sincity

Oh Three, with this extraordinary SIM only deal you have really been spoiling us. Since this Black Friday special returned at the end of January we've been calling the network's unlimited data, calls and texts for just £20 per month the best SIMO plan ever - and we really meant it. But come Monday, it will be time to say a very sorry goodbye. In fairness, it was supposed to disappear from Three's virtual shelves two weeks ago but was extended on until February 18. But we're not expecting such munificence for a second time - we fully expect this weekend to be the last for the foreseeable future in which you'll be able to get an all-you-can-eat SIM plan for a mere £20 per month. There really is no catch to dodge here, simply the best SIM only deal you can get in the UK for big data. So if you've been thinking about a new SIMO and know that you're going to need plenty of leeway for Netflix binging, podcast downloading and Spotify marathons away from the Wi-Fi, sign up now...before it's too late! http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/VgyagGS9HpAEPUQtUJBfrg.jpg Three's best ever SIM only deal in full:Why go for a Three SIM only deal?If you haven't already been won over by this amazing offer then you'll be excited to hear that Three doesn't shy away from offering up some extra incentives as well. Whether that be free exclusive prizes or extra roaming. You can see all of best parts of a Three SIM only deal down below. Wuntu - Exclusive offers and freebies with Three's rewards appGo Roam - Roaming abilities in 71 worldwide countries at no extra costTravel Swagger - Get travel upgrades with Easyjet with bag drop and early boardingProbably the only downside is that you have to commit to a whole year if you go for this offer. At £240 for an entire 12 months of all-you-can-eat data, texts and calls, we think it's still well worthwhile. But if you're a commitment-phobe who wants more flexibility to cancel, then check out Smarty's £25 per month unlimited data SIM that only makes you commit to 30 days at a time instead. Still not convinced? Select from our list of best SIM only deals in the UK todayhttp://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techradar/digital-home/~4/-NZLnENR570

The Windows 10 April 2019 Update will be the first major update for Microsoft's constantly-evolving Windows 10 operating system this year. Also known as Windows 10 version 1903, or 19H1, the Windows 10 April 2019 Update continues Microsoft's habit of releasing major updates that bring new features, tools and apps to Windows 10. The Windows 10 April 2019 Update follows the Windows 10 October 2018 Update and the Windows 10 April 2018 Update. Both of these updates brought a number of helpful new features to Windows 10, but they were also had their fair share of controversy and issues as well – but at least it looks like Paint will no longer be ‘deprecated’, if a recent insider build is anything to go by. We’re hoping that the Windows 10 April 2019 Update will manage to arrive, as the name suggests, in April, avoiding some of the problems that plagued earlier updates. However, the April 2018 Update was infamous for missing its April launch date, as was the October 2018 Update, so we’ll have to wait and see. With the launch of the Windows 10 April 2019 Update approaching, Microsoft has begun releasing early versions to Windows Insiders – who are customers who have signed up to try out the latest version of Windows 10. Because of this, we've got a good idea of what sort of new features are coming with the Windows 10 April 2019 Update. So, read on to find out all the latest news, rumors, features and release date details about the Windows 10 April 2019 Update. Cut to the chaseWhat is it? The next major update for Windows 10When is it out? The Windows 10 April 2019 Update should be released in AprilWhat does it cost? As with previous major Windows 10 updates, it is freeWindows 10 April 2019 Update release dateWe don't have an official release date for the Windows 10 April 2019 Update, but going by the name, we can have a good guess. So, it's very likely that it will be ready to download at some point during April 2019. However, we won't say that's a complete certainty. That's because last year's April 2018 update only just released in April. After a few delays, it emerged on April 30, which is cutting it a bit fine. Meanwhile, the October 2018 Update was even more tardy, finally releasing on November 13 – and that's not counting the times the update rollout was paused while Microsoft fixed numerous Windows 10 October 2018 Update problems. With any major update to an operating system, delays and problems can arise, so the April 2019 release date isn't guaranteed. But, given that Microsoft has called given it the April 2019 Update title could mean that it’s finally confident that it will release the update during that month, as it won’t want the embarrassment of releasing a Windows 10 update with an outdated name again. Windows 10 April 2019 Update nameWe've known about the Windows 10 April 2019 Update for a while now, though it was mainly referred to as Windows 10 version 1903 and by its codename Windows 19H1. The 19H1 codename gave us a clue to the release date and possible name, as it suggests the update will be released in the first half of 2019. Rumours had been swirling that Microsoft would choose April 2019 Update as the name, following on from its April 2018 Update last year. Another recent rumor all-but confirms the name of the update as the Windows 10 April 2019 Update, as a reference to the April 2019 Update was spotted in the Windows Powershell tool when the "Get-VMHostSupportedVersion" command is run. This reference, which was found by Twitter user Tero Alhonen, is the strongest evidence so far that it will be called the Windows 10 April 2019 Update. Of course, Microsoft could always change the name of the update before it's released, especially if it looks like it will be delayed until later in the year. However, considering the evidence, including Microsoft's past naming conventions and the fact it wants it out in the first half of 2019, we're pretty confident it will be called the Windows 10 April 2019 Update. Windows 10 April 2019 Update confirmed featuresBecause an early version of Windows 10 April 2019 Update is available for Windows Insiders (like ourselves) to try, we've got a good idea of some of the new features that will be heading to Windows 10 with this update. As always with early versions of these Windows 10 updates, this list doesn't have every new feature, but we'll update it when major new features are announced. Also, bear in mind that some of these features may be removed from the final version of the Windows 10 April 2019 Update for various reasons. A new Light themehttp://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/sKKGEkTtTa3VgEp7VEDmYU.jpg Image Credit: Microsoft The Windows 10 April 2019 Update will bring a new Light desktop theme, making a nice contrast to the Dark theme that we're used to with Windows 10. Not only does it make the taskbar and Start Menu lighter, but new icons have been created that better suits the new Light theme. Best of all, you can mix and match parts of the Light and Dark theme to get a look that best suits your tastes. A better Start menuhttp://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/PwzpytPqpKrEguNzj3JSoY.jpg Image Credit: Microsoft Microsoft has continued to tweak the Start Menu, and the changes it's made in the Windows 10 April 2019 are definitely welcome. First of all, the Start menu when you first use the update is much less cluttered, with tiles and shortcuts for pre-installed apps not taking up as much space. However, there are still a number of apps and games that come pre-installed, and there are probably some that you don't want to use. With the Windows 10 April 2019 Update, you can now uninstall more pre-installed apps that you used to. Another notable change comes in the form of switching the Start menu to have its own dedicated process – StartMenuExperienceHost.exe rather than it being hosted by ShellExperienceHost.exe. That might sound like a complex change under the bonnet, but the only noticeable ramification for the user will be that the Start menu runs more smoothly, and is protected from potential issues which might be caused by other areas of the OS. The end result is a more reliable Start menu, according to Microsoft, and a more responsive one too, because Start doesn’t suspend itself any longer, so that makes for a slightly quicker launch time. Cortana is no longer integrated into the search boxhttp://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/NnGQLkV9dW2LauB7PvDBNn.jpg Image Credit: Microsoft In the Windows 10 April 2019 Update, Cortana will be separated from the search box in the taskbar. As well as splitting search and Cortana on the taskbar, settings for these two have also been split up in Windows 10, along with group policies. So now when you click search, you get a straightforward operating system search. And if you want to summon Cortana, you have to use her separate icon. You can now pause updateshttp://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/PpKsst7mkRohGm47B6Ejad.jpg Image Credit: Microsoft The Windows 10 April 2019 Update will allow people using Windows 10 Home edition to pause Windows updates for a set number of days. This is a very handy feature that allows you a bit of breathing room when an update is released. It gives you time to check out to make sure that the update is working correctly, and if there are issues, you can pause the update until they've been fixed. In a perfect world, a new Windows update would arrive without any problems, but as we've seen in the past, that rarely happens. This features has been available to Enterprise and professional Windows 10 users, so it's good to see it come to the Home version as well. Reserved space for updateshttp://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/JYhaiaRQZofzzBNgsk9mDN.png Image Credit: Microsoft One of the more controversial features that the Windows 10 April 2019 Update brings is that it will now reserve 7GB of space on your hard drive which will be used to store temporary files. While some people may not like Windows 10 helping itself to yet more storage space on your hard drive, the idea is that this will make downloading Windows 10 updates easier in the future, and will prevent people experiencing an error where an update fails to install due to lack of space. Windows Sandbox lets you experimentIf you're running Windows 10 Professional, then the new Windows Sandbox tool could be of interest. It allows you to easily run a virtualized version of Windows 10 in a window, allowing you to run software and test out settings and code without it affecting your main Windows 10 installation. This is only a taste of the new features that are coming to Windows 10 with the April 2019 Update. We'll continue to update this list as we discover more. http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/EaVXEjwuDms8XLiafqP3Ak.jpg Image Credit: TechRadar Helpful error messages The Blue Screen of Death is infamous at this point, popping up whenever Windows runs into a critical error, but they’ve never been very useful to average users. But, it looks like that might be changing with the Windows 10 April 2019 Update. Microsoft is finally changing error messages to be more helpful – they’ll now tell you how to fix the problems. The error message will pop up when a problem is encountered, and users should see options to try and fix it. The error messages will also have a link to a knowledge base, rather than forcing users to rely on Google for answers. How to use Windows 10http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techradar/digital-home/~4/IVJ3Z4Oav4c

The Google Pixelbook, even though its been out for more than a year, is easily one of the best Chromebooks out there. It’s a perfect example of what the Chromebook is capable of. We gave it a shining five star review for just that reason. And, more than a year later, it stands up, even in the face of the Google Pixel Slate. And, with Chrome OS updates that bring the likes of virtual desktops, it will continue to shine. Still, in our minds, the ‘perfect product’ doesn’t exist – there’s always room for improvement. The Google Pixelbook is no exception to that rule. So, after using the Pixelbook daily for so long, we have crafted a wishlist of things we want to see in the follow-up. Now that 2019 has officially arrived, we may be seeing a new Google Pixelbook 2 in the very near future. So, keep this page bookmarked, as we’ll keep it updated with all the latest information. Cut to the chaseWhat is it? The second Pixelbook, a high-end ChromebookWhen is it out? Sometime in 2019What will it cost? Likely as much as – if not more than – the current modelhttp://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/bowMyGoUJq6PCFUn9NfZei.jpg Google Pixelbook 2 release dateGoogle has held a special annual event for the last few years, pushing new Pixel phones. This event takes place each October, with the phones launching a few weeks later. In 2017, alongside the Pixel 2 and Pixelbuds, the company announced the first generation Pixelbook. Google did hold this event in 2018, but the Pixelbook 2 wasn’t there. Instead we got the Google Pixel Slate, a Chrome OS-powered tablet, which Google billed as the successor to the Pixelbook’s legacy. So, it’s possible we won’t even see a Pixelbook 2 in 2019, but seeing how the reception to the Google Pixel Slate hasn’t been too positive, we’re hoping to see a new Pixelbook this year. http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/fwGv9P2wswcYiF8H4xxMw8.jpg Google Pixelbook 2 priceWhen Google has released a Chromebook of its own, be it the original Chromebook Pixel or more recent Pixelbook, it has priced the laptops at the high end. Google has always positioned its devices as inspiration for its partners to strive for when developing Chromebooks of their own. It would be nice to see Google drop its pricing structure a couple hundred dollars, but we don’t see that happening. Expect the Pixelbook 2 to start around the $999/£999 mark and go up from there. http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/nndoTm4kxiaiRy7kai9edi.jpg What we want to see from Pixelbook 2Design The Pixelbook’s current combination of glass, metal and silicone are the same approach to design used throughout the rest of the company’s products. Turn the Pixel 2 XL around, as an example, and you’ll find a similar glass top and brushed aluminum back. Google surely will continue to refine this industrial design, solidifying it across its entire lineup. With the Pixelbook 2, however, we would appreciate more color options. Indeed, the silver and white color scheme of the first generation Pixelbook looks stunning, but adding more color options — perhaps something as funky as the Really Blue Pixel, complete with orange button highlights like we’ve seen on the Pixel 2. Google is a company thats not afraid to be bold, bucking the trend of boring laptop design is something Google should embrace. Overall spec bump Now that Intel has released its Whiskey Lake mobile processors, we fully expect to see both the latest Core i7 and i5 in the Google Pixelbook 2. Then again, we could see Google waiting until Intel’s Ice Lake hits the market later this year. While a webcam may not be the most used part of any laptop the Google Pixelbook 2 needs more than a 720p shooter. We aren’t asking for a 4K webcam, but in 2018, it needs at least a Full HD camera. It’s unclear what kind of impact Linux apps (more on those in a minute) will have on system performance, but it can’t hurt to have more RAM. Right now, users are given the option of 8GB and 16GB, depending on configuration. And unfortunately, the 16GB setup is only available in the most expensive configuration — a Pixelbook with an Intel Core i7, 16GB of RAM, and 512GB of storage for $1,649. For the Google Pixelbook 2, we’d love to see 16GB of RAM across more configurations, and not just for anyone with an engorged piggy bank. Display There’s not a lot of room for improvement when it comes to the Pixelbook’s display. The 12.3-inch screen, with a resolution of 2,400 x 1,600 pixels and 3:2 aspect ratio, is certainly easy on the eyes. However, according to Evan Blass, the new Pixelbook will have smaller bezels around the screen. If that is indeed the case, then increasing the size of the display while leaving the overall size of the Pixelbook the same is something we welcome with open arms. Additionally, the 3:2 aspect ratio should stay. It looks good in landscape and portrait, as well as lends itself to displaying books, magazines, and movies in a natural-feeling layout. It also makes for a more realistic experience when using the stylus on the Pixelbook’s display for notes or sketches. Better battery life Google advertises the Pixelbook as having all day battery life, but that’s a subjective measurement. Our use has shown the battery to not quite hit that mark, which isn’t all that uncommon. So, we’d like to see both better power efficiency and more battery capacity out of this year’s model. Perhaps software improvements could improve power efficiency, like Microsoft has done with its Battery Saver feature in Windows 10. Linux goes official Project Crostini for Chrome OS is bringing official support for Linux apps. Currently, the project is only available to users who are brave enough to run Chrome OS in developer mode. Google is updating the project frequently as it gets closer to official public release. We can’t think of a better time to officially launch a major feature such as this than along with brand new hardware. http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/t456c4rkF3UiJ5apE4svFA.jpg Fingerprint sensor Smart Lock is a handy feature, relying on a paired Android phone’s fingerprint sensor to unlock a Chrome OS device when the two devices are close to one another. But picking up a phone to unlock a computer is still a longer process than using a fingerprint reader on the computer itself. If the current design remains relatively unchanged, Google could place the reader in the power button on the left side. This provides access to the scanner, regardless of orientation, which has already been done on countless 2-in-1 laptops. Smart Display Mode The Pixelbook was the first Chrome OS device to ship with a dedicated Google Assistant key. Eventually the Pixelbook was updated with the the option to respond to hands-free commands, but only while unlocked and the screen turned on. With the second Pixelbook, Google should take Assistant one step further by adding an always-listening feature, regardless of unlock status, and replicate a similar experience to that found on the Lenovo Smart Display. Pen included The Pixelbook works with a stylus, but it costs you an additional $99/£99 just to write or draw on your screen. Jotting notes on the lock screen is handy, but with the Pixelbook already sitting atop the the pricing scale, including a pen isn’t too much to ask for … is it? Ditch the palm rests Have you seen what the white palm rests just below the keyboard look like after a few months of use? It’s gross. The amount of dirt that shows is embarrassing, even after you’ve cleaned them. Hopefully, if Google insists on using a similar material, they use something that is not white – or at least more dirt and grime resistant. Regardless, come back to this page every now and then ahead of the possible launch for the latest Pixelbook 2 rumors and leaks. These are the best Chromebooks we've tested this past yearhttp://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techradar/digital-home/~4/iSA_L1gEZh4

After what seemed like years of waiting, Apple finally launched the new MacBook Air. And, while it did bring some new features to the popular laptop lineup, like the awesome fingerprint sensor, we think the MacBook Air 2019, if it comes out, can do more to adapt to the modern laptop landscape. Now, we don’t know what Apple is planning on releasing this year, beyond the Mac Pro 2019 at least, so we’re not even sure whether a MacBook Air 2019 is going to happen much less when. However, we’re going to make some educated guesses about when the MacBook Air 2019 might hit the street, and create a wish list of what we want to see. So, be sure to keep this page bookmarked, and we’ll update it as soon as the inevitable MacBook Air 2019 rumors and leaks come rolling in. Cut to the chase What is it? The next MacBook Air When is it out? November 2019 at the earliest How much will it cost? Likely around $1,199 (£1,199, AU$1,849) http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/sgYXLRsGjxXQ9npbvQmegW.jpg Image Credit: TechRadar MacBook Air 2019 release dateTrying to predict the next MacBook Air release date is going to be tricky, thanks in large part to the strange history Apple’s had with the mainstream laptop lineup. Ever since Apple redesigned the MacBook Air in July 2011, a new MacBook Air came out within the same April-to-July timeline. At least, until 2015. After that, Apple skipped 2016 altogether, waiting to release a simple refresh of the MacBook Air with the same 5th-generation processor and a faster SSD in June 2017. Then, Apple released the most recent Macbook Air in November 2018, with a redesigned chassis and updated internals. Now, we don’t think a MacBook Air refresh will come out this summer – that’s way too soon. So, if a MacBook Air will indeed launch in 2019, we’d put our money on a November launch. But, the safer bet might be in 2020. http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/YmkgfXJZPhKHx3r4tr5ZoC.jpg Image Credit: Apple MacBook Air 2019 priceThe MacBook Air has always been the cheapest way to get macOS running on a laptop. And, while that’s still true, Apple raised the price from $999 (£949, AU$1,499) to $1,199 (£1,199, AU$1,849) with the MacBook Air 2018. We believe Apple will keep the price the same with the next MacBook Air, barring another complete redesign – in which case the price would more than likely just go up. We don’t think we’ll see a lower price, unless Apple launches a MacBook Air with an ARM processor. Of course, that’s more likely for a 2020 release at the earliest. http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/DSX5GtSRr6zfNnshduXqsV.jpg Image Credit: TechRadar What we want to seeThe MacBook Air 2018 did a lot to bring it to the modern age, with 8th-generation Amber Lake fanless processors, modern SSDs and a Retina display. However, it wasn’t quite as revolutionary as many were hoping it’d be – there’s a lot of room for improvement. So, here’s what we want to see in the MacBook Air 2019. Let’s see some faster processors The processor in the MacBook Air 2018 isn’t the worst thing in the world but, because it’s a fanless dual-core chip, it lags behind other laptops. Now, usually in a thin and light notebook, this approach would make sense. But, at its thickest point, the MacBook Air is actually thicker (just barely) than the 2018 MacBook Pro. So, we’d like to see Apple shove some full-fat, Ultrabook-class processors in the MacBook Air, and maybe design a fresh cooling solution. Who knows, maybe once Intel’s Ice Lake hits the market, we’ll see some Ultrabook-class processors that don’t produce so much heat. Fix that keyboard, Apple Another year, another MacBook, another keyboard. Look, we get it Apple, you want to make your MacBooks as thin and light as possible – ultraportable is in. But, the Butterfly keyboard has produced more issues than Apple’s traditional keyboards. The third-generation Butterfly keyboard placed a rubber film below the keyboard that was supposed to stop it from malfunctioning. But, the MacBook Air is running into its own problems, with key presses repeating. We’re not sure how Apple can fix this problem without designing a whole new keyboard, but we’ve seen a patent that suggests it’s doing just that. We might see a touchscreen MacBook keyboard with raised, tactile keys. This might be Apple’s answer to its keyboard problem. Cheaper storage upgrades We get that larger SSDs are going to command a price premium, but the cost of upgrading is a little bit inflated. The base MacBook Air comes with a paltry 128GB SSD, which might be fine for people with cloud storage and not a lot of app use. . However, to upgrade to 256GB of SSD storage you’re looking at a $200 (£200, AU$300) price jump. That’s huge by itself, but if you want a 1.5TB SSD, you’re looking at a whopping $1,200 (£1,200, AU$1,800) price jump. For that price, you could literally buy a second MacBook Air. Apple’s SSDs are admittedly some of the fastest in the business, but there’s no way a 1.5TB SSD costs that much. The SSD upgrades for the MacBook Air 2019 need to be cheaper. Check out the best Macs in 2019 http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techradar/digital-home/~4/NGpg56CL354

2018 came and went with no sign of the new MacBook, instead Apple launched the new MacBook Air – which some would argue replaced it. However, because the latest thin and light has been out for nearly 2 years, we’re ready for the sequel. But, looking back, the MacBook 2017 was exactly what we’d been asking for since its reincarnation back in 2015 – on paper, at least. The Butterfly keyboard was better than ever while it also experienced a dramatic boost in power, thanks to the 7th-generation Intel Kaby Lake Y-series chips. We have Intel Amber Lake processors now, though, that feature improved performance over their Kaby Lake counterparts. We expect the MacBook 2019 will use these to take a huge leap over the 2017 model. Hopefully it will be as dramatic as the leap the new MacBook Pro experienced. So, be sure to keep this page bookmarked, and we’ll update it with any new information that comes our way. Cut to the chaseWhat is it? The next 12-inch MacBookWhen is it out? Hopefully sometime in 2019What will it cost? Presumably the same as current modelshttp://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/APpMpZR3gBLDJwpqNZWbKh.jpg MacBook 2018 release dateNone of the most recent reports, rumors or leaks give any idea as to when we’ll see the 2019 MacBook. Of course, we’ll gladly speculate based on the previous three releases of Apple’s 12-inch laptop. In 2015, Apple released the first MacBook during April, directly following a March keynote. That’s a largely odd time for Apple to release a device, but that obviously didn’t happen this time. However, Apple went all of 2018 without releasing a new 12-inch MacBook, and while we initially thought the blame was on Intel’s 14nm shortage – the Cupertino behemoth had no problem putting out the MacBook Air 2018. So, maybe we’ll see the MacBook 2019 in the Spring, like we saw with the 2018 iPad for education? Either way, we’ll see the new MacBook when Apple decides its time. http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/AX9j6R4qmRS7ru65DkZMvF.jpg MacBook 2018 priceRight now, we think that Apple will launch the MacBook 2019 around the same price as the current models. This is another aspect where we’ll have to speculate based on the current pricing of the MacBook. The entry-level MacBook will run you $1,299, £1,249 or AU$1,899 to start. Only one more model, with more storage and power, goes for another 300 to 450 bucks on top of that. However, there is speculation that Apple is going to be releasing a cheaper 13-inch MacBook, but that turned out to be the new MacBook Air. With the pricing so tight here, amounting to minute differences in hardware between offerings, we probably won’t see a price drop. The only way we see the current version of the MacBook budging in price is if Apple introduces more capacious storage or higher power options, which will send the price up, rather than the opposite. For the MacBook price to come down, or for Apple to release a cheaper MacBook model alongside more expensive version, something has to give. Apple could lower the memory down to 4GB from 8GB, but we don’t think that’ll happen. Instead, we believe the only way we’ll see a cheaper MacBook 2019 would be a MacBook with a 128GB SSD instead of starting with 256GB. We’ll look out for new rumors and update this article as soon as the MacBook 2019 price begins to crop up as we inch closer. http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/UZKyzSWCw5XN39pTKAvCLc.jpg What we want to see in MacBook 2018All of this uncertainty surrounding a possible MacBook 2019 release is fertile ground for a well-crafted wishlist. So, while we wait for any kind of official word from the Cupertino behemoth, here’s what we hope to see Apple improve about the MacBook for 2019. MacBook 2018 keyboard and screen Throughout 2018 there were plenty of rumors that Apple was planning on making a MacBook with dual screens. One of these screens would be a capacitive touch keyboard. We’ve seen a recent rumor that the touchscreen keyboard would have raised glass and haptic feedback, so it feels as much like a traditional keyboard as possible. However, it’s easy to expect this to raise the price in any MacBook that implements it. Even if this touch-screen keyboard doesn’t make its way into the 2019 MacBook, that doesn’t mean the Butterfly mechanism keyboard won’t be improved upon. Apple has recently admitted that some of the keyboards in recent MacBooks are faulty – and will even repair them for free. That’s why we’re pretty sure that the MacBook 2019 will feature the same third-generation Butterfly keyboard as the new Macbook Pro and MacBook Air with a membrane that makes it less prone to jamming up. More ports, pleaseOne of the biggest problems with the 12-inch MacBook, ever since its initial launch has been the sheer lack of ports. With only one Thunderbolt 3 (USB-C) port and a headphone jack, this absolutely needs to change in the MacBook 2019. Maybe just one more port? We’ve already seen Windows laptops accomplish this feat, like the Huawei MateBook X with its two USB-C ports. Even the similarly priced MacBook Pro has two. Maybe there’s room for a microSD card reader too, but that may be pushing it. Punchier processorsCosting what it does, Apple really needs to inject some more power into its 12-inch MacBooks. Then again, the MacBook has consistently used energy efficient Intel Core ‘M’ and ‘Y’ series CPUs up to this point, we wouldn’t bank on seeing full-fat Ultrabook processors, as they’d generate too much heat for the tiny chassis. But, now that Amber Lake Y-series CPUs have been launched by Intel, we’d like to see Apple shove these latest 8th-generation processors into the new MacBook. but those are essentially old tech already, we’ll just have to see. We’ve also seen some rumors that Apple is planning on crafting an ARM-based MacBook at some point, and if the iPad Pro 2018 is any indication, we could definitely see this happening. Apple would just have to work out some kinks in getting macOS to run on an ARM system. It’s also safe to assume that Apple will shove its T1 or T2 processor into the MacBook 2019 – as it has with all of its latest Macs. Since the 12-inch MacBook doesn’t have a Touch Bar, it’s safe to assume that if one of these co-processors is implemented, it will be used for the automatic wake and ‘Hey Siri’ functionality presently exclusive to the iMac Pro, MacBook Air 2018 and MacBook Pro 2018. Sturdier buildThe Apple MacBook already feels remarkably sturdy in hand, but over time it can become covered with scratches – even if you are extremely careful. Luckily, Apple has recently filed a patent that details plans for making ‘indestructible’ hardware, through some unique coatings. Not only will this be a great option for a premium device that most users won’t upgrade for four to five years, but it’ll keep the MacBook looking as gorgeous as the day you opened it. We don’t know if this patent will ever surface, but this approach along with the improved Butterfly keyboard found in the MacBook Pro 2018 could make the MacBook 2019 a much more durable device. Stronger audio and videoSpeaker performance and webcam quality are two corners that Apple obviously cut through in crafting the MacBook. With the MacBook 2019, this needs to stop. Tinny speakers and a sub-HD webcam for a laptop this expensive simply isn’t acceptable. All Apple needs to do is simply beef the webcam up to 1080p, like its price tag suggests, and problem solved. The speakers, though, are a problem we don’t necessarily have a solution for. Supporting the speakers with down-throwing bass modules in the base might work? These are the best Macs that 2019 has to offer so farImage Credit: TechRadarBill Thomas and Gabe Carey have also contributed to this report http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techradar/digital-home/~4/K3u6p9fraXQ

There are some long time MacBook users out there that are starting to feel like Apple has lost the spark that showed the company out of its dark ages. There have been a number of new MacBook Pro models in recent years, and other devices, that have been releasing faster than our bank accounts can keep up. And, while some of these upgrades have resulted in improved devices – looking at you, Mac mini – some of these updates have fallen flat. Apple has approached the MacBook Pro in a different way since 2016, focusing on features that make one of the best Macs more appealing to the mainstream, further streamlining the design – evidenced by the removal of non-Thunderbolt 3 ports. It’s a case of ‘if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it,’ but some old school Apple fans have been feeling a bit jaded. However, the MacBook Pro 2018 did see a substantial internal upgraded, now rocking 8th-generation Coffee Lake processors and some of the fastest SSDs we’ve seen to date – giving it unprecedented speed. Apple has also improved the display with True Tone tech, fixed problems with the Butterfly keyboard, or some of them at least, all while maintaining battery levels from the 2017 model. Do we have high hopes for the MacBook Pro 2019? Well, this direction probably won’t change any time soon, so you may just have to get with the times. However, we hope that Apple dials down the frills and impresses us with updates that the MacBook Pro 2019 really needs. Here’s to hoping Apple gives us a Macbook Pro 2019 with more features that we loved about the original models. Cut to the chaseWhat is it? The 2019 MacBook Pro updateWhen is it out? It’s too early to tell, but most likely summer of 2019What will it cost? If the Touch Bar stays, likely as much as the 2018 modelshttp://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/JFmRWaXLQy8bj9HfHbAXMA.jpg MacBook Pro 2019 release dateAlthough a 2019 update to the MacBook Pro (as well as the Mac Pro) is expected, there’s no rumored release date at the moment. It’s hardly a surprise, as the the last update just dropped in July 2018. We might need to wait a few months or even early next year for a clearer date. However, going by Apple’s previous release dates – MacBook Pro 2017 debuted in June 2017 while the MacBook Pro 2018 model came out under the radar in July 2018 – a summer release for the MacBook Pro 2019 makes sense and is highly plausible. However, after Intel announced the 10nm Ice Lake chips at CES 2019 for a late 2019 release date, we could see Apple delay the MacBook Pro until Fall to take advantage of the new tech. Either way, we’ll continue to keep an eye out for updates. http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/WxgNeEyVo27hwGMeKyGoGa.jpg MacBook Pro 2019 priceJust the fact that Apple hasn’t upgraded its non-Touch Bar MacBook Pros this year says a lot about its direction, which is likely to phase them out and continue asking us pay for tech that, while promising, hasn’t been perfected yet. The worst part of the 2018 models is the fact that you need to shell out thousands to get the highest amount of RAM (the 32GB RAM option is only available to the 15-inch models) and the largest SSD combo. Otherwise, you’re stuck with base amount of RAM and a Touch Bar that isn’t even universally compatible yet. Photographers and filmmakers who need a bigger screen? You can forget about getting a non-Touch Bar model. You can also forget about upgrading your 13-inch. The majority of its parts are soldered, so you’ll have to bring in a professional and break your warranty. Then you may have to invest in a third-party docking station because the only ports available to you are the USB-C Thunderbolt 3 ports and a headphone jack. Of course, it’s hard to predict these things, but you’ll probably see more of the same prices. At the moment, the basic 13-inch with Touch Bar configuration, featuring 8GB of RAM, a 256GB SSD and four Thunderbolt 3 ports, will set you back $1,799 (£1,749, A$2,699). You’re basically paying 300 bucks more for the Touch Bar, Touch ID and two additional Thunderbolt 3 ports. http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/SbHerefqdwAgs5RnWoBE9m.jpg What we want to see from MacBook Pro 2019Apple hasn’t been getting a lot of love lately, what with the great keyboard debacle of 2016-2017, the troubled Touch Bar and the soldered RAM, to name a few. But, we’re still hoping Apple takes a new lease on life in 2019 and actually gives the users some of the things they need. More port variety, please Or, at least, if Apple’s going to insist on Thunderbolt 3, provide us with a docking station or an adapter for USB, Mini DisplayPort and HDMI. You know, instead of leaving us to pay extra for a third-party one. However, if we’re really being honest, limiting us to Thunderbolt 3 is inconvenient. MacBook Pro is for professionals who want a more seamless workflow. Yes, the Thunderbolt 3 is powerful and versatile, allowing for charging, output and data transfers; but we’re still using other devices and accessories that don’t support it. If we’re expected to connect this cable to that adapter to plug in to that port, we’re not going to be happy. And, while we’re at it, can we just bring back MagSafe charging, please? Some of us tend to trip over those cables, and it was nice to know that we wouldn’t damage those older models in the process. But, seeing how Apple launched the latest MacBook Air with just two Thunderbolt 3 ports and no MagSafe charger, we don’t exactly have our hopes up that Apple is going to diversify the ports on the MacBook Pro 2019. Improved Touch Bar When it comes to the new Touch Bar, it seems that Apple is standing its ground. Despite many complaints from users and despite the fact that many still prefer not having it, Apple seems to be in the process of phasing out the MacBook Pros without the Touch Bar. In fact, it’s only the MacBook Pros with Touch Bar that received the 8th-gen Intel processor and True Tone display upgrades this year. That’s all fine and dandy and, we must admit, the technology has promise. However, if Apple is going to ask for a few hundred bucks for a new feature, can we please get more use out of it? So far, Touch Bar compatibility is only limited to a few programs and apps, and we want to see more added to this list. Plus, it would be nice to get it properly working without the freezes and fat finger issues. http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/PybBraxiRTsHBPiDR5mxXP.jpg Or offer an alternative Again, the Touch Bar shows promise, but it isn’t exactly something that most users need. Not all of us are photographers or filmmakers or designers. Some use the MacBook Pro for productivity because of the simple fact that it’s interface is more streamlined and user-friendly. But they won’t have a need for a Touch Bar at all. In fact, it’ll just get in the way. We’d like to see an option for such users. Bring back the Touch Bar-free 15-inch model and upgrade the 13-inch model without it, perhaps. Better keyboard, display and sound Sure, Apple has ‘improved’ the keyboard so that it’s quieter, but it’s still a tad stiff and has less travel than most keyboards. As far as ergonomics, the keyboard isn’t the best. It’s not that we hate it, but it’s certainly more difficult to love it. We could get used to the keyboard, but we’d rather see a better one. Better yet, Apple could bring back the old design we’ve come to know and love. The MacBook Pro designers should take cues from the iPhone X and get rid of the bezeled display. That’s a lot of precious real estate wasted, and pushing for a bezel-free display will give users a bigger screen without having to compromise the size. Plus, by going bezel-free, it’ll give the update a fresher, more modern look. Also, a laptop designed to edit 4K media should have a 4K screen option. And, while Apple’s at it, we’d like to see it reconsider those speakers. We get that Apple is pushing for a more compact design, but the speakers in the older MacBook Pros are so much better. With all the technology they come up with, it would be welcome to receive a premium set of speakers with better base and more volume. New Intel processor The MacBook Pro 2018 just got updated with Kaby Lake Refresh and Coffee Lake on the 13-inch and 15-inch, respectively, but unfortunately Intel has released Whiskey Lake and Amber Lake processors shortly afterwards – putting the MacBook Pro behind the curve – if only just barely. Whiskey Lake only provides a nominal boost to performance that most users won’t notice. However, at CES 2019, Intel announced Ice Lake, its first round of 10nm Sunny Cove processors for laptops. We’re expecting to see these chips in late 2019, so if Apple wants to include these next-gen CPUs in its next MacBooks – which it definitely should – it would need to delay the next MacBook Pro until late 2019. Still, we’d rather see it delayed and have an even better processor than invest in one with only superficial upgrades. Regardless, keep it locked to TechRadar as this page includes more and more rumors and leaks in the lead up to launch. These are the best Macs you can buy todayhttp://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techradar/digital-home/~4/alunQExY7hU

The Surface Studio 2 just came out a couple months ago, with a 7th-generation Kaby Lake Intel processor designed for laptops and high-end Nvidia Pascal graphics. It’s a computer designed with digital artists and illustrators in mind, and it has a price tag to match. However, seeing how the Surface Studio 2 has dated hardware already, we’ve been thinking: what about the Surface Studio 3? Now, the Surface Studio 2 is still a new device, so there’s obviously no hard information about the Surface Studio 3. However, we can still do a bit of wishing, can’t we? So, be sure to keep this page bookmarked, and we’ll keep it updated with all the latest news and rumors as they arrive. Cut to the chase What is it? The next Surface Studio PC When is it out? TBDWhat will it cost? At least $3,499 (about £2,720, AU$4,850) http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/eCUovFvroL4MNSWmmQedkg.jpg Surface Studio 3 release dateWe’re just going to come right out and say it: you probably shouldn’t expect to see the Surface Studio 2 any time soon. The original Surface Studio was released in December 2016, with the Surface Studio 2 following almost two years later in November 2018. So, just based on the two releases we’ve seen so far, we probably won’t see the Surface Studio 3 until the tail end of 2020. http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/NdBXuAANU2fuYChbXacWmg.jpg Surface Studio 3 priceBoth the Surface Studio and its sequel are expensive computers. Both represent a massive expense for artists. And, it would be safe to expect the Surface Studio 3 to be at least as expensive. The Surface Studio 2 already bumped the price up by $500 (AU$800, about £390) over the $2,999 (AU$4,699, about £2,390) original, setting users back $3,499 (AU$5,499, about £2,720). If Microsoft does decide to hike the price further, we just hope it means that the Surface Studio 3 is packed with some more up to date hardware upon release. http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/iYP6xMXDmuH9Da3nvDVXjg.jpg What we want to see The Surface Studio 3 is already an incredibly niche product, so it’s kind of hard to draw comparisons to existing devices to try and create a wish list. But, because we here at TechRadar don’t believe a perfect product exists, here’s what we want to see in the Surface Studio 3 if and when it comes to market. Come on, Thunderbolt 3 We get it, Microsoft: you don’t want to pay Intel’s license to use the Thunderbolt 3 standard. It makes sense, but there’s only one problem: everyone else is doing it. There are so many storage drives, monitors and other accessories that rely on Thunderbolt 3 to get the job done, and this is especially true for professional products. By 2020, when we’re likely going to see Thunderbolt 3 on flash drives, it will be all but essential. The Surface Studio 2 already has the USB-C port – it just needs to go that step forward. For a device that wants to take center stage in the professional artist’s setup, the lack of Thunderbolt 3 – especially at this price point – is inexcusable. Hardware that’s actually up to date To put things into perspective real quick, the Surface Studio 2 launched in November 2018 with Nvidia 10-series graphics and Intel Kaby Lake processors. The Pascal graphics are understandable – Nvidia didn’t announce mobile-class RTX graphics until CES 2019. But, Intel launched Coffee Lake H-series mobile processors way back in April 2018 – more than six months before the Surface Studio 2 hit the streets. We’re not saying that the Kaby Lake chips aren’t going to get the job done, they will – as long as you’re not trying to edit video. But, is it too much to ask for a processor that’s up-to-date upon release? We aren’t sure which ‘Lake’ Intel will be on in late 2020 but, please, Microsoft: include the most modern processor? Because, if you’re forking over thousands for a computer, you should be getting up-to-date hardware. Up the screen resolution Not to say that the Surface Studio 2’s display isn’t high-resolution enough, but why stop at 4,500 x 3,000 pixels? We feel like monitors such as the Dell UltraSharp UP3218K are only going to become more common – especially among creatives. So, we’d like to see the Surface Studio 3 take screen resolution to a whole new level. We’re not saying go straight to 8K, but maybe we could see something in between – outclass that iMac Pro display to make it a better sell to would-be Apple converts. At the end of the day, no one knows what the Surface Studio 3 is going to look like. But, keep it locked to this page, and if we hear anything, we’ll update this article. Check out the best all-in-one PCshttp://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techradar/digital-home/~4/6UMWX1yAGgY

When the original Surface Laptop hit the market nearly two years ago, it was stuck in Windows 10 S Mode, and generally didn’t make much sense in the midst of the tablet-focused Surface Lineup. But, it all finally made sense when Microsoft launched the Surface Laptop 2 back in October 2018, refining the formula to become one of the best laptops. So, we want to know: what will the Surface Laptop 3 look like. Beyond the obvious stuff, like an upgrade to either Intel Whiskey Lake or Ice Lake processors, a higher screen resolution and the inclusion of Thunderbolt 3 would be the most obvious upgrades – that is, if Microsoft is willing to abandon its proprietary Surface connector. Now, obviously, we don’t have any solid information – or even rumors – about the Surface Laptop 3 yet, but that doesn’t mean we can’t craft a sort of wish list of what we want to see in the third Surface Laptop. So, be sure to keep this page bookmarked, and we’ll update it with any Surface Laptop 3 rumors that come our way. Cut to the chase What is it? The next Surface Laptop When is it out? September 2019 at the earliest What will it cost? Likely around $999 (about £780, AU$1,385) http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/mZ7cjHEsHMn7zxtgP8VAXR.jpg Surface Laptop 3 release date Unlike something like the Surface Pro 7, there have only been two Surface Laptop releases, and it’s a product line that’s been around for less than two years. So, we have less info to work from when guessing at a release window. The original Surface Laptop came out in June 2017, alongside the Surface Pro. However, the Surface Laptop 2 saw an October 2018 release. So, we might end up seeing the Surface Laptop 3 sometime in 2019, but it’s hard to predict exactly when we’ll see it. We could see it launch during or before September, as it’s popular for students. However, if Microsoft does launch it then, it would have to use Intel Whiskey Lake processors instead of the next generation Ice Lake chips, and that may not be a substantial enough upgrade from the Kaby Lake Refresh parts in the Surface Laptop 2. Therefore, we could see Microsoft waiting until 2020 to launch the Surface Laptop 3 – depending on when Intel launches its new processors, of course. This is all speculation, of course, so you should take it with salt. We’ll update this section as soon as we hear anything about the Surface Laptop 2 release date. http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/opUFHmtqsmjMV4UZMyZaHg.jpg Surface Laptop 3 price The original Surface Laptop launched a $799 (around £560, AU$1,000), with an Intel Core m3 processor and Windows 10 S out of the box. But, the Surface Laptop 2 significantly raised the price of entry, charging users $999 (£979, AU$1,499). This higher price point did come with full-fat Ultrabook processors in every configuration, plus the full Windows 10 Home. We think Microsoft will continue to charge the same $999 (£979, AU$1,499) for the Surface Book 3, to keep it competitive with similar Ultrabooks, like the Dell XPS 13. http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/24fRzAf67uH7nZEkDRJqRg.jpg What we want to see The Surface Laptop 2 already improved so much on the Surface Laptop, that it’s hard to think of what else Microsoft could do to make it even better. Still, we’ve come up with a few things we’d like to see in the Surface Laptop 3, using our tech expertise as a guiding hand. Faster processors The Surface Laptop 2 already vastly improved upon the CPUs on offer, moving from dual-core Kaby Lake chips to quad-core 8th-generation Kaby Lake Refresh processors. But, more speed is never a bad thing, and we’d love to see more power behind the Surface Laptop 3. There are technically faster Ultrabook-class processors out already, with Intel’s Whiskey Lake, but they provide such a small upgrade in performance, that it really isn’t worth upgrading. However, at CES 2019, Intel announced its 10nm Ice Lake processors, promising to increase performance two fold in certain workloads. While Intel’s performance claims should be taken with a grain of salt, the gains to performance and battery life that a 10nm process would afford are still exciting. Thunderbolt 3, please Now that Thunderbolt 3 is becoming more ubiquitous by the minute, Microsoft absolutely needs to include the technology in its next line of laptops. Now that there are so many monitors, external hard drives and other peripherals are using Thunderbolt 3, Microsoft needs to bring its port selection to the modern age – that Surface connection isn’t going to cut it for much longer. Fortunately, Microsoft has patented a new magnetic USB-C charger, that would have the best of both worlds. We just hope the technology is ready before the Surface Laptop 3 hits the streets. Freshen up the design The Surface Laptop 2 didn’t really change up the look and feel beyond adding a new black color option. And, while that isn’t really a complaint, we’d still like to see Microsoft offer a slimmer design. And, it’s not like Microsoft isn’t pursuing thinner designs. Microsoft has patented a thinner Type Cover, with a touchpad built right into the printed circuit board. This could lead to the Surface Pro 7 to have a smaller footprint overall, but we’d be interested to see if this design philosophy would carry over to other Surface devices. Thinner laptops are always in demand, so a thinner and lighter Surface Laptop 3 is definitely possible. However, we have seen a recent patent from Microsoft that could make the fur-coated design of the Surface Laptop 3 make a little more sense. The patent describes a touch-sensitive fabric, that could give the Surface Laptop 3 more touch controls on the chassis of the device. Maybe for volume or brightness – like a fuzzy Touch Bar. Check out our list of the best Ultrabooks Image Credit: TechRadar http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techradar/digital-home/~4/AWKpa1a_7Xw

Over the last few years, Microsoft’s Surface Pro lineup has consistently pumped out some of the best Windows tablets and 2-in-1 laptops we’ve seen. But, when the Surface Pro 6 launched with few substantial changes, we started wondering when we could expect more meaningful improvements on the Surface formula. Cue the Surface Pro 7, which we’re starting to see all kinds of patents for coming out of the woodwork that can change how we use Microsoft’s tablets. Intel’s Ice Lake processors should be launching this year, and alongside rumors of a new USB-C magnetic Surface charger in the works, we think the Surface Pro 7 may end being the most powerful yet. However, because nothing has been confirmed, keep in mind that this is all gossip and educated speculation. Still, we’ll keep this article up to date with any news and rumors, along with our wishes – so you’ll have an idea of what to expect. Cut to the chaseWhat is it? The next Surface Pro tabletWhen is it out? Late 2019 at the earliestWhat will it cost? Probably around $899 (£879, AU$1,349) to start.http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/XqTZX6i9umEmUAfSFzJCGF.jpg Surface Pro 7 release dateBecause the Surface Pro 6 essentially just came out, it’s unlikely that we’ll see the next one any time soon in 2019 much less this year at all. The Surface Pro 4 and Surface Pro 6 both launched in October 2015 and 2018, respectively. However, the Surface Pro 2017 saw a June release date. It’s possible that the Surface Pro 7 will launch in October 2019, but the release cadence for Surface Pro devices appears to be approximately every 16 to 18 months. So, we might see the Surface Pro 7 until Spring or Summer 2020. We could see it hit the streets in October, if Microsoft wants to target that annualized release, but we’ll believe that when we see it. Don’t worry, though, we’ll update this article just as soon as we hear any word – official or otherwise – on the Microsoft Surface Pro 7 release date. http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/YXoDWMzoVCZULHjXQF3CCF.jpg Surface Pro 7 priceThe Surface Pro 6 launched at $899 (£879, AU$1,349) for the base model, but that marked an increase in price over the Surface Pro 2017, the base model of which was $799 (£799, AU$1,199). So, the pricing of the Surface Pro 7 could go one of two ways: another increase of $100, or it may just stay the same price – we doubt the price will drop again, though. If the price does go up by another $100, and start at $999 (about £770, AU$1,380), it’ll put the Surface Pro 7 in the same league as devices like the Dell XPS 13 and the HP Spectre x360 – not to mention the new iPad Pro. Much like anything else here, we won’t know the actual pricing of the Surface Pro 7 until Microsoft is ready to share it. But, we’ll update this article as soon as that happens. http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/Zc99mXm6EWK2fNCeU3GGAF.jpg What we want to seeBecause the Surface Pro 7 is so far out right now, it’s hard to predict what exactly will be in the next Surface device. However, with all the patents that Microsoft has filed recently, like a update to the Surface Pen that would make it more accurate, we have come up with a wishlist of updates we’d like to see. Blazing Speed Back at CES 2019, Intel announced Ice Lake, the first 10nm Sunny Cove architecture for laptops. And, while we don’t have any kind of details about these processors or how they’ll perform, the smaller manufacturing process will inevitably lead to better performance and efficiency. If the Surface Pro 7 includes these new processors, you can expect much greater performance, while also getting improved battery life across the board. Thunderbolt 3, please Microsoft, for obvious reasons not worth getting into here, has been hesitant to implement Thunderbolt 3 into its Surface Products. And, while this was excusable in the early days, it’s getting harder to ignore with each Surface release. Luckily, we have reason to believe that Microsoft will launch the Surface Pro 7 with Thunderbolt 3 support, or at the very least basic USB-C charging. Microsoft has patented a new magnetic charger with a USB-C input that would function like the current Surface charger. We’re truly not sure whether Surface Pro 7 will support Thunderbolt 3, as it depends upon Microsoft’s willingness to trade its proprietary technology for Thunderbolt 3, which it must pay Intel to license. An improved Type Cover The Surface Pro 6’s Type Cover is already one of the best tablet keyboard accessories out there. It’s responsive, has plenty of feedback, and is made of pleasant materials. But, we haven’t seen any marked improvements to its since the Surface Pro 2017. We don’t think there’s any such thing as a perfect product, so we can’t wait to see how Microsoft improves on the formula next. And, we might have an idea of the next generation Type Cover will look like. Microsoft has patented a thinner Type Cover that should reduce the footprint of the device all around. It looks like Microsoft is planning on doing this by using a trackpad that’s built right into the printed circuit board. It would also use haptic feedback in the keys, to improve the tactile response of typing – which would be necessary on a thinner keyboard cover. It’s a bizarre move, but we’re nonetheless intrigued – if Microsoft can make the Type Cover slimmer without falling in the same trap as Apple’s Butterfly keyboards, it could change the game. We’ve also seen a patent that would make the fabric covering the Type Cover smarter. It would feature touch sensitivity, so you could swipe through news stories and photos without having to find the touchpad or the touchscreen. We’re not sure who was asking for this tech, but it’s a cool idea nonetheless. These are the best Windows tablets at the start of 2019Image Credit: TechRadar http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techradar/digital-home/~4/DzMi63XV1-I

Everyone fell in love with the Surface Book when it first launched. Then, the Surface Book 2 followed a couple years later, took everything the original did and turned all the dials up to 11. It really was one of the best 2-in-1 laptops running Windows 10 we’ve ever used – and it mostly still is. So, you can understand why we’re anticipating the Surface Book 3, even though it might be 2020 before we see it in the wild. Just imagine – what could the Surface Book 3 look like? A Surface Book 2 with a sharper, brighter display, more powerful components and Thunderbolt 3 – it could be amazing. With these features, the Surface Book 3 would be the perfect foil to the MacBook Pro. If Microsoft releases a Surface Book 3 that improves on the Surface Book 2’s shortcomings, while fortifying its successes, it could be one of the best laptops. Now, while there is little to no concrete information about the Surface Book 3, we can at least do a bit of speculation based on past releases and our tech expertise. So, with that in mind, let’s dive into what we think the Surface Book 3 may look like. Cut to the chaseWhat is it? The would-be third Surface Book 2-in-1 laptopWhen is it out? Likely between September and November 2019What will it cost? Likely as much as – if not more than – the current modelhttp://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/RZo5R7KU4ZzxZT6QaMgRBm.jpg Image Credit: Microsoft Surface Book 3 release dateThe Surface Book 2 was released in late 2017 – it’s more than a year old. But, if we follow the release pattern of Surface devices that aren’t the Surface Pro, you shouldn’t expect the Surface Book 3 until late 2019 at the earliest. There were a couple new Surface devices launched in October 2018: the Surface Pro 6 and Surface Laptop 2. However, there was no sign of the Surface Book 3. This shouldn’t be too surprising, as we expect the Surface Book 3 will launch in late 2019 or early 2020 at the latest. Until we get more concrete information, or even rumors, we’re going to stick with our late 2019 or 2020 Surface Book 3 release date speculation. http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/atDuWsGFNYnVcajcmsSdCm.jpg Image Credit: Microsoft Surface Book 3 priceUnfortunately, because there’s no concrete information about the Surface Book 3 right now, we don’t really know anything about its price. However, we can look at the pricing of the Surface Book and the Surface Book 2 and do a bit of speculation. Right now, thanks to a new lower-storage model, the 13.5 inch Surface Book 2 starts at $1,199 or £1,149, while the 15 inch version still sits at a $2,499 or £2,349 (AU$3,649) price of admission. If you ask us, that’s already enough scratch. Still, let’s hope and pray that the would-be Surface Book 3 stays well within that price range, as we likely wouldn’t be able to afford much more. http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/BXxW4srxpmUoafsgza9vFf.jpg Image Credit: Microsoft What we want to see in a Surface Book 3Because the Surface Book 3 is so far off, and we don’t have any solid information on what it’ll look like, all we can do is create a wishlist for what we want to see improved in the next Surface Book. So, here’s our Surface Book 3 wish list, based on speculation, leaks and rumors. More powerful internals The Surface Book represents the most powerful and elegant laptops that Microsoft manufactures, so we’d like to see up-to-date components all around. Now that Intel is supposedly getting ready to release Whiskey Lake processors for laptops and Nvidia is fresh off of the Nvidia Turing announcement – the Surface Book 3 might be an extremely powerful device when it comes to market. Just imagine a portable workhorse that can do some 4K gaming in its downtime. And, if Microsoft waits to release the Surface Book 3 until Ice Lake hits the streets in late 2019, the Surface Book 3 could be both powerful and battery efficient. Use the extra space accordingly Whether it’s through an expanded keyboard with the number pad or top-firing speakers with deep bass chambers, Microsoft has to make better use of the space afforded it with the 15-inch Surface Book design. As of now, it’s simply wasted space waiting to be utilized. Thunderbolt 3, please The Surface connector on the Surface Book 2 is flexible, to be sure, but it’s time for Microsoft to move onto Thunderbolt 3 via USB-C. Not only does Thunderbolt 3 allow for faster file transfers, it can also serve as a one plug hub for all displays and other peripherals you could want to connect. If the Surface Book 3 is really going to compete, especially in 2019 or 2020, it needs to respect this growing standard. And, it looks like it may actually happen. Microsoft has patented a magnetic USB-C connector that would sort of function like the existing magnetic Surface charger. Whether or not this will actually support Thunderbolt 3 remains to be seen, but we don’t see why it wouldn’t. Better power management One of the fatal flaws of the Surface Book 2 15-inch was it couldn't play games without draining its battery on top of pulling charge through its Surface Connector. While Microsoft might have told us it was designed creatives and not gaming, the same company was the one who gave it a built-in Xbox controller receiver. Whatever or whoever, the next iteration is made for, it should have improved power management as to not dip into its battery reserves for extra juice. A 4K display would be nice The Surface Book 2’s display comes in at 3,240 x 2,160 (260 ppi) at a 3:2 aspect ratio in the 15-inch model. It’s a beautiful display, to be sure. However, while it comes close to hitting that 4K mark, true 4K assets are becoming standard, so digital creators would likely appreciate a screen that mirrors the sharpness at which they produce content. All accessories included For what it’s charging for current – and will charge for future – Surface Book products, Microsoft should include all of the essential accessories in the box. Yes, that includes the awesome Surface Dial alongside the Surface Pen in this case. It’s only fair for what is essentially a luxury item. Black color option The Surface Book 2 is already an extremely attractive device, but after Microsoft revealed the Surface Pro 6 and the Surface Laptop 2, we would love to see the next premium 2-in-1 adopt it, too. Just imagine, a Surface Book 3 that could not only compete with the MacBook Pro 2018, but one that has a more beautiful color option than the Space Gray on the latest Apple flagship. These are the best laptops we’ve tested the world overhttp://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techradar/digital-home/~4/LLDViQBILy0

We were expecting to see Google announce Google Fuchsia, or Google Andromeda – a fusion of its Chrome and Android operating systems (OS) – back in October 2017. That announcement never happened. What will Google Fuschia look like, though? Well, the Google Pixelbook, alongside some other Chromebooks, are able to run both Android apps from the Play Store and even an early build of Google Fuchsia – which itself is rumored to run Android apps. We believe that Google Fuchsia – whenever it sees the light of day – will end up being the penultimate Google operating system across all different kinds of devices. Essentially, we don’t know what form Google Fuchsia will actually take. Information is both thin on the ground and very abstract. But, we do know that Google Fuchsia revolves around the concept of being able to do whatever you want on whatever device you have around. We can see this approach in some recent moves by Google – like bringing Android Messages and a VR video editor to a broad range of hardware. Actually, the Google Pixel Slate may give us a look into the future of Google Fuchsia – even if it neither runs the nascent OS, and doesn’t give a clue about the release date. With the new Chrome OS tablet, Google has changed the UI of the operating system to be more palatable on a tablet – bringing it closer to a unified OS across different families of devices. Whether or not it relates to Fuchsia remains to be seen, but we look at it like a step in the right direction. So, regardless of what the final product is, or whether or not Google Fuchsia ever makes it to the public, be sure to keep this page bookmarked, as we’ll update it with any new information comes our way. Cut to the chaseWhat is it? An Android-meets-Chrome, multi-device operating systemWhen is it out? An early form is available on the Google Pixelbook nowWhat will it cost? Likely nothing, as is with Android and Chromehttp://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/by9zV74tBzsBeoHUq8vWRF.jpg A Google Pixelbook running an early version of Fuchsia OS (Image Credit: Ars Technica) What is Google Fuchsia?Right now, there appears to be a divide within Google regarding what Fuchsia actually is. While the team working on it says they want Fuchsia to be the penultimate Google OS, running on all phones, tablets, laptops and smart home devices – Google’s leadership is still referring to it as an experiment. So, we’ll just have to wait and see what happens, and what materializes out of all this experimentation. Google Fuchsia, then, is a hybrid OS that is still very much in development. The entirety of Fuchsia OS is comprised of two distinct but connected user interfaces (UI): a phone-centric one codenamed ‘Armadillo’ and a traditional desktop UI known as ‘Capybara’ internally, according to 9to5Google. So far, more is known about the mobile version of Fuchsia than the laptop one, but ArsTechnica was recently able to get Fuchsia running on a Google Pixelbook in an awfully early state. And, it looks like both versions should be able to run Android apps, much like many Chromebooks in 2019. So, backwards compatibility looks to be something that early Fuchsia adopters can look forward to. 'Fuchsia is going to accomplish much of what Microsoft and Apple already have in Windows 10 and iOS-to-macOS Sierra Continuity, respectively, but in a very Google way.' Dividing the OS up into two separate UI based on the hardware it’s being used with is a classically Microsoft-inspired move. Windows 10 already scales depending on whether it’s being used with a desktop computer, phone, tablet or game console. In fact, Windows 10’s only unifier is its kernel, the root code that controls the bulk of the operating system. In the case of Fuchsia, that kernel is known as ‘Zircon’, and it’s designed to be consistently upgradeable in addition to being safe from applications accessing it constantly, adding an extra layer of security and eliminating situations in which apps are rendered incompatible with OS updates. Whether it’s in the mobile or desktop orientation, Fuchsia is laden with Google’s Material design found all over its Android and Chrome OS products. Shadows are a big focus on the design aesthetic, using a new Vulkan-based graphics renderer known as ‘Escher’ to do the job. The result is an interface with more depth to its look than traditionally flat OS products. http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/HbYTJFEiZxTfzHw6cTuSyb.jpg Google Fuchsia as it appears on a smartphone device. Image Credit: Google Fuchsia is also heavily focused on a cards-based interface, in which every app you open appears inside one of these cards – plus, you can place multiple apps into a single card. This orients the user around tasks at hand rather than apps. Those apps are expected to look the same across different devices because of a new cross-platform mobile app development framework, developed by Google, known as Flutter. Beyond that, Google Fuchsia revolves around Google Assistant more deeply accessing and working with your apps and information to provide even more actions and insights. Google has referred to these apps and pieces of information as ‘entities’, according to a GitHub developer page, and they’re all accessible by Google Assistant on Fuchsia. We’ve even seen a recent demo that further illustrates how deeply ingrained Google Assistant is on Fuchsia. And, it looks like Google will also be changing how it collects analytic data within Fuchsia, according to a report from 9to5 Google. Fuchsia will see the implementation of a new analytic program called ‘Cobalt’ which will collect information on how you use apps within the OS. Cobalt is supposedly a part of Google’s security-minded approach to the OS, but encryption hasn’t been worked in yet – but, we’re sure Google will work better security into Cobalt eventually. Google Chrome, or at least an early build of Chromium is up and running on early builds of Google Fuchsia, according to a report from 9to5 Google. And, while it’s not ready for the spotlight, this does mean that the fledgling OS is getting closer to being usable without days of preparation. Finally, Fuchsia wants to be the best cross-device OS to date. To achieve this, Fuchsia uses a new tool known as ‘Ledger’ by the GitHub community. Ledger, once you’re signed into a Google Account on a Fuchsia device, will automatically save your place in all installed apps across all Fuchsia devices. All in all, Fuchsia is Google’s attempt to get the best of Chrome and Android into a single operating system that’s more efficient both while you’re using it and when you’re away – not to mention in between those states or between devices. http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/fxydjj4gT6cVRrcndtYnSF.jpg This is likely where Fuchsia will make its debut. Google Fuchsia release dateEver since August 2016, we’ve seen a ton of rumors about Google Fuchsia’s release date – and each turned out to be false. These rumors usually come up before Google’s big Google IO developer event in California, or when we know a big hardware release is around the corner. Back in February, it was revealed that Google’s former head of Android platform security, Nick Kralevich, had left the Android team to ‘define security’ over in the Fuchsia department. Describing it as a “new, experimental operating system,” Kralevich doesn’t hint at any specific launch window, however it does show where Google chooses to put its most crucial resources. Right now, the speculation points to Fuchsia running within the next three years just on smart home devices, with a full public release coming within the next five years. However, even that seems to be an extremely shaky rumor – we’d be surprised if we saw it release before 2024 (or actual androids), if it ever actually comes out. However, recent developer messages through the Android Open Source Project suggest some movement. One of the commits mentions two repos, that the folks at 9to5Google take to be the “incorporation of the official Fuchsia SDK”. Another commit mentions the Huawei Honor Play smartphone, so we could see Fuchsia tested on actual devices soon. What might help point to some movement for the Google Fuchsia release date, though, is a new hire from Apple. Bill Stevenson, a senior macOS engineer for Apple, announced on LinkedIn that he is joining Google to bring Fuchsia to market. At any rate, keep it locked to this page as we draw closer to a possible release date and therefore might have some new information for you. http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/Yzh9gjppGL6MBnWbE2QTVd.jpg Is Fuchsia the end of Android as we know it? Image Credit: TechRadar What could Fuchsia mean for Android and Chrome – and Windows and macOS?Word on the street is that Google Fuchsia is Google’s answer to Microsoft and Apple’s united platforms. In turning Android into one of the two biggest smartphone platforms and later popularizing Chrome OS – not to mention G-Suite, Google’s web-based productivity programs. Google has already kind of become a major player on all platforms. From the sound of it, Google is setting out to accomplish much of what Microsoft and Apple already have in place with Windows 10, iOS and macOS High Sierra. Continuity, respectively, but in a very Google way. It’s easy to expect access to Google’s inimitable search and data-tracking at your fingertips – Google Assistant and ‘entities’, anyone? – which it could boast as better than Microsoft and Apple’s, and an interface that evolves to meet the needs of the device from which it’s accessed. Will this eventually mean the end of Android and Chrome? In name, most likely, but their principles will almost certainly live on – there's too much solid foundation not to build on top of them. Just look at the Material design language found throughout these early builds of either version of Fuchsia. The end result, likely to be seen in a preview form later this year and in purchasable devices in 2019, will be just one platform for Google to worry about. With Fuchsia, Google will be able to push new updates and features to all versions at once, simplifying support as well as user understanding. With that, Google will become that much more formidable a foe to Microsoft and Apple, and that much appealing an option to Android and Chromebook users all over. Who knows, perhaps it will be enough to bring people over from the other side of Microsoft and Apple’s fences. These are the best Chromebooks we’ve tested to dateGabe Carey has also contributed to this report http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techradar/digital-home/~4/WKN87poTcE4

The countdown is ticking away...there's now less than a week to go before we can get our hands on the new Samsung Galaxy S10. As exciting as that is, if recent price leaks are true then this could be a handset way above Samsung's normal price range (especially with the suggestions of a new budget S10e model). Luckily for those Samsung fans on a budget, this isn't all bad news. New phone releases usually means big price cutbacks on older devices and Samsung really has delivered this year. Not only is the company offering up to £220 off the price of SIM-free Samsung devices but it is also throwing in a free wireless charger with each device. These aren't just any random, bottom-of-the-barrel Samsung phones either. These big price reductions are on Samsung's current big four: the Galaxy Note 9, S9, S9 Plus and S8. So if the expected price of Galaxy S10 deals has given you a fright, check out these price cuts below: http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/VgyagGS9HpAEPUQtUJBfrg.jpg Samsung Galaxy Note 9 - £899 £799 | 11% reduction |free wireless charger Samsung Galaxy S9 Plus - £869 £649 | 25% reduction | free wireless charger Samsung Galaxy S9 - £739 £549 | 25% reduction | free wireless charger Samsung Galaxy S8 - £549 £449 | 18% reduction | free wireless charger http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/VgyagGS9HpAEPUQtUJBfrg.jpg You can go even cheaper on the Galaxy S9s and Note 9 from Fonehouse or get the S9 Plus for an extra £100 less from Amazon.co.uk. But neither of these retailers offer the free wireless charger that the Samsung phone deals do or allow you to trade in your old phone (Samsung offers up to £300 depending on the phone you're part exchanging) to save even more money. Alternatively, see our best mobile phone deals page for all the best deals aroundhttp://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techradar/digital-home/~4/GMPibaoMTkI

Images of Sony’s upcoming Xperia L3 have been leaked online, along with specs and some clues as to the device’s features. The renders and information, courtesy of WinFuture, show each side of the phone as well as some angle shots. They show the device’s ports, including a 3.5mm headphone jack and USB-C port, and some of the other features the phone has — and they also suggest a couple of omissions. MWC 2019 will be the biggest event of the year for smartphones.Which upcoming phones will use 5G?The Samsung Galaxy X is one of a new wave of foldable phones.According to the leak the device has a 5.7-inch 1440 x 720 LCD screen, which is an improvement over the Xperia L2’s 5.5-inch LCD, although that had the same resolution. One apparent inclusion is a slot for microSD cards, and there are also speaker perforations at the top and bottom of the device. There’s no rear fingerprint sensor — instead the scanner is on the side of the device, between the volume and power buttons, and rather than a notch there’s a substantial bezel on the top and bottom of the screen. The front camera is just to the left of a central speaker in the top bezel, while round the back the dual-lens main cameras are on the upper-left side. According to the leak the front camera is 8MP, and the two rear lenses are 13MP and 2MP – the main difference between the Xperia L3 and the L2 is that 2MP camera, which supposedly is for capturing depth effects. The real weakness of the device, judging by the leak, is the specs. Supposedly it’ll have 3GB RAM and 32GB internal memory, and will only run Android 8.1 on release. If the handset does come with a 3,300mAh battery as suggested that’ll go some way to making up for those shortcoming, but those are still pretty disappointing internals – in fact they’re identical to the Xperia L2’s. The design of the handset is fairly minimalist, and it doesn’t seem to have all the features and functions of a top-range device – indeed, according to WinFuture the device will launch for €199, which converts to around $220, £175 or AU$315, so it’s clearly a budget device. If this leak is accurate, then between the basic-looking design and identical specs to the previous device we’re not exactly blown away by the Xperia L3 – although it is meant to be a budget device, and of course these specs and renders aren’t necessarily the real deal. It’s possible we’ll find out more about the device at MWC 2019 when many new phones get announced and launched. Find out what we thought about the Sony Xperia L2.http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techradar/digital-home/~4/lNIzCYmzv5k

The fine issued to Google by France’s data protection regulator, is the first significant fine to one of the large tech giants, for failing to comply with Europe’s general data protection regulation (GDPR). GDPR was designed to increase the protection for all EU citizens, eliminate confusion by harmonizing the many data privacy laws and change businesses approach to personal data by introducing explicit transparency. It came into effect on May 25th 2018 and is the biggest change in data protection laws for 20 years, replacing the Data Protection Directive of 1995. Importantly, its impact is not restricted to EU organisations, but it will have implications for any company in the world that holds data on the continent or on any individual living in the EU – hence the fine issued to Google. Considering some of the data related breach’s that individuals have experienced in the past, GDPR is welcomed as great news for individuals, however it may present some complex challenges for companies. Particularly since any organisation found in breach of the new directive could face fines up to €20,000,000 euros, or up to 4% of the company's profits from the previous year, whichever number is higher. This is everything you need to know about GDPRMajority of companies still aren't GDPR-compliantTech giants facing major UK GDPR probeEnforcement of GDPRGenerally, the EU is notoriously slow at both legislating and at enforcing its rules. However, since it took effect in May 2018 three enforcement actions were issued that same year. October 2018 - a local business in Austria was fined €4,800 for a CCTV camera that captured video from a public space, more than was necessary. November 2018 - In Germany, a social media platform was fined €20,000 for data storage practices, as opposed to a full breach because they were storing user passwords in plain text without hashing. December 2018 - The most significant fine under GDPR in 2018 was a Hospital near Lisbon, Portugal. They were fined €400,00 because Staff at the hospital used bogus accounts to access patient records.We all know that the ICO issued fines to both Facebook and Uber in 2018 after GDPR went into effect. However, both incidents occurred before the new ruling and thus there were only fined €500,000 and €385,000 respectively. Paltry sums considering the fact that a company like Facebook made $13.2 billion in revenue in the first quarter of 2018 and the figure could have been far higher if the breaches had occurred after the GDPR came into force, as Information Commissioner Elizabeth Denham explained “We considered these contraventions to be so serious we imposed the maximum penalty under the previous legislation. The fine would inevitably have been significantly higher under the GDPR," So this means that Googles fine of €50,000,000 issued in January 2019 was the first issued to one of the large tech giants after GDPR went into effect. We cannot ignore the significance of this because there is an unsaid but generally accepted view, that GDPR was prompted by concerns, that the tech giants like Google and Facebook, could abuse their power with the limitless collection of people’s personal data. One would think therefore, that on the face of it, these tech giants would have the most work to do in order to comply. http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/84B5tUUy2m4a4r8wqpAqGf.jpg Image Credit: Pixabay Effects of GDPR on SMBsIronically, the new regulations, seem to have ended up hurting smaller firms rather than the Googles and Facebooks of this world, contrary to EU officials’ expectations. Evan Spiegel CEO of Snap is known to have said, “There are times in history when regulation has actually entrenched big companies because they’re the most capable of complying…” and Mark Zuckerberg, Facebooks CEO, echoed the same sentiment to the U.S. Congress. Complying with GDPR may be a little onerous for companies that don’t have the financial or engineering resources of Facebook or Google. Companies can expect to pay between $1m and $10m (According to a range of online sources) in order to make the necessary changes and comply with GDPR. Despite this, the real test of GDPR would come when complaints are raised against the tech giants and whether or not the new rules would be enforced. The extent of this test is further amplified by the notion that some people believe that the large technology organisations may be too big to take down, an important parallel to the banks labelled too big to fail after the 2008 financial crisis and subsequently getting away with not fully complying. Chairman of NYOB, the organisation that logged the google complaint said “Following the introduction of GDPR, we have found that large corporations such as Google simply ‘interpret the law differently’ and have often only superficially adapted their products.” EU makes Google an exampleSeveral complaints have been logged against Google in late 2018 and now that they have actually been issued a fine by France’s regulator due to a lack of transparency and consent in advertising personalization, as well as a pre-checked option to personalize ads. This is potentially sending a wakeup call to all of the tech giants. I must note that it only marks the beginning, the fine is nowhere near as big as the maximum 4% of annual global turn over and true to form, despite issuing the statement that the company is “deeply committed to meeting the high standards of transparency and control that people expect of it”, they have also announced that they plan to appeal the fine appeal the fine. It is really interesting to see what happens next. GDPR does still feel like a work in progress and its ultimate effectiveness will depend on how well it is enforced on the tech giants and on whether it will succeed in forcing them to adhere to the regulations. Mike Bugembe, Chief Analytics Officer at Just Giving We've also highlighted the best VPNhttp://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techradar/digital-home/~4/rAR6sgB7Kug

A production fault with early units of the Withings Pulse HR has meant the case can be fragile and prone to cracking without you dropping or striking the tracker in some way. After our review of the Withings Pulse HR, our reviewer at TechRadar continued to wear the tracker for a few weeks and found it cracked at both the top and bottom of the front of the body of the tracker without any noticeable hits or drops. You can see the exact damage in the images above and below. We also know of at least one other case where the tracker has cracked in a similar way after a few weeks of usage. Our best fitness tracker rankingNeed something smarter? Our best smartwatch listWe also really like the Fitbit Charge 3If you've also had the same issue Withings has confirmed it will be offering replacements for all customers affected. A spokesperson for Withings told TechRadar, "Our team has received feedback from a select number of customers concerning the fragility of their Pulse HR band case. The problem has been identified as affecting a small number of units from our first round of production. "Withings is offering replacements to any customers experiencing the problem and is continuing to monitor the situation to ensure our excellent standards of quality control are maintained. We extend our sincere apologies for any inconvenience this has caused." As Withings has confirmed, this issue is only affecting the first batch of units released by the company so it's unlikely if you buy the tracker today you'll find the same problem. If you do - or you've found your existing Withings Pulse HR has similar damage - you can contact Withings by logging into your account on its official website and citing the problem you've had. Read our full Withings Pulse HR reviewBasil Kronfli also contributed to this story http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techradar/digital-home/~4/SnAQcfQWSjY

Fallout: New Vegas developer Obsidian Entertainment and publisher Private Division officially announced new single-player sci-fi RPG The Outer Worlds at The Game Awards 2018. Set on the frontier of space, The Outer Worlds sees you awakening from hibernation amidst a conspiracy to destroy Halycon – a colony residing at the edge of the galaxy driven by big-brand corporations. It's up to you how you play, with your actions influencing how the story unfolds and the fate of Haylcon itself. Interested? So are we. Here's everything we know so far about The Outer Worlds. [Update: We get a closer look at The Outer Worlds' combat gameplay in a video from GameInformer.] Obsidian unveils sci-fi RPG that could steal Starfield's thunderCut to the chaseWhat is it? Obsidian's new single-player sci-fi RPGWhen can I play it? 2019What can I play it on? PlayStation 4, Xbox One and PChttp://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/TfWctXVv7BWGmuvPzCmhxR.jpg Image credit: Obsidian Entertainment The Outer Worlds release dateWe know The Outer Worlds will release for PlayStation 4, Xbox One and PC in 2019, but Obsidian hasn't given us a firm release window or date yet. However, it's likely we will see the title in mid to late 2019. The Outer Worlds trailersIn this r video, The Outer Worlds' co-director Tim Cain and lead designer Charles Staples show off some combat gameplay:Obsidian announced The Outer Worlds at The Game Awards 2018 with an official announcement trailer. You can check it out below: The Outer Worlds newsLots of character customization, little screen time While you'll get to customize your character's appearance, it seems you won't even have a voice. In an interview with Polygon, co-creator Leonard Boyarsky revealed the team has taken an "old-school" approach to the game to allow resources to be focused on a complex narrative. You can play the way you want In the same interview, Obsidian revealed The Outer Worlds is a player-driven game, which means you essentially have the freewill to choose whether you want to be a hero, villain or anything in-between through branching dialogue options. Companions Once you progress far enough in the game you will receive your own star ship and crew. These crew members can act as companions as well as offering their own opinion on current events and choices. There's no romance options, though (you can save that stuff for Dragon Age 4). http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/urPoYEWbKYsh4AamAMwgpG.jpg Image credit: Obsidian Entertainment Brand awareness As a story centred around corporations, it's no surprise The Outer Worlds will offer various weapons and items to purchase from 10 different brands. Where will your (brand) loyalties lie? Alternative consequences Rather than take the immediate consequence of something like a critical wound, you have the option to accept a flaw instead. This is a permanent negative debuff which will remain with you throughout the game. The Outer Worlds: what we want to seeWe're sure to get more details over the coming months in the run-up to The Outer World's release (whenever in 2019 that is). In the meantime, here's everything we're hoping Obsidian delivers with the final product. A gripping main storyline (with some meaningful choices) Blending real player freedom with a structured narrative is a difficult juggling act. Few games have managed this as well as the original Mass Effect trilogy, so we'll be eager to see whether Obsidian can repeat the trick for their own sci-fi RPG. A working game engine You'd think we wouldn't have to put this, but so many big studios are ending up shipping unfinished games because of the scale of their enterprises (Assassin's Creed Unity, Fallout 76, etc). Obsidian's track record, though, and the smaller size of its team, suggests they'll be working within their means. http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/JvoN5QmYwqaw8fqCnpZNx4.jpg Image credit: Obsidian Entertainment Some actual space exploration Sure, having giant planets looming in the sky is cool, but if we don't actual get to enjoy exploring the stars it's little more than wallpaper. Here's hoping Obsidian gives you an environment to explore, rather than making a game that could just have easily been set back on Earth. The beginning of great things to come With Microsoft having recently acquired Obsidian, there's no telling what that injection of cash could do to the development team's ambitions. If The Outer Worlds proves a hit, we could be seeing a lot more of it down the line, with the resources to really make it galactic. (Image credits: Obsidian Entertainment) Read more: The best RPGs to play on PC todayhttp://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techradar/digital-home/~4/1Q3qDs8VBXc

Getting started with WordPress website hosting doesn't have to be expensive, after all the 15-year old WordPress is free (and open source). Even the cheapest shared hosting plan usually comes with a one-click WordPress installer, allowing the greenest of blogging newbies to have their first post ready in less than 60 seconds (we tried it). Managing a blog over time is much more challenging, though. You'll need to find your own themes and plugins. And also keep them, and WordPress itself, up-to-date (although you can even get that done automatically). Blogs are often targeted by malware, so it's important you have some way to detect and remove any threats, and you'll want regular backups to help get a broken blog working again. There's a long list of hosting companies offering WordPress plans, but we've picked out five of the best to point you in the right direction. Whether you're a first-time user or a big business, there's something for you here, and with prices starting at around a pound per month, it's well worth taking the time to find out more. These are the best WordPress hosting services of 2019http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/CtzJVHJD4pbio6KEwjog9L.jpg Budget WordPress hosting can have a lot of appeal, but it usually won't deliver the features, performance or reliability that high traffic sites need. If you're the demanding type, opting for a premium hosting plan will give you much better results. Bluehost has created its own VPS-based architecture to deliver optimum WordPress performance via NGINX, a custom PHP-FPM setup and intelligently allocated resources through KVM hypervisor. (If you're not a hosting geek, this just means Bluehost has taken the time to optimize the low-level setup of its platform for WordPress, rather than simply making do with a standard configuration.) The company doesn't waste time by pretending to offer ‘unlimited’ resources, and instead tells you exactly what you're going to get. For the WP Standard plan, this means 30GB storage, 1TB bandwidth, and key resources – 2GB RAM, two CPU cores – which are allocated to you, and not shared with anyone else. Premium features include SiteLock Pro to keep your website malware-free, SiteLock CDN to optimize performance, a dedicated IP, and the ability to manage multiple sites with the excellent ManageWP. New Bluehost accounts will also get a free service called Blue Spark, which is designed to help newcomers with everything WordPress related. This isn't cheap, with even the baseline Standard plan costing $19.99 (£15.20) a month for the initial term, rising to $39.99 (£28.60) afterwards. But you are getting a lot for your money, and if you're more interested in power than price, Bluehost has even more available. The top-of-the-range Ultimate plan, for instance, gives you four CPU cores, 8GB RAM, 240GB storage and a monster 4TB bandwidth. SiteLock Enterprise handles all your security and CDN needs, and there's a wildcard SSL thrown in. Ultimate costs $49.99 (£35.70) a month initially, $129.99 (£93) after that, but that's a fair price for this spec, and Bluehost offers a 30-day money-back guarantee if you feel the service doesn't deliver. There are also shared WordPress hosting plans available with fewer features and lower performance but they are cheaper, starting at $2.95 ($7.99 on renewal) per month. Furthermore, a managed hosting solution called WordPress Pro that has been optimized for WordPress websites is also available, with prices starting at $19.95 per month. http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/sPnvm8DbSJEBv43ydVCma.jpg Managed WordPress packages can often feel overpriced. Many hosts charge significant premiums for impressive sounding claims – optimized servers, malware scanning – that are difficult to evaluate or confirm. The UK-based Tsohost isn't interested in any of that, instead focusing on providing the core WordPress essentials at a very fair price. The baseline Startup plan gives you a free domain name, will migrate your existing site, includes Let's Encrypt SSL support and has no limits on bandwidth. You get daily backups and can restore any of the last 30 days with a click. There's 24/7 support via ticket and email, and phone and live chat is available from 7am to midnight. You get a hundred 200MB mailboxes, and the plan restricts you to 15GB storage and 100,000 page views a month. If that's enough for you, the plan costs ~$4.15(£3.16) a month paid annually, or ~$3.8(£2.92) if you pay for two years upfront. If that's just too underpowered, opting for the Business plan gets you 50GB of storage, 100x1GB mailboxes, and up to 500,000 page views over a maximum of eight websites. That's significantly more capable, yet still very reasonably priced at ~$11.50(£8.78) a month, ~$9.62(£7.33) a month paid annually or ~$8.65(£6.59) a month paid biennially. The ~$31.50(£23.98) a month (~$26.20 a month paid annually or ~$23.60 a month paid biennially) eCommerce plan supports 100GB storage, 1,000,000 page views and unlimited 10GB mailboxes. Tsohost doesn't offer all the frills and extras you'll get with some products. There's no talk of SiteLock malware protection, optimized WordPress add-ons or a custom CDN. But it's hard to complain at this price, and Tsohost is still delivering a capable service with more than enough power for smaller sites. http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/xGLYHP7xUxnuArgAP7Gb9K.jpg Most web hosts offer only a few WordPress plans, and even these might be set up to point you in a particular direction. You'll often see an underpowered plan, an overpriced one, and a special deal on the mid-range plan they really want you to buy. That makes it easy to decide, but it also limits your upgrade options if your site grows over time. InMotion Hosting is unusual in offering six WordPress plans, covering everything from small personal blogs to resellers and big business. Figuring out which is the best product for you will take a little more thought, but at least there's room to upgrade – or downgrade – if your circumstances change. Better still, InMotion hasn't artificially limited the low-end plans by removing key features. Even the baseline WP-1000S plan – which costs $6.99 (£5.3) a month initially (1-year plan), $9.99 (£7.70) on renewal – gives you 40GB storage, unlimited bandwidth and email addresses, preinstalled WordPress, SSL, backups, automatic updates, SiteLock security, cPanel site management, and extras like BoldGrid and WP-CLI. The only significant issue is InMotion's suggestion that the plan works best for blogs with up to 20,000 monthly visits, and even that won't be a problem for many smaller sites. Upgrading your plan gets you some extras – premium themes and plugin subscriptions, a dedicated IP address, support for hosting more sites – but it's mostly about giving you more resources. For example, the top-of-the-range WP-6000S plan supports 1,200,000 monthly visitors across up to 20 sites for $114.99 (£87.6) a month initially (1-year plan), $142.99 (£110) on renewal. There are cheaper deals around, but in previous reviews we've found InMotion to be reliable, professional and honest, and any price premium is likely to be worth paying. You don't have to take our word for it, though – an exceptional 90-day money-back guarantee gives you plenty of opportunity to find out for yourself. http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/kyxLVdxBkKB3EZpURSHkbd.jpg Web giant 1&1 IONOS seems to have a hosting product for every possible need, and WordPress is no exception. Novice users can try out its service for a nominal $1(£0.75) a month over the first six months ($9 or £6.90 afterwards), yet the plan still outperforms many competitors. The bundled 25GB of storage means you won't be running out of space in a hurry, for example. There are no bandwidth or visitor limits, and you can set up as many email accounts as you need. 1&1 IONOS offers the core WordPress management functions that you would expect: a setup wizard, preinstalled plugins, automatic updates and 24/7 support (including by telephone). Also, you get a personal consultant free of charge. All this is built on a capable platform – NGINX, PHP 7.2, OPcache, up to 2GB RAM guaranteed – to enhance your blog's performance. There's SSL included and even a free domain thrown in, which is ridiculously good value at this price. If you're a WordPress novice, it might be worth taking out the plan for an initial year, claiming your free domain and taking the time to learn how the blog works. When you time is up, renew if you're happy, or if you're not, use your knowledge and experience to find a better plan. 1&1 IONOS isn't just about newbies, though: there's value for more demanding users, too. In particular, the Pro plan gives you 5 managed Wordpress sites, 200GB SSD storage space, 50 databases (1GB max), and 500 email accounts. Bonus features include a CDN and SiteLock malware scanning, as well as RailGun content delivery network, and the price looks good at $1(£0.75) a month for the first six months, $15(£11.50) on renewal. http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/JRof6S6b9gND6wBDQTSSL8.jpg Choosing the best WordPress hosting package can seem like a complicated business, with a stack of low-level details and issues to consider. But it doesn't have to be that way. If you don't have special requirements then opting for a reliable web hosting company will get you capable mid-range products that can handle everything most users need. HostGator generally delivers powerful hosting plans for a fair price, and its managed WordPress range is no exception. Its Starter product may only cost $5.95 (£4.25) for three years, $9.95 (£7.10) afterwards, but you still get a free site migration, an SSL certificate, automatic malware detection and removal, unlimited email addresses and unmetered storage and bandwidth, and it can handle up to 100,000 visits a month. Ramping up to the high-end Business plan gets you more CPU power, support for up to three sites and 500,000 visits a month, yet still costs only $9.95 (£7.10) a month initially (first three years), $22.95 (£16.40) a month afterwards. Smart caching and a CDN are on hand to enhance your website's performance, 24/7 support helps keep your site up and running, and surprise bonus features include free domain privacy to protect from identity theft and reduce annoying spam. We've had good experiences with HostGator's service, but if you're not so lucky, there's a generous 45-day money-back guarantee. As with other hosting companies, this won't cover any domain registration fees, but it's still a better deal than you'll often find elsewhere. You might also want to check out our other website hosting buying guides: WordPressCloud hostingE-commerceDedicated serverSmall businessWindowsManagedGreenBusinessColocationEmail hostingResellersVPSSharedCheapWebsite buildersBest website hostinghttp://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techradar/digital-home/~4/w0Cwmh5Z-y8

Now TV pass offers are our speciality here at TechRadar as we're here to find you the cheapest Now TV Box or Now TV Stick deals on the net. We're all over the latest Now TV voucher prices too as we compare the latest deals directly from Now TV and retailers around the UK. If you're also after broadband, Now TV has some tempting Now TV and broadband deals. On this page you'll find the latest prices on the newest hardware like the 4K-ready (for other apps at least) Now TV Smart Box 4K or the super cheap Now TV Stick - both of which now come with a voice-remote control. Or there's still some decent deals going on the older Now TV Smart Box which includes a Freeview tuner so you can watch live TV as well your Now TV subs. We’ve also searched high and low for the best Now TV pass voucher deals for new and existing members. You don't need a Now TV Stick or box though as there are apps on loads of devices like smart TVs, tablets or your PS4/Xbox One. So whether you’re looking to equip your TV with a Now TV device, or you’re just looking for a cheap way to get another few months of the service, read on for our best Now TV offers. Alternatively, have you considered a jam-packed Sky TV deal instead? How to watch and live stream the best sport and TV online from absolutely anywhereNow TV voucher pass Deals of the WeekThe latest Now TV pass offersFresh Now TV offers on passes are live now, marking an ideal opportunity to check out why people are joining the excellent Now TV subscription service in droves. Chances are, you already have a device with capable of running the Now TV app (tablets, gaming consoles, Smart TV etc), but if you don't, you can get a cheap Now TV Smart Box or Now TV Stick further down this page or directly from Now TV. Most of these offers are for new members only, but you can often find other discounts by picking up Now TV passes from other retailers instead. We've added those deals to the comparison charts further down this page. And just as we thought now that we're in the hottest shopping season of the year, there's a special sale on the Now TV website, we've included highlights directly below, or you can check out the full list over there. http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/LDmo7KLWmousiAS7XQfhkh.jpg Now TV Smart Box 4K pricesNow TV has just released a long awaited update for the Now TV Smart Box, bringing a range of 4K apps into your home. We're still quite baffled at how Now TV's own content is still limited to streaming in 720p (just about HD), but apparently that'll be updated later this year. You can enjoy Netflix in 4K though, providing your paying for the top tier of that service. TV catch-up services like BBC iPlayer, All 4, ITV player and so on are also available, although you're limited HD there as catch-up channels don't stream in 4K yet anywhere. Considering you can search for items via a new voice remote that's bundled in with the Smart TV box too, the prices are very reasonable. The Now TV 4K Smart Box with the remote costs just £45.99, or you can get it with a month-long pass for Sky Cinema, Sky Entertainment and Sky Kids. And a one-day Sky Sports pass too for just £49.99. Now TV 4K Smart Box - £45.99Now TV 4K Smart Box and passes - £49.99 http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/Rfk9k27fijExni6R2PWk4c.jpg Now TV Stick dealsThis is the cheapest hardware option for the Now TV family and excellent value at such a low price. Most purchase options from our price comparison chart now include a Now TV Entertainment or Cinema pass too to get you going. The Now TV Stick simply plugs into an HDMI slot on your TV and comes with a remote control that supports voice-commands and search too. So yes, very similar to the Amazon Fire TV Stick, but a fair bit cheaper. If you don't want it with any passes, it's currently cheapest direct from Now TV at just £14.99, although you can get it with passes there too if you want. http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/2hAAQxvc5So8drFQpQEYKf.jpg Now TV Smart Box dealsIf you want to combine your Now TV box with a freeview tuner, then the Now TV Smart Box is for you. We were impressed when we tried out the box for ourselves. It’s a great all-rounder, and consolidates your existing boxes into one neat package. Check out the best prices for the Smart Box below. http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/oDUHRi3PZfHguAJbrKbesh.jpg Cheap Now TV pass dealsIf you’ve already got a Now TV box, gaming console or another device that can stream the service (such as a Roku player or a Chromecast) then all you need is a Now TV pass to get subscribed to the various streaming packages offered on the service. There are currently four passes available for Now TV; Entertainment, Sky Cinema, Kids and Sky Sports. These are available for subscription periods as short as 1 day (for Sky Sports), or as long as a month. Ironically, the cheapest way of getting your hands on cheap passes is often to get them bundled in with a Now TV box, but you can also find cheap Now TV passes available. We’ve compiled a selection of the best deals around for each pass below. Now TV entertainment pass dealshttp://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/SbATrBNEFNDSQKgYGNPQZ6.jpg The Now TV entertainment pass gets you access to Sky Atlantic shows like Westworld, Tin Star, The Blacklist, Billions and more. The three-month pass is a popular option and is generally available for around £15. It's a good option for anyone looking for discounted Now TV passes, especially as the monthly price went up by £1 in August, raising the price to £7.99 a month. Now TV Sky Cinema pass (aka Sky Movies pass) priceshttp://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/TSKMDsXF75oYJjrGnPDHdg.jpg If you're more interested in film than television, then the Now TV Sky Cinema pass is the subscription for you. With this you'll get access to a huge quantity of movie releases, and a surprising number of them are relatively recent. We do sometimes see some seriously cheap Now TV offers for two-month entertainment passes in our comparison chart feed below. So be sure to have a quick look there too. Now TV Sky Sports pass offershttp://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/6jhpbHp2zn9d8mor5BdV3C.jpg Sky has recently rebranded a bunch of its Sky Sports channels. Gone are the numbers, instead we have names that give a better description of what they'll be showing most of the time. There are now 10 channels, that's more than before, but you don't have to pay anything extra. The refreshed lineup includes Sky Sports Premier League, Sky Sports Football (for Football League, La Liga and more), Sky Sports F1, Sky Sports Racing, Sky Sports Cricket, Sky Sports Golf, Sky Sports News and Sky Sports Mix. Other sports are covered in the two variety channels, Sky Sports Action and Sky Sports Arena. Sky Sports Main Event will be the place for the biggest live events of the day. Naturally there are some shiny new logos. http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/jFmTdaVNrfP7viYW2GGxCe.jpg At £33.99 a month, the Sky Sports pass is the most pricey of all the Now TV subscriptions. There are cheaper options though. You can get a day pass for £7.99 and a one week pass for £12.99 direct from the Now TV site. These temporary passes won't auto-renew either, so don't worry about rolling into a fresh purchase when they expire. You can also get some pass deals in the comparison chart below. Now TV kids passhttp://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/YHs5WV2rnwqT7P8Drc4SV8.jpg At just £3.99 a month, the Kids pass is the cheapest of the Now TV subscriptions, and as such it takes some beating. As things stand, the cheapest way to get the subscription is to buy it from Now TV directly at the link below. See this deal: at Now TV http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techradar/digital-home/~4/95KLmW6YXgg

Fitness trackers are a great way to monitor your activity and health with little to no effort. Most of the best and newest devices on the market keep tabs on your workouts, heart rate, stress and everything in-between with pinpoint accuracy. Think of them as an electronic finger on the pulse, constantly measuring your vitals, quality of sleep and step count. The current fitness band market is filled with fantastic devices, most of which can do a pretty good job at the basics of tracking. But frankly, we're only interested in the best, and you should be too. We won't be looking at all the most high-end tech wristwear here. For that you'll want our best smartwatch guide for that, which includes top-end products like the Apple Watch Series 4, TicWatch Pro and Samsung Galaxy Watch. You also won't find the Fitbit Ionic or Fitbit Versa here either, which despite the brand name are both smartwatches and are priced accordingly. Most of the devices below were released in 2018 (and a few beforehand) but we expect this list to change dramatically over the course of 2019. Right now, this guide will show you the best of the best activity trackers that money can buy. We'll show you how each ranks in terms of stand-out features, specs, price, design, the quality of the software you'll be using on your phone and much more. On a budget? Here are the best cheap fitness trackersLooking for a Fitbit? Check out our best Fitbit rankingTaking the plunge? Our best waterproof fitness tracker guidePlus here are our beginner's fitness tracker tipsAlthough it may be a few years old, the Moov Now is still officially our favorite fitness band in the world right now. It's cheap, offers everything you'll want in an everyday tracker and there's a phenomenal six month long battery life. The Moov Now isn't just designed for step tracking though - it comes with boxing and rep-based training, as well as a swimming mode on top of run coaching and sleep monitoring features. That's a lot to get stuck in with. You won't get GPS or some of the more complex fitness tracking features that others on this list offer, but if you're looking for a great everyday tracker that doesn't cost a lot of money the Moov Now will suit you perfectly. Read the full Moov Now review What's next? The Moov Now was first released back in 2015, so the device is due a refresh. That said, we haven't heard any rumors of a new device coming from Moov. More refined than the Fitbit Charge 2, the Charge 3 is Fitbit's newest device and has a more lightweight design that looks better on your wrist. It's also one of our favorite Fitbit products money can buy right now. The display is bigger and clearer than a lot of other fitness trackers on this list, but it's still a black and white screen. There's no onboard GPS, like some other trackers on this list have, but it's waterproof and offers a full fitness suite including a heart rate tracker. You can track GPS by pairing your phone with the tracker too. You have to spend a bit extra on this than other fitness trackers you can buy in this same list, but if you enjoy the whole Fitbit app and experience and would also like access to notifications and Fitbit's fantastic sleep tracking, you'll want to opt for this as it's one of the company's best trackers ever. Read our Fitbit Charge 3 review What's next? We don't expect to hear about it soon, but we've brainstormed what we'd like to see come to a Fitbit Charge 4. Our highest ranked Garmin product in the best fitness tracker list is also one of the most accomplished in its range of health bands. This device isn't made for serious athletes like a variety of other products from the Garmin brand, but instead this is for those who want to be able to track the odd bit of exercise and have an attractive band to do it. The screen is bigger on this version than other Garmin products, and it has a battery that should last you around a week depending on how much exercise you'll be doing. There's also an innovative feature called body battery that helps you learn when exactly is the best time to exercise depending on how much energy you have. This is great for those who are just as interested in their recovery and general wellbeing as they are clocking up the miles. Read the full Garmin Vivosmart 4 review In fourth place is the Huawei Band 2 Pro. a sleek little fitness tracker that manages to pack a decent amount of features into its diminutive frame, and for an impressively small amount of money. The Band 2 Pro has heart rate monitoring, VO2 max, GPS, step and sleep tracking and a seriously impressive battery life. The slim screen means that this tracker will work just as well with running gear as it will with a business suit, although the slim screen isn’t going to be as easy to read as some of the competition. If you’re looking for a device that’s going to give you totally precise metrics, this isn’t it. But if you want an affordable entry-level device for your first foray into the world of fitness tracking, this is a great place to start. Read our Huawei Band 2 Pro review What's next? The company has now announced the Huawei Band 3 Pro, but we've yet to be able to review it properly. We hope to have one to test in the next few months. Until now, Withings has specialized in making hybrid smartwatches that don't look like your traditional fitness tracker. The first outright health band from the company doesn't look like anything else on the market either though. It has an attractive design with premium materials, and we particularly like how it feels on the wrist when you're wearing it. It's light and comfortable for everyday wear. It doesn't feature GPS tracking, but it'll bring the location data from your phone through to the Withings Health Mate app and there are lots of other fitness features including workout tracking and an accurate heart rate monitor. It'll last for 20 days too so you can rest assured you'll only have to charge this twice a month to ensure you're tracking all of your daily stats. It may not be the cheapest device on this list, but it's one of the best looking. Read the full Withings Pulse HR review Disclaimer: Since we first published our Withings Pulse HR review - and included it in this list - our tracker cracked in two separate locations due to a manufacturing fault. Withings has confirmed this was an issue on the first batch of units, and if you find that your tracker suffers from the issue you can get a replacement directly from the company. You can read more about it here. The Samsung Gear Fit 2 Pro hasn't made hefty changes to the company's wearable line since the Gear Fit 2, but there are a few improvements to an already great tracker that sits it in second place. The Gear Fit 2 Pro has a gorgeous design that looks fantastic on your wrist and as it's sporting a big, beautiful AMOLED display you'll be able to see all of your stats nice and clearly. It also comes with GPS built-in so you can leave your phone at home while you go for a run as well as a top-notch heart rate sensor that should give you one of the most accurate readings possible from a wrist based tracker. Plus it will track your swimming too. Read the full Samsung Gear Fit 2 Pro review What's next? February 20 is likely the day we'll hear about the Samsung Galaxy Fit fitness tracker that's set to replace the Gear Fit 2 Pro in Samsung's range. Sitting in the exact same spot as the Honor Band 3 did before it, the Band 4 from Honor is a great budget pick if you're looking to save money on your fitness tracker. This is much cheaper than a lot of the other bands on this list, and while it may not come with GPS or solid notifications it does offer good tracking for a casual runner as well as a beautiful color OLED display. It's a small screen you'll have to work with here, but the point of the Honor Band 4 is to pack the essentials into a small package and keep the cost as low as possible. It's not for everyone, but you may find it the best fitness tracker for you. Read our full Honor Band 4 review It's not as stylish as most of the Fitbit products, but there's a reason the Garmin Vivosport appears in this list before products from the latter company. This is cheaper than most Fitbit products and it comes with GPS built-in too. We found the Vivosport offers a solid seven days battery life from a single charge, even when using the GPS features. Although it's waterproof, it wont' track your swimming easily but the Vivosport excels for other kinds of workouts and is great for tracking your jogging and cycling. Plus we found the heart rate tracker to be accurate too. Read our full Garmin Vivosport review This may look more like a smartwatch than any of the other devices on this list, but as it runs its own software and has a very big focus on fitness we've decided to include it in our list of the best fitness trackers. The Amazfit Bip design has been influenced by the Apple Watch (there's no denying that) and it comes packed with tons of features including GPS, an accurate heart rate tracker, multi-sport tracking, sleep tracking and VO2 Max features too. If you're looking for a more watch-like design than everything else on this list, the Bip will be up your street. It's lightweight too and other highlights include the always-on display and strong battery life that should last around a month depending on your usage. If this all sounds good, you'd be hard pressed to go wrong with the Amazfit Bip. It's worth noting the fitness tracker isn't available in all markets at the moment though and you may struggle to find the Bip where you live. Read the full Amazfit Bip review What's next? Rumors suggest the Amazfit Bip 2 is in development and it was spotted in a pre-sale listing, so it may be officially announced very soon. The Garmin Vivofit 4 is one of the best fitness trackers the company has ever created, and that now means it sits in this prestigious list alongside some other fantastic tracking products. We particularly like the super-long battery life of the Vivofit 4, which means you won't need to recharge your device for a whole year. That means you can wear it all day, then all night for sleep tracking and not have to worry about recharging it. You'll miss out on phone notifications by buying this tracker, but you do get the benefit of an always-on color display, accurate fitness tracking features - just note these are more limited than some other trackers on this list - as well as access to an in-depth app to break down your stats on your smartphone. Read the full Garmin Vivofit 4 review Looking for a more affordable fitness band? Read our guide on the best cheap fitness trackers of 2019 Photo illustration: TechRadar; Fitbit; Samsung; Garmin; Moov; Huawei http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techradar/digital-home/~4/RZPdviS6kYw

Google Duo is one of the best and simplest apps to initiate video calls from your smartphone. On Friday, in a post on OnePlus Forums, the company announced that with the upcoming OxygenOS update, Google Duo will become the native video calling app. The integration of the app comes as a result of a research study conducted by OnePlus back in 2018. The survey was conducted with OnePlus users across India on video calling wherein Google Duo ranked the highest in video call quality. The app as a native function has been integrated deeply into OxygenOS in functions such as Call logs, Contacts, Dial pad and Messaging. Stable OxygenOS updates for OnePlus 6T, 6, 5T and 5However, users will be able to switch to OnePlus' standard video calling app under the See All option when selecting a contact: Contact >Select contact >See all >Choose video call The stable OxygenOS 9.0.12 update on the OnePlus 6T and OxygenOS 9.0.4 for OnePlus 6, 5 and 5T will add Google Duo as a native video calling option. This functionality will also make it to the OnePlus 3 and OnePlus 3T as a part of the Android Pie update. Also Read: The rugged Samsung Galaxy Tab Active2 launched in India at Rs 50,990http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techradar/digital-home/~4/8JdBF7ct3eo

The launch of Samsung's highly-anticipated Galaxy S10 series is almost upon us, with the Galaxy S10, Galaxy S10 Plus and Galaxy S10e expected to be unveiled at the South Korean tech giant's upcoming Unpacked event on February 20. Buying the Galaxy S10 outrightWhile the flagship phones haven't been officially revealed yet, you can already pre-register your interest in the devices on Samsung Australia's website – this will notify you when the handsets are ready to be pre-ordered, essentially giving you a head start if you're planning to purchase the phones from Samsung outright. Of course, the Samsung Galaxy S10 will also be available to buy elsewhere – so those who are planning to buy the phone outright would do well to keep an eye on the likes of Amazon Australia and other leading retailers, as they're likely to have some great deals on offer next week. Planning on a plan?Of course, if you aren't looking to drop thousands of dollars on a new smartphone in one go, you could opt to pick the Galaxy S10 up on a contract through one of Australia's major carriers – Telstra, Optus and Vodafone are all expected to offer a variety of plans when the Galaxy S10 pre-orders officially open. As the Galaxy S10 has yet to be announced, none of the carriers have revealed their information regarding available models, colours and storage sizes yet, but we'll be bringing you that information as soon as it's available. Samsung Galaxy S10 might be more powerful than we thoughthttp://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techradar/digital-home/~4/4Y9K_vDQsIE

You may not know it, but the BBC is one of the most interesting publishers making virtual reality content right now. The British broadcaster has just announced one of its upcoming projects, and it's set to be a standalone Doctor Who adventure. Coming later in 2019, a new story called Doctor Who: The Runaway will see you become The Doctor's assistant and help out on an exciting adventure in a 12 minute short film. The experience is set to feature the voice of the Thirteenth Doctor with Jodie Whittaker returning to the role, but it's set to be an animated adventure. Looking for a smartwatch? Try the Fitbit VersaNot for you? Try our best smartwatch guideRumors of a Google Pixel Watch are heating upDaVRos to CybermenThe BBC has yet to announce an official release date for The Runaway or what headsets you'll need to be able to play it. Recent virtual reality projects from the BBC have been released on both Oculus Go and Samsung Gear VR, so it's likely these will be the two headsets to choose from to be able to watch the new Doctor Who adventure. Zillah Watson, head of BBC VR Hub, said, “Our team at the BBC VR Hub has been creating new experiences with the goal of helping to usher virtual reality into the mainstream, and Doctor Who is exactly the sort of series that can help more people to try this new technology. "The show has been pushing boundaries for over 55 years, and VR enables Doctor Who to explore a whole new dimension of storytelling.” Doctor Who is a series that makes sense to adapt into a virtual reality experience as you can zip around the universe and time in the comfort of your living room. Does this mean we're set to see even more BBC properties adapted into VR adventures? We don't currently know, but if The Runaway proves to be a success we can expect to see even more VR projects from the broadcaster. Our selection of the best VR headsetshttp://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techradar/digital-home/~4/08ZC3DgnPMA

Beyond declaring support of the new Mac Pro through a press release for the iMac Pro sale date nearly two years ago, we don’t know much about it. However, Apple has recognized the public outcry for a Mac Pro 2019 by hinting that it’s working on a ‘modular’ and ‘upgradeable’ Mac Pro – whatever that means. And, we do know that a Mac Pro is coming in 2019, but we’re only in February, so we could see it launch any time. However, right now we’re putting our money on a mid-2019 launch, even if Apple could surprise us with a special event whenever it feels like it. If the new Mac Pro 2019 is going to be modular like Apple suggests, what will that look like? What will be upgradeable? Will it look like a juiced up HomePod? Before we dive into all the boundless speculation, let’s lay out some basics. Cut to the chaseWhat is it? Apple’s first dedicated desktop since 2013When is it out? Early 2019 at the earliest most likelyWhat will it cost? Likely as much as – if not more than – current modelshttp://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/ef35f2b51970dad038eb4f9b0da8034b.jpg Mac Pro 2019 release dateNow, while the new Mac Pro used to be the one Apple product we actually knew with absolute certainty could have been released in 2018, we were mistaken. It turns out the new Mac Pro has been confirmed for a 2019 release date. The current Mac Pro computer debuted at the June 2013 Apple Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC), with a December 2013 final release date. Of course, many purchasers didn’t get their computers until April 2014 on account of backorders. Given how long its been since the previous update to the Mac Pro, it would be unwise for Apple to drive the asking price any higher. Before that, the original Mac Pro was revealed to the world during the August 2006 WWDC, getting into the public’s hands within the same month. And, while a WWDC 2019 announcement would make sense – it is a professional device, after all – we don’t know what to expect. Last year, Apple’s strategy seemed to be ‘hold it back until it’s ready and then just release it,” at least that’s what it did with the new MacBook Pro. We don’t know if Apple will do the same with the new Mac Pro, but we’re sure we’ll see it at some point this year either way. If Apple is planning to reveal the new pro-level desktop ahead of its release, we could see a special Mac Pro event, like the October 30 Mac event back in October 2018. Or, we could see Apple repeat its approach with the new MacBook Pro, and release the new Mac Pro under the radar – as it is a professional product. http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/39aa1eabebc2db222c0a70444772d08d.jpg Mac Pro 2019 priceWe have absolutely no Mac Pro 2019 pricing information from neither leaks nor Apple’s own remarks on the device. So, once again we’re left to speculate based on the pricing of previous Mac Pro models. The current Mac Pro, largely unchanged since its 2013 release, calls for a whopping $2,999, £2,999 or AU$4,899 to start. The only other model available hikes the price up by $1,000, £900 and AU$1,600, respectively, for some beefy component upgrades. This Mac Pro could be one of the three Mac computers expected to launch this year with one of Apple’s new T series co-processors inside. Given how long its been since the previous update to the Mac Pro, it would be unwise for Apple to drive the asking price any higher. However, if the new Mac Pro’s ‘modular, upgradeable’ nature turns out to be true, that could lead the firm to price the device accordingly, knowing that end users would no longer have to turn to it for upgrades. http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/ecfdf57dee98bd74c05da63c82a04fea.jpg Mac Pro 2019 specsWhat will be inside the computer is, sadly, another unknown regarding the Mac Pro for 2019, save for a scant few details. For starters, we know that Apple is focused on issuing a Mac Pro with a modular and upgradeable design. “In addition to the new iMac Pro, Apple is working on a completely redesigned, next-generation Mac Pro architected for pro customers who need the highest performance, high-throughput system in a modular, upgradeable design,” Apple wrote in a December 2017 press release announcing the new iMac Pro, “as well as a new high-end pro display.” So, we know that Apple is intending to make at least some of the Mac Pro design easy to manage, upgrade and set up in different configurations. If true, the Mac Pro 2019 will have to work with a large variety of off-the-shelf parts – at least ‘off the shelf’ for business pros or IT managers. Simply put, there wasn’t enough room in the last Mac Pro for storage expansion, and that needs to change in the 2019 model. Simply put, there wasn’t enough room in the last Mac Pro for storage expansion, and that needs to change in the 2019 model. We also know that Apple has a display in the works, presumably one that was designed with the performance of the Mac Pro in mind. As of last September, reports circulated that an 8K (7,680 x 4,320) resolution display was in development at Apple, and that it would compete with the 32-inch Dell UltraSharp monitor. It would come with either 10-bit dithering or native 10-bit colors as well. But, it reportedly won’t be a touchscreen, which isn’t surprising given Apple’s aversion to adding touch to the Mac. The other sliver of information that we have is that the Mac Pro 2019 may launch with a co-processor. We could see Apple going with something like the T1 (which manages the MacBook Pro Touch Bar and Touch ID) and T2 (which manages the iMac Pro hardware security and allows for the automatic ‘Hey Siri’ command). Whichever role it fills, it will offload critical tasks from the Intel processors that will likely be inside the Mac Pro 2019. How will this manifest inside the Mac Pro for 2019? The most likely scenario is the latter one: implementing the very same T2 chip inside the iMac Pro into this device. That would bring pro-grade security and on-demand Siri to the Mac Pro, the former of which is crucial for getting traction in office environments. However, the inclusion of the T2 chip might go against the Mac Pro’s ability to be serviced by users. It’s recently come out that Apple has locked out the iMac Pro and 2018 MacBook Pro, which both use the T2 chip, from being serviced by anyone other than Apple and its authorized service providers. AMD has announced its new Radeon VII graphics card, aimed at gamers, at CES 2019. And, while we doubt this specific card will make its way into the new Mac Pro, we wouldn’t be surprised if AMD supported the Mac Pro with a new 7nm Vega II GPU. http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/TPW7sQUeDUUJyGCnwNDZsA.jpg What we want to see in Mac Pro 2019All of these rumors swirling around a potential Mac Pro 2019 release puts us in prime position for a well-crafted wishlist. So, here’s what we hope to see Apple upgrade within the Mac Pro for 2019. More internal expansion Simply put, there wasn’t enough room in the last Mac Pro for storage expansion, and that needs to change in the 2019 model. Good thing, then, that words like ‘modular’ make us confident that this will, indeed, be the case. Hot swappable storage bays, anyone? Dual-processor options Back in our Mac Pro review, we criticized Apple for not including a dual-processor option. And, while we’re sure that Apple will include its T2 chip for “Hey Siri” functionality, we’re sure there are a ton of video editors out there that could really use the speedy rendering and encoding power that dual processor options can afford. Short of including the Ryzen Threadripper 2990WX, a dual processor option would be the best way of getting 32-cores of processing power in the new Mac Pro. A keyboard and mouse included The 2013 Mac Pro shipped without any Magic Keyboard or Magic Mouse included. Simply put, we’d like to see this change with the 2019 version. Shipping an Apple computer without proper inputs is like trying to sell a car without the steering wheel. iOS apps on Mac Pro Now that it has been bandied about for so long, the idea of iOS apps on a Mac computer has grown on us. We’d love to see our favorite iPhone and iPad apps make their way to the desktop. After WWDC 2018, though, we now know exactly how Apple is going to handle this. Instead of just opening the App Store on macOS, we’ll be getting a limited selection of key iOS apps ported over. MacOS 10.14 will have access to News, Stocks, Voice Memos and Home, with more eventually coming over in 2019. These apps will be redesigned to feel natural on macOS – so, no touchscreen necessary. These are the best Macs that 2018 has to offer so farGabe Carey has also contributed to this report Images Credit: Applehttp://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techradar/digital-home/~4/vDBDrvRjhQk

As the best gaming PCs get more powerful every day, the best PC games are getting bigger and better – you can just look at the best open world games as an example. Even game franchises that are traditionally linear experiences are starting to open up. Just look at the Witcher 3: Wild Hunt – the best open world games are everywhere these days. There are a ton of traditionally open world franchises that are still out there, of course. Games like Just Cause 4 and Assassin’s Creed: Odyssey are the pedigree of open world game design. There are even a ton of indie games that adapt to this style. The best open world games are everywhere these days, but they’re all so time-extensive that you should only opt for the very best. Fortunately, we spend way too much time playing these games, so we went ahead and listed the best open world games on the market today. Gabe Carey has also contributed to this articleCheck out our Linux vs Windows vs Mac - OS comparison video below. The first two Witcher games were compelling, complex and difficult, but only enjoyed minor success. However, all the word of mouth about the first two games finally paid off when the Witcher 3 came out and absolutely blew up. It was a massive step up in quality, too, and probably one of the best RPGs of all time. You step in the role of Geralt, a mutated monster hunter, or witcher, and search the world for your adopted daughter in a medieval world ravaged by war. The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt will be turning 4 years old in 2019, but it stands the test of time. It’s still one of the best open world games you can play in 2019 because the well-realized world blows the likes of Skyrim out of the water. Geralt can walk, ride or sail across the war-ravaged lands of Novigrad and Velen, or sail across monster-riddled and frosty islands of Skellige in the North. And, in Blood and Wine, the second expansion, you get to take on a clan of Vampires in the colorful land of Toussaint. You can forage for herbs, explore under the seas or the back alleys of cities and encounter all kinds of folk and creatures. And the other elements of the game are spectacularly polished as well - limber, agile combat, a deep levelling system, and a storyline with some unusually-smart storylines. Last year’s Assassin’s Creed: Origins already felt like a revelation of what an Assassin’s Creed game could be – replacing many of the gameplay mechanics with what felt more engaging, organic and even fun. However, Ubisoft wasn’t done – it has refined everything that made Assassin’s Creed: Origins so great and molded it into the best game in the series so far – Assassin’s Creed: Odyssey. Assassin’s Creed Odyssey places you in the shoes of Alexios or Kassandra in the middle of ancient Greece, as you take on the role of a mercenary trying to find his or her family. Everything else you do is completely up to you – you choose your alliances, you choose your missions and the world is your oyster. The fantastic RPG mechanics from Origins make a return in Assassin’s Creed odyssey – with some much-needed improvements. In so many ways, this game perfects the legendary series’ formula – making for one of the best open world games of all time. Upon first glance, you might not quite understand why this game is here. You might say “Forza is a racing series, not an open world game”, but you’re only half right. Yeah, it’s a racing game, but the Forza Horizon series has always been among the best open world games. Forza Horizon 4 takes the winning formula even further – arguably perfecting it. Not only are all of the systems that were in place in 2016’s Forza Horizon 3 present here, but they’re refined to create one of the smoothest open world racing games we’ve ever had the pleasure to play. The map is a little bit smaller than the previous offering, but Forza Horizon 4’s world changes seasons every week, changing how each track plays every time you play it (or, at least until you’ve played it on 4 separate weeks). Simply put, Forza Horizon 4 is one of the most fun racing games on the market, and with all the added open world content – like collectable cars and randomly placed ramps – it’s one of the best open world games on the market. Plus, there are new expansions getting added, like Forza Horizon 4: Fortune Island, that add even more content. Grand Theft Auto V has been out for quite a while now, but because we still don’t have Red Dead Redemption 2 on PC, it’s still the best open world game on PC from Rockstar. It’s a huge pastiche of L.A. that you can fly, run or drive across. It’s an amazing achievement and the fact that it works in multiplayer is astounding. What makes it such a success is the freedom it gives you. When you’re not running around and robbing banks during the campaign, GTA V basically lets you do whatever you want – even if it breaks the game. You can go anywhere, do anything and commit however many atrocities as your wicked heart pleases. There are also a ton of side activities available. So, in your downtime from creating all kinds of mayhem, you can take up some tennis, yoga, or even kick your feet up and watch some TV. There’s a reason this game is so beloved. The plot may have made less sense than a mumbling monkey with a mouthful of marbles, but Hideo Kojima's swansong was a masterpiece of layered open world mechanics. In the twin deserts of Afghanistan and Angola, Big Boss, or Venom Snake, has a range of objectives to achieve. He traverses the areas on foot, horseback, or in a variety of ground vehicles. You can take either lethal or non-lethal weapons, and a variety of AI companions. The world itself is believably bleak, weather-torn and heavily-guarded. Uniquely, it learns from your behaviour - overuse a particular tactic, and enemies will adapt. For example, rely too much on headshots and they'll start to wear metal helmets. Away from the frontline, you can develop Mother Base by building new facilities and airlifting enemy soldiers, prisoners, resources, vehicles, animals and anything else you want to from the battlefield to beef up your armory. Bethesda has made a name for itself over the last couple of decades for making some of the best open world games, and Fallout 4 is a fantastic example of why. You’ll be able to traverse a post-apocalyptic Boston, where you’ll explore the ruins of the city in all it’s retro-futuristic glory. While the plot ultimately revolves around rescuing your kid from their kidnappers, you’ll ultimately forget all about the plot, while you do side missions and plunder loot from super mutants and bandits. And, even once you get everything done (if you ever get everything done), Bethesda’s games have a tendency to be immensely replayable thanks to the way different character builds can interact with the world around you. Plus, if you want to get closer to the action, you can play through Fallout 4 in VR, with the HTC Vive. When Middle Earth: Shadow of Mordor released nearly five years ago, it was praised for its portrayal of Tolkien’s Mordor, alongside with its unique nemesis system. The sequel, Middle Earth: Shadow of War takes this concept and turns it up to 11, setting you loose in the last human stronghold in Mordor – and is thus one of the best open world games you can play in 2019. And, especially after the removal of the microtransactions that plagued the game at launch, the Nemesis system still feels fresh, and the combat is just as good as ever, with a wealth of new skills that you can unlock during its lengthy campaign. Later on in the game, it will start introducing some RTS elements as you command an army of dominated orcs to retake and hold different strongholds. The Middle Earth series has shown some real innovation, and we can’t wait to see what Monolith Studios will be capable of in the future. Last year, Ubisoft took one of the most venerated squad-based shooter series in its arsenal, Ghost Recon, and turned it into an open-world delight. You’re set loose in Bolivia, and you’re tasked with taking down a drug cartel that has taken power over the region. You’re then free to pursue this goal however you feel like. Ghost Recon Wildlands may be one of the best open world games when you’re playing by yourself, but where it really shines is when you’re playing with friends. This is because Ghost Recon, at its very core, has always been a tactical shooter that’s built around working with a team of AI companions. So, naturally, when you team up with your friends, this gameplay is elevated to another level entirely. Just keep in mind that this game is gorgeous, and demands a pretty beefy setup to run properly, so make sure you keep an eye on those system requirements. When the first Crackdown came out way back in 2007, it kind of changed the game. You took the role of a superpowered cop out to bust a cast of zany criminals. And, while Crackdown 3 hasn’t changed much in the 12 years since, it still has its own identity. Crackdown 3 takes the super-powered hijinks of the original and scales it to modern graphics without changing too much of what made the original game so great. This might make it feel a little dated to some, but if you were into the first one, you’ll find a lot to love here. What’s especially noteworthy is the new Wrecking Zone multiplayer game mode, which utilizes the power of Microsoft Azure cloud computing to make the entire city destructible. Far Cry 5 might just be a benchmark of what the best open world games on PC will look like in 2019. Far Cry 5 is unique in the fact that it allows you to truly go anywhere on the map – and do anything. And, it doesn’t water this freedom down by limiting the amount of space you have open to you either, it’s perhaps one of the biggest game maps we’ve ever experienced. Far Cry 5 takes place in the middle of the Montana wilderness, and while it does feature a plot that involves cultists or something, that all falls into the background as you wander around and get lost in the massive world. We haven’t finished Far Cry 5, but we don’t think ‘finished’ exists here. And, we’re obviously not the only ones that love Far Cry 5. At the Game Awards 2018, Ubisoft announced Far Cry: New Dawn, a direct follow-up – a first for the classic shooter series. Now that a ton of Yakuza games are coming to PC, PC gamers can finally experience the insanity that is so unique to the Yakuza series. Yakuza 0’s map isn’t as capacious as some of the other games on this list, but it is dense with activities. Everywhere you turn either has a mini game, a side quest, or some other kind of content that you can interact with. If you’ve never played a Yakuza game, do yourself a favor and try Yakuza 0 on for size – it’s unlike anything else you’ve ever played, we promise. Love it or hate it, the Just Cause franchise has always been about causing random violence and destruction with barely any plot to justify it. And, well, the same is true with Just Cause 4 – we wouldn’t have it any other way. Just Cause 4 puts you in the middle of Solis, a gigantic South American island to overthrow an oppressive local government, by destroying everything in your path. You’ll take to the sky, sea and more with a wide variety of vehicles and weapons to create mayhem however you want. It’s not a particularly deep game, but if you’re looking for some mindless entertainment, it’s not hard to see why Just Cause 4 is one of the best open world games on PC in 2019. http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techradar/digital-home/~4/x7zrWiLvzeg

The best Chromebooks have been around for a while, and they’ve slowly been accepted by the masses as great budget devices. However, when the Chromebook first hit the streets, no one knew what to make of the nascent laptop brand. Luckily, there are now more than 25 million Chrome OS users, and the top Chromebooks continue to feature wonderful battery life – something Windows 10 devices still can’t claim. But, what is a Google Chromebook? Well, they won’t just feature fantastic battery life, but they’re also extremely affordable. This is because Chromebooks don’t really need all the latest and greatest hardware – because they only run Chrome, they pack just the essential hardware. And, with devices like the Google Pixel Slate, the best Chromebooks are getting more advanced every day. And, because you are restrained by your web browser and Android apps, some users may be wary of picking up one of the top Chromebooks, and we totally get it. But, if your computer use just boils down to word processing and email, with very little video editing or gaming, you can’t go wrong with one of the best Chromebooks. http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/EwRQ9mGywVmn9A7UcJQTS8.jpg Shortly after proclaiming the Chromebook Pixel as dead, Google revived it in a way nobody expected. Now, it’s the Google Pixelbook and it stands completely independent of its predecessor. That’s because, unlike the Chromebook Pixel, it can run Android apps natively, on top of building upon Chrome OS. And, when you add in the huge amount of storage space, fantastic stylus and Google Assistant, it shouldn’t surprise you when we say the Pixelbook is the best Chromebook 2018 has to offer – even so long after its launch. Read the full review: Google Pixelbook http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/A3JA8fjMHQYRurUZwVWR2K.jpg Before the Google Pixelbook showed up and showed us exactly what the best Chromebooks are capable of, the Asus Chromebook Flip was the Google laptop to get. Rocking a full-fat Intel Core processor and full-HD display, the Chromebook Flip changed everything. With this Chromebook, all the features we take for granted came to life. Put simply, if you want the key features that the Pixelbook offers, but you don’t want to drop that much cash the Asus Chromebook Flip is a fantastic option. Read the full review: Asus Chromebook Flip http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/fPzbX4FBovgPJExEFp4pDb.jpg When Android apps started heading to the best Chromebooks, it was only a matter of time before Samsung jumped into the ring to craft something truly beautiful. With a 12.3-inch QHD touchscreen and a 360-degree hinge, the Samsung Chromebook Pro also includes a built-in stylus – the first of its kind to show up in a Chromebook. Not only does it show up many of its competitors, but it’s better than most Android devices, too, even if the keyboard could use some tightening up. Read the full review: Samsung Chromebook Pro This product is only available in the US as of this writing. UK and Australian readers: check out a fine alternative in the Asus Chromebook Flip.http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/eaV3kfiKqe8HZw8guGnRxS.jpg http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/d9af9zC7WxQQd7ryTVKrf7.jpg The best Chromebooks are kind of synonymous with education these days. And, with the Acer Chromebook Spin 13, Acer wants them to be ubiquitous in the business sector, as well. Beautifully built from aluminum with a beautiful QHD screen, it will not only fit into any office, but it might actually draw some envious glances. It’s more than just a pretty chassis, though – the Acer Chromebook Spin 13 is backed by full-fat Ultrabook processors, so it can get work done, and look good while doing it. Read the full review: Acer Chromebook Spin 13 http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/95a877eb887d3926674fe1b9a2b900a9.jpg If the Samsung Chromebook Pro is all about versatility, the Dell Chromebook 11 is about value. Reinforced by a 180-degree hinge, sturdy design and a sealed keyboard and trackpad in addition to a punchy typing experience, this Chromebook is a perfectly portable package. Not only adequately suited for school and work, the Dell Chromebook 11 even packs a set of loud stereo speakers for listening to music or watching videos. Don’t worry about dinging it, either, as this device remains the most rugged Chromebook on our list. Read the full review: Dell Chromebook 11 http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/CTCTAmeESpufU42iKyEDGU.jpg One of the most compelling use cases for the best Chromebooks is that of the student laptop – and the Acer Chromebook Spin 11 is a perfect example. If you’re a student, or even a parent of a student that’s looking for a cheap, capable and, more importantly, durable machine to get some homework done on the go, you shouldn’t need to look further than the Acer Chromebook Spin 11. You won’t be able to do any hardcore gaming or video editing on this thing, but if you just need something to write some papers and watch some YouTube in your downtime – you should give it a look. Read the full review: Acer Chromebook Spin 11 http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/EpfRQms7YaUSKTQTYtRFUG.jpg With a pristine build quality that rivals a MacBook, it’s easy to forgive the Acer Chromebook 15’s aversion to 2-in-1 form factors. However, given that most Chromebooks releasing this year are fully convertible, thanks to the wide adoption of Android app support, the Acer Chromebook 15 had to prove itself to us with more than good style. And, beyond its ability to lay flat using a 180-degree hinge, this beautiful 15-inch Chromebook makes a great impression with its battery life, too, lasting nearly 17 hours in our battery test. Read the full review: Acer Chromebook 15 http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/eaV3kfiKqe8HZw8guGnRxS.jpg http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/82c08138e75a8c491e38312c769a8da6.jpg We wouldn’t be surprised to see Acer replacing the Chromebook R11 – at least, judging by the recent release of the Chromebook Spin 11, but it still holds up to this day as one of the best Chromebooks on the market. It isn’t the most powerful option out there, but it still gives you full access to Android Apps on the Google Play store. What’s more, it does so on a touchscreen display that can be rotated around into tablet mode, complemented by an all-metal finish that you won’t be ashamed of. Read the full review: Acer Chromebook R11 http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/eaV3kfiKqe8HZw8guGnRxS.jpg http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/7a2084710f817d7155e151fb2754e409.jpg In our mind, the best Chromebooks are the ones that balance a rock-bottom price and speedy use of Chrome OS – and the HP Chromebook 14 is a perfect example. While it’s similar to the Acer Chromebook 15 in a lot of ways, this 14-inch Chromebook is a bit more compact and even looks better. Complemented by a bright blue finish and a screen made to astonish, the HP Chromebook 14 boasts the best value of any Chromebook out there. Even if the battery life and performance are average – the HP Chromebook 14 is easily one of the best Chromebooks on the market right now. Read the full review: HP Chromebook 14 http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/ca825161b166b98e246d993c6b8ad785.jpg The HP Chromebook 13 is way better than anyone would expect from a Chromebook. You’re getting a 1440p display, two USB-C ports and, if you’re willing to shell out a bit more cash, you can get yourself an INtel Core M processor rather than a Pentium. All of this is complemented by incredible style and a metallic design that exudes Pixel influence. It might not be as powerful as the Google Pixelbook, but it’s still one of the best Chromebooks when it comes to sheer style. Read the full review: HP Chromebook 13 Watch the video below for the top 7 things to consider when buying a laptop: Images Credit: TechRadarJuan Martinez and Gabe Carey have also contributed to this article. Many of the best Chromebooks also made our best cheap laptops listhttp://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techradar/digital-home/~4/BPWnRmk6cLw