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Is that you, Google Pixel 4? Sharp-eyed web watchers have spotted scores posted to Geekbench that might just be from the next flagship phone in the line – and they reveal some of the internal specs we can expect from the as-yet-unannounced handset. Specifically, the benchmarks reveal the device is almost certainly running the Snapdragon 855 processor – likely to be in many an Android flagship this year – and comes packed with 6GB of RAM, an upgrade on the 4GB that the Pixel 3 and Pixel 3 XL have on board. No surprises in the software installed on the phone: Android Q. Android Q is no doubt still in the testing phase and probably won't even be teased until the Google I/O developer conference scheduled for May 7-9 this year. That said, we already know the OS includes Face ID-style logins and purchases. More Pixels on the wayAs for the benchmarks themselves, the supposed Pixel 4 hits 3,296 for its single-core score (pretty good) and 9,235 for its multi-core score (a little disappointing). It's early days yet though – the Pixel 4 and Pixel 4 XL aren't expected until October 2019. That means plenty of tweaking and refining in Google's labs, both with the hardware and the software that make up the Pixel 4 phones. You can expect those scores to get higher before the phones are officially unveiled. In the meantime, Google is rumored to be prepping a Pixel 3 Lite phone for launch before then. As 9to5Google points out, the "Coral" codename of this device might refer to a Chrome OS device rather than the Pixel 4, but the specs we've mentioned do sound a lot like what's expected from Google's flagship range. We'll no doubt hear more in the coming months. These are the very best smartphones you can buy todayVia Wccftech http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techradar/software-news/~4/_rw4_p9sqcQ

Honor just announced the first truly exciting phone of what we expect to be a huge year in the mobile phone space, with breakthroughs that could transform the device you keep in your pocket. Long talked about innovations of 5G and foldable displays are on the cusp of becoming a reality on a phone you can buy - you can even buy the foldable Royole FlexPai right now - but Honor has taken a different direction to kick off 2019. The Honor View 20 sports a punch-hole camera on its front (it's the first mainstream phone to do that), great battery life and a more affordable price than a lot of the rest of the top-end competition. So why did the company avoid the game-changing innovations we are expecting? "We are looking into foldable phones deeply, but for us it is all about experience" said George Zhao, President of Honor. "From a technology point of view, it’s good but why do we need a foldable phone? What can the experience offer the user? "Maybe it’s two phones together? But that’s too thick and not convenient. From my point of view the technology needs to bring the better experience, to improve the service. That’s more important." "It is all about experience"George Zhao, President of Honor TechRadar spoke to Zhao at the worldwide launch of the Honor View 20. The device has generally garnered positive reviews, including a 4.5 star rating from us here at TechRadar. Zhao's comments around the state of foldable phones seems to be a different tack to sister brand Huawei. Honor and Huawei share a research and development center, which is why you often see similar technology across the two brands. Huawei CEO Richard Yu has now confirmed its plans to launch a foldable device that’s capable of a 5G connection at MWC 2019. Whether that's set to be the Huawei P30 Pro or perhaps an even higher end device that's more designed to show off tech rather than be a device that sells well to the public remains to be seen. http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/q59bBSFNRFsLcu9XEET6QV.jpg The Huawei Mate 20 Pro sports an in-display fingerprint scanner Nevertheless, Yu has confirmed that Huawei is interested in the tech as Zhao says he is as well - it's just Honor doesn't think it's ready yet. What Zhao does believe is the near future for phone tech, or at least phones released by Honor, is the recess of the notch. "In the future for Honor there will be [fewer] notches on the smartphone, we will be going with the better solution" said Zhao. "Notches are too big." "We spent quite a long time studying this technology [punch-hole cameras]. "Honor is a brand for young people and they use smartphones for games and video. So we considered the best way to serve the selfie user and not impact the user experience. The notch really impacts the experience, most of the time the pinhole is invisible and it doesn’t impact on what you are doing." Making this technology work wasn't easy for Honor, according to Zhao. The company is taking the selfie camera that usually has a lot of space within a notch and shrinking it down to a small piece of transparent glass that's 4.5mm in diameter. "We faced a challenge, the industry capability meant the hole sizes were big," said Zhao. "For the most part, hole sizes were 5.5mm to 6mm and that is too obvious. It’s an acceptable level but not the best level. http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/cGQ2AceoVqssUYP9tcDyHV.jpg Honor View 20 "We tried our best to reduce the hole size. You can see that the crystal layer remains; the assembling and the camera need a special design. For example, other smartphones are too big but we wanted to make the hole as small as possible and that’s why we worked with Sony. "We started to cooperate with Sony with the sensor quite a long time ago. Others don’t have this type of cooperation with Sony. Both teams worked very closely and you can see the picture quality compares with the iPhone XS Max. "It’s very good - our effort is comparable or even better." You may think all of that innovation has meant the company didn't have time to include an in-display fingerprint scanner like sister brand Huawei's Mate 20 Pro or the OnePlus 6T. It seems opting for a physical sensor on the rear of the phone was instead a decision made for other reasons. "To be frank" Zhao said, "the unlock ratio experience is not as good as the sensor on the back. "Secondly, we use an LCD solution and it [doesn’t] support [in-display fingerprint scanners], only the flexible AMOLED screen can support it. "We put the pinhole in the corner and if we used the AMOLED then there would have been distortion on the selfie camera. So putting it all together for us, we decided it best to have the fingerprint solution on the back and [have] the punch hole." One of the secondary announcements at the View 20 launch was Honor is soon to support 60 frames-per-second in Fortnite on the phone. That's a feat that was achieved on iPhone by developer Epic Games late in 2018, but so far we've yet to see the Android app support the higher frame rate. http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/M23Xiv5WEFnUu27RAESRcD.jpg How did Honor become the first Android manufacturer to support 60fps? It's through communicating directly with Epic Games, and Zhao believes the company's internal tech is a big reason why the partnership happened. "[Epic Games] review and study the Honor product performance. After the GPU Turbo and the Kirin [chipset], they think this is a very good level. They see our product plan and portfolio... they know that we make a lot of effort on the game part." When will we be able to play Fortnite in 60fps on the Honor View 20? The wait continues, but Zhao promised TechRadar that the View 20 is ready and the update will be coming out "very soon". Read our full Honor View 20 reviewhttp://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techradar/software-news/~4/sJ-ao8tv7Rw

We'd be lying if we tried to claim that this was the 2019 Australian Open women's final that we were expecting. Despite Naomi Osaka taking the ultimate Grand Slam of last year and Petra Kvitova's two previous Wimbledon wins, this year's field was just so strong. Not that that matters now, and we've compiled this handy guide for watching the 2019 Australian Open final on TV or by live stream online, no matter where you are in the world - you can even watch it for FREE in some areas. For some people, Naomi Osaka's US Open win in September was a fluke, particularly defeating the mighty Serena Williams in the final after her opponent suffered an on-court meltdown. But getting to two consecutive Grand Slam finals is absolutely no accident and the 21-year-old world number 4 will want to reinforce why she should be a force to be reckoned with in women's tennis for the foreseeable future. And Petra Kvitová's story is equally as enchanting, after the veteran champion was horribly attacked with a knife in a burglary just over two years ago. The Czech will be looking for her first major win in five years after a comeback to tennis worthy of a film script. Will it be a happy Hollywood ending? Whatever happens, it's sure to be an exciting crescendo to the tournament so make sure you're tuned into an Osaka vs Kvitova live stream by following one of the options below. See also: there isn't long to wait - see how to watch a FREE Super Bowl LIII live streamLive stream the Osaka vs Kvitova Australian Open final from anywhere in the worldFor your tennis watching options in the Australia, the US, UK, Canada and New Zealand, we have more details below - just scroll down the page. Check out our guide to the best VPN 2019http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/D39crXd3gob7KPsE3LAFUo.jpg How to live stream the Australian Open tennis for FREE in Australiahttp://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/x4WvmjGdnEUCFeqhMUrnWo.jpg How to watch the Australian Open 2019: US live streamhttp://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/B9XNGCRYNHKJzN5zVfTMje.jpg How to live stream the Australian Open in the UKhttp://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/jgvvohCEmS99W9XuRfJMSo.jpg The best way to stream the Australian Open 2019 in Canadahttp://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/kZWNrTtXZs7Ep2c7452KSo.jpg How to watch Osaka vs Kvitova in New Zealand http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/ebGZgkd4qVX7mUuvz3WNkH.jpg Image courtesy of ausopen.com http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techradar/software-news/~4/Uw77P2FaNJs

Details are still pretty scarce on what Android Q will bring to phones running Google’s mobile OS, but it might finally get something iOS users have been bragging about for years: Face ID. There’s evidence that the next Android build could natively support phones with the hardware for facial authentication. XDA Developers allegedly got a hold of an early build of Android Q earlier this month and started sharing new features as they uncovered them. The latest reveal includes code strongly suggesting that Google is baking in support for phones with the hardware to run facial recognition, in the way that Apple’s top phones use multiple sensors to authenticate people via Face ID. Specifically, XDA Developers dug up lines of code in multiple parts of the Android Q build, all referencing facial recognition. Error codes in Android Q’s framework-res APK tell users to move the phone closer or look directly at sensors while the phone is assumedly trying to authenticate or alert the user that their device doesn’t have the right hardware. The site found another code string in the Android Q build’s settings that’s particularly interesting: <string name="security_settings_face_enroll_introduction_message">Use your face to unlock your phone, authorize purchases, or sign in to apps.</string> In other words, this assumed facial authentication would be used to sign into apps and authorize purchases, much like Apple’s Face ID. There’s also code allowing the device administrator to disable this supposed face authentication feature. Which phones would it come to?Unfortunately, XDA Developers wasn’t able to get said face unlock activities running on a Google Pixel 3 XL loaded up with their Android Q build; according to them, they’re missing a necessary hardware abstraction layer (HAL) and the phone lacks the hardware to properly use facial recognition (some undisclosed combination of sensors, like what the iPhone X and XS use for Face ID) anyway. This doesn’t automatically mean the Google Pixel 4 will have that hardware either, XDA Developers pointed out. Only phones with the right equipment and software will be able to harness the native Android facial recognition-and-authentication: the Huawei Mate 20 Pro may be able to, especially since updates have been released to improve its existing facial recognition. Not to mention all the other new Android-powered phones coming out this year like, say, the Samsung Galaxy S10. Here's what we want to see from iOS 13http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techradar/software-news/~4/BcdtNb7nP1M

AMD gave us a sneak peek at its new Vega graphics card architecture way back at CES 2017. What we didn’t know then, though, is that it wouldn’t end up in the hands of consumers until August 2017. Back when cryptocurrency was a thing people cared about, AMD Vega enjoyed plenty of success as the architecture behind the best mining GPUs, but the mining craze is long over. Fortunately, that means AMD Vega cards don’t cost an arm and a leg anymore – although, we suspect many users will opt for the Radeon VII instead,anyway. Not that we necessarily need them, though. AMD’s latest Radeon Software Adrenalin 2019 Edition just unlocked a ton of new functionality for current graphics cards, so the Vega cards we already have are doing just fine. Cut to the chaseWhat is it? The follow-up to AMD’s Polaris GPU architectureWhen's it out? August 14, 2017What will it cost? $499 or £549 (about AU$630)http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/wtobYJdMEMdMWCDC59DHpQ.jpg AMD Radeon RX Vega release dateAMD's affordable, consumer-oriented Radeon RX Vega 64 launched back in August 2017, with three versions including a standard edition model, an aluminum-clad limited edition version and a liquid-cooled design with higher clock speeds. AMD’s lower-specced Radeon RX Vega 56, which is a direct competitor with the Nvidia GTX 1070, launched a little bit later in August. AMD then teamed up with Intel, of all companies, to create 8th Generation Kaby Lake-G processors with integrated AMD Vega graphics for laptops – on top of packing some of the best laptops with powerful GPUs, like the spectacular Dell XPS 15 2-in-1. Later, in February 2018, AMD launched the Ryzen 3 2200G and Ryzen 5 2400GAPUs with discrete-class Vega graphics that will be a major help to anyone trying to build a great home-theater PC on a budget. We wouldn’t see a new graphics card from AMD until it partnered up with PowerColor to introduce the Radeon RX Vega 56 Nano at Computex 2018. Then, at CES 2019, AMD announced the Radeon VII, marking a return to high-end consumer graphics. This is based off a 7nm architecture, and promises to compete with the Nvidia GeForce RTX 2080 at a similar price point. You won’t have to wait long to get your hands on it either – the Radeon VII hits the streets on February 7. And, if you can’t justify ponying up the cash for a Vega card, AMD put out the Ryzen 3 2200G and the Ryzen 5 2400G APUs, with Vega graphics, on February 12, 2018. http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/SJNgPwjbfJ4ZcyAxddB4qQ.jpg AMD Radeon RX Vega priceBack in August 2017, the AMD Radeon RX Vega 64 launched as a standalone card for $499 or £549 (about AU$630). That's a big step up from the Radeon RX 500 lineup, which starts at as low as $169 (about £136, AU$219), but this is meant to be AMD's enthusiast-class grade graphics card. It's been a long-awaited sequel to the company's mostly defunct Radeon R9 Fury X, which was still going for a cool $389 (about £315, AU$505) up until the very end. What's more, at this price point it's competitive against the $549 (£539, AU$1,299) Nvidia GTX 1080 Founders Edition. After the launch of the Vega 64 in the US, AMD offered two other editions of the card that could be bought exclusively as part of ‘Radeon Packs’, which bundled two free games, and discounts on a Samsung CF791 curved ultra-wide FreeSync monitor and a nice $100 discount on a Ryzen 7 processor and motherboard. The packs are unfortunately unavailable to purchase at time of writing, however. Unfortunately, those hardware discounts only kicked in if users are buying the said monitor and CPU/motherboard combo at the same time as their Vega GPU. Of course, users could choose to not buy the extra components and peripherals while still getting the two free games, confirmed – in the US at least – to be Wolfenstein II and Prey. The limited-edition AMD Radeon RX Vega 64 came as part of a Radeon Black Pack for $599 (£460, AU$750). Meanwhile, the liquid-cooled Vega 64 ran for $699 (£530, AU$875), and can only be purchased as part of AMD's Radeon Aqua Pack. Lastly, you'll be able to purchase the AMD Radeon RX Vega 56 by itself for $400 (about £284, AU$500) MSRP. At the end of the day, Vega was – at least at launch – as competitive to Nvidia as Ryzen is to Intel. Thankfully, due to the cryptocurrency market cooling down, AMD Vega cards have fallen to a reasonable price. They’re not quite down to MSRP, but they’re pretty close – you won’t have to worry about spending 2-3x MSRP value to upgrade your GPU. http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/VadoM9taAHG5eHVt2TjfLT.jpg AMD Radeon RX Vega specsFollowing its 2017 Capsaicin 2 livestream event, AMD revealed the exact specifications for its two new Vega GPUs, as well as its underlying Vega 10 architecture. From the chart above, it's clear the most powerful of the bunch will be the liquid-cooled version of the Radeon RX Vega 64. The more expensive water-cooled version will operate at higher base/boost clocks, despite sharing identical specs to its air-cooled twin. http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/4kfyZBiSLrh4JozAU34HNT.jpg The RX Vega 56, on the other hand, is positioned against Nvidia’s GeForce GTX 1070 at $400 (about £305, AU$505). However, early benchmarks have cited performance that greatly outweighed that of its closest competition while running triple-A games at 2560 x 1440. Like the Polaris 10 architecture that preceded it, AMD's Polaris 10 architecture is built on an 14nm FinFET process that should ultimately make it more power-efficient and robust in performance. http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/LxdjD6UJeB5Tpniup8nFKT.jpg Vega 10 is also noticeably skewed towards delivering on more compute power than raw graphical strength like Nvidia's Pascal GPUs. This will likely mean Vega will be able to better handle the complex calculations of procedural surfaces, volumetric lighting and the overall quality of the in-game graphics. This era of Vega GPUs also ditches GDDR5 memory altogether for a new format known as HBM2, or high-bandwidth memory. AMD believes its efficient memory offers a 75% smaller footprint than GDDR5 while also being 3.5 times more power-efficient. AMD also claims that Vega’s high-bandwidth cache controller will improve maximum frame rates by 50% and minimum frame rates by 100% over GDDR5 memory. Interestingly, Vega 10 is also designed to support up to 16GB of HBM2 memory – which we've already seen from Radeon Vega Frontier Edition – so Nvidia's Titan X may finally get some competition from AMD. Stay tuned for more details regarding everything AMD Vega, as we'll be updating this page with the latest as it happens. In the meantime, be sure to update to the latest version of AMD Radeon Software Crimson ReLive for a generous helping of GPU control features. Gabe Carey also contributed to this article Will Vega be featured in the next best gaming laptops?http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techradar/software-news/~4/Q8SSdZrwaHM

Now that AMD has revealed its its first 7nm Ryzen 3rd Generation processors, what will the future look like for Threadripper 3rd Generation – its next line of HEDT processors? Now that AMD Ryzen is nearly two years old at this point, and we’ve seen Team Red come out with winning CPU after winning CPU, we’ve been asking ourselves where things go from here. At CES 2019, AMD revealed its 7nm Zen 2 architecture, and it should dramatically improve performance, while keeping power consumption low. This is definitely exciting news for the Ryzen 3rd Generation chips, but we’re here specifically for what’s coming next for Threadripper. So, be sure to keep this page bookmarked, and we’ll keep it updated with all the latest Threadripper 3rd Generation news and rumors. Cut to the chaseWhat is it? AMD’s next line of HEDT processors When is it out? Likely Summer 2019What will it cost? TBDhttp://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/B2xn6ZXe6GxDN7AVaQimUK.jpg AMD Ryzen Threadripper 3rd Generation release dateWhile AMD hasn’t come out and announced the release date for its next Threadripper chips, the last two Threadripper generations have been pretty consistent, so we have a basis for speculation. Both the original Threadripper and Threadripper 2nd Generation launched in August of 2017 and 2018, respectively. We’re fairly sure that AMD is going to follow the same general release schedule this time around, but, obviously we don’t know that for sure. The Zen 2 architecture shown of at CES will launch in mid-2019, probably in Q2 or Q3, in the form of consumer-focused Ryzen processors. We didn’t get any kind of clue about when we might see Threadripper, but it’s safe to assume it will at least be teased at Computex 2019, with a release in the late Summer or early Autumn. We’ll update this article as soon as we hear more substantial rumors about the release date. http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/UX5UuJvvTitXyTwZb6RnAY.jpg AMD Ryzen Threadripper 3rd Generation priceNow, so far ahead of AMD Ryzen Threadripper 3rd Generation’s launch, we don’t have any official pricing information, but we can look at past generations to get an idea of what AMD’s next HEDT chips will cost. The original lineup of Threadripper topped out with the $999 (£999, AU$1,439) AMD Ryzen Threadripper 1950X, but the second generation introduced surprisingly lower priced replacements. There were also two higher specced – and higher priced – additions. We believe Threadripper 3rd Generation will follow the latter model. The prices of AMD Ryzen Threadripper 2nd Generation chips are as follows: Ryzen Threadripper 2990WX: $1,799 (£1,639, AU$2,679)Ryzen Threadripper 2970WX: $1,299 (£1,159, AU$2,039)Ryzen Threadripper 2950X: $899 (£809, AU$1,415)Ryzen Threadripper 2920X: $649 (£583, AU$1,019)AMD could very well surprise us and introduce an even higher-end SKU, but we don’t think that’s likely. Stay tuned, and we’ll update this page as soon as we hear any Threadripper 3rd Generation price information. http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/fNAAjpByEMbYm4UYBz5kEe.jpg AMD Ryzen Threadripper 3rd Generation specsWith AMD Ryzen Threadripper 3rd Generation, we expect to see a huge bump in core counts, efficiency and per-core performance with Threadripper 3rd Generation. If you need a refresher on last year’s Threadripper lineup’s specs they’re as follows: Ryzen Threadripper 2920X: 12-cores, 24-threads, clocked at 3.5GHz to 4.3GHzRyzen Threadripper 2950X: 16-cores, 32-threads, clocked at 3.5GHz to 4.4GHzRyzen Threadripper 2970WX: 24-cores, 48-threads, clocked at 3.0GHz to 4.2GHzRyzen Threadripper 2990WX: 32-cores, 64-threads, clocked at 3.0GHz to 4.2GHzWe’re sure that with the move to 7nm, AMD is going to massively improve specs. But, with Threadripper 3rd Generation, or Castle Peak, rumors are thin on the ground. However, there is plenty of buzz about the AMD Ryzen 3000 series, not to mention the 64-core AMD Epyc server CPU. While we’ve seen speculation that suggests a 16-core Ryzen 3000 processor, that hasn’t been confirmed. What has been confirmed, though, is a new 8-core Ryzen processor that matches the Intel Core i9-9900K’s Cinebench score, getting 2,023 points. AMD also showed off the system power in its test, the whole system ran at just 130W during the Cinebench run, compared to the Intel system’s 180W. We don’t know what frequency this chip was running at, but this high performance combined with the high efficiency is promising for whatever Threadripper chips come from Zen 2. What’s more, the chip AMD showed off revealed that 8-core chiplets are smaller than the IO die. What this means for Threadripper is many more cores in the same amount of space. It’s possible that we could see a 64-core Threadripper chip in 2019. It wouldn’t even be the first 64-core processor in AMD’s lineup. AMD recently showed off its latest Epyc processors, based off its Rome microarchitecture, with up to 64-cores. If AMD is able to bring those high core counts to Castle Peak HEDT processors, we could see AMD absolutely dominate Intel’s Basin Falls Refresh. And, if Intel can’t answer with anything but 14nm silicon, AMD might claim the HEDT throne like it did when it topped Intel’s mainstream sales. Here are the best processors you can buy todayhttp://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techradar/software-news/~4/XIR4GJO1_rU

If you ask a console gamer, they’ll go on at length about the perennial rivalry between the Xbox One X and PS4 Pro, and which you should choose to play Fortnite on. However, PC gamers have a similar feud: Nvidia vs AMD. And, even if you’ve never heard about it before, the sheer amount of competition and innovation that’s resulted from this battle is nothing short of amazing. Still, if you’re not willing to pledge loyalty to one of these tech behemoths, it can be hard to decide what the best graphics card for your needs is. Don’t worry though, we here at TechRadar have decided to sit down and figure out once and for all the true winner in the battle of Nvidia vs AMD. (Spoiler: it never ends). These days, the Nvidia vs AMD battle is in an awkward position. Almost two years after the release of the Nvidia GTX 10 series, it released the Turing architecture with the GeForce RTX 2080 Ti, RTX 2080, RTX 2070 and RTX 2060 – GPUs that are much more expensive than their predecessors. And, while AMD launched Vega back in 2017 and AMD Navi is off in the distance, AMD’s new Radeon VII will be directly competing with the RTX 2080. But, that doesn’t mean it’s forgotten about the budget market – AMD keeps releasing new Polaris cards, like the Radeon RX 590, aimed at the budget-focused 1080p segment. No matter how you slice it, neither Nvidia or AMD graphics cards all over the place, so that’s why we crafted this guide – to dive in and figure out how they differ. From their exclusive features to their price-to-performance ratio, even down to their drivers, and you can’t forget all those pesky exclusive features, either. http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/SJFgGYHopSgQpZGXodYuTV.jpg There are graphics card choices for daysPriceAnyone who browses Reddit or comment sections on tech websites will tell you that AMD is widely known for its affordability, and Nvidia for its high-end performance and high prices. But, are they actually right? Well, kind of. The Nvidia GeForce RTX 2080 Ti is listed at $1,199 (£1,099, AU$1,899), which is almost twice the price of the last-generation GTX 1080 Ti. This price bump continues down the line, with the RTX 2080 at $799 (£749, AU$1,199) and the RTX 2070 at $599 (£569, AU$899). During the reveal keynote, Nvidia claimed that they would start at lower prices, for instance, the 2080 Ti should be starting at $999 (about £760, AU$1,385) – but we haven’t seen any cards offered at these prices. Right now, the most affordable RTX card is the Nvidia GeForce RTX 2060, which is available at $349 (£329, AU$599). While that’s a far cry from the high price of the 2080 Ti, it’s still expensive for a mid-range card. As for AMD, you can find a Radeon RX 500 card for a pittance in comparison. But, AMD is competing with Nvidia again at the high end, with the AMD Radeon VII, which will be available for $699 (about £550, AU$980), which is about the same price as the RTX 2080 for about the same level of performance. At the end of the day, the better price is going to depend on where you’re lucky enough to find a discount. http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/awQ52kswD2vq35Gq94QKDc.jpg PerformanceWhen you’re trying to build a PC that’s more powerful than your arch-enemy’s, buying a graphics card isn’t a matter of price but performance. Packing the best performance for the lowest cost is the arguably the most pertinent factor in driving GPU sales. Right now the RTX 2080 Ti completely blows away every other consumer-grade graphics card with 11GB of GDDR6 memory and high-end Tensor and RT cores that will enable AI-controlled super sampling and real-time ray tracing. AMD right now doesn’t have anything in the same ballpark – but does that even matter? AMD has always been known for being the clear value champions, whereas Nvidia usually has more powerful hardware. But, at CES 2019, AMD revealed the Radeon VII. And, while we haven’t been able to test it yet, AMD claims that it will compete with the RTX 2080, at about the same price. So, if you’re looking for solid 4K performance, but you don’t care about gimmicky RTX features, you might want to wait for the Radeon VII. The lowest end current-generation graphics card in Nvidia’s stable is the Nvidia GeForce RTX 2060, with performance that outmatches the AMD Vega 56 at the same price point. And, while the prices for these two GPUs are mostly comparable, AMD is currently dominating the budget-to-mid-range product stack with cards like the AMD Radeon RX 580. At the end of the day, AMD and Nvidia are occupying completely different sides of the marketplace right now, so the best choice is going to rely on what games you’re trying to play and at what resolution. If you’re trying to play games like Assassin’s Creed Odyssey at 4K, you’re going to want to go with Nvidia. But, if you just want to play Overwatch at 1080p with a high refresh rate – go with AMD. However, that Radeon VII is looking promising for 4K performance, too – especially with that 16GB of HBM2 memory. http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/FjjYDGNVtnoWKeZvffE5be.jpg Software, drivers and featuresOne key draw to using Nvidia hardware over AMD is the Green Team’s GeForce Experience software. Because it delivers driver updates and optimizes games in addition to letting you broadcast gameplay and capture screenshots as well as videos directly from its easy-to-use interface, Nvidia GeForce Experience is posited as the one PC gaming application to rule them all. Meanwhile, AMD’s newly announced Radeon Software Adrenalin 2019 Edition aims to overtake Nvidia’s solution. The latest update is stacked features including automatic overclocking (that doesn’t need tensor cores) and stream games to your mobile device. AMD’s latest GPU software will even let you stream VR games to your phone or standalone VR headsets. So, you can leverage the power of your AMD graphics card to play the best VR games without slowdown. Radeon Software’s underlying benefit, of course, is also more consistent updates driver updates to account for every major game release. As of December 2016, you could already livestream via Radeon Crimson ReLive, but now you can really customize your broadcast with a Xplit/OBS-style program from AMD and multi-channel audio control. http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/42cda44bc804da84ca5872dfd32a645c.jpg Still, GeForce Experience has the game optimization features we’re all crazy for. So when you don’t know what settings are best for your computer in The Witcher 3, Nvidia takes care of the heavy lifting for you. AMD users can download and install Raptr’s Gaming Evolved tool to optimize their gaming experience. However, the add-on is less than ideal considering its biggest rival’s audience can accomplish nearly everything from within GeForce Experience. That includes using Nvidia Ansel to take way cool in-game photos at resolutions exceeding 63K (16 times that of which a 4K monitor can display). Nvidia also has a leg up when it comes to streaming games whether it’s to another gaming PC with at least a Maxwell-based GPU, as well as the company’s self-made tablets and set-top box. Not to mention, Nvidia also has a cloud-based gaming service call GeForce Now available to Windows 10 and MacOS users. http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/MQ9jDoHDVKsRTdUgUP7tr3.jpg ExclusivityIt was once rumored that AMD and Nvidia were enacting shady tactics, “paying off” game developers to show preferential treatment towards one or the other. Were this the case, it would certainly explain why certain games run better using GeForce graphics than Radeon and vice versa. Fortunately, besides new technologies like ray tracing and deep learning super-sampling in the new Nvidia Turing cards, we don’t see these concerns from PC gamers as much anymore – but they still exist. Following its Capsaicin & Cream livestream event at GDC 2017, we spoke with AMD its to discuss its strategy in contending with Nvidia. The news that the company would partner with Bethesda Softworks to optimize its games for Radeon, Ryzen or both was worrying to say the least. And it still is. At the time, the potential for games operating more smoothly on AMD systems meant that Nvidia could fight back by partnering with an equally large publisher. Although the latter maneuver hasn’t happened yet, early Wolfenstein II performance comparisons, such as this one from have exhibited better performance and lower temps coming from the AMD Radeon RX 64 when pitted against Nvidia’s GeForce GTX 1080.We’re not saying there’s a bias towards AMD in Bethesda’s technical design decisions, however we aren’t ready to take off our tin foil hats quite yet either. Of course, Bethesda is hardly the only company to show favoritism to either team red or green. If you ever see an AMD or Nvidia splash screen ahead of the title page when you start a game, you can bet it will run better with that company’s hardware. So, which is better? NeitherThere’s so much to love, and in some instances “dis-love,” about both Nvidia and AMD graphics. In the end, both of these companies rely on competition with each other to thrive. Suffice to say, the Nvidia vs AMD debate requires that you understand there’s a reason Radeon and GeForce GPUs are so similar in performance right now. Each company is doing its best to keep up with the mindshare of the other, and that’s good for us. They’re basically fighting for our money, learning from each other’s mistakes and legislating marked improvements along the way. It’s up to you who wins the fiery contest of Nvidia vs AMD, although we will say this: Nvidia is unmatched in the 4K market right now. If it helps any, the RTX 2080 Ti is probably your best bet if you want your PC to keep up with your Ultra HD display – as long as you can afford it. If you’re on a budget, though, Nvidia and AMD graphics cards will be about the same, at least until lower-end Turing cards make their way to the public. These are the best PC games you can play right nowhttp://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techradar/software-news/~4/zTZ5tNrPjGQ

Cortana and the Microsoft To-Do productivity app are getting together to help you manage your tasks like a boss. Microsoft To-Do was previously available for insiders, but now it's officially being integrated with Cortana for regular users. Thanks to these updates, anyone will be able to summon Cortana to set up reminders – for anything from getting milk to making a call at 6:00pm sharp – and the voice assistant will pin those tasks to Outlook Tasks and Microsoft To-Do. The system is designed to sync to all of your devices, assuming you have the necessary apps installed of course, and send you reminders when it's time to complete the tasks. Microsoft To-Do was already a gorgeous, easy-to-manage productivity app, and now this Cortana integration brings it up to par with other management systems like Google Assistant with Google Calendar or Siri with Apple's Calendar. http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/3fzdsWtfSQ8dnZypntTZEN.gif How to pair Cortana to Microsoft To-DoTo connect your smart assistant to Microsoft To-Do, you need to head to hit the Cortana button on your Windows 10 taskbar, click the notebook icon on the upper left, and then click on Manage Skills. From there, you’ll need to check your Connected Services and ensure you’re logged into your Outlook or Office 365 account. After you’re all signed in and connected, Cortana, Microsoft To-Do, and Outlook will automatically start syncing. For now, integration between Cortana and Microsoft To-Do is only available in English in Australia, India, the U.S., and the U.K. Users outside of these territories can still enable the feature by region and language settings. Unfortunately, it may take a while for Microsoft to make this feature universally available for everyone around the world. Got a Windows 10 problem? We may have solutions for youhttp://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techradar/software-news/~4/TtK9-6QJrdc

Although the battle between Coffee Lake Refresh and AMD Ryzen 2nd Generation is still raging on, the war between Ryzen 3rd Generation, Ice Lake and Sunny Cove is about to begin. It’s also time for us to dive into the perennial deathmatch: AMD vs Intel. Essentially acting as the brain of your computer, the best processors are behind everything your PC does. This is why it’s so important to find the one for your specific needs – you don’t want to pay for features you don’t need. If you’ve been following the frantic war of Intel vs AMD as closely as we have over the years, you probably already know that AMD and Intel have traditionally focused on different segments of the CPU market. Where Intel has focused on higher clock speeds and efficiency with low core counts, AMD has focused on upping its core counts and boosting multi-threaded performance. Still, AMD and Intel can still coexist – they cater to different audiences, with some direct competition in between. If you’re not quite sure which side of the fence you sit on, continue to the next slide for a constantly updated look at the AMD vs Intel battle. Gary Marshall originally contributed to this article For bargain shoppers on the prowl for the next hottest deal, it used to be assumed that AMD’s processors were cheaper, but that was only because the Red Team did its best work at the entry level. Now that Ryzen processors have proven AMD’s worth on the high-end, the tide has ostensibly turned. Now Intel reigns supreme in the budget CPU space, with its $64 (about £46, AU$82) MSRP Pentium G4560 offering far better performance than AMD’s $110 (about £80, AU$140) MSRP A12-9800. Even among mid-range, current-gen chips, Intel is leading the pack by offering 8th-generation Coffee Lake CPUs as low as $117 (about £83, AU$152) for the Core i3-8100T. Much of this is due to the Advanced Micro Device company’s reluctance to move beyond simply iterating on its antiquated Bulldozer architecture and onto adopting the current-generation ‘Zen’ standard it’s already introduced with pricier CPUs. Still, on the low end, Intel and AMD processors typically retail at about the same price. It’s once you hit that exorbitant $200 (around £142, AU$252) mark where things get trickier. High-end Intel chips now range from 4 up to 18 cores, while AMD chips can now be found with up to 32-cores. And, thanks to some recent price cuts you can find the AMD Ryzen 5 2400G and the Ryzen 3 2200G for $160 (around £129, AU$208) and $105 (around £84, AU$135), respectively. While it was long-rumored that AMD’s Ryzen chips would offer cutting-edge performance at a lower price, benchmarks have demonstrated that Intel is remaining strongly competitive. If you can get your hands on one, the Core i7 9700K is is $409 (£499, AU$659), while the still more-capable Ryzen 7 2700X is priced at $329 (about £230, AU$420). And, if you’re looking to get your hands on the new hotness, the Intel Core i9-9900K is available for $579 (£599, AU$859.) For anyone looking to dip their toes into the realm of the HEDT processors, AMD and Intel are very close right now, especially on the heels of the AMD Ryzen Threadripper 2990WX CPU, at $1,799 (£1,639, AU$2,679). That might seem like a lot, but compared to the $1,999 (£1,649, AU$2,729) Intel Core i9-7980XE, it’s a downright bargain – especially given that AMD’s offering has nearly double the cores. If you're building a gaming PC, truthfully you should be using a discrete graphics card, or GPU (graphics processing unit), rather than relying on a CPU’s integrated graphics to run games as demanding as Middle Earth: Shadow of War. Still, it’s possible to run less graphically intense games on an integrated GPU if your processor has one. In this area, AMD is the clear winner, thanks to the release of the Ryzen 5 2400G that packs powerful discrete Vega graphics that outperforms Intel’s onboard graphic technology by leaps and bounds. Yet, as we mentioned before, Intel has officially started shipping its high-end H-series mobile CPU chips with AMD graphics on board. In turn, this means that hardier laptops powered by Intel can now be thinner and their accompanying silicon footprints will be over 50% smaller, according to Intel client computing group vice president Christopher Walker. All of this is accomplished using Embedded Multi-Die Interconnect Bridge (EMIB) technology, along with a newly contrived framework that enables power sharing between Intel’s first-party processors and third-party graphics chips with dedicated graphics memory. Even so, it’s too early to tell whether this is a better solution than the purebred AMD notebooks slated for the end of this year. Intel might be aiming to shake things up though as it has announced that it’s planning on releasing a GPU aimed at gamers by 2020. And, if we could see Intel putting some of that effort into improving integrated graphics. Still, if all you're looking to do is play League of Legends at modest settings or relive your childhood with a hard drive full of emulators (it's okay, we won't tell), the latest Intel Kaby Lake, Coffee Lake or AMD A-Series APU processors for desktops will likely fare just as well as any forthcoming portable graphics solution. On the high-end, especially in cases where you don’t need to worry about on-board graphics, Intel’s processors are typically on top – its Core i9-9900K handily beats out the workstation-class Ryzen Threadripper 2970WX for less than half the price. AMD typically provides better multi-threading performance, as a result of higher core and thread counts. Ryzen CPUs also offer more PCIe lanes, which come in handy if you want multiple NVMe SSDs alongside SLI and CrossFire multi-GPU performance. While there is no clear winner in the graphics department, survey says AMD is the better option for integrated graphics, while hardcore gamers who don’t mind shelling out the extra cash for a GPU will find that Intel is better for gaming alone – although with Ryzen 2nd Generation AMD is closing that gap. Meanwhile, AMD is superior for carrying out numerous tasks at once. If you're building a gaming PC, truthfully you should be using a discrete graphics card, or GPU (graphics processing unit), rather than relying on a CPU’s integrated graphics to run games as demanding as Middle Earth: Shadow of War. Still, it’s possible to run less graphically intense games on an integrated GPU if your processor has one. In this area, AMD is the clear winner, thanks to the release of the Ryzen 5 2400G that packs powerful discrete Vega graphics that outperforms Intel’s onboard graphic technology by leaps and bounds. Yet, as we mentioned before, Intel has officially started shipping its high-end H-series mobile CPU chips with AMD graphics on board. In turn, this means that hardier laptops powered by Intel can now be thinner and their accompanying silicon footprints will be over 50% smaller, according to Intel client computing group vice president Christopher Walker. All of this is accomplished using Embedded Multi-Die Interconnect Bridge (EMIB) technology, along with a newly contrived framework that enables power sharing between Intel’s first-party processors and third-party graphics chips with dedicated graphics memory. Even so, it’s too early to tell whether this is a better solution than the purebred AMD notebooks. Still, if all you're looking to do is play League of Legends at modest settings or relive your childhood with a hard drive full of emulators (it's okay, we won't tell), the latest Intel Kaby Lake, Coffee Lake or AMD A-Series APU processors for desktops will likely fare just as well as any forthcoming portable graphics solution. On the high end, such as in cases where you'll be pairing your CPU with a powerful AMD or Nvidia GPU, Intel’s processors are typically better for gaming due to their higher base and boost clock speeds. At the same time, though, AMD provides better CPUs for multi-tasking as a result of their higher core and thread counts. While there is no clear winner in the graphics department, survey says AMD is the better option for integrated graphics. However, Intel is working on improving its own integrated graphics in 2019, with its Gen11 graphics – we’ll have to see how well they work when they actually ship. Meanwhile hardcore gamers who don’t mind shelling out the extra cash for a GPU will find that Intel is better for gaming alone. Meanwhile, AMD is superior for carrying out numerous tasks at once. When you buy a new computer or even just a CPU by itself, it's typically locked at a specific clock speed as indicated on the box. Some processors ship unlocked, allowing for higher clock speeds than recommended by the manufacturer, giving users more control over how they use their components (though, it does require you know how to overclock). AMD is normally more generous than Intel in this regard. With an AMD system, you can expect overclocking capabilities from even the $129 (about £110, AU$172) Ryzen 3 1300X. Meanwhile, you can only overclock an Intel processor if it's graced with the “K” series stamp of approval. Then again, the cheapest of these is the $180 (£160, AU$240) Intel Core i3-8350K. Both companies will void your warranty if you brick your processor as the result of overclocking, though, so it’s important to watch out for that. Excessive amounts of heat can be generated if you’re not careful, thereby neutralizing the CPU as a result. With that in mind, you’ll be missing out on a few hundred stock megahertz if you skip out on one of the K models. Intel’s more extravagant K-stamped chips are pretty impressive, too. The i9-9900K, for instance, is capable of maintaining a whopping 5.0GHz turbo frequency in comparison to the 4.3GHz boost frequency of the Ryzen 7 2700X. If you’ve access to liquid nitrogen cooling, you may even be able to reach upwards of 6.1GHz using Intel’s monstrous, 18-core i9-7980XE. In the end, the biggest problem with AMD’s desktop processors is the lack of compatibility with other components. Specifically, motherboard (mobo) and cooler options are limited as a result of the differing sockets between AMD and Intel chips. While a lot of CPU coolers demand that you special order an AM4 bracket to be used with Ryzen, only a handful of the best motherboards are compatible with the AM4 chipset. In that regard, Intel parts are slightly more commonplace and are often accompanied by lower starting costs, too, as a result of the wide variety of kit to choose from. That said, AMD's chips make a little more sense from a hardware design perspective. With an AMD motherboard, rather than having metal connector pins on the CPU socket, you'll notice those pins are instead on the underside of the CPU itself. In turn, the mobo is less likely to malfunction due to its own faulty pins. When it comes to availability in the latter half of 2018, it gets complicated. While both Coffee Lake and AMD Ryzen 2nd Generation processors are widely available, Intel is going through supply shortages, and AMD is starting to catch up to Team Blue’s titanic market share. In fact, financial analysts have downgraded Intel’s stock in the face of both 14nm shortages and Cannon Lake’s constant delays, according to a report from CNBC. AMD really has a chance to steal the crown here. Still, you can pick up processors from both companies today, though Intel chips like the Intel Core i7-8700K might have some increased pricing. AMD APUs like the AMD Ryzen 3 2200G are still great options for anyone on a budget, though. Future speculation It really shouldn’t come as a surprise that AMD had a great year in 2017 with its Ryzen processors – especially the high-end Threadripper processors. And, now that the Ryzen 2nd Generation CPUs have been released, AMD is claiming more and more of Intel’s market share, up to 50% at the time of writing. And, if AMD keeps putting out processors as good as the Ryzen 5 2600X and the Ryzen 7 2700X, we think this trend will only continue. As for Intel, it continues to struggle with 10nm production, which has seen its Cannon Lake processors pushed back again and again. We’re not sure when Cannon Lake is going to come out at all as Intel recently announced its 10nm Sunny Cove architecture, which will be behind whatever Ice Lake, Lakefield and a host of other chips we hope Intel will launch in 2019. The first of these appears to be Ice Lake, rather than Cannon Lake. Ice Lake will be behind the next generation of Ultrabooks, and will feature built-in Thunderbolt 3, WiFi and Gen11 graphics. Intel is making some promising claims for Ice Lake, like that it will be able to search for images twice as fast as Whiskey Lake. As with all Intel’s on-stage demonstrations, take that with a grain of salt though. AMD, on the other hand, has announced the Ryzen 3000 series of CPUs, based on the new Zen 2 architecture. And, while we don’t know any specifics beyond the nameless 8-core processor it showed off at CES 2019, there are plenty of rumors floating around. For instance, we’ve seen a 12-core, 24-thread chip show up in a leaked UserBenchmark result. http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techradar/software-news/~4/mhA7mN95EDc

PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds is already on the PC, consoles and smartphones, but now the company behind the popular battle royale shooter is testing a free-to-play version. PUBG Lite is a new free version of the PC game with scaled-down graphics designed for to play on computers and laptops equipped with lower-end specs, like integrated graphics cards. Despite the reduced graphics, the game promises to deliver the same realistic gunplay and full-scale experience of the paid-for version of the game. PUBG Corp, the company behind the game, announced an open test beta for the new version of the game is open to play today, but before you get too excited, it’s only going to be available in Thailand for the foreseeable future. That said, we can’t imagine PUBG Lite will be limited to such a small playerbase for long. It’s more likely this free-to-play version of the game will see worldwide distribution to compete against Fortnite, which has been free from the start. Will it allow crossplay?Recommended PC specs for the game suggest using an Intel Core i5 processor with Nvidia GeForce GTX 660 or AMD Radeon HD 7870 for an optimal experience. However, users with at least an Intel Core i3 CPU and integrated Intel HD Graphics 4000 – in other words, at least an Ivy Bridge chip from 2012 – should also be able to run the game. This is fantastic news, as these minimal PC specs mean those with even a relatively new, low-end laptop will be able to play PUBG without having to pay a dime. We just hope PUBG Lite players will be able to play with gamers running the full-fat version of PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds at some point. PUBG hasn’t been a shining example of cross-play, in fact only the Android and iOS allow for any level of cross-platform competition. Meanwhile, the PC, Xbox One and PS4 communities are all scattered and isolated. With every version of Fortnite being free and the entire community being able to play with each other whether they’re on PC, either console or any smartphone, it’s no wonder the blockbuster game continues to outpace PUBG. Hopefully, PUBG Lite will be able to follow in Fortnite’s example or at the least give more users a chance to play together on PC. We've got all the PlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds tips and tricks for youVia The Verge http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techradar/software-news/~4/QJwaLUbMfyc

You've designed a great website, found a quality website hosting package and got your creation online. That's great, but don't relax just yet; there's plenty more to do. Maintaining your website involves a lot of work. You'll need to monitor it to make sure it's online and working normally. Web apps like WordPress (and any other software you install) must be updated when patches appear, and you'll have to test these updates to confirm they're working (that gave rise to managed WordPress hosting providers). Then, as the site grows, you might have to work to troubleshoot it, find and fix odd problems, or optimize it for better performance. Managed hosting packages try to simplify your life by taking on many of these tasks. Automatic system monitoring enables providers to detect and fix many common problems before you've realized anything has happened. The support team may install and update all software for you, sometimes testing updates first to look for problems. The best hosts go even further, offering expert advice to help you fix, optimize and maintain your site. This kind of premium support usually comes at a premium price, but if speed and reliability are top of your priority list, managed hosting could be worth the extra cost. Browse our list of five top managed hosting providers to find out what they can do. http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/f3bWk8vS5C63dnCrahzBbR.jpg Managed hosting can be expensive – very, very expensive, sometimes – but look carefully and you'll find some worthwhile exceptions. HostPapa's VPS packages all include managed hosting as standard, for instance. They're still not exactly cheap, but the baseline Plus plan has a decent feature set – 1.5GB RAM, four CPU cores, 50GB storage, 1TB bandwidth, unlimited emails, free SSL, cPanel/WHM control panel – for $49.99 (£38) a month on the annual plan (currently, there is a discount and you can get the first month for $19.99). HostPapa is unusual in that it gives you a lengthy list of the type of tasks where tech support can help. These cover getting started (software installs and migrations, Google Apps setups, Perl/PECL module/extension installations, DNS configuration), firewall setup and email configuration, to more advanced advisory jobs like security audits – and of course troubleshooting everything from server boot failure to network issues and even script and website errors. The service includes all the usual core maintenance tasks, too – server and control panel updates, patches and monitoring – and you can contact HostPapa's support 24/7 via telephone, email and chat. http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/ujWdt9nDuRLSAbApwEptGe.jpg Tsohost is a versatile UK-based web host with products to suit everyone from a total website newbie to the most demanding enterprise user. Managed hosting comes as standard with some of the high-end products, but home users aren't left out – there are handy support features available for everyone. Even the cheapest shared hosting package (£2.92 or $3.83 a month annually) comes with a free migration of a blog or simple business website, for instance. Higher spec plans come with one or more e-commerce migrations, where the company will relocate a complex transactional website to your new account. You get a dedicated engineer to manage the process at the date and time you choose (within an 8-hour window), and you can check the end results before the site goes live. Moving to the Tsohost VPS range gets you regular managed hosting features, including server monitoring and alerts, proactive threat detection, and full handling of software updates and security patches. There's in-depth support for running Redis, memory caching systems like Memcached or PHP optimizations such as opcode caching. Once you've installed the software you need, Tsohost will even help you customize and tweak it to suit your needs. Prices are higher than many competitors – even the most basic VPS product costs $52 (£39.99) a month – but they're not unreasonable for the service you get, and overall Tsohost is a must-see for professional and business users. http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/57jJWfMhidJYpDtMwoPd89.jpg Most web hosts provide a basic level of WordPress setup support – a one-click installer, maybe advice on migrating your current site – but after that, you're typically left on your own. WP Engine offers a far more comprehensive managed WordPress service that can help you with setup, updates, security, performance optimization, troubleshooting and a whole lot more. Much of this is invisible to the end user, as a good managed service should be. No need to worry about WordPress updates, for instance – WP Engine handles these for you. Not blindly, simply when they're released, like many other hosts: the company tests them carefully, first, to make sure they don't cause problems. WP Engine's abilities become more apparent when you check out its support. The website knowledgebase is so crammed with detailed articles and in-depth webinars that it feels like a professional training course, and an expert support team is available by chat, 24/7, to help you quickly solve any problems. The powerful WP Engine platform adds many useful extras. A Staging area allows you to work on a copy of your site, which is perfect for testing new themes, plugins or anything else, without affecting the production site. In another highlight, integrated performance tests can benchmark your website and offer useful speedup tips. This level of power isn't cheap. Even the most basic WP Engine plan costs $28 (£21.3) a month, more than three times the price of the budget competition (although, you can get 20% discount on your first purchase, and annual plan gives you four months free). But if you're looking for an optimized environment, with quality tools and excellent support, this could be a price worth paying. http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/yPvHMEfteiYeNo95XnDBTQ.jpg While all managed hosting providers take on basic website maintenance tasks – monitoring, installing patches – InMotion Hosting can go further, working with high-powered web technologies to set up a custom solution which matches your needs. This starts in a simple way, with InMotion Hosting's Launch Assist. Included free with VPS, Reseller and Dedicated hosting plans, this gives you two to four hours to have the Managed Hosting Team do whatever you need: migrate websites, install and optimize software, configure security, automate key tasks and just about anything else you might want to do. Day-to-day management tasks cover all the basics, including regular monitoring of your website and automatic updating of your software. InMotion still delivers more than you might expect, though, for example with a KernelCare feature which allows more updates without rebooting, avoiding costly downtime. What's even more interesting is InMotion Hosting's ability to customize your site. How well this goes will depend on what you need, but the InMotion website talks about setting up the ConfigServer firewall and OSSec's intrusion monitor, working with NGINX, tuning your Varnish caching, speeding up PHP and more. The price for all this depends on your hosting plan, but it might be less than you were expecting. Choosing managed, rather than self-managed VPS hosting, can add as little as $8 (£5.70) to the initial price of your plan, for instance, dropping to $27.99 (£21.8) on renewal – which sounds like a bargain to us. http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/PaUPaDJpUXha8ddmgotA2V.jpg Liquid Web is an expert provider of high-end managed hosting solutions for everything from email to WordPress, WooCommerce, VPS, dedicated and assorted other cloud products. Most plans deliver far more than you might expect. Liquid Web doesn't just automatically update WordPress, for instance: it also updates your plugins in a separate, isolated environment to check for any issues before sending them live on your production site. Unlike other hosts, this level of management doesn't involve restricting what you can do. You can handle WordPress updating manually, if you prefer, some or all of the time. The plans give you full access to both the server and the database, too, essentially meaning you have the best of all worlds: expert WordPress management where you need it, but with detailed hands-on control of the site available as required. Liquid Web's VPS and dedicated server plans add even more managed hosting features covering many areas. The company has its own data centers with fully managed hardware and network infrastructure. Key software is installed, updated and supported, there are free external migrations, virus and spam protection keep threats at bay, and system monitoring enables speedy notification of problems. If you have problems anyway, a thorough SLA (service level agreement) guarantees a phone or chat response time of under a minute, and that you'll get an active response to the issue within 30 minutes. Liquid Web won't appeal to bargain hunters, and its baseline prices can be much higher than some of the competition ($39.99 or £31 – for a starter VPS, compared to a fiver for 1&1 IONOS. At the moment, you'll pay $19.99 for the first month). Those plans are often far more powerful, though (the company doesn't sell crippled products just to get a low headline price), and when you compare providers on features, Liquid Web often comes out ahead. 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/software-news/~4/xqnAoh0ahao

Nokia phones are making a comeback in America thanks to HMD Global, and they'll be easier to buy thanks to official carrier sales and support. It's been a while. Soon, the midrange Nokia 3.1 Plus will come to Cricket Wireless, while the budget version of the Nokia 2 will land on Verizon, dubbed the Nokia 2 V in this case. There's a third undisclosed Nokia phone coming to North America, in Canada, by way of Rogers subsidiary, chatr. We don't know the name of the phone in this case, but it's launching "very soon," according to Nokia's press release. Why this is a big step for Nokia in the USWhile consumers could already buy Nokia phones through Amazon, Best Buy and B&H, among others, this seems like the opening move in HMD’s bigger push to get Nokia more firmly into North American markets. The most important nugget from today's announcement? There may be more to come from Nokia, according to HMD Global VP Americas Maurizio Angelone. "In 2019 and beyond, we will continue to give consumers a versatile line up of Nokia phones they can use unlocked or with their preferred wireless providers," he teased in today's press release. "Our approach to operator relationships is not transactional—our users will see more devices at different price points launching with our prepaid and post-paid wireless prover partners and on the open market." More phones for the budget-mindedJust to be clear, neither of these models are flagship-quality phones with top specs. And that’s okay. They’re deliberately aimed at users hunting for budget devices. The Nokia 3.1 packs an octa-core Snapdragon 439, 5.99-inch HD+ display, 2GB of RAM and 32GB of storage. As we noted in our Nokia 3.1 Plus review, 10GB of its internal space is taken up by the Android OS. Thankfully, it has a microSD port and is expandable up to 400GB – assuming, of course, the Cricket-specific model isn’t any different from the Nokia 3.1 we saw. Otherwise, the Nokia 3.1 is a budget model with decent features: a 3,500mAh battery, HD+ screen, microUSB port (boo) and 3.5mm jack (yay). The phone will be available in blue at Cricket Wireless stores and on its website for $159 starting January 25, 2019. The Nokia 2 V, on the other hand, is an even lower-budget phone with a Snapdragon 425, 5.5-inch HD screen, 5MP front/8MP rear cameras. Sadly, it only comes with 8GB of storage, though that’s expandable up to 128GB via microSD card. On the plus side, its 4,000mAh battery should last you awhile (two days, according to press materials). Verizon hasn’t listed how much the Nokia 2 V will be when it hits the carrier’s online and physical stores on January 31, 2019, but the Nokia 2 is priced at $99 elsewhere. Here's a list of our top cheap phones that won't break your bankhttp://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techradar/software-news/~4/054KLa8lYEQ

Choosing a website hosting company typically involves weighing up many factors, such as price, features, support, reputation and more. The environmental impact of a web host probably won't rank high on most people's priority lists, if they think about it at all – but that could be a mistake. Web hosting is very energy-intensive. Data centers may have tens of thousands of high-powered computers, most of these with permanently high CPU and drive usage, generating so much heat that the provider will usually need a massive cooling system to keep temperatures manageable. The math can be surprising. Web Neutral Project founder Jack Amend calculates that powering the average website produces 4,500 pounds of CO2 a year, equivalent to driving the average new car for more than 10,000 miles. We're not quite sure what ‘average’ means in that context, but whatever the precise details, the message is clear: hosting has a very real environmental impact, and it's much more significant than you might think. Green web hosting companies try to address this issue by investing in some form of carbon offsetting scheme, so that for every unit of energy they use, they pay to generate the same amount of energy (or sometimes more) from renewables, and pump that into the grid. This doesn't negate their environmental impact entirely – building and disposing of all those computers produces issues of its own – but it does at least mean that your individual website isn't adding to the problem. Going green does tend to have some hosting consequences, in particular with the price: it's often a little higher than the competition. That's no surprise when a company is paying a second energy bill to generate renewable power, though, and the extra cost usually isn't significant. Check out our pick of the green hosting crop to find out more. http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/zhuY6yVjCuFDYKbXRhdixT.jpg Founded in California back in 2008, GreenGeeks now proudly claims to be the ‘world's #1 green energy web hosting provider’, not surprising given that it is dedicated entirely to green causes. That's a big statement, but there is some substance behind it. The company doesn't just say that its platform has been designed for maximum energy efficiency, it also promises that "for every amperage we pull from the grid, we invest three times that in the form of renewable energy via Bonneville Environmental Foundation." So in theory at least, your hosting isn't just carbon-neutral, it's carbon-reducing. GreenGeeks' hosting range isn't quite as impressive. There are the usual set of plans – shared products, application hosting, VPS, dedicated – but there isn't much choice, and what you do get is mostly very average. There is one exception in GreenGeeks powerful shared hosting plan. This offers unlimited websites, emails, databases, web space and bandwidth, and throws in a free domain, shared SSL, Cloudflare CDN integration, nightly backups, the Softaculous one-click app installer, a simple website builder and support via email, chat and telephone. Pay for three years upfront and you can get everything for an equivalent $2.95 (£2.2) per month – $9.95 (£7.10) on renewal – and a 30-day money-back guarantee represents a risk-free way to test the service for yourself. It's a good deal, and shows that green hosting isn't just about making eco-friendly gestures: you can find some capable products, too. http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/cTwmFW9CWNtsFyjvTBVapQ.jpg Despite the increasing interest in green hosting, many providers do little to flag up their eco-friendly credentials. The DreamHost website doesn't talk about the issue on its front page, there's no clear link or green 'energy saving' logo, or indeed no sign that the company is thinking about this at all. But dig a little deeper and you'll find the reality is very different. DreamHost says its data centers are powered by grids that obtain electricity from many renewable sources, for instance. It's a partner in state-level 'clean wind' programmes. Cooling systems are designed for efficiency, and the evaporative cooling plants use both municipal and reclaimed water. The company offices are LEED Platinum and EnergyStar-certified. Optimized heating, ventilation and air conditioning plants keep energy demand down all year round, and the working environment is designed with sustainability in mind: recycling bins everywhere, electronic forms to reduce paper usage, disposable cups and plates replaced by ceramic, financial incentives to use public transportation and work-from-home policies to keep some people off the roads entirely. All this environmentally-friendly infrastructure powers a good-looking range of highly specified and fairly-priced products. Shared hosting gives you unlimited everything from $7.95 (£5.70) a month. Fully managed VPS hosting starts from $13.75(£10.45) a month, and the list goes on. DreamHost has its issues, too – in our review, we weren't impressed by the non-standard hosting panel, and found support response times could be slow – but it's still a decent host in many areas, and an exceptional 97-day money-back guarantee shows just how confident the company is in its service. http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/n49gzkadKuf9qFoLihmLxn.jpg Green web hosts make all kinds of claims about their eco-friendliness, but it's not always easy to figure out what these mean. A provider might say it's using an energy-efficient cooling system, for instance, but how does that compare to the rest of the industry, and what could the savings be, if any? There's no way to tell. iPage sidesteps this problem by avoiding the usual vague chat, and instead presents a clear and definitive green policy in a single sentence: "For every KWH of energy that iPage uses, the company purchases Renewable Energy Certificates to offset that amount with wind energy by 200%!" Simple, straightforward, and it outperforms most claimed carbon-neutral providers by offsetting twice its energy usage (although GreenGeeks manages 300%). iPage's hosting products also have plenty of appeal. Prices are sometimes a fraction higher than the competition, but there some excellent introductory deals – three years feature-packed shared hosting for $1.99 (£1.50) a month, renewal at $8 (£6) – and a range that also includes managed WordPress, capable VPS plans and powerful dedicated servers. Well worth a browse for demanding users who are more interested in functionality than getting the lowest possible price. http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/7RVmUQFeLRK3T7yoDE9L95.jpg A2 Hosting is another provider that doesn't boast about its green credentials. There's not a word about the topic on its website's front page, and unless you're in the habit of browsing web host 'About' pages you might never know anything about A2’s green-friendly aspects. This is a little surprising, because in reality A2 Hosting has more to boast about than many providers. This starts with a Carbonfund.org energy offset scheme which has allowed the company to be effectively carbon-neutral since 2007. This isn't just about buying energy from wind farms: Carbonfund.org also works on reforestation and promoting energy efficiency in many other areas. A2 highlights some of its green hosting practices, too, covering everything from using coffee mugs instead of disposables, to allowing telecommuting for its staff as much as possible. Whatever you think of its environmental attitudes, A2 Hosting's plans have a lot of appeal. Starting prices are a little higher than some, but that's mostly because the company is focused on delivering power and functionality, rather than barebones products which only exist to create a low headline price. Even the most basic shared hosting account gets free site migration, for instance. Not to mention Let's Encrypt SSL, Cloudflare CDN integration, and regular virus scanning. Oh, and performance-boosting AnyCast DNS. You don't just get one-click installs for WordPress, PrestaShop and others: A2 gives you optimized performance settings, too. And there are data centers in the US, EU and Asia. Not bad at all for a starting price of $3.92 (£3) a month, rising to $7.99 (£6) on renewal. http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/4iBgHCoZKz8QuUL3oi2psC.jpg HostPapa was one of the first hosting companies to commit to going green, and we're not just talking vague claims about energy-efficient data centers: it's making real and significant promises. The company explains that it "purchases ‘green energy tags’ or certificates from a certified green energy supplier. That supplier calculates the total energy consumption of our operation and uses their suppliers of green energy to pump in 100% equivalent energy back into the power grid." Essentially, although HostPapa's operations aren't directly powered by green energy, it purchases the equivalent amount from green providers, a carbon offsetting system which balances out emissions overall. HostPapa's products include shared hosting, managed WordPress and a website builder. Prices are a little higher than the competition, but individual plans could appeal in other ways. Even simple shared plans offer unlimited bandwidth and disk space (although Starter plan has 100GB disk space), for instance. And although there's no dedicated hosting, the company has some monster VPS packages, with the high-end Extreme plan giving you 12 CPU cores, 24GB RAM, 1TB storage and 8TB bandwidth for $299 (£215) a month (first month is $249.99). 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/software-news/~4/NFXLrrti8Kc

Intel has just revealed its Q4 financial results, which featured positive returns, but were below expectations. More importantly, interim chief executive Bob Swan addressed the chip giant’s manufacturing woes and continued shortages of its lower-end processors that most consumers favor. Intel’s PC-centric business (Client Computing Group) was actually up 10% year-on-year in Q4, due to ‘continued strong demand’ for high-performance processors, with the commercial and gaming arenas doing well. But overall PC volumes fell by 2%, which the CEO said was due to Intel’s failure to produce enough chips. We heard a lot about Intel’s manufacturing struggles last year, with stock shortages on some 14nm processors pushing up prices, compounded by the fact that the incoming next-gen 10nm chips have been floundering and repeatedly delayed due to issues with getting acceptable yields for mass production. As PC World reports, Swan commented that the shortages had – and are still having – the biggest effect at the budget end of the processor market, because Intel is prioritizing Xeon chips for servers, a heavy demand area with plentiful profits to be made. The CEO further noted that ‘big core’ products such as Core i9 offerings were also a priority over mid-range processors, and the cheapest ‘value’ chips were last in the pecking order. In short, given Intel‘s focus on profit margins, something’s got to give manufacturing-wise, so affordable products are getting the short end of the silicon stick. Mid-year’s resolutionSwan said that Intel’s manufacturing problems that have caused this CPU shortage would be resolved by the end of the second quarter, and so the implication is, that throughout this initial part of 2019, at least, lower-end processors are still going to be thin on the ground from Intel. Therefore the time is potentially ripe for AMD to carve out more market share in that particular arena, which by all accounts, it has already been doing with some really compelling value products on the CPU front. Swan also repeated the assertion that 10nm was still on target to be all-systems-go before the year is out, with these processors still expected to ship at the end of 2019. As for Intel’s overall fourth quarter financial results, the company raked in $18.7 billion (£14.2 billion, AU$26.1 billion) in revenue, which was up 9% year-on-year, with $5.2 billion (£4 billion, AU$7.3 billion) in profit. However, that fell short of analyst expectations. One of the reasons Intel picked out for the weaker than predicted performance was a slowdown in sales from China. We’ve picked out the best laptops of 2019http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techradar/software-news/~4/yVdZko6AVww

Facebook is planning on integrating its three popular messaging services – Instagram, WhatsApp and Facebook Messenger – so that they work closer together. According to a report in the New York Times, Facebook’s chief executive, Mark Zuckerberg, has ordered developers to rebuild the three services “at their most basic levels.” The good news is that this doesn’t mean that the three services will get merged into one single messaging service, but instead their underlying messaging infrastructures will be unified, potentially allowing messages sent using one service to be read on another. The move will require all the apps to use end-to-end encryption, which is a security measure used in WhatsApp to ensure that people outside of conversations cannot read private messages. Don’t shoot the messengerWhile at first this news could be worrying – especially to people who have been wary about using Facebook but still want to use WhatsApp and Instagram after the social network took them over – it might not be all that bad. For a start, it doesn’t look like Facebook is planning to completely merge the services (for now at least). Spreading end-to-end encryption to the other messaging services is also a welcome move. Plus, it means that someone using Facebook Messenger could potentially send a message to a friend on WhatsApp without the friend having to have a Facebook account. Still, according to the New York Times, this move has prompted controversy within Facebook, with Instagram’s founders, Kevin Systrom and Mike Krieger quitting last year apparently because of Zuckerberg’s increased control over the service. WhatsApp’s founders, Jan Koum and Brian Acton also left Facebook, again apparently due to similar concerns. http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/VUTSHSaLu3XVuYgPunRGo4.jpg A change of planThe news that Facebook will be closely integrating the three services is certainly a change in how the company previously dealt with the separate platforms. Previously, Facebook was careful to keep the services independent from each other, with Zuckerberg assuring users of WhatsApp and Instagram that the services would remain autonomous. With scandals piling up for Facebook, that autonomy was increasingly important to many of the users. However, they could also be the reason for Zuckerberg wanting to combine the various services his company runs, while taking on more control over them. Whatever the reasons, the process is likely to take its time, with the New York Times suggesting that Facebook is in the early stages of the process, and that it will likely complete the integration by the end of this year, or by early 2020. Facebook has also confirmed to the BBC that this is just the start of a “long process”. In a statement, Facebook said that it aims to “build the best messaging experiences we can; and people want messaging to be fast, simple, reliable and private,” and that “we’re working on making more of our messaging products end-to-end encrypted and considering ways to make it easier to reach friends and family across networks.” So, for anyone who uses WhatsApp and Instagram but doesn’t like Facebook, we wouldn’t be too worried just yet. We've reached out to Facebook for a further comment. Just in case, here’s how to delete Facebookhttp://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techradar/software-news/~4/F1pgRvnX7kA

It was only a couple of weeks ago that Virgin Mobile came along and offered an unbelievable 120GB of data SIM only deal, making it the best big data SIMO provider out there in January. But now they've just come along and dangled a new unbeatable offer in front of us - a cheap SIM only deal you can get for less than £10 per month. For this deal, Virgin has doubled the data on its 2GB data contract meaning you now get 4GB of data for just £8. That makes it the cheapest price for that much data on any SIM only deal. But you will have to hurry, this is a 'flash sale' and Virgin will be pulling it on February 18. You can see this offer in full below, or if the idea of 4GB of data seems like a nightmare to you might still want to consider Virgin's 120GB of data contract. That's an absolutely massive amount of data and should be way more than enough for the large majority of data users. http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/VgyagGS9HpAEPUQtUJBfrg.jpg This cheap Virgin Mobile SIM only deal in full:Why go for a Virgin Mobile SIM only deal?Virgin Mobile proudly claims on its website that it has a faster average 4G speed than O2, Vodafone and Three and a 99% 4G coverage. On top of that the provider offers spending caps and data rollover perfect for stretching your data that little bit further. Or select from our list of best SIM only deals in the UK todayhttp://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techradar/software-news/~4/1koOnIxjR-c

I’m a turtle. My hands, which until a second ago were holding a pair of HTC Vive controllers, have been replaced by a pair of flippers, and instead of sitting on a swivel chair in a university classroom, I’m now submerged in a deep tropical sea. Getting my bearings I use my new-found flippers to push myself towards a pink jellyfish a few meters below me. As I reach it, it disappears – eaten. I paddle forward and devour a few more, then spot something drifting in the water to my left. I swim closer. It doesn’t look quite like my previous meals, but it’s pretty similar. I decide to give it a nibble – and my vision dims. The object I just tried wasn’t a tasty treat – it was a plastic carrier bag, and I’m turtle soup. It’s a striking demonstration of the effect of plastic waste on our oceans, and it was created by a student just three months into an MA in virtual reality at London College of Communication (LCC – part of University of the Arts London), which has invited TechRadar along for the day. The course is one of the first of its kind in Europe, and teaches VR modeling, environment design, 360-degree video capture, game development, and how to make 3D augmented reality apps. There are theory elements too, teaching students how to use VR for effective storytelling. “For students, I think it is the great opportunity to be at the forefront of a field that is only now being defined,” says course leader Ana-Despina Tudor. “They will be the ones shaping what VR will look like in the future, and it’s great to be able to shape your field like that. Not many students and academics can say that. Also, studying at LCC gives them the opportunity to access other resources from countless other courses that they can use to create their VR vision. So I’d say we are at the right place at the right time.” The right toolsLCC clearly believes virtual reality is here for the long-haul, and its facilities are impressive. In addition to a classroom full of high-powered PCs and tethered headsets for students, the college also has three movable ‘cells’ – steel gantries equipped with HTC Vive base stations for full-body motion tracking. I’m allowed to spend a little time doodling in Tilt Brush (which the students often use for storyboarding in three dimensions). The edge of the gantry appears as a wireframe, so I don’t accidentally stray outside while getting creative. The college chose Vive headsets due to comfort and ease of use, and for its ability to handle room scale. The system only requires two Lighthouse base stations (unlike Oculus Rift, which needs three cameras for 3D tracking). These are effectively ‘dumb’, sending out an infrared pulse that’s detected by sensors on the headset and controllers, and can be set up wirelessly, eliminating the need for complex wiring that would need to be changed each time the gantry was moved. http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/DsbEtAx69yQqpmFj8K3W8K.jpg LCC originally planned to kit out its classrooms with less expensive Oculus Rifts, but changes to commercial licensing meant it made sense to stick with HTC there as well. In addition to all this premium kit, students also have access to LCC’s professional-grade facilities for creating visual effects, including one room that houses a vast green infinity cove for chroma keying, and will soon have a render farm at their disposal. “For me it’s very exciting to be able to use VR every day in teaching and in research,” says Tudor. “Also, I think that our collaborations with external partners in this course are extremely valuable, because they help us get the pulse of the outside world: what do creatives need, how do they work with VR, what are their expectations from VR?” A bright futureSome critics are still adamant that the current generation of VR is a flash in the pan – perhaps like 3D televisions, which never really took off – but Tudor disagrees. “I don’t think that VR is going to disappear any time soon - there is an ecosystem around it that was missing in the late 90s when VR went into oblivion last time,” she says. “There are engines for content development, a lot of headset types – among which quite affordable ones, and computing power. So I think it will need to find its place in certain domains, but it's here to stay.” http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/TD2sYEyDZzRXVJ2Nbpza8K.jpg That certainly aligns with what we saw at CES 2019 recently. On the show floor, VR’s future looked brighter than ever. We got our first glimpse of a new 8K ultra-wide VR headset from Pixmax, virtual reality streaming for Facebook with Oculus Rift, Meanwhile, on the streets surrounding the show venue, Audi was demonstrating Holoride – a virtual reality experience for car passengers that incorporate the vehicle’s telemetrics, which has the handy side-effect of cutting motion sickness by matching up the signals from your inner ear with what you see. With all that in mind, how mainstream will VR become? “It depends a lot on the field where VR is being used,” said Tudor. “If we speak of education, VR has great potential to become a regular teaching and practice tool where complex concepts can be explained easily through amazing visualisations, and through which one can train specific skills, such as performing surgeries, for instance. “If you look at games, its popularity has increased and games platforms report growing number of VR users. For VR to become mainstream it has to draw people back to use it regularly, not just for a one-off experience.” http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/r4mr7rrngFkYmyMZv5QeuJ.jpg Tudor also has some advice to offer if you’re thinking of making your first foray into virtual reality yourself, but aren’t sure where to begin: “There are a lot of types of headsets that can be more or less comfortable and easy to use. The same goes for VR content, which varies greatly in terms of quality. “My advice is to keep trying headsets and keep seeing as much VR content as you can. I’ve seen some of the best VR experiences at film festivals and in art galleries, so that can be a good starting point, because the content is well-curated and the technology is well chosen.” For more tips, see our guide to the best VR headsets of 2019. Skills for lifeUltimately, choosing a degree program depends on a combination of factors, including innate interests and abilities, as well as future employability, but the skills taught in a VR course are certainly in demand right now. With that I mind, I ask Tudor where she sees VR in three years’ time – after the current cohort of students have entered the workforce. “I think the near future will bring improved content: improved stories, improved interactive experiences and hopefully apps where people can make their own VR content,” she says. “At the moment we are at the very beginning of a long journey.“ The best VR games on mobile, consoles and PChttp://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techradar/software-news/~4/yvT_D_s6NpY

Lately we’ve been hearing rumors of a Samsung Galaxy Sport – or Galaxy Watch Active as it might be called – but this might not be the company’s only upcoming fitness wearable, as we’ve now seen mention of a Samsung Galaxy Fit E. That name appeared in a Bluetooth certification listing spotted by The Android Soul. There’s no other useful information attached, beyond a description calling it a ‘Smart Wearable Device’, but from the name it sounds like this could be the successor to the Samsung Gear Fit 2 Pro. In other words, it could be the Samsung Gear Fit 3 in all but name. The Gear Fit 2 Pro landed over a year ago, so we’re due a new model, but there’s no news yet on exactly when it would land. http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/jFo6LzT4HVfLcxTfvhjzLj.jpg Credit: The Android Soul / Bluetooth SIG Probably coming soon...ishThe existence of a Bluetooth listing suggests the Galaxy Fit E could be coming soon, but we haven’t heard anything else about it yet, which we’d expect to have if the launch was imminent. Samsung is announcing the Galaxy S10 range on February 20 and the Galaxy Sport may well land then too. There’s a chance then that this is also where we’ll see the Gear Fit E, but with so little news on it that might be a bit early. Whenever it arrives, it’s likely to slot in below the Samsung Galaxy Sport in terms of both price and features, offering more of a fitness band experience than a full smartwatch. Best fitness tracker 2019: the top fitness bands on the planethttp://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techradar/software-news/~4/ScuZmHrQAvw

Best Netflix Shows: Welcome to TechRadar's guide to the best shows and TV series you can stream on Netflix in the United States. These days Netflix plays host to some of the best TV shows on the planet, bar none. From originals like The Good Place, Bojack Horseman, Dark, and Riverdale, to syndicated content like Archer, Black Mirror and Breaking Bad, if you need to unwind with a great TV show, there's only one place to go. That means, if you're anything like us, you spend a lot of time in front of the Netflix screen. That also means you run out of shows to watch. To help you keep that IV bag of great TV content dripping, we've scoured the video streaming service to create a guide to the best Netflix shows in the US right now. We keep this list constantly updated with the latest television shows that you should be watching, so check back soon for more highlights. The best VPN for Netflix 2019January / February update: Admittedly, January is all about movies on Netflix. The Indiana Jones Trilogy appeared on January 1, followed by Solo: A Star Wars Story on January 9, Ant-Man and the Wasp on January 29, and The Incredibles 2 on January 30. But if you're dead-set on watching some serialized content, check out Tidying Up with Marie Kondo (January 1) and season two of The Dragon Prince, out on February 22. So where should you start? Our list starts with the most recent releases - so start at the beginning with the latest options or dive straight in to the best of the best, the choice is yours. Why focus on Netflix? Why not hit up Hulu or tackle Vudu, Crackle or Vimeo? Well, those services are great but, in our opinion, Netflix has the most variety and probably the best shows of any of the other services. That being said, there’s never been a better time to binge watch, so get stuck into our gallery and let us know if your favorite show isn't on the list. Live in the UK, the UAE or Australia? We have guides for those, too! Best Shows on Netflix (Australia)Best Shows on Netflix (UAE)Best Shows on Netflix (UK)Check out our in-depth and completely updated Netflix reviewWant to test out the rival? Here's our Best Amazon Prime Video TV ShowsWant know the best movies on Netflix. Then this is your in-depth guideWant to know the worst movies on Netflix? The check out Not On My WatchCheck out our Amazon Prime vs Netflix video below: The long-awaited reboot of everyone's favorite teenage witch is finally here, just in time for Halloween - all 10 episodes of The Chilling Adventures of Sabrina are available to stream now on Netflix. From the looks of it, the new series is pretty dark as Sabrina navigates the mortal world and her supernatural heritage. Seasons on Netflix: 1 When it comes to superhero movies, Marvel are bossing DC thanks to the rich tapestry it has weaved with its cinematic universe. Its TV shows, which now include Daredevil, Iron Fist, Jessica Jones and Luke Cage, just keep getting better. Daredevil is superb television, regardless if you are a superhero fan or not. Matt Murdoch's (Boardwalk Empire's Charlie Cox) rise from blind lawyer to vigilante is brutal and steeped in realism. The reason it works so well is that it doesn't shy away from being violent - each crack and crunch is a world away from Ben Affleck's terrible movie version. And special mention has to go to Vincent D'Onofrio as Wilson Fisk, his best role since the tortured Private Pyle. {Update: Daredevil Season 3 is here! The new series sees Matt Murdoch battle between embracing his vigilante identity and hiding away from the world.} Seasons on Netflix: 3 Dancing Queen is a reality TV show meets documentary, which follows former RuPaul's Drag Race contestant Justin Johnson (AKA Alyssa Edwards) in his day job as the owner and director of children's dance company Beyond Belief. Fans of Dance Moms, Drag Race, and Queer Eye will love this heartwarming series - but be warned - with only eight episodes on Netflix, it's dangerously binge-able. Seasons on Netflix: 1 Created by Nick Kroll, Andrew Goldberg, Mark Levin, and Jennifer Flackett, Big Mouth is a fictionalization of Kroll and Goldberg's teenage years in Westchester County, New York. The series is all about puberty, with Nick's raging hormones personified by Maurice the Hormone Monster, who wreaks havoc on his anxiety-ridden teenage life. Season 2 has just hit Netflix, and it's still as graphic as ever in its frank portrayal of the ups and downs of being a teenager and dealing with a changing body (don't watch this one with your parents). Seasons on Netflix: 2 Critically acclaimed comedy The Good Place is back for a new season, continuing to follow the afterlife of a recently deceased woman who is sent to heaven by mistake. The last season ended on something of a cliff hanger, so fans will be pleased to know that there will be a new episode every week. A great cast, clever writing and an original concept make this a must-watch. Seasons on Netflix: 3 Starring Emma Stone and Jonah Hill, Maniac is a dark comedy miniseries, which follows two strangers as they embark on a pharmaceutical trial for a drug that claims to solve the users problems, permanently. In the first day of its release, the show has been met with widely positive reviews, and the entire first season is available to stream on Netflix. Seasons on Netflix: 1 Bojack Horseman is back for a brand new season, following glowing reviews for the previous four. Following the life of washed up actor Bojack as he struggles with alcoholism, toxic relationships, and family issues, the series is just as heartwarming as it can be heartbreaking. For those who are worried it may be too dark for them, fear not - there's loads of slapstick humor, word play, and stunning animation to keep everything balanced. Seasons on Netflix: 5 Coming of age show Atypical is back for a new season, with Keir Gilchrist reprising his role as Sam Gardner, an 18-year-old with autism. Season two follows Sam as he starts thinking about colleges, and his family as they struggle to come to terms with a betrayal. Sam may be the show's protagonist, but it's his little sister Casey who steals the limelight in the new season, as she tries to balance school, her running career, friendship, and love. Everyone's talking about Kath and Kim, and for good reason too. The beloved Australian sitcom is now on Netflix, and its irreverent humor, gaudy costumes, and memorable catchphrases has captured the hearts of a new generation. If you ever saw the ill-informed US remake starring Selma Blair and Molly Shannon, don't be put off - the original is an absolute comedy masterpiece that sits head and shoulders above the remake. Seasons on Netflix: 6 Even if you left education a long time ago, it's difficult to shake that feeling of 'back to school' at the beginning of September - with that in mind, why not try out a few high school themed shows on Netflix? A good place to start is American Vandal, a mockumentary that examines the aftermath of a school prank that sees teachers' cars vandalized. The light-hearted ribbing of serious true crime documentaries like Making A Murderer and The Staircase has received great reviews, and the second season is set to arrive on Netflix on September 14. Seasons on Netflix: 2 Before the new season drops on October 10, you can still catch up with the first two seasons of Riverdale, the teen drama based on the infamous Archie comic book series. If you were a fan of Archie comics as a kid, this interpretation of the beloved characters is far darker and more mysterious than you'll remember, revolving around the murder of a local boy while the characters attempt to navigate high school, relationships, and family. Seasons on Netflix: 2 Orange Is The New Black is back for its sixth season and is a show that consistently one of the best to watch, with its superb tale of life in a women's prison. It's so popular that its makers have announced that the show will be running until at least season seven. That being said, the show is dark. Tensions and issues with the US prison system brought to the forefront and while the comedy from the first few seasons is still there, it's slathered with a fair bit of drama. Seasons on Netflix: 6 ESPN might've had the world of sports documentaries well in hand with its 30 for 30 series. But that was before Netflix got the crazy idea to make one of its own. Inspired by an article in GQ magazine, Last Chance U follows student athletes who are one step away from never playing football again. On top of the pressures on the field, students face problems in the classroom where class absences and the fear failing hit harder than a defensive lineman. It's gritty, heart-wrenching and exactly the kind of series that gives you something to root for all while biting your nails. Just in time for football season, the third season of the show – which follows a new team in Independence, Kansas – is now available. Seasons on Netflix: 3 Before we continue on with recommendation, Shameless comes with a warning: this show, a dramedy about a poor family in Chicago, really is shameless. Frank, played by William H. Macy will scheme his way to his next drink ... even if that means taking his own kids' lunch money. If you have ethical problems watching less-than-admirable people doing whatever it takes to make ends meet, Shameless isn't for you. All that said, those that don't mind a bit more ... unscrupulous cast of characters will seriously enjoy Shameless's grittier, sex- and money-driven take on the Modern Family comedy. Seasons on Netflix: 8 13 Reasons Why tackles tough subject matter in a way that's both heartfelt and shocking in equal measure. The show is a high school drama that revolves around a student, Clay Jensen, and his friend Hannah Baker. Hannah commits suicide, and the first season covered the 13 reasons why that happened. As you'd expect, a lot of the topics and themes in 13 Reasons Why might be distressing for some viewers. So really bear that in mind if you're planning on watching it soon - and consider who you're planning on watching it with, too. That said, if you can stomach the source material, 13 Reasons Why offers a well-wrought candid look at the societal pressures put on teens in the technological age. Seasons on Netflix: 2 Netflix has had a rocky road with sci-fi adaptations - the Wachowski's Sense8 had grand ambitions but didn't quite hit the sweet spot for everyone. Altered Carbon is hoping to change that, with its unique blend of dystopian science fiction. Based on the book of the same name by Richard Morgan, the show has sparks of brilliance ( Joel Kinnaman is great) but is also occasionally ridiculous in its outset (James Purefoy hams it up throughout). It strives to be more than it actually is but we admire what it's trying to do. Oh, and it looks fantastic in 4K. Seasons on Netflix: 1 If you feel like you've been getting too good of sleep recently, American Horror Story is all-too-happy to fix that for you. You'll find seven seasons of the show on Netflix, each of which centers around a different plot line and unique set of fears. Not sure if clowns are all that scary? Watch American Horror Story. Think porous materials are harmless? Again, watch American Horror Story. Anything you love can and will be used to scare you silly. [update: American Horror Story: Apocalypse, the eight season in the anthology series is out now on FX. We're not sure when it will be available to stream on Netflix, but we will update this article as soon as it lands.] Seasons on Netflix: 7 Given that Archer is set at the International Secret Intelligence Service (unfortunately abbreviated as ISIS), recent terror atrocities have meant the animation has been getting headlines for the wrong reasons. But don't let this unlucky nomenclature put you off. Archer is a brilliant send-up of spy movies of yore, complete with some of the best voiceover talent - many of which have been pruned from the cast of Arrested Development. Now in its ninth season, Archer is still one of the best cartoon comedies around. Seasons on Netflix: 9 If it wasn't for Netflix, Arrested Development would have stayed as a three-season wonder. The streaming giant decided to take a gamble and fund a fourth season of Mitchell Hurwitz's brilliant family comedy and we are glad it did. While splitting the family up for most of the season meant some of the spark had disappeared - this was done to fit in with the actors' busy schedules - the fourth season proved that there was still a lot to like about the dysfunctional Bluth family. Filled with season-long in-jokes, perfect site gags and spot-on wordplay, Arrested Development is a comedy that needs to be watched on repeat - and even then you will find something new to laugh at. Seasons on Netflix: 5 Freddie Highmore was one of the sweetest child actors around in his younger years, playing cherubic children in the likes of Finding Neverland and the Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. Now he's a fully fledged adult he's taken a much darker turn as future Psycho psycho Norman Bates in the show Bate Motel. A prequel of sorts to the Psycho movies, Bates Motel is a fantastic spin on the horror tale, ramping up the relationship Bates has with his mother - a cold and calculating Vera Farmiga - and sprinkling breadcrumbs along the way that point to how he became who he became. Seasons on Netflix: 5 Better Call Saul is better than Breaking Bad. That’s a sentence we never thought we would write, but it’s now three seasons and it is flawless TV. It doesn’t have the menace or fear that propelled Walter White in Breaking Bad, instead it takes its time to paint a picture of Saul Goodman, someone that was in Bad mainly for comic relief. In his own show, though, creators Vince Gilligan and Peter Gould have created a well-rounded, means well character whose descent into criminality is a slow burn. Although some characters have started to appear from Breaking Bad, the show doesn’t beg for the appearance of Walter White or Jesse - it’s now it’s own thing entirely. Seasons on Netflix: 4 Season 4 of Black Mirror is out now and is the darkest, most varied season of the show yet. Comprising six episodes of varying (almost feature) length, Charlie Brooker has concocted another dose of dystopian satire that riffs off everything from Star Trek to, well, schlock-horror The Driller Killer. Before Black Mirror, Charlie Brooker was best known for his snarky looky at the news in Weekly Wipe and his fantastic, caustic look at meeja types in London’s Shoreditch. Now the show has given him superstar status. For good reason, it’s fantastic TV with each episode taking on a different dystopia topic, mostly framed around technology going very long. The third season was commissioned by Netflix and is in 4K, with most of the episodes being feature length. Seasons on Netflix: 4 More addictive than the meth pushed by Walt and Jessie, Breaking Bad is brilliant binge-watching television. The initial plot is simple: a straight-laced teacher is told he has cancer and to make sure he leaves his family with the best possible life, he turns to drug making and dealing. There's method to his madness as he ends up being pretty good at it. Creator Vince Gilligan has created such a good group of characters, he is currently mining the same world again with Better Call Saul. But that has some way to go reach the highest highs that Breaking Bad offers. Seasons on Netflix: 5 The words 'food porn' get thrown around a lot these days, and typically are preceded by a hashtag and proceeded by us viciously rolling our eyes. But Chef's Table is the real deal – 4K footage of some of the best chefs in the world making their signature dishes and doling out morsels of philosophy to keep your mind just as engaged as your stomach. Parts of the show come off as a bit too heady for the source material and are prone to veering a bit off course (there's multiple scenes where a particular chef talks about polygamy for some odd reason) but overall most of the chefs come off as genuinely eccentric masters of their craft. Seasons on Netflix: 4 Wish your fairy tales were a bit ... darker? Dark is a German-language supernatural thriller in which the disappearance of two children in a small town brings the fractured relationships and dark pasts of the people living there to the surface. Adding a touch of Scandinavian crime thriller to American drama, Dark is an example of foreign-made TV from Netflix that translates into every territory. Seasons on Netflix: 1 If you like your cultural analysis with a dose of humor, Dear White People is the show for you. Starring Logan Browning at the conflicted Sam White, Dear White People navigates the tricky grounds of race relations in America in the post-Obama-but-yet-not-post-racism era. The first few episodes back away from hitting on anything too heavy but come episodes five and six, you get a biting sense of why this show is so needed at this point in our history. Funny, clever and dripping in wit, Dear White People isn't so much an attack on American ideals as it is a series about exploring, explaining, defending and deliberating the issues facing people of color in the US. Seasons on Netflix: 2 Created by Netflix and Vox Media, this handy and smart series takes a look at some of the most popular ideas and tech around today and explains them in a way that's poignant in its presentation without feeling overwhelming to take in. From the racial wealth gap, cryptocurrency amd why diets rarely work through to K-Pop and the stock market, it's an insightful look at the problems, ideas and trends around today and the stuff that could shape tomorrow. At the very least, it gives you enough knowledge to have a really good debate down at the pub. Seasons on Netflix: 1 Co-created by and starring the ever-brilliant Brit Marling, The OA consists of eight episodes that rival Stranger Things for, well, strangeness. Marling is a blind woman who comes back after disappearing for many years. Her sight is restored and she has a tale to tell. Although there are eight episodes they vary wildly in length - from 70 minutes to 30 minutes. The whole thing has been made to make you feel uneasy and it does a great job of that. Seasons on Netflix: 1 The long-awaited second season of the female wrestling comedy GLOW is finally here. The Gorgeous Ladies Of Wrestling have returned and this time they’ve been commissioned for a full series of their trashy, hot-pink, hairspray-fuelled wrestling show led by their coked-up director (played by Marc Maron). Early reviews suggest the second season could potentially even outshine the first for its refreshing female-fronted cast and writers and its brilliant balance between empowerment and exploitation. It’s a must-watch. Seasons on Netflix: 2 Based on the life of comedian Bill Burr, F is for Family is a funny and endearing cartoon set in 1970's American suburbia, and centers around Burr's father Frank Murphy. A little like an even more adult version of The Simpsons, the series is all about 70's nostalgia, with musical, costume, and cultural throwbacks interspersed with Frank's profane rants at his misbehaving children and long suffering wife Sue. Full to the brim with laugh-out-loud moments, the series is just as heartwarming as it is hilarious. Seasons on Netflix: 2 Calling The IT Crowd the British version of The Big Bang Theory is an insult to one of the greatest 'nerd' comedies of all-time. Even though the show ran for a scant four seasons, it remains one of the best parodies of modern geekdom. If you need a break from all the murder mysteries and crime fighting shows on the streaming service, the IT Crowd is a harmless, hilarious take on life in the world of IT and thoroughly deserves its cult status. Seasons available on Netflix: 4 And there was us thinking that Daredevil's subject matter was dark. Jessica Jones is another tale set in Hell's Kitchen that may be under the Marvel banned but is about as far removed from the bromance of Thor and Iron Man that you are likely to see. Breaking Bad's Krysten Ritter is superb as the titular Jones, a private detective with superpowers and super issues. This is nocturnal noir that moves in the same circles as Daredevil - figuratively and literally as both characters will eventually team up in the Defenders. It may not have the bone-crunching violence that Daredevil is famed for, but there's enough booze, sex and black humor on the screen to make this a cracking comic-book caper that's strictly adults only. The second season arrived in March 2018, adding 13 new episodes to this great show. Don't miss our full Jessica Jones review! Seasons on Netflix: 2 This awkward rom-com has been penned by Judd Apatow and it's yet again another hit for Netflix Originals. It's a similar bedfellow to Master of None, but it improves on the themes of dating, love and city life with characters that are more rounded and a touch more believable as they fail, give up and start over again in rapid succession. Community's Gillian Jacobs is great as the prim Mickey, while Paul Rust is effortless as slacker Gus. The show stealer, though, is Apatow's uber talented daughter Iris who plays a frankly horrible child star. The 'will they, won't they?' shenanigans continue in the second season - those expecting a plot-heavy season will be disappointed, though, as Love meanders through its storylines - which is no bad thing (and more realistic) if you ask us. Love's third and final season, the third, is also ready to watch. You can finally lay this rocky relationship to rest. Phew. Seasons on Netflix: 3 Luke Cage is back for a second season and this time he's brought some of the other TV superheroes along for the ride. This season sees Cage teaming up with the Iron First for what is an other assured stab at the Luke Cage mythos. After making his debut in the first series of Jessica Jones, Luke Cage is now firmly rooted in Hell's Kitchen and over two seasons (and two shows), the character has matured into something of a powerhouse. The second season still suffers from the same slump the first did, but after the mediocre The Defenders and the plain bad Iron Fist, this is a breath of fresh air. Seasons on Netflix: 2 Mad Men is more addictive than the cigarettes Don Draper is trying to market us. If you've never watched it, essentially Mad Men is a show about everything we now consider taboo in glaringly harsh light. Set in 1960s America, inter-office intercourse is par for the course, along with ashtrays overflowing with cigarettes, sexism at the highest levels and a complete disregard for morals so long as it serves the characters on their climb to the top of the corporate ladder. Don Draper (Jon Hamm) and his assistant Peggy Olson (Elisabeth Moss) shock and entertain us by showing the lifestyles of the advertising executives who got the public to buy cigarettes long after they knew the health risks. Seasons on Netflix: 7 True crime stories are so hot right now, evidenced by the immense popularity of the podcast Serial and HBO's The Jinx. Netflix's original series Making a Murderer however, is probably the hottest of them all, documenting and recounting the trials of Steven Avery and Brendan Dassey, two working-class Americans accused of the murder of 23-year-old photographer Teresa Halbach. Over its 10 episodes, the show exposes the failings of the Wisconsin justice system in blood-boiling detail. Having spent 18 years in prison for a crime he did not commit, Steven Avery is exonerated based on new DNA evidence. However, shortly after his release, he becomes the prime suspect in Halbach's murder, and Avery is put through the ringer once again by law enforcement figures that seem to have it out for him. What follows is an anger-inducing sequence of events that involve forced confessions, unconvincing (and possibly planted) evidence, dodgy lawyers and a complete presumption of guilt from almost everyone involved. Compelling, infuriating and tragic, we guarantee you won't be able to stop watching Making a Murderer once you've started. Seasons on Netflix: 1 Master of None takes Ansari out of Amy Poehler's shadow and brings him into his own, showing audiences a side of the comedian that anyone in their mid-20s or early 30s can relate to. Like Louie, Master of None covers the oddities of everyday life, incorporating all the heartfelt moments and awkward situations that come with the territory. If you haven't watched it, now's a good time – the second season just arrived. Seasons on Netflix: 2 David Fincher is no stranger to Netflix, he's heavily involved in House of Cards as producer and directed the first episode, but Mindhunter is Fincher going ... well, full Fincher. It's based on John Douglas' book of the same name and charts the life of an FBI profiler whose job it is to track serial killers. It's set in the '70s and all 10 episodes of the show ooze appeal. It's a sinister mashup of Silence of the Lambs and Mad Men and stars the superb Anna Torv - of Fringe fame. Fincher directs four episodes and the whole thing has been written by Joe Penhall who wrote the screenplay for The Road. Seasons on Netflix: 1 My Next Guest Needs No Introduction has a simple but fantastic premise: What if, instead of having David Letterman host a late night talk show, he sits down with some of the most prominent people in entertainment and politics and just talks to them, person-to-person. There's no big band to play him off, no goofy segments to fill time, and no commercial breaks. It's just Letterman and his guests for 50 minutes at a time. The inaugural episode stars former US President Barrack Obama, which in and of itself makes it worth watching. Seasons on Netflix: 0.1 (There's only one episode out right now) Narcos is that wonderful thing: a TV show that doesn't scrimp on controversy. Based on the exploits of Columbian drug lord Pablo Escobar, the show examines the criminal's rise to the top of one of the biggest drug rings the world has seen, while constantly trying to avoid the clutches of the DEA. Uncompromising, uncomfortable but completely unforgettable, Narcos is exactly the sort of thing that Netflix should be commissioning. It's also the sort of thing that HBO would have snapped up just a few years ago - which is very telling as to where television is today. The third season of Narcos is out now! Seasons on Netflix: 3 Based on the manga of the same name by Hajime Isayama, Attack on Titan is an action -packed anime that's set in a world where humans live in cities protected by enormous walls to protect them from gigantic humanoid monsters called Titans who devour them at any opportunity. When a Titan breaks through the wall of protagonist Eren Yeager's hometown, he vows to get revenge by joining a group of soldiers who battle them. Although the show has a dedicated fan following, the second and third seasons are yet to be released on Netflix. Seasons on Netflix: 1 Zooey Deschanel is adorkable - a word that we hate to use but describes her character of Jess perfectly. The plot lines are thin here but the comedy is sheer gold as Jess lives with a gaggle of guys who just can't seem to get their lives together. Now going into its last season, Jess has a man-crush and while we don't want to ruin the surprise here, the long journey from single life to nearly married is one well worth taking. Seasons on Netflix: 6 We always knew Amy Poehler was funny. Sketch after sketch on Saturday Night Live proved she had the comedic timing of a professional stand-up mixed with the creative capacity of an executive producer. Each episode of Parks and Rec is a chance to see Poehler do what she does best, with an excellent supporting cast of Nick Offerman, Chris Pratt, Aubrey Plaza and Rashida Jones behind her every step of the way. While we were sad to see the show come to a heart-wrenching conclusion this year, the finale in February was the perfect excuse to go back and binge-watch the entire series from start to finish. Seasons on Netflix: 7 Need a dose of feel-good TV to help cope with today's rocky political landscape? Check out Queer Eye, a show about being the best you with help from five of the coolest dudes on the planet. The show just entered its second season and we're still loving the premise of taking people stuck in a rut and hoisting them to the self-respecting, self-loving person we all want to be. Seasons on Netflix: 2 Santa Clarita Diet is sort of like if the show Dexter met Modern Family. It stars Drew Barrymore as the stereotypical TV mom, with one simple, but quite interesting difference: she likes eating people. This brand-new show on Netflix is a great send up of the family sitcom, taking all the tropes that make Modern Family and the like so successful, then turning them on their head, and then eating their head. And be warned: when things are eaten it's all very grizzly – so much so that it could give The Walking Dead a run for its money. That said, it's probably best to put the kids to bed first. The second season of Santa Clarita Diet came to Netflix in March 2018, and proves this high-concept show isn't a one-season blow-out. Seasons on Netflix: 2 It shouldn't work but it really really does. This modern retelling of the Sherlock Holmes stories is as good as it gets. Benedict Cumberbatch is everything you want in a Holmes - someone that wallows in wit, weirdness and warmth. While Martin Freeman plays Dr Watson as he plays all his characters - he's the everyman that has to learn how to deal with his extraordinary colleague. Episodes are scarce but each one is feature length, which gives them time to breath. Let's just hope these two superstars can find time in their busy schedules to keep doing the show. Seasons on Netflix: 4 When it comes to TV and movies, the '80s is the nostalgia decade of the moment. Whether it's Jeff Nichols' Midnight Special that plays like a Steven Spielberg film, if Spielberg still made films like he did in the Eighties, or The Goldbergs and Red Oaks mining the decade for laughs, filmmakers can't get enough of the shell suits and Sony Walkmans. Stranger Things is another brilliant homage to this era. Leaning heavily on Spielberg, John Carpenter and Stephen King the story revolves around a small town, a group of friends, a missing person and a dodgy science lab. Writing anything else would give away the myriad twists in a show that is full of brilliant creepy fun. The second season of Stranger Things will be available to stream on Oct. 27. Seasons on Netflix: 1 Is The Crown Netflix's crowning glory? Not quite, but it is a sumptuous look at one of the world's most famous families: the Royal family. Charting the early years of the relationship between the Queen (Claire Foy) and Prince Philip (former Doctor Who Matt Smith), the show was written by Peter Morgan and, at £100 million, is one of the most expensive TV series ever made. Which means there's enough pomp and ceremony to keep those pining for a Downton Abbey replacement happy. The second season continues to chart the queen's life, tracing major events from 1957 to 1963. We're ready for season 3, in which Olivia Colman takes over the lead role. Seasons on Netflix: 2 If The Great British Bake Off or Zumbo's Just Desserts makes you feel inadequate, you should try Nailed It!, the baking show for people who suck at baking. The series sees three contestants per episode take on two impossible baking challenges, with the "winner" receiving $10,000. (Winner is a term we use loosely, of course.) Hosted by the infectiously upbeat Nicole Byer and suave French pastry chef Jaques Torres, this show is guaranteed to make you smile. [update: The Christmas edition, Nailed It: Holiday is out now...perfect watching for a cosy night in.] Seasons on Netflix: 2 Adapted from the comic book of the same name (mins the ***), The End Of The F***ing World is f***ing brilliant. It tells the tale of two teenagers on a journey; both are loners on the run but one of them just happens to be a bit of a psychopath. It's funny, but brutal TV. It's British and co-funded by Channel 4 and there's a fantastic edge to everything in it - and it's perfectly bite-sized, too at just under 20 minutes an episode. It's so good, it's destined to get a second season. The first ends so perfectly, though, it's actually a real shame that this will happen. Seasons on Netflix: 1 (and it needs to stay that way) http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techradar/software-news/~4/rH2gfSdlD8w

Smart TVs are so common now that using the word 'smart' almost seems unnecessary. It's rare you'll find a new TV that doesn't come with some form of smart capability - whether that's LG's WebOS, Samsung's Tizen or Google's Android TV that's used on Sony and Hisense TVs. And while the majority of these smart TV platforms function similarly by giving you access to apps, streaming services and basic smart home functionality, they each have their pros and cons - and for that reason we've put together a guide to the best smart TV platforms you'll find on new sets in 2019 and beyond. We've come a long way from the early days of TV smart capability, marked by awful performance, non-existent software updates, and a general lack of manufacturer support. We want to explore what makes new platforms so great and provide you some insight as to which screens have the best performance. Smart TV: The State of the UnionSo just where do we stand on Smart TVs? Do you know your Roku TV from your SmartCast? Your Tizen from webOS? If not, this section is for you. In 2018, there are five main smart operating systems: Android TV, webOS, Tizen, Roku TV and SmartCast that are used by Sony, LG, Samsung, TCL and Vizio, respectively. In the UK, you'll find that Philips also uses Android while Panasonic uses its own proprietary system called MyHomeScreen. The vast majority of TVs use the operating systems listed above - but not all TVs. At lower price points, you probably won't find any of the above as most TV manufacturers offer a narrow proprietary service instead. These will vary between manufacturers, however, by and large, they're not as good as the ones listed above for the sheer reason that they aren't updated as frequently. When in doubt, try to buy one a TV with one of the above. That said, if you're completely undecided on which smart TV to buy, it's worth considering the value of each of these smart systems - which we'll list below. (Scale: Awful, Bad, OK, Good, Better, Best) http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/av9Amf3i5PHaaGEUjXhWVG.jpg Android TV (found on 2019 Sony 4K and OLED TVs) Setup: OK | Ease of use: Good | Speed: OK | Number of apps: Better | Universal search: Better Pros: Recommended content row. Clean layout. Cons: Most builds are very buggy and prone to crashing. Android TV is the nearest the smart TV universe has to a standardized operating system, but there are still variations between brand executions. Sony has the most comprehensive Google solution. For UK viewers, it has rather cleverly layered a YouView program guide platform on top, deftly addressing one of Android TV’s big weaknesses – catch-up TV provision. This YouView app ensures that all the main catch-up services are provided, and accessible via a roll-back 7-day EPG. Other supporters of Android TV are Philips (via maker TP Vision) and in the US, Sharp and Hisense. It’s also available on the Nvidia Shield streaming device. While other TV platforms make a virtue of their minimalism, Android stacks the screen with various layers of content: There’s also a row of specific Sony selected content, followed by apps for Netflix, Amazon Video, links to the Google Play Store, Google Play Music, Google Play Movies and TV, YouTube and so on. Owners of Android phones/tablets can use their device to control Android TVs via Sony’s TV SideView app, and Google Assistant continues to get more and more useful with its own Android TV integration. Android TV devices also have Chromecast built-in, which simplifies streaming from mobile Android devices (iOS users can download the AirBuddy app to Google Cast). Controllers from Logitech and Razer also promise gaming without needing a console. There is a caveat though. In our experience, Android is the least stable of the various smart platforms, with Sony TVs exhibiting more than their fair share of failures – it’s not unusual to be notified that various aspects of the Android platform have stopped working, and some of these messages are completely inscrutable (usually the best option is to simply restart the TV). To be fair to Google, this is becoming less of an issue as successive Android TV updates roll out – the latest incarnation is particularly slick on the Nvidia Shield, for example – but there's still room for improvement. http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/460175a2c62f3badd78b981d4d5d6a5c.jpg WebOS (found on 2019 LG OLED, Nano Cell and some UHD TVs) Setup: OK | Ease of use: Good | Speed: Better | Number of apps: Bad | Universal search: OK Pros: Alexa and Google Assistant integration. Fast to navigate. Cons: The least robust in terms of apps of all the smart TV platforms. LG rewrote the rulebook for smart TV platforms with its webOS, starting the trend for minimal, simplified user interfaces back in 2014. Since then it's been gradually refining its offering, leading us to the all-new WebOS 4.5 that's going to make its debut in 2019. The UI, which is still built around a Launch Bar for apps, inputs and features, remains tidy and customizable this year, plus you can change the running order to best suit how you use the set. If you like to Miracast images from your smartphone, grab the Screen Share app with LG's cursor-based Magic Remote and move up further up the pecking order. App support is excellent. Netflix streams 4K with both HDR and Dolby Vision, as well as Dolby Atmos audio when available. There's also Amazon with UHD HDR and YouTube in 4K. Other options include Now TV, Sky Store, Wuaki.TV, plus all the main channel catch-up services. As we’ve seen on earlier webOS builds, these streaming apps remain open and live, even when you navigate away from them. This means you can pause Star Trek Discovery, browse the TV listings for The Walking Dead, and then return to the action. Other cool features recently added to the platform include 360-degree video playback (from 360-degree videos on YouTube), support for both Google Assistant and Alexa, and an OLED still image gallery. LG screens also have Freeview Play in the UK, which means a full larder of catch-up television. For US viewers, there's Netflix, Amazon, YouTube and Google Play TV and Movies, as well as Hulu, VUDU, MLB.TV, and FandangoNow. http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/QnLiNpcUgai3VUXPpwURWj.jpg Tizen (found on Samsung 2019 QLED and NU-Series TVs) Setup: Good | Ease of use: Good | Speed: Better | Number of apps: Bad | Universal search: Bad Pros: TV Plus offers free channels. Fast to navigate. Cons: Universal search can be hit or miss. Samsung is another brand keen to keep things simple - its Tizen OS clearly owes much to LG's webOS interface, in so much as it consists of icons, apps and shortcuts all accessible via icons held a horizontal strip across the bottom of the screen. A dynamically changing ‘Recent’ box in the far-left corner cycles between recently used apps and TV channels. But it’s not overly intelligent as it stands right now, but that could change in the future when Samsung integrates its TV AI into Tizen. For now, we like the fact that on-screen icons can be changed: a sense of identity is welcome when it comes to some AV inputs and key apps you use everyday. The OS cuts down on clutter, although this sometimes works against navigation – there are plenty of occasions when it's necessary to go hunting for a specific app. Thankfully that's made easier by a Smart Hub multimedia page that divvies up content from apps and from your own USB sticks/home network. On some of the higher-end TVs, you'll also get Bixby built-in as well as Samsung SmartThings that allows your TV to act as the center of your connected home. http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/Fh8rAJ2pzWt4eWvukBUJ6U.jpg Roku TV (found on 2019 TCL and Hisense TVs) Setup: OK | Ease of use: Better | Speed: Better | Number of apps: Good | Universal search: Best Pros: Best universal search. Very easy to use. Cons: Interface feels a bit plain in 2019.Despite Android TV and all the proprietary portals available, there's still room for other connected smart offerings. In Europe, Vestel has its own stripped back smart platform, which is used for TV companies it manufactures for, including Toshiba and JVC. It’s unfancy but does the basics. In the US, TV maker Element now offers a screen with Amazon’s Fire TV OS built in. But perhaps the most interesting second-division smart OS is Roku TV. Announced back in 2014 for TCL TVs, Roku TV has found support with low-cost US TV suppliers. Today, you can find Roku TV on quite a few Haier, Hisense, Insignia, Sharp and TCL TV models. As a platform, Roku TV borrows the interface and feature set from the company's popular media streamers, like the Roku Streaming Stick. What that means is that you'll find a universal search function able to scan over 30 different apps like Netflix, Google Play TV and Movies, Amazon, VUDU and more to find you the lowest price on the TV show or movie you want to watch, as well as around 4,500 channels of content to watch. Add to that some neat features like a dedicated app that helps you keep track of upcoming movies and TV shows via the My Feed section, and a private listening mode (via headphones that plug into the remote) when you want to watch TV without disturbing the whole house. http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/NZKZcGvV4ozsP6jWLMLdrH.jpg SmartCast (found on 2019 Vizio TVs) Setup: OK | Ease of use: OK | Speed: Bad | Number of apps: Good | Universal search: OK Pros: Has Google Chromecast built-in. Cons: Slower than most other TV operating systems.SmartCast, on paper, is a great idea. It's all the fun extras of the Android TV platform - including the ability to Cast content to your screen - with a more logical layout. When you turn on a SmartCast TV be prepared to see three rows - one featured row that has huge marquee images to point you to specific shows or movies; one row for recommended content and one row for all your apps. If you want to drill down into specific content categories or settings, you can move to one of the other tabs (there's a tab for movies, TV shows, Support and Extras) or go to the top right of the screen to perform a search. Unfortunately, while SmartCast provides a lot of versatility in what you can stream, it's also one of the slower smart platforms and can misbehave on occasion. http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/utacBeFqjyUpWyWiRhK7VM.jpg MyHomeScreen (found on 2019 Panasonic TVs) Setup: OK | Ease of use: Good | Speed: Better | Number of apps: OK | Universal search: OK Pros: Fast and responsive. Cons: A bit plain.If you live in the UK, Panasonic's My Home Screen 2.0 is one of the most customizable smart TV platforms around. Built on the open-source code of Mozilla’s Firefox TV OS, Panasonic's My Home Screen 2.0 smart TV interface combines an intuitive minimalism with extensive customization options. The platform looks simple but has some inspired functionality: the home screen launches with three buttons (Live TV, Apps and Devices), but you can pin more as required, perhaps for a favorite streaming service, or a specific input. There are now also folders for multiple users, while a My App button on the remote can be customised for faster access to favourite content. A revamped Media Player supports 4K HDR10 and HLG HDR, meanwhile. App provision is good. Netflix streams in 4K with HDR, and Amazon Video and YouTube also offer 4K support. Catch-up TV service support is integrated through the provision of Freeview Play. This includes iPlayer, ITVHub, Demand 5 and All4, and usability is great across the board. The OS is extremely convenient to live with, yet powerful enough to cater for a variety of different users, be they family members who just want their favorite channels pinned to the home screen, or TV enthusiasts keen to dive quickly between multiple sources. http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/eaV3kfiKqe8HZw8guGnRxS.jpg What's the best smart TV?http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/oQWGxWxRtx3xM6rFGaKbQ6.jpg At the heart of the OLED65E8’s smart features lies webOS: LG’s groundbreaking, oft-copied but never bettered interface. This still does a brilliant job of finding and organizing all the myriad content sources available to modern TV viewers, thanks to its simple, attractive layout, and effortless customizability. LG provides access to all of the main video streaming apps, including the full 4K, HDR implementations of Netflix, Amazon Prime Video and YouTube. UK users can also benefit from Sky’s Now TV platform, as well as Freeview Play, which provides the catch-up TV services of all the main UK terrestrial broadcasters in a handy umbrella interface. LG in Europe has also recently added Rakuten TV, providing the continent with its first film streaming platform that supports both Dolby Vision HDR and Dolby Atmos sound. The US, of course, can get such streams from VUDU. WebOS is no longer the be all and end all of LG’s smart features, though. There’s now a much enhanced voice recognition/control system, for instance, which provides straightforward access both to the TV’s features and an exceptionally comprehensive and effective voice search feature. This looks through (some) apps, the internet and the TV listings for answers to your content requests. The OLED65E8 is compatible with Alexa and (following a recent update) Google Assistant, and even has the potential to monitor and control other devices and appliances on your home network via its ThinQ platform. Our only issue with webOS is that the single scrolling bar of icons along the bottom of the screen can start to get pretty long once you’ve added a few of your own apps. Read the full LG E8 OLED reviewOr read more about webOS smart TVshttp://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/9DfAHmuviFnsMPubuasVFR.jpg Panasonic’s My Home Screen smart platform is decidedly simple compared to much of the competition, but that’s not necessarily a bad thing. Currently on its third generation, it remains largely the same as the Firefox OS on which it was originally based. When you press the Home button on the remote, you get a choice of three options: Live TV, Apps, and Devices. This simplicity is the platform’s greatest strength, making it easy to navigate and find things by helpfully storing all the apps in single location; you can also pin your favorite apps to the home page for quicker access. Since the smart platform is relatively simple, it doesn’t require a vast amount of processing power to operate, which makes it responsive, robust, and free from crashes. My Home Screen isn’t fragmented like some platforms, nor does it bombard you with recommendations – it simply delivers all the streaming and catch-up services you need. Thanks to Freeview Play, a comprehensive list of catch-up services are included, covering BBC iPlayer, ITVhub, All4, My5, BBC News & Sport and UK Play. The iPlayer app supports 4K and HLG (Hybrid Log-Gamma – the broadcast version of HDR), both of which the BBC trialled during the World Cup. There’s also Netflix, Amazon and YouTube, all of which support 4K and HDR, along with services like Rakuten and Chili Cinema. In fact the only major streaming service missing is NOW TV. Read the full Panasonic FZ952/FZ902 OLED TV reviewOr read more about My Home Screen 2.0 smart TVshttp://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/U6D3ofXKriRQ8SrHtFkjL4.jpg http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/bs8tFd23RfSmxoq3HfPd5P.jpg The A9F is unquestionably Sony’s best OLED offering to date, and arguably a strong contender for high-end screen of the year. When it comes to image quality and audio performance it’s deliciously impressive. While we experienced some minor issues with Android Oreo, the UX is now logical and inclusive. It no longer feels like you’re wrestling with an octopus. Oreo introduces plenty of nice new features, including a recently watched content rail, curated recommendations and a favorite channel listing. Thankfully, the UI is also significantly faster than previous Android TV OS implementations. It’s a massive upgrade all round. If you can live with the slightly idiosyncratic design, and afford the asking price, it’s a glorious UHD display. Read our full Sony Bravia A9F OLED reviewOr check out our page for Android smart TVshttp://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/U6D3ofXKriRQ8SrHtFkjL4.jpg http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/S5LcwYDAADr54AS9SxJ2bG.jpg While the 65Q9FN’s Smart TV system is based closely around the Eden platform Samsung has been busy refining for the past couple of years, expect a few tasty new morsels that add to the experience without taking anything away. For starters there’s now compatibility with Samsung's SmartThings platform, which provides an on-screen hub for monitoring and even controlling other smart devices (fridges, washing machines, lights etc) on your network. There’s also much better integration of the TV listings and live broadcasting into the TV’s content searching features: there are now hour-by-hour show recommendations, for instance, as well as TV shows getting much more prominence in the content browsing menus. Samsung has delivered enhanced interactivity with your smartphones and tablets too, as well as some seriously cool new gaming related features. Overall, a slick, easy to use and helpfully customizable interface belies the impressive sophistication and comprehensiveness of Samsung’s latest smart TV engine. Read the full Samsung Q9FN QLED TV reviewOr read more about Samsung Smart Hub and Tizen OShttp://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/U6D3ofXKriRQ8SrHtFkjL4.jpg http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/KdcKv62JLbatDmzAwbKWub.jpg Once you get this TCL TV up and running, you’ll be met with the familiar veneer of Roku TV – an egalitarian operating system that handily retains its top spot as (arguably) the best operating system year after year. It’s intuitive to use, if a bit boring, and its lack of ties to a particular streaming platform allow it to point you to all the places content can be found without bias. That last bit is important, especially if you’ve ever used an Apple TV or Amazon Fire TV, both of which would much rather have you stream from their ancillary streaming services over any of the third-party ones. Because Roku doesn’t have ties to a major streaming service – other than a vague deal to include FandangoNow on the home screen of the OS – it doesn’t push you any direction you don’t want to go and happily supports everything from Netflix, Hulu, Sling TV and Amazon, to lesser-known channels like Pluto.tv, tubi, Crackle and others. That’s to say nothing of Roku’s own streaming service that it launched at the end of last year, which provides its own collection of entirely free movies that change in and out every few months. Most aren’t anything to write home about, but you do get the occasional gem in there. While it’d be nice to see the inclusion of artificial intelligence and personal assistants on Roku TV – similar to what LG is doing with webOS and Samsung has done with Tizen and SmartThings – all things considered, this is still one of the best TV operating systems and a fantastic TV overall. Read our full TCL 6-Series Roku TV reviewWhat is Roku TV?http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/iTxvWHGH8AafztokD42KAE.jpg Vizio's 2018 P-Series is a great choice if you're after a TV that performs at an above-average level with great pricing. It has a number of top-shelf features with good black levels, but its operating system is a bit slow. Thankfully, there’s nothing to complain about with the TV’s 4K HDR performance. In fact, considering how much work it takes for other screens to come close to natural colors, the P-Series is supremely good right out of the box. Read our full Vizio P-Series (2018) reviewhttp://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techradar/software-news/~4/zAYEEF5ntVw

There are so many great upcoming games this year, titles like Doom Eternal and Metro Exodus promise to be some of the best PC games we’ve seen in years. Not to mention games that are already out, like Resident Evil 2. So, if you want to prepare yourself for the onslaught of great games this year, you should arm yourself with one of the best gaming PCs. No matter which games you plan on picking up, having one of the best gaming PCs for your budget can make all the difference. It doesn’t matter whether you prefer Intel, AMD or Nvidia – most PC makers will let you choose the best processors and best graphics card for your needs anyway. And, now there are Nvidia Turing graphics cards, the best gaming PCs are about to get even better looking. So, we gathered up some of the best gaming PCs on the market, some from popular manufacturers like Alienware and MSI, to more exotic brands like Origin. We put these PCs through rigorous testing to find out which ones will provide the best bang for your buck. These are the 10 best gaming PCs on the market right now, and all of them will be able to destroy any PC game you throw at them. http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/aJnhiAAncsJ3Pfjdrv4gLU.jpg This isn’t your everyday pre-built gaming PC. The Alienware Aurora R7 feat of engineering in that it packs full-sized PC parts into chassis much smaller than your traditional mid-tower rig. At the same time it’s easily upgradeable and attractive to look at. All of which we would expect considering its extremely high price tag. Luckily, the Alienware Aurora R7 is both of these things and will impress those not ready or willing to build their own gaming PC. Read the full review: Alienware Aurora R7 This product is only available in the US and UK at the time of this writing. Australian readers: check out a fine alternative in the MSI Aegis 3 http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/RbMTPrF9DUbii7aC9nAmSK.jpg It’s not uncommon anymore for PC makers to brandish their pre-built desktop rigs as VR-ready. What is unusual is to do so with a computer that’s also ready to conquer any game you throw at it at well over 60 frames per second and for under two grand. That’s exactly what MSI has accomplished with the Infinite A, a tower whose graphical efforts aren’t thwarted by its preparedness for VR, nor is it so expensive that it would see your head turn the other way. Read the full review: MSI Infinite A This product is only available in the US at the time of this writing. Australian and UK readers: check out a fine alternative in the Overclockers 8Pack Asteroid http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/FgaHSoZSpRphAgJWJidyL6.jpg If you’re looking for the best gaming PC under $1000, the Intel Hades Canyon Nuc might be right up your alley. This mini gaming PC isn’t just affordable, but it takes up nearly no space – it looks more like a set-top box than a high-end gaming PC. Don’t think it’s weak, though – it packs all the power of the best gaming laptops, with an 8th-generation Intel Core i7 processor and discrete Radeon graphics. Just keep in mind that you’ll have to supply your own RAM, storage and OS. Read the full review: Intel Hades Canyon NUC http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/ZcZxQJjke5NTh5So3rYD4n.jpg Positioned as a ’console killer,’ the MSI Trident 3 looks a lot like an Xbox One S and is more powerful than a PS4 Pro, but at the end of the day, it’s a PC that feels just right in your living room. Complete with all the ports you could ever dream of, the MSI Trident 3’s advantages are clear. Still, in trying to be as thin and light as possible, the MSI Trident 3 comes equipped with a 330W external power supply brick, resembling some of the most less attractive console designs. Read the full review: MSI Trident 3 http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/0145886f8d2e210d274ebe142afc4380.jpg If you’re buying a pre-built PC, upgrades should be simple, right? That’s the philosophy behind the Lenovo IdeaCentre Y900. Embellished with red lights all over, the front of its chassis is bespeckled with textured patterns that’ll no doubt make your friends jealous. On top of offering support for a VR-ready GTX 1080, the Lenovo IdeaCentre boasts SLI support and room for up to 64GB of RAM, which are thankfully complemented by a convenient tool-less design. Read the full review: Lenovo IdeaCentre Y900 This product is only available in the US and UK as of this writing. Australian readers: check out a fine alternative in the Corsair One.http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/vVX4Mg8dGFUPd2Zi4ofHb3.jpg Much like the sublime Dell XPS 13, the Dell XPS Tower is a lesson in packing beefy specs into a svelte chassis. This inconspicuous gaming machine looks a lot like the computer that’s been collecting dust in your dad’s office, rather than something powering the latest PC games. But, beneath that quiet exterior, the Dell XPS Tower is one of the best gaming PCs on the market, with 8th-generation Intel Coffee Lake processors and Nvidia GTX 10-series graphics cards. With the Dell XPS Tower Special Edition,you’re getting one of the best gaming PCs money can buy, without any of the off-putting ‘gamer aesthetic’. Read the full review: Dell XPS Tower Special Edition This product is only available in the US and UK as of this writing. Australian readers: check out a fine alternative in the Corsair One.http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/pvVeFPwASU3vWahKVVRy4B.jpg When you buy a computer from Origin, it’s almost like you’re building it on your own. You have to be familiar enough with PC components to decide for yourself what goes into the rig and how much money you’re going to spend on it. So, of course, our only real criticism of the Origin Millennium is that you can build a similar model for cheaper. However, because of its subtle design and flexible specs, we’re willing to bet you won’t want to. Read the full review: Origin Millennium This product is only available in the US as of this writing. UK and Australian readers: check out a fine alternative in the Overclockers 8Pack Asteroid.http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/EYHb7sLEygi3hCpLvV6oxR.jpg In classic Alienware fashion, the Area 51 Threadripper Edition pushes the limits of both technology and your wallet. It’s wildly powerful, markedly featuring the latest AMD Ryzen Threadripper 1950X across all of its configurations. The Area 51’s triad-design hasn’t changed much since its introduction back in 2014, but on the inside this machine is essentially tool-less to upgrade, not that you would even need to. Read the full review: Alienware Area 51 Threadripper Edition This product is only available in the US at the time of this writing. UK and Australian readers: check out a fine alternative in the Corsair One http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/AuvspuGaaYkbjAtABR2rHA.jpg We knew that it was only a matter of time before the best gaming PCs started rolling out with the latest Coffee Lake Refresh and Nvidia Turing parts, and the MSI Trident X is here to lead the charge. This small-form factor PC pulls no punches, and will absolutely demolish any game you throw at it, at any resolution. Just keep in mind that the thin metal build might be a bit flimsy for travel, and its price tag is kind of steep. But, if you’re looking for no-holds-barred power that won’t look out of place in your living room, you can’t do much better. Read the full review: MSI Trident X http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/DZJjwXKj2gh8TyYm47kMbj.jpg Corsair has made a name for itself in pretty much every category of PC components, so it’s only natural that it would eventually create one of the best gaming PCs you can buy today. Enter the Corsair One Elite, a high-spec PC in a compact and quiet case that, while expensive, blows the competition out of the water. The Elite is a huge improvement over the original Corsair One, packed with an 8th-generation Core i7 processor, a Nvidia GTX 1080 Ti and more water cooling than you can shake a stick at. If you can afford its high price tag, the Corsair One Elite is one of the best gaming PCs you can buy today. Read the full review: Corsair One Elite Joe Osborne and Gabe Carey have also contributed to this article Check out our Linux vs Windows vs Mac - OS comparison video below. http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techradar/software-news/~4/DauULhfmdkU

Welcome to our guide to help you compare business mobile phone deals on all of the best handsets and from all the best UK networks. Whether you're after the new iPhone 8, Sony Xperia XZ, iPhone SE or Samsung Galaxy S9, a free phone, lots of data, the lowest possible monthly cost or all of the above, we'll help you find the perfect deal. Check out our list of the best business mobiles in the UK for 2018. We've also compiled alternative guides if you're interested in the best business SIM-only deals as well as the best business broadband and best mobile broadband deals. Underneath that you can browse through our individual handset guides for all of the best mobile phone deals out there. Best business mobile deals by networkBusiness mobiles at ThreeBusiness at EEO2 BusinessSME, large and public sector business at VodafoneCarphone Warehouse businessPC World BusinessBest business SIM-only deals Vodafonehttp://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/WhJmaB8M4mB9ghqZeeiDoC.png The cheapest around for data-hungry users Unlimited minutes | Unlimited texts| 20GB data | 12-month contract | £20 Should you agree to sign a 12-month contract, then Vodafone’s Red bundle is possibly the best offer in the UK. You get unlimited data, minutes (usable both in the UK and in the EU) and a whopping 20GB data to use with an extra 4GB to be used in the EU in 40 countries; you can always opt for the WorldTraveller option which allows you to use your UK allowance in an additional 58 countries worldwide for a fiver a day. Vodafone also offers a 30-day money-back warranty. Check out this deal on Vodafone’s website O2http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/LNw9ZipCKQ8LRiXqJkd3Z4.png Terrific for globe-trotters Unlimited minutes | Unlimited texts| 32GB data | 12-month contract | £23 The Telefonica-owned company offers one of the most impressive packages in the line-up. It is also the most expensive although you get far more than most. Not only do you have unlimited minutes and texts in the UK and across Europe (well, there is a fair usage limit of 2,000 minutes and 2,000 texts in the EU), you also get 3GB to use in the EU and 120 UK to EU minutes. Great if you travel a lot to mainland Europe. O2 also offers a 30-day optional contract for an extra £2 per month. This deal has got a lot better in recent months, as it has upped the data to a huge 32GB, while cutting the cost to £23 a month. View this deal on O2’s website EEhttp://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/wNmXboFtKXBQ5MqyTEKEJB.gif It has a unique selling point Unlimited minutes | Unlimited texts| 30GB data | 12-month contract | £16 O2 might win when it comes to versatility but EE almost grabs the top spot when it comes to sheer value for money. This deal is a brilliant offer that gives you a huge 30GB of data for £16 a month. EE has upgraded its network to superfast 4GEE and you can even share your plan with three co-workers on the same bill; Note that, unlike many competitors, tethering and VOIP are allowed. View this deal on EE’s website Compare all the best business SIM-only dealshttp://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/eaV3kfiKqe8HZw8guGnRxS.jpg A couple of the best phones for businessiPhone 7 dealsPrices just absolutely dived on the iPhone 7. Great news, considering it remains an excellent way to own an awesome Apple phone for meagre amounts of money. This for £28 pm from EE is the pick of the bunch. And once you've bought it, be sure to dive into the best iOS business apps. See more ace prices with our best iPhone 7 deals and best iPhone 6 deals http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/eaV3kfiKqe8HZw8guGnRxS.jpg BlackBerry KeyONE dealsBlackberry spent many years in the wilderness, but its return with the BlackBerry KeyOne is a massive return to form. The best deal out there bar none is this one on O2 where you get 4GB of data for £25 per month, with an upfront cost of £33.99. Click for more brilliant BlackBerry KeyONE deals http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/eaV3kfiKqe8HZw8guGnRxS.jpg Buying a mobile phone - what you need to knowOf course you want to find the cheapest price for your new smartphone - and our comparison chart at the top of the page will narrow that down for you - but we know there are likely to be dozens more questions you'll want answering. Keep reading below, where we answer some of the key commonly asked questions about buying a new mobile. http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/VgyagGS9HpAEPUQtUJBfrg.jpg http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/arEKjroSWPQRCC4kwpFGQP.jpg Can I keep my old number?You can indeed, and it's really easy - so no need to send one of those texts to everybody in your phone book telling them your new digits. What you need to do is grab a PAC - or Porting Authorisation Code - from your old network. We've listed the direct numbers you need for the four major networks below. As soon as they've sent it to you, which should be within a day or two, you just need to give it to your new network. Voila - brand new phone with the same old number. Easy. It becomes slightly less easy if the deal you pick out above is on the same network as your current one. They won't let you keep your number, so you have to use this workaround. Buy a free pay-as-you-go SIM from any other network and tell your network that you're moving. They'll release the PAC code, which you then give to the substitute network. Then, you immediately get another PAC code from them. Take that to your old network, and they'll move your number to your new contract. Long winded, but worth it. EE 07953 966 250O2 0344 809 0202Vodafone 03333 040 191Three 0333 300 333http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/VgyagGS9HpAEPUQtUJBfrg.jpg Which phone network is best?Loyalty is an admirable trait, but could end up costing you money when it comes to the perfect phone deal. If you don't mind leaving your comfort zone, you may find that heading to one of the other major networks may well be worth it... http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/hg3ibrFeMvrUeCThbc4PYL.jpg http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/x8qdUy9puc2bBaFWzC83wZ.png Despite what Richard Branson's adverts might suggest, EE is the Usain Bolt of phone networks. Nobody else can come close to EE's 4G speeds in the UK. So if you rely on fast internet while away from WI-Fi, then EE is the obvious choice. Plus, EE gives you three free months of BT Sport (or more if you get a Max plan) when you sign up, as well as six months of Apple Music. The EE coverage checker will confirm how strong it is where you live. http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/VWabeZbVdNHrPNUTqNeLYL.jpg http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/LNw9ZipCKQ8LRiXqJkd3Z4.png The biggest lure to O2 is the network's Priority rewards (well, that and Sean Bean's mellifluous tones). From cheap lunches and free coffees to first refusal on big gig tickets, O2 is the network for regular goodies. Plus, they have 1000s of Wi-Fi hotspots in shops and cafes that you can connect to. Use the O2 coverage checker to see whether you'll be able to access 4G. http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/iCwTVcjFaBFnAwTsQoqNJa.jpg http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/WhJmaB8M4mB9ghqZeeiDoC.png Good news for jet-setters - Vodafone lets you use your data, calls and texts allowances in 50 countries around the world without charge. But things really start to get good when you splash out on its bigger Red Entertainment data plans, as Vodafone will give you your choice of a NOW TV Entertainment Pass, Spotify Premium or Sky Sports Mobile subscription. Click to check if Vodafone covers your home. http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/jqP2haEQneSwhFZeTmMJYL.jpg http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/ByBw2hbKUXT688Xja9pDqQ.gif 3 remains the king of the big data deals, and still the only one of the big four networks to offer unlimited, uncapped, all-you-can-eat delicious data. We also like that you can use 4G to make calls and texts via the dedicated Three inTouch app, and you can connect to Wi-Fi in the London Underground if you ever find yourself in the capital. But 4G coverage isn't as strong as the other networks - check whether your postcode is covered with the Three coverage checker. http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/VgyagGS9HpAEPUQtUJBfrg.jpg http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/DNfeCrBDAE9DQcs2QTAkrV.jpg What phone contract length should I get?Well if you're buying a new phone plan with a contract, you haven't got much choice. It's 24 months or nothing, these days. If you don't want to be tied down to that kind of commitment, then you'll have to go down the SIM only route and buy the handset separately - we've rounded up the best SIM free phone deals to help you make your chocie. http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/VgyagGS9HpAEPUQtUJBfrg.jpg http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/vFJTZx2hn6e9bdmZJBiJgD.jpg How much phone data do I need?The answer to this one will be different for everybody. If you only really carry your phone for emergencies, then go for the minimum amount of data and save a packet. If you like to scroll through Facebook on the bus and stream Spotify, you'll need a bit more. And if you frequently stream videos and download masses of files, then 30GB or even unlimited may be worth paying extra for. As well as checking your phone to see how much you tend to use a month at the moment, the below guidelines will also help you pick out the perfect plan: 1GB Some networks offer 500MB plans, but realistically we think you should get at least 1GB. It won't be much more expensive (if at all) and will afford you a little bit of Google Mapping, WhatsApping and emailing when you need them.2-3GB If you like to scroll through your social media feeds and emails while out and about without fear of extra cash to pay on your monthly bill, then up your data.4-8GB The likes of Spotify and Apple Music have promised us all our favourite tunes wherever we roam. Kit yourself out with a bit more data and you'll have plenty for music streaming and the occasional video, too. 10-16GB This should be more than enough for most users. Loads of data for streaming music, downloading podcasts and enjoying social media videos. Because there's no such thing as too many cats falling into bins.20-30GB Big data for the big phone user. Perfect for watching Netflix videos, downloading content and streaming loads of music. And these plans often have extra freebies thrown in, too.Unlimited The 3 network is still the only one of the 'Big 4' to offer unlimited data. It can be really pricey though, so think long and hard whether you really need it.http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/VgyagGS9HpAEPUQtUJBfrg.jpg http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/LFFf5Gcm4RLqewi9USmrie.jpg Should I get unlimited calls and texts?Actually these days, the vast majority of phone contracts feature unlimited calls and texts. We do see some of the cheaper plans sometimes limit them, but even if they do, you can use your data allowance on popular apps like WhatsApp, Skype and Hangouts to make calls and texts if your minutes run dry. http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/VgyagGS9HpAEPUQtUJBfrg.jpg http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/upEKGtfVkbyQQUpRkXTCdB.png How much phone memory do I need?You're likely to be one of two kinds of person: Person 1: You like all your photos, music, downloads and other media to be saved directly on to your phone. If that sounds like you, 16GB or 32GB handsets may not be enough and you should use our comparison chart to find the most affordable 64GB, 128GB or 256GB models. Person 2: You're a stream demon. You've got subscriptions to Spotify and Netflix and you save all your Word docs and snaps into the cloud. Save your money and go for a cheaper, lower memory handset. OK person 3, calm down - you fall somewhere between the two, right? If you can afford to get a smartphone with more memory, that is probably safest. But don't forget that most phones do allow you to insert an additional SD card if you run out of space - most phones apart from iPhones, that is. http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/VgyagGS9HpAEPUQtUJBfrg.jpg http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/RCxDx2xekjabK69VQA7BV8.jpg Are refurbished phones good to buy?Refurbished phones can provide a alternative to a new handset if you're budget is a shoestring. 'Refurbished' often means that the previous owner simply changed their mind about the phone soon after buying it, so it's still practically brand new - and the potential savings can be substantial. If you do spy an unbelievable deal on a refurbed phone, the main thing to make sure of is the warranty. Double check that you are properly covered for a decent length of time. A year's warranty is preferable. http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/VgyagGS9HpAEPUQtUJBfrg.jpg TechRadar's unbiased and independent mobile phone deals comparisonThanks for visiting TechRadar's mobile phone deal comparison page! Our price comparison system includes 2.47 million mobile phone contracts from all of the major networks and resellers so that you can always find the one that suits you best. Unlike some other major sites, our philosophy is to always display you with the absolute cheapest deals for the criteria you select. So you'll always be able to see the cheapest prices for the best phones with contracts with the most generous data allowances. http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/VgyagGS9HpAEPUQtUJBfrg.jpg How does TechRadar make money from affiliates?If you buy a phone after visiting this page, TechRadar will be paid a small commission by the network or reseller you buy from. This money is paid by the site you buy from and thus does not affect the amount you pay for your phone contract. If you go direct to the site you buy from, you would pay the same amount. The money that TechRadar makes from this free service allows us to improve our product comparison tools and pay the editors who trawl through all the sites and select the best deals every month. While some sites out there will be paid larger fees for pushing people to specific deals that aren't necessarily the cheapest, TechRadar will always find you the absolute cheapest deal. Trust and integrity is important to us, so if you ever think we're not displaying the very best deals let us know. http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/VgyagGS9HpAEPUQtUJBfrg.jpg How do we order these mobile phone deals?Our mobile phone deal comparison tools sift through millions of different deals and surfaces the ones we think are the very best. Essentially that means finding deals that work out the cheapest over a 24 month contract while still supplying at least 1GB of data, as you've told us that 1GB is your absolute minimum. If you need more data, use the filters and we'll display the cheapest prices for your increased amount. On this specific page, we have many mobile phone options displaying in one comparison table. In this case, we try and find you a balance between paying the cheapest price and getting the best phone for your money. http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/VgyagGS9HpAEPUQtUJBfrg.jpg How do the mobile phone deals comparison tools work?The comparison tools you find on the page above will hopefully be very easy to use. You can select what your budget is, whether it be upfront cost or monthly fee or both. And you can say how much data you need or how many minutes and texts. You can even filter by network if you really want to be on a specific carrier. The deals will automatically update as you drill down in your search, always favouring the cheapest options over the more expensive ones. If you ever want to refresh and start your search again, simply select the 'CLEAR ALL FILTERS' option to begin again from scratch. http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/VgyagGS9HpAEPUQtUJBfrg.jpg What is TechRadar?TechRadar is Europe's largest technology reviews website with over 22 million visitors every month. It's our aim to provide you with the very best buying advice, always. If you'd like to read reviews of the mobile phones you see on this page, you can visit TechRadar's reviews homepage. http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/VgyagGS9HpAEPUQtUJBfrg.jpg How do we select which networks and resellers to display?TechRadar strives to include all mobile phone deals from all UK networks and resellers so that you can search through all the available deals in the UK without having to look on all the websites separately. However, for sites to be included they need to supply us with a feed of their deals. This is the only reason why a phone reseller or network wouldn't appear in our system – but the vast majority do. http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/VgyagGS9HpAEPUQtUJBfrg.jpg http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techradar/software-news/~4/22_RoAy52uY

Anthem, BioWare's new upcoming cooperative, team-based IP, looks like a change of pace for the makers of Dragon Age and Mass Effect, with a focus on cooperative PvE combat popularised by the likes of Destiny. It was a big surprise when it was first announced at last year's E3 2017, and with pressure mounting on a game that could make or break the developer's fortunes, BioWare has kept its cards close to its chest. From the short trailer shown at EA Play keynote we got a tiny glimpse of the game world's wall: the only thing that separates the civilized world from a dangerous and savage animals. Flying exosuits (called 'Javelins') also seem to play a big part in surviving in the wilderness, and a player might jump into them as part of the game. But what is this Anthem we keep hearing about? We don't know much about the artifact at the heart of the BioWare's new game but, according to the studio's director Casey Hudson, that's going to change before the game goes out in February. [update: We've gone hands on with Anthem during an extended play-through session at EA. We've recorded our thoughts below and have updated this article with the information we learned at the event.] http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/39fkXS8i5nVJXs69VRKJxE.png Cut to the chaseWhat is it? BioWare's newest IP: an online cooperative shooterWhen can I play it? February 22, 2019What can I play it on? Xbox One, PlayStation 4 and PCAnthem trailersThere's no better entry point to dive into the world of Anthem than a gameplay trailer. The latest one released from EA goes in greater depth with the game's combat, rewards and equipment cycle that will fuel gameplay. Check it out for yourself below: Nvidia revealed an exclusive 4K Anthem gameplay trailer at CES 2019 which showcased never-before seen Javelin, enemies, and environments. Check the trailer out below: Want more backstory on Anthem? BioWare has been cagey with details, but according to studio head Casey Hudson, that's intentional. To start filling in some of the mysteries of the world, BioWare released a trailer that debuted during The Game Awards on December 6. Check it out for yourself below. E3 2018 brought a brand new cinematic trailer for Anthem which shows the incredible exosuits in action, with some smooth flying and a look at the sort of enemies you'll be taking on with your team. You also get a first look at the Scars, an insect-like race you'll be battling throughout the game world – though we've also heard of another opposing warlike faction called Dominion who should pose a considerable threat of their own. For those worried about the somewhat generic 'mech suit' design in the trailer, there will reportedly be a lot of room for customization and cosmetic upgrades (no loot boxes, thankfully). Anthem release dateWhen it was first announced at E3 2017, Anthem was slated for a Fall 2018 release... but then the game got delayed. We now have a new, firm exact date in hand: February 22, 2019. The release date comes after a report emerged from Kotaku that the game will be delayed until early 2019, citing three sources close to the project. There is, the report says, now a feeling in BioWare that the future of the company is tied to Anthem and its success. It's for this reason that work on the studio's other titles, Star Wars: The Old Republic and the next Dragon Age, is now reportedly being done by much smaller teams. Hands on impressionsSpending close to eight hours in the world of Anthem felt like an eternity... in a good way. In that time we were finally able to get a good sense of what the game is, why it's definitely unique for a BioWare game and how it differs from Destiny. While the general story arc does sound similar to Destiny (the last bastion of humanity is under assault from a primeval, intergalactic entity) there's enough to differentiate one from the other. In Anthem, the world is under siege from a technological artifact called the Anthem of Creation. It's a lot less like the Traveler in Destiny and a lot more like the Anteverse from the Pacific Rim franchise that spawns kaiju. These monsters appear in all shapes and sizes and, occasionally when things get real bad, monstrous giants appear from the Anthem to threaten all of humanity. In Anthem, not only are you fighting against the spawn from the eponymous artifact, but you're also up against a force of human mercenaries working for a cult leader who wants the Anthem of Creation for himself so that he, more or less, can become a lesser god. (They're called the Dominion and their details are still a bit sketchy.) http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/cT2iw9NXWGs6Lxipntzxq4.jpg So who's going to put an end to this faction before things get out of hand? You, of course. Well, you and a bunch of your friends. To put the beatdown on the forces of evil, you'll need a suit of armor and a literal arsenal of weaponry. Thankfully, that's legitimately everywhere in Anthem and producing it appears to be the primary function of everyone in the entire world. As a Freelancer, basically a super soldier that defends the last bastion of humanity, you'll go out on missions to rescue valuable persons, fight the crop of enemies that spawn from the Anthem and stop the Dominion from ruining your home of Fort Tarsis. In between missions you'll walk around the Fort (in a weird first-person mode) where you can gather intel, upgrade your armor and pick up side-quests. Importantly, when you're walking around Fort Tarsis, it's just you. You won't see mobs of other players like you do in Destiny, and that means the characters around the town can actually interact with you in meaningful ways. There are more characters than we can even list (or, at this point, remember) but they all have personality and interests beyond being a sedentary shopkeeper. http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/wwgordrFEjsVvTaQbfgfw4.jpg Unlike Destiny, which feels more like a multiplayer, stats-driven Halo, than a fast and ferocious shooter, Anthem's combat is fast-paced and action-packed. Each of the game's four classes have a different play style but they're all equally useful in combat. To that end, expect three specials that, at least on consoles are mapped out to the shoulder buttons, and one ultimate ability that can be used to decimate enemies. That last part sounds especially Destiny-esque, I know, but you have to trust that in practice combat feels more fluid with aerial dodging and constant explosions rather than slower, cover-based shooting. In between the battles, Anthem offers a surprisingly full world to explore. Rather than huge empty battlefields, Destiny has resources aplenty as well as wildlife and pop-up events happening all the time. Admittedly, there's not as much of these extras as we've seen in other BioWare games where it feels like every nook and cranny of the world has been just stuffed with loot, but what's there is better than the bland, sterile worlds we've seen elsewhere. http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/9vxUQyFYMoyVai69MbEiR4.jpg The main gameplay cycle looks like this: You spawn in town to talk with the next quest giver. Along the way you're given some solid lore about the world around you and you'll meet (and grow to like) the various town people you interact with at Fort Tarsis. (Just don't get too attached - unlike other BioWare games there's no courting a mate here.) Once you've got a quest, you'll spend some time outfitting one of your suits for the mission (you get one additional class at level two, and then the other two later in the game so you're never stuck with your first pick) and partner up with friends or randos via the game's matchmaking system. You can turn the latter off if you want a single-player experience, but the game's executive director, Mark Darrah, thinks it's a game best tried in multiplayer before you switch to single-player. Missions run between five and 20 minutes long (at least the ones we were able to play) and you'll run, gun and loot along the way. After a mission, you can either head back into Fort Tarsis to get another quest, or hang out with your friends in the newly unveiled Launch Bay that supports up to 16 players at a time. You'll then upgrade your gear and head out on another mission. Does this sound a bit similar to the structure of Destiny? Yeah. It does. But the hook is that combat and controls will feel so new and different that you'll overlook the similarities, ignore the fact that BioWare deviated from its formula and immerse yourself in a well-realized world that the company has built from the ground up. News and rumorsAnthem public demo dates A free free-launch demo of Anthem will be available for Xbox One, PS4 and PC from February 1 to February 3. However those who have pre-ordered the title, or are members of Origin or EA Access, will gain access to the Anthem VIP demo from January 25 to January 27. Players will start the demo at level 10 but will be capped at level 15. Commander Shepard will live on In celebration of N7 Day (the unofficial Mass Effect holiday), Anthem and Mass Effect lead producer Michael Gamble tweeted an image of N7 armor being worn in the Fort Tarsis hub. However, Gamble didn't release any details about when or how this skin will be made available to players It will support 3D Audio Through the PlayStation Platinum headset. Dolby Atmos confirmed? In an interview with the game's executive producer, Mark Darrah, we confirmed that Anthem will support Dolby Atmos. That being said, Darrah couldn't confirm whether the game would launch with Atmos support right out of the box or if it would come further down the road. (The same was said for Dolby Vision.) It's going to be a graphically-demanding game As earlier rumors suggested (see below), Anthem was indeed shown off at this year's E3, and it was a stunning looking game that ran in 4K resolution and 60 frames per second. That's all very impressive, but what kind of machine will you need to play Anthem at that kind of graphical level? Well, according to Mark Darrah, the game’s executive producer, the E3 demo was running on a PC with two Nvidia GTX 1080 Ti graphics cards. While we expect Anthem to get optimized before its release, we'd still expect you to need a powerful PC to play at 4K and 60FPS. EA hasn't confirmed if the Xbox One X or PS4 Pro will be able to match that performance. EA Play EA Play brought us the best look at Anthem that we've had yet. What we learned is that the game is considered by EA to be "the evolution of a Bioware game" that doesn't bolt on story content to a multiplayer game, but rather integrates those things together in a shared world. It's a little different from the standard BioWare fare since it seems it won't have any player romances available. You play as a 'Freelancer' who can control the exosuit that we've seen, and you're tasked with protecting the people of Tarthis from a force trying to control the Anvil of Creation. The world is reshaped all the time and, because you're a pilot, you can change out your suit depending on your mission. Exosuit types include the Ranger, Colossus, Storm and Interceptor. We learned that the game won't have loot boxes and will instead be an online world that expands with more stories as time goes on. Part of the condition of this, however, is that the game won't be playable offline. After the show Mark Darrah confirmed on Twitter that "you need to be online to play" adding that there will also be no PvP modes available at launch, if they're being considered at all, since he added that it's not guaranteed. Darrah also responded to fan's queries online, saying that players could create multiple Freelancers for each user account, and would be free to use any of the four exosuits that had been showcased. http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/emrBT5A7xbq9kjjD4LAwsV.jpg It'll have a big focus on story Anthem's developer BioWare has promised a big story for Anthem after Mass Effect Andromeda fell short of fan expectations. Writing in a blog post, the studio's general manager Casey Hudson emphasised the importance of world, character and storytelling and promised that they would be a part of Anthem, "a game designed to create a whole new world of story and character that you can experience with friends in an ongoing series of adventures." Hudson goes on to say that though it will be unlike "anything you've ever played", if it's done as planned it will still feel "very distinctly BioWare" – and that he'll continue using the blog to update fans on the development process of the game. Our World, My Story One of the ongoing refrains from Anthem's development is the idea of 'Our World, My Story'. For players, that means your time will be split between the outside world – a shared multiplayer environment where you team up with other Freelancers for exploration and combat – and Fort Tarsis, where you develop a single-player experience unique to you. Fort Tarsis will act as a home hub of sorts, where you face your own decisions and actions, accept contracts and missions, form platonic relationships, and generally act out more of the role-play elements expected from BioWare's usual IPs. By the sounds of it, events in the outside world will affect the individual experiences you have back at the Fort, though how this spins out is anyone's guess. EA meets its Destiny in Anthemhttp://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/7njFrQcKYUXNmrdSkrCHPV.jpg The premise we know so far is that humanity is holed up in a bastion, cut off from the outside world. Venturing out, it appears, requires a suit of armor that will help fend off the wilds of the Pandora-esque planet. EA is describing it as "a shared-world action RPG where Freelancers challenge the wilds past the wall, exploring a vast world filled with savage beasts and ruthless marauders, but also teeming with amazing technology and forgotten treasures". If this sounds like Destiny, you're not crazy. "Players will be able to join with their friends to unravel the world's mysteries and defeat the forces plotting to conquer humanity." Okay, this is Destiny. "Throughout their journeys, players can outfit their Freelancers with powerful Javelin exosuits, each of which are equipped with unique weapons and abilities. Freelancers can customize their Javelin with gear they earn and craft throughout the adventure, and leave a lasting mark on the world". Admittedly, the word Freelancers make the game sound a bit more like a Borderlands game than Destiny, but considering that your class is determined by which Javelin you have on, we're still seeing Destiny written all over it. When Anthem was first announced, taking on Destiny 2 seemed like a tall order, but now that Destiny 2 appears to be having some growing pains, Anthem may be able to seize on a dissatisfied playerbase. Life after AndromedaAnthem will be BioWare's first title after the somewhat polarizing Mass Effect: Andromeda. Anthem will, apparently, be a science fantasy game more in the vein of Star Wars and offerings from the Marvel universe, rather than hard core science fiction title like Mass Effect BioWare Edmonton general manager Aaryn Flynn has revealed. In a recent interview with CBC Flynn said that like these franchises Anthem will be a game in which "you see a lot of amazing things happening but we don't worry too much about why they are happening or how they are happening; the science of it.“ BioWare has dipped its toes into the science fantasy genre before with titles such as the RPG Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic and the online multiplayer game Star Wars: The Old Republic. Anthem will, apparently, be along these lines and "much more about just having fun in a game world that is really lush and exotic and really sucks you in." Unlike Mass Effect, which Flynn says was a "more a real hard core science fiction IP". Taking this into account, alongside the game's more online multiplayer leanings, and it seems like BioWare is certainly attempting to step into a space currently dominated by games such as Destiny. It'll be exciting to see what else a developer with so accomplished a background in lore-heavy single player storytelling can bring to this genre. More interested in EA's sports offering? Here's everything we know about FIFA 19http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techradar/software-news/~4/H_j4Yr7aUu0

Best TV Streaming Service 2019: Welcome to your definitive guide to the best, most worthwhile streaming services you can subscribe to today in the US. More viewers are choosing to get their TV fix online than ever, and it's not hard to see why. Extensive online libraries, the ability to stream whenever you want, and aggressively competitive pricing have seen TV streaming services grow at an exceptional rate. You're not skimping on quality either: the likes of Netflix and Hulu will feature their own original content, but also swathes of classic television licensed from their cable TV counterparts – who are struggling more and more to keep up. Right now you've got your cable alternative mainstays like Netflix and Amazon, plus HBO Now for your Game of Thrones fix, and if you're still interested in live TV without the bill at the end of the month, services like YouTube TV, Hulu and Sling TV are happy to fill in the gaps. What's more, Disney is set to shake up the online streaming scene soon with Disney+. The new subscription service will be owned and operated by Disney and is set to land some time during 2019 – and is sure to host a big helping of Marvel and Star Wars content alongside new and classic Disney films. But what to do with all this choice? Most of us will only subscribe to a couple of these services, or risk paying more per month than you would for traditional cable. To help you choose between the TV streaming services available today, we've put together this guide to the essentials, as well as a few others worth a look. The best VPN for Netflix 2019http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/3ff586494d7eb0aaeecf1661697d535f.jpg 1. NetflixIf you're a connoisseur of movies and/or TV, there's only one must-have player in town and that's Netflix. It is, unequivocally, the biggest and best streaming service, despite not always stocking its digital shelves with must-have new movies and TV; that said, this is the staple streamer you need to own if you ever plan on cutting the cord and surviving without it. These days, most smart TVs have Netflix apps and finding a streaming box without it is the equivalent of finding a needle in a haystack. The quality of the movies and TV we tried – mostly streamed in Ultra HD – on both TV and on tablets is exquisite. Since launching its own content in 2013, Netflix's originals library has swelled to an enormous size, boasting dozens of award-winning shows including Stranger Things, Orange is the New Black, The Crown, Master of None, House of Cards and a bunch of Marvel shows like Luke Cage, Daredevil and Jessica Jones. The impending launch of Disney+ looks set to take a good chunk of Disney-owned properties off the service, though – Disney own LucasFilm, Marvel, and Pixar, after all – so the library might start feeling less colorful pretty soon. Netflix runs on a PC and Mac, Apple TV, Xbox One, PS4, Amazon Fire TV (and Amazon Fire TV Stick), Android phones and tablets, Windows Phones, iOS devices, internet-enabled TVs and Blu-ray players, and streaming players from Philips, Roku and Western Digital. Subscription costs have just gone up by $1-2 a month, with the basic plan at $9, HD plan at $13, and 4K Premium plan at $16. But on't forget you can also give Netflix a spin with the 1-month free trial to see if it's worth your money. Verdict: 5/5 http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/9325ae31df26628f3a0d3b8a13f9bf9b.jpg 2. Amazon Prime Instant VideoAmazon and Netflix are two sides of the same coin. That's not to say they're identical – they're not – but the differences are few and far between. Like Netflix, Amazon has its own set of original series - Transparent, The Man in the High Castle, and Mr Robot among others - but, generally speaking, they don't receive the same fanfare as their Netflix-bred brethren. Although Netflix is as guilty as dud programming as the rest of them, it's worth mentioning Amazon Prime does get some pretty terrible new additions from time to time. So always check out guide to the best Amazon Prime TV shows before you dive in head-first. The two big differentiators between the services are the fact that access to Amazon's streaming service comes standard with a subscription to Amazon Prime – meaning access to Amazon Music and premium delivery services – and Amazon has its own proprietary set-top box, the $69 Amazon Fire TV. As far as its cost, a subscription to Amazon Prime will run up around $10.99 per month, just under Netflix's basic plan, though there's also a 30-day free trial so you don't have to pony up any money when you first start. Prime Instant Video is available for PC and Mac, the Kindle Fire HD, iPad, Xbox One, PS4, internet-enabled TVs and Blu-ray players, Sony's Home Cinema system, Sony's Network Media Player and myriad other minor devices that will go unmentioned. Verdict: 5/5 http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/ea3614ddbc41af90ebbd21bc1d21ac28.jpg 3. Hulu and Hulu PlusVideo streaming service Hulu offers big-name titles like The Simpsons, Saturday Night Live, and South Park alongside a huge number of titles from NBC, FOX and Comedy Central. It's also the only streaming service app on the Nintendo Switch aside from the newly-included Youtube app. Hulu comes in two flavors: the standard on-demand streaming service you've always known and loved, and the new Hulu with Live TV. The former works well and is well worth its cost of entry – especially since Hulu's price cut brought the monthly subscription to only $5.99. Sure, it'll air with a few advertisements, but it's nothing you're not used to coming from traditional cable. On the homepage you'll find highlighted shows based on your past visits to the site as well as curated content from Hulu HQ. This includes game trailers, new movie trailers, popular clips from last week's new episodes as well as a few themed playlists. You can signup for a free trial on its website. The other option on the table is Hulu with Live TV, a cable alternative that will run you around $39.99 a month – which is, unfortunately, limited to the US. The service fulfills its name by offering you a bevy of live TV channels and 50 hours cloud DVR service and two simultaneous screens. This is a bit less than the next contender on our list – YouTube TV – which offers more screens and unlimited DVR space. The biggest problem with Hulu is that it lets users run head first into the paywall, keeping you from the content you're most apt to pay for. Some call this good business. Some call it extortion. Wherever you stand on the subject the fact that you get so much free content upfront means that the old adage of "you get what you pay for" definitely does not apply here. Verdict: 4.5/5 http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/288ccca0f81e7b21fbb352f18c7214cc.jpg 4. YouTube and YouTube TVAsk someone what they think was the biggest internet revolution of the 21st century and they'll probably say it was YouTube. And with good reason – the user-generated video-blogging site has changed the online landscape forever. It lets anyone, however well known they are (or not), whatever the quality of their content and wherever they hail from, upload their weird and wonderful videos for anyone around the world to watch at their convenience. The beauty of YouTube is that in the blink of an eye it's taken the broadcasting power from the bigwigs and placed it right in our hands. OK, so it might not have stopped people wanting to watch a high quality, professionally made production in their living room TVs, but it's an insight into how TV might be produced in the future. After all with YouTube you don't need a big budget – or indeed any budget at all – to produce your own TV series and establish a massive following. While the free portion of YouTube will always remain the most popular (the latest statistic says that a whopping eight years' worth of content is uploaded each and every day to the site), but if you're looking for quality content, YouTube TV is also an excellent option worth considering. A subscription to YouTube TV is on the expensive side at $40 a month, but you're treated to a fair amount of content – around 60 channels replete with cloud DVR functionality. The service is available only in the US for now, however, and even here it's only available in around 100 markets around the country. Still, if you're lucky enough to be in one of those areas, it's the best live TV streaming service out there right now. Verdict: 4/5 http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/3b6bfaba73ba1b8c567d8536ddc9e5bb.jpg 5. HBO Now and HBO GoAs a streaming service with ties to more traditional broadcasting models, HBO Go requires you to have a paid cable subscription to access its content. If you've got one of those, subscribing to HBO Go is an absolute no-brainer – it's free for you! Go on, download it right now and put our word to the test. If borrowing mom and dad's cable account info isn't in the cards and the ominous cable bill is too threatening to even consider, there's HBO Now, a $15 per month service that gives you access to HBO's entire content library. Alongside the new shows of Game of Thrones, Silicon Valley and West World you'll also find heaps of big-budget films, new and old, and the stable of HBO classics like The Sopranos, Deadwood, Oz, True Blood, Sex in the City, Rome and The Pacific. The service doesn't get as many updates as say, Netflix, Hulu, or Amazon do, but episodes are typically added within hours of them airing on cable. HBO is a bit more selective about which device it interfaces with than Netflix and YouTube, but so far you can find it on Amazon Fire TV, Android/iOS, Apple TV, Chromecast, Roku, PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4, Xbox 360, Xbox One and the whole line of Samsung Smart TVs. Verdict: 4/5 http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/Hj5qvvHXo5NHZFTiqLrh5j.jpg 6. Sling TV We've spoken at length about Sling TV in our review but in case you missed it, here's what you need to know: Sling TV is live TV streaming from DISH whenever and wherever. But unlike traditional cable or satellite, there's no contracts, no equipment and no costly bill at the end of the month. Sling TV is a kind of cure-all for the cord-cutting generation, something that we knew we needed but no company stepped up to make. That said, it's everything cable's not. It's affordable. It's no-obligation. And there are absolutely zero sales reps trying to stop you from canceling your contract. Best of all, you won't have to give up some of the perks cable provided in the last few years like the ability to pause live TV or watch something that aired up to 72 hours ago. But let's get down to brass tacks. $20 a month gets you a TON of cable channels - ESPN, ESPN2, TNT, TBS, HGTV, DIY Network, Food Network, Travel Channel, CNN, Cartoon Network, ABC Family, Disney Channel and AMC, and many, many more. If the included channels aren't enough, Sling TV sells nine add-on packages for $5 a month that add around five channels each and focus on a particular theme (International News, Latino Programming, Sports, etc...) Sling TV is available on iOS, Android, Amazon Fire TV and Amazon Fire TV Stick, Xbox One and Roku TV, plus select LG and Samsung smart TVs and on PC and Mac via the website portal. It's not without limitations, however. The standard Sling TV package, called Sling TV Orange, while available on a plethora of mobile and living room gadgets, will only work on one device at a time and, admittedly, at $20 per month doesn't present the same content-to-dollar ratio that Netflix or Prime Instant Video provide. Verdict: 3.5/5 http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/u9KVWRZWkwqyondugoCxBQ.jpg 7. CrunchyrollCall us crazy but there's something endearing about a streaming service that knows exactly what its audience wants. Crunchyroll is the streaming service any anime, manga or East-Asian cinema fan in your life has always wanted and never knew about. Founded by Berkeley graduates back in 2006, Crunchyroll started as a bootleg website of sorts where users uploaded their favorite shows without permission of the original owners. Not the humblest of beginnings. Fast-forward to 2015 where the service has over five million community members, 200 series available on tap and is worth, when last checked, $100 million. While you won't find genre staples like Dragon Ball Z, Digimon or Pokémon around, most of the site's 200-plus series are available to watch for free in SD, typically prefaced with a 20-second advert. Watching any content in full 1080p HD requires a $6.95 monthly subscription to the service, just be sure to check out the 14-day free trial before you begin. Besides the slick web interface, Crunchyroll is available on iOS, Android, Windows Phone, PS4, Wii U, Xbox One, PlayStation 3, PlayStation Vita, Xbox 360, Chromecast, Apple TV, Roku, Google TV and Samsung and Panasonic's line of Smart TVs. Verdict: 3.5/5 http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/jr8H9WeWjBonmtb5YvRyWA.jpeg 8. TwitchFor a certain crowd, Twitch (formerly known as Justin.tv) is about the best invention since sliced bread. Essentially it's a livestreaming platform that focuses primarily on videogames where you can find everything from world tournament coverage to someone muddling their way through that indie darling you had your eye on buying. It's not traditional by any means, but you'll find plenty to see and do on Twitch. Best of all the app is free on almost any platform you can think of: iOS, Android, Xbox One, PS4, Chromecast, Amazon Fire TV … you name it, it probably has a Twitch app. Twitch may be limited to a niche audiences of gamers at the moment, but the platform clearly shows promise. Amazon bought the service wholesale in December of last year for a cool $970 million. Whether you count it as real TV programming, however, is another question. Verdict: 3/5 http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/jLCjDTt4DbnB9UmzuVhQ4B.jpg 9. iTunes / Google Play StoreSecond-to-last on our list are iTunes and its Android counterpart, the Google Play Store. Every other entry on this list has one factor going for it – it's either free or offers a buffet-style, all-you-can-stream option. Apple and Google's primary storefronts don't offer that. Payment is always done per title – which makes sense when you want to stream, say, the latest movie once per month – but is one of the most illogical ways to consume media if you plan on binge-watching anything. That said, they're not all bad. In fact, there's no better way to own a digital copy of your favorite film or TV series than to buy it off one of these. Its ability to transfer any movies or TV shows straight to your mobile device makes these two of the slickest staples in the streaming world. Didn't have time to finish that movie on your desktop last night? Save it to your iPad and watch the rest of it on the way to work the following morning. Easy. iTunes isn't perfect, we'll admit. It's a little bit clunky and slow at times, while Windows aficionados will baulk at the need to install Apple software just to get access to something you want to watch. Conversely, the Google Play Store will have you shelling out $3.99 for an SD version of a film that came out years ago, even if it's available elsewhere for free. But that's the real Marmite bit of these e-commerce services. You pay to play or you can take your business elsewhere. Verdict: 2.5/5 http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/jvHLtaopNNKdCgF4SgxKP4.png 10. CrackleWhile creating this list, we gave some serious thought to leaving Crackle off completely. With a poor selection and even poorer streaming quality you'd be forgiven for never knowing about Sony Pictures Entertainment's unfortunate streaming offshoot. Crackle offers a rotating selection of a few dozen films from motion picture studios' archives that focus on six categories: action, comedy, crime, drama, horror and sci-fi. One month you might see a kitsch classic like Ghostbusters, while the next you won't be as fortunate and will only find a few throw-away films from the '90s. Warning: Each film is streamed in standard definition, and a tiny ad floats at the bottom of the screen throughout the entirety of your stay. What helped it make the cut? Its price. Streaming any one of the few dozen movies and TV shows found on Crackle's website is completely free, no strings attached. Keep in mind that advertisements pop up before each movie starts, and expect a few intermittently throughout the film. Should you choose to endure it, Crackle is available on iOS, Android, BlackBerry, Nook, Kindle, Roku, PlayStation TV, Chromecast, Roku, Amazon Fire TV, most Blu-ray players, smart TVs, game consoles including the PS4, PS3, Xbox One, Xbox 360 and PlayStation Vita, online and T-Mobile TV. Verdict: 1.5/5 Best set-top box: the top six streaming media players for 4K and HD TV reviewedhttp://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techradar/software-news/~4/zcdi6vygPl0

We've gone through Amazon's site to find the best online deals on a variety of products that include everything from a 4K TV to a robot vacuum. Our top deals include the popular Roku Premiere for $29.99, $100 off the Toshiba 43-inch 4K Smart TV, and the Amazon's Choice Sony Earbuds for only $29.99. Perhaps the best deal we've seen at Amazon is the Apple iPad Pro that's on sale for $499.99. That's a $149 price cut for this powerful tablet that's rarely discounted. The best-selling iPad Pro features a stunning 10.5-inch retina display and offers up to 10 hours of battery life. The iPad Pro delivers more power than most laptops by offering an A10X fusion chip and 64GB of storage. Shop the rest of today's best deals from Amazon below. Amazon's top deals:Shop more of today's best cheap iPad sales and dealsShop the best Super Bowl 2019 TV dealshttp://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techradar/software-news/~4/ZAdTshK4Joo