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Despite a somewhat inconsistent record with smartphone games, Nintendo is continuing to add to its roster, revealing that its next effort will be a mobile Mario Kart. Update: Mario Kart Tour is out in closed beta on Android, and we've updated this piece with what we know. In short: it looks to bring a faithful (though vertically-aligned) Mario Kart experience, though there seems to be a lot of in-game currencies and microtransactions you'll have to deal with to get all your favorite characters. First announced as in-development in February 2018, Mario Kart Tour is still something of a mystery as Nintendo didn’t proffer any details on its gameplay, pricing model or even a firm release date. But we've started to see footage from the game's closed beta, which launched in May, and it seems like the Mario Kart gameplay we know and love has been faithfully reproduced. Following the failure of Miitomo, Mario Kart Tour is a good sign that Nintendo is going to be investing in mobile adaptations of its more popular IPs, rather than trying anything more weird or new any time soon. While we don’t know too much about the game thus far, this is everything we do know, and we’ll keep updating this page as more details are revealed. Cut to the chaseWhat is it? Mario Kart on mobile!When can I play it? It'll be released any time between April 2018 and March 2019What can I play it on? Nothing confirmed but it's likely to be iOS and AndroidMario Kart Tour – when can I play it?Mario Kart Tour's exact release date is yet to be revealed, with Nintendo giving us a pretty wide window. We know the game will be coming, but we don't know when. Fortunately, it has been released in closed beta on Android, which is promising. We'll take this as a hopeful sign for a 2019 release. We were right to be a little pessimistic, as the game went far past our expectation of an 'early 2019' release. Nintendo’s mobile titles have historically been subject to delays, and given the fact that Fire Emblem Heroes and Animal Crossing Pocket Camp are still undergoing updates, we’re not sure when the time is right to push another big IP title out. Mario Kart Tour – how much will it cost?Going on Nintendo’s past mobile releases, we can't be absolutely sure whether Mario Kart Tour will be a free-to-play title with microtransactions, or a one-time purchase game with no paid extras. Now that the closed beta has come out, chock-full of microtransactions and multiple in-game currencies, we're pretty sure this is how the final game will be monetized. A recent report from the Wall Street Journal has said that the game will be ‘free-to-start’. While this is a little unclear, Super Mario Run is also a free-to-start game which does give us some idea as to how the model could translate to Mario Kart Tour. It's still possible that Mario Kart Tour will – like Super Mario Run – be released as a free trial which gives access to one or two tracks and a limited number of characters and cards. After players have gone through this trial, they’ll then be able to purchase the full game for around $10/£10 and get access to all of the game’s features as well as free updates at later stages. It's possible that the game will be set up like Animal Crossing Pocket Camp, which is free to download but has certain content which can only be accessed for a fee. Although this is a model that would also work for Mario Kart Tour; we could quite easily see the game being free to download with certain tracks, characters and cars requiring an additional purchase. But it's far more likely that Mario Kart Tour will go the route of previously-released free-to-play Nintendo titles like Fire Emblem Heroes that run on gacha-style pay-for-a-random-item/character via in-game currency, which can always be bought with IRL cash. It's a setup that has worked well for Nintendo: two years after Fire Emblem Heroes launched, players have spent a combined $500 million on the game, per Sensor Tower. Hopefully the monetization mechanisms in Mario Kart Tour won't be too obnoxious – Nintendo did just tell its partners to rein in the microtransactions. Mario Kart Tour – which platforms will it be on?Though Nintendo hasn’t confirmed anything here just yet, we think it’s safe to assume that Mario Kart Tour will be released on both iOS and Android as other mobile titles have been. Mario Kart Tour – how will it play?Unfortunately, Nintendo hasn’t released any official details on how Mario Kart Tour will actually play. But if the closed beta is anything to go by, the game looks to be a streamlined version of the console games. Take a look at this beta footage and explainer: Characters automatically drive forward while you drag your finger on the screen left and right to turn. Some items (like invincibility stars) are automatically used if you pick them up, others are activated just by touching the screen. It's a lot like how Super Mario Run, Nintendo's first mobile game, was simplified from its console versions. There’s even room in this kind of control system for motion controls, whereby players turn their phone onto its side and turn the screen like they would a steering wheel, though we haven't seen that gameplay implemented yet. As in the latest Mario Kart games, players pick a driver, kart and glider, then they’re matched against seven other players online. Maps are a mix from the entire series: the initial Toad Cup features courses from SNES, 3DS and GameCube versions of Mario Kart. There is a purported list of maps collected in a ResetEra thread. How the multiplayer element will come into the game has yet to be confirmed, too, though the beta information does suggest it will be 8-person multiplayer connecting over the internet. Nintendo’s mobile games usually require that the player be online but whether they’ll face off in live races or simply race around an AI populated track and try to establish themselves on a variety of leaderboards is currently unclear. A big part of the fun in Mario Kart is the unpredictability of facing-off against real opponents, so we’d definitely like to see live races rather than a leaderboard system. While details are limited just now, keep checking back because we'll keep updating as we hear more about Mario Kart Tour! These are the best games on the Nintendo Switchhttp://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techradar/digital-home/~4/g3IIfcEAVnA
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The next Nintendo mobile game, Mario Kart Tour, is officially out, but only in closed beta in the US and Japan and only on Android. Players and news outlets have already reported it’s a faithful 3D racing experience...with microtransactions and multiple in-game currencies. That’s right – it’s free to play, at least in this beta version. It’s important to remember that the game may change based on feedback, especially its monetization, though Nintendo doesn’t shy away from the roulette-style “gacha” item buying, which appears again in Mario Kart Tour. But the gameplay at least seems fun, and appropriately simplified for mobile, which, yes, means it's played vertically. Characters automatically drive forward while you drag your finger on the screen left and right to turn. Some items (like invincibility stars) are automatically used if you pick them up, others are activated just by touching the screen, according to Kotaku. As in the latest Mario Kart games, players pick a driver, kart and glider, then they’re matched against seven other players online. Maps are a mix from the entire series: the initial Toad Cup features courses from SNES, 3DS and GameCube versions of Mario Kart. There is a purported list of maps collected in a ResetEra thread. And then there’s the in-game item economy. In a word: collecting. In a few words: very easily-monetizable collecting. Not surprised, but hope for moreThere are three currencies (of a sort) in the mobile game. The first, and most anodyne, are Grand Stars – you get these when you finish races or challenges, Stars unlock gifts, which might have the second and more important currency, green gems. Five gems gets you one item straight from a warp pipe – this is where you’ll get new drivers, karts and gliders to expand your collection. Each gets particular bonuses on different maps, with rarer ones granted advantages on more maps, at least what we’ve seen thus far. You can see where this gacha train is choo-chooing to. If you played Nintendo’s other wildly profitable mobile game, Fire Emblem Heroes, you know how the company has used this in the past: lure players into paying for more and more rolls of the dice to get the characters/items they crave (and it works: the playerbase spent $500 million on the free-to-play game in the two years after its February 2017 launch, per Sensor Tower). It seems like Nintendo is setting up to do the same with Mario Kart Tour. Players can already buy gems. They can’t buy the third currency, gold coins – which are awarded based on performances or found mid-race – but you can spend gems to enter coin-collecting mini-races. Oh, and there’s a heart-based stamina bar (like the “energy” in other F2P games) that diminishes over time, and when you run out, you can’t play. You can wait until they refill naturally...or pay gems to get back on the track. We’ll see how the game plays, as even a little F2P Mario Kart action is better than nothing, and look to what Nintendo may change before the game’s full release date (which is still TBD). What will you play Mario Kart Tour on? Here's our best gaming phones listhttp://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techradar/digital-home/~4/3kwz1a-rYQ0
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The Xbox features in Windows 10 have been fairly simple, with quick tools for capturing game footage and sharing it. That's changing today, just after the launch of the Windows 10 May 2019 Update. Now, the Xbox Game Bar includes extra overlay options for social features, audio, Spotify and more. Microsoft presented the details in an .Before, pressing "Windows Key + G" while gaming would open up a simple overlay with tools to begin recording, capture screenshots, broadcast to Mixer and other tools related to capturing your gameplay. While those tools are still present in the new Xbox Game Bar, you'll now be able to pull up other players' streams while you game. And, those features have got a lot more company to make the Game Bar increasingly useful. The audio tool will serve as a volume mixer so you can balance the audio coming through different apps. The Xbox Social and Xbox Chat tools will let you easily connect with and chat with your Xbox friends. And, a Looking for Group feature can help you find other gamers to play with. Microsoft has also integrated Spotify into the Game Bar, so you can control streaming music playback in the overlay. And, finally, no gaming overlay is complete without a system performance monitor to see how your CPU, GPU and other parts are working while you game. This is what we want to see in the next XboxHere are the details on Microsoft's Project xCloud streaming serviceThis is everything we know about the PS5A crowded fieldThe Xbox Game Bar's new features may be on point, but they're entering a space that already has competition. Steam has its own overlay, as does Ubisoft's uPlay and EA's Origin. The popular voice chat app Discord also has an in-game overlay. And, for capturing features, Nvidia's GeForce Experience is readily accessible on computers with recent Nvidia graphics cards. Microsoft may have one key advantage, though. While the other overlays require the specific software to be running in order to use them (or hardware and software in the case of GeForce Experience), the Xbox Game Bar comes at the OS level. Any computer running Windows 10 will have the Xbox Game Bar available across almost any game. It should work with games from Steam, Origin, uPlay and more. That ubiquity could be a strong point in favor of the Xbox Game Bar, but limitations like streaming via Mixer only could hold it back for now. We'll have to see if Microsoft has even more in store for the tool at E3 2019. Here's what's exepcted at Microsoft's E3 2019 keynoteVia The Verge http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techradar/digital-home/~4/lpPudIBt9II
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Cloud content management company Box has announced its all new Box Relay to help simplify business processes across organization's extended enterprise of employees, partners and customers. The company's revamped version of its key workflow product features a powerful new workflow engine, simplified user experience and a rich menu of triggers, conditions and outcomes that will make it easier for businesses to automate processes around content and improve efficiency without the need for intensive IT support. Chief product officer at Box, Jeetu Patel explained why the company chose to revamp Box Relay, saying: “Enterprise workflows built around content like document reviews and approvals and employee on-boarding and off-boarding need to be reimagined. They’re disconnected from the apps teams use every day, locked behind IT, and don’t support external collaboration. The new Box Relay brings powerful automation to improve these critical business processes, whether it’s creating sales proposals and marketing assets, or driving budget sign-offs and contract renewals, and more. Enterprises now have one platform for secure content management, workflow, and collaboration that’s built for how we work today.” IBM and Box bring the power of AI to your work processesThe security features you should expect from your work management softwareMisconfigured Box accounts lead to sensitive data leaksBox RelayBox Relay's powerful new workflow engine includes an extensive list of 'if this then that' (IFTT) triggers and outputs to help businesses automate multi-step processes including both sequential and parallel workflows. It also supports conditional logic which gives users the ability to route content based on metadata attributes such as date, dropdown, multi-select or open text fields. A simple no-code workflow builder has been designed from the ground up with business users in mind so that they can build and edit their own processes without requiring additional support from IT. Box Relay also provides users with the ability to assign tasks to customers, vendors or partners so the process does not break down when content flows across or between organizations. Box's workflow product is also deeply integrated with other enterprise workflow platforms including Salesforce, Pega and Nintex. Box Relay is currently in private beta but will be generally available by the end of June. We've also highlighted the best cloud storagehttp://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techradar/digital-home/~4/cIGcvMBY3Zw
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Workers across the world are feeling frustrated by a lack of communication between themselves and their bosses, according to new research. A report from Workplace by Facebook has found that today’s workforce is more dispersed than ever, with a significant portion of employees away from company headquarters. Although good for productivity, this disconnect appears to be creating a disconnect between the two parties, leaving workers feeling alienated and lacking a voice. Facebook pulls back the curtain on its newsfeed algorithmThe best business accessories 2019: tech tools to help you be more productiveFacebook Portal is coming to Europe and CanadaConnectedThe study, which surveyed over 4,000 frontline workers and HQ managers in the US and UK, discovered that only 14 percent of these felt connected to their business home. Despite 95 percent of business leaders recognising the value of collaboration tools, only 56 percent have rolled them out, leaving many employees feeling they lack a voice. Less than half (45 percent) of workers said they share their ideas with senior team members, however, 25 percent of employees have had an idea but never told anyone, and a further 38 percent report having shared an idea, only for it to be ignored. “Collaboration tools are crucial in connecting the unconnected and ensuring everyone has a voice,” Karandeep Anand, VP Workplace by Facebook, said of the findings. “There is a serious communications failure between managers and frontline workers which is inhibiting innovation and creativity. Some workers may be deskless, but they should not be voiceless.” “What we're doing here at Workplace is creating a community of people who genuinely believe that the future of work can be better than what's been in the past,” Anand added at an event in London today announcing the research. “We genuinely believe businesses are better when they're connected (and) when businesses feel connected, and people feel much stronger sense of community, work is better - and that's what Workplace was designed to do.” “Creating and shaping the future of work isn't just exciting, but a responsibility.” These are the best online collaboration tools for your businesshttp://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techradar/digital-home/~4/AfSEQMfJJKI
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Combating the high prices of iPhone deals in 2019, we've tracked down an offer to get you Apple quality without busting into the savings account. And the best part? It's completely exclusive to you readers of TechRadar. Taking an already market leading iPhone 8 deal and adding a code to knock the price down by £25, this is easily one of the best value iPhone contracts around right now. You pay just £26 a month and when you apply the code TECH825 at the checkout, you'll only have to pay £75 upfront. You can see this brilliant iPhone 8 below, but if it still isn't right for you, price cut and all, then check out our guide to the best mobile phone deals. http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/VgyagGS9HpAEPUQtUJBfrg.jpg Want to go even cheaper and don't think of refurbished as a dirty word? Mobiles.co.uk also has a refurbished iPhone 8 on O2. It has the same amount of data but you're only paying £24 a month and £15 upfront making it a absolute bargain! Considering an Android instead? Check out the best Samsung phone deals Learn more about this handset in TechRadar's expert iPhone 8 reviewhttp://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techradar/digital-home/~4/DgmASpDtlmw
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Cannibalisation of smartphones dealt a major blow to the PC and tablet markets in the six Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries in the first three months of the year, with tablets taking a bigger hit. Fouad R. Charakla, senior research manager at International Data Corporation (IDC), told TechRadar Middle East that there has been a considerable decline of 7.6% in the regional PC sales to 740,489 units compared to 801,369 units a year ago. http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/7sFnhLg55NqPnwTerTVYTX.png He believes the shortfall of Intel chips in the market also had an impact on PC sales, mainly in the entry-level CPU shipments. “From what we learned was that Intel was prioritizing the supply of high-end CPUs, so, entry-level CPUs suffered. There were some cases where PC manufacturers considered shipping with AMD chips to fill the gap,” he said. Ranjit Atwal, research director at Gartner, said that vendors had to change their mix due to the shortfall related to production issues. “It is the entry level of the PC market that had a bigger impact. The top three vendors – HP, Dell and Lenovo - got most of the chips they needed while the rest of the vendors weren't getting enough supplies. The three top players have 60% of the market between them,” he said. Although the chipmaker has invested $1.5 billion more to boost its production, Intel’s CEO Robert Swan said during their earnings conference call recently that supply challenges will persist throughout the third quarter and increased capacity will improve its position in the second half of the year. “The new Intel CEO had said that these kinds of shortfall will never happen again but we have to see what the changes they are going to implement,” Atwal said. He also thinks that the roadmap for AMD is currently quite looking good for vendors that need another supplier. Windows 10 helps PC growth in commercial sectorCharakla and Atwal said that the consumer demand for PCs declined significantly, while the commercial sector, on the contrary, achieved growth. “The business sector is positive for the last two years as users move to Windows 10,” Atwal said. According to StatCounter, the global desktop and laptop market share for Windows 10 was 56.24% in April 2019 compared to 46.07% in April last year. Gartner analyst predicts that Windows 10 will represent 75% of the professional PC market by 2021. In the GCC, desktop shipments rose about 8% while laptop sales plunged around 15%. During the same period, the regional tablet market fell 19 per cent year on year to 618,676 units compared to 759,763 units. “The significant portion of requirements for tablets is fading away and or satisfied either with a laptop or a smartphone,” Charakla said. Premium smartphone sales in UAE to grow by 12% in 2019ICT spending in UAE to grow 2.5% to $16.7b this yearhttp://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techradar/digital-home/~4/IO1vLVjhlrw
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In 2001 Pixar's Monsters, Inc was not only a charming kids film, but a technological marvel: the Pixar animators' super computers had created a world full of fuzzy creatures with hair so natural-looking, you wanted to reach into the screen and give them a hug. But this was in a closed environment, each strand hand-picked .Fast-forward to 2019 and EA is showing off an equally, if not more, impressive demo. Check out the video below. It shows off EA's Frostbite engine, developed by in-house studio DICE, demoing hair-rendering technology using what's thought to be comparable to next-generation gaming hardware: Fantastic, right? Sure, the mannequin is a lot less huggable than Monsters, Inc's Sully, but the hair is just as lifelike. The key difference? This isn't a canned, choreographed performance – this is hair moving in real-time, using EA's in-game engine. PS5 games: all the rumours and confirmed titles so farWho will win the next gen war? Check out Xbox Two vs PS5: predicting the futureFuture-gazingNow, before tongues start wagging, we can't say for certain if this is representative of what to expect visually from any next-gen PS5 or Xbox Two hardware. Their complete specs remain a tightly guarded secret. But you can bet your last dollar that EA, being one of the biggest game publishers in the known universe, will have access to them at this point, and that demos like this are in anticipation of what they know is coming. Keep in mind though that this is hair rendering done in pretty much isolation – there's no open world rendering in the background here for instance, so who knows how much system resource this is requiring. But as an indication of where things could go, this is mouth watering. It's also a bit of a PR booster for EA, too. The Frostbite engine has come under fire recently, given as it was reportedly a key factor in why recent hotly-anticipated titles Anthem and Mass Effect Andromeda were lukewarm on release. Developer Bioware simply struggled to get it to work with their ideas, and with EA studios mandated to employ it, couldn't work around its deficiencies. That's not to say it's not produced great work elsewhere, with the Battlefield series and EA's sports titles built on it to great effect (even if Respawn's Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order will be skipping it). FIFA 20, for instance, will continue to use the engine, and the demo shows EA's continued commitment to the tool - so future footballers could (and, hopefully, will) have even more luscious locks. Don't forget Project Atlas too, EA's grand vision for cloud gaminghttp://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techradar/digital-home/~4/vVPq-s8RS-U
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Huawei’s ambitions for the smartphone market have been dealt a serious blow according to leaked documents that suggest chipmaker ARM is suspending all activities with the beleaguered Chinese vendor. Last week, the US Commerce Department prohibited American firms from doing business with Huawei, a move which means the company’s handsets will no longer receive updates for the Android operating system from Google or access to its popular applications. However, the impact of that order is set to be far-reaching and could have even more disastrous consequences. The BBC has obtained internal memos ordering ARM employees to stop working on all Huawei contracts and cases to provide any support. Huawei topples AppleHuawei Android restrictions temporarily easedWhat does Huawei US ban mean for you?ARM HuaweiARM’s chip designs are used to power virtually every major mobile chipset, including those from Qualcomm and Huawei’s Kirin processors. ARM is based in the UK and owned by Japanese firm SoftBank, but many of its designs feature US-made technology. This has led ARM to believe that working with Huawei would see it breach US trade regulations. The BBC also notes that this impacts ARM China, a joint-venture that aims to make ARM technology and localised support available in the country. ARM has a 49 per cent stake. Huawei is not commenting on the reports, but an inability to use ARM technology in Huawei’s Kirin processors would be extremely damaging. Huawei has been preparing for a ban on US technology for some time, stockpiling components and developing an alternative operating system to Android, but the innovations afforded by ARM would be impossible to replace. The upcoming Kirin 985 chip is unaffected, but Huawei would be unable to use ARM technology in future iterations. A Huawei spokesperson said: "We value our close relationships with our partners, but recognise 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.” Huawei has managed to build on domestic success by expanding into Western Europe in recent years thanks to a series of critically acclaimed devices. It is now the world’s second largest manufacturer, recently overtaking Apple, despite being excluded from the US. ARM has been approached for comment. Here are the best mobile phone deals for May 2019Via BBC http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techradar/digital-home/~4/6GG22x2iSYU
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EE will switch on the UK’s first 5G network next week, with coverage going live in six cities on 30 May before arriving in ten further locations before the end of the year. The UK’s largest mobile operator has adopted a ‘demand-led’ approach and will upgrade sites in the busiest parts of each city, with the first six being London, Cardiff, Edinburgh, Manchester, Birmingham and Belfast. This means major train stations and areas like London’s Covent Garden will be covered. Although EE expects some customers to achieve 1Gbps before the end of 2019, it is the additional reliability that are the main selling points. 5G networks use high capacity spectrum and make more efficient use of the frequencies to connect more users to sites and maintain signal quality. What is 5G? Everything you need to know5G: How will businesses benefit?Huawei agrees 40 5G contractsEE 5G launchPhase one of the rollout will last until 2022, when EE’s core 5G network will be in place, as will new spectrum bands and new chipset technologies will be available. Phase three, from 2023 onwards, will see mission-critical low-latency, network slicing, gigabit speeds and real-time traffic management capabilities enabled. “5G is going to give customers in the busy areas an uplift of 150Mbps on average and often more than that. This is a premium experience,” said BT Consumer CEO Marc Allera. “We are confident that some customers will break the 1Gbps milestone. When we launched 4G in 2012, we were talking bout 12-15Mbps and hat was game changing. “But it’s not about peak speeds in peak conditions – it’s about reliability. Our 5G strategy is demand led and focuses on the busiest areas of busiest cities. These sites make up eight per cent of our network sites but carry 20 per cent of our data traffic. These are the areas our customers need it most.” EE will upgrade 100 sites a month and will expand its network even further in 2020. But Allera was at pains to stress that 5G would coexist with its 4G service, which would continue to be upgraded, and eventually form part of a converged network with its broadband, and Wi-Fi services. Partnerships“Our fixed and mobile networks are the backbone of this country’s digital infrastructure,” added Allera. “We’re working again to keep the UK at the forefront of technology.” EE will offer handsets from the likes of Samsung and OnePlus, but not Huawei. The company is also partnering with Pokémon Go developer Niantic, while it also connecting Google’s Kings Cross campus with BT Labs to further 5G development. Beyond consumer applications, BT believes 5G and its converged infrastructure will attract significant interest from business. SMBs will form the initial focus of this effort, initially using the EE brand, with BT eventually offering enterprise plans once the additional features of 5G are enabled. Qualcomm President Cristiano Amon and Samsung UK & Ireland chief Conor Pierce also touted the business potential of 5G during the launch in central London. Allera noted that although EE 4G was the first UK 4G service when it was launched in late 2012, it was far from being the first. With 5G, the UK is expected to be a 5G leader. There have been fears that UK 5G rollout could be delayed by any number of factors, including spectrum availability, access to street furniture, and any ban on Huawei radio kit. If operators could not access Huawei’s radio technology, then the UK would cede any leadership position in 5G and widespread availability of services could be delayed by 18-24 months, costing the economy as much as £6.8 billion. However leaks from a government investigation into the matter has suggested that operators will be able to use this equipment, paving the way for all four major operators to launch in 2019. Rival Vodafone has confirmed it will launch 5G services in July, with Three and O2 set to go live before the end of the year. It was clear that EE was determined to be first, however. “Our fixed and mobile networks are the backbone of this country’s digital infrastructure,” added Allera. “We’re working again to keep the UK at the forefront of technology.” The best SIM deals for business in 2019http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techradar/digital-home/~4/F-LsA8zMwaQ
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At its annual SharePoint Conference in Las Vegas, Microsoft announced that it is adding new features to SharePoint and OneDrive for Business. The company began its presentation with the announcement of SharePoint Home Sites which it describes as “employee experiences” that integrate with the mega-menu in SharePoint intranet portals. These landing pages allow employees to share and comment on articles, videos and other internal materials based on their role and permissions either from their desktop or via SharePoint's mobile app's home view. SharePoint Home Sites are connected to the enhanced SharePoint Start Page which was previously known as SharePoint Home. The new Start Page features improved navigation, activity insights across sites, document views and content users have saved for later. Microsoft expands open data pushThe collaboration challenge - so many tools, so little timeMicrosoft’s Cortana gains conversational AI, becoming an ‘intelligent agent’Users will also be able to find files, contacts, org charts, internal sites, conversations, locations, tools and answers to common questions using a new search bar that provides one-click access to Microsoft Search. The search bar works with hundreds of third-party apps available in teams as well as with embedded solutions built with the SharePoint Framework. Differential sync for OneDriveWhile differential sync is currently available for Office 2016 files stored in OneDrive for Business, Microsoft announced that the feature will be available for all file types in OneDrive later this year. Differential sync is essentially the ability for software to sync only the parts of files that have been changed to the cloud as opposed to entire files. This helps organizations save time as they don't have to wait for an entire file to be uploaded and it also helps increase productivity. OneDrive on the web also now allows customers to preview over 320 files types and this even includes 360-degree images and AutoCAD DWG files. Now that OneDrive has support for comments on non-Office files, Collaborators can now amend any of those file types with notes. Finally Microsoft announced that its business video service Stream has been improved on iOS and Android with better recording, uploading and sharing. Employees can also now insert polls, surveys or quizzes directly into videos using Microsoft Forms. We've also highlighted the best online collaboration toolsVia VentureBeat http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techradar/digital-home/~4/xumKW-5LJIQ
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Perennial life simulator The Sims 4 is currently free to download on the EA Origin PC gaming store. Letting you create little families of digital people, helping to tend to their needs and achieve their dreams and desires, it's a great deal for the 2014 game, which still otherwise retails for £34.99 / $44.99. Grabbing the game is simple – all you need to do is head over to the game's Origin store page, log-in or sign up for an Origin account, and hit the button that adds The Sims 4 to your account. Best gaming PC: the best computers for your gaming sessionsShould you buy a gaming PC or build it?Best PC games 2019: what to load up on your rigRe-learning SimlishDespite following the same addictive core loop of caring for your Sims, having them earn some money and designing their dream cribs, The Sims 4 had a bit of a mixed reception at launch. Compared to The Sims 3, which had been available for many years prior to The Sims 4, and had accrued a ton of expansion content as a result, The Sims 4 seemed a little lightweight, ditching much-loved features like The Sims 3's open-world style neighbourhoods in favour of a more focussed and compact play style. Close to five years on and it's a very different story, with The Sims 4 bursting at the seams thanks to six expansion packs, seven Game Packs, 14 Stuff Packs, loads of free updates and an ever-growing library of user-generated content. While it's worth noting that much of the above content still requires separate purchases, at least you're now able to jump in and experiment, knowing that there's more to unlock if that core game still grabs you. You've got until May 28 to download The Sims 4 for free, at which point it'll revert back to its usual, paid-for status. Populous to The Sims: a history of playing Godhttp://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techradar/digital-home/~4/_Q2wCS0q8yY
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UPDATE: Stan has raised the price of its Premium package, which will now set you back $17 a month – that's a $2 increase from the tier's original $15 monthly fee. Updated article below. Now that streaming media has become a mainstay in Australian homes, Aussies have plenty of options to choose from when it comes to getting their home entertainment fix. When combined, Netflix, Stan, Amazon Prime Video and Foxtel Now offer an enormous range of content that can be instantly streamed into your home. However, if you can only afford one subscription service, narrowing down a definitive choice can be harder than it seems. As each service brings with it a unique range of television shows and movies aimed at different segments of the streaming audience, not to mention differing price points, device compatibility and streaming qualities, we've taken it upon ourselves bring you an in-depth guide to what you can expect from Australia's four major SVOD platforms. With the constantly evolving nature of each service discussed in this guide, we will endeavour to keep you updated on any significant changes and updates that may occur to these streaming giants in the future. Here's how the Australian streaming situation stacks up in 2019. The best VPN for Netflix 2019Pricehttp://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/286fae9b09f40b2e184c332922681d45.jpg Probably the best thing about having so many streaming options to choose from, is that it forces each service to be priced competitively. Netflix offers the cheapest stream of the main three, with a single stream in standard definition at $9.99, which, if we're being honest, isn't particularly good value, but may appeal to those who live alone and have a poor quality internet connection. Thankfully, for $13.99 a month you can get a dual-stream subscription that offers HD streaming quality. If 4K streams are what you're after, you'll need to subscribe to Netflix's premium package, which costs $17.99 a month and allows you to watch the service on four devices simultaneously. This is probably the most ideal subscription for families with differing tastes in shows and movies. Though Netflix is obviously working off of how it's priced overseas, Stan has chosen to come out at the low, no-nonsense price of $10 a month. That's for everything the service has to offer at a maximum resolution of 1080p. If you want to make use of your 4K TV though, you can upgrade to a Premium Stan subscription for the new price of $17 a month, which is a slight increase from its original $15 monthly fee. So far, Stan has a steadily growing 4K content lineup, including shows like Better Call Saul, Breaking Bad, Preacher and Wolf Creek, and movies like Ghostbusters, Taxi Driver, Arrival and Sam Raimi's Spider-Man trilogy. These kinds of prices cut straight to the point – once you've tested the service's 30 day trial, you're either on board with forking over a tenner (or an extra fiver) each month, or you're not. Undercutting Netflix's pricing substantially, Amazon has a special introductory offer that grants new subscribers access to the service for a monthly fee $4.99 for the first six months, after which it will renew at US$6.99 each month after that. Foxtel Now is different in that it offers a number of different content packs (split into Starter packs and Premium packs) so the user can tailor their subscription to their viewing habits. The minimum price for Foxtel Now has been increased to $25 per month, which includes the Pop and Lifestyle packs. You'll probably have to sign up to at least a couple of packs to get a decent selection of shows overall. As we've already mentioned, Lifestyle and Pop are now bundled together, while the individual Kids and Doco packages have been scrapped entirely — if you want that content back, you'll have to pony up for the $104 All Packs bundle. Thankfully, the Drama package is still around, and is still priced at $15 per month (though you'll get $5 off when you sign up). The Movies pack will still set you back $20 a month and the Sports package remains unchanged at $29 per month. Seeing as you're obligated to sign up to the Pop and Lifestyle packs, the minimum cost for watching sports on Foxtel Now has been raised to $54 per month. Deviceshttp://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/ab151d92dd5a0f4cbeb500e16a407a75.jpg For many people, the decision of which streaming service to sign up for may come down to the devices they own. Netflix has the biggest global reach and has been around the longest, which is why it can be streamed on the largest number of devices. The Netflix app is available on a wide range of smart TVs from manufacturers like Samsung, Sony, LG, Panasonic, Philips and Hisense, though you should check your television model to see if the service is supported. Stan is available on all current Samsung smart TVs, Sony smart TVs (running Android TV) and all LG smart TVs running WebOS software. Stan is also streaming on Hisense smart TVs from 2015 onwards, and we're seeing the app pop up on more and more manufacturers sets. Basically, if you buy a new smart TV locally, chances are that it will play Stan. At launch, Amazon Prime Video only offered its service in Australia through computer browsers, however, the Amazon Prime app has now appeared on a number of 4K smart TVs, including models from Sony, Samung, LG and more. Before settling on Prime, you should check and see if you smart TV has an app for it. If your smart TV is of the 4K/UHD variety, chances are that its Netflix app supports 4K streaming. You can also get a 4K Netflix stream for the latest wave of Ultra HD Blu-ray players, such as the Panasonic DMP-UB900 and the Samsung UBD-K8500. Microsoft's newest console, the Xbox One S, also offers 4K playback. The Apple TV also supports Netflix and has features built around service, such as the ability to use Siri to search for titles by voice, which places Netflix titles appear alongside iTunes listings. A Stan app is also available for Apple TV, but Amazon won't allow its app on Apple TV or Chromecast for business reasons. With that said, you should be able to display Amazon Prime Video on your Apple TV through AirPlay. So far, Siri functionality is only available to Netflix. Netflix, Stan and Amazon Prime Video are all available on iOS and Android smartphones and tablets, though some older Android models may not be compatible. When it comes to game consoles, Netflix has the biggest reach, with apps for Xbox 360, Xbox One, Xbox One S, PS3, PS4 and the Nintendo Wii U. Stan has most of the consoles covered but lacks support for Xbox 360 and Wii U. It's also possible to watch Amazon Prime Video on home gaming consoles, including the Xbox One and PS4, and you can also watch the service using Amazon's Fire TV Stick. Netflix and Stan are also available on Fetch TV, which is quite handy for the hundreds of thousands of Australians currently subscribed to Fetch. If you don't have any of the TV-connected devices listed above and still want to watch Netflix and Stan on your television, the two services can also be streamed to a Google Chromecast, which ostensibly provides regular TVs with smart TV functionality (so long as you have a smartphone or tablet to stream from). That said, Amazon Prime Video is not supported on Chromecast. Foxtel Now works on iOS and Android devices, Chromecast and Chromecast Ultra, PC and Mac and the newly-released Foxtel Now streaming box. Finally, you can also watch Netflix and Stan on the Roku 2-powered Telstra TV media streaming box. Kids contenthttp://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/6c0dc875e9beb9be5a8fa4a76e9d7287.jpg When it comes to kids shows and movies, each service has its own strengths and weaknesses. Stan has a wide selection of children-friendly shows that mostly stem from its partnerships with Turner Broadcasting (the Cartoon Network), the ABC and Viacom. And, now that Stan is Disney's new home for streaming content in Australia, subscribers now have access to an enormous library of classic movies from Disney and Pixar, such as the Toy Story trilogy, Finding Nemo, Frozen, The Lion King, The Little Mermaid and more, along with a wide selection of Disney Channel TV shows. Cartoon Network favourites like Adventure Time, Ben 10, Regular Show, The Powerpuff Girls, Cow and Chicken, Generator Rex and Ed, Edd, n Eddy are all ready to stream on Stan. Likewise, classic ABC titles like The Wiggles, Dorothy the Dinosaur, Guess How Much I Love You and Justine Clarke, as well as overseas titles like Octonauts, Angelina Ballerina, Bob the Builder, Thomas and Friends, Fireman Sam, Sesame Street and Mister Maker are available to stream on the app, and its Viacom deal brings with it a large range of shows from Nickelodeon and Nick Jr, like Avatar: The Last Airbender; Octonauts, Ni Hao, Kai-Lan, Bubble Guppies, and popular live-action shows like iCarly, VICTORiOUS, and Drake & Josh. Like the rest of Amazon Prime Video's content library, its Kids selection is quite sparse at present. You'll find a number of Amazon Original kids shows you've probably never heard of, like Wishenpoof!, Tumble Leaf and Just Add Magic, alongside some tried-and-true kids movies classics, like The Little Rascals, Casper, Spy Kids and Babe. Animation fans will be happy to know that Netflix has also produced some original shows based on classic DreamWorks properties, including Puss in Boots and How to Train Your Dragon. Deals with other big children's program distributors Saban, DHX Media and Hasbro Studios have also provided Netflix with numerous incarnations of Power Rangers and My Little Pony. Special mention should also be given to inclusion of the classic Aussie kid's show, Round the Twist, on both Netflix and Stan's respective catalogues. Foxtel Now offers plenty of kids shows and channels hosting a large number of Nickelodeon and Disney programs, though the only way to access them now is via its extremely pricey All Packs bundle, which'll set you back $104 per month. TV showshttp://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/a56aadb4dfc29d15f0c386ed004c4a05.jpg A wide and varied range of television shows are available on Netflix, Stan and Amazon Prime Video, thanks to individual deals between each of the SVOD services and their content partners. Because of this, each service should have something for everyone in your family. While there's a lot of crossover when it comes to the availability of shows on each platform, perhaps the most important deciding factor comes down to the exclusives and original shows available on each service. Netflix is without question the leader in this regard, with a large, global slate of original shows that are, for the most part, available in every one of its territories around the world. And if you want to access your own catalogue from abroad, then you should look to download the best Netflix VPN from our guide. The service has achieved huge success with its diverse lineup, which includes award-winning shows House of Cards and Orange is the New Black, long-form superhero shows like Marvel's Daredevil and Jessica Jones, internationally-targeted shows like Narcos, animated sitcoms such as BoJack Horseman and F is For Family, comedies like Fuller House, Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt and Master of None, and countless stand up comedy specials, to name but a small selection from its rapidly-expanding library. On top of this, TV series like Stranger Things, Black Mirror, Making A Murderer, Mindhunter and Chilling Adventures of Sabrina have also found crossover appeal with mainstream audiences. Though Stan is only available in Australia, it has already begun creating its own original content, having produced the improvised comedy series No Activity, the TV spin-offs of Wolf Creek and Romper Stomper, as well as the comedy series Plonk. Stan is notable for also having a large range of exclusive shows in its stable, with big hitters like the Twin Peaks revival, Better Call Saul Mozart in the Jungle, Transparent, Power, UnReal, Community, Lost Girl, Dig, Ash vs Evil Dead, Angie Tribeca and 11.22.63 tied to the service for the entire life of each series. On top of this, Stan is the only service in Australia offering both the complete series' of US sitcom classics Seinfeld and Friends, which are huge gets for the service. If it ever manages to secure The Simpsons (as unlikely as that may be), it'll have the holy trifecta on offer. http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/e6933c08fcaaca861af06deadbf5ee13.jpg Stan also fast-tracks new episodes of its exclusive shows as soon as they air overseas, a practise that both Netflix and Amazon Prime Video have since adopted with such shows as Riverdale and American Gods. As the newest service to hit Australian shores, Amazon Prime Video doesn't currently have a huge TV content library on offer, then again, that probably goes a long way to explaining why the subscription price is so cheap. Most people considering a Prime subscription are probably looking to watch The Grand Tour, the new car enthusiast show from the team behind the beloved series, Top Gear. If that's what you're after, you'll happy to know that every available episode of the series is available on Amazon Prime Video in HDR, with new episodes arriving weekly. Aside from that, other exclusive draw cards include American Gods, a hyped new show based on the immensely popular Neil Gaiman novel of the same name, Jean-Claude Van Johnson, which stars Jean-Claude Van Damme as a spy version of himself, The Tick, a comedic superhero series revival, The Man in the High Castle, which posits a world in which the Nazis won World War II, and The Terror, a horror anthology series based on a best-selling book. Unlike the competition, Foxtel Now lets you also watch live television broadcasts, essentially giving you the regular Foxtel experience over the internet. Aside from this, most of the packages on offer, such as Drama and Pop (which have loads of HBO content split across them), are mostly filled with television shows. Fans of reality TV will get a real kick out of the selection here. Movieshttp://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/mkQ9t6dypfrtUR9FC5jH9c.jpg As with most SVOD services, the titles available on Netflix, Stan and Presto change occasionally according to content licensing agreements. That said, each service has a pretty decent collection of films aimed at slightly different audiences. When it first launched, Australian Netflix had a much smaller content offering than its US counterpart. However, its focus on Original content over licensed material has made that issue largely irrelevant, with a huge selection of quality shows and movies now available. Netflix Original movies like Bird Box, Bright and the critically acclaimed Roma have found much larger audiences on the streaming service than they likely would have if released through traditional channels, while unusual film experiments like The Ballad of Buster Scruggs might never have been made without today's streaming model of distribution. Amazon Prime Video offers a number of classic older films, though not many recent blockbusters are currently available to stream. Its recent Amazon Original film The Neon Demon, for instance, is currently geo-restricted. Still, fans of B-grade cinema, including straight-to-video '90s martial arts movies, '80s horror movies and sleazy grindhouse flicks will find plenty to love on Amazon Prime Video. In fact, it blows all of the other services out of the water in this regard, with a rather big back catalogue of these kinds of films. As was mentioned earlier, you'll need a Movies package to watch feature films through Foxtel Now, though that will set you back $20 per month on top of a $10 Starter pack. Many of the movies are new releases, showing much of the content you'd expect to see on live Foxtel. http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/M2Hu5oJHhJShcabq7zyGMi.jpg Stan's amazing partnership with Disney has given the service a huge leg up over the competition when it comes to licensed content, with access to a wide selection of Disney, Pixar, Marvel and Lucasfilm movies on offer. It also provides a fairly big selection of Roadshow Entertainment titles, though previously available films like Mad Max: Fury Road have since dropped off the service. Thankfully, huge franchises like The Lord of the Rings and The Matrix are present and accounted for. A content deal with MGM also provides Stan with a large back catalogue of classic films, including the entire James Bond series in glorious 4K quality, along with The Silence of the Lambs, When Harry Met Sally and a huge selection of Woody Allen films. Stan has always been the leading streaming service when it comes to art films and world cinema, including access to films from over 45 countries in more than 70 languages, but now you can count mainstream blockbusters among its many licensing accomplishments. Streaming qualityhttp://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/7fdd9f03f608b4aa27a4f9cadbff03da.jpg All three services offer HD streams (unless you're subscribed to Netflix's lowest tier), however, Netflix is unquestionably the leader when it comes to streaming quality, as it offers the most 4K HDR content (top pricing tier only) of any of the services listed here. Netflix Originals, with some exceptions, are generally available in 4K streaming quality. The service has also started streaming HDR (high-dynamic-range) and Dolby Vision content for many of its original shows and movies. The service has an adaptive bit rate that adjusts itself based on the quality of your internet connection. It should be noted that, even if you have a blazing fast connection, Netflix will occasionally fail to reach full resolution during primetime hours due to congestion. Stan also uses adaptive bit rate technology, however it also offers users the ability to select the streaming quality of its shows (where available). The Ultra setting offers full 4K resolution, though you'll need to subscribe to the Premium package to see the benefits of the Ultra HD upgrade. Unlike its competitors, Stan allows users to select the quality of their streams on smart devices, media devices and smart TVs. Simply select the cog icon and choose between Low, Medium and High quality streams. This is especially handy if you're having buffering problems or if you're streaming off mobile data. With Netflix adding offline viewing to its subscription price, allowing using to download a selection of shows and movies to their devices for viewing outside of Wi-Fi networks, the service immediately increased its overall value. Thankfully, Stan has followed suit, and now allows subscribers to download the vast majority of its content. This makes its $10 monthly price point even more of a bargain than it already was. Amazon Prime Video also offers 4K HDR content, though with the varying quality of the shows and movies on offer, it's a little tricky to know what's available in SD, HD or Ultra HD until you start watching it. Original shows are, for the most part, available in 4K. Foxtel Now is said to offer HD streams, but the quality is a mixed bag. Often blurry or with overly saturated colours, the picture quality here is a far cry from what Netflix, Stan and Amazon Prime Video are offering. This really changes on a show-by-show basis. Game of Thrones looks pretty clean, though. VerdictThough each service has its own strengths and weaknesses, Netflix is unquestionably the winner when it comes to device compatibility, original content and stream quality. Its library of Netflix Originals continues to grow and maintain a generally high level of quality, with the service producing the kind of content that gives HBO a run for its money when it comes to premium programming. When you ignore its standard definition pricing option (and we ignore it pretty hard around these parts), Stan's flat $10 subscription fee is definitely more appealing for people who want access to a HD stream, but when you consider how many original shows Netflix produces, a couple of extra bucks a month is hardly a deal-breaker. It's great that Amazon Prime Video has made its way to Australia, and while it still has a long way to go in terms of growing its content library and list of compatible devices, it continues to add new content constantly, filling out the content selection with a number of gems. On the plus side, the service is quite inexpensive at the moment, so if you want to try it out for yourself anyway, you can do so without breaking the budget. We love the sheer amount of content available on Foxtel Now (it really does leave the competition in the dust in this regard), though getting a decent selection up will hurt your wallet in the long run. Still, when all is said and done, there's no denying that Netflix truly is the king of streaming media in Australia. http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techradar/digital-home/~4/c-rGGnOmAp4
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Sony beat Microsoft to the punch with its new 4K gaming system, the PS4 Pro, and you should definitely grab one. Here you'll find the best prices around on the PlayStation 4 Pro console and any bundle deals available so you can score Sony's excellent 4K system and jump right into the amazing array of PS4 games available at the moment. We've got a dedicated page if you're looking for some excellent prices on the PlayStation VR and PlayStation Camera. Keep this page bookmarked and we'll update it with bundles as they arrive, or scroll further down if you've got any burning questions about the new 4K PS4 Pro. To compare PlayStation 4 Pro prices in real time, check out our pick below, or visit our sister site Getprice. The best PlayStation 4 Pro bundlesWhile Playstation 4 Pro bundles are constantly shifting from store to store, we've listed and ranked the best current options from the major retailers below so you don't have to do the sniffing and scratching yourself. Remember that the value of a bundle will ultimately come down to whether or not you were going to purchase the included game (or games) anyway and while some bundles are obviously better priced than others, you should check to see if that saving is worthwhile. http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/cTZwswVu2hJnnggAYUyZPb.jpg Need an extra controller on the cheap? Take a look at the best DualShock 4 deals. http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/cTZwswVu2hJnnggAYUyZPb.jpg What is the PS4 Pro?Although the PS4 Pro isn't a 'next-gen' console necessarily, it is an upgrade of the PS4 and features the coveted 4K and HDR options that we're hearing so much about. The new machine will allow game developers to include 4K options in their games, so expect the like of Uncharted 4, Call of Duty: Infinite Warfare, Days Gone, Horizon: Zero Dawn and more to look even better on a 4K TV. HDR, or High Dynamic Range is the other buzzword to be excited about as the PS4 Pro will allow for extra detail to be seen on a range of games and also a wider range of colours not usually displayed by traditional HD TVs. Will my old PS4 games work on PS4 Pro?Yes. While not every game will be patched to take advantage of the new 4K/HDR capabilities, all of your old games will still work. Not only that, but the default upscaling (if you have a 4K TV) will likely see some improvements to the visuals and the boosted console power may give a slight nudge to the frame rates for some smoother play. What else can I watch in 4K/HDR on PS4 Pro?With services like Netflix and Amazon Prime Video adopting 4K and HDR, with an ever-growing library entering the services, the PS4 Pro will be excellent as a streaming and media hub for your home theatre. There's also a lot of free 4K content on the YouTube app, and Stan has plenty of 4K although no HDR-compatible content yet. Does the PS4 Pro support 4K Blu-rays?No. The Xbox One S does support them though, so this was a bit of a surprise from Sony. So if you're specifically after a 4K Blu-ray player then head over to the competition, but as many viewers are crossing over to streaming services for their digital viewing, this may prove a wise move from Sony in the long run. Do I need a 4K TV to run a PS4 Pro?You don't NEED a 4K TV, no. The PS4 Pro will still run as per normal on a regular 1080p TV, although you won't get the benefits of upscaling or HDR though. There's a chance you may see a frame-rate boost or a slim amount of extra detail, but we wouldn't expect a massive leap. If your mind is on a 4K TV, then you should probably go with a Pro rather than a Slim as it'll future proof you for a while and, realistically, the price jump is worth the longevity. Be sure to look out for a TV that supports HDR too, in order to take full advantage of the PS4 Pro's capabilities. Will PlayStation VR be better on the PS4 Pro?Maybe. Early reports seem to suggest it will as the PlayStation VR frame-rate is better on PS4 Pro and the resolution gets a bit of a bump too. You don't need a PS4 Pro to use PlayStation VR but this increase in specs may contribute a little to the immersion. Does the PS4 Pro have optical audio support?Yes! Although the optical audio output has been removed from the PS4 Slim, PS4 Pro owners will still be able to use optical connections for their soundbars and sound systems. What are the best games on PS4 Pro?After scrounging through our back catalogue of PS4 games that have received a Pro update patch, we've come up with a feature packed with the games that look the best and have a noticeable difference. Take a look at our extensive list - The best PS4 Pro games. http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/9d8b11b635025b4f8ea1de3d26c578ec.jpg http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techradar/digital-home/~4/cRB8aXQH3P8
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With the release of the PS4 Pro, Sony's non-4K console has seen some incredibly competitive prices in both the bundles and the regular Slim model consoles. There's also the new white PlayStation 4 Slim which is looking cooler than ever, so we've helped you out by rounding up the best prices below. Below you'll find all of the absolute cheapest standalone PS4 deals from Australian retailers, followed by our pick of what we think are the bundle deals that offer the best value, so you can dive straight into the wealth of amazing PlayStation 4 games on offer right now. The PS4 is currently in a number of different forms. Directly below, you'll find the best deals for the new PS4 Slim which has come in to replace the original model with a slimmer design (just like the Xbox One S). http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/89db31dab4b7aaca86815459bf9a03be.jpg The best PS4 Slim deals:The PS4 Slim is... slimmer, quieter and smaller The new PS4 Slim effectively replaced the original PS4 when it launched in September 2016 for around $440 (500GB) or $510 (1TB). This smaller, lighter and more power efficient model also ends up being cheaper than the model it replaced, so there's little point looking out for the original model. Check out the list below for up-to-date deals on the PS4 Slim. However, as always the best deals come in the form of the bundles, so you should scroll further down this page as you may be able to nab one cheaper than a standalone console! The PS4 Slim is available in black or white. To compare PlayStation 4 prices in real time, check out our picks below, or visit our sister site Getprice. http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/fa7eb049c94f414958305b0a805b48b6.jpg The best PS4 console and bundle dealsAs is more often becoming the case, the most attractive way to get a cheap PS4 is with a bundle with extra hardware or extra games. These are the best PS4 bundle deals currently available in Australia – we update these deals on a regular basis. http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/9mtmJpnJDRjvZhRJk7DUYL.jpg Need an extra cheap PS4 controller? Don't forget to check our Best DualShock 4 deals. Or maybe a cheap PlayStation VR deal? http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/9d8b11b635025b4f8ea1de3d26c578ec.jpg http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techradar/digital-home/~4/RRdx48el54E
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The latest console from Nintendo hasn't wavered too much in price since launch (check out our Nintendo Switch review to see why) but you can be sure that we've found the best possible price on any consoles bundles or standalone units on this page. We've also rounded up the best prices for extra Pro controllers, Joy-Con controllers, and even some cheap memory cards. If a retailer does offer a sneaky discount, or a terrific bundle, you'll be able to see it below thanks to our automatically-updating price comparison charts. As more outlets start offering Nintendo Switch bundles with extra games and controllers, we'll give the best ones a shout in this article too. The latest Nintendo Switch deals:Check out our live Nintendo Switch price comparison below for the latest and greatest Nintendo Switch prices, or visit our sister site Getprice. The best Nintendo Switch bundle dealsBundles are always an excellent way to save money on games, controllers or extra hardware if you were planning on grabbing them anyway, and can sometimes even be cheaper than getting a console by itself. Ever since launch though, these have been incredibly thin on the ground, and when they are offered it's usually only for a few dollars less, so we'll keep track of the worthy savings when they come up, but most of them have been for the console itself so far. Nintendo Switch Q&AIf you need to know more before you drop your dosh on the latest from Nintendo, here are some answers to your burning questions. What are the Joy-Con controllers?When you're buying a 'Joy-Con' controller , you'll actually be getting a pair of controllers that you can attach to the sides of the Nintendo Switch when not in use or when playing in tablet form away from the TV. If your Switch is docked, you can remove the Joy-Con and play with one in each hand. The left hand gets a controller with an analogue stick and d-pad, the right hand handles the one with a second analogue and the usual A, B, X and Y face buttons. What's the Joy-Con Grip controller?The Joy-Con Grip comes as an additional accessory that is used to join the two Joy-Con controllers in order to form something a little more solid for you to hold. It features extended handles and a plastic block in order to make the otherwise quite small and lightweight Joy-Con feel more akin to a standard controller. Thankfully, Nintendo is providing one in the box with the Switch, so you won't have to buy one separately. http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/TXnKjkUKdVPGTSavYW3D63.jpg Is there a Nintendo Switch Pro controller?Yes there is, although it doesn't come with the console. Fortunately, you don't actually need this controller to play anything as it functions more as a premium option for those that feel more comfortable with a single, solid unit in their hands. Prices aren't cheap though, averaging around $99, although you can occasionally nab them for $89 or even $79. There's currently no sign of a Nintendo Switch Premium Edition console with a Pro controller included, but that could change over time. Do I need to buy extra controllers for multiplayer on Nintendo Switch?Maybe not! Given that the Joy-Con controller can be split in two, you can use each as a rudimentary controller when turned on its side due to each having an analogue stick and some form of face buttons. So far we've seen 2K's NBA series, Snipper Clips and Mario Kart being used this way for local multiplayer in both docked and tablet modes. However, if you want to play four-player games, then you're going to need to invest in an extra pair of Joy-Con controllers or, if you're really committed, a whole set of Pro controllers. You can buy the Joy-Cons as a pair which will save you a bit of dosh if that's your intention anyway, but if your friends own a Switch just get them to bring around theirs! The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild dealsThe latest in the Legend of Zelda saga, The Breath of the Wild, has been raved about since launch, and remains the single largest reason to purchase a Switch. Typically, Zelda games don't drop in price in a hurry and, given how much the console is riding on this title's success, we can't see it dropping any time soon. You may be able to find it in a bundle, but otherwise take a look below at the best deals we've found on offer. Nintendo Switch Micro SD memory card dealsThe Switch comes stock with only 32GB of internal storage, so you'll be wanting to pick up a cheap memory card or two if you're planning to make any digital purchases or just need room for the inevitable game-fixing patches. Don't fret though, they're actually surprisingly cheap, with even 64GB ones coming in at under $50. Be on the look out for Micro SD cards which are also known as, depending on their size, MicroSDHC (up to 32GB) or MicroSDXC (up to a huge 2TB soon). Nintendo have their own branded cards but you'll be paying a slight premium for the labelling privelege. So for now, we'd take a look at this range of cheap MicroSDXC Nintendo Switch-friendly cards. http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techradar/digital-home/~4/0tXvA0PXR0U
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Optus rolled out some pretty terrific deals for Click Frenzy over the last couple of days, but with those offers now expired, and it's apparently Telstra's turn to offer up some bargains. With an impressive discount on one of its SIM-only contracts as well as money knocked off plans that include popular flagship handsets like the Samsung Galaxy S10+ and the iPhone XS, there really is something here for everyone – whether you need a new phone, or are happy with what you've already got. We've sifted through all the deals and picked what we think are the best on offer, so check out the below list for some stellar Telstra plans – and note that these deals are very time limited, with the sale ending tomorrow (Thursday, May 23) at 4pm sharp. Get a wriggle on. Live-updated Telstra dealsIf none of these plans appeal to you, then use our live-updated deal tracker to find the right handset for you. Every Telstra plan that comes with a handset, whether it's a lease or regular contract, is reduced by $10 while the offer's live, so take your pick. Pick out the best Telstra mobile plan and handset using our live trackerhttp://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techradar/digital-home/~4/g9cCr5lzFig
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If you've been eagerly awaiting the release of Samsung's most advanced flagship, the Galaxy S10 5G, you're in luck – the South Korean electronics giant has announced Australian availability of the next-generation device, and it's out sooner that you might think. Available in Australia from May 28, 2019, the Samsung Galaxy S10 5G offers a slightly larger Infinity-O display than the Galaxy S10 Plus, measuring in at 6.7 inches. It also factors in an additional 3D depth-sensing camera, bringing the S10 5G's lens total to six. What is 5G? Everything you need to know5G phones: these are going to be the first next-gen handsets10 ways 5G will change daily lifeOf course, the real draw here is the phone's ability to access 5G networks right out of the box, which should allow for incredibly-fast download speeds on Australia's rapidly-expanding 5G networks. As an added bonus, eligible Telstra customers who picked up the Samsung Galaxy S10 Plus earlier this year will be able to trade in their handset for a brand new Galaxy S10 5G at no additional cost. Better be quick though, as the offer must be redeemed within 21 days of the Galaxy S10 5G's release. Samsung's Galaxy S10 5G is exclusive to Telstra and will be available in Majestic Black with either 256GB or 512GB of onboard storage, and Crown Silver in the 256GB variant. Samsung has yet to announce an outright price for its 5G device, though mobile plans will be announced in the lead up to its release. Best phones in Australia 2019: top 10 smartphones tested and rankedhttp://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techradar/digital-home/~4/BIfK2zcG-_s
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Vizio is attacking both ends of the price spectrum with its 2019 series of 4K TVs: On one end, there’s the new P-Series Quantum X that promises an eyeball-searing 3,000 nits of peak brightness while on the other end, there’s the new V-Series that will offer a 4K Dolby Vision screen for just $259. Both TVs are part of the 2019 Vizio TV lineup that was announced today. The 2019 TVs will fall under four new series - the M-Series Quantum and P-Series Quantum, plus the aforementioned P-Series Quantum X and all-new V-Series that will replace the E-Series at the bottom of the lineup - all of which will support the latest version of SmartCast (now up to version 3.0) and include support for Apple AirPlay 2 and HomeKit via a firmware update later this year. Admittedly, the specs of the P-Series Quantum X are the real bombshell here: It’s a 4K HDR TV with support for Dolby Vision, 384 local dimming zones and UltraBright 3000 - i.e. a peak luminance of 3,000 nits. That puts it in direct contention with Samsung’s flagship QLED TV while coming in at half the cost - $2,199 for the Vizio PX65-G1 versus the $2,999 price tag of the Samsung QN65Q90R. (If you want something a bit bigger, Vizio will also have the P-Series Quantum X in a 75-inch version but that will set you back $3,499.) Of course, not everyone wants to spend $3,500 on a TV - for some folks, it’s all about finding the best deal. The good news is that those folks won’t have to wait until Black Friday this year - the 40-inch 4K HDR V-Series we mentioned above will sell for $259 on launch day along with a 55-inch and 65-inch model that will sell at launch for $449 and $599, respectively. Vizio is turning everyday into Black FridayVizio has always been a big budget brand in the US, but the addition of Dolby Vision to its cheapest screens shows that the company is willing to push the envelope even further in 2019. The only problem we foresee, however, is that these screens might not have the brightest backlight - and without that, HDR content really loses its pop. To that end, Vizio has made some large differentiation between the top-tier models and the new low-end Vizio V-Series, and that variety is what makes Vizio’s 2019 lineup so great. Expect to see a few of the models on our list of the best TVs in 2019http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techradar/digital-home/~4/dqWfW06Yk8Q
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The saga of Apple's MacBook Butterfly keyboards continues. The Butterfly mechanism used in its recent MacBook lines has been prone to failure, and Apple has apologized for the issue with a repair program on top. Now, coinciding with the release of Apple's first MacBookPro with an 8-core processor, it's expanding its keyboard repair program substantially, reports the Wall Street Journal. Issues have plagued Apple's Butterfly mechanism since the first iteration with tis 2016 12-inch MacBook. They've been prone to miss key presses, duplicate key presses and accumulate debris underneath the keycaps. The result has been unreliable typing on expensive computers. The Butterfly keyboards have seen three design generations, and they've appeared in cheaper MacBook Air models and expensive MacBook Pros. The 2018 MacBook Air and 2018 MacBook Pro included Butterfly keyboards, and still suffered issues despite the addition of a membrane aimed at keeping debris out. Now, Apple is ensuring all the Butterfly keyboards are covered by its repair program. Here's what we want from the MacBook Pro 2019This is what we'd like to see in a MacBook Air 2019These are the best MacBook Pro dealsYou get a repair, and you get a repair and...Before, the repair program didn't include computers with Apple's 3rd-gen Butterfly keyboards, which showed up in 2018 devices. Now, Apple will repair all generations of the keyboard. That includes the newest MacBook Pro with an 8-core processor, which uses an altered 3rd-gen Butterfly keyboard This is a positive, consumer-friendly step for Apple to take, and may help avoid future controversy over issues like this. In the past, it's been called for not immediately owning up to clear issues, like when it was deliberately slowing down iPhones with aging batteries. Better still, the repair program isn't limited to just the US. It includes the UK, Australia and many other countries and regions. You can check the Keyboard Service Program page to see if your region is included. With any luck, the fourth generation of Butterfly keyboards will finally solve the issues, so customers will rarely have to take their MacBooks in for keyboard repair. Via: 9to5Mac Get ready for WWDC 2019http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techradar/digital-home/~4/tcTD9vdrO_Q
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Rapid deployment of digital transformation technologies could be leaving businesses at risk according to a new report which highlights a growing security gap among European organizations. Of the companies surveyed in the 2019 Thales Data Threat Report – Europe Edition, almost a third (29%) said they had experienced a breach last year and just over half (55%) believe their digital transformation deployments are very or extremely secure. Interest in digitally transformative technologies is high with 84 percent of organizations using or planning to use technologies including cloud, big data, mobile payments, containers, blockchain and Internet of Things (IoT). However, sensitive data is highly exposed in these environments and almost all of the organizations who participated in the study (97%) said they are using this type of data with digital transformation technologies. Viva the revolution: how cybersecurity can help with digital transformationGovernments make slow progress with digital transformation initiativesHow Wipro digitally transformed to better serve its clientsSenior vice president of cloud protection and licensing at Thales, Sebastien Cano praised European businesses digital transformation efforts while stressing the need for increased data breach prevention spending, saying: “Across Europe, organizations are embracing digital transformative technologies – while advancing their business objectives, this is also leaving sensitive data exposed. European enterprises surveyed still do not rank data breach prevention as a top IT security spending priority – focusing more broadly on security best practice and brand reputation issues. Yet, data breaches continue to become more prevalent. These organisations need to take a hard look at their encryption and access management strategies in order to secure their digital transformation journey, especially as they transition to the cloud and strive to meet regulatory and compliance mandates.” Securing multi-cloud environmentsAs more organizations turn to the cloud as part of their digital transformation strategies, concerns about the security of sensitive data stored there have grown among European businesses. Thales' report found that the top three security issues for organizations using cloud are security of data if a cloud provider is acquired or fails, lack of visibility into security practices and vulnerabilities from shared infrastructure and data breaches or cyberattacks experienced by the cloud provider. Businesses are working to overcome these concerns by using service provider managed encryption keys and SLAs in case of a data breach. We've also highlighted the best business accessories to help you be more productivehttp://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techradar/digital-home/~4/eZqQH5ua3r8
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Since its launch in 2016, PlayStation VR has seen the emergence of some terrific exclusive titles, from Astro Bot: Rescue Mission to Tetris Effect. However, PSVR has been missing a genuine blockbuster, a system seller on the scale of Uncharted that can also show off VR to its fullest. Who better to lead the charge than Sony’s own in-house London Studio and its ambitious PSVR title Blood and Truth, a London-set gangster thriller that’s all about transforming the player into an action hero. The Soho-based studio is of a different pedigree to the developers of Sony’s Worldwide Studios, and not just because it has the privilege of being located next door to PlayStation’s head office. "Everyone had a lot of fresh thinking and and no preconceptions of what games needed to be."Tara Saunders - Head of Studio Operation When it was first formed as Team Soho back in 1993, the development team consisted of college graduates with next to no experience in the games industry. It was still mostly a junior team when Tara Saunders, now head of studio operations, first began her career there as a junior animator working on London-set GTA clone The Getaway for PlayStation 2. “Everyone had a lot of fresh thinking and and no preconceptions of what games needed to be,” Saunders tells TechRadar. Indeed, following The Getaway, London Studio has built a heritage of pioneering emergent technology, having a role in developing the hardware as well as the innovative games that drive it. These include the EyeToy, a webcam that essentially turned humans into the controller, Singstar, which seen the studio develop a unique pitch detection Fsystem to make karaoke a competitive party experience, and Wonderbook, which combined AR marker tech with the motion controls of the Move controller to literally create magic. In each case, there’s a strong technology thread that pulls this hardware together. It's Morpheus time!http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/7EoyRTVsyq7mPpxVNPQhKh.jpg PSVR demo The London Heist serves as a spiritual predecessor to Blood and Truth (Image credit: SIE London Studio) It was then a natural progression for London Studio to be involved in PlayStation’s VR plans from day one, developing the in-house LSSDK engine for VR rendering and creating a collection of demos later packaged into PSVR launch title: PlayStation VR Worlds. “VR felt like the right piece of tech for us to focus our skillset on,” says Saunders. “We’ve been working in camera-based gaming, working with 3D. Looking back at Wonderbook and what you can do with AR markers, what works with AR became what can we do with VR. With new tech, we build on each iteration to do something bigger and better with everything we’ve learned.” In essence, Blood and Truth is a culmination of the studio’s work on a whole other level, taking bolder creative steps that other VR developers have shied away from so far. Instead of a mute disembodied avatar, you’re in the head of ex-SAS operative Ryan Marks, back home to help defend his family (and their not-so-legitimate business) from a criminal takeover. “We wanted a game grounded in reality rather than science fiction.â€Stuart Whyte - Game Director While there’s been a nervousness to pursue photo-realism in VR, London Studio has doubled down on its photogrammetry tech to ground its characters and setting in realism, while character performances rely on eye contact to really involve you in the scene so that you’re not just an observer. Another central problem of VR has been how to grapple with locomotion. Indeed, most developers opt to avoid movement altogether or have you traverse by teleporting. Speaking to Blood and Truth’s game director Stuart Whyte, this was an area the team looked to address very early on. “Teleportation wouldn’t work thematically,” Whyte tells us. “We wanted a game grounded in reality rather than science fiction.” Instead, traversal is done almost on-rails with node-based navigation, so that you simply look to where you want to move. All hands on deckhttp://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/jZSnYvSCxLJ4CrSgFLp8r6.jpg Blood and Truth takes in a mix London’s glamour and grit, from casinos to tower blocks (Image credit: SIE London Studio) Without needing to wrestle with a convoluted control scheme, the emphasis is instead on what the player can do with their hands, which is a good deal more than just shooting people. The variety of what you can do with the Move controllers makes it a richer, more immersive VR experience but is also important for the pacing. “When you’re in a firefight in VR, the intensity is amazing compared to playing on a TV,” explains Whyte. “But conversely, you can’t stretch that out, so we break it up with other object interactions and story beats.” Shooting is still a core part of what you’ll be doing in Blood and Truth, but even this comes with more satisfying physicality than just aiming and pulling the trigger. Firing an automatic weapon, you can hold it with both hands to steady your aim, reloading is done manually by inserting ammo cartridges into the weapon chamber, and you can also do some pretty bad-ass action hero things like dual-wielding or gunspinning (a trick that’s not limited to pistols). "When you’re in a firefight in VR, the intensity is amazing compared to playing on a TV."Stuart Whyte - Game Director There’s moments where your hands can make for tactile movement, such as for climbing up ladders, crawling along the floor, or in a tense moment of free-falling, reaching out to grab onto a ledge to pull yourself up just in the nick of time. Even with the limitations of VR tech that’s really just tracking your head, the team makes use of calibrating the Move controllers to map out your body, so that you’ve got holsters to your sides for your pistols, larger weapons like rifles are kept on your back which you can reach over your head, while ammo is strapped to your chest. “There was a huge amount of work to get that right, because the console and camera is only tracing the player’s head - it’s got no concept of the rest of the body,” explains Whyte. “Trying to make that intuitive was tough but we put a lot of time into that.” London callinghttp://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/Gm48ubLovkigryQ3vs6e3X.jpg The game’s grounded in realism - well, action film realism, that is (Image credit: SIE London Studio) Since the first awe-inspiring deep sea shark attack demo tantalized us with the potential of Playstation VR, London Studio has embraced the tech’s potential and its constraints to bring new possibilities in VR. While Blood and Truth may be the fruition of all the studio’s work so far (even some of the game’s panoramic views of London feature assets from The Getaway), but for Saunders, it’s just the beginning of the studio’s VR roadmap. “We like the fact that we’ve done a lot of smaller things, but going forward, we want to make big blockbusters with nice, long developed stories and believable characters,” she says. As a studio with a rich history in using emergent tech to create new experiences, it also has another division quietly working away on new live-action technologies for use in creating interactive and cinematic games, though that’s all Saunders is prepared to say at this time. Otherwise, the core focus is on becoming the leading VR studio in the world, or in her words: “our ambition is to become the Naughty Dog of VR.” PSVR is already performing better than the other VR headsets currently on the market, thanks to its comparatively affordable price and focus on games, though its four million install base is still a modest success compared to the 90+ million PS4s sold. Blood and Truth may be the big flagship title to truly take VR mass market. Read more: Best PlayStation VR games - the best PSVR games aroundhttp://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techradar/digital-home/~4/6RJ6RzlCTOM
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As we approach the one year anniversary of the European Union's General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), Microsoft has outlined its vision for a US version of the regulation that would make it easier for consumers to protect their data. The company's corporate vice president and deputy general counsel, Julie Brill explained in a blog post that consumers' understanding of their right to privacy has been a driving force behind the global movement to modernize privacy laws. Currently there are multiple state laws on data privacy including California's Consumer Privacy Act and Illinois' Biometric Information Privacy Act but no action has been taken on the federal level even after several senators have proposed their own bills. Satya Nadella calls for global GDPRHow to configure Windows 10 to protect your privacyAmericans reluctant to pay for privacyMeanwhile, tech giants including Google, Apple and Facebook have also called for a US data privacy law though each company has a different take on the specifics. Microsoft believes that the burden of protecting user data should shift from the consumer to the tech companies. Data collection by defaultAs it stands now, the majority of data protection is an opt-out experience where data collection is enabled by default until a user changes their privacy settings. Google was criticized by lawmakers back in March over this is exact issue when they pointed out just how difficult it was to actually opt out of the company's data tracking programs. In her blog post, Brill explained how the opt-out experience was detrimental to consumers, saying: “This is important because the prevailing opt-in/opt-out privacy model in the United States forces consumers to make a decision for every website and online service they visit. This places an unreasonable—and unworkable—burden on individuals. Strong federal privacy should not only empower consumers to control their data, it also should place accountability obligations on the companies that collect and use sensitive personal information.” Using data collected from its Privacy Dashboard, Microsoft discovered that over 18m people have used its tools to protect their privacy further. However, as there are 1.5bn Windows devices, this means that only one percent of Microsoft users have actually changed their privacy settings. A US federal data protection law is most likely in the works but the question of when it will arrive and how it will protect consumer privacy online still need to be answered. We've also highlighted the best HR softwareVia CNET http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techradar/digital-home/~4/_IUmGCMx2Mc
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In a way, a Milwaukee Bucks vs Toronto Raptors Eastern Conference Finals in the 2019 NBA postseason is exactly what we should have expected. They are the top two seeds after all. And you can watch the drama of the seven game series play out with this TechRadar Bucks vs Raptors NBA live stream guide. But in reality, neither of these franchises has been to an NBA Finals since 1974. In fact, the Toronto Raptors have never been there, losing out to LeBron's Cavs team at the NBA playoffs Conference Finals stage three years ago. And the series has been super tight so far. So who will make history and march into the NBA Finals in 2019? The Bucks will go in to the encounters as slight favorites (especially after taking the early game advantage), having overcome the Pistons and then destroying the Boston Celtics. Their first season under Mike Budenholzer started with seven straight wins and has barely slowed down since then. The Greek Freak Giannis Antetokounmpo has been their star man, of course. It was an extraordinary buzzer-beater from Kawhi Leonard that sent his Toronto Raptors through in game seven of the Eastern Conference semi-final against the Philadelphia 76ers. Can they finally make their very first Finals in the franchise's relatively young 24 year history? Whether you’re rooting for the Bucks or the Raptors, we'll show you how to tune into all the action either on your TV or online. Keep reading to see how you can stream the 2019 NBA Eastern Conference Finals live online. How to watch the 2019 NBA Eastern Conference Finals online from outside your countryLiving in the US, UK or Australia and want to catch the Raptors vs Bucks series? Scroll further down the page and we'll explain how to watch a 2019 Eastern Conference NBA live stream, whether or not you have cable. But if you can't watch because you're not in your home country and so your coverage is geo-blocked then we can suggest a clever alternative (and no, it doesn’t involve finding some dodgy feed on Reddit). Using a VPN - or Virtual Private Network - you can change the IP address to one in a different state or country which does have the stream so that you can watch the series from anywhere in the world. The process is very straightforward… http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/x4WvmjGdnEUCFeqhMUrnWo.jpg Watch the NBA Eastern Conference Finals on TV in the USIf you've already signed up for an NBA League Pass then we're afraid that won't help you get a live stream of Raptors vs Bucks. It isn't any NBA Playoffs games live online. The best it can do is to show the games on replay three hours after they air on TV. To watch on TV then, TNT is your only option as the network has secured the rights to broadcast the Eastern Conference Finals live. We wish watching the NBA Playoffs was easier on TV but you can get around network exclusivity deals by opting for a streaming service that gives you access to every channel showing the playoffs and all of which coming with some kind of free trial. Hulu with Live TV $44.99 per monthPlaystation Vue starting at $44.99 per monthDirecTV Now $50 per monthSling TV starting at $15 per monthfuboTV $44.99 for the first monthYouTube TV $49.99 per month- Discover our pick of all the US's best sports streaming sites http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/VgyagGS9HpAEPUQtUJBfrg.jpg http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/B9XNGCRYNHKJzN5zVfTMje.jpg How to watch the Raptors vs Bucks in the UK Basketball fans in the UK will be able to tune into Eastern Conference Finals games on Sky Sports. The service will air the majority of the Bucks vs Raptors games at 1.30am BST. If you’re not already a Sky Sports subscriber and don’t feel like paying for the service just to watch the NBA Playoffs, don’t worry as you can buy a daily, weekly or even monthly Sky Sports Pass on Now TV. This will allow you to watch the NBA Playoffs, NBA Finals and all other sports shown on Sky. When it comes to streaming basketball online our first choice is NBA.com. With the NBA League Pass you you can watch hundreds of Live and On-Demand games on all of your favorite streaming devices including Apple TV, Chromecast, Roku, Amazon Fire TV, Xbox, Playstation and even on mobile. It costs £39.99, and will give you access to all remaining NBA games live. And if you find yourself outside the UK at any stage during the playoffs then don't forget that you can always use a VPN to change your IP address back to the UK and watch any of these streaming services as if you were back at home. http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/VgyagGS9HpAEPUQtUJBfrg.jpg http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/D39crXd3gob7KPsE3LAFUo.jpg How to get an NBA live stream in AustraliaIf you're up for a bit of morning NBA watching Down Under (the games are due to start at 10.30am AET), there are plenty of options on TV and online. If you have Fox Sports, then you'll want to turn to channel 508 for the ESPN channel. If it's a phone or laptop you'd sooner watch from, then there's the ESPN Player instead. Or you can live stream NBA action via the Kayo Sports streaming service, which features no lock-in contracts and also includes access to over 50 sports, both live and on demand. Kayo Sports Basic Package costs $25 per month and allows users to stream across two devices simultaneously. Alternatively, the service also offers a Kayo Sports Premium Package, which provides three concurrent streams for $35 per month. The Foxtel Now and Kayo Sports apps means you can access this from your chosen device wherever you are (although you'll need a VPN if you're taking that abroad). http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/ebGZgkd4qVX7mUuvz3WNkH.jpg http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techradar/digital-home/~4/Anj8SUzor8c
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Roku sale prices are discounted regularly throughout the year as competition in the streaming stick world is seriously intense. Good thing you've landed here then as we're here to tell you which Roku devices are best for your needs and where to find the hottest deals on them too. Roku's Streaming sticks and boxes plug into your TV via an HDMI port, essentially turning any old HD/4K TV into a smart TV or boosting the number of apps on any modern smart TV that seems to be missing a few of your favorites. In a video streaming device world dominated by Amazon, Google and Apple, Roku is the plucky underdog that continues to hold its own. In addition to worldwide services like Netflix, Amazon and Spotify you'll find plenty of apps for your country. HBO Now, Hulu, Sling and CBS All Access in the US and BBC iPlayer, All 4 and Now TV in the UK for example. Frankly, Roku can't be beaten as far as the number and quality of streaming services it supports. And yes, there are options to view in 4K HDR too. There are a lot of Roku devices out there in the wild though and some of them have been discontinued as they've been made obsolete by newer releases. Some however, have an advantage or feature that new sticks don't cater for so we've kept price comparison charts around for those models. Generally though, we've cut down the list to include the most relevant Roku streaming devices that are readily available and represent great value of money for you. By comparison, you could check out our Chromecast deals or Amazon's Fire TV stick prices. http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/f5PAHYGTapJmgPN33BqTm5.jpg Roku continues to give rival streaming devices something to worry about as the new Roku Streaming Stick Plus is super modern, super small and, most importantly, super cheap. Not to mention, unlike many of the older models it's been released in the UK too. Now Brits can finally join the 4K Roku party like the US has been enjoying for years! You're even getting HDR content from supported apps too. While Amazon's 4K Fire TV Sticks are similarly priced and have a more intuitive remote design, plus Alexa support, you might find the wider range of streaming services on the Roku more appealing. http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/cUTQxy5ntVQT3z5bQpzKXh.jpg This is the cheapest streaming device in the Roku family. The Roku Express is newer and cheaper than the other standard Roku Streaming Stick and does all the same jobs. If you want to turn any HDMI TV into a Smart TV for as little as possible - this is for you. However, we'd be tempted to keep an eye out for a good deal on the 4K version mentioned earlier just to avoid having to buy one once 4K content becomes the norm. http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/LBYP6hSfKKo3XBKkviBCc4.jpg This Roku was not released in the UK. So don't expect many (if any) UK prices. The Roku Ultra is the most feature-packed of all the Roku media streamers. It has all the quality 4K and HDR streaming and ports of the Roku Premiere Plus. So what do you get for the extra cash? The remote control gets the most attention on the Ultra as it can be used for voice search, it has extra buttons to make it a handy game controller and there's even a little speaker to help you find it via a button on the console. There's also a USB storage slot and an optical out audio port. We're loving the option for private listening via the bundled-in JBL headphones headphones that you can plug into the remote too. If you're not bothered about the extra audio ports, expandable storage and using the Roku for gaming, then you should opt for one of the Roku deals we mentioned earlier and save a big chunk of cash. http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techradar/digital-home/~4/3-63fSoH92g