sincity

In an effort to gain greater control of vulnerable cloud-based infrastructure, two hacking groups behind large-scale cryptomining campaigns have begun to target each other's cryptominers. The Pacha Group, first detected in September of 2018, is a threat group of Chinese origins which was profiled by Intezer Labs while trying to spread its cryptocurrency mining malware Linux.GreedyAntd. The firm's researchers discovered the group's malware was designed to search for other cryptojacking malware present on the systems it infects though this technique has been used by similar malware strains in the past. How to protect yourself from cryptominingMirai botnet returns to target IoT devicesYour Android device could be affected by a crypto-mining botnetThe Linux.GreedyAnd modular malware used Systemd to gain persistence to make it harder to detect and remove. The malware is also used to attack and remove the cryptominers of other cybercrime groups but the Rocke Group is its main target. Intezer Labs' Ignacio Sanmillan explained how Linux.GreedyAndt differs from previous malware released by the Pacha Group in a blog post, saying: "The main malware infrastructure appears to be identical to previous Pacha Group campaigns, although there is a distinguishable effort to detect and mitigate Rocke Group’s implants." Pacha v RockeRocke Group's crypomining malware also contains a “kill list” of its own which helps it find and shutdown any previously running cryptojacking malware. Pacha Group has responded by adding a list of hardcoded IP addresses to Linux.GreedyAntd's blacklist that will block the competing criminal group's cryptominers by routing their traffic back to the compromised machines. The malware strains of both groups come with shared capabilities such as the ability to search for and disable cloud security and monitoring products from Tencent Cloud and Alibaba Cloud, support for the Libprocesshider lightweight user-mode kit and an exploit used to abuse an Atlassian vulnerability. Cloud infrastructure could face further threats according to Sanmillan, who explained: "We believe that these findings are relevant within the context of raising awareness about cloud-native threats, particularly on vulnerable Linux servers. While threat actor groups are competing with one another, this evidence may suggest that threats to cloud infrastructure are increasing." We've also highlighted the best Linux distrosVia Bleeping Computer http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techradar/digital-home/~4/QeRsKDGL31I

The latest model Apple iPad is getting a rare discount at Walmart. For a limited time, you can get the 2018 Apple iPad on sale for $249. That's an $80 price cut and the best price found for the 32GB tablet. If you'd like more storage, Walmart also has the 128GB iPad on sale for $329. The 2018 iPad features 32GB of storage and features an A10 Fusion chip which results in a powerful laptop-like performance. The tablet comes with a 9.7-inch retina display and a built-in 1.2MP front-facing camera that allows you to FaceTime in HD. The Apple iPad features an all-day battery life of 10 hours and uses Touch-ID so you can securely unlock your tablet with a tap of your finger. This is a fantastic deal and price for a newer model iPad, and Walmart offers free 2-day shipping with no membership requirements. Keep in mind this is a limited-time deal so you'll need to take advantage while you can. Like we mentioned above, if you're looking for a tablet with more storage, Walmart also has the Apple iPad with 128GB of storage on sale for $329. That's the best price we've seen for the latest model tablet. Interested in other iPad models? We've listed even more of the cheapest iPad deals that are currently available. We also have the best cheap Amazon Kindle deals if you're after an e-reader. Learn more about Prime Day with our guide on Amazon Prime Day 2019: everything you need to know for the July deals event. http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techradar/digital-home/~4/0AycDj39aUA

Mother's Day is almost here (this Sunday to be exact) and if you're still searching for the perfect gift for mom, then placing a last-minute order for flowers is always a fantastic and easy option. You can order a gorgeous bouquet in minutes from a variety of online retailers such as ProFlowers, 1-800-Flowers and more. Most online retailers are offering promotions on Mother's Day floral arrangements that are guaranteed to ship in time for Mother's Day weekend. Whether she likes roses, hydrangeas, tulips or wildflowers - all of the retailers we listed offer a wide selection of bouquets that meet all needs and budgets. We've listed all of the delivery fees and schedules below, so you know the cut-off dates for the standard delivery fee. If you do decide to procrastinate, fear not. Some online flower delivery services offer same-day delivery if you order by a specific time. We've listed all the current promotions below so you can find the best deal for mom. Best last-minute online flowers (US)Best online flowers (India)Shop more Amazon Mother's Day gift ideas (India)More Mother's Day salesIf flowers aren't your thing, we've listed a wide selection of Mother's Day sales and gift ideas below from retailers such as Nordstrom, Amazon, Walmart and more. Amazon - save on tablets, smart speakers and moreFitbit - up to $30 off select gifts plus free 2-day shipping on orders $50+ with code MOMROCKSSimpliSafe - Mother's Day sale, save 15% off + free camera ($99 value) Amazon - Flowers, chocolates and gift basketsApple - Apple watchesAmazon - Kindle E-readersWalmart - gift ideas that include appliances, jewelry, flowers and moreAmazon - sous vide precision cookersOverstock - save on watches, jewelry and other Mother's Day giftsShari's Berries - 20% off gifts $29+ Nordstrom - gifts that include jewelry, fragrance, clothing and moreKate Spade - send a virtual bag to Mom via email or text message J Crew -extra 40% sale styles with code FRIDAY Gap - 40% off everything with code STYLE Sephora - Mother's Day gift setshttp://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techradar/digital-home/~4/ErgASsw-Du4

If you're a user of the iPhone 6, iPhone 6 Plus, iPhone SE or iPhone 5S... look away now, as a rumor has suggested that Apple's new iOS 13 won't be coming to your phone. And the bad news doesn't stop there - if you've got an iPad Mini 2 or the iPad Air, you'll be equally disappointed, as a large swathe of devices are reportedly going to be consigned to the 'un-updated' bin from 2019. This is what we're expecting to see in the iPhone 11Check out our thoughts on the iPhone XS MaxCould the Samsung Galaxy Note 10 tempt iPhone users away?The unpleasant report comes from iPhonesoft.fr, citing a developer 'friend' who works with Apple on the app plans - so, as ever, this news can't be confirmed until WWDC 2019 rolls around and we hear it from the mouths of the Apple executives. It would make sense though, as Apple supported the iPhone 5S on iOS 12 when many expected it to fall by the wayside due to its age. Moreover, by dropping the iPhone 6 this year, it's essentially jumping back onto the 'schedule of obsolescence' that it's been using for years, losing phones five years old. However, it would equally be surprising given the efforts Apple made to highlight how it wanted to support older devices - although getting software updates for four years isn't too bad for a phone that was discontinued in 2016. The quality conundrumThe thing is, Apple's older phones hold their value incredibly well and even when they're discontinued by Apple, they still are sold by third-party vendors in relatively high numbers, so the Cupertino brand would be making life difficult for itself by dropping the iPhone 6 (which was one of the most popular iPhones yet). Then again, it's fair for a brand to stop supporting older models if it wants to introduce new, power-hungry features that only newer devices can handle - after all, with the smartphone market contracting Apple needs to make sure that the iPhone 11 is a big hit. Giving it fancy new features, whether that's in augmented reality (AR) or smarter image processing capabilities, will require more power and could degrade the experience of the older phones. We'll need to wait another month to see what emerges at WWDC, but it wouldn't be a surprise to see the list of iPhones supported for iOS 13 stops at the iPhone 6S. Via: 9to5Mac This student claims to have solved a medical mystery that will help millionshttp://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techradar/digital-home/~4/_bcT-lxKmZ4

Want to know all the Panasonic TVs coming your way in 2019? Look no further, as TechRadar has your exhaustive, definitive, all-round perfect round-up of this year's Panasonic TVs – now that several OLED and LCD televisions have been announced for release in the coming months. Back in January, Panasonic showed up to the CES 2019 expo with a new range of 4K Blu-ray players and audio gadgets, but in terms of televisions, the company is focusing attention on the GZ2000 – what Panasonic is calling 'the world's most cinematic TV' – an OLED TV with color tuning straight out of Hollywood. We’ve since got more details on an additional three OLED televisions, which all share the same panel and processor, but vary in model sizes and the level of audio quality on offer. There are also a number of upgrades to last year’s 4K HDR TVs, with a new range of ‘GX’ sets replacing the FX750, FX740, FX700, and FX600 – and a couple of Full HD models too as seen below. Keep in mind that Panasonic no longer ships to the United States, though we'll be seeing these sets come to the UK, EU, Canada, and Australia. For more info on what makes a Panasonic TV panel tick, and the 2019 Panasonic TVs coming slated for release this year, read on below. http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/fEFDaYjUp8ppNGLM98D6pH.jpg Image Credit: TechRadar Panasonic 2019 TV technology The future of Panasonic looks… organic. While the Japanese manufacturer only released two OLED models last year, it’s doubled down with a total four sets packed with ‘organic LED’ panels, which use an organic film able to emit its own light, rather than using a backlight on a regular LCD display. Like Sony or LG, Panasonic is increasingly looking to OLED panels for its premium TVs, making use of the technology’s deeper black levels and improved contrast for a richer, more color-accurate image. Three of its four OLED models actually use an identical panel, but vary the speakers built into the TV – with some ditching a slim form factor in order to offer a higher-grade audio performance. (The upward-firing speakers running up the back of the GZ2000 resemble something of a chimney.) http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/BzF6xPXEn2wv9GeAtU7inK.jpg HCX Pro Intelligent Processor. Image Credit: TechRadar Each of the new OLED TVs feature an upgraded HCX PRO Intelligent Processor, building on the HCX chip used in 2018's OLEDs. With every OLED panel technically being produced by the same manufacturer – LG – the way the images are processed has become an important way for manufacturers to distinguish their premium sets from the competition. Panasonic says that the HCX chip offers good quality thanks to its 'Dynamic LUT' (or look-up table) system. This monitors the brightness of each scene in a film to deliver the best color accuracy. Panasonic is also making much of its links to Hollywood production studios, with the flagship GZ2000 model featuring color correction from colorist Stefan Sonnenfeld. http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/PmCb2ZnGnyhrcKrCBHRTRh.jpg Panasonic displays are used by some of Hollywood's leading colorists. Image Credit: TechRadar Manufacturers are increasingly pressured to support all the various HDR formats out there, and Panasonic is pushing out the boat. All the OLED sets this year (and some LCD) include voice commands through Google Assistant or Amazon Alexa, Dolby Atmos audio, support for Dolby Vision and HDR10+ video formats. Panasonic is also bundling in Hybrid Log Gamma (HLG) broadcasts (which are coded in both SDR and HDR) and the very different HLG photo format (for showing Lumix camera stills on Panasonic 4K TVs). Compare that to last year's OLEDs from Panasonic – FZ950 and FZ800 – neither of which supported Dolby Vision, even as Panasonic brings the enhanced HDR format to more of its 4K Blu-ray players. Panasonic OLED TVs 2019http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/9VvTL4YAm5LJ6TsnREyFHJ.jpg Panasonic GZ2000 (2019). Image Credit: TechRadar GZ2000 OLED (available in 55, 65 inches): The first TV announcement of 2019, the GZ2000 is Panasonic's top-range 4K OLED, building on tech from last year's FZ800/FZ950 sets and new HCX Pro chip. It features color tuning from a leading Hollywood colorist for "unparalleled color accuracy", along with a whole load of video and audio formats supported – and upward-firing speakers tuned by Technics. Scheduled for release in July. GZ1500 OLED (available in 55, 65 inches): Second in line for the OLED throne. Unlike the GZ2000’s custom panel, this set gets a standard-issue OLED display also found in the GZ1000 and GZ950, and front-firing Dolby Atmos speakers for some high-quality audio. Scheduled for release in June. GZ1000 / GZ950 OLED (available in 55, 65 inches): Same panel as above, with 50W speakers built into the rear instead of facing the viewer - and likely to be cheaper because of it. The GZ950 and GZ1000 models differ only in the stands, with the former featuring a cylindrical pole and the latter using an L-shaped support. Panasonic 4K HDR TVs 2019http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/mGKkBapKor7CDVcaNpM7zH.jpg GX920 / GX940 LED (2019). Image Credit: TechRadar GX920 / GX940 4K HDR LED (available in 75 inches): The only LED set packing in the new HCX Pro processor, and available only in 75 inches for those after a truly big picture. The single size might seem limiting, but Panasonic is expecting most people after a premium TV to make the move to OLED. GX920 in the UK, GX940 in the EU and Canada, and scheduled for release in May. GX800 LED (available in 40, 50, 59, 65 inches): The next set down sticks with the HCX chip used in last year’s OLED range, and offers a wide range of sizes. Comes with all the same Dolby Atmos, Dolby Vision, HLG and HDR support as higher models, even at its smallest 40-inch size. GX700 LED (available in 40, 50, 58, 65 inches): A 4K HDR television without the bells and whistles – meaning you won’t get support for Dolby Atmos, Dolby Vision, the likes of Alexa and Google Assistant, or the more advanced Home Screen 4.0 smart interface. Expect a sharp price drop from the GX800, and a release date around June. GX560 LED (available in 65 inches): One of the more basic smart TVs on the lineup, though you still get access to Freeview Play and other streaming catchup services. Scheduled for release in June. GX550 LED (available in 43, 49, 55 inches): Same kind of 4K entry point as above. Scheduled for release in June. Panasonic Full HD TVs 2019GS352 LED (available in 32, 43 inches): Don’t need or want 4K Ultra HD resolution? Panasonic is also releasing a couple of 1080p Smart TVs at more compact, practical sizes. Expect support for HDR10, HLG, and not much else. Scheduled for release in April. G302 LED (available in 24, 32, 43 inches): The only ‘dumb’ TV on the list, the G302 is an HD set without internet connectivity, and therefore comes with Freeview HD for TV viewing rather than the online catch-up service Freeview Play. Scheduled for release in July. Check back regularly to see the latest Panasonic TVs as they're announced. In the meantime, why not watch our TV buying guide video below? Everything you need to know about the new TV launches of 2019: The Philips TV range 2019: everything you need to know from OLED+ to ‘The One’ Sony TV lineup 2019: every Sony Bravia and Master Series set coming this year LG TV catalog 2019: here’s every LG TV model coming this year Samsung TV catalog 2019: here’s every new Samsung TV coming in 2019 Hisense TV lineup 2019: the year of ULED television http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techradar/digital-home/~4/MciI8r-DOtk

Employees of all levels can be harnessed to help protect their organisations from falling victim to the next big phishing attack, leading security experts have said. Speaking to TechRadar Pro this week, Aaron Higbee, co-founder and CEO of Cofense, says it’s not just the responsibility of IT teams or security experts to spot threats - particularly as many phishing attacks now target low-level employees. “What (companies) are not paying attention to is that today’s phishing attacks are quite different,” he told us. “The things that our customers are facing today are remarkably different than what they were facing a year and a half ago.” Half of UK firms hit by phishingBest disaster recovery service of 2019Phishing attacks on the riseSmarterCofense operates a range of services that lets anyone within an organisation flag potential phishing threats, and Higbee notes that in contrast to recent reports, the company has detected a rise in hackers going after low-level employees rather than the traditional c-level targets. “It's that social engineering aspect where these guys are just getting smarter and smarter, which means we need to continuously adapt the way in which we're educating our workforce of what to look at.” Finance-related emails remain a popular tactic, with businesses in all verticals capable of falling victim to a payroll or benefits-related scam email. But worryingly for many companies, that’s not all. “There's innovation happening from the attackers perspective - the attack are quite different even to just a year ago,” Higbee says. “What ends up happening is an attacker will have some degree of success with a tactic until they're sufficiently frustrated by some defense automated awareness - and at that point they have to change,” he adds - noting that this is often when organisations can be most at threat. “An organisation is exposed because they have to wait for the defense technologies to notice that to implement effects to test the effects, roll it out - and during that dwell time, those phishing attacks are successful.” http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/PKqRzrhkYmRmrhmAwuyw3d.jpg (Image credit: Shutterstock) Higbee notes that Cofense looks to help bring different areas of the workforce together in helping keeping everyone safe from phishing threats. “The problem is, you're never done - threat actors are relentlessly innovating to develop new ways to bypass the gate, so you have to continuously evolve your approaches.” “One of the mantras that I think we've done a good job at destroying was the human is the weakest link,” he says. “We want to help you identify who is good at spotting phishing away from just IT people...If you can figure out who your stars are, and operationalise their insight and their intuition, you can stay on top of that.” “If you double click into what the phishing threat landscape is, it has changed remarkably, and it continues to evolve,” Higbee says, “For an infosec person, it's almost tedious, it's an annoyance that we still haven't solved this problem!” Best backup software of 2019http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techradar/digital-home/~4/Nc904617Vok

Shop Idol, in partnership with Samsung, sees staff from every major mobile retailer compete to be crowned the best sales and customer service agent in the UK. Now in its 15th year, the winner of Shop Idol 2019 will be announced at the Mobile Industry Awards on June 6th. Contestants enter Shop Idol for different reasons – for many it’s the opportunity to boost their career, for others, it’s a chance to prove to themselves and their company what they’re capable of. Over the last six months, contestants have been mystery shopped and voted for to decide the regional finalists, who then last week went head-to-head in four rounds of challenging tasks in front of the judges. Six stand-out candidates from each region went through to final, where they will now compete for the coveted Shop Idol 2019 title. Congratulations to our 12 finalists:- Benjamin Stoner, O2 - Grant Miller, Three Retail - Hannah Cast, EE - Hannah Darby, Three UK - Kieron Clouston, Three Retail - Max Clemens, Three UK - Ricardo Fonthina, O2 - Dan Daianu, EE - Gary Musgrave, O2 - Gavin Mooney, O2 - Matthew Mason, EE - Sam O'Grady, O2 Shop Idol is the only competition of its kind, and since its launch in 2003, over 3,000 competitors have taken part in the Mystery Shops, interviews and challenges to determine their product knowledge, customer service skills and of course, their sales acumen! We look forward to welcoming these finalists back for the grand finale where 12 will be whittled down to 6. The winner will be crowned Shop Idol 2019 at the Mobile Industry Awards at the Royal Lancaster in London on 6th June. http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techradar/digital-home/~4/F05-W6QcNE0

Update: Dolby Vision's premium HDR format is starting to pop up in some unexpected places beyond the world of TV screens – first in the Xbox One S and Xbox One X gaming consoles, as well as the all-new iPhone XS and iPhone XS Max. Dolby Vision is on iPhone XS Max – here's why you should careBut what's so exciting about Dolby Vision, and why should it be on your TV, let alone your smartphone? We've run you through everything you need to know in the article below. Dolby Vision is the game-changing advancement to TVs that we've needed for the past decade. Yes, 4K has given us additional pixels, but it's HDR that has made those pixels really shine in a way they never have before. Dolby Vision, in more or less words, is the jet-engine fuel that powers the best-looking content on Earth. It's the format that more studios are turning to and harnessing its potential to deliver colorful, dynamic and calculated images on a scene-by-scene basis. All of which will show up on your TV at home. If you haven't heard of Dolby Vision before today, that's OK. It's a technology that's still rolling out to producers, and has just recently permeated the TVs, consoles, smartphones and Blu-ray players you bring into your home. It's new, yes, but from what we've experienced, it's exactly what home cinema needs to match the silver screen. Best of all? It's available for you to bring home right now. What is Dolby Vision?Dolby Vision is a type of HDR – probably the second most popular after the ubiquitous HDR10 standard that's included on all HDR TVs and players. And while it bases a lot of its technology on the basic HDR standard (Dolby played a key role in the development on it after all), it's a better solution. The main improvement from an end-user’s perspective is that it places an additional layer of information on top of a core HDR10 video signal which contains scene-by-scene information which Dolby Vision-capable TVs can use to improve the way they present their pictures. This means better brights and darker blacks, and this enables TVs to display the full range of colors in the Rec. 2020 standard. If HDR blows you away now, wait until you see Dolby Vision. http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/iVGjdcBckpbUSLhBkb6Ur4.jpg We’ve seen Dolby Vision already in the UK on a handful of Netflix and Amazon video streams, and it’s also available via VUDU and iTunes in the US. The ‘big one’ for many AV fans, though, has been Ultra HD Blu-ray. Dolby Vision is included as an option on the UHD BD specification sheet, and AV fans have been desperate to see how much of a difference Dolby’s system might make to the picture quality of the AV world’s best-quality source. The latest crop of Dolby Vision Blu-rays, which include the Despicable Me films, West World from HBO and Star Wars Episode VIII: The Last Jedi, look nothing short of amazing – provided you’ve got the hardware to watch them. What you'll need to watch in Dolby VisionFor the avoidance of doubt, Dolby Vision is a licensed video platform that requires all the links in the video chain to support it. So buying the Despicable Me 4K Blu-ray discs won’t be enough in itself – you’ll also need a TV capable of receiving Dolby Vision, and a 4K Blu-ray player capable of playing Dolby Vision. All LG’s OLED TVs are DV-capable, as are its high-end Super UHD LCD TVs. Sony TVs with X1 Extreme chips (the ZD9, A1 OLED, XE93 and XE94, plus the 2018 X900F) handle DV too after a firmware update, as can some VIZIO and TCL TVs in the US. Much of Panasonic's 2019 TV range (GX800, GX920, GZ1000, GZ1500 and GZ2000) also packs in Dolby Vision support. The newest additions to the Dolby Vision family are consoles – including the Xbox One S and Xbox One X – and mobile phones, albeit on the premium end. The format can be displayed on the all-new iPhone XS, iPhone XS Max, iPhone X and LG G6 handsets, bringing truly vivid visuals and color to the screens you're likely to use the most. Of course, if you want Dolby Vision from a physical disc, there are only a few 4K Blu-ray players currently supporting Dolby Vision like the now-discontinued Oppo UDP-203 and Oppo 205, but more models from LG and Sony should help fill the void. If you’re lucky enough to already own a suitable combination of kit, though, trust us: you’ll want to buy as many Dolby Vision Blu-rays as you can. The impact of Dolby Vision on the visuals of both movies has to be seen to be believed. The best 4K Blu-ray players you can buy right nowDolby Vision: a new world of colorTake color, for instance. With our Oppo 203 and LG OLED55C7 combination, the Dolby Vision Despicable Me movies display an unprecedented array of tones and tonal subtleties. Everything from the animated skin tones to background walls and locations contains subtle variations and accuracies of color you just don’t get in HDR10 – a comparison verified by playing the discs’ HDR10 ‘core’ video through the Panasonic UB900 Ultra HD Blu-ray player onto the OLED55C7. This helps pictures instantly look more detailed and refined, despite the fact that Dolby Vision isn’t capable of actually adding more pixels to the 4K source pictures. The Dolby Vision transfer doesn’t just portray more subtle colors than the HDR10 transfer either. Some colors also look slightly different in hue and tone; and invariably our impression was that the DV versions were the definitive, accurate ones. http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/hensAWe6TbT9Fi7fnDHBqH.jpg Panasonic's latest 4K Blu Ray players have thrown in their support for Dolby Vision. Startling in its brilliance, too, is Dolby Vision’s mastery of light. Somehow the technology seems to deliver purer, brighter highlights than we've ever seen from the LG OLED before, while simultaneously delivering dark scenes with more richness and subtle light detailing. Actually there seems to be more definition between subtle light differences in every part of the Dolby Vision image, giving it a more stable, rich, deep, solid appearance that looks almost three-dimensional versus the flatter, less precise HDR10 picture. As if this wasn’t all stunning enough, the settings Dolby has designed for the OLED55C7 seem to handle motion more cleanly and effectively than LG’s own processing with HDR10 does. Add all the Dolby Vision/Despicable Me benefits together and you’ve got an image the likes of which we haven’t seen before on a domestic television, despite the fact that we’re only talking about a pair of ageing animated titles. Having seen the cinematic version of Dolby Vision at work on Guardians Of The Galaxy Vol. 2 recently, we can only imagine how spectacular Dolby Vision at home could look with more visually sophisticated titles than Despicable Me and Despicable Me 2. Rival technologies to Dolby VisionIt’s worth remembering at this point that AV brands not signed up with Dolby for Dolby Vision – notably Samsung – tend to suggest they can deliver equivalent results to DV by just applying their own processing power to HDR10. Having played the Despicable Me discs in HDR10 into a reference Samsung UE65KS9500, though, while that set delivered brighter light peaks than the Dolby Vision picture on the LG OLED, it couldn’t match Dolby Vision for light and color subtleties. Samsung announced back in 2017 it was partnering with Amazon Prime Video to develop a new HDR format called 'HDR10+', which also applies a layer of so-called ‘dynamic metadata’ (scene-by-scene instructions) to an HDR10 stream. It's essentially a royalty-free alternative to Dolby Vision, which is built into Samsung's line of high-end QLED televisions. Both Panasonic and 20th Century Fox had thrown their weight behind HDR10+, selling it as a more democratic, open-source HDR format. Panasonic recently changed its tune on this, however, and you can now get Dolby Vision on a host of Panasonic 4K Blu Ray players and Panasonic TVs. http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/oQWGxWxRtx3xM6rFGaKbQ6.jpg All recent LG OLED TVs, including the LG E8 OLED, are DV-capable. We're not necessarily saying here that your next TV and 4K Blu-ray player absolutely definitely must have Dolby Vision support. The format still, after all, has to work within the brightness and color limitations of any TV it’s applied to. There are non-Dolby Vision TVs out there which are either (in Samsung’s case in particular) capable of delivering color and brightness levels beyond those possible from any current Dolby Vision TV. But there still aren't many Dolby Vision Ultra HD Blu-rays available, despite the format’s ‘official’ launch. What certainly does no longer seem in doubt from having seen Dolby Vision in action from a 4K Blu-ray, though, is that it does an incredible job of getting the absolute best out of any screen it comes into contact with. And with a technology as confusing and frankly error-strewn as HDR is right now, that’s a pretty big deal. Want a concise rundown of the differences? Here's our complete guide on HDR10 vs Dolby Visionhttp://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techradar/digital-home/~4/5eLfEBh3JdY

Best Buy is offering a discount and a free $100 gift card with Google's newest and most affordable phone - the Google Pixel 3a. You'll receive a free $100 Best Buy gift card with your purchase of a Google Pixel 3a or 3aXL unlocked or with a qualified activation from Verizon or Sprint. You can also save $100 on the phone itself with a qualified new activation from Sprint. This limited-time offer is valid until May 18. The Pixel 3a is Google's most affordable option from its line of Pixel phones. The newly released 3a features 4GB of RAM and starts at 64GB of storage. The phone offers a 5.6-inch display and includes a headphone jack for those who prefer to use corded earbuds. Like the Google Pixel 3, the 3a features an impressive camera with an 8.0MP front-facing camera for self-portraits and video. The Google Pixel is available in black, purple-ish and white and features a battery life up to seven hours on just a 15-minute charge. The Google Pixel 3 currently retails for $799, which makes the $399 price tag on the 3a very attractive. Best Buy is not only offering a $100 gift card with your purchase of a Pixel 3a, but also offering a $100 discount with a qualified Sprint activation. Because the Pixel 3a is newly released, discounts like this are rare so you should take advantage of this deal while it lasts. If you're looking for a bigger device, Best Buy is also offering a $100 gift card with your purchase of the Google Pixel 3a XL. The Pixel XL offers the same features as the 3a but comes with a bigger display (6-inch), body size and battery capacity (3,700mAh). Learn more about Google's newest phone with our Google Pixel 3a review and Google Pixel 3a XL review. See more deals with the cheapest Google Pixel 3a and 3a XL unlocked SIM-free prices that are currently available. http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techradar/digital-home/~4/GJYe6QQX8Bw

O2 is gearing up for the launch of its 5G network by improving its coverage in major indoor spaces such as shopping centres and sports arenas. The operator plans to launch 5G later this year in Belfast, Cardiff, Edinburgh and London before expanding to other parts of the country in 2020. Over the past 18 months, the Telefonica-owned operator has taken a number of steps to facilitate the launch. Like its rivals, it secured 3.4GHz spectrum at the Ofcom auction last year, earlier in 2019 it expanded its network infrastructure sharing agreement with Vodafone to cover 5G. O2 gears up for 5G launch in 20195G will be a fifth of all UK mobile traffic by 2022What is 5G? Everything you need to know O2 5GHowever, 5G networks will require many new sites due to the low range of the spectrum. This has made micro infrastructure such as small cells necessary for dense urban areas and indoor locations. O2’s partnership with the Wireless Infrastructure Group will see coverage improved in a variety of public spaces, including Bluewater shopping centre in Kent, Liverpool’s Anfield stadium and Lord’s Cricket Ground. “While we look ahead to 5G we also continue to focus on our existing network capability. We strive to deliver a great network experience to all our customers, including some of the UK’s busiest locations where network demand is at its peak,” said Brendan O’ Reilly, O2 CTO. “Our multi-million pound investment with our partners at WIG should provide O2 customers with even better connectivity in the places they love to visit.” The announcement came alongside the news that O2’s Q1 revenue increased by 5.3 per cent for £1.475 million, driven by the ongoing success of the operator’s custom plans. There are now 32.7 million users on the network, a figure which includes MVNO connections. O2 has 25.1 million subscribers itself, adding 13,000 users during the past three months as churn stood at 0.9 per cent. “This is another good set of results building on our momentum from 2018. We have delivered further revenue and customer growth underpinned by our award-winning network and market-leading loyalty,” said O2 CEO Mark Evans. “2019 is an exciting year for O2. In addition to progressing our 5G plans, we are working to establish an industry-led shared rural network for the benefit of consumers and businesses across the UK. This demonstrates our commitment to invest for the future with mobile connectivity one of the UK’s most powerful opportunities to strengthen the economy and improve the lives of British people.” Here are the best O2 mobile phone deals for 2019http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techradar/digital-home/~4/CzgTrDTAEPM

When shopping for a monitor, you may look at its connections, the screen size, resolution and contrast. But BenQ offers a new feature that significantly improves how visually impressive your games, movies and, heck, even spreadsheets, look. It’s the B.I.+ Sensor, found in monitors like the BenQ EL2870U and BenQ EW277HDR. But what is a B.I.+ Sensor?BenQ’s Brightness Intelligence Plus (B.I.+) technology uses a sensor that monitors the ambient light level in the room and the content you’re viewing on screen. It knows when all the lights are on, and when you dim them to make Alien: Isolation or A Quiet Place all the more terrifying. The monitor adjusts its own brightness, contrast and colour temperature to suit your conditions (for both surrounding lighting and screen content). For the best image, you want the brightness of the screen to match the surroundings. Max out a monitor’s brightness in a dimly lit room and it can be painful to look at. Use a low brightness setting while sunlight streams through a nearby window and you’ll barely see whatever game or movie is on-screen. http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/DzcgmxuPpKDsfrxTZVEaN7.jpg Image credit: BenQ Similarly, very warm or tinted room lights can make a normal image look odd. This is because, just like a BenQ monitor with a B.I.+ sensor, our eyes adapt to their surroundings. Your pupils dilate and contract, reacting to the light level. And remember that internet argument about the dress that was either gold or blue depending on who you asked? That’s because our perception of colour is not absolute. It’s altered by our surroundings, and even the specifics of our eyes and brains. BenQ B.I.+ takes the outside world and the content on your screen into account, so you can be sure you see movies and games as intended. http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/FqWDPazcusg3htfq3hToHm.jpg Image credit: BenQ HDR10’s perfect partnerIt works hand-in-hand with HDR10 support to provide the most intricate, detailed image possible. Haven't experienced HDR in person yet? It stands for high dynamic range, and in this context refers to video specifically mastered with high brightness and great contrast in mind. BenQ B.I.+ means clearer blacks with more visible detail when you use the monitor in a room with dimmed lighting, and a punchier image when the lights are up. It can help improve your eye health too. Using a computer monitor all day strains your eyes. BenQ minimizes this effect by, once again, matching the display to your room. White areas of an image should look white rather than dark grey, but should not be so bright it feels like staring into a 100W bulb. The beauty of BenQ’s B.I.+ tech is that the monitor does all of this automatically. Close the curtains, turn on a lamp, or switch from working on a word document to watching a dark film, and the display will tweak its settings to compensate. It makes sure you get the same great experience no matter the room or time of day. http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/rKwttPjjDFSeHwvtPugKL3.jpg Image credit: BenQ Where to find BenQ’s B.I.+ SensorWhere can you get this next-generation monitor tech? Those after an affordable all-rounder monitor should consider the 27-inch BenQ EW277HDR. It offers Full HD resolution, HDR10 support and B.I.+ technology at an affordable price. The BenQ EL2870U is our gamer’s pick. It’s a 4K resolution 28-inch monitor with AMD FreeSync and grey-to-grey response times of just 1ms. That’s perfect for competitive multiplayer games. BenQ’s EW3270U is the cineaste’s choice. It’s 4K, but, at 32 inches across, is huge for a computer monitor. Superb colour depth brings added richness to your film collection. All of these monitors have BenQ’s B.I.+ technology - you simply switch it on and off with a button on the front. There’s no clearer way to see the effects of this smart tech. The best monitor 2019: the top 10 monitors and displays we've reviewedhttp://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techradar/digital-home/~4/tH6MmNVfCpM

The news that macOS 10.15, which is due later this year, will come with a standalone Music app was good news for anyone who doesn’t like iTunes. However, it appears that the Music app will be heavily based off the iTunes code. This means that the Music app could end up being a lot like iTunes. So, while it will come with popular features of iTunes, such as smart playlists, iOS syncing and disc burning, it will disappoint anyone who was hoping for a more revolutionary change. Best Mac apps: the best macOS apps for your Apple computerBest Mac antivirus software of 2019The 50 best Mac tips, tricks and timesaversThe news comes from 9to5Mac, which claims that a source close to the development of macOS 10.15 got in contact with information about the new app. Marzipan-freeWhen news of the standalone Music app in macOS 10.15 broke, there was speculation that it would be made using Apple’s Marzipan tech, which allows iOS apps to run on Macs. The hope was that Apple would produce one Music app that worked on iPods, iPads, iPhones and Mac computers. However, it now appears that the macOS 10.15 Music app will have little in common – at least code-wise – with its iOS counterpart, and will instead be a standard AppKit application. So, it’s a shame that Apple’s exciting vision for cross platform apps won’t be used for the Music app any time soon, but at least macOS 10.15 users will get a version of iTunes that concentrates solely on music. These are the best Macs of 2019http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techradar/digital-home/~4/_TfDjv50bPk

AI was never intended to give insights into collective behaviour, yet it’s becoming an increasingly efficient method of doing so. In an age of the GDPR fearful, collective behaviour is the way forward to understanding consumer preferences and AI’s memory of data allows this to happen without jeopardising individual behaviour. Three ways CIOs can successfully scale AITrump administration orders research into AIThree quarters of smartphones will have AI chip by 2022Early beginningsAlan Turing was recently named as the most ‘iconic’ figure of the 20th century. Perhaps this is because of the explosive interest and power that artificial intelligence is set to have on our world in the near future. He was a mathematician who cracked codes during World War II and praised with shortening the war by several years due to his work at Bletchley Park. Here, he was tasked with cracking the ‘Enigma’ code and, with another code-breaker, invented a machine known as the Bombe which has had a huge influence on the development of computer science and artificial intelligence. Turing suggested that humans use available information as well as reason in order to solve problems and make decisions, so machines should, in theory, be able to do the same. This was the logical framework of his 1950 paper, Computing Machinery and Intelligence, in which he discusses how to build intelligent machines and how to test their intelligence. After a conference in 1956 where, what is considered by many, to be the first AI programme was presented, a flurry of interest in AI ensued. Computers could store more information and became faster, cheaper, and more accessible. Machine learning algorithms improved and people got better at knowing which algorithm to apply to their problem. However, a mountain of obstacles were uncovered and things began to slow down. In the 1980’s, AI was reignited by two sources: an expansion of the algorithmic toolkit, and a boost of funds. This led to some of AI’s greatest achievements such as the defeat of reigning world chess champion and grandmaster Gary Kasparov. http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/AvZcjmUMtehpuha5oJLcTB.jpg Image credit: Pixabay AI’s memoryAs the history of AI shows, it’s creation occurred due to a need to solve issues at a faster rate than humans. Yet, a by product of solving these issues is a wealth of data which is effectively the AI’s ‘memory’. This creates a database of insight into people’s behaviour from what the AI has collected. For example, an area in which AI has been particularly beneficial in is matching people with one another based off shared interests. Technology has long been thought of as a way to bring people together but in the past these people have at least known one another. Now, AI can bring people together who are likely to be friends but may not have even ever met. This is the aim of the AI. An example of AI bringing people together can be seen with the company badi. We utilise AI’s capability in this area in response to the rise in room-rentals where people who don’t know each other often live with one another. Previous business models that facilitate room-rentals have concentrated on the renter and the potential flat but happiness in flatshares is often determined by housemates, rather than the standard of the flat. Levels of insightTo do this, three levels of insight are collected and combined and used to help facilitate better housemate ‘matches’. This is AI fulfilling its role of doing something much faster than a human would be able to, particularly as it can analyse data and ‘read’ people's profiles faster. 1. Personality traits - these are based on a set of questions which a person is asked. This includes their age, gender, occupation, where they live, where they want to live and their preferences for another flatmate. 2. Behavioural data - this analyses the actions that people are making on badi, such as who a person has sent a request to and how many requests they have sent. This then creates a supposed flatmate preference which will be cross-analysed with the person’s answers in their personality traits to show a more true version of what their preferences are. For example, a person may think they would prefer to live with a man who works but actually their requests show they would prefer to live with a woman who works. 3. Images - the image that a person uploads is analysed by information extracted from images and descriptions which infer a person’s interests to match them to people with similar interests. While the aim of AI isn’t to give data on people’s behavior preferences when seeking a housemate, the nature of technology means that as all answers are stored in the ‘cloud’ the mass of data from individual responses gives insight into collective behaviour. http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/ET4VyCyTg9zEbZxqMY7Q3M.jpg Image credit: Shutterstock Collecting data from AIIronically, this data from AI is what humans should find most important. When Gary Kasparov lost to AI in a chess match, the advantage that he has for the future is to analyse how the AI was able to beat him. AI will have a store of all past games and know the patterns for each eventuality. By studying the algorithms that AI used, Gary is able to learn where his own weaknesses are and techniques from other people, allowing him to improve for future competitions. Equally, when matching housemates, an understanding of how and why people are matched allows badi to further tweak AI and target specific people who it knows will be a good match for one another. While people may worry about ‘big data’ and the threats it can pose, the current issues around GDPR highlight the issue of individualised information. AI doesn’t focus on individuals when giving information on collective behaviour. Instead it allows individuals to stay anonymous whilst giving information on emerging trends and behaviours which are hugely beneficial for companies wanting to better understand their customers. The example from badi shows how companies don’t need to look at personal information but can instead use statistics (aggregates) to help and improve user journeys. While AI was never intended to give data on collective behaviour, the nature of how AI works means that it has an unbeatable memory that can combine information. Companies should begin to utilise this to understand collective trends whilst not compromising individual’s specific data. Guillem Pons, Chief Data Officer at Badi This is everything you need to know about AIhttp://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techradar/digital-home/~4/ZPdd_0GzeaY

With massive zoom ranges inside svelte, pocketable bodies, today's travel camera allow you to capture a whole wealth of different subjects without weighing you down. It's certainly true that most smartphone cameras are fine for general snaps, but they won't do justice to the things you see and experience when you're on your travels. On the other hand, carrying a bulky DSLR is just too much of a hassle for a lot of people – and that's where cameras like these come in. Travel-zoom cameras are pocket-sized compact cameras that are barely larger than a regular point-and-shoot model, but they manage to pack massive 20x, 30x or even longer zoom lenses. That means you get the portability of a regular compact camera, but with much more scope for shooting different kinds of subjects. Whether you want to shoot, wide, expansive vistas or tightly cropped buildings and monuments, these cameras will allow you to do just that. You're not going to get the same kind of quality you'd get from a DSLR or a mirrorless camera because the only way to make cameras with big zooms small enough to go in a pocket is to use a smaller sensor. But the picture quality is still pretty good, and perfect for sharing with friends and family. Some models now sport larger 1.0-inch sensors for improved image quality, and if you're shooting in bright light you may not even be able to tell the difference between these images and those from DSLRs or mirrorless cameras. Sure, they may not be as flexible otherwise, but they stand to be considerably better than those from all but the most modern smartphones. If you're still not sure this is the kind of camera you need, check our step by step guide: What camera should I buy? Alternatively, if you're going to be by the pool or on the beach, you might want something a bit more rugged, so take a look at our best waterproof camera and best action camera guides. Otherwise, keep reading, because here's our list of the top travel cameras you can buy right now. http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/oyYK5qmxghsTkZPPmJ3DbK.jpg http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/rL4txv9GRFQ9KwZUQotcGS.jpg Before we take a look at our best travel camera list, we wanted to highlight an alternative that doesn't quite fit in the travel zoom compact category, but is still worthy of consideration. The RX100 III from Sony is a couple of years old now and was originally selling for near $1,000/£1,000, but with new models (including the RX100 VI below), it's dropped massively in price. Downsides? Well, the zoom is pretty short compared to other rivals here, but otherwise there's a lot to like. There's a decent 20.1MP 1-inch sensor, and while the zoom range is pretty short, it features a fast maximum aperture of f/1.8-2.8. There's also a pop-up electronic viewfinder and 4K video, while it's packaged in a premium, metal body. Definitely worth a look if the zoom range isn't your main concern. Read our in-depth Sony Cyber-shot RX100 III reviewhttp://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/oyYK5qmxghsTkZPPmJ3DbK.jpg Best travel cameras in 2019http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/RfTyoKXAvibDZL3jFQWNJo.jpg With the rise of high-end compacts like the excellent Sony Cyber-shot RX100 V stealing the thunder from compact travel zooms, Panasonic's response has been to keep the camera body about the same size as its earlier ZS/TZ-series cameras but to squeeze in a much larger sensor. We saw this with the Lumix ZS100 (known as the Lumix TZ100 outside the US), and Panasonic's continued this with the newer Lumix ZS200 / TZ200. This physically larger 1in sensor enables much better image quality than would otherwise be the case, but the slight downside is that the zoom range from the lens isn't quite as extensive as some others. That said, The ZS200 / TZ200 still sports a very versatile 15x zoom, while there's also a handy built-in electronic viewfinder, which makes it easier to compose images in bright light. Not only that, but there's also high-quality 4K video recording and Panasonic's 4K Photo mode to help capture 8MP images of fleeting moments. This is still the best travel zoom compact camera available, even if it's a little pricey. Read our in-depth Panasonic Lumix ZS200 / TZ200 reviewhttp://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/oyYK5qmxghsTkZPPmJ3DbK.jpg http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/wF9usnqNA7L7rmZLpccAtL.jpg Until the Lumix ZS200 / TZ200 came along, the Lumix ZS100 / TZ100 was our pick of the travel zoom compacts. Like it's newer sibling, the ZS100 / TZ100 enjoys a large 1.0-inch sensor with a decent 20.1MP resolution, but the 10x zoom is one of the shortest available. Not let that put you off though, as the Z100 / TZ100 is a brilliant camera, with a built-in electronic viewfinder, large touchscreen, 4K video, Wi-Fi image transfer and easy-to-use controls. There's also more advanced manual features as well, including raw capture for those who like to edit their images at a latter date. It all adds up to be a powerful travel compact that should now be at an even more tempting price. Read our in-depth Panasonic Lumix ZS100 / TZ100 reviewhttp://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/oyYK5qmxghsTkZPPmJ3DbK.jpg http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/sVMqJkUfbhH4EWtfnkpfrk.jpg Sony revolutionised premium compact cameras with the original RX100 as it was the pocket-sized camera to feature a large 1.0-inch sensor. However, thanks to the pretty modest zoom lenses on previous models, they haven't really lent themselves as travel cameras. That all changes with the arrival of the RX100 VI, which packs in a decent 24-200mm zoom lens, which while shorter than a lot of rivals, features an impressive fast (variable) maximum aperture. On top of this, the RX100 VI features a stunning (if complex) autofocus system, the ability to shoot at 24fps and advanced 4K video recording. It can be a bit fiddly to use, and is expensive, but there's certainly nothing else that can touch it when it comes to performance. Read our in-depth Sony Cyber-shot RX100 VI reviewhttp://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/oyYK5qmxghsTkZPPmJ3DbK.jpg http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/rnjaHvw6LZzgsE2ptHPVwA.jpg The Cyber-shot HX99 features a 30x optical zoom range (identical to that of the Lumix ZS50 / TZ70 below) and a pop-up electronic viewfinder. This can be a big bonus in the glare of harsh, bright light, when regular LCD screens can be hard to see, but the EVF in the HX99 pops up out of the body when you need it. The downside is that the resolution is a light low, but it's certainly a handy feature to have. The 18.2MP sensor will capture better-looking photos than your smartphone can, but not by much. If you want better image quality you'll need to look for models with 1.0-inch sensors, but you won't find one with the same impressive 30x optical zoom. The addition of raw capture is welcome, giving you greater flexibility to tweak and adjust images post-capture though Read our in-depth Sony Cyber-shot HX99 reviewhttp://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/oyYK5qmxghsTkZPPmJ3DbK.jpg http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/hvbqTXTis2mzkhCJi483uW.jpg Panasonic's ZS/TZ-series cameras kicked off the whole big-zoom travel camera genre, and the ZS80, also known as the TZ95, is the latest arrival. It's chief highlights include a 20.3MP sensor, a 24-720mm zoom, a tilting touchscreen and 4K video recording, much like the previous ZS70 / TZ90. In fact, 95% of the spec sheet is pretty much the same, although this new model arrives with a larger and much higher resolution viewfinder. These are still rare on such models, so it's great to see Panasonic improve it for this new generation camera. Not so fussed about the viewfinder? Then the TZ90 will probably do you just fine – and it's a fair bit cheaper now too. http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/oyYK5qmxghsTkZPPmJ3DbK.jpg http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/VCuFvyU6Udkf47ks3jVTaS.jpg On a budget but want a capable all-rounder? The Panasonic Lumix ZS70 / TZ90 is better than most at this level. On top of a very capable 30x optical zoom you get decent 4K video recording, an LCD that responds brilliantly to touch and is nice and clear, and even raw shooting. The viewfinder is also something that few cameras at this level offer, and while it's not quite perfect it does the job. Focusing is nice and snappy and face detection works really well too, and the fact that the LCD flips up to face the front lets you capture selfies and group shots with ease. Read our in-depth Panasonic Lumix ZS70 / TZ90 reviewhttp://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/oyYK5qmxghsTkZPPmJ3DbK.jpg http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/4dseVPvcvEaNYUawCjEyVA.jpg The Canon PowerShot SX730 HS is something of a tale of two halves. The good news is that it exhibits a fine build and is generally pleasing to use, with good response across most aspects of operation. If you want a no-nonsense camera with a broad zoom range, and most of the decision-making left to it, the SX730 HS may just be what you’re after. The flipside of this is that the PowerShot SX730 HS lacks several of the features of its rivals, despite being one of the dearest options of its kind. 4K video, touch operation, an electronic level, even the option to move the focusing point; if you want any of these you'll have to look elsewhere. The model has recently been updated by the SX740 HS which does pack 4K video, although sadly Canon hasn't found space for an EVF nor raw shooting. Read our in-depth Canon PowerShot SX730 HS reviewhttp://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/oyYK5qmxghsTkZPPmJ3DbK.jpg http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/6a5VBct8kSw78h7nAn2oHc.jpg Not all holidays and stretches of travel are all about capturing wide-angle vistas and subjects in the distance. For some photographers, having a camera that can withstand being dropped, knocked, splashed or frozen would be more appropriate, and that's precisely what the Olympus TG-5 offers. In addition to its rugged credentials, the camera offers 4K video recording, built-in Wi-Fi and a ring of LED lights around its lens to throw plenty of light on close-up subjects. There's even the option to capture Raw files. The only serious bummer is that the sensor is somewhat small consider the camera's 25-100mm zoom range, although it's the same size as those inside a number of cameras featured above. http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/x6a9KSnvLiFgwihQYRQr28.jpg Also consider...Going on vacation or further afield, but not fussed about size and weight? Then we've picked out three alternatives for you to consider - a DSLR, a mirrorless camera and a bridge camera. All have advantages over a dedicated travel zoom compact if you're prepared to have a slightly bulkier bag. Let's take a look... http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/oyYK5qmxghsTkZPPmJ3DbK.jpg http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/iTypRoj7gqWsxo2sVWgUNB.jpg Although the RX10 III has now been updated by the RX10 IV, we still reckon the third iteration is the better buy right now. While not quite as polished on the spec sheet, it still arrives with many of the same core features – including the sensor, the lens, the basic video specs etc – and it's considerably cheaper too. For your money you get DSLR-style handling, 14fps burst shooting, cracking 4K video quality and a lens that's brilliantly stabilised for sharp shots. That 1in sensor is also larger than those inside many other cameras on this list, and it works very well across different lighting conditions. Read our in-depth Sony Cyber-shot RX10 III reviewhttp://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/oyYK5qmxghsTkZPPmJ3DbK.jpg http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/ae5MgugAFTMvEofCkAiEVC.jpg Nikon's D3500 is our favorite entry-level DSLR right now. The large 24.2MP APS-C sensor will deliver superior images to those of a travel zoom compact camera, while the 1550 battery life is brilliant if you're on your travels. It's fair to say it's not loaded with features, but the D3500 is very easy to use (even if you've never picked-up a DSLR before) and it's pretty compact to. While the D3500 is most often bundled with a 18-55mm kit lens, this will be pretty limiting for your travels, so you'll want to invest in something like Tamron's 18-400mm f/3.5-6.3 Di II VC HLD superzoom lens. Thanks to the 1.5x crop factor of the APS-C sensor, this is equivalent to 27-600mm. This offers plenty of range to cover off most subjects, while you can always swap to a fast prime lens for more creative, shallow depth of field shots when on your travels. Read our in-depth Nikon D3500 reviewhttp://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/oyYK5qmxghsTkZPPmJ3DbK.jpg http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/gBdWqDY6yL85riHjJpqGtA.jpg Olympus has refined and tweaked one of our favorite mirrorless cameras to make it an even more tempting proposition for new users and enthusiasts alike. Featuring a Micro Four Thirds sensor format sensor (roughly half the area of APS-C), means image quality isn't quite a match for APS-C rivals like the Nikon D3500, but the effect on image quality is minor and it's still better than a travel zoom. It also means that the lenses are as compact and lightweight as the camera itself. Sporting a 5-axis image stabilization system, decent electronic viewfinder, an impressive 8.6fps burst shooting speed and 4K video, it's no toy – the E-M10 Mark III is a properly powerful camera. Pair it with a couple of neat Micro Four Thirds lenses and you've got a decent little travel set-up. Read our in-depth Olympus OM-D E-M10 Mark III reviewhttp://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/oyYK5qmxghsTkZPPmJ3DbK.jpg Best cameraBest DSLRBest mirrorless cameraBest 4K cameraBest full-frame cameraBest compact cameraWhat camera should I buy?Mirrorless vs DSLR: 10 key differenceshttp://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techradar/digital-home/~4/onLWyZnzxew

Intel has clarified that its long-delayed next-gen processors built on a 10nm process will start to ship in June, and indeed that the chip giant has learned from its mistakes, and will be able to push forward with greater speed dropping to 7nm CPUs promising even better performance come 2021. This, and a ton of other roadmap and product info, was divulged by Intel at its 2019 investor meeting. Intel claimed its 7nm products will debut in 2021 starting with Intel Xe, the next-gen graphics solution we’ve been hearing so much about lately, although in this case, the first offering will be a General-Purpose GPU for heavyweight usage in the data center. That will be followed by a 7nm Xeon (server processor). Intel's Project Athena aims for more efficient laptopsIntel's new drive may do for SSDs what flash memory did for HDDsAMD vs Intel: which processors are better?A consumer-targeted Intel Xe graphics card is expected in 2020, the year before the aforementioned GP-GPU, although that won’t be 7nm – but rather 10nm. Speaking of 10nm, as we said at the outset, the first Ice Lake offerings will start shipping in June, and Intel’s 10nm ramp predicts that client systems will be on sale for the holiday season at the end of 2019. This is in line with what we’ve previously heard, namely that consumer laptops using Ice Lake processors will be available at the very end of the year. Server offerings using the CPUs will follow in the first half of 2020. Furthermore, 10nm Tiger Lake processors will follow Ice Lake in 2020, arriving in laptops and packing Intel’s Xe graphics (rather than Ice Lake’s Gen11 integrated graphics), which will be capable of running multiple 4K displays (or driving an 8K monitor). Pedal to the siliconAs Tom’s Hardware reports, chief executive Bob Swan noted that this forecasted swift move from 10nm to 7nm reflects an acceleration of the production of the process node. In other words, Intel has learned a lot of lessons from the difficulties in transitioning from current 14nm chips to these incoming 10nm efforts, with the insights and gains therein meaning swifter progress when dropping down to 7nm (and subsequently refining). Or at least that’s the theory. Intel further noted that Ice Lake (10nm) will effectively double integrated graphics performance levels compared to Coffee Lake CPUs – not surprising as it sports the aforementioned Gen11 graphics we’ve been hearing good things about – as well as doubling video encoding performance, and tripling wireless speeds. As for 7nm performance, Intel is quoting impressive further steps on from there with gains in power and efficiency, specifically a 15% improvement in transistor performance, and a bigger 20% boost in terms of performance-per-watt. Finally, it’s worth noting that Intel said that issues with stock shortages of current 14nm processors would continue to improve going forward, and that they would be fully resolved by the fourth quarter. The last we heard, this was expected to happen in the third quarter, but at any rate, Intel anticipates that inventory shortages will be a thing of the past before 2019 is out. That’s good news certainly, as consumers and PC makers alike have been struggling when it comes to getting hold of Intel’s mid-range and particularly lower-end processors (as the chip giant has been concentrating on making high-end products with more profit margin using its limited production capacity). We’ve picked out the best laptops of 2019http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techradar/digital-home/~4/Lx30SIMYPPA

The VR and AR market is one of the most revolutionary tech that is going to expand from $6.1 Billion in 2016 to $192.7 Billion by 2022. Of course, there is a hidden potential that only a few are realizing and if experts are true, it is going to reshape the consumers completely. The history of commercial consumption has been trying to gain and maintain the attention, and therefore the purchasing power of customers. Virtual reality (VR) or Augmented Reality (AR) offer new and increasingly attractive ways to win consumers’ attention and to transform the way they shop. While this two-dimensional method of reaching consumers is undoubtedly effective, we are looking towards VR/AR to significantly shift the ways that people shop, browse, and take in information. The future is virtual - why AR and VR will live in the cloudHow VR and eye-tracking can help you understand your customersVR needs to be led by creatives, not hardware cyclesVR, AR and personalizationAlthough retail has been on the decline, Augmented Reality can allow companies to retain customers through a more personalized experience. Consumers increasingly expect businesses to anticipate and meet their needs which is why they are their customers in the first place, and AR can successfully allow them to do this in ways that other technologies simply can’t. Take the real estate industry for instance, when a consumer goes to buy an apartment, the builder presents him/her with a flashy 3D model that sits duck on a large table and provides next to none information about the apartment itself. Some builders even run an animated version of the apartments that doesn’t even look real at times. But imagine a virtual tour? Just like playing games where gamers walk on a rail-bar placed at unfathomable heights, a buyer can, too, easily visit the home from inside, see the decor and placement of the furniture, how the kitchen is and a lot more. Which definitely increases the chance for the builder to make a sale. Similarly, imagine having to try that gothic shirt you want or the new pair of Jordans and even the funky eyeglasses. The potential is real here and applications are endless given businesses learn to let their customers connect with product or service rather than wooing them with useless ads. As consumers develop along with technology, they will expect the places they shop to treat them like an individual, with unique shopping experiences and recommendations. Major retailers such as Target and Walmart have already been developing technology along these lines. Target unveiled an AR feature that allows customers to view 3D versions of desired products within their own home. Each product is scaled, allowing consumers to exactly visualize the way their living room or kitchen would look with a Target product should they choose to buy that product. http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/xZTAWqzsmn38eGB9KEXMTK.jpg Image credit: Shutterstock Providing a more personalized experience Personalization in any business will not be successful if the brand doesn’t make use of modern technologies big and small companies alike have started to realize the potential. Augmented Reality, for example, can provide clients with the desired entertainment experiences that enable clients to be more engaged with a brand. While previous consumers may have been more interested in the intersection of price and quality, the new consumer increasingly leans towards the experience behind the product. And they expect that experience to be personalized. They want to feel like they share the same set of ideals with the company, not simply that the company produces a satisfying product. The new entertainment experience that consumers desire can most effectively be delivered with the use of developing technologies, such as AR. While VR offers amazing potential in the realm of customer experience, it is going to impact consumer lives in other large ways. What we are about to witness, and what’s already beginning to happen is VR spreading its potential across an entirely new domain of industries, including education, healthcare, sports, recreation, and many more. A series of studies performed by the American Society of Anesthesiologists showed that innovative, new VR technologies are likely to reduce children’s pre and post-surgical pain and anxiety. In addition, the New York Times has used VR to enhance their ability to tell stories, allowing readers to view 360-degree videos alongside stories in order to create an enhanced reader connection. If a virtual reality-based experience is present in other walks of life, and delivering a high-quality experience in various realms, then consumers will naturally begin gravitating towards this experience when shopping as well. This stir that the technological world is feeling is also shaking the retail industry on a significantly larger scale. All the major players have jumped the bandwagon; Facebook took over Oculus, Samsung is putting efforts in its VR, Google trying to the victor the race already and invested over 500 million on its project Magic Leap, and Microsoft recently showcased it Hololens 2 in MWC 2019. But why so much for VR/AR? Well, it’s pretty simple, this particular can increase the efficiency of a business, bring down overall marketing cost and provide useful data and customer analytics. It’s a win-win for both consumer and business. Looking to the futureWhile some people are cynical about VR and its ability to make positive change, there is no doubt that VR/AR is transforming various industries in radical ways. Customer service is one industry that will change with increasingly accessible and widely used AR/VR technologies. As consumers grow to expect more from their shopping experience, new technologies will need to be developed in order to fill that need. Consumers will come to and are already coming to, expect an experience based around their personal desires and ideals. Virtual Reality is the technology that will meet the new consumer’s demands. Rafael Szymanski, Founder and CEO of Global Tech Maker Think only retailers can benefit from VR? Also check out the best VR apps for educationhttp://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techradar/digital-home/~4/1NLo-puCHWM

Intel is envisioning a bold new future for laptops with its Project Athena initiative, which the company first announced at CES 2019. Project Athena will see Intel offer guidance to equipment and PC component manufacturers to create future laptops that are smarter, faster (thanks to 5G) and more power efficient – which will hopefully mean much longer battery lives. This week, the wraps came off the plan, as Intel gathered with hundreds of members of the PC manufacturing industry in Taiwan. This is where one of the Intel's Project Athena Open Labs is located – specifically in Taipei – with another in Folsom, California. Here's what you need to know about 5GCheck out what AMD has coming in the Ryzen 3rd GenerationThis is what we know about Intel's Canon Lake processorsHow Project Athena will workIntel's Project Athena Open Labs will work as a resource for equipment and component manufacturers to test their products. Intel has brought engineers with system-on-chip (SoC) and power optimization expertise to these Open Labs, and they'll conduct testing and offer guidance to manufacturers on how to improve their products. The goal is ensure a wide range of Project Athena-compliant components that original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) can depend on to work in more power-efficient laptops. Component manufacturers will submit their products to the Project Athena Open Labs to see if they can meet the specifications. These components can include everything from displays, audio devices, haptic feedback motors, SSDs, wireless modules and more. By covering the whole range of components, the program should allow OEMS to easily choose components for devices that follow Project Athena specifications and more or less guarantee better power efficiency. Project Athena is aimed toward 2020 and beyond, with future devices featuring 5G connectivity and AI in mind. But, we won't have to wait until 2020 to get the first laptops offering Project Athena specifications. The first batch of Project Athena devices is slated for the second half of this year. And, while Project Athena is focused on the components, not the complete computers, the news hasn't said which chips will be at the heart of the experience. Intel's Ice Lake processors could be coming at the end of the year, and with their 10nm architecture, they may be an ideal candidate for more power efficient laptops. Check out the best laptops for 2019http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techradar/digital-home/~4/KbaHgS0MXus

Loot boxes remain one of the most controversial topics in gaming, and now lawmakers in the US are planning to ban paid loot boxes in titles aimed at kids. Missouri Senator Josh Hawley has put forward a bill called the Protecting Children from Abusive Games Act, which would ban paid loot boxes, as well as pay-to-win mechanics and other practices that could part children from their (or rather their parents') hard-earned cash. In his introduction to the bill, Hawley said these kinds of in-game elements risk encouraging "compulsive habits" and that developers shouldn't be able to "monetize addiction". Loot boxes and Battlefront 2Avengers: Endgame gets a streaming debutWe hired a Battle Royale teacherThe ban would potentially apply to "games played by minors", which would include games specifically designed for kids, as well as games where developers allow under-18s to engage in microtransactions. The saga continuesThe bill's announcement included a specific mention of Candy Crush, and it's likely that a whole host of titles that let you pay to progress will get swept up in the legislation, due to be introduced to the US Senate soon. This is a storm that's been brewing for a while, with authorities in various countries grapple with the issue – particularly the issue of paying a fee for a chance to win something inside a game, which could be viewed as gambling. Game studios and developers would rather use existing parental control mechanisms to keep tabs on underage spending rather than see sweeping new laws passed, one lobbyist group told Kotaku – and there's no guarantee that this bill will become law. This controversy is going to continue to run and run, and with software developers keen to establish recurring streams of income, a solution could be some way off. Apple changes App Store 'loot box' policy so you know your oddsVia Engadget http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techradar/digital-home/~4/vOfxGfbBLY4

WinZip is the best-known software for creating and opening compressed file archives, but it's not the only option and there are many superb free alternatives worth investigating before you open your wallet. Windows (from XP onwards) has a built-in compression tool, accessed by right-clicking one or more folders/files, and selecting 'Send to > Compressed (zipped) folder'. This is fine for very occasional use, but is very limited. It can only read and create ZIP files (there are dozens of other formats), it doesn't let you create multiple volumes of a particular size, can't repair damaged archives, and doesn't support encryption. In fact, if you use it to compress an encrypted file, it will be decrypted when extracted. It's therefore a good idea to have a different WinZip alternative on hand for compressing and opening file archives, and we've picked out the best. http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/XpjytZKadYHuY5Kqsnopd7.jpg http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/9d8b11b635025b4f8ea1de3d26c578ec.jpg http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/Xr7AjT6b8VYVi5dsADM4kf.jpg Image credit: 7-ZIP 7-Zip is open source, meaning it's completely free, even for commercial use. It's only 1MB in size, and can pack and unpack just about any compressed file archive you can throw at it. 7-Zip isn't the most attractive WinZip alternative around, but it's so well designed that you won't miss the slick interfaces of its paid-for equivalents. You can locate files to be archived using a simple Windows Explorer-style file tree, or drag and drop them into the main window. Its own 7z format is designed for high compression, and is supported by almost all file archiving tools – both paid-for and free – making it an ideal choice for sharing. 7-Zip can also create self-extracting 7z archives. You can apply password protection to packaged archives and split them into volumes, which is handy for sharing particularly large archives. The only key feature it's missing is the ability to repair damaged archives - other than that, it's a truly exceptional program. 7-Zip reviewDownload 7-Ziphttp://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/9d8b11b635025b4f8ea1de3d26c578ec.jpg http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/v4gggwp5AzUvh4FDycavaa.jpg Image credit: PeaZip PeaZip is another open source WinZip alternative, but with a few more features in a considerably larger package (around 10MB compared to 7-Zip's 1MB). PeaZip's standard installation will make file associations and add context menu options automatically, which you might not want if you're trying it for the first time. Select 'Custom' if you want to make your own choices. PeaZip is compatible with pretty much every compressed file format there is. PEA, its own format, prioritizes security over compression, with optional integrity check and authenticated encryption. Unlike 7-Zip, it can repair damaged archives. Its handy extra features include the ability to convert archive formats and test archives for errors. It can't batch compress or watermark images as some of the other tools here can, but can rotate and crop them for you. PeaZip reviewDownload PeaZiphttp://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/9d8b11b635025b4f8ea1de3d26c578ec.jpg http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/uz8PX7EWYkv6caGUSoqfQA.jpg Image credit: Ashampoo Many free Winzip alternatives hide their best features behind a complex system of menus. Ashampoo Zip Free is a rare exception, with a clear interface and an optional touch mode with larger, tap-friendly icons. Many of the options shown on the main splash screen are links to paid applications like dedicated encryption and decryption tools, but don't let this put you off; all the essentials that you'll find in other free file compression software are present and correct, including archive creation, extraction, repair, and multi-volume ZIP writing. Interestingly, Ashampoo Zip Free also gives previews of files before you extract an archive. This can be very useful, but it happens automatically so don't be alarmed if a music file begins playing on mouseover. Ashampoo Zip Free doesn't offer an overwhelming number of options, and each of its features is clearly presented and explained. Advanced users may prefer the more fine-grained customization provided by tools like 7-Zip, but for the average user this is an excellent choice. Download Ashampoo Zip Freehttp://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/9d8b11b635025b4f8ea1de3d26c578ec.jpg http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/6bC3hbH4V34EtaxgrhDYGU.jpg Image credit: Zipware Zipware looks as good as any premium file compression software, and is wonderfully simple to use. Simply choose 'New' or 'Open', choose your source file or archive, tweak a few optional settings and you're done. Zipware's standout feature is integrated virus-scanning: if an archive is under 32GB, you can check it for threats with VirusTotal. This is unlikely to be of interest to power users, but is a helpful addition for anyone who's unsure about extracting downloaded archives (or who knows someone with a tendency to accidentally open such things). Zipware is free to use, but if you decide to stick with it, the website invites you to make a donation to support its development – a reasonable request if you can afford it. Download Zipwarehttp://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/XpjytZKadYHuY5Kqsnopd7.jpg http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/D5qBeoKwWXWUEJTLw466vD.jpg Image credit: Hamstersoft Hamster Zip Archiver is another free alternative to WinZip that's as well designed as many paid-for applications. Navigation is straightforward, with intuitive touches like a simple slider for adjusting the level of compression and the ability to upload archives to cloud services. However, this simplicity comes at a price. Hamster Zip Archiver offers far fewer options when creating archives, and although it can open a wide range of compressed file formats, it can only create ZIP and 7z files. There is one drawback to watch out for: Hamster Zip Archiver's main installer is in English, but if you choose to update the software manually you may find yourself presented with a few options in the developer's native Russian. Take care not to accidentally agree to install any additional extra software or browser plugins that you don't want. Download Hamster Zip ArchiverKeep your PC running smoothly with the best free PC optimization softwarehttp://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techradar/digital-home/~4/STcWsF95-j4

It looks as though the new Elder Scrolls tabletop spin-off, entitled Elsweyr, has been pulled for good – having been released only yesterday, it was quickly noted that it had a lot of similarities to a Dungeons & Dragons module published in 2016. And we do mean a lot of similarities... introduction text that matches up very closely, scenarios and gameplay details that appear to have been lifted wholesale, and so on. "We have pulled a previously shared ESO tabletop RPG adventure while we investigate the source," says Bethesda in a Facebook post. "Thank you to those who reached out with concerns." The latest rumors on Rage 2Explore Summerset Isles in ESOGet hold of The Elder Scrolls: BladesThe printable materials have since been taken off the web, but Ars Technica has a good rundown of how Elsweyr compared with The Black Road, the 2016 D&D adventure. At the moment it's not clear exactly who supplied the materials to Bethesda. The same but differentOne of the ways Elsweyr and The Black Road match up is in an encounter with a four-wagon caravan – even down to the contents of each wagon, and how frequently the caravan travels. While some D&D rules have been released under the OGL (Open Game License) for other players to adapt, this would appear to go way beyond what's permissible. The creators of The Black Road D&D module, Paige Leitman and Ben Heisler, helped spread the word of the plagiarism claims but seem to be waiting for Bethesda to find out exactly what happened before pointing fingers. As for the other Elsweyr – the expansion pack due on June 4 for The Elder Scrolls Online – that's still going ahead as normal. But the tabletop promo game... probably not. The Elder Scrolls 6: release date, news and rumorshttp://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techradar/digital-home/~4/5JyOVsmNaa4

Google announced a lot of exciting new Android Q features at Google IO 2019, but there was also one it didn't tell us about: a replacement for Android Beam. Android Beam, the NFC sharing method where you put to phones back to back to transfer photos, videos, and other files, is nowhere to be found in the ongoing Android Q beta. At Google IO, we found out that it's not coming back, either, according to the reps we talked to who are working on Android updates. It's in the Android Pie version of our Google Pixel 3a and Google Pixel 3a XL phones, but not on our Google Pixel 3 touting Android Q beta 2 – and upgrading to beta 3 won't help. The final version of Android Q (whatever it will be named) won't see Beam support, so consumers waiting for the stabilized version of Q will see the feature taken away in early August, based on Google's beta timeline and also the past history of Android updates. RIP Android Beam – we need an AirDrop equivalentGranted, the number of people who know about and actually use Android Beam is rather low. Third-party sharing apps like Send Anywhere fill our share menu – they're okay but not seamless. Google Photos and Google Drive are alternatives, too, but require some extra steps for file transfers to someone nearby. Nothing strikes a chord like Apple's AirDrop, which lets you easily send photos and videos between nearby iOS and even Mac devices. It uses Wi-Fi and Bluetooth, and the transfer of photos has been nearly flawless for us. The Android Beam successor, if there is one, will hopefully work a lot like AirDrop. It may launch when Android Q drops, or perhaps it'll be touted as a new feature when the rumored Google Pixel 4 gets announced in or around October. We've reached out to the Google Android team to get further clarification on what's coming post-Android Beam to facilitate nearby peer-to-peer file transfers. We'll update this page when they respond. Every phone the Android Q Beta is available onhttp://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techradar/digital-home/~4/mVJWg5TRvtY

Who needs an airline when you can have a spaceline? Aiming to become the first regular commercial spaceliner, Virgin Galactic founder Sir Richard Branson first promised to take people to space in 2004, and most years since has predicted that his ‘spaceliner of the future’ was on the cusp of beginning service. However, impressive progress is being made and in December 2018, Virgin Galactic's VSS Unity supersonic spacecraft finally reached space. In February 2019, it went even higher. Next up: real, live, space tourism trips? http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/HFpkQgKiAX6f83EhnYTtVS.jpg This is the view you’ll get from the VSS Unity (Image credit: Virgin Galactic ) When will Virgin Galactic start space tourism and how much will it cost?Branson says he expects to fly on the company’s SpaceShipTwo suborbital vehicle in 2019, possibly on July 16 to mark 2019's 50th anniversary of the Apollo 11 launch. About 600 'future astronauts' are signed up and have each put down a $20,000 (about £15,000, AU$30,000) deposit, though the final cost of tickets is $250,000 (about £190,000, AU$360,000). http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/zS679TXTCjsMJd2nJtajFP.jpg VSS Unity takes off attached to its mothership (Image credit: Virgin Galactic) Who owns Virgin Galactic and where is it based?Virgin Galactic is part of the Virgin Group, which is owned by British billionaire entrepreneur Sir Richard Branson. The Virgin Group also includes the likes of Virgin Atlantic, Virgin Holidays, Virgin Radio, Virgin Rail, Virgin Money and Virgin Mobile, as well as Virgin Hyperloop One, which is trying to build an ultra-high-speed ‘people pipeline’. Virgin Galactic has two sister companies, Virgin Orbit (which launches small satellites from a Boeing 747) and The SpaceShip Company, which builds and tests the VSS Unity. A major investor in all three was supposed to be Saudi Arabia at US$1 billion, but that was cancelled by Branson after the murder of Washington Post journalist Jamal Khashoggi at the Saudi consulate in Istanbul, Turkey in October 2018. Virgin Galactic is, for now, based at the Spaceport America Mojave Air & Space Port in Mojave, California, but plans to move soon to Spaceport America in New Mexico. http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/64VphnhYQLgX52XpLkf5jX.jpg VSS Unity reached space for a second time in February 2019 in the skies above Mojave, California (Image credit: Virgin Galactic) What are Virgin Galactic's long-term goals?An incredibly ambitious man and expert self-publicist, Branson is less gung-ho about space than Elon Musk at SpaceX and Jeff Bezos at Blue Origin. "Your lives will be transformed by space," he wrote in after SpaceShipTwo made it to space for the first time in December 2018. "It will give your generation the planetary perspective on which the future of humanity rests, that we're all in this together on spaceship Earth."Branson believes that as many people as possible need to see the curvature of the Earth from space to get a taste of the powerful 'overview effect' that many astronauts report feeling after coming back from space. If we all see Earth from space, we are all soon realise how irrelevant national boundaries and cultural differences are. That's a pretty different perspective to that of Musk and Bezos, who both want to go much further than the edge of the Earth's atmosphere. Branson is all, and pretty much only, about suborbital space tourism. Yes, it costs $250,000 (about £190,000, AU$360,000) for now, but the aim is to get the price drastically down in the future. http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/L4t6NvbE76XUt4KwwkRwuC.jpg VSS Unity is a supersonic spaceplane with eight seats (Image credit: Virgin Galactic) Virgin Galactic's VSS Unity supersonic suborbital spaceplaneVirgin Galactic is very serious about space tourism. Its VSS Unity spaceplane is a supersonic vehicle designed and built by sister company The Spaceship Company, which is part-owned with Scaled Composites. It's based on Scaled Composites' SpaceShipOne, the first manned private rocket to reach space, in 2004 (VSS Unity and its forbear VSS Enterprise were formerly called SpaceShipTwo). It has two seats for the pilots and six for passengers, but how it gets to space is unusual. It gets part of the way to space while attached to the undercarriage of a custom-made carrier aircraft called VMS Eve (formerly called WhiteKnightTwo) before it detaches and launches itself into space. The Spaceship Company now has two more spaceships like VSS Unity for the start of commercial service, named VSS Etta and VSS Artie, but there is only one VMS Eve. http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/BWBFVH49u3XR32DJz73yb4.jpg Sir Richard Branson with pilots Mark Stucky and Michael Masucci after VSS Unity’s first successful mission to space (Image credit: Virgin Galactic) The test program so farVSS Unity has successfully been to space twice. It first did so in December 2018 when pilots Mark Stucky and Michael Masucci (plus some NASA payloads and a mannequin called Annie) reached 51.4 miles. In February 2019 it reached space for the second time. It was VSS Unity's fifth rocket-powered flight test flight, and onboard this time were three people; pilots Dave Mackay and Masucci, plus Beth Moses, Virgin Galactic’s Chief Astronaut Instructor. 'Astronaut wings' go to anyone who reaches 50 miles, though since the Kármán line at 62 miles up is generally accepted to be where space begins, that’s probably where Virgin Galactic is ultimately aiming to reach. However, the test program hasn't been without problems. There have been two dramatic setbacks that have cost four lives, most recently co-pilot Michael Alsbury during an accident in October 2014. http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/j7WMKnhhcqKu9ZsWWY8jLG.jpg The curvature of Earth from space during VSS Unity’s second trip to space in February 2019 (Image credit: Virgin Galactic) What will Virgin Galactic space tourists experience?Supersonic speeds, weightlessness, a view of the curvature of Earth, then more supersonic speeds. However, it's all pretty different from what Blue Origin is on the cusp of offering with its vertical take-off New Shepherd suborbital rocket. Six Virgin Galactic customers will arrive at Spaceport New Mexico four days before the scheduled flight for medical checks, safety training, and G-force and microgravity simulation (which may involve virtual and augmented reality). http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/3ywkjUJwbWJeJHU2kiCcEg.jpg VSS Unity’s second trip to space (Image credit: Virgin Galactic) The trip to space and backOn the fourth day, after getting strapped into their reclining seats in VSS Unity, the mothership VMS Eve will take-off on a runway and climb to 50,000 feet Now comes the fun bit; VSS Unity detaches and fires its rocket-powered engines for 63 seconds, surging towards space at three-and-a-half times the speed of sound. That in itself will be an incredible experience for any ‘space tourist’, but it's also followed by four minutes of weightlessness, and a chance to see the Earth from space, before a descent at five times the speed of sound. That will be some rush. Finally, the VSS Unity will land back on the runway at Spaceport New Mexico, some two-and-a-half hours after it took-off. A four-day commitment and a 2.5-hour ride make Virgin Galactic's space tourism experience far longer than the 11 minutes Blue Origin could soon offer. Is Virgin Galactic worth the $250,000? It looks like a bargain to us. Blue Origin: everything you need to knowhttp://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techradar/digital-home/~4/CJj3HXolegU

The CIA now has a presence on the dark web via an onion site that it has set up on the Tor network. It can be found at ciadotgov4sjwlzihbbgxnqg3xiyrg7so2r2o3lt5wz5ypk4sxyjstad.onion and while it does look like one of those dodgy URLs scammers often use, it is actually a genuine website although you won’t be able to access it via your usual browser. Instead you will need the dedicated Tor browser, currently in version 8.0.9. How to protect your privacy online with Tor BrowserTor Browser reviewTor and VPN: how well do they mix?SecureThe agency introduced the announcement saying “Secure, anonymous, untraceable - traits ever-present in CIA’s intelligence collection mission - and the same is true for our onion site”. Commentators were quick to point out the irony of the statement with many pushing the sarcasm further by joking that it might be a trap. The site is a copy of the official CIA.gov where you will find the exact content: from The World Factbook to reporting information to applying for a job. Brittany Bramell, CIA’s Director of Public Affairs, said in a statement that the agency’s “global mission demands that individuals can access us securely from anywhere. Creating an onion site is just one of many ways we’re going where people are.” Tor protects the IP address of the person visiting an onion site and the browsing data by encrypting it and bouncing the traffic via nodes located globally to make it near impossible to track a particular visitor. More astute users combine Tor with a VPN in order to make it even more difficult to pinpoint them. These are the best Linux distro for privacy and securityhttp://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techradar/digital-home/~4/9r0tsKxWmt0

Competing with Huawei's recently released P30 Lite deals, Google has dropped a brand new device to dominate the affordable phone market. Welcome Google Pixel 3a deals, Google's award winning camera quality at a lower price. Dropping the cost from the more powerful Google Pixel 3, the 3a and 3a XL bring the best of Google to the market with affordability. You're still getting Google's stock Android experience, some of the best camera quality out there and the return of the headphone jack! Following the trend of free gadgets alongside a phone launch, select retailers are also offering up a free Acer Chromebook worth £199, adding to the already brilliant value of the Google Pixel 3a. You can see our picks for the standout Google Pixel 3a and 3a XL deals down below, all of which come with the free Acer Chromebook. Or if you want to compare these prices with the rest of the market check out our guide to the best mobile phone deals. See how Google Pixel 3 deals compare to theseDecided Google isn't for you? Check out the best of Samsung phone deals, iPhone deals or Huawei phone dealshttp://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techradar/digital-home/~4/h5OUvrjRpjY

Google has launched two new Pixel phones on the first day of Google I/O 2019. The Pixel 3a and Pixel 3a XL are both mid-range smartphones that essentially bring down many features from their elder siblings. While the new phones skip on some of the features that are present on the Pixel 3, they do bring the same camera that Google’s Pixel phones have come to be known for. Google Pixel 3a and Pixel 3a XL price and availability in IndiaThe Pixel 3a starts at Rs 39,999 with 4GB of RAM and 64GB storage. On the other hand, the Pixel 3a XL starts at Rs 44,999 for the variant with 4GB RAM. Google has partnered with Flipkart to sell its new Pixel phones in India from May 15. Read our first impressions of the Google Pixel 3a and Pixel 3a XLGoogle Pixel 3a and Pixel 3a XL specificationsSo the Pixel 3a has a 5.6-inch OLED screen with Full HD+ (2220 x 1080 pixels) resolution. The two phones do not have a notch on the front and hence cannot provide a full-screen experience to the users. The Pixel 3a sticks to an 18.5:9 aspect ratio and could likely be the last phone of its kind as more phones with notches and pop-up cameras are released. The Pixel 3a XL has a 6-inch display with Full HD+ resolution and an 18:9 aspect ratio. Like its elder siblings, Pixel exclusive features such as Now Playing has been carried onto the Pixel 3a and 3a XL. Both the phones are powered by Qualcomm Snapdragon 670 chipset with an octa-core CPU, Adreno 615 graphics processor and the company’s proprietary Titan M security chip. This is backed by 4GB of RAM and 64GB of storage. While there is a second variant with 6GB of RAM and 128GB of storage, it seems India will not get the latter model. The phones run on Android 9.0 Pie and come with the assurance of a minimum of 3 years of updates. Google Pixel is known for its impressive camera and the latest phones bring the same quality to a Rs 40,000 price point. The rear camera is a 12MP snapper with optical and electronic image stabilization, an f/1.8 aperture and a 76-degree field of view. On the front, there’s an 8MP selfie camera with an 84-degree field of view. Both the phones can record upto 4k at 30 fps from the back camera and upto Full HD at 30fps from the front camera. The Pixel 3a has a 3,000mAh battery at its disposal while the 3a XL has a 3,700mAh battery to boot. The new phones support 18W fast charging and the USB-C 18W adaptor is provided in-the-box. A bunch of connectivity features includes Bluetooth 5.0, Wi-Fi, NFC and Google cast. Like the Pixel 3 phones, the Pixel 3a series also comes with Active Edge detection and a fingerprint sensor on the rear. Lastly, the new Pixel 3a phones have a 3.5mm audio jack, which is a welcome addition. Also Read: Google Pixel 3a is a budget flagship at midrange priceshttp://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techradar/digital-home/~4/keUtCu2fu2E