The best TV shows on Foxtel Now: the top television series to stream right now

Joining Netflix and Stan in the Australian streaming landscape, Foxtel Now gives Australians the easiest way to access Foxtel to date – especially if you own a Foxtel Box.

Offering an unparalleled selection of TV shows in its library (so long as you've subscribed to the right packages), Foxtel Now is currently providing access to some of the biggest and best shows of any streaming service in Australia. In fact, if you have multiple packs in your subscription, you may find yourself with an overwhelming amount of content.

• You can buy the Foxtel Now Box for $99 from Dick Smith

With that in mind, we've created this TechRadar guide to the best TV shows to stream on Foxtel Now at the moment (in no particular order). We'll keep this best TV show list constantly updated with the latest series that you should be watching and also tell you why.

Perhaps the biggest show in the world at the moment (especially as its in its final season), Game of Thrones is required viewing for fans of fantasy and prestige television. Based on George RR Martin's best selling series of fantasy novels, the show follows a number of powerful families as they wrestle for control over the fictional realm of Westeros. While they're all doing this, the undead threaten to destroy the entire world. Will they come together to prevent this from happening? It doesn't seem likely... If you haven't gotten around to watching it yet, Foxtel Now has all eight seasons available to stream in an instant. If you hurry, you might be able to catch-up before its highly-anticipated ending is spoiled!

Available in the Drama and Pop packs

One of the most relevant and gripping television shows of our time, Mr. Robot follows a group of hackers who attempt to take down the world's biggest corporation. We follow Elliot (Rami Malek), hacker-extraordinaire and cybersecurity engineer, as he orchestrates the biggest hack in history, all while battling social anxiety disorder and clinical depression, among other problems. But is he really the one in charge, or other there darker, more sinister forces pulling the strings? A modern masterpiece of television. 

Available in the Drama pack

Set in the formerly gritty New York City of the 1970s, this new series from David Simon (The Wire, Generation Kill) follows a number of characters operating around Times Square during its sleazy heyday. This includes a pair of twin brothers (James Franco in both roles), a college dropout (Margarita Levieva), several hookers (including Maggie Gyllenhaal) and their pimps (including Gbenga Akinnagbe and Black Thought from The Roots) and a cop who's tired of corruption in the force (Lawrence Gilliard Jr). An eye-opening look at the sexual revolution and the dawn of New York's porn industry, The Deuce is similar in tone and style to Simon's other HBO masterpiece, The Wire. 

Available in the Drama and Pop packs

This Australian drama has picked up a decent local following and has even aired in New Zealand and the UK. Inspired by the Australian 80s soap opera series Prisoner, Wentworth is set in a contemporary re-imagination of the same fictional women's detention centre. Following a mother who has been separated from her daughter after being convicted of the attempted murder of her husband, the series tracks her introduction to life within the Australian correctional system.

Available in the Drama and Pop packs

Supergirl is one of the best shows in the CW's 'Arrowverse', and regularly features cameos from the likes of The Flash and Arrow. What makes the show great however, is its progressive storytelling, which puts issues like sexism
and racism in the spotlight and deals with them in a way that only Supergirl (perfectly played by Melissa Benoist) can. That it also occasionally brings spectacular heroes like Superman and Martian Manhunter into the mix is just the icing on the cake. 

Available in the Pop pack

A terrific NZ/Australian drama starring Elizabeth Moss (Mad Men, The Handmaid's Tale), Top of the Lake: China Girl sees Robin Griffin (Moss) investigate the murder of a young girl found on Bondi Beach. Joining her in this season is Gwendoline Christie (Game of Thrones) as a Sydney detective who helps Griffin on the case. One of Foxtel's best original shows. 

Available in the Drama pack

Based on Michael Crichton's classic science fiction movie of the same name, the HBO version of Westworld expands the mythology of the universe, in which rich people visit a Wild West themed resort filled with incredibly lifelike robot NPCs. The show explores the inner workings of the park, as well as a robot revolution that is on the cusp of taking place. A fantastic series that rivals Game of Thrones in terms of budget and scope, Westworld is highly recommended. 

Available in the Drama and Pop packs

The Sopranos is a highly regarded American-Italian mob show based in New Jersey in the early 2000s. Tapping into the psychologically introspective culture of New York and the classic family/crime dynamic found in many mobster films, The Sopranos explores the difficulties of juggling both a functioning crime syndicate and a nurturing family environment, through the prism of a psychologist's chair.

Available in the Drama pack

Featuring the most jaw-dropping houses in the country, Grand Designs Australia follows host Peter Maddison as he showcases a number of people who attempt to construct their dream homes. The kind of show that makes you simultaneously entertained and envious, Grand Designs Australia is a terrific Foxtel Original. 

Available in the Lifestyle pack

Based on a comic book series of the same name, The Walking Dead is an American horror drama set in the aftermath of a zombie apocalypse. Former Sheriff's Deputy Rick Grimes heads up the survival party attempting to find his wife, daughter and shelter from the impending danger of this new world. We hope you enjoy watching your favourite characters ruthlessly killed on a near-weekly basis, because The Walking Dead delights in shocking its fan-base. 

Available in the Pop pack

If uncomfortable comedy is your bag, you're going to love Curb Your Enthusiasm, starring Seinfeld co-creator Larry David as himself. Imagine Seinfeld, only with a much more insufferable protagonist, sans laugh track and with a tonne of swearing and you get the idea of what this show's about. After a hiatus of several years, the show is back with a brand new 9th season which Foxtel Now fast-tracks as new episodes arrive. If you ask us, that's pretty, pretty, pretty good.

Available now in the Pop pack

An action-packed series that dials its violence and sex up to ludicrous levels, Banshee sees an ex-con (Antony Starr) released from jail after 10 years only to immediately assume the identity of a dead sheriff in an Amish country town called Banshee. Before long, he's up to his eyeballs in trouble involving a local gangster (Ulrich Thomsen), and an ex-lover (Ivana Miličević) who has put her criminal past behind her, all while trying to keep his real identity under wraps. Trashy and addictive, Banshee is almost too entertaining!

Available in the Drama pack

From Mike Judge (Office Space, Idiocracy) comes Silicon Valley, a hilarious show about a young startup called Pied Piper and its various misadventures navigating the tech capital of the world. Whether it's internal struggles or outside pressure from tech giant Hooli (a clear Google stand-in), the team must do everything it can to keep its company afloat in an incredibly competitive landscape. A must-watch for tech enthusiasts. 

Available in the Pop pack

Regarded by many (this writer included) to be the greatest television series of all time, The Wire paints a portrait of an American city (in this case, Baltimore) the way that no other show has done so before. Framed against the backdrop of America's 'War on Drugs', The Wire shows both sides of the struggle, focusing on the environment that produces street dealers and turns innocent children into hardened killers, while also examining the issue from the police's perspective, showing how bureaucracy prevents it from affecting any real change. Raw and uncompromising, The Wire is unlike any other crime series you've seen.

Available now in the Drama pack

HBO's western series Deadwood was devastatingly cancelled before its time, but thankfully we can relive the show's harsh and brutal world on Foxtel Now in its entirety. Ex-lawman Seth Bullock (Timothy Olyphant, clearly loving his status as a cowboy hero) arrives in the lawless frontier town of Deadwood to start a hardware business and provide for his dead brother's family. Before long, the crime and corruption of this town, headed by bar owner Al Swearengen (Ian McShane), forces Bullock back into the life he tried so desperately to leave behind. A truly magnificent show, Deadwood is binge-worthy bliss. Also, with news that a Deadwood follow-up movie could be in the works, now's a great time to reacquaint yourself with this classic series. 

Available in the Drama pack

from TechRadar: Technology reviews http://bit.ly/2DLE05i

Netflix Australia’s best TV series: over 60 great shows to stream in 2019

Amazon officially launches in the UAE

Souq.com delivered its first order in Dubai 13 years back and has evolved into the biggest e-commerce player in the UAE. That attracted he attention of Amazon which bough souq.com and today is finally the day where souq.com closes and amazon.ae launches.

While the transition was very visible over the last few months in the much improved customer service and returns as well as amazon branded packaging and delivery vans, it is now official. 

According to the website, amazon.ae will feature over 30 million products from global sellers- five million of which are from Amazon US. Customers will be able to shop in Arabic as well as English and a regional team of 3,600 people will keep things moving.

from TechRadar: Technology reviews http://bit.ly/2GQhydc

The best Samsung Galaxy A5 and Galaxy A3 deals in May 2019

The Samsung Galaxy A5 and Samsung Galaxy A3 give you the premium looks of the manufacturer's former flagship Samsung Galaxy S7, but with a much lower price tag. We can see why they're still so popular!

If you fancy getting hold of a smartphone with flagship looks without having to empty your wallet then you’ll want to check out the best Samsung Galaxy A5 deals and top Samsung Galaxy A3 deals below. We've gathered up the cheapest prices for both phones in one handy comparison chart, with prices starting as low as just £16 per month for the budget A3.

Our Galaxy A3 deals are perfect for those wanting to stick to a tight budget, with a selection of great low-cost tariffs for you to explore. If you're working with a bit more cash you'll want our great Galaxy A5 deals, which give you a more feature-packed phone at a still affordable price.

More deals: Samsung Galaxy S8 deals | Samsung Galaxy S7 deals | Best iPhone deals | Best mobile phone deals | Cheap SIM only deals

Filter and compare Samsung Galaxy A3 and A5 deals:

The new Samsung Galaxy A5 has all the looks of a flagship phone with the specs of a a mid-ranger. If you don't want to splash your cash on the likes of the Galaxy S8 or iPhone 8, then the A5 is an attractively priced option that shouldn't let you down. 

Read TechRadar's full Samsung Galaxy A5 review here.

If you like the look of those expensive Samsung Galaxy phones but just can't justify the cost, then you should cast your eyes Galaxy A3-wards. Samsung has created a really solid mid-range smartphone with respectable specs for an affordable price. 

Read TechRadar's full Samsung Galaxy A3 review here.

from TechRadar: Technology reviews http://bit.ly/2mgtQzA

The cheapest iPhone SE unlocked SIM-free prices in May 2019

Smartphones are getting ever bigger, yet our hands are staying the same size. It means those with smaller palms, pockets and bags can find themselves a little overwhelmed by the likes of the iPhone XR and Samsung Galaxy S10.

Help is at hand though, and for those looking for a more manageable iPhone, Apple has the perfect device - the iPhone SE. What's even better, is this smaller smartphone also comes with a smaller price tag.

And we've done the hard yards to unearth the best prices on unlocked iPhone SE handsets, trawling major retailers such as Amazon and eBay to make sure that you don't end up paying over the odds.

The iPhone SE is only three years old, and boasts the newer iPhone features such as Apple Pay and the Touch ID fingerprint scanner - so it's not like you'll be left behind in the tech department if you pick up this 4-inch phone.

We can only assume that you're looking for a new SIM-free phone deal to replace a lost or stolen phone (We really do sympathise). But perhaps you're looking to save a little cash by combining a bargain iPhone SE with a cheap SIM only deal. You can buy a new SIM for a small amount, so combining the two could save you a packet on a standard contract deal. Plus, you can go for a 12-month or even 30-day plan rather than committing to two years.

So before you start typing in credit card deals for your new phone deal, make sure to have a good look at the below table first. TechRadar's custom-made price comparison chart will ensure you pay the very least.

• The best iPhone SE deals available this month
• The best unlocked / SIM-free phone deals this month

Today's cheapest iPhone SE unlocked / SIM free prices:

from TechRadar: Technology reviews http://bit.ly/2wKmqgx

The cheapest iPhone 6 unlocked SIM-free prices in May 2019

Three years after launch, you may have your eye on the iPhone 6 as an affordable SIM free handset. With the iPhone 7 costing an arm and a leg - and with a whole troop of handsets launched since (all the way from the iPhone 8 through to the XR) - the iPhone 6 represents a still-superb Apple flagship phone that you can buy for less.

And we've done the hard yards to unearth the best prices on unlocked iPhone 6 handsets, trawling through the major retailers such as Amazon and eBay to make sure that you don't end up paying over the odds.

Chances are that you're probably looking for a new SIM-free phone deal to replace a lost or stolen phone (you have our sympathies!). But perhaps you're looking to save a little cash by combining a bargain iPhone 6 with a cheap SIM only deal. You can buy a new SIM for only a tiny amount, so combining the two could save you a packet on a standard contract deal. Plus, you can go for a 12-month or even 30-day plan rather than committing to two years.

So before you start typing in credit card deals for your new phone deal, make sure to have a good look at the below table first. TechRadar's custom-made price comparison chart will ensure you pay the very least.

• The best iPhone 6 deals available this month
• The best unlocked / SIM-free phone deals this month

Today's cheapest iPhone 6 unlocked / SIM free prices:

from TechRadar: Technology reviews http://bit.ly/2wdIvVC

The cheapest iPhone 6S unlocked SIM-free prices in May 2019

A lot of devices have come out since the iPhone 6S but the issue is that a lot of them are seriously expensive. Seeing the price tag of the iPhone XS Max is more than enough to make you run back to the comforting prices of the 6S!

The shape, screen size and resolution of the newer phones is the same as on the 6S, so you can buy the cheapest model of the three and still have a very similar experience.

And that’s where we come in: we’ve done the hard work in rooting through the likes of Amazon, eBay and the other major retailers to work out where the best unlocked iPhone 6S handsets are lurking, so you don’t end up spending too much.

If you’re looking for a SIM free phone deal, then the chances are you’re looking to upgrade an older iPhone, or (sadly) replace a broken or lost handset - if that’s the case, then you’ll enjoy the power and performance on offer from the iPhone 6S.

If you’re upgrading from an iPhone 5S, for instance, you’ll love the larger screen that lets you do so much more - and if you combine it with with a cheap SIM only deal you’ll be able to get online for very little without being tied into a long-term contract.

So have a look below at TechRadar’s custom-made price comparison chart to ensure you pay a great price for your new phone.

• The best iPhone 6S deals available this month
• The best unlocked / SIM-free phone deals this month

Today's cheapest iPhone 6S unlocked / SIM free prices:

from TechRadar: Technology reviews http://bit.ly/2yeKfyj

The best Samsung Galaxy S7 Edge deals in May 2019

We'll tell it to you straight, we like the Samsung Galaxy S7 Edge A LOT. Until the Galaxy S8 came along in fact, it held the title of our very favourite phone in the world. Now two years since its release, the S7 Edge remains an exceptional mobile and one of the only models we've ever awarded a perfect five stars.

But age is now taking it's toll on the quality of deals available. Some major retailers and networks are now beginning to withdraw S7 Edge deals from sale and we're guessing that the availability of the Samsung's newer devices like the Galaxy S10 and Note 9 isn't a pure coincidence.

It means that the best tariffs now come and go in short order. You have to have your wits about you to bag the very best Galaxy S7 Edge deals. Sometimes there are decent offers for less than £20 per month - sometimes it's all sky high. At least you can narrow down the best tariff for you by using our interactive comparison chart below.

More options: Galaxy Note 8 deals | Galaxy S9 deals | Galaxy S7 deals | Best mobile phone deals | Galaxy S7 Edge review | Samsung mobile phone deals

The Samsung Galaxy S7 Edge went straight to the top of the class when it was released in 2016 - we gave it 5 stars out of 5! It somehow managed to better the accomplished Galaxy S6 Edge, by adding a brilliant camera and gorgeous design tweaks.

Read TechRadar's full Samsung Galaxy S7 Edge review

from TechRadar: Technology reviews http://bit.ly/1VBiyBV

Sonic the Hedgehog trailer worse than being punched by Knuckles the Echidna

After months of leaked images and poster reveals, Paramount Pictures has finally released the first official trailer for its upcoming Sonic the Hedgehog movie, and boy, it won't do much to dispel fans' fears.

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The most obviously worrying element is the film's grotesque Sonic design, which inexplicably aims for a modicum of bizarre realism (wtf is with his very human teeth?) while still looking to keep its titular character cartoonish, leading to an end result that seems more like an off-brand 'blue hedgehog' Halloween costume than it does Sega's beloved mascot. 

Next, we have a baffling story that sees Sonic (voiced by Ben Schwartz) attempting to save Earth from the evil Dr. Robotnik (Jim Carrey), who plans to capture our speedy blue protagonist and use his powers to take over the world (leading us to wonder why Sonic is on our planet in the first place). 

To do this, Sonic must team up with a cop (Westworld's James Marsden) from the rural town of Green Hill (as in Green Hill Zone, get it?), presumedly leading to hilarious* hijinx and misadventures.

Bewilderingly scored to Coolio's 'Gangsta's Paradise', the trailer features numerous attempts at comedy, only one of which actually lands in any capacity (bold choice to go with a kidnapping joke in a kids movie). Surprisingly, comedy legend Jim Carrey proves to be the least funny of them all. 

You can check out the full trailer for Sonic the Hedgehog at your peril below, and then avoid anything even remotely resembling a movie theater when the film releases on November 8, 2019.

*Hilarity not guaranteed.

from TechRadar: Technology reviews http://bit.ly/2GVrWBX

The cheapest iPhone 7 unlocked SIM-free prices in May 2019

Don't like the idea of committing to two years of a phone contract? Buying the iPhone 7 unlocked and SIM free can be a cost-effective and convenient alternative.

That's particularly true given the highly competitive and consumer friendly SIM only deals market right now, which allows you to get bags of data and minutes for very little money.

Buying the iPhone 7 unlocked is also an optimum way of giving the phone as a gift as it means you only need to pay the cost of the handset and doesn't commit you to 24 months of additional payments or require you to go through a credit check. And we'll make you this guarantee - you won't have to pay the extraordinary amount of money it costs to buy the iPhone XS Max or XR!

iPhone 7 SIM-free deals fluctuate from day to day and many sites charge higher or lower fees than others. So shopping around or doing a bit of price comparison is a shrewd way to ensure you pay as little as possible for your new unlocked phone.

Luckily TechRadar is here to help. Our price comparison tools search the web every hour to locate the cheapest and best value unlocked iPhone 7 prices currently available.

• The best iPhone 7 deals available this month
• The best unlocked / SIM-free phone deals this month

Today's cheapest iPhone 7 unlocked / SIM free prices:

from TechRadar: Technology reviews http://bit.ly/2i5O3v4

Subscription headphones are now a thing

Melbourne-based headphone designer Nura exploded onto the scene with a successful Kickstarter campaign back in 2016, and since then, the revolutionary Nuraphone cans have been making a splash in the world of wireless headphones.

Today, the company has announced a new service – NuraNow – that allows customers to pay a monthly fee in order to try out the brand’s flagship Nuraphone product (which would otherwise cost $399/£349/AU$499), alongside any other future release that Nura may be cooking up.

For those unfamiliar, the Nuraphones features a hybrid in-ear/over-ear design and offers wireless, noise-canceling audio with a neat twist – the music is tailored to each user’s ears via an automatically-generated sound profile.

• Check out our full Nuraphone review for more insight
• Adaptive headphones are the new audio trend

What will it cost?

Plans start from $9 (£9, AU$10) per month with no lock-in contract, so you can cancel at any time with relatively little loss, depending on which plan you choose. The three options available are:

• $9 (£9, AU$10) per month, with a $100 (£80, AU$130) up-front fee
• $12 (£12, AU$15) per month, with a $30 (£30, AU$45) up-front fee
• $15 (£14, AU$18) per month, with no up-front fee

Alongside the Nuraphone itself, all plans come with the full range of benefits, including a new Nura device every 24 months, exclusive tickets and offers to associated gigs, an analog (3.5mm) headphone cable, chances to win music and merch, and a warranty for the life of the subscription. 

If you cancel your membership within the first 30 days, the NuraNow site suggests “the member may be eligible for a refund of the up-front fee” as well, although you'll have to ship the Nuraphones back at your own cost, along with any other devices obtained through the program.

• Best noise-cancelling headphones: the best headphones for travel and commuting

from TechRadar: Technology reviews http://bit.ly/2Wc5GJi

Amazon Prime Day in Australia: What to expect during Prime Day 2019

UK government proposes mandatory 'security' labels for smart devices

Most internet-connected (IoT) devices are vulnerable to hacking, and with over 40% of homes worldwide using at least one smart device, the risk of a cyberattack is high. 

To curtail potential risks, the UK government has proposed a new Secure By Design code of practice that could see connected devices, like smart TVs, speakers, toys and watches, carry a security label to help inform consumers how easy (or difficult) they are to hack.

The labels, at first, will be introduced on a voluntary basis, but eventually will become mandatory. Products which fail to carry such labels could be banned, according to the new plans introduced by UK’s digital minister Margot James.

“Many consumer products that are connected to the internet are often found to be insecure, putting consumers privacy and security at risk,” James said. The proposed code of practice, which is currently being consulted on, is meant to ensure “products have safety features built in from the design stage and not bolted on as an afterthought”.

Stickler for security

The code also lays down three basic rules that the label will need to carry: consumers have to be told not to use identical passwords, they need to be informed how long the device will be supported with fresh software updates, and also provide a point of contact so users can report vulnerabilities.

It has also been proposed that retailers will be mandated to not sell any products that don’t meet the above standards.

The proposed regulations are aimed at preventing serious hacks, like distributed denial of service (DDoS) attacks, which the UK government said “pose a risk to the wider economy”.

To ensure the success of this scheme, the UK will need to work with international partners, especially for smart devices that have global distribution, but whether other countries will adopt a similar stance on protecting their citizens from cyberattacks remains to be seen.

• Best smart home devices: from comfy lighting to heating and more

from TechRadar: Technology reviews http://bit.ly/2VCKMG7

The Valve Index headset will officially usher in VR 2.0 hardware on June 28

After accidentally leaking images of the headset last month, Valve has just officially announced how much the new Valve Index VR headset will cost and when it'll go on sale. Per the software juggernaut, it will be available in a bundle with the new controllers starting on June 28 for $749 (around £575, AU$1,060) with pre-orders opening up tomorrow. 

That said, the aforementioned bundle doesn’t include the lighthouse sensors. You’ll either need to supply your own from a previous-generation HTC Vive headset or step up to the $999 (around £765, AU$1,400) Valve Index package that includes the controllers, the headset and the trackers.

• Here's our list of the best VR headsets in 2019
• As well as the best VR games
• Plus the best indie games in 2019

If that all sounds like a lot of money to spend at one time, however, Valve is doing something that no other company has done before: sell everything piecemeal. 

If that’s the route you want to go down, you can expect to drop $499 for the Index Headset, $279 for the Index Controllers and $149 for the new base stations. (Weirdly, from the numbers provided by Valve you can seemingly buy the $749 Valve Index VR bundle and the $149 tracking stations separately to save $100...)

Valve picked an interesting day and time to announce its headset, dropping all this information minutes before the start of today's Facebook F8 keynote where Mark Zuckerberg announced the price and release date of the company's new Oculus Quest and Oculus Rift S headsets that will ship in May for just $399. 

And you thought the games were expensive...

The Valve Index's price probably requires a bit of an explanation. It's definitely pricey, but Valve has really tried to make the best VR headset on the market in terms of specs.

According to information available on the Steam Store, the Index will use an LCD RGB display with a 1440x1600 per-eye resolution – which, according to Valve,  provides 50% more subpixels than the rival OLED screen used in the Oculus Quest. 

The Index will run at a native 120Hz refresh rate, with 90Hz backwards compatibility and an experimental 144Hz mode. On top of all that, the Index VR headset has a 20-degree wider field-of-view than the other headsets on the market.

These are game-changing specs, and would help rationalize the price.

That said, picking today of all days to announce a new headset is a risky move. On one hand, Valve's new headset is giving bleeding-edge consumers a new top-tier headset to lust over, but it also shows that Valve could be out of touch with consumers who have flocked to cheaper VR headsets like PlayStation VR in great numbers. 

Regardless, more competition and more investment in VR from all sides of the aisle is a very good thing and only helps move the industry as a whole forward. We'll look forward to trying the headset out for ourselves when it launches later this year.

• Confused? We compare the Oculus Rift S vs Oculus Rift vs Oculus Quest

from TechRadar: Technology reviews http://bit.ly/2INTw68

Apple's iPhone sales down 17% as it shifts to more services

iPhone sales continue to sharply decline, according to Apple's earnings statement for its fiscal second quarter, though its stock and services business are up today.

Apple's iPhone revenue was down another 17% for the quarter ending on March 30, amounting to $31.05 billion. A year ago we saw iPhone revenue at $37.56 billion.

You can chalk continued upgrade resistance to newer, more expensive iPhones. The iPhone XS Max is Apple's most expensive phone ever, the 'budget' iPhone XR is still quite pricey, and the iPhone XS didn't change very much from the iPhone X.

New iPhone 11 rumors point to a triple-lens camera upgrade and ability to wirelessly charge other devices (like the new AirPods 2019), but Apple's isn't expected to offer a groundbreaking smartphone redesign.

How it's stemming iPhone bloodletting

Apple noted that price drops in certain countries did help it see some recovery, so its declines were "significantly smaller later in the quarter," according to CEO Tim Cook during today's Apple earnings call. 

Sadly, Apple no longer releases number for how many iPhone units it sells anymore. Its Mac sales saw a minor dip (Apple blamed on "processor constraints on certain models"), while iPad sales were up and its catch-all Wearables, Home and Accessories category saw a nice bump.

Services are what Apple is touting the most these days, and today's earnings call was no different. It's up to $11.45 billion from $9.85, which Apple touts as breaking new records for Apple Music, the App Store and Apple Pay.

The company just launched Apple News Plus and the forthcoming Apple TV Plus, and Apple Arcade are coming later in 2019. They'll join Apple Music in driving in subscription-based revenue.

"Service account for 20% of our March quarter revenue and one third of its gross profit dollars," according to Apple CFO Luca Maestri during the Apple earnings call.

Of course, Apple's iPhone revenue is still 2.8 times larger than its growing services category and it's becoming a perilous business to be in. Netflix spends about $15 billion on original content, HBO has titan shows like Game of Thrones, and Disney Plus is a waiting in the wings, launching November 12.

from TechRadar: Technology reviews http://bit.ly/2V5Tu0e

Here's how Facebook is changing completely in 2019

Here are the Instagram changes coming your way

Instagram looks like it will keep its spot as one of the top photo-sharing social networks in the world thanks to a slew of new updates announced today at Facebook's F8 Conference.

The biggest update is for creators who want to share their fashion choices with followers. No more dropping product URLs in a post's comments or personal bio: starting next week, creators will be able to directly link to products through their post images by tagging specific items. Only participating brands will be linkable, which are listed in a company post. 

Instagram is getting in on fundraising, too. Today, US users (more countries later) will be able to raise money for causes they care about by using a specific sticker that links to a donation campaign. Instagram claims 100% of the funds will go to the chosen nonprofit; check out all the details on the Instagram post here.

New Camera, fewer followers

Finally, Instagram users will get a new camera design in the coming weeks, which rearranges all modes, new and old, into a radial dial around the shutter button. 

Users will also be able to share content that isn't a photo or a video. With Create Mode, they can share "popular creative tools like effects and interactive stickers" – so users can post things without needing to take a picture or shoot a video, though the details are a bit vague.

There's another feature Instagram is toying with – or rather, an omission. The company is exploring hiding post 'likes' and video views while users scroll through their feed, starting with a trial in Canada, per TechCrunch. It's not hard to see why: perhaps hiding interaction numbers will nudge users to appreciate posts on their merit, not how Insta-popular they are.

• Read our Oculus Quest review

from TechRadar: Technology reviews http://bit.ly/2PF6nbi

Best premium WordPress themes of 2019

Facebook makes major changes to Messenger for speed and privacy

Facebook has announced major changes to its products this week at it's annual F8 keynote, and chief among them are updates to the Facebook Messenger app and WhatsApp. Facebook aims to overhaul Messenger while also enhancing WhatsApp.

Last year, Facebook showed off Messenger 4, and since then it's added dark mode, the ability to unsend messages, augmented reality features and more. Now, Facebook is aiming for considerable changes to the platform.

After considerable backlash within the past two years over Facebook's handling of sensitive personal data, the company is making a large push toward privacy. Many of the announcements at F8 this year have emphasized this push.

For Messenger, this comes in the form of end-to-end encryption by default for communications, including not just text but also shared locations, video communications and more. This is a long-awaited feature for the popular platform, and will ensure the communications between users are protected from outside eyes, whether they be hackers, governments or Facebook itself.

• Her'es what we expect from Apple's WWDC 2019 keynote
• Get ready for E3 2019
• These are our Google IO 2019 predictions

Big improvements

Beyond the enhancement to security, Facebook is planning to make the app dramatically better over the course of the year. The company is completely rewriting the app's codebase to reduce the app size below 30MB in size and offer extra fast launching of the app, all without reducing the features offered by the app. These improvements can also reduce the app's battery usage on smartphones.

Facebook has further plans to make Messenger the fastest communication app on the entire planet, and wants to improve reliability. So, more people will be able to use the app with high-end and low-end devices alike.

Another effort to simplify use for everyone is a push toward interoperability. So, going forward, Messenger users will be able to communicate with WhatsApp and Instagram users directly within the Messenger app.

And, Facebook's Messenger platform is getting a dedicated app for Windows and Mac computers with all the features of the mobile versions, including dark mode.

WhatsApp is also getting some changes. Facebook is introducing the ability to share stories and locations similar to Messenger, and they'll keep the same end-to-end encryption that has been a key aspect of WhatsApp. 

WhatsApp is also coming to Portal, Facebook's smart display, so both Messenger and WhatsApp will be available on the device with end-to-end encryption for video chats.

• Check out Facebook's new VR headset, the Oculus Quest

from TechRadar: Technology reviews http://bit.ly/2vt8jum

Dell bolsters SMB offerings with expanded Vostro portfolio

At its recent Dell Technologies World event, Dell announced the launch of the latest additions to its Vostro portfolio, the Vostro 15 5000 and Vostro 15 7000, designed with needs of small businesses in mind.

The Vostro 15 5000 is the thinnest and lightest device in the product line, designed for on-the-go business professionals. The portable 13” notebook is 14.9mm thin and weighs just 1.18kg (2.16lb). 

The new 13-inch Vostro notebook is encased in an aluminum cover for added durability and the FHD display is surrounded by a 3-sided narrow border thanks to the new 2.7mm HD webcam. 

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While the HD camera provides a clear viewing experience, Waves MaxxAudio Pro boost volume and SmartByte software ensures video conferencing applications receive network bandwidth priority to reduce buffering, allowing business professionals to attend meetings from anywhere.

Vostro portfolio

If a 13-inch notebook is too small for your needs, the Vostro 15 7000 is Dell's newest 15” laptop designed to cater to professionals who need a high-performance computer that can fit their budget.

The new laptop is encased in aluminum and features a narrow border FHD display which is both durable and sleek. The Vostro 15 7000 can be outfitted with up to a Core i7 Intel Coffee Lake-H 6-core processor, Nvidia GeForce GTX 1650 graphics, a 97 week hour battery and an optional triple drive expand ability storage option.

Vostro laptops include security features that are easy to use for any business users. An optional single-sign on fingerprint reader and built-in hardware-based Trusted Platform Module (TPM 2.0) security chip allow users to instantly authenticate their systems and rest easy knowing their data is well protected against cyber threats.

Dell is also offering the option of Dell Pro Support with its latest Vostro laptops which provides customers with 24/7 direct telephone access to advanced-level technicians who are locally based relative to a business' location.

The Vostro 15 5000 will be available on Dell's website next month starting at $849 and the Vostro 15 7000 starts at $1,149.

• We've also highlighted the best business laptops

from TechRadar: Technology reviews http://bit.ly/2PGcKv9

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Official release date for Oculus Quest, Oculus Rift S is May 21

Oculus has finally told us the release date for the new Oculus Rift S and standalone Oculus Quest headset that will be available starting on May 21. 

Both headsets will be available for $399 / £399 (around AU$730) and are available for pre-order starting today.   

Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg made the announcement of the Rift S's arrival during Facebook's' F8 2019 event that was held today in San Jose, Calif. right outside the company's main headquarters in Menlo Park. 

Previously, Oculus has announced that the Quest will arrive with more than 50 titles available on day one, while the Rift S will have access to every title in the Oculus store that can be played with the previous-gen Rift headset. 

Developing...

from TechRadar: Technology reviews http://bit.ly/2GTRI9G

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Over half of businesses have suffered a data breach

IT professionals are still struggling to secure their organizations according to new research from McAfee which revealed that 61 percent have experienced a data breach at their current employer.

The firm's new Grand Theft Data II – The Drivers and Shifting State of Data Breaches report surveyed IT professionals from Australia, Canada, France, Germany, India, Singapore, the US and the UK across a wide range of industries to learn more about today's security landscape.

The report found that data breaches are also becoming more serious as cybercriminals continue to target intellectual property putting the reputation of company's brands at risk and increasing their financial liability.

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McAfee's study shows the need for a cybersecurity strategy that includes implementing security solutions combined with employee training and an overall culture of security throughout the organization to reduce future breaches.

Severity of data breaches

The report also revealed that data is now being stolen using a wider range of methods with no single technique dominating the industry. Database leaks, cloud applications and removable USB drivers were the top vectors used to exfiltrate data.

McAfee found that personally identifiable information (PII) and intellectual property (IP) are now tied as the data categories with the highest potential impact to 43 percent of respondents. PII is of greater concern in Europe (49%) due to the recent enforcement date of GDPR.

When it came to taking responsibility for a breach, 55 percent of IT professionals believe that c-level executives should lose their job if a breach is serious enough though 61 percent also said that the c-level executives they work with expect more lenient security policies for themselves.

Vice president and chief technical strategist at McAfee, Candace Worley offered advice on how organizations can better protect themselves from data breaches, saying:

“Threats have evolved and will continue to become even more sophisticated. Organisations need to augment security measures by implementing a culture of security and emphasising that all employees are part of an organisation’s security posture, not just the IT team. To stay ahead of threats, it is critical companies provide a holistic approach to improving security process by not only utilising an integrated security solution but also practicing good security hygiene.” 

• We've also highlighted the best disaster recovery services

from TechRadar: Technology reviews http://bit.ly/2V493FG

Pokémon Go updates: all the news and rumors for what's coming next

Pokémon Go: the world's first augmented reality app to become a household name. Niantic's mobile AR game is still going strong two years after it first released, with a constant drip of events and updates keeping budding trainers glued to their phones and pounding the streets.

And while it hasn't managed to top the peak of its popularity in 2016, it's still going strong and finding plenty of new ways to improve its player experience.

So what's the latest news for Pokémon Go? As you'd expect, brand new features are being added all the time and community events are still going strong.

So without further ado, here's our guide to all the latest Pokémon Go news and updates.

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Pokémon Go news and Pokémon Go updates

• What's new? Pokémon Go has released three legendary Pokémon into the game

Niantic has released the rare Legendary Lake Guardian Trio of Azelf, Mesprit, Uxie into Pokémon Go.

To date Legendaries have only appeared in Pokémon Go as special research or in Tier 5 raids

As far as we know, players have only reported one of the illusive trio per region with Azelf residing in the Americas, Uxie in Asia-Pacific and Mesprit in Europe. So unless you fancy traveling the globe, you are unlikely to catch all three.

Check out Niantic's tweet below:

When's the next Pokémon Go event?

There currently isn't an in-game event active in Pokémon Go. However, Niantic are gearing up for Pokémon Go Fest Chicago which will run from June 13 to 19, 2019. 

Check out the official Pokémon Go events page for more details.

When's the next Pokémon Go Community Day?

Pokémon Go's next Community Day takes place on May 19. The featured Pokémon for the event will be Torchic, while the bonuses for the event will be three times catch Stardust and three-hour-long lures. However, we don't know what exclusive move will be available. 

Pokémon Go update: what's next?

Niantic hasn't revealed what updates they have planned next, but we expect a summer/winter event in the coming months.

If the Spring event is anything to go by, we will be seeing seasonal content for the summer and winter events - potentially including limited time prizes?

For summer, we imagine there will be a Fire-type event (because it's warm, right?) while winter is likely to see a Ice-type event. 

• Check out the best and weirdest Pokémon Go stories so far

Pokémon Go Plus deals

Want to buy yourself a Pokémon Go Plus wearable? Check some of today's best deals down below.

(Image credits: Niantic/Pokémon Company)

• Read more: Harry Potter Wizards Unite: everything we know

from TechRadar: Technology reviews http://bit.ly/2e1sNQP

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US presidential candidates aren't using basic email security

New research has revealed that almost all of the upcoming 2020 presidential candidates in the US are falling behind when it comes to email security despite the fact that Hillary Clinton's email accounts were targeted and breached by Russian hackers just three years ago.

The email security company Agari confirmed that only the Democratic candidate Elizabeth Warren is using domain-based message authentication, reporting and conformance policy or DMARC to protect her email accounts.

This email security features resides on top of the Sender Policy Framework (SKF) and the DomainKeys Identified Mail (DKIM) security protocols which use cryptography to verify a sender's email  and can mark emails as spam or reject them if an email fails to be properly validated.

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According to Agari, the other 11 candidates whose email security it investigated, including Bernie Sanders, Joe Biden and presidential incumbent Donald Trump, do not use DMARC to security their campaign domains.

DMARC

By not using DMARC to secure their email accounts, Agari warned that the 2020 presidential candidates risk having their campaigns impersonated in spam campaigns and phishing attacks.

The company's Armen Najarian explained why using DMARC to secure one's email accounts has become increasingly important, saying:

“DMARC is more important than ever because if it had been implemented with the correct policy on the domain used to spearphish John Podesta, then he would have never received the targeted email attack from Russian operatives.”

There has been a slight rise in DMARC adoption by Fortune 500 companies since the beginning of this year. However, while most of the companies use DMARC, Agari said that only 16 percent of the 500 world's richest companies reject or quarantine unvalidated email. 

Via TechCrunch

• We've also highlighted the best email providers

from TechRadar: Technology reviews http://bit.ly/2JbBWsp

Sea of Thieves update news, DLC, patch notes and more

Swashbuckling has come back in a big way with Rare's sandbox multiplayer pirate adventure, Sea of Thieves. Since first hitting Xbox One and PC in March 2018, the developer has been working on a host of post-launch patches and free DLC – with more staff working on the title now than in the run-up to its original release – and the seafaring title continues to attract more players by offering continual improvements and additional content to the game's community.

According to Rare, within the game's first year, Sea of Thieves players collected and cashed in almost 750 million chests, skulls and items of cargo to amass a collective fortune of 642 billion gold. 

As an open-ended online service game, there's plenty more to come. To help you keep on top of what's new and what's coming up, we've put together this handy page which will be updated with all the latest announcements.

As we said in our full Sea of Thieves review:

"Sea of Thieves is still in its early days, but I think it’s off to an extremely strong start. It’s clear that the developers are willing to listen to the players, and I expect we’ll see a great many interesting additions to the game in the coming months. 

"It’s worth saying, though, that the game will need these additions – your friends can only add so much variety to a Gold Hoarders' quest before everyone grows weary. As long as Rare is willing to add to this playground, I expect players will be happy to play in it. "

• Sea of Thieves review: check out our complete, in-depth verdict in our full review

Sea of Thieves update news and patch notes

• What's new? The Sea of Thieves Anniversary Update is out now

To celebrate Sea of Thieves' one year anniversary, Rare has rolled out the game's biggest content update to date.

The Sea of Thieves Anniversary Update adds three key new features: The Arena, The Hunter's Call and Tall Tales.

The Arena is a new PvP competitive game mode that sees crews going head-to-head to collect the most loot. Meanwhile, the Hunter's Call is a new Trading Company that gives you more ways to play and progress towards Pirate Legend. 

However, arguably the most exciting new feature is Tall Tales - a collection of story-rich quests that are played out in Sea of Thieves' shared world and can be fully experienced by yourself or with your crew. The first collection of Tall Tales will be the Shores of Gold.

In addition, the latest update squashes some bugs and makes a handful of performance improvements.

Check out the Sea of Thieves Anniversary Update release notes.

In addition, Rare is treating players to a host of celebratory rewards such as new Mercenary Voyages, a new Reaper's Run Voyage, Commendations and cosmetics. There's also a special Gilded Mercenary Voyage of Legends for Pirate Legends.

Not enough for you? There's a bunch of special rewards for those who played during the first year such as Captain Bones' Original Pirate Cutlass. While any player who attained Pirate Legend status during the first year will receive a Golden Legendary Tankard, a Golden Legendary Hurdy-Gurdy, a Golden Legendary Blunderbuss and Golden Legendary ship customisations including a Sail, Hull and Figurehead.

How to play Sea of Thieves

Sea of Thieves is now available on PC and Xbox One. It's possible to purchase the game outright, but you can also pick up an Xbox Game Pass subscription where the entire game is included. 

If you're not sure whether Sea of Thieves is for you, picking up a Game Pass trial for free and playing the game for a short time through it is a good way to find out.

The game is not a port for PC or Xbox, it works equally on both and supports cross-play. While the console version has locked frame rates of 30fps, the PC version's are unlocked. Mouse, keyboard and controllers are all supported across console and PC. 

(Image credits: Rare Ltd.)

•  Check out our Sea of Thieves guide for how to survive on the high seas 

from TechRadar: Technology reviews http://bit.ly/2pTF0N6

PS5 games: all the games confirmed and expected on the PlayStation 5

Dell XPS 17 may be in the works alongside a dual screen model

Dell is apparently bringing back the bigger-screened XPS 17, as spotted in a leaked product roadmap reportedly found by Tweakers.

Dell's XPS lineup of laptops has stood out for years as a high bar for other laptops to aim at, with the XPS 13 and XPS 15 series consistently among the best laptops on the market.

Today, it's been the better part of a decade since we've seen a Dell XPS 17 laptop. Dell's focus with the XPS line has seemed to be on a blend of portability, performance and design. Of course, 17-inch laptops in the past have been among the least portable laptops, with huge screens flanked by large bezels and considerable weight.

• See our review of the Dell XPS 13
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That formula for laptop design has been changing, though, and a future Dell XPS 17 laptop could likely use Dell's InfinityEdge display style to fit a 17-inch display into the form factor of past 15-inch laptops.

More details from the leak

For the XPS 17, the product roadmap leak shows a launch in July of 2020. So, it'll be a long time before we see whether that pans out.

However the XPS 17 isn't alone in the leak. Alongside it, there's a new XPS 15 2019 model slated for a July 2019 launch, which could give us some indication of the validity of this leak. That model also appears to be listed with an 8-core Intel Coffee Lake processor (CPU). 

Two new XPS 13 models are also listed, with what seems to be a Intel Comet Lake CPU in the earlier model slated for a September launch and an Intel Ice Lake CPU in the model with a February 2019 launch.

While basic updates to the XPS 15 and XPS 13 line are reasonable to expect, including updates for the XPS 13 2-in-1, one interesting extra in the leak is mention of an XPS Dual Screen lined up for October 2020.

There are no details on what processor will power it, and there's only room for speculation at this point on what it could look like. With the productivity focus of XPS machines, a typical laptop design paired with some kind of slide-out secondary display is feasible, though a design we've really only seen in prototypes like the Razer Project Valkyrie.

The design could also be something like the Lenovo Yoga Book C930, but the idea of offering only a digital keyboard on a productivity-minded machine seems implausible. With any luck, future leaks will give us some more hints.

• These are the best 2-in-1 laptops

Via Liliputing

from TechRadar: Technology reviews http://bit.ly/2Y1zqsV

Vodafone found security flaws in Huawei kit years ago

Vodafone has revealed that it found security flaws in equipment provided by Chinese hardware maker Huawei to its Italian business in 2011 and 2012.

The world's second largest mobile operator said that it had found security vulnerabilities in two products though both incidents were quickly resolved by the Chinese firm.

Huawei has faced increased scrutiny as the US has told its allies not to use its technology over concerns of Chinese spying. Back in January, Vodafone paused the deployment of the firm's equipment in its core networks as it waits for Western governments to give the Chinese company full security clearance.

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The British government is still deciding what role Huawei's equipment will play in a future 5G network but it plans to announce its final decision in the next month.

A government report released in March criticized the company for failing to fix long-standing security issues. British security officials said that they had found “several hundred vulnerabilities and issues” with Huawei's equipment in 2018.

Security flaws

The software vulnerabilities discovered by Vodafone in 2011 and 2012 were promptly fixed by Huawei and the telecom said that it had found no evidence of any unauthorized access.

A spokesperson for the company provided more details on the vulnerabilities, saying:

“The issues were identified by independent security testing, initiated by Vodafone as part of our routine security measures, and fixed at the time by Huawei.” 

According to Vodafone, the vulnerabilities arose from the use of Telnet which is a protocol used by vendors to perform diagnostic functions. Telnet allows equipment manufacturers to communicate with their products after they have been deployed.

Via Reuters

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from TechRadar: Technology reviews http://bit.ly/2GTJZII

Death Stranding release date, trailers and news

What is Death Stranding about? Despite being in development for years, most of the chatter around Hideo Kojima's upcoming PS4 game – the first from his new studio Kojima Productions, after a much-publicized departure from Konami – is still about how hard the game is to define.

We saw an in-depth showcase at E3 2018, showing a game that was broadly sci-fi, but featuring elements of trippy horror, melding the techno-future trappings of the Metal Gear series with Kojima's own mind-bending Silent Hill series. A recent panel discussion at Tribeca Film Festival also gives more hints as to the kind of gameplay we can expect.

At this point, though, it's almost all entirely conjecture. Sony and Kojima are playing up to the mysterious nature of the game, letting very few details be revealed. As the first game from Kojima Studios, there's a lot riding on its success, and the PR campaign to drum up interest is already creating a fever-pitch of anticipation.

While the entire gaming planet tries to piece together the bread crumb trail to find out what exactly we're all waiting for, let this article guide you through everything there is to know about Death Stranding so far.

Cut to the chase

• What is it? Honestly, who really knows. It’s the debut title from Hideo Kojima’s new studio Kojima Studios.
• When can I play it? Sometime in the next 2 years.
• What will it cost? Likely to be around $60/£45/AU$59
• What can I play it on? Sony PS4

Death Stranding trailers and screenshots

The Tokyo Game Show 2018 trailer revealed voice-acting veteran Troy Baker has joined the cast as the mysterious villain The Man in the Golden Mask.

E3 2018 brought Death Stranding gameplay to our eyes and left our minds somewhat confused. 

Before E3 2018, Death Stranding featured at the Game Awards 2017. Coming in at nearly eight minutes long, this isn't a quick watch and unfortunately it doesn't answer many of the questions we have about the game (actually we think we have more). Watch it for yourself below:

The reveal trailer that was shown at E3 in 2016 may have been more than 3 minutes long, but it didn’t reveal much about the game at all other than that it would star The Walking Dead’s Norman Reedus.

A second even longer and 4K trailer was shown at The Game Awards at the end of 2016. This trailer starred Hannibal’s Mads Mikkelsen and Guillermo Del Toro and although it didn’t give us any more of an idea of what the game will actually even be about (in fact leaving us more confused than we were before) it did send expectations soaring. 

From what we can guess, the events of the second trailer take place before the events of the first, since the baby being transported in the incubator (in the second) is almost certainly Norman Reedus (as seen in the first trailer). They have the same handcuff and stomach scars. 

As for what this means we have absolutely no idea. Bear in mind Kojima has, in the past, been a fan of including footage in trailers that never made it into the final game. Anyone remember the 'Grand Theft Auto' exchange from the first MGS3 trailer?

Death Stranding release date

There’s no definite release date just yet, despite Kojima having told fans during the 2016 Tokyo Game Show that Death Stranding would be out before 2019.

In an interview with Dengeki PlayStation (via Wccftech) at the end of 2017, Kojima said that development of the game was going well: “Development on Death Stranding is going well enough that [Sony Interactive Entertainment] told us, ‘We have never before seen a game being created at such a fast pace.’ We are planning an announcement that will further surprise everyone in 2018.”

A preemptive listing on Amazon UK put the release date as March 29, which came and went. A 2019 release still seems possible, though we've had no official confirmation of when to expect it.

In addition, Kojima revealed that the voice actor strikes in 2018 held up development as he was unable to record with Norman Reedus and Mads Mikkelsen during that period – delaying recording for the game.

What do we know so far about Death Stranding?

Death Stranding is in a 'critical phase', according to Kojima
Thanks to a tweet by Kojima, we now know the game has reached an important phase of development and is even capable of running on the PlayStation 4.

The following tweet by Kojima (roughly translated by MSPoweruser), explains that while Death Stranding is fairly far along in development, there's a lot of polishing to still be done.

"Death Stranding is not yet in the debugging stage, but is currently having all the game elements and tools from different development systems combined into the game," Kojima writes. "It’s a process that involves connecting the parts, adding feeling, looking over the production, the specifications, looking out for trouble, taking things out and adding things in. 

"I’m playing the game on PlayStation 4 every day. It’s a critical phase."

Tribeca Film Festival
We learnt a few new tidbits at the Tribeca Film Festival, which hosted a panel discussion with Hideo Kojima and Norman Reedus. Much of it was about how immersed Reedus was with development, with his entire face and body (tattoos and all) having been scanned into the game.

“In Death Stranding I’m trying to put every aspect [of Norman] in there,” Kojima said through his interpreter, “and you will see his … everything, in the game,” he finished, suggestively, cracking up the crowd. By the end of the game, he says, you’ll “love Norman”.

Non-branching narrative
Kojima also stated there would be some painful choices to make in the game, though followed up by saying the player wouldn't really be able to influence the story through their decisions. Sounds like some different cutscenes or dialogue options, though not much in the way of affecting plot.

Online features
One of the biggest teases at Tribeca was the recurring mention of online features, though Kojima avoided talking directly about what this would look like in the game: "You're connecting the game, and everyone is playing it together, and you'll be connected, everyone will be connected together as well." Maybe a way to communicate or leave notes for other players, in the vein of Dark Souls?

Troy Baker is a villain
Veteran voice-actor Troy Baker (who voices Joel in The Last of Us series) stars in Death Stranding as the enigmatic antagonist The Man in the Golden Mask. Baker was introduced in a teaser trailer shown during Tokyo Game Show, with his skull-masked character summoning a black tar-like demon to take on Norman Reedus' character.

E3 2018
E3 brought a brand new trailer, few answers and even more questions. The trailer for the game had the most revealing description we've seen yet, stating the game is about Sam ‘Porter’ Bridges, a delivery man who must journey across a vast world so that he can “reunite the shattered world one step at a time.”

We also got look at two more famous faces who will make an appearance in the game – Léa Seydoux and Lindsay Wagner.

Something edgy Back in 2015 Kojima starting giving hints around the game's tone and star-studded voice cast in an interview with IGN. According to Kojima his first title with Sony is going to be “slightly more edgy”, as while he wants “to create something that’s what people expect” he also wants to bring “something new that people haven’t seen before.”

We do know that Kojima is planning to do something different with the game’s mechanics, most notably around the concept of dying and involving the baby that has appeared in every trailer. Kojima said in the interview that the mechanics of Death Stranding were inspired by a Japanese short story. 

In the story it’s stated that the first tool mankind creates is a stick for protection, but that the second tool mankind created was a rope to keep things close and secure. “Most of your tools in action games are sticks,” Kojima explained, “You punch or you shoot or you kick. The communication is always through these 'sticks.' In [Death Stranding], I want people to be connected not through sticks, but through what would be the equivalent of ropes… But of course you will be able to use the sticks too.”

Unfortunately we haven’t seen any gameplay that would give us a better insight into how this rope approach will actually work. 

A mystery to its own devs
At a Q and A session at the E3 Coliseum in 2017, Kojima himself said that his own team didn't understand the game: "I started explaining a year ago to the team what I wanted to make. No one got it!"

Before this, the game's star Mads Mikkelsen admitted he "got lost" when Kojima tried to explain the game's plot to him. 

Sporadic details
Though Kojima has been coy, he’s given some nice teases into what we can expect from Death Stranding in terms of tone and gameplay modes.

We know the game will run on the Decima engine which was created by Horizon: Zero Dawn developers, Guerilla Games. Kojima praised this engine during PSX 2016 as being an excellent engine for creating open world games, something that Horizon: Zero Dawn’s reception suggests has an element of truth to it. 

Though its unsettling trailers suggest otherwise, Kojima has said that Death Stranding won’t be as dark as some fans are expecting. It’s certainly not a horror game, he told Glixel, and it would have comedic moments which isn’t entirely surprising considering the overarching tone of the Metal Gear series. 

An impressive cast
We already knew Death Stranding had some big names attached to it including Norman Reedus and Mads Mikkelsen . But now we know they'll be joined by writer and actress Emily O'Brien and the voice of video games, Troy Baker. 

O'Brien recently posted a picture to Instagram which showed her alongside Baker and Reedus, with a caption stating "Honored to be working alongside these two fine lads on [Hideo Kojima's] new project Death Stranding." 

While Baker is well known for his starring roles in video games such as The Last of Us and Bioshock Infinite, O'Brien has had roles on both TV and in games, featuring in Telltale's Guardian's of the Galaxy and Batman: The Enemy Within as well as Rock in a Hard Place.

Players won't die
In a recent interview with IGN, Hideo Kojima was slightly more open with details than he usually is. The strange underwater sequence from the 2017 Game Awards trailer for example? That's apparently a kind of purgatory where players will go and freely explore when they die in the game, though Kojima notes that "death will never pull you out of the game." 

The game apparently explores the themes of life and death and it's for this reason that Kojima would like to explore the traditional death mechanic in games and let players know that  in-game death isn't the end for them when it happens.

In this underwater area, he explains, “you're not dead or alive. It's the equivalent of that screen that says 'Continue?' and a counter ticking down towards zero.” When players decide they're ready to leave and return to the game world, they won't be returned to a point before their death. Instead the game acknowledges their defeat and coming back to life is more of a reincarnation than a respawn.

There's a weird time rain
During the trailer shown at the 2017 Game Awards, fans noticed there's a strange kind of rain that has an effect on time. In makes plants grow and wilt and makes human bodies age and degenerate when it touches them. The rain is apparently called Timefall and it has a big role to play in the game's story. 

What's the deal with the babies?
There's been some seriously strange recurring baby imagery in the footage we've seen for Death Stranding that's included Norman Reedus cradling a baby while standing nude on a beach as well as having one living inside his throat. According to Kojima in an interview with IGN, the baby is apparently the same baby and it's a part of the game mechanics as well as the overarching plot. We assume it's related to the idea of not ever finitely dying but Kojima didn't confirm this. 

There will be online elements
We already knew there would be online co-op elements in the game after Kojima confirmed it at the Tokyo Game Show, but in a recent IGN interview he acknowledged that he's been keeping up with recent players reactions to things like microtransactions. 

“I think there are a lot of people out there who still enjoy single-player games, aside from some microtransactions." This suggests that while the game will have online co-op elements, they won't make up the entirety of the game. 

What could it all mean?

Though the game’s trailers don’t tell us much about how we’ll eventually play Death Stranding, they do reveal some important thematic elements. 

Quotes from William Blake, the repeated appearance of ruined dolls, and the inclusion of what looks like oil (but could very well be ink) and dead sea creatures suggests Kojima will be exploring the fractious relationship between man and the natural world and the impact it has on us and future generations.

The littering of dead crabs on beaches and tanks with definitely living tentacles coming out of them suggests to us a post-apocalyptic world over-run with robotic sea creatures which would certainly be interesting. After all, Kojima is working closely with Guerilla Games whose Horizon: Zero Dawn game focused on robotic dinosaurs.

There’s also a curious mix of futuristic technology and elements of the past in the game’s various trailers. 

In the second game trailer though Mads Mikkelsen is wearing a modern army uniform and appears to be using some kind of cable, the undead soldiers around him are wearing WW2 era uniforms and the game world outside of the tunnel he’s in is almost certainly from the second world war time period. 

Whether this mix of past and future will manifest itself as time travelling or simply alternate universe science fiction isn’t clear. 

Safe to say, as a Kojima title, there’s a lot of mystery and symbolism at play here and fans online are tearing through what little materials there are to try and find out more information about the game. 

We’ll keep updating as more solid information becomes available.

All image credits: Kojima Productions

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from TechRadar: Technology reviews http://bit.ly/2pVkQmm

The best Nokia 8 deals in May 2019

2017 marked Nokia's renaissance year. After stunning us by announcing it was revamping the Nokia 3310 and then releasing a further three mobiles, it ended the year by releasing its first high-powered smartphone in three years - the Nokia 8.

Almost two years on and although it's never going to challenge the power of Samsung and Apples newer devices, it does have the kind of price tag that will appeal to people who want to get a bargain mobile phone. Especially excellent value, considering the stunning design, premium screen and chipset, and new 'Bothie' camera mode.

Unlike most flagship phones released in the last 12 months, you can now get your new Nokia 8 for less than £20 per month! Check out our comparison tool to see the best tariffs that have been announced. Considering the standalone handset costs around £400, the contract prices are looking like a much better option.

See more: Nokia 3310 deals | Nokia 3 deals | Nokia 5 deals | Nokia 6 deals | Best mobile phone deals

It's been a while, but Nokia is finally back with a serious phone. Of course we were all delighted to see the return of the Nokia 3310 through a nostalgic haze, but if Nokia was going to be regarded as a genuine threat to the likes of Samsung, Apple and LG again, it needed a handset of heft.

The Nokia 8 is exactly that. Not in its dimensions, mind you - weighing in it at 160g, it's a slim, sleek and sometimes shiny smartphone. We're referring more to the dazzling QHD 5.3-inch display, 4GB Ram and Snapdragon 835 chipset. All massive plus points in our eyes, even if the much touted 'Bothie' camera mode probably isn't.

Read TechRadar's full Nokia 8 review

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Future smartphones could be made of this material to keep cool

When you buy a smartphone it'll likely have a plastic, glass or metal body, but in the future you might not get these options – instead, your handset could be made of a new custom polymer.

Researchers at MIT recently unveiled a new polymer material, after several years working on it, that could have a big impact on what future smartphones, and other tech products, are made of.

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The most important feature in the custom polymer is that instead of containing heat, like the back of your smartphone will do when the device heats up, the material will conduct it much more efficiently. This means a phone will be able to cool much easier, and won't heat up as much when used intensively.

On top of that the researchers have spent a long time working on an efficient and cheap manufacturing process. The material would be a lot cheaper to produce than the glass and metal of premium phones, and manufacturers could reduce costs by embracing it.

The material is also significantly thinner than your typical handset case, so future phones could be a little thinner – but they could also be a little more delicate too, depending on how strong the polymer is.

At the moment the custom polymer isn't ready for commercial use, so even if manufacturers do choose to use it in their phones (which there's no guarantee of), it'll be a while until we see phones made up of it.

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Via Trusted Reviews

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The best HTC U11 deals in May 2019

The HTC U11 had the hard task of attracting consumers' attention away from the vice-like grip on the phones market of the Samsung Galaxy S8 and iPhone 8. But HTC managed to create a device that rivalled those devices when they were released. A year has passed now and yet this phone is still a serious contender in the mobile phone market. 

The HTC U11 (don't forget that all important 'U') is another push from the manufacturer to keep its name as a front-running handset manufacturer. Edge Sense is the new element that the brand is pushing as its latest big innovation - as you'll see from our HTC U11 review below - it's certainly alternative. And the phone now comes with Alexa integration, too.

It's now a little cheaper, too, with monthly tariffs starting at less than £30. That's a lot cheaper than HTC U11 deals were when the handset went on sale. Check out our comparison chart to tailor-make your perfect HTC U11 deal.

See also: Samsung Galaxy S8 deals | iPhone 8 deals | Galaxy Note 8 deals | Best mobile phone deals | HTC U11 review

The HTC U11 is a hugely impressive phone - in a sea of wildly impressive phones. The core abilities will wow any HTC fan, but the squeezable sides haven't completely won us over.

Read our full HTC U11 review here.

from TechRadar: Technology reviews http://bit.ly/2rlE6sZ