sincity

HomeKit is Apple's attempt to bring all your smart devices together into a single ecosystem. In Apple's future your smart dock-lock will talk to your smart lights, and your smart thermostat will be able to work seamlessly with your smart ceiling fan. Now with iOS 10, Apple is also allowing you to control all your HomeKit-supported devices through a single app. Of course any smart home ecosystem is only as good as the products it supports, so without further ado, here's our list of everything that currently or plans to work with HomeKit. Thermostatshttp://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/e00fcd09f76929dcc2cf0dc7464baedf.jpg Smart internet connected thermostats were one of the first areas in which the connected home began to take hold, but unfortunately the market leader, Nest, has not announced HomeKit support. Whether this will arrive at a later date, or whether Google's ownership of the company will prevent it permanently is unclear, but thankfully there are a number of other HomeKit enabled thermostats to equip your smart home with. Ecobee3Ecobee3 is one of the bigger players in the smart thermostat space, and allows you to use a range of sensors to measure temperatures across the whole of your house. NetatmoNetatmo's smart thermostat system is set to soon take its multi-room heating capabilities to the next level thanks to the addition of a range of smart radiator valves to its range, meaning that soon you'll be able to control your home's heating on a room-by-room basis. Other thermostats to consider / coming soon:HoneywelliDevicesTadoLightshttp://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/fc998cf4a77928f38557451b8123bc2d.jpg Lights are another key area for the connected home. Their manufacturers advertise that you can use them to save money on your electricity bill (by having them turn off automatically when you're away for example), or even act as a burglary deterrent by turning on and off to trick a potential thief into believing you're home. Philips HuePhilips has invested heavily in its Hue series of smart light bulbs. It offers a variety of models from light strips to standard white bulbs to colored bulbs, and so long as you have the square-type hub then they'll all work with HomeKit. If you've got one of the older round Hue bridges then you'll have to upgrade to get into Apple's ecosystem. LutronLutron is a bit of an outlier in the connected lighting market since they focus more on the light switches than the bulbs themselves, but rest assured they'll all work with your HomeKit setup. Other bulbs to consider / coming soon:NanoleafPower outletshttp://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/017c1ca77e366d5a55e7de0ac3f31016.jpg Smart lighting is all well and good, but smart power outlets allow you to use your phone to control a variety of items around your house. Naturally if you want to simply use the plugs to turn on lamps around your house you can, but you can also use them to make sure your TV's standby mode isn't drawing too much power by having it automatically turn off at the plug, or set it up with dangerous equipment like hair straighteners so that you can have peace of mind that they're turned off when you're out of the house. ConnectSenseThese smart outlets are not just controllable remotely but also allow you to keep track of energy usage. iDevicesMeanwhile iDevices produce both indoor and outdoor switches. Other power outlets to consider / coming soon:iHomeIncipioKoogeekParceElgatoLockshttp://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/727a2c0013171a5b2a4bfc1ac5edfa5b.jpg You might be hesitant to entrust your home's security to a smart connected device, but HomeKit certification requires security to be built into the hardware of the device itself. So long as your smart lock has the stamp of approval from Apple you know that the data its sending in end-to-end encrypted, which should prevent anyone from hacking your front door. If you do decide to invest in a smart lock you'll find it has a number of advantages, from being able to gain entry to your house using your phone, assigning 'guest keys' to friends, and even remotely letting people into your house. August Smart LockThe August Smart Lock allows you to use your phone as a key, and thanks to its HomeKit integration you can even use Siri to lock and unlock your door. Schlage lockSchlage's Sense Smart Deadbolt not only allows you to unlock your home using Siri or your phone, but also has a number pad on it which guests can use to gain entry after you've assigned them a pin. Doorbellhttp://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/b75ebaf5ec80fa54480ef852d4a70669.jpg Distinct from smart locks, smart doorbells are a means of checking on visitors to your house remotely. Pressing the doorbell activates a small security camera, which can usually then be viewed remotely on your phone, allowing you to give instructions to delivery people and other visitors to your home. RingRing is a smart doorbell that gives you a video feed from your front door. It allows you to talk to delivery drivers, and also allows you to set up motion-detection to alert you when someone's on your property. HomeKit support is coming in early 2017. SkyBellSimilar to Ring, Skybell doesn't currently support HomeKit, but hopes to integrate Apple's service soon. Smoke Alarmshttp://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/e1a9642290be1558bc1ccd155289ff2e.jpg Smart smoke alarms allow you learn that your house is on fire from your phone, and when paired with HomeKit can allow for interesting safety features such as having all your lights turn on to allow you to more easily escape your house. First alertFirst alert produces a HomeKit-enabled alarm that works as a carbon monoxide detector in addition to detecting both smoke and fire. Security camerashttp://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/0a1727c5be013f567145db3730478cdc.jpg We've already discussed smart doorbells that come equipped with security cameras, but a number of companies are also producing HomeKit enabled cameras, which you can use to protect and monitor your house. Other security cameras to consider / coming soon:CanaryD-linkKunaWithingsSensorshttp://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/8b14c3664ccdd120c1c3c80c1f3ed761.jpg They might not be the sexiest home automation devices around, but smart sensors will be an essential building block of the smart home. They'll be the ones to provide feedback to your other smart devices, such as knowing when your front door's been opened. ElgatoIn addition to its other smart home products, Elgato also produces door and window sensors to let you know whether they're open or closed, and they're fully integrated with HomeKit. Air conditioner / fanshttp://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/383025f3d99245281b0b5f4cf29a7278.jpg The last thing you want to do is waste money cooling an empty home, or even worse cooling a home that's already cool enough. Smart air conditioning systems and fans can help you avoid these energy-wasting mistakes. HaierHaier's Jingbo air conditioning unit was the world's first to support Apple HomeKit when it was announced at IFA 2015. However as of September 2016 it doesn't yet appear to have been released. HunterHunter has produced two HomeKit-enabled ceiling fans, the Symphony and the Signal. The two also include LED lighting. Confused about Apple's home automation suite? Here's a full guide to Apple HomeKit.http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techradar/digital-home/~4/IL_1RkL75Pg

Dyson has built itself up to be a leader in the vacuum cleaner market. Its innovative designs have set benchmark after benchmark and its popularity as a manufacture has extended way beyond vacuum cleaners - keep an eye out for the Dyson Supersonic hair dryer coming soon. With innovative design and top quality comes premium pricing, but that's where we come in. On this page we're listing all of the cheapest deals and offers on Dyson 'hoovers' including uprights, cylinders and cordless models. We'll update the page regularly to include official Dyson sales, discount codes, retailer offers and hoover sale highlights. So, here they are, the best Dyson offers and deals. Dyson Deal Alert!American readers, before you take a look at the Dyson comparison chart offers below, you might want to take a quick look at these Walmart rollback Dyson sale items: Dyson DC33 Multifloor Bagless Upright Vacuum - $229 (save $70)Dyson DC34 Bagless Cordless Hand Vacuum - $129 (save $30)Refurbished Dyson DC44 Multifloor Vacuum - $209 (save $40)Dyson V6 Slim Cordless Vacuum - $269 (save $40)Refurbished Dyson DC25 Multifloor - $199http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/5557db8af772c9fcf48ad5e6a2def374.jpg Dyson Small Ball offers and dealsLooking for something lightweight but not bothered about going cordless yet? The Dyson Small Ball is the lightest of the regular upright vacuum cleaners in Dyson's range at 5.5Kg and has a collapsible handle allowing you to store it in smaller spaces than most uprights. The Small Ball is also available in an 'Animal' variant that comes with a turbine tool for getting stubborn pet hair off the furniture. http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/a930fc342a58939fdcae1f7da8254b50.jpg Dyson DC40 offers and dealsIf you need something with a little extra storage and suction power, we'd recommend taking a look at the Dyson DC40 range with a larger storage bin to hold more household dirt, cereal, lego et al. The DC40 is also available in a 'Animal' variant that comes with a turbine tool for getting pet hair off the furniture. http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/0e0abac53860455398892d3c0788f096.jpg Dyson Cinetic Big Ball DC75 offers and dealsSo you're after the beast huh? The 120AW suction power rating should pick up anything you and the kids can throw on the carpet. Hell, those carpet tacks better look out! With a 2.18 litre storage bin you'll be hoovering for ages before needing to empty it out and the 15m reach should let you get around most of the house without having to swap plugs. http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/9859ab8580545e816bffaf4d64a7e4c0.jpg Dyson V8 Animal offers and dealsThe V8 is Dyson's flagship cordless rechargeable vacuum cleaner. The super lightweight design means you can easily reach high areas and the detachable section transforms it into a handheld, for super simple stair cleaning. http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/d44fa8da721834b1b112e2c9aace0b89.jpg Dyson V8 Absolute offers and dealsThis is the ultimate version of Dyson's newest cordless rechargeable vacuum cleaner. The super lightweight design means you can easily reach high areas and the detachable section transforms it into a handheld, for super simple stair cleaning. The Absolute model comes with a soft roller head in addition to the regular one. The soft version is particularly adept at picking up on hard surfaces. http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/8d636c923725bf8591c79c5abdc959eb.jpg Dyson DC39 offers and dealsThe Dyson DC39 cylinder vacuum cleaner offers superior steering abilities over regular drag along hoovers meaning it's less likely to bash the furniture and tip over. The Animal variant includes a turbine tool for getting pet hair off the sofa and you can switch the main turbine head's modes for different floor types via a switch on the handle eliminating the need to bend down. http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techradar/digital-home/~4/NtRD4wTA2Ww

http://cdn.mos.techradar.com/art/DOWNLOADS/news/061016-avast-470-75.jpgAvast buys AVGAntivirus company Avast Software has completed its takeover of AVG Technologies, with over 400 million users now under its care. The two security firms announced announced the deal in June, and have now revealed what the takeover means for users of their free and paid software. The key message: business as usual, with upgraded protection on the way. Avast now protects 40 per cent of PCs outside China, where Qihoo 360 rules the roost. "If [our users] were a country, we would have the third largest population in the world," says Avast CEO Vince Steckler (pictured above). http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/art/DOWNLOADS/news/061016-avast1-420-90.jpg The newly combined company promises to upgrade protection for its millions of users, merging its detection labs with AVG's and establishing dedicated teams to deal with specific online threats. These include units dedicated to social engineering and ransomware – two of the fastest-growing dangers to both personal and business users. "We believe we are now better equipped than ever to outsmart those who want to do harm to people online," says Steckler. If you rely on AVG software, you won't be left out in the cold – Avast plans to keep both brands running for the foreseeable future, and will continue to update all free and paid-for security programs. "We want our customers to be reassured that whether you use an AVG product or an Avast product, we will continue to support you," Steckler adds. The best free antivirus 2016http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techradar/software-news/~4/hWKyYGBi7HQ

This year Black Friday 2016 falls on November 25Black Friday 2016 is less than a couple of months away now so it's almost time to start getting excited about it. The Black Friday deals period is bigger than Christmas: it's the day, weekend and increasingly week when electronics retailers go crazy and slash the prices of pretty much everything. Think cheapest ever PS4 deals and Xbox One prices, amazing prices on items like GoPro cameras and Google Chromecasts and of course - crazy iPhone 7 deals. Analysts have already predicted that Black Friday 2016 will be the first ever £5 billion shopping week in the UK. So if you thought Black Friday was going to calm down again after two crazy years - think again. "Black Friday is no longer about one single day, or week. Now it is an opportunity to create an ongoing experience that can help grow a retailer's customer base and loyalty," says John Beechen, Head of Managed Services at Salmon. "Even those retailers who do not want to participate in Black Friday need to prepare themselves, as consumers will be in the mood to shop, so they are likely to see an increased uptake and conversion of sales even if they aren't offering deals and discounts." Black Friday has been a big deal in America for decades, but it didn't really take off in the UK until 2013, largely because the Walmart-owned ASDA chain went crazy for it. But in 2015 ASDA decided not to take part - and firms that did, such as Tesco and Currys, found their shelves largely empty. After a blockbuster Black Friday 2014, many retailers found that Black Friday 2015 didn't live up to their expectations - and many shoppers found that the bargains they found weren't anywhere near as exciting as they'd hoped. Has the Black Friday boom turned to bust already, or will Black Friday still be Gadget Christmas? When and what is Black Friday?Black Friday is the Friday immediately after Thanksgiving, so Black Friday 2016 will fall on the 25th of November. It's when the US holiday shopping season really kicks off, and it's usually marked by "doorbuster" bargains that cause the kind of shopper misbehaviour that ends up on YouTube. While it started as a US-only event the global reach of American companies - Amazon, Walmart and so on - has brought Black Friday and its doorbusters to shoppers worldwide. These days Black Friday is largely an online event, with UK online sales up by 36% year on year to £1.1 billion on Black Friday 2015. BT Expedite reports that UK retailers received 16.5% more orders over the Black Friday period in 2015 than they did in the same period in 2014, and revenues were up by 19%. However, it also noted that many retailers achieved sales boosts by making Black Friday last longer than a few days. Amazon's fortnight of deals was longer than most but spreading deals over a week rather than just Black Friday and the following Monday, Cyber Monday, was a key retail trend in 2015. Are Black Friday deals bad for business?For consumers, Black Friday is brilliant because it happens just before Christmas and crashes prices at the perfect time. For retailers, though, it's more problematic: is it really wise to slash prices at the beginning of the busiest shopping period of the year? Many retailers and retail analysts say that it isn't wise at all. When marketing experts Verdict Retail analysed the effect of Black Friday and Cyber Monday 2014, they found that there was "no evidence that it stimulated demand"; by discounting their products, retailers sold stuff they would have sold anyway but for less money. Consumer spending isn't infinite, so if we splurge our Christmas cash on Black Friday bargains we won't be back to buy more profitable things in December. That's led retailers such as UK shopping giant John Lewis to say "we've got to ask if it's right to concentrate trade so much in that one period", and other retailers such as Next and Jigsaw decided not to take part in Black Friday 2015. Some analysts feel the event has distorted Christmas spending, pulling it forward at a time when retailers traditionally charged full prices. James Miller, senior retail consultant at Experian Marketing Services, told the BBC that "there is little doubt Black Friday has dramatically changed the way people shop in the run-up to Christmas and has created an expectation of deep discounts that arguably did not exist before," while a report by LCP Consulting found that nearly one-third of UK and US retailers believe that Black Friday is "unprofitable and unsustainable." Black Friday may be a big deal online, but it doesn't seem to be very good for high street shopping. Research by shopping analysts Springboard and Footfall reported falls in high street shopper numbers of 4.5% and 4.0% respectively. The fall in footfall might also be due to the relatively restrained nature of Black Friday 2015, which didn't have the panicky discounting that caused fisticuffs in shops the previous year; some shoppers may have stayed at home because the bargains weren't big enough, while others may have been put off by the possibility of getting punched. http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/4133d5c59d7c149c55a95be9dbd400a9.jpg Black Friday sales are usually marked by doorbuster bargains that cause the kind of shopper misbehaviour that ends up on YouTube Black Friday 2016: the cost of missing outASDA may have brought Black Friday to the UK, but it decided not to take part in 2015. Instead, it planned to offer a more sensible discount programme over the Christmas shopping period. The results? Like for like sales in the 13 weeks to January 1 were down 5.8%, the firm's worst quarterly sales ever. ASDA said that roughly one third of that decline was due to its own discounts, and that 0.4% was due to not taking part in Black Friday. 0.4% doesn't sound like much, but when your quarterly revenues are measured in billions it represents a large sum of money. Even retailers that do take part in Black Friday can find themselves losing money. In 2014, many UK retailers' websites experienced the equivalent of Denial of Service attacks as bargain-crazed browsers crashed their servers. The same happened again in 2015, albeit on a lesser scale, with websites such as Tesco.com buckling under the demand. That's an expensive problem, because if people can't access your website they can't buy anything. John Lewis reported that on Black Friday it would be selling £45 million worth of goods via its website, so just one minute of downtime would cost it £75,000 in lost sales. Black Friday 2016: what to expectWhen you look at the retailers who don't like Black Friday, they tend to have the same thing in common: they aren't electronics and gadget businesses. Those retailers generally had a brilliant Black Friday in 2015, and there's no reason to think they won't be offering door-busting bargains again in 2016. The discounts will be carefully planned and negotiated with suppliers in advance - retailers learned their lesson in 2014, when they lost a fortune slapping discount stickers on everything in sight - but they'll still be there. You'll also see fewer websites falling over like fainting Victorians, because after a couple of years of experimentation the big retailers now have a better understanding of how Black Friday demand works - so they know that there's a big surge of demand at midnight and another first thing in the morning, and can plan accordingly. It's not just the retailers that need to plan, though. We do too: like any big sales event we'll see all kinds of exciting deals, but a bargain's only a bargain if it's something you actually want. Otherwise you're just helping a shop shift surplus stock. If you know what you want, know what it's worth and are flexible on the details - so for example you want a TV with X features and a screen this big, but you don't care whether it's Samsung or Sony - then you're perfectly placed to bag a Black Friday bargain on Black Friday 2016. Black Friday 2016: a big year for mobileEcommerce consultancy firm Salmon has predicted that the majority of Black Friday week purchases will take place on mobile. This will not have escaped the attention of big retailers like Amazon, Best Buy and John Lewis in the UK. The upshot of this for general consumers is that you should find online retailers making it easier for you to transact on their sites via your mobile. Black Friday 2015: last year's Black Friday infoBlack Friday is a huge American-invented shopping event offering enormous savings on tech, gadgets, games and more. It takes place on the first Friday after Thanksgiving at the end of November each year – a day when most Americans are off work and have money to spend before Christmas. Last year Black Friday landed on November 27th, this year Black Friday 2016 will take place on November 25th. So what is Black Friday and why should you care? Well because in 2014 the Black Friday phenomenon exploded out of America nad across the rest of the world in unprecedented fashion, and in 2015 it well and truly cemented its place as by far the biggest shopping frenzy in the calendar. Forget Amazon Prime Day. On the last two Black Fridays, sales records were smashed, websites crashed and shoppers ravenously snapped up retail deals in what was in many countries the biggest weekend of online shopping in history. The two biggest days in retail history have been the last two Black Fridays - that's how big it is. Of course, Black Friday for us as consumers is brilliant. Every year throughout November we get the cheapest ever iPhone deals, PS4 deals, Xbox deals, Laptop deals… it couldn't really be any better. For the retailers though, it's a massive ache in the head. After all, they're being forced to heavily discount goods in order to compete with their rivals. And at a time of year when Christmas would significantly increase spending anyway. December has gone from being one of the best months, to being one of the hardest which wasn't part of the plan. Indeed, last year UK spending in December dropped for the first time in six years, the assumption being that everyone spent all their money in November when everything was cheaper. So what happened on Black Friday last year?Adobe looked at the numbers and reported that on Black Friday in the US last year consumers spent a record-breaking $2.74 billion - up $340 million on 2014 which was in itself 24% higher than 2013's Black Friday numbers. In the UK, shoppers spend £3.3 billion throughout the 2015 Black Friday weekend with a record £1.1 billion on Black Friday itself - a record day and the first time that £1 billion has been spent in the UK on a single day. John Lewis, Amazon and Argos all saw more spending than on any other day in their history. Think about that for a second - £1.1 billion in a day is £764,000 every minute, nearly £13,000 every second. That's around £16 per person for the day - including babies who presumably asked their parents to spend for them. Black Friday also powered Techradar to its biggest ever month of traffic ever in the UK and in the US. All across the country, retailers struggled to fulfill orders with Tesco direct particularly struggling. So what's in store for Black Friday 2016? Well the likelihood is that Black Friday will continue to get bigger and more exciting. This time last year, UK MPs were urging UK retailers to boycott Black Friday - they're not even bothering this year. Black Friday is here to stay. Retailers and analysts are already predicting that Black Friday 2016 will see the UK's first ever £1 billion shopping day - over £200m more than we spent last year. Why retailers hate Black Friday dealsLast year, analysts correctly predicted that UK shoppers would spend more than £1bn on Black Friday - a truly stunning number which ended up being £100 million higher. So how are retailers dealing with this new and disruptive shopping spike, how can you ensure you get the best deals and where will the best bargains be found? It's safe to say that retailers hate Black Friday. Many of the big ones really hate it. It demands they discount products and thus trim their already small margins at a time when customers would be spending money for Christmas anyway, as well as forcing a drastic rethink of stock levels, staffing in warehouses and in IT departments and all sorts of other logistics at a time when they'd rather be preparing for Christmas. In 2014, many stores panic-slashed product prices on Black Friday with site-wide percentage reductions at the last minute in an effort to get in on the unexpected action, and many ended up making no money as a result. One retailer told techradar that it actually made a loss on Black Friday sales in 2014. That's the problem with many consumer electronics categories - margins for stores are already quite small. In short, Black Friday is a brilliant thing for us as consumers, but a total nightmare for online and highstreet stores. But as Adam Simon at IT stock analyst firm CONTEXT told techradar, "the genie is out of the bottle now and there's no putting it back in". http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/c24900cff0bc081a10601d5451d18d85.jpg Better deals than last yearOf course, for some retailers with certain products it's a different story. and the good news is that while stores dislike discounts, Black Friday is a hot war and you've got to be in it to win it. So you can rule out a retail boycott. Indeed, numbers from CONTEXT show that UK retailers imported more laptops in October than in any other month in history. "What we saw in week 41 [beginning of October] was that laptop sales via distribution into retail was up 65% on the previous two years, " said Adam Simon, CEO of CONTEXT in an interview with techradar. "So we thought, 'wow, we'd better watch this space'. Week 42 has gone in the same direction and is extremely high. 70,000 notebooks were distributed to retailers." That's economies of scale at work - the more products retailers buy in, the lower the prices they pay, and the better the deals for us punters. So if you're after a new laptop, you'd be wise to wait until Black Friday because the deals are likely to be better even than Black Friday 2014. You'll still need to be quick off the mark to get the best bargains though - allow us to be your guide on that score! You can also expect superb deals on 4K TVs, PS4 and Xbox One console bundles, Chromecasts, iPads and smartphones as well. The other trick that retailers are pulling this year is to spread the deals out over a wider period. "We'll be running deals and promotions throughout November to make things easier for ourselves," one major UK retailer, which asked to remain anonymous, told TechRadar. "Consumers now expect discounts throughout this period so to make the best of it we have to plan ahead and make sure we order the right products in the right numbers to guarantee leading prices and adequate stock levels." That's music to many a Christmas-shopping ear. So you can expect not only best-ever deals on Black Friday itself, but throughout the month leading up to the big day as well. TechRadar isrunning a pre-Black Friday deals on which we're listing what we think are the best new bargains, so do check in with us next week to have a look. The secret nature of Black Friday dealsOne interesting undercurrent of this new and exciting deals period is how secretive each retailer is being with its planned promotions. We've been in touch with all the major online stores and they're all happy to speak to us... off the record. Most seem very concerned that their rivals will uncover their plans ahead of time and price-match their carefully orchestrated marketing campaigns. It's almost like a Tom Clancy novel, except it's Mr. John Lewis vs Dr. Amazon instead of Khrushchev vs Kennedy. I guess that would make this article The Hunt For Black November. Or, The Sum of all Deals. Or, Clear and Present Changer. I'll stop now. Is Black Friday big in EuropeIn 2014 there was a small uplift in Black Friday sales in Germany but it was nowhere near as big as it was in the UK. And judging from the latest product-import figures, it certainly looks like it'll once again be far bigger in the UK compared with elsewhere in Europe. Analysts are predicting that the UK will account for two thirds of all the money spent on Black Friday 2015 which goes to show how insignificant it is throughout the continent. While UK shoppers are expected to spend £1bn, Germany will account for just £281m, with £45m in Italy, £38m in Spain, £26m in Holland and £19m in Belgium. France doesn't even make the list. Of course, things are still far, far bigger in the US where shoppers are expected to splash out as much as £1.72 billion on Black Friday this year, a truly enormous number which is 16% more than last year's figures. Canada, meanwhile, will likely account for £57m in 'pre-Christmas' sales which includes Black Friday but also the rest of the shopping season. It's a whole weekend of spendingOf course, with Black Friday and Cyber Monday sandwiching an entire weekend between them, shoppers are expecting to continue flashing the cash for the enture four day period with perhaps as much as £2.2bn being spent on tech, clothes, shoes, white goods and everything else during the Cyber Weekend. That's 15.9% more than last year. Greasing the poles The Digital Strategy Consultancy says that one way UK retailers will make it easier for us to spend our money this year is by creating more dedicated Black Friday pages. Up to 84% of all retailers are planning special deals pages this year so it'll be easier for you to find your way around. Problems with delivery?One thing to certainly look out for this year is increased delivery times. If you want to make sure you get your purchases straight away, you might have to pony up for speedy delivery. Standard or free delivery purchases will likely take a week or two to arrive. That's because retailers recognise that most of the things you buy will be for Christmas and thus won't require super speedy delivery. If you do require it - you'll need to make sure you specify your needs when you order. "Black Friday is now a firm fixture on the UK retail calendar and retailers that were 'knocked sideways' by Black Friday in 2014 are making sure they are fully prepared this time round," says Giulio Montemagno, SVP & GM International, RetailMeNot. "With shoppers now expecting retailers to offer Black Friday promotions, we're finding that some retailers are delaying promotions in early November so as to capitalise upon the anticipated spike in sales on Black Friday and the start of the Christmas shopping period. Furthermore, after coming under fire in 2014, retailers are investing in making sure that the shopping experience doesn't falter this year." What happened on Black Friday last year?The numbers on Black Friday in 2014 were so big that websites fell over like Victorian ladies on a hot day, with HP, Best Buy, Currys, Tesco, Argos, Boots and Game's websites all requiring smelling salts. The Currys website in the UK crashed despite the company having implemented a system where users had to queue to use it, a queue that was still over an hour long by lunchtime. The chaos isn't over, either. Black Friday 2015 is now just six months away and it promises to dwarf last year's stats in almost every way. Online retailers are already planning for it. You're much safer online...Of course, Black Friday is not by any means a phenomenon that's confined to the virtual realm. It was conceived originally as a unit mover for high street retailers, a way for stores to shift a lot of stock at a time when most people in the US have time off work for Thanksgiving. And while Black Friday chaos online led to websites crashing, bedlam on the highstreet tends to be a lot more troublesome. Last year, fighting broke out in many stores in the UK, with Police being called to supermarkets including a number of Tesco stores which were heavily criticised afterwards by police. In Scotland, one supermarket had to be closed due to the excessive number of people trying to push their way inside. While in the US, it's not unheard of for bargain hunters to pepper spray each other in an attempt to get the best deals... Clearly - it's much safer to stay at home and pick up your deals on the internet, and that's what the majority of people did on Black Friday 2014. To give you an idea of just how busy the sites were, John Lewis and Currys - two of the UK's biggest retail websites - both saw their web traffic triple compared to Black Friday 2013. Meanwhile, TechRadar's own Black Friday pages attracted more than 1.6 million page views. So it's no exaggeration to say that the pre-Christmas retail landscape was changed forever on November 28 last year. Retailers knew Black Friday 2014 was going to be big, but it actually ended up being far bigger than they ever imagined. So what lessons have they learnt, and what can we as consumers expect from Black Friday 2015? Lessons from Black Friday 2014"Some stores were like ducks on Black Friday - they may've appeared calm, but under the water their little legs were going like crazy" Some retailers were like ducks on Black Friday in 2014 - the first year that Black Friday really took off in the UK: they may have appeared calm, but under the water their little legs were going like crazy. Some stores totally panicked, as Patrick O'Brien of retail analysts Verdict Retail told TechRadar: "Some retailers like Amazon planned promotions well in advance, but others were sucked in when they saw the scale of Black Friday and realised that without promotions, they would lose out on footfall or website hits in a key spending weekend." The upshot? Those retailers cut prices even though they hadn't originally planned to. "Those retailers ended up losing margin as they typically went for a percentage cut across numerous or even all lines, rather than having planned promotions that they could have organised with the help of their suppliers," O'Brien says. http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/4133d5c59d7c149c55a95be9dbd400a9.jpg There was chaos in many stores on Black Friday 2014More bandwidth to retail sitesOne of the key ways UK retailers are planning to sell more items in future is to ensure their sites don't crash like last year. 68% of them are planning to "hire or rent more storage capacity near urban hubs" so that the immense traffic doesn't take them down. Winners and losers of Black Friday 2014Not everybody gets hurt on Black Friday, though. Some firms used Black Friday as cover. "The weather meant that clothing retailers had a lot of stock left to shift, so they used the cover of Black Friday to mark down stock." And others had deals in place with their suppliers to deliver apparent bargains, with stock bought in especially for Black Friday. You can see the Black Friday 2014 winners and losers in ComScore's UK figures for November 2014. The big winners were mainly large electrical, digital and entertainment retailers, with Amazon, Argos and Tesco at numbers 1, 2 and 3 respectively. Where does all the money come from?One of the most interesting questions about Black Friday is whether it created new demand or just brought forward people's Christmas shopping by a few weeks. The answer appears to be the latter - Verdict Retail found "no evidence that it stimulated demand" - and some retailers' panicky discounting was tantamount to shooting themselves in the foot. Essentially, the Black Friday frenzy moved a lot of stock, but that stock was less profitable than usual. AO.com founder and chief executive John Roberts used the firm's annual report to note that Black Friday "did not produce incremental sales, but condensed sales into a shorter time period", while GAME issued a profits warning before Black Friday in 2015 because its heavy discounting on games and consoles had a negative effect on its bottom line in 2014. In the US, IBM reported that while overall sales were up, the average order value was down across both Black Friday and Thanksgiving. That might explain why John Lewis boss Andy Street poured cold water on the idea of Black Friday, telling the BBC last year that "We've got to ask if it's right to concentrate trade so much in that one period… I don't think we can put the genie back in the bottle but do we need to stoke that fire any more? I personally hope not." As Patrick O'Brien points out, though, John Lewis's "never knowingly undersold" guarantee means that if rivals go crazy on Black Friday 2015, "it cannot opt out!" Rubbish for retailers, excellent for everyone elseIf you take a step back, Black Friday should really be called Foolish Friday. Slashing profit margins during the busiest shopping period of the year for no good reason doesn't make much sense, not least because it gives retailers less room to manoeuvre if sales closer to Christmas need some extra oomph. But as John Lewis's Andy Street said, the genie's out of the bottle - so if retailers don't take part, they'll see their rivals get all the business. And that's why Black Friday 2016 is likely to be another step up in terms hype and excitement. Expect even more commercials leading up to Black Friday, bigger headline promotions and even more chaos. What deals can we expect for Black Friday 2016?It's impossible to know for sure which products will receive the biggest discounts this year, but we can certainly make some predictions based on what we saw in 2014 and 2015. One of the hottest products on Black Friday last year was the iPad mini and that will likely be the case again in 2015. In fact we'll likely see some highly attractive deals on many Apple products, partly because they're so popular but also because there is room for manoeuvre in their prices. "Expect bargainous Black Friday deals on iPads, consoles, 4K TVs, laptops, headphones, video games and cameras" It's worth retailers offering us these headline products with big discounts because they expect that we'll buy more than one item once we're on their site. It's a safe bet also that Black Friday 2016 will see the cheapest-ever PS4 and Xbox One deals as well as some irresistible bundles. If you fancy buying your kids a console this Christmas, wait until November 27. In 2015 we saw refurbed PS4's going for just £199 and brand new ones going from just £229. We saw many amazing deals on TVs last year too, so if you're interested in buying a 4K TV in time for Christmas, again you'd be wise to wait for the Black Friday deals madness to begin. You get the picture. Expect more of the same... Where to find the best Black Friday UK deals in 2015:Here's our rundown of where you will find the best Black Friday deals throughout November this year and specifically on Friday 27th November itself. http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/4ad7a4dc137c113b3149daee6f58a230.jpg http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/3f5fceceb1820da39523d5740e8b00f8.jpg TechRadar.com:Last year, millions of people visited TechRadar's Black Friday deals page where we rounded up all of the best deals from all of the most trusted retailers in the UK. This year, you'll be pleased to hear, we're doing it all over again! Throughout November we'll bring you a constantly updated page with all of the hottest tech and games deals on the internet, from super cheap PS4 bargains to laptops, TVs, Chromecasts, iPads and anything else we can find. If it's an amazing Black Friday deal, we'll have it on TechRadar.com! http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/4ad7a4dc137c113b3149daee6f58a230.jpg http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/e0a43007f5b4550d7d81dd9fa079aa0e.jpg Carphone WarehouseMany of the very best and most popular deals during Black Friday last year came courtesy of Carphone Warehouse. The contract reseller was responsible for discounts of up to £200 on new iPhones throughout the weekend and will likely get in on the action again this year as it seeks to capitalise on the increased spending during the period. It won't just be iPhones either. On 18th November 2015, Jeremy Fennell, Managing Director at Carphone Warehouse, said: "Over the past two years, Black Friday deals and promotions have really resonated with our customers - resulting in some of our biggest weekends of online traffic and trading ever. We know that value is the number one priority for our customers and the Black Friday period is a key for us in delivering that. We have spent the last few months lining up some great customer offers that we're planning to run for longer to make this year better than ever before. We'll have some brilliant deals and big savings on top handsets, the first of which we look forward to revealing next week." Quick link: Carphone Warehouse Black Friday homepage http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/4ad7a4dc137c113b3149daee6f58a230.jpg http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/f6490e94fb51df6a913ce17c0c416c6d.jpg Mobile Phones Direct:Of course, Carphone Warehouse might be the most familiar phone deal reseller in the UK but there are others and Mobile Phones Direct has become a big name in the last couple of years. The site was offering some compelling Black Friday deals in 2014 and will be doing so again. Expect Black Friday 2016 deals on iPhones, Samsung Galaxy phones and plenty more. Quick link: Mobile Phones Direct Black Friday deals homepage http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/4ad7a4dc137c113b3149daee6f58a230.jpg http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/9c366d6ba552c8b30d75ce0819458af8.jpg Mobiles.co.uk:Like the sites above, Mobiles.co.uk is taking advantage of the growing trend to buy and upgrade phone contracts online rather than on the highstreet. The site will be featuring many attractive Black Friday deals as it attempts to compete with Carphone Warehouse and Mobile Phones Direct as well as the networks themselves. If you're due for a new phone come November time, be sure to check out these three sites before you choose a deal. Quick link: Mobiles.co.uk Black Friday homepage http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/4ad7a4dc137c113b3149daee6f58a230.jpg http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/5abc9360cd27bd809ce7e318b17206fe.jpg Amazon.co.uk:In 2014, Black Friday was Amazon UK's busiest day ever with about 64 products being sold every single second and you can count on the online retail supergiant being right in the thick of it in 2015 as well. Expect enticing sales discounts in practically every area, from tech and games to kitchenware, white goods, furniture, clothing and everything else. If this year's Prime Day is anything to go by, there will be more emphasis on lightning deals this year - deals which last just one day or even just a matter of hours before they either sell out or time out. That would mean that you'd need to be more on the ball to get the best deals out of Amazon this Black Friday, but while Prime Day was almost entirely lightning deals, Black Friday and indeed 'Black November' will certainly offer a lot more across the board. Last year's best deals on Black Friday included PS4 and Xbox one bundles for up to £100 off, 5.1 home cinema systems for £105 and Kindle tablets for crazy cheap prices. Quick link: Amazon Black Friday homepage http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/4ad7a4dc137c113b3149daee6f58a230.jpg http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/98e0f19a7f7d37971f991d31b6527a45.jpg John Lewis:John Lewis' managing director spoke out in January, warning against heavy discounting on Black Friday. His argument is sound, that retailers are shooting themselves in their collective feet by all heavily discounting. The flip side to that, though, is that if everyone else is doing it, John Lewis will be forced to follow suit. So you can expect John Lewis to offer similar deals to last year. The best Black Friday deals from John Lewis in 2014 included iPad mini deals for £150, good discounts on Apple Macbooks and a powerful price match scheme to outfox its competitors. Quick link: John Lewis Black Friday homepage http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/4ad7a4dc137c113b3149daee6f58a230.jpg http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/ba3b633008ff36e0fb6cb29416a3504f.jpg Currys.co.uk:In 2014, Currys introduced a controversial queuing system that had online visitors waiting up to 30 minutes to even access its site. Was this an attempt to drum up interest or was it simply to try and avoid the site crashing? Cynics be damned - we think it was a genuine attempt to stop the damaging impact of website crashes, and that's supported by the fact that most of the major retail sites in the UK did indeed go down for prolonged periods in 2014. Expect Black Friday deals from Currys on all things - computing, gadgets and mobile. Last year there were deals on Beats by Dre headphones, Apple iPad Air 2's were going for £209 and there were good discounts on Nikon DSLRs and lost more - in 2015 we'd expect laptops, iPads and tablets, peripherals, kitchen goods and everything in between. Quick link: Currys Black Friday homepage http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/4ad7a4dc137c113b3149daee6f58a230.jpg http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/8b32bd80521903d6251c9633a6f775e7.jpg Argos.co.uk:If Black Friday 2015 is anything like last year, many of the best deals will be found at Argos. However, this is another retailer that warned against the sales frenzy of Black Friday in January - its excellent Black Friday deals in November ended up negatively impacting its sales over Christmas which might point to a more reserved offering in 2015. However, with a whole year to plan the word is that Argos will still be offering up a whole range of Black Friday deals in all its areas - last year we have amazing deals on TVs, great PS4 bundle deals and everything else from electric toothbrushes to Dyson vacuum cleaners at £149.99 and lots more. Quick link: Argos Black Friday homepage http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/4ad7a4dc137c113b3149daee6f58a230.jpg http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/5bc1527cd2777b6f171c4a2383a175b2.jpg GAME.co.uk:GAME is definitely a hot retailer to keep an eye on during Black Friday 2015. Last year's best deals included PS4 DualShock 4 controllers for under £30, PS4 bundles such as the console PLUS Grand Theft Auto V AND The Last of Us Remastered AND Destiny + Vanguard AND a 12 month subscription to PlayStation Plus... all for just £399.99. The Black Friday deals were so attractive that GAME was one of the sites that crashed for long periods last yearso expect more of the same, but hopefully less crashes! Quick link: GAME Black Friday homepage http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/4ad7a4dc137c113b3149daee6f58a230.jpg http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/0377cfd62f45a2c4e5644d0dbc1d5566.jpg Zavvi.comSpecialising in movies, games and tech, Zavvi went aggressive on Black Friday last year and we have it on good authority that they'll be delivering some truly exciting deals on Black Friday 2015. Expect some best-ever PS4 and Xbox One deals as well as some sweet savings on DVD and Blu-ray boxsets, console games and assorted tech items like iPads and laptops. We'll be listing the site's best deals on this page, so you can either come to us for our selection of the best ones or go straight to Zavvi's Black Friday page. Quick link: Zavvi Black Friday deals page http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/4ad7a4dc137c113b3149daee6f58a230.jpg http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/dbeda235aff68079310d440558bf6858.jpg ebuyer.com:Ebuyer is a trusted retailer of computing goods such as laptops, hard drives, memory cards, components, software, TV and office supplies. The site has, in the last couple of years, offered up to 50% on products in all of its various categories. So if you're looking for a new USB hard drive, a computer monitor or a laptop, ebuyer.com will certainly be worth checking out! Quick link: ebuyer.com daily deals homepage http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/4ad7a4dc137c113b3149daee6f58a230.jpg http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/faefd3367773aae5cd44d74d8750b780.jpg Boots.co.uk:This year, Boots is promising "more unmissable Boots Black Friday offers, both online and in store". In 2014, the deals from Boots were quite varied but included items such as wearables, electric toothbrushes, hairdryers etc. Expect more of the same this year - if there's an item you've got your eye on at Boots, it's probably worth waiting for Black Friday just to see if it goes into the sale. Quick link: Boots Black Friday homepage http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/4ad7a4dc137c113b3149daee6f58a230.jpg http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/638869cac3b7247bf814218fedf63d5f.jpg ASDA.com:ASDA is traditionally one of the shops that makes the headlines for all the wrong reasons on Black Friday. This year it has announced a new strategy for Black Friday which is to not get involved at all. It says it plans to reduce prices throughout the spending season instead of throwing everything at just one day of huge discounts. This shouldn't affect the Black Friday season online but does show that the negative press around highstreet promotions could be turning some stores away. Quick link: ASDA Black Friday homepage http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/4ad7a4dc137c113b3149daee6f58a230.jpg http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/09147191bb71a1c5d9225d6e7138c6b5.jpg Tesco Direct:Tesco Direct is building itself a good reputation as a destination for good prices on tech items online, although last year it, like ASDA, hit the news for the wrong reasons. Many of the best PS4 deals on Black Friday last year were available from this site so it's almost a given that we'll see the same again this year. Expect also excellent deals on ipads and tablets, Xbox Ones, HD TVs, 4K TVs, Blu-ray players, Google Chromecasts and plenty more including videogames, DVDs and Blu-ray discs. Quick link: Tesco Direct Black Friday homepage http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/4ad7a4dc137c113b3149daee6f58a230.jpg http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/799bc0a54f77b2ddea73a190a6e52085.jpg Apple.com:Apple's form on Black Friday has been inconsistent on Black Friday. The Apple Store will likely offer some discounts on iPads and Macbooks, but as per last year you'll probably find better deals on offer elsewhere from sites like John Lewis, Currys and Amazon. Quick link: Apple UK homepage http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/4ad7a4dc137c113b3149daee6f58a230.jpg http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/78b2cf51a219b1365f4ddea10ab327fe.jpg Sainsburys.co.uk:Sainsbury's has, for the last few years, created a special section in its stores for Black Friday deals and has also started offering more bargains online. It has less form than ASDA and Tesco among its supermarket rivals but the Sainsbury's website is becoming more of a force in 2015 so it's certainly one to keep an eye on. Last year's in-store bargains included super cheap TVs, projectors, Dyson vacuum cleaners and Amazon Kindles. Quick link: Sainsbury's Black Friday homepage http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/4ad7a4dc137c113b3149daee6f58a230.jpg http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/505b30c96af687c6871acc54cc0c1f67.jpg Marks & Spencer:Last year was the first time M&S participated in the Black Friday deals frenzyand while it didn't go crazy like some of its competitors, it will have seen how much money was spent on the day last year and want to get in on the action a bit more in 2015. M&S now has a growing electronics arm so be prepared for TVs, hi-fi, Blu-ray deals as well as iPads and the rest. Marks & Spencer won't be the place for the most Black Friday bargains, but it might surprise with one or two stand-out offers. Quick link: Marks & Spencer homepage http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/4ad7a4dc137c113b3149daee6f58a230.jpg http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/aede3e1de7966f7caece9273be972d80.jpg Debenhams.co.ukDebenhams has been in touch to let us know that it, too, will be banging the Black Friday drum on November 27th. It's not much of a tech retailer, though it does sell tablet, laptops, TVs and home cinema systems. Expect to see some excellent discounts across its vast range of items including clothes, shoes, kids toys, white goods and other electricals as well as home and kitchenware! Quick link: Debenhams Black Friday homepage http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/4ad7a4dc137c113b3149daee6f58a230.jpg http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/3c2d6b1fd510cd7c927ac0c315d7eb07.gif Cheat sheet: What is Black Friday?Black Friday is the first Friday after Thanksgiving, and it represents a perfect storm for retailers: many people in the US have the day off, and as a result it's been the busiest shopping day of the year for nearly a decade. To make things even busier, many retailers now offer some of their best sale bargains on Black Friday. Even Apple joins in. When is Black Friday?That depends on when you're reading this. If it's 2014, Black Friday is Friday 28 November. If it's 2015, it's Friday 27 November. And if it's 2013, you've been asleep for a year. The things you've missed! How did Black Friday get its name?Take your pick: some say it's the day that retailers' profits finally move into the black, although Wikipedia reckons that the true origin of the term comes from Philadelphia where it referred to the disruptive pedestrian and vehicle traffic that occurred during the holiday. Is Black Friday as big a deal as it seems?Yes it is. Every year there are reports of fisticuffs as bargain-crazed shoppers beat each other up, partly because of the practice of using "doorbusters" - amazing and excruciatingly limited deals to attract as many customers as possible. US-based retailers such as Amazon are now keen to make it a tradition here in the UK. Is Black Friday connected to Cyber Monday?Cyber Monday is the Monday immediately after Black Friday, and it was invented in 2005 in an attempt to create an online equivalent of Black Friday. What this has resulted in now, is an entire 4-day weekend of hot deals both in store and online. What's TechRadar doing for Black Friday?No one likes a tech bargain more than TechRadar! And we don't want to keep them all to ourselves. So we'll be beavering away tirelessly all weekend to constantly bring you the hottest deals as they go live online. You'll need to keep your wits about you though, because many deals only last for an hour or until stocks run out. So you need to be quick off the mark - and we'll be on hand to make it as easy for you as possible. Tune in to TechRadar on November 28th, 29th, 30th and December 1st to get at the hot deals first! Where do retailers put their best Black Friday deals?Don't you know that patience is a virtue?! It's not Black Friday yet, but okay - we've put together a list of retailer's Black Friday pages so that you can take a look now and see what it's all about. We'll be adding more soon, and of course, this page on TechRadar will be the place to be with a curated list of all the best deals! http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techradar/digital-home/~4/9uG0t3UL3cI

The Google Chromecast is not only one of the most useful and innovative gadgets of the last few years, it's also dazzlingly cheap. And if you're looking to pick one up for the cheapest possible price, you've come to the right place! Chromecast is a wifi-connected HDMI dongle that you plug directly into your TV. From there you can use your smartphone or tablet to 'throw' video at your TV over wifi, whether it be Netflix movies, live football matches from the major broadcasters or simply just a funny YouTube video. On this page we'll find you the best prices for the Chromecast 2 (or just Chromecast now) and Chromecast Audio and explain how they differ. What is a good Chromecast deal?This one's easy. The standard price for a Chromecast 2 is $35 in the USA and £30 in the UK. You should never, ever pay more than that because you can always find one for that price. However, at certain times of the year, prices tumble. On Black Friday last year, for example, we saw Chromecasts going for under $20 in the US, while the UK's best price was £18 throughout November. That's a hefty discount on an already super cheap, amazing gadget. http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/19b46e6c533742a2887ffb6d23c9d756.jpg Chromecast 2 dealsThe Chromecast 2, or 'new Chromecast' as it's also known, is very similar to the now discontinued 2013 Chromecast. Sure, it looks a little different. And it's got slightly faster network performance and a few other tweaks such as coming with a dangly cable instead of as a rigid stick. But essentially the same product in a different shape - that's why the prices were basically the same. If you can find one for the same price, get this new one. http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/b44da6632dac269286ca1758075c7958.jpg Chromecast Audio dealsWhile it doesn't offer true multi-room streaming at the moment (fingers crossed that comes soon), this easy-to-use and affordable device modernizes any trusty set of wired speakers you already own with wireless capabilities. In doing so, it also opens them up to features that will grow and get even better over time. Got an old set of speakers or an ancient iPod dock? Turn it into a wireless speaker with Chromecast Audio! http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/763abe0e2105abc4a57ea7b57d6c1771.jpg What about Chromecast Ultra deals?Google has only recently announced Chromecast Ultra, its new 4K Chromecast device. If you have a 4K TV or are planning on getting one, it may be worth holding on for one of these. This is a cheaper alternative to Amazon's Fire TV or the US-only Roku 4 for getting 4K content on your TV. Expect Chromecast Ultra deals to launch for £65/$69 in November. We'll be sure to bring you the best 4K Chromecast prices on this very page. http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techradar/digital-home/~4/nl17TLCE038

http://cdn.mos.techradar.com/art/howto/Computing/use_google_drive/googledrivehero-470-75.jpgEven if you're not in education, you're no doubt familiar with what Google now refers to as its education applications. Though we use them separately as and when we need them, Google says that its Gmail, Sheets, Hangouts, Docs, Drive and Calendar apps (when combined Power Rangers style) can "help teachers and students share and learn together in innovative ways." Ten years after Google launched Google Apps for Education, it's renaming the app collection 'G Suite for Education' to better highlight the fact that they can and should be used together in the classroom. Faster and easierTo further improve how the apps can work specifically in a school setting, Google has also added new features to the tools "that make work easier and bring teachers and students together." The basis for most of these new features is Google's Explore tool. The Explore tool and its machine intelligence is being added to Google Docs, Sheets, and Slides in order to make them faster and easier to use. Thanks to Explore, students will be able to easily summarize spreadsheet data without learning formula in Sheets; find relevant images and additional topics for research while they're writing in Docs; and quickly create polished presentations using suggested layouts. While students will find these streamlining features useful, teachers are likely to benefit from the improvements made to Calendars. To make organizing staff meetings easier, Calendar will suggest times when all invitees are available and if no such time exists will suggest ways to solve the scheduling conflicts. Google says its Education Suite is "built on the idea that when people can work together easily from anywhere, they accomplish more" and that these improvements should "help teachers and students take back the time they spend on repetitive tasks." Promising to continue to focus on developing machine intelligence and "transforming schools", Google says we should expect many more improvements to come. Google Andromeda: everything you need to knowhttp://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techradar/software-news/~4/ktEx7odBBe8

http://cdn.mos.techradar.com/art/TRBC/Software/mcafee%20tablet-470-75.jpgIntel Security has pushed out a fresh range of McAfee security solutions for 2017, featuring a new anti-malware engine which ramps up its power using the cloud. McAfee AntiVirus Plus, McAfee Internet Security and McAfee Total Protection – the firm's security suites which step up the levels of protection as you move up the range – all benefit from the new malware-munching engine, as does LiveSafe, which provides antivirus along with identity and data protection. The 'real protect' anti-malware engine is made more efficient and effective by offloading analysis to the cloud, Intel Security notes. It boasts fresh methods of detecting malware that employ behavioural analytics along with machine learning to better spot threats when they first emerge. The products provide defensive measures across all devices, not just PCs but also Macs, along with tablets and mobiles, both Android and iOS. And the company boasts that the new 2017 offerings considerably boost protection for Mac and Android devices, as shown by some of the latest testing by the major antivirus labs (for example, Intel cites a 100% detection result in the latest AV-Comparatives test). True Key, which is multifactor authentication for website logins that makes use of biometrics such as fingerprint or facial recognition, has also been bolstered with the ability to import data from other password managers, and the introduction of a master password reset option. Protection pledgeAnyone buying a McAfee subscription which is set up to renew automatically will also now benefit from Intel's 'virus protection pledge'. This guarantees that if a user runs into a virus infection they can't deal with, the tech support team will solve the issue, or the customer will get a full refund on their purchase. John Giamatteo, corporate vice president and general manager at Intel Security, commented: "People are enjoying more and more connected devices as part of everyday life – in their homes, in their cars and even in the things they wear. This wave of new connectivity is exciting, and a reminder that security is more important than ever. He added: "We're dedicated to delivering innovative products designed to protect all manner of connected devices and the people who use them. Our 2017 line-up demonstrates this level of commitment." McAfee will once again become an independent company early next year, when Intel spins it off as we heard last month. Via: Betanews Here's our roundup of the best antivirus software for Windows and Machttp://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techradar/software-news/~4/Xqu-bDaEzEk

http://cdn.mos.techradar.com/art/DOWNLOADS/Daily%20download/dd-vivaldi-470-75.JPGDownload of the day: Vivaldihttp://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/art/DOWNLOADS/roundups/DownloadButtonSmall-266-100.jpgVivaldi is a fully customizable open source web browser built around the same technology as Google Chrome. You can add, remove and edit every single feature to suit the way you prefer to surf, and create your own quick shortcuts and links for easy access to all your favorite sites and tools. It not only supports keyboard shortcuts – you can also define your own gestures for use with a mouse or touchscreen. Once you've experimented with Vivaldi, you might never go back to your old browser. Why you need itVivaldi's standard homepage is a set of customizable tiles (a little like your Bookmarks list) that can be refreshed so you can check for new content without visiting each site. You can create as many of these pages as you like, or open one or more websites in tabs instead. The browser offers an excellent choice of search engines (you aren't automatically tied to Google or Bing), and if your preferred option isn't listed you can easily add it manually. Vivaldi has an optional sidebar for displaying a second site, which is perfect for Twitter or RSS feeds, and you can choose whether your tabs are positioned at the top, bottom or beside the page. Tabs can also include a small thumbnail of the current page, making them easy to navigate, and can be arranged into stacks to keep them organized (great if you often have dozens of tabs open at once). The interface can be customized with a co-ordinated theme, individually selected colours, or hues that shift to match the page you're currently viewing to make the browser as unobtrusive as possible. If all that isn't enough, Vivaldi also supports Chrome extensions, making it almost infinitely expandable. Key featuresFully customizable interfaceIntelligent tab organization and previewsBespoke keyboard and gesture shortcutsSupport for Chrome pluginsWorks onWindows XP, Vista, 7, 8, 8.1, 10 PriceFree http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techradar/software-news/~4/TgMyGNiyDrQ

Update: Google's big Pixel launch event is a wrap! The search giant came full force with a bevy of new devices, all aimed at bringing hardware and software together, with its virtual AI assistant in the middle. The stars of the show were of course the Pixel and Pixel XL smartphones. The handsets feature a premium build and noteworthy camera, but they come at a price. Pre-orders start today. Perhaps the biggest surprise of the day was Daydream View, Google's own VR headset that retails for the bargain price of $79 (AU$119). Available in three colors, Daydream View also includes a remote control that slips into the headset. Check out our hands-on review of the Google Pixel Google also announced the Chromecast Ultra, a $69 (AU$99) puck that supports 4K streaming. The company revealed pricing for its Amazon Echo competitor, the Google Home, as $129. Finally, we got to meet Google Wifi, a cheap internet router that will retail for $129 for one and $299 for three. Original article below... We're just hours away from a Google event where we're expecting to see a bunch of new devices and software. The Google Pixel and Google Pixel XL smartphones are likely to be the stars of the show, but there could be something for almost any tech fan, from VR, to tablets, a whole new operating system, a new Chromecast and more. Here then is an overview of everything we think we might see today, along with thoughts on how likely each thing is to make an appearance. Google Pixel and Pixel XLhttp://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/656cf3e19e07337e101f4cc56e107a56.jpg The Pixel and Pixel XL are set to take the place of the Nexus 5X and Nexus 6P as the latest smartphones to run pure Android. Rumors suggest that these will be real flagships, especially the Pixel XL, which is thought to have a 5.5-inch 1440 x 2560 screen and a big battery. Everything you need to know: Google Pixel | Pixel XLThe standard Pixel meanwhile is rumored to have a more compact 5-inch 1080p display, while both phones are rumored to have a metal and glass build, top tier Snapdragon 821 processors, 4GB of RAM, fingerprint scanners, fast charging and 12MP cameras. We're almost certain these two phones will make an appearance, as both have been heavily leaked and teased. Don't expect them to be cheap, but there's a chance they'll undercut similarly spec'd rivals. http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/0465b5b3b8bd21fa245e484aaf6a2f6f.jpg How to watch the Pixel launch liveDaydream VR headsethttp://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/4b87347a646f57b56563cdb8061396f5.jpg Daydream is Google's upcoming mobile VR platform, which looks like a real rival to Samsung's Gear VR. The software has already been announced, but there's a good chance we'll see more of it at today's event, along, probably, with a Daydream VR headset. Rumors suggest the headset will be very affordable, coming in at just $79 (around £60, AU$105), which even undercuts Samsung's offering. Initially it will probably only be compatible with the Pixel and Pixel XL handsets, but Google has already confirmed that Samsung, Alcatel, Asus, HTC, LG, Xiaomi and ZTE will produce compatible handsets, so Daydream could be the first VR platform that's widely available, affordable and of reasonable quality. http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/71ae815486eaf78b9704c78550e089f0.jpg Google Homehttp://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/9a50bdfbc6f7713c159bbd440aa127f9.jpg Google already has a place in your smart home thanks to its ownership of Nest, but it wants to be the brains of the entire system with a new product called Google Home, which it initially unveiled at its IO event earlier this year. It's a lot like Amazon Echo, consisting of a speaker which can be controlled by your voice. That allows you to play music or other audio through it, simply by giving voice commands, but also to ask questions, to which Google Assistant will reply, with information from the web or connected services. Going even further, you'll also be able to control smart home devices using your voice, add entries to your calendar, and basically do anything which Google Now already allows for, all without ever touching your phone. We're likely to see more information on it today, including potentially a price (which is rumored to be $129, £99, AU$169) and a Google Home release date. Not only could Google Home be cheaper than Amazon Echo, but with the power of Google behind it, and with Google Cast built in, it could also be significantly more accomplished. http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/71ae815486eaf78b9704c78550e089f0.jpg Android 7.1http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/7928cbab3c75e58f19a7bccbc274c2e1.jpg Android 7.0 Nougat is already available, at least on a handful of devices, but there have been rumblings of a significant update, dubbed Android 7.1, arriving soon, and there'd be no better time to unveil it than at today's event. We wouldn't expect you'll be able to download Android 7.1 today, even if you have a Nexus device, but there's a good chance it will arrive on the Pixel and Pixel XL. While this won't be as big an update as the jump from Marshmallow to Nougat, we might see some new features added, such as support for Daydream VR. Google Assistant, which is essentially a newer, better version of Google Now, could also be at the heart of Android 7.1 and the look of the interface could change slightly, with the Nexus Launcher set to be replaced by the Pixel Launcher. http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/61637c589a868352b38ae3c61e1381d2.jpg Google Andromedahttp://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/1457799ed37d8391ee09ff8949618a7d.jpg Alongside a new version of Android we might also see something far more ambitious, known as Google Andromeda. This is a new operating system which is rumored to combine Android and Chrome OS, adding the file system and deeper control offered by Chrome OS and other desktop operating systems, to the touch-based interface of Android. Andromeda is expected to feature heavily on hybrid laptop/tablet devices, but could also find a home on standard tablets and potentially even smartphones. There's a fair chance that it will be announced today, but it may not actually launch on devices until next year. http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/61637c589a868352b38ae3c61e1381d2.jpg New Nexus 7 tablethttp://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/f3b02becf86ebb981aa014580ff0a882.jpg If Andromeda does land on devices this year a new Nexus 7 tablet could be the first to run it. Currently this tablet is just a rumor and hasn't been as heavily hinted at as the Pixel phones, so we wouldn't count on seeing it today. The device is said to have a 7.0-inch 1440 x 2560 screen, a metal body, a Snapdragon 820 processor and 4GB of RAM – flagship specs in other words, and enough that it could be a strong rival to the iPad mini 4. It's possible that the new Nexus 7 will run Android Nougat, but rumors point towards Andromeda, along with a late 2016 release date. http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/f41025354828648552c5de10427ee920.jpg Pixel 3http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/a3a0cffb6adf0b2d67b508a8c704ac40.jpg This is another device which could run Andromeda, but rather than a tablet it's thought to be a laptop and the successor to the Chromebook Pixel. Early rumors suggest the Pixel 3 won't launch until Q3 2017, so there's every chance it won't make an appearance at today's event, but if Google does show off Andromeda then it might do so on this device. Given how far we might be from release the rumors we have about it could easily change, but right now it's thought to have a 12.3-inch display, which may be detachable, 8GB or 16GB of RAM, an Intel Core m3 or Core i5 processor, stereo speakers, 10 hours of battery life and stylus support. The Pixel 3 could also come in at just 10mm thick – beating Apple's thinnest laptop, and may cost $799 (around £620, AU$1,040). http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/f41025354828648552c5de10427ee920.jpg Chromecast Ultrahttp://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/45f5b7a4847a98bbd9e4bbb970589d85.jpg Chromecast has been making TVs smarter for very little money for a long time now, letting users stream content from their smartphone or tablet to larger screens, but it tops out at 1080p, which isn't ideal when 4K televisions and content are becoming more widespread. That's where a new device, believed to be dubbed the Chromecast Ultra, comes in, as apparently this will be able to stream content in 4K. Otherwise it's likely to be just like the existing Chromecast – a compact device with a low price, though probably not quite as low as the 1080p model. Launching a new model with 4K functionality makes sense, and if Google is going to then today's event is the prime time to do it. http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/61637c589a868352b38ae3c61e1381d2.jpg Google WiFihttp://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/580d3464cb3a2cd0f44eaa8fc0981f75.jpg Google already makes a router, called the OnHub, but rumor has it that a new one is on the way, with a few standout features. Apparently just called Google WiFi, this new router could undercut the OnHub with a rumored price of $129 (around £100, AU$170), and would be able to link multiple networks together to make one giant network, so you can get connectivity from a single source in even the largest homes. It wouldn't be the only router with these skills, but if that price is accurate it would be among the cheapest. The Google WiFi is also rumored to have other unnamed smart features and may have longer range than rival routers. We've heard less about the Google WiFi than some things in this article, so there's a chance we won't see it today, but if it's coming this year then now is the time. http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/f41025354828648552c5de10427ee920.jpg Android Auto updatehttp://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/157e64878772326aa922a6e488fcb83b.jpg Android Auto is promised an update, which Google outlined earlier this year but which might finally be available today – or if not we might at least hear more about it. The main new feature is for it to be powered by your phone, so you won't need to buy a supported vehicle to use it. Other upcoming features that we currently know of include the ability to launch Android Auto by saying 'OK Google', making it completely hands-free, and to connect your phone to your car over Wi-Fi, rather having it plugged in via USB, as is currently required for Android Auto. http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/f41025354828648552c5de10427ee920.jpg Here's how to watch Google's event onlinehttp://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techradar/digital-home/~4/62zds6wxggI

http://cdn.mos.techradar.com/art/AAevents/Google%20Pixel%20launch/screens/Google_WiFi-470-75.jpgGoogle has yet another new router, but this time it's more affordable. Google's new Google Wifi router starts at just $129, which falls significantly lower than its pricey line of OnHub routers. You'll be able to pre-order Google Wifi in November from the Google Store, Amazon, Best Buy and Walmart and the devices will ship in December. UK and AU pricing has not been announced yet. " width="420">YouTube : So why did Google decide to release another router product when it already has OnHub? Whereas OnHub served as a single point of access to your home's wireless network, Google Wifi forms a mesh network using multiple routers to cover your entire home. Since you'll need multiple Google Wifi devices to take advantage of its mesh capabilities, Google will sell you a 3 pack of Google Wifi for $299. http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/art/modem_routers/Google%20Wifi/Google%20Wifi%203-pack%202-420-90.jpg "We launched the OnHub router last year to solve many of the everyday problems people encounter with home Wi-Fi," Google wrote in a blog post following the announcement. "With Google Wifi, we're building on that technology to create a system that provides seamless coverage for homes of any shape or size. OnHub and Google Wifi will work together, and we'll continue to add new features to all of our Wi-Fi devices via automatic updates." If you already have an OnHub router, however, you'll be able to strengthen and extend the range of your network by adding Google Wifi routers. The result is that you can move freely through your home and always have a solid connection, even when video chatting. http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/art/modem_routers/Google%20Wifi/Google%20Wifi%20app-420-90.jpg One of Google Wifi's biggest selling points is its ease of use. Like the OnHub routers, Google Wifi intelligently analyzes your network quality and strength to offer you the best connection. For example, Google Wifi will constantly monitor network congestion and move devices to other channels for the fastest performance. Best of all, you can control Google Wifi via an app, making managing your home network a breeze. You won't need to navigate to a specialized site just to change a few settings like with traditional routers. Google Wifi supports Wireless AC1200 2x2, which means the router can maintain fast speeds by utilizing multiple channels simultaneously. Each router also features 2 Gigabit Ethernet ports so you can have a wired connection for a faster, more reliable connection if needed. So far, Google Wifi looks like a great option for those of us who want consistent download speeds without the hassle of routine router management. However, we'll give you the full scoop when we get our hands on the router later this month. Looking for more ways to stay connected in your domicile? Check out Google Homehttp://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techradar/digital-home/~4/6WLY6Mljx6k

We can't wait to have robot butlers. Sure, this might lead to a very small chance of a robot revolution and the destruction of humanity as we know it, but it's a small price to pay for the possibility of one day having a lovely cup of coffee brought to you while you lay in bed on a Sunday morning. We might not quite be at the point where robots hand-deliver food items yet, but thanks to Amazon and Google's work on artificial intelligence we're moving ever closer to that delightfully lazy future. For over a year now we've had the Amazon Echo, a small, cylindrical speaker with a built-in microphone and an artificial intelligence named Alexa, who has responded to us with bits of information or music we've requested. For a short stint, it might have appeared to some as a novelty gadget, something you could show off to your friends, but never use for anything genuinely useful. But, slowly, as Amazon has added more and more functionality, Alexa has become a capable personal assistant, able to order pizza, access Google Calendar and give you dinner recommendations via Yelp. Now it's Google's turn to get in on the action with its Google Home, a small speaker that will allow you to control a number of integrated apps and services, as well as accessing Google's own search results and formidable suite of services. http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/e5d6904675a0ebf3f16a704b13663e84.jpg Amazon undoubtedly has the early lead, but we shouldn't underestimate Google, which has had its own voice control system, Google Now, installed on Android devices since Jelly Bean in 2012. Google Assistant will build on the work Google has already done in the area and, thanks to Google's many hardware partners, might see greater adoption should it come down to a Game of Thrones-style brawl. We have a lot to go off, thanks to Google's October 4 #MadeByGoogle event, and although we'll have to wait until the unit hits shelves on November 4 for all the details, we have enough evidence to build up a good picture of how Google's offering is likely to stack up against Amazon's. HardwareAmazon chose to go with a very practical design for its line of Echo speakers, opting for a simple black cylinder over anything more outlandish. Its shiny black shell with blue LEDs might be basic, but it's unlikely to offend anyone. http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/38982625ad3f8bcffa0a2fc1dcff505a.jpg The Echo also comes with a remote, which is interesting when you consider that all of that basic functionality can be accessed by uttering a few words. Still, should you ever find yourself out of Alexa's earshot, having a remote with a built-in microphone will prove handy. In contrast to the functional simplicity of the Amazon Echo, Google's Home looks much more elegant. It has a rounded base that makes it look more like a vase than a speaker, and Google has also said that it's looking to allow the speaker's base to be customised to match your home's decor. That means while Amazon has stuck users with a subtle design that fades into the background, Google Home can be as outlandish and loud as you like. http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/32120b61845dc739a92fbaa5af776f0e.jpg In summary, the Echo wants to look more at home next to your home theatre, while the Home wants to fit in with the rest of your shelf. FeaturesWhen it comes to features, Google has the potential to blow Amazon out of the water thanks to the massive library of existing services it has at its disposal. Amazon might have Prime Music and Spotify, but Google not only has its own rival service, Google Play Music, but also offers integration with the Google Cast ecosystem, which already includes Spotify, Pandora, iHeart Radio and thousands of other apps. But it's not just audio where the Home could have an advantage, Google has also revealed that Google Home will soon be able to pull up movies and TV shows from YouTube and Netflix on your main screen using the power of your voice. http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/a95a6f386f678b72bb6ad3583bf1b3cd.jpg You can even use the speaker to play and pause your content without having to go hunting for your smartphone. "Want to watch that episode of Jimmy Kimmel or the trending YouTube video on your TV? Just tell Google Home and the content will appear on the biggest brightest screen in your house," Mario Queiroz, vice president of product management at Google, said during Home's announcement. Google Home will also integrate with a number of Google's other services, from planning routes using Google Maps to translating using Google Translate. http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/699690ff40870aa18de9896e7dd4a7f6.jpg Meanwhile, Amazon has an ever-growing list of compatible apps including Domino's Pizza and Uber, allowing you to either have your pizza delivered or request a ride over to the store to pick it up yourself. On a more practical note, Amazon has recently taken an interest in smart home device manufacturers too, creating partnerships with Samsung to integrate SmartThings control into the Echo, and with Philips's Hue lighting system. Though it's not like Google, owner of Nest, is hurting in the home automation department. During the I/O keynote, it told audiences that Google Nest, which started as a smart thermostat but has since expanded to include a range of home automation devices, will be the first to be integrated into Home's functionality. Later, at its #madebygoogle event, the search giant revealed that other home automation services, such as Philips Hue, would also be controllable by the smart speaker. http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/39f038f331c847c0075fc380fdd74273.jpg We haven't had a chance to try out Google Home, but if Google succeeds in integrating just its existing services it has the potential to run laps around Amazon. IntelligenceWhen it first launched, Alexa's functionality was fairly basic and limited to more mundane conversations like asking about the weather or the time. As Amazon continued to develop the software, however, Alexa gained the ability to talk about calendars, sports and what we should have for dinner. We're not quite living in a Star Trek-esque future, where the device will understand your every command, but Alexa is advanced enough to understand multiple phrasings of the same question, for example. Amazon has a strong track record for the past two years, sure, but it's going up against Google, a company that's had a strong track record in information parsing for the last two decades. http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/09baf41b9b7eb70455279fcd0e1e964b.jpg Although Google Assistant, the software powering Google Home, is new, the technology is based on the work Google has already put into its Google Now voice search functionality. This prior research, in addition to Google's impressive search abilities, means the speaker has a lot of information at its disposal. On stage at its #madebygoogle event, Google Home was shown correctly guessing a song that was described in the vaguest of terms. PriceThe Echo is not an especially cheap bit of kit. The Echo Dot, the cheapest device to integrate Alexa, costs $90. The standard Echo unit costs $180. For a still unknown reason, however, no Echo devices are currently available outside of the US. Meanwhile Google Home has been priced at $129 (around £100, AU$170), which significantly undercuts its rival. http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/137c7635d919edb747265187fe5e71e4.jpg VerdictAmazon's Echo functionality is proven, and has been refined over the course of its first year of release. It's on a successful trajectory that, if it should continue, will make the Amazon Echo a mainstream commodity in the next few years. Meanwhile, Google's existing services already heavily integrate a number of different external apps and functionality, and it looks as though the search giant is planning on making full use of its existing services, including Google Translate, Google Maps and YouTube. The one disadvantage Google might have, however, is that it's already in competition with many of the smart home services it will want Home to work with – it might be hard to convince other smart thermometer makers to build Google Home functionality into their devices while Google Nest continues to bogart the market for itself. Because Amazon offers fewer services of its own, it might be that the Echo earns more allies should manufacturers align themselves against Google Home. We're very excited for the future of both products, obviously, and will continually update this hub as the two products grow, shift, and evolve over the coming months. http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techradar/digital-home/~4/6zEZpiqjwTg

Google Home is a voice-activated product that brings the Google assistant to any room in your house via a Wi-Fi-connected speaker. It was something Pichai had waxed poetic on-stage about a few months ago, and then proceeded to fall off the radar for most people. However that all changed at October's #madebygoogle event, where the search giant finally announced its pricing and availability. Google Home will retail for $129 (around £100, AU$170) and will be available from November 4 2016. That puts it well below Amazon Echo's price of $179 (£150, around AU$230), which should make Google Home an attractive option to buyers. What is Google Home?Google has painted a pretty pristine image of what it'd be like living in the smart home of the future, but we don't need to wait for it to arrive to experience it – we already have an idea of what it's like thanks to the Amazon Echo. In many ways, Google Home will be nearly identical to the device some 3 million of us have in our homes already. For those who haven't seen or used an Echo, however, it works a lot like Siri on your iPhone or the voice assistant function on Android. What Google's smart home speaker plans on doing differently, however, is being better at controlling your smart home devices, starting with Google's recently acquired Nest series of products, and integrating with any Google Cast-enabled device you might have lying around the house. The list of streaming services that Google Home is compatible with is impressive, from music services such as Spotify, Pandora and TuneIn, to video services such as Netflix and YouTube. What Google hopes to accomplish here is that, with a simple voice command you can ask Google Home to play a song, throw on your favorite TV show, check your flight or turn on your lights, all without leaving the comfort of the couch. http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/3725bec8c189c070f97a107c0f702999.jpg And, unlike the refined-but-super-simplistic Amazon Echo, the Home promises customizable bases in different colors and materials that will match your decor. It's a system that has all the trappings of a smart home control center, and could potentially be the device that brings the fractured category together under one banner. You can ask it to play a song or ask it a question like "what day is Father's Day this year," (the answer, in case you're wondering, is June 19) or "what's the weather like in Venice?" All questions need to be prefaced by a keyword – OK, Google in this case – which causes the speaker to start listening. Google's history in search means that Google Home is pretty good at guessing what you want, even if you're not completely sure yourself. Onstage at its #madebygoogle event, the speaker was shown intelligently guessing which song to play from Spotify based on a vague description that included the artist as well as a movie soundtrack it had been featured on. Navigation and translation is also supported thanks to Google's Maps and Translate services respectively. If weather, sports and current events aren't enough, Amazon allows you to install additional plug-ins from third-party sources that expand the functionality of the Echo. Uber and Domino's Pizza are two of the many services who have already signed up and allow you to order a car or a pizza, respectively, using voice commands. It's likely that Google will take a page – er, more like a chapter – from Amazon's book and also include those functions in Google Home. Cut to the chaseWhat is it? A smart speaker with an AI assistant built-inWhen is it out? November 4 2016What will it cost? $129 (£99/AU$169)http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/0527a7c5e0ab5de1366df4dffac8b743.jpg But both the Echo and the Home are more than just an artificial intelligence, they're capable Bluetooth speakers, too. During the opening keynote of Google's I/O Developer Conference, Mario Queiroz, vice president of product management at Google said, "Google Home is a Wi-Fi speaker that streams music directly from the cloud so you get the highest quality playback. It will deliver rich bass and clear highs all from a beautiful compact form factor." So, sort of like an ultra-smart Sonos system. "Of course you can access songs, playlists, albums, artists, and podcasts from your favorite music services just by asking with your voice. Or if you prefer, you can send music from your android or iOS device through Google Cast." Google CastLet's focus for a minute on those last two words: Google Cast. If Home has one absolutely killer feature, Google Cast is going to be it. Google Cast, if you're a bit unsure, is a wireless communication protocol like Bluetooth that allows two products (like a phone and a speaker) to communicate with one another. http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/207c924da5bd3d9ef91fd2bd7fb0fb96.jpg At first, Google says, you'll be able to ask Home to play something on any Google Cast-enabled speaker in your home. That means, like Sonos, you'll be able to control what music is playing in which room, but all using your voice instead of an app on your phone. It can also control what content goes on your TV thanks to integration with Netflix and YouTube. "Want to watch that episode of Jimmy Kimmel or the trending YouTube video on your TV? Just tell Google Home and the content will appear on the biggest brightest screen in your house," Queiroz said. At it's #madeingoogle event, a stage demonstration saw the speaker being used to play a YouTube clip from John Oliver's This Week Tonight. The shining jewel of your smart homeGoogle Home is sort of a three-part system. Parts one and two, the Google Assistant and Bluetooth speaker, we've already gone over. The third part, however, is a sort of virtual hub for smart home devices, similar in nature to Samsung SmartThings. Google's list of home automation partners naturally includes the Nest thermostat, which the company owns, but also the Philips Hue smart bulb system. http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/3e4aaf25cd47a46deab0c84b29befd97.jpg However, going forward it might be hard to convince other smart thermometer makers to build Google Home functionality into their devices while Google Nest continues to bogart the market for itself. All of this theorizing is conjecture, of course, until we learn more about Google's future partnership plans. Release date and priceGoogle home will be available from November 4 2016 at a price of $129 (around £100, AU$170) which is significantly cheaper than Amazon's home automation offering, especially considering this launch prices includes six months of YouTube's premium Red subscription service. So, how does Google Home stack up against Amazon Echo? I'm glad you asked. Google Home vs Amazon Echohttp://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techradar/digital-home/~4/k5lbbX0oRP8

After being first revealed earlier this year, Google Home, the search giant's answer to the Amazon Echo, finally has a price. The small speaker, which comes equipped with the Google Assistant AI, will be available for $129 with a free six-month trial of YouTube Red when it launches on November 4 2016. Pre-orders start from today. You can swap the bases on the speaker to allow it to blend in with different environments, and it supports a number of music streaming services including Google Play Music, Spotify, Pandora and TuneIn, as well as being equipped with Google Cast. Clever GoogleGoogle advertised that Google Home is capable of making educated guesses about the songs that you're searching for, so you can get the right song playing without using its exact name. The Google Home was also shown answering a variety of questions, where it was able to pull in information from other websites including Wikipedia, navigation information from Google Maps, and translations from Google Translate. The speaker will also let you control a number of smart home technologies including Nest and Philips Hue, and is integrated with Google Cast devices such as Chromecast, YouTube and soon Netflix to allow you to watch and control content using your voice. The announcement came as part of Google's #madebygoogle event, which also saw the launch of the company's Google Pixel and Google Pixel XL phones. How does the speaker stack up against Amazon's offering? Check out the differences in our Google Home vs Amazon Echo explainer.http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techradar/digital-home/~4/moN7LEztf4M

http://cdn.mos.techradar.com/art/AAevents/Google%20Pixel%20launch/screens/Google_Home_YT-470-75.jpgAfter being first revealed earlier this year, Google Home, the search giant's answer to the Amazon Echo, finally has a price. The small speaker, which comes equipped with the Google Assistant AI, will be available for $129 with a free six-month trial of YouTube Red when it launches on November 4 2016. Pre-orders start from today. You can swap the bases on the speaker to allow it to blend in with different environments, and it supports a number of music streaming services including Google Play Music, Spotify, Pandora and TuneIn, as well as being equipped with Google Cast. Clever GoogleGoogle advertised that Google Home is capable of making educated guesses about the songs that you're searching for, so you can get the right song playing without using its exact name. The Google Home was also shown answering a variety of questions, where it was able to pull in information from other websites including Wikipedia, navigation information from Google Maps, and translations from Google Translate. The speaker will also let you control a number of smart home technologies including Nest and Philips Hue, and is integrated with Google Cast devices such as Chromecast, YouTube and soon Netflix to allow you to watch and control content using your voice. The announcement came as part of Google's #madebygoogle event, which also saw the launch of the company's Google Pixel and Google Pixel XL phones. How does the speaker stack up against Amazon's offering? Check out the differences in our Google Home vs Amazon Echo explainer. http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techradar/digital-home/~4/fiFZHIcfqY8

http://cdn.mos.techradar.com/art/mobile_phones/Google/Pixel/google-pixel-launch-date-470-75.jpgWhat you can expect from the Google eventWe're just hours away from a Google event where we're expecting to see a bunch of new devices and software. The Google Pixel and Google Pixel XL smartphones are likely to be the stars of the show, but there could be something for almost any tech fan, from VR, to tablets, a whole new operating system, a new Chromecast and more. Here then is an overview of everything we think we might see today, along with thoughts on how likely each thing is to make an appearance. Google Pixel and Pixel XLhttp://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/art/mobile_phones/Google/Nexus%20Sailfish%20render%202%20weibo-420-90.jpg The Pixel and Pixel XL are set to take the place of the Nexus 5X and Nexus 6P as the latest smartphones to run pure Android. Rumors suggest that these will be real flagships, especially the Pixel XL, which is thought to have a 5.5-inch 1440 x 2560 screen and a big battery. Everything you need to know: Google Pixel | Pixel XLThe standard Pixel meanwhile is rumored to have a more compact 5-inch 1080p display, while both phones are rumored to have a metal and glass build, top tier Snapdragon 821 processors, 4GB of RAM, fingerprint scanners, fast charging and 12MP cameras. We're almost certain these two phones will make an appearance, as both have been heavily leaked and teased. Don't expect them to be cheap, but there's a chance they'll undercut similarly spec'd rivals. http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/art/techradar/rumour_meters/Rumor_meter_US/tr_rumour_meter_dead_cert_US-420-90.jpg How to watch the Pixel launch liveDaydream VR headsethttp://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/art/Wearables/Google/Daydream/google-daydream-headset-420-90.jpg Daydream is Google's upcoming mobile VR platform, which looks like a real rival to Samsung's Gear VR. The software has already been announced, but there's a good chance we'll see more of it at today's event, along, probably, with a Daydream VR headset. Rumors suggest the headset will be very affordable, coming in at just $79 (around £60, AU$105), which even undercuts Samsung's offering. Initially it will probably only be compatible with the Pixel and Pixel XL handsets, but Google has already confirmed that Samsung, Alcatel, Asus, HTC, LG, Xiaomi and ZTE will produce compatible handsets, so Daydream could be the first VR platform that's widely available, affordable and of reasonable quality. http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/art/techradar/rumour_meters/Rumor_meter_US/tr_rumour_meter_quite_likely_US-420-90.jpg Google Homehttp://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/art/Connected%20home/Google%20Home/Google%20Home_Livingroom-420-90.jpg Google already has a place in your smart home thanks to its ownership of Nest, but it wants to be the brains of the entire system with a new product called Google Home, which it initially unveiled at its IO event earlier this year. It's a lot like Amazon Echo, consisting of a speaker which can be controlled by your voice. That allows you to play music or other audio through it, simply by giving voice commands, but also to ask questions, to which Google Assistant will reply, with information from the web or connected services. Going even further, you'll also be able to control smart home devices using your voice, add entries to your calendar, and basically do anything which Google Now already allows for, all without ever touching your phone. We're likely to see more information on it today, including potentially a price (which is rumored to be $129, £99, AU$169) and a Google Home release date. Not only could Google Home be cheaper than Amazon Echo, but with the power of Google behind it, and with Google Cast built in, it could also be significantly more accomplished. http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/art/techradar/rumour_meters/Rumor_meter_US/tr_rumour_meter_quite_likely_US-420-90.jpg Android 7.1http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/art/mobile_phones/Android/Android%20N/AndroidNougat-420-90.jpg Android 7.0 Nougat is already available, at least on a handful of devices, but there have been rumblings of a significant update, dubbed Android 7.1, arriving soon, and there'd be no better time to unveil it than at today's event. We wouldn't expect you'll be able to download Android 7.1 today, even if you have a Nexus device, but there's a good chance it will arrive on the Pixel and Pixel XL. While this won't be as big an update as the jump from Marshmallow to Nougat, we might see some new features added, such as support for Daydream VR. Google Assistant, which is essentially a newer, better version of Google Now, could also be at the heart of Android 7.1 and the look of the interface could change slightly, with the Nexus Launcher set to be replaced by the Pixel Launcher. http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/art/techradar/rumour_meters/Rumor_meter_US/tr_rumour_meter_its_possible_US-420-90.jpg Google Andromedahttp://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/art/laptops/Google/Chromebook%20Pixel%202015/Chromebook%20Pixel%202015%20review-11-420-90.jpg Alongside a new version of Android we might also see something far more ambitious, known as Google Andromeda. This is a new operating system which is rumored to combine Android and Chrome OS, adding the file system and deeper control offered by Chrome OS and other desktop operating systems, to the touch-based interface of Android. Andromeda is expected to feature heavily on hybrid laptop/tablet devices, but could also find a home on standard tablets and potentially even smartphones. There's a fair chance that it will be announced today, but it may not actually launch on devices until next year. http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/art/techradar/rumour_meters/Rumor_meter_US/tr_rumour_meter_its_possible_US-420-90.jpg New Nexus 7 tablethttp://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/art/tablets/Google/Nexus%207%202/hands%20on/aIMGP0411-420-90.jpg If Andromeda does land on devices this year a new Nexus 7 tablet could be the first to run it. Currently this tablet is just a rumor and hasn't been as heavily hinted at as the Pixel phones, so we wouldn't count on seeing it today. The device is said to have a 7.0-inch 1440 x 2560 screen, a metal body, a Snapdragon 820 processor and 4GB of RAM – flagship specs in other words, and enough that it could be a strong rival to the iPad mini 4. It's possible that the new Nexus 7 will run Android Nougat, but rumors point towards Andromeda, along with a late 2016 release date. http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/art/techradar/rumour_meters/Rumor_meter_US/tr_rumour_meter_not_likely_US-420-90.jpg Pixel 3http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/art/laptops/Google/Chromebook%20Pixel%202015/Chromebook%20Pixel%202015%20review-1-420-90.jpg This is another device which could run Andromeda, but rather than a tablet it's thought to be a laptop and the successor to the Chromebook Pixel. Early rumors suggest the Pixel 3 won't launch until Q3 2017, so there's every chance it won't make an appearance at today's event, but if Google does show off Andromeda then it might do so on this device. Given how far we might be from release the rumors we have about it could easily change, but right now it's thought to have a 12.3-inch display, which may be detachable, 8GB or 16GB of RAM, an Intel Core m3 or Core i5 processor, stereo speakers, 10 hours of battery life and stylus support. The Pixel 3 could also come in at just 10mm thick – beating Apple's thinnest laptop, and may cost $799 (around £620, AU$1,040). http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/art/techradar/rumour_meters/Rumor_meter_US/tr_rumour_meter_not_likely_US-420-90.jpg Chromecast Ultrahttp://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/art/av_accessories/Chromecast/New%20Chromecast/review/Chromecast2_4966-420-90.jpg Chromecast has been making TVs smarter for very little money for a long time now, letting users stream content from their smartphone or tablet to larger screens, but it tops out at 1080p, which isn't ideal when 4K televisions and content are becoming more widespread. That's where a new device, believed to be dubbed the Chromecast Ultra, comes in, as apparently this will be able to stream content in 4K. Otherwise it's likely to be just like the existing Chromecast – a compact device with a low price, though probably not quite as low as the 1080p model. Launching a new model with 4K functionality makes sense, and if Google is going to then today's event is the prime time to do it. http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/art/techradar/rumour_meters/Rumor_meter_US/tr_rumour_meter_its_possible_US-420-90.jpg Google WiFihttp://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/art/routers/Google/OnHub%20on%20counter-420-90.jpg Google already makes a router, called the OnHub, but rumor has it that a new one is on the way, with a few standout features. Apparently just called Google WiFi, this new router could undercut the OnHub with a rumored price of $129 (around £100, AU$170), and would be able to link multiple networks together to make one giant network, so you can get connectivity from a single source in even the largest homes. It wouldn't be the only router with these skills, but if that price is accurate it would be among the cheapest. The Google WiFi is also rumored to have other unnamed smart features and may have longer range than rival routers. We've heard less about the Google WiFi than some things in this article, so there's a chance we won't see it today, but if it's coming this year then now is the time. http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/art/techradar/rumour_meters/Rumor_meter_US/tr_rumour_meter_not_likely_US-420-90.jpg Android Auto updatehttp://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/art/car%20tech/AndroidAuto/android-auto-micro-USB-connection-420-90.jpg Android Auto is promised an update, which Google outlined earlier this year but which might finally be available today – or if not we might at least hear more about it. The main new feature is for it to be powered by your phone, so you won't need to buy a supported vehicle to use it. Other upcoming features that we currently know of include the ability to launch Android Auto by saying 'OK Google', making it completely hands-free, and to connect your phone to your car over Wi-Fi, rather having it plugged in via USB, as is currently required for Android Auto. http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/art/techradar/rumour_meters/Rumor_meter_US/tr_rumour_meter_not_likely_US-420-90.jpg Here's how to watch Google's event onlinehttp://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techradar/digital-home/~4/2qsNwWawcYQ

http://cdn.mos.techradar.com/art/software/Apple/macOS%20Sierra/icloud-drive-470-75.JPGApple really wants you to update to the latest macOS Sierra. And to help you along, Apple will begin automatically downloading the update to your Mac starting this week. According to The Loop, users who have automatic downloads enabled and have enough storage for the 4.77GB download will automatically get the macOS Sierra update "over the next week." Although it may seem a bit aggressive for Apple to automatically download the operating system for you, it's by no means as heavy handed as Microsoft was with Windows 10. Apple will only download the operating system for you, but won't install without your approval. If you're running out of room on your drive, the macOS Sierra download will be automatically deleted to allow more space for your files. If you don't want Apple to download the update for you, head over to the Settings app on your Mac and click on the App Store. Then uncheck the option to download updates automatically. We liked macOS Sierra for finally bringing Siri to the desktop and for its iCloud Drive improvements. There are a ton of other tweaks and enhancements that make it a clear benefit when used in conjunction with iOS devices like the iPhone 7 and Apple Watch 2. 10 best macOS apps to download to your Mac todayhttp://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techradar/software-news/~4/Ycid-hA-vBM

http://cdn.mos.techradar.com/art/laptops/Google/Chromebook%20Pixel%202015/Chromebook%20Pixel%202015%20review-1-470-75.jpgGoogle Andromeda release date, news and featuresOn October 4, Google is expected to reveal its plans for something that has been rumored about and reported on for over a year: a merging of its Android and Chrome OS in a way we've never before seen. It's called internally "Andromeda", according to reports by Android Police and 9to5 Google, and it's expected to become the singular platforms through which people access Google – so laptops, phones and tablets. These same reports also make mention of a hybrid, laptop-tablet device that will possibly be shown off during the otherwise Pixel phone-centered event, running the Andromeda OS. Also, why do we seem so sure that Google will have something to say about this Andromeda business? "We announced the 1st version of Android 8 years ago today," Google SVP of Android, Chrome OS & Play Hiroshi Lockheimer tweeted on September 24. "I have a feeling 8 years from now we'll be talking about Oct 4, 2016." That's why. So, let's get on with it, eh? Cut to the chaseWhat is it? An Android-meets-Chrome, multi-device operating systemWhen is it out? Current reports point to sometime in 2017What will it cost? Likely nothing, as is with Android and Chromehttp://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/art/laptops/Chromebook/new%20Chromebook%20Pixel/Chromebook%20Pixel%20Google%20Play%20Store-420-100.jpg What is Andromeda?First off, it's reportedly the code name for Google's oft-rumored-and-reported merging of its Android and Chrome OSes, the former being a phone and tablet platform and the latter one for its affordable laptop platform, Chromebooks. We've even seen the seeds of such a merging be sowed this year. At Google I/O 2016, the firm announced that Android apps would become available on Chromebooks, finally necessitating the odd-few Chromebooks with touchscreens. But, more importantly, this expressed Google's interest in marrying these two platforms together. Fast forward to today, and reporters expect Andromeda to offer the flexibility of a mobile OS in terms of an adaptable interface and sophisticated touch gesture support, but with the sensible – and more readily-accessible – file system and other niceties we've come to expect from our laptops. Android Police specifically claims to have heard from sources that Andromeda is the result of Google introducing Chrome features to Android, not the other way around. The outlet also suggests that the initiative to get Android apps running on Chromebooks is unrelated to Andromeda, but at the very least one had to inspire the other, whichever that is. http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/art/mobile_phones/Google/Pixel/google-pixel-launch-date-420-100.jpg What is the Pixel 3 – or Bison?In the same report, some of which has been corroborated by 9to5 Google's sources, Android Police details a device internally named "Bison", a hybrid computing gadget that's been already nicknamed "Pixel 3," or the de facto successor to the second Chromebook Pixel. However, that name barely applies, because the device is allegedly to not be marketed as a Chromebook, but as an entirely new approach from Google to computing. While the outlet did receive specification information from its source, it was quick to present them with a helping of salt based on when it expects Bison to release: Q3 2017. The Pixel 3 is expected to be a convertible hybrid, though some anticipate a detachable, that will come in two versions with 12.3-inch touch displays. Powering the device with be either an Intel Core m3 or Core i5 processor with either 32GB or 128GB of storage, and either 8GB or 16GB of memory (RAM). Also standard on what's assumed to be two models are, reportedly, two USB-C ports, a fingerprint scanner, 3.5mm audio jack, a bunch of sensors and stylus compatibility, with a Wacom pen sold separately. The device will also allegedly have stereo speakers, quad microphones and a battery that can last about 10 hours. Android Police also reports that the keyboard will be backlit, and the glass trackpad will use haptic feedback and force detection, similar to the 12-inch MacBook. The device is said to measure 10mm thin, which would noticeably beat Apple's thinnest laptop yet. Again, take these details with the appropriate dashing of salt, but the outlet also says to have heard that the Pixel 3 will start at $799 (about £622, AU$1,041), too. Sidenote: 9to5 Google expects the firm to release Andromeda on a Nexus-branded Huawei tablet as well, based on claims from its sources and evidence that Google has been testing the OS on a Nexus 9 tablet already. http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/art/laptops/Samsung/Samsung%20Chromebook%20XE303C12%20Wi-Fi/My%20photos/Chromebook%20-%20General%201-420-100.jpg What could Andromeda mean for Android and Chrome?From what we're hearing, Andromeda seems to be Google's response to Microsoft and Apple's united platforms with one of its own. In turning Android into one of the main places from which Google's billions of users access the service and later capitalizing on that with Chrome OS in the classroom and workplace, Google itself has become the third major player in platforms. Again, from the sound of it, Andromeda is going to accomplish much of what Microsoft and Apple already have in Windows 10 and iOS-to-macOS Sierra Continuity, respectively, but in a very Google way. It's easy to expect access to Google's inimitable search and data-tracking at your fingertips, which it would tout as better than Microsoft's and Apple's, and an interface the changes based on the device from which it's accessed. Will this eventually mean the end of Android and Chrome? In name, most likely, but their principles would almost certainly live on – there's too much solid foundation not to build on top of it. Some predict this transition will happen gradually, and we're inclined to agree. The end result, likely to be seen long from now, will be just one platform for Google to worry about, able to push new updates and features to all versions at once, simplifying support as well as user understanding. Nevertheless, Lockheimer's tweet suggests something monumental for the October 4 event, so stay here with us as we update this article with the details once they all roll in. In the meantime, see what's hot in the best Chromebookshttp://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techradar/software-news/~4/hSSmIctlfUo

http://cdn.mos.techradar.com/art/DOWNLOADS/Daily%20download/dd-aomeibackupper-470-75.jpgDownload of the day: AOMEI Backupper StandardA virus infection, a drive crash, theft, a carelessly-placed cup of coffee – there are so many ways your valuable data can be lost or damaged, it's essential to have a backup routine in place. http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/art/DOWNLOADS/roundups/DownloadButtonSmall-266-100.jpgMaking backups can be a real chore, but AOMEI Backupper Standard is incredibly straightforward, and so well designed that even a complete novice will have their whole system and files safely saved in no time, with a regular schedule to make sure it's all kept up to date. Why you need itAOMEI Backupper Standard can back up your entire Windows system as an ISO file, or disc image, which you can burn to a bootable DVD or CD using a free app like ImgBurn. If you find that your system becomes unstable, or you can't load Windows, just boot from this disc to restore your system to a stable state. It's more reliable than Windows' own System Restore option, and you won't need to reinstall your operating system, settings and programs from scratch. You can also use AOMEI Backupper to back up your files. There are three types of file backup available: Full, which makes a complete copy of all the selected data.Differential, which makes a copy of all the data that has been added or changed since the last full backup.Incremental, which makes a copy of the data that has been added or changed since the last backup – whether that backup was full or incremental.To restore your files, you'll need the last full backup, as well as either the most recent differential backup, or all incremental backups. With AOMEI Backupper Standard, you can schedule regular backups of your most commonly used files or directories, and save the backups in a location of your choice. Then, if disaster strikes, you can use the software to restore them all with just a couple of clicks. AOMEI Backupper can test the integrity of your backups once they're complete, and can shut down your PC automatically once it's finished. There are many free backup tools around, but you'd be hard-pressed to find one that's easier to use than AOMEI Backupper Standard. Just set it and forget it. Key featuresISO and file backupsEasy set-and-forget configurationAutomatic scheduled backupsEvent-triggered backupsWorks onWindows XP, Vista, 7, 8, 8.1, 10 PriceAOMEI Backupper Standard – Free AOMEI Backupper Professional – US$49.95 (about £40, AU$65) http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techradar/software-news/~4/LM55A27lAwo

http://cdn.mos.techradar.com/art/TRBC/Software/Microsoft/Windows%20Server/containers%20hero-470-75.jpgIntroduction and strains on ITWhether you want the servers we're all familiar with or a computing platform that looks more like the cloud, Windows Server 2016 can do that, Jeffrey Snover, the architect behind both Windows Server and the new hybrid cloud Azure Stack, told Techradar Pro. When CEO Satya Nadella sent the Windows Server team out to talk to customers, they asked what users were worried about and the answers were very consistent, says Snover. "There were too many stories about getting hacked and not knowing about it for months. Security has become a CEO concern." Hybrid cloud also came up frequently, as something businesses see as a strategic direction for the next one to three years. "Customers told us they want the benefits of public cloud in their own data centres; they want the speed and the agility of PaaS services," he told us. A lot of that interest is driven by the tensions around technology that leads to shadow IT. "They want us to help them solve the problem of shadow IT. Developers and business leaders need to get things done – if IT can't help, they move around them and they set up problematic shadow IT." Pulled in different directionsThe problem isn't unhelpful IT departments so much as the way that IT is being pulled in two directions, Snover explains. "They have to provide secure IT resources so people can get their jobs done, and they've also got to support business agility and innovation; they want to figure out how to use IT to drive their business forward." He cites studies that say in 2017 more than half of the budget that used to go to IT will be spent outside of formal IT departments, going on public cloud and shadow IT. Hybrid cloud like Azure Stack – based on Windows Server 2016 – lets them dip their toe in the water, building apps that can run there, or on Azure. "They want to be able to decide whether they're going to run a workload on-premise or in the cloud; they want the deployment flexibility to go where is right for them." Snover also claims many customers who are asking for hybrid cloud using Windows Server have been trying alternatives and have been disappointed. "They want the right to get it wrong. People are feeling they're building the wrong things. When you find out you're on the wrong road, you need to turn around, no matter how much progress you've made – people have the sense that they're on the wrong road. "We hear this a lot with OpenStack. Customers say to us, 'now we've got a bunch of people who are experts in GitHub and open source but how does this help us sell more cars? Is this really moving our business forward?'" Servers, data centres and cloudsHybrid cloud isn't the only thing you can use Windows Server 2016 for, Snover points out. "If you still need to have a server you can walk up to and manage directly, with Windows Server 2016 there will be a bunch of people that will still do that." http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/art/TRBC/Software/Microsoft/Windows%20Server/snover-420-90.jpg Over the years, Windows Server has evolved from a single server for the office to enterprise networks and data centres, and Snover says the new version is still a good solution for all of that. "If you want a server with the full desktop client experience on a single box [you can do that]. The server you walk up to has the full Windows client experience and we see this being used for very small customers and RDP scenarios. "We've still invested in the enterprise era servers with improvements for Active Directory and data centres. Server Core is where you'll run your existing headless workloads. You can take your existing apps and they'll just get better because they're running on an operating system that's more secure than it used to be. "Then you can take those apps and with a little bit of work you can adapt them to use new technologies like containers. But we've also spent a lot of time supporting cloud native applications. The new scenario we've lit up is cloud." He continues: "Is everybody ready to move to cloud? The answer of course is no, only some are ready to move. But what we've seen is that each of these new eras of server didn't replace the previous eras – each time they started out a new market and that grew." DevOps modelsContainers are a way to move to the increasingly popular DevOps approach. "There are two DevOps models," Snover points out, "and the traditional model has nothing to do with containers. What containers do is enable a refinement of the DevOps model where a bunch of things that used to be done on the live system by the ops team after deployment is now being done by developers in the lab, so change happens further upstream and gets pushed out." Snover also notes that you shouldn't judge containers by the performance in technical previews of Windows Server. "When we first did containers, the performance was terrible. But then the Windows engineering DNA kicked in and week after week we could see the numbers come down." A container will start in less than a second, he says, and Nano Server itself boots in about two and a half seconds (for comparison, a Windows Server 2012 R2 system can take around ten minutes). Windows Server 2016 customers are getting the advantage of what Microsoft learned running Azure. Take the changes in Hyper-V: "It used to be that in each release we would match VMware," says Snover. "Now we're not so up on that because we're driven by Azure." Microsoft also learned a lot by building the Cloud Platform System, pre-built hardware running Azure Pack for private cloud. "We learned how to make sure this runs with low maintenance and low friction. A rolling cluster upgrade was a very hard thing to do; now you can easily patch and upgrade the system and maintain service availability," Snover noted. The server that cloud built"Windows Server 2016 takes a lot of the innovation we got from running Azure and makes that cloud innovation mainstream," Snover says. "Today we see a lot of failure in cloud and the people who are successful are the high priests of technology. We're going to take that and mainstream that and do 'cloud for the masses'. "If you want complete control over your environment, if you want to pick your hardware and run it however you want, if you need unique 'snowflake' servers, Windows Server 2016 is awesome for that too." We round up everything you need to know about Windows Server 2016http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techradar/software-news/~4/RCnmPvx_zKM

http://cdn.mos.techradar.com/art/Randoms/appstore-470-75.jpgFirst announced at Apple's Worldwide Development Conference (WWDC) earlier this year before being rolled out for beta testing over the summer, adverts are coming to Apple's App Store from October 5. Called Search Ads, these adverts start working when you search a keyword in the App Store search bar. Depending on what you've searched for, ads for relevant apps will appear at the top of your search results. According to Apple, over 65 per cent of app downloads via the App Store come from search results so spending some money to put your app at the top of the results list could prove to be a good move, particularly if the process is as easy as Apple claims. Spend money to make moneySetting up a Search Ad can apparently be done in "a few easy steps", with developers retaining complete control over how much money they wish to put behind the ad, the kind of audience they want to target, and insight into the numbers coming from placing the ad. Being as simple as it is, Search Ads could be especially useful for small independent developers that are trying to get their app noticed by potential customers. If app download numbers do actually depend quite so heavily on the search results page as Apple says, a couple of days at the top of the results list could be all a genuinely good indie app needs to boost its popularity. In an attempt to keep the playing ground more even, Apple is ensuring that popular developers with larger marketing budgets can't abuse the service by targeting popular terms with app ads that are irrelevant to a user's search. For example, you won't find an Angry Birds ad when searching for fitness apps. The relevance algorithm is also being implemented for the sake of app store customers who won't have to worry about scrolling through pointless and irrelevant apps before seeing the results they actually asked for. Safety firstTo make sure not safe for work apps don't manage to crawl their way to the top of the results, Apple has also put together a content policy list which advertisers must comply with before their app will be featured. Though app store users won't see ads until October 5, Apple is allowing developers to set up their campaigns from now, incentivizing US developers by offering them $100 credit towards their first use of the service. Best iPhone apps 2016http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techradar/software-news/~4/_-GZCzCYHuA

http://cdn.mos.techradar.com/art/mobile_phones/Apps/Productivity_apps_Source_iStock_credit_ymgerman-470-75.jpgIntroductionhttp://cdn.mos.techradar.com/art/mobile_phones/Apps/Productivity_apps_Source_iStock_credit_ymgerman-420-100.jpg Thanks to advances made in mobile technology over the last few years, more businesses are turning to devices like smartphones and tablets to help them in managing their operations. Generally speaking, the days of relying on a PC to do everything are over. When you're running about in meetings all day, have hundreds of emails to read, and must meet tight deadlines, the attraction of mobile is undeniable. Apps, in particular, are changing the way we live and work in so many different ways. And if you download the right apps to fit your business needs, then you can easily improve productivity. There's an app for almost every task and area, from accounting to product management. In this article, we've highlighted the very best business productivity apps – and in some cases web-based tools which you can use on your mobile – that are currently available. Also take a look at our 10 best office apps for AndroidImage Credit: ymgerman/iStock 1. Join.mehttp://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/art/TRBC/Software/Best%20mobile%20productivity%20apps/join.me_ipad-420-90.jpg There are a ton of web conferencing and collaboration apps out there, but they aren't always mobile-friendly. Enter Join.me, an online meeting tool that's easy to set up and can be used from any device – there's a web version which means you don't have to download anything if you don't want to. It provides free screen sharing and unlimited videoconferencing. There's a handy whiteboard feature as well, letting everyone contribute ideas virtually. The app is available on iPhone, iPad and Android. Platforms: Android and iOS Price: Free 2. Gyst http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/art/TRBC/Software/Best%20mobile%20productivity%20apps/gyst-420-90.jpg When you have so many things to do and not enough time to play with, you can easily become overwhelmed and fall behind. Gyst is the app that wants you to stay organised and get more done. It consolidates texts, contacts, calendars and to-do lists into one place. Because of this, you don't need to keep dipping into different apps and it will help you stay on top of things. You can also use the software to prioritise text messages, schedule meetings and communicate with your colleagues. Platforms: Android and iOS Price: Free 3. Basecamp 3http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/art/TRBC/Software/Best%20mobile%20productivity%20apps/Basecamp3-420-90.jpg Basecamp is a veteran piece of project management software in the business world, having been around for ten years. Features include the ability to keep and track client feedback, chat with your colleagues, set up work-related reminders, praise co-workers and give them tasks to complete, and share documents. Like Gyst, you're also able to create to-do lists, although you can easily pre-order them based on their priority and relevance. An internal message board plays a big role in the app too. With it, you can post announcements, proposals and ideas. You can sign up and get your first outing for free, but beyond that you'll have to pay. Platforms: Android and iOS Price: Free/From $29 (around £20) per month 4. Doodlehttp://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/art/TRBC/Software/Best%20mobile%20productivity%20apps/Doodle-420-90.jpg Diary clashes are annoying but pretty common in the business world. This is where Doodle comes into the picture. It's an app that helps you streamline meetings and stay productive. How does it work? You sign in, set up an event and suggest times to your colleagues. They then choose the times that work for them, and the app tries to find the best slot for everyone. What's great is that your colleagues don't even need to be signed up to the app in order to participate. Platforms: Android and iOS Price: Free 5. Trello http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/art/TRBC/Software/Best%20mobile%20productivity%20apps/Trello-420-90.jpg Trello is another great app worth checking out if you have a busy life with your work or business commitments. Aimed at helping you to get things done and stay organised, the app lets you create boards for all the projects you're working on. You can work on these individually or add colleagues so they're kept up-to-date with the tasks they're undertaking. As well as this, you're able to add to-do lists on boards, assign tasks, comment on items, upload files and videos, and attach files. It's free to use, although you have the option to upgrade for added functionality. Platforms: Android and iOS Price: Free 6. Google Drivehttp://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/art/TRBC/Software/Best%20mobile%20productivity%20apps/GoogleDrive-420-90.jpg You could spend a good deal of cash on a package like Microsoft Office, or you could stick with Google Drive and pay nothing. Drive offers you a full suite of word processing, database and presentation applications. The great thing about them is that they're cloud-based, so you can work on documents and files from any device – be it a laptop, smartphone or tablet. Everything is saved as you left it, and you have the option to view revisions. Platforms: Android and iOS Price: Free 7. Slackhttp://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/art/TRBC/Software/Best%20mobile%20productivity%20apps/Slack-420-90.jpg The market for communication apps is quite fragmented, but when it comes to keeping up-to-date with your colleagues and in-work teams, Slack is a no-brainer. It offers real-time messaging, and you can share files in one-to-one and group conversations. The app is known for its powerful search and archiving functionalities, so you'll always be able to find past files and conversations easily. And there are also integrations with apps and services such as Dropbox, Asana, Google Drive, Twitter, Zendesk and more. Slack syncs across all devices, from smartphones to computers, and it's free with certain limitations (which you can rid yourself of if you upgrade to a paid subscription). Platforms: Android and iOS Price: Free 8. Peakonhttp://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/art/TRBC/Software/Best%20mobile%20productivity%20apps/Peakon%20iOS-420-90.jpg Peakon is a new web platform with an iOS app dedicated to maximising productivity within companies. It provides automated employee feedback and measures engagement to help firms create happier, more sustainable working environments. Sounds good, right? But you're probably wondering how it actually works. That's pretty simple to explain. Peakon constantly asks you questions to build a coherent, realistic analysis of how you're feeling at your company. While you have to pay for a basic subscription, you can have a free 30-day trial to test the service out (no credit card details needed). Platforms: iOS Price: From £2.60 ($3.50) per user per month 9. Omnifocus 2http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/art/TRBC/Software/Best%20mobile%20productivity%20apps/OmniFocus-420-90.jpg Omnifocus claims to be a PC-grade, in-depth task management solution that you can use on your iOS device. While it costs £30, the app offers flexible viewing options, location awareness and on-the-fly task entry features to help you get through a busy day. You can assign tasks based on location, people and energy level to accomplish jobs. Every task or piece of work you add to the app shows up in the iPhone's Notification Center, so you don't have to worry about missing deadlines. Platforms: iOS Price: £30 (around $40) 10. Nudjed http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/art/TRBC/Software/Best%20mobile%20productivity%20apps/Nudjed-420-90.jpg If you feel unmotivated, stressed or unwell, it's likely your work will suffer. And in an ideal world, that's something you'd like to avoid. Fortunately, online platform Nudjed is on a mission to boost employee health. It collects data across key areas of health to help employers build a picture of how their staff are feeling. Using this information, they can then step in and develop work-based health programmes so all employees are happy and thriving. The company was set up in 2013 by Welsh designer and entrepreneur Warren Fauvel. Platforms: Web only Price: Varies 11. Scorohttp://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/art/TRBC/Software/Best%20mobile%20productivity%20apps/Scoro-420-90.jpg Scoro is a worthy end-to-end work management solution. Soon to be launched in app form, it allows professionals and businesses to control their entire workflow from one place. The tool also aims to streamline work and eliminate unnecessary processes that may affect productivity. Scoro's features include calendars, task and project management, quoting and billing, enterprise-level reporting and a real-time dashboard. While it costs to subscribe to Scoro, there is a free 14-day trial available. Platforms: Web only (app coming soon) Price: From £8 ($11) 12. Pen and Paperhttp://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/art/TRBC/Software/Best%20mobile%20productivity%20apps/pen%20and%20paper-420-90.jpg A simple pen and paper is always a great way to stay productive, and this aptly named app digitises the process. With Pen and Paper you can create handwritten notes and documents on your trusty iPhone or iPad. You draw with your finger or a stylus, and can doodle away if you wish and easily pull off tricks like resizing, adding text boxes or creating diagrams. The app works with Dropbox too, so you can import and annotate PDF documents and other files. Platforms: iOS Price: £2.29 ($2.99) 13. Buffer http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/art/TRBC/Software/Best%20mobile%20productivity%20apps/buffer-420-90.jpg If you deal with a ton of social media feeds at work, then you ought to have a look at Buffer. It's one of the best tools you can get for scheduling posts on sites like Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn. The platform is easy to use, too. You simply link your company accounts to one email, and you'll be able to push out tweets and status updates in a matter of seconds. There are apps for iOS and Android, although you can use Buffer on the web too. An individual account with one social profile is free, but if you have multiple profiles or team members who want to use the service, you'll need to pay for a subscription. Platforms: Android and iOS Price: Free 14. Evernotehttp://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/art/TRBC/Software/Best%20mobile%20productivity%20apps/Evernote-420-90.jpg Evernote has been around for a good few years and is one of the safest bets when it comes to using apps to boost productivity. It offers a variety of note-taking tools so you can change the way you work on and organise your personal and professional projects. You can write, analyse and store ideas in the form of notes, notebooks, checklists and to-do lists. Notes can be taken in a plethora of formats, including text, sketches, photos, audio, web clippings, PDFs and more. The app syncs across all your devices, so you never have to worry about losing your precious notes and documents. It's free to use, although there's the option to upgrade to a pro version with more features. Platforms: Android and iOS Price: Free 15. DropTaskhttp://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/art/TRBC/Software/Best%20mobile%20productivity%20apps/Droptask-420-90.jpg When it comes to working on projects with a large team, things can get pretty hectic. Allocating tasks ends up taking forever, and soon everyone's confused. The solution? DropTask. It offers a vibrant, colourful interface that delivers an enjoyable but effective task management experience. The main feature here is a customisable workflow board, where team members can allocate tasks and check what they're expected to do. You can invite up to five colleagues to work on tasks in real-time, and you can assign items under multiple categories. Like many of the other apps listed in this article, DropTask is cloud-based and syncs across devices. Platforms: Android and iOS Price: Free 16. Be Focused Prohttp://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/art/TRBC/Software/Best%20mobile%20productivity%20apps/BeFocusedPro-420-90.jpg It's easy to fall behind when you have so much work to do, and it doesn't help when there are so many distractions to deal with. If you suffer with these sort of issues, Be Focused Pro could help you. This iOS app lets you focus on your work and get things done by splitting individual tasks into intervals, separated by small breaks. This, the creators claim, will help you retain motivation while you work. As well as being able to create and configure tasks, you can also track your progress throughout the week, month or year. Platforms: iOS Price: £1.49 ($1.99) 17. Harvesthttp://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/art/TRBC/Software/Best%20mobile%20productivity%20apps/Harvest-420-90.jpg One of the banes of running a business is having to deal with time and expense sheets. Unless you're willing to shell out for an accountant, this is something you're going to have to tackle yourself. But Harvest makes the task a lot simpler. The app is a way for you to track time, log expenses and manage invoices on-the-go. You can use the app to send invoices to clients and track when they've paid, add, view and edit time entries, take photos of receipts and upload them, monitor mileage, and much more besides. There is a basic free plan but it restricts the number of clients and projects available, so you'll need to fork out for a paid subscription if you want to unlock those limits. Platforms: Android and iOS Price: Free 18. TinyPulsehttp://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/art/TRBC/Software/Best%20mobile%20productivity%20apps/TinyPulse-420-90.jpg Are you a business owner? Then you'll understand the importance of knowing how your employees are feeling. After all, if they're not happy at your firm, then the chances are they're going to underperform – or go elsewhere. TinyPulse is an app that lets you get to know your staff, giving you the ability to set them questions and analyse their feedback. Using this data, you can then make changes if they're needed. You can also share virtual suggestions with your team, ensuring they're always included in strategic decision-making. And hopefully the result of all this will be a happier, more democratic working environment. You can get a free trial to test the system out, although you'll need to contact the company for details of pricing plans when it comes to the full service. Platforms: Android and iOS Price: Varies 19. Briahttp://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/art/TRBC/Software/Best%20mobile%20productivity%20apps/Bria-420-90.jpg Bria is a business-grade communication app available on iOS and Android as well as BlackBerry. It creates a SIP-based softphone client using Wi-Fi or a cellular data network that can make and receive calls over the net. The service uses the phone's existing contact list and has been designed to facilitate easy, effective communication management. There's an intuitive interface that accommodates multiple calls, and functionality includes the ability to swap, merge and split calls, plus you can perform attended and unattended transfers. You needn't worry about security either, as it boasts built-in audio encryption. Platforms: Android, iOS and BlackBerry Price: £6 ($7.99) 20. Wunderlisthttp://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/art/TRBC/Software/Best%20mobile%20productivity%20apps/Wunderlist-420-90.jpg There's certainly no shortage of to-do list apps out there, but equally there's no denying that Wunderlist is one of the best. The app allows you to create as many task lists as you want and share them with your colleagues. They sync across devices, so you'll always have them to hand. Note that the app is free, but there's a pro version that'll cost you a few quid a year. You can delegate tasks, set deadlines, add notes, create reminders and split items into sub-tasks – and the interface is easy-to-use, and looks good, too. Platforms: Android and iOS Price: Free http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techradar/software-news/~4/jwfyGiEYw2s

http://cdn.mos.techradar.com/art/software/Siri%20vs%20Cortana/Hero-470-75.jpgSiri vs CortanaOn September 20, Apple released macOS Sierra to anyone sporting a compatible Apple computer. The new operating system's signature feature is – at long last – the addition of Siri, the company's signature, AI-powered personal assistant. Almost five years after it arrived alongside the iPhone 4S with iOS 5, Siri is finally available for Mac users, and it's fully equipped with functionality that rivals Microsoft's Halo-derived Cortana. In fact, the features exhibited by Siri and Cortana are similar enough that we decided to go hands-on and find out the answer to a simple question: which is better? To accomplish this, we've devised five different categories of tasks. In each category, we'll assign three different tests to examine how Siri and Cortana compare in real-life situations. Siri vs. Cortana as file explorersOur first series of tests demands that we have a few files (and one application) lying around on both the Mac and Windows 10 computers. We'll start with a pair of simple commands: "Show me my latest invoice for September," and, "Show me the screenshots I took today." http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/art/software/Siri%20vs%20Cortana/File%20explorers/invoice-test-cortana-420-100.jpg For Cortana (above), we are already off to a rough start – "no results found" for that invoice. Of course, favoring one over the other this early on would be unfair. http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/art/software/Siri%20vs%20Cortana/File%20explorers/invoice-test-siri-420-100.jpg After all, Siri (above) doesn't precisely honor our first request either, providing us with a shortlist of files from our "Invoices" folder rather than opening the latest one. http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/art/software/Siri%20vs%20Cortana/File%20explorers/screenshot-test-siri-420-100.jpg To be fair, though, Siri (above) does show us our screenshots, as request. Another strike for Cortana, with yet another "no results found" reply. For the third test, we asked Siri and Cortana to open an app: Adobe Premiere Pro CC 2015. "Open Adobe Premiere Pro," we say. http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/art/software/Siri%20vs%20Cortana/File%20explorers/application-test-cortana-420-100.jpg Both (Cortana shown above) respond exactly as desired, booting up a launch window for the video editing application followed by the software itself. Winner: Siri Siri vs. Cortana as personal DJsFor our music-playing tests with Siri and Cortana, we'll use both Apple Music and Groove Music Pass to determine the quality of the interactions between Apple and Microsoft's virtual assistant AI and your own song collections. http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/art/software/Siri%20vs%20Cortana/Personal%20DJs/everything-i-am-siri-420-100.jpg Here, we simply ask both Siri (above) and Cortana to play three different songs: "Everything I Am" by Kanye West, "Someday" by The Strokes and "The Murder Mystery" by The Velvet Underground. The only problem we encounter has nothing to do with Siri or Cortana and more to do with Groove Music. http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/art/software/Siri%20vs%20Cortana/Personal%20DJs/everything-i-am-cortana-420-100.jpg Surprisingly, Kanye's best-selling album "Graduation" is completely absent from the service, which causes things to go awry even after adding our own copy of the album to OneDrive (above). While Cortana is quick to play "Everything I Am" by Kanye West, it incorrectly claims to be playing a song of the same title by rapper Lowkey. Winner: Tie Siri vs. Cortana as secretariesThis is the test where we take a look at Siri and Cortana's interoperability with their native communication apps, getting them to call, text and email other people using FaceTime, Skype, iMessage and so forth. Once we ensure that all our accounts are lined up in the background, Siri and Cortana both handle texts and emails with ease. http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/art/software/Siri%20vs%20Cortana/Secretaries/skype-cortana-420-100.jpg Unfortunately, for calls – Skype or otherwise – Cortana (above) is only willing if you're on a mobile device. http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/art/software/Siri%20vs%20Cortana/Secretaries/facetime-siri-420-100.jpg Considering Siri's (above) ability to make FaceTime calls in addition to sending iMessages and emails, we were disgruntled to see Cortana fail to replicate that behavior. http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/art/software/Siri%20vs%20Cortana/Secretaries/sms-cortana-420-100.jpg Still, Cortana (above) totes SMS and email functionality that delivers without question. That's commendable for a virtual assistant that's been around half the time Siri has. All told, at least in this category, Siri emerges the winner. Winner: Siri Siri vs. Cortana as calendar assistantsLet's face it, scheduling meetings and setting reminders is mundane and, without the proper aid, cumbersome. Luckily, these days we can rely on Siri and Cortana to handle these things for us – if we ask politely. In this area, Siri and Cortana are infinitely more reliable than in every other category. http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/art/software/Siri%20vs%20Cortana/Calendar%20assistants/calendar-meeting-cortana-2-420-100.jpg In fact, aside from Cortana (above) mishearing the word "cyan" several times until we finally change it manually with a keyboard, Siri and Cortana both successfully pull their own weight when it comes to reminding us to do stuff. Our first two requests – "Add to my calendar that I have a meeting next Wednesday at 5 pm with Cyan Worlds" and "Remind me to message Joe in the morning about invoicing" are both executed flawlessly. http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/art/software/Siri%20vs%20Cortana/Calendar%20assistants/podcast-reminder-siri-420-100.jpg The only tangible problem we run into is with our third query. "Set a reminder for a podcast recording I have to attend this Sunday at three," we tell Siri (above). Unfortunately, Siri returned with an event titled "Podcast recording I have to attend at three" that was scheduled for 9 am. http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/art/software/Siri%20vs%20Cortana/Calendar%20assistants/podcast-reminder-420-100.jpg Meanwhile, Cortana understands that the podcast recording itself was scheduled for 3 pm – a win in the bucket for Cortana. Winner: Cortana Siri vs. Cortana as information sourcesOur last test seems, for the most part, rather straightforward. We ask Siri and Cortana a question, they give us an answer. We start with what we think will be a softball question: "Who are the 2016 U.S. presidential candidates?" http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/art/software/Siri%20vs%20Cortana/Information%20sources/election-faq-cortana-420-100.jpg Cortana (above) undoubtedly goes the extra mile and supplies us with an arrangement of headshots featuring secretary Hillary Clinton, Donald Trump, their vice presidential picks and even the third-party candidates, like Jill Stein and Gary Johnson. http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/art/software/Siri%20vs%20Cortana/Information%20sources/election-faq-siri-420-100.jpg For this query, Siri (above) simply points you to web search results rather than directly provide an answer. That would have been impressive enough to win us over had it not been for the next two questions to both Siri and Cortana: "Show me the NFL schedule for next week," followed by, "How much did Nintendo's stock price go up last week?" http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/art/software/Siri%20vs%20Cortana/Information%20sources/nfl-faq-cortana-420-100.jpg Unfortunately, Cortana (above) ends up presenting us with our own schedule for next week rather than that of American football. http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/art/software/Siri%20vs%20Cortana/Information%20sources/stock-faq-cortana-420-100.jpg As for Nintendo's stock price, well, Cortana (above) pulls a Siri and asks Bing. http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/art/software/Siri%20vs%20Cortana/Information%20sources/nfl-faq-siri-420-100.jpg Siri (above), on the other hand, has no problem showing us all the big football games of the next week along with the times that each team plays. http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/art/software/Siri%20vs%20Cortana/Information%20sources/stock-faq-siri-420-100.jpg And, while she (above) can't get stock information from the week prior, she can at least tell us the latest closing price of Nintendo's stock. Winner: Siri The verdictMajority rules, and Siri packed a punch two out of three times in this category, giving Apple's virtual assistant not only the edge when it comes to delivering information, but overall as well. Both Cortana and Siri are competent virtual assistants on the desktop, yet these tests prove that – while Siri's two-year lead on Cortana is obvious – both still have a long way to go before becoming as vital to us as our, say, smartphones. Until then, let's just keep re-watching "Her" and dream of what's to come – but, you know, without all the weird sexual tension. Take a look at the best laptops aroundThis article is part of TechRadar's Mac Week. This year marks not only the 10th anniversary of Apple's unibody MacBook, but the triumphant return of macOS. So, TechRadar looks to celebrate with a week's worth of original features delving back into the Mac's past, predicting the Mac's future and exploring the Mac as it is today. http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techradar/software-news/~4/VTXWUywDD2Q

http://cdn.mos.techradar.com/art/audio_systems/Amazon/Echo/Amazon%20Echo%20Whisky%20App-470-75.jpgOne of the best parts of owning an Amazon Echo is watching its virtual voice assistant, Alexa, mature with age. In the past year alone it's learned what time restaurants close thanks to Yelp integration and can tap into Audible to read you a bedtime story. But Alexa's latest leap forward – well, more of a stumble really – is something a little kid-friendly: Johnnie Walker Blended Scotch Whisky has teamed up with Amazon to develop a skill that will teach you about 150 years of whisky in a matter of minutes. The distillery released the skill today on the Amazon Echo Skills section of the Alexa app and besides general information about the different labels, the app can offer guided whisky tastings, dole out drink recipes and direct you to the closest location – hopefully within walking distance – where you can stock up on the libation. "We're delighted to be collaborating with an iconic brand like Johnnie Walker," said Rob Pulciani, Director, Amazon Alexa in a statement. "The Johnnie Walker skill dives deep into the world of whisky in a fun and engaging way through recommendations of blends, practical whisky tips and more – all just by using your voice. Now our customers can entertain at home in a unique way with the hands-free convenience of Alexa." The Amazon skill is one part of the label's digital mentorship program that encourages those who are unable to make it to one of the brand's tasting rooms to learn more about the drink. The initiative also includes a Facebook Messenger bot that offers similar functionality. If you're anything like me, although you probably don't need any more encouragement to drink whisky, the idea of learning more while you drink from the comfort of your own home is a relatively good one ... at least until the hangover hits tomorrow morning. Here's what we think of the Amazon Echo Dothttp://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techradar/digital-home/~4/LlgpvMFhXGM

Kodi, the open-source media centre software, has risen up the ranks to become one of the top home entertainment apps across a whole ton of platforms, from PC to mobile. But it's now facing a legal challenge in the UK over copyright laws. Brian Thompson from Middlesborough is accused of selling so-called "fully-loaded" Kodi set top boxes. Rather than just allowing a user access to their own videos, photos and music, Thompson is accused of offering up set-top boxes configured in such a way as to "[facilitate] the circumvention" of copyright protection. While Thompson has not entered a plea, he told the Gazette Live that he intends to challenge the charges, which follow an 18-month investigation. Landmark caseIt's the first time such a case has been brought forward in the UK, and will bring into scrutiny the use of applications like Kodi. The developers of Kodi (which used to be known as Xbox Media Center, or "XBMC" given its roots on Microsoft's first games console) have stated time and again that they do not support the third-party add ons which give users access to pirated content such as subscription TV and Hollywood movies. As an open-source application, Kodi's developers maintain a "neutral stance" on how individuals use the software. However, they are prepared to fight those that use the trademarked Kodi name to sell kit with piracy-enabling tools onboard. It's an open-secret though that Kodi-enabled piracy runs rampant. Mr Thompson's trial date is to be announced later today, and fans of the open-source software will do well to follow it. Best Kodi / XBMC streaming boxes 2016 http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techradar/software-news/~4/llINmQ92has

http://cdn.mos.techradar.com/art/internet/Microsoft/Edge%20Application%20Guard-470-75.jpgMicrosoft is planning to make its Edge browser much more secure for businesses with the next major update to Windows 10 (hopefully due to land early next year), which will introduce virtualisation tech to help keep workers safe from any malicious sites. This new feature is called Windows Defender Application Guard, and it basically means the Edge browser is running in a lightweight virtual machine to prevent any nastiness from reaching the host PC. So any website which isn't on an organisation's trusted list will automatically launch in an isolated browsing session (which will be clearly marked with a red icon so users know when they are in a secure session). IT admins can of course decide which sites are trusted and will launch in Edge normally. This protected session, or virtual machine, effectively puts up a barrier between the website being browsed and the host PC, so any malicious content won't be able to access local apps or storage, or attack the kernel of the system. It should keep users safe from not only viruses, but also vulnerabilities and the likes of zero-day exploits. In the spiel for the YouTube video detailing the new feature, Microsoft announced: "The threat landscape has changed significantly. 90% of phishing attacks use a browser to open and initiate an attack. "Microsoft Edge with Windows Defender Application Guard mode enabled on the Edge browser will protect enterprises from advanced attacks that can infiltrate your network and devices via the Internet, creating a safer, worry-free browsing experience for customers." Hardware supportNote that the virtualisation technology used does need to be supported by your processor, so older PCs may not be able to benefit from Application Guard – which is all tied into Microsoft's push to only support Windows 10 with future generations of CPUs. It's certainly an exciting development on the security front for browsers, and consumers may well wonder when they might benefit from such protection. At the moment, that isn't clear, but there are issues which stand in the way such as the aforementioned hardware requirements, and also things like cookies (which can't be permanently stored when using these virtual browsing sessions). We can but hope for a wider expansion of this sort of protection in the future, but initially Windows Defender Application Guard will only be available to those running the enterprise version of Windows 10. Edge should get these new capabilities in preview soon, so Windows Insiders will be able to test out the system before long, and as we mentioned Application Guard should be fully released at some point early in 2017. Microsoft also announced some other new security measures at its Ignite conference, including intelligence sharing between Windows Defender Advanced Threat Protection and Office 365 Advanced Threat Protection, aiming to bolster the strength of both of these services which keep watch for freshly emerging threats. Via: Ars Technica If you're new to Microsoft Edge, check out our guide on how to use the browserhttp://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techradar/software-news/~4/XUxsZHAOG0w