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If you're a fan of using Google Fit on the web, brace yourself: it's getting closed down as Google shifts its focus to the apps for Android and Wear OS. The day the shutters come down is Wednesday, March 19. "As we continue to focus efforts on adding new capabilities that enhance the mobile and smartwatch Google Fit experience, we’ll be turning off this Google Fit website on 19 March 2019," Google says via a banner on the Fit website. The notice continues: "To keep tracking your activities and get coaching toward your health goals, install the Fit app on your Android phone or Wear OS smartwatch." Google can keep you fit with monthly challengesYou can't buy Fitbit's latest fitness trackerThere's a secret microphone in the Nest AlarmThe website was a convenient way to get a look at Google Fit statistics on a big screen without installing an app, but it seems Google now views it as redundant – if you don't have the Android app you can find it here. Not fit for purposeThe mobile app was given a major redesign at the end of last year, a redesign that hasn't been extended to the web – which was one sign that Google was about to pull it. Considering just about every other app that Google makes is on the web and on smartphones though, from Gmail to Google Maps to Google Keep, it's strange that the browser version of Google Fit should get the chop. You can't track steps or heart rate using your laptop, of course, which is perhaps one reason Google has decided to cease operations for Google Fit on the web. Whatever the reasoning, you've got less than a month to enjoy looking up your exercise statistics online. All your Google Fit history and data will be kept and available through the Android app. Best fitness tracker 2019: the top 10 activity bands on the planetVia 9to5Google http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techradar/digital-home/~4/Lcm0bFyAPmc
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Every time BT drops its latest broadband plans, there is always a sense of excitement to see what freebies they will have stacked on top. This week is especially exhilirating as BT Broadband has announced an offer that's completely exclusive to TechRadar readers - aren't you the lucky ones! In addition to BT's usual enticement in the form of pre-paid Mastercards on its Superfast 1 and Superfast 2 packages, BT is also giving TechRadar fans a £50 M&S voucher. That means up to a total of £120 back in vouchers and Mastercards, knocking the overall effective price way down. If you keep scrolling you will find the two BT broadband deals that come with these freebies, so you can choose the one that works best for you. But it is worth noting that these deals come to an end on February 28, so you do have to act fast. Best broadband deals - see how BT compares to the competition with our guidehttp://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/VgyagGS9HpAEPUQtUJBfrg.jpg BT's new fibre broadband dealsWhat is a BT Reward Card?The Reward Card that BT sends out is a pre-paid credit card that you can use anywhere that accepts Mastercard. In short, that's around a million shops, cafes and restaurants around the world, so you shouldn't find it difficult to find places to spend, spend, spend. It's an old-fashioned chip and pin card, rather than contactless. But do make sure that you claim your Reward Card within three months of installation, otherwise you'll lose out on all that cash. Today's best broadband dealshttp://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techradar/digital-home/~4/RrWs1OJ_wEY
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When it comes to the state of the current SIMO market, it's tempting to splutter up a hoary old cliche about London buses and their unpredictable frequency of arrival. But when it comes to bargain huge data SIM only deals, four have come along at once rather than the rather pedestrian two. Whether you're hunting for SIM only deals because your two year contract just finally ran out, you just ordered a fresh SIM-free Galaxy S10, or simply aren't happy with your current tariff and want to know what else is out there - this quartet of SIMO spectaculars should be just what you're after. We've listed them with full details below, with Three staying top of our tree with arguably the very best SIM only deal we've ever seen. That gets you unlimited data for only £20 per month. While an extra fiver a month gets you more flexibility with Smarty and now with a free month thrown in. Still searching for your perfect phone? Then see our top 15 SIM-free mobiles and prices1. Three - Unlimited data SIMO for £20 per month2. Smarty - Commitment-free SIM + one month free3. EE - 20GB data on UK's fastest 4G network for £20 p/m4. Vodafone - New 100GB for £20 per month SIMODon't need all that data? Check out all of today's best SIM only dealshttp://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techradar/digital-home/~4/STs0YmSjU5Y
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This year is bigger than ever! Samsung has not only introduced what many have been waiting for, but it has also revealed the most exciting surprise of the year. The new release of the Galaxy S10 celebrates its 10th anniversary, and this deserved an extra guest on the stage of Unpacked 2019; the Galaxy Fold, which will initiate the trend of foldable smartphones and will be available soon in the UAE. The event was absolutely jaw-dropping as the most innovative features of the Galaxy S10 were finally unveiled, and you’re going to love what’s coming! Good Bye Bezel!!The Galaxy S10 promises a cinematic display as its screen goes from edge to edge and shows almost NO bezel at all. It literally looks like a full surface of a display without any interruption; imagine what watching movies would feel like!! But that’s not a surprise, is it? In the field of maximizing screen size, Samsung has always proved to be a pioneer throughout all its Galaxy models, and the Galaxy S10 is here to put an end to the game once and for all. You would think that this makes the device more vulnerable, but here’s the good news: Its screen is actually made of the most durable glass in the market. http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/YRbVUCBriu2mW4ZtEkPdT.jpg On-Screen Fingerprint ScanThe Galaxy S10 guarantees even more privacy than ever as it uses a 3D scanning technology, making it the most secure phone in the market. The ultrasonic fingerprint prevents unauthorized access to your device through paper copies of your fingerprint. It’s super convenient that even with all this security, the phone simply unlocks with your on-screen touch. Who Said Only Pros Can do Photography?Imagine having all the lenses you could ever need in your pocket. That’s exactly what the Galaxy S10 feels like as it offers a variety of embedded lenses; from Panoramic Ultra-Wide to Dual Aperture lenses. You can now capture even more than the human eye can see and even embrace the dim light. With that, you don’t need to worry about fitting all your family members into one picture, or capturing the full breakfast view, or even posing next to the tallest building in the world. You could have it all in one! If you’re an amateur photographer who isn’t into manual settings, Samsung has got you covered; the intelligent Photo Assistant in the device automatically finds the best way for you to compose your photo, and it optimizes it in no time to get you great results. In this age, we don’t only care about photos but also videos, right? Well, the Galaxy S10 functions much like an action camera as it takes videos that are a lot more stable than those taken with normal cameras. So, if you’re an adventurer, you know which phone is the one. Sharing is caring!Now that all of this is out, what else could Samsung invent? That’s what we all said back in 1999 when innovators at Samsung developed both the watch phone and the TV phone, bringing productivity and entertainment into the world of communications. What about that time when Samsung launched the True Color Phone in 2002? Who would’ve expected, back then, to witness the revolution of the active matrix LCD displays? That changed the mobile industry forever, and Samsung, once again, is only doing what it has always been doing; not only changing the shape of the phone but also changing the shape of the future. What’s even better is that the Galaxy S10 has the most convenient feature; Wireless Power-Sharing. With the Galaxy S10 serving as a portable charger, phones and wearables around you would never run out of battery. Imagine a scenario when you go on a run and realize halfway that your earbuds are out of battery; how unlucky is that? All you need to do is to place them on the back of the phone, and let it do its magic. So, saving battery is so last year; the Galaxy S10 not only charges batteries but also saves its own battery intelligently as it optimizes according to your own routine. Next time someone asks for a charger, know that the Galaxy S10 is always the answer. http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techradar/digital-home/~4/rUl65tkt9Wc
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Unlike your traditional desktop towers, the best all-in-one PCs have the displays built into the chassis of the computer. You’ll often find a mix of desktop and laptop components in an all-in-one PC, and while that does make it harder to upgrade, there are certainly advantages to this approach. One of the core advantages of the best all-in-one PCs is that they take up much less space than the best PCs typically do – you don’t need to set aside space for a monitor, a tower and all the other assorted peripherals. And, because you’re using fewer cables – only one power cable, and no display cables – it’s less likely you’ll trip over errant cables. This makes the best all-in-one PCs perfect options for offices that want to maintain a sleek and professional image. It’s no coincidence that all-in-one PCs are favored by professionals in the creative industry, especially the Surface Studio 2 or iMac Pro. On the flipside, the best all-in-one PCs are often the most affordable desktops, and they’ll give users plenty of power and a decent screen paired together in one package. Below are the best all-in-ones PCs handpicked and regularly updated in traditional TechRadar fashion. http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/HoGCBzimGQmuUcKbYd4xCh.jpg Back when the original Surface Studio hit the streets, it was a game changer for artists and content creators alike. And, even in 2019, the sequel still stands in a league of its own. The Surface Studio 2 doesn’t just feature the same gorgeous display and unique functionality, but it also ups the power significantly, making it a much more future-proof device. It’s still extraordinarily expensive, but if your use case is right for the Surface Studio 2, then, it’s hard to think of a better all-in-one PC. Read the full review: Surface Studio 2 http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/TGnepMJpdWqMhcChLmArMA.jpg The iMac Pro, more than any other computer on this list, is aimed squarely at professionals – and it has the hardware to back it up. Packed with up to an 18-core Intel Xeon processor and up to 128GB of RAM, there isn’t a single thing you could throw at the iMac Pro to slow it down. And, while it is, without a doubt, outrageously expensive – it doesn’t really matter. If you’re the type of person that needs this level of power (you know who you are) then the price is absolutely justified. Read the full review: iMac Pro http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/gSTvhgvYkrUtSkkNzAq3EY.jpg Resting atop an articulating stand, the Dell XPS 27 AIO comprises of a massive 4K Ultra HD touchscreen display with a whopping sextet of ear-numbing speakers. Not only is it attractive, but it’s also top-notch when it comes to delivering powerful specs. Whether you’re making your own beats or vibing out to someone else’s; watching films or editing them yourself, the Dell XPS 27 should be at the top of your list when shopping around for a new PC. Read the full review: Dell XPS 27 AIO http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/KqCMnzyBUqSyvPcNQzsCM7.jpg Not to be shown up by the 5K iMac or new Dell XPS AIO, HP has its own unique take on the all-in-one desktop. Though it also has all its components stored in its base like the Surface Studio, the HP Envy Curved All-in-One also adds in a booming speaker bar. Add in the ultra-wide curved screen and this is one of the best and most immersive PC for enjoying movies. http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/4c1f81bc46625fac312dc83a96beaadf.jpg While Apple's iMac with Retina 5K display is one of the most impressive all-in-ones around, its price places it out of the reach of most people. However, if you're up for the expense there's no greater MacOS machine than this -- that is until the iMac Pro arrives. It comes with Apple's sharpest 27-inch 5K Retina display. Excellent build quality and hardy specs, also makes it a PC built to last, and a fine option for productivity work, watching movies or light gaming. Read the full review: Apple iMac with 5K Retina display Image Credits: TechRadarThe Microsoft Surface Pro 4 is like an all-in-one you can take on the gohttp://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techradar/digital-home/~4/l7SCtP4z8-I
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The best computers are getting more advanced every day, featuring eight-core processors and high-end graphics that can render ray-traced lighting in real time. So, if you want to stay on the cutting edge these days, investing into one of the best PCs is absolutely worth it – even if all you do is browse Twitter. The good news is that buying a PC has never been cheaper. You can easily get a capable PC or even an all-in-one desktop for 500 bucks. PCs are also easily upgraded, so you can keep your machine up to date with one of the best graphics cards, a bigger and faster SSD and more RAM. Still, going out and buying the best PC can get confusing. So, we decided to gather up all the best PCs on the market, paying special attention to any that strike a golden balance between price and performance. So, keep reading, and you’ll find all the best PCs on the market right now. http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/Sndq2zY8UQcvUiSfZTPJW3.jpg For lack of a better word, the Dell XPS Tower Edition is stealthy. Looking quite similar to that old computer that your parents had hidden beneath the desk, this boring exterior belies an exciting array of components. Inside you’ll find your choice of the latest in GPU tech, in addition to a blazing-fast 7th generation Intel CPU and a spacious hard drive and/or SSD. Now, the Special Edition is only available in the US, but our readers in the UK and Australia will still be able to buy the regular Dell XPS Tower and beef it up to the same level through Dell’s configuration page. Read the full review: Dell XPS Tower Special Edition http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/seuAhSx5VLCKkEUG3mMc6g.jpg The Microsoft Surface Studio was the best PC for artists when it first launched, so we were excited when Microsoft announced the sequel. Packed with Kaby Lake mobile graphics and Nvidia Pascal graphics, the Surface Studio 2 is way more powerful than the original, and should be able to handle everything you can throw at it for the next few years at least. And, it’s still got that gorgeous PixelSense display with Surface Pen support, making it retain the title of the best PC for artists. Read the full review: Surface Studio 2 See more like this: The best all-in-one PCs http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/FgaHSoZSpRphAgJWJidyL6.jpg If you’re looking for a great desktop experience, but don’t have a lot of space, look no further than the Intel Hades Canyon NUC. In this tiny bare-bones PC, you have an insanely powerful 8th-generation Intel Core i7 processor, and discrete-class Radeon graphics – once you throw in some RAM and storage, you’ll be able to conquer the best PC games without a care in the world. Sure, it can’t really stand up against a full-sized desktop, but when space is short, or you’d rather just have a PC that looks like a set-top box – it’s totally worth it. Read the full review: Intel Hades Canyon NUC http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/PkG8tDVvtQrs3Zc48dWmNU.jpg The Alienware Aurora R7 isn’t just a great gaming PC, but it’s one of the best PCs you can buy today. Not only does it feature fantastic performance with its 8th-generation Intel Core processor and GTX 10 series graphics, but this power is conveniently stored away in its compact chassis. It’s even surprisingly affordable, considering the power on offer, and it’s even easily upgradeable, despite its unique build. With the Aurora R7, Alienware continues its journey back to the top of the best PCs. Read the full review: Alienware Aurora R7 See more like this: The best gaming PCs http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/6Rqw38sWcBLgwWjtM5zFBe.jpg If you’re on the market for a computer with an absolutely unbelievable amount of power, but will also look good in your living room, look no further than the Corsair One i160. Packed with Coffee Lake Refresh processors and Nvidia Turing graphics – not to mention a whopping 32GB of RAM, this computer is an absolute beast, and will chew through any game you throw at it – even on that nice 4K TV you just bought. Just prepare yourself before you jump on it – it’s not cheap. Read the full review: Corsair One i160 http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/tnNfz3nFTZ2aph8mUvrZaX.jpg It’s easy to associate Apple with inflated pricing, but the Mac Mini avoids that altogether. The Mac Mini 2018 isn’t just an attractive small form-factor PC, it’s also crammed full of high-end desktop parts, making it a great purchase for anyone that already has a slew of Mac-ready peripherals. Plus, as opposed to Apple’s recent products, you can upgrade the Mac Mini. Well, just the memory, but you can kit the Mac Mini with up to 64GB of RAM. Read the full review: Apple Mac Mini See more like this: The best Macs http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/1acf84356dd61f6a97dd1943d17f0f06.jpg Though at first you might confuse it for a fabric-woven Mac Pro refresh, the HP Pavilion Wave is anything but. This compact Windows machine packs in 6th-generation Intel Core processors and optional discrete AMD graphics with a uniquely integrated Bang & Olufsen speaker. Wrapped in a handsome fabric exterior, this is the perfect PC to have on the desk, as it radiates crisp sound while you browse the web or watch movies. Read the first look: HP Pavilion Wave http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/42a7937cd4c6c25391991588eb15e15d.jpg It may look like a thumb drive at first glance, but the Intel Core Compute Stick has more than meets the eye. It’s actually a palm-sized PC that can plug into any screen with an HDMI input. It starts out with a lowly 1.33GHz Intel Atom cpu running Linux, but it is configurable up to an Intel Core m5 processor – which makes this one of the best PCs if you need to get some work done on the go, without having to haul around a laptop. Image Credits: TechRadarBill Thomas and Gabe Carey have also contributed to this article While you’re at it, we’ve also found the best gaming desktop PC you can buyhttp://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techradar/digital-home/~4/h1WXp2ASyCI
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This year is packed to the brim with great upcoming games, titles like Doom Eternal and Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice promise to be some of the best PC games in years. Not to mention games that are already out, like Metro Exodus and Anthem. So, if you want to prepare yourself for the onslaught of great games in 2019, you should arm yourself with one of the best gaming PCs. No matter which games you plan to buy, having one of the best gaming PCs for your budget can make all the difference. It doesn’t matter whether you prefer Intel, AMD or Nvidia – most PC makers will let you choose the best processors and best graphics card for your needs anyway. And, now there are Nvidia Turing graphics cards, the best gaming PCs are about to get even better looking. So, we gathered up some of the best gaming PCs on the market, some from popular manufacturers like Alienware and MSI, to more exotic brands like Origin. We put these PCs through rigorous testing to find out which ones will provide the best bang for your buck. These are the 10 best gaming PCs on the market right now, and all of them will be able to destroy any PC game you throw at them. http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/6Rqw38sWcBLgwWjtM5zFBe.jpg The Corsair One has been among the best gaming PCs ever since its debut a few years ago, and the Corsair One i160 takes things to a whole new level with Nvidia Turing graphics and Intel Coffee Lake Refresh processors. With this gaming PC, you’ll be able to tackle 4K gaming on a machine that’s not much larger than your average gaming console. It is expensive though – that much power kind of has to be – but it may be worth it if you’re looking for a small form factor machine without compromises. Read the full review: Corsair One i160 http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/aJnhiAAncsJ3Pfjdrv4gLU.jpg This isn’t your everyday pre-built gaming PC. The Alienware Aurora R7 feat of engineering in that it packs full-sized PC parts into chassis much smaller than your traditional mid-tower rig. At the same time it’s easily upgradeable and attractive to look at. All of which we would expect considering its extremely high price tag. Luckily, the Alienware Aurora R7 is both of these things and will impress those not ready or willing to build their own gaming PC. Read the full review: Alienware Aurora R7 This product is only available in the US and UK at the time of this writing. Australian readers: check out a fine alternative in the MSI Aegis 3 http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/RbMTPrF9DUbii7aC9nAmSK.jpg It’s not uncommon anymore for PC makers to brandish their pre-built desktop rigs as VR-ready. What is unusual is to do so with a computer that’s also ready to conquer any game you throw at it at well over 60 frames per second and for under two grand. That’s exactly what MSI has accomplished with the Infinite A, a tower whose graphical efforts aren’t thwarted by its preparedness for VR, nor is it so expensive that it would see your head turn the other way. Read the full review: MSI Infinite A This product is only available in the US at the time of this writing. Australian and UK readers: check out a fine alternative in the Overclockers 8Pack Asteroid http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/FgaHSoZSpRphAgJWJidyL6.jpg If you’re on the market for the best gaming PC under $1,000, the Intel Hades Canyon NUC is for you. This tiny gaming PC isn’t just cost-effective, but it takes up little to no space, looking more like a set-top box than a gaming PC. Don’t let its size fool you, though – it packs all the power of the best gaming laptops, with an 8th-generation Intel Core i7 processor and discrete AMD Radeon graphics. You’ll have to supply your own RAM, storage and OS, but if you have extra PC hardware lying around, you can save even more money. Read the full review: Intel Hades Canyon NUC http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/ZcZxQJjke5NTh5So3rYD4n.jpg Positioned as a ’console killer,’ the MSI Trident 3 looks a lot like an Xbox One S and is more powerful than a PS4 Pro, but at the end of the day, it’s a PC that feels just right in your living room. Complete with all the ports you could ever dream of, the MSI Trident 3’s advantages are clear. Still, in trying to be as thin and light as possible, the MSI Trident 3 comes equipped with a 330W external power supply brick, resembling some of the most less attractive console designs. Read the full review: MSI Trident 3 http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/0145886f8d2e210d274ebe142afc4380.jpg If you’re buying a pre-built PC, upgrades should be simple, right? That’s the philosophy behind the Lenovo IdeaCentre Y900. Embellished with red lights all over, the front of its chassis is bespeckled with textured patterns that’ll no doubt make your friends jealous. On top of offering support for a VR-ready GTX 1080, the Lenovo IdeaCentre boasts SLI support and room for up to 64GB of RAM, which are thankfully complemented by a convenient tool-less design. Read the full review: Lenovo IdeaCentre Y900 This product is only available in the US and UK as of this writing. Australian readers: check out a fine alternative in the Corsair One.http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/vVX4Mg8dGFUPd2Zi4ofHb3.jpg Much like the sublime Dell XPS 13, the Dell XPS Tower is a lesson in packing beefy specs into a svelte chassis. This inconspicuous gaming machine looks a lot like the computer that’s been collecting dust in your dad’s office, rather than something powering the latest PC games. But, beneath that quiet exterior, the Dell XPS Tower is one of the best gaming PCs on the market, with 8th-generation Intel Coffee Lake processors and Nvidia GTX 10-series graphics cards. With the Dell XPS Tower Special Edition,you’re getting one of the best gaming PCs money can buy, without any of the off-putting ‘gamer aesthetic’. Read the full review: Dell XPS Tower Special Edition This product is only available in the US and UK as of this writing. Australian readers: check out a fine alternative in the Corsair One.http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/pvVeFPwASU3vWahKVVRy4B.jpg When you buy a computer from Origin, it’s almost like you’re building it on your own. You have to be familiar enough with PC components to decide for yourself what goes into the rig and how much money you’re going to spend on it. So, of course, our only real criticism of the Origin Millennium is that you can build a similar model for cheaper. However, because of its subtle design and flexible specs, we’re willing to bet you won’t want to. Read the full review: Origin Millennium This product is only available in the US as of this writing. UK and Australian readers: check out a fine alternative in the Overclockers 8Pack Asteroid.http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/EYHb7sLEygi3hCpLvV6oxR.jpg In classic Alienware fashion, the Area 51 Threadripper Edition pushes the limits of both technology and your wallet. It’s wildly powerful, markedly featuring the latest AMD Ryzen Threadripper 1950X across all of its configurations. The Area 51’s triad-design hasn’t changed much since its introduction back in 2014, but on the inside this machine is essentially tool-less to upgrade, not that you would even need to. Read the full review: Alienware Area 51 Threadripper Edition This product is only available in the US at the time of this writing. UK and Australian readers: check out a fine alternative in the Corsair One http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/AuvspuGaaYkbjAtABR2rHA.jpg We knew that it was only a matter of time before the best gaming PCs started rolling out with the latest Coffee Lake Refresh and Nvidia Turing parts, and the MSI Trident X is here to lead the charge. This small-form factor PC pulls no punches, and will absolutely demolish any game you throw at it, at any resolution. Just keep in mind that the thin metal build might be a bit flimsy for travel, and its price tag is kind of steep. But, if you’re looking for no-holds-barred power that won’t look out of place in your living room, you can’t do much better. Read the full review: MSI Trident X Image Credits: TechRadarBill Thomas, Joe Osborne and Gabe Carey have also contributed to this article Check out our Linux vs Windows vs Mac - OS comparison video below. http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techradar/digital-home/~4/DauULhfmdkU
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Best Projector Buying Guide: Welcome to TechRadar's guide to the best home cinema projectors - featuring both 4K and HD models. Projectors have long held a vaunted position in the home cinema. That's because while TVs are more than adequate to deliver 4K HDR content, you'll likely need to refinance your house if you want a picture larger than 75-inches. But 75-inches is just the beginning for the cinema world. Whether you want to splash Blu-ray movies across a large white wall, magnify your gaming experience, or throw photos and slides from a mobile device onto a 100-inch plus screen, a home cinema projector should be your first choice. Unfortunately while most AV enthusiasts dream of the day they bring home a beamer for their living room, few tend to follow through. They have the misconception that projectors are hard to setup (they're not), hard to maintain (they're not) and cost significantly more than a TV (they don't). To that end we want to dispel the myths perpetuated by non-cinephiles out there and help you pick a fantastic-looking projector without breaking the bank. To that end, we've rounded up the best projectors we've tested throughout the last year or two and have ranked them below. Looking for something cheaper? Don't miss our guide to the best projector deals that gets updated each and every month! http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/YMtGj7Yoj8KxNqKQS2Mtv8.jpg The BenQ HT2550 may look a bit pricey to someone used to seeing discount 4K TVs, for the price you can’t do much better. The projector boasts vivid, clear colors, plenty of detail, and a 4K resolution – all at well under $2,000. That’s no small feat. The projector isn’t perfect – the blacks on offer aren’t as deep as we might have liked, the projector still creates some fan noise and there’s also no lens shift – but those small downsides aside, we think the BenQ HT2550 is an excellent option for those that want a solid, no-frills projector with support for a 4K resolution and HDR content. Are there better options? Well, there’s the Optoma UHD50, which is $100 cheaper and offers many of the same perks (though color accuracy isn’t quite as good, and the BenQ projector is slightly better-built) but in the end, we think it’s better to spent the extra $100 for the BenQ HT2550. Read the full review: BenQ HT2550 http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/U6D3ofXKriRQ8SrHtFkjL4.jpg http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/VpYZrPoVzmhh9fhaoULSdZ.jpg The BenQ TK800 is the best projector of 2018 Like the HT2550, the main selling point of the BenQ TK800 is that it supports faux-4K by using XPR technology that essentially takes a 1920x1080 pixel DLP chip and flashes the image four times in incredibly fast succession to create an image with a perceived resolution of over eight million pixels. Amazingly this actually works, and even with test patterns the images appear to be 4K in terms of resolution. What's different about it is that it's also really bright, which means that even with SDR content it can deliver images that have genuine impact, even in less-than-ideal conditions. As such you can use the TK800 in a room with white walls or big windows, and still enjoy a huge projected image. Also expect excellent motion handling, which is great for gaming, and it has a low input lag which is also good news for gamers. (The BenQ even supports 3D, although you will need to buy the glasses separately.) On the debit side, the black level and the shadow detail are both poor, and the TK800 also uses a color wheel, which restricts its range of colors, especially where HDR is concerned. It also means that certain people will see ‘rainbows’, but that’s just a limitation of single-chip DLP projectors. On top of all that, it's quite noisy thanks to both the color wheel and a fan, although the latter is necessary given the amount of heat generated by the bright bulb. Read the full review: BenQ TK800 http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/U6D3ofXKriRQ8SrHtFkjL4.jpg http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/wrQETe6Tq7ZA6mYJST9z2S.jpg For the last 10 years, JVC has been the projector brand to follow for black levels that will beat your local cinema screen. It's all thanks to JVC's D-ILA technology, which rival DLP and SXRD models just can't touch. Native contrast of 40,000:1 makes blacks looks truly black... that is, if you treat your cinema room to a nice, dark paint job. This year one of the main upgrades is HDR performance. The punchiness of HDR won't challenge an ultra-bright LCD TV, but here you'll get an image several times the size. Similar to the BenQ HT2550 and TK800 listed above, this beamer uses JVC's eShift technology, which projects two different 1080p images sequentially at 120Hz frequency, making up the detail of a native 4K display. Don't worry, in-person you'd be hard-pressed to tell the difference between this and 4K. http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/6f3dff1f35126f08a8c8eaca016b90d3.jpg http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/6mYfk8h85ysaFTn9RoXdjk.jpg Smart, voice activated controls for a home cinema projector may sound like the kitchen-sink approach to feature lists at first glance, jumping on the buzz-word (or should that be ‘wake word’?) bandwagon of Amazon’s Alexa, Apple’s Siri or Google’s Assistant. But think about the environment and scenario that your average projector viewing session takes place in, and it starts to make a lot of sense – you’re in a dark room where seeing buttons isn’t always easy, possibly with your hands loaded up with popcorn and other treats. Being able to shout “play the movie!” at a voice activated projector, potentially installed in a bracket high above your head, seems like a sound move. Ultimately, while the Alexa features are fun (if a little perfunctory) everything about this the Optoma UHD51A performs exceptionally. At this price you’re going to be hard pressed to find a projector that can deliver this level of picture quality and this feature set more confidently. The Optoma UHD51A represents a great shift in 4K projecting quality if you find yourself on a tighter budget. What’s on offer here allows even those with smaller living spaces and more modest bank balances a taste of the home cinema high life. Read the full review: Optoma UHD51A http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/U6D3ofXKriRQ8SrHtFkjL4.jpg http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/yzdWEqLLPa58fEqx9pcGv.jpg Now selling for $1,799.99 (£1,799.99), this very large projector is based around Epson's own 3LCD engine and it deals in 4K, HDR 10, 3D, it has an electronic lens, an auto-focus system, and it can reach 2,400 lumens brightness. What prevents this from being higher on our list is that doesn't offer the greatest feature-set around – even Epson offers models with more bells and whistles (notably its step-up EH-TW9400, which adds Hybrid Log Gamma, 4K/60p HDR at 18Gbps, and Epson's 4K WiHD wireless transmitter), nor is as ultra-detailed as native 4K projectors – but the massive 4010/EH-TW7400's combination of must-have features and uncompromisingly cinematic images is impossible to argue with. Read the full review: Epson Home Cinema 4010 (EH-TW7400 in the UK) http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/U6D3ofXKriRQ8SrHtFkjL4.jpg http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/kW7dWCU4JewVS7cVSUyL4Z.jpg The UHD65 is a hugely enjoyable projector that manages to deliver very good images in both ambient light and blackout conditions. Most projectors commit to one or the other, halving their versatility. Though the UHD65 sacrifices both ultra-high brightness for daytime viewing and completely convincing black levels in a blackout, it's actually giving as close the 'best of both worlds' as any projector could: From upscaled HD TV channels and DVDs to Netflix 4K and a Ultra HD Blu-ray discs, few users will have complaints about the cleanness, detail or colour of the UHD65's images. However, we did miss a few luxury touches that a projector this price should include: The remote control is the same as you’d find on a projector a sixth of the price (and includes some button that have no function), and there’s no motorised zoom, focus and lens shift. All of these would've added a more polished, professional feel, which high-priced products like the UHD65 should always offer; it shouldn’t just be about new technology. Read the full review: Optoma UHD65 http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/6f3dff1f35126f08a8c8eaca016b90d3.jpg http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/TpMWPArpP9wjAn6v7aUesZ.jpg If you want big screen home entertainment but don’t have the space, or funds for a large flatpanel TV or home cinema projector, then LG’s DLP LED Minibeam PH450UG Ultra Short Throw (UST) could be the answer. It needs only a dozen centimetres or so to cast a huge image onto a white wall or screen and, even better, it’s also ridiculously compact and relatively affordable at $650 (£529, around AU$864). There is a catch of course: The PH450UG has a resolution of just 720p. If you need more, LG has the PF1000U, a slightly larger 1080p UST model, that sells for $1,399 (£999). There are other projectors in this price range capable of 1080p – like the class-leading BenQ HT670 – but if you’re committed to the small form factor, the PH450UG is the way to go. Read the full review: LG PH450UG Minibeam Projector http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/6f3dff1f35126f08a8c8eaca016b90d3.jpg http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/GzpHmT5paRw8JofADPByxH.jpg The era of 4K was once only ruled by TVs, with projectors only joining the fold with large and pricey models. The BenQ W1700 is a surprising new addition for the company, and what’s even more surprising is the fact that it puts 4K projectors at a much more accessible price point than ever before. Yes, there may be one or two flaws that projector purists will nag about (hence its location on our list), but if you’re looking to finally set up your own private cinema in the comfort of your home, this is the place to start. Read the full review: BenQ W1700 http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techradar/digital-home/~4/q1rj24RQjrg
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There are some tablet and laptop manufacturers out there that want you to think that the best mouse is just a tap of your finger or even a stylus. We disagree. There’s nothing quite like using a mouse to get around your desktop. No matter whether you’re using a PC or a Mac, a trackpad or a touchscreen just isn’t the same. The best mice aren’t limited to a tiny space on your laptop chassis – not to mention the sheer precision. You may already have a mouse lying around, but we promise that our picks will make everything else seem tame by comparison. But, before you decide on the best mouse for your needs, you should think about what you actually need a mouse for. Is your current pointing device acting up? Are you thinking about going for a wireless mouse? Or, are you just looking for one of the best gaming mice? Regardless of what you’re looking for, the best mice can make your entire computing experience better. All the best mice on this list are packed with unique features that can only be found in high-end peripherals. So, let’s dive into the best mice 2019 has to offer. http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/hVWe2QuNSiVRrxQphfSw3W.jpg Yeah, we know, you saw how much the Logitech MX Master 2S costs and just scoffed – just bear with us a second. The Logitech MX Master 2S is the best mouse 2019 has to offer, especially if you have work to do. While most mice in this price range appeal to gamers with ridiculous button setups and edgy designs, this mouse is created for productivity alone. Trust us, you might not think you need a high-end wireless mouse for your day to day office work, but once you get your hands on this one – you’ll never go back. Read the full review: Logitech MX Master 2S http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/hKJUsFuXFW9mgoffXRAyfT.jpg Smaller than Logitech’s flagship, the MX Master, the Logitech MX Anywhere 2 is the ideal travel mouse. It can connect with up to three distinct devices with 2.4GHZ wireless technology or with Bluetooth, making it obvious why this mouse is renowned for having quick setup and surprisingly long battery life. Capable of extremely quick charging, in just 4 minutes the MX Anywhere 2 charges enough for an entire day. After finding a great mouse, get the best keyboardhttp://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/3ZBHrRYWZMoiAT4dJuqygW.jpg In an age when all of our peripherals are either being shoved full of extraneous lighting or morphed into odd shapes, the Microsoft Classic Intellimouse modernizes the classic design with an appealing white lighting effect. It also beefs up the sensor, allowing users to ramp up the DPI to 3,200. It’s not wireless, and it’s hardly made for gaming, but if you’re in the market for a mouse that will help you get all your work done, the Microsoft Classic Intellimouse might be the best mouse for you. Read the full review: Microsoft Classic IntelliMouse http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/3ce477da6912d51add070522cd4b597b.jpg Yeah, this mouse looks weird and its name kind of looks like some annoying tongue twister, but the Anker Vertical Ergonomic Optical mouse is only off putting until you get your hands on it. From the moment you start using this mouse, you’ll know it’s the one of the best mice around. While it’s built a little more cheaply than other ergonomic mice, it’s an affordable way to prevent RSI. http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/9fad8d7ebf16a5b2479eef52d2be5599.jpg When Apple isn’t occupying itself by building luxury smartphones that you can unlock with your face, it was hard at work crafting one of the strangest mice we’ve ever used. If you found yourself doing a double take when reading the specs, you saw right – the Magic Mouse 2 lacks buttons completely. However, it makes up for this apparent oversight with sheer aesthetic appeal. This mouse is completely controlled by gestures, giving it all the benefits of a trackpad as well as a mouse. http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/KCBzDkdR5ApMD5gzh97EgU.jpg If you’re looking for an extremely comfortable mouse that will make your work day a little less rigorous, you’ll need an ergonomic-focused mouse. Luckily, the Logitech MX Vertical is a great example of what these mice are capable of. As the name suggests, it’s a vertical mouse, but it feels a lot more natural in your hand and helps reduce the amount of stress you have to exert on your wrist and hand muscles. And, as an added bonus, there’s a handy little button at the top that lets you seamlessly swap between different computers – even further reducing the amount of movement you have to perform. Read the full review: Logitech MX Vertical http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/3NwBtt5dcxx2QvRdw5P3BD.jpg The third trackball mouse Logitech has put out since 2008, the MX Ergo Wireless is an anomaly in an industry that is otherwise crowded with optical laser mice. As such, it’s certain to charm those who haven’t quite moved on to the gesture-based desktop trackpads of the present. With the option to lay it flat or use it at a 20-degree angle, this mouse is uniquely satisfying. Read the full review: Logitech MX Ergo Wireless http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/6QA6NA7sRDdy44zQvu8ZS.jpg This is one of the best mice if you’re looking for something that’s seen and not heard. Because the Logitech M330 Silent Plus is so compact and silent, it’s the perfect mouse for using on an airplane tray next to a sleeping neighbor. Just slip it into your laptop bag when the flight touches down, and weighing less than a quarter of a pound, you won’t even notice the added bulk. http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/038a3ade5981895f7686f6e66658d909.jpg Sure, the Microsoft Surface Precision Mouse that came out late last year is tempting, but sometimes you just need a cheap, reliable mouse that you can throw in your laptop bag without a care in the world. That’s where the Bluetooth Mobile Mouse 3600 comes in. This may be the best mouse for anyone looking for an inexpensive pointing device that won’t let them down – it’s one of the most reliable wireless mice you can buy today, and it’s from a brand you can trust. http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/59618045e23a29b6dcb9df10f991b164.jpg Razer products aren’t for everyone. Specifically, they appeal to an audience that enjoys the svelte industrial design of an Apple gadget, but with a gamer-centric slant. That’s especially the case with the DeathAdder Chroma, a mouse that comes with 16.8 million LED-backlit color options out of the box, along with a hyper-accurate 10,000 DPI sensor. Read the full review: Razer DeathAdder Chroma Image Credits: TechRadarGabe Carey and Bill Thomas has also contributed to this article http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techradar/digital-home/~4/YbUaMI-If2Y
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If you would have asked us to find the best gaming mouse pads even a few years ago, we would have found a regular old mouse pad, one with as slick a surface as possible. These days, though, the best gaming mouse pads have changed entirely – some featuring wireless charging, RGB lighting and a multitude of different surfaces. The best gaming mouse pads have evolved to include the latest features gamers demand from all their peripherals. It should be obvious that having a good mouse pad is essential, but if you’re already playing the best PC games on the best gaming PC with the best gaming mouse, why would you settle for anything less than the best mouse pad? Spoilers: you wouldn’t. Still, there are hundreds of mouse pads on the market, so it can be hard to find the best gaming mouse pad for your needs. Whether you want to light your desk up like a Christmas Tree, or if you want a slick pad for maximum accuracy and response times in your favorite eSports title, we’ve found the best gaming mouse pads you can use today. http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/MJnjaN7MEM6DFsUAKPbA75.jpg Image Credit: Corsair The Corsair MM600 isn’t interested in distracting you with brightly colored lights like the MM800. Instead, it offers a great deal more versatility than its higher priced sibling. This double sided mouse pad stays secure in place with rubber stoppers on each corner so that your mouse moves – not your mouse pad. The MM600 is also made of aluminum, and features a low-friction surface that will boost your response times in-game. http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/KP2iyLx3gjjeikGcde7kS9.jpg Image Credit: SteelSeries Existing solely as a budget mousepad, the SteelSeries QcK does exactly what you want out of a mousepad and nothing more. The QcK’s surface material has a high thread count for extremely precise mouse control and a smooth glide. At the same time, its rubber base helps prevent it from sliding around your desk while you’re gaming. It comes in a variety of shapes and sizes and there’s even a higher end version with RGB lighting – the SteelSeries QcK Prism. http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/9MXZ2WCEFU2bVZprz9VcB7.jpg Image Credit: Cooler Master There are plenty of times when we’re looking at gaming mouse pads that we love in theory, but just aren’t the right size for our desk. Luckily, the Cooler Master MP510 looks to get ahead of this, by offering 4 different sizes, from a small pad that’ll fit in any area to a giant mouse pad that’ll take up your entire desk. It’s made of a durable Cordura fabric that won’t fray, stain or even absorb liquid. So you won’t have to panic when you inevitably spill your drink – except for all your other peripherals, we guess. This product is only available in the UK as of this writing. US and Australian readers: check out a fine alternative in the SteelSeries QcK.http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/hdHHmAJYZtCKFsSKasKQkD.jpg Image Credit: Razer Sure, everyone loves RGB lighting, but what if you’re looking for an unobtrusive, seamless desk surface? Well, the ultra thin – less than half a millimeter in height – Razer Sphex v2 is the mouse pad for you. Despite its thin profile, the polycarbonate surface is durable and optimised for laser or optical gaming mouse control. We picked the regular size, but if you have a smaller desk, there’s a Small size variant as well. http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/eEypxrshyq3iLWmhiwRCXF.jpg Image Credit: Roccat The top of the Hiro+ is covered in a vulcanized silicone surface with a 3D structure to help increase your gaming accuracy and speed. The base has a non-slip surface for steady mouse control, and the edges have been rounded for a smoother profile. Its surface is also coated to protect from water and grime, and makes for easy cleaning. http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/5whTyyqasEoEjSAKo37aoX.png Image Credit: Corsair We bet you thought the best gaming mouse pads were just surfaces to move your mouse on top of didn’t you? Well, we don’t blame you – until the Corsair MM1000 Qi hit the market, that’s basically what they were. Not only is this thing one of the best gaming mouse pads, but it also features Qi charging. Launching alongside the Corsair Dark Core RGB SE, which itself features Qi compatibility. The MM1000 Qi isn’t just Corsair’s answer to the Logitech PowerPlay, it takes mouse pads to a new level by letting you charge your phone while playing. http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/x6fueMxXB5ksSwZyxYCUUB.jpg Image Credit: Razer If you’ve had your eye on a RGB mouse-pad to match all of your tricked out peripherals, and you didn’t want to settle for a rigid piece of plastic, you’re in luck. The Razer Goliathus takes Razer’s expert RGB implementation and throws into a soft gaming mouse pad that will let you score those headshots in comfort and style. http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/rKVEmBggbqtxP4ENhx5DRb.jpg Image Credit: Corsair You simply can’t go out looking for the best mouse mat for gaming in 2019 without considering RGB. All the hottest gaming peripherals right now boast about how they can light your desk up like a Christmas tree, and the Corsair MM800 RGB Polaris is no different. On top of Corsair’s always-fantastic RGB implementation, the MM800 uses a low-friction finish that’ll allow for quick and precise tracking across its surface. And if the lighting wasn’t enough, the MM800 uses Corsair’s special CUE2 interface to sync its lighting with your other peripherals and even your PC through RGB share. It’s even available in two materials: cloth and a micro-texture surface. http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/oRzQHknHaZTXHWjyzuQzXg.jpg Image Credit: Asus The Asus ROG Scabbard is less mouse pad and more ‘everything pad’. It can hold your laptop or keyboard and mouse, and whatever other accessories you have lying around – it’s seriously huge. It has a non-slip ROG-red rubber base and low-friction Sheath woven surface for gaming control. Asus has even temperature tested the ROG scabbard down to -30°C – but why you’d game in sub-zero conditions is unimaginable, unless you really take overclocking that seriously. http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/Fufe2PtLL86whPzqwQJ6ni.jpg Image Credit: MSI Are other mouse pads just too soft for your gaming setup? Well, if so, you’re in luck – the MSI Thunderstorm gaming mouse pad is all metal. To be precise, this gaming mouse pad is made of an anodized, hairline-surfaced aluminum material with rubber stoppers. This textured surface is optimized for mouse control and speed, while its L shape allows it to be situated close to the keyboard. And, if that metal surface is just too real for you, you can flip it over for a micro-textured surface and the comfort of cloth. http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techradar/digital-home/~4/bbsgX1xCje0
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Before you set out to build a new PC, you should find the best power supply for your build, as it really is critically important. They might not be as exciting as the best graphics card, but every PC component will rely on the power supply for, well, power. You don’t want to compromise on your power supply, even if it does mean you have less cash for one of the best processors. However, picking up the best PC power supply doesn’t have to be expensive. Even if you’re on a tight budget, you can find a good deal on many of the best power supplies. Don’t worry, there are still high-end power supplies, bedecked in all the RGB lighting you’d expect and enough power capacity to power a small village – or one of the best gaming PCs with two RTX 2080 Tis in SLI. No matter your needs, though, you’ll find the best power supplies right here on this list. And, you’re going to want to find the best one. Having a PC power supply die on you is a terrible experience, and many of the symptoms of a dying power supply can slip by unnoticed. The worst silent killer could be as subtle as some lost power efficiency, leading to your PC to outright refuse to turn on one day. By the time you notice your PSU is starting to die, it may be too late. So, don’t wait until you have a power crisis, pick up one of the best PC power supplies today, so it doesn’t fail tomorrow. http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/s7bNrNiAX825w9br73UNW.jpg Image Credit: Corsair The Corsair RM750x scores the top spot on this list for one simple reason: it’s the most well-rounded power supply you can buy today. On top of a 10 year warranty and an 80 Gold Plus efficiency rating, the Corsair has a fully modular cable system. This means you only need to install the cables you need – you can say goodbye to the mess of cables and shoddy airflow that non-modular PSUs endure. http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/bz9UJdyKQUWkSHaVbyxLX.jpg Image Credit: EVGA If you’re looking to save some cash on your PC build, you don’t have a ton of options for cheap power supplies that aren’t terrible. In situations like this, an economical option like the EVGA 500 B1 might be the best PC power supply for you. For less than the cost of a AAA game, you can expect 500 watts of power transmitted through several SATA cables and two PCIe cables – it covers the bare essentials, which is exactly what a budget power supply should do. The three-year warranty is just the cherry on top. This product is only available in the US and UK at the time of this writing. Australian readers: check out a fine alternative in the Corsair RM750x http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/vMxW2gZBR5Ybqr6qYV5HW.jpg Image Credit: be quiet! Even the best PSUs seem to have extremely loud fans, and unlike case fans, it’s not exactly easy to replace them. Luckily, the Straight Power 10 line-up runs nice and quiet. Options range from 400w to 700w, and they’re SLI and Crossfire certified. They’re also modular, meaning you only need to use the cables that are necessary for your build. http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/t9fdvraJBY9Vt4hNuCD3V.jpg Image Credit: SilverStone The best PC power supplies unfortunately tend to be giant hunks of metal that don’t fit into smaller PC cases. However, the Silverstone SFX SST SX550 is a compact power supply that fits in plenty of cases. It’s half the size of most of the other PSUs on this list, allowing for more room for better airflow. This makes it an easy pick for anyone building a mini ITX or micro ATX build, and you can even slide it into a mid- or full-tower, if you feel like it. And, with small form-factor PCs being all the rage in 2018 – it’s easy to see why the Silverstone SFX is one of the best PC power supplies. http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/CvdKuzYm4Trf3dgWXem8W.jpg Image Credit: Corsair If you’re a serious builder that plans on building an absolute behemoth of a rig, with multiple graphics cards, cooling systems on top of some healthy overclocking, the Corsair AX1500i is the best PC power supply for you. It has the highest possible 80 Plus Titanium efficiency rating, and is fully modular, so you only need to add the cables your build actually requires. http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/ouKpDsfovQubbTxsYf2uiZ.jpg Image Credit: NZXT If you’re really trying to maximise the visual appeal of your build, a modular power supply is almost essential – you can avoid all of those messy looking wires cluttering up your case. The NZXT E650 takes things a step further. Not only is it a fully modular power supply, meaning you only need to connect the wires you actually need, but it’s also extremely attractive itself, begging to be shown off in your case. This is all topped off with an 80 Plus Gold efficiency rating and a 10-year warranty – not only will it look good, but it’ll deliver power efficiently and last forever while it does it. http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/FcimtbjBV2VyvQfEv59Tqn.jpg Image Credit: Thermaltake In 2018, if your PC isn’t strapped to the nines with RGB lighting, you’re not trying hard enough. Enter the Thermaltake Smart RGB 700W – not only does it have beautiful, addressable RGB lighting, but it also features a reliable 80 Plus efficiency rating and enough power to support even the best gaming PCs. Yeah, it’s not modular, but at less than a hundred bucks, we’re willing to look the other way – especially with that sick lighting. Pick up the best processors while you're at itBill Thomas and Gabe Carey has also contributed to this article http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techradar/digital-home/~4/a0JGWKfyayI
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Even if your computer is an absolute unit, you’ll eventually run into some kind of slow down. Thanks to memory hungry operating systems like macOS Mojave or Windows 10, having the enough fast RAM is more important to the best PCs than ever. If your PC is starting to slow down, it might be time to go out and pick up more of the best RAM. But, before you head out and pick up a couple sticks of memory, keep in mind that there are so many different capacities, speeds and even sizes of RAM. If you’re not intimately familiar with the PC hardware scene, you might have a tough time looking for the best RAM. Fortunately, we here at TechRadar are intimately familiar with the PC hardware scene, and have picked out the best RAM we’ve used over the last year or so. Whether you’re looking for a quick and easy upgrade that’ll let you open more Chrome tabs, or if you’re trying to run the best PC games, you’ll need the best RAM you can get your hands on. http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/SWkrDZbyjj7EsW8mBLhpHT.jpg Image Credit: Corsair Best RAM: Corsair Vengeance LEDCorsair is one of the most trusted names when it comes to the best RAM on the market. Its Vengeance series, especially, has something for everyone with its LED DDR4 offerings. On top of giving PC builders that extra touch of vibrant lighting, this RAM has robust heat spreaders that maximise cooling for higher overclocking and maximum performance. Corsair’s Vengeance LED DDR4 series also features CL16 latency and whopping 3,466 MHz speeds, so it’s just as fast and responsive as it is aesthetic. http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/Vqoha9GFY6krezcWbon7oa.jpg Image Credit: G.Skill Best DDR4 RAM: G.Skill Trident Z RGBAt this point, everyone kind of knows about G. Skill and its Trident Z RGB series of RAM. This is some of the best RAM not just because it’s fast, but the top of every DIMM features a full-spectrum rainbow wave light bar that you can use to match your RGB lighting across your entire system. Trident Z RGB DDR4 RAM features CAS latencies between 14 and 19 which is awesome enough, but with speeds up to 4,266, it’s almost perfect. No matter your aesthetic, it’s hard to argue with the G. Skill TridentZ RGB as the best RGB RAM. http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/Gjnwh5NDUiqkL6RM6EXt2R.jpg Image Credit: Kingston Best DDR3 RAM: Kingston HyperX PredatorKingston’s high-performance HyperX has some of the best DDR3 RAM on the market and the Predator models is particularly tuned for and extreme-performance that’s further expandable with XMP profiles. The Predator DDR3 series achieves CL9 to CL11 latencies and speeds between 1866MHz to 2666MHz. http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/AzZwmE54LL8jEvJYiVJkrd.jpg Image Credit: Kingston Best Budget RAM: Kingston HyperX Fury This Kingston HyperX Fury is auto overclocked memory that won’t empty your wallet. This smart DDR3 or DDR4 RAM auto-detects system components to overclock to the highest speeds possible, optimizing performance for all of Intel’s latest chipsets. It comes with latencies between CL14 and CL16, and has speeds between 2,133 and 2,666MHz. While it’s inexpensive, it really can have a huge impact on the performance of your rig. http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/w7o733kvkMQ8883SkD9otW.jpg Image Credit: Corsair Best High-end RAM: Corsair Dominator PlatinumIf you need to perform a lot of high-intensity tasks, the Corsair Dominator Platinum is the best RAM for you. The chrome heat spreaders not only allow for premium performance, but they also allow for maximum bling. The massive heatsinks might get in the way of more low-profile builds, but if you’re running your RAM at 4,000MHz, things can get pretty toasty. On the low end, Corsair also offers a low-latency C14 version of the Dominator Platinum at 2,400MHz. http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/qPo53hpm9RyqTbFJeuLhxD.jpg Image Credit: G.Skill Best double capacity memory: G.Skill Trident Z RGB DCSometimes, especially when you’re looking for the best gaming components, ‘go big or go home’ is the best advice. And, when you want more RAM than you’ll know what to do with, you’re going to want to go with the G.Skill Trident Z RGB DC memory. The DC stands for double capacity, as in, 32GB per stick. Now, this is definitely not the fastest memory in the world, right now it’s only available in up to 3,200 MHz, but if you need a lot of RAM without taking up too many DIMM slots (like if you have a big CPU cooler or a Mini-ITX board), you can’t go wrong with the G.Skill TridentZ RGB DC. http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/nnG7XDX4xKkiRFwcnk9R2h.jpg Image Credit: Adata Best gaming RAM: Adata Spectrix D80 If you’re going for an all-out no-holds-barred build, and you want the flashiest hardware so that your desktop can illuminate your office, you’re going to want the Adata Spectrix D80. Not only is it available in frequencies up to 5,000MHz, but it’s liquid-cooled, which means you shouldn’t ever have to worry about it overheating on you. The Adata Spectrix D80 is going to be the best RAM for gaming in an RGB-lit cavern. http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/3sj4Ea9z79cFyDbSXQuJKE.jpg Image Credit: Kingston Best RGB RAM: HyperX Predator DDR4 RGBHyperX has always been a huge name in desktop memory, and it’s not hard to see why. The DIMMs they release always feature the latest technologies without pushing the price higher than it really needs to be – and the HyperX Predator DDR4 RGB is yet another example. Not only is this ram fast, but it looks good, too – with Infrared Sync tech that promises to actually synchronize the lighting between DIMMs. And, with its stylish black heat spreaders, this is the best RAM if you want your gaming PC to reach max aesthetic. http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/dgyur9TLCPPw2X6PZPXqUe.jpg Image Credit: Corsair Best Low-Profile RAM: Corsair Vengeance LPXCorsair’s Vengeance LPX RAM is made for users who want the maximum performance with minimum footprint. This low-profile RAM is essential for PC builds with massive CPU coolers. Despite being so low-profile, they still feature an eight-layer heat spreader to cool while overclocking. While its thin design doesn’t allow for LEDs, but you can get it in three colors: black, red or blue. http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/EuXkpL4SPCkARn6xyQYSWP.jpg Image Credit: G.Skill Best Mac RAM: G.Skill Mac RAMJust like their dedication to laptop and desktop RAM, G.Skill has RAM upgrades for Macs, too. Adding more memory on the Apple Store is needlessly expensive, so going with a third-party kit can help you save a ton of money – assuming that your machine is one the last remaining MacBooks or iMacs that are still upgradable. These SO-DIMM have a CAS latency between 9 and 11 and have between 1,333MHz and 1,600MHz. The best bang for the buck seems to be the G.Skill DDR3-1333 for Mac. http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/smQjxBsCaVLxrffZqA5P3i.jpg Image Credit: Crucial Best Laptop RAM: Crucial Ballistix SportCrucial is by far the best RAM for laptop systems. This manufacturer has designed its Crucial Ballistix Sport SODIMMs for efficient battery life while still delivering fast speeds for multi-tasking. It’s ideal for anyone wanting to speed up the best laptops, and this memory likely offers higher memory speed than anything coming stock in your laptop. Just make sure your laptop actually lets you upgrade the RAM – repairability is falling out of fashion these days. http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techradar/digital-home/~4/E_dbZGPrAdU
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New research from Panasonic Business has shed light on the fact that the use of Android tablets and handhelds are on the rise in business but security still remains a big concern for many organizations. On average, 72 percent of tablets and handhelds used in business run Google's Android operating system and the number of devices is expected to rise with 60 percent of device buyers saying Android is still being integrated into their organizations. Businesses choose Android over other operating systems for flexibility (59%), security (58%) and affordability (52%). Google reveals its top Android smartphones for businessesWill EC's Android ruling help or hinder the mobile industry?Taking advantage of Google My BusinessHowever, businesses believe they should be updating their devices with security patches more often with those surveyed saying they think these updates should occur four times a year more than they currently do. Security and updatesThe methods used to deploy security patches vary from organization to organization with 66 percent relying on the IT department, 38 percent using a mobile device management (MDM) solution, 30 percent updating via firmware over the air, 23 percent relying on the user, 22 percent using an IT support company and 16 percent using a reseller. Businesses currently update the Android operating system on each device they use five times per year and expect device manufacturers to provide OS updates for up to three years after the device's end of life. Panasonic Computer Product Solutions' General Manager for marketing, Jan Kaempfer explained that while Android devices are on the rise in business, securing them still remains a challenge, saying: “The march of Android mobile devices into the business world continues apace but how IT departments effectively manage and secure these devices remains a challenge. It is important that buyers recognise that not all Android mobile devices are equal. They should look closely at the management and security functionality being offered by their vendor and their Android engineering experience. With the use of the latest over air updates and management consoles, IT departments can save considerable time and money automating their updates by choosing the right device with the right management and security functionality.” We've also highlighted the best business smartphones and best business tablets http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techradar/digital-home/~4/uzdZ8oKT7ks
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BioWare’s latest games-as-a-service model, Anthem, has now launched across all major platforms. In Anthem, you play as a Freelancer - a mercenary tasked with protecting the haven known as Fort Tarsis. This requires you going on missions called expeditions, for which you’ll wear a suit known as a Javelin, which affords you the ability to fly, as well as a plethora of unique combat capabilities. At the moment, there are four Javelins in Anthem: Ranger, Colossus, Storm, and Interceptor. The thing is, it’s difficult to say which of these is the best, because all four suits are the best at what they’re designed to do. So, instead of telling you which Javelin is the most powerful, it’s perhaps more useful to say which Javelin will suit your playstyle best. In order to do that, we have to take a look at all four suits individually and come to a conclusion about what each Javelin is best at, as well as how each Javelin synergizes with the rest. Rangerhttp://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/CRHR7RhpRfWYb5JGToCRg7.jpg Being the first Javelin you unlock in Anthem, it’s easy to dismiss the Ranger as a throwaway suit. Although this is the tutorial Javelin, it actually outperforms the others in certain situations, despite the fact that’s emphatically what it’s not supposed to do. It may be documented as the most balanced class, not specializing in any given combat style, but it’s actually one of the better suits in terms of providing support. In Anthem, everything is based on combos, especially at higher difficulties. To trigger a combo, you need two things: a primer and a detonator. The Ranger suit is brilliantly equipped to execute primers, which other classes can then capitalize on with devastating detonators. Also, the Ranger can use its Bulwark Point ability to put a shield up around its squad, allowing for some interesting strategies involving revivals and area control. While the Ranger isn’t the flashiest suit - unless you get really creative with customization - it’s a really powerful Javelin if your team composition is right. It’s well worth having a Ranger on every squad, and if you usually prefer all-rounder classes in shooters, this could be the Javelin for you. Colossushttp://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/eNg2SAw4gbUoWdSfLyAtNV.jpg The Colossus suit resembles what most other online games would label as a tank - and that’s kind of what it does in Anthem too. The biggest of the suits, your job as a Colossus is to control mobs. You’ve got a far bigger health pool than all the other Javelins, although this can be deceptive given the fact that you’re way less mobile too. You can charge in and take lots of hits, sure, but you need to remember that you’re not particularly well-equipped to make an exit once you get low. That’s why the Colossus suit is probably the most difficult one to master. Using your Taunt ability will cause all nearby enemies to focus on you, and that can be great if you’re playing with a cooperative team. However, remember that this class is almost entirely founded upon teamwork and communication. It’s like Overwatch - Winston is a staple to lots of compositions at professional level, but in lower ranks he can be easily countered if his team don’t synergize with him. A Colossus pairs incredibly well with a Storm, as they can help each other trigger some of the most gargantuan detonations in the game. Just keep in mind that if you get burned or frozen while you’re in the thick of it, you’re as good as dead. Pick your fights, engage the mob at the right time, and take the heat away from the rest of your team so that you can annihilate entire mobs in one fell swoop. Stormhttp://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/4u7UYjSFEEShoeUsTjAYAY.jpg At the moment, if there were to be a best Javelin, it would probably be Storm. It’s a little frail, having the second-shallowest health pool, but it has enough mobility to dodge incoming attacks once you get used to the movement. As mentioned earlier, most of Anthem’s combat is founded upon combos. The Ranger is a great primer Javelin, whereas the Colossus can unleash some massive detonations. Storm can do both, and can do so from a distance thanks to its ability to hover almost indefinitely - if you’re crafty. Because you’re going to be at range most of the time, you likely won’t take too many hits, especially if you’ve got a Colossus that’s good at aggroing enemies towards them. So you can devote your entire attention to setting up combos and capitalizing on primers your teammates line up for you. Storm is way more ability-focused than the other classes, but these abilities can be devastating once you master them. At higher difficulties, it will be mandatory to have at least one, if not two, Storm players on your team. Interceptorhttp://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/5GvkqJegsnpMjzBYPQv8ya.jpg Ah, the Interceptor. Our favorite class, but alas, probably the weakest one. As a melee-based Javelin, the Interceptor’s playstyle involves getting up close and personal with enemies. It’s a shame, then, that the Ranger is actually better suited for this due to the fact that it has more sustainability. In fact, at higher difficulties, the output value of enemy damage is so high that engaging them in close combat with anything other than a Colossus is ill-advised. If you’ve got to play ranged to stay alive with a melee-based class, you’re wasting a Javelin slot. The Interceptor isn’t unviable, and if you’re good with it, you can likely play at any difficulty. Also, if you’re not interested in Grandmaster, then you can really clean up enemies with ease at lower difficulties. Again, this is the Javelin we like best, as we love the style of combat. It’s just not in a good place right now relative to the other suits, which all add far more to a team. It’s not meta, per se, as all of the other Javelins add more in terms of combo potential. Choiceshttp://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/S8pCvNfENnSzqkCpigSj6g.jpg So, while there isn’t a best Javelin, there is probably one that’s best for you. If you’re a tank kind of player, you should be on the frontlines wearing a Colossus suit. If you’re a tactician, the Storm suit will afford you the ability to both set up and execute the kind of plays that will see you and your team back to Fort Tarsis safely. All-rounders will dig the Ranger Javelin, as it allows you to do a bit of everything, and having a jack-of-all-trades around allows you extra versatility for when a fight looks as if it’s about to go south. The poor Interceptor is in need of some buffs at the moment, but it’s probably the most fun Javelin of the lot, and if you learn it inside out, you should be able to use it at any level of play-given that your team is cooperating, that is. After all, that’s the most important thing in Anthem. To borrow from the title of the prequel book launched by Bioware in support of Anthem, “strong alone, stronger together.” (Image credits: BioWare/EA) Read more: Anthem reviewhttp://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techradar/digital-home/~4/7ckyqTHvjeg
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Trust us when we say we've seen a lot of phone launches. Everything from Apple to Huawei and back around to the more nostalgia inducing HTCs and Motorolas. With all of this experience comes an eye for some great deals straight out the gate. So just a few days on, these are the best Samsung Galaxy S10 deals to pre-order. Below you will find our picks for the top three deals currently available on the S10. Whether you're looking for a cheap contract, big data without the gut-wrenching price or just our overall pick of the best possible deal, you will find it all in this list. And if you find yourself uninterested in any of the deals down below, try our mobile phone deals page to compare deals across all of the top phones available right now. Want to compare these deals to Samsung's other new devices? Check out our best Samsung Galaxy S10e deals and Samsung Galaxy S10 Plus deals pageshttp://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/VgyagGS9HpAEPUQtUJBfrg.jpg 1. The best S10 deal we've seen so far - Mobiles.co.uk2. Big data without the big price - Fonehouse3. Save money with this affordable contract - iDWant something more affordable from Samsung? Try our best Samsung phone deals page for the best deals on everything the company hashttp://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techradar/digital-home/~4/v90MZROH7M8
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With more websites being created everyday it is becoming increasingly difficult to find the perfect domain for your business or project which is why Google has launched a new top-level domain (TLD) specifically for software developers. The company first announced the new .dev TLD last year and now registration has been open to select partners since January 16th but anyone can purchase a .dev domain for $11,000. Developers and companies that think their domain name will be one of the first ones taken can buy a .dev domain now for a quite high additional fee. However, if you can wait until February 28th, Google will be removing the fee. How to choose a domain name for your websiteCreate documents instantly with Google's .new domainCloudflare launches new cut-price domain registrarAt this time though, it is still unclear as to what the final price for .dev domains will be and each domain name registrar will likely charge a different price for registering a site with one. Secure by defaultAs with Google's recent launches of .app and .page, the search giant's new domain will be secure by default due to the fact that it requires HTTPS to connect to all .dev websites. The company's new TLD is part of its ongoing project to make the internet a safer place as the web moves towards an HTTPS-everywhere future. On its site, Google lists all of the domain name registrars that are currently offering .dev domains including GoDaddy, 1&1 Ionos and of course Google Domains itself. Using a unique TLD helps visitors to your site know what they're getting into from the minute they type your site's address into their address bar and it could help differentiate your product from the competition. Via Android Police We've also highlighted the best web hosting serviceshttp://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techradar/digital-home/~4/wUVPNHFXdRE
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When it comes to retro consoles, the ferocious success of the Game Boy is a legacy to behold. Its long lineage of hardware spanning over 21 years has made the classic handheld a pop culture icon. Gamers of all ages and backgrounds will have some sort of memory of the Game Boy, from struggling to see the screen in the darkness of bedtime curfew to fitting in a few rounds of Tetris in between the tribulations of parenting. It’s easy to remember the fuzzy nostalgic memories that we hold for the Game Boy, but we might not always consider what solidified its claim to the handheld throne. Sure, certain Italian plumbers and collectable monsters may take some of the credit, however we must also consider how perfectly versatile this joyful piece of pocket technology actually was. The Game Boy Advance was the pinnacle of Nintendo’s handheld offerings, supporting 32-bit graphics and an extensive library that caters to almost every genre. This surprisingly capable device became a home for beloved titles old and new, accommodating the classics from across multiple console libraries. Not to mention that the Game Boy Advance was backwards compatible with the legendary library of titles that belonged to its predecessors. Considering that the GBA boasts such versatile prowess, is it possible that it could be the key to the ultimate retro gaming experience? How to mod your Game Boy and Game Boy AdvanceWhy the Nintendo Switch VR support rumor is a genius ideaThe Legend of Zelda: Link's Awakening is coming to Nintendo Switch in 2019Heavy on wholesomeness, light on your pockethttp://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/LcW26eJNiVAe7DF55x36CQ.jpg Legend of Zelda: Link to the Past. (Image credit: Nintendo) Finding that perfect balance of variety and cost when tailoring your vintage gaming solutions can often prove tiresome. Gaining access to childhood consoles and their games can be a bit rich for the average gamers blood, with many options having a collector's value attached. Of course, emulation could be an all-encompassing answer, but achieving both accuracy and legality is a difficult feat. Luckily, the mighty Game Boy Advance was actually the home to countless classics that appeared on a multitude of systems, with the added bonus of being drastically cheaper. A great example of the cost efficiency of the GBA is the range of Nintendo Entertainment System titles that found their way onto the system. Known as the Classic NES Series, titles such as Metroid, Legend of Zelda and Castlevania all received reliable ports, with their packaging resembling that of an original NES game. This might sound like nothing special, but when you compare the price of these releases to their original counterparts, it becomes clear why this is a brilliant and authentic option. Take Metroid for example, original copies of the game can cost up to $60, while its GBA counterpart is usually available for around just over $10. The fact these editions can be collected and displayed in a similar fashion to any other console means that this could be a real alternative to collecting for a system that will more than likely break the bank. http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/zJEzyrYZBLiETb3vy5JXQg.jpg Metroid Fusion. (Image credit: Nintendo) Just like its predecessor, the Super Nintendo also received an invitation to Nintendo’s portable party, with various new editions of classics being released. This is most notable with the Legend of Zelda: Link to the Past, in which its port expanded on the title with its new multiplayer feature, ‘four swords’. Not only is this version cheaper than an original $50 copy, priced roughly at $15, but it also includes a whole new co-op element that can only be experienced on the GBA. Our beloved moustached labourer also received the revamp treatment, with Super Mario World also making a comeback. With this edition of the classic platformer, features such as being able to save at any point on the map and Luigi being a playable character were added, all without compromising its authentic gameplay. At under $10, this definitely a worthy alternative to picking up the original, which tends to go for around $40. The cost saving benefits of the GBA don’t end at Nintendo originals, with many other expensive titles also appearing on the platform. One of the best examples of this is the Phantasy Star series, an RPG from the Sega MegaDrive/Genesis that retains a high value on the second-hand market. With each title costing a minimum of $60, you can understand why going for the drastically cheaper Phantasy Star collection at $30 on the GBA is a more feasible option. These examples demonstrate the Gameboy Advance’s potential to provide access to various classics, despite being kind to your bank account. You'll also find the console itself is much cheaper than most Nintendo hardware, with the NES and SNES often costing $50, in contrast to roughly $20 for a standard GBA. While this in itself is enough reason to invest in the system, you can also enjoy the exclusive experience of the Game Boy linage. The extended legacy of classic gaminghttp://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/a4BtiF7Ns2jS2Q9mdU5PtY.jpg Game Boy Advance. (Image credit: Nintendo) There’s definitely a trend when it comes to the capability of handhelds, in which the technology is usually a generation behind the current home console of the time. The Sega Game Gear, for example, was comparable to a Master System, rather than its dark and brooding Sega Genesis/MegaDrive counterpart. This is also technically true for Game Boy titles, yet Nintendo seemed to use this caveat to its advantage, creating unique experiences that draw from games we already know and love. Nintendo’s talent for making the most of hardware limitations stems from its work on the original grey brick, with likes of The Legend of Zelda: Links Awakening proving to be classics in their own right. This formula of new experiences within familiar settings was carried on throughout both the Game Boy Color and Advance consoles, with beloved franchises such as Castlevania, Metroid and Final Fantasy all having exclusives on the system. Not only did these spinoff’s and sequels provide brilliant fan-service, but they also introduced those who were still a bit wet behind the ears to some of history’s best adventures. It was this sheer devotion to making the most of its 32-bit capabilities that has solidified the GBA as a nostalgic monolith. Delivering on mechanics and gameplay from one of the most loved eras of gaming, Nintendo provided gamers with a refreshing break from the somewhat infantile 3D graphics of generations past. That’s not to say, however that the Advance hardware was incapable of being technically impressive, with many titles making remarkably good use of what could be considered a low spec’d piece of kit. A surprising number of PC titles managed to squeeze themselves into tiny cartridges, such as Doom and Duke Nukem, which despite being scaled down from their original versions, are brilliant ports in their own right. There’s no disputing the sheer brilliance of the Game Boy Advance library, with countless genres to choose from and stories old and new being delivered in a familiar way. In spite of this, you might find yourself either put off by the fact it’s a handheld console, or overwhelmed by the hardware choices available. This however is where Nintendo’s hardware gets its chance to really shine, as there are a vast range of ways to play the GBA library, which isn’t too dissimilar to the versatility of modern gaming. Play it your way http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/FsCsA2gWGm2QmTh2TVtaQB.jpg Game Boy Player. (Image credit: Phil Hayton) If you managed to have a look at our Game Boy modification guide, you might already be aware of the vast amount of options available for playing your favorite Nintendo classics on the go. If you have a passion for portability, your priorities may lie with getting the best experience from your aging piece of pocket tech. From customized exteriors to fancy new screens, the ability to construct the ultimate GBA is easier than you might think. Yet, some will love the sound of the platforms library while yearning for a way to access them using them like a conventional console. This is where the alternative hardware options could be the final checkbox on achieving the perfect portal to nostalgia. The official way to play your GBA games on the big screen is in the guise of The Game Boy Player, which is an add on for the Nintendo GameCube. This nifty device allows you to play any Game Boy cartridge using the controller and video output of your existing console, without having to use the GBA console. Unfortunately, this can prove to be pricey trying to acquire the Player and the included software it requires, not to mention another $20 on top if you don't already own a GameCube. Alternatively, the market does have a variety of options that can help fulfil your needs, such as emulation-based systems like the Retr0n 5 and even some third-party options that support some sort of AV out capability. Having the versatility to play both on the go and in your living room is something many people associate with the Nintendo Switch, but considering that the Game Boy Advance managed to deliver this feature as early 2003, shows that this mighty handheld was a lot more than something to keep your thumbs busy. More than just a handheldhttp://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/4rF8rMYnYvFk9xyxXnJYSF.jpg Pac-Man Collection. (Image credit: Namco) The Game Boy Advance has more than proven itself worthy of being an iconic piece of gaming history. Not only did it accommodate many gamers with a diverse library of high-quality titles, but it also kept the art of 32-bit gaming alive past the retirement of its generation. Where some vintage consoles and games may have fallen into the trap of collector's value and rarity, the GBA stands as a pillar of hope for those who want a reliable way to revisit a golden age of gaming. The GBA definitely delivers a strong case for being the ultimate retro experience, although it’s important to keep in mind that each individual's preference is unique to them, usually based on life's experiences and memories. The fact that this handheld console manages to be more accommodating that many other systems throughout history however, definitely earns it the right to try and convince you to adopt it as your main source of reminiscence. Read more: How to play the best retro gameshttp://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techradar/digital-home/~4/P24Kebhoa1A
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Facebook is removing its Onavo VPN app from the Google Play Store and ending its unpaid market research programs following backlash over how the social network paid teens to spy on them. The company's Onavo Protect app will stop collecting user data through its virtual private network (VPN) and will eventually shut down after giving users time to find an alternative app to replace it. Facebook will also stop recruiting new users for its Facebook Research App that is no longer available on iOS but is still operating on Android. Use this checklist to find a VPN you can trustSecurity flaws found in top free VPN Android appsOpera browser adds VPNWhen Apple discovered that the company was misusing its Enterprise Certificate program, which is meant for internal company apps only, it revoked all of the social network's certificates and broke Facebook's own apps in the process. Onavo VPNFacebook first acquired Onavo back in 2013 for around $200m with the aim of using its VPN app to secretly gather data about how consumers use their smartphones. Even before its Research App existed, this data revealed that consumers were sending twice as many WhatsApp messages than those sent from its own Messenger app which led it to purchase the company for $19bn. Facebook then tried to convince users that Onavo was a great way to reduce data usage, block dangerous websites and protect their internet traffic from snooping while it secretly analyzed their web usage itself. The company has now decided to remove Onavo from the Play Store before Google decides to block it while ending recruitment of new Facebook Research testers. Facebook has certainly made the right move in this scenario but lawmakers and regulators could still seek legal action against the company for the way in which it mishandled user data so greatly. Via TechCrunch We've also highlighted the best VPNhttp://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techradar/digital-home/~4/mpsaOgSTpC0
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For the past few years, the new Xbox was nothing more than a dream. We had hoped Microsoft was working on the next Xbox, and even suspected that might be the case, but until recently, we weren't sure. Now we can confidently say that not only is a new Xbox - the Xbox Two - now in development, but it's closer than ever to being unveiled (and there is more than one next generation console on the horizon). The official story started last year when Xbox Chief Phil Spencer told the thousands of attendees at E3 2018 that the console - or, rather, series of consoles is in development: "Our hardware team is deep into developing the next generation of Xbox consoles, where we will once again deliver on our commitment to set the benchmark for console gaming." Since Spencer's announcement details have slowly bubbled up all around the net on the purported system. First we got a codename – Xbox Scarlett – and now we've heard rumblings of the first games to be designed for the next-gen Xbox: The Elder Scrolls 6, Cyberpunk 2077 and Halo Infinite. But perhaps the biggest revelation has been a recent leak which reported the alleged specs of two upcoming next-generation consoles (codenamed Anaconda and Lockhart). The report also claims these consoles will be announced at E3 2019, with a release date rumored for 2020. [Update: Next Xbox console specs leaked, rumored to be announced at E3 2019 .] What's the latest on Microsoft's next Xbox?Thanks to a report by a French gaming site, we may finally know the specs of the allusively codenamed Lockhart and Anaconda consoles. According to a report by french gaming site JeuxVideo, two next-generation Xbox consoles will be revealed at E3 2019 - you may know them by their codenames Lockhart and Anaconda. In addition, the site claims the next Xbox specs which were leaked last year weren't far off what we can actually expect Microsoft to announcement later this year. According to the report, the Lockhart console will be the entry-level machine, with lower performance and therefore a lower price. But perhaps the most interesting aspect of the alleged Lockhart specs is that it won't have a disc-tray – essentially functioning as a cloud streaming box for digital games, apps and other media. However, the Anaconda is rumored to be much more high-end system, with very high performance and a higher price point to match – allegedly similar to the Xbox One X's on release. Both consoles will allegedly have SSDs, which should improve overall performance and loading times. According to the report, both consoles are due for release in 2020 alongside Halo: Infinite (which will be one of the generation's launch titles) So what were the alleged specs leaked last year? Xbox Lockhart specs: CPU - Custom 8 Cores (16 zen threads 2) GPU - Custom NAVI 4+ Teraflops RAM - 12GB of GDDR6 memory Storage - SSD 1TB NVMe 1 + GB / s Xbox Anaconda specs: CPU - Custom 8 Cores (16 zen threads 2) GPU - Custom NAVI 12+ Teraflops RAM - 16GB of GDDR6 memory Storage - SSD 1TB NVMe 1 + GB / s http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/bc672016e619f59de51d7382448cc1f6.jpg Xbox Two news and rumorsHow would streaming work? Rumors of a streaming-only Xbox started emerging in July 2018 and now we know a lot more about how it might actually work. According to a new report, the Xbox Scarlet Cloud will utilize a semi-custom AMD Picasso chip. In case that series of APUs sounds familiar, these are the same chips AMD is rumored to introduce as its next-generation Ryzen 3000 mobile processors, which have been recently spotted in a few HP laptop benchmarks and even in an upcoming AMD-powered Surface Laptop. This new streaming Xbox won’t just be powered by a laptop CPU of course. Microsoft will undoubtedly want the chip stripped of unnecessary components and have a custom packaging made for its upcoming console. Interestingly, this new chip is said to offer even better performance to power, which may allow it to fit into an even smaller form factor than the Xbox One S and Xbox One X. While it'd be nice to have a new console ready for E3 2019, work hasn’t gone so far that we can expect to see the console any sooner than 2019. According to Windows Central’s Jez Corden, two years would be too soon to expect the new Xbox but it would likely still be backwards compatible with the rest of the Xbox family. Interestingly, 2019 to 2020 is around the time that analysts are predicting Sony will launch the PlayStation 5. If you ask us, we think it's unlikely that Microsoft would let Sony launch a brand new console without answering with its own within a year, but we don't think the company would try to beat Sony to the post given Microsoft’s first foray into true 4K gaming hasn't even been on store shelves even a year yet. That said, however, that's not going to stop us from thinking ahead to the next Xbox and what it’ll bring - corroborated by information scoured from across the web. Next Xbox consoles are codenamed 'Anaconda' and 'Lockhart' According to Windows Central, two consoles are expected to arrive alongside an additional 'Scarlett Cloud' Xbox console - codenamed 'Anaconda' and 'Lockhart'. The 'Anacondo' is rumored to be replacing the premium Xbox One X model, which may ship with a solid state hard drive to improve frame rate performance, and is likely to see a boost in graphics and all-round performance. The 'Lockhart', on the other hand, is due to be a successor to the Xbox One S - offering a cheaper alternative. It will house some impressive tech A new job listing suggests that Microsoft is hard at work on the next Xbox. The company is looking for a senior electrical engineer to "come be a part of what's next" in Xbox hardware. Xbox is seeking for an engineer to “lead the DRAM solutions for the Xbox console hardware development team" adding that the “DRAM solutions include DDR3, GDDR5, GDDR6 and future DRAM technologies." This person will be working on "currently shipping and future Xbox design projects." It was already suggested by Jez Corden in 2017 that the next Xbox is being designed and this gives greater credence to that. Andrew House talks the next generation Former PlayStation chief, Andrew House, has been talking about the future of consoles at GamesBeat Summit in California recently. Though House wasn't willing to go into specifics on the next PlayStation itself, he did say that he thinks physical media will be around for all consoles for some time to come, thanks to the need to continue breaking into new markets. One would assume this is something that would also be relevant to any future Xbox console. In his interview, House said, "I don’t have any firm knowledge on this, but my sense is that you will see the disc around in the industry for a while. If you’re going to tap into some of these [developing] markets, then allowing for that more traditional physical purchase model as an option is probably no bad thing." Despite this, though, House also believes that streaming will be big in the future of gaming – an opinion which ties neatly with Microsoft's Phil Spencer's who emphasised the need for a 'Netflix for video games'. This would be, one would imagine, a natural extension of the download-based Xbox Game Pass in the next generation. A console just for streaming Recent reports from Thurrott suggest we may even see a streaming-only console launch alongside the mainline Xbox Two, to help establish Microsoft's nascent streaming model as a fully-fledged gaming experience of its own. It would likely be pitched as a low-cost alternative, given the reduced hardware requirements when streaming games directly from the cloud – probably higher in price than a standard streaming box but cheaper than other Xbox consoles. Though it's pretty certain you'd require a monthly subscription to access the Xbox library. Thankfully, all next-gen games are still expected to run on both consoles (that would get confusing quickly). And if Microsoft manage to fix the latency issues currently holding back the streaming model, we could really see this taking off. What will the new Xbox be called?The hardest part of this future-gazing is actually trying to guess what the console might be called, given the naming progression that’s come before. Microsoft isn't going to abandon the Xbox brand anytime soon, surely, but the subtitle is a little harder to pin down. It's unlikely the next Xbox will keep the codenames Xbox Scarlett, Xbox Anaconda or Xbox Lockhart. If it’s a brand new console generation it’d make sense to call it Xbox Two, but Xbox 720 made a retrospectively perplexing amount of sense at one point so let’s not be too confident in that. We wouldn't be entirely surprised by an Xbox Zero – or even Infinite, to take a leaf from the next Halo game. The rumored streaming console may also ditch the numerical naming altogether – Xbox Cloud, anyone? What will it the new Xbox be capable of?What’s slightly easier is predicting the features that are likely to appear in this new Xbox. The Xbox One X is a huge step forward for Microsoft, bringing native 4K gaming and near-PC power into a console. It's currently the most powerful console on the market so where can Microsoft go from here? A powerful console focused on games We like to think Microsoft has learned a lot of lessons from the difficult launch of the Xbox One. The Xbox One didn’t have the advantage of being the only HD console option on the market like the Xbox 360 did, and additionally its launch ended up being marred by a Kinect bundle that pushed its price way higher than it should have been. As a result, the PlayStation 4 took (and has maintained) a commanding lead in terms of market share. Microsoft has definitely addressed a lot of these issues with the Xbox One X. It's a piece of hardware that's almost entirely focused on games, and it's not bundled with any superfluous hardware. In fact, Microsoft's gone so far as to drop the Kinect port entirely. We imagine this focus will continue into the future. http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/f874870e81d64f9ab79a4dd19f3a3397.jpg The best PS4 Pro deals right nowBudget and premium options With the One S and the One X Microsoft is embracing both an iterative and a tiered model. The company is not only launching incrementally better pieces of hardware over time, but it's also supporting previous versions of the console and allowing them to exist as budget options. As a case in point, the One X is still expensive (much more so than the PS4 Pro), but the Xbox One S is still being presented as a worthy and attractively priced 4K upscaling alternative that will still be capable of playing all the same games, not just from this generation but the previous generation too. However, after each console has had its chance at being the budget model, they've each fallen away into obscurity. We've already seen this with the original Xbox One, and it's likely that the Xbox Two will eventually have the same effect on the Xbox One S. We imagine Microsoft may want a certain degree of market saturation for the Xbox One X (or at the very least 4K TVs) before launching the Xbox Two but when the console does launch it’s less likely to feel like the same leap that moving from Xbox 360 to Xbox One did. An additional streaming-focused console could also prove to be a low-cost alternative, given the reduced hardware requirements needed for cloud-based play. http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/035d8380e91ba2fa46f5139259b3da1f.jpg Trial and error, rather than a jump into the unknown In some senses we feel that it’s reasonable to assume we’ll be slowly drip-fed a lot of the technology that will end up in the Xbox Two. This has the big advantage of allowing Microsoft to establish what works and what doesn't work over time rather than having to take a big leap of faith with a brand new piece of hardware. VR and AR support is likely We've learned that certain things are unimportant for consoles this generation, like motion-sensing and touch-screen, but the new technologies like VR and AR are proving to be very exciting fields for developers. Microsoft has already confirmed that the Xbox One X will support Windows 10 virtual and mixed reality headsets but it’s not being forceful with pushing them. They were notably absent from the console’s presentation at E3 2017 and we still have plenty of questions. Get a great deal on a 4K TVIf PlayStation VR continues to grow in strength we expect Microsoft will be more clear about the Xbox One X’s stance on these headsets and much more active about developing the technology for its successor. Xbox Two could very well be the HoloLens console. If the technology flops, Microsoft can easily phase it out from its next generation plans like the Kinect but much more neatly and less to the detriment of initial sales. Meanwhile, if the Xbox One X’s 4K visuals fail to make the console appeal as much as Microsoft hopes they will, we don’t doubt they’ll still be a feature of the Xbox Two, but they may be less of a focus in the overall marketing. http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/Zk4gEqxFjx34yY2irhBrUB.jpg The latest and greatest audio visual technology Recently Microsoft has been really keen on integrating the latest audio visual technologies into its consoles - Dolby Atmos support, 4K and HDR are all here. This is something we can see continuing into the next generation. It’s clear Microsoft wants gaming on Xbox to be a full sensory experience and it’s possible that the next console will include some kind of projection system similar to Project Ariana that Razer showcased at CES 2017 whereby gaming environments were extended beyond the screen and into the player’s room. With something like this, Xbox Two has the potential to be an immersive gaming machine and we already know technology of a similar ilk was being considered in the Illumiroom project from back in 2013. The best Xbox One S deals you can get right nowAn increasingly cross-platform ecosystem In the way that Nintendo is bridging the gap between its handheld and home console divisions with the Switch, we can see Microsoft moving its PC and console users closer as we move onto the Xbox Two. Cross-platform play, accounts and digital purchases are being encouraged in the Windows 10 and Xbox stores and this is something we can see Microsoft continuing to push into the new generation, particularly if it’s going to continue to manufacture consoles that boast near-PC specs. However, Sony has vehemently said it will not take part in cross-platform play with competing consoles. Learnings from the PC It’s likely that the new Xbox will likely have more of a Steam-esque interface that puts games first and doesn't confuse the customer. A system with a more indie- and mod-friendly focus is also important (we’re already seeing this with Indie@Xbox), and if the console consumer base doesn't jibe with mid-lifecycle console upgrades, perhaps a more PC piecemeal approach with more swappable parts will be in order. When will the next Xbox be released?So we know we're getting another console (or two), but how soon will it really be with the Xbox One still in its first year? Rumors suggest Microsoft is planning a 2020 release, which would be only 3 years after the iterative Xbox One X, but 7 years after the Xbox One first came to market and a good time, perhaps, to move onto the new generation. Even if the reports are reliable, we still envisage this being pushed to early 2021, though if the PS5 launched before that it's likely Microsoft won't want to be too far behind. With the steady and considered steps Microsoft is making and the way the company seems to be listening to feedback from its users more than ever, we anticipate that the Xbox Two could be its most considered launch yet. In the meantime, a lot hinges on the Xbox One X. We've also done some speculating about the future of the PlayStation: check out everything we want to see from the PlayStation 5. Mad Box: a gaming console that wants to take on Xbox and PlayStationhttp://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techradar/digital-home/~4/n8gRl-jWxJ4
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We've gone through the top retailers such as Amazon and Walmart to find the best cheap 4K TV deals that are available online. So if you're ready to upgrade to a 4K or smart TV or if you're just looking for bigger screen size with Ultra HD features, take a look at the highlights of the best TV sale prices below. Whether you're looking for an XL 4K TV to serve as the focal point of your home theater system, a modestly sized set for the bedroom or kitchen, or an entry level TV for the kids, you're sure to find something that meets your specifications and budget. You will find all of our carefully curated deals below. We've divided them into three different size categories immediately after our pick for the best cheap TV deal of the week. These days you really don't have to pay much more to get a Ultra HD 4K set instead of an older-style HD one. If you're after the hottest tech in TV though, you may want to take a look at the cheapest OLED TV prices. Whether you want a small TV with a price tag to match or something to show all the colors of the rainbow (and a few million more) with HDR, we've found plenty of options. Read on to find the TV you want at a great price! http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/cXddweFzCzW4ShAruhge9n.jpeg TechRadar's cheap TV deal of the weekCheap TV deals (40-49 inch)Cheap TV deals (50-59 inch):Cheap TV deals (60-85 inch):More cheap TV sales:Not found the right cheap TV for you today? Or maybe you'd prefer to directly browse the TVs at your favourite retailers instead of our highlights of the best cheap TV deals? We're updating this page on a regular basis, so you may have better look another day. If you want to take a look for yourself now though, here are the direct links to a the full collection of TV deals at multiple stores. AmazonWalmarteBayJetTiger DirectP.C. Richard & SonNeweggSamsungB&H Photo and Videohttp://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techradar/digital-home/~4/gE_LYahTZ1Q
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DNS (Domain Name System) is a system which translates the domain names you enter in a browser to the IP addresses required to access those sites. Your ISP will assign you DNS servers whenever you connect to the internet, but these may not always be the best choice. Slow DNS servers can cause a lag before websites start to load, and if your server sometimes goes down, you may not be able to access any sites at all. Switching to a free public DNS server can make a real difference, with more responsive browsing and lengthy 100% uptime records meaning there's much less chance of technical problems. Some services can also block access to phishing or infected sites, and a few offer content filtering to keep your kids away from the worst of the web. You need to choose your service with care - not all providers will necessarily be better than your ISP - but to help point you in the right direction, this article will highlight six of the best free DNS servers around. We’ve rounded up the best website hosting serviceshttp://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/JdCSpAZLNH8b77MNK6BWnN.jpg OpenDNS Founded in 2005 and now owned by Cisco, OpenDNS is one of the biggest names in public DNS. The free service offers plenty of benefits: high speeds, 100% uptime, phishing sites blocked by default, optional parental controls-type web filtering to block websites by content type, along with free email support if anything goes wrong. Commercial plans enable viewing a history of your internet activity for up to the last year, and can optionally lock down your system by allowing access to specific websites only. These aren't going to be must-have features for the average user, but if you're interested, they can be yours for around $20 (£14.30) a year. If you're an old hand at swapping DNS, you can get started immediately by reconfiguring your device to use the OpenDNS nameservers. If you're a newbie, that's okay too, as OpenDNS has setup instructions for PCs, Macs, mobile devices, routers and much, much more. Check out OpenDNS herehttp://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/rk44JSLovGUiHJL96xeSWh.jpg Cloudflare Best known for its top-rated content delivery network, Cloudflare has extended its range to include a new public DNS service, the catchily-named 1.1.1.1. The product doesn't have any of the extras you'll often see elsewhere. There's no anti-phishing, no ad-blocking, no content filtering or other attempts to monitor or control what you can access, and what you can't. Instead, Cloudflare has focused much more on the fundamentals. These start with performance, and independent testing from sites like DNSPerf shows Cloudflare is the fastest public DNS service around. Privacy is another major highlight. Cloudflare doesn't just promise that it won't use your browsing data to serve ads; it commits that it will never write the querying IP address (yours) to disk. Any logs that do exist will be deleted within 24 hours. And these claims aren't just reassuring words on a website. Cloudflare has retained KPMG to audit its practices annually and produce a public report to confirm the company is delivering on its promises. The 1.1.1.1 website has some setup guidance, with simple tutorials covering Windows, Mac, Android, iOS, Linux and routers. These are very generic - you get one set of instructions for all versions of Windows, for instance - but there are some pluses (IPv6 as well as IPv4 details) and you should be able to figure it out. If you have any problems, Cloudflare offers a community forum where you can ask questions or see what others are doing, a nice extra touch which we'd like to see followed by other providers. Check out Cloudflare herehttp://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/RiEA7aEnoLUCyrr2svtHLA.jpg Google Public DNS Google has its fingers in most web-related pies, and DNS is no exception: it's free Public DNS is a simple and effective replacement for your own ISP's nameservers. Privacy can't quite match the 'we don't keep anything' promises of Cloudflare, but it's not bad. The service logs the full IP address information of the querying device for around 24 to 48 hours for troubleshooting and diagnostic purposes. 'Permanent' logs drop any personally identifiable information and reduce location details to the city level, and all but a small random sample of these are deleted after two weeks. There's a further benefit for experienced users in Google's detailed description of the service. If you'd like to be able to assess the significance of Google's privacy policy, for instance, you can read up on absolutely everything the service logs contain to find out for yourself. Google's support site offers only very basic guidance targeted at experienced users, warning that "only users who are proficient with configuring operating system settings [should] make these changes." If you're unsure what you're doing, check the tutorials from a provider such as OpenDNS, remembering to replace its nameservers with Google's: 8.8.8.8 and 8.8.4.4. Check out Google Public DNS herehttp://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/fvneEwWN6UrBnhTNBubP3X.jpg Norton ConnectSafe UPDATE: Norton ConnectSafe retired and the service isn't available anymore. Norton ConnectSafe is a free DNS service which can automatically block access to fraudulent, phishing and malware-infested websites, as well as optionally filtering sites by content. This is a familiar idea - OpenDNS and Comodo, amongst others, do much the same thing - but ConnectSafe has one important advantage. It takes its data from Norton Safe Web, a comprehensive database on more than 50 million websites in 23 languages. The service delivers probably the best web filtering performance around, and the ability to get it for free, without having to install any software, is a major safety plus. Setting up the service requires choosing from three levels of protection. The Security policy blocks malicious and fraudulent websites only, and uses the nameservers 199.85.126.10 and 199.85.127.10. The Security and Pornography policy adds support for filtering sexually explicit material, and uses the nameservers 199.85.126.20 and 199.85.127.20. The very strict Security and Pornography and Other scheme extends the filtering to block 'sites that feature mature content, abortion, alcohol, crime, cults, drugs, gambling, hate, sexual orientation, suicide, tobacco or violence' by using the nameservers 199.85.126.30 and 199.85.127.30. That's likely to lock you out of a lot of content, but it might appeal as a way to protect young children, and you don't have to use this policy everywhere. You could lock down your kids' tablet with this policy, for instance, but stick with the plain Security policy for your own laptop. There are only very basic setup instructions on the ConnectSafe site, but if you run into trouble, the tutorials on competitors such as OpenDNS may point you in the right direction. Just be sure to use Norton's nameserver IP addresses when you change your device settings. Check out Norton ConnectSafe herehttp://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/2SyEvkFRRdPci5gdbqDbmi.jpg Comodo Secure DNS Comodo Group is the power behind a host of excellent security products, so it's no surprise that the company also offers its own public DNS service. Just as you'd expect, Comodo Secure DNS has a strong focus on safety. It doesn't just block phishing sites, but also warns if you try to visit sites with malware, spyware, even parked domains which might overload you with advertising (pop-ups, pop-unders and more). Furthermore, you can try out the Comodo Dome Shield service, which adds additional features to Comodo Secure DNS. Comodo claims its service is smarter than average, too, detecting attempts to visit parked or 'not in use' domains and automatically forwarding you to where you really want to go. Performance is key, of course, and the company suggests its worldwide network of servers and smart routing technology give it an advantage. DNSPerf's Comodo stats are less impressive, unfortunately. As we write, DNSPerf reports its average query time as around 68ms, ranking it ninth out of the ten services tested. That said, Comodo may still be interesting if you're looking for an extra layer of web filtering, and the support website has some short but useful instructions on setting the service up on Windows PCs, Macs, routers and Chromebooks. Check out Comodo Secure DNS herehttp://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/oFfykXqg2GT8SAXRvpohrB.jpg Quad9 Quad9 is a young DNS outfit which has been providing a fast and free DNS service since August 2016. The company sells itself on its ability to block malicious domains by collecting intelligence from 'a variety of public and private sources.' It's not clear what these sources are, but the website says Quad9 used 18+ 'threat intelligence providers' as of May 2018. That's a little too vague for us, and we're not convinced that using a large number of threat intelligence providers will necessarily help – the quality of the intelligence is generally more important than the quantity. There's no arguing about Quad9's performance, though. DNSPerf currently rates it seven out of ten for average worldwide query times, lagging behind Cloudflare and OpenDNS, but effortlessly outpacing contenders like Comodo. Drilling down into the detail reveals some variations in speed - Quad9 is on the fifth place for North American queries - but overall the service still delivers better performance than most. Setup guidance is a little limited, with tutorials for the latest versions of Windows and macOS only. They're well presented, though, and it's not difficult to figure out what you need to do. Check out Quad9 hereGot further questions about DNS? Here are some common queries along with our answers. What is DNS?The Domain Name System (DNS) is a phonebook for the internet, a framework which translates domain names, like facebook.com or twitter.com, into the IP addresses necessary for devices to load those internet resources. The mechanics of DNS can be quite complicated, as information isn't held in a single database, but rather distributed in a worldwide directory including a vast number of DNS servers. Fortunately, the average internet user doesn't normally have to get involved in any of the low-level technical details. Your ISP automatically provides you with access to a DNS server whenever you go online, and whenever you enter a URL into your browser, this will find the relevant IP address for you. http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/h2XmnnV82XGp4JmtEBLVm6.jpg Your ISP DNS isn't performing? Verisign is one of many big-name companies offering a free alternative Why might DNS matter to me?DNS servers can vary hugely in speed, particularly in areas which don't always have the best internet coverage (Africa, South America, Oceania.) To take an example of a single day when we tested, DNSPerf.com reported Cloudflare achieved an average 4.43ms query time for Oceania, while Yandex was left trailing at 350.24ms. That's potentially more than a third of a second in extra waiting time before your browser is able to access any new website. This is an extreme example, to be fair. European or US lookups may see less than 30ms variation between most DNS services, and as your device or router will probably cache the address for reuse later, even this delay will only occur very occasionally. Still, a sluggish DNS server can noticeably slow down your browsing in some situations, and trying an alternative – especially as the best options are all free – is generally a good idea. There's a second possible benefit in terms of uptime. If your ISP DNS server fails, you might not be able to access some or all of your favorite sites. Big-name providers such as OpenDNS claim they've had 100% uptime going back years. http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/nfNseRGR7CzuxvvVKH98QY.jpg How can I find the fastest DNS service?DNS speed depends on many factors, including your location, the distance to your nearest server, and that server having enough power and bandwidth to handle all the queries it receives. DNS Jumper is a portable freeware tool which tests multiple public DNS services to find out which delivers the best performance for you. The program has a lot of options, but isn't difficult to use. Launch it, click Fastest DNS > Start DNS Test, and within a few seconds you'll be looking at a list of DNS services sorted by speed. DNS Jumper can be useful, in particular because it's checking how servers perform from your location, but it doesn't run enough tests over a long enough period to give you a definitive answer. http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/vRG77zxhXDARhqiPVXETbb.jpg DNSPerf tests multiple DNS services every minute from 200+ locations around the world and makes the results freely available on its own website. This gives a very good general idea of performance, and also enables seeing how services compare on different continents, as well as assessing their uptime. How can I switch DNS servers?The steps involved in changing your DNS service vary according to your hardware and possibly your operating system version. Generally, you must start by finding the primary and secondary nameservers for the DNS service you'd like to use. These IP addresses are normally displayed very clearly on the service website, so, for example, Cloudflare DNS uses 1.1.1.1 and 1.0.0.1. The simplest approach for home users is to update their router to use the new addresses. Most other devices will then pick up the new DNS settings automatically, with no further work required. To make this happen you must log in to your router (the default password may be printed on its base) and look for the current DNS primary and secondary nameservers. Make a note of the current values in case of problems, then replace them with the nameservers you'd like to use. If you run into problems, check out your DNS service website for any setup guidance. Keep in mind that you can also use the tutorials of other DNS providers, as long as you remember to replace their nameserver IPs with your preferred options. OpenDNS, for instance, has specific guidance for many different router types on its support site. If router tweaks aren't right for your situation, you may have to change the DNS configuration of each individual device. Cloudflare has short and simple guidance here, while the OpenDNS website goes into more depth. http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/d54jdSfTYdAw4FHiS4zDHR.jpg How can I find my current DNS servers?If you're troubleshooting your internet connection, or maybe thinking of switching DNS servers, it might be useful to check which DNS servers you're using at the moment. The simplest way to do this is to visit DNSLeakTest.com and tap the Standard Test button. Within a few seconds the website will usually display your DNS server IP addresses, host names, and sometimes (if appropriate) the name of your ISP. After that, life gets more complicated as there are several potential options. Your device could be set up to use specific DNS servers; it might ask your router to give it the best DNS servers every time it boots; or it might not know anything about DNS servers, and leave your router to handle everything. On Windows, you could get started by entering IPCONFIG /ALL in a command line window. Look for your network adapter and you should see its DNS servers specified in the list. If there's a single DNS IP address which points at your router – 192.168.x.x – that suggests the router is handling all DNS queries. Enter that IP address into your browser, log in to the router if necessary and your DNS servers should be listed amongst the settings. http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/PmBudm5zPsGRR5vNpBHPUU.jpg How can I test a DNS service?If your browser is telling you a website's 'server IP address could not be found', even though you're sure it's up and available, then this could be due to a problem with your DNS. But you might not want to go to the trouble of changing your DNS service to find out. Windows users can use the command line tool nslookup.exe to look at the results of any DNS server without touching their system settings. Run cmd.exe to open a command line window, then type: nslookup website.com Then press Enter (replace website.com with the address of whatever website you're trying to reach). Nslookup uses your default DNS server to look for the IP address of website.com. If it tells you it 'can't find website.com', this means your DNS server doesn't have a record for that domain. Next, tell the tool to use another DNS service by entering a command like: nslookup website.com 8.8.8.8 The 8.8.8.8 address uses Google DNS – replace that with any DNS service you like, such as 1.1.1.1 for Cloudflare. If nslookup returns errors using multiple servers, this doesn't look like a DNS issue. If one server returns an IP address and another doesn't, you might want to try setting up your system to use the working DNS and see if it makes any difference. You might also want to look over our many web hosting guides: Best WordPress hosting providers Best cloud hosting providersBest Linux web hosting servicesBest e-commerce hostingBest dedicated server hostingBest small business web hostingBest Windows hosting servicesBest managed web hostingBest business web hostingBest colocation hostingBest email hosting providersBest web hosting resellersBest VPS hosting providersBest shared web hostingBest cheap web hostingCheck out the best website hosting serviceshttp://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techradar/digital-home/~4/eB7Y6WpT78g
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Microsoft has been pretty quiet about the next generation of Xbox consoles but, thanks to a report by a French gaming site, we may finally know the specs of the allusively codenamed Lockhart and Anaconda consoles. According to a report by JeuxVideo, two next-generation Xbox consoles will be revealed at E3 2019 - you may know them by their codenames Lockhart and Anaconda. In addition, the site claims the next Xbox specs which were leaked last year weren't far off what we can actually expect Microsoft to announcement later this year. Xbox Two: what we want to see out of a new XboxBest Xbox One games: essential Xbox One releasesThe cheapest Xbox One bundle deals and sale prices in February 2019http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/abe3p62idqwupWZ3FsUTae.jpg Image credit: TechRadar What do we know?According to the report, the Lockhart console will be the entry-level machine, with lower performance and therefore a lower price. But perhaps the most interesting aspect of the alleged Lockhart specs is that it won't have a disc-tray – essentially functioning as a cloud streaming box for digital games, apps and other media. However, the Anaconda is rumored to be much more high-end system, with very high performance and a higher price point to match – allegedly similar to the Xbox One X's on release. Both consoles will allegedly have SSDs, which should improve overall performance and loading times. According to the report, both consoles are due for release in 2020 alongside Halo: Infinite (which will be one of the generation's launch titles). Microsoft has not confirmed this leaked information or specs but, if true, these new consoles are sure to put a spanner in Sony's plans for the PS5. Read more: PS5 - All the games, specs, news, and rumors for Sony’s Playstation 5 Via VG247 http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techradar/digital-home/~4/pncAxGpE130
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The rumors were true and the Nvidia GeForce GTX 1660 Ti does exist, and Asus has now officially announced that it's releasing four different variants of the affordable graphics card. Each of Asus' GTX 1660 Ti cards slots into the company's product lines: ROG Strix, ASUS Dual, TUF Gaming, and Phoenix, with the cards tweaked to appeal to different markets, while providing the same underlying Turing architecture of the GTX 1660 Ti. Everything you need to know about Nvidia TuringCheck out our thoughts on the Nvidia GeForce RTX 2080Or the more affordable Nvidia GeForce RTX 2060According to Asus, each of these cards is "ideal for gamers seeking an uptick in performance on a budget," and are aimed at people gaming on 1080p and 1440p gaming monitors. http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/Tx48GBHnUwXaQzszwCea8W.jpg Asus ROG Strix GeForce GTX 1660 TiThe ROG Strix GeForce GTX 1660 Ti is Asus' top-of-the-range 1660 Ti, and is aimed at enthusiasts who want the very best performance. As with other GPUs in the Strix line, it has a specialised cooling setup to keep the GPU cool when under load or when overclocked. It will cost £339.99 (around $440, AU$620) and is available worldwide right now. http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/fBNmvwNFixYCaFF8KXJhYU.jpg Asus TUF Gaming GeForce GTX 1660 TiAs with other products in Asus' TUF product line, the Asus TUF Gaming GeForce GTX 1660 Ti has been designed to be as tough and durable as possible, passing a "144-hour validation program involving both synthetic and live in-game benchmarking" that makes sure it is built to last. It's also reinforced with backplates to make the graphics card itself stronger, and its fans use dual-ball bearings that should last a long time. We're chasing up prices for the Asus TUF Gaming GeForce GTX 1660 Ti, which will go on sale worldwide slightly later in March 2019. http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/mp8pMZPHPjXH6rd5WzaniC.jpg Asus Dual GeForce GTX 1660 TiThe Asus Dual GeForce GTX 1660 Ti comes with (as the name suggests) two large fans for keeping the GPU cool, and they have IP5X dust resistance which means the performance of the fans shouldn't drop over time. It goes on sale today, February 22, for £308.99 (around $390, AU$550). http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/Nh4D22jbpvPXmm2LFN62Vd.jpg Asus Phoenix GeForce GTX 1660 TiFinally, the Asus Phoenix GeForce GTX 1660 Ti is a compact variant that is designed for small form-factor builds. It comes with one fan, which uses a patented Wing-blade design that keeps the card cool despite its small size. This GPU is also available right now for £259.99 (around $340, AU$475). We'll be testing out Nvidia's stock GTX 1660 Ti, so we should see just how much power this affordable graphics card can provide, and it's good to see manufacturers like Asus get behind the product by releasing a number of versions for different budgets. Image credits: Asus The best graphics cards of 2019http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techradar/digital-home/~4/A5cvodiMSUw
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If you love the cinematic experience when you go to the movies but not the huge ticket prices and other people chattering away, then turn your living room into a home cinema instead. You'll just need to make sure you have the right kit, including an AV receiver. That's because buying yourself the best TV on the market may bring that huge cinema screen feel to your home, but it rarely brings the audio to match. That means if you want high-end sound to make the most of your 4K TV you'll need to buy an AV receiver as well. If you're not as clued in about the latest receiver tech as you are about the latest TV tech, don't worry. AVRs essentially act as the brains behind your AV setup. AV receivers will take the audio track from whatever TV show, movie, CD or video game you're playing or watching, process the audio and send it through to any connected speakers you have. AVRs are the only way to power 5.1 and 7.1 speaker setups outside of a soundbar, and they also host a bevy of ports that allow you to keep all your devices connected all the time. This is important because the best AV receivers are essentially the central base that all of your entertainment equipment will need to connect to and communicate with. Even if you have lots of other devices, this means that the transition between them will be seamless, regardless of what you’re trying to play, watch or listen to, you’ll always get an amazing entertainment experience to rival your nearest cinema screen. The verdict is in! The best AV receiver in 2019 is the Onkyo TX-NR676If you have a 4K set-up at home, then you need to be on the lookout for a receiver that has a wealth of HDCP 2.2 compatible HDMI ports. If you want to get really high-tech with your set-up, and invest in multi-room streaming, you need to think about which wireless speaker system is best for you – Chromecast, Heos, or even Yamaha MusicCast. Even if that's not something you're interested in right now, it makes sense to future-proof your set-up. For many people, Dolby Atmos will be the killer app. This 3D audio system is now the gold standard in immersive audio. It may be available on soundbars, but only an AV receiver offers true overhead Dolby Atmos audio. All you'll need to do is decide if you want a seven or a nine-channel system. (However, that said, you may not need Dolby Atmos at all, in which case a standard 5.1 sound system will fill your surround sound needs nicely.) Have we convinced you that you need an AC receiver yet? The next step is figuring out which is the right one for you and luckily we've got a big list of all the best AC receivers you can get your hands on today. Best AV receivers under $699http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/qdhidBJps55aVr2cvVPpMG.jpg Gone are the days when buying a surround-sound-supporting receiver with multiple HDMI ports meant spending an arm and a leg. These days, you can get a great receiver with support for a surround sound setup at well under $500/£600. Like, for example, the Onkyo TX-NR676. It's not the only receiver in its price range with a great set of features features or a plethora of inputs, but there are few comprehensive packages that are as easy to assemble, set up and use as Onkyo's. In terms of expected sound performance, Onkyo has long offered a great sound-quality, and this receiver is no different. The receiver supports DTS:X and Dolby Atmos, which helps give sound a much more immersive feel to it. We found that the receiver was generally great-sounding at all volumes. At low volumes, there was still plenty of clarity and detail, while higher volumes produced little distortion, which was nice to hear. Extremely tuned ears might miss a little detail in the high end at louder volumes, though the receiver still shoots well above its price range when it comes to sound quality. If you’re looking for a great A/V receiver and have a maximum budget of $400/£600, the Onkyo TX-NR676 is the way to go. Read the full review: Onkyo TX-NR676 http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/S6qvV5fvksXAgScUkDV6zY.jpg It might be late to the party, but Sony’s debut Dolby Atmos AV receiver entertains with some cool functionality. While it’s ostensibly a seven channel design (which means it can run in a 5.1.2 Dolby Atmos configuration) there are also two phantom rears which create a pseudo seven channel surround soundstage. The receiver can even virtually relocate the physical position of your speakers, to create a better sonic balance. Build quality is commensurate with its price tag. This is no heavyweight, and the fascia looks overly fussy, but the hairline finish is a premium touch. Connectivity is good. We get six HDMI inputs, all HDCP 2.2 enabled. There are also two HDMI outputs, for combi TV and projector use. There are also two analogue AV inputs, plus a pair of stereo phonos and two digital audio inputs. The AVR connects via Ethernet or Wi-Fi, and Bluetooth with NFC for quick pairing, plus Airplay. The AVR also boasts Chromecast Built-in. That’s all the main wireless boxes ticked. Setup is helped along by the latest iteration of Sony’s Auto Calibration software, which now features a 31-band graphic EQ and a stereo calibration microphone that adjusts phase, distance and level. Usability is average. The receiver relies heavily on its UI, which is pretty but sometimes a little frustrating. Performance is excellent for the price. Tonally the STR-DN1080 may not be particularly warm, but it is exciting. Movies benefit from seamless panning and pronounced dynamics. Power output is quoted at 7 x 165W into 6 ohms. The biggest surprise is the effectiveness of the phantom rears, which really do help fill out the rear surround stage. This sonic trickery positions the STR-DN1080 somewhere above a standard 5.1.2 design, but below a true nine channel amp. Overall, this is an innovative, exciting AV Dolby Atmos receiver. Consider it a brilliant value home cinema offering. http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/ZT9kMc5maEopyEJakxBhxY.jpg The latest update to the popular slimline NR line, Marantz’s Dolby Atmos enabled NR1607 packs a load of features into a low profile frame. Choose from either a 5.1.2 Atmos configuration, or 7.1 flatbed surround. Wireless connectivity comes via Wi-Fi, Bluetooth or AirPlay. All seven rear-side HDMI inputs support 4K with HDCP 2.2. There’s only one HDMI output though. This is joined by two digital audio inputs (one coaxial, one digital), plus three AV analogue inputs. On the front panel, there’s another HDMI input and USB with iOS Digital Direct. Auto room correction is provided by Audyssey, viaa supplied microphone. It does a reasonable job EQing the receiver to the listening room. The 50W p/c power rating may be modest, but this little box can slam loud and hard when it needs too. The subtle, immersive 3D audio of Atmos is also well handled here; audio panning around and overhead is thoroughly engaging. The receiver is more than confident with two channel sources, although it lacks the sparkle of some of more expensive rivals. While the power output is plenty good enough for smaller rooms, larger theater spaces could be a challenge. Edge past 80 on the volume gauge and the mid-range dries out. Overall, the NR1607 can be considered a potent slimline Dolby Atmos receiver. HDMI connectivity is class leading, and our only grumble is the solitary output, which could limit options if you want to run both a screen and a projector. Best AV receivers under $1,000http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/irrUmzsnNehpJmwWJ4YPMR.jpg The Yamaha RX-A880 is an excellent choice for anyone looking for a powerful, affordable receiver. Not only does it sound great, but it boasts a ton of ports, support for a range of wireless standards, and works with MusicCast, too. If you’re looking for a receiver that boasts Dolby Atmos support and can be calibrated to your room, and have the money to spend, then the Yamaha RX-A880 is the way to go. If, however, you’d prefer to save some cash but still want support for 7.1 channels, then we recommend the Onkyo TX-NR676. New and improved for 2018, the RX-A880 boasts a whopping seven input HDMI ports - all of which support HDCP 2.2 as well - which solves one of the biggest issues with the receiver’s predecessor, the Yamaha RX-A860, and there are also a few other analog input ports, so even older sources should work. The receiver is capable of outputting audio at 110W per channel at 8Ω which is plenty of volume for those that want a powerful and loud overall sound. Even in larger rooms, this receiver should have no trouble filling the room with powerful audio, as long as you have a decent set of speakers too. Plus, don't forget the RX-A880 supports Dolby Atmos. If you have enough speakers to set up the full system, you’ll find that you’re intensely immersed in whatever you’re watching thanks to the Dolby features. But, even when we had just a 5.1-channel setup, we felt like we never needed to go to a cinema again. http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/vHtJ2aw6m7iDrcCucBZjpJ.jpg It’s not often we see something radically different in the world of AV receivers, but this HEOS model definitely qualifies. For starters, it looks fundamentally different to the herd. There’s no front panel display. Rear connectivity has also been stripped back. Standing just 90mm tall, it’s refreshing compact. Build quality is superb. Only a volume knob on the extruded aluminium fascia gives the AVR game away. There are four HDMI inputs, and a single output, all with HDCP 2.2 support. There's just two digital audio inputs (coaxial and optical), plus analogue stereo, 3.5mm minijack, lone USB and Ethernet LAN. Wireless connectivity covers Bluetooth and Wi-Fi. Perhaps surprisingly, this is a 5.1 channel design and doesn’t support Dolby Atmos. Key to the receiver’s appeal is HEOS wireless speaker integration. While there is provision for wired rear speakers, the system is designed to work with wireless HEOS rears. In most systems, only the front L/C/R will be tethered. It can also partner with a dedicated wireless HEOS subwoofer. While a remote is supplied, it’s a basic zapper. There’s no onscreen display either. Setup and control is done through a HEOS app. For our audition, we partnered the AVR with a pair of HEOS 1s at the rear, and the wireless HEOS subwoofer. With speakers grouped, the package becomes a working 5.1 system. There’s no further calibration required. The HEOS AVR may not be a powerhouse, but it’s a bright, lively listen. The receiver delivers multichannel movie soundtracks with gusto. It’s crisp and exciting, particularly when there’s plenty going on around the soundstage (try it with Edge of Tomorrow Blu-ray, then duck as the DTS HD Master Audio soundtrack unloads chaos in every corner). This isn’t a particularly musical AVR though. Pop and rock are entertaining enough, but throw a throw it something classical or jazzy and its spatial delineation turns a bit mushy. Using wireless rears can invite some problems. While latency isn’t an issue, we were aware of occasional low-level pops and fizzes. As an ambitious reworking of the classic home theater receiver, we rate this first HEOS AVR as an qualified success. The cosmetics are admirable, and for dedicated HEOS multiroom users the wireless interactivity is a boon. Employing an app for control seems to make perfect sense, the only snag comes if your streaming audio sources are also app controlled and need to be juggled outside of the HEOS app. This may not be the future of AV receivers, but it’s a refreshing rethink nonetheless. This product is only available in the US and UK at the time of this writing. Australian readers: check out a fine alternative in the Marantz NR1607 Looking for a great movie to put your sound system to the test? Check out our list of the best sci-fi movies.Best AV recivers over $1,000http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/LTnuvUyEBrjhvaPfJvditY.jpg If you want a no-compromise Atmos experience, then stepping up to a nine channel AV receiver is well worth the premium. With this big Denon, you can opt for 5.1.4, or 7.1.2 - and that makes a big difference to the overall performance. There’s actually processing for eleven channels if you want to add additional amplification. But there’s more than just wraparound audio to this beast. The H suffix denotes that it’s also HEOS multiroom compatible. It can play, or route, content to and from other HEOS connected components. Spin a CD on your Blu-ray deck, and you can Party Zone the music through both your cinema system and any connected HEOS speakers. Build quality is stellar. The receiver has a copper plated chassis with monoblock construction. There are seven rear HDMI inputs, plus one on the front fascia. All support 4K HDCP 2.2 sources. There are also three HDMI outputs. There’s also a forest of other inputs, including four digital audio inputs (split between digital optical and coaxial), six analogue stereo pairs and phono (MM) turntable support. You can also stream over Wi-Fi and Bluetooth. Power output is prodigious, at 9 x 200w into 6 Ohms. This doesn’t mean you should go super-loud, more that it can effortlessly bludgeon without strain or distortion. The user interface is slick, with high-res graphics guiding you through the setup routine. Auto calibration is via Audyssey. The Denon’s performance is outstanding in every regard. It does a fabulous job with multichannel Dolby Atmos soundtracks, both explosive and atmospheric, and is no slouch when it comes to music either. Beneath the hood are fourth-gen SHARC DSP processors. Spatial imaging and transient attack is excellent. Overall, we rate this class-leading Denon as a home cinema superstar. It’s feature heavy, and massively powerful. But there’s agility behind the brawn. In short, it’s a fabulous home theater performer. This product is only available in the US at the time of this writing. UK and Australian readers: check out a fine alternative in the Denon HEOS AVR http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/Vm2A5oHL8dYrYeHMHm64tY.jpg While the Arcam AVR850 is unlikely to win any Best Value accolades – it’s unashamedly expensive for a 5.1.2 Dolby Atmos design – its overarching musicality is hard to beat. This is arguably the UK audio specialist’s best sounding AV receiver to date. The AVR850 uses Class G power amps, conservatively rated at 100W-per-channel. The design is understated, with a nice matte cabinet finish and big central volume knob. It tips the scales at a reassuringly heavy 16kg. Connectivity is good. There are seven HDMI inputs, all with HDCP 2.2 support, plus three HDMI outputs. Audio options include six analogue inputs, and six digital audio inputs. The really significant difference here, compared to previous Arcam home theater boxes, is the provision of Dirac Live room calibration. Arguably the most sophisticated auto calibration technology available, it does a extraordinary job fine tuning the receiver to the listening room. Dirac tuning is not carried out by the receiver with a microphone, but via a laptop. Sounds complicated? Don’t fret. Buyers will have room calibration done by the dealer that supplies the receiver. While Dirac is the height of sophistication, the user interface is pretty basic, just a plain text box. Arcam isn’t even trying to impress here. Still, the receiver sounds sensational, with precise imaging that really makes the most of Dolby Atmos encoding. It’s tight and forceful with action sequences, and delicious melodious with two channel music. That feature count may look frugal for the price, but when it comes to performance, your investment will be repaid in spades. The Arcam AV850 may be ruinously expensive for a seven channel amplifier, but tuned with Dirac, it’s clearly a premium performer. We’re prepared to forgive it any foibles. Image Credits: TechRadar Want a cheaper audio solution? Try one of our best soundbarshttp://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techradar/digital-home/~4/QUHdAEZOI5w
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When you're buying a new car, you'll take a peek under the hood, but Toyota showrooms are now going a step further, using augmented reality to let you 'see' right through the bodywork. Toyota and marketing agency Brandwidth are using the technology to let customers peer inside the C-HR and see what makes the hybrid tick. Behind the wheel of the Toyota C-HREverything you need to know about electric vehiclesWhat is augmented reality?The app overlays images of the C-HR's drivetrain onto vehicles on the showroom floor, demonstrating how its various elements interact. The graphics also feature hotspots that can be tapped to reveal information on key systems including the fuel tank, motor and battery. Under the skinThe C-HR falls into the 'small SUV' category – compact enough for city driving, but able to seat five adults comfortably. When we put the car through its paces, we found it ideal for just that, with smooth acceleration and a sporty design that sets it apart from the conservative looks often associated with hybrids. It might not be as exciting as Audi's Holoride in-car VR platform, but Toyota hopes that the new AR app will help you better understand what goes on beneath that slick chassis. Augmented reality is ready for the big time, but it needs one more thinghttp://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techradar/digital-home/~4/XTOgnWFA4ts