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The Samsung Galaxy Tab S6 is pitched to be a professional’s tablet - powerful, versatile, and with a few new features that make it an attractive alternative to the comparably-sized 11-inch iPad Pro. But is it truly better than its predecessor, the Samsung Galaxy Tab S4, that came out the year before? You’d be forgiven for wondering why there isn’t a Tab S5 - for some reason, Samsung bypassed that numeration - but it’s just as well since the Tab S6 didn’t change that drastically from the previous year’s model. It has, however, been refined in some key quality-of-life ways that make it more attractive than the Galaxy Tab S4, especially if you like using the S Pen stylus. So, the question: should you pick up the new tablet, or buy the old one at a discount? Below, we’ll delve into each aspect of both tablets before offering a final verdict at the end. http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/rd2ZaxU4LDbQoSYzpXU2Aj.jpg Samsung Galaxy Tab S6 (Image credit: TechRadar) Samsung Galaxy Tab S6 vs. Samsung Galaxy Tab S4 price and release dateThe Samsung Galaxy Tab S6 Wi-Fi-only model will go on sale in the US on September 6 starting at $649 for the base model (6GB RAM/128GB of storage - it’s unclear how much pricier the 8GB RAM/256GB of storage model will be). As for the LTE model, Samsung has only said it’s coming later in 2019. Other regions haven’t gotten their own prices or firm release dates for either version yet, though the Wi-Fi-only model will be available in the UK in late August. The Samsung Galaxy Tab S4 was released in August 2018, and you can typically find it discounted from its $649 (£599, AU$959) launch price. In essence, that’s what this versus guide boils down to: is the Tab S6 worth the money to buy it at full price, or should you go for the older-but-still-solid model? http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/bjrkSVDBY59G3beAqr9US4.jpg Samsung Galaxy Tab S6 (Image credit: TechRadar) Samsung Galaxy Tab S6 vs. Samsung Galaxy Tab S4 designWhile there are some minor differences, the biggest changes come with devices that aren’t the tablet - the S Pen has gotten some tweaks, while the revamped Book Cover Keyboard is far superior with its added touchpad. The Tab S6’s design is a bit different, however: it’s thinner, for one, at 5.7mm (just shy of the iPad Pro’s thickness) compared to the 7.1mm of the Tab S4. Granted, that’s still slimmer than Samsung’s smartphones (the Samsung Galaxy S10 is 7.8mm), but the newer version of the tablet is lighter, too, at 420g vs. the Tab S4’s 480g - but honestly, having to tote around an extra tenth of a pound of weight isn’t too onerous. In terms of the accessories, the new tablet's S Pen clips on to the back and recharges and both official cases curve over the stylus to ensure it doesn’t go anywhere. That’s more convenient than the Tab S4’s solution - a holster in the Book Cover Keyboard - but if you’re picking up this tablet, you’re probably going to purchase that optional keyboard case, too. The S Pen itself has been improved too - instead of a cylinder, it’s an ovoid (to prevent rolling). It can also do Air Gestures: hold the button on the stylus and make quick movements to control the volume, switch photo modes, and more. Is it useful? Possibly, but it might just be easier to tap tried-and-true directions yourself. The new Book Cover Keyboard is another serious upgrade. It’s in two parts, so you can toss aside the keypad if you don’t have the room (like on airplane tray tables), and there are new shortcuts to easily switch modes - like turning on and off tablet-to-desktop DeX. If the new Book Cover Keyboard isn’t compatible with the Tab S4, that’s a big feather in the Tab S6’s cap. http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/9s9966sBoUq8UaUmzfM2B7.jpg Samsung Galaxy Tab S4 (Image credit: TechRadar) Samsung Galaxy Tab S6 vs. Samsung Galaxy Tab S4 displayThis might be the easiest comparison to make in the whole guide, as the Tab S6 seems to have inherited the Tab S4’s 10.5-inch Super AMOLED display without any obvious alterations. The resolution is still WQXGA (2,560 x 1,600 pixels). ...Okay, there’s one change: the Tab S6 has an in-display fingerprint sensor. If you hated only having facial recognition for your authentication, this might be another good reason to opt for the new tablet. A final note - the screen is still 10.5 inches, but the newer tablet is shorter and less wide by 5mm each. Don’t fret, the bezels are just narrower, shaving around 2.5mm on each of the four sides. http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/knNEmd8HEKA2rBiSVL7YpE.jpg Samsung Galaxy Tab S6 (Image credit: TechRadar) Samsung Galaxy Tab S6 vs. Samsung Galaxy Tab S4 cameraAnother entry in the minor-change category: The Tab S6 seems to have the Tab S4’s same 8MP front-facing camera and 13MP wide-angle rear shooter, but the new tablet also added a 5MP ultrawide lens to augment its photography. Phones have been adding ultrawide lenses to their camera suites for the last year, and the results speak for themselves: more context and peripheral vision. If you liked how much the Galaxy S10 phones captured with their 123-degree ultrawide shooter, you’ll like the Tab S6 as its lens captures the same field-of-view. Of course, if you don’t particularly care about using your tablet for photography (and we can’t blame you), you can probably skip this category. http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/guTabhhoaZu7KCMCBkdj4D.jpg Samsung Galaxy Tab S4 (Image credit: TechRadar) Samsung Galaxy Tab S6 vs. Samsung Galaxy Tab S4 performance and batteryWhen the Galaxy Tab S4 came out in August 2018, we were worried that its already-old Snapdragon 835 processor would hinder its performance - and were pleasantly surprised that it didn’t. The tablet runs just fine on a baseline 4GB of RAM, though its basic 64GB of storage is a little slim (don’t fret, it’s expandable with a microSD card). But if you wanted serious power, the Tab S6 packs the latest Snapdragon 855 chipset found in this year’s phones - an 86% increase in performance, per Samsung representatives. Add in a bump up to 6GB RAM and 128GB of space for the baseline (optionally upgradeable to 8GB RAM and 256GB of storage), and you’ve got a beefier machine that will likely age a bit better over the years. It will probably handle multitasking better, too - not just switching between apps, but with Samsung’s always-promising, almost-handy DeX mode. What we saw of the Tab S6 was a tablet that could stream video while powering casual browsing on another monitor, though it wasn’t the performance that tripped us up with the Tab S4 - it was the constantly-crashing third-party apps. We’ll have to await further testing to see if the S6 avoids a similar fate. Battery-wise, the Tab S4’s is actually larger at 7,300mAh - not surprising, given the slightly-thinner casing in the Tab S6, which likely whittled down the battery to 7,040mAh. How much this limits the new tablet’s runtime is unclear without further testing, but they’re roughly comparable, and both have fast-charging. http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/K8Yi4zizCT3y27ouLJfDJT.jpg Samsung Galaxy Tab S6 (Image credit: TechRadar) Final verdictWith more power and a slightly slimmer package, the Tab S6 is clearly the superior machine - especially if the new Book Cover Keyboard can’t be used with older tablets. But it comes at a hefty cost which might be beyond consumers looking for a casual device. At this point, the Tab S4 has been out long enough to enjoy decent discounts, especially during deals seasons, and it’s hard to justify the full price of the new tablet. Its older processor might mean a shorter lifespan - eventually outpaced by an OS update down the line - but that’s conceivably years away. Your choice boils down to needing the top of the line and/or not sweating the extra cost to pay full price for a work machine, or saving a bit of cash by opting for a model with a serviceable but not terribly exciting suite of accessories and features. There is no must-have feature in the Tab S6, but it is nice to have the latest and greatest specs if you want to do some serious multitasking or gaming. http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techradar/digital-home/~4/ADLk2FG-z8g

Forget World Cups and Twenty20s - winning the Ashes is the biggest feather in a cap for any cricketer from old rivals England and Australia. Thursday sees the start of the latest chapter in the 135-year sporting story and you'll be able to watch all of the action between England vs Australia no matter where you are in the world with our 2019 Ashes live stream guide. It's one of oldest sporting rivalries and the Ashes series still stands as the pinnacle of Test cricket. England will be desperate to win back the Ashes on home soil, having been thrashed 4-0 Down Under 18 months ago. While for the Aussies it's an opportunity to make some positive headlines after their recent ball-tampering scandal and a World Cup campaign that ended at the semi-final stage after promising so much more. The home side appear to have huge strength in depth when it comes to bowling, but big doubts remain over their batting line up going into the series. Jofra Archer's superb showing at the World Cup which saw him take 20 wickets during the tournament,ensured his place in the squad for the first Ashes Test. His pace, added to the quality brought by Jimmy Anderson and Chris Woakes makes England a formidable force with the ball. However, last week's one-off Test against Ireland at Lords only served to highlight just how unconvincing England's batting order still looks, with it clearly lacking a settled top three order. Australia go into the series with former captain Steve Smith, David Warner and Cameron Bancroft all reinstalled to the line-up after completing their bans for the infamous sandpaper ball-tampering scandal. Their middle and lower middle-order however, looks decidedly weak and inexperienced on paper. If Australia are to avenge their recent humbling in the World Cup semi-finals against their arch-rivals and win their first series in England since 2001, then it'll likely be down to fast bowling department, which boast a potent mix of James Pattinson's pace and Pat Cummins' machine-like accuracy. And the resounding victory of their female counterparts in the Women's Ashes could give them a boost, too! It's set to be a fascinating series - follow the instructions below to watch all of the action where we'll tell you how to grab an England vs Australia Ashes live stream from pretty much anywhere on Earth. The great news...it's absolutely free in Australia. http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/VgyagGS9HpAEPUQtUJBfrg.jpg Watch an Ashes live stream when away from your countryFor cricket fans in the UK, Australia, India or the US and looking to find out how to watch the Ashes, we've got all the details about the broadcasters with the rights to show the England vs Australia Test series in your region below. If you're away from home country and looking to see the action you'll likely to find you won't be able to thanks to geo-blocking. Thankfully there's a way to alleviate that frustration. By using a VPN you'll be able to watch the game without having to resort to watching via an illegal feed from a dodgy website you've discovered on Reddit. http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/B9XNGCRYNHKJzN5zVfTMje.jpg England vs Australia: how to watch the Ashes in the UKhttp://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/D39crXd3gob7KPsE3LAFUo.jpg How to live stream the Ashes 2019 in Australia for FREEhttp://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/kZWNrTtXZs7Ep2c7452KSo.jpg How to get an Ashes live stream in New Zealandhttp://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/WWQ7UGT97CVJAVBcELPxRQ.jpg How to watch England vs Australia: live stream in Indiahttp://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/x4WvmjGdnEUCFeqhMUrnWo.jpg How to live stream England vs Australia in AmericaWho has won the Ashes the most?Australia are currently ahead on 33 Ashes series wins to England’s 32 and five series drawn Who is favourite to win this year's Ashes?The hosts England are currently installed as favourites with Betfair. http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/ebGZgkd4qVX7mUuvz3WNkH.jpg http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techradar/digital-home/~4/sVTnykqStFE

Entrepreneurs in the US face both technological and political disruption that is helping them to prosper and grow while also requiring them to adapt in new ways according to GoDaddy's new Global Entrepreneurship Survey. The web hosting giant's survey was conducted by the research firm Savanta and surveyed 4,505 small business owners in Australia, Canada, Germany, Hong Kong, India, Mexico, South Africa, Turkey, the United Kingdom and the United States. According to the global survey, entrepreneurs are being impacted by a myriad of external challenges ranging from cyber threats to political and societal turbulence as they try to grow their businesses. However, even with these disruptions and uncertainties, entrepreneurs remain optimistic with 70 percent of US respondents reporting that they expect their business to grow by at least 25 percent in the next three to five years. SMBs don't expect to be hit by a cyberattackWix launches new software platform for entrepreneurs and SMBsHow to build a website using Godaddy Website builderExperts warn that 38 percent of US jobs are at a potential high risk of automation by the 2030s but the entrepreneurs surveyed by GoDaddy believe they are insulated from the impacts of disruptive technologies. Of those surveyed, 75 percent of small business owners feel protected against job loss from robots, automation and AI. The survey also revealed that females (76%) were slightly more likely to believe than men (71%) that their businesses would be able to withstand these types of technological disruption. Adapting to changePolitical and societal turbulence was another concern cited by entrepreneurs and SMBs as a potential challenge to their success. However, that concern is substantially lower in the US where only 17 percent of entrepreneurs said societal and political turbulence poses a threat to the success of their business, compared to 33 percent of entrepreneurs in all of the other regions surveyed. VP of Global Marketing Operations at GoDaddy, Melissa Schneider explained why SMBs and entrepreneurs are less worried about potential disruption to their businesses, saying: "Globally, we are currently in an intense period of technological, political and societal change and transformation. Small business owners and entrepreneurs are constantly adapting to change, both in their own venture and in the outside world, with limited help. That's why GoDaddy is so committed to supporting them on their ever-changing journey, with the guidance and tools to help make them successful online." Technological disruption can pose challenges but entrepreneurs and SMBs, it can also help to reduce the barrier to entry when creating a new venture. Small businesses in the US are among the most likely to report having their own website at 44 percent while 29 percent said they rely on either social media or online marketplaces to conduct their business. We've also highlighted the best web hosting serviceshttp://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techradar/digital-home/~4/GKHIz7gNauU

All of the semester’s books, plus your laptop, plus your everyday essentials is a heavy enough physical burden to bear much less the figurative weight of coursework and a reputation to upkeep. Picking out the best back to school backpack for you can lift some of that burden. Naturally, we happen to be experts in picking out the best of, well, all sorts of tech products, including the best back to school backpacks to cart them around in. From designer names for the lowest prices they’ll be found this season to sensible, affordable picks all year round, these are the very best back to school backpacks we’ve found for 2019. Quick LinksAmazon BackpacksWalmart BackpacksTarget BackpacksNewegg Backpackshttp://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/5jq8VAMrCLYZNbekep7ioC.jpg If you’re looking to just drop 30 some bucks (or around £18) on a backpack that will get you through the year, i.e. most folks that just want a bag to hold their stuff, this is the one for you. Made and sold by Amazon through its Basics program, this all-black backpack has a laptop sleeve for machines up to 15 inches, and several types of pockets, for but a pittance compared to most. View the deal on Amazonhttp://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/eaV3kfiKqe8HZw8guGnRxS.jpg http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/DbyvTkbG7bbyp4fPkXKyhC.jpg The tried and true JanSport is tough to go wrong with. A full-canvas bag with nylon mesh inside including a 15-inch laptop sleeve, this version of the JanSport comes in several colors for a variety of prices. Included in the price are also a media pocket lined in fleece as well as a removable storage pouch. View the deal on Amazonhttp://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/eaV3kfiKqe8HZw8guGnRxS.jpg http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/ng3EtqsKabKHFMGkDLWtkC.jpeg For those that like the look and feel of JanSport but need even more storage for a particularly heavy semester, the Big Student Backpack from them should do the trick. With a whopping 2,100 cubic inches of carrying capacity, this backpack should hold everything you need and then some. Plus, ergonomic shoulder straps help prevent your load weighing too far down on you. View the deal on Amazonhttp://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/eaV3kfiKqe8HZw8guGnRxS.jpg http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/S24q2Rt7oQacB9HQVWu5tC.jpg Burton is one of those brands that has come in vogue in recent years, and for good reason. Its backpacks come in countless colors and fabric styles, even nylon so that rain runs off it a bit easier. The Tinder style packs a 15-inch laptop sleeve, too, as well as ergonomic shoulder straps and a lifetime warranty should a piece go bad. View the deal on Amazonhttp://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/eaV3kfiKqe8HZw8guGnRxS.jpg http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/VA86hUyWHVSysbLh75RJv4.jpg Meet the ultimate backpack for your next school semester, marrying the worlds of form and function like few others can. The Little America comes in several colors and patterns, all intimating that look and feel of a hiker’s pack. That feeling comes through even with the 13-inch laptop sleeve, magnetic closures and media pocket with headphone port. View the deal on ZapposNow, fill that backpack with one of today's best laptopshttp://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techradar/digital-home/~4/zZfvatWJPcM

Yes, the rumors are true - there are actually more than a dozen over-the-air channels that you can get for free with an indoor TV antenna. These are the evolution of the rabbit-ear antennas you remember growing up but with the added bonus that they can pick up 1080p HD broadcasts. Unfortunately the fact that TVs can receive these channels is a fact that has largely been obscured by cable companies that are all-too-eager to sign you up for an expensive cable plan. That said, while over-the-air broadcasts are much more limited than any cable package out there, they're totally free and still usually carry the biggest sports match-ups (the NFL on Sunday, the NBA Finals and the Stanley Cup), plus sitcoms, dramas and comedy shows from NBC, ABC, CBS and more. How do you get access to this treasure trove of content? Well, you buy an antenna obviously, and for both better and worse, there are dozens of options that can make the process harder than it needs to be. You've got a lot of different types of antennas to pick from – those that sit (or stick) near your TV, those meant for an attic, and others that can be mounted to the side of your building. With that in mind, knowing the right one to buy can be challenging, but we're here to help you decide. We've done the research to find the best indoor TV antennas to suit every budget. Antenna scams you should know aboutRecently there have been a number of misleading product pages on Amazon that have promised customers outrageous features like a 120-mile range and 4K resolution. Do not take them at their word. These claims are misleading and, with our current technology, impossible. You can read a great breakdown of lies antenna manufacturers tell you over on TechHive, but suffice it to say that the curvature of the Earth prevents more than an 80-mile range for broadcasts and no broadcast station in America currently puts out a 4K OTA signal. That is going to be part of the next set of ATSC standards that's currently in development, but it's still a long way from adoption. Best indoor TV antenna: how we testedFor this piece, we tested indoor antennas that remain near your TV, both standard antennas that connect solely via coaxial cable, and amplified ones that add a USB connection for a powered-up range boost. We tested several current indoor TV antennas from the top makers in the business, watching to see how many channels each antenna could find, how easy it was to set up, how crisp the signal looked, the style and size of the device, and the price and overall value. Our testing environment was a two-story house just outside of Chicago, less than 15 miles from downtown. Each antenna was tested on two televisions: one on the first floor, and another upstairs on the second floor. Even if modern antennas are more reliable than the old versions, they can still be fickle: your distance from broadcast towers is important, but so too is where you place the antenna, where you are in your home, and what's around it. Your experience may vary to ours, as a result, and you may need to experiment with location to yield the most channels to watch. These are the best indoor TV antennas that we've tested so far, and we'll be adding more to the list once we try more models. http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/VNbYz8NC3qtg9bwEvCcLzf.jpg Best indoor TV antenna: AmazonBasics Ultra-Thin Antenna Amazon hardware is usually cheaper than the competition and lacking some flash, but when it comes to an indoor TV antenna, most people don't need anything fancy. The AmazonBasics Ultra-Thin Antenna is boosted via USB cable or power adapter to provide a strong 50-mile range, and it works just as well as any other flat antenna we tried. We pulled in more than 50 channels in crisp 1080p HD with supported content. It's no-frills from start to finish: it comes in a plain brown box and is a simple sheet of plastic with white on one side and black on the other. It comes with pins and Velcro dots for affixing it to a wall (if you want t), and it only takes a couple of minutes to get it set up and plugged into your TV. At $25 for this 50-mile range version, it's easily the best value of the antennas we've tested. There are cheaper 35-mile and 25-mile versions that aren't amplified, so you might save a few bucks if you live close to a downtown area. But even at $25, this is a steal. http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/UQHissXnVSCrDF9hsTDVDC.jpg Best indoor TV antenna: TERK MTVGLS Indoor Plate Antenna TERK's MTVGLS model indoor antenna is flat like some of the others on this list, but it's not paper-thin – instead, it's just over an inch thick and runs about a foot in either direction. It comes with a little stand that can be screwed in on the bottom if you want to lay it flat, or on a side if you wish to stand it up, or you can opt to mount the antenna to a wall. No matter how you choose to arrange it, TERK's amplified plate antenna should satisfy: it proved to be the most consistently powerful antenna of the bunch of TV antennas we tested, yielding 58 channels with the ground-floor TV and 60 channels upstairs. The 1080p channels looked sharp, plus it's capable of 4K signals once that becomes a reality. Also, the 65-mile range of this omnidirectional antenna could come in handy if you're further out from the towers. At a regular price of $80, though, you'll pay for that extra power and range: it's quite a bit pricier than some other nicely-capable devices on our best indoor TV antennas list. http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/AC79vDG8TdtTPsBRqCpTSD.jpg Best indoor TV antennas: Antop AT-127 Paper Thin Indoor Antenna It's obvious from a glance that the Antop AT-127 is different than the flat competition. It's sturdier than Amazon's antenna, but the faux wood grain – dark walnut on one side and light oak on the other – is also an intriguing touch. Antop has plenty of plain-looking antennas, but we can't help but dig the look. It feels certifiably retro, like the casing of a decades-old TV. The AT-127 isn't amplified, so it just connects via a coaxial cable. Still, we found more than 50 channels in both locations, and everything looks crisp and clear in 1080p. Antop says it's 4K ready, but we'll have to test that whenever American networks begin broadcasting in Ultra HD resolution (probably not any time soon). You can mount this one to a wall or window, but Antop also provides a little black, plastic stand that you can slot the antenna into, in case you want to tuck it behind your TV. http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/AqZR5LhxUhcGker73R7cwD.jpg Best indoor TV antenna: Antop Flat-Panel Indoor/Outdoor Antenna AT-402 Antop's AT-402 antenna isn't like any other on our best indoor TV antennas list. It's two feet tall and stands on its own with a removable stand, looking almost like a shrunken tower fan – and it can also be mounted outside. In fact, the "indoor" part of the description seems like an afterthought. Between the large size and 40-foot cable, it almost seems silly to set something this large next to your TV. But it sure is powerful. The AT-402 doesn't require an amplifier, yet it still offers a 60-mile range, making it an ideal option if you're a fair distance from the city. In our testing, it pulled a few more channels on the ground floor than the paper-thin antennas we tried, comparable to the TERK antenna on that front (although the TERK antenna found a couple more upstairs). Also, the AT-402 and TERK antennas were the only ones to pull a clear CBS signal on the ground floor. We've seen the AT-402 routinely sold for just under $70 recently, which makes it pricier than some other antennas on this list. But the extra range and seemingly stronger pull might make this a good option for anyone worried about signal issues, or anyone who hopes to snag a few extra fringe channels in the lineup. http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/ePUVTYXmr2YjCkvANu4g4F.jpg Best indoor TV antenna: Winegard FlatWave Amped FL5500A Winegard's amplified FlatWave FL5500A antenna checks all of the same boxes as the AmazonBasics model listed above. It offers a 50-mile range, is flat and nearly paper-thin with black and white sides, and delivers a strong 1080p signal. In our testing, it found just over 50 channels in both locations. We have no complaints about the device itself. Really, our only issue that the FlatWave FL5500A costs more than double the price of the AmazonBasics 50-mile option, and truth be told, we couldn't tell a difference between them in use. They are nearly identical across the board, but based on current pricing, you'll save more than $25 with Amazon's model. It's great, but there's no clear reason to pay extra that we could see. http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/xWaHWxkPHSMb6XZcpM6qDD.jpg Best indoor TV antenna: Mohu Blade Indoor/Outdoor Bar Antenna Mohu's new Blade antenna is a one-of-a-kind – instead of a floppy sheet, it's a thicker, rectangular plastic panel that you might not be compelled to hide. You could mount it on the wall below the TV like a soundbar, or there's a little attachable kickstand if you'd rather put it on a TV stand. In any case, it's stylish in a way that most antennas simply don't strive to be. And if you want, you can mount it in an attic or even outside. But that style comes with frustrations. We struggled mightily to attach a coaxial cable or 90-degree coaxial adapter to the back of the antenna, because its coaxial connector is wedged so tight to the backing. Ultimately, we used a screwdriver to remove the spongey support ring on the back to give our hands a bit more room, and then had to use pliers to tighten the adapter because it wouldn't budge using our fingers. It was a real pain. Once it was finally up and running, we searched multiple times and found fewer channels with the ground-floor TV – just 44 max, compared to 50+ with the others. None of the omissions were crucial, but it was still a difference. Upstairs, we had to play around with the location before hitting the same 50+ mark as the other antennas. The Blade is sleek and stylish, but the smaller size brings a couple of frustrations along with it. http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techradar/digital-home/~4/wou6mzCJj8c

The AMD Ryzen 3000 series of processors have been getting a lot of good press recently (we were particularly impressed by the AMD Ryzen 9 3900X), however some particularly tech-savvy users have discovered that not all the cores on the processors hit their advertised boost frequencies. Pretty much all modern processors come with two advertised clock speeds: a base clock, which is the minimum frequency the processor will run at, and a boost clock, which is the fastest speed the processor will run at depending on tasks and certain conditions, such as heat. AMD vs Intel: which processors are better?AMD Ryzen processors are now outselling Intel in AsiaIntel Ice Lake release date, news and featuresThis gives us a decent idea of the kind of performance we can expect from a processor, but if the Ryzen 3000 series of multi-core processors only reach those boost speeds on some of the cores, the picture becomes more complicated. What’s going on?Tom’s Hardware has taken an in-depth look at these claims, and found that on its Ryzen 5 3600X chip, only one core hit the advertised 4.4GHz boost clock. The website contacted AMD, which confirmed that some Ryzen 3000 cores are faster than others – with the faster ones known as ‘Ryzen Master’ – resulting in a mix of fast and slow cores. Tom’s Hardware’s tests backed this up, and the website found that there was around a 75MHz – 100MHz difference between the fastest and slowest cores. In the grand scheme of things this isn’t huge, but it does show a potential change in AMD’s binning process for the processors – which is a way of making sure the best-performing components get to market. Previous generations of AMD Ryzen processors reached boost frequencies on all cores, while Intel also claims its processors reach their turbo frequencies on all its cores. PCs running the latest version of Windows 10 appear better at using the fast and slow cores thanks to the improved Windows 10 scheduler and latest drivers, but people using older versions of Windows may see worse performance. Tom’s Hardware also thinks that these slower cores could be why the Ryzen 3000 processors aren’t particularly good at overclocking – as slower cores could struggle to maintain higher frequencies, lowering the overall overclocking potential of the chip. So, what does this mean? It could be a result of AMD changing its binning process to be better optimized. AMD has beaten Intel, its chief competitor, to the punch by releasing 7 nanometer chips – Intel has admitted it won’t reach 7nm until 2021 – but could this rush to release 7nm before Intel have resulted in compromises being made? It certainly gives weight to Intel’s argument that its 10nm process – which is out later this year – will be comparable to AMD’s 7nm process due to Intel holding itself “to a stricter standard than others.” However, while on paper this sounds disappointing from AMD, most day-to-day users won’t see an impact. However, when Intel does release its new chips, AMD’s Ryzen 3000 processors could once again be on the back foot. Best processors 2019: the best CPUs for your PChttp://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techradar/digital-home/~4/Ino4MHZnb7E

Apple CEO, Tim Cook has confirmed that Apple Card, the company's first ever credit card, will become available in the US from August. The announcement came as part of Apple's latest earnings call, however, Cook didn't offer a specific release date for the credit card, which was created in collaboration with Goldman Sachs. Apple Card release date, news, and rumorsRead our iPhone X reviewNew iPhone 11 release date, price, news, and leaksThere was also no word on whether Apple Card will be rolling out to other countries. According to Engadget, Goldman Sachs has previously spoken about expanding to to other countries following the US launch, but nothing has been confirmed. What is Apple Card?Apple Card is essentially a new form of Mastercard credit card, that's completely integrated into the Apple ecosystem. This means that you'll be able to find it in your Wallet App, as well as your spending details and information on when your next payment is due. What sets it apart from traditional credit cards is that you can sign up for Apple Card on your iPhone, and start using it right away, with no restrictions on using it abroad. There are also no late, annual, international or over-balance fees, and it will "offer an APR between 13.24 percent and 24.24 percent based on your credit score", according to Mac Rumors. Apple Card also offers 2% cashback every time you spend, paid every day. If you use your Apple Card to pay for a product direct from Apple, you'll get 3% cashback. While that sounds good in theory, we can imagine the temptation to use your credit card would be much greater if it's conveniently housed on your phone and comes with rewards – and that temptation could easily lead to debt. http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/TginpfSdg99SRXJfg8cjrX.jpg Security in mindIt's supposed to be very secure, with every purchase verified with Touch or Face ID, and all details of the card are stored on a secure area of your iPhone. It's not only on your phone though; you also get a physical card, made of flashy titanium with your name laser etched onto its surface. For the sake of security, you won't find you CVV or card number on the physical card – instead, those details can only be found in the Wallet app. The physical Apple Card also doesn't have a magnetic strip, which could be an issue if you're trying to pay somewhere that doesn't accept contactless or is required to check your signature against the one that would normally be on the back of a traditional credit card. Whether the combination of enhanced security and convenience will win iPhone users over remains to be seen – but if Apple does succeed, it's likely that Apple Card will rollout across the rest of the world. The big questions that need answering about Apple CardVia Engadget http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techradar/digital-home/~4/nTeGJHsQbxY

The 2019 range of Samsung Galaxy A smartphones has proven pretty popular with phone fans, and we're already looking forward to what affordable smartphones we'll see in 2020. We've now heard word of what they may be called – but the names aren't as glamorous-sounding as we might have expected. According to trademarks filed by Samsung with the European Union Intellectual Property Office and spotted by Dutch site LetsGoDigital, the names of the new series of Galaxy A smartphones will simply add a '1' to the corresponding models in the current series – so they'll be the A11, A21, A31, A41, A51, A61, A71, and A81. These are the best Samsung phonesWhat did we think of the Samsung Galaxy A80?This is what we want to see in the Galaxy S11If you were expecting to see the Samsung Galaxy A100, and then the A1000 in 2021 (because, let's face it, things with 'thousand' at the end always sound cool), then you're going to be disappointed if those trademarked names are indeed used. Samsung wisely gave its 2019 A phones, including the affordable Galaxy A30, extremely popular Galaxy A50 and bizarre yet novel Galaxy A80, more distinct names than the 2018-and-prior phones, which were rather confusingly labelled – and they proved to be an impressive set of mid-range devices, so it makes sense for Samsung not to tinker with the naming too much for the 2020 models. We don't really know anything about the 2020 Galaxy A series phones just yet, although news of possible spin-offs like the Samsung Galaxy A70S, and an enigmatic Samsung Galaxy A90, has muddied the water slightly. We'll likely get more news of these phones in early 2020, after the launch of the Samsung Galaxy S11, as this would echo the launch of the 2019 Galaxy A phones after the Galaxy S10 reveal. There will likely be lots more rumors and leaks surrounding the devices before then, though, so stay tuned to TechRadar to keep up to date. The Samsung Galaxy A90 probably won't have a pop-up panelhttp://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techradar/digital-home/~4/59Etc7-0mu0

Update: The latest teaser from Samsung says a new smartwatch is launching on August 5, and it's expected to be the Galaxy Watch Active 2. Another report also reveals that three versions of the fitness smartwatch will be available and they'll have ECG tech built-in – although it might not be available until 2020. The Samsung Galaxy Watch is one of our favorite wearables. In fact, at the time of writing it tops our best smartwatch list. However, it’s also coming up on a year old, so it’s just about due an update. Not only that, but we’ve heard rumors of a new model and even have a good idea of when it might arrive. Rumors of a Samsung Galaxy Watch Active 2 are currently abound too, and it's a bit confusing on whether the company will be introducing a new version of its sportier watch before this one. Below you’ll find all the leaks and news that we’ve heard so far and further down there’s a wish list of all the things we want from the Galaxy Watch 2, to make it a worthy upgrade and a real rival to not just the Apple Watch 4, but also the inevitable Apple Watch 5. Could we see the Samsung Galaxy Watch Active 2 first?Cut to the chaseWhat is it? Samsung's next flagship smartwatchWhen is it out? Probably August 5What will it cost? Likely at least $329 / £279 / AU$499Samsung Galaxy Watch 2 release date and pricePreviously our best guess had been we'd see the Samsung Galaxy Watch 2 alongside the Samsung Galaxy Note 10 on August 7, but it has now teased a new smartwatch for launch on August 5. The company will be announcing this new watch at 10AM ET (7AM PT, 3PM BST or midnight ACT on August 6 for those in Australia) on that day. Plus, leaked timeline documents also suggest the Samsung Galaxy Watch 2 will land in quarter 3 of 2019, meaning any time between now and the end of September, so August 5 would comfortably fit within that. As for price, there aren’t any rumors there, but the original Galaxy Watch started at $329 / £279 / AU$499 (for the smaller 42mm version), so the Galaxy Watch 2 will probably cost at least that much. Samsung Galaxy Watch 2 news and leaksThere aren’t many Samsung Galaxy Watch 2 rumors yet, but one source suggests that the wearable will come in two different sizes – a 44mm one and a 40mm one. The original Galaxy Watch also came in two sizes, but they were 46mm and 42mm, so if true then the Galaxy Watch 2 might have been shrunk down a little, which is no bad thing, as the original was a hefty device in the larger size. It has also been reported that the Samsung Galaxy Watch 2 is codenamed ‘Renaissance’. One definition of that is ‘rebirth’ or ‘revival’, which – while we might be reading too much into the name - could suggest big changes are coming to the design or features of the watch. http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/xVjzVWVepY93T2c9aQpHt9.jpg Will the Galaxy Watch 2 sport a new design? Image credit: TechRadar We’ve also heard some rumors about the Samsung Galaxy Watch Active 2, which we mention here because it’s possible that the rumored features could actually be headed for the standard Galaxy Watch 2 as well or instead, especially as the original Galaxy Watch Active didn’t launch all that long ago, so we wouldn’t really expect a new model for a while. The most exciting Galaxy Watch Active 2 rumor is that it will have an ECG (electrocardiogram), a feature which would let it monitor your heart’s rhythm and alert you to possible atrial fibrillation. In other words, it could be a life-saving feature. However, the latest news suggest although the Galaxy Watch Active 2 will have an ECG feature, it might not be activated until 2020 – pending FDA approval. The same source suggests fall detection could also come to the Galaxy Watch Active 2. This is another feature we’ve previously seen on the Apple Watch 4, and it would apparently let you call emergency services with a single tap if it detects a fall, and if the wearer doesn’t call or cancel the alert after a set period, it would automatically place the call, as well as sending a message to their emergency contacts. We’ve also seen leaked images supposedly showing the Samsung Galaxy Watch Active 2, and they come complete with some specs. The design itself looks very similar to the original Galaxy Watch Active, just with a slightly different look to the power and back buttons. The specs are more interesting though, with the wearable apparently coming in 40mm and 44mm sizes (as has been rumored for the standard Galaxy Watch 2 above), as well as apparently coming in a range of variations. There'll allegedly be an LTE version, a Bluetooth-only version and an Under Armour-branded version, which will apparently come with added sports-focused features. The LTE model supposedly has a 340mAh battery, while the Wi-Fi version is said to be 237mAh. This information probably does genuinely refer to the Galaxy Watch Active 2, rather than the Galaxy Watch 2, assuming it’s accurate, as the design is closer to the Watch Active, and those battery sizes would be a downgrade on the 472mAh of the 46mm Galaxy Watch. Still, with the rumored sizing of the Galaxy Watch 2 and Watch Active 2 being the same it seems Samsung might be looking to bring the two ranges closer together. Since then an official-looking render of the Galaxy Watch Active 2 has also leaked, matching the design above. You can see this below. Given how much the Active 2 is leaking it looks increasingly likely that we might see it at the same time as (or before) the Galaxy Watch 2, despite it being less due a refresh. Finally, in the realms of unlikely but possible features, there’s a patent (spotted by Patently Mobile) for a Samsung wearable with a body composition feature that would use electrodes built into the strap to measure body fat percentage. We doubt we’ll see this on the Galaxy Watch 2 though, as that isn’t specifically named in the patent, and patents often take a long time to turn into products – if they ever do. What we want to seeWhile we don’t know a huge amount about the Samsung Galaxy Watch 2 yet, we do know what we want from it. 1. More third-party appshttp://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/Dg4d3vGgs8Qfq7ZnptqDwD.jpg Tizen is good, but its app situation isn't. Image credit: TechRadar The Samsung Galaxy Watch runs Tizen, rather than one of the big-name wearable operating systems, and one downside of that is that there are fewer apps available than you’ll find on Wear OS or watchOS. So by the time Samsung launches the Galaxy Watch 2 we’d like to have seen it work with developers to get more apps on the platform, especially big name ones. 2. Better stress trackingThe Samsung Galaxy Watch tracks a lot of things and mostly does a good job, but stress tracking is definitely a weak link. While it’s available, it required us to manually measure our stress levels rather than tracking them automatically in our tests (despite claiming that it can do it automatically), and its accuracy could be questionable, since the data seems mostly based just on heart rate. So we’d like to see this feature overhauled for the next model. 3. Group challengesCompeting with friends can be a big motivator to get more active and handily the Samsung Galaxy Watch lets you do this. Your friends don’t even need a Galaxy Watch of their own – a Gear watch or the Samsung Health app will do just fine. However, you can only challenge friends individually, rather than having a group competition. It seems like this would be an obvious and easy feature to add, so hopefully Samsung will. 4. Compatibility with more wireless chargershttp://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/SNzrTDKQoxXznnVp6UxdJ4.jpg There shouldn't be a need for proprietary chargers. Image credit: TechRadar The Samsung Galaxy Watch charges wirelessly, but not just any wireless charger will do, you need a proprietary one that comes with it. This is inconvenient and if you’re ever without your charger means you’re likely to soon have a dead watch (though the Galaxy Watch at least has good battery life). So for the Samsung Galaxy Watch 2 we want it to work with standard, everyday wireless chargers. That way if you’re at the office or a friend’s house without yours there’s at least a chance someone will have one you can borrow. 5. Big improvements to BixbyAnother downside of using Tizen rather than Wear OS is that the Samsung Galaxy Watch is reliant on Bixby rather than Google Assistant. This is a problem, because Bixby is nowhere near as good as Google Assistant (or Siri or Alexa for that matter), with one particularly major issue being that it simply struggles to understand us on the Galaxy Watch. While you don’t have to use Bixby to interact with the Galaxy Watch, it has the potential to be a major feature, but until it gets a lot better it won’t be. 6. An ECGhttp://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/es4hNva6ECf6ZWSkiNGXxH.jpg The Apple Watch 4 already has an ECG. Image credit: Apple One of the big new features Apple added for the Apple Watch 4 was an ECG, a feature that lets it check for atrial fibrillation. It’s a major upgrade and one we’d love to see Samsung match with its rival device. There have been plenty of rumors about such a feature, so this may well happen either on the Galaxy Watch 2 or the Galaxy Watch Active 2. 7. Wider LTE availabilityThere are versions of the Samsung Galaxy Watch that support LTE, but only on select networks, which won’t suit everyone. For the Samsung Galaxy Watch 2 we’d like to see an LTE model available on more or less all networks, so it’s an option for everyone. Check out the best smartwatcheshttp://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techradar/digital-home/~4/F295530BzTo

Commitment-phobes and bargain hunters, boy have we found the SIM only deal for you. Coming from EE - the UK's fastest 4G network - a new range of flexible contracts promising plenty of data and affordable pricing. Competing with the commitment-free SIM providers cropping up across the market, EE is now offering a range of 'Flex Plans'. These EE SIM only deals allow you to sign up and quit whenever you want, meaning your plan can last from one month to as long as you like - forever even! The really tempting feature of these plans is the fact that up until September 30, EE is tripling the data on its two cheapest plans for the first three months. That means 6GB for the price of 2GB or 15GB for the price of 5GB. That combined with features including your unused data rolling over each month, EE boosting your data plan by 500Mb every three months and those impressively fast speeds make these offers really stand out. We've listed the two triple data plans down below so you can see which price point you prefer. Or, if you prefer the comfort of a full 12 month contract or something entirely different, read our guide to the best SIM only deals. Check out the best SIM-free phones to pair with your new SIMOhttp://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/VgyagGS9HpAEPUQtUJBfrg.jpg EE's flexible SIM only deals + triple data:What other flexible SIM only deals are there?If you're feeling tempted by the promise of ultimate 1 month flexibility, there is one other brand that stands out - Smarty. It's a name with far less recognition than EE but what it does well is flexibility. With Smarty you can grab everything from a 1GB data plan up to unlimited, all with 1 month rolling contracts. Right now, Smarty is also offering a reduced price on its 2GB data plan, offering one of the cheapest options around. Compare the market's best unlimited data SIM only dealshttp://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techradar/digital-home/~4/ZRCQU6wTaTM

The global smartphone market slipped 1.2% year on year in the second quarter to 360m units, mainly due to the declining Chinese market. According to Counterpoint Research, the decline was for the seventh consecutive quarter while China alone accounted for over one-fourth of the global smartphone shipments. Samsung benefited from the US-China trade war with a 7.1% growth to 76.6m and capturing more than one-fifth of the global smartphone market share. Tarun Pathak, Associate Director at Counterpoint Research, said that Samsung has completely overhauled its product portfolio this year with its ‘A and M’ series, targeting the sub $300 price segment aggressively. “The flagship ‘S’ series, which Samsung launched three devices instead of the usual two, covering wider price points, also continued to do well. Samsung was also one of the first OEMs to launch a 5G device – S10 5G, which remains popular in the 5G adopting countries,” he said. After Samsung, Huawei, Oppo and ZTE launched its 5G devices. The research company expects more than 20 million 5G devices to be shipped this year. Huawei to face bumpy road aheadOn the other hand, Huawei, which is at the epicentre of the US-China trade war, registered a 4.6% growth during the quarter to 56.7m units, capturing a 16% market share. Pathak said that the effect of the US ban in May did not translate into falling shipments during this quarter but it will not be the case in the future. Speaking to TechRadar Middle East, he said that Huawei’s shipments during the second quarter were on parallel with the first quarter but the vendor did a brisk business in China compared to overseas markets. “The uncertainty of the US ban remains as nothing on the supply chain is official yet. The chipset and component outsourcing might not be a critical factor for Huawei but the Google OS is the critical part. It has to be seen about the refresh Mate series by the end of the year,” he said. In the coming quarters, he said that Huawei is likely to be aggressive in its home market and register some growth there, but it will not be enough to offset for the decline in its overseas shipments. “This will further lead to the decline of the overall smartphone market in 2019. However, the gap created in the market by Huawei gives a window of opportunity to other OEMs, especially Samsung, to leverage,” he said. However, the real effect of trade sanctions on Huawei will be felt in the third quarter and shipments in overseas markets are estimated to register a steep decline. Marketing muscle Quoting a survey conducted by the research firm in Europe, Pathak said that 40% of the people are still cool about Huawei and most expect positive for the brand. “They [Huawei] can increase the capex of the brand by increasing warranty to two years and after-sales service. In China, the demand for Huawei phones has increased amid a slight decline in sales in other parts while consumers are upbeat about the brand,” he said. Huawei is a brand with great marketing muscle to overcome any uncertainty in the mind of the consumers with great marketing campaigns, he said and added that things will become clear within two to three months and if Google deal does not go through, Huawei will become more aggressive going forward. Meanwhile, Apple’s iPhone shipments fell 11.9% to 36.4m, a third consecutive quarter of decline. “Amid the slowdown in China and likely launch of 5G capable iPhone in 2020, Apple will have to concentrate its efforts on emerging markets,” he said. Pathak said the highlight of the quarter was Realme, a subsidiary of BBK Electronics, entering the top 10 for the first time. Realme recorded 848% year-on-year growth in the quarter, albeit from a small base to 4.7m units. BBK...second-largest smartphone manufacturerBBK is now the second-largest smartphone manufacturer globally after Samsung. BBK houses Oppo, Vivo, OnePlus and Realme. Realme recorded 848% year-on-year growth in the quarter to 4.7m units. The combined global smartphone market share of Chinese majors Huawei, Oppo, Vivo, Xiaomi, and Realme reached 42% in the second quarter, the highest ever. “It took only a year for Realme to achieve this feat. This is one of the fastest ramp-ups. Strong performance in India and expansion overseas drove its growth,” he said. Honor forays into television space in bid to expand its smart devices portfolioHuawei’s first-half revenue up 23.2% despite US sanctionsHonor eyes 4.5m smartphone sales in Middle East and African markets this yearHigher price, fewer models and brands pose challenge to adoption of 5G smartphones in Gulfhttp://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techradar/digital-home/~4/Rk2MySpmxW8

If you missed out on Prime Day this year, then you're in luck. Walmart's summer clearance sale is in full swing, with massive savings on everything from 4K TVs and laptops to kitchen appliances and vacuums. The best part about Walmart's summer sale is that unlike Amazon Prime Day you don't have to be a member to shop Walmart's deals – they're available to everyone, and you also get free shipping on all orders over $35. Walmart's top clearance deals include discounts on the Apple Watch, iPad, PlayStation 4, Chromebook and Apple AirPods. You'll also find discounts on Google's range of smart speakers and other smart home devices, which aren't available on Amazon. Below is our roundup of the best Walmart Summer Clearance deals. Keep in mind that these discounts are limited-time offers, and for some products this is likely to be your last chance to snag a bargain before Black Friday. Walmart's Clearance Sale includes thousands of items from a variety of different categories. We've scoured the site for you to find the best deals that we think are worthy your time. Here are our top choices: You can shop more of the best cheap TV deals from Samsung, LG, Sony, and more. You can also see more of the best cheap laptop deals with prices starting at just $129. http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techradar/digital-home/~4/Eay_1Bkxz_o

The academic and leisure expectations of college and even high school life are at an all-time high, while most of our funds are at an all-time low. This uniquely sets up the 2-in-1 laptop for a student laptop takeover, potentially saving folks money on school hardware. How’s that, you ask? That’s because 2-in-1 laptops, whether in their convertible or detachable varieties, can fulfill the computing and entertainment functions of two or even three-to-four devices, depending on your area of focus in your studies. Also, 2-in-1 laptops are available these days in just about every price range, from $250/£250 to upwards of $3,000/£3,000, so that your specific needs are likely met by a model out there. Whether you need a cheap writing machine or one that can handle high-level graphics manipulation, there’s a 2-in-1 out there that’s likely right for you. Here are the several major functions that a 2-in-1 laptop can accomplish that would otherwise call for several new devices ahead of the upcoming school year. http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/ycHQHoMc8MgPBfMMKpxvic.jpg The Surface Book 2 with Surface Pen and Surface Dial. 2-in-1 laptops are prime for illustration and designOne of the most obvious benefits of 2-in-1 laptops is that their touchscreens can work with a stylus to act as a stand-in for a drafting table or a sketch pad. While you’re on the go or looking to save space in your dorm or work area, these laptops can potentially replace a Wacom tablet in terms of accuracy and quality. While we’re no artists or designers, we’ve come to enjoy Microsoft’s Surface touch displays and stylus devices the most. The company spends quite a bit of time refining this aspect of their devices as well. For these reasons, we really admire the Surface Book 2 for these tasks, particularly the 15-inch model with its dedicated Nvidia graphics. http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/j7TFk65DGsmaXx7tR48jdU.jpg The HP Spectre x360 15 is a joy for movie lovers. 2-in-1 laptops are excellent for watching moviesWith the ability to be oriented in either tent or stand modes, 2-in-1 laptops make for ideal movie viewing devices. They’re like tablets without the need for a kickstand case and likely larger in screen size. Whether you go for a budget HD display or an all-out 4K OLED, your needs in terms of content are going to be supported: from the vast reaches of YouTube to the curated originals and syndicated movies and shows on Netflix. Almost every major streaming service has a Windows 10 app or web browser option that can be used in full screen. For those on a budget looking for a 2-in-1 laptop to watch movies on, we’d suggest something like the Asus Chromebook Flip. But, if you have cash to blow, go for something like the HP Spectre x360 15 with a 4K OLED display – it’ll make that 4K Netflix subscription worthwhile. http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/birVWT8f5rP4VPrXvVBu7Y.jpg The Surface Pro 6 camera is surprisingly strong. 2-in-1 laptops can take photos in a pinchIf you’re the type that likes to take photos of classroom white boards to either replace or reinforce your manually taken notes, some 2-in-1 laptops can do that for you. Of course, these won’t be the highest-quality photos around, as we haven’t seen a 2-in-1 laptop with a particularly amazing camera. That said, these devices can also record audio via their microphones, so this feature could supplement those photos as well. The best 2-in-1 laptop for this purpose that we can think of, while not technically a laptop without its Type Cover, is the Surface Pro 6. http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/kwpg6LnD9nNu9Ty5nubvfN.jpg The Surface Pro 6 is a great reader's tablet, too. 2-in-1 laptops are fine comic book readersIf you’re a fan of comic books – sorry, graphic novels – and don’t have room for a roving collection of colorful dead trees, consider saving yourself the cost of a tablet and use a 2-in-1 laptop for your comics needs. Services like ComiXology, and the Marvel and DC “Unlimited” offerings, make thousands of comic books available digitally, able to be swept through at leisure. Of course, getting a 2-in-1 laptop that can handle this task well will depend a lot on the screen. We would suggest aiming for comfortability and color accuracy when choosing a 2-in-1 laptop right for comic book reading. With that in mind, the Surface Pro 6 from Microsoft again is a winner. http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/FkZyyiFos3H9nKHiXnedTQ.jpg The Surface Book 2 is a surprisingly capable gaming device. 2-in-1 laptops can game well at the high endIf you need some of the other functions of a 2-in-1 laptop in your life, but you also consider yourself a gamer, that’s a tough predicament. Simply put, 2-in-1 laptops aren’t generally great at gaming, but with enough cash you can get something decent at gaming on the side, too. For this end, we’d suggest either the 15-inch Microsoft Surface Book 2 or the HP Spectre x360 15T. Both laptops offer mid-range mobile graphics options for playing most modern games at 1080p resolutions and middle-ground detail settings. http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/KTsCSCTNRvV73dAtp2LmfN.jpg A 2-in-1 laptop is hard to go wrong with for school. 2-in-1 laptops are great at everything normal ones areFinally, since 2-in-1 laptops are essentially the same as standard ones when in their traditional orientation, they can perform every single task that a regular laptop can just as well. However, look out for ultra-thin laptops (2-in-1 or otherwise) when compared to regular laptops. That’s because these ultra-portable 2-in-1 laptops are generally equipped with Y-Series mobile Intel processors, rather than U or even H-Series Intel chips that can deliver much more power for around the same price. Remember that the design and appeal of the product you’re looking at is also baked into its cost – just consider Apple products. We don’t have any specific 2-in-1 laptops to recommend here. Just know that any 2-in-1 laptop you decide to buy will be just about as powerful as its more standard counterpart – so long as what’s inside is the same. These are the best laptops under $500 that we've testedhttp://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techradar/digital-home/~4/OYqVwVgtK4k

Google has announced a new partnership with VMware to make it easier for enterprise customers to run their VMware workloads on Google Cloud. Google Cloud will now support VMware's system for deploying and running hybrid clouds called VMware Cloud Foundation thanks to a solution that was actually developed by CloudSimple and not by either of the two companies. However, Google will offer first-line support as it works together with CloudSimple to ensure that customers can utilize the new solution. AWS and Google Cloud hit record highsGoogle Cloud launches new Anthos open platformGoogle boosts analytics capabilities with Looker dealIdeally Google would prefer for enterprises to move to containers and utilize its own Anthos hybrid cloud service but most large companies are currently using VMware. These businesses may want to move those workloads to a public cloud but they aren't ready to move away from a tool they're familiar with and have used for quite some time. Google and VMwareIn its announcement, Google noted how enterprise customers have asked it to provide broad support for VMware and now with Google Cloud VMware Solution by CloudSimple, they will be able to run VMware vSphere-based workloads in GCP. The new solution will even offer support for the full VMware stack which also includes vCenter, vSAN and NSX-T. Chief operating officer for customer operations at VMware, Sanjay Poonen explained how the partnership between the two companies will benefit their mutual customers, saying: “Our partnership with Google Cloud has always been about addressing customers’ needs, and we’re excited to extend the partnership to enable our mutual customers to run VMware workloads on VMware Cloud Foundation in Google Cloud Platform. With VMware on Google Cloud Platform, customers will be able to leverage all of the familiarity and investment protection of VMware tools and training as they execute on their cloud strategies, and rapidly bring new services to market and operate them seamlessly and more securely across a hybrid cloud environment.” We've also highlighted the best cloud hostingVia TechCrunch http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techradar/digital-home/~4/icg4TRn3JAQ

After making its debut in a Nintendo Direct last month, the Nintendo Switch Lite is finally available to pre-order at most major retailers including Amazon. According to information provided by Nintendo during the presentation the console only works in handheld mode and the Joy-Cons are non-removable, which could pose problems for games that require motion controls like 1-2 Switch or Super Mario Party. That said, despite some limitations, it's still nearly identical to the Nintendo Switch and will play all the same games minus a few exceptions. Best of all? It's $100 cheaper than the Switch coming in at just $199 (£199.99/AU$329.95) ... which means it's going to sell out fast. Want to make sure you get one on its September 20 launch day? Reserve one now! http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techradar/digital-home/~4/7cTCDBoie0E

Email extortion scams are once again being used by cybercriminals according to new research from Symantec which managed to block almost 300m of these malicious emails during the first five months of 2019. The scam begins when users receive an email with one of their old passwords in the Subject line. This helps pique their interest, so they click on the message only to discover that someone has allegedly hacked their webcam and recorded them in some intimate acts. The attackers then threaten to send this recording to everyone on their contact list unless they send a few hundred dollars in bitcoins. Many people found themselves in this exact situation over the last year as Symantec witnessed a revival and evolution in email extortion scams. These sorts of scams have been around for years but the scenario outlined above (often referred to as a “sextortion” scam) is one of the main types of extortion scams the firm started seeing more frequently since the middle of 2018. LinkedIn emails are hiding phishing scamsMicrosoft warns users about email security scamNetflix users hit by phishing scamBetween January 1 and May 29, 2019, just under 289m of these types of emails were blocked by Symantec. Just over 85m of these emails (almost 30 percent) were blocked during a 17-day period in February when there was a big spike in these types of scams. Email extortion scamsIn addition to sextortion email scams, Symantec also saw several different variations of extortion scam emails including ones with plaintext written in English, some with a bomb threat theme, some that used PNG or JPEG images which contained a Bitcoin wallet address, some with a PDF attachment with the coin wallet address present in the PDF and some that used SegWit Bitcoin addresses. The researchers believe that the attackers used variations in the messages such as using attachments or obfuscated characters in an attempt to evade email security technologies. For example, some spam filters might work by blocking emails with Bitcoin addresses in the body which is why attackers may have turned to using PDF attachments or obfuscated text to try to bypass the spam filter. Many of the emails also contained a password or partial phone number associated with the email address the email was sent to. This information was included to make it appear as if the attacker had access to private information about the recipient when in reality they likely obtained these details from one of the many large password dumps of recent years. In a majority of these scam emails, the attacker claims to have a recording of a user visiting an adult website but in some cases the attacker would pretend to be a member of law enforcement who found child pornography on a user's device. The big exception to this is the bomb scare emails where the sender claims to have planted a bomb in your building that will be triggered if the requested amount of money is not paid. Symantec believes that a minimum of two cyber crime groups are behind the recent rise in email extortion scams which do not require a huge degree of technical knowledge to pull off. The firm recommends using strong email protection technologies, not opening emails or attachments from unknown sources and ensuring that your accounts are protected with strong passwords to avoid falling victim to these scams. We've also highlighted the best antivirushttp://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techradar/digital-home/~4/WzdNQg4Hink

We’re just starting to see leaked images of the stylus-packing Samsung Galaxy Note 10 and its higher-specced Plus version, but there’s something new in the mix: leaked information on and images of the Samsung Galaxy Note 10 Plus 5G. The first image came courtesy of reputable leaker Evan Blass (who supplied earlier leaks of the Note 10 Plus, among others), who tweeted out what appears to be ad copy pairing the new handset with Verizon’s next-generation network, which reads: “Galaxy Note10 Plus 5G meets Verizon 5G. Pre-order today and get a Note10 free.*” He followed it up with a tweet of another Verizon ad GIF. What does the Note 10 Plus 5G look like? A bigger, wider version of the already-large Note 10, from the looks of the leaked image. True, we don’t see much from the ad – and like early images of the Note 10 Plus, our metric of comparison is really how tall it is compared to the stylus – but it simply looks like a sized-up version of the base model. Something else has appeared supporting the existence of a 5G Note 10: a certification by China’s 3C authority, according to GizmoChina. The 3C database includes a listing for one SM-N9760, which other reports have tied to the Galaxy Note 10 Plus. The entry in question prominently lists a “5G digital mobile phone,” which is very likely the 10 Plus 5G, suggesting Samsung views it as a variant rather than a standalone device. A Note 10 ... in 5G?This isn’t a huge surprise, as Samsung released the Galaxy S10 5G some months after the base phone was released. That handset was bigger, slightly higher-specced, and had an extra ToF sensor. As expected, carriers with nascent 5G networks, like Verizon and later T-Mobile, have supported the S10 5G, which has been the best-performing 5G phone thus far. A Note 10 Plus 5G will build on that path – though without more information on what’s packed in the phone, we can’t foretell which 5G networks it will be compatible with. For instance, will it follow the S10 5G and just work with hyperlocal millimeter wave setups, like Verizon 5G? Or will it work with the wider sub-6GHz networks coming from the merged T-Mobile 5G and Sprint 5G? If it’s anything like the S10 5G, the Note 10 Plus 5G will be bigger and higher-specced than the base model – the ultimate version, you could say, for anyone who wants to buy a phone to flex with. How will the Note 10 Plus 5G stack up against the handful of 5G phones on the market?http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techradar/digital-home/~4/m6aqOrIUzSU

Twitter is the latest social network to fall victim to cybercriminals who are using the platform to launch tech support scams, command-and-control (C&C) operations and data exfiltration according to a new study from Trend Micro. The company's researchers analyzed a large volume of Twitter data to identify relationships between various entities to spot anomalies and uncover key insights. Trend Micro's Mark Nunnikhoven explained how the security community is using social media for good while cybercriminals are abusing it for their own gain, saying: Malvertising campaign infects popular YouTube to MP3 conversion siteTrend Micro: Prepare for the age of IIoT securityIoT devices now top priority for cybercriminals“Social media is an inescapable part of modern life, and our new research shines an important light on how it’s being used positively by the security community, and abused by criminals. This research shows businesses how the misuse of social networks can damage their brand, and it informs consumers how they might be tricked into a scam from what is believed to be a trusted source. We hope by making these abuses known, both businesses and consumers can be vigilant to not become victims of such attacks.” Twitter scamsTrend Micro discovered that cybercriminals were using fake Twitter accounts to spoof those of legitimate businesses for credible tech support scams. Users would call the fake phone numbers provided by these accounts, think they were actually speaking to the company's help desk and the attackers would either convince them to share their credit card information or to install malicious content on their computer. These efforts were often part of a multi-platform strategy which used YouTube, Facebook Telegram and other channels to improve SEO for the fake tech support sites linked to the Twitter accounts in an attempt to boost their search rankings. To prevent falling victim to this scam or similar ones on Twitter, Trend Micro recommends that users confirm the validity of a Twitter account by checking the company's website directly rather than through the account. At the same time, it is also important for security teams to validate Twitter data when leveraging it for investigations or threat intelligence. Keep your systems protected from the latest cyber threats with the best antivirushttp://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techradar/digital-home/~4/q7VmWb8qqcQ

Didn't have the cash around Prime Day? Well not to worry as you can get a sweet pair of noise-canceling Sony headphones today at an even better price. That's right, the Sony WH-1000XM3 headphones are available from just £259.99 - about £10 less than they were a few weeks ago in the massive summer sale and £70 under the RRP. We've put the Sony WH-1000XM3 right at the very top of our list of the best noise-canceling headphones list, so yeah this is kind of a big deal that we can't wait to share with you. But hey, even at £259.99, that price isn't for everyone for a pair of headphones. Good thing we've found another set of noise-canceling headphones from Sony for you at just £97 then isn't it? Noise-cancellation has become big business in the headphones market in recent years and Sony has come out on top with these superb cans that keep the outside world at bay. And while rivals like Bose have been busy getting the noise-cancellation right, Sony has remembered to made the playback experience top of the line too. Oh and a 30-hour battery life certainly helps it stay in our good books too. Over in the US, you can get a black pair listed as 'renewed' for just $279. There's also $67 off the new silver ones. Still not sure? Amazon has a wide selection of models to choose from from other brands too. We've rounded up more of the cheapest cheapest noise cancelling headphone deals that are currently available. Or, if you can wait, we're bound to see loads of cracking headphone deals around Black Friday. http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techradar/digital-home/~4/G23toouwJgE

If you're looking for a killer deal on an unlocked iPhone, then you've come to the right place. Amazon has the renewed 32GB iPhone 7 on sale for just $204.99. That's a $344 discount and the best price we've found for the smartphone that comes in your color choice of silver, gold, black, and rose gold. In the UK? Grab this exclusive iPhone 7 deal for just £20 a monthThe iPhone 7 is a solid and reliable smartphone at a crazy affordable price. The smartphone provides 32GB of storage and features a 4.7-inch retina HD display. The water-resistant iPhone takes quality pictures with a 7MP FaceTime HD camera and a 12MP rear camera. The iPhone 7 also includes an Apple A10 Fusion chip for powerful performance and offers Touch ID for secure authentication and Apple Pay. This particular deal from Amazon is for a renewed unlocked iPhone. Renewed products from Amazon have been thoroughly inspected, and tested to work and look like new. If you're interested in a brand new iPhone 7, Walmart has the smartphone on sale for $299. If you'd rather get the renewed smartphone from Amazon for just $200, then you should snag this deal while you can. You can find more iPhone offers with our roundup of the cheapest iPhone 7 unlocked SIM-free prices. You can also see the 15 best unlocked SIM-free phone prices that are currently available. http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techradar/digital-home/~4/FH3SHdcmVhg

There are so many different video formats around, a free video converter is an essential piece of software for any PC. The best video converters are simple to use, and can handle a huge array of different file types. There are many reasons why you might want to convert a file to a different format. You might want to play a particular video on a device that has limited storage and there need to reduce the size of the file. You might want to keep your entire video collection in the same format, but have a few rogue entries messing up your system. Or you might want to change a video recorded in a strange format on your phone into something that is more easily shared with others. If you're converting videos from YouTube, bear in mind that downloading videos is against its terms of service. It's also potentially a copyright infringement unless you have permission from the copyright holder, or the video is in the public domain. With that in mind, here's our pick of the best free video converters. http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/VgyagGS9HpAEPUQtUJBfrg.jpg http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/8gjuM5qcdDQqsays5HSKXQ.jpg Any Video Converter Free will handle videos from any source, including YouTube and files from your PC. It's the best video converter you can download today When it comes to the number of supported file formats, Any Video Converter Free certainly doesn't disappoint. http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/bdUsuuYBKWwyVPfQ82BFbP.jpg It handles online as well as offline files, meaning that if you like the look of some videos on YouTube, you can quickly and easily convert them into a format suitable for offline viewing on your mobile without worrying about your data allowance. More than just YouTube, you can also download and convert videos from Facebook, Vimeo, Metacafe and more, and Any Video Converter Free also features the option to rip audio from CDS and DVDs. You'll find support for all of the video formats you can shake a stick at, including ready made profiles for different devices, and editing options such as trimming, cropping and rotating allow for basic cleanup tasks. If you want to get creative, you can experiment with video effects to achieve a unique look as well. If you need more options, Developer Anvsoft also offers a premium video converter, Any Video Converter Ultimate, which can remove DRM protection, convert videos in batches and burn videos to disc. Any Video Converter Free reviewDownload Any Video Converter FreeBuy Any Video Converter Ultimatehttp://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/VgyagGS9HpAEPUQtUJBfrg.jpg http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/RsEYetWeFkiGTBDC4N4X3i.jpg Freemake Video Converter is brilliant, and can even convert videos from online sources like YouTube – though you'll need to wait three days to unlock this feature Freemake has built up something of a name for itself for producing powerful yet easy to use software, and making it available free of charge. Freemake Video Converter is no exception, continuing the company's enviable track record. The free video converter can not only convert files from your hard drive to almost any format, it can also be used to download and convert online videos from the likes of YouTube. With simple editing tools to trim unwanted footage, the ability to add subtitles, and convert to and from DVD, Freemake Video Converter has all of your everyday conversion needs covered – and more. When you first install Freemake Video Converter, some features (including converting YouTube videos) will be locked. After three days you'll receive a free Web Pack as a gift, which will lift this restriction. Look out for a notification in the System Tray telling you when the Web Pack is available. Freemake Video Converter reviewDownload Freemake Video Converterhttp://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/VgyagGS9HpAEPUQtUJBfrg.jpg http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/JN3MmkJbyRvx47cBKFWaVN.jpg Free HD Video Converter Factory is much more than just a conversion tool – it also includes a basic video editing suite to get your converted videos looking their best Free HD Video Converter Factory prides itself on being so easy to use that its website features a 10-second guide to getting started. This might seem like an exaggeration, but it's actually true. You can drag and drop a video onto the program interface, or use the selection menu, select the format or destination device and hit the Run button. That really is all there is to it. You'll be pleased to know that the software's convenience doesn't come at the expense of features. While you can start the conversion process in a matter of seconds, you may wish to spend a little more time customizing the output. Cutting, cropping and impressive special effects are all on hand to give your videos the look you want, and the way destination formats are presented is highly intuitive. Beginners can select a profile tailored to a specific playback device, while more advanced users can make a manual selection and customize things further. Free HD Video Converter Factory reviewDownload Free HD Video Converter Factoryhttp://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/VgyagGS9HpAEPUQtUJBfrg.jpg http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/MBBdx9H9uALLCXaLTieQDT.jpg Handbrake can convert just about any type of media file – not just videos HandBrake is a free video converter that's well known to Mac users, but less famous in the world of Windows. It is worth noting that this is still something of an experimental program and it hasn't even reached version 1.0 in its Windows incarnation, but that doesn't mean it should be overlooked. Available for Mac, Windows and Linux, Handbrake is a great choice for anyone who works on multiple platforms, but is also great for anyone who is dedicated to Windows. A slight word of warning: the other programs featured in this roundup have very approachable interfaces, but the same cannot really be said of HandBrake. The program is powerful, but utilitarian. There are a lot of features that allow for precise control of video conversion, including cropping, advanced filtering and frame rate adjustment, as well as presets for those who just want quick results. Handbrake may take a while to get used to, but the output is worth it. Earlier this year the Mac version of HandBrake was compromised with malware, but the software is now secure and safe to download. HandBrake reviewDownload HandBrakehttp://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/VgyagGS9HpAEPUQtUJBfrg.jpg http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/QihoUPAZVoPxqKSQB6hQp3.jpg Free Video Converter is easy to use, but has one major disadvantage: the videos it converts will be branded with a subtle watermark. If that's a dealbreaker, try one of the tools above instead DVDVideoSoft is known for its superb free media software that performs exactly as advertised, and Free Video Converter is no exception. Its interface is clean and uncluttered, and it can convert batches of videos with ease. Free Video Converter has a small set of output options (MP4, AVI, MPEG and MP3 are available, plus an option optimized for iOS devices), but that might be plenty if you're not used to working with video files, and the likes of Handbrake or MediaCoder look excessively complicated. There's a choice of quality settings, and you can merge several clips into a single file while they're converted. It's a shame that videos converted with Free Video Converter are watermarked. The mark isn't terribly intrusive, but it prevents this otherwise excellent software ranking higher in this list. Free Video Converter reviewDownload Free Video ConverterWant to know more? Find out how to download YouTube videosCheck out our video below for the best free video editors. Check out the best video editors for PC and Machttp://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techradar/digital-home/~4/D8dqDrCmX9I

As convenient as Alexa's hands-free music is, it can get irritating when you never know the name of the song or band currently playing – especially if you're having to pause the music yourself to check. Now, Alexa's optional Song ID feature, which runs you through the track and artist before each song starts to play, is available on Alexa devices in the UK. Read our Amazon Echo Show 5 reviewThe best Alexa skills and commandsHow to delete your Amazon Echo recordingsAnnounced back in March 2019, the feature was previously only available in the US, and is designed to help users discover new artists and music. It only works in conjunction with the Amazon Music platform, though, so you won't get the same ceremonial announcements when playing though Spotify. If you're listening to a new playlist or radio station for the first time – which is often the case, if ask Alexa for music based on a certain mood or genre, rather than a specific band – you're often listening to music you've never heard before. This won't be as much of an issue with a smart display like the Echo Show 5, which can show song information onscreen, but for audio-only devices, it makes a lot of sense. How do I use Song ID?To enable Song ID, simply ask Alexa to "turn on Song ID", and the voice assistant will announce each song before it plays – as long as you're listening through Amazon Music, that is. Don't like the interruptions? Just say "turn off Song ID" and Alexa will comply. For those who like to use it, it'll prove a nifty way to keep track of all the new, well, tracks coming your way. It's times like this that the integration of Amazon's music platforms and Echo hardware really starts to shine – even if we'd hope to see the best of Alexa's features be applicable to whatever music streaming service you deign to use. With Alexa skills increasingly able to work together, too, using these kinds of extended functionality with an Alexa speaker should get progressively easier, as the barrier between user command and AI comprehension gets even slimmer. The best cheap Amazon Echo prices and dealshttp://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techradar/digital-home/~4/hFpzNx_w95A

Most web hosting packages run on Linux servers, and it's easy to see why: the operating system is fast, reliable, secure and free, with an impressive software ecosystem that includes some of the best web applications around. For all these benefits, Linux won't be the right setup for everyone. If your site is based on Microsoft technologies like ASP.NET or .NET, or you're intending to run Exchange, Microsoft SQL Server or some other Microsoft stack product, you'll need to choose a Windows plan. Opting for Windows hosting doesn't restrict you to Microsoft products. Most plans offer one-click easy installation of popular apps like WordPress, Joomla, Drupal, PrestaShop, phpBB and more. There's no cPanel, but something similar (like Plesk) will make it easy to view your website status, create email accounts, tweak settings and generally manage your plan. Select a VPS or dedicated hosting plan and you'll also be able to use Remote Desktop to manage the server from its own desktop. Windows hosting has some issues. You won't get the same choice of applications as with Linux. There's less help available for troubleshooting apps like WordPress on the Windows platform. There are Microsoft licence fees to pay, too, so it's a little more expensive than Linux plans. Overall, though, if you need to take advantage of Microsoft technologies, Windows hosting can deliver a great service for a surprisingly low price. Read on for five top Windows hosting providers you might want to check out first. http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/ag8MCeS9DGKyku9zDWv5Pf.jpg Windows hosting has a reputation for being costly, but 1&1 IONOS's shared Windows range shows it doesn't have to be that way. Prices start at $1 (£1 for UK page) a month for the first year, $7.99 (£5 for UK page) afterwards, yet even the most basic plan is better specified than some of the Linux competition. You get 1 website, 100GB web space and unlimited bandwidth, along with 25 email accounts with 2GB storage per account, plus daily backups, 24/7 phone and email support, a free domain and an SSL certificate thrown in. Windows-specific features include five Microsoft SQL databases of up to 1GB each, ASP.NET 4.7, ASP.NET Ajax and MVC 3, 4 and 5. There's support for SQL import, SSI and dedicated app pools, and your plan will be running on Windows Server 2019 (many hosts are still using 2012). Ramping up to the top-of-the-range Pro Windows plan gets 100 databases (1GB SSD), 100 email accounts, a dedicated IP, regular malware scanning and an integrated Cloudflare-based CDN. Again, this is good value at only $1 (£1 for UK page) a month for the first six months, $10 (£7 for UK page) afterwards. These are shared plans and don't give you full control over the server, but more flexible VPS and dedicated plans are also available at very low prices, and opting for Windows instead of Linux will cost from an extra $14 (£10) a month. Factor in the one-month trial and 1&1 IONOS could be a sensible choice for novices looking to try out Windows hosting with the minimum of risk. http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/T7SpLAoVwRNYx6jGBCxXfL.jpg A2 Hosting is a capable provider with a huge range of plans covering everything from basic shared products, managed WordPress and email hosting, to reseller plans, cloud VPS and dedicated servers. A2's Windows offerings include a capable Swift plan priced at $5.88 (£3.76) a month initially, $11.99 (£7.66) on renewal. This is a shared product, but a good one, with unlimited websites, subdomains, email addresses, databases and more. Highlights include free site migration, SSD storage as standard, virus scanning, automatic backups, free Let's Encrypt SSL, Anycast DNS, and Cloudflare Free CDN for a claimed average of 200% faster page loads. Your site will be hosted on Windows Server 2012, although you can choose Windows Server 2016. Windows Server 2016 debuted many new features – Nano Server, containers, ReFS, Linux Secure Boot support – but you won’t be using these capabilities on a shared hosting plan. What you do get with the Swift plan is support for an array of current and legacy Microsoft products and standards: ASP.NET 2.x, 3.x and 4.x, classic ASP, .NET Core 2.2, ASP.NET MVC 4 or 5, IIS 8.5 and Silverlight 4 or 5. And if your needs are more cross-platform, there's PHP 5.6, 7.0, 7.1 or 7.2 support, phpMyAdmin, and one-click installers for PrestaShop, WordPress, Drupal and more. If shared hosting isn't enough, A2 also provides managed Windows VPS plans. These are well specified and priced fairly from $32.99 (£25.99) a month initially, $49.99 (£39.39) on renewal, which represents decent value for the features and support you get. http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/Z8MdL2WBncKSa2TukAxTjc.jpg While there are plenty of low-cost shared Windows hosting packages around, they're not the best choice for everyone. We suspect that many users who need a Windows website will also require more speed and functionality than the average customer, and budget hosting may not be good enough. Hostwinds' Windows VPS hosting offers no less than 10 plan configurations, making it much easier to find and purchase the precise level of service you need. The baseline specification is impressive. Every plan offers free site migrations, SSD storage, and 1Gbps network connectivity (100Mbps is common with other plans). You also get the ability to use Windows Server 2008, 2012 or 2016, along with fast response times for any support issues (30 seconds for chat or phone, 5 minutes for tickets), and 99.999% uptime guaranteed overall. The starter Tier 1 plan offers relatively limited resources, with one CPU core, 1GB RAM, 30GB disk space and 1TB traffic per month. But it's also good value at $9.89 (£7.6) a month for the first term, $10.99 (£8.4) on renewal. Those prices are for a monthly billing cycle, too – no lengthy contract required. Upgrading to a higher tier gets you more power. The mid-range Tier 5 plan offers four CPU cores, 8GB RAM, 150GB disk space and 3TB bandwidth, for example, and is priced at $45.89 (£35.20) a month initially, $50.99 (£39.1) a month afterwards. Optional extras are reasonably priced. You could add cloud backups for $1 (£0.70) a month, for instance, while spending $5 (£3.60) on basic server monitoring will see Hostwinds watch your system and automatically raise a support ticket if it goes down. Put it all together and these seem well-designed hosting plans which are powerful, configurable, with excellent support and a generous 60-day money-back guarantee. If basic Windows hosting isn't enough, Hostwinds could be worth a try. http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/sTeun5wLqcQo9Kq6Nu7h75.jpg Many web hosts provide some level of Windows support, but it's often limited to a specific set of products, such as dedicated servers. That could become an issue if you decide you'd like to upgrade or downgrade your hosting at a later date, so it makes sense to look for hosts which offer more flexibility. HostGator has a range of Windows plans covering personal and business-friendly shared hosting, and ranging up to highly-specified dedicated servers with the power to run just about anything. Most of these products are distinctly short on limits and restrictions. The starter Personal plan may only support one website, but you're allowed unlimited subdomains, emails, MySQL and Microsoft SQL Server databases, and unmetered bandwidth and disk space. It’s priced from $2.64 (£2) a month if you sign up for the three-year plan, $6.95 (£5.3) on renewal, which is cheaper than the equivalent Linux plans of some providers. There is a potential downside in HostGator's relatively dated software: Windows Server 2008 R2, IIS 7.5, MSSQL Server 2008 R2 Web Edition, Access Databases 2007, 2010, ASP.NET up to 4.5, PHP 5.2.17 and PHP 5.3. This won't matter to everyone, but check your technical Windows requirements before you sign up. HostGator's dedicated plans are a little more up-to-date, though still lagging behind some of the competition, with Windows Server 2012 R2, IIS 8.5, SQL Server 2014 Express, and ASP.NET from 2.0 up to 4.6. Headline prices are reasonable, with the Value Server plans starting from $119 (£85) a month, and occasional special deals as low as $79.99 (£57) for legacy servers. Be sure to carefully check the small print, though – you might have to sign up for three years to get these prices, and large introductory discounts mean that you could pay more than double on renewal. http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/6P5yqwRJFuwXrUGc8NfRJL.jpg Liquid Web is a popular provider of high-end professional web hosting services, and its current range includes some very capable Windows products. The company's Cloud VPS range hosts your web space across multiple devices to improve performance and scalability, delivering what Liquid Web claims is the "fastest managed VPS hosting on the planet". All plans include features that might be chargeable extras elsewhere – unlimited sites, Gigabit transfer, Cloudflare CDN, DDoS attack protection, US or EU hosting – and run Windows Server 2012 or 2016, yet you can still get a capable setup for $59 (£48) a month. Unusual touches include a choice of SQL Server versions. 2014 or 2016 Express come by default and you can add the Web Editions for $35 (£25) a month, but Standard and Enterprise editions are also available if you need them. For even more control, you could opt for one of Liquid Web's Private Cloud Servers, although these are primarily made for organizations considering the price. These give you all the power of a Cloud Dedicated Server, but also allow for creating, managing and using custom VPS instances (separate virtual servers). You could set up a Windows VPS to run your ASP.NET site, for instance, but also create a Linux VPS instance to run WordPress, another for PrestaShop, maybe a third as a Windows development environment – it's up to you. Private Cloud Servers prices start from $1599 (£1261) a month with no long-term contract requirements, and no leap in costs after an initial discount expires. Liquid Web may charge a Windows license fee on top of that, but you'll only pay once per Cloud Server. This allows you to create as many Windows-based VPS instances as you need, at no extra cost. Interestingly, if you remove all Windows instances then the license fee will no longer be charged, a handy money-saver for users who only need Windows support occasionally. Whatever product you choose can be fully managed by Liquid Web's excellent support team, another company highlight. The firm doesn’t just promise to keep your site up and running, there’s a commitment with a 100% uptime SLA (service level agreement), a strong sign of confidence in its services that you rarely see elsewhere. Want to keep your PCs safer? Then check out the best Windows VPN countdownYou might also want to check out our other website hosting buying guides: WordPressCloud hostingE-commerceDedicated serverSmall businessWindowsManagedGreenBusinessColocationEmail hostingResellersVPSSharedCheapWebsite buildersBest website hostinghttp://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techradar/digital-home/~4/TYEGsLRiHHw

The Google Pixel 2, the 2017 apple of the search giant's smartphone eye, is almost at an end. The Pixel 2 may soon be dead, but long live the Pixel - the Google Pixel 3 has been here for a little while now and has replaced it entirely. If you've been fancying the Pixel 2 for a while and really don't want to splash the cash on the much costlier new phone, then you'll have to strike pretty swiftly as we're not sure how much longer this device will stay relevant. And the same goes for the Google Pixel 2 XL. Whichever handset you covet, you can use our price comparison below to identify the best Pixel 2 deal for you. Google's quest to build a smartphone as popular as the latest iPhone and Samsung Galaxy flagship mobiles took a massive step forward when the original Google Pixel launched last year. And its successor - the aptly named Google Pixel 2 - continued the stellar work and now the Google Pixel 3 has stepped that up even further. Need some more convincing? Use the 10OFF voucher code from Mobiles.co.uk that knocks a tenner off the upfront cost of any deal from that retailer - it's exclusive to TechRadar readers. And there's a summary of our expert review at the bottom of the page. More options: Samsung Galaxy S9 deals | Samsung Galaxy Note 9 deals | iPhone 8 deals | SIM only deals | Best mobile phone deals http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/Ry4j6N9FCmTJPwaUnkP3ud.jpg There's no doubt that the Pixel 2 was one of the very finest Android phones out there on release (and, to be fair, remains so), but the Pixel's successor is a familiar story of incremental improvements rather than whole-scale change. The feature that might just get you buying are the top-of the-line cameras for photos and video. While the delightful screen, great-sounding speakers and slick Android operating system will all appeal to a range of smartphone users. Read TechRadar's full Google Pixel 2 review Read TechRadar's full Google Pixel 2 XL review http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techradar/digital-home/~4/7L3rUK277J4

Honor has always been one of those 'under the radar' kind of phon companies. They're genuinely well made handsets (by Huawei, no less) but for a very budget-friendly price. And the Honor 9 is no different - in fact, it took home the Mobile Choice Consumer Award for Best Mid-Market Phone. And although its now a few years older its still got some absolutely brilliant deals available. Three mobile has the exclusive rights to sell Honor 9 deals, so rounding up the best prices hasn't been as tricky as on some models although you will find a few deals from iD (Part of Carphone). It isn't charging much for the handset and prices start from only £22 per month - not bad for a mobile as good as this, and naturally a wee bit cheaper than Honor 10 deals are coming in at. TechRadar's views on the Honor 9 are overwhelmingly positive (scroll to the bottom of this page for our thoughts) - it's a bit like a lower spec, cheaper version of the Huawei P10. But it also impresses as a cheap mobile phone deal option. So keep reading to see how much the Honor 9 will cost you as a SIM free phone and what the cheapest contract deals are on the Honor 9. The best Honor 9 deals on contracthttp://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/uV84HrYWSBxgwCGXu4izcn.jpg What price is the Honor 9 SIM free?The Honor 9's RRP is £379, which is hundreds of pounds cheaper than the likes of the Samsung Galaxy S8 and iPhone 8. But some retailers are managing to beat that price already - check out the price table below. If you like the idea of grabbing the Honor 9 and need a SIM to go with it, then you should also check out the best SIM only deals. With tariffs staring at less than a fiver a month, our expert advice will help you bag the perfect plan for you. http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/VgyagGS9HpAEPUQtUJBfrg.jpg http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/z9Vj9rVMwuZ3wTKwuyJUti.jpg It didn't take us long playing with the Honor 9 to come to the conclusion that this is a well-built Android smartphone. It doesn't boast much in the way of headline-grabbing features, but it does have a great design and lots of nice touches to make the Honor 9 an impressive all-rounder. Ok, so it's never going to outperform the phones that came out at similar times like the Samsung Galaxy S8 or LG G6, but the 20MP main camera and splendid design mean that it isn't far off and for a much lower price. Read our full Honor 9 reviewhttp://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techradar/digital-home/~4/Iy64XdS8MkQ