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sincity

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  1. Since the AirPods first pitched up in 2016, truly wireless headphones (with each earbud separate) have become more and more popular, and now Android is getting new features to improve how these devices connect up. New changes arriving for the Bluetooth Fast Pair feature in Android include individual battery life readings, so you can see how much battery juice you've got left in your left earbud, your right earbud, and the charging case. What's more, devices connected via Fast Pair will soon shown up in the Find My Device app on Android and the app, making it easier to track down where your missing wireless headphones have got to. Google is building a new social networkHuawei says it doesn't want to replace AndroidCheck out the first trailer for The WitcherAll of this is being brought together in a device details page inside Android, which will display the battery life of your buds, a link to the Find My Device feature, links to the headphones' own companion app, and Google Assistant settings (if the headphones are compatible). http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/4t7xCsBzjhg4rDqFyT5hKP.jpg The Bluetooth device details page is going to be rolling out with Android Q later this year, Google says, although it's not clear exactly when features like battery life indicators and Find My Device support will go live. What we do know is that you'll need a compatible device for all this to work: Google mentions that headphones from the likes of Anker, JBL, Jaybird, 1More, LG and Cleer are being added to the list, though no doubt more will be on the way. As The Verge reports, existing Fast Pair headphones will all get the new features as well, so that includes the likes of the Google Pixel Buds and the Bose QuietComfort 35 II. The battle with Apple and the iPhone is well and truly on. It's likely that both Apple and Google will launch truly wireless headphones of their own in the near future. We're expecting an AirPods refresh sometime in 2020, while the original Pixel Buds will be two years old in October – just in time for the Pixel 4 launch. Check out our Urbanista Stockholm true wireless headphones reviewVia Engadget http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techradar/digital-home/~4/9k3LYDgmGTU
  2. Sky TV deals have been a bit dry in recent months but we've certainly got one for you today that was well worth the wait. You can save 26% (£162) on the price of a Sky TV bundle with both the Entertainment base package and the Ultimate on Demand add-on. Ultimate on Demand is Sky's new box set beast. Not only does it include the excellent collection of Sky Box Sets, but also a Netflix subscription. And yes, if you already have Netflix, you can swap over your existing account, so you don't have to rebuild your watchlist or anything like that. This double whammy of services was already great value at the previous price of £12 a month as it was cheaper than the old prices of paying for Sky Box Sets as a bolt on and your own Netflix sub bought separately, but with this deal that £12 cost is now £3 a month. As for the Entertainment base package (£22 a month), this also includes your Sky Q box which allows you to record multiple live channels at once. You also get a huge number of live channels to enjoy like Sky Atlantic, Fox, Comedy Central, Sky One, SyFy, National Geographic, Sky Sports News and more. If this bundle isn't quite what your waiting for, or you want to know more about other bolt-ons, be sure to circle back to our full Sky TV deals guide. If sports is more your sort of thing, we think there could be a decent bundle coming up before the new Premiere League season kicks off next month. We'll keep you posted. http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techradar/digital-home/~4/QlRM6ujbIMI
  3. UAE telecom operator du is set to launch high-definition video calling services on its 4G LTE and 5G networks, not app dependent, by end of the year. The video calling service over 4G LTE network is known as ViLTE and over 5G is known as video over new radio. “We have successfully tested the feature on our networks and working towards obtaining all necessary approvals, internally and from TRA, to start offering the service to the customers,” Saleem Al Blooshi, Chief Technology Officer at EITC, the parent company of du, said in an exclusive to TechRadar Middle East. He said that many applications already offer ViLTE now but the difference with operators’ ViLTE is the interoperability. “You will use the application in the phone rather than a third-party downloadable app to make video calls. It is as simple as making a voice call on a phone. We hope to launch the service this year and the devices that support voice over LTE (VoLTE) now is expected to support ViLTE also. What are VoLTE and ViLTEWith VoLTE, the advantages are the high-definition voice, better clarity, faster connection time and able to browse the internet when calling and it is more of a back-end cellular technology for mobile network operators. ViLTE is an IP Multimedia Subsystem (IMS) based cellular data technology and it is considered as an extension of VoLTE technology, which means that the feature is network-dependent. VoLTE service is only offered for VoLTE certified devices by the TRA and the same applies to ViLTE. According to the Global Mobile Suppliers Association, 257 smartphones from 36 vendors globally support ViLTE capabilities, expect Apple’s iPhones, as of February 2019. TRA has banned Microsoft’s Skype, Apple’s FaceTime, Google Duo, WhatsApp voice and video calling features in the UAE as VoIP is a regulated service and interested players need to get a UAE licence or authorisation and follow the framework. However, telecom operators have tied up with over-the-top (OTT) apps such as Botim, C’Me and YzerChat to provide voice and video calls to subscribers for a monthly fee of AED 50 for mobile users and AED 100 per month for WiFi users at home. “The OTT apps such as BoTim, YzerChat and C’me have different marketing techniques but our contract will be with the customers with a monthly plan,” Al Blooshi said. Two different signalling technologiesEven though telecom operators offer third-party apps such as Botim and C'me to make voice and video calls in the UAE, Krishna Chinta, research analyst at International Data Corporation (IDC), said that ViLTE and VoIP apps work on two different signalling technologies and they follow different business models. Chinta said that ViLTE offers a superior HD voice and video quality and is billed based on the usage, which may vary from one service plan to the other while paid VoIP service, on the other hand, comes with certain usage limit per month. However, it is evolving to be a cost-effective technology for mobile network operators, and it eliminates the costs and efforts involved in maintaining a separate circuit-switched network, as it used to be the case in the 2G era. No impact on telco’s voice revenueSukhdev Singh, executive director at research and consulting services provider Kantar, said the quality and interface of the OTT apps are not that good, so ViLTE will be successful in a market like UAE and people will be ready to pay for it. To make OTT voice and video calls, he said the other end of the line also needs to have the same OTT app. “I am not sure whether a customer will be able to make international video calls and most probably, the service is expected to be made available only in the UAE. We need to wait and watch,” he said. Since it is not app dependent, he said that video calling services have more potential and uptake. “If a customer can make international video calls, then the uptake will be even higher but it is not going to impact telecom operators’ voice revenue. Video is going to be more popular among friends and families and not for business purposes and, at the same time, it is not going to cannibalise voice but it will all depend on the video quality,” he said. Chinta said that ViLTE is capable of transporting voice and video traffic as data packets over the LTE cellular network. It makes the traditional circuit-switched voice network almost redundant. Monetisable revenue opportunityFrom a telecom operator’s point of view, Chinta said that ViLTE, similar to that of VoLTE and regular mobile voice service, is capable of emerging as a core mobile communication service offering directly monetisable revenue opportunity. “In comparison, paid VoIP app service is considered as an OTT service, which generates an incremental stream of revenues similar to that of international VoIP calling cards for the telecom operators. Therefore, ViLTE is not expected to pose a direct competition to the paid VoIP service in the short- to mid-term,” he said. Sanmeet Kochhar, general manager for the Middle East at HMD Global, said that mobile video consumption rates in the Middle East and Africa region are growing quite rapidly, with some reports indicating a 90% year-on-year growth. Video traffic growth in mobile networksAccording to Ericsson's Mobility Report, video traffic in mobile networks globally is forecast to grow by around 34% annually up to 2024 to account for nearly three-quarters of mobile data traffic, from approximately 60% in 2018 due to the increase of embedded video in many online applications, growth of video-on-demand (VoD) streaming services in terms of both subscribers and viewing time per subscriber, and the perpetual evolution towards higher screen resolutions on smart devices. All Nokia smartphones come with ViLTE over 4G networks, Kochhar said. “It is thrilling to see how the region is paving the way for a more connected future,” he added. Consumers won’t flock to 5G as quickly as they did with 4GWi-Fi 6 and 5G crucial for digital transformationThe internet has become intelligent and is ready for the internet of things erahttp://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techradar/digital-home/~4/sWak8iXplmc
  4. Leaks and speculation around the Google Pixel 4 continue to ramp up ahead of an expected October launch, and the latest unofficial update comes in the form of a leaked screen protector photo showing the phone's front bezel and array of sensors. The leaked image comes courtesy of prolific tipster Ice Universe and so is more likely than not to be the real deal – though nothing is certain until Google's official unveiling. http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/myncvcZykE9D9NaQf7ZSQQ.jpg You can see on the photo that there are spaces for the dual front-facing camera, the speaker, and presumably some kind of extra facial recognition sensor. There's also a larger cut-out on the right hand side to consider as well. 5G phones won't get cheaper for a whileThe Google Pixel 4 is getting a RAM upgradeNew rumors around the iPhone 12This might well house the small radar sensor that Google is supposedly working on, and which would let you control your phone with hand gestures without touching the screen. It's one of the more intriguing Pixel 4 rumors we've heard so far. New Pixel 4 rendersWe also have new renders to show you courtesy of @OnLeaks and iGeeksBlog, showing off the smaller Pixel 4 phone. These renders are based on what's leaked out so far and what Google has already told us. The large rectangular housing for the rear camera is in evidence again, and you can see the thicker forehead bezel on the front of the phone as well. We're expecting the phone to arrive with a 5.6-inch screen. http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/xsdASYjKV7GWvWhjt5DkBk.jpg There's no doubt lots more to come when it comes to Pixel 4 leaks, with the launch date still (supposedly) three months away. We're hearing talk of advanced camera tech, better internal specs, and of course Android Q. What remains to be seen is whether the phone will feature the Snapdragon 855 Plus, like the Asus ROG Phone 2 is going to. It might be one way that Google can steal some attention back from Apple ahead of the iPhone launch in September. The Google Pixel 4 gets spotted out in the wild againVia 9to5Google http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techradar/digital-home/~4/C_G3GoEkcVU
  5. Music is pounding. Neon lights are flashing all around me. I duck, dodge, and side-step, my hands lash out in every direction. But this isn’t some new martial arts fitness craze or a high-energy spin class. It’s a VR game called Beat Saber that I’m playing on the Oculus Quest headset. I’m working out in VR – and it’s fun. Launched in May 2018, Beat Saber has quickly become one of the most popular VR games. In March 2019, UploadVR reported that Beat Saber had officially sold one million copies, it’s garnered a huge online following and has even been featured on – if you’ve ever wondered how good Brie Larson is at wielding a saber, click the link to find out.What’s more, according to TechCrunch, Beat Saber isn’t just driving lots of downloads and VR headset sales. Its popularity has also played a big part in developing the new Oculus Quest’s tracking system, ensuring new tech can handle the game’s most advanced modes. Beat Saber: a dance machine from the futureThe premise of Beat Saber is simple. You have two ‘sabers’, which it feels like you’re really holding thanks to the motion controllers that come with VR headsets. You use these sabers to rhythmically slice boxes that fly toward you, in sequences of varying heights, widths and sequential complexities – think of it as like one of those dance machines you see at seafront arcades, but from the future. http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/3KhFubkL6FKuVxzGuaVaug.png Beat Saber: the boxes fly toward you so you need to make sure you hit them in the direction of the arrows. It’s not hard to see why Beat Saber’s fast-paced style of fun, colorful and futuristic gaming is not only hugely popular, but a good way to get moving. “For many, Beat Saber has become a daily fitness routine" Michaela Dvorak, Head of Marketing at VR studio Beat Games, the company behind Beat Saber, tells TechRadar. “People are sharing with us their pictures before and after they started playing Beat Saber and results are insane – many people have lost more than 20-30 pounds since the game released.” Although Beat Saber has become a fun way to work out, that wasn’t the original aim. “To be honest, the game wasn't created with a fitness intention. Jan, the Lead Developer of Beat Saber, simply wanted to create a new rhythm game which was fun to play,” Dvorak explains. However, soon after the game was launched people wrote to the team to tell them it was already helping them to feel fitter and lose weight. The transformation stories are impressive, but what Beat Saber seems to do the best is make fitness fun. http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/3MjKxmCCkTBuTvUBv5q3pk.png You can play different levels of difficulty with different music tracks and different colours. “We began to fully realise the fitness potential of Beat Saber soon after the release when players started to post pictures with their sweaty faces and comments like these: ‘Hey Beat Saber team, your game tricked me into working out! How dare you!” Dvorak tells us. “People who were never too much into working out found out they can create a healthy daily routine with Beat Saber,” Dvorak says. It’s easy to see why VR fitness games appeal to those who may be put off by gyms or fitness classes – you can participate from the comfort of your own home, go at your own pace and there’s no judgement. For these same reasons, Dvorak explains that Beat Saber has also become popular among people who are slowly trying to overcome injuries or health problems. BoxVR: step into the virtual boxing ringBox VR is another physically-focused VR game, but unlike Beat Saber, it was created with fitness very much in mind and offers workouts designed by fitness instructors. When you begin the game, you see cues travelling towards you that you ‘hit’ in a number of different ways, whether that’s with hooks, crosses, jabs and uppercuts – there’s also options to add squats and dodges too. The team at BoxVR shared similar stories. “We’ve heard of some pretty remarkable results from people using BoxVR to get fit and lose weight, ” Sameer Baroova, Co-Founder of FitXR, the creator of BoxVR tells us. “People say how much fun they are having and this is what’s great about VR, immersion helps you get into a state of flow and before you realize it you’ve just done a 30 minute workout.” http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/vs9aQxjLJzxvKF4zhbXXVA.png BoxVR. Gloves up! Different visual cues fly toward you and you need to make sure you punch, squat and duck. Baroova tells us about a player called Sims Odom who had stopped exercising after heart surgery and contacted the team with some great news. “In the first six weeks I lost 15 pounds and went from a tight-fitting 38 waist to a loose 36!” Sims told the BoxVR team in an interview. “Better yet, I haven’t had a heart palpitation since I started playing BoxVR – they’re literally gone. My muscles are more toned, I feel less irritable, and the mental fog has lifted.” BoxVR also appeals to those who may be put off by traditional fitness venues, but who want a fun way to work out from home. “What’s equally rewarding for us is when we hear of people who have previously not exercised before or who have previously found exercising a chore who have discovered BoxVR and are now using it regularly to help keep in shape,” Baroova tells us. How to stay safe during VR workoutsOne of the most obvious considerations when it comes to VR fitness is staying safe. VR is a new medium for many people and, because of that, there are different dangers to bear in mind – the main one being your senses are immersed in the virtual environment and not the real one. “We want to make sure people will have enough space around them when playing,” Dvorak tells us. “But also, they need to approach playing as a form of high physical activity and act like they are working out – stretch muscles, drink enough water, rest regularly. It is very important to keep this in mind.” Beat Saber and BoxVR both show users health and safety warnings before playing, which we’d always recommend you read. But there’s only so much developers can do – you need to consider how you use VR in your home. For example, you need to make sure you have enough space, remove obstacles, be careful when you take a headset off and ensure you’ve stretched beforehand so you don’t pull a muscle or hurt yourself when you have lots of Beat Saber boxes whizzing at your face. http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/LZfuJDyxT54iLa4dzJmSJJ.png Different levels within BoxVR have different environments – check out the calorie counter in case losing weight is your main goal. The future of VR-powered fitnessUsing VR technology to power workouts isn’t new. A number of high-end fitness companies have already integrated VR headsets into their offerings. One of the most recent comes from BlackBox VR, a VR gym concept that would require you to go to a boutique gym venue and use VR headsets when you get there to shake-up your exercise routine. However, the appeal of games like Beat Saber and BoxVR is that anyone with a VR headset can play them from their own home. This is appealing for lots of reasons, whether you’re recovering from an injury, feel anxious at a gym or just don’t have enough time to get to a fitness class. It’s also even more accessible now that VR headsets are becoming a little cheaper, require less equipment and offer more mobile experiences. Both Beat Saber and BoxVR told us that designing for the Oculus Quest, which was launched in May 2019, has given them even more creative freedom. “The Oculus Quest is ideal in that it’s the first untethered device and I think we’ll see more of these over time,” Baroova tells us. “VR headsets will also become even smaller, lighter and more portable, like the Quest, which of course will benefit fitness games.” What does the future of VR fitness hold? Beat Games hopes to add more fitness features to future versions of the game now the team knows how important that element has become, including a burned calories counter, a special fitness music pack or even a collaboration with a fitness tracker company. http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/7v6uCqgQ9ZVsRHSYgvnKUP.png The BoxVR home screen already features a wide selection of classes – in the future, there’ll be more, and not just boxing classes. Similarly, Baroova tells us that the option to sync with fitness trackers may soon come to BoxVR, as well as more integration with instructors, different exercises and the option to add weights to your workouts to make them more challenging. “The only problem on our end is time, we have too many ideas but the team is very busy,” Dvorak says. “We get messages from people sending us tips for new fitness features or requesting their favorite fitness tracks for the game. This is a developer's dream. Create a game which has such a huge impact on people's lives all around the world." Best Oculus Quest games 2019: the must-play VR titles you don’t want to misshttp://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techradar/digital-home/~4/-L8Aj-oFUNU
  6. Welcome to fight night! It's time for Saturday night boxing from Sin City and the legendary Manny Pacquiao is set to return to the ring for a showdown with undefeated Super WBA Welterweight Champion Keith Thurman. It's one of the most eagerly anticipated fights of the year so far, and you can watch it all with our guide to getting a Pacquiao vs Thurman live stream. Future Hall-of Fame inductee Pacquiao may now be the wrong side of 40, but recent wins confirm him as a relevant and explosive boxer at this weight. Meanwhile the speed and power of Thurman makes him arguably the most naturally talented boxer in a hugely competitive division. Pacquiao (61-7-2, 39 KOs) comes into tonight's fight off the back of an impressive points decision victory over Adrien Broner back in January which saw Pac Man defend his WBA (regular) welterweight title. Thurman's (29-0, 22 KOs) last appearance in the ring also came in January with a majority decision over Josesito Lopez. It was an understandably rusty display for Thurman, as it marked the end of a near-two-year layoff for the American thanks to injuries. Pacquiao is no stranger to giving up height and reach, and his opponent tonight will again hold the advantage in both attributes, but it's Thurman's speed and power that will be worrying the veteran who is ten years his senior. To catch everything online, you've come to the right place. Read on to find out how to stream Pacquiao vs Thurman live anywhere in the world. Motor racing fan? Find out how to get an F1 live stream no matter where you arehttp://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/VgyagGS9HpAEPUQtUJBfrg.jpg Watch a Pacquiao vs Thurman live stream from outside your countryKeep scrolling to see how to watch the boxing in the US, Canada, UK and Australia . But if you're a resident of one of those countries - or any other, for that matter - who is worried about being away from your country and missing your domestic coverage of the Pacquiao vs Thurman fight, then fear not, there's a way to watch that doesn't involve trying to find a grainy, illegal feed on Reddit or such like. http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/x4WvmjGdnEUCFeqhMUrnWo.jpg How to watch Pacquiao vs Thurman in the UShttp://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/jgvvohCEmS99W9XuRfJMSo.jpg Watch Pacquiao vs Thurman in Canada with a live streamhttp://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/SFNJ5LrHn6npyWTKVdbpWo.jpg How to live stream Pacquiao vs Thurman in the UKhttp://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/D39crXd3gob7KPsE3LAFUo.jpg Live stream Manny Pacquiao vs Keith Thurman in Australiahttp://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/ebGZgkd4qVX7mUuvz3WNkH.jpg http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techradar/digital-home/~4/T3c_LtFw1gk
  7. There's loads on the line tonight at the O2 in London as Britain's Dillian Whyte takes on Colombia's Oscar Rivas. Both the WBC interim heavyweight title and a future crack at champion Deontay Wilder as mandatory challenger are the spoils for the victor in what looks set to be an explosive showdown. You can live stream the Whyte vs Rivas fight and its undercard using our guide below. Whyte has had a frustrating wait to get his dream title fight, having been ranked as the top contender by the WBC since November 2017. A win tonight will earn him the big money bout he's been craving for so long. Whyte comes into tonight's tear up with nine straight wins under his belt - the most recent coming against his fellow Brit rival Dereck Chisora in December. He certainly hasn't taken the easy option with his opponent tonight - Oscar 'Kaboom' Rivas, a 32-year-old Colombian who usually fights out of Canada, has an impeccable 26-0 (18 KOs) professional record. His past conquests include Andy Ruiz Jr, the recent shock victor over Anthony Joshua. There's a pretty strong undercard to get things nicely warmed up as well, with veteran Brit heavyweight Dereck Chisora taking on the equally unpredictable Artur Szpilka from Poland. Read on to find out how to live stream Whyte vs Rivas boxing from absolutely anywhere. Live stream Whyte vs Rivas from outside your country In the US, Canada (where DAZN has you sorted) or UK tonight? Then scroll just a little further down this page and we'll tell you who's broadcasting the boxing from where you are. But if you're abroad this weekend then you'll need another way to watch and avoid possible geo-blocking. That's where using a VPN comes in. http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/B9XNGCRYNHKJzN5zVfTMje.jpg How to watch the Whyte vs Rivas fight: UK streamhttp://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/x4WvmjGdnEUCFeqhMUrnWo.jpg How to watch Whyte vs Rivas: US live streamhttp://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/jgvvohCEmS99W9XuRfJMSo.jpg How to watch a Whyte vs Rivas live stream in Canada for FREEhttp://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/D39crXd3gob7KPsE3LAFUo.jpg How to watch the fight in Australiahttp://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/ebGZgkd4qVX7mUuvz3WNkH.jpg http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techradar/digital-home/~4/WfrSH4ACOek
  8. Walmart's 'The Big Save' sale has been extended through the weekend, and you can find killer deals on electronics, home items, appliances, and more. You can also find a rare discount on the latest model Apple AirPods. Walmart has the Apple AirPods and charging case on sale for $144.99. That's a $14 discount and the best price we've found for 2nd generation AirPods. Walmart also has the Apple AirPods with the Wireless Charging Case on sale for $179. The Apple AirPods come with a charging case that offers 20 hours of battery life and up to three hours of talk time on a single charge. Unlike the previous model, the 2019 AirPods feature an H1 headphone chip that provides fast pairing and seamless connectivity. The H1 chip also allows you to use your voice to ask Siri questions. You can switch songs, turn the volume up and even place calls completely hands-free. Discounts for AirPods are extremely rare, and Walmart's summer sale ends tomorrow. This might be your last chance to snag a pair of discounted AirPods before Black Friday. Apple AirPod deals:You can also see more of the best Walmart sales, which include price cuts on TVs, laptops, appliances and more. See more Apple AirPod deals with the cheapest AirPod prices, sales and deals around right now too. http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techradar/digital-home/~4/0Jo-5tfTPg8
  9. We're not entirely sure what Huawei is working on deep inside its software labs – Ark OS, possibly, or Harmony OS – but the company says the operating system it's building is being designed for industrial use rather than as a direct Android replacement. That's as per the state-backed Xinhua news agency, which reports a Huawei executive insisting that Android will continue to run on Android phones for the foreseeable future. Huawei senior Vice President Catherine Chen told the media that the operating system – which also goes by the name Hongmeng – is "not for smartphones" and has far more lines of code than would be needed for consumer mobile devices. We're impressed by the Huawei P30 ProThe US Huawei ban looks set to be relaxedMore leaks of the Google Pixel 4 XLThe comments need to be taken in a wider context though: Huawei representatives have previously said that the Chinese tech giant is indeed working on a replacement for Android. That might be true as well, of course, even if what we know as Hongmeng or Ark or Harmony isn't it. The waiting gameIf you're a little confused about where Huawei is heading with this, don't worry, because you're not alone. This is all playing out against the backdrop of Huawei's strained ties with the US, with the situation – and the public narrative – changing week by week. Chen is reported as saying that Hongmeng has been in the works for years – something we already knew – and we had been lead to believe the OS might cover laptops and wearables as well as mobile phones. Not so, according to Chen's latest comments, which may be intended to smooth over relationships between Huawei and Google in the light of a possible easing of restrictions. The two companies have enjoyed a strong partnership in the past, and it seems Huawei would much prefer to stick with Android if it has the chance to do so. We can only wait and see what happens with Huawei's access to US software and the operating system it runs on its phones. The next flagship due to arrive from the Huawei stable is the Huawei Mate 30 and Huawei Mate 30 Pro, expected around October time. Everything we know about the US ban and Huawei at the momenthttp://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techradar/digital-home/~4/GoUQVq7TjVU
  10. It’s rare when the extra settings and options available in any car are so numerous it takes an afternoon to test them all. With the 2019 Ford Mustang Shelby GT350 performance car, I had to find a private road and test out a series of Track Apps, some of which are so fun to use I retested them a few times. It’s a sign of how further customization in cars will work in the future, especially the current age of highly connected cars that go far beyond the basics. One of the 'non-basic' features that impressed me the most had to do with the gauges. Muscle cars from Dodge and others do a good job of providing data about G-force, oil temp, and the turbo-charge PSI (pounds per square inch). You can use these to monitor the car but more importantly to see how far you can push the performance car on a track. Testing and trackingIn the Shelby GT350, it’s a bit astounding. I used one gauge for the voltage, cylinder head temp, inlet air temp, air/fuel ratio, and engine oil temp. I’ve never seen so many gauges, all displayed in the instrument cluster above the steering wheel so you can keep your eyes on the road. I tested all of them on the private road, watching the gauge level levels closely. Next, I tested a feature called 'line lock' that locks the front brakes only. Since the GT350 is a rear-wheel drive car, you can imagine there’s some tire spin. It helps push off the starting block and creates some smoke if you race the engine too long (I avoided that). A lap timer goes beyond what I’ve seen in other muscle cars. For example, there are three timers available so you can use them one after the other instead of resetting a single timer each test. I won’t say I was pushing the car too hard on a country road, yet it was fun to have this level of detail to monitor and track my success over time. In the Track Apps, there’s a status screen that shows all of the settings you’ve selected, including whether you have disabled traction control, the option you selected for the suspension, and whether launch control is available. Launch control is a way to set the car for the best possible launch to test a lap, locking the brakes and revving the engine for you. Honestly, that’s just the beginning. I found a series of timers for a quarter mile and half-mile, brake tests, and just about any other timer you can think of using. For me, this level of detail matches up nicely with how someone might use the GT350 on a track. In my area, that’s a very real possibility. It’s possible to take performance cars like the Shelby to local tracks and do some spirited driving tests. Beyond the track I was more interested in how the gauges point to a future where every driver has more information available. When we don’t have to watch the road as closely and the vehicle is driving for us, we might care about monitoring things like the miles driven on the current set of tires, or the total miles driven on a highway versus city roads. We might want to monitor the fuel economy for a given area or how traffic congestion and street lights impacted our MPG. More than that, as I’ve been predicting for a while, cars will eventually let us customize all of the gauges as though the dash was a Windows computer. We could mix and match gauges, run analytics on the car, and customize the interface the way we want. I’m looking forward to that 'home brew' stage of autonomous driving and it can’t come fast enough. On The Road is TechRadar's regular look at the futuristic tech in today's hottest cars. John Brandon, a journalist who's been writing about cars for 12 years, puts a new car and its cutting-edge tech through the paces every week. One goal: To find out which new technologies will lead us to fully self-driving cars. http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techradar/digital-home/~4/GEkAqCRQYq8
  11. CD Projekt Red is trying to appeal to those who want to put the ‘punk’ in Cyberpunk 2077 with the option of playing in 'hardcore' mode. In an interview with Wccftech, CD Projekt Red’s Alvin Liu discussed hardcore mode, revealing that it will get rid of the game’s UI to provide a “real challenge” for players. That means there’ll be no markers or indicators telling you where things are or what level of enemy you’re going up against. It’s real immersion in Night City and the desert beyond with the potential for real frustration. Of course, it’s not just the hardcore players that are being catered to in Cyberpunk 2077; Liu revealed that there will also be modes for those who are less experienced with first person games and shooters and wish to enjoy a more laidback experience. Something for everyone“If you want to play more casually for the story and maybe you’re not experienced with shooters, which was a real big concern for us. We want to tell a story and maybe you’re a big fan of The Witcher and you’re not comfortable playing a shooter, we have settings available for that.” Liu explains that as well as settings for less experienced players, there will also be weapons. The smart gun, for example, will help players to aim. Though it comes at the cost of the smart gun being a weaker and slower weapon. It will, however, be a good start for those looking to get to grips with the aiming system. For those unfamiliar with first person games, there’s also going to be a Field of View slider. Making more of the game world visible through the eyes of the avatar should alleviate that sense of tunnel vision that comes from trading third person view for first person and the potential for nausea this can cause some players. Between its various accessibility settings, branching story, optional romances and the ability to play without killing any other characters it’s clear that CD Projekt Red is putting a heavy emphasis on player choice in Cyberpunk 2077. Cyberpunk 2077 will release on PS4, Xbox One and PC on April 16. Everything you need to know about Cyberpunk 2077http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techradar/digital-home/~4/RLrOAxAIAE4
  12. This year's Rugby Championship looks set to serve as an intriguing precursor to the forthcoming World Cup in Japan, with Australia, New Zealand, South Africa and Argentina once again lock horns for bragging rights across the southern hemisphere. The 2019 instalment of the tournament, which has been truncated to just three rounds because of the World Cup, kicks off with a clash between the Springboks and Wallabies in Johannesburg on Saturday July 21. Defending champions New Zealand kick off their campaign against Los Pumas in Buenos Aires. The All Blacks, as ever, are favourites as they look to claim what would be their fourth successive title. Nevertheless, with the tournament reduced to three rounds the winner could easily spring from any of the four nations. We're in for a fascinating few weeks of Test rugby so keep scrolling down to see how you can catch a live stream of the 2019 Rugby Championships. http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/VgyagGS9HpAEPUQtUJBfrg.jpg Use a VPN to watch the Rugby Championship from outside your countryIf you're abroad and in a country that's not showing the Rugby Championship, or if you're not by a TV come kick-off time for those games – don't sweat. With numerous online channels and, crucially, the option of a VPN service, you can tune into each fixture no matter where you are in the world. And best of all, it's really easy to do: http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/D39crXd3gob7KPsE3LAFUo.jpg How to live stream the Rugby Championship in Australiahttp://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/kZWNrTtXZs7Ep2c7452KSo.jpg How to watch the Rugby Championship 2019 in New Zealandhttp://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/YqCy4oJ4uyf7b97nYhXNCY.jpg How to live stream the Rugby Championship in South Africahttp://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/B9XNGCRYNHKJzN5zVfTMje.jpg How to stream the Rugby Championship 2019 live in the UK http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/x4WvmjGdnEUCFeqhMUrnWo.jpg How to watch the Rugby Championship: US live streamshttp://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/jgvvohCEmS99W9XuRfJMSo.jpg How to live stream the Rugby Championship 2019 in Canadahttp://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/ebGZgkd4qVX7mUuvz3WNkH.jpg http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techradar/digital-home/~4/3Evi7vzuAGs
  13. It’s not long until Google Stadia’s launch in November 2019 and to clear up some of the uncertainties around what the streaming service will offer, product director, Andrey Doronichev, has taken to Reddit for an AMA. One of the biggest misunderstandings cleared up in the course of the questioning is whether or not the Google Stadia Pro subscription is some kind of ‘Netflix for Games’, as the Google Stadia website makes reference to to “an ever-expanding library of free games.” It absolutely isn’t. “A closer comparison would be like Xbox Live Gold or PlayStation Plus,” Doronichev explains, “The Pro subscribers get 4K/HDR streaming, 5.1 sound, exclusive discounts and access to some free games. Roughly one free game per month give or take. Starting with Destiny 2 (yay!).” Not NetflixIf Pro subscribers want any other games on top of the free monthly game, they’ll pay full price for them on top of their £8.99/$9.99 per month subscription, although there will be some Stadia Pro exclusive discounts to sweeten the deal. If you unsubscribe and then re-subscribe to Pro later, you’ll regain access to the free games you claimed during your subscription but you’ll have missed out on the games that were free when you were unsubscribed. So, if you want that free Destiny 2 access you better make sure you’re there at launch. If you’re looking to hold out for Stadia Base, the free version of the service launching in 2020, don’t, unsurprisingly, expect any free games or exclusive discounts. When the Stadia Pro launches this year, all of the service’s basic functionalities, including the game store, the ability to play across multiple devices and some built-in social features, will be up and running. But there is a post-launch pipeline for more features. In the future, for example, Google will be looking to add support for more devices, including smartphones (the Pixel 3 and Pixel 3a will be the only phones supported at launch) and streaming boxes. It’s also worth noting that Stadia controllers won’t work with Bluetooth headsets at launch. There will be a workaround where players using a Google Chrome browser or a Pixel 3 phone will be able to connect their headset to their laptop or phone instead. Otherwise, there’s still a headphone jack on the controller for wired headsets until that Bluetooth support expands. Despite this AMA, there are still some questions around Google Stadia across the gaming community. But Google is attempting to make it clear that it’s committed to game streaming in the long term and to appeal to those looking for the freedom of playing the latest games without downloads, updates or hardware restrictions. Everything you need to know about Google Stadiahttp://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techradar/digital-home/~4/2t4WvAmKutE
  14. Feast your eyes on this, Witcher fans: Netflix has pushed out the first trailer for the upcoming TV show that's based on the popular stories by Andrzej Sapkowski (and that have also spawned a classic series of games), So what have we got here? Some monsters, some dramatic special effects, some impressive looking locations, and some pretty brooding looks by leading man Henry Cavill (of Superman and Mission: Impossible fame). We've been waiting for the TV series to appear for a couple of years now and our patience is going to be rewarded very soon – there's no official launch date for the show, but Netflix has confirmed it'll be streaming before the end of the year. Check out another clip of The WitcherThe best movies currently on NetflixNetflix is testing a mobile-only streaming planOther stars you can expect to see on screen are Freya Allan playing Ciri, Anya Chalotra playing Yennefer, and Anna Shaffer playing Triss Merigold. Check out the trailer in all its glory below. Showrunner Lauren Schmidt Hissrich and her team look to have crafted a rich and immersive fantasy world for The Witcher to play out in – although trailers can be deceiving, we'd say this one looks very promising. Sapkowski is on board as a creative consultant, so we're expecting the show to follow the short stories and novel fairly closely. The trailer suggests the origin stories of Ciri and Yennefer are going to be crucial to the action. And action there will be it seems – this two-minute clip shows our protagonist facing off against a variety of foes in a variety of different forms. Stick around to the end for perhaps the most dramatic shot of the trailer. If you're completely new to the Witcher franchise, it centers on the adventures of mutated monster hunter Geralt of Rivia (played by Cavill). The original books have already been adapted into a Polish television series. The Witcher 3 really is coming to Nintendo Switch somehowhttp://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techradar/digital-home/~4/0LHYTMkrSjw
  15. The Google Pixel 4 leaks are coming faster and faster, and there’s a new one for the larger Google Pixel 4 XL today allegedly showing the upcoming smartphone from the top, bottom and side to side – almost a complete picture of the device. This leak comes courtesy of Twitter user Sudhanshu Ambhore (@sudhanshu1414) and originally spotted by MSPowerUser. The tweets purport to show the Pixel 4 XL within and beside transparent cases. This leak lines up with previous ones ... mostly. It does indeed show off a square triple-camera housing in the upper left of the back – a serious departure for the single-rear-lens Google Pixel line – and much thinner side bezels, as well as an apparent ditching of the notch by returning to a simple blacked-out top bezel. The differences? The previous Google Pixel 4 XL leak – our first potential look at the phone – showed off dual front-facing cameras clustered to the left of a central speaker. The new leak has them on either side of presumably where a central speaker would be (there isn’t one visible in the render). Plus, there’s an extra small aperture to the right of the rear camera’s flashlight, too small to be a lens, that could be a "spectral sensor" for low-light photography, PhoneArena theorizes. They’re intriguing divergences since we can only speculate which one is closer to the truth, especially since Google’s own teasingly cropped reveal of the Google Pixel 4 doesn’t help either case. So, what does the new leak show?Aside from supporting the overall shape and format we’ve seen in previous leaks, the new angles give us an idea of what features the Google Pixel 4 XL will – and will not – include. Obviously, Google’s own reveal lacked a rear-mounted fingerprint sensor, so we could safely predict that both versions of the new phone will include an in-screen fingerprint sensor; all the cool phones are doing it this year, from the mighty Samsung Galaxy S10 to the midrange Moto Z4. The lack of a cutout on either side of the case render rules out a side-mounted fingerprint sensor. Sadly, we only see a USB-C port at the bottom, so there’s not much hope for a 3.5mm headphone jack making a comeback after it surprisingly appeared in the midrange Google Pixel 3a. The port is also flanked by two grille ports – ostensibly for speakers – which means the new flagship may not have forward-facing audio (though, it could come in stereo from the top earpiece, as the iPhone XS does). In any case, these are just preliminary renders, and a lot of details could be wrong in the final version. One thing’s for sure: your Google Pixel 4 cases are going to look funky with that big square cutout. Let's how the iPhone 11 is shaping up, shall we?http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techradar/digital-home/~4/kLB2E_tJZlo
  16. If you're looking for a killer deal on an Apple Watch, then you're in luck. Walmart's 'The Big Save' summer sale is happening now and has the Apple Watch Series 3 down to $199. That's an $80 discount and the lowest price we've found for the best-selling smartwatch. Walmart also has the Apple Watch 3 with Cellular on sale for $299. The Series 3 Apple Watch is a health-focused smartwatch that also keeps you connected with the ability to send messages, make calls, and receive notifications. The Apple Watch helps you live a healthier life by tracking activity, workouts, calories burned, and offers continuous heart rate monitoring. The swim-proof smartwatch includes GPS technology and provides an impressive battery life of up to 18 hours. The Apple Watch 4 currently retails for $349, which makes the $199 price tag on the Series 3 extremely appealing. Walmart's summer sale ends on Sunday, so if you want to snag a discounted Apple Watch, then you should act fast. Apple Watch deals:If you want your smartwatch to include LTE connectivity, Walmart also has the Apple Watch Series 3 with Cellular on sale for $299. Shop more of Walmart's best deals that are happening now on TVs, laptops, appliances, and more. Discover more Apple watch sales with the best cheap Apple Watch prices and deals that are currently available. You can learn more about series 3 smartwatch with our Apple Watch 3 review. http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techradar/digital-home/~4/7hPPv911dIQ
  17. It's one thing to manage IT infrastructure and networks, but often it's the applications that require the most attention. It's not just that there can be so many of them, but also the fact they tend to update frequently which can cause problems with software conflicts and unexpected issues with hardware. This is where application performance management (APM) software tools can really reduce the IT management burden, by providing a single platform to manage all apps rather than having to manage and trouble-shoot each one individually. This means a single dashboard from which you can manage updates, watch for conflicts, and deal with any faults or errors that may arise because of app events, data, or resource use. It also means you can get an overall view of performance making it easy and quick to not just identify any problems with apps resolve any such issues. We've therefore looked at the best in APM tools, where the software can be used not just for monitoring but also for general optimization as part of an overall IT strategy. We’ve also rounded up the best expense tracker appsWant your company or services to be added to this buyer’s guide? Please email your request to desire.athow@futurenet.com with the URL of the buying guide in the subject line.http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/iuUD6ZqJMUALjpYjK8D626.jpg Image credit: Datadog Datadog APM is a SaaS-based platform for monitoring, troubleshooting, and optimizing applications. It does this through a number of features, not least by providing full-stack visibility, which allows customers to collect, search, and analyze traces across their full infrastructure, whether cloud-based, servers, or applications. This can be done via a global overview which can be drilled down to a specific line of code, using a combination of analytics and software metrics. Real-time interactive dashboards provide the mapping of data services and clusters, with one-click navigation allowing processes to be isolated. These can be customized according to need, such as by using drag-and-drop performance dashboards, or automated using APIs, to provide performance alerts. Datadog's APM can be deployed on most popular libraries and frameworks with a single command, providing instant monitoring. It also supports the OpenTracing protocols for applications and framework developers for distributed vendor-neutral tracing. Pricing for the APM with distributed tracing begins at $36 per host per month for up to one million events per host, but is discounted to $31 if paid annually. For an extra fee you can include the trace search and analytics add-on, which costs $1.52 per million APM events if paid monthly, but is discounted to $1.27 if paid annually. You can sign up to Datadog APM herehttp://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/QPYBsYSqJeLbnfK9oW2N4C.jpg Image credit: Loupe Loupe is an effective, feature-packed application performance management tool. Aimed at enterprises and IT administrators, this solution lets you trace events, performance and other metrics to work out the causes of issues affecting software negatively. A good APM solution will help you find problems with apps straight away, and if you’ve got to hunt through a sprawling list of potential issues, then it’s going to be hard to do that. However, Loupe automatically groups log events so you can find and address performance issues with a minimum of fuss. The system also gives you a visual understanding of your application usage and offers insights into bottlenecks that can subsequently be tackled. It’s easy to get up and running with this system, as you don’t have to install anything onto your servers – the setup process is very nicely streamlined. Loupe offers a free trial, but no free tier. You can sign up for Loupe herehttp://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/LUFneZVvk6n3GNUt2jK4sE.jpg Image credit: Kaseya Plenty of businesses use the cloud along with on-premise systems, and when you have a bunch of different apps – from cloud through hybrid to traditional software installations – monitoring them all can be very difficult. Traverse Monitoring is an APM tool that aims to tackle these sort of scenarios. It can automatically discover apps, networks, servers and systems, meaning you don’t have to dedicate time in order to configure things manually. Once it’s set up and running, Traverse will monitor each device and app to determine if there are any issues, including on-premise, cloud and hybrid technology. If a problem is identified, it’ll fire up a troubleshooting process and try to resolve it before your business is affected. You can also back up and restore changes across your applications, and you’re sent predictive analytics concerning their overall performance. You can sign up for Kaseya Traverse herehttp://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/iYNNkty9ZbpUjLd75hvWxG.jpg Image credit: Stackify If you’re a developer or have a team of software engineers working within your company, then it’s obviously quite common to come across performance issues and other bugs. Stackify Retrace is a targeted ‘devAPM’ system, giving development professionals the tools they need to find and address problems effectively. The platform alerts developers if any issues and bugs have been found, and it can be used to improve performance levels across test and production servers. Retrace has been designed so that it provides visibility, data and actionable insights into app performance and faults. When issues arise, alerts are sent to a choice of destinations, including via email, SMS, or Slack. There’s a centralized dashboard that displays code performance and metrics, including errors and logs. Stackify can also be used with most common app stacks, and this is a highly scalable SaaS solution, so it’s easy to install and use. Pricing is $50 (£38) per month per server. You can sign up for Stackify Retrace herehttp://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/jnkcepyPUPYz8SWdspQRWK.jpg Image credit: ManageEngine Applications Manager from ManageEngine is a tool which does exactly what it says on the tin. It’s being marketed as an enterprise-ready, usable and affordable APM. Businesses are provided with everything they need to ensure critical applications and systems are always in perfect working order. This solution can find and address issues involving the end user, applications and important components such as databases, servers, ERP packages, web services, cloud platforms and virtual systems. Applications Manager works with a single install and allows you to address issues easily, plus when looking further down the road, it’s highly scalable – indeed, it can scale to up to 50,000 applications. Pricing is not detailed on the website. You can sign up for Applications Manager herehttp://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/h3y6m3jtynpHTExvzPB2xW.jpg Image credit: Pixabay Other APM options to considerThere are a number of other vendors leading the way with APM solutions. Here we'll provide a few more options for you to consider as part of your IT infrastructure management. LogicMonitor offers automated hybrid infrastructure monitoring and analytics, which means it can automatically monitor all devices, or work with a preconfigured set of rules for the tools you use. LogicMonitor's platform works with servers, cloud, VMs, storage, networks, and apps, as well as websites. In short, it offers a pretty comprehensive set of options for monitoring a wide range of necessary applications. Dynatrace looks to simplify complexities in cloud management, not least with the automated monitoring of dynamic microservices. It makes it easy to visualize and monitor all services and provide alerts for events, not least unexpected access to files and information. As a platform it really is very comprehensive in being able to identify problems and help staff rectify them, even when such issues have previously gone unnoticed or have been difficult to pin down. New Relic APM monitoring uses clear visualization to help identify performance levels, bottlenecks, and dependencies, by offering a complete overview of your operating environment. Aside from automated processes, the charts are well-presented and make it very clear where root causes lie, making it easier to identify and fix problems. It also works with a lot of data, not just from the apps being monitored, but also key metrics from user agents to make identifying solutions to issues easier to adapt for customer needs. Microsoft System Center aims to make it easier to deploy, configure, and manage the IT infrastructure that you're monitoring. The interface is easy to use and reliable, but you may still find there's something of a learning curve as it has a broad range of software features. However, once you get to grips with those, it can be very easy to configure you own custom system and deployments. http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techradar/digital-home/~4/azdKvUsJqRQ
  18. There are many reasons to opt for the best small mouse when you’re building your new rig or upgrading your old peripherals. To start, if you’ve got small to average-sized hands, a smaller mouse will be more comfortable and less fatiguing to use. But, the best small mice are great for other things, too. If you’re a traveling or work remotely and would like to get through your busy workload at a shared workspace, having a compact mouse to effortlessly stash in your messenger bag or backpack is convenient. Not to mention, space-saving. If you’re looking for a small mouse, you’ve come to the right spot. We scoured the streets (and cyberspace) to find the best small mice you must consider for your next peripheral purchase, some of which are best for productivity, some are excellent gaming mice, all under five inches in length. And, if you’ve struck out so far in your search for the best small mouse for you, worry not. You’re sure to find one on this list. And, while we haven't had a chance to test every single mouse on this list, we used our mouse expertise to find some smaller mice that should absolutely satisfy your needs. http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/sVHMtKiSNHstUVSyWuTYL8.jpg Claw grip gamers will love this diminutive peripheral, especially if they’ve got smaller hands. The Cooler Master MasterMouse MM520 is very feature-rich for a gaming mouse that’s under $50, and rightly so. With seven programmable buttons, up to 12,000 DPI, four On-the-Fly DPI Adjustment profiles, OMRON switches rated for 20 million clicks and three RGB lighting zones that are fully programmable, you’re definitely more than getting your money’s worth. And, that is why this best small mouse is one of our favorite gaming mice. At that price, however, just don’t expect this mouse to have the most rigid build quality. Read the full review: Cooler Master MasterMouse MM520 http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/ezDjKhXCLiu4KM3BmJACbS.jpg Are wireless mice even good for gaming? If there’s low enough latency, then it will definitely work. And, in the Corsair Harpoon RGB Wireless’ case, that’s not the only gaming-friendly feature. Also among the best gaming mice we’ve ever tested, this small mouse delivers top-notch performance at a very accessible price tag. It also comes with 10,000 DPI, as well as many of the bells and whistles you could want, from RGB lighting and six fully programmable buttons to up to 60 hours of battery life. If the wireless thing just isn’t cutting it for you, wired connectivity is also on hand. Read the full review: Corsair Harpoon Wireless http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/GsN4HsfRhg9NDQLshsjM2J.jpg Because of Logitech’s knack for creating some of the most ingenious peripherals on the market, it’s hardly a surprise that the Swiss manufacturer is topping our best small mouse list with its MX Anywhere 2S. This petite pointer, which also gets our vote as one of the best mice, is barely 4 inches in size, which is why Logitech is touting it as an on-the-go device, but there’s a lot more to this mouse than its compact body. For efficient multi-tasking and seamless workflows, the MX Anywhere 2S utilizes Logitech flow so you can move across three computers without much fuss. It also offers hyper-fast scrolling, tracks on any surface, and only needs three minutes of charging for a full day’s use. Best of all, it’s sculpted beautifully, like an adorable robot mouse that you’d want to be best friends with. Unfortunately, we haven't had a chance to test the Logitech MX Anywhere 2S, but looking at the spec sheet, we're sure this is the best small mouse you can buy today. http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/7JoWEsomajF66EiSreLiLn.jpeg If you’ve read some of our best Mac reviews, we’re pretty sure you know how we feel about Apple’s Magic Mouse and its follow up, Magic Mouse 2. These svelte peripherals are the best companions to your macOS machine. In fact, they’re the best small mouse for your MacBook Pro or MacBook Air. Among its many features are the multi-touch surface so you can swipe and scroll as if you’re using a touchscreen, and the wireless functionality so you won’t be held back by those pesky cables. This successor also tracks easier, moves smoother and pairs more effortlessly with your Mac. And, at under an inch thick, it’ll slip easily wherever you want to put it, including your shirt pocket. http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/jn5NkKxMqCRsEbpR37tpQL.jpg Prefer working at your favorite coffee shop so you can caffeinate yourself all day? Logitech’s M330 Silent Plus didn’t just make the cut because of its small body at 4.15 inches long and 2.67 inches wide. It made this list because it’s the best small mouse we’ve found that’s near silent, so much so that it got the Quiet Mark certification from the UK Noise Abatement Society. Mind you, it’s not just its left and right buttons that are quiet (while still offering that satisfying tactile feel). It’ll also quietly glide over the surface its on, and that scroll wheel will roll smoothly and silently too. Other features to love include its energy-saving functionality, wireless connection and Logitech’s Advanced Optical Tracking for precise movements. We don't have a full review of the Logitech M330 Silent Plus, but we can absolutely tell that it deserves a spot on this list. http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/25hTxNJVyWT6g65RgQrqSd.jpg The Microsoft Bluetooth Mobile Mouse 3600 isn’t just the best small mouse for a mobile lifestyle, but it’s also extremely comfortable to use, with its beautifully sculpted design. One of the most affordable mice on this list, this tiny tracker actually has a lot to offer: from the 4-way scroll wheel that will let you navigate seamlessly and its BlueTrack technology for more precision, to the fact that it doesn’t require a transceiver to connect to your laptop or desktop computer, instead utilizing the power of Bluetooth 4.0 technology. It’s not rechargeable, but with battery life of up to 12 months, you’ll still save money. http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/sQqPUb3ZTb28kgsMKhjc4c.jpg This ace for ambidexterity is more than just affordable. It’s actually the cheapest mouse on this list at less than 20 bucks, which means flexibility all around, whatever your budget and scrolling hand is. For that, this is definitely one of the best small mice for everyone. But, there’s more to a mouse than that (or the fact that it’s small and portable): it’s also very comfortable to use, has wireless functionality and offers up to six months of battery usage. Best yet, it comes in different (read: attractive and vibrant) colors, which adds a bit of pizzazz to your boring setup. http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/Tex39gvPdFpHnJuES9DmL3.jpg If you’re looking for something that’s extra ultra-thin, then Logitech’s Ultrathin Touch Mouse T630 may just be fated to join your computer setup. The manufacturer actually designed this thin and tiny mouse for Ultrabooks. At 3.35 inches long and 0.71mm thick, it’s definitely well-deserving of its accolade as the best small mouse, especially with that gorgeous brushed metal body and silky-smooth surface. We’re fans of its touch functionality, Easy-Switch technology (to switch from one device to another) and its quick, one-minute charging time for an additional hour of use. Mind the price tag; this svelte mouse isn’t exactly cheap but, it might just be worth the money. http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/2kaeKkdr8UgQ2Ncdc4owxF.jpg In the computing scene, it’s hard to take something seriously when its touting candy-colored designs, but in Logitech Wireless Ultra Portable M187 case, we’ll happily make an exception. Small and portable, this wireless mouse comes in three different – not to mention, adorable – colors that we’re fans of: blue, teal and blossom. If you’re not, it makes for the perfect, affordable gift. Don’t let that low price tag fool you, either. This mouse is very reliable and will do an excellent job getting you through your productivity tasks. It’s not rechargeable, not at that price, but it will make that single AAA battery last for six months. http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/iB58xN37rsXBMxeews4HM8.jpg Much like the Logitech Wireless Ultra Portable M187, this mouse is very attractive. In fact, it comes in more vibrant colors – our favorite’s the purple on green one. But this highly-rated mouse has another thing going for it: it’s the smallest mouse on this list. But wait, there’s more. The Jelly Comb Slim Wireless Mouse is quiet, reliable, durable enough at over 5 million clicks and has a 15 meter range. Again, it’s not rechargeable, but it’ll make that single AAA battery last for up to 18 months. And, since you get all of that for less than $10, you can go crazy and buy all the colors you want (there’s more than 20 of them). http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techradar/digital-home/~4/9TAMz8hx29M
  19. Through all the wind and rain at the 148th Open Championship, there are some brilliant scores being posted. It's all about avoiding the cut and putting yourself in contention on Round 2. Discover who will be staying at Royal Portrush this weekend with a 2019 Open live stream of every swing. The players are continuing their hunt for the famous Claret Jug at the 148th Open Championship - the first time that the world's oldest golf major has been held in Northern Ireland in almost 70 years. Among the bogeys, double bogeys and whatever it was that David Duval took, there's been some good scoring too. J.B. Holmes shot 66 to take clubhouse lead and the awesome world number one Brooks Koepka is clear favourite to win at Betfair now after going three under. Spaniards Jon Rahm and Sergio Garcia had good days too, with plenty of British interest from Tommy Fleetwood and Tyrrell Hatton. After Francesco Molinari's incredible win at Carnoustie in 2018, the world's best golfers will head to Portrush in Northern Ireland for the 148th edition of golf's oldest major tournament. Englishman Max Faulkner took home the Claret Jug at Royal Portrush last time it was here 68 years ago and the likes of Justin Rose, Tommy Fleetwood and Ian Poulter will all be looking to end the English drought at the Open Championship this time around. If you don't yet know what your 2019 Open live stream options are, then keep on reading. It's FREE in some areas, which is great news. Cycling fan? Here's how to live stream the Tour de France for FREEhttp://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/VgyagGS9HpAEPUQtUJBfrg.jpg Live stream golf coverage for free at TheOpen.comThe Open Championship is following the likes of the Masters and US Open, which means you can get a free live stream at TheOpen.com. Assuming it's the same as last year, it should be available globally - fantastic news! It will be showing action from featured groups - which groups those are we don't yet know - and featured holes (it was 8, 9 and 10 last year). There's even audio commentary to go with them. That's great if you're only interested in following the players it selects for you, but not so good if you want full and proper coverage. Aside from the TheOpen.com live stream, we have more watching options below. http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/VgyagGS9HpAEPUQtUJBfrg.jpg How to get a 2019 Open live stream from outside your countryWe're going to guess that if you've landed on this page, you're going to want something more extensive than that free Open live stream described above. For you, we have full details on which networks are showing the golf in the UK, US, Canada and Australia. But try to watch your domestic Open Championship coverage while out of the country and you'll soon be faced with a block. That's because broadcasters implement a geo-restriction to stop non-nationals from watching their coverage. Fair enough, but annoying if you've paid for a pricey subscription and still want to watch without having to resort to some dodgy illegal stream you've discovered on Reddit. http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/B9XNGCRYNHKJzN5zVfTMje.jpg How to watch the Open Championship: live stream in UKhttp://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/x4WvmjGdnEUCFeqhMUrnWo.jpg How to watch the British Open golf in the USHulu with Live TV $40 per month - Hulu with Live TV includes CBS, Fox, NBC and ESPN.FuboTV $35 for the first month - FuboTV gives you the first month at a discounted rate but after that the price increases to $45 a month. The service includes CBS, Fox, NBC and the NFL Network but does not come with ESPN.PlayStation Vue From $50 per month and the ideal choice for PS4 owners thanks to its access to the likes of ESPN, NBC, Fox, Disney and other essential networks. Crank up the price and you can add the likes of Showtime and HBO, too.DirecTV Now $50 per month - DirecTV Now includes CBS, Fox, NBC, ESPN and for $5 extra you can add the NFL Network.YouTubeTV $40 per month - YouTubeTV gives you access to CBS, Fox, NBC and ESPN.If you're outside the US this weekend but want to access one of the above options, then you can use a US VPN to effectively transport your computer, phone or tablet's IP back to a US location. Improve your game with one of these best golf watches for 2019http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/VgyagGS9HpAEPUQtUJBfrg.jpg http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/jgvvohCEmS99W9XuRfJMSo.jpg How to live stream Open golf in Canadahttp://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/D39crXd3gob7KPsE3LAFUo.jpg How to get an Open live stream in AustraliaWhere is the 2019 Open Championship?The Open returns to Northern Ireland after 68 years with the world’s greatest players competing for the Claret Jug over the Dunluce Links at Royal Portrush. Who are the favourites for the 2019 Open?Playing in his home country, Rory McIlroy is looking for his second Open Championship and fifth career major victory and leads the betting with Betfair. Brooks Koepka, who is yet to lift the Claret Jug and fellow American Dustin Johnson follow McIlroy, with Jon Rahm and three-time Open Championship winner Tiger Woods also well backed. How much does the winner of the Open Championship get?While The Open ranks last among golf’s four biggest tournaments in terms of prize money, the winner still picks up a sizeable payday. There’s been a slight increase over last year’s winnings, with the prize pool has increased this year to $10.75 million (£8.56m), whilst the winner will pocket $1.935 million (£1.54m). Who qualifies for the Open?It’s the golf tournament every pro golfer wants to Its play in, but there are only 156 places available. Players can qualify in one of four ways. The most common for top-tier stars is through exemption. The top 50 players on the current Golf World Rankings all go through in this way, as do the top 10 players from the previous British Open Championship. All players who have won one of the other three majors in the previous five years also get an exemption, as do the top 30 players from previous year’s PGA Tour money list and those on the European Order of Merit. Finally, all previous Open Champions under the age of 60 also get an exemption. Players that don’t make the exemption criteria can get an invite via the Open Qualifying Series (OQS), and also via local qualifying. Finally, if the field size has not reached 156, players that have the highest rating in the official golf rankings that haven’t already qualified will get the nod. Who won the 2018 Open Championship?Francesco Molinari won the 2018 Open, which was held at Carnoustie Golf Links in Scotland. The Italian finished 8-under to earn his first major title. http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/ebGZgkd4qVX7mUuvz3WNkH.jpg http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techradar/digital-home/~4/wFqHCkHpf1o
  20. Dell's Black Friday in July event runs all month, but today is the last day of its "Mega Deals" promotion – but it's ending in style by knocking an incredible £420 off the Dell XPS 13 (2019), which in our view is the best laptop money can buy right now. That drops the price of Dell's flagship ultrabook to £999 – which is easily one of the best prices we've seen for the new laptop. If that's still a bit too expensive, then don't worry, as Dell has some other compelling deals on more affordable laptops as well. The Dell XPS 13 deal has now sold out. Check out these other great Dell XPS 13 deals: These deals end 11:59 tonight, July 19, and as we mentioned above, today marks the end of Dell's Mega Sales event – so don't hang around if you see a deal you like, as this could be your last chance! Check out the best Dell laptopshttp://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techradar/digital-home/~4/L5-beiccgjs
  21. A tournament of giant killings, dramatic finishes and great goals, the 2019 African Cup of Nations has lived up to all expectations. Tonight's final now has the makings of being a classic. And you can watch every kick from anywhere on Earth - with this dedicated Senegal vs Algeria live stream guide Senegal, who have never won the competition previously, go into the game as favourites with Betfair, having conceded just one goal in the 2019 tournament so far. While Algeria, who reached the final with a dramatic last gasp Riyad Mahrez free kick, will be aiming to win the tournament for the fist time since their triumph as hosts in 1990. Key to Senegal's march to the final has been its water-tight defence, but that solidity may have been dealt a blow. Man mountain centre-back Kalidou Koulibaly is suspended after picking up a harsh booking in their semi-final against Tunisia. Algeria have a 100% record to protect following their dramatic win over Nigeria, with only the Ivory Coast taking them beyond normal time and into penalties. Like Senegal, Algeria also have a significant absentee at the back, with steady first choice right-back Youcef Atal ruled out with a fractured collarbone. The two teams met in the group stages, with Algeria winning 1-0 thanks to a second-half Youcef Belaili strike. Algeria have proved to be something of a perennial bogey team for Senegal, having won only 4 of their 13 encounters, with their opponents edging the head-to-head with five victories. Will Liverpool forward Sadio Mane make it a perfect summer by leading Senegal to their first AFCON title to go alongside winning the Champions League, or will Algeria's Riyad Mahrez add an AFCON winners medal to his Premier League Champions one for Man City? Don't miss any of the action from today's game by reading our our Senegal vs Algeria African Cup of Nations 2019 final live stream guide below. Cycling fan? See how to get a 2019 Tour de France live streamhttp://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/VgyagGS9HpAEPUQtUJBfrg.jpg How to watch the African Cup of Nations 2019 from outside your countryBelow we have a full rundown of your watching options in different countries - check out how to watch the final in the UK, US (where Fubo can help you watch with a free trial) Canada and Australia. The problems start when you try to watch your domestic coverage online while out of the country. Give its a go...you'll quickly find your stream in geo-blocked. That's super annoying, but not unavoidable. We've found that using a Virtual Private Network - or VPN - to be a handy solution. You select a server in your home country and then watch as if you were sat back at home on your couch. http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/B9XNGCRYNHKJzN5zVfTMje.jpg How to stream Senegal vs Algeria live in the UK http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/x4WvmjGdnEUCFeqhMUrnWo.jpg How to watch a live stream of Senegal vs Algeria in the US- Discover our pick of all the US's best sports streaming sites http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/jgvvohCEmS99W9XuRfJMSo.jpg How to watch a Algeria vs Senegal live stream in Canadahttp://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/D39crXd3gob7KPsE3LAFUo.jpg How to watch a Senegal vs Algeria live stream in Australia http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/ebGZgkd4qVX7mUuvz3WNkH.jpg http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techradar/digital-home/~4/gLdEoWa5dU4
  22. Walmart's 'The Big Save' sale is happening now and it's a fantastic time to find massive savings on 4K TVs. You'll find Black Friday like prices on top brand TVs from brands like Samsung, LG, Sony, and more. You'll find a variety of different sizes, features, and prices, so there's a TV for everyone's viewing needs. One of the best 4K TV deals we've seen is the Samsung 55-inch 4K smart TV that's on sale for $397.99. That's a $130 discount and the lowest price we've found for the UHD TV. The 55-inch TV features 4K Ultra HD resolution with PurColor, which results in a high-quality picture with bright, accurate colors. The Samsung TV also includes smart capabilities so that you can stream your favorite movies and TV shows from the home screen of your TV. Like we mentioned above, this is a crazy-good price for a 55-inch 4K smart TV and the lowest price we've seen for this particular model. Walmart's summer sale ends on Sunday, so you should snag this rare deal while you can. Walmart's best cheap TV deals:See more of best cheap TV deals and sale prices that are currently going on. You can also shop the best Walmart deals on TVs, laptops, appliances, and more. http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techradar/digital-home/~4/GgqiYzjP3B8
  23. We all love a good bargain, and a new SIM only deal from a lesser-known name in the world of SIMO is offering just that. Dropping the cheapest Sim only deal on the market, this special offer from Smarty is a must grab for any bargain hunter out there. Discounting the price of its small SIM only plan, Smarty is now offering a spend of just £5 a month. That price gets you 2GB of data, making it easily the cheapest option available. However, as part of this promo from Smarty, that price only sticks around for 3 months, before jumping back up to £7.50 a month. But, thanks to Smarty's flexibility - there are some options here. Smarty operates on 1-month rolling contracts. That means you could hang around for 3 months, reaping the benefits of cheap bills and then disappear. Or, when those three months are up, roll onto the £7.50 a month contract, which is also an excellent price. We've listed all of the details of this offer down below. Or if you would rather go for something different (more data perhaps?) then take a look through our guide to the UK's best SIM only deals. See the best SIM-free phones to pair with your new SIMOhttp://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/VgyagGS9HpAEPUQtUJBfrg.jpg Smarty's superb SIM only deal in full:What other SIM only deals are available?When it comes to cheap SIMO contracts, this is looking like the winning option. But, if you're looking to keep that £5 pricing for longer than three months, your only option is with iD. It costs £5 a month and is still a 1-month rolling contract. However, you do only get 1GB of data and 500 minutes of calls. On the complete opposite end of the spectrum, some of the best value contracts right now offer a load of data. Three's unlimited data offer is a bargain right now for example. At £11 a month for the first six months and then £22 for the rest of it, Three is making unlimited data pretty affordable right now. Or, for something in the middle, Vodafone's 8GB of data for £10 a month is an affordable way to get a decent amount of internet each month. What is Smarty? Find out more with our explainerhttp://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techradar/digital-home/~4/_2tA6NrqSiM
  24. If you’ve been on Facebook, Twitter or pretty much any other social medium in the last few days then you can’t have failed to notice it - FaceApp is everywhere. Despite launching way back in January 2017, the app has suddenly received a new lease of viral life. But as quickly as it has appeared, the worries about what the company is actually doing with our photos and our privacy have followed too. So, is it time to worry? What is FaceApp?Where have you been, grandad? FaceApp is the hot new trend. It's an iPhone and Android app that takes your photos and performs some digitally wizardry to manipulate your face through a number of clever filters. The old age filter has become particularly popular because it is available for use in the app for free. It's pretty amazing too, and is able to produce highly convincing results. http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/ZbpFLeSjyNufwwuKBDpzaP.jpg How does FaceApp work?The app works its magic by using the power of machine learning. This is a new technique that is increasingly ubiquitous in computing. Essentially, rather than try to explain to a computer what it means to age - and describe using code what a wrinkle, grey hair or Werther's Originals are - the computer will figure them out for itself by being "trained" with thousands of other photos of old people. The results are pretty impressive - if not entirely accurate. Run a photo of someone who is old now from when they were young, and FaceApp is unlikely to produce an image which looks exactly like them now. The best Android apps to download in 2019The best iPhone apps we've used in 2019Best privacy apps for AndroidWhat data does FaceApp collect?So this is the important question! As quickly as the app has gone viral, so have the privacy worries. So much so that US Senator Chuck Schumer has called for the FBI to investigate the app. And there are many posts going viral on Facebook and other social media urging users to approach the app with caution. The worry seems to hinge on the fact that in order for the app to work, the user must grant the app access to the photos on your phone - just like you have to with Instagram or a billion other apps. What’s worrying people is two things: What this conceivably means is that the app has access to all of the photos on your phone, so if developers chose to do so, they could conceivably tell the app to upload all or your photos to their servers, or pass them on to other organisations. What's amplifying this worry is that the company that makes the app, Wireless Lab, is based in St Petersburg, Russia. For the modern internet, what's the cost of privacy?So… is FaceApp uploading my photos?Despite the initial worries, at the moment the evidence suggests that the app is behaving responsibly and not uploading all of our photos. Several other developers have analysed what is being transmitted, and have concluded that all the app is uploading are the photos that the user chooses to apply filters to. This is because unlike, say, Instagram filters, the photo processing on FaceApp takes place in the cloud. In other words, all the app does is upload the photo and then download the completed stuff - all of the clever digital ageing takes place on servers elsewhere. The reason for the app working this way could be two-fold: First, this sort of processing is very hard to do locally. The reason machine learning is so powerful now is because processing can take place using the processing power contained within entire server farms if necessary - rather than relying on the processor in your phone. Secondly, this could help the developers improve their product. They could use all of the pictures we upload to more accurately train FaceApp's machine learning models - resulting in even more realistic photos. And because all of the processing takes place in the cloud, it also means they can conceivably update and improve filters without needing to have everyone update the apps on their phone. The developers have said that everything that is uploaded is deleted within a couple of days. The reason it hangs on to the data for that long in the first place is apparently to avoid having to process the same images twice: If two people upload the same image (which isn’t unlikely if you want to digitally age a celebrity), it means they only have to have their servers do the hard work of processing the images once. What do the FaceApp terms and conditions say?One of the factors that has been amplifying the concerns has been the terms and conditions that have gone viral. And on the face of it, they sound pretty draconian: "You grant FaceApp a perpetual, irrevocable, nonexclusive, royalty-free, worldwide, fully-paid, transferable sub-licensable license to use, reproduce, modify, adapt, publish, translate, create derivative works from, distribute, publicly perform and display your User Content and any name, username or likeness provided in connection with your User Content in all media formats and channels now known or later developed, without compensation to you. "When you post or otherwise share User Content on or through our Services, you understand that your User Content and any associated information (such as your [username], location or profile photo) will be visible to the public." Yikes! What is important to bear in mind however, is that they are not a million miles away from those used by other social media apps. The only real difference - and it is significant - is that unlike, say, Facebook or Google, there isn’t an easy way to delete your data from the app. At the moment, you have to email support with a written request - though the developers have reportedly said they are planning to make this easier. There is also a secondary concern that the app does not comply with the strict new GDPR rules with its advertising. Whether this has merit or not we'll leave to the lawyers - but this isn't really the meat of the privacy concerns. Should we be worried that the company is Russian?And this… is the contentious bit. The fact that Wireless Lab is based in Russia is perhaps why FaceApp has attracted the skepticism of politicians more than any other app. And these concerns are not entirely without merit. Russia, of course, has a fairly notorious recent history of using technology to meddle in international affairs: From the digital operations conducted during the 2016 US election, to hacking the power grid in Ukraine. It is definitely conceivably that Vladimir Putin might see this latest viral sensation as a means by which to access the data of westerners or other adversaries… somehow. There is no evidence that, say, the Russian government or military is obtaining data from the app or involved in the company in any way, and the company itself has said that data is in fact stored on Amazon and Google's cloud servers outside of Russia. However, there is arguably cause for concern about the location of the company headquarters. If Vladimir Putin wanted to access the data for some reason (maybe he wants to see everyone’s selfies?), by virtue of the location of the company and its employees, he would have some pretty significant leverage. So… should we be worried about FaceApp?Ultimately, with FaceApp we're making the same privacy trade-offs and considerations we make with any other app. When we download Instagram, should we worry that the US government might want to have a flick through our photo albums? Perhaps we might assume there are more safeguards there because America is a functioning democracy. And what about other apps that are surging in popularity like TikTok? That app, which has made real inroads with young people, is owned by a Chinese company. So there is a strong case for similar reservations there - though because the scaremongering hasn’t gone viral in quite the same way, nobody seems to care. So is FaceApp safe? As with any app it depends on the risks that you’re willing to take. Perhaps the best takeaway from FaceApp blowing up is that if nothing else, it is a potent reminder that you should check your privacy and sharing settings on every app you download - not just the ones that go viral. How tech is blurring boys and girlshttp://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techradar/digital-home/~4/AlvxUvUNJDU
  25. Samsung is back at its peak in the smartwatch game as the company is making some of the best smart wristwear that money can buy with its best-in-class Samsung Galaxy Watch, and 2019's impressive Samsung Galaxy Watch Active. Now, here's the weird thing - Samsung has often released a new smartwatch in August of each year, but the last 12 months have proven different as it released the Galaxy Watch Active in February around six months after the original Galaxy Watch. We're nearing the year anniversary of the launch of the Galaxy Watch, but instead of releasing a Galaxy Watch 2, it seems Samsung is instead planning to release a sequel to the Watch Active. We had expected Samsung to offer two lines of watches; one with top-end features and a high price tag, the other a little slimmed down but still offering lots for anyone who doesn't want to spend as much. That idea may have gone out the window though with lots of leaks and rumors suggesting we'll be seeing the Samsung Galaxy Watch Active 2 around six months after the original was released. It seems August 7 may be the big day where we'll hear about Samsung's next smartwatch, and below we're going to talk you through everything we know about it so far. Our guide to the best Samsung watches you can buy right nowCut to the chaseWhat is it? This may be Samsung's next big smartwatchWhen is it out? Possibly August 7What will it cost? Probably around $200 / £229 / AU$348Samsung Galaxy Watch Active 2 release date and pricehttp://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/XYJ7eJNQBaiGUav33Fjdma.jpg The original Samsung Galaxy Watch Active Samsung's original Galaxy Watch Active was announced in February 2019 alongside the Galaxy S10 smartphone line, so often we wouldn't expect to see a follow-up product until a full year later. Rumors suggest we'll be seeing it much before then with multiple sources claiming it'll be introduced alongside the Galaxy Note 10 on August 7. That's at Samsung's own Unpacked event, where we may also get a glimpse of the company's Galaxy Tab S6 tablet. If that is the case, we will likely see Samsung release the watch to retailers - and therefore wrists - before the end of August this year. There's no gurantee that will be the case though, as it would make more sense for Samsung to introduce a new variant of its Galaxy Watch first. We'd initially expected that to be called the Samsung Galaxy Watch 2, but we won't know anything for certain until August 7. As for price, we'd expect it to be a similar amount to the Galaxy Watch Active that launched at around $199.99 / £229 / AU$348. Samsung Galaxy Watch Active 2 leaks and rumorsIf you're going to know about one leak of the Galaxy Watch Active 2, you'll likely want see the leaked press image that you can see below. It comes from Android Headlines and shows a device that looks remarkably similar to the original Galaxy Watch Active. You can see the two buttons on the right edge and a circular screen that lacks a rotating bezel. There are a few little differences from the original Galaxy Watch Active that the eagle-eyed among you may have spotted. The power button has a red ring around it on this edition, which we assume is a way of distinguishing it from the original device in a similar way to what Apple did on the crown of its Apple Watch 3. http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/47nAt29bNNXxBKAzJZ7q3W.jpg The Apple Watch 3 with its red accented crown The leaked image also seems to show a leather strap rather than a silicone one, but considering this is a sporty watch we'd assume there will be a silicone option for your wrist as well. This isn't the first time we've seen that leaked design either. The video below from SamMobile shows the same design, lending credence to both leaks and meaning these may both prove accurate come launch day. The SamMobile video does come with some extra detail though, where the sources the site spoke to claimed that an LTE version of the watch will be available at launch. That's a feature the company didn't see fit to include on the original Galaxy Watch Active, so you were restricted to Wi-Fi to be able to connect to the internet on your device. Although it's difficult to tell from the photos, it seems the Galaxy Watch Active 2 may also come in two different sizes. Those are said to be 40mm and 44mm, which is a change from the original that only launched in 40mm. It's not as big as the 46mm version of the Galaxy Watch, but it's still a step up that may make this a more appropriate device for those with larger wrists without alienating anyone looking for a smaller device. http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/Gssch3gf4TAvisvSSCQxma.jpg The original Samsung Galaxy Watch Active Away from the design, it's expected the Galaxy Watch Active 2 will come with some top-end features that are currently only available on the Apple Watch and a few other smaller name devices. One of those is an ECG monitor that was first reported by SamMobile and later backed up by sources speaking to Wareable. That would mark the first time Samsung has introduced the tech to a smartwatch, which was first included on a consumer product in the Apple Watch 4 late last year. An electrocardiogram (ECG) is a test that can detect an irregular heartbeat, which can be a sign of a variety of different heart problems including atrial fibrillation. According to Wareable's report, the feature will be included on the watch but you shouldn't expect to be able to use it at launch. It's thought the company won't be able to activate the feature until early 2020, and it may be a longer wait for other markets too. It's also expected to introduce fall detection tech that can prove useful for older people. That same report also gives more evidence of there being an LTE version alongside a Wi-Fi only variant and a third Under Amour-branded variant as well. According to the report it'll come with more fitness features, but exactly what those will be are currently unclear. We'd expect to see returning features from the original watch including Tizen software, Bixby support, a 24/7 heart rate tracker, wireless charging and an IP68 water-resistant design. What we want to seeBefore we see the new smartwatch from Samsung, we’ve had a think about what we’d like to see the company bring to its next-gen smartwatch. An innovative bezel One of the ways Samsung has slimmed down the Galaxy Watch for its Active model is by losing the rotating bezel. That’s all well and good, but it’s one of the few features that makes Samsung’s top-end watch unique. Maybe Samsung can find a way to keep this easy to use functionality on the watch without the need for a super thick bezel. Perhaps a display that stretches to the edge and works in a similar way when you drag your finger around the outside. We don’t know exactly how this’ll would work on the Galaxy Watch Active, but we’d like to see Samsung play around with a few ideas for its next smartwatch. More storageThis is a simple one, and something we brought up in our review of the original Galaxy Watch Active. It just simply needs more storage so you can fill it full of more apps and music. Currently you’re restricted to 4GB of data on the Galaxy Watch Active, so we’d love to see the company double that up to 8GB or perhaps - if it can find a way - squeeze in 16GB. An LTE versionAnother simple fix here considering the original Galaxy Watch was capable of an LTE connection, if you spent a bit extra, but we’d like to see the Galaxy Watch Active 2 introduce mobile internet. This way you’d be able to keep using your watch even when your phone isn’t around, which is a big deal for anyone who wants to use it when out running. Improvements to Bixbyhttp://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/72GmVBPXb3C42pfnGxkzUa.jpg Bixby is nowhere near as useful as Google Assistant or Siri are on competing smartwatches, so we'd like to see the company step-up its voice assistant game in the coming months. It'd be nice to hear about some new exclusive features for the Galaxy Watch line too. An ECG monitorIt debuted on the Apple Watch 4, and while it's not a feature you'll use every day it feels like it's nearly a must-have on a top-end smartwatch. Alternatives like the Amazfit Verge 2 and Withings Move ECG will soon offer the feature too, so we'd love to see Samsung embrace the idea of an electrocardiogram on your wrist with its next smartwatch. More style choiceshttp://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/tBU5bVWVReKQHJ4FemMePM.jpg The original color line up for the Samsung Galaxy Watch Active The original Samsung Galaxy Watch Active came in four colors; black, silver, rose gold and Sea Green. That last one is a shade that's nearing dark blue when you see it in person, and we'd like to see Samsung get a bit more experimental with its color options for the next watch. Considering this is the cheaper alternative to the premium Samsung Galaxy Watch line, we'd love to see the company embrace that more and offer a variety of design choices with perhaps even bolder color options for people to choose from. Our guide to the very best Samsung watcheshttp://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techradar/digital-home/~4/xGnRa9Fn9aE
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