven't been many leaks of features this year, so we're quietly hoping for some big surprises on June 22. Plus, one bold rumor has even suggested it may be renamed iPhone OS to better reflect the fact it's now only available on your phone.

watchOS 7

Apple Watch 5

watchOS 6 on the Apple Watch 5

We’re also very likely to get our first official look at watchOS 7 during WWDC 2020, though as with iOS 14 it probably won’t be finished and launched before late September, where it might land alongside the Apple Watch 6.

Rumors are few and far between for watchOS 7, but some leaks suggest we'll be getting improved sleep tracking features for your Apple Watch with a compatible app that sits on your iPhone too.

There may also be new features for children to have their own Apple Watch device (think parental controls, and more) as well as blood pressure monitoring. 

macOS 10.16

macOS Catalina

macOS Catalina on a MacBook

It’s not just mobile software that we’ll likely get a look at during WWDC, the next version of macOS is also likely to be unveiled. 

We don’t know all that much about macOS 10.16 yet, but going by previous releases it – like the other software on show – will probably get revealed at WWDC 2020 but not fully launch until at least September.

Current rumors point toward a built-in translator app to the Safari application and there may be improvements to iCloud Keychain and the Messages app. These seem to be similar to the iOS 14 leaks, but instead this is for your Mac.

New Mac hardware

MacBook Pro (16-inch, 2019)

We’ve mentioned that new Mac software is likely to be announced at WWDC. Well, new Mac hardware is as well. At WWDC 2019 we got the Mac Pro. At WWDC 2020 we could potentially see a new MacBook Air, MacBook Pro, or refreshed versions of any of Apple’s other desktop or laptop hardware.

In fact, one big rumor suggests a new Apple iMac with an AMD Navi GPU is set to debut at the show.

Perhaps the biggest rumor of all is a source saying Apple may use WWDC to announce its plans to ditch Intel processors for its future Macs. That'd be a big step for Apple, and this information comes from people directly familiar with the matter.

That's unlikely to impact any products introduced in 2020, but it's be a major change for next year's Mac range.

New Apple AirPods

airpods studio

A mockup of the AirPods Studio by EverythingApplePro.

Rumors of not one, not two, but three new Apple AirPod models have been circling for a while now – and any one of them could feasibly launch at WWDC 2020. 

We think the pair most likely to surface are the so-called Apple AirPods Studio, which are said to be the first-ever Apple over-ear headphones. 

We've also heard murmurs of the AirPods Pro Lite , which will apparently be an entry-level version of the noise-cancelling AirPods Pro, while the AirPods 3 are the anticipated follow-up to the original AirPods – which saw their last upgrade in 2019. 

Apple HomePod 2

Apple HomePod

The original Apple HomePod

Apple is likely working on a new HomePod, with some reports suggesting that it could be a more compact one, possibly launching as the HomePod Mini.

But whether the HomePod Mini or HomePod 2, there’s a good chance a new model will land in 2020, and WWDC 2020 is a likely venue for the announcement, especially as the original HomePod was announced at a WWDC (though it didn’t hit stores until a long time later).

Apple AirTags

Tile Pro

The Tile Pro may have competition from AirTags

Apple AirTags are a long rumored product that would be seen as a rival to Tile. If you don't know what Tile products are, they essentially tag your belongings (think your keys or your purse) and allow you to track their location.

One report in May even suggested that Apple AirTags will be announced at WWDC 2020, so it may be finally time to see the location tracking software and hardware unveiled.

We've seen some leaks suggest iOS 14 may be getting its very own AirTags app, so it'd make sense for Apple to introduce these at WWDC 2020 rather than later in the year.

Apple TV and tvOS 14

Mention of a new Apple TV 4K model was recently found in tvOS software, so a new Apple TV could be on the way, and it’s possible it will land at WWDC.

Whether or not new hardware does though, there’s also a high chance that new software will, in the form of tvOS 14, especially given that tvOS 13 was shown off at WWDC 2019, followed by a launch in September.

Apple AirPower

Apple AirPower

What AirPower looked like in 2017

This is possibly the entry we're least confident about on this list, but there have been rumors in the lead up to WWDC that suggest we may see the return of Apple's AirPower charging mat.

Despite just being a wireless charger, Apple has struggled with the development of this product since it was first unveiled in 2017 alongside the iPhone X. Many reported it had been cancelled, but some recent information suggests that isn't the case.

A variety of new leaks about AirPower have surfaced, and it may be that these have reared their heads because it'll land at WWDC. We'll have to wait for June 22 to know for certain.

  • Later in the year, we're expecting the iPhone 12

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FIFA 21 will support free PS5 and Xbox Series X upgrades through Dual Entitlement

Posted: 20 Jun 2020 07:06 AM PDT

EA has announced that FIFA 21 will launch on PC, PlayStation 4 and Xbox One on October 9 2020, sliding it in at the tail end of the current console generation. Fortunately for those fans who are currently thinking more about the next-generation PS5 and Xbox Series X, FIFA 21 will be a part of EA's new Dual Entitlement scheme.

With Dual Entitlement, players who purchase FIFA 21 on PS4 or Xbox One will be able to upgrade to the corresponding next-generation version free of charge. Basically, it sounds like EA's version of Xbox Smart Delivery.

At the moment, EA hasn’t confirmed a release date for the PS5 and Xbox Series X versions of FIFA 21—news on that will be coming later in the year—but the free upgrade will be available from the release of FIFA 21 later this year until the release of FIFA 22 sometime in 2021. 

Rules to follow

In an FAQ, EA has detailed some rules around the upgrade that need to be followed but they appear to be fairly straightforward, the most important being that you can only upgrade from Xbox One to Xbox Series X or from PS4 to PS5—there’s no crossing platforms here. 

EA also notes those who pick up a physical copy of FIFA 21 on PS4 or Xbox One will need to put the disc into their next-gen console in order to be able to download the upgrade and play the game. So, if you pick up a physical copy of FIFA 21 for PS4, you’ll need to opt for the PS5 that has a disc drive.  

If you’re planning to go disc-less with your next-gen purchase, you just need to make sure that you buy FIFA 21 digitally in this generation as “physical discs cannot currently be used to upgrade to disc-less consoles”.

After you’ve downloaded your next-gen upgrade, you’ll still be able to play on PS4 and Xbox One, though if EA’s promises of “blazing fast load times, deferred lighting and rendering, enhanced animation technology, off-ball humanisation, and more” bear fruit, you may not want to. 

According to EA, any progress you make or content you buy in FIFA 21 Ultimate Team and any progress made in Volta will transfer from current to next-gen and back again. 

Any progress made in modes like Online Seasons, Co-Op Seasons, Career Mode and Pro Clubs, however, “will be specific to the console you are playing on and won’t transfer between consoles.”

As far as cross-play is concerned for FIFA in the next-generation, EA has no exciting announcements to make, writing “allowing our players to play against each other on whichever platform they play is a long-term goal of ours. At this moment we don’t have any news, but we’re continuing to investigate its integration and will share any updates when we have them.”

This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now

New iPhone 12 release date, leaks, price, news and everything you need to know

Posted: 20 Jun 2020 07:03 AM PDT

Apple's iPhone 12 and iPhone 12 Pro are very likely to be just a matter of months away, and while the company often unveils its handsets in September it may be that the release date is slightly different for the new iPhone.

The Covid-19 pandemic may impact the iPhone 12 release date and while a variety of sources debate whether there will be a delay, and how long it will be if there is one, we're expecting to at least see the iPhone 12 range this year.

We're set to learn about the software the phones will run very soon as it's likely iOS 14 will be unveiled at WWDC 2020 that starts on Monday, June 22. We're also expecting to hear about iPadOS 14, watchOS 7 and maybe even Apple AirTags.

There will still be plenty to look forward to later in the year though, with the upcoming iPhone range likely be larger than normal, with four phones rumored, up from the three unveiled in 2019.

There's the iPhone 12, iPhone 12 Pro, and iPhone 12 Pro Max, all of which would be direct successors to the iPhone 11 range, but then we're also hearing talk of an iPhone 12 Max - a big screen handset without the Pro credentials.

And it's not just the number of phones that might change; the new iPhone is also expected to have the biggest design changes since the iPhone X eliminated the home button and introduced a notch back in 2017.

A lot of the core details you need to know about the iPhone 12 series have leaked already, and while the information may not be confirmed we have a clear idea of the specs, design, camera details, price and more.

We're also keeping this article constantly updated with all the latest new iPhone 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 key details

  • What is it? The new range of iPhone products from Apple
  • When is it out? Maybe September, but could be delayed
  • What will it cost? We expect $649 / £700 / AU$1,200 and up

When will the iPhone 12 come out?

The exact iPhone 12 release date is a confusing topic; nothing has been made official yet, but we're almost certain Apple will be unveiling its new iPhones before the end of 2020.

September is likely to be when Apple unveils all four products, and in past years it has often been the second week of the month. It's almost always unveiled on a Tuesday, and we'd put our money on it being revealed on either September 8 or September 15.

In previous years, you've then been able to pick up the phone for yourself 10 days later. That'd mean it may land on September 18 or September 25, but that's looking less and less likely.

We can't be as confident of these dates as in previous years as there is a good chance that the Covid-19 pandemic has had a serious impact on the production of the next iPhone.

The latest rumors suggest the iPhone 12 will be finishing its final testing by the end of June, and it'll enter mass production in July. That may still mean it's ready to go on sale in September, but it may be limited to only certain models.

New iPhone 12

The iPhone 11 Pro Max

A recent release date rumor suggests November is likely, but we may see the phone unveiled beforehand. An exec at Broadcom (which is expected to supply iPhone 12 components) has also suggested a delay is likely, while one report in The Wall Street Journal also suggested production of the iPhone 12 has been delayed by around a month.

Some sources even say it could slip into 2021 with Reuters also claiming a delay could be likely.

All of this said - we've also heard reports that 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.

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.

That's backed up by one rumor suggesting that antenna designs have been changed on the iPhone 12 Pro and iPhone 12 Pro Max to better implement mmWave 5G technology and that has added to the delay.

The whole situation is very unclear right now. We'd say you should expect Apple to unveil the iPhone 12 in September - although we can't gurantee that - but it may be a little longer to wait to be able to buy the handset you want to.

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, and from what we're hearing it's likely to stay broadly in line with 2019's iPhone range.

For reference, 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.

Prices for the next iPhone range probably won't be exactly the same though, as you can see in the chart below, which contains information taken from one big leak from YouTuber and prolific leaker Jon Prosser. He apparently got this pricing information from a source close to Apple, so it could well be accurate.

Model128GB256GB512GB
iPhone 12$649$749Not an option
iPhone 12 Max$749$849Not an option
iPhone 12 Pro$999$1,099$1,299
iPhone 12 Pro Max$1,099$1,199$1,399

There's no clear information about prices for the UK or Australia, but we'd expect those too to broadly fall in line with last year's models if the information above is accurate. That would mean a cheaper starting price for the basic model, among some other differences, but nothing drastic.

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 the prices 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?

Most leaks are now suggesting the iPhone 12 design is set to look very different to the most recent products from Apple. Remember the iPhone 4 and iPhone 5? You may recognize some of the elements, and there's even some elements of the iPad Pro 2020 mixed it.

Before we dig into that further, you need to know that you'll have four models to choose from, and that means different sizes too. According to the most recent information on models, those will be the below:

  • iPhone 12 with a 5.4-inch display
  • iPhone 12 Max with a 6.1-inch display
  • iPhone 12 Pro with a 6.1-inch display
  • iPhone 12 Pro Max with a 6.7-inch display

The newest addition to an iPhone line will be a larger mid-range device in the form of the iPhone 12 Max. It looks set to have a larger screen size designed for those who don't want to spend lots on an iPhone 12 Pro Max model.

Jon Prosser - a Twitter leaker who proved to have consistently correct information on the iPhone SE and MacBook Pro 13 - shared this information, 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. 

The tweet above shows off what the design may look like. The source claims these are official molds that will be used in the production of the next iPhone.

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.

All that said, leaked renders that are more recent than most of those above show some significant design differences, as you can see below.

Based on these - shared by EverythingApplePro - the iPhone 11 Pro at least could have the old notch design, a large mmWave antenna cut-out, no LiDAR scanner, and the same lens layout as its predecessor.

That said, other reputable sources seem skeptical of this leak, so we'd take it with a pinch of salt.

Elsewhere, we've heard that the entire iPhone 12 range could be thinner than the iPhone 11 range. A specific thickness is only given for the iPhone 12 Pro Max though, which is apparently 7.4mm (down from 8.1mm on the iPhone 11 Pro Max).

Another report has also suggested the iPhone 12 may be even smaller than the iPhone SE (second-generation) despite having a larger screen. That information comes from EverythingApplePro, too.


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 new iPhone 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.

New iPhone 12

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, with a list of 2020's current and upcoming 120Hz phones also including the two iPhone 12 Pro models. Indeed, some phones already have higher refresh rates than 60Hz, as do some iPads, so this move 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.

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.

New iPhone 12

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 Pro and Pro Max will come in both of those and 512GB.

Exact 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.

One other rumor supports this though, stating that the batteries in the iPhone 12 Pro and iPhone 12 Pro Max won't exceed 4,400mAh - a figure which in both cases would be an improvement on the battery sizes in their predecessors.

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.

So, what's the takeaway on the new iPhone specs? That got a bit muddled there, so we've tried to distill them as easily as possible in the chart you can find below.

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.

iPhone 12iPhone 12 MaxiPhone 12 ProiPhone 12 Pro Max
ChipsetA14 BionicA14 BionicA14 BionicA14 Bionic
RAM4GB4GB6GB6GB
5GJust Sub-6Just Sub-6Both Sub-6 and mmWaveBoth Sub-6 and mmWave
Storage128GB + 256GB128GB + 256GB128GB + 256GB + 512GB128GB + 256GB + 512GB

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).

iPhone 12 render

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.

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.

New iPhone 12

What the iPhone 12 camera may look like

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 new iPhone (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 new iPhone 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 be the software that debuts on the iPhone you're reading about right now.

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.

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. You may also be able to use certain apps without having to install them to 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.

Other rumored features include improvements to iCloud Keychain to protect your passwords, better tools for Siri to work with third-party apps, a variety of new wallpapers and some even bigger tweaks to the interface of your iPhone. This could be a big update, and the new iPhone may be the first time you use it.

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:

Click through to page two to see everything we want to see from the iPhone 12

What we want to see from the next iPhone

The 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 features

First 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 design

Perhaps 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 everything

We’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 rate

One 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 boosts

For 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 support

Apple 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 price

We 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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Marvel's The Eternals: release date, cast, trailer and what we know

Posted: 20 Jun 2020 06:00 AM PDT

When it comes to making a success out of teams of obscure comic book superheroes, Marvel has past form. Remember, when Guardians of the Galaxy blasted into cinemas in 2014, few could have picked Star-Lord, Gamora, Drax, Rocket and Groot out of Nova Corps line-up. These days the quintet are household names, so don’t bet against the same happening with The Eternals, the MCU Phase 4 movie releasing after this year's Black Widow.

The creation of the legendary Jack Kirby (the artist behind many of Marvel’s most famous heroes and villains), The Eternals are a group of ancient, cosmic superpowered beings living here on Earth. Effectively gods, they have the ability to combine their distinct powers, which comes in handy when they’re battling their mortal enemies, the Deviants.

While the MCU has had numerous space adventures before, this ensemble movie feels like new territory for Marvel as it gets deeper into its post-Iron Man, post-Captain America Phase 4. With ambitious source material, an impressive cast and an exciting young director at the helm in The Rider’s Chloe Zhao, there’s plenty to get excited about. Here’s what you need to know about The Eternals, including its cast, release date and more.

The Eternals release date: in theaters from February 12, 2021

Having originally been slated for November 2020, The Eternals’ theatrical debut was pushed back to February 12, 2021, after coronavirus forced Marvel Studios/Disney to rejig its entire release schedule.

The Eternals cast: who's in the movie?

Marvel Studios boss Kevin Feige has confirmed The Eternals will be an ensemble movie in the vein of Guardians of the Galaxy, and that means a big cast.

The biggest name is Angelina Jolie, who’ll play warrior Eternal Thena. Alongside her, Bodyguard’s Richard Madden is Superman substitute Ikaris; The Big Sick’s Kumail Nanjiani is Kingo, a master swordsman whose alter-ego is a Bollywood film star; Atlanta’s Brian Tyree Henry is super-intelligent inventor Phastos; Train to Busan’s Don Lee is super-strong Gilgamesh; and Dunkirk’s Barry Keoghan is loner/spy Druig.

Having played Minn-Evra in Captain Marvel, Gemma Chan gets her second MCU role as matter-manipulating Sersi, while three more of the characters from the Eternals comics have been swapped from male to female, helping make this arguably the most diverse of all the Marvel Cinematic Universe casts. Salma Hayek is wise, powerful leader Ajak; The Walking Dead’s Lauren Ridloff is super-fast Makkari (the first deaf superhero in the MCU); and newcomer Lia McHugh plays Sprite, an ancient Eternal who looks like a child.  

Away from the Eternals themselves, Kit Harington – Madden’s half-brother in Game of Thrones – will play Dane Whitman, Black Knight. Given the character’s medieval warrior stylings, that shouldn’t be much of a stretch.

There’s no word yet on who’s playing the Deviant baddies.

And continuing Marvel’s long-running trend of hiring new-ish filmmakers with indie pedigree (think Anna Boden and Ryan Fleck on Captain Marvel, Jon Watts on Spider-Man: Homecoming), The Eternals is directed by Chloe Zhao, best known for Sundance hit The Rider.

Cut to the chase

  • What is it? The latest addition to the ever-expanding Marvel Cinematic Universe, The Eternals is the story of a group of ancient immortal beings who’ve been living in secret on Earth for millennia.
  • Where can I see it? The Eternals will be released in cinemas around the world.
  • When can I watch it? The Eternals is scheduled for release internationally on February 12, 2021.

The Eternals trailer: when will we see it?

No sign of a trailer as yet but as we get into the second half of 2020, Marvel Studios and Disney will surely want to debut something soon to build some pre-release momentum. Marvel usually showcases new content at San Diego Comic-Con, and while that particular event has been cancelled for the first time in its history thanks to the current health crisis, perhaps the first teaser for The Eternals will debut at the virtual Comic-Con@Home. It might be worth circling the weekend of July 22-26 in your diary. 

Smart money would also be on a second trailer being attached to Black Widow when it hits cinemas on November 6.

Who are The Eternals?

The Eternals emerged from the mind of Jack Kirby, the legendary comic book artist/writer who co-created Marvel royalty like Captain America, Fantastic Four, Thor, Hulk, Iron Man and the X-Men. Having made the New Gods for DC, Kirby was clearly taken with the idea of immortal, god-like superbeings, so mined a similar premise when he returned to Marvel in the mid-’70s.

The Eternals made their comic book debut in July 1976, though the series was not a commercial success and was cancelled before Kirby’s storylines were resolved. The characters have appeared at various times over the subsequent decades – including a notable crossover with Thor – and had arguably their most successful run when Neil Gaiman and John Romita Jr gave the Eternals a seven-issue reboot in 2006. 

So who are they? Although they look human, the Eternals are actually near-as-dammit-immortal super-beings from outer space who’ve lived on Earth for thousands (maybe millions) of years. Like the X-Men they all have their own unique abilities but – in a Power Rangers/Voltron-like twist – they can combine to form a powerful entity known as a Uni-Mind. Don’t be surprised if that particular party trick gets wheeled out for the first time in a climactic action sequence.

The Eternals generally use their powers for good, unlike the Deviants, a rival race who have been at war with the Eternals for millennia and are set to be the antagonists of the movie.

Both were created by the Celestials, even more ancient beings who are effectively the gods of the Marvel universe. While it seems likely the Celestials will appear in the film in some form, this wouldn’t be the first time they’ve cropped up in the MCU. The alien skull that forms the foundations of Knowhere in Guardians of the Galaxy belonged to a deceased Celestial, while Ego, Star-Lord’s dad in Guardians of the Galaxy: Vol 2, is a member of the species. In the first GoTG movie, the Collector also shows a vision of a Celestial called Eson the Searcher brandishing the Power Stone. 

When does The Eternals fit into the chronology of the MCU?

While November 2020’s Black Widow is set a few years before the events of Avengers: Infinity War/Endgame, the movie’s official synopsis reveals that The Eternals will pick up after Earth’s Mightiest Heroes’ famous skirmish with Thanos. It says:

“Marvel Studios’ The Eternals features an exciting new team of Super Heroes in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, ancient aliens who have been living on Earth in secret for thousands of years. Following the events of Avengers: Endgame, an unexpected tragedy forces them out of the shadows to reunite against mankind’s most ancient enemy, The Deviants.”

This all raises a couple of big questions: If the Eternals have been on Earth for millennia, why did they not get involved when Iron Man, Captain America and the rest were fighting Thanos and his armies? And what “unexpected tragedy” could be bigger than half the life in the universe being instantly wiped out by a malign finger snap? 

Maybe your priorities are rather different when you’re a god-like super-being. Or perhaps, as in Gaiman and Romita's 2006 run, the Eternals will be suffering from collective amnesia – it could explain a lot. 

The Eternals is a welcome new chapter for Marvel

Marvel can afford to take a few risks in the wake of Endgame, and you can expect The Eternals to have a similar balance of comedy and drama as any other MCU picture. Like the Guardians of the Galaxy movies, you might need to see it in action to truly understand why these characters are appealing, but history shows that Feige and company have form at introducing new sides to the MCU. 

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The Xbox Series X is already better value than the PS5 – here’s why

Posted: 20 Jun 2020 05:30 AM PDT

The Xbox Series X might be the most consumer-friendly console ever made. That may seem like a hyperbolic statement at first glance, especially if Microsoft announces a ludicrously high price in the coming days. But as it stands, all signs point to the Xbox Series X being a product that is seriously good value.  

If you’re already part of the Xbox ecosystem, Microsoft is doing everything in its power to make sure you stay committed to team green. But there’s also some very compelling reasons that newcomers may not be aware of, which could sway their decision as to which console to buy. Let’s dive in.

Xbox first-party exclusives are included with Xbox Game Pass

Xbox One was rightly lambasted for its mediocre exclusives this generation, but that doesn’t mean it hasn’t had any standout titles. Some games have grown over time into successful franchises, like Sea of Thieves, and Forza Horizon 4 is arguably one of the best driving games of this generation. But whether an exclusive does well or not is entirely subjective. What matters most is getting to play it and forming your own opinion (I personally enjoyed Crackdown 3, for example, which most people despised). 


Thankfully, Microsoft gives Xbox Game Pass subscribers access to all its first-party titles as soon as they launch. That means instead of shelling out $60 for Halo Infinite, you’ll get Master Chief’s next outing as part of Xbox Game Pass on day one. You’ll also get every other first-party game that Microsoft releases, such as the inevitable Forza Horizon 5, Gears 6 and Senua’s Saga: Hellblade 2. 

If you own a PS5, however, you’ll have to stump up full price to play the latest game from Sony’s worldwide studios – and when not every title is top-tier (yes, even Sony makes some duds), Microsoft’s approach seems extremely generous in comparison.

Full backwards-compatibility 

One of the worst aspects of the PS4 and Xbox One generation was the swarms of remasters, remakes and re-releases that developers rushed out to make to cash in on the lack of backwards-compatibility. This is unlikely to change on PS5 and Xbox Series X, but I’m personally tired of paying for slightly better looking games I already own. 

Clearly, Microsoft understands this sentiment, as its backwards-compatibility program has been a breath of fresh air for the industry, which often feels like its sole focus is to squeeze you of every dime you have.


Xbox Series X backwards-compatibility

Xbox Series X will not only support hundreds of Xbox 360 and original Xbox games at launch, then, but it will also improve them substantially. Microsoft has already hinted at how games can benefit from the power of its new console by increasing the framerates and resolution of older titles, along with retroactively adding HDR. And we’ve already seen this on Xbox One X, where games like Red Dead Redemption and Final Fantasy XIII were boosted to 4K, making them look brand-new again. 

Sony, on the other hand, hasn’t been as forthcoming when it comes to backwards-compatibility. We know that the majority of PS4 games will work on PS5, but we’re unlikely to see any support for PS1 and PS2 games other than via digital re-releases, and PS3 games will likely be reserved for streaming through PS Now, which isn’t a great experience. It’s clear which console will have the most games to play at launch, then.

You can use your existing Xbox One accessories

Xbox Series X controller

If, like me, you’ve collected half a dozen limited edition controllers, or spent a sizable chunk of change on the Xbox Elite Wireless Controller Series 2, it’s nice to know that every single accessory for Xbox One will also work on Xbox Series X. This means you won’t need to shell out for another pad for the player two in your life, and if you’ve grown accustomed to the feel of the Xbox One controller, you don’t have to switch to the slightly refined Xbox Series X version if that’s what you prefer. 

While we know the PS5 DualSense controller includes many of the same features of the DualShock 4, such as the touchpad, lightbar, speaker and headphone jack, it’s unclear as to whether Sony will let you use its older controllers and accessories in the same way on PlayStation 5. If it doesn’t, then all those spare controllers you own will be left to gather dust, and with the DualSense's fancy features pointing to an expensive price tag, you’ll need to dip into your cash reserves if you’re after a second pad.

Xbox Smart Delivery gives you the best version of any game

With the next-gen consoles looming, buyers can sometimes find themselves in a tricky position: do I buy this game now, or wait for the fancier version to come out on the new consoles? Thanks to Xbox Smart Delivery, this common headache is now a thing of the past. 

When you buy a supported game on Xbox One, you’ll automatically get it on Xbox Series X. That means if you buy Gears 5 today, or download it as part of Xbox Game Pass, it will be available on Xbox Series X if you purchase Microsoft’s new console. The same applies if you want to play an Xbox Series X game on your Xbox One. Bought Halo Infinite on Xbox Series X but want to play it on the Xbox One located in your bedroom? Xbox Smart Delivery will recognize this and deliver the correct version of the game so you can play Halo without getting out of bed. 


Worryingly, we don’t know if this will be the case on PlayStation 5, at least it seems like it’s being left to developers to decide, more than anything. With Sony already stating that it’s designing games exclusively for PS5, it’s hard to see any PS5 titles being playable on the PS4, and although some games might get an upgrade to PS5, we already know that Microsoft has promised games like Destiny 2, Yakuza: Like a Dragon, Gears 5 and Assassin’s Creed Valhalla will all support Xbox Smart Delivery.

Xbox Play Anywhere is a bonus for PC players

Xbox Play Anywhere

Xbox Play Anywhere has been around for a while now, but it’s criminally overlooked in terms of the value it provides. If you buy the digital version of a game that supports Xbox Play Anywhere, you’ll own it on both Xbox One and PC. Xbox Play Anywhere titles support cross-save, too, so you can carry your progress over to PC or console, depending on where you want to play.


You might not own a PC, or simply prefer to play on console – however, getting something for free is never a bad thing, and there are some notable titles that support the service such as Resident Evil 7 and Cuphead. Sony used to have a similar scheme with PlayStation Vita, but ever since it stopped supporting its now defunct handheld device, there’s nothing extra to be gained from buying a game digitally on Sony’s console.

Project XCloud could be a game-changer

Microsoft has promised to combine Project XCloud, it’s upcoming cloud streaming service, with Xbox Game Pass, which makes total sense. We don’t know if the new service will affect the price of a Game Pass subscription, but the prospect of playing games on any device through the power of the cloud gives players another way to enjoy Xbox games.

Sony was quick to the cloud gaming scene with PS Now, but the service has faced criticism for being overpriced and the overall experience being a shaky one. Sony has also been using the service to primarily stream PS3 games with mixed results. I’ve tried the Project XCloud beta myself and, despite the usual gripes that cloud gaming can bring such as visual artifacts and the odd stutter in connection quality, it’s left me considerably impressed.

Cloud gaming still isn’t ready for mass adoption, though (sorry, Stadia), and Microsoft is acutely aware of this. But being able to play when you’re in a pinch or can’t be bothered to fight over who gets the TV is an awesome option to have.

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Rollable and foldable OLED TVs are the future – here’s why

Posted: 20 Jun 2020 04:00 AM PDT

The design of smart TVs is changing. Those trusty rectangles we rely on to stream and display our favorite Netflix shows, Amazon movies, and PS4 games are entering a new stage in their evolution, and it has everything to do with their size.

Long gone are the days when having a home television meant a boxy CRT with a 4:3 aspect ratio. Now we’ve come to expect super-slim flatscreens to be flush against a wall, or massive 75-inch displays teetering on top of our media centers.

These new, larger form factors, though, are heralding a new design challenge for TV brands; namely, how to stop these ever-growing TV sizes from utterly dominating someone’s home.

The new flagship size for televisions is 55 inches – with 65-inch TVs being the fastest-growing category beside that. Some, like the Samsung Q950TS 8K QLED, even come in an 82-inch size in the US – acknowledging the generally larger homes over there compared to the UK.

That’s a lot of screen space to pack into any living room, and seeing as the average home isn’t increasing in size along with the average television, the buck is falling to TV manufacturers to design innovate ways to better blend displays in with their surroundings, or hide them away entirely.

LG is one of the best examples of this, with its rollable OLED – the Signature Series OLED R – widely expected to be launching in 2020, after its 2019 launch date didn’t quite come to pass.

This rollable OLED does exactly what you’d expect – being able to roll up, almost like a carpet, and then unfurl again out of its base / TV stand. You can even unfurl the screen to a third of its full height – at half-mast, as it were – as an OLED smart display for showing the time or weather information.

LG's rollable OLED can roll up partially for a smart display function too

It’s clearly advanced tech, and an incredible feat of engineering that makes use of OLED’s flexible properties, ensuring that those after an OLED TV have an option that can easily hide away when the TV isn’t being used.

With LG manufacturing transparent OLED displays for retail, and Panasonic prototyping its first commercial set of that kind, we could well see TV screens able to switch between see-through window and home cinema at the click of a button.

Waiting in the wings

We’ve previously reported on Bang & Olufsen’s Beovision Harmony television, too, which has an adjustable wing-shaped TV stand able to cover up part of the screen – available in sizes as large as 88 inches.

Gavin Ivester, VP Design at Bang & Olufsen, tells us that this feature was the result of customer concerns over the “larger size of modern screens” – saying that, ”As screens increase in size, they certainly disrupt the flow of a room more.”

As a result, the design team “made Harmony shrink when you’re not using it for TV and movies. We gave it a smooth, automatic mechanism – the speakers pivot inward as the screen sinks down toward the floor.”

Beovision Harmony

Extending out the ‘wings’ is also key to its high-end audio performance, placing the speakers in “a very wide proportion for cinematic sound,” and then letting them “roll inward into a narrower shape that hides most of the TV screen in its lowered position.”

Ivester adds that “The whole package harmonizes with your interior better— that’s part of how Harmony got its name. [The set] both reduces the apparent size of the screen when you’re not using it, and it de-emphasizes the glossy black surface in favor of carefully crafted wood or textile and aluminum.”

The Harmony offers a neat solution, one that neither hides the television away entirely nor lets it dominate the space it’s in. Ensuring its speakers fold out with the ‘wings’, too, means that there’s a practical reason driving the design as well as an aesthetic one.

A lot of different avenues

For all of the innovative design solutions to larger screens, there are ways to tackle the sizing issue other than expensive engineering methods. LG’s rollable OLED, for one, is expected to cost around $60,000 – while the Beovision Harmony costing up to $49,000 / £44,100 (around AU$74,000) at its largest 88-inch size.

Ivester speculates that features like “a curtain or moving panel that can hide or reveal the TV” could become much more common in homes, calling “screen movement” a solution with larger potential than “foldable form factors.”

LG GX Gallery Series OLED (2020)

The art-minded Samsung The Frame is a different answer to the same problem, being a TV that effectively poses as a picture frame when not in active use.

You’ll be using 30% of its usual power output to mimic an artwork on your living room wall, and while an actual painting might be more eco-friendly, there’s no denying it’s a smart option for homeowners not wanting to disrupt their home decor with a 55-inch black slab throughout the day.

We’ve seen LG launch its own take on Samsung's idea with the LG GX Gallery Series OLED, too – and those wanting a TV that really doesn’t disrupt the decor can always opt for a small TV instead.

One thing is clear: as screen technologies get ever larger, TVs are moving from centerpiece gadgets to devices that have to integrate into their surroundings. Some solutions are cheaper than others, but we don’t expect the Signature Series OLED R or Beovision Harmony to be the last of their kind.

  • Next-gen TVs: the OLED, Micro LED and holographics TVs of the future

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Disney Plus drops its 7-day free trial offer

Posted: 20 Jun 2020 03:30 AM PDT

Bad news if you were planning some serious binge watching this weekend without having to hand over your banking details – Disney Plus has dropped the 7-day free trial offer that's been in place since its US launch last November.

If you haven't already dipped your toes into the Disney Plus waters, you now need to pay $6.99 / £5.99 / AU$8.99 for a month's worth of streaming instead. As with comparable services, you can drop your subscription whenever you like.

For a lower monthly fee you can stump up for a whole year at once – in that case you'll be parting with $69.99 in the US, £59.99 in the UK, and AU$89.99 in Australia to get everything streamed on Disney Plus for 12 consecutive months.

In a statement to CNET about the move, Disney said that its streaming platform "was set at an attractive price-to-value proposition that we believe delivers a compelling entertainment offering on its own" – so make of that what you will.

Pay to press play

Considering the likes of Netflix, Hulu (which is owned by Disney) and Apple TV Plus continue to offer a free trial (if you buy an Apple hardware device, you get a year of its video portal for free), it's disappointing that the option no longer exists to give Disney's main service a go for free.

To be fair to Disney, you've had seven months in the US to decide whether or not to sign up to Disney Plus (though the service only launched in the UK in March). The monthly fee isn't too steep, and should give you enough time to figure out if Disney Plus is for you.

It's perhaps notable that a filming of smash hit musical Hamilton is premiering on Disney Plus in a couple of weeks, on July 3 – Disney would obviously prefer new subscribers to pay up for a month to watch it, rather than viewing it for free.

Of course this doesn't rule out the 7-day free trial coming back at some point in the future, or some other kind of promo deal, perhaps when Disney needs to tempt in another wave of subscribers. For now though, you'll have to either pay up or look elsewhere.

Via Numerama

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Apple TV Plus price, 2020 shows, channels, devices, and everything you need to know

Posted: 20 Jun 2020 03:08 AM PDT

Apple TV Plus has been out for a while now after its launch at the latter end of last year, and its glitzy entrance into the dog-eat-dog streaming market hasn't been easy. Despite the company's substantial financial heft, and strong original launch shows like The Morning Show, the platform doesn't come close to the big streamers right now, like Netflix and Amazon Prime. It even has a hard time against the other fresh platforms, like Disney Plus and HBO Max.

Then again, the busy flow of new Apple TV Plus shows, like Chris Evans drama Defending Jacob, and videogame-themed Mythic Quest from the It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia co-creators. The future of movies on the platform is exciting, too: Apple is backing a $150 million+ movie from Martin Scorsese starring Leonardo DiCaprio and Robert De Niro.

If you've picked up a new fruit-based device with a year's Apple TV Plus membership, or you're happy to sling another streamer a monthly fee to stay entertained in these days of social distancing, let's break down the Apple TV Plus price, the shows and movies available now, and what's on the way.

Apple TV Plus shows: what's coming up in 2020, including movies

Apple TV Plus shows are releasing at a regular pace throughout 2020. Here's what's coming up in the near-future for the service, as well as other projects that have been announced over the last few years.

  • Greatness Code (documentary): July 10
  • Greyhound (movie): July 10
  • Little Voice: July 10
  • The Shrink Next Door: TBC
  • Swan Song (movie): TBC
  • Suspicion: TBC
  • Boys State (documentary): TBC
  • Masters of the Air: TBC
  • Slow Horses: TBC
  • Severance: TBC
  • El Gato Negro: TBC
  • Ted Lasso: TBC
  • Foundation: TBC
  • Swagger: TBC
  • The Mosquito Coast: TBC
  • Mr. Corman: TBC
  • Lisey's Story: TBC
  • Prehistoric Planet (documentary): TBC
  • My Glory Was I Had Such Friends: TBC
  • Losing Earth: TBC
  • Wolfwalkers: TBC
  • Pachinko: TBC
  • Calls: TBC
  • You Think It, I'll Say It: TBC
  • A Christmas Carol: TBC
  • Killers of the Flower Moon: TBC
  • Tehran: TBC
  • Custom of the Country: TBC
  • Physical: (TBC)
  • Extrapolations: TBC
  • Lisey's Story: TBC

Apple TV Plus has plenty shows and movies coming up, a lot of them featuring big-name stars. Take the Scorsese-directed Killers of the Flower Moon, for instance, a 'large-scale Western' starring Leonardo DiCaprio and Robert De Niro.

In terms of upcoming shows that are worth knowing about, here are a few highlights. The Shrink Next Door is based on the 2019 podcast of the same name, and it'll star Will Ferrell and Paul Rudd. Foundation is a sci-fi series based on the books by Isaac Asimov, and starring Chernobyl's Jared Harris and Lee Pace. Severance, directed and produced by Ben Stiller, is a dark workplace thriller featuring Adam Scott from Parks and Recreation. 

You can also expect second seasons in the future for existing Apple TV Plus shows like Mythic Quest, See, The Morning Show, For All Mankind, Truth Be Told, Home Before Dark, Little America, Dickinson, Servant and Trying. 

Apple TV shows: TV series, movies and documentaries you can stream now

Wondering which Apple TV Plus shows are available to stream now? Check out this quick list of what's available to watch:

  • The Morning Show
  • See
  • Dickinson
  • For All Mankind
  • Helpsters
  • Snoopy in Space
  • Ghostwriter
  • Oprah's Book Club (factual)
  • The Elephant Queen
  • Servant
  • Truth Be Told (documentary)
  • Little America
  • Hala
  • Mythic Quest: Raven's Banquet
  • Visible: Out on Television (documentary)
  • Trying
  • Amazing Stories
  • Home
  • Home Before Dark
  • Beastie Boys Story (documentary)
  • Here We Are: Notes for Living on Planet Earth (documentary)
  • Oprah Talks Covid-19
  • Fraggle Rock: Rock On
  • The Banker (movie)
  • Central Park
  • Dear...
  • Dads

The shows on Apple TV Plus are hit and miss, but Mythic Quest is the best Apple TV Plus series yet. Fans of sitcoms, videogames, and It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia will love Rob McElhenney's comedy about the fictional creators of a World of Warcraft-esque MMO. Some comedies take entire seasons to reach the characterization and humour Mythic Quest establishes in its opening episodes. As mentioned, season 2 is on the way. 

On the weaker side is See, beautiful visuals - and we're not just talking about Jason Momoa, here - and expensive set design fail to hide a lack of character development in this near future where a virus has annihilated mankind, leaving its survivors blind.

Little America, however, is a diverse anthology of American immigrant stories, all wildly different in time and place, but each heartfelt tale is united by its restless humanity and desire for a better, less-divided world. Don't miss that, Hailee Steinfeld in Dickinson, and M. Night Shyamalan's uncanny horror, Servant.

You'll also want to check out Beastie Boys Story, a recent documentary about the band that's worth subscribing for alone. 

Apple TV Plus cost: here's the price of the service

Apple TV Plus costs just $4.99 / £4.99 / AU$7.99 per month – and, if you buy an iPhone, iPad, Mac, or AppleTV, you'll get a year's subscription for free.

That's even cheaper than Netflix's cheapest subscription, which costs $9 (£5.99 / AU$9.99) per month, as well as cheaper than Disney Plus, which costs $6.99 / AU$8.99 (around £6) per month.

Apple TV Plus free trial: how to get one

Apple TV Plus has a seven-day free trial, and after that you'll be set to recurring billing for a monthly fee. It's easy to grab a trial. Just download Apple TV which contains all the Apple TV Plus content, and you'll be greeted with an ad for the service, as well as an invitation for a free trial. 

The free trial gets you everything on the service in that seven days, so make the most of it. You only get one free trial for Apple TV Plus. 

Apple TV Plus devices: here's where you can download the Apple TV app

Apple TV is available on iPhone, iPad and iPod Touch. Make sure your firmware is updated so you can access it. The app is also available on Mac. It's also available on third-generation Apple TV devices, Apple TV 4K and Apple TV HD. You can also download it on Samsung Smart TVs from 2018 onwards, Amazon Fire TV, LG Smart TVs, Roku devices, Vizio and Sony Smart TVs. 

You can watch the service in browsers for PC.

Is Apple TV Plus on Android?

There is no Android app for Apple TV, but you can watch it in a supported web browser on Android devices

Is Apple TV Plus on PS4?

No, Apple TV Plus is not on PS4 right now. The lack of Apple TV Plus on PS4, Xbox One and other games consoles is still an enormous oversight. Apple, though, will bring the app to more devices in the future, which will hopefully include games consoles.

What are Apple TV channels?

In addition to Apple TV Plus, Apple introduced Apple TV Channels, which combines cable subscription services and streaming services like Amazon Prime Video into the Apple TV app. (Unfortunately, however, Apple TV Channels doesn't incorporate Netflix.) Availability varies depending on where you are. Read more about Apple TV Plus channels here. 

Apple TV Plus


So Apple TV Plus is like Netflix?

This is where things get a little confusing. While on stage, Tim Cook made it very clear that Apple TV Plus isn't like Netflix – at least not yet. While the service will offer original content by the boatload, Apple TV Plus doesn't offer licensed content like Netflix or Amazon Prime does, which covers all syndicated shows, like The Big Bang Theory, Mr. Robot or Seinfeld. That, though, may change in future based on a Bloomberg report which points towards more licensed shows and films coming to the service. 

For now, you'll still have to buy those shows through iTunes or via your terrestrial cable app in Apple TV Channels and turn to Apple TV Plus for its library of originals.

The service really needs to be rolled out on more platforms, too, if Apple TV Plus wants a shot at taking on Netflix. For now, this suite of high-budget originals doesn't really compare. But Apple certainly has the money to mount a proper challenge against the king of streaming services in the long term. 

  • Disney Plus: the Disney streaming service launched in November 2019

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Rick and Morty season 5: release date, cast, and what else we know

Posted: 20 Jun 2020 02:39 AM PDT

How long will we have to wait until Rick and Morty season 5? Us fans of a certain belching scientist and his pubescent grandson sidekick needn't fret now that season 4 is done: there are loads more episodes to come to Adult Swim, and the wait between seasons should be plenty shorter. Rick and Morty season 4's continuity-heavy finale leaves a lot to think about, too, especially around Beth - but we won't spoil that here if you haven't seen it yet. 

Production problems on the wacky intergalactic animation forced us to wait years between seasons, but following confirmation of a Rick and Morty season 5 in July 2019, co-creators Justin Roiland and Dan Harmon have stressed that the wait won't be as long this time. That comes despite the coronavirus outbreak: it looks like the scripting process is coming along well, but recording may be more of a challenge.

Here, we'll be breaking down when we can expect the Rick and Morty season 5 release date, what we know about the returning cast, and what's to come from the anarchic animated series in future.

Rick and Morty season 5 release date: episodes may arrive faster

There's no release date for season 5 yet, but we at least know that the likely ten episodes are pretty far along on its route to Adult Swim in the US and E4 (and later Netflix) in the UK. Speaking to Slash Film, co-creator Justin Roiland said while "season 5 is mostly in the can," that "it’s largely dependent on how quick the episodes can get produced."

He went on to float the idea of a monthly release schedule for season 5, although that's evidently up to Adult Swim. "I believe if they [Adult Swim] have the full ten episodes, they’ll release them without a split," he said. “I’ve been saying we should drop an episode each month, just make it a big event [...] If you do one a month, the show is alive the whole year and you’re still buying us all the time we need to make them as good as they need to be."

Either way, there's a chance we may not have to wait as long between seasons as we have before. Season 3 was delayed for two years, but the wait was even longer due to protracted contract negotiations between Roiland, Harmon and Adult Swim. However, the pair's new contract struck in 2018 with the cable network, including at least 70 more episodes, has given them the security to produce episodes better and faster.

"It is structured into our deal that if we’re going strong and fast there are options to deliver more episodes at a time," Harmon told EW. Speaking to Polygon, Roiland said “For the first time ever, we’re locked in, we know what the future is, we have job security. We want the episodes to stay good, but we do also want to try to turn them around a little quicker now that we have this big order, I think it gives us the ability to be faster."

However, Sarah Chalke (Beth) suggested to Digital Spy that there may be a coronavirus-related delay ahead of season 5. Recording is currently on hold because "as it stands, we are going to most likely hold off on recording until things settle down a little bit," Chalke said. Some recording has been done remotely for seasons 4 and 5, but the team need to be in a proper studio to record at the necessary quality.

That said, Roiland provided an encouraging update on the future of Rick and Morty production amid the disruption to The Wrap. When it all started they "had already finished season 4," and writers are now " working on season 5 in two-hour blocks through Zoom." But while there are positives to working remotely, Roiland explained, "they are balanced out by things that are worse." Still, at least the cogs are moving on the writing side.

On the other hand, composer Ryan Elder told Inverse "I haven't seen anything for season 5 yet, although I'm told I will soon." He also acknowledged to Inverse in 2018 that he tends to get "involved kind of in the middle" of the process, so we still have a while to wait for Rick and Morty season 5 yet.

Rick and Morty season 5 cast: will Kanye appear this time?

While there's no season 5 cast list confirmed yet, we can almost certainly expect Spencer Grammer (Summer) and Sarah Chalke (Beth) to return alongside Roiland (Rick and Morty). We also know that Chris Parnell (Jerry) is all-but-officially in, after revealing to IGN "I've upgraded my home setup - even though it doesn't look like it - so I can actually record proper sessions from home."

In terms of direction, will this be the season in which Kanye West gets an episode? It was confirmed that he'd be offered this chance in 2019, but so far schedules between the rapper and the Rick and Morty creators have not synced. "We f**king love Kanye, man," Roiland told a photographer at the WarnerMedia upfronts last year. "He's a kindred spirit."

Rick and Morty season 5 story: expect new worlds and adventures

rick and morty season 5 story

We don't know much about Rick and Morty's future escapades, but at least Roiland aims to always keep the show fresh, and not cover old ground. To EW, Roiland said, "One philosophy we tend to adopt is to keep moving forward with new ideas, new worlds, and not look back as often as other shows might, just in fear of that coming off as disingenuous fan service."

Will Rick and Morty go on after season 10?

Once season 4 is complete, there will be another 60 Rick and Morty episodes still to come. However, it seems likely it'll go on after season 10. Harmon told EW, "Sure I’ll end it! But I don’t know that would be on 70. I would be equally unsurprised if you told me that this thing goes for 20 years. I wouldn’t balk at that at all. If it still feels right, let’s do it." 

Roiland agreed: "We have characters that don’t really age, it’s very Simpsons-esque. There’s so much we can do to keep riding this train."

No doubt hardcore fans are happy to watch this adult animated comedy for many years to come. 

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The Umbrella Academy season 2: release date, trailer, cast and what we know

Posted: 20 Jun 2020 01:21 AM PDT

The Umbrella Academy season 2 release date is almost here, and we're learning more about the unique superhero show all the time. The show returning to Netflix in July, based on the comics by Gerard Way and Gabriel Bá, follows the dysfunctional Hargreeves children as they reunite to solve the suspicious circumstances of their father's death.

One of lingering questions ahead of The Umbrella Academy season 2 was 'when' precisely the super-powered siblings were left, given that they were teleported off the now-destroyed Moon to an unknown destination and time. Now Netflix has revealed all: with these released new images for the show, we're headed to 1960s Dallas. Scroll down for more on the story of the second season, and how the show will resolve season one's massive cliffhanger.

Here's everything we know about The Umbrella Academy season 2, including its release date, trailer, and cast.

The Umbrella Academy season 2 release date: July 2020

The Umbrella season 2 release date is July 31, 2020. Here's the extremely unusual filmed-at-home trailer confirming it, referencing a popular dance sequence from season 1:

Check out this character art for The Umbrella Academy season 2, too:

The Umbrella Academy season 2 was confirmed by Netflix in April 2019 and shooting wrapped in November 2019. The post-production of the show has since been worked on remotely.

Are these The Umbrella Academy season 2 episode titles?

Following a leak on the WGA website, we may now have an idea of the episode titles for The Umbrella Academy season 2. Naturally you should look the other way if you want to avoid spoilers, but know that we can only take these with a pinch of salt for now. Regardless, these are the leaked episode titles in no particular order, and the writers who may have worked on them: 

  • 743: Bronwyn Garrity, Roberto Askins
  • A Light Supper: Aeryn Michelle Williams
  • OGA for OGA: Nikki Schiefelbein
  • Right Back Where We Started: Steve Blackman
  • The End of Something: Steve Blackman
  • The Frankel Footage: Mark Goffman
  • The Majestic Twelve: Bronwyn Garrity
  • The Seven Stages: Mark Goffman, Jesse McKeown
  • The Swedish Job: Jesse McKeown
  • Valhalla: Robert Askins

The Umbrella Academy season 2 story: welcome to 1960s Dallas

The series will pick up directly after the end of season 1, where Number Seven/Vanya (who, unbeknownst to her family, had superpowers all along) blasted a chunk off the Moon – inadvertently causing the destruction of Earth. The teleporting Number Five saved the Hargreeves siblings by transporting them to another time – in the process reverting them to their teenage selves. 

Where did they land? Early '60s Dallas, Texas, it's been confirmed. The plot of The Umbrella Academy season 2 will see Number Five trying to reunite the siblings, who arrived separately in the '60s, to take on another world-ending threat.

In June 2020, Netflix released the above new images of where the characters are season at the start of season 2. New characters will be introduced, according to EW, including a housewife called Sissy, a 'chameleon' character called Lila and a leader figure called Raymond. Three Swedish assassins will also pop up in The Umbrella Academy season 2, the report says. 

While the TV show made a dramatic change from the comic book storyline because the Hargreeves siblings didn’t save the world apocalypse, the show’s writer’s room is still using Gerard Way and Gabriel Bá’s graphic novels as a blueprint for the series. That means, there may be some clues in there – for example, we may see Number One/Luther deal with depression, in the wake of revelations about his father’s decision to send him to the Moon for four years. 

“The goal is not to diverge [from the graphic novels],” executive producer Steve Blackman told Indiewire. “Not everything translates from the graphic novel page to the screen, but there’s a legion of fans and I want to bring in a whole new legion of fans who’ve never read the graphic novel, so the goal is not to just go off in our own direction.”

And Gerard Way (arguably more famous for his other job as My Chemical Romance’s frontman) is keen that the planned eight-part graphic novel arc he’s writing with Bá should keep setting the agenda – nobody involved wants the show to overtake the source material as Game of Thrones did George RR Martin’s novels. 

“The goal for us is to stay ahead of the show,” Way said in the same interview, “and since we’re on series three [of the comics], we are now ahead of the show.”

And in case of emergency, Way and Bá have assembled an 18-page roadmap for Blackman and the rest of the writing team so they know where everything’s going.

Umbrella Academy season 2 cast: who's in the show?

Although they’ll presumably be starting out in their teenage incarnations, the grown-up versions of the Hargreeves siblings are all back in action in season 2. 

That means returns for Tom Hopper (Number One/Luther – ability: super strength), David Castañeda (Number Two/Diego – ability: controlling the trajectory of projectiles), Emmy Raver-Lampman (Number Three/Allison – ability: can make people do anything she tells them to), Robert Sheehan (Number Four/Klaus – ability: talks to the dead), Aidan Gallagher (Number Five – ability: teleporting/time travel), Justin H Min (Number Six/Ben – ability: weird tentacle things) and Ellen Page (Number Seven/Vanya – ability: initially nothing, then everything). 

This Instagram post shows five of them having an on-set family reunion:

Three newcomers to the cast have also been announced – and seeing as they’re all the right sort of age to play 30-somethings, we reckon they could be members of that exclusive club of 43 superpowered sprogs born on October 1, 1989. The official Umbrella Academy Twitter account has this to say about them:

Lila (played by Ritu Arya)

  • A chameleon who can be as brilliant or as clinically insane as the situation requires.
  • Unpredictable, mischievous, sarcastic.
  • Twisted sense of humour.

Raymond (played by Yusuf Gatewood)

  • Born leader and devoted husband.
  • Has the smarts, gravitas, and confidence to never have to prove it to anyone. 
  • Has the innate ability to disarm you with a look.

Sissy (played by Marin Ireland)

  • Fearless, no-nonsense Texas mom.
  • Married young for all the wrong reasons.
  • Eager to rediscover what life and love has to offer.

And this is yet to be confirmed officially, but the timeline-hopping storyline means the apocalypse surely won’t have meant the end for time-travelling assassins Cha-Cha (Mary J Blige) and Hazel (Cameron Britton), or their boss The Handler (Kate Walsh). 

And somewhere between time travel, flashbacks and Klaus’s ability to talk to the dead, there should be numerous routes back for the deceased Sir Reginald Hargreeves (Colm Feore), the siblings’ android Mom, Grace (Jordan Claire Robbins), and chimpanzee assistant Pogo (Adam Godley).

Bring on season 2

The end of the Marvel shows on Netflix might be a blessing in disguise. Marvel Studios now controls all live-action versions of its characters, and it's seemingly pushed Netflix to adapt some more unusual superhero fiction. As well as The Umbrella Academy, the streaming service also has adaptations of comics by Kick-Ass creator Mark Millar on the way (which will be a very different proposition).

Being based on a non-Marvel comic clearly didn't hurt The Umbrella Academy's popularity at all. Let's hope we see many more seasons of it. 

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Locke and Key season 2: release date prediction, cast, and what we know

Posted: 20 Jun 2020 01:02 AM PDT

Locke and Key season 2 is officially happening, and we're itching for the lock to turn and reveal even more horrors that we'll most likely be watching through our fingers. Not long after the first series, adapted from the exquisite comics by Joe Hill and Gabriel Rodríguez, wrapped up, a second season was confirmed by Netflix.

Adapting the first season from comic to TV wasn't easy, so hopefully the road to putting together Locke and Key season 2 is at least a little more plain sailing. That said, given the current coronavirus pandemic, we're not convinced: we know the next season has been in the writing stage for a while now, but delays to shooting may also be inevitable, too.

Besides the fact that writing on season 2 has been underway for a while, we know little else official about the upcoming show so far. So below is what we know about the Locke and Key season 2 release date, and what we might expect when it eventually arrives. 

Locke and Key season 2 release date: what do we know?

Locke and Key season 2 was confirmed in late March 2020. There's no official release date yet, and that means it's unlikely you'll see the show return until Spring 2021 at the earliest.

Scripts were being written before the show was even renewed, though. "We’re in the middle of writing season 2, so we’re optimistic and hopeful that we’re gonna get a chance to make season 2," producer Carlton Cuse told Collider in February 2020. "We very much know what it is because Meredith [Averill, executive producer] and I are in the middle of overseeing the writers’ room and we’re working on that right now."

Locke and Key season 2 cast and story: what's going to happen next?

Netflix hasn't released any official cast details for season 2, but we can expect the main cast to return. That includes Darby Stanchfield, Connor Jessup, Emilia Jones, and Jackson Robert Scott as the Locke family, as well as Dodge, Lucas, and Gabe, played by Laysla De Oliveira, Felix Mallard, and Griffin Gluck, respectively.

The story is set to pick up exactly where the end of the first season left off. The Locke's have been outsmarted by the demon as Dodge, Lucas, and Gabe. Not only must the Locke family deal with the fact that they've been tricked by the demon into throwing Ellie (Sherrie Saum) into the void beyond the Omega Door, it seems like Eden (Hallea Jones) may be struck down and now controlled by the demon, too.

Elsewhere, expect a lot more doors, keys, and demons (as mentioned in the tweet above), but there's plenty of story information still to emerge. We do know, however, that when it comes to adapting stories from the comics, Hill and Rodríguez aren't shy about making changes. "It has to work as a TV show," Hill said to Entertainment Weekly in response to questions over Sam Lesser's reduced involvement and the mixing of two major keys in season 1.

"It has to succeed in the possibilities and limitations of its own particular form," Hill continued. While "we [Hill and Rodríguez] worked on the comic, we were always eager to make it successful as a comic," Hill said that it was the job of the cast and crew on the show "to make something that would succeed on its own terms as a TV show."

Locke and Key season 2 could blend the comics and original stories

Locke and Key season 2 will apparently feature some original stories, but there's still plenty of material to adapt from the comics in years to come. "There definitely are stories left in the comics that we want to hold onto, to use in future seasons," Cuse said in that same Collider interview. "So, it still remains a bit of a remix, of pulling from stories from the comic and our own original stories."

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Why the Canon EOS R6 is shaping up to be a more exciting camera than the EOS R5

Posted: 20 Jun 2020 01:00 AM PDT

In sport, it’s nearly always an advantage to have been your family’s second-born – and so it appears to be with the Canon EOS R6, which is due to follow its elder Canon EOS R5 sibling at a launch event in July.

The full-frame mirrorless camera hasn’t actually been confirmed by Canon, but some apparently leaked specs seem to show that, just like Serena Williams and Andy Murray, the EOS R6 might just be more exciting (and, ultimately, successful) than its elder sibling.

Of course, it’s a little early to be making definitive conclusions about the EOS R6. And it’s not as if the camera is going to be objectively ‘better’ than the EOS R5 – the latter will be Canon’s full-frame mirrorless flagship, after all, and has rightly attracted all the headlines for confirmed specs like 8K video capture and in-body image stabilization (IBIS).

But for most photographers and videographers, the EOS R6 is probably the year’s most intriguing new camera. 

It will have a full-frame sensor, which is the same size as a single frame of traditional 35mm film. And the new specs apparently revealed by Canon Rumors include the ability to capture oversampled 5K video (a superior technique to alternatives like pixel binning), 4K/60p recording, 10-bit shooting and an “identical” autofocus system to the Canon EOS R5. For video shooters in particular, that’s an exciting cocktail.

These specs join a rumored sheet that includes IBIS, 12fps burst shooting with the mechanical shutter (or 20fps with the electronic shutter) and dual UHS-II SD card slots. On paper, it’s impressive stuff. Of course, every camera is a compromise, and there are many reasons (including its rumored 20MP sensor and unknown price tag) that mean the EOS R6 won’t necessarily be the best full-frame camera for everyone.

But if the Canon EOS R6 slots into Canon’s mirrorless line-up where we think it will, then it stands a good chance of being the enthusiast star the EOS R system has been crying out for in its battle against Nikon and Sony. 

Canon EOS R6


Family fortunes

An apparently leaked photo of the Canon EOS R6 (above) shows it standing in the middle of the EOS R family, backed by some new, leaked RF lenses. It’s a bit like an intimidating mobster family portrait, showing that Canon means business with this launch – which is rumored to be taking place on July 9.

What’s also interesting about it is that it shows all of the existing EOS R cameras, which suggests they will all remain on sale. So where might the EOS R6 fit into the Canon and mirrorless camera picture?

In terms of price and features, the EOS R6 will almost certainly be the ‘underboss’ in the EOS R family. Head of the table is undoubtedly the Canon EOS R5, a camera that’s already been announced and will come with pro-level powers like uncropped 8K video recording and a CFexpress slot.

Canon EOS R5

But that camera is also likely to cost around $4,000 / £4,100 / AU$6,500. What’s exciting about the Canon EOS R6 is how much of the R5’s spec sheet it manages to cram into a body that could come with a price tag that’s not expected to be significantly higher than the Canon EOS 6D Mark II’s original launch price of $2,000 / £1,999 / AU$2,199.

According to the latest rumors, this will include the same EVF, battery and autofocus system as the EOS R5. The main cost-cutting measures will apparently be inferior build quality, the lack of a top-down screen, and some missing features like Raw video and 8K shooting. There will undoubtedly be other limitations that haven’t yet been revealed. But as a template for a hybrid full-frame mirrorless camera, it’s a very strong one indeed.

Perhaps the key spec that tells us what to expect from the EOS R6, and where it sits in the EOS R family, is its sensor. Rumors have consistently pointed towards it having a 20MP full-frame CMOS sensor. Yet Canon Rumors is confident this is categorically not the same as the 20.1MP one seen in the Canon EOS 1D X Mark III. 

With the existing Canon EOS R (30.3MP) and EOS RP (26.2MP) both having higher resolution sensors, where does this leave the EOS R6?

Canon EOS R5

Who is the EOS R6 for?

While resolution isn’t everything, it does suggest the EOS R6 could be a video-centric full-frame camera that also takes great stills, particularly in low light.

Landscape photographers, who often like high-resolution cameras for cropping into scenes and making large prints, will undoubtedly be drawn to the rumored 45MP resolution of the EOS R5. 

But for sports and wedding photographers, the rumored 20MP resolution of the EOS R6 would likely be fine. This type of photography usually doesn’t require much cropping and the lower resolution is a bit more forgiving during handheld shooting. The IBIS system will be on hand to help here, too.

Like the Panasonic GH5 (20.3MP) and Sony A7S II (which only has a 12.2MP sensor), video-centric cameras tend to err on the side of lower resolution sensors, which come with the added advantage of larger individual photosites (pixels) for good performance in low light.

Many of the EOS R6’s apparently leaked specs support the idea that it will have a strong focus on video too – alongside the ones already mentioned, there’ll be pro features like the ability to shoot in both Canon Log and 10-bit, which give editors and color graders a huge amount of flexibility. 

For those who are mainly interested in stills photography, then, the EOS R6 might not be quite what they were looking for from a ‘lite’ version of the EOS R5. But if you’re after a hybrid shooter with a bigger sensor than the Fujifilm X-T4, or a Nikon Z6 that pairs with RF lenses, the EOS R6 is shaping up very nicely.  

Canon EOS R6

Sibling rivalry

Even if the Canon EOS R6 isn’t for you, the other benefit could be the knock-on effect it has on the rest of the EOS R family.

Right now, you can pick up the Canon EOS RP for an impressive $899 / £1,299 / AU$1,800. And while its price is unlikely to drop a lot further, the Canon EOS R could become a more tempting proposition for stills shooters if its price heads down towards the level of premium APS-C cameras.

Still, one of the reasons why the Nikon Z6 remains top of our best cameras list is the impressive value it continues to offer. With the Canon EOS R6 expected to cost significantly more at launch, we’re looking forward to seeing if it can indeed steal the limelight from its elder brother when it comes to real-world shooting.

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iPhone SE 2020 in India could get 15% cheaper: here is why

Posted: 19 Jun 2020 11:34 PM PDT

The iPhone SE 2020 is currently Apple’s most affordable phone. However, it still costs much more in India compared to the US. However, that's about to change with the  iPhone SE 2020 as the company plans to assemble them in the country.

Partnering with Wistron, a Taiwanese manufacturer, Apple already assembles its older versions of iPhones like the iPhone 7, and the older iPhone SE. A report from The Information has pointed that Apple has asked one of the component suppliers in China to start shipping the components for iPhone SE 2020 to India.

What this means is that the company has already worked out plans with Wistron to start assembling the device in the country, and that could begin as early as July 2020, a person familiar with the matter, says.

With this move, Apple could avoid an import duty of at least 20% which has already made the company to sell iPhone SE 2020 at a price of Rs.42,500(~$560) when compared to the $399 in the US.

Being one of the biggest markets, the majority of India’s buyers lie in the mid-range segment. However, with the recent 6 percent increase in GST rates, companies have been forced to hike prices of their handsets. Add to that, an import duty of 20 percent on imported phones, and we have an iPhone SE 2020 priced significantly higher than the US.   

Apple has had a record of sharing only a small portion of the market despite having the image of a premium brand. But after beginning to assemble its older flagships like the iPhone XR by partnering with Foxconn, the company has seen good upside to gain the top spot in the premium segment.

The iPhone SE, which launched in April, is the company’s cheapest iPhone yet. However, it is selling at a whopping $150 more than the US pricing in India. That being said, let's hope the company makes use of this contract and garner benefits out of the Government’s new PLI scheme and price the device lower in the future.

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