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Microsoft users have been warned to watch out for a fake Office 365 site which is pushing malware disguised as a software update. The site, discovered by researchers at MalwareHunterTeam, is designed to resemble a Microsoft-owned site, and even contains links that direct to pages hosted on Microsoft domains. However after being on the site for a few seconds, users are presented with an alert saying that their browser needs to be updated in order to stay online. Chrome and Firefox extensions stealing customer dataThe best browsers of 2019Firefox will soon alert users if their saved passwords have been breachedFake updateThe site even presents different landing pages depending on the browser being users, offering up alerts tailored to Chrome and Firefox users which say their supposedly outdated software version could lead to errors and loss of data. Clicking on the update button will lead to the downloading of the TrickBot Trojan, which will install itself onto the victim's device and begin transmitting information about their online habits. TrickBot is a particularly nasty form of malware that is notorious for stealing user information such as passwords as well as browsing history and autofill data. This form installs itself into the Windows svchost.exe service, meaning it is largely hidden from detection in Task Manager. The researchers behind the detection say that anyone affected by the scam should immediately perform a scan of their device, and ensure any passwords used on there are changed immediately. The best antivirus services of 2019Via Bleeping Computer http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techradar/digital-home/~4/7rx5o4CBRs8

BritBox is approaching. Over two years after the streaming service launched in the US and Canada – largely as a way to export quality British TV overseas – BritBox is coming back home, with a UK launch officially coming between October and December this year. As a joint venture between UK broadcasters BBC and ITV, BritBox will bundle in a variety of classic and modern TV shows for a monthly subscription of £5.99 per month ($6.99 in the US). BritBox: the one-stop shop for British TV streamingHow to watch Doctor Who onlineWhich Netflix plan is for you?This BBC News article on the announcement confirmed that "Many ITV and BBC programmes will move on to BritBox after they have been broadcast on TV and fallen off the broadcasters' own catch-up services – BBC iPlayer and ITV Hub." BBC iPlayer currently can only host content for 30 days after broadcast, though it is appealing to Ofcom to extend this to a whole year instead. However, not everything from these broadcasters will make their way to BritBox, and the service looks set to host exclusive shows and content not available through other channels or services. It also seems like a way to monetize BBC and ITV's extensive back catalogues, with shows like Midsomer Murders, Doctor Who, Poirot, and Gavin & Stacey which have countless episodes racked up over the years. Suffice to say, not everyone is happy about this. Don't I already pay the BBC?UK viewers already have various avenues for watching BBC and ITV content, and separating this content into another platform, while retaining the current catch-up options, feels slightly convoluted. Obviously the content catalogues won't be the same, and BritBox content will be able to feature content for longer than iPlayer, which restricts the amount of time after broadcast that you can watch something online. The concern is that more content will be funnelled into BritBox, with increasingly less being available through the likes of iPlayer. Given that UK viewers legally have to pay a UK license fee to access BBC TV channels and iPlayer, a further fee will rub some the wrong way. We could see people opting for one over the other, but there's bound to be some friction given the overlap of content – and the fact that the same content will be on different services at different times. The idea of joint streaming service between BBC and ITV was mooted by competition watchdogs around a decade ago, and it's clear that the players involved are playing catch-up with the likes of Netflix, especially with Disney Plus and Apple TV Plus on the horizon. But speaking to BBC News, former BBC executive Ashley Highfield suggested BritBox isn't "something that's going to take over from Netflix. It's probably going to rub alongside." So should you subscribe in the UK? Check our our BritBox guide for our full run-down of the service, but until it launches, and unless the issue of people paying the license fee is worked out, we're stuck with a lot of muddled messages. Mark Pocock, home comms expert at broadbandchoices.co.uk, commented on the incoming launch, saying that "Ultimately this announcement raises more questions than it answers, but does demonstrate that viewing habits are changing, to the point that even traditional entertainment institutions like BBC risk compromising their reputation to keep up.” Best TV streaming service 2019: what's the best option for you?Via BBC News http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techradar/digital-home/~4/7XRC1wJNC9I

Remember when we told you that you about how to get your hands on the best Xbox Game Pass Ultimate deal? For those not already in the know, players essentially worked out that by extending their existing Xbox Live Gold subscription, and then taking advantage of the £1/$1 introductory offer on Xbox Game Pass Ultimate, they could make big savings. That's because when you upgrade to Ultimate, your entire subscription is also upgraded, but you pay the same price as you had previously for Xbox Live Gold - which is cheaper than an Ultimate subscription. In a surprising move, Microsoft is now encouraging players to take advantage of the "lifehack" in order to get huge savings on Xbox Game Pass Ultimate - the company is even telling players how to do it. "It’s a great deal if you love games, but we want to help you get the most out of your membership by sharing a little lifehack to ensure you get as much bang as possible for your proverbial gaming bucks," Microsoft writes on its blog. The cheapest Xbox Live Gold deals and 12 month membership pricesHow to set Up Xbox Game Pass for PCXbox Project Scarlett release date, specs and games confirmed for Xbox TwoWhat's the deal?http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/vJEaMQFU9gyegETfv4HSn3.jpg For the last month, Microsoft has been running a deal which gives you one month of the new Xbox Game Pass Ultimate service for $1 / £1 instead of the standard $14.99 / £10.99. This combines Xbox Live Gold, Xbox Game Pass and Xbox Game Pass for PC, rolled into the same subscription. Individually, they'd cost $9.99 a month, each, with some additional savings if you buy them annually at a lump sum. This is already a good deal. But, there's a way to make it even better - essentially bringing Xbox Live subscribers the Xbox Game Pass Ultimate upgrade for 36 months for just $1 / £1. How this works is that Microsoft is taking any remaining time you have left on Xbox Live Gold and converting it to Game Pass Ultimate when you add the new $1 / £1 for 1 month Xbox Game Pass Ultimate deal to your account. So, even if you've had Gold for a while or you're a new customer, there are still lots of savings to be made. For more information, here's how to get the Xbox Game Pass Ultimate deal. PS Plus v Xbox Live Gold v Nintendo Switch Online: which one is right for you?http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techradar/digital-home/~4/vMOKh2NvTgY

YouTube Music got a nifty new feature this week for its Premium subscribers, allowing you to switch seamlessly between audio and video playback without interrupting the flow of a song. YouTube announced the feature in a blog post on July 18, running users through the change – available for Premium subscribers on both the YouTube Music streaming platform and YouTube itself. YouTube Music: five things you need to know before signing upWant to stream some radio? Check out our Spotify Stations vs Pandora comparisonListening on your smartphone? Here are the best in ear headphones to choose fromPaying for a Premium subscription ($11.99 / £9.99 /AU$14.99) already nets you a number of additional perks, such as ad-free music, background play while using other apps, and downloads of 500 songs for offline play. Now though, if you're listening to one of YouTube Music's five million songs that have a music video, there'll be a 'Video' button you can press to add in some eye-candy – or remove it at your leisure without interrupting playback of the song. YouTube says it has "perfectly time-matched" tracks to their music videos, including removing a video's introductory sections / preamble when playing audio only. If you just don't want any videos taking up your YouTube or YouTube Music app, you can also switch them off by default: "To stick to songs 100% of the time, visit your settings and turn off the music video option by toggling 'Don’t play music videos' to the 'on' position." Every little helpsThat's all well and good for YouTube and YouTube Music Premium subscribers, but what about the rest of us? Despite Google owning the YouTube streaming platform, and pushing its music capabilities quite hard in the previous months – vastly increasing the number of songs you can download for offline play, for one – you'll still find Google Play Music installed by default on Android phones. http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/n9ktuwC4eRvTJ6r5joPVsT.jpg Image Credit: Shutterstock We expect YouTube Music to overtake Google's own-brand service at some point, and you can view this latest feature as an attempt to get YouTube Music ready for the takeover – given that Google Play is already able to switch between video and audio, albeit while restarting the song from scratch. We've also caught wind of a some new design tests, with trials of a relocated search bar in the Android version of the YouTube Music app (via 9to5Google). While none of these changes are that major, it's building up to a stronger and more intuitive streaming service in a highly competitive landscape. Google will need to work on making YouTube a go-to music destination in the vein of Spotify or Apple Music if it hopes to take a substantial share of the market, or at least make it worthy of the throne on Android devices the world over. But integrating music and video in this way is a good start. Apple Music vs Spotify: the two biggest music streaming services fight it outVia Thurrott http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techradar/digital-home/~4/VBj1bZgUX54

Philippine Senator and the only ever eight-division world champion, Manny Pacquiao is set to return to the ring on Saturday for a showdown with undefeated Super WBA Welterweight Champion Keith Thurman in Las Vegas. It's one of the most eagerly anticipated fights of the year, 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 the 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 on Saturday 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/rg72qRsxhYU

We've been waiting a long time for Gears 5 to release and, according to developer The Coalition, the wait is going to be worth it. In an interview with Game Informer, The Coalition's multiplayer design director Ryan Cleven revealed the next installation in the Gears of War franchise is going to be the biggest we've seen yet, primarily due to its wide and diverse range of modes. "Gears 5 is the largest Gears of War to date," Cleven said. "It's the largest campaign ever made, the largest PvE ever made, the largest versus ever made." Xbox Project Scarlett: release date, specs and games confirmed for Xbox TwoHands on: Gears 5 reviewGears 5: release date, news and trailersThis isn't particularly surprising considering the vast number of single and multiplayer modes Gears 5 is bringing with it: Campaign, Escape, Horde, Arcade, Tour of Duty, Bootcamp, Escalation, King of the Hill, Arms Race, Dodgeball, Execution, Guardian, Team Deathmatch and Warzone. And, those are just some of the ones we know about at launch. In addition, Gears 5 will feature new map-building and sharing tools which will keep players busy for hours on end. Can't wait?http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/vqnRhNgrSPD6drgM45fk8B.jpg Can't wait to get your hands on Gears 5's multiplayer modes? Well, you're in luck. The Coalition has confirmed that it will be hosting technical test sessions for some of Gears 5’s Versus multiplayer modes in July. These tests will take place across two sessions so if you can’t make one, be sure to block out your calendar for the other. The first session will run from July 19 until July 22, while the second will run from July 26 until July 29. Gears 5 will release on Xbox One, PlayStation 4 and PC on September 10, 2019. Best upcoming games 2019: most anticipated titles for PS4, Xbox One and Switchhttp://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techradar/digital-home/~4/8SYmIXcDwaE

Google, Facebook, Wholefoods, Virgin. Global fame might not be the end goal for all of us, but when it comes to naming your company or product, and choosing your domain name, there’s pressure to get it right. Not only will the right name resonate well with potential customers, it’s also an opportunity to show what your company represents. Furthermore, name recognition and a consistent brand experience will build trust with customers and draw in prospective customers. As a result, choosing your company name isn’t something that should be taken lightly. With new businesses entering the market every day, and the UK claiming a new business “birth rate” of over 10% per year, how can you ensure you select the correct name? This question is no stranger for .Cloud, the smart domain for modern business. Based on extensive experience with our customers, which are often new businesses, let us offer you a couple of tips so you can start your business off on the right foot. Before diving into the more complex aspects of choosing a name, it’s important to get the basics right. Check out the best business plan softwareDomain name basicsMost potential customers will hear your business name before they know anything about your products and services. You want to avoid difficult names to spell, pronounce, explain or remember. In most cases, keeping your name short and memorable and avoiding complexity is best. Of course, there are always exceptions and reasons to break the rules, and if you do, weigh in the benefits and disadvantages. Keep in mind that dropping letters or using odd spellings can be tricky sometimes for your audience to remember and find you online, especially at the beginning when you are building up your online presence. You also want to avoid being too local, you need a name that grows with you. Often times, customers go with regional or country specific domain names and as they expand into new territories, they realize they need a more global sounding domain name. If you know from the beginning that your audience could potentially be global, choose a domain to match like .com or .cloud. For many modern businesses, the domain name is the front door. People see your business name and domain name in the search results, online ads, and social media. You have seconds to capture their attention, so think about your name in this context. What does it say about you? Is it interesting and creative? Names that are too generic and boring might drive your audience away. Above all, choose a name that you absolutely love. This is your chance to be creative and pick a lasting name. Take the time to explore the options. “Name”-stormPerhaps you already have a name or idea in mind or maybe you don’t know where to start. Start by writing down all the ideas you have for your business. Next, turn to Google to research keyword suggestions, trends and popularity. There are also plenty of online tools to help you research, if you feel stuck. You will find a great resource in dictionaries, thesauruses and translators. Taking it a step further, you could use OneLook for example, which will let you match keywords with short phrases. Moby Thesaurus on the other hand will allow you to find synonyms and word associations. These tools will help you make your idea come to life. Also, don’t underestimate baby name generators! Using interesting first names for companies and startups is becoming more and more popular – it might be the best match for you. Once an initial name is determined, it’s important to vet and secure it. Think about evaluating cultural sensitivity, trademarks and competition. Additionally, do an online check to see if corresponding domain names are available for your business name, as well as on social channels. It’s important to do this research so you can create a strong and consistent online presence. Check out the best small business softwareBe creative with new domain choicesThese days there are many more choices with domain names. In the past several years many new domain extensions became available such as .cloud, .shop and .design. These new domains offer you a chance to be more creative, bold and modern with your domain name. Also, you can create a short and impactful domain name with two keywords, for example united.cloud. Finally, after narrowing down your choices, we recommend getting feedback from your trusted advisors. We recommend asking your business partners, perhaps staff and maybe even a few of your customers what they think. Their feedback will show whether your name conveys the intended message, if it’s memorable and if it evokes a sense of trust. If all these steps are confirmed, you have found your name! Don’t forget to register your preferred domain name so your business can have its place on the internet. A name that fosters trustThere are some very important steps involved with choosing the right name, and taking your time upfront will pay off in the long run. Your name is your identity, and your domain name is your digital identity. They are both crucial for successful branding. Furthermore, as a new company, building trust with partners and customers is the key to becoming successful – especially as you will have to compete with already established brands. As a challenger, snapping the attention of the audience and creating a compelling story for your product is the foundation for building trust. Your company is unique and your name should be too. Naming your company, and choosing a modern domain name is one way to be unique and memorable. Take your time to review the options and test whether your name evokes the right ideas. Mou Mukherjee is the Head of Registry Services at .Cloud Check out the best cloud hosting companieshttp://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techradar/digital-home/~4/T-I4P1tIOns

BT has agreed the sale of its central London headquarters to a private equity firm as it continues its restructuring programme. Orion Capital Managers will acquire BT Centre for almost £210 million and has agreed to lease the 300,000 square foot office building for a period of 30 months while the company moves to a new headquarters in the capital. BT cuts 13,000 jobsPhilip Jansen is new BT CEOOutgoing BT CEO delivers positive resultsBT HQA new site has yet to be confirmed, but BT has said details will be made available shortly. The restructuring programme was announced by former CEO Gavin Patterson last year and will see 13,000 jobs cut, mainly in back office and middle management roles, and a move to base its operations at 30 sites around the UK. It is hoped the changes will save £1.3 billion, allow the more streamlined company to react more rapidly to market trends, and means it can get closer to customers. There will be fewer leadership roles with greater responsibilities and more jobs will be created in engineering and customer service. BT plans to invest up to £3.7 billion a year in its infrastructure as Openreach continues with the rollout of fibre to the premise (FTTP) EE presses ahead with its 5G deployment. BT believes it can be a leader in the field of converged networks that integrate fixed, mobile and wireless connectivity to deliver new experiences for businesses and consumers. Here are the best broadband deals for July 2019http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techradar/digital-home/~4/K_Fzy0fKH34

Search for “cheap microsoft office” on Bing, Microsoft’s own search engine and you might be surprised to see what gets displayed. Outside the usual Microsoft adverts and search results are a bunch of websites all vying for your attention. An advert pointing to Getmsoffice.com also offers a direct download button to Softwarekeep and is the most prominent one above the fold. The second organic result on the SERP (search engine results page) is for a website called softwareonlinedeal.com, the fourth is softwareproworld.com. http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/dintccPQNht4s8aoQJVAKf.jpg (Image credit: Future/Desire Athow) The common denominator of these websites? They all sell Microsoft Office for cheap, absurdly cheap. Softwareonlinedeal sells Microsoft Office Professional 2019 for $189.99 for a download and product key. Microsoft sells it online for $439.99 – that’s a near 57% discount. But there’s even better (or worse depending where you stand). TechRadar has been able to find a working copy of Microsoft Office 365 for five devices and 5TB for Mac and PC for a grand total of £1.35 (about $1.68). In comparison, Office 365 Home with six users and 1TB storage each costs $99.99 per year; that’s a near 100% discount given the fact that you’re provided with a lifetime subscription; one that doesn’t expire. At the time of writing, the vendor claimed to have sold more than 50,000 keys, although likely to have been under several accounts (the vendor we found had only about 540 keys available with less than 100 positive feedback registered). You are provided with a login, password and sign-in URL via eBay’s message system. We were able to login and download Microsoft Office from what appeared to be the genuine backend of an Office 365 Education account (Office 365 A1 Plus for students). Office is not the only Microsoft product that gets incredible discounts. We bought a Windows 10 Professional license key for £1; you get a key and a Google Drive link to download the right ISO. We didn’t download or install it but given that the vendor had plenty of good feedback, it's likely that it would have been a positive experience. You can even contact the seller by WhatsApp. http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/JCSuK9dS9mtwKfwSdA6dtk.jpg (Image credit: Future/Desire Athow) Ebay has, at the time of writing, hundreds of listings for extremely cheap Microsoft Office and Windows 10 licenses, openly available for sale. Clearly, this is piracy at an industrial scale that cost Microsoft tens if not hundreds of millions of dollars per year. Microsoft’s stance on this is clear; “With the exception of Product Key Cards distributed with Certificates of Authenticity (COA’s), Microsoft does not distribute products keys as standalone products. If you see a listing on an auction site, online classified ad, or other online page advertising product keys, it’s a good indication that these keys are likely stolen or counterfeit”, says the relevant Microsoft page. When we reached out to Microsoft’s PR team with our findings, the response was as follows: “We encourage customers to purchase genuine Windows and Office 365 from Microsoft or from one of our trusted partners. According to industry experts, use of pirated software, including non-genuine Windows and Office 365, results in a higher risk of malware, fraud public exposure of personal information, and a higher risk for poor performance or feature malfunctions.” That is a less aggressive tone compared to the Microsoft of yesteryear that talked of the billions of dollars of potential revenue lost to piracy. What has changed then? A new philosophyMicrosoft has matured after enduring some of its toughest years during the Ballmer years. Under the stewardship of Satya Nadella, the company regained a sense of purpose after a short mid-life crisis and emerged as a very different, more accommodating company. Integrating a Linux kernel into Windows 10 or embracing Android like its own operating system would have been seen as acts of heresy only a few years ago, and yet they happened. Under this new CEO, hell froze several times while the company’s share prices rose from $37.50 to almost $138, becoming the only company with a trillion dollar market share and, perhaps more importantly, untarnished by the privacy morass that has proved to be more than a spot of bother for the GAFA quartet (Google, Apple, Facebook and Amazon). Ironically, Microsoft is where it is because it failed to come up with a real alternative to Google’s Android and had to double down on businesses, public sector and enterprises. Not having to make money selling your user data was a powerful catalyst and a force of change for Microsoft. For the better, in the hindsight. Nadella’s promotion - he was the Executive Vice-President of Cloud and Enterprise group - also meant that Microsoft’s transformation into a services-first company was only going to accelerate. http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/HS5CbFLcRsMoLxgvoUyPun.jpg (Image credit: Shutterstock.com) With business and the cloud as the absolute priorities, one might argue that software piracy amongst consumers was considered as being of lesser importance. We cannot and will probably never be able to prove this however, there are some hard-to-ignore evidences on which our conclusions are based. Software piracy, as a theme, is seldom mentioned on Microsoft’s own website. The last major content piece on counterfeit software and fraudulent subscriptions dates from April 2018 and mentions the tens of thousands of people that report such practices to Microsoft every year. Important anti-piracy documents no longer exist; Microsoft has abandoned initiatives such as play it safe, a global initiative launched in 2013 to bring awareness to issues related to software piracy and closed its intellectual property crimes newsroom. It descends into the farcical though once you actually try to report counterfeit software on Microsoft’s website. The de-facto page is this one which appears in the 2018 blog post mentioned above. A quick look at what you can report leaves the astute observer with no doubt as to how old that page is. http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/xHU6HwpS25wEoP538bKgzX.jpg (Image credit: Future/Desire Athow) The newest operating system mentioned there is Windows 8, which is two generations old. Ditto for Windows Server and Office (both from 2012). No mention of Windows 8.1, Windows 10, Office 2016 and other newer products. That is perhaps the most striking example of Microsoft’s apparently sloppy approach to tackling software piracy. But is it all bad? When software is no longer softwareMicrosoft built its success on lines of codes stored locally but it is building its future on lines of code secured in data centers. The concept of software piracy is fast becoming as obsolete as the concept of using a piece of software without connectivity. Microsoft is not alone in doing that; software-as-a-service or subscription is fuelling the growth of Adobe, Bitdefender and the likes. Perpetual software licenses will likely be an anachronism within a decade and perhaps, no proof is more powerful than the vanishing search volume for the word “crackz” which refers to software used to crack copyright protected software. By 2014, a decade after the term reached its peak, it had all but disappeared. SaaS is subscription and you can’t crack that. There’s a massive loophole though, especially when it comes to Microsoft software. Windows 10 licenses - essentially a string of alphanumeric characters - are widely available, more often than not because businesses purchased computers that are then decommissioned (although there’s a myriad of other reasons - MSDN/OEM/Volume Key). They will all, sooner or later, have to contact Microsoft servers for activation and to get features or security updates. The same goes for Microsoft Office 365; the ones on sale are often educational licenses that are usually free in the UK and in the US if you are a student or have children who attend school. Vendors selling these licenses are openly flouting the terms and conditions much to the chagrin of legitimate Microsoft resellers. Perversely, it creates confusion amongst users: a post on popular UK deals forum, Hotukdeals, summarizes it perfectly. “I buy a Windows key from the biggest store front on the net, I pay for it with my PayPal account connected to my credit card, I put it on my computer connected to my internet and my IP address, I then use said internet connection to activate said key on Microsoft's servers. If it activates, then it's legal”. That comment was upvoted several times, meaning that readers mostly agreed with it. So why isn’t Microsoft cracking down on piracy as it used to? One explanation could be that Google, with ChromeOS and G Suite, is a small but growing threat in a world where consumer technology often permeates into businesses. Pirated content could be seen as a proxy or a buffer, a way of doing guerrilla marketing to prevent others (Libreoffice anyone?) from winning hearts and minds. Another way of putting it is one extra Office 365 user usually means one fewer G Suite one. For Windows 10 though, it is probably more a case of encouraging users to move from Windows 7 and Windows 8.1 (which still account for around 40% of the global desktop market share) can only help. This brings us to this conclusion: Microsoft must be seen to be growing in absolute numbers as this helps the business case (and share price). Back in 2015, Microsoft revealed its ambitions to reach the lofty goal of one billion Windows 10 users by 2018. Within 12 months, it was clear that was never going to happen. Windows 10 Mobile vanished, leaving it to get these users exclusively from mobile devices (not including Hololens). And while Windows 10 was not mentioned at all during the last three earnings release, the revenue generated from Windows OEM has increased during each quarter. There were 600m MAU (monthly active users) in November 2017, 700m by June 2018 and reaching 800m by March 2019. The impending Windows 7 End of Support on January 2020 will likely to be a catalyst for enterprises and for consumers as well. A special kind of freemiumMicrosoft’s attitude to piracy can therefore be interpreted as a tacit acknowledgement of its usefulness as a marketing tool. Cracking too hard on it could be bad publicity and Microsoft could always start turning the screws should Windows or Office revenues start to dwindle. Doing so will likely to drive users of counterfeit software in the arms of Google, not something desirable in the short term. Gazing at our crystal ball, we can see that “Windows 365” and “Microsoft 365” will run almost entirely as subscriptions and that, like Adobe with Photoshop, there will be a time where you won’t be able to buy or use any Microsoft product on a perpetual license and without web connectivity. There have been reports of Windows 10 and Office 365 users of counterfeit software that have lost access to their services altogether so it looks like there are random, rather than systematic, anti-piracy measures that take place from time to time. After all, even back in 2007, it used data provided by its Windows Genuine Advantage (WGA) software to help bring down a counterfeiting ring in China. These are the best Microsoft Office 365 dealshttp://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techradar/digital-home/~4/4KqdVl_I68A

In this interconnected age, it can be difficult to keep track of which online subscription service offers the best bang for your buck. While services like Hulu and Netflix are arguably similar, games consoles are a little more varied in their options. Each of the big three consoles has an online subscription service, and each offer things slightly differently. Here's our guide to Xbox Live Gold, PlayStation Plus and Nintendo Switch Online memberships. PS Plus v Xbox Live Gold v Nintendo Switch Online: pricehttp://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/5KmiCVPZEyFCtdu2SaS4Vd.jpg PS Plus v Xbox Live Gold v Nintendo Switch Online Beginning with Xbox Live Gold, Microsoft's offering is priced at $9.99/£6.99/AU$10.95 per month, while offering savings of 50% for an annual membership. Silver membership is free, but only really offers access to your friends list and the Xbox Store. If you've been looking to jump into the company's game subscription, Xbox Game Pass, there's a handy $14.99/£10.99/AU$15.95 membership which bundles both Xbox Live Gold and Game Pass into a handy monthly fee known as Game Pass Ultimate. PlayStation Plus offers a similar pricing model to that of Xbox Live Gold. It costs $9.99/£6.99/AU$10.95 per month, while you can buy it quarterly or annually at an incremental discount. Features are comparable too, but we'll get to those shortly. Finally, the new kid on the block is Nintendo Switch Online. It's by far the cheapest of the three, costing $3.99/£3.49/AU$5.95 per month or $19.99/£17.99/AU$29.95 annually. There's a family plan option too, which is ideal if you have a group of up to eight friends looking to take their consoles online - this retails at $34.99/£31.49/AU$54.95 for the year. Amazon Prime members can even snag an annual membership for nothing at the time of writing. The cheapest Xbox Live Gold deals and 12 month membership priceThe cheapest PlayStation Plus prices for membershipsThe best Nintendo Switch Online subscription pricesPS Plus v Xbox Live Gold v Nintendo Switch Online: featureshttp://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/N6PKfoA4k9b7UHQyyBoxbR.jpg The oldest of the services, Xbox Live's paid Gold Membership offers plenty for your monthly fee. Arguably the most reliable connection of the three, Xbox Live connects players with gamers across the world - so if you're looking to command a pirate ship with your buddies in Sea of Thieves, you'll need to stump up for a membership. Thankfully, there are plenty of other reasons to subscribe. Firstly, players can grab themselves four free games every month as part of Games With Gold. This month features Game Of The Year contender Inside, so it's worth checking back each month to see what's on offer. Of the four games, two are Xbox One titles while the other two are backwards compatible Xbox 360 (and occasionally original Xbox) classics. You'll also earn some great discounts in the store, and these often apply to DLC, movies and TV shows as well as games. PlayStation Plus began as a premium membership during the PlayStation 3 era, but is now required for online play on PlayStation 4. Thankfully those monthly fees look to have been reinvested, as PlayStation Network has come on leaps and bounds since the last generation. As with Xbox Live Gold, PlayStation Plus offers free games each month (albeit down to two with the removal of PlayStation 3 and Vita titles earlier this year). Don't panic though - huge AAA-calibre titles such as Bloodborne have been released as freebies in the past, so it's unlikely you'll feel short changed. Similar discounts are offered in the PlayStation store, and you can see what's new from a PlayStation Plus icon right on your home screen. http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/uuabkBsKengE4vn9UGfi5d.jpg In true Nintendo fashion, Switch's online service feels a little bit all over the place. Your subscription allows you to play online in titles such as Super Smash Bros. Ultimate and Mario Kart 8: Deluxe, but the console's portable nature can make connection a little spotty. The extra features are curious, too. You can use Nintendo's smartphone app for voice chat in certain titles, but in testing we found it less useful than simply using Discord to party up. There are exclusive offers for subscribers, but these run the gamut from nice little curios (like Tetris 99) to exclusive peripherals like NES controllers for the Switch. The big draw here, though, is the Nintendo Switch Online app. Longtime Nintendo fans will love being able to play NES games on the Switch, and they've been retrofitted with new online leaderboard functionality in many cases. That means you can play the original Legend of Zelda or Super Mario Bros 3 on your TV or on the console's handheld screen. New titles are being added, and SNES games are rumored to make an appearance next. PS Plus v Xbox Live Gold v Nintendo Switch Online: cloud saveshttp://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/jaxBaFPGaxpezHuMNYu45C.jpg PlayStation Plus offers 100GB of cloud-storage for your saves as part of it's membership, but it's worth noting that Xbox Live offers cloud saves and these aren't linked to any paid membership and are available by default for silver members upwards. Nintendo Switch Save Data can be backed up to the cloud if you have a membership, a huge boon for anyone that's ever dropped their Switch or lost it on public transit, but it only works on supported titles - so if your console takes a bath you'll have to start your Pokemon: Let's Go adventure all over again. PS4 vs Xbox One: which gaming console is better?http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techradar/digital-home/~4/kOg16MOS6wY

Update: The pressure looks like it’s eased off a bit for the time being, with the US government having relaxed sanctions on Huawei, and the UK greenlighting its involvement in the country’s 5G infrastructure at a parliamentary level. Huawei has filed patents for its own mobile operating system nonetheless, as it takes precautionary measures in case a life without Android ends up being its reality, while chipmaker Broadcom is feeling the knock-on effects with a lower revenue forecast. Huawei has found itself at the center of a global tussle between the US and China after Trump administration placed the Chinese brand on the 'entity list', limiting the business US companies could do with it, and leading to worldwide implications. It led to Google blocking Huawei's future access to Android updates, UK-based chip designer ARM has ceased all activities with the brand, and multiple retailers and networks around the world have had to stop dealing with Huawei for fear of sanctions from the US government. There have been a few reprieves though, as on May 20 the US Commerce Department issued a temporary license for Huawei to work with businesses in the US, meaning US companies can resume partnerships with the brand on a short term basis. Read more about the Huawei ban: Huawei’s Android rival is incoming, will be compatible with Play Store appsMicrosoft drops Huawei laptops from its storeArk OS might be the new name for Huawei's Android rival While the WiFi Alliance and the SD Association, the standards-making bodies that govern the technology used for connectivity and mobile storage ejected Huawei preventing the company its chance of shaping the future of these technologies, the Chinese company has since been reinstated. By July, things took a turn in Huawei's favor, with President Trump suggesting the Huawei ban could soon be over at the G20 summit in Japan, and by mid-July, some US companies were permitted to trade with Huawei. In isolation, this isn't the silver bullet Huawei need, as the specifics of this relaxation to the ban are still unclear, but by mid-July, reports hinted that within two to four weeks, Huawei and US companies could resume trading. In the face of all of these setbacks, Huawei's founder Ren Zhengfei maintained a positive outlook for the brand, stating: "We will certainly be able to continue serving our customers. "Our mass production capacity is huge, and adding Huawei to the Entity List won't have a huge impact on us. We are making progress in bidding worldwide." What does the ban mean if I have a Huawei phone?Perhaps the most useful piece of information about current Huawei phones is Google's statement issued to TechRadar: "We are complying with the order and reviewing the implications. For users of our services, Google Play and the security protections from Google Play Protect will continue to function on existing Huawei devices," a spokesperson told us. That's good news if you’ve just spent large amounts of money on a Huawei P30 Pro: as alluded to above, current devices from the Chinese brand will continue to get security updates and access to the Play Store for the foreseeable future, as Google has promised not to leave those out in the cold. The temporary lifting of the ban will also allow the two brands to prepare better Android support for current and future models, meaning that Huawei will be able to do business as it has been – so current customers will be able to benefit for longer. Google has since resumed its relationship with Huawei, to enable it to deliver benefits for longer. Huawei has also said to TechRadar that it will continue to do all it can to support the phones currently out in the wild, and is looking at other implications of Google's decision. The company told us: “Huawei has made substantial contributions to the development and growth of Android around the world. As one of Android’s key global partners, we have worked closely with their open-source platform to develop an ecosystem that has benefited both users and the industry. http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/5fcM3pjSZd5vGc32fMkFZe.jpg The Honor sub-brand of Huawei is also subject to the same constraints. Image credit: TechRadar "Huawei will continue to provide security updates and after-sales services to all existing Huawei and Honor smartphone and tablet products, covering those that have been sold and that are still in stock globally.” Huawei Australia has echoed the sentiment, also claiming that “those that are planning to buy a Huawei device in the near future” will not have to worry about the sanctions, according to Huawei Australia’s Director of Corporate Affairs, Jeremy Mitchell. We've asked for comment regarding the recent lifting of the ban, but Huawei declined. With recent developments, it is looking more likely that the flexible Mate X to launch with 'full fat' Android, along with the upcoming Mate 30-series. It's spent enormous sums marketing that model since the unveiling in February and is keen to lock in its reputation as a technological leader. It looks like the bendable phone will, at least, be delayed though - the CEO of UK network EE said, during the launch of its 5G networks, that the brand had temporarily paused stocking the phone while it worked to understand the implications of the trade ban. UK retailer Dixons Carphone has followed suit, halting plans to bring the 5G handset to launch as planned while the UK gears up to enter the next phase of connectivity. So while the fact remains that current models will be offered speedy updates, it's unclear how long these will last for, and the fact networks are already getting jittery about the sanctions isn't going to make anything easier for Huawei. While most smartphone brands will honor security updates for two to three years after launch of a new handset, one might expect this to be much shorter in the case of Huawei phones, given these restrictions from Google. What about future Huawei phones?http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/ZUTyKeFSRaMHyvC9gtZx5L.jpg Image credit: TechRadar If it happens, the move from Google means it will no longer work with Huawei directly on issuing updates to its system, and won't give the company access to the Google Play Store. This is a potentially critical blow to the Chinese brand, which only recently spoke out about its plans to be the world's largest smartphone manufacturer. This means that if Huawei wants to keep using the Android operating system, it will need to use the Android Open Source Platform (AOSP), which is a free system that any brand can use as an underlying foundation for its products. However along with the Google Play Store it won’t have access to the core Google apps like YouTube, Google Maps and Chrome – these are core elements of Google's business that it's not duty bound to make available to anyone. Without access to the Play Store, Huawei would be forced to work directly with developers to get them to create versions of their wares for its phones. This situation would be similar to that of Amazon’s Fire OS, which is based on AOSP but has its own app store, as the retail giant seeks to control the platform its Fire tablets and Echo devices run on. If Huawei does have to use AOSP, the consequences could be devastating, as access to a fully-stocked app store is crucial to the success of any modern smartphone – Nokia and Microsoft failed to make Windows Phones a viable alternative to Android and Apple’s iOS, even though both brands poured millions into developer tools and enticing the top app creators onto their platform. However, Huawei has claimed that it's been developing its own alternative to Android for nearly seven years, calling it a 'Plan B' that’s ready to go should it lose access to the services listed above. Naming it the HongMeng OS (or possibly Ark OS , or Harmony OS - a name registered in Europe by the company), and stating its alternative operating system will be launched either at the end of 2019 or the beginning of 2020, and would work across "mobile phones, computers, tablets, TVs, cars and smart wearable devices." More recently, Huawei is reported to have filed "Hongmeng" trademarks in the EU as well as multiple countries, including Canada, South Korea, New Zealand, Cambodia, and Peru. In the latest statement to TechRadar, Huawei said: "We will continue to build a safe and sustainable software ecosystem, in order to provide the best experience for all users globally," which sounds like it already wants to generate some positive hype around its alternative OS. However, Huawei also said it would rather continue working with brands like Google and Microsoft (whose Windows operating system runs on Huawei laptops) to offer the best experience - a sentiment it has since offered around all its suppliers, hinting strongly that it hopes to resume actions when this ban is lifted. Huawei is also claiming that it can still create smartphones and other equipment with the components it has stockpiled before the ban, as well as creating new partnerships around the world. The brand has continued to state it believes working with international partners remains the best course of action - although has confirmed it's looking at how to manage as much as possible within its own country. http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/i3aChsQf5uh5SVACMnkMM.jpg The Google Play Store is a key part of attracting users. Image credit: TechRadar. "Huawei has been working hard on developing its own AppGallery and other software assets in a similar manner to its work on chipset solutions." Ben Woods, Chief of Research at CCS Insight, told TechRadar. "There is little doubt these efforts are part of its desire to control its own destiny." If Huawei loses access to the Google Play Store, it would take an enormous amount of investment to attract developers to create app options that would keep users of its smartphones happy – and you have to wonder whether the brand would feel it was worth continuing to make phones at all when faced with that kind of hurdle. The same would also apply to Honor, the sub-brand of Huawei phones, in the future. Honor might have tried to distance itself from its parent company, but it’s been confirmed that it will be subject to the same sanctions. However, the launch of that brand’s Honor 20 smartphone went ahead as planned and made no mention of the issues facing its parent company – so it’s clear that devices currently created and in the supply chain are still going to be supported in the Android ecosystem. Since the news of the Android suspension, more details have emerged about Huawei's plans for the App Gallery on the HongMeng OS: it's been reported that the brand is offering app developers access to Chinese users, as well as financial incentives to networks to add its app portal to phones. Developers would be able to simply and quickly tweak their Android apps to work on Huawei's platform, and theoretically have access to a huge Chinese user base - although it remains to be seen whether Huawei phones will continue to be sold in strong enough numbers worldwide for developers to update and maintain their apps. What of the ARM news, is it truly damaging?A huge issue facing Huawei is that chip designer ARM isn't going to work with the brand for the short term. That may seem odd, as it's a Japanese-owned brand headquartered in the UK, but as its designs use US-based technology, there's a fear this could fall foul of the trade restrictions. If the Huawei ban means it can't use ARM reference designs in its chipsets, it would be incredibly difficult and costly for the brand to replace them - and it may prove to be impossible, which would cast further doubt over the future of Huawei's phone arm. A Huawei spokesperson told the BBC: "We value our close relationships with our partners, but recognize the pressure some of them are under, as a result of politically motivated decisions. "We are confident this regrettable situation can be resolved and our priority remains to continue to deliver world-class technology and products to our customers around the world.” The upcoming Kirin 985 chipset is not believed to be affected, which would mean Huawei looks set to be able to release another cycle of smartphone before the ban truly causes issues, but partners and networks are already starting to react to the US' trade license suspension. However, the loss of ARM support might take a little longer to be felt than previously thought: Huawei has apparently been granted a permanent license over key ARM technology from a few months ago, after it saw potential trouble ahead. This would allow it to keep using these key chip designs for the foreseeable future in its phones, laptops and infrastructure equipment, and the brand has also told TechRadar that it believes it can create ARM-based chipsets for use in its laptops as well, to replace any issues with Intel chip supply. What about other brands? What does this mean for the wider smartphone world?http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/Z7v6mznWtH4NevbTfsAMj9.jpg While these sanctions don’t currently affect other brands, the message being sent is clear: global politics can have dramatic implications for the manufacturing and marketing of consumer devices that have become indispensable for billions of people. The Huawei news has sent the some technology stock prices downwards too, affecting the market as a result of the US ban. While there’s currently no issue with brands headquartered in other parts of the world, a similar sanction could see other smartphone manufacturers forced into a costly rethink. A few years ago Samsung seriously threatened a breakaway move from Google’s Android operating system, as it felt the search giant had too much control over the operating system on its Galaxy smartphones. It worked to develop the Tizen OS, which is still used on devices like Samsung's Galaxy smartwatches, triggering negotiations with Google about allowing more freedom for manufacturers. (It’s worth noting that while Samsung did release smartphones based on Tizen, they were budget models, and didn’t come anywhere close to the success of its Galaxy phone range). The big beneficiary here could be Apple – President Trump has long advocated for the brand to move its operations from China to the US, and exempted Apple from the trade tariffs imposed on China so that the brand wouldn’t have to raise its prices. Huawei has been a thorn in Apple’s side of late, with the rise of the Chinese brand seeing it usurp its Cupertino-based rival in the worldwide rankings and become a serious competitor in the premium smartphone space – and Trump clearly wants to see the US tech giant do more of its business back home. Worries of China responding with a sanction on Apple's phones could follow, but Huawei's founder has spoken out, saying that he hopes this does not happen. The Chinese government also doesn't want Apple moving its operations from the country - it would not only be incredibly costly for Apple, which would still need to source many components from Asia to build future iPhones, but also affect the Chinese economy too by losing such a big customer. The loss of Huawei as a major player in the global smartphone market could also have a wider impact on the smartphones other vendors are pushing out. The Chinese brand’s aggressive development of new technological capabilities has forced rivals to significantly improve their devices and push out new advancements of their own, and any diminution of its influence would likely slow the rate of development. Huawei’s smartphone camera prowess has arguably kickstarted a race to offer cameras that deliver ever-better sharpness, color and overall image quality in the last two years – the quality of the pictures it's possible to take on a premium phone has improved dramatically as the brand's P series has relentlessly pushed the boundaries of what’s possible. The company is also in a race with Samsung to bring out the first widely available foldable phone – and the Huawei Mate X’s mere existence surely forced the South Korean brand to speed up its development of a bending handset, meaning consumers will get access to the technology earlier (although Samsung probably would have rather waited to deliver the Galaxy Fold…). Meanwhile, companies in Huawei's supply chain could suffer, and chipmaker Broadcom has adjusted its revenue forecast, as it predicts lower sales due to the ongoing issues with Huawei. Should I buy a P30 or P30 Pro (or any Huawei phone)?If you’re wondering, whether you should buy a P30 or P30 Pro with everything that's going on, Huawei clearly thinks you should. It's been indignant in the face of the bans, with its P30 Pro price holding firm. Considering it was launched four months ago, that's unusually bold for Android smartphone pricing. Its CEO has also claimed that Huawei's new operating system, whatever it ends up being called will be faster than Android. The brand has also opened its largest flagship store outside China, in Madrid, hitting the point home that it’s serious about its European, and the US sanctions placed against it won’t change that. Huawei has, additionally, confirmed it will be rolling out the Android Q update to the P30 Pro (and a number of its other handsets) too, and that apps and services won’t be switched off for existing Huawei devices, which guarantees a degree of future-proofing for the flagship. In turn, we can’t categorically say whether you should or shouldn’t buy a P30 Pro, or another Huawei smartphone, but things are looking up for the tech giant. The recent ban lifting means there's a real chance that negotiations can be entered into with the US government, allowing the brand to prove itself 'safe' and move out from the middle of the trade war between China and the US. This is far from certain, but things certainly look a lot less bleak for the brand, especially if Trump's statement that Huawei could included in a trade deal with China turns out to be true. Google has also confirmed that it's ‘reviewing’ the situation, and the implications of the US sanctions – it doesn’t want to limit the reach of its Android ecosystem, and US brands like Qualcomm are going to be severely impacted by the Huawei restrictions, so will likely lobby to have this decision re-examined. However, if Google is forced to cut Huawei off from future Android security updates and access to the Play Store, then it could not only make things difficult for Huawei, but may cause consumers to view any Chinese brand with suspicion – and given the proliferation and technological prowess of the latest phones coming out of that country, that would also have a huge impact on the industry. So while this move seems to only affect Huawei right now, it's going to have a knock-on effect for the entire industry, and may have implications when it comes to the next smartphone you buy. It could even mean the rise of a new mobile operating system, and potentially a serious challenger to Android. What about laptops? Currently, Microsoft can't sayhttp://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techradar/digital-home/~4/Rxh_0ofyS2E

Slack is set to reset password for thousands of users as it looks to respond to a data breach. The popular messaging app has confirmed it will reset the passwords of users it believes could be affected by a historical data breach. Around one percent of all Slack users are thought to be affected by the attack - equivalent to over 65,000 customers. Slack valued at over $20bn after going publicTop trends in enterprise mobile applicationsSlack shows off new featuresBreachedSlack was hit by a cyberattack back in 2015 when hackers to its user profile database. This included access to the scrambled passwords of users, however the hackers inserted code that scraped the user’s plaintext password as it was initally entered. Slack said it did not believe accounts were compromised in the attack, but did not provide any further details as to why this would be - although it said that accounts that require single sign-on through a company’s network are not affected. The company said it had become aware of the attack after being recently contacted through its bug bounty programabout a list of allegedly compromised Slack account passwords. Slack was recently valued at over $20bn after going public back in June, and counts over 10 million active daily users worldwide, including the likes of the BBC, Lyft and 21st Century Fox. It recently revealed a number of security upgrades to its platform, including the launch of Enterprise Key Management to give an added layer of protection. The new service will allow businesses admins full control over the encryption keys used to encrypt the files and messages within their Slack workspace. The best online collaboration tools of 2019Via TechCrunchhttp://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techradar/digital-home/~4/dJiKZ6cRS40

UPDATE: Motorola's Moto G7 and Moto G7 Plus have both landed on our list of the best cheap smartphones in Australia for 2019. Read on to find out where they placed and what they have to offer! While handsets like the Samsung Galaxy Note 9, iPhone XS and the Google Pixel 3 are stealing headlines around the world, there's a lot of intriguing (and cheap) stuff going on in the world of budget phones. Sadly smartphone innovation isn't cheap – and most of it is reserved for high-end contract handsets. There is however such a thing as a good cheap smartphone, and ever so gently all those amazing features from the flagship devices are slowly trickling down to the budget phones. That's why we have sorted through hundreds of inexpensive smartphones in order to rank the best options that you can buy unlocked without monthly fees and, importantly, without a two-year contract. No, these aren't the best smartphones available in Australia, so you won't find the new Galaxy S10 among them. However, it is a selection of our favourite budget and mid-range smartphones. If you're looking to pick up a decent handset for not much cash, these are the top cheap phones your money can buy - even on a budget. http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/zh4vasxdfHWreGg9WK3s9F.jpg Motorola's Moto G7 Plus is the most premium offering in Motorola's new G7 range, delivering more power, improved cameras and speedier charging tech when compared to last year's still impressive G6 Plus. As we've come to expect from Motorola's G series of affordable handsets, the G7 Plus boasts some exceptional features, including a large 6.2-inch display, 4GB of RAM and dual rear facing cameras. Admittedly, there are a couple of spots where it cuts corners to keep the cost down, but it's made those cuts in the right areas in order to minimise the impact on the user experience. If you didn't see the Moto G7's price tag before picking it up, you'd be forgiven for thinking it was an upper mid-range smartphone rather than the budget offering that it is. This due to the device's premium feel and sophisticated design, which offers a sturdy metal frame sandwiched between glass on the front and back of the phone. It's got a big, bright display with minimal bezel and a teardrop notch for its 12MP selfie camera, while on the rear its got a dual lens 16MP + 5MP camera which allows for depth of field shots and a new 'cutout' mode which allows you to separate foreground objects from shots and applying your own zany backgrounds. Admittedly, its 3,000mAh battery is a bit smaller than some of the other handsets on this list, such as the Nokia 7.1 with its huge 4,000mAh offering, making its battery life just 'fine' instead of 'great', with around 8-10 hours of juice with heavy usage. Of course, that's alleviated by the G7 Plus' 27W TurboPower charger, which will recharge the phone's battery by 40% in just 15 minutes. An improvement over its predecessor in every way, the Moto G7 Plus is highly recommended for those who want to balance functionality with affordability. See the best Moto G7 Plus outright deals here http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/Lx5YiimG4AschXsyJv3ZT4.jpg For many, the Moto G name has become synonymous with quality on a budget. Motorola has a knack for delivering relatively higher spec handsets than its competition at the same price point, and its new Moto G7 is no exception. Taking a lot of what made last year's Moto G6 such a great budget phone, the Moto G7 boasts a lists of refinements that make it feel even more like an upper mid-range product. Though the handset arrives alongside a slightly better sibling in the Moto G7 Plus, the standard Moto G7 is still an all-round terrific phone. It packs a quad-core Snapdragon 632 chipset (as opposed to the octa-core Snapdragon 636 processor found in the Plus model), but you wouldn't know it based on the snappy performance it delivers in every day use. Its cameras are also a slight downgrade from the larger model, with a 12MP primary sensor, 5MP secondary sensor and 8MP selfie snapper, however, we've found its photographic capability to be quite impressive regardless – you probably still won't find many smartphones with a better camera at this price point. In terms of battery life, the G7 delivers more or less the same experience, however, while fast charging is available, it's not quite as fast as the G7 Plus, offering a 15W charger in the box instead of its larger sibling's 27W TurboPower charger. While Moto G7 Plus edges it out by including some additional high-end features, the standard G7 is good enough for most users who are just after a very affordable handset that offers nice build quality, great performance and decent photographic capability. See the best Moto G7 outright deals here http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/zMDsJua75LuwxyPY7Z5qQk.jpg Deceptively affordable for a phone that looks and feels premium, the Nokia 7.1 brings terrific specs, a striking HDR display and stylish design to the mid-range market and manages to do so for just $499. A phone that punches well above its weight, the Nokia 7.1 boasts a Snapdragon 636 chipset inside, 4GB of RAM and 64GB of internal storage (of course, you can expand that with a microSD card). As part of the Android One program, the Nokia 7.1 runs a near stock version of Google's mobile OS, with two years of updates and three years of security patches guaranteed. It now runs the latest Android 9 Pie operating system, too. Plenty has been said about HMD's PureDisplay screen technology on the Nokia 7.1, and what it ultimately adds up to is a gorgeous display that supports HDR10 video content (that includes Netflix and Amazon Prime Video). What's also impressive is that this mid-ranger also sports a great dual camera setup (12MP + 5MP) on its rear, allowing users to take take brilliant depth-of-field shots with very little effort. On the front, you also get an 8MP snapper for selfies. Add to this a USB Type-C fast charging port, and what you have is the current high watermark for phones under the $500 price point. Read the full review: Nokia 7.1 (2018) http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/yPAvRJTiUW84mCrodV2MzK.jpg Though its been superseded by the G7 series, last year's G6 range still has plenty to offer. Some of the most immediate premium features it boasts include an 18:9 aspect ratio, allowing for more vertical space when reading articles and a wider playing field when gaming or watching videos. Despite this aspect ratio change and a significant bump in screen-size, the handsets have kept to a similar size courtesy of a considerable thinning of the top and bottom bezels, resulting in a display-to-body ratio that feels modern enough without entering notch territory. Another ‘premium’ trend that the series has adopted is a glass rear panel. This is an essential design point for handsets that offer wireless charging, but considering the G6 range doesn’t support this feature, it’s a purely aesthetic (and heavily smudge-laden) addition. It's exceptional fast-charging, and it’s a joy to see the G6 sporting the future-ready USB-C. You’ll also find the whole set running on an OS that’s delightfully close to the no-fuss stock Android operating system, but with just the right amount of clever Motorola features sprinkled on top. The G6 deftly balances its price with the features and performance you’d expect from a modern handset in this class. Despite sharing the same amount of RAM as its Play counterpart (3GB), the slight bump in its processor and graphics chip gives it a considerable performance edge over the more affordable alternative. Now, let’s consider the extra $80 you would need to drop to upgrade from the Play to the G6. You’ll be getting a snappy dual-lens rear camera, a USB-C port, NFC capabilities, an actual glass chassis, a front-facing fingerprint scanner, water-repellent coating, and a 1,080 x 2,160 display, bumping the pixel density up from 282ppi to 424ppi. Many of these upgrades would be worth the dollar-difference alone, but when combined with the performance boosts on tap, it’s easy to recommend forking out the little extra for the G6. It’s not without identically-priced competition, however — the notch-toting Huawei Nova 3e offers similar performance in an arguably trendier package. That said, fans of Motorola's midrange phones will find the Moto G6 to be a very attractive prospect. Read the full review: Motorola Moto G6 See the best Moto G6 outright deals here http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/xoMSXgZKdrDozttypqfS8M.jpg Once again offering a flagship feel at a fraction of the usual cost, this year's updated Nokia 6 (or the Nokia 6.1 as it's officially known) sports a terrifically sturdy build quality, also offering a pure Android One (which now supports Android Pie) experience for those who aren't willing to shell out for a Google Pixel 2. Its all-metal build is the first thing you're likely to notice, with a significant heft that makes it feel tough in comparison to most modern smartphones. Its matte finish feels smooth in the hand, with some metallic detailing around the phone's edges, buttons and camera offering a bit of added pizzazz. And, unlike most handsets in this price range, the Nokia 6.1 also sports a USB Type-C port for speedy data transfer and fast charging. That it also has a 3.5mm headphone jack is just the icing on the cake. At $399, it's great value, though there are some caveats — system data alone takes up over 12GB out of a 32GB total of onboard storage, leaving you with less than 20GB before you've even downloaded or saved a single thing. Thankfully, the phone allows for expandable storage thanks to its MicroUSB slot. Admittedly, its camera is nothing to write home about, taking adequate photos that probably won't blown anyone away. We also found that the Nokia 6.1 struggled to take decent low-light photos. Still, at this price it's probably unreasonable to expect flagship-quality snapshots (though the Oppo A57 and Sony Xperia XA1 come quite close), and in terms of design and overall performance, the Nokia 6.1 is a real winner. Read the full review: Nokia 6 (2018) http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/047c43e757f559493561b8bf6a15deb5.jpg It's really, really difficult to fit an Apple phone on a best cheap phones list, but there has to be at least one that's inexpensive enough for iOS fans who refuse to try Android. The cheapest is the iPhone 5S. The best deal we've been able to find through a carrier is Telstra, which has the 16GB version available for $369 on an pre-paid plan. Alternatively, you could buy it outright on the Kogan website for $429, no contracts required. You're only getting 16GB, but then again, so are entry-level iPhone SE owners. It comes in space gray or silver, has Touch ID and a still-impressive 8MP camera and runs iOS 10. Read the full review: iPhone 5S See the best iPhone 5S outright deals here http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/bkQwM5q56ewsg2MijeVwy3.jpg Sony has aced this phone’s design in a few respects. It looks and feels slick, with metal used in the right places. This is also one of the cheapest phones you’ll find with a camera that wouldn’t have looked out of place on a flagship a year or two ago. Inside, you get an ample 32GB of storage, and there’s also a microSD card slot (next to the nanoSIM) in the pull-out tray. Colour reproduction on the 720p screen is respectably rich and vivid, and the display is also super-bright with superb contrast. Max out the backlight and outdoors visibility is excellent. In Geekbench 4, the Sony Xperia XA1 scored a solid 3,628 points, around 200 less than the 3,824 score the Moto G5 Plus achieved in our tests. Don’t read too much into that, though. This phone is very much in the same league as the Moto G5. The XA1’s rear camera is among the very best at this price, using a 23MP sensor of 1/2.3-inch size, the same scale as some dedicated compact cameras, and produces images with great detail. Read the full review: Sony Xperia XA1 See the best Sony Xperia XA outright deals http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/sFZzpRBvfPyJ2BFAZWpzLA.jpg Often unofficially referred to as the ‘LG G6 Mini’, the LG Q6 takes that flagship phone’s design and shrinks it down slightly to deliver a much more attractive handset than its affordable price point would suggest. We’ve even seen it for as little as $299! The Q6 offers an impressive 18:9 FullVision display with reduced bezels. Dual SIM support is also included, and you can easily switch between two cards right from the device’s navigation bar, so when you consider that huge screen, this is a great device for international travellers with a lust for watching movies. It’s also quite capable when it comes to photography, with its 13MP rear camera producing some exceptional snaps under the right conditions. We’re also fans of the ability to switch between standard and wide-angle selfies. The LG Q6 isn’t without its downsides, though — it lacks a fingerprint scanner, and it’s slightly less powerful than some other competing phones in this price range. Still, you’re unlikely to find a prettier handset for under $400. Read the full review: LG Q6 See the best LG Q6 outright deals http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/QyGH5Q8e79BfmQZa9YNxf8.jpg Officially Australia's cheapest Android One phone (meaning it's as close to stock Android as a non-Pixel phone can be), this year's Nokia 3 (officially known as Nokia 3.1) is a great option for kids and first-time smartphone owners. Even if you're neither of those things, the Nokia 3.1 is also great for those who want to check out the latest versions of Android soon as they're released (it runs Android Oreo right of the box, and is guaranteed to receive at least two full software updates in the future). While it's not the snappiest budget phone out there, the Nokia 3.1 offers a quality build, a bright HD+ (720p) display with an 18:9 aspect ratio, a microSD card slot (allowing you to expand upon the 16GB of onboard storage that's included) and a decent 13MP primary camera with auto focus capability. Priced at just $249, it's hard to look past the Nokia 3.1 as a budget smartphone that'll let you see what Android One is all about. It's also ideal as a first phone, particularly for kids. Read the hands on review: Nokia 3 (2018) See the best Nokia 3 (2108) outright deals Check out how these cheaper models compare to our overall top Aussie smartphone pickshttp://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techradar/digital-home/~4/gUCn3Q2w8Ww

Last week, we reported on a Samsung Galaxy Tab S6 leak that showed a clear indentation along the rear of the tablet, strongly suggesting the inclusion of a magnetic S Pen for the productivity-focused device. Now, an exclusive new leak from Android Headlines has revealed some very official-looking renders which all but confirms a rear-mounted, magnetic stylus for Samsung's still-unannounced tablet. Best tablet 2019: the top tablets you can buy for the moneyBest rugged tablets of 2019: the best drop-proof tablets you can buyGoogle won't be making any more tabletshttp://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/BUUBsjRmkJ5tk9VV8W2x5g.jpg Samsung Galaxy Tab S6 with rear-mounted S Pen [via Android Headlines] Stuck on youAs you can see, the leaked render above shows the Tab S6's rumored magnetic S Pen, which seemingly snaps onto the tablet directly under a new dual camera setup on the rear of the device – the first to appear on any Samsung tablet. The design decision is sure to be a divisive one, as the rear-mounted S pen, which is suspected to charge wirelessly and boast Bluetooth functionality, would likely have to be detached each time a user wants to lay the tablet flat on a table – a proposition which has already drawn some very strong reactions around the TechRadar offices with some labelling it "awkward". Additionally, the unconfirmed device's leaked renders also show off its alleged keyboard cover, which now seemingly includes a kickstand that gives off strong Microsoft Surface Pro vibes. The Samsung Galaxy Tab S6 is expected to be officially unveiled in the coming weeks ahead of the Galaxy Note 10 reveal. You can check out the rest of the leaked renders, which show the device in multiple colors, over on Android Headlines. Can I use a tablet as a replacement for my smartphone?http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techradar/digital-home/~4/Q73Nz0anULg

With the security of personal information becoming an increasing priority amongst the general public, many tech companies are promising heightened protection in response, and are introducing new methods of dealing with any breaches once they've occurred. However, for users, half the battle is knowing whether or not you’ve even been affected, which is where websites like Have I Been Pwned can help. Created by security specialist Troy Hunt, the site can alert users if their email address has been found in any reported data breaches. Mozilla collaborated with Hunt late last year and has since incorporated his site’s data in Firefox’s own built-in Monitor tool. Monitor allowed users to receive notifications if the details they enter crop up in any future breaches, rather than just checking retrospectively. Firefox Monitor will notify you if your passwords have been compromisedFirefox now stops sites spamming you with authentication requestsMozilla launches new desktop password manager, Firefox LockwiseNow, as discovered by BleepingComputer, Mozilla plans to integrate this Monitor service to work in conjunction with its Lockwise password manager, aiming to have it ready in two versions time, for Firefox 70. This integration would allow the tools to cooperate, scanning any saved emails and passwords and cross-referencing them with the immense database of login details from Have I Been Pwned, actively alerting users if they’ve been affected and suggesting they change their password. While this feature will warn users of any existing accounts saved with Lockwise that have a password potentially exposed in a data breach, they won’t work retroactively. That means users will still need to manually check if their account credentials have been exposed in older breaches. As part of the new feature, more detailed stats will also be displayed on the extent of the impact on your account, including the number of email addresses affected, amount of breaches they are involved with, and the number of passwords exposed in the breaches. Firefox 70 is currently expected to see release by the end of October. Firefox 68 is here, with a new-look reader mode and recommended extensionsMozilla urges Firefox users to update browser immediately due to vulnerabilityhttp://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techradar/digital-home/~4/TMCds9I5eXI

It began in Canada in May and now it’s spreading. Immediately after changes to the photo-sharing platform were announced in April, Instagram began hiding the total number of likes on posts in Canada as a test. The design change meant that account owners could see how many likes they have, but nobody else will be able to tell. How this change has been received is as yet unknown, but Instagram is expanding its testing ground to six other countries – Australia, New Zealand, Japan, Ireland and Brazil. Starting July 18, total like counts will disappear from posts on the main feed, profiles and permalink pages. Users will be informed of the change via a message appearing on the top of their feed. http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/A8VNX532XsGU5grgVTZQwb.jpg Users will be informed of the changes via a message Say goodbyeInstagram has acknowledged that online bullying is a major problem on the platform and has rolled out two new tools to combat the issue. It also came under pressure when the killer of a teenage girl posted images of her body on Instagram – they were online for hours before being taken down. According to Mia Garlick, the Director of Public Policy for Facebook and Instagram in Australia and New Zealand, this change is to make the platform less competitive. “We hope this test will remove the pressure of how many likes a post will receive, so you can focus on sharing the things you love,” she said in a statement. While the average user won’t mind too much, this change could affect influencers in a massive way. However, Instagram says the testing won’t impact businesses or influencers as no changes will be made to measurement tools like Insights and Ads Manager, where likes and engagement metrics will continue to be recorded. How to delete your Instagram account foreverhttp://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techradar/digital-home/~4/NLZDbVmJDBI

If you're still searching for a killer phone deal post-Prime Day, then you've come to the right place. Walmart's 'The Big Save' sale has been extended until today with sitewide discounts on tech, appliances, home items, and more. One of the best deals we've seen is the Samsung Galaxy S8 Plus phone that's on sale for just $237.99. That's a massive $600 price cut for the refurbished Samsung smartphone. The Samsung Galaxy S8 Plus features a beautiful 6.2-inch end-to-end display that flows seamlessly into the aluminum shell. You can take crisp and clear pictures on the Samsung phone with an impressive 12MP rear camera and 8MP front camera. The front-facing camera provides an Auto Focus feature which tracks faces resulting in extra sharp selfies. The S8 Plus packs 64GB of storage and includes a 3,500mAh battery that claims to last a day-and-a-half. This particular offer from Walmart is for a refurbished phone, which means the phone has passed an industry-leading 65+ point inspection with no signs of wear and tear. Walmart's summer sale ends tomorrow, so you should snag this killer phone deal before it's gone. You can shop more of the best Walmart deals that are happening now on TVs, appliances, laptops, and more. Interested in other S8 deals? Se the best Samsung Galaxy S8 deals that are currently available. http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techradar/digital-home/~4/rSY1GHzSd40

Microsoft's exclusive Gears of War series is one of the most popular to hit Xbox, with the Lancer and its chainsaw bayonet as recognizable as Halo’s iconic Warthog. And at the Microsoft E3 2019 keynote, the company announced Gears 5 is coming out September 10, 2019. Called Gears 5 rather than Gears 'of War' 5 the latest game in the series will have a female protagonist, Kait. Marcus Phoenix will still appear, but Kait will take the starring role as she leads her team on a personal mission continuing from the emotional ending of Gears of War 4. Microsoft shared more details about Gears 5 during it's E3 2019 conference: a new 3-player online and local co-op mode 'Escape,' a special character pack featuring Terminator skins in a crossover with the upcoming 'Terminator: Dark Fate' film, and a new teaser. Another fun addition: Gears 5 will get a Map Editor, a first for the series, per an Xbox official tweet. And if you sign up for the new Xbox Game Pass Ultimate, you can play the game four days early on September 6. [update: Ahead of July’s Versus tech tests, The Coalition has released a trailer showing some of the new features that will be in the new Arcade mode. Watch it below.] Hands on: we got to try out Gears 5's Escape ModeCut to the chaseWhat is it? The fifth game in the main Gears of War series, potentially acting as the middle chapter in a second trilogy When’s it out? September 10, 2019What can I play it on? Xbox One, and PC (maybe. See below for more details) Gears 5 trailersAhead of some Versus Tech Tests in July, The Coalition released a trailer showing off the game’s brand new Arcade mode. At E3 2019, Microsoft gave more details about Gears 5, including the new 3-player co-op mode Escape. Here's the trailer, showing off the three new characters who will fight to get out of a Locust-infested area. Microsoft and The Coalition studio head Rod Ferguson confirmed Gears of War 5 during the Xbox Keynote at E3 2018. To go alongside the announcement we got a new trailer starring Kait Diaz, Marcus Fenix and the rest of the Gears crew. Locusts will again play a major role in the series when the game comes out later this year. You can check out the Gears 5 announcement trailer below: Gears 5 release dateGears 5 is coming on September 10, 2019, as Microsoft announced during its E3 2019 keynote. But you can get it four days early on September 6 if you subscribe to the Xbox Game Pass Ultimate. Gears 5 news and featureshttp://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/59shEW7yCiAxisDBk7kGoU.jpg Multiplayer Tech Tests coming in July The Coalition has confirmed that it will be kicking off multiplayer tech tests for Gears 5 in July. The testing will take place across two sessions: July 19 to July 22 and July 26 to July 29. Pre-load will be available from July 17. According to the studio, those taking part in the tests, whether they’re on Xbox One or PC, will be playing three distinct Versus modes across two of the game’s new multiplayer maps. These modes will be Arcade, Escalation and King of the Hill. There will also be a chance to try out the new features Bootcamp and Tour of Duty. Access to the tests is included with Xbox Game Pass memberships but non-members can also get involved by pre-ordering Gears 5 from the Windows and Xbox stores or through participating third-party retailers who will be distributing the access codes. System requirements If you want to purchase the game or take part in testing sessions on PC you’ll need to make sure your machine is up to scratch. The Coalition has confirmed the minimum, recommended and ideal system specs required for Gears 5. Recommended specs Min OS: Windows 10 May 2019 UpdateCPU: AMD Ryzen 3 or Intel i5 SkylakeGPU: AMD Radeon RX 570 or RX 5700/ Nvidia GTX 970 or GTX 1660 TiVRAM: 4GBRAM: 8GBHDD: 15GBNo loot boxes or season passes As we count down the days until Gear 5's September release, The Coalition has announced some more details around how players will be earning new content and items as they play. In Gears 5, all DLC maps will be free in both matchmaking and private play scenarios and there won't be any loot boxes in sight. New content will be earned through the Tour of Duty system. This will involve daily challenges and medals that you can complete to rank up and earn cosmetic rewards and you'll also get some of the in-game currency, Iron. It will, according to Coalition, be clear what's required of you to earn each item and there will be no premium, pay-only content in Tour of Duty. As well as getting a small amount of Iron through Tour of Duty, you'll also be able to buy it using real-world currency. All store purchases will also be direct so there won't be any RNG causing issues. Another way to unlock new content will simply be by playing - supply drops will happen at random as you rack up the hours and these can't be purchased with real-world currency. If you get a duplicate item, it'll automatically be scrapped and you'll be able to use the remnants to craft new items or upgrade skills. E3 2019 We got hands on with Gears 5 during E3 2019. Our first impressions of Escape Mode are that it's a fun co-op experience but that it runs the risk of growing repetitive. XO18 show During the XO18 show in November, 2018, The Coalition studio head Rod Ferguson promised "a bunch of innovations, a bunch of changes, a bunch of things that are really exciting and different but still feel like Gears of War" (via GamesRadar). Cult of personality During the XO18 show in November, 2018, The Coalition studio head Rod Ferguson explained the studio wants to prove it can still provide "an authentic Gears of War experience" and that Gears 5 will be about "bringing The Coalition’s personality to the game" (via GamesRadar). http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/f66Pz9Xcow66QSeSn5tTeH.png E3 2018 Gears of War 5 was confirmed during E3 2018, and will be called Gears 5 to be released in 2019. Following on from the ending of Gears of War 4, this game will follow Kait as the star of a new trilogy. Breaking her chain of command, the game will follow Kait as she breaks the chain of command and takes her squad on a decidedly personal mission. PC Gaming Microsoft has been pushing its PC Play Anywhere program, that sees you able to take your Xbox games and play them on Windows PCs. Gears of War 4 made use of it way back in 2016, so there’s no reason why Microsoft would drop the service for a sequel. (Which is a nice change, considering Gears of War 2 and 3 never saw releases on PC.) http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/wS9sjNDoQjSXXQ5ahqpSug.jpg What we want to see from Gears 5Unanswered questions Gears of War 4 ended with JD and Kait fighting their way through the Swarm to try and save Reyna, Kait’s mother, only to find it was too late. Reyna wasn’t dead but the Swarm were trying to integrate her into their hive and removing her would kill her. But, at Reyna’s request, JD and Kait tear her away from the Swarm. Before she does, Reyna teases a great mystery: she gives Kait a necklace that she says she was given by her own mother, Kait’s grandmother. The symbol is one Gears fans will recognize looks remarkably similar to one worn by Queen Myrrah of the Locust, your nemesis in original trilogy. A Gears sequel would have to explore this further – are Reyna and Kait descendants of the Locust? http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/CL2qgmVt4Y52myE4d87Uv4.jpg There are hints that Adam Fenix, Marcus’ father, JD’s grandfather was close to Myrrah before the wars, so there’s a chance that Locusts and humans coupled but it would be new territory for a Gears of War game to explore. Wish List Besides continuing the campaign story, we’d like to see more of the changed world we were introduced to in Gears of War 4. Taking place 25 years after the original trilogy, the sequel is set in a world where humans were forced to abandon fossil fuels and collect together in small martial law-governed encampments and violent windstorms sweep the land, tearing up anything left unprotected. Gears of War 5 should explore that further, showing us how desperate humans are trying to fight off the Swarm on a planet that is trying to kill them. http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/6LnzTr2Z7JY6QAVitwvpLE.jpg The Coalition worked to make Gears of War 4’s battlefields more dynamic places, giving you the ability to pull enemies out of cover and leap forward with short range charges. A sequel should continue this, giving players greater freedom of movement and ways to break stalemates between human and Swarm forces. The original Gears of War cemented the cover shooter as a subgenre, now its sequels have to rattle its foundations by taking away the safety of sitting behind a low wall. (Image credits: The Coalition/Microsoft) These are the best Xbox One games you can play right nowhttp://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techradar/digital-home/~4/hYxzVnwwM4E

Turn on your console today and you’ll find a rich library of games that put game-making into the player’s hands. Super Mario Maker 2 and Dragon Quest Builders 2 are just two recent critically acclaimed examples, while Minecraft is now the best-selling game of all time. Of course, this has its history in the modding culture on PC and dates further back to computers like the Commodore 64 which, besides its own software library, allowed anyone to program their own games, giving birth to the bedroom coders of the 1980s. But these coding options didn’t really exist for the games console, not least because these were considered more as entertainment for your living room TV rather than a workstation. This all changed with LittleBigPlanet on the PS3, its creators Media Molecule headed up by ex-members of Lionhead, a studio that embraced a culture of tinkering with technology and giving players agency. Console creationhttp://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/Ltf8kJ6gML8p9556F5UP5M.jpg LittleBigPlanet brought build-your-own games to the mainstream, with the emphasis on sharing them. “We believe that people like expressing themselves in lots of different ways, like gardening, sewing, or making music,” says Siobhan Reddy, Media Molecule co-founder and studio director. “The idea was to give players a home to build upon those experiences they had with the Commodore 64, Lego, dress-up - all of these things that we all collectively, individually loved, and bring that to a console experience.” Back in 2006, pitching LittleBigPlanet as a platforming game where you could also create and share your own levels actually came at a good time, as it coincided with the rise of user-generated content-sharing platforms like MySpace, Flickr, and YouTube - though there were doubts along the way. “The idea was to give players a home to build upon those experiences they had with the Commodore 64, Lego, dress-up - all of these things that we all collectively, individually loved, and bring that to a console experience.â€Siobhan Reddy - Media Molecule “I think what became more challenging as time went by was people believing that we would be able to build a creative community,” says Reddy. The true test came with the game’s public beta a month before launch, which she recalls watching the results from their conference room screen. “We knew it would take about half an hour for someone to get through the first bit of the game that would unlock Create,” Reddy explains. “So the clock's ticking down and we're thinking, 'will someone publish something?' And then when we saw that first creation, we're like, okay, all right. And then it just followed and flowed.” LittleBigPlanet allowed for an incredible breadth of player expression and customization in both its adorable mascot Sackboy and its levels, yet it was also within the constraints of a physics-based platformer. By the time the team had shipped LittleBigPlanet 2 in 2011, they were ready to break free of those constraints for something far more freeform and ambitious, which brings us to Dreams. No dream too big or smallhttp://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/jokAeQk8dNnTHbgnDmTWxa.jpg If you want to just paint, sculpt, or doodle about in Dreams, well, you can. Currently available in early access on PS4, there’s no simple way to describe Dreams. Sure, you can use it to create your own games, while the final version will also include a fully playable campaign, but it’s really a rich smorgasbord of creation tools comparable to Photoshop, Blender, Garage Band, and YouTube, albeit in a playful form using either the DualShock 4 or PlayStation Move controllers. And while the infinite possibilities can seem daunting for anyone with blank canvas syndrome, the beauty is that you can enjoy Dreams purely by noodling and tinkering with just one element. There may be people who still want to make their own solo projects, but whether you’re interested in creating beautiful environments or interesting character models, the creations become their own reward in the Dreamiverse, with one such favorite trend of Reddy’s being the abundant variety of animals that players are making. "That’s the dream - that people would riff on each other’s ideas they share.â€Siobhan Reddy - Media Molecule “I particularly love the pelican,” Reddy says. “And now someone’s made a couple of little games about the pelican, and I love that it’s gone on to have a little life of its own. That’s the dream - that people would riff on each other’s ideas they share.” There’s also an abundance of support both from in-depth tutorials that cover the basics to masterclasses, as well as from regular community jams to encourage you into the various available pathways. “You can come into it and just collage a game together, but what I’m also noticing is that people are dipping their toes a little bit more into logic or animation,” says Reddy. “It might be that you always stay on the collage, or it might be that actually you sort of incrementally learn different aspects of game development, or sculpture, or animation, or music. Wherever the mood takes you, we want to provide a pathway.” Care in the communityhttp://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/wRkNGZ2fz2VLRiEQjexp9J.jpg Perhaps unsurprisingly, the Dreams community really love making animals. To an extent, Media Molecule has evolved from a traditional game developer to tool creators, as well as curators and moderators, fostering and facilitating a creative community. There’s probably an advantage to shaping this community early on, in smaller numbers in early access, to prevent the trolling or toxicity that can plague other games. According to community manager Abbie Heppe, Dreams already benefits from having a positive community from the outset. After all, the most common words used among the community have been ‘love’ and ‘thanks’. “I think as much as there's always been a hunger for people playing games, there's also been the fact that people like putting their own imprint on the games that they play."Siobhan Reddy - Media Molecule “I think part of that is driven by the fact that people are doing creative things, and they need to put themselves out there,” says Heppe. “You see that in professional congresses too. People need that sort of support, feedback, and encouragement from people around them. It makes people think about how they react and respond to others.” Dreams is certainly the most ambitious sandbox for creating just about anything you can think of, but Reddy also modestly refers to it as just one of many other creative experiences, especially where today even traditional games are featuring creative modes of their own, whether it’s Overwatch, Fortnite or even Assassin’s Creed Odyssey. “I think as much as there's always been a hunger for people playing games, there's also been the fact that people like putting their own imprint on the games that they play,” Reddy explains. ”I love the fact that this generation is growing up where it's completely normal to have creativity as part of their game experiences. "It's really awesome that we're a generation where that's really celebrated, because it’s obviously something that we love.” Beyond the recipe: the developers trying to improvise cooking in gameshttp://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techradar/digital-home/~4/FVLo1uVjHqA

It won't make you happy, you won't laugh but what we can say for certain is Chernobyl is a must-watch. Yes...weird intro we know, but Chernobyl is easily one of the best shows around really, you just have to watch Chernobyl online - here's how. If the cult following, massive love from TV reviewers and now - a few Emmy nominations - is anything to go by, this is possibly the best show around right now. It blends the horrific reality of the disaster with impressive story telling, incredible acting and scenes that will shock. We can safely tell you that this show isn't an easy ride, but we haven't watched anything quite as compelling in a long time. The real testament to just how brilliant it is its current position as the number 1 TV show on IMDb...of all time...just one month after its release. So if you're ready to watch the best TV show around right now (IMDb doesn't lie) then you're in the right place. We've tracked down all of the best locations to watch Chernobyl online, no matter where you live. We've listed all of the options below. The entire show has now completely aired but if you're a bit late to the band wagon or want to watch it all again (you're brave!) then all of the episodes are now available to watch on catch up. We've listed all of the options if you want to watch Chernobyl online down below. Watch Chernobyl online from outside your country:If you find yourself in the unlucky position where you're out of the country, on holiday or temporarily abroad when you want to watch the show, don't panic just yet - there is still a chance to watch Chernobyl online as it happens. Using a little handy trick, you can get around geo-blocks and digital borders using a VPN. This will allow you to gain access to all the dramatic Chernobyl content as it happens without even having to be in one of the countries its airing in by changing your IP. That way you can binge watch the show on your holiday. Which VPN is best for you? Our personal favourite is ExpressVPN. And how do you use that to watch Chernobyl online? Read on to find out all you need to know. http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/x4WvmjGdnEUCFeqhMUrnWo.jpg How to watch Chernobyl online in the US:Binge on the best TV with our guide to TV streaming services for cord cuttershttp://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/SFNJ5LrHn6npyWTKVdbpWo.jpg How to watch Chernobyl online in the UK: http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/jgvvohCEmS99W9XuRfJMSo.jpg How to watch Chernobyl online in Canada: http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/D39crXd3gob7KPsE3LAFUo.jpg How to watch Chernobyl online in Australia: Watch the Chernobyl trailer:http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/ebGZgkd4qVX7mUuvz3WNkH.jpg http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techradar/digital-home/~4/IaeJm_rMshU

We've known that a new slate of emojis are coming to smartphones toward the end of the year, and mere hours after Apple showed its take on them and announced when it'd range them on its phones, Google has done the same. In February, the Unicode Consortium unveiled what the new icons would be allowing Apple and Google (as well as others) to go away and develop individual looks with unique aesthetics. While we knew what the emojis would be, we didn't know exactly how they'd look on each platform. This is what we're expecting from Android QCould the emojis be here in time for the Google Pixel 4?These are the best smartphonesWhile Apple's icons are a little blobby and 3D-like, similar to a cartoon, Google's gone for its flatter and more basic aesthetic, like stickers. This year, the emojis focus on diversity and inclusivity with icons portraying disabled people, couples of all different genders and races. Plus there's also the addition of an adorable otter. Apple announced it would release the emojis to its devices towards the end of the year, likely along with iOS 13 in September, and now we know Google will include the emojis in Android Q when that rolls out in August. If that's the case, it seems Google will beat Apple in releasing the icons. Apparently Apple was the company that petitioned Unicode to include the diverse emojis though. We've chosen a select few of the emojis from both Apple and Google so you can compare them. Apple vs Google: the great emoji showdownAccording to Apple, these are the emojis we use most.http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techradar/digital-home/~4/8etp5RLoUrU

Microsoft has announced a major new partnership with AT&T that could net the company as much as $2 billion. The deal will see the American telco giant switch to Microsoft's Azure cloud system as the two companies work together on technologies such as cloud, AI and 5G to improve the lives of customers around the world. AT&T will also move many of its employees over to the Microsoft 365 office suite, giving access to tools such as Word, PowerPoint, Excel and more. What is public cloud?5G: everything you need to knowMicrosoft launches Azure cloud services for AI and blockchainCommittedAT&T says the move is part of its transformation to become a "public cloud first" company, migrating most of its non-network workloads to the public cloud by 2024. The deal is not exclusive, with AT&T free to utilise other cloud providers alongside Azure - a point it highlighted with a seperate deal with IBM yesterday that will involve cloud migration. “AT&T and Microsoft are among the most committed companies to fostering technology that serves people,” said AT&T CEO John Donovan. “By working together on common efforts around 5G, the cloud, and AI, we will accelerate the speed of innovation and impact for our customers and our communities.” AT&T was the first US operator to switch on 5G, and is anticipating a huge growth in mobile data in coming years that will be supported by Azure and other Microsoft technologies. The companies have already worked together on a number of products and services, with networking, IoT, and blockchain on the market now, and say they expect to announce additional services later in 2019. “AT&T is at the forefront of defining how advances in technology, including 5G and edge computing, will transform every aspect of work and life,” said Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella. “The world’s leading companies run on our cloud, and we are delighted that AT&T chose Microsoft to accelerate its innovation. Together, we will apply the power of Azure and Microsoft 365 to transform the way AT&T’s workforce collaborates and to shape the future of media and communications for people everywhere.” Best cloud computing services of 2019http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techradar/digital-home/~4/dB31er62gls

The UK did it first, hitting hard with drama-filled dating TV and now the US is here. For those big fans in America, you can now watch Love Island USA online! Exciting news? We think so. Now, that news will either fill you with euphoria or leave you perplexed, asking yourself 'what's a Love Island?'. And if you fall into the latter of those groups, you are in for a treat. A show that dumps a group of singletons into a remote villa, leaving them to couple up, complete challenges and fight (metaphorically) for a big cash prize, Love Island UK has been winning over the British public for half a decade. And now - after a cult following has formed in the States - there is finally a US version, meaning you can watch Love Island USA online and root for your favorite couples. So, of course, the question you're here for - where and when can I watch this dating phenomenon take place? Well the first episode airs tonight (July 9) at 8pm ET, 7pm CT, 8pm PT with a special pilot 90 minute episode. From then on, you can tune in nightly, Monday to Friday (yes, this is a daily occurrence) at that same time to see what the islanders have been up to. With no internet access and very little to do, that tends to involve some odd interactions. Ready to begin your brand new TV obsession? You can find all of the details of how to watch Love Island USA online below. Badly timed your summer vacation and will be out of the US while the show airs? You can find out how to catch the show abroad below as well. Want to see what the UK version is all about? Watch Love Island onlinehttp://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/VgyagGS9HpAEPUQtUJBfrg.jpg http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/x4WvmjGdnEUCFeqhMUrnWo.jpg How to watch Love Island USA online in the US:Luckily for all of those keen Love Island fans in the US, the show is easy to watch. It will be aired on a nightly basis (Monday-Friday) on CBS at 8pm ET, 5pm PT. That means you simply have to gather around your TV each evening for drama soaked TV. If you want to live stream the show to your mobile, tablet or computer you can do so via CBS all access. That will cost you $5.99 a month or you can get a week free with a trial. It currently looks like CBS will have exclusive access to the show so your options do come down to watching the show on CBS or CBS All Access. How to watch Love Island online USA from outside the countryIf you’re from the US and will be missing all of the drama due to a poorly-timed holiday then don't worry, as you can still watch Love Island USA online, even on your holiday. Don't expect it to show much around the world, it doesn't even look like the UK is showing the US counterpart on domestic television. By using a VPN, you can change your IP address to one back in the US which will allow you to stream the event using your CBS account. Keep reading and we’ll show you how. http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/ebGZgkd4qVX7mUuvz3WNkH.jpg http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techradar/digital-home/~4/ZzpMwZ8H-xE

Over the last few months we've been enjoying some pretty low prices for the best RAM and SSDs. However, that might be ending soon, as some SSD manufacturers are reportedly discussing price hikes. According to a report from Digitimes, SSD manufacturers are planning to raise prices by 10-15% on NAND flash, which would make SSDs more expensive. This is reportedly on top of increases to DRAM module pricing, which would make RAM more expensive. Check out the best gaming PCsDid you miss Amazon Prime Day?Don't forget about the best motherboardsDon't panic yet, though: it's important to note that this isn't confirmed, and is little more than rumor at this point. But if you were planning to jump on that cheap SSD deal you've been scoping out, it wouldn't hurt to pull the trigger right now. If these reports are to be believed, RAM and SSD pricing could jump to where they were back in 2018, when it was ludicrously expensive to even upgrade to middling RAM or a small SSD. We just hope that if the prices do increase, they don't get to a level where the average consumer can't get into computing. It is a shame, too, as it is one of the best times to build a new computer, especially now that AMD Ryzen 3rd Generation processors, Nvidia Super and AMD Navi graphics cards have finally arrived. Check out the wonderful world of PC ComponentsVia Hexushttp://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techradar/digital-home/~4/cDDdYLnegPE

While Amazon Prime Day is officially over, there are still some hot deals that are available on the tech giant's site. Our favorite Prime Day extended sale is the Echo Dot smart speaker that's on sale for $24.99. That's a 50% discount and only $3 more than the Prime Day all-time low price. UK readers can also still get the Echo Dot on sale for £24.99. The Echo Dot works with Amazon Alexa to play music, answer questions, check the news, and more completely hands-free. You can also use your voice to stream songs from services like Amazon Music, Apple Music, and Spotify and listen to audiobooks from Audible. The smart speaker works with thousands of smart home devices to turn on lights, adjust the temperature, lock the door without lifting a finger. The 3rd-generation Echo Dot is available in charcoal, heather gray and sandstone so you can match the smart speaker to your home decor. Like we mentioned above, the Echo Dot is only $3/£3 more than the Prime Day price and unlike yesterday's sale, this deal is available to everyone and not just Prime members. The best Echo Dot deals:Echo Dot: common questionsIf you're undecided on the Echo Dot or want to learn more about the smart speaker, we've answered some common questions below to help make your buying decision. What is the Echo Dot, and what can it do? The Echo Dot is a compact smart speaker that connects to Wifi to work with Amazon Alexa. You can use your voice to ask Alexa questions, play music, and control other compatible smart home devices. Is there a monthly fee for an Echo Dot? No, there's no monthly fee with the Echo Dot, just the one-time fee for the smart speaker. You'll need an Amazon account to get started, and you'll need to download the Echo app. What's the difference between the Echo and Echo Dot? The most significant difference between the Dot and the Echo is the size and price. The Echo is bigger than the Dot and produces a powerful sound. The Echo is also more expensive, costing $20 / £30 more than the Dot. You can see more of the best cheap Amazon Echo prices and deals that are currently available. You can also shop the best Walmart deals on TVs, laptops, appliances, and more. http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techradar/digital-home/~4/yfnDfEA8C0g