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Foldable devices are getting more and more buzz, and we might even see one this year. Notable tipster Evan Blass tweeted a video of what could be a Xiaomi tablet that folds into thirds, though he noted that he couldn’t verify its authenticity. Though it’s unclear if this is actually a Xiaomi product, or even if it’s anywhere near market-ready, the tablet does seem to function and respond to touch gestures before folding up without seams. But is it a real product, or is it a “gadget porn deepfake” as Blass noted in his tweet? If it’s an actual device, it’s far ahead of what other manufacturers have been capable of in their revealed products. The race to reveal foldables is onWhile Samsung has been working to release a foldable device for years, it finally demonstrated the so-called Galaxy X on (a very shadowed) stage last fall. That phone’s ‘Infinity Flex’ display folds along a single crease, clamshell-style, with another screen on the front. In contrast, the purported Xiaomi tablet bends in thirds down to a size comparable to a smartphone. Other manufacturers are trying different methods to achieve both form factors: the Royole FlexPai, which might be the first foldable device to market, folds in half (though the hinge is still large enough that it doesn’t fold flat). Other big phone manufacturers are racing to reveal their own foldable phones, especially after Google confirmed Android will support foldable phones. Oppo claims it will unveil its foldable device at Mobile World Congress in February, and while LG was supposed to show off its own device at CES 2019, that reveal might be delayed for awhile. Before foldable phones take over, check out our list of the best smartphones on the markethttp://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techradar/software-news/~4/ucUI2MxwUMg

If you didn't score a new TV during the holidays, and you're still in the market for one, then you've come to the right place! January is one of the best months to find great deals on TVs, and Walmart and Amazon are currently offering big savings on some of their best-selling 4K sets. We've scoured both sites to find the best TV deals from top brands including Samsung, Vizio, and Sharp. The best deals we've spotted include the TLC 43-inch TV for $259.99, the Samsung 50-inch TV for $377.99 and the Vizio 70-inch TV for $798. Walmart is offering the Sharp 55-inch 4K Smart TV for only $349.99, a brilliant price for a mid-size 4K TV. That's a $150 price drop, and the best price we've seen for this top-rated smart TV. Scroll down to shop more of our top 4K TV deals. January 2019 4K TV deals: Best TV 2019: which TV should you buy?http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techradar/software-news/~4/24RmBQXWZhI

Let’s face it – the golden age of flight is over. Sure, we can get around the world with relative ease, with all but the most far-flung and remote locations accessible by air. But unless you’ve paid for the first class, premium experience you’re going to be about as comfortable as a cow in an overheating barn. So it’s becoming ever-more important to be able to enjoy air travel with as little extra stress as is possible, able to bring your prized entertainment gadgets along for the ride and keeping them easily at hand and fully charged. The answer to super-smooth travel? Smart luggage. Here’s what you need to know. What is smart luggage?So-called smart luggage includes cases and bags designed to keep your gadgets charged while you travel. At their most basic, they’ll include a rechargeable battery pack that can be used to power your devices on the go, and at their most advanced they may include a GPS luggage tracker, putting your mind at ease as to the location of your baggage as it travels alongside you. Some brands, such as Horizn Studios even include a personalised travel service, managing bookings and reservations on your behalf. While not strictly tech-infused, gadget-friendly backpacks and rucksacks can also be a lifesaver when travelling, with secret pockets for valuables and dedicated pouches putting gadgets easily within reach when you’re rushing through security. http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/s9Ru4NyUDpBjtSXFxNtrKn.jpg Travel restrictionsHowever, the rise of smart luggage has not been a straightforward one. With airports on high alert due to never ending terrorism threats and passenger safety paramount, some earlier attempts at smart luggage have been banned on flights. Remember the exploding Samsung Galaxy Note 7 debacle? Or flaming hoverboards? They’re to blame – with airlines unable to verify the safety of onboard batteries, luggage that contained lithium-ion batteries were banned from the hold – and in the case of some airlines, from being taken onboard as hand luggage too. Major airlines like American Airlines, Delta and Alaska Airlines have all put restrictions on smart luggage. But all is not lost, provided you know what you’re travelling with. So what can, and can’t, you take on board? Essentially, if you buy a suitcase that has a removable battery pack onboard, you should be fine – they’re allowed in the cabin and, so long as you eject the battery before check in, they can be stored in the hold, too. However, some airlines are still a little touchy about cases with battery compartments built in, so just to be on the safe side, eject your battery pack before you go through security even if you’re taking it as carry on luggage. What you definitely shouldn’t do is buy a case with a battery pack built in that can’t be removed. This is a sure-fire way to get you held up at the gate, where you and your belongings will be stranded unless you purchase a new, dumb case. The best smart luggage: caseshttp://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/F9UgznvFffMJFUGwXCzgGG.png If you’re after the best of the best smart luggage, the best we've tried so far would be the cases built by Away. It makes smart cases in a range of sizes, including two different carry-on capacities, and a kid friendly case too. The Carry-On with Pocket is our pick of the bunch. Capacious with a 38L main compartment, and lightweight at 3.8kg when empty, it comes complete with an ejectable 10,000mAh battery tucked under the slide-out handle with two power-out ports for charging a pair of gadgets at once. Its polycarbonate shell is tough while still having enough give to overstuff the bag in a pinch, and 360-degree Hinomoto wheels let you glide around the airport concourse. A dedicated pocket at the front also lets you slip a laptop or tablet in and out in seconds to help a speedy sprint through security. An inner compression system maximises the amount of clothes you can fit inside, while a TSA-approved combination lock keeps your valuables safe while also letting authorities safely open your bag if required without resorting to tearing the the thing apart. Other brands to consider include Horizn Studios and Incase http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/pDbPq6RD9JG5v8aS3ogvcc.jpg The best smart luggage: rucksacksIf you’re after a rucksack we’d suggest trying wares by ModernistLook and Horizn Studios. We've not tried these ourselves, but from our research these look by far the most sensibly-designed, with all the elements we're looking for. The more tech-savvy of the two is the ModernistLook Smart Pro. Large enough to house a 15-inch laptop, it has an integrated USB port to which you can connect up any portable charging pack on the inside. Then, it’s just a matter of plugging your depleted device into the port on the outside of your device to charge while on the go. With a hidden rear pocket for valuables against your back and a luggage strap for hooking your bag onto your suitcase, it’s feature rich. The Smart Pro isn’t the best looking bag we’ve seen. If you’re feeling fashion conscious, and don’t mind losing out on the USB port, check out the Horizn Studios Gion, which has a classier pod-like look, ample easy-access storage space and water resistance. Lightspeed luggage – the cases of the futureThe future of luggage? It's looking like it'll be hands-off, and ride-on. With GPS trackers mastered and onboard charging as standard, the future suitcase will look to do the really hard work for us – wandering aimlessly through cookie-cutter departure gates while dragging our stuff behind us. Take for instance the forward-thinking Modobag, as seen in the video above. Not only is it a vessel for your vestments, it also doubles up as a 6mph motorised scooter, turning a trip to the airport lounge into a makeshift Mario Kart track. Though released in 2016, there's still little out there yet to match it. Or how about Xiaomi's Puppy 1 Smart Suitcase? Remote control powered with a secure finger print lock, it'll follow its owner around, complete with a parking brake and bi-directional steering, with sensors allowing it to adjust to different inclines and adapt its center of gravity accordingly to avoid tipping over. http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/DCfbVqSsAfYTLDEjnn3vxV.gif The Panasonic Personal Porter Robot (GIF courtesy of Gizmodo UK) And what about if you want to be buddies with your luggage? The Panasonic Personal Porter Robot concept was shown off in late 2018, and features facial recognition tech which lets it lock its contents off to anyone but its owner, whom it'll follow around like a faithful dog. While it's intended more for a trip to the shops than an overseas jaunt, its mere existence makes it easier to imagine a future where we've all got our own personal luggage-bot to carry our belongings around for us. Let the AI worry about your passport and dirty laundry while you hope off the plane and find the nearest beach. Going away? Pick up the best travel camera for the perfect holiday snapshttp://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techradar/software-news/~4/6oJ2U0ifKJc

A new Galaxy S10 photo suggests that Samsung's flagship smartphone will sport a fresh all-screen design with a pinhole camera, according to a new leak today. Samsung Galaxy S10 rumors have previously hinted at less bezel around the display by moving to a 'punch hole' cut-out in the screen to fit the front-facing camera. But this is the first alleged live Galaxy S10 photo – not just a render – we've seen, and it comes from smartphone leaker Evan Blass. He drops the codename as 'Beyond 1'. We could see further hints of the Galaxy S10 at CES 2019 next week (Samsung did tease the Galaxy S8 at CES 2017), but expect it to officially launch closer to MWC 2019 at the end of February. Wireless charging of other devices?The Galaxy S10 may have a new (well, new for Samsung) trick up its sleeve, according to a follow-up tweet by Blass: "One cool feature I haven't heard mentioned previously is this model's ability to wirelessly charge other compatible devices like handsets and watches," he says. The Huawei Mate 20 Pro that launched in October of last year is able to wireless charge other devices that support Qi charging. Samsung may be taking this 'reverse wireless charging' idea mainstream, which would be a first in some markets like the US where Huawei phones aren't sold. Expected competition: iPhone XI release date and rumorshttp://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techradar/software-news/~4/cUqLywcmBJQ

Samsung has ‘unboxed’ a trio of monitors ahead of CES 2019, and while we’d normally gravitate to the screens featuring the highest resolutions and ridiculous screen sizes, we’re most interested in the company’s latest Space Monitor. The new monitor seems an average 27-inch QHD monitor (also available in 32-inch 4K models) but it’s also bolted onto a fully-integrated monitor arm that clamps onto your desk. Unlike traditional monitor arms, though, this one is more like a flat post that folds down in sections to allow you to adjust the monitor’s height and tilt. We briefly tested this ourselves, and while there are some articulation limitations with this type of arm, it’s a uniquely clean and minimalistic setup that should attract users looking for clean lines on their desk. http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/JNucRHKjwMxgeCjG5nPGc6.jpg Same big screen, more resolutionThe second monitor that offers something new is the 49-inch CRG9, a follow-up to the brand’s previous ultra-wide CHG90 QLED Gaming Monitor, and one that now features an even sharper dual QHD resolution. Where the CHG90 ran with a 3,840 x 1,080 resolution, the CRG9 ups the ante to 5,120 x 1,440. This practically gives you the screen real estate of two QHD monitors fused together. On top of the increase in resolution, this 32:9 ultra, ultra-wide monitor features a 120Hz refresh rate, 1,000 nit peak brightness, HDR10 support, FreeSync 2 HDR technology and 1,800 R curvature that feels as if it threatens to engulf you as you sit in front of it. http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/xY2PKGjpmz5oVZitcwM6nB.jpg Create content like a kingLastly Samsung has introduced a 32-inch, curved 4K UR59C monitor designed for content creators. The 3,840 x 2,160 screen features a 2,500:1 contrast ratio, support for up to one billion colors and a more moderately-enveloping 1500R curvature. According to Samsung the Space Monitor and the UR59C are available now for pre-order through Best Buy, Amazon and its own retail site. However, we’ve yet to see product pages go up for these displays. We’ll be sure to update this post with pricing as soon as they appear. Samsung also hasn’t revealed pricing or a launch date for the 49-inch CRG9, but we can expect to hear more about it going into next week and CES 2019. Looking for the latest and greatest displays? We've picked out the best monitorshttp://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techradar/software-news/~4/J5UQPj-GB5Q

Vuzix, the company that wowed CES last year with its Vuzix Blade augmented reality (AR) glasses, is finally selling a finished product just in time for CES 2019. As promised, the Vuzix Blade pair of AR glasses are available directly from Vuzix for $999.99/€1,099 (about £793, AU$1,431). This is a mighty steep price for AR glasses with Amazon Alexa inside. The cost includes immediate access to the Vuzix Blade Developer Center, which offers product documentation, support forums, sample code examples and downloads. With included software features like this, it’s clear that this first public run of Vuzix Blade is intended for developers and enterprise end users – not regular consumers. For a start, these glasses aren’t exactly fashionable, and we found that they weren't terribly comfortable during our hands-on test of them at CES 2018. However, there are prescription lens options for people who wear glasses already. Also, the centered orientation of the AR content displayed on the lenses suggests support for more focused use cases (i.e. work) than simply walking around town. Still, if you’re super bullish on augmented reality and want to jump on on the next phase right now, here’s your chance. Expect to see your pair of Vuzix Blade glasses within four to six weeks of ordering. However, no matter how innovative these AR glasses may be, at that price point it might not make the kind of impact Vuzix is hoping for. How about virtual reality instead? The best VR headsets todayVia Tom’s Guide http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techradar/software-news/~4/pC96Cv5YKhw

Adversarial AI, increasingly sophisticated IoT attacks and an increase in fake apps are just some of the security trends that consumers need to be aware of in 2019 according to Avast's annual Threat Landscape Report. The security firm reviews around one million new files daily and prevents two billion attacks each month which gives it the volume necessary to provide valuable insights on the latest threats as well as the ability to map growing trends and predict future attacks. Adversarial AILast year a new class of attacks that leverage AI-generated content to evade AI security controls emerged. These 'DeepAttacks' were used by researchers to fool human users and one of the best examples of their potential misuse was the fake Obama video created by Buzzfeed where the former president convincingly delivered fake sentences. Avast predicts that we will see even more DeepAttacks deployed in 2019 as hackers attempt to evade both human detection and smart defences. http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/4FQ3cUnt4ca6dvsktEttNT.jpg Sophisticated IoT threatsThe rapid growth of smart home devices has made it increasingly difficult to buy appliances or home electronics that are not connected to the internet. Avast research has shown that smart device manufacturers often overlook the security of their products to keep costs low. However, since a smart home is only as secure as its weakest link, this could provide hackers with an easy way into consumer's home networks. We can expect to see IoT malware evolve to become more sophisticated and dangerous just as PC and mobile malware did before it. Evolving mobile threatsIn 2019, advertising, phishing and fake apps will continue to dominate the mobile threat landscape according to Avast. Last year the company tracked and flagged countless fake apps using its apklab.io platform with some even appearing on the Google Play Store. Fake apps are difficult to counter from a security standpoint because as soon as one is flagged for removal, another one pops up to take its place. This trend will likely continue as fake versions of popular apps find their way on to the Google Play Store. Avast's President of Consumer, Ondrej Vlcek offered further insight on this year's threats, saying: “This year, we celebrated the 30th anniversary of the World Wide Web. Fast forward thirty years and the threat landscape is exponentially more complex, and the available attack surface is growing faster than it has at any other point in the history of technology. PC viruses, while still a global threat, have been joined by a multitude of malware categories that deliver more attacks. People are acquiring more and varied types of connected devices, meaning every aspect of our lives could be compromised by an attack. Looking ahead to 2019, these trends point to a magnification of threats through these expanding threat surfaces.” We've also highlighted the best antivirushttp://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techradar/software-news/~4/hiR3lr3U8MY

The iPhone 11 release date won't be until September, but there's already a lot of interest in the next new iPhone and what Apple may have in store for us later this year. The new iPhone 11 is set to be a bigger upgrade than the incremental iPhone XS, although we don't expect the new iPhone to re-invigorate Apple's smartphone line as it was only recently rebooted by the iPhone X in 2017. However, with news that Apple isn't selling as many iPhones as previously forecast, perhaps the iPhone 11 will offer a more affordable tack on the firm's famous flagship. The iPhone 11 launch date is today, September 12, which means there really isn't long until we find out exactly what Apple has in store for us. With three iPhones launched in 2018, we expect Apple to repeat the trifecta this year with the iPhone 11 possibly launching alongside the iPhone 11 Max and the iPhone 11R (names TBC). So what new features will the iPhone 11 have, and will it still have a notch? Let's investigate what we expect from Apple's next flagship iPhone. What does the iPhone 11 need to improve? Read our in-depth iPhone XS reviewCut to the chaseWhat is it? The iPhone 11 will be Apple's next flagshipWhen is it out? Launch is likely to be mid-September 2019What will it cost? Likely no more than last year's iPhone XShttp://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/DHMddjYxbmiafAfT6GivdC.jpg The new iPhone 11 could end up looking similar to the iPhone XS New iPhone 11 leaks and latest newsIt may still be many months away, but new iPhone 11 leaks have started to slowly appear on the web. One report points to the inclusion of Sony's next-gen 3D sensors in the new iPhone, which could in turn offer quicker face unlock, better Portrait mode depth sensing and some potentially cool 3D modelling features and Augmented Reality (AR) implementations. Meanwhile, another iPhone 11 leak suggests the new handsets, and its potentially new siblings, could support input from the Apple Pencil that currently only works with iPads. Apple usually introduces a new chipset with its new iPhone launches, and the A13 chip is being touted for the iPhone 11, with analysts claiming a manufacturer is already lined up to produce the A13 chip. New iPhone 11 release dateiPhone 11 launch date: Mid-September 2019iPhone 11 pre-order date: Mid- September 2019iPhone 11 release date: Late September 2019The iPhone 11 launch date may well be a little later than previous years, as Europe's biggest tech show, IFA 2019 in Berlin, is set to run from September 6-11 this year - which may see Apple defer its new iPhone launch to the following week. That means we could be looking at a potential iPhone 11 launch date of either September 17 or September 18, depending on whether Apple plumps for a Tuesday or Wednesday - both days have been used in recent years. Apple hasn't launched an iPhone this late since 2011, when it announced the iPhone 4S on October 4, and we fully expect the Cupertino, California based firm to stick with a September arrival for the new iPhone in 2019. As for the iPhone 11 pre-order date, Apple tends to open them on the Friday following the launch, which would be September 20 by our calculations. Finally, the new iPhone 11 release date - the day when you'll actually be able to get your hands on the handset for the first time - could be just a week after the pre-orders open, so September 27 if our analysis is correct. These dates could quite easily shift though, and we wouldn't be surprised if Apple followed more recent tradition and launch the new iPhone 11 on September 10. New iPhone 11 priceiPhone 11 price likely to start around $999 (£999, AU$1,579)There could be a new price strategyEven without the official iPhone 11 price, we know it'll cost a lot. After all, Apple priced the iPhone XS and iPhone X starting at $999 (£999, AU$1,579). We could see identical prices for the iPhone 11. With news that Apple isn't selling as many iPhones as it previously forecast, there's a chance the iPhone 11 price will offer a more affordable look - although we reckon a price freeze, rather than a reduction, is a more likely move by Apple. It could mean good news for the successor to the well-received iPhone XR, with the main complaint about the first handset being it was still a little steep price-wise. If Apple can reduce the price on the iPhone 11R, it may help soften a lofty iPhone 11 price tag. New iPhone, iPhone 11 or iPhone XI?What will Apple call the new iPhone 11? It's a puzzling conundrum and there are a variety of different options for Apple to potentially pick from. It seems Apple has backed itself into somewhat of a naming corner with the recent XS, XS Max and XR monikers - so where does it go from here? Will it stick to roman numerals, revert back to traditional digits, or ditch them all together? At this stage, with sparse new iPhone leaks around, nothing is off the table. At this moment in time, we're seeing most of you searching for 'new iPhone', and that's a strong contender. Apple has already ditched numbered increments for Mac, Macbooks, TV and iPads, so new iPhone would be a logical next step. However, the numbers are a great way to easily distinguish new devices from old, so both iPhone 11 and iPhone XI are very much in the running. Apple never did give us an iPhone 9 though - with the iPhone 8 the final digit before the 'X' revolution - so going back to '11' may look a little odd. http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/p6c8cxtQdbQxaHdY699vpW.jpg The iPhone XS and XS Max are great, but there's still room for improvement New iPhone 11: what we want to seeThe iPhone XS and iPhone XS Max are great smartphones, but there's always room for improvement and human nature desires more every time - which means Apple needs to shake a few things up. Here at TechRadar we like to think of the whole tech community as one great, big family who help each other out, so we've come up with a few upgrades we reckon would go down a treat on the new iPhone. 1. No notch (or, at least, a smaller one)Love it or hate it, the notch has taken the smartphone world by storm, with a sharp influx in the design aesthetic after the arrival of the iPhone X - however it seems many of the competition have already surpassed Apple's implementation. The Apple notch is distinctive thanks to its size, but that's also its Achilles heel. It takes up a large amount of space along the top of the screen while we seen Android makers bring us dew-drop screens which are only as big a single front facing camera. What's preventing the notch from simply being ditched is all the tech Apple has crammed into it, and to remove it completely could mean a loss of some features - such as Face ID. Apple can probably relocate the microphone, proximity sensor and speaker, which in turn may see a reduction in size of the notch - which would be a step in the right direction. But, no notch would be the killer look - with a clean, elegant design that will surely turn heads. http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/qxnwcLh8owK5LfvzqDFnec.jpg The notch is big... imagine if it wasn't there on the new iPhone 2. A new designThe current design of the XS and XS Max is fantastic - solid, premium and sleek, it's one of the most desirable looks on the market, so is it cheeky of us to ask for something new? We don't think so. Apple's used the same design for the past two generations, and to avoid the new iPhone 11 being branded another incremental update, a fresh new look would help. If Apple does ditch the notch as we've so very kindly asked for above, that would be the first step towards a new design, but we'd like to see it go further, It's already removed the headphone jack and home button, so our focus is now on the alert slider, volume buttons and power key. We've seen HTC and Google implement squeezable sides on their phones, and if Apple can hone this technology to make it even more user friending it could be the end of any physical button or switch on the handset. 3. Better battery lifeWe say this ever year, but the fact remains that iPhones still aren't the strongest performers when it comes to battery life. The iPhone XS provided an improvement in battery over the iPhone X, but as we noted in our review, it's still "a long way from the best on the market." It's time Apple really got to grips with battery life, giving the new iPhone 11 a power pack that will see it comfortably through one day and into the next without a panic about finding a charger overnight. Battery technology isn't going to give us the multiple days of battery life we saw from feature phones back in the early 2000s, but an iPhone that could stretch to two days from a single charge would really get people talking. 4. eSIM onlyThe latest round of iPhones (the XS and co.) offer dual SIM capabilities, but they can only hold one physical SIM. That's because the other one is an eSIM, which is built into the handset and can be assigned to a network upon activation. Having to slide a SIM card into a new phone feels rather old fashioned in 2019, so we'd like to see the physical card ditched in favor of a dual eSIM setup in the new iPhone 11. We'd also want an easy to use setting that allows us to easily jump onto a network of our choosing at a tariff of our choice and, more importantly, be able to easily switch to a different network when our current deal expires. Plus, it would also mean the removal of the SIM tray, allowing for a sleeker design and potentially freeing up some precious additional space inside the handset for new features (or more battery!). This is only partly on Apple however, as carriers around the world would have to fully support eSIM technology and at the moment only a handful do so. However, with the introduction of 5G in 2019 and the presence of eSIM already inside one generation of iPhone, this ask isn't totally out of the question. http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techradar/software-news/~4/bOsRCYDLd2k

Don't risk your images; whisk them up into the safety of the cloud. Here we test six leading options to find the best cloud storage for photos. Backing up your photos is hardly a blast, and that was especially the case back when that meant spending time burning them to CDs. Fortunately, keeping your photos safe is now much easier thanks to the cloud. Put simply, 'the cloud' is just techno-jargon for online storage. You can choose from numerous websites offering anywhere between 1GB and 1TB of free remote hard drive space. Backing up like this doesn't just eliminate the hassle of dealing with discs or hard drives, it also enables you to access your photos from anywhere with an internet connection. The ability to share photos is another bonus, while websites like Flickr let you exhibit your images to the world, with scope for other users to leave feedback. Of course, if you'd rather keep your photos private, most cloud storage providers make it easy to set restrictions to make images accessible only to your password-protected account, or to anyone with a private web link. We've compared six of the best cloud storage websites; three aimed at photographers and three suited to general storage. http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/R9ro5hj9HhfNWeZGaqq2bL.jpg Dropbox is great for storing pretty much any digital file type. Organising files is a cinch thanks to the intuitive folder system, plus you can access your files on the go with apps for iOS and Android. All this and 2GB of storage is free with a Dropbox Basic account (you can get an extra 500MB of space for referring a friend up to 16GB). A Dropbox Plus account offers 1TB for $9.99 (£7.50) a month or $99 (£74) a year, and you can get 1GB per referral (up to 32GB) . You do get remote desktop wipe, 30-day version history and priority email upload. For its versatility and simplicity, Dropbox is superb, but ultimately Flickr's more attractive interface, social interaction and sheer value make it the better option. Get Dropbox Plus herehttp://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/J8Gjh4MYr7CTYHjN7xyHYj.jpg Drive isn't just another cloud storage provider, it's also home to several free business-grade office apps (heck, we even use it in the office here). Like Dropbox, Drive is geared towards file sharing, with multiple users able to modify shared files. You can store photos on Drive, but it doesn't offer the same stylish setting as more photography-focused online storage. Instead, use Google Photos which offers unlimited storage for high resolution photos which are up to 16-megapixel in size. 15GB of free storage comes with Drive, although this is shared by other Google apps like Gmail. Google uses AI and Machine Learning to automatically label people within pictures and uses metadata (date and place) to make searching easier. Google is in the process of launching Google One - a one sharable plan, so it might not yet be available in your region. You can increase the allocated space to 100GB for $1.99 (£1.5) per month, 200GB for $2.99 (£2.3) per month, 2TB costs $9.99 (£7.5) per month, while 10TB costs $99.99 (£75.5) per month. Additionally, new plans were added, 20TB for $199.99 (£151) per month and 30TB for $299.99 (£226.5) per month. Get Google Drive with Photoshttp://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/DREDH739YhoS7aHkvWNRab.jpg Microsoft's cloud storage offers a very similar set-up to its arch-rival, Google Drive. Anyone familiar with the Microsoft Office suite will feel right at home with OneDrive's integrated office apps. OneDrive adopts the same look and feel as Windows 10, so it's easy to navigate. However, it isn't designed solely for photographers, so don't expect the same viewing experience as you get from Flickr. Pricing is close to Google's, with 5GB for free and an extra 50GB costing $1.99 per month. However, Microsoft's 1TB option is better value at $6.99 per month (or $69.99 paid yearly), and includes the Office 365 package. Add another $3 per month and you get six licenses to use, more storage and bonus features like one hour Skype for free. Since October 2nd, subscribers can install Office (both plans) on an unlimited number of devices. Get Microsoft Onedrivehttp://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/d75216cba5a9effd033d467ab41df847.jpg Where most cloud storage providers make you cough up for more than a few gigabytes of storage, Flickr - now owned by Verizon - offers the storage of 1000 photos and videos for free, with unobtrusive adverts covering the cost. If you'd rather go ad-free and with unlimited storage, you can for a $6 monthly fee or $50 annual fee for Flickr Pro+. What makes Flickr stand out is its ability to display your photos in an attractive photostream. Other users can follow your activity and comment on your shots, or you can make images private, making it a real social network for amateur and professional photographers alike. Flickr is designed for presenting your shots rather than just storing them, so it'll only display JPEG, GIF and PNG images. Dropbox is better if you need to upload RAW files but you won't get stats on your photo views or 15% savings off Adobe's Creative Cloud (with the annual plan, you also get discounts for Blurb, SmugMug, and Priime). Get Flickr for freehttp://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/WomnXswamuY7uvuCTyqVfU.jpg Adobe Creative Cloud offers a number of different cloud-based storage solutions specifically for photographers. It provides photography-orientated storage with attractive image galleries. Group Libraries enable friends to add photos to one shared folder, and you're free to make any photo private. There's integration with Lightroom and Elements, and you can make quick edits when needed. Uploading is easy, with apps for Windows, Mac, iOS and Android. There's also support for RAW file formats. The cheapest tier is expensive though at $119.88 per year for 1TB of storage. That's twice what Microsoft OneDrive provides but you do get Lightroom CC. Opt for a lower storage capacity (20GB) and you can get Photoshop CC thrown in for free. Get Adobe Creative Cloudhttp://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/93R6xtoYKeuRAQoedPYn3V.jpg Irista is designed to rival the likes of Flickr and Adobe Creative Cloud, giving you a gallery-driven interface that's for displaying your shots in style. It accepts JPEG and common RAW file formats and is easy to use, with options to filter images by camera or lens type and arrange shots by year, tags and EXIF data. Social media is heavily integrated, so you can upload images to Irista, share them to Facebook or Flickr and track any Likes or comments. Six subscription plans allow you to increase Irista's free 15GB of storage to either 100GB, 500GB, 1TB, 2TB, 5TB or 10TB. You can get the cheapest 100GB plan for $2.25 a month, the most common 1TB plan for $12.99 a month or if you want the 10TB plan for the biggest storage, you'll have to pay $129.99 on a monthly basis. Get Canon Irista cloud storage5 things to look for in cloud storage for photosFreemium: Most storage providers give you some free space, with extra capacity available for a monthly or annual fee. Prices vary considerably, though, so make sure you get a good deal. File formats: If you just want to back up or share JPEGs, then pretty much any provider will fit the bill. However, you'll need to choose more carefully if you'll be storing TIFFs or RAW files. Internet speed: Don't fork out on a premium cloud storage subscription if your internet connection runs at a snail's pace. Consider spending the same cash on a fast external hard drive instead. Show off: Not all online storage websites will display your photos in attractive galleries for the world to see them at their best. Keep moving: Cloud storage is great for keeping your photos accessible on the go, so make sure your preferred provider has apps to help view and upload images from your mobile devices. http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techradar/software-news/~4/TWF6nHw1fu0

Now seems to be the perfect time to buy a Google Pixel 3. Prices have dropped across the board and you can get the device for some incredibly cheap prices but one retailer seems to be outdoing everybody else. Mobiles.co.uk has a number of great deals on this device and just in time for you to get a new phone for the new year. The first Pixel 3 deal from Mobiles gets you the device with 4GB of data for just £23 a month and £65 upfront (with our 10OFF code). That is an incredibly low monthly cost for a handset that is still relatively new. Mobiles also has the device with 15GB of data, no upfront costs and monthly payments of £34. While that is already a good deal it gets better. You get £144 in cashback by redemption which means you can knock the effective cost down to £28 a month which is incredibly cheap for a deal with that much data. You can see both of these deals down below or if neither of them are quite what you were looking for then check out our best Google Pixel 3 deals guide for all of the many options out there. These Google Pixel 3 deals in fullSee all of today's best UK mobile phone dealshttp://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techradar/software-news/~4/G44dkVrrxlk

Exploiting a Chromecast bug that's been allegedly ignored by Google for almost five years, a hacker has taken control of thousands of users’ Chromecast-connected devices. Hacker Giraffe has remotely gained access to the TVs and smart devices of tens-of-thousands of users and displayed a pop-up that both warns of the exploit and links to a page listing the current number of affected devices. Despite these seemingly noble intentions, the message also takes a chance to promote controversial YouTube personality, PewDiePie – a move this particular hacker has previously made by hijacking connected printers. The bug has been dubbed CastHack and utilizes the Universal Plug and Play (UPnP) functionality of some routers in order to remotely gain access to devices connected on their local networks. Consequently, users are able to block this kind of access to their network by disabling UPnP on their router. PewDiePie printer hackers launch further attackTeaching an old bug new tricksWhile technically this latest hack is made possible via a security flaw in a users’ router, the exploit related to the Chromecast is one that has been known since the year the device launched. In 2014, security firm Bishop Fox found that it could gain control of a Chromecast by disconnecting it from its current Wi-Fi network in what’s known as a “deauth” attack and reverting it to a factory state. It was confirmed that the device was still vulnerable to these attacks in 2016 by Pen Test Partners, another cybersecurity firm. While the initial deauth attacks required the hacker to be within range of the target’s Wi-Fi network, this new breed of attack can occur remotely over the internet, via the UPnP flaw previously mentioned. Best internet security suites 2018http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techradar/software-news/~4/Z9DqAFh-X8o

Perhaps worried about potential lawsuits, Netflix has taken to Twitter to issue a warning advising people not to hurt themselves while undertaking the 'Bird Box Challenge', which is – allegedly – the latest internet craze currently making the rounds on social media. Inspired by Netflix's popular new Original science-fiction film starring Sandra Bullock, in which a mysterious phenomenon causes mass suicides once witnessed, the Bird Box Challenge has reportedly influenced people to photograph and record themselves wandering around blindly while wearing blindfolds. Admittedly, we haven't seen much evidence of the Bird Box challenge being an actual 'thing', aside from one video of a toddler running into a wall and the odd sarcastic tweet, as spotted by CNET. That said, the potential for someone to wander into traffic or off a cliff while wearing a blindfold is obviously there. Judging from the Tweets, it doesn’t actually seem like anyone has been seriously undertaking the challenge, so Netflix may actually end up doing more harm than good by calling attention it. Previously, Netflix was forced to deny accusations that it had manufactured memes in an effort to promote Bird Box, which the streaming giant says has been viewed by over 45 million accounts since its release on December 21. The best upcoming TV shows and movies on Netflixhttp://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techradar/software-news/~4/OnwhPYKes2E

Apple isn't selling as many iPhones as it had previously forecast, according to revised first quarter projections, and it's a big enough shortfall to lower its revenue estimates by billions of dollars. The company lowered its guidance by $9 billion (about £$7.14b, AU$12.9b), going from a projected high of $93 billion (about £74b, AU$133b) to a new estimate of $84 billion (about £67b, AU$120b). The blame? "Lower than anticipated iPhone revenue, primarily in Greater China," according to a letter by Apple CEO Tim Cook. He cited the slowing of the Chinese economy and US-China trade tensions. Apple stock was briefly halted and the share price fell over 10 points in after hours trading. If there's any good news, it's that Cook noted that categories outside of the iPhone, including Mac, iPad wearables and services, actually grew by 19%. Other reason for iPhone weaknessIt's not all China. Other factors for weak iPhone performance include the strength of the US dollar and Apple's temporarily price cut for its replacement battery service in older iPhones. That deal ended on December 31. Cook also cited the fact that there are fewer carrier subsidies in a CNBC interview. In the US, for example, a new iPhone isn't $199 on contract anymore. That changed a while ago, but it's just hitting some new upgraders for the first time. "There aren't as many subsidies as their used to be from a carrier point of view," said Cook. "That didn't all happen yesterday, but if you were out of the market for two to three years and you come back, it looks like that to you." The next official Apple earning conference call is expected to happen toward the end of this month, on Tuesday, January 29. We'll have the final numbers and more words from Cook and company then. Without iOS 12.1.2 on iPad, some users can't import iCloud backupshttp://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techradar/software-news/~4/6CVFCO31Jts

Getting started with the new iPad 9.7 and iPad Pro is hitting a technical snag, according to some frustrated users and verified by our own testing. It's impossible to import existing backup data on an updated iPhone through iCloud or iTunes, because Apple hasn't updated the iPad to iOS 12.1.2 yet. This is especially maddening for brand new iPad owners who only have iPhone data to import. The latest version of the iPhone operating system is iOS 12.1.2, a minor tweak aimed at solving eSIM issues and other iOS 12 problems. The latest version of the iPad, meanwhile, is stuck at iOS 12.1.1. The iPad doesn't need the phone-focused iOS 12.1.2 update... Only it does because now you can't import iCloud or iTunes backups from an iPhone into a new iPad if you've already updated to iOS 12.1.2 on the phone. Apple confirmed this to us: "You're correct. You would not be able to restore a backup from an iOS version later than what's currently installed," according to Apple Support in a Twitter direct message to TechRadar. The fact that Apple nags you to update to iOS 12.1.2 on the phone and now defaults to auto-updates means that many iPhone owners who bought a new iPad are likely to have iOS 12.1.2 on their phone already without knowing it. What to do if you're really stuckWe tested this problem out on three different iPads, including a new iPad owner who didn't have any iCloud backups besides those from their iPhone. They didn't own an iPad previously, and bought the new iPad 9.7 due to the deeply discounted price over the holidays. A lot of novice users may be in the same boat. They weren't able to load up apps, photos, and messages from the get-go. Importing all of your old data between devices right from the start via iCloud is one of the best features Apple's mobile operating system has going for it. http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/BbqTDzeG5vP5VbL4Jukisf.jpg We did find a loophole that eventually solved this frustrating problem, but it required tapping into our $99 (about £79, AU$142) Apple Developer tool kit. We updated the iPad to the iOS 12.1.3 developer beta, leapfrogging the iOS 12.1.2 iPhone version, and we were then able to complete the iPhone data import to the iPad that way. That's obviously not a solution for everyone. Most people will have to wait for Apple to launch an iPad software update to match the iPhone software version number. Until then, they can set up their newly unwrapped iPad as a new device and re-download everything manually. Coming next week: CES 2019 predictions for the big tech eventhttp://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techradar/software-news/~4/nmk9gRUPVqw

Best Projector Buying Guide: Welcome to TechRadar's guide to the best home cinema projectors - featuring both 4K and HD models. Projectors have long held a vaunted position in the home cinema. That's because while TVs are more than adequate to deliver 4K HDR content, you'll likely need to refinance your house if you want a picture larger than 75-inches. But 75-inches is just the beginning for the cinema world. Whether you want to splash Blu-ray movies across a large white wall, magnify your gaming experience, or throw photos and slides from a mobile device onto a 100-inch plus screen, a home cinema projector should be your first choice. Unfortunately while most AV enthusiasts dream of the day they bring home a beamer for their living room, few tend to follow through. They have the misconception that projectors are hard to setup (they're not), hard to maintain (they're not) and cost significantly more than a TV (they don't). To that end we want to dispel the myths perpetuated by non-cinephiles out there and help you pick a fantastic-looking projector without breaking the bank. To that end, we've rounded up the best projectors we've tested throughout the last year or two and have ranked them below. Looking for something cheaper? Don't miss our guide to the best projector deals that gets updated each and every month! http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/VpYZrPoVzmhh9fhaoULSdZ.jpg The BenQ TK800 is the best projector of 2018 The main selling point of the BenQ TK800 is that it supports 4K and while this is true, it’s worth pointing out that the projector’s DLP chip is not 3840x2160 pixels. It uses XPR technology, which essentially takes a 1920x1080 pixel DLP chip and flashes the image four times in incredibly fast succession to create an image with a perceived resolution of over eight million pixels. Amazingly this actually works, and even with test patterns the images appear to be 4K in terms of resolution. It doesn't hurt that the projector is also really bright, which means that even with SDR content it can deliver images that have genuine impact, even in less-than-ideal conditions. As such you can use the TK800 in a room with white walls or big windows, and still enjoy a huge projected image. Also expect excellent motion handling, which is great for gaming, and it has a low input lag which is also good news for gamers. (The BenQ even supports 3D, although you will need to buy the glasses separately.) On the debit side, the black level and the shadow detail are both poor, and the TK800 also uses a color wheel, which restricts its range of colors, especially where HDR is concerned. It also means that certain people will see ‘rainbows’, but that’s just a limitation of single-chip DLP projectors. On top of all that, it's quite noisy thanks to both the color wheel and a fan, although the latter is necessary given the amount of heat generated by the bright bulb. Read the full review: BenQ TK800 http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/U6D3ofXKriRQ8SrHtFkjL4.jpg http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/wrQETe6Tq7ZA6mYJST9z2S.jpg For the last 10 years, JVC has been the projector brand to follow for black levels that will beat your local cinema screen. It's all thanks to JVC's D-ILA technology, which rival DLP and SXRD models just can't touch. Native contrast of 40,000:1 makes blacks looks truly black. That is, if you treat your cinema room to a nice, dark paint job. This year one of the main upgrades is HDR performance. The punchiness of HDR won't challenge an ultra-bright LCD TV, but here you'll get an image several times the size. One thing to note before buying is the JVC DLA-X5900 does not have native 4K projector panels inside. Instead it uses JVC's eShift technology, which projects two different 1080p images sequentially at 120Hz frequency, making up the detail of a native 4K display. Clever, right? And in person you'd be hard-pressed to tell the difference between this and 4K. http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/6f3dff1f35126f08a8c8eaca016b90d3.jpg http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/kW7dWCU4JewVS7cVSUyL4Z.jpg The UHD65 is a hugely enjoyable projector that manages to deliver very good images in both ambient light and blackout conditions. Most projectors commit to one or the other, halving their versatility. Though the UHD65 sacrifices both ultra-high brightness for daytime viewing and completely convincing black levels in a blackout, it's actually giving as close the 'best of both worlds' as any projector could: From upscaled HD TV channels and DVDs to Netflix 4K and a Ultra HD Blu-ray discs, few users will have complaints about the cleanness, detail or colour of the UHD65's images. However, we did miss a few luxury touches that a projector this price should include. The remote control is the same as you’d find on a projector a sixth of the price (and includes some button that have no function), and there’s no motorised zoom, focus and lens shift. All of these would've added a more polished, professional feel, which high-priced products like the UHD65 should always offer; it shouldn’t just be about new technology. Read the full review: Optoma UHD65 http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/U6D3ofXKriRQ8SrHtFkjL4.jpg http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/6mYfk8h85ysaFTn9RoXdjk.jpg Smart, voice activated controls for a home cinema projector may sound like the kitchen-sink approach to feature lists at first glance, jumping on the buzz-word (or should that be ‘wake word’?) bandwagon of Amazon’s Alexa, Apple’s Siri or Google’s Assistant. But think about the environment and scenario that your average projector viewing session takes place in, and it starts to make a lot of sense – you’re in a dark room where seeing buttons isn’t always easy, possibly with your hands loaded up with popcorn and other treats. Being able to shout “play the movie!” at a voice activated projector, potentially installed in a bracket high above your head, seems like a sound move. Ultimately, while the Alexa features are fun (if a little perfunctory) everything about this the Optoma UHD51A performs exceptionally. At this price you’re going to be hard pressed to find a projector that can deliver this level of picture quality and this feature set more confidently. The Optoma UHD51A represents a great shift in 4K projecting quality if you find yourself on a tighter budget. What’s on offer here allows even those with smaller living spaces and more modest bank balances a taste of the home cinema high life. Read the full review: Optoma UHD51A http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/U6D3ofXKriRQ8SrHtFkjL4.jpg http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/YMtGj7Yoj8KxNqKQS2Mtv8.jpg The BenQ HT2550 may look a bit pricey to someone used to seeing discount 4K TVs, for the price you can’t do much better. The projector boasts vivid, clear colors, plenty of detail, and a 4K resolution – all at well under $2,000. That’s no small feat. The projector isn’t perfect – the blacks on offer aren’t as deep as we might have liked, the projector still creates some fan noise and there’s also no lens shift – but those small downsides aside, we think the BenQ HT2550 is an excellent option for those that want a solid, no-frills projector with support for a 4K resolution and HDR content. Are there better options? Well, there’s the Optoma UHD50, which is $100 cheaper and offers many of the same perks (though color accuracy isn’t quite as good, and the BenQ projector is slightly better-built) but in the end, we think it’s better to spent the extra $100 for the BenQ HT2550. Read the full review: BenQ HT2550 http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/6f3dff1f35126f08a8c8eaca016b90d3.jpg http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/TpMWPArpP9wjAn6v7aUesZ.jpg If you want big screen home entertainment but don’t have the space, or funds for a large flatpanel TV or home cinema projector, then LG’s DLP LED Minibeam PH450UG Ultra Short Throw (UST) could be the answer. It needs only a dozen centimetres or so to cast a huge image onto a white wall or screen and, even better, it’s also ridiculously compact and relatively affordable at $650 (£529, around AU$864). There is a catch of course: The PH450UG has a resolution of just 720p. If you need more, LG has the PF1000U, a slightly larger 1080p UST model, that sells for $1,399 (£999). There are other projectors in this price range capable of 1080p – like the class-leading BenQ HT670 – but if you’re committed to the small form factor, the PH450UG is the way to go. Read the full review: LG PH450UG Minibeam Projector http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/U6D3ofXKriRQ8SrHtFkjL4.jpg http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/7oMQVnmnGJDcjP96jvqAZL.jpg For those who think that home cinema is an occasional luxury that is just not affordable or practical, the ultra-affordable HD142X is serious food for thought. Despite its lean price tag, it has a full 1080p (1920 x 1080) resolution, 3,000 ANSI lumens of brightness, 23,000:1 high contrast ratio and built-in 10-watt speakers. It even supports 3D video to boot. Optoma says that the lamp life for the HD142X is somewhere in the ballpark of 8,000 hours – and claims that it would last around 10 years if you watched a two-hour movie every single day. Input-wise the HD141X offers 2 x HDMI (1.4a 3D support) + MHL v1.2, perfect for hooking up a PS4 or 3D Blu-ray player. Read the full review: Optoma HD142X http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/6f3dff1f35126f08a8c8eaca016b90d3.jpg http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/GzpHmT5paRw8JofADPByxH.jpg The era of 4K was once only ruled by TVs, with projectors only joining the fold with large and pricey models. The BenQ W1700 is a surprising new addition for the company, and what’s even more surprising is the fact that it puts 4K projectors at a much more accessible price point than ever before. Yes, there may be one or two flaws that projector purists will nag about (hence its location on our list), but if you’re looking to finally set up your own private cinema in the comfort of your home, this is the place to start. http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techradar/software-news/~4/q1rj24RQjrg

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

After years of using its proprietary NetTV platform and a small foray into Roku TV, two new 2019 Philips TVs will offer Android TV with Google Assistant, according to Funai, the owner of the Philips brand here in the US. The two series, the 5704 and 5904, will be available in five screen sizes ranging from 43- to 75-inches and will be on display next week at CES 2019. While Android TV is already a pretty big enhancement over Funai’s old NetTV platform - as it brings Chromecast Built-in functionality along with it - it’s Google Assistant that will imbue the TVs with the ability to talk to Philips Hue, Nest thermostat and other Google Assistant compatible products. As for the screens themselves, Funai says they'll come equipped with HDR10 support and Bright Pro, a backlight boost that brightens the image by up to ten percent compared to standard LED displays. More interestingly, the 5904 series will offer an integrated far-field microphone solution allowing users to access Assistant anywhere in the room. So when will you be able to get your hands on the new-and-improved Philips TVs? The 5704 will be available starting today in some club stores throughout the US, while the 5904 will be available in the second half of 2019. Don't miss our round up of the best TVs in 2019http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techradar/software-news/~4/oQLAsKDjQLk

Every day we do so many things online, and that’s only going to become more true in 2019. And, that’s why wireless routers are more important than ever right now. After all, you don’t want that Netflix stream to start buffering because your roommate started downloading that new game. So, you should keep an eye out for the best wireless routers. In our ever connected lives, having a smoother online experience is the goal. Many people might just want to call their ISP to combat slow wireless speeds, instead of picking up the best router they can muster. However, whether you need a gaming router or a wireless mesh router, the best wireless routers are extremely important – even the fastest internet connection won’t do much good if your router isn’t up to the task. With so many wireless routers on the market, finding the best one for you and yours can get stressful. Luckily, we here at TechRadar have you covered with the best wireless routers 2019 has to offer. And, we’ve even included our exclusive price comparison tool, so you can find the best deal every time. http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/4gTrwymoNSmxRzK5yZkHRY.jpg The days of traditional wireless routers are over – 2019 is the year of the best wireless mesh routers. Google Wifi is the best proof we can think of for this mesh revolution – you can finally say goodbye to the days when the only way to achieve wireless freedom was to install a bunch of wireless extenders. The premise of Google Wifi is simple – buy a set of points and place them in key locations around your home. Then, just scan a QR code and you’re good to go – it’s not just the best wireless router you can buy, it’s also the easiest to set up. Read the full review: Google Wifi http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/EY2VqpnmzPzUwCzuSBgx43.jpg If you’re familiar with Asus, and specifically its more gamer-centric products, you’ll know what to expect from the Asus RT-AC86U. This wireless router looks like what would happen if you poured Mountain Dew and Doritos into a wireless router-manufacturing machine – it’ll definitely stand out wherever you put it. Beneath its ‘unique’ design is hardware that, for its price, defiantly stands against the competition. You’re not paying a premium here for a ‘gaming’ wireless router, and if you’re looking for a fast connection at a good price, the Asus RT-AC86U is a great choice. Read the full review: Asus RT-AC86U http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/ZKgJZYZyvuhWAr9PPUscrA.jpg When the original Netgear Orbi came out, it shook the world, virtually revolutionizing the wireless router game. And, now, Netgear has released the Orbi AC2200 RBK23, a cheaper, more attainable router for casual users. It features less antennae and ethernet ports than the original, but it's still enough to offer very solid network coverage, especially if you have an average sized home. Plus, it’s smaller now, which means it will be less conspicuous – you won’t feel the need to hide the Orbi. Read the full review: Netgear Orbi AC2200 RBK23 http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/k5dwhUMskV56DcqugN5ime.jpg These days, we’re living in a time when many everyday appliances are being controlled by a smart home hub. Now, while this does wonders for convenience, having all those wireless routers, modems and hubs can start to clutter up your home. Luckily, the Samsung Connect Home does away with the need to have 20 different devices. It’s not the most feature rich wireless router on the market, but it’s competitive enough with the Google Wifi, while still packing in the SmartThings hub that it’s still one of the best routers – especially if you have a ton of smart devices. Read the full review: Samsung Connect Home 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 Google Wifi. http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/vnP5bzmL7gSC9fZGsMXXgU.jpg If you’re in the market for a high-end wireless router that looks like it was a prop in some 90s Sci-Fi flick, you may want to look at the TP-Link Archer C5400 v2. Sure, it’s not a trendy mesh wireless router, but it’s unique in its ability to bridge consumer and enterprise users by featuring high-end functionality at an affordable price point – with easy setup to boot. It might look weird, but if you’re looking for a wireless router that’ll cover a large home, you can’t go wrong here. Read the full review: TP-Link Archer C5400 v2 http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/v28atHLfhEjbbzVn5Gitu7.jpg If you’re ready to bring your office’s networking into the modern age with one of the best wireless routers, you need to take a look at the Netgear Orbi Pro. It’s a modular Wi-Fi mesh router, but it takes some design and performance cues from business-grade products. It’s not cheap, but if you run a business where you can’t afford anyone slowing down due to poor Wi-Fi, it’s worth every penny. Read the full review: Netgear Orbi Pro http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/Aru3B5XKZPRemzA2Bygm5P.jpg In 2019, the best wireless routers need to be mesh devices – the level of coverage they offer is beyond what traditional routers can handle. And, with devices like the TP-Link Deco M9, we can see how the best wireless routers keep evolving. By integrating support for IoT smart-home devices, on top of industry standard speeds and coverage, the TP-Link Deco M9 is easily one of the best routers for smart-home fanatics. It’s a little expensive, but it has plenty of features that make it worthwhile, like built-in parental controls and anti-virus. Read the full review: TP-Link Deco M9 http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/RFSmStpAgKEFqfX7Y9LJZg.jpg If you’re looking to jump on the mesh wireless router trend, but you’re trying to save a few bucks, and don’t really care about some advanced tech mumbo-jumbo – the D-Link Covr-C1203 might just be the best wireless router for you. It offers the same type of coverage as something like the Google Wifi at a lower cost, but with slightly slower speeds – it’ll still be fast enough for most users, though. It also features an attractive triangular design, which should fit in nicely with your decor – you won’t need to hide it in shame. Read the full review: D-Link Covr-C1203 http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/RKYoiBJN7URFttPiaBUHYX.jpg If you’ve been looking at wireless mesh systems, but wanted to keep the control over your network that the best wireless routers allow, you’re in luck. While it’s more expensive than the competition, the Eero Home Wi-Fi system allows its users complete control over their network, while also providing an extremely secure connection thanks to its use of AI. To sweeten the pot and make the price more approachable, Eero includes subscriptions to 1Password, MalwareBytes and Encrypt.me VPN – which should help keep everyone on your network safe. The only downfall here is it doesn’t cover quite as much area as something like the Google Wifi or Netgear Orbi, but if you’re looking for sheer horsepower, look no further. Read the full review: Eero Home Wi-Fi System http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/mrJxiBKZyvVccnpy5F3yFA.jpg It might be even more expensive than the Google Wifi for similar performance, but the Amplifi HD has a modern, clean look to it. Aesthetic doesn’t matter to everyone, obviously, but it does help prevent users from installing this wireless router behind objects that will obscure its signal. This is a wireless router that features excellent performance with stylistic flair to match – as long as you have the cash. Read the full review: Amplifi HD Joe Osborne, Bill Thomas and Gabe Carey have also contributed to this article We’ve also picked out the best best wifi extenders of 2019http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techradar/software-news/~4/z7EAxC2giM8

Best TV Buying Guide: settle in for TechRadar's round-up of the best TV sets you can get your hands on in 2019. As 2018 fades into the distance, 2019 is going to offer us some of the best TVs we've yet to see. We'll catch our first glimpse of these futuristic flatscreens in early January at CES 2019 and, if all goes according to plan, have review samples ready to check out by the end of March. That said, if you can't wait until mid-2019 to pick up a new TV we can certainly help you pick from last year's stock. After all, we've spent years reviewing TVs on TechRadar and have seen the vast majority of the TVs on the market. To sort things out in a digestible format, we've divided our guide into two pages. The first page details the best TVs out right now, along with their key specs, while the second page will teach you more about what makes a TV tick and why those specs matter so much. If you're looking for a buying guide that deals with TVs that only support a 4K Ultra HD resolution, check out our page on the best 4K TVs. Or if getting a flatscreen on the cheap is your main concern, check out the best 4K TV deals and best Cyber Monday TV deals guide, which contain boatloads of savings. "Should I buy a TV now or wait it out?"This is a question we get a lot. Like most technology (cough, iPhones) TVs are getting incrementally better all the time – which means, yes, if you wait a year there will probably be a bigger, flashier TV out there for less money. But while doing so will certainly net you a larger screen at a better price, some of the best panels are already being manufactured today. While tomorrow's screens might be a bit larger, a bit brighter and a bit cheaper, today's screens are just as competent in their own right. We can say that with confidence knowing that most manufacturers have finally embraced the three most important standards in TVs: Ultra HD, Wide Color Gamut and HDR (HDR10 and Dolby Vision). If a TV you're looking at doesn't support at least one of these, you should probably look somewhere else. Not sure where to start? Here are the best TVs we tested this year. http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/WDwdQEsmxFQUH6QAY4FaFZ.jpg Samsung Q9FN QLED (2018) After an underwhelming debut, Samsung’s QLED technology really needed to bounce back in style in 2018. It didn't surprise us in the least, then, to discover Samsung threw the kitchen sink in with its new Q9FN QLED Series of TVs. As well as being even brighter and more colorful than last year’s equivalent model, Samsung's 2018 flagship screens use a completely different lighting system to combat its predecessor’s contrast problems: Full Array Local Dimming rather than edge-lit LED lighting. The FALD panel works in tandem with Samsung QLED Quantum Dots to produce a picture that's brighter and more colorful than near any we've seen come from the South Korean manufacturer. Do those features alone make Samsung Q9FN the best TV on the market? No, but throw in technology like HDR10+ and Q HDR EliteMax – what Samsung bills as its maximum High Dynamic Range experience that’s exclusive to the Q9FN – and there's very little doubt in our mind that this is Samsung's best TV ever. Read the full review: Samsung Q9FN QLED TV (65Q9FN) http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/eaV3kfiKqe8HZw8guGnRxS.jpg http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/genG5X5meaJ5BZHWKTVMS8.jpg LG C8 OLED Series (2018) At the top of our list for 2018 is the LG C8 OLED – available in both 55 and 65-inch iterations. It's here because it combines an impressive picture, an extensive set of features, an attractive design and its unrivaled smart platform, to deliver one of the best TVs we have seen to date. It’s not as bright as an LCD TV but those deep blacks make a huge difference to the dynamic range of the image. It’s also capable of vibrant and gorgeous colors, not to mention an astounding level of detail with native 4K content. There are other OLEDs worth considering this year (see: Sony's A1E and A8F OLED or LG's own E8 and W8 OLED models) but we think the OLED C7 offers the best price-to-performance ratio of any TV under the sun in the year 2018. Read the full review: LG OLED C8 (OLED55C8, OLED65C8) http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/eaV3kfiKqe8HZw8guGnRxS.jpg http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/ZKWecPinVKKCZdtcnS3gzQ.jpg Samsung Q900R QLED TV With most people - *cough* content providers - only just getting to grips with 4K resolution, you’d be forgiven for thinking that Samsung had gone nuts by introducing the world’s first true 8K TV. And yet, while it's easy to be critical about the Samsung Q900R, it truly does usher in a new era of TV picture quality. Its native 8K pictures are incredible, looking just like the real world - only better. But even more crucially given the dearth of true 8K content for the foreseeable future, the 85Q900R makes all today’s lower resolution sources look better than they do anywhere else, too. Whether 8K delivers the same impact on smaller screens remains to be seen, but if you have a big enough room and budget, the 85Q900R is a vision of the future that’s actually spectacularly worth buying today. http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/eaV3kfiKqe8HZw8guGnRxS.jpg http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/bs8tFd23RfSmxoq3HfPd5P.jpg Sony’s second-generation OLED flagship, the A9F, is coming at a good time – just as Samsung and LG have stepped up their games with the Samsung Q9FN QLEDand LG E8 OLED, Sony has fired back with a phenomenal OLED of its own. Even better than the A1E before it, the A9F is unquestionably Sony’s best OLED offering to date, and arguably a strong contender for high-end screen of the year. While we experienced some minor issues (notably Black level crushing on Dolby Vision, and that Netflix Calibrated mode), niggles are to be expected on a set as ambitious as this. If you can live with the slightly idiosyncratic design, and afford the asking price, it’s a glorious UHD display. http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/eaV3kfiKqe8HZw8guGnRxS.jpg http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/J5kgPJrAPFKHCTea6yRzd6.jpg LG E8 OLED Series (2018) Having potentially pushed the hardware capabilities of its current OLED screen technology as far as they can go, LG has for 2018 turned its attention to the software that drives these screens - and this shift in focus has yielded surprisingly impressive results, improving and even removing many of the residual niggles associated with 2017’s already in truth outstanding OLED sets. The OLED65E8 loses a bit of ground sonically from its predecessor, and there’s some stiff competition this year from Samsung’s new Q9FN flagship LCD TV, but all the growing legions of OLED fans will probably need to hear is that the OLED65E8 is comfortably the best OLED TV LG has ever made. http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/eaV3kfiKqe8HZw8guGnRxS.jpg http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/V4sk5ynjrYUH2t8ssKNvKi.jpg Samsung Q8FN QLED TV (2018) Although it’s clearly a step down from Samsung’s all-conquering Q9FN, the Q8FN is still a fantastic TV. Phenomenally bright, colorful and ultra sharp - it has all the right stuff for getting huge impact from today’s cutting edge picture sources. Worth calling attention to, this is a fantastic TV for HDR content as its direct lighting system manages to produce a whopping 2,100 measured nits of light from a 10% white HDR window. This sort of brightness is unparalleled for the TV’s price point, and ensures that it delivers the upper extremes of HDR’s extended brightness range with spectacular effectiveness and punch. So why isn't it higher on our list? If you watch the TV from an angle, color saturations reduce, and backlight blooming becomes much more noticeable. Also, Samsung’s Auto motion processing system is a bit over aggressive, causing too many distracting side effects for comfort. http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/684e36528eca45e1971880b3630342db.jpg http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/TRmjce2S2BVX4vN638ncVT.jpg Sony Bravia X900F Series (2018) OK, so you don't want (or can't afford) Sony's new A9F OLED or the fantastic-but-pricey Z9F. So what should you buy? Check out the X900F series. With superb 4K image clarity, powerful SDR-to-HDR remastering, and a smooth direct LED backlight, Sony is offering something very different with the X900F. We loved the consistency of its images, the eye-popping vibrancy of its wide color gamut panel and its easy-to-watch HDR – you get spectral highlights without accompanying eye fatigue. Given this set’s high-but-fair price point, any niggles we have are negligible. The X900F is highly recommended and deserved our Recommended award. Read the full review: Sony Bravia X900F (XBR-65X900F) review http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/684e36528eca45e1971880b3630342db.jpg http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/GszcDKhvBuhLtPJm8C8rVj.jpg TCL 6-Series (R615, R617) (2018) If you had deep pockets and checkbook filled with blank checks, we’d tell you to reach deep and shell out for only the best TVs on the market - LG’s crazy-thin OLED W8 or Samsung’s ultra-bright Q9FN QLED (both featured on this list). But that’s not realistic. For the vast, vast majority of us, our budget to spend on a TV is limited to somewhere under $1,000 - and often less than that. To that end, it’s absolutely fair to say that the TCL 6-Series is the best TV you can possibly get in this price range. Its performance per dollar is unmatched and its picture quality - despite a few minor flaws - will truly impress you. Read the full review: TCL 6-Series (R615, R617) http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/eaV3kfiKqe8HZw8guGnRxS.jpg 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 has its share of problems, too, like some audio reproduction issues and a slower operating platform. 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. http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/eaV3kfiKqe8HZw8guGnRxS.jpg http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/mBV5df3ZEXhuoNXLFyvupM.jpg Samsung Q7FN QLED TV The Samsung Q7FN QLED TV has most of what makes the class-leading Q9FN great: Its quantum dots help produce a colorful but not oversaturated image and local dimming has really improved year-on-year. That said, off-axis viewing is still an issue and motion handling isn’t as good here as it is on Sony’s similarly priced X900F BRAVIA series. That said, while the Q7FN is bright, colorful and beautiful, it loses many of those qualities the moment you shift a few degrees off-axis. This isn’t an area where some of Samsung’s competitors - like the LG OLED or Super UHD TVs - stumble, and that makes it tough to give a full unadulterated recommendation. But, overall, the Q7FN is a good compromise between price and performance offering a bright screen, HDR and incredibly accurate colors for $1,799. Continue on to page two to read about what to look for when buying a TV! Want better audio? Check out our guide to the best soundbars available.Once you've decided on a panel, make sure you read our guide on how to set up your TV to make sure you're getting the most out of it.Are you looking for the best universal remote for your new home theater setup?What TV technology is best? Which is the best LCD TV? Which screen size is best for your living room? What's the difference between LCD and LED TVs? The answers aren't always obvious. In fact, buying a new TV can be stressful even for the tech-savvy - there are so many brands, so many features, so many screen sizes, colors, technologies and flavors to choose from. So which one is right for you, your family and your living space? In this guide, we'll walk you through everything you need to know about buying a new TV. What types of TV are there out there?There are a lot of different screen types out there, all working in different ways to produce the same results. Each technology has its own unique strengths and weaknesses so here are some basics to consider: LCD TV: CCFL A few years back, all LCD TVs were backlit by always-on, CCFL (cold cathode fluorescent) lamps. This ageing technology has been superseded by the superior LED method on more expensive sets, but is still standard on some cheaper models. LED TV: Direct LED These displays are backlit by an array of LEDs (light emitting diodes) directly behind the screen. This enables localised dimming – meaning immediately adjacent areas of brightness and darkness can be displayed more effectively – and greatly improves contrast. LED TVs are also more power efficient and capable of a wider colour gamut than CCFL sets. Because of the extreme cost of mounting these arrays of LEDs, cheaper TVs usually use Edge-Lit LED screens over Direct or Full-Array LED screens. LED TV: Edge LED With these TVs, LEDs of the backlight are mounted along the edges of the panel. This arrangement enables radically slender displays and offers superior contrast levels to CCFL, but can't achieve the same picture quality as directly lit LED sets. However, they do come in far cheaper which is why most LED TVs out there now use this technology. OLED TV The backlighting on OLED (organic light emitting diode) sets is achieved by passing an electric current through an emissive, electroluminescent film. This technique produces far better colours and higher contrast and also enables screens to be extremely thin and flexible. This is the holy grail display technology and LG, Sony, Philips and Panasonic have all adopted it in their flagship sets. http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/cf284689d233ed61a0fd0fafd497a084.jpg Quantum Dot Quantum Dot is Samsung's big play in the LED TV space. With it, the brand claims that it's able to produce more colorful pictures than LG and Sony while offering even brighter panels. LG's Super UHD TVs all use a variation of Quantum Dot called Nano Cell, and Hisense makes a number of Quantum Dot TVs for the US and China. Plasma TV Plasma has almost entirely been phased out at this point, but PDP (plasma display panel) TVs use glass panels containing millions of tiny cells filled with a mixture of inert gases. Electricity excites the gases, causing them to illuminate the pixels across the screen. Plasma, while arguably superior to LCD in terms of contrast and colour accuracy, is only viable on large (42in+) screens and has been dropped by all but a handful of manufacturers. You'll be lucky to find one on the shelves these days. Curved TV Some manufacturers are now making TVs that have slightly curved screens. But unlike old CRT TVs, the curve is inwards rather than outwards. The idea is that this makes every pixel equidistant from your eyes, delivering a more satisfying picture. However, there are drawbacks for this type of screen - the main one being that if you sit far enough to one side – more than 40 degrees or so – the curve clearly starts to affect the image's geometry, foreshortening content near to you and compressing the image's centre. What resolution tech should I go for?HD HD TVs come in two resolutions. Sets with the HD ready are required to be able to display a minimum 720p picture, and generally has a screen resolution of 1366 x 768 pixels. Meanwhile, Full HD TVs have a higher resolution of 1920 x 1080 pixels. It's highly advisable that you don't go for anything less than full HD in this day and age, and really you should be looking almost exclusively at 4K sets. Ultra HD and 4K The resolution of Ultra HD is exactly four times higher than full HD - 3840 x 2160. It means a far more detailed picture, with content requiring a lot more bandwidth and storage space. 4K TVs tend to be good at upscaling HD video to Ultra HD but there are currently a few options for watching native 4K content, but terrestrial broadcasters in the US have yet to adopt it as the new standard. Read more about 4K. HDR The next big thing in TVs, HDR produces astounding levels of visual fidelity and can be found in some of the latest Ultra HD TVs. HDR is a technology and a standard. Content needs to be mastered in HDR and you need an HDR TV to see it. What HDR offers however, is worth the extra steps to get it - you'll see increased contrast and more realistic colors, enhancing the image to a more cinematic level. What's the best smart TV platform around today?What else should I consider?Buying a flatscreen television is a major investment and one that you can't afford to take lightly. Just popping into the closest store and grabbing the first plasma or LCD you see won't get you the best deal, the screen that suits your needs, or the gear you require to make the most of your new purchase. Size matters People tend to pick the size of their flat TV based on the amount of space they have for it, this isn't necessarily wise. Flat TVs take up much less space than you might think, so your new TV may end up a foot or two further away from your viewing position, making the picture appear smaller. Also, with hi-def, you can have a bigger screen and the same viewing distance without worrying about seeing blemishes inherent to the source. A 4K TV's lack of noise means that the ideal distance to sit from the screen is three to four times the height of the TV. http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/b38faa22e56530b73485680b76861b2c.jpg How to calculate the right size HD TV:The trick here is to ensure that your TV is big enough to fill your line of vision, but small enough to be sharp and clear. Remember, if you intend to only watch standard-definition sources, the bigger the screen gets, the worse the image will look. The ideal screen size can be calculated by multiplying the distance that you intend to sit away from it by 0.535 and then rounding this up to the nearest size. So, if you sit 80in away from your TV, the ideal size is 42-inch (80 x 0.535= 42.8). What features should I look out for?Features are too numerous to go into here, but here are some things you should consider. Photo viewing: If you have a digital camera, a TV that has a slot for memory cards or a USB socket for a card reader will let you view your photos onscreen. Here are some of the things we look for when we review a screen, so you should, too... Contrast: Bright whites shouldn't have any signs of green, pink or blue in them, while blacks should look solid and not washed out, grey, green or blue. Colours: Look at how bright and solid they are; how noiseless their edges are; how 'dotty' richly saturated areas are and how natural skin looks, especially in dim scenes. Fine detail: How much texture does the screen give? Does a tree look like a green lump, or can you see the individual leaves Edges: Check for ghosting, bright halos and jaggedness, especially around curves. Motion: Check moving objects and quick camera pans for smearing or blurring, trailing, jerkiness and fizzing dotty noise. Image artefacts: Look for blockiness, colour bands, grain, smearing, dot crawl: anything that looks like it's added by the TV picture processing or a weak TV tuner. Tinker with a TV's picture settings before making a final decision. Factory settings are rarely good for everyday viewing. http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/15fab2698bc4e6a52e2a6190e547a5be.jpg What about sound?To provide the best audio to complement the pictures, your TV should be hooked up to a surround sound system, but this isn't always an option. So, here's what we listen for when testing a TV's speakers: Bass: Deep, rounded rumbles that don't cause the set to rattle or speakers to distort, cramp or overwhelm the rest of the sound; but that expand when needed. Vocals: Voices should sound open, rich and clear, not boxed in, nasal or thin. Trebles: Treble effects should sound clean, rounded and smooth in loud scenes and shouldn't dominate the soundstage. Soundstage width/depth: A good TV should throw the sound away from the TV, to the sides, forward and back, to give an extra dimension to what's on screen, without losing any coherence. How many HDMI sockets do I need?For a living room TV you should be looking for a minimum of 3 HDMI inputs. If you want to attach a set-top box as well as games consoles etc, those HDMI ports will fill up fast. Do I want to hang my TV on the wall?First off, you'll need to consult a construction expert to check that the wall in question is strong enough to support a flatscreen. Then find out if the set you want is designed to be wall-mounted and, if so, ask if the relevant bracket is included in the basic package or as an optional extra. Will I be connecting it to a home cinema?If the answer is no, you might want to think more carefully about your set's audio performance. Look for a screen that can go as loud as you'll need without distortion or cabinet rattle. Consider how dialogue sounds and how much low-end rumble the bass is capable of. Conversely, it's pointless paying out more cash for exceptional built-in speakers if you already have a decent home cinema system. Happy shopping! http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techradar/software-news/~4/wUDwIpjpSuA

If there’s one industry that technology has transformed hugely in recent years, it has to be retail. The fact is, most people are doing their shopping online rather than visiting physical stores, a trend that is expected to continue, with a predicted doubling of retail e-commerce sales from 2016 to 2020. As a market, e-commerce is clearly lucrative. Data from Statistica claims that it generated $2.3 trillion (£1.8 trillion) of sales worldwide in 2017. And by 2021, online retail revenues could reach $4.88 trillion (£3.8 trillion). Besides major shopping sites such Amazon and eBay, PipeCandy estimates that there are two to three million e-commerce businesses of all sizes globally, and Statistica estimates that these firms had combined sales of over $446 billion (£350 billion) for 2017 in the US alone. The best thing about the e-commerce market is that you don’t have to be a Silicon Valley tech giant to create your own store. Thanks to technology, it couldn’t be easier to make a living by selling items online. But you need to ensure that you don’t just have an easy-to-use website so customers can find items effortlessly, you also need a reliable payment gateway for when shoppers hand over their cash. Payment gateways are services that handle credit cards and direct payments processing for e-commerce websites, as well as traditional brick and mortar outlets. Aimed at enabling smooth payment transactions, they usually connect payment portals to banking services. These services also have security processes in place to identify and block fraudsters from hijacking payments and credit card details. We've picked out the best of these solutions here, considering features, cost and both customer and professional reviews when it comes to making our choices. We've also highlighted the best credit card processing serviceshttp://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/DguE8qopJBAfZ4Nsa8JAe6.jpg Authorize.net The main aim of these solutions is to streamline the payments process, and Authorize.net (from Visa) does exactly that. Developed with firms of all sizes in mind and offering a choice of plans, the platform gives you the tools to sell items and take payments online, or in-person at a store. With the solution, you can accept payments from websites and transfer funds into a merchant bank account quickly. It supports all major credit cards, including Visa, MasterCard, American Express, Discover, Diner’s Club and JCB. As well as this, the platform is compatible with digital payment services such as Apple Pay, PayPal and Visa Checkout. Although the software can accept transactions made by customers all over the world, your business must be registered in the US, UK, Canada, Europe or Australia if you’d like to use this service. Plans start with the Payment Gateway Only offering, which has no setup fee, a monthly gateway fee of $25 (£20), plus a per transaction fee of $0.10 (£0.08) and a daily batch fee of an additional $0.10 (£0.08). At the other end of the spectrum are enterprise solutions which offer tailored pricing for larger business needs. You can sign up for Authorize.net herehttp://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/GbRRtfs8eAkDMwkkbkgVY9.jpg Stripe Stripe is yet another powerful payment platform designed for internet businesses, with the company claiming to handle billions of dollars worth of transactions annually. The main difference between this service and many others is that it isn’t an out-of-the-box solution. Instead, you’re provided with a range of flexible tools to customize your own payment processes. Designed for larger firms, it offers a plethora of APIs that allow you to create your own subscription services, on-demand marketplaces, or crowdfunding platforms. It supports a range of development languages, including Ruby, Python, PHP and Java. Furthermore, Stripe supports more than a hundred currencies, and offers features such as mobile payments, subscription billing and one-click checkout. Users also get access to a dashboard where they can visualize transactions. Clearly, then, this is a feature-rich payment gateway, although Stripe does demand a lot more technological knowledge from the user than most providers. Stripe offers a simple to understand basic plan with a flat fee of 2.9%, plus $0.30 (£0.24) per charge. Additionally, for larger volume needs, it has a customized plan with volume discounts, and the ability to “bring your own Amex rates.” You can sign up for Stripe herehttp://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/6QtwFquYiMX9HY3B9H6MZ3.jpg Payline Payline is a Pineapple Payments company headquartered in Chicago, Illinois. It provides solutions to businesses ranging from startups to Fortune 500 companies, with a focus on the payment experience. Payline offers gateway payment processing, and its web solutions are designed to integrate with over 175 online shopping carts. The company also offers mobile solutions designed to accept payments via mobile apps. The Payline payment processing gateway also integrates with QuickBooks for ease of payroll management, and business financials in general. Pricing for this service starts with the $10 (£8) monthly fee, along with an additional 0.3% plus $0.20 (£0.16) transaction fee for each use. You can sign up for Payline herehttp://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/6KKVrVaBbMpBGgvboxKEfW.jpg Ayden Ayden is used by companies such as Uber, Spotify, Microsoft and eBay to handle business and customer transactions. The software lets you accept every payment made to your company from a single platform, as well as giving you tools to manage risk and track results. Not only does Ayden accept more than 250 payment methods and 150 global currencies, but it also lets you analyze transaction data to benefit from “data-rich insights to learn customer behavior.” For example, you’re able to identify buyer behavior and patterns, allowing you to tweak products and services appropriately. There’s also a built-in risk management tool that sifts through data to identify and fight cases of fraud. Processing fees vary by the method of payment, but the firm uses Interchange++ pricing, with an additional transaction fee which is $0.12 (£0.9) for most transactions. You can sign up for Ayden herehttp://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/nwTaU2uLmEHJLjWsNUUDGK.jpg PayPal Payments Pro Boasting more than 220 million active accounts around the world, PayPal is clearly the most widely used payments platform. Founded in 1998 as Cofinity, it lets you make and receive payments all over the world. PayPal provides payment processing services for e-commerce vendors, auction sites and other commercial entities globally. The business version is known as PayPal Payments Pro, and allows you to accept credit cards including Amex and Visa, PayPal Credit, and PayPal. It also offers easy cart integration, plentiful customization options, online invoicing, and facilitates credit card payments over the phone. PayPal is normally associated with online marketplace eBay, but it’s worth noting that by 2020, it’ll cease to be eBay’s main payment option (as the company is switching to Ayden – although PayPal will still be offered as an optional payment service). In a statement made last year, eBay said it made the move to offer customers more competitive prices. This full service option comes at a price, costing $30 (£24) per month, with a transaction fee of 2.9% and $0.30 (£0.24) per transaction. You can sign up for PayPal Payments Pro herehttp://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techradar/software-news/~4/sGfSY9P7bBY

PUBG Mobile has had quite the year, becoming one of the most popular mobile games. To welcome the new year, developers Tencent Games has released two new wallpapers of the game, and asked users to use the hashtag #pubgmobilenewyear to tweet about how they are celebrating the new year. The company is hosting a giveaway, and a few tweeters will win PMSC-themed items by January 5. PUBG Mobile recently collaborated with Japanese clothing company A Bathing Ape, commonly known as BAPE. The two has first collaborated back in October, and last week, another collaboration brought some new, exclusive clothing to the game. The new BAPE outfit pack is not available only on PUBG Mobile- it will not be coming to either the PC or console versions of the game. The BAPE outfit pack is priced at 3600 Unknown Cash or UC, and consists of the BAPE City Camo Hoodie, BAPE City Camo Pants, and BAPE StaMid shoes. In Rupee terms, 190UC costs Rs 249, while Rs 7900 can buy 8100UC. Cosmetic and clothing items are the most important source of income for the game developers, as the mobile game is free (unlike the other versions). 9 New Year's resolutions smartphone manufacturers should makehttp://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techradar/software-news/~4/rDXeQYF7-_8

The Huawei P Smart (2019) is a new mid-range smartphone from the Chinese firm, borrowing some flagship features and mixing them with more affordable components. The P Smart (2019) packs in a 6.21-inch full HD 'dew drop' display, a Kirin 710 chipset, 3GB of RAM, 64GB of storage, 13MP+2MP rear cameras, 8MP front snapper and a 3,400mAh battery. Huawei's own EMUI 9 interface has been placed on Android 9 Pie - the latest software from Google. Price unknown, but it won't be highYou'll be able to get the new Huawei P Smart in three colors; Midnight Black, Aurora Blue and Turquoise Blue from January 10. It will initially be available from Carphone Warehouse, Vodafone, A1, Amazon, AO.com, Argos, Clove, Fonehouse, John Lewis, Sky Mobile, Tesco Mobile and Virgin Mobile. It will then come to EE on January 11, and O2 and Three later in the month. There's currently no word on the Huawei P Smart (2019)'s price, but going by the P Smart it's replacing we are probably looking at around £200 SIM free. Also keep an eye out for the Honor 10 Litehttp://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techradar/software-news/~4/Yg_fvWAeMv8

You might assume that the only thing that separates the best running headphones from that cheap pair you saw at Wal-Mart (or wherever you do your shopping) the fact that they don’t fall out while running. That isn’t exactly far from the truth, but the best running headphones go a lot further than that. Over the last few years there have been plenty of radical innovations and improvements in headphone design, leading to some of the best exercise aides you could ask for. Thanks to improved technology, the best wireless headphones are giving their wired counterparts a run for their money, so you no longer have to worry about tripping on your headphone wire while running. The best workout headphones will tie the latest and greatest wireless technology with the high battery life you'll need to get you through a long run or day of training. The best running headphones also go one step further with features like heart rate monitors and AI personal trainers that make the best running headphones the best running gadgets on the market in 2019. Plus, to top off all of this awesome tech, there is actually plenty of research that proves that music can make you run better. So, with that all out of the way, let’s get started on our list of the best running headphones for every budget. There are a ton of headphone manufacturers who are competing for that coveted spot in your running kit, and it can get difficult to discern which are the best at the things you need them to do. That’s why the TechRadar editorial team has put together this list of the best workout headphones you can buy today – each pair here has been tested and ranked with our own seal of approval, so you can be confident that you’ll get your money’s worth. http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/GRh3MxNzVxvThXxFw4itxd.jpg While lacking some of the newest running headphone technology, these earbuds more than make up for it in comfort, durability and their inexpensive asking price. One of the most annoying issues when you’re running is when your earphones come loose or, worse still, fall out. The iSport Victory stay securely snug in your ear throughout your run, thanks to the rubber ‘wings’ and a surprisingly wide variety of ear tip options. Naturally, they’re sweat resistant and, at only 15g, they’re the most lightweight headphones on this list. And, with 10-hours of Bluetooth battery life, they could feasibly get you through your workday and your post-work run. Sound quality doesn’t quite cut it for regular use and it’s lacking a heart rate monitor but, for the price, they’re still a great simple option for most runners. http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/JGyEvcTuv6TtYhKgXUEMxd.jpg Our sole on-ear entry hails from the relatively obscure start-up 66 Audio and stands out in several key facets. Firstly, the BTS Pro earphones offer a ludicrous 40+ hours of continuous playback from a single charge along with an stunning wireless range of 100-feet. Most Bluetooth headphones give you about 30-feet of leeway, but thanks to the aptX 3D antenna tech you can wander much further away from your mobile device, which is especially handy for track sessions. For runners who like as much control over sound equalization as they do their fitness levels, the Motion Control app allows effortless control of the sound output. The native apps (there’s also one for Apple Watch) also have a useful ‘Find My Headphones’ feature too. But most importantly, the sound is phenomenal for the relatively low price and they offer noise-cancelling microphones. This product is only available in the US at the time of writing. UK and Australian readers: check out a fine alternative in the Aftershokz Trekz Titanium Headphones http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/dkdLaf2A3D4XNhZPTvLvbn.jpg Replacing the AfterShokz Trek Titanium is the newer Air model. These are a touch more expensive, but they're lighter and we've found the sound quality has improved as well. AfterShokz specialize in making wireless options designed in a way that particularly suits urban runners. Sound is delivered through your cheekbones, thanks to bone conducting tech which leaves your ears open, free to hear the traffic around you. You can keep chatting with those around you easily and if you're in a race you'll be able to hear the cheering from the sidelines too. What really sets these headphones apart is they're one of the few sets that are 'race-legal' in some countries, as they allow you to hear the commands of marshalls and traffic on open-road courses. If you want to run with music in smaller races, these are really your only option. We found the Air to be more comfortable than previous AfterShokz models so if you don't mind shelling out a little extra money these will be one of the best for you. Plus they're sweat-proof, have a good secure fit and they can't fall out when you're jogging either as there aren't any earbuds. Read our full AfterShockz Trekz Air reviewhttp://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/dNij25siXhwbXvqVgEQzxd.jpg The compact, durable and affordable Jaybird X2 in-ear buds proved mighty popular among runners. The new Jaybird X3 neckband offers improvements across the board with an even more favorable price point. Despite being slightly smaller, they’ve retained the sweat-proof design and surprisingly great sound. Greater control over the audio is also possible due to a new companion MySound app, while the abundance of fitting options means they stay secure in your lugholes. They’ve also been updated to Bluetooth 4.1, which means longer battery life, although we struggled a little with intermittent Bluetooth dropouts. Alternatively if you're after an even more premium experience, the Jaybird Tarah Pro earbuds offer higher-quality audio and materials for a somewhat higher $159 (£139/AU$229) price tag. Read our full Jaybird X3 review http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/aa4jL8v224QCPTz2UNqWXn.png Whoever came up with the expression ‘jack of all trades, master of none,’ never used the KuaiFit Sport headphones. With 8GB of storage they’re a music player, fitness tracker, heart rate monitor, real-time running coach and a pair of wireless headphones all in one. KuaiFit sells fitness plans created by Olympic athletes and verified coaches as part of its offering, and its headphones will store and deliver voice notifications based on your progress towards goals – all while leaving your phone at home. The KuaiFit app for iOS and Android will store all your data and, if you want to link up to your phone, play music from Spotify too - although we do wish that was supported offline too... 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 Bose SoundSport Wireless Headphones http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/cTZu5AMdHU2zwZmtHU38yd.jpg If you need your power song to give even more umph, then the Bose SoundSport might give you exactly that extra push you’re looking for. With the unmistakable sound signature of the US audio heavyweight, these lightweight earbuds feature a comfortable and secure fit thanks to the StayHear+ tips. For runners with NFC-enabled smartphones and music players, the SoundSport buds can be paired in the blink of an eye. The Bose Connect app also allows music sharing with more than one pair of earbuds, ideal if you’re out running with a buddy (and we love that they name which device is connected, something that's great if you're carrying around a phone, media player and tablet). The SoundSport range comes in two flavors. For an extra $50 you can pick up the Pulse edition which features a built-in heart rate monitor. Depending on your training method, this could be a worthwhile investment as we've found their heart rate monitor to generally be fairly precise from the ears with these. http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/ittkb5cPHJ4rtHT7zR99zd.jpg Under Armour’s first foray into headphones entrusts the audio tech to a worthy partner: JBL. With a built-in heart rate monitor you can finally ditch the chest strap, while also summoning voice updates on your progress with a simple tap on the right bud. When paired with the UA Record app you can even configure these updates to be read out at predetermined intervals, so you know whether you’re hitting your zones. The over-the-ear buds also feature 5.8mm dynamic drivers and JBL’s PureBass Performance tech on board. Combined with JBL’s TwistLock tech, the firm is guaranteeing you a custom and secure fit, meaning you’ll never have to deal with the faff of them falling out mid-run. http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/Qu36WeBwbTmdnRarxCPA3e.jpg Leading the way in a new generation of ‘hearable’ tech, the LifeBEAM Vi combines a voice-powered personal running coach with top-class Harman Kardon audio. The on-board AI uses your heart rate and body temperature to adapt to your fitness level and goals. If it knows if you’re near a personal best, Vi will spur you on to get you over the line. It will challenge you to match your running cadence with a beat, and will learn your effort levels to offer feedback on your pace. It can also use your running history to suggest how hard you should push. If you’ve been running the same pace and distance over time, it will suggest ways to shake things up. It even provides contextual advice based on your location and weather conditions. Voice controls are two-way and you can request things like your heart rate. The buds pull out from a flexible, comfortable neckband that can be worn all day and used for handling calls. It has an iOS and Android Vi Fitness companion app and will sync with Spotify to ensure your power playlist is seamlessly integrated. 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 Bose SoundSport Wireless Headphones http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/L7VwGpzqHaZZQFw4hWkTKk.jpg There’s wireless, and then there’s true wireless. The top-end Jabra Elite Sport are the latter. Beyond the cordless design, the headline feature is the Hear Through tech that allows you to alter the way the buds filter out ambient noise. If your run takes you from a park to a busy road, a quick button press enables you to pick up your surroundings as well as your tunes. They’re also designed for calls, allowing you to wear one at a time if you desire. Each bud offers two microphones, which help to filter out background noise for the person on the other end of the line. The on-the-go charging case provides 13.5 hours of battery life in total (similar to Apple’s AirPods), but with just 4.5 hours available from a single charge slower marathoner and ultra runners will probably want to jog on - although for 99% of your training this won't be an issue. Although not marketed for swimming, they’re also IP67 certified water resistant. The companion app also utilizes the built-in heart rate monitor to enhance your workouts, along with the internal accelerometer to monitor your reps of squats, lunges and the like. These are expensive buds, but the amount they can do is incredible - for many, they'll be your go-to choice. http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/mKqxJtbqqHbsQwxdk2n8oL.jpg The PowerBeats 3 running headphones are yet another pair for of headphones from Beats that aim to keep your tunes pumping while you keep your legs pumping. They may come with the high price that is a signature of the Beats and Apple brands, but they offer a lot for runners, and especially for Apple users. With a 12-hour battery life and quick charging that can add an hour of battery life in a few minutes, the PowerBeats 3 should rarely run out of juice in the middle of anything short of an insane ultra-marathon. They’re also ready for all the sweat from your brow, and can even handle a run in the rain. While they may not top some of the other wireless headphones on this list for features, the PowerBeats 3 headphones will truly shine for major Apple lovers. They feature Apple’s W1 chip, which makes the Bluetooth pairing process with multiple iCloud-linked devices incredibly easy in addition to boosting wireless range. Read the full review: Beats PowerBeats 3 Take your training to the next level with the best fitness trackersCheck out our videos below for a roundup of the best headphones available. http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techradar/software-news/~4/QA-7FMb8TCk

Happy New Year, reader and thanks for dropping by to check out our roundup of the very best deals in the January sales 2019. A few stores launched sales straight after Christmas, with not many holding back for the traditional January sales, so we've had plenty of time to dig through the best offers. But of course, we've added some brand new ones today too as we start our daily deals coverage with a bang in 2019. After all, you're probably back at work soon, so don't be daft getting involved with those horrible queues at retail park car parks or looking for the non-event deals on the highstreet. Online's where the best bargains to be had - just like Black Friday. And we'll save you the time of trawling through loads of different online stores trying to spot the bargains. We've got our eye on prices all year round, so we know a good deal when we see one. So sit back, scroll down a little and you'll see we've listed the best offers of the day so far. We'll update this page throughout the day and tomorrow too, as some of these deals may go on for a few days - although if you see something you like today, don't bank on it being around tomorrow, just to be safe. January sales: quick linksAmazon - deals aplenty from the hugely popular online storeArgos - electricals, home, toys and more discounted todayAO.com - the big sale is live John Lewis - huge clearance on clothes, home and electricalsCurrys - up to 40% off home, TV, kitchen, gadgets and more Very - up to 50% off fashion, home and electricalsMobiles.co.uk - fresh discounts on the latest mobile phonesThe best January sales 2018ASOS - save up to 70% on women's and men's clothingBoohoo - 30% off all dresses and topsBoots - save up to 50%Blacks - half price jackets and bootsCarphone Warehouse - packed with exclusive online-only discountsCDKeys.com - save up to 90% on games and XBLG/PS Plus subsDFS - big discounts on some super comfy and stylish sofasDorothy Perkins - up to 50% offDreams - save up to 50% on mattresses and bedsDunelm Mill - save up to 50% on furniture, bedding, curtains and rugseBay - discounts on pretty much everythingExpedia - save on combined flights and hotel bookingsExpressVPN - save 49% on a subscriptionJack Wills - up to 60% off men's and women's clothingJessops - save big on cameras, lenses and gearLastMinute.com - Flash sales and holidays from £149 per personLevi's - save up to 50%Living DNA - up to 30% off DNA test kitsLovehoney.co.uk - up to 50% off the hottest adults-only productsMicrosoft - big discounts on Surface and Xbox productsNew Look - get ready for 2019 with up to 70% offNewegg - discounts on laptops, computers and partsNext - at least 50% off all sale itemsNow TV - discounts on Sky TV passesOntheBeach.co.uk - save up to 50% on bookingsRiver Island - save up to 70% on fashion and homeware itemsSamsung - save on phones, TVs, smartwatches and moreSuperdry - save up to 50% at the popular fashion brandTimberland - save up to 40% on winter clothing and moreTopShop - save up to 70% in this huge saleTopMan - massive 70% reductions to be had todayTravelSupermarket - get away from it all with hotels, flights and moreWiggle - get discounted active wear ready for those resolutionsThe best January sales picks so farWe've shown you where the best January sales are happening today. But we thought we'd also highlight some of favourite individual offers from the best sales we've seen, followed by deals in a range of specific categories. We'll be updating this page throughout the sales, so feel free to keep coming back to check out the freshest discounts. Back to the top ^Back to the top ^Check out our full guide to the best cheap TV sales and dealsBack to the top ^Check out our full guide to the best cheap laptop dealsNintendo Switch January salesPS4 January salesXbox One January salesBack to the top ^Don't miss the full list of Nintendo Switch prices and bundle dealsCheck out even more PS4 prices and PS4 Pro dealsCheck out the full list of Xbox One deals and Xbox One X pricesBack to the top ^We've also rounded up the other Fire TV deals and Amazon Echo pricesBack to the top ^ See our full range of the best mobile phone dealsBack to top ^We've rounded up some extra Fitbit sale prices and cheap smartwatchesCheck out our full range of broadband deals.Back to the top ^So who's having a January sale?All the big stores get stuck in. With so many keen shoppers going online over the Christmas period in recent years, it's just too good a chance for them to finish 2018 off with some extra money in the bank and get 2019 off to a good start too. Let's take a look at the big hitters below and what you can nab from each. When do the Boxing Day sales start?Not a silly question at all. As we just said, a lot of stores are starting today and we expect even more will go live on Christmas Day - yes they're pretty keen. If just before Christmas is the time to scramble for last-minute gifts, anytime from the day itself onwards is the chance to treat yourself or use those gift vouchers to make a great deal a truly spectacular bargain. When do the January sales start?Expect an early start here too. Although if we're going off the last few years, the January sales haven't been particularly special. It's been all about the Boxing Day deals really, although we're pleased to report some of the better ones stayed online a good few days into January. January sales are more of a continuation of the remaining Boxing Day sales so you can probably expect to see many stores simply rebrand the sales to 'January sales' the day after Boxing Day on December 27th. Given many workplaces are off until around January 2nd, retailers are keen to show you the best deals as soon as possible while you've got time off at home rather than try to push deals on you while you're heading back to work or nursing that New Year's Eve hangover. http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techradar/software-news/~4/xn1CBnTKiUE

A smartwatch is the ultimate smartphone accessory. It can tell the time, of course, but it can also beam important notifications straight to your wrist and run native apps too. What's more impressive is that many of today's best models can also perform a ton of tricks, such as enabling you to search the internet with your voice, tracking your exercise with GPS (and more) as well as letting you pay at the grocery store without reaching for your wallet. Oh, and they look absolutely stunning to boot. If you're thinking that a smartwatch is a pointlessly geeky accessory... think again. These choices are well-made, powerful and can genuinely make you fitter through some smart nudges. Below is our full list of the best smart wristwear you can buy today that includes options from the Apple Watch to Fitbit, Garmin to Tizen. Then there's Wear OS (previously known as Android Wear) which is Google's own wearable operating system. Most of the devices below were released in 2018, and we expect this best smartwatch ranking to look very different by the end of 2019. Bear in mind there are lots of new smartwatches that we haven't fully tested yet including the LG Watch W7 and Huawei Watch GT that may soon appear in this list. Plus there are rumors of the Google Pixel Watch, Apple Watch 5, Samsung Galaxy Watch 2 and more that we may see land in this list later in the year. On a budget? Our guide to the best cheap smartwatchesLooking for something active? Check out our list of the best fitness trackersHave an iPhone? We have a guide for the best smartwatches for iPhoneKnow you like Wear OS? Check our selection of the best Wear OS watchesWant it to look traditional? Our guide on the best hybrid smartwatchOur best smartwatch you can buy right now is from Samsung, and instead of opting for the expected Gear S4 name it's called the Galaxy Watch. Following on from the Gear S3 series and the Gear Sport in 2017, the Galaxy Watch is much improved. We've tested out the larger 46mm version of the watch and it comes with a phenomenal four day battery life even when you're using it extensively. That's impressive considering a lot of other watches on this list last a day or so from a single charge. The rotating bezel remains a highlight of navigating around the Tizen OS on the watch, and the interface is one of the easiest to pick up that we've seen on a smartwatch. Apps available on the watch are more limited than Wear OS or watchOS 4 - two rival smartwatch operating systems - but it still offers the core basics and Samsung had provided a watch that's good at fitness as well as sporting a great design and lots more functionality too. Read the full Samsung Galaxy Watch review http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/XpjytZKadYHuY5Kqsnopd7.jpg Coming in a close second, the Apple Watch Series 4 is our second favorite smartwatch you can buy right now. This is the first time Apple has updated the design of its smartwatch line, and it looks all the better for it. You get a much bigger screen with the choice of 40mm or 44mm watch sizes, there's a wider display (which is still bright and clear) as well as all the rest of the tech we've come to expect from the Apple Watch. The speaker on this watch is louder than before, the design is still lightweight (yet it feels premium) and you can use all your existing Apple Watch straps with this latest generation too. The most exciting tech is the fact there's an ECG feature within the heart rate tracker. It can test your heart to see if you're at a high risk of atrial fibrillation, which will allow you to seek help earlier if your health is in danger. This tech isn't present at launch, and right now we only know it'll be available in the US. I's not an upgrade relevant to everyone, but for some people this could be some life changing tech. There are still tons of fitness features and the latest watchOS 5 apps onboard so you'll likely love this smartwatch. The Apple Watch 4 is our favorite watch you can use with an iPhone (this won't work with Android devices), but it's just been pipped to the title of best overall smartwatch. Read the full Apple Watch 4 review What's next? The Apple Watch Series 4 was announced and released in September 2018, and we don't expect to see the Apple Watch 5 until the same month in 2019. http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/XpjytZKadYHuY5Kqsnopd7.jpg Our favorite Wear OS watch is the TicWatch Pro, which you can use with either an iPhone or with your Android phone. You may not have heard of TicWatch before, but the latest from the company it a top-end watch with a unique dual-screen feature. There are two displays on this watch - one layered on top of the other. On the top is a transparent LCD display that can display the time, your heart rate and more when the battery is low. Below that is a bright and bold full color OLED screen that will give you all of the benefits of Wear OS. That means you can have a normal smartwatch, which we found would last around two days, and then have the time and some other features still available when your battery is running low. Mobvoi claims the TicWatch Pro can last for 30 days in the low power mode, but we haven't yet been able to test out that claim properly. We did find it lasted for just under a week when in low power mode though. In terms of smartwatch features there's GPS, NFC for Google Pay, Bluetooth for listening to music and the top Qualcomm Snapdragon Wear 2100 chipset in here running the watch as well. Then there's the price, and with the launch price set at $249.99 / £219.99 / AU$369.99 it's hard to be disappointed with the TicWatch Pro. You probably should be able to find it for a touch less now too. Read the full TicWatch Pro review http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/XpjytZKadYHuY5Kqsnopd7.jpg The Apple Watch 3 (or Apple Watch Series 3, if you're picky) was the best smartwatch but has recently been bumped off the top spot and down a few places since the launch of the Apple Watch 4. The Apple Watch 3 is essentially just the Apple Watch 2 frame with some new innards... but they make a big difference. Plus the price has recently dropped, making this a much more attractive proposition. The LTE connection is the headline event, although that's not really as useful as some might hope - plus it costs a lot more to use, and drains the battery. What we like is the non-LTE version, which is a lot cheaper, and offers all the smarts of the Watch 2 but with a longer battery life and faster speeds when flicking through apps. It's still water-resistant so you can swim with it and you won't have to worry about getting it wet in the rain when you're out for a jog. There's GPS onboard to make running that little bit easier plus it you can now upgrade to watchOS 5 too. Read the full Apple Watch 3 review http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/XpjytZKadYHuY5Kqsnopd7.jpg Fitbit is one of the biggest names in fitness tracking tech, but until late in 2017 the company hadn't gone anywhere near smartwatches. The company has now released two smartwatches, and both feature on this list but first we're starting with our favorite that was announced in March 2018 and will be ready to buy in mid-April. That favorite from Fitbit is the Versa that is a touch smaller than the other one (that's the Ionic) but it comes with Fitbit Pay for contactless payments, 2.5GB of storage for music and battery life that'll last around three days. It doesn't have GPS for tracking your runs and the design doesn't feel as premium as some of the other watches on this list, but we really like the Fitbit Versa and it's one of the more affordable choices on this list. Read the full Fitbit Versa review What's next? Fitbit can be slow with new iterations of its wearables, so we wouldn't put money on seeing a Fitbit Versa 2 any time soon. http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/XpjytZKadYHuY5Kqsnopd7.jpg You may not have ever heard of TicWatch, and that's because it's a relatively small and new brand to the smartwatch world. This is one of the cheapest watches on this list, and it's well worth your attention. That's mostly because of the low price and the fact everything works really well. We also love the TicWatch E for its built-in GPS, accurate heart rate sensor and great design. All of the fitness features you'd expect are here; you can even use it without having to take your phone out while you exercise, but you won't be able to receive phone calls like on the Apple Watch 3. The design is premium, but it won't be for everyone so be sure to properly study the photos above and in our review to work out if it's built for you. The true highlight here is the low price considering it's generally around half the price of a lot of the other devices you'll find on this list. Read the full TicWatch E review What's next? You may want to hold off buying the TicWatch E as the company has already teased a follow-up product. Here you can read all about the TicWatch E2, http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/XpjytZKadYHuY5Kqsnopd7.jpg TicWatch is back again for our seventh entry. This time it's the TicWatch S, which is remarkably similar to the TicWatch E we've mentioned above. The differences are limited, but this watch is a tiny bit heavier and a little larger because it comes with a thicker bezel around the sides to show you the exact time. There's also a different strap on this version that comes with the GPS sensor inside. The makers of the TicWatch claim this is more accurate than when it's inside the watch casing, but we didn't see any major differences. It does mean you can't swap out the band on the TicWatch S, like you can on the TicWatch E, and that's a big shame. It's a touch more expensive than the TicWatch E too, but if you prefer the design you may want to go for this as it's still much more affordable than a lot of our other favorite smartwatches on sale right now. Read the full TicWatch S review http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/XpjytZKadYHuY5Kqsnopd7.jpg The second attempt at a smartwatch from Misfit has gone down even better than the first. This watch is designed to sit somewhere in between a premium, fashionable smartwatch and a must-have for fitness lovers. It doesn't do either of those things perfectly, and instead does both quite well. It's a good looking watch that doesn't cost the same amount as some of the more expensive Wear OS watches you can buy. It is sporting the older Snapdragon 2100 chipset, but it features built-in GPS, NFC for Google Pay and a variety of other features that may make you want it. Read the full Misfit Vapor 2 review The Fitbit Ionic was always going to be a tough move for the brand, trying to enter the world of smartwatches from fitness bands. The effort succeeds in some places: namely fitness, as you might imagine, where you can track all manner of things, from running to weight lifting to swimming. There's also dedicated bodyweight coaching sessions in there, and you can pay for items on the go using Fitbit Pay. When it first launched, the price was super high and it was a bit too expensive to wholeheartedly recommend. The good news is the price seems to have dropped in recent months so you can get it for at least $70/£70 cheaper than the RRP. If you're a Fitbit fan looking to do more than you get on an average band, this is a nice option. Read the full Fitbit Ionic review What's next? Rumors about a new Ionic are few and far between, but we've put together a guide on what we want to be improved if it releases a Fitbit Ionic 2. This isn't the greatest TicWatch you can buy - there's already three other devices from the manufacturer Mobvoi on this list - but instead it's an option if you're looking for a more premium device than the TicWatch E or S but don't want to opt for the Pro. The TicWatch C2 comes with a more high-end design than those two cheaper watches, but it doesn't cost as much as the TicWatch Pro. That makes it a solid Wear OS choice if you want a watch that looks good on your wrist with a few fitness features mixed in for good measure. You can't currently buy the watch without a leather band, which is a little bit odd but if you're happy with that or you don't mind buying another third-party strap, this could be a good smartwatch choice for you. Read the full TicWatch C2 review http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/XpjytZKadYHuY5Kqsnopd7.jpg Looking for a watch to pair with your iPhone? Try our full list of the besthttp://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techradar/software-news/~4/XmK7d36A8hM