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Amazon really loves buttons. First, it released the Amazon Dash button that allowed users to order previously purchased products in a matter of seconds. Now, Amazon is unveiling Echo Buttons, accessories for the Amazon Echo that can be customized by developers to add additional experiences to their apps. The example Amazon gave at its Amazon Echo 2017 event was that the small, hockey puck-shaped Buttons could be used as a buzzer in a new Trivial Pursuit app from Hasbro. http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/BXNCoG8Tn8Uyxjm2Cmpr4K.jpg While Buttons might at first be used as faux-game controllers for experiences, they’re certainly not relegated to only those apps – they're versatile enough to be used in a number of other applications down the road. The Buttons will be available to purchase in sets of two for $19.99/£19.99. http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/dviJpUUjW8X8y3TLk84HGK.jpg Want to start small? Start with the Amazon Echo Dothttp://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techradar/digital-home/~4/fSmMsgGsemg

Your smart home just got smarter. That's because a wide range of LG smart appliances are now compatible with Google Home, thanks to the Google Assistant. LG announced today that nearly 87 of its Wi-Fi connected home goods can now tap into Google Assistant through Google Home as well as eligible iOS and Android smartphones. Support will roll out globally to compatible models via an update, LG tells us, and the exact number of compatible devices varies by region. Types of appliances that gain Assistant support include LG washing machines, dryers, refrigerators, ovens, dishwashers, vacuums and air purifiers. Now, when a user utters a command to Google Assistant through Google Home or their smartphone, they can ask the fridge to make more ice, find out how much time their clothes have left in the wash, turn off the oven, adjust the thermostat on the AC or check the air quality coming through their air purifier. This brings another layer of integration to the Google Home ecosystem, and, if you don't mind saying commands out loud, extra convenience if you've got smart appliances you want to control remotely. Walk out with a free Google HomeAs part of the Google Home welcome party, LG is running a retail promotion that basically nabs you one of Google's smart speakers for free. Whenever anyone in the US purchases a Wi-Fi enabled LG appliance between October 8 and October 25, they'll walk out the store with a Google Home at no extra charge. There's a limit of free Home per household, but considering the speaker costs $129 (£129, around AU$170), that's not a bad door prize. Want one now? Here are the latest Google Home pricesThe Google Pixel 2 smartphone is about to show its facehttp://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techradar/digital-home/~4/-Nbvn8cnLzg

Following Microsoft’s rebranding of the Windows Store to be the Microsoft Store – at least in the preview version of Windows 10, for now – it seems that the company does indeed plan to sell its own hardware alongside third-party devices via the operating system’s built-in shop, as we previously speculated. The renaming to Microsoft Store means that Windows 10’s integrated shop falls in line with the branding of the firm’s bricks-and-mortar outlets and web store. And just like the latter, the Windows 10 store will soon sell hardware including Surface devices, as well as laptops and tablets from third-party manufacturers, Windows phones and the Xbox One (and not just apps and entertainment content, as is currently the case). According to a report by MS Power User, other devices such as smartwatches and fitness trackers (Fitbit is cited as an example) will also be available for purchase. Hello to conveniencePretty much everything you can buy from the existing web store, in other words, and having it conveniently accessible directly from within Windows 10 will obviously be a boon in terms of convenience – with purchases easily verified via Windows Hello security. As mentioned, all this is happening just in the preview version of Windows 10 at the moment, but MS Power User actually managed to purchase a media remote for the Xbox One using the system. So while this isn’t actually confirmed as yet, given that the system is apparently fully functional even under testing, it certainly seems like this will be happening – possibly when it comes to next month’s big Fall Creators Update for Windows 10. Another point to note is that the system is also being trialed with Xbox One testers, which adds further weight to the report. But as ever, we can only be 100% certain when Microsoft makes an official announcement. One of Microsoft’s Surface devices is on our best laptops listhttp://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techradar/software-news/~4/dBsPuRWCQGs

It’s been an eventful few days for ride-hailing service Uber. On Friday, Transport for London (TfL) announced that it was not granting a renewal of its operating licence, meaning that when its current licence expires on September 30, it will no longer be able to legally operate in the UK capital. The repercussions of this are far reaching; for the 40,000 drivers currently working for Uber, it will mean their revenue stream will cease, and for the London citizens that use Uber, alternative, often more expensive modes of transport will have to be used. It will also be another bump in the road for Uber which is already facing difficult times with allegations (and in some cases convictions) against drivers globally for sexual assault, and former CEO Travis Kalanick having recently been ousted following claims that he fostered a negative workplace culture. But it looks like Uber is not taking the decision lying down. Almost immediately after the decision became public, Uber took to petition website Change.org to start corralling public support, and so far pretty successfully. At time of writing there are over 740,000 signatures calling for a reversal of the decision. Adding to this, Uber has made statements to the popular broadsheet the Sunday Times that it was willing to make concessions, claiming that: “While we haven’t been asked to make any changes, we’d like to know what we can do. But that requires a dialogue we sadly haven’t been able to have recently.” Multi-pronged approachIt does seem like the two organizations are talking at crossed purposes though, as TfL references the reporting process for serious crimes, background checks, and other safety concerns, while Uber is talking about “a small number of people who want to restrict consumer choice”. Taking to Twitter, Uber does directly address TfL’s concerns: Which does seem to sit at odds to the statement made by Uber’s Head of Cities Fred Jones to BBC radio: “It’s just not clear for us what their concerns might be.” The Uber Twitter account has been very active (as you might image) in the last few days, using emotive language to talk about keeping driver’s “livelihoods safe and secure”, reminding us that “3.5 million Londoners are able to track their driver’s arrival in-app and know their car is just around the corner,” as well as showing its intent to take to the courts to defend itself: In response to Uber’s legal strategy, chairman of TfL and London Mayor Sadiq Khan has said to the BBC: "What you can't do, is have a situation where unfair pressure is brought on a quasi-judicial body where there are officials working incredibly hard. "I appreciate Uber has an army of PR experts, I appreciate Uber has an army of lawyers - they've also made aggressive threats about taking us to court." Bringing out the big gunsAnd the person that Uber is using to take on TfL is interesting too. According to The Telegraph, it is using barrister Thomas de la Mare, who has a history of beating TfL in court on Uber’s behalf. Earlier in the year, three restrictions were put on Uber; that it needed all drivers to be insured for private hire even when not transporting people, that it needed a complaints line, and that its drivers were required to take an English test as part of the application process. De la Mar managed to get the first two restrictions removed by proving them unlawful. Whether he will manage to do the same again is yet to be seen, but as soon as we know more, we’ll let you know. Looking for an alternative taxi service for if Uber fails to appeal? Check out: Uber alternatives: the best taxi apps for distraught Londonershttp://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techradar/software-news/~4/SjVygBKKaUc

Something to note if you're rushing out to buy a new Apple TV 4K this weekend: the box can only stream content in 4K rather than downloading it and playing it offline, as per an official support document published by Apple. That's perhaps not a huge surprise considering the limited storage on the Apple TV and the huge size of 4K films and television shows, but it does mean you should double-check the speed of your internet connection to make sure it can cope with all those pixels. Apple recommends a minimum speed of 25 Mbps for 4K streaming. In better news for fans of entertainment, Apple is extending its movie rental limit across all devices to 48 hours in the US, up from the rather measly 24 hours it offered previously - that means you've got twice as long to finish your film if you can't watch it all in one go. The limit was already 48 hours in most countries outside the US. 4K or not 4K"You can download a local copy of an HD movie, and you might be able to download HDR and Dolby Vision versions, but you can't download a 4K version," explains Apple in its new support document, though the company hasn't said anything else publicly about 4K downloads on the new box. It's not the only caveat that applies to the Apple TV 4K right now. The YouTube app can't stream in 4K yet, for example, and the Amazon Prime Video app and all of its high-quality 4K content still isn't available on any flavor of Apple TV box (earlier in 2017 Apple said it was arriving "later this year"). Still, we've been rather impressed with the capabilities of the new Apple TV 4K in our time with the device. If you've got the big screen to cope with a 4K resolution, then it's worth considering for your next gadget purchase. The best 4K HDR movies and shows to get the most out of the Apple TV 4KVia MacRumors http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techradar/digital-home/~4/jdabEuMF3PI

Microsoft has fired off a blog post talking up the success of Windows 10, and how the operating system is improving substantially across many fronts – including reliability, performance and battery life – ahead of the release of the big Fall Creators Update. The post by John Cable (Director of Program Management, Windows Servicing and Delivery at Microsoft) discusses the previous Creators Update which emerged in April, and noted its relative success compared to last year’s Anniversary Update. The Creators Update has been rolled out more slowly and carefully than the latter – it’s now on around two-thirds of Windows 10 PCs compared to 85% for the Anniversary Update after five months – and as a result has hit less reliability issues. Microsoft’s own figures indicate that there has been an impressive 39% reduction in OS and driver stability issues with the Creators Update compared to its predecessor, and we’ve certainly seen less complaints online. Although that said, the Anniversary Update was particularly nightmarish when it came to the amount of gremlins popping up during the rollout, so you would certainly hope for an improvement. Performance boosts delivered with the Creators Update include 13% faster boot times, and unlocking your machine with facial recognition (via Windows Hello) is up to 30% faster. The Edge browser has also seen various performance enhancements to make scrolling pages and rendering websites more responsive, with up to 53% speed increases in some cases. Battery bolsteredAnd when it comes to Windows 10 on laptops or tablets, you’ll get more battery life thanks to various tweaked apps. Microsoft notes that users watching streaming movies or offline videos will get a boost of 2.5% or 5% extra battery life respectively in the Movies & TV app with the newest version of Windows 10 compared to the Anniversary Update. And the latest version of Edge delivers a 17% boost in battery life. Yes, Microsoft is still keen to push Edge as the browser of choice for Windows 10 users. Microsoft is equally keen to bang the drum regarding its policy of listening to user feedback and changing Windows 10 to meet popular demands, a company line which has been repeated multiple times since the OS was launched. Cable stated: “By listening to user and partner feedback, we evolve Windows to make each quality update and each feature update better than the last. It also assures we continue to keep Windows 10 the most reliable, performant and secure version of Windows ever.” And the underlying message is that, naturally, we can expect more of the same from the Fall Creators Update next month (which will, among other things, deliver a welcome boost on the privacy front). In other Windows 10 news this week, we also glimpsed the future of the OS as a fully modular system. Via: Ars Technica Windows 10 powers many of our best laptopshttp://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techradar/software-news/~4/KbpRdOgog-o

Everything you need to know about Black FridayOn Black Friday weekend last year, adults in the UK spent an average of £117 each. That's a total spend of £6.45 billion – enough to buy every British man, woman and child a Fire TV Stick, a pair of glasses that make your eyes think you're on magic mushrooms and 16 of those awesome twangy things that also act as door stops. Black Friday is the biggest shopping day of the year, every year, and this year it falls on November 24. The deals will start will before then though – expect crazy offers at all of the big retailers like Argos, Amazon, John Lewis, Tesco Direct and Mobiles.co.uk from the beginning of November and probably even before that. It’s ironic that Black Friday drives so much traffic to websites like TechRadar, because the term used to refer to more traditional types of traffic – the name was first used by US police to describe the traffic gridlock that occured when everybody hit the shops at the same time. Black Friday still happens on the high street, but increasingly the best deals – and the most shoppers – are online. And that's why every year TechRadar rounds up all of the best deals – so you can find the best-value offers on the nicest stuff and be confident you're getting the best price. Black Friday deals quick links:Amazon Black FridayJohn Lewis Black FridayGAME Black FridayCurrys Black FridayArgos Black FridayTesco Direct Black FridayeBay Black FridayWhen is Black Friday and what is it exactly?Black Friday is always the Friday that immediately follows the Thanksgiving holiday in the US – so Black Friday 2017 will take place on November 24. Black Friday – and increasingly by the year, Black November – is the starting gun for the Christmas shopping season, and it’s famous for what retailers call 'doorbusters' – deals so good that shoppers will try and break down the front doors of stores to get at them. Inevitably that means it’s also slightly infamous, with each year delivering a new selection of YouTube delights depicting keen shoppers slugging it out for the right to claim a limited number of probably-awful but super cheap 4K TVs. Things got so bad on Black Friday 2014 that ASDA, Wal-Mart’s UK brand and the firm largely responsible for bringing Black Friday to the UK made the decision to not 'do' Black Friday at all. That proved to be an expensive decision. By comparison, in 2014 John Lewis UK reported that its Black Friday sales were the highest weekly sales in the company’s 150-year history. Check out our best John Lewis Black Friday deals 2017 hub for more information. So this November, expect all the main retailers like Amazon, Argos, John Lewis, Currys and ASOS to be running deals across every range of products. Black Friday is traditionally the home of deals on electricals, clothing and shoes - but you can also expect hot promotions on everything else from mobile phone contracts to VPN services and broadband subscriptions. Black Friday @ the UK's biggest retailers:http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/8b32bd80521903d6251c9633a6f775e7.jpg Argos.co.uk:Argos loves Black Friday - and it's really good at it too. Argos was one of the very first retailers to see Black Friday for what it really is - an amazing opportunity to shift large quantities of electricals from games consoles to coffee machines and tumble dryers. Consequently, you can expect Argos in 2017 to go at it hard, with Black Friday deals running all the way through November. The deals at Argos tend to get stronger as the month goes on, so it's worth keeping your powder dry in the first few weeks. That being said, last year Argos did promise that if it reduced the price of any deals before the end of November, they'd refund you the difference. See our Argos Black Friday article http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/A8c6UCFTifpkiWLxPUQYSZ.jpg http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/5abc9360cd27bd809ce7e318b17206fe.jpg Amazon.co.uk:Amazon is arguably the one site responsible for creating Black Friday as an online shopping phenomenon. It always takes a highly innovative approach to Black Friday as both a retailer and a market place. Expect Amazon to run Black Friday deals across every conceivable product category. Many people consider it to be the benchmark for online prices - it's always worth checking Amazon before buying things online. There's a good chance you'll find a cheaper price. See our Amazon Black Friday article http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/A8c6UCFTifpkiWLxPUQYSZ.jpg http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/98e0f19a7f7d37971f991d31b6527a45.jpg John Lewis:John Lewis has never seemed too keen on Black Friday. The highstreet and online department store has always refrained from using any kind of "Black Friday!" signage and messaging, preferring instead to use more on-brand words such as "Sale" and "Clearance". If Argos is the best retailer for going all-out on Black Friday, John Lewis is the best for keeping it all a bit more reserved. Expect to see a precision-based approach from this site - plenty of strong deals on popular items it things it can shift in bulk like Surface Pro 2-in-1 laptops, iPads, Motorola smartphones and 4K TVs. As always, John Lewis' excellent 'never knowingly undersold' scheme will also be in play, so if you spot a cheaper price at any of its highstreet + online competitors like Currys, John Lewis will match it. See our John Lewis Black Friday article http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/A8c6UCFTifpkiWLxPUQYSZ.jpg http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/ba3b633008ff36e0fb6cb29416a3504f.jpg Currys.co.ukCurrys.co.uk is another highstreet + online brand that doesn't tend to talk about Black Friday too much. It's part of the Dixons Carphone group, which also includes brands like PC World, Carphone Warehouse, Mobiles.co.uk and iD Mobile. Most Dixons Carphone brands talk about 'Black Tag' deals - "it's not Black Friday, it's a Black Tag event!" Nevertheless, Currys will be a consistent and reliable source of strong deals throughout November (and we noticed it did experiment with some Black Friday branding last year). The buying power of Currys means it's often able to undercut its rivals and offer exclusive products to its customers. Expect loads of tempting deals throughout November and particularly in the week before Black Friday, starting Saturday November 18 - and then a huge explosion of mega deals on Black Friday itself. See our Currys Black Friday article http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/A8c6UCFTifpkiWLxPUQYSZ.jpg http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/9c366d6ba552c8b30d75ce0819458af8.jpg Mobiles.co.ukMobiles.co.uk is the place to be if you're planning on upgrading your phone between now and the end of the year. You'll find that all of the best deals of the year will all be found within the month of November, with strong offers becoming more frequent from as early as the beginning of October. Expect absolute pandemonium in the mobile deals market throughout the whole period as the voucher code machine goes into hyperdrive, with cheapest ever deals on popular phones like the iPhone 8, Samsung Galaxy S8 and probably even the iPhone X. Because Mobiles.co.uk is part of the Dixons Carphone group, it's able to utilise its buying power and economies of scale to offer prices that its rivals simply can't match. http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/A8c6UCFTifpkiWLxPUQYSZ.jpg http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/5bc1527cd2777b6f171c4a2383a175b2.jpg Game.co.ukGame.co.uk usually launches all its mega Black Friday deals on consoles and games on the Thursday evening. The last couple of years, the deals have gone live at 8pm but we wouldn't be surprised if it happens even earlier this time. The site tends to struggle under the load as soon as it puts its offers live - many of the very best offers have limited stock allocations and so you need to be quick if you're going to get a dream bundle deal. Expect great prices across the spectrum, from console games, consoles, bundles to PlayStation Network and Xbox Live subs and GTA V shark cards. http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/A8c6UCFTifpkiWLxPUQYSZ.jpg http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/09147191bb71a1c5d9225d6e7138c6b5.jpg Tesco directTesco direct has developed a reputation as being the source of many of the very best deals on Black Friday each year. The buying power it has developed with its highstreet stores puts it in a very strong position to offer cheapest ever prices on games consoles and 4K TVs. It might not be the first retailer that springs into your mind when you think about online retail, but it's a big name and it's getting bigger. Tesco direct was the first site to sell the Sony PS4 for £149.99 last year so you can be sure it'll be going hard at it again this year. See our Tesco Black Friday article Black Friday deals 2017So which product categories are hot on Black Friday? Here are the best deals that Argos, Amazon and the rest will be running this year: http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/bc279e006cd8ba4feca76885e636fc75.jpg Mobile phone Black Friday deals - Black Friday is the perfect time of year to buy a new phone, particularly if you're going to get it on contract. All of the best prices on the best phones appear in November, with the best deals of all going live on Black Friday itself. It's also a great day to pick up SIM only deals. Keep your eyes on Mobiles.co.uk, Mobile Phones Direct and Carphone Warehouse! http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/85982b0eb4d44db9cfaad7d30aa947f7.jpg Gaming Black Friday deals - If you're after a super cheap deal on a PS4 or Xbox One then Black Friday is definitely the day to buy. Last year we saw consoles going for £150 so this year you can be sure we'll see prices even lower than that. Keep your eyes on Game, Argos, Amazon and Tesco direct! http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/fbcac6da06d6ad7d277ffce1ece9fb87.jpg 4K TV Black Friday deals - Christmas has always been the most popular time of year to buy a new TV, so it makes sense that 4K TVs now sell by the hundred thousand when it comes to Black Friday. This year you'll find discounts across the spectrum - so you'll be able to pick up ridiculously cheap TVs from small brands as well as get substantial discounts on better TVs from more prominent brands. Keep your eyes on Currys, Argos, Amazon, AO.com and John Lewis. http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/6cde3c1b75b14095eb080371ebeb91a0.jpg Tablet Black Friday deals - iPads and Android tablets are always up there when it comes to the most popular items on Black Friday. They're superb Christmas presents and we rarely see prices as low as the ones at the end of November. Prepare for middling iPads and cheapo Android tablets from Samsung to be on sale all over the place. Keep your eyes peeled at John Lewis, Currys, Argos and Amazon. http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/tuj5pB9aixR3SP9PUKbC99.jpg Toy Black Friday deals - Deals on Toys are legion on Black Friday. Toys are always popular at this time of year for obvious reasons so retailers are always a bit reluctant to discount the most popular items. But the profit margins on toys are actually very good and so there's always room for discounting. Whether you want to buy LEGO or a trampoline this year, you'll definitely find a great deal! Watch out for great deals at Amazon, Argos, Toys R Us, Smyths Toys and Tesco direct. http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/WZFHEFYE6DUpfkhpLfJJwb.jpg Clothes and shoes Black Friday deals - Electronics like TVs and phones are the main order of the day on Black Friday. But clothes and shoes are also popular items and there's always a whole batch of awesome deals to be had. Watch out for deals at Amazon, ASOS, John Lewis, Office.co.uk and Schuh. The impact of Black Friday in the UKBlack Friday has transformed the Christmas shopping season, for better and for worse. James Miller, senior retail consultant at Experian Marketing Services, told the BBC that “there is little doubt Black Friday has dramatically changed the way people shop in the run-up to Christmas and has created an expectation of deep discounts that arguably did not exist before,” while a report by LCP Consulting found that nearly one-third of UK and US retailers believe that Black Friday is “unprofitable and unsustainable." Before Black Friday became a big deal, the run-up to Christmas was a great period for retailers: we’d buy loads of presents for others and for ourselves, and retailers would make huge piles of money. Then Black Friday happened, and all of a sudden many of us were browsing the bargains for the presents to put in Santa’s sack. Money spent on deeply discounted products in November is money that won’t be spent on more profitable products in December. According to research by Verdict Retail, there is “no evidence” that Black Friday “stimulated demand”: Black Friday is essentially a black hole that sucks in a big part of people’s pre-Christmas shopping. We buy more but pay less for it. According to Mike Watkins of Nielsen UK, “Whilst Nielsen analysis shows that Black Friday in November 2014 did not deliver incremental food sales it did serve to kick start what was the slowest start to Christmas trading in over 10 years. Perhaps that’s the primary objective in these changing times.” Gary Booker, CMO at Dixons Retail, told Marketing Week that Black Friday negatively affects purchases in the following weeks: “It takes sales out of what would have been key early weeks in December,” he said, and multiple reports show that since Black Friday has taken off in the UK we’re spending less money on Boxing Day, our previous favourite for bargain hunting. That means retailers need to think very carefully about Black Friday: they can discount in the hope they’ll make up for the lower margins with higher volumes, or they can decide not to take part in Black Friday and potentially lose sales to rivals who do. Predicting the best Black Friday deals of 2017:http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/PmXWMvHwjiQ4wqH9xKs565.jpg iPhone 8 Black Friday deals We know that Apple’s 2017 iPhone 8 is likely to be dramatically different from the current model, we can reasonably expect it to go on sale in September or October at the latest, and we know that iPhone 8 Black Friday deals will be very popular - so this one’s a slam-dunk. Expect similar discounts to 2016 chopping £100-plus off the up-front price, and Apple to offer gift cards across the range. We’d expect some decent deals on iPads too as Apple refreshes the line-up this year. http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/A8c6UCFTifpkiWLxPUQYSZ.jpg http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/3S2BpC9fTLzPynDnaweJvf.jpg Samsung Galaxy S8 Black Friday deals Black Friday last year saw really good deals on the Samsung Galaxy S7 and S7 Edge, with the Black Friday voucher code BLACKFRI2 wiping out the upfront cost altogether on a £29.99 per month contract. That was a fantastic deal, and we’re expecting to see similarly great Galaxy deals on the Samsung Galaxy S8 in 2017. http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/A8c6UCFTifpkiWLxPUQYSZ.jpg http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/bsVCd6vcMd6SSZYPWh3Xuf.jpg PS4 Pro Black Friday deals Black Friday 2016 was all about the PS4 Slim, and Black Friday 2017 will be all about the PS4 Pro. As with 2016 we’d expect the very best deals to be on bundles, with some of them costing only a little more than the PS4 Pro itself, so start working on your game wish list: a bundle’s only a good deal if it includes the games you actually want to play. Up to now, the PS4 Pro is holding its RRP but you can expect that to change later this year, particularly when Microsoft has launched the Xbox One X... http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/A8c6UCFTifpkiWLxPUQYSZ.jpg http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/yrQcfWzCPNsP73amH7wkc5.jpg Xbox One X Black Friday deals Microsoft’s got a pro console too, and unless something goes wrong with the release schedule it will be on sale on November 7 - right in time for Black Friday 2017. As with the Xbox One in 2016 we’d expect to see the very best deals on bundles, rather than on the console itself: there’s more wiggle room for the retailer there, so they can afford to be more daring with the discounts. http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/A8c6UCFTifpkiWLxPUQYSZ.jpg http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/BotJ7RdNffoZBakFqrqWtf.jpg 4K HDR OLED TV Black Friday deals Black Friday 2016 was positively packed with TV deals, including nearly half-price deals on selected OLED TVs. High-end sets are where the really expensive RRPs are, and the ever-advancing world of telly tech means those prices can only be sustained for a fairly short time. If you’re in the market for the kind of TV whose price tag wouldn’t look out of place on a car, Black Friday 2017 could be a very good day for you indeed. The deals on Black Friday 2017 won't be so crazyBlack Friday 2014 was particularly silly in the UK: while grown men and women knocked each other over to try and get cheap Polaroid TVs in supermarkets, men and women knocked over loads of websites too. Many retailers weren’t prepared for the volume of online traffic and their servers couldn’t cope. Other firms that hadn’t thought Black Friday was a particularly big deal tried to get in on the action. The result felt rather like some firms were running around with a pricing gun, discounting whatever they spotted. Black Friday 2015 was very different. Websites coped just fine - although some raised eyebrows with “oh! We’re so busy you’ll have to queue!” warnings that seemed more about marketing than reflecting actual demand - and retailers had a strategy in place. Where previous Black Fridays were crazy, Black Friday 2015 was calm. The difference? Planning. Retailers knew what to expect, had struck deals with suppliers well in advance and approached Black Friday like any other shopping event. There were still bargains to be had, but it certainly didn’t feel like bargain-conscious customers were getting one over on panicking retailers. Black Friday 2016 was different again: for many big-name retailers, instead of everything happening on one day, their sales were spread over an entire week from the Monday before Black Friday to Cyber Monday, the Monday immediately after. Cyber Monday used to be a separate event, the day everybody panicked and thought “oh no! It’s nearly Christmas and I haven’t bought any presents!” before visiting Amazon on their work PCs. But in 2016 it was just another part of Black Friday Deals Week. As Experian’s Richard Jenkings told the BBC, “The Black Friday promotions at the end of November are the start of a longer, more drawn-out peak season, which begins with most of the activity online and then moves in-store as we get closer and closer to Christmas day.” The best Black Friday deals last year:Every year, we load up with pizza and energy drinks to scour the entire internet for the best deals. These were some of our favourite deals from Black Friday last time out: http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/PmXWMvHwjiQ4wqH9xKs565.jpg 1. £125 off the iPhone 7 Apple’s iPhone 7 may have been new but that didn’t mean you couldn’t get a Black Friday deal. With the code BLACKNOV125 you could get £125 off the up-front cost of an iPhone 7 - and no, the contract wasn’t more expensive to compensate. http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/GEsM4YqFpaQDbB5Tck7JG5.jpg 2. £130 off the PS4 The PlayStation 4 is a brilliant console, and last Black Friday it was a brilliant bargain too: there was £130 off the 1TB model and bundles costing as little as £189. Very chopped 34% off the price of some of its PS4 bundles and Amazon cut 20%. http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/awgVXmJcMDAm9cBnriWgg5.jpg 3. £40 off the iPad Air There were lots of iPad bargains on Black Friday 2016 including £40 off the iPad Air, £30 off iPad Pros and up to £50 off iPad Minis. Apple wasn’t offering those discounts, but it did bundle gift cards with various products. http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/aZN8nKmJx35eDPHGEvaU25.jpg 4. £900 off an LG OLED TV How’s this for a discount: Black Friday meant a massive £900 off the LG OLED55B6V TV, bringing its price down to a much less frightening £1,899. There was also £550 off Sony 4K TVs and up to £300 off Panasonic TVs. http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/df9jmxUAQF7kcscM4qGr45.jpg 5. Huge savings on Xbox One bundles The 4K Xbox One S was just £199 with Minecraft and Forza Horizon thrown in, and prices were slashed all over the place for every conceivable combination of console, controllers and games. There were good deals to be had on accessories too. What to expect from Black Friday 2017:The last few Black Friday deals periods saw many retailers taking baby steps, but in 2017 they’re all grown up. That means they’ve been poring over their spreadsheet models since the last Black Friday, and they know exactly what they’ll be doing this year. And the first thing they’ll be doing is trying to beat Black Friday by starting their deals early. What started as Black Friday weekend became Black Friday week, and this year we expect some big-name retailers to start discounting long before that. Early discounting makes sense for many reasons: it spreads the load on their websites and shops, and more importantly it means the news of their deals won’t be buried amid the avalanche of Black Friday announcements. So keep your eyes peeled - and keep visiting our deals homepage - from early November, and maybe even earlier than that. Something we saw a lot of in 2016 and expect to see even more of in 2017 is a sliding scale of discounting: we noticed deals got bigger and better as the month progressed. That’s likely to recur in 2017, with reasonable deals at the beginning of the Black Friday period and more exciting but limited quantity deals on Black Friday itself. The emphasis will be on the more expensive products where retailers can cut prices but still make a decent profit. http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/A8c6UCFTifpkiWLxPUQYSZ.jpg Black Friday 2017 FAQ: what it is, when it happens and where to get the best dealshttp://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techradar/digital-home/~4/wUfoktAR6_M

Nest is taking home security to the next level with Nest Secure, a new alarm system that protects your abode with a hands-off approach that's just as effective at protecting against intruders. There are multiple components to the system, which Nest unveiled at an event in San Francisco, starting with Nest Guard. This is the brains of the operation, and acts as the alarm and keypad as well as a motion sensor. Shaped like a hockey puck and smaller than the Amazon Echo Dot, you tap your Nest Tag (which we'll get to in a bit) to arm and disarm the system. Guard will also utter a countdown clock of how much time you have to leave the house once you've armed it. http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/afNnxz6dE2aua6eTUR9bH9.jpg Nest Tag and Nest GuardThen there's Nest Detect. This battery-powered motion detector is placed on the wall and will sense when doors or windows are open, and picks up movement in rooms (both when it's on a door). You can tap a button on Detect to disarm a door if, say, Fido needs to go outside. The aforementioned Nest Tag is a little tile that can attach to your key chain. It allows you to arm and disarm your security system without needing to input a passcode. Just walk in the front door and touch your Tag to the Nest Guard. http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/FqaJw5auJNMHoX6Qu2WKL9.jpg Nest DetectYou can control the entire system from the Nest app, arming and disarming your alarm wherever you are and receiving alerts if something is detected. There's also an option to bypass the alarm through a featured called Quiet Open It's all designed so you actually use it, rather than be turned off by complicated and intrusive systems that don't fit with the average person's lifestyle. As for price, a Nest Secure starter pack costs $499 (about £370 / AU$620). This includes one Nest Guard, two Nest Detects and two Nest Tags. You can add on additional components as well, with each Nest Detect costing $59 (about £45/ AU$75) and additional Tags priced at $25 (about £20 / AU$30). Best Buy will also sell a package for $598. The Nest Secure system is launching in the US this November, with availability in more countries coming next year. New Nest IQNest also introduced a new Nest IQ outdoor camera at its event today. The camera is weatherproof, Nest says, and uses facial recognition as well as motion detection to sense who's there. Nest also unveiled a smart doorbell, called Nest Hello. It too uses facial recognition to tell who's come a'knockin', can record in HDR, and has a night-vision mode. Nest Cam IQ will soon feature Google Assistanthttp://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techradar/digital-home/~4/2okfVleowkc

Image credit: Jonathan Bloom / Facebook Live Today Nest announced its entry into the smart doorbell market with the Nest Hello, a smart doorbell from the company that first made its name with smart thermostats. The Nest Hello supports recording in HDR, as well as a night-vision mode as seen in the company’s other smart home products. The doorbell is also equipped with the same facial recognition technology found in its other smart security cameras, so that it can recognise familiar delivery drivers and family members. This will notify you whether someone rings your doorbell or not. Respond quicklyNest Hello also offers quick responses if you’re too busy to remotely answer the door Finally, the doorbell also offers echo and noise cancellation so that you can hold a conversation with a visitor even if the street is busy outside. Alongside the Nest Hello, the company also announced a new outdoor version of its Nest Cam IQ, and a new smart home security system called Nest Secure. Check out our review of the Nest Thermostat, the device that started it allhttp://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techradar/digital-home/~4/NGoffZHoboo

Image credit: Droid Life Just about every device we anticipate seeing at Google's October 4 event has leaked today, and the Google Home Mini is no exception. As the official name suggests, the Google Home Mini is a shrunk down version of the Google Home. Think of it like the Amazon Echo Dot to the Amazon Echo. Today's leaked images and details, courtesy of Droid Life, reveal a smart speaker in the shape of a rounded off hockey puck. The colors it'll come in are nearly identical to those of another leaked device, the new Google Daydream View. It appears you'll be able to choose a Google Home Mini in either Chalk (grayish white), Charcoal (dark gray) or Coral (a peachy pink hue). Unlike Google Home, the opaque bases that match the top speaker portion reportedly won't be interchangeable. http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/gcgGjuua3n2Xc9oSsDKm8S.jpg The standard Google Home lets you swap the baseLike the standard Google Home, the Mini appears to plug in, based on the cord in the leaks. Many of the same functions, such as using Google Assistant, setting reminders and reading the news, also apply. Google Home costs $129 (£129 / about AU$170), and here's where the Google Home Mini differs greatly. It will reportedly be priced at $49 (about £40 / AU$60), same as the Amazon Echo Dot in the US. Putting out a cheaper, smaller speaker is a natural move for Google, especially if it hopes to compete with Amazon. The Amazon Echo Dot is Amazon's top seller in its Home Audio Speaker category, and it's rumored to be releasing an Amazon Echo 2 later this year. Expanding lines to offer customers more choice at different price points - and to stay up to speed with competitors - is a move we see regularly by tech companies, and Google looks to be no exception. Also look for the Google Pixel 2 and Pixel 2 XL to be unveiled on October 4, along with the new Google Daydream View and Pixelbook 2-in-1 laptop. Meanwhile, we await the iPhone X release datehttp://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techradar/digital-home/~4/eUszUJHHN6o

Amazon India recently announced that their shopping fiesta, Great Indian Festival Sale will kick off from September 21 through September 24. With the onset of the festival season in India, online shopping gets a really amazing boost with consumers shopping at different portals for their festivity needs. In fact, a lot of us wait for this sale to commence and get our hands on our favourite products at the best price. Every e-tailer puts out deals during this season to attract consumers and the scale is on a rise since past few years. From consumer electronics to apparels to gifts, e-commerce biggies in India, Amazon and Flipkart offer some mouth-watering deals every year on a myriad of categories across their portals. And while these websites compete with each other in offering the best deal possible, at the end of the day, it's the consumer who benefits with offers and deals on products. Interestingly, this year it's going to be crazy for both, the online shopping portals, as well as the consumers as Flipkart's Big Billion Day sale, also starts on September 21. But you don’t need to worry. TechRadar’s army of minions will skim through various deals and offers to bring you, our readers, the best deals across both the sales. What is Amazon's Great Indian Festival Sale 2017?4 Days. 96 hours. More than 40,000 offers across electronics, home and fashion. Amazon India’s Great Indian Festival is an extravaganza of crazy deals every hour along with some exclusive limited-time deals on products from big brands. As the festival season nears, shopping portals such as Amazon bank on the spirit of the festivities and launch some really great offers across their catalogue for consumers. More than 40,000 offers across all four days will headline the shopping carnival on Amazon India with new deals every hour across various categories. Amazon India’s Great Indian Festival Sale is a good occasion for online shopaholics to spend that hard-earned moolah on some of the products they have been eyeing on. The offers will be available across Amazon India’s product categories which include consumer electronics, home and kitchen along with fashion and lifestyle products on the portal. When is the Amazon Great Indian Festival sale starting?Amazon India will be holding its Great Indian Festival Sale from September 21 to 24. Additionally, Amazon Prime members will get an early access to the deals on September 20. September 21 will also be the day when Flipkart holds its Big Billion Day sale. So, it’s a win-win situation for the consumers as both major online retailers will be attempting to woo consumers with their offers and deals. Amazon India’s shopping festival garners many users every year and this time it is expected to attract more customers than before. That in part has to do with the timing of the sale which will start just before the festivities kick off in India. Why is Amazon Great India sale so important?Any sale, no matter the time or occasion is of much importance to shoppers in India. The Diwali Sale, however, is on another level when it comes to shopping as it is a celebration period in households and is a time when winter is on the horizon. Sales during these days generally increase in both scale and offer with many consumers now turning up to online shopping websites to make purchases. During Amazon India’s Great Indian Festival Sale, 40,000+ offers would be introduced during a period of four days with more than 500 offers on mobiles, 2,500 on electronics, above 10,000 home & kitchen offers and more than 3,00,000 offers on apparels. Along with this, some exclusive deals on products for a specific duration, no cost EMI, exchange offers and Amazon Pay balance offers would also be released. Mobile phones would attract more than 40 percent discount across brands including the likes of OnePlus, Apple, Xiaomi, Samsung, Motorola, Lenovo, LG, Honor, Nokia among others. The Great Indian Festival Sale would also see up to 60 percent off on electronics and home appliances which include up to 20 percent off on laptops, up to 50 percent off on storage devices, up to 55 percent on cameras and up to 60 percent discounts on networking peripherals, headphones and speakers. Amazon India would also be running a contest on their official app under Amazon App Jackpot wherein consumers could win prizes worth 2,00,000 INR. Amazon’s home-brand AmazonBasics products would also be available on discounts of up to 60 percent. All in all, these four days would be really amazing for people who love to shop and for those who have made a wishlist of products to buy since the beginning of the year. Some of the best Great Indian Sale deals from the pastDuring some of the past Amazon India sales, products such as Apple’s MacBook Air was up for grabs at Rs 58,990 which is a massive discount of Rs 18,210. Apple Watch Series 2 was also retailing at a discount of Rs 5,000 along with Kindle Paperwhite receiving an additional price cut of Rs 4,199. Coming to smartphones, Apple iPhone 7 32GB variant was retailing at Rs 42,999 after receiving a discount of up to 30 percent while the iPhone 6 was up for grabs at just Rs 23,999. Mid-range smartphones such as the Moto G5 Plus retailed at Rs 14,999 after a discount of Rs 2,000. Google Pixel XL which normally cost Rs 76,000 was up for sale after a discount of Rs 22,001 at Rs 53,999 while the price of Pixel 32GB variant was also slashed by Rs 15,001. Headphones from Sony were available at Rs 649 while a Western Digital 2TB external HDD was on sale for Rs 5,999. The Extra Bass headphones from Sony retailed for Rs 1,005 during the sale as well. Wireless speakers which have become a trend in recent years were also on heavy discounts. JBL wireless speakers received a discount starting from 35 percent, Ultimate Ears speakers were on more than 25 percent discount followed by Sony which offered its wireless range of speakers at up to 30 percent off. Philips, Portronics and Zook’s speakers were up for grabs at up to 40 percent, 35 percent and 30 percent discount respectively. How to get the best Amazon Great Indian Festival deals?First of all, it's really simple. Just follow TechRadar during the four days of sale and we would do the hard work of offering you with the best deals possible. But such sales also attract the attention of scammers and fake vendors. To counter that, ensure that the seller you’re buying your favourite product from is certified by Amazon India. In other words, the seller should be carrying an Amazon-fulfilled badge on their profile. Unfortunately, if you don’t find a valid seller but the deal is irresistible, have a look at the seller's profile and comments left by previous customers. If the seller looks clean, go for the deal. Along with this, you might find some discounts being offered on products at their MRP’s. To get the best deals users can use price comparison websites such as mysmartprice to check whether the product is being offered at a genuine discounted rate. Additionally, do not respond to emails and click links from shady sources as that could be a phishing attempt. Happy shopping, people! http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techradar/digital-home/~4/aK_ijz0wKaQ

The Android 8.0 Oreo update was released last month, but so far only a handful of devices have received the update. In the meantime, companies like HTC, Sony and Nokia confirmed which of their devices will be updated to the latest version of Android. Today, Motorola joins that list of companies, with the Android 8.0 Oreo update confirmed for several devices across its line-up. The Lenovo-owned company won’t be updating the Moto G4 series and older generation Moto X series devices. For a brief recap, the Moto G4 series was launched last year with Android 6.0 Marshmallow. Motorola has rolled out the Android 7.0 Nougat update for these devices earlier this year. Moto devices eligible for Android 8.0 Oreo updateMotorola will be updated a total of 10 devices across the Moto Z, Moto X and the Moto G series to Android 8.0 Oreo. Moto G5SMoto G5S PlusMoto G5Moto G5 PlusMoto X4aMoto Z2 PlayMoto Z2 ForceMoto Z / Z DroidMoto Z Play / Z Play DroidMoto Z Force DroidMotorola says that it will start rolling out the Android 8.0 Oreo update for its devices starting from fall, which begins later this month. To recall, the Android 8.0 Oreo update brings several improvements and features, ranging from power efficiency to user interface enhancements. One of the major new additions to Oreo is Background Limits, which prevents rogue apps from abusing the location permission hundreds of times every hour. Another important new feature is Picture in Picture mode that allows users to an app in a full window with another app in a small window. The Oreo update also brings Autofill APIs that let you enter usernames and passwords using password managers in a much more efficient manner. List of devices getting Android Oreo update in IndiaHow to download Android 8 Oreo right nowhttp://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techradar/software-news/~4/0EeHSanU3aI

If your business relies on receiving debit and credit card payments from customers, then it's worth investing time and money on an effective card processing service. We can't help you pay for it, but if time isn't on your side we can certainly make choosing the right solution for you very quick and easy. In this article, we've picked out five potential card processing services for your company. To compile the list, we've looked for card processors that make life easier and safer for both you and your customers. So that means processing services that go to extra lengths on usability and security. It probably won't comes as a surprise to see PayPal included, but there are other services that include different features and and array of price points. By the time you finish reading, you'll be ready to commit to one of the providers. So let's get straight to it... Head this way to find the best accounting service for your businesshttp://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/yu4ZDUx3JVoXhtUtZ3uqnC.jpg You must have been living under a rock for the last couple of decades if you haven't heard of PayPal. We don't think it's an over exaggeration to say that for 99% of people, PayPal will be the first card processor that comes to mind. It's used by multitudes upon multitudes of retailers and service providers around the world. And if your business is small, it's absolutely free to sign up. That's for the standard package that includes fraud protection, one-click purchasing and an optimised experienced for mobile visitors. The focus is on fast, simple payments from anybody, regardless of whether they have a PayPal account or not. As well as the free option, you can pay $30 (£20, around AU$38) a month to upgrade to PayPal Payments Pro. That allows you to customize your checkout and ensure that your customers stay on your website when they pay. http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/R4wPnqxfYiCnyDQ94TAndn.jpg Rather than a one size fits all approach to card processing, from the outset Square looks to mould its solution to suit your business. Whether your specialty is culinary, beauty, service provision or simply retail, Square will direct you appropriately. The interface (whether on desktop or via Square's mobile app) is clean and simple to understand, and the commissions for each payment are a flat rate for all transactions instead of on a sliding scale. If you have a shopfront or office where you accept payments, you can also order its Square Reader hardware so that you can quickly take card payments in person, rather than faffing around with the online portal every time. There are no monthly payments to get Square, unless your transactions are going to amount to more than $250,000, then you'll have to speak to Square to find out its rates. http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/NjKSuGuARN2X2v4fyE6QPL.jpg Worldpay's online payment gateway is the one to go for if you're expecting payment from all corners of the globe. You can accept payments from more than 100 currencies worldwide - from Rand to Rupees, Pesos to Pound Sterling. Worldpay takes the 'if you can't beat them, join them' approach to PayPal - it accepts payments from PayPal members, as well as the usual standalone card payments from non-PayPal users. We like that it includes reporting tools to keep track of your invoices and transactions and the company makes a lot of its advanced fraud protection. Clearly, Worldpay suits larger and growing businesses with greater needs. Sorry, but we can't give you specific details on pricing. You have to speak to a member of its sales team if you want to sign up to Worldpay. http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/r4zyPDnKpCgRUtSAdjDdS.jpg If Intuit QuickBooks Payments sounds familiar, that's because Intuit makes some of the oldest and most respected accounting software out there. The Payments strand of Intuit's service is focussed on the fast payment of invoices that you issue to customers, allowing you to add a 'Pay now' button to make it quick and easy for the payer. And because Intuit is so accounts inclined, it's no surprise to see that it makes a lot of the automatic invoicing and bookkeeping features you get access to. If you already use Intuit, it makes sense to sign up for Payments too. Again, there are no monthly fees to pay. You can check out the Intuit QuickBooks Payments commission structure here. http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/9Gxr2pmuNr5JjuaEFqhjy3.jpg Compared to some of the merchant services above, Stripe is a young pup - it only came into being in 2011. But what it lacks in years of experience, it makes up for in a slick, youthful design. But Stripe isn't merely style without substance. It states that you can start accepting payments within 10 minutes of signing up. And that pretty much sums up Stripe's raison d'être - a stripped down and straightforward card processing service. It also goes to great lengths to make integration on your website as easy as possible, with lots of help and guidelines to developers. And there are easy-to-navigate reporting suites, too. It's another free service to subscribe to Stripe, with commission payable on each transaction. http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techradar/software-news/~4/71-y_ljEoKM

You log into your office PC or email account and a message pops up: it’s time to change your password. You roll your eyes, change ‘c0mpanyN4me13’ to ‘c0mpanyN4me14’, are rewarded with a green tick, and go about your business. Deep down you know it’s not good practice, but the rules enforced by many online services make it the only way to create passwords you’ll actually remember. Many of these regulations derive from a set of recommendations published by the US National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) in 2003. They were intended to make users’ passwords harder to guess, but did so at the expense of user friendliness. http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/UJk3jSmBj9dfqr5cKKGdhT.jpg Many online services only permit short passwords and restrict use of special charactersIn an interview with the Wall Street Journal, former NIST technology manager Bill Burr admitted he now regrets much of the advice the organization gave on creating strong logins. At the time, he recommended picking combinations of characters that were as close to random as possible and changing them regularly, thereby making them harder to guess. That wasn’t totally beyond the realms of possibility 14 years ago, but now that we all rely on password-protected online services, remembering unique random logins for each one is simply impossible. “Well it frustrates everybody, me included," Burr told CBS News. “I have maybe 200 passwords. I can't remember all those, obviously.” We're only humanLast month, NIST updated its guidelines for designers to make password authentication systems more user-friendly. The new recommendations include passwords that don’t expire arbitrarily, can be up to 64 characters long, and can include any printable characters, including spaces. ”It was surprising to see the news come up so quickly,” Steve Schultz, senior director of product at LastPass, told TechRadar. “We hadn’t expected the kind of coverage it got, but for the LastPass team, it was very much in line with what we’ve been educating our customers to do for years.” LastPass is a password management tool that stores users’ login details in a secure vault protected by a master password. It can generate a unique, strong password for all of your accounts and complete login forms automatically so you don’t need to remember them. http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/Stfzag9Y4FUmwekehwPxjn.png A password manager and generator like LastPass means you don't have to remember dozens of unique logins“We had a blog post – I think it was from 2013 – where we recommended using a long passphrase that would be easier to remember,” said Schultz. “Humans are not good at remembering 64-character alphanumeric passwords, and the new guidelines completely fit with our previous recommendations.” LastPass doesn’t plan to make any changes to its password manager in response to the new NIST guidelines, but Schultz recommends that online service providers pay particular attention to the new advice on password length. “I use hundred-character passwords with numbers, letters and special characters, and I don’t re-use passwords because I want them to be as secure as possible,“ he said. “There are a lot of sites that don’t support that, and we would recommend that they take a look at the new guidelines.“ The more, the merrierFor even better security, the new NIST guidelines recommend using multi-factor authentication for sensitive accounts. This means providing another form of verification, such as a code from a smartphone app, in addition to a regular password. Android and iOS devices already support multi-factor authentication, as well as Facebook, Twitter and Google. Schultz echoes this advice. “With the proliferation of cloud services and devices since the original guidelines were written, password security will only take you so far. Two-factor authentication will stop security breaches in their tracks.” Check out the best free password managers and generatorshttp://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techradar/software-news/~4/AoBGNNFcLA0

Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt will give a speech to an NHS conference tomorrow in which he'll unveil plans to bring the NHS into the digital age, with patients able to access health services via their smartphones from as early as next year. Under the proposals patients will be able to view their medical records, book a GP appointment, and order a repeat prescription on their phone by the end of June 2018. The speech at the Health and Care Innovation Expo in Manchester comes as the NHS heads towards its 70th anniversary. The National Health Service was founded in July 1948. Hunt is expected to say: “People should be able to access their own medical records 24/7, show their full medical history to anyone they choose and book basic services like GP appointments or repeat prescriptions online. “I do not underestimate the challenge of getting there – but if we do it will be the best possible 70th birthday present from the NHS to its patients.” Already being testedThis service is going to come in the form of an app, which follows in the footsteps of the NHS 111 app created by Babylon Healthcare, which can currently be used in London as an alternative to calling the 111 non-emergency phone line. A trial of the full Babylon app – called NHS GP at hand – is currently being run in the London borough of Hammersmith and Fulham, allowing patients to transfer to the app as their registered GP. If you're in other regions of the UK you can pay to access the Babylon app. http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/xpJdgRmyRm6CbjenKuHmrM.jpg In the Babylon app, you can book and have an appointment with a GP over your smartphone as a video call. Whether this is the app that Hunt is planning for rollout nationwide is unclear, but given that it’s actively being tested there’s a good chance. Given the recent malware attacks on the NHS, safety is a question that immediately comes to mind when thinking about digitising healthcare. If more of our medical information is being broadcast and held remotely on our devices, it increases the potential vulnerabilities of what is valuable and sensitive information. As we learn more about the Government's plans for digital healthcare we'll let you know. Want to know more about Babylon? Check out: Creating the Google of medicine: meeting the human CEO behind the AI doctorVia: The Guardian http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techradar/software-news/~4/Wap94Uk5reE

When it comes to must-see TV, most of us would probably think of HBO or Netflix before Amazon - and that's a situation that Amazon chief Jeff Bezos is keen to start changing, according to a weekend report in industry outlet Variety. In short, Bezos wants the next Game of Thrones-style super smash hit TV series to appear on an Amazon network rather than one owned by a rival company, and he's instructed his team of executives to start shifting their strategy to finding a small-screen success. Amazon Studios is now looking for "high-end drama series with global appeal", according to Variety, TV shows that are going to set social media buzzing and which will also translate well to international markets outside of the US and UK. Pilot season"It's pretty evident that it takes big shows to move the needle," Amazon Studios boss Roy Price told Variety, citing internal company data on viewer behavior and praising the most well-known fantasy epic of recent times. "I do think Game of Thrones is to TV as Jaws and Star Wars was to the movies of the 1970s." Amazon is looking to build on successes like The Man in the High Castle and The Grand Tour with programming that covers sci-fi, fantasy, crime and more, according to Price. Other shows have been cut to make room as Amazon looks for a big hit. Pilots recently greenlit include a crime drama focusing on the battle between Chinese gangs for control of the San Francisco underworld in the late 1800s, and an unnamed comic book adaptation being produced by Seth Rogen. Amazon says details on all its new shows will be revealed soon - and maybe there'll be a Game of Thrones hit among them. In the meantime, these are the best shows on Amazon Prime TV right nowVia Digital Trends http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techradar/digital-home/~4/XQHKcGYWM8I

This year's batch of iPhones aren't the only new pieces of hardware we're expecting to see at Apple's special media event on Tuesday, and an upgraded 4K-capable Apple TV is also strongly rumored to be making an appearance. Thanks to the code embedded in iOS 11, we just learned a bit more about it. The finished version of iOS 11, ready to be pushed out to the public next week, leaked out over the weekend and has been giving Apple analysts plenty of new information about the iPhone X and the iPhone 8, including the final names of the phones. Now developer Steven Stroughton-Smith has found confirmation of a 4K Apple TV device in the code: it's going to have a native resolution of 2160p UHD (4K in other words) and will require a minimum internet speed of 15Mbps if you want to be able to stream all your content at that top-end resolution. HDR for allIt sounds like the new box is also going to support competing HDR formats Dolby Vision and HDR10, which should mean more details in shadows and bright spots no matter what technology your video sources have decided to use. These aren't huge revelations that add much more to what we already knew about the 4K Apple TV, but they help to confirm that such a device is on the way, and at this point it's well overdue - content providers like Netflix are quickly upgrading their films and shows to 4K, and Apple is going to need a box that can handle it. All eyes are now on the special event Apple has got planned for next week, which starts at 10AM PT / 1PM ET / 6PM BST on September 12 or 3AM September 13 AEST (if you don't happen to have an invite, you can watch online for free). Alongside new iPhones and Apple TVs, we're also expecting a new Apple Watch. Details of the 4K Apple TV also pop up in the HomePod firmwareVia AppleInsider http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techradar/digital-home/~4/e_rwYDRsixo

If you use the Google Drive desktop software to keep your important files synced, you've got until 12 March 2018 to switch to an alternative. Google will stop supporting the client on December 11 2017, then it will send it to the great hard drive in the sky three months later. The company is advising home users to upgrade to the new Google Backup & Sync software instead. This tool, which launched in July, backs up files and folders from your PC or Mac to Google Drive automatically. The contents of your desktop, your Documents folder and your Pictures folder are selected as standard, but you can choose your own settings if you prefer. Protect your files with Google Backup & SyncBusiness users will be advised to switch to Google Drive File Stream, which goes live on September 26. The main difference between the two tools is that File Stream doesn't store any files locally. Instead, they're always kept in the cloud and are streamed to your desktop on demand. Via ghacks.net Try Google Drive for yourself on the best-in-class Dell XPS 13http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techradar/software-news/~4/rGHTlcAN2yA

If you've been using the same web browser for several years, you've probably become used to its quirks. Yes, it's annoying that tabs behave in a certain way, or you have to trawl through menus to reach your extensions, but is it really worth the hassle of changing to a different browser? If you switch to Vivaldi, the answer is yes. From the moment you install it, this browser puts you in charge of every aspect of how it looks and behaves, from the layout of tabs to custom gesture shortcuts. Vivaldi is in constant development, and recent additions to its already impressive arsenal of features include the ability to control Philips Hue lights, and handy tab snoozing. Break out of your web browsing rut and give it a try today. Download here: Vivaldi http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/XpjytZKadYHuY5Kqsnopd7.jpg Download of the Day is our pick of the best free software around – whether it's useful, fun, or just plain silly. If you have any recommendations, please send them to downloads@techradar.com. http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techradar/software-news/~4/ONA5Dq0pp84

Thanks to the huge popularity of dating apps, online dating has gone from a little bit sad and just about socially acceptable to completely normal quicker than you can say “swipe right.” Due to the success of big names, like Tinder and OkCupid, more and more dating apps have entered the market hoping to attract a different breed of user. But with so many available, it’s hard to figure out which one is for you. To get to the bottom of which are really the best, we’ve been chatting to those that use them, from the loved-up to the frustrated, from those hunting for a soulmate to those after no-strings-attached fun, and have tried our hardest to pick a good selection. But remember: love is a confusing thing. Just because one app has become synonymous with casual sex, doesn’t mean you won’t find love. And vice versa. Whatever your preferences, we've rounded up a selection of the best dating apps on the planet. Read on to find love (maybe)! FreeiOS, AndroidStraight, gay, bisexual, otherIt’s hard to stand out in the era of Tinder, which is why OKCupid has turned its attention to matching people up on a ‘deeper level’. By answering questions and filling out your profile, the app’s algorithm will suggest people who share your interests in the hope you’ll build more genuine connections, which you can easily see from a ‘compatibility’ score next to other users. You can also link up your Instagram account if you think it gives potential dates a better idea of what you’re all about. Nick said: “The OKCupid dates I went on were often the most interesting, with people I could genuinely chat to.” The app is free and, unless you use its ‘quickmatch’ Tinder-style feature, it’s all about browsing lots of profiles and breaking the ice with a message. But this focus on messages isn’t always good news. Sarah said: “The fact you can easily message for free comes with the downside that you might get a fair few unwanted messages.” FreeiOS (Android coming soon)Straight, gay, bisexual, otherNow is, as you can maybe guess, all about meeting up right now. For some that might sound romantic. For those that like to plan, it’s panic-inducing. Once you’ve signed up, you select a time window when you’re free and then choose what you’d like to do, like ‘coffee’ or ‘drink’ or ‘entertainment’. This immediacy is refreshing in the murky world of ‘will we ever meet or just awkwardly flirt for weeks before getting bored?’ online dating woes. Dating blogger Paul Thomas Bell told us: “I did a lot of research into online dating and Now is the solution to what I found to be the single biggest complaint of women on Tinder - no more pen pals.” But it turns out that an app designed for instant dating gratification doesn’t always attract those looking for a long-term partner. Louise said: “It could just be because of the area I live in, but in my experience most of the guys on Now are only after one thing right now, and it isn’t romance or a coffee...” FreeiOS, AndroidStraight, gay, bisexualAhh Tinder. It’s been blamed for everything, from the rise of STDs and breeding promiscuity to global warming (okay, we’re making that last one up). But no matter who you ask, it seems to have become synonymous with casual dating and hookups rather than those looking for long-term love. It’s ideal if you’re looking for something not so serious, but that’s not to say you won’t find a more long-term partner. After all, we’ve all got a friend-of-a-friend who married someone they met on Tinder, right? Unless we’re all just referring to the same couple... The premise is simple. You’re shown someone’s photo. If you like it, swipe right. If you don’t, swipe left. And then repeat a couple of thousand times. If you’ve swiped right on someone and they’re swiped right on you as well, you’ll be notified and can begin messaging one another. Hayley Minn told us: “I used to love it, it's so easy to use and fun, but it now feels like a game more than anything and I've never had a date lead to anything serious.” Despite the fact it seems to be losing its edge, we included it because it’s still popular, and the large user numbers mean the more chance of dates. Louise said: “I’m sick of it, but most people are on it. And I’ve had a few good, well, mediocre, dates.” FreeiOS, AndroidStraight, gay, bisexualIn many ways, the Bumble experience is pretty much identical to the Tinder style of swiping, but rather than either party making the first move, it’s up to the girl to say something witty and impressive first within a day. For many women that we chatted to, this was a breath of fresh air in the often seedy and overwhelming world of online dating and cringe-worthy first messages. Hayley told us: “I LOVE it! The woman speaks first, and it means guys are way more likely to speak to you if you're not just one of many.” It also seems that the higher quality experience and focus on women being in control attracts a slightly better standard of men. Louise told us: “The men are better, looks and personality.” Paul agreed: “It’s Tinder, but better.” FreeiOS, AndroidStraightCalling itself “the relationship app”, Hinge is aimed at those who are tired of Tinder, or just have really sore thumbs from all the swiping. You’re prompted to ask a series of questions, but you can choose which you answer. The idea is you can build an authentic picture of yourself, with answers, photos, details about what you’re reading or listening to and even video. So you’re more likely to find someone with genuine shared interests, rather than just a nice face. The biggest difference is there’s no ‘hot or not?’ style swiping. You can like someone’s activities and photos, which reminds us more of Facebook-style interactions, but packaged up within a dating app. Does this all sound a bit too good to be true? That’s maybe because it is. Sarah said: “Hinge definitely sounds good in theory. But I haven’t had a date through it yet. I’m trying to stay patient and positive, but I think the instant buzz of Tinder might have ruined me.” FreeiOS, AndroidStraight, gayPlenty of Fish is another app that allows you to create a profile, answer questions or just upload your favorite selfies. It’s got a large user-base and when it comes to success rates, it really divides opinion. The huge choice of, erm, fish, tend to mean there are a few long-term love stories and lots of “okay I guess” dating anecdotes. Louise said: “It’s a totally mixed bag. Be ready to hunt for people through the droves and droves. I’ve had a few fun dates through it, you just have to put the time in to weed through the rubbish.” Paul said: “All I ever hear from men is that women never reply, and all I ever hear from women is that they get too many messages.” That said, we know personally of one real world couple that are now married having met through Plenty of Fish, so love can be found here! FreeiOS, AndroidStraight, gay, bisexualMatch.com is another older dating website that’s evolved over the years to become one of the most popular apps. The profiles are detailed (if people fill them in), which means you can find out more about someone before you speak to them, and location-based searching means you’re shown people who live or work nearby. One of the most interesting developments to Match.com’s proposition is group dating events, which sound weird but could set it apart from the rest. Paul said: “I love that match are evolving by introducing dating events. They have the potential to be the future of dating and it's nice to see one of the top online companies acknowledging that, without losing their original identity.” FreeiOS, AndroidGayIf you're serious about finding long-term love as a gay man, Chappy may well be the best app option on the market. Built from an idea by Made In Chelsea's Ollie Locke (stick with us...) it's a respectful community with a higher quality user than some of the sleazier apps. Letting you choose between "Mr Right" and "Mr Right Now" it's fun and playful if you're in the mood for some quick company, while offering a bit more depth for those looking for a bit more. According to Basil it's greatest feature is "a slider at the top, where you can indicate what you're after, so only like-minded guys will populate your feed," but the app experience "from that point onwards, is basically Tinder." FreeiOS, AndroidStraightAnother app, another promise to provide more meaningful connections. Meet Coffee Meets Bagel. Ladies, you’ll be served up a Bagel (that’s what the app calls men) each day at noon, which are only the Bagels (or... erm... men?) that have already liked you. The idea is it’ll cut out time wasting and lead to a greater chance of a connection. The app also has a recently launched premium feature, which serves up more information about your matches, like how likely they are to reply to you. It’s another idea that sounds good, but does it really work? We’re yet to find anyone who has found what they’re looking for through the app. Louise told us: “It’s a great idea and I like the fact I don’t have to sit alone in an evening and swipe for hours, but I haven’t had a date through it yet.” Paul said: “I like it but I'm not yet convinced. It hasn't captured my imagination quite yet but I do hope they prove me wrong as it has some really good elements to it.” FreeiOS, AndroidGayAfter a hairy hookup? Scruff takes the basic dating app experience, and tailors it to gay guys looking for burly, furry men, also known as bears, polar bears, cubs and otters. Scruff quotes over 12 million worldwide users, and has recently expanded into AirBnB style travel accommodation, with a gay-friendly slant, also letting you know if fellow travellers from out of town are looking for some company. Paid tiers unlock additional features for committed users, but the free experience is worthy of inclusion here. Basil enjoyed the "instant messaging, whether you've been highlighted for a positive match or not. It means there's not instant rejection, but be ready for unsolicited messages too." He encouraged using the private gallery feature to have more meaningful interactions with would-be dates. FreeiOS, AndroidStraight, gay, bisexualDo you ever daydream that you’ll experience a romantic movie moment when you lock eyes with someone and then you’re together for all of eternity? But then you glance at someone in the street in real life and instantly look away again because you’re shy and awkward and not a fictional character? Well, Happn wants to try and resolve that and turn every walk down the street into a dreamy chance to find love. You fill in your details like you would with any other app, but then your phone’s location smarts kick in and you’re shown people who are nearby. Whether that means they live near you, work near you, have the same Sunday morning routine, or anything else. Nick said: “I met a lot of great people through this app. You’re bound to have similar lives if they keep showing up near you. Plus, it takes the pressure off because you’re already in each other’s proximity - you can easily go for a drink.” But there are drawbacks to the “find people nearby” USP. Nick continued: “The problem is, if you go on a bad date, you’ll see the same person again and again.” Hayley said: “I used to love this. But then it keeps bringing up the same people over and over if you're doing the same commute everyday as other people.” FreeiOSStraightTaste Buds wants to connect you up with people who share your music interests, which is why it calls itself “Tinder for music lovers”, as if everyone on Tinder doesn’t love music? If someone’s music tastes are a dealbreaker, this app will weed out anyone who isn’t destined to sit and listen to your favourite artists with you. Paul said: “It’s a really nice idea. But I’m not sure if it has any longevity. I hope I’m proven wrong, as it's quite innovative.” http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techradar/software-news/~4/nHduE8wIBDw

New screenshots from a preview build of the upcoming Fall Creators Update for Windows 10 have shown off the new Mixed Reality Viewer app, giving us a glimpse of what Microsoft plans for supporting the range of mixed reality headsets which are due to launch alongside the update on October 17. The images, posted on the Aggiornamenti Lumia blog, show how the existing View 3D app has been rebranded into the Mixed Reality Viewer. It allows users to open 3D models inside Windows 10 and view them with a mixed reality headset, or through a standard 2D monitor. The screenshots of the app were taken on a computer running Windows 10 that's been signed up to the Insider’s Program with ‘Fast Ring with Skip Ahead enabled’. This gives users a chance to download an early version of upcoming Windows updates to test out before they are finished. Trying out the new featuresThe blog post explains some of the new features of the Mixed Reality Viewer app, including a new logo and interface. These images show how mixed reality content will be handled in Windows 10 in the future. While it hasn’t been explicitly confirmed to feature in the Fall Creators Update, we’re hoping that it will be included, or shortly afterwards. The blog also hosts a download of the new app for people to try out, but we'd recommend holding fire and waiting for the final version to appear on the Windows Store in the future. Microsoft has made a big deal of supporting mixed reality, so to have a flagship app included in its next major update of Windows 10 will be a good indication of just how serious it is about MR. For the fastest results in Windows, upgrade to the best wireless routerVia Neowin http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techradar/software-news/~4/ls8bCawzsaw

In order to better cater to the security needs of small and medium-sized businesses, Avast has announced its new Avast Business solutions portfolio with three tiers of advanced endpoint protection for SMBs. The company’s new portfolio is powered by the integration of threat detection technologies and infrastructure that it acquired from its acquisition of AVG in September of last year. Avast’s strongest SMB security protection will help ensure business continuity by reducing the productivity loss and downtime that occurs from ransomware attacks and other advanced security threats. The new business portfolio will be available in three tiers and businesses can choose from Avast’s Business Antivirus, Antivirus Pro or Antivirus Pro Plus. Advanced antivirus and data and identity protection features will be available across all three versions of the portfolio as well as managed services for channel partners. Kevin Chapman, SVP and general manager of Avast’s SMB Business highlighted how the company has been working to combine its own security solutions for businesses with those of AVG since the acquisition last year, saying: “Since Avast acquired AVG, our focus has been on combining the best of both business product portfolios, partner programs, tools and systems to build a more powerful security engine with customized solutions that take the complexity out of protecting businesses.” The best free anti-ransomware software 2017The best business antivirus of 2017http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techradar/software-news/~4/-c6o9VNxT6M

Microsoft has announced a fresh batch of new features which have arrived for Office 365, including the debut of co-authoring in Excel. Yes, co-authoring is now live in the spreadsheet program, meaning you can collaborate with other folks in Excel files which are stored in OneDrive (and OneDrive for Business) or SharePoint Online. Furthermore, Microsoft has added auto-save functionality for Word, Excel or PowerPoint files being worked on and stored in these cloud services, so every change will automatically be saved without the user having to worry about manually doing so. This is also live right now. Yammering awayMicrosoft also did some work on Yammer, overhauling the iPad app with a fresh design and universal search functionality. Office 365 usage reports now have a Yammer activity report, as well. Microsoft Teams got some attention in terms of its usage in schools, with the introduction of the ability for both teachers and students to obtain a full view of their OneNote Class Notebook inside Teams. IT admins have been given the ability to set permissions when it comes to third-party apps in Teams, and also the power to disable (or enable) private chats. And when it comes to class assignments, it’s now possible for teachers to add web links to reference materials, which will obviously come in pretty handy. All of the aforementioned features are now available, and the final piece of the Office 365 puzzle is rich profiles, which are currently rolling out to Outlook for Windows. The new profiles automatically surface the most relevant contact information and related conversations and files. It might interest you to learn that Microsoft also recently bolstered the collaboration chops of the preview version of Office, adding in-line chat functionality to Word, Excel and PowerPoint. Maybe you’re running Office 365 on one of our best business laptopshttp://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techradar/software-news/~4/dlyrA9J2J_M

It's been a relatively busy year for Nest, having launched two new additions to its smart home lineup already. However, it looks like the gadget maker isn't ready to slow down anytime soon. Nest is sending out invites for a September 20 press event promising something major in the works, according to The Verge. Given that the company recently released its Nest Cam IQ security camera — as well as announced the Nest Thermostat E earlier today — we can't help but wonder what else Nest has up its sleeve. Going off the mention of needing 'popcorn' and a 'comfy couch' in the press announcement, it's possible that some kind of home theater accessory could be Nest's next big thing — that, or it just wants viewers all cozied up for its conference. We're just speculating at this point, so the best move now is to wait until late September to learn what Nest has waiting in store for us. In the meantime, we'll go shopping for that popcorn — but only because the invite made us a little peckish. Here are the best smart home devices out nowhttp://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techradar/digital-home/~4/Zn5h2C6JapI

Lenovo has come up with a unique way to turn your humble house into a smart home with its new Home Assistant Pack. Unveiled during IFA 2017, this "pack" consists of a speaker onto which you attach a Lenovo Tab 4 tablet. This creates a sort-of makeshift Amazon Echo Show, i.e. a speaker with a display. And wouldn't you know: the Home Assistant Back is backed by digital assistant Amazon Alexa, so it will provide verbal as well as visual information to users. The types of information you'll see on tablet's screen include weather updates, a look at your calendar and what music is being played. Like an Amazon Echo, the Home Assistant Pack speaker is voice activated. You can ask it to perform tasks, such as play music or turn on a connected device. The speaker base features two three-watt speakers, and it can detect your voice from up to three meters away with its double built-in mics, Lenovo said. It's also light, weighting 300 grams, or just over half a pound, letting you take the speaker and dock from room-to-room as you like. http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/XHoRBAbgRZC3LjL6dZaaeB.jpg Amazon's Echo ShowIf this all sounds appealing, there is a catch. The Home Assistant Pack only works when connected to a Tab 4 series tablet, a device we were pleasantly surprised by when we first encountered it in our hands on Lenovo Tab 4 review. As the tablet comes with either an 8- or 10-inch screen, your Home Assistant Pack has a little built-in customization. There's also an optional Kid's Pack, which turns the Tab 4 into a device for young ones, and a Productivity Pack that transforms the Tab 4 10 and Tab 4 10 Plus into a 2-in-1 for us older folk, according to Lenovo. The Home Assistant Pack starts at US$79.99 (about £65 / AU$100), with prices varying by country when it launches in October. By comparison, the Amazon Echo Show costs $230 (about £180 / AU$290), however it comes with the screen built-in. The Tab 4 itself is a great value, only costing $109 (about £85 / AU$140) and $149 (about £115 / AU$190) for the respective sizes. So, for a Tab 4 8 and Home Assistant Pack, you'll spend $188.99. Still less than the Echo Show. IFA 2017 is Europe's biggest tech show. The TechRadar team is in Berlin to bring you all the breaking news and hands-on first impressions of new phones, watches and other tech as they're announced.http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techradar/digital-home/~4/FD49sWiCq6I