A brand we’ve never heard of before has come up with a product we’ve never seen before. Maxtang from Aliexpress sells a mini PC that runs on an embedded AMD Ryzen chip - the V1605B - with four, yes four, DisplayPort connectors. We don’t know any other PC that offers this, let alone something that doesn’t require a separate display card or as small as this box.
Exact prices after the discount in other territories will vary depending on the day’s exchange rate. Aliexpress ships to most territories worldwide via expedited shipping although you may be levied additional charges and fees by customs.
The Ryzen V1605B has four cores, eight threads, 4MB cache and a Vega 8 GPU. That makes it similar to a Ryzen 5 2500U and, according to the popular Passmark benchmark, faster than the Intel Core i5-10210U, which has a similar 15W TDP.
Other than the four display connectors (all capable of outputting to 4K), the thin client has two audio connectors, two Gigabit Ethernet ports, eight USB ports (but no Type-C) and supports two DDR4 SODIMM modules. You can add one M2 SSD and one SATA drive (SSD or HDD) as well.
It weighs a mere 1kg and measures only 18x18.2x3.7cm - that’s just over 1,200cc!
Businesses around the world have turned to video conferencing software such as Zoom or Microsoft Teams as a means to hold meetings during the coronavirus outbreak but interacting with coworkers does prove somewhat difficult when behind a webcam.
This is why HTC has announced that the beta version of its remote collaboration and meeting platform for VR, VIVE Sync will be available free of charge for businesses and remote employees during the pandemic.
VIVE Sync, from first-party developer 2 Bears Studio and HTC, supports up to 30 attendees simultaneously and features full body tracking so that participant's personally created avatars can communicate using their actual body language.
The platform also supports Tobii eye tracking, which is embedded in headsets such as the VIVE Pro Eye, for more natural lifelike interactions with virtual colleagues or clients.
VIVE Sync
Working with your company's files in VR is also easy as Sync integrates with Microsoft OneDrive and OneDrive for business and supports many popular file formats from PowerPoints to PDFs to videos.
However, one of the biggest advantages that VIVE Sync offers is the ability to work with 3D content in VR. Instead of looking at 3D models on a 2D screen as you would with other video conferencing services, Sync lets you bring them into your virtual space and review them together with your team. The software supports FBX and OBJ files, as well as Unity Asset Bundles, which makes it easy to upload, import and review all of your 3D assets.
If you and your team have access to VR headsets and have grown tired of staring at a screen all day long, you can test VIVE Sync out for yourself for free beginning on April 30.
If you've finished Final Fantasy 7 Remake, you may be wondering when Part 2 of the game will be releasing.
Final Fantasy 7 Remake is a re-imagining of classic '90s JRPG Final Fantasy 7. But, rather than releasing the remake as one single title, developer Square Enix has opted to release the remake as a series of games instead - with the first part releasing in April, 2020.
While Square Enix announced in November 2019 that development on Final Fantasy 7 Remake Part 2 has started, the company hasn't confirmed a release date for the second part of the game; and, unfortunately, we're expecting a wait of at least a few years.
While we wait, we've rounded up everything we know about Final Fantasy 7 Remake Part 2 so far, including news, rumors and what we're hoping to see in the second game.
Cut to the chase
What is it? The second part of the Final Fantasy 7 Remake
How many parts will Final Fantasy 7 Remake have? This hasn't been confirmed
Final Fantasy 7 Remake Part 2 release date
While we know that Square Enix has already started work on Final Fantasy 7 Remake Part 2, the developer hasn't confirmed when it will release. But it looks like it'll be a while before we get to play it.
Final Fantasy 7 Remake didn't release until five years after it was announced. However, we're not expecting another five year wait for part 2 as Square Enix has now built the foundation of the game. In addition, a a Square Enix representative told IGN that "the development team is planning the volume of content for the second part of the series, and that the team anticipates that the development of the second game will be more efficient".
While we don't think we'll be waiting for not waiting as long as five years, it will definitely be a few years before we see the second part of the Final Fantasy 7 Remake.
Square Enix has previously compared Final Fantasy 7 Remake to Final Fantasy 13 - which released (essentially) in three parts, with roughly a two year gap between each of the entries. If Final Fantasy 7 Remake is going to be anything like that, then we're looking at around a two year wait until part 2 - meaning we may not see it until at least 2022.
Production has already started In November 2019, director Tetsuya Nomura announced that work on Final Fantasy 7 Part 2 has already started.
"We’ve already begun working on the next one as well, but I’m confident that playing through this title will expand your expectations just like the world that extends beyond Midgar," Nomura said.
Hints in Final Fantasy Remake about what's coming next In an interview with Famitsu (translated by DualShockers) Final Fantasy 7 Remake producer, Yoshinori Kitase, teased that there are hints in the game that allude to what may happen in the the second part.
"With this first game, we showed how there is great potential for the future, and we included many hints regarding what’s coming next," Kitase said. "I’m looking forward to seeing the fans’ theories on social media regarding what could happen now."
Convertible laptops tend to carry a significant premium over their traditional siblings. A new laptop however bucks that trend; the Nanote will only be sold in Japan for 19,800 yen (that’s about US$185, £149 or AU$285).
Its unique selling point is its unbelievably tiny price tag that’s matched by an equally small screen - a 7-inch touchscreen display - and its 360-degree hinge. The Nanote resembles the Chuwi Minibook we reviewed last year but is even smaller (181 x 114 x 19.6mm and a weight of 520g) and has the same physical constraints.
There’s no trackpad - only an optical touch sensor - and the keyboard is cramped. The rest of the specification makes it painfully obvious that corners had to be cut to keep the price down; there’s a 5-year old Intel Atom x5-Z8350 paired with 4GB of RAM and 64GB eMMC storage.
The rest of the specs isn’t too shabby: the screen has a 1920 x 1200pixel resolution, there’s a microHDMI port, 3.5mm audio jack, a microSD card reader, a USB 3.0 port, a USB Type-C port, a 5,000 mAh battery, a VGA webcam, 802.11n WiFi and Bluetooth 4.0.
It is manufactured by a Japanese company and it is very unlikely that it will be available outside of that country for now.
Chuwi’s UBook Pro is probably the best alternative to the Surface Go that Microsoft seems to have retired. All stocks of the diminutive tablet are currently out of stock and have been so for a while. You can still get it from third parties, often at a much higher price.
Gearbest sells the Chuwi UBook Pro for $399.99 (or £340/AU$670) when you use the coupon code GBCHUWI123. Exact prices after the discount in other territories will vary depending on the day’s exchange rate. Gearbest ships to most territories worldwide via expedited shipping although you may be levied additional charges and fees by customs.
Add the capacitive stylus pen and the original keyboard cover and the price creeps up to just under $470, which is still far lower than the 128GB version of the Surface Go (that comes without accessories).
What do you get for your money? A Gemini Lake-based Intel Celeron N4100 that is significantly faster than the Pentium 4415Y (based on CPUBenchmark numbers), 8GB of RAM, a 256GB SSD - that’s twice the storage capacity of the Surface Go, a 12.3-inch display with a full HD resolution.
The Surface Go has a smaller display size so, understandably, it is lighter and has a smaller footprint. The camera sensors on Microsoft’s tablet have a higher resolution but the UBook Pro has more connectors (including a useful HDMI one). This means you won’t mean any docking station to connect to a monitor.
There is no leadership manual for dealing with a once-in-a-century global health emergency—no script to guide what you should say to team members, customers, and stakeholders in your business.
Right now, everyone’s leadership skills are being tested in ways we could have barely imagined a month ago. It’s not just a question of how resilient our organisations are and how quickly they can adapt to lockdowns and restrictions on travel. It’s a challenge to our resilience as human beings.
When Stewart Butterfield, the founder of Slack, tweeted the story in recent days of how his business was responding to the Covid-19 emergency, he prefaced his comments with a simple introductory note: “I’m a human. I worry about my family and am deeply concerned about the millions whose jobs and health are at risk.” It was the right starting note.
I’ve always believed that great leadership is forged in the crucible of adversity, but great leaders are those who respond with empathy and vulnerability even when making the toughest decisions. We all need reserves of determination and positivity at precisely the moments those qualities are stretched thin.
Where do those reserves come from? Here are four ways to build resilience:
Own your resilience
Meet one of the most remarkable people I know, Debra Searle. She is a successful entrepreneur, author, and television presenter—and she’s been twice-honoured by the Queen for her achievements in her native UK and beyond. She has a mental toolkit that served her well through one of the toughest tests imaginable: rowing across 3,000 miles of ocean by herself in a boat built for two.
Debra’s tips range from “running the movie”— visualise yourself confronting and overcoming the challenging times ahead—to choosing your attitude every day.
“This is the one thing I had a choice about,” Debra says. “Every day I made an attitude choice: I said it out loud. It had to be a positive attitude. Negative attitudes were banned on the boat.”
Keep communicating
Keep talking. Keep listening. Our team has been communicating openly on multiple channels as the coronavirus crisis has developed and after the decision to ask staff to work remotely. There are virtual meetings, recorded sessions, emails, and I’ve opened my schedule to anyone in the business to book time for a conversation. And those conversations have ranged from the current crisis, to our customer response, to just having a laugh about our home office hijinks.
The most important message is how to embrace the ‘“new normal’” for the entire team. We all need to prioritise and support our family during times like these. For some, the new normal might look like two working adults competing for internet bandwidth at home taking turns to respond to the cries of a toddler or two. For others, it might be taking care of at-risk parents or relatives. But whatever the new normal is for each colleague, there’s one thing they all needed to know from their leader: prioritise your family and your wellbeing. If anything has to give in life right now, let it be work.
When it's all done, reflect and learn
When this crisis abates—and it will in time—the temptation is for leaders to rush ahead without a backward glance. But part of resilience is learning lessons. Former US Navy SEAL Commander Mark McGinnis describes this as part of the “Corporate Battle Rhythm”—a full cycle of planning, briefing, execution and debriefing.
“After a mission, we come together immediately in a very hallowed environment where there’s no rank, no blame, no privilege, no seniority, and we sit down and talk unemotionally about the successes and failures of the mission. It’s important to capture both,” he says.
“The successes because we want to continue to do things that are working and the failures because we can’t afford to make the same mistake twice. If we repeat mistakes in my world it has catastrophic results.”
And the outcome of a SEAL team’s debrief isn’t just kept within the mission squad. The lessons are open to every SEAL, from the top to bottom rank. “I’m accelerating everyone’s experience, whether they’re going out and doing operations or not,” says Mark.
Take the time to reflect and hold a debrief; no two crises are the same, but there will be lessons to learn from your organisation’s response to Covid-19.
Lead as though your children are watching
In essence, times of crisis challenge leaders to be the best versions of themselves. I’m reminded of an idea that Sean Pederson of Trek Bicycles came up with a few years ago: “Lead as though your children are watching.” It’s great advice. And right now, if you’re reading this while you’re working at home, they probably are.
15.6-inch laptops are slowly falling out of favour, pushed to the sidelines by the smaller 13.3-inch and 14-inch models, seen by many as being more portable. That form factor though has its advantages, especially if you’re after a business laptop.
A big screen means that you have more real estate for your keyboard and most 15.6-inch laptops will have a dedicated numeric keypad, a boon for bean counters, spreadsheet aficionado and those that rely on ASCII codes.
At just under $350 excluding shipping and tax, the Teclast F15 is almost certainly the best value 15.6-inch laptop on the market right now, for a number of reasons. This one has an all metal body with a large touchpad and a backlit keyboard.
The quad-core Intel Celeron N4100 CPU is paired with 8GB of LPDDR4 memory and a 256GB M2 SATA solid state drive. Don’t discard the Celeron CPU too fast; according to CPUBenchmark, it is as fast as an Intel Core i3-7020U which is no mean feat.
And that’s not all; the device is thin (only 15mm thick) and 1.8Kg in weight, with a 7mm bezel and a 91% screen-to-body ratio. How have they managed to achieve that? The engineers have brought in a barrel hinge and shove most connectors at the back. A very rare feature across laptops and for a good reason; you can’t see where you’re plugging stuff.
There’s two USB 3.0, a HDMI and one microSD port at the back with a DC socket and earphone jack on either side of the F15.
Created by and starring Jason Segel (How I Met Your Mother, Forgetting Sarah Marshall), Dispatches from Elsewhere is a mysterious drama show about to reach its conclusion in the US and begin gripping UK audiences. Read on to find out how to stream the show online from anywhere, including the season finale.
The at times surreal show follows four ordinary people that share the common denominator of feeling like there’s something missing in their lives. The foursome are brought together after stumbling upon a puzzle "hiding just behind the veil of everyday life".
As they begin to accept the mysterious challenges thrown up by the puzzle, they come to find that the mystery winds deeper than they imagined, exposing them to a world of possibility and magic.
Despite being given very little in the way of clues, the mystery of the game maintains the character’s intrigue, with each piece of the puzzle, or 'Dispatches from Elsewhere', bringing them closer to the answers they seek.
Alongside Segel, the show boasts an all-star cast which includes Andre Benjamin (whom you might know better as Andre 3000 from Outkast), Sally Field, and Richard E Grant. One of the most unique shows of the year so far, keep reading to find out how to watch Dispatches from Elsewhere from anywhere in the world.
Watch Dispatches from Elsewhere online from outside your country
While many US cable subscribers will find it easy to watch Dispatches from Elsewhere online thanks to AMC's website and app, it gets a bit more complicated if you find yourself abroad and want to tune in to watch the show.
Fortunately, there's an easy solution. Downloading a VPN will allow you to watch Dispatches from Elsewhere online live as it airs, no matter where you are. This simple bit of kit changes your IP address so that you can access episodes live or on demand as they become available, just as if you were lying on the sofa getting your lockdown on.
How to watch the Dispatches from Elsewhere online for free it the US
FuboTV: Offering access to more than 100 channels including AMC, FuboTV costs just $54.99 a month but you can bag a free trial first to see if it's right for you. Based on our experience, it's a particularly good option for fans of top TV shows like Better Call Saul who also love sports, as FuboTV offers quality Premier League live streams plus NBA coverage, NFL games and much more.
AMC Premiere: AMC's paid-for app lets you watch episodes of shows like Dispatches from Elsewhere live and ad-free on most major devices and can be had for just $4.99 a month. You'll need to confirm your TV provider to sign-up, but provided you can do that, there's usually a free trial available for eligible customers.
Amazon Prime Video: Buy individual episodes of Dispatches from Elsewhere in HD for just $2.99 a pop - or grab yourself all of season 5 for a mere $24.99. Just remember that you won't be able to watch the new Dispatches from Elsewhere episode until after AMC has aired it live on Monday night.
YouTube TV: It's a hefty $44.99 but that price gets you access to over 70 channels including AMC, so the latest episodes of Dispatches from Elsewhere will be at your fingertips after they've aired live on Monday night.
Watch Dispatches from Elsewhere online in the UK
Stream Dispatches from Elsewhere: how to watch in Canada
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Highly forwarded messages on WhatsApp have reduced to 70 percent since the messaging platform introduced a cap on forwarded messages a couple of weeks back, a report by Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) has shown. The report comes as social media platforms such as Facebook and WhatsApp have been trying to curb fake news and misinformation regarding COVID-19.
The update came on WhatsApp a couple of weeks back where users are not allowed to forward messages to more than one contact. Once a WhatsApp message has previously been forwarded five times or more, the forwarding feature gets restricted.
“Since putting into place this new limit, globally there has been a 70 per cent reduction in the number of highly forwarded messages sent on WhatsApp. This change is helping keep WhatsApp a place for personal and private conversations.” said a WhatsApp representative
Among other measures, WhatsApp has also partnered with International Fact-Checking Network (IFCN) to help users verify fake news. The popular instant messenger has also shared a list of official numbers that can be contacted on WhatsApp to help verify fake and authentic news. WhatsApp has also recently taken down as many as 2 million accounts exhibiting suspicious behaviour.
War against fake news
Despite all these efforts, more measures might be needed to stop rumours. Users can make workarounds against such features by making groups or just messaging people separately.
A case in point is the fake message claiming to be from the WHO that went viral recently stating that the lockdown will be extended until June. Even celebrities such as Amitabh Bachchan have fallen prey to fake news on social media. The Bollywood star was recently trolled for a tweet showing how the entire country was 'lit up' with lamps and candles for the #9pm9minutes drive.
Every home device or a wireless connection is a potential entry for hackers and phishers as work-from-home policy creates a very opportunistic situation for the bad guys.
Social distancing and the lockdown due to coronavirus have made online life more important than ever but the domino-effect has led to security vulnerabilities for people, processes and technologies.
Bad guys are aware that people working from home do not have the same security as they would have in their corporate environment.
“We have seen a lot of companies adopt work-from-home strategy due to the pandemic and a big jump in using this model. Many wanted to have a gradual move for the past many years as part of the digital transformation journey, but Covid-19 has accelerated the work-from-home strategy rapidly,” Dr. Moataz Binali, Vice-President at Trend Micro Middle East and North Africa, told TechRadar Pro Middle East.
So, he said that non-believers and sceptic who have been shying away from are being pushed into it.
“The move to work-from-home strategy and the cloud also brings in a lot of different trends. Companies are trying to adopt digital transformation on the cloud and others are adopting a remote working model while others are adopting a different shift in different models,” he said.
Binali said that a person who is using a corporate laptop has some sort of endpoint security protection but a lot of employees are not using their corporate laptops and by using their personal laptops, they don’t have the endpoint security software.
The pandemic has led to the creation of more than several hundreds of new Covid-19 web domains.
“We have seen a lot of different types of attacks because of a lack of endpoint software and next-gen network firewall protection at homes. Hackers are using Corona as the main campaign in trying to phish different users and try to ambush them to reveal personal information or about the company.
“We have seen malicious attacks come from different sites that disguise themselves as official Corona-related sites. These sites try newer ways to infect digital assets of an organisation,” he said.
In the first quarter of this year alone, Trend Micro globally found over 907,000 spam messages and 48,000 hits to malicious URLs – both related to Covid-19. To combat these kinds of attacks using the security provider has various multi-layered security offerings, from the cloud to the endpoint.
In the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries, 3,067 emails, URL and file threats related to the Covid-19 have been recorded in the first three months of the year.
Moreover, the GCC recorded 1,737 email spam attacks, the third-highest in Asia; 1,114 malware threats detected, the third-highest in Asia; and 216 URL attacks, the seventh-highest in Asia.
The UAE led the region with 1,541 Covid-19 attacks, including 775 malware threats, 621 email spam attacks and 145 URL attacks detected.
The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia recorded 344 attacks, including 268 email spam attacks, 59 malware threats detected, and 17 URL attacks.
In threats related to Covid-19, Binali said that URL attacks increased 260 times and email spam attacks increased 220 times from February 2020-March 2020. The United States leads in all Covid-19 attacks.
“We have also seen an increase in ransomware attacks due to Corona and it is a global concern and it is used left, right and centre. Hackers disguise themselves as World Health Organisation, famous hospitals and clinical centres to lure information by making them download certain payloads,” Binali said.
IT teams find it difficult to protect digital assets
Even though hacking is a global issue, Binali said that they have seen the US and Europe impacted the most but “we have seen attacks on the Middle East also but not to the same degree as in the West. In the Middle East, it is less because people gravitate more towards information from the Ministry of Health rather than WHO or other sources.”
Most of the attacks due to Covid in the region are in the UAE, followed by Saudi Arabia; he said and added that due to the rapid upsurge in remote working, it has become difficult for IT teams to protect digital assets and processes.
“For an organisation to deal with all the challenges, cybersecurity talent, tools and manual processes and to make security improvements ultimately relies on the shoulders of the IT cell. A multi-layered approach is the need of the hour for remote working - an endpoint security solution for the laptop, a next-gen firewall for the network, e-mail protection software for e-mails and cloud protection software for cloud computing,” he said.
As the access into the corporate network is coming from outside, he said that companies need to strengthen their internal security and diversify the multi-layer around it as well.
He added that Trend Micro has a packaged solution catered for all these issues under one umbrella.
Moreover, he said that there is also a website from Trend Micro - https://global.sitesafety.trendmicro.com/ - that users can use to check the reputation of a website and if there is any malware.
“Having a good anti-virus software can detect and block a malicious site and we use a reputation engine for that. We put all the smart global protection networks we acquire from different websites into our reputation engine so that the anti-virus software can detect whether it is malicious or not before the user clicks,” he said.
Binali claims that it can block 100% but if a new website is created, it cannot detect and it will take time before it comes to our notice or before victims fall prey.
He said that Trend Micro does not rely on one method to block attacks as we have sandboxing, machine learning and signature-based analysis, and all of these are included in the XGen, the engine for blocking malware and protecting users.
“It has got a multi-layered approach to block and not to cause harm to the users. We are unique in that way as we have the multi-layered approach into a single-engine,” he said.
Even though VPNs is the most secured way to work remotely, he said that it is not a must to work remotely.
“In VPN, all the communication is encrypted. So, when working from outside the corporate network, it is a must to have a VPN and an additional layer of protection, the same way corporate firewalls do in the office. Always trust a VPN from a well-known vendor that provides these services,” he said.
The world of portable computing has expanded rapidly in recent years, both in terms of popularity and viability. The growing 2-in-1 category offers up some of the best features of the notebook and the tablet in the one schmick package, but it can be hard to compare them when the category is so fresh.
What defines a 2-in-1 is its ability to morph from a notebook as you know it – complete with keyboard and trackpad – to a tablet with a touch interface. Some products, like Microsoft's Surface Book range, allow for the keybed to detach completely, while others simply flip it around the back of the device.
Generally, a device in this category will have compatibility with a stylus, making it an ideal companion for creatives and professionals on-the-go, although not all of them will include a stylus by default.
Here, we've gathered all our knowledge from extensive reviews, benchmarks and field tests, and put together a list of the most worthwhile 2-in-1s on the Australian market today.
The best 2-in-1 laptop in Australia 2019 at a glance
Can't decide what type of laptop to get? Watch our buying guide below:
HP’s beloved and highly praised 2-in-1 is back with a vengeance.
HP’s beloved and highly praised 2-in-1 is back with a vengeance, this time with more powerful components like the 10th-generation Intel Core processors and Intel Iris Plus graphics. Of course, that impeccable 2-in-1 design and pristine gem-cut chassis are back, as are its security features and Bang & Olufsen speakers. That killer combination makes it, now more than ever, the best 2-in-1 laptop out there. If you care about aesthetics as much as you do performance and overall quality, this is the laptop for you.
You’ll be hard-pressed to find fault in the Dell XPS 13 2-in-1 (2019).
You’ll be hard-pressed to find fault in the Dell XPS 13 2-in-1 (2019). Design-wise, not only is it incredibly compact and lightweight, but it also boasts that gorgeous responsive display, stunning woven design and delightful to use keyboard. But, it’s more than just looks. It’s pretty impressive as well when it comes to performance, thanks to its 10th-generation Intel Core processors and Intel Iris Plus graphics. If you’re looking for the best 2-in-1 with more than enough power, a lot of versatility and a stunning design to boot, you’ll be crazy not to get this.
Dell XPS 15 2-in-1 is possibly among the most coveted 2-in-1 laptops.
Are you in the market for one of the best 2 in 1 laptops which can provide solid performance and serious horsepower? Well, you’ll find it in the Dell XPS 15, which incidentally also gets our vote as one of the best Ultrabooks you can buy today. This 2-in-1 is possibly among the most coveted 2-in-1 laptops – with discrete class Radeon RX Vega graphics to boot. With it, you get a spectacular convertible that doesn’t sacrifice sheer power. So, while it comes with a price tag that’s a bit on the high end, it’s also completely worth breaking open the piggy bank.
We already loved the 13-inch Surface Book, so when we first heard that a 13-inch Surface Book 2 was on the way, our expectations shot into the sky. Microsoft’s second 2-in-1 laptop isn’t perfect, but it’s an impressive device held back by a handful of concessions. The Surface Book 2 does feature both a cutting-edge 8th-generation Intel processor and an Nvidia 10-series graphics chip, making it suitable for gamers and creative types alike. When you take that power and pair it with its nifty convertibility, it’s easy to see why it’s a winner.
The HP Elite Dragonfly tops our list with its combination of portability and power.
As far as 2-in-1 laptops go, the HP Elite Dragonfly boasts an exceptional combination of portability and power. It’s also one of the most beautiful business laptops we've tested in a long time, touting a thin and light design – complete with incredible speakers, a sublime keyboard and the optional 550 nit 4K display – that’s absolutely hard to contend with. Globally, this hybrid gets our coveted five-star rating, which already says a lot as we don’t give that out lightly, but in Australia, its hefty price keep it from topping our list.
Lenovo Yoga C930 is a strong contender for consumers light on cash.
Sleek, thin and with solid specs to boot, the new Lenovo Yoga C930 is definitely worthy of a spot in the best 2 in 1 laptops list. And, that’s without stating the fact that it now offers a 4K display model, so that high-end viewing experience and decent gaming might be had once users have gotten their day-to-day workload out of the way. This 2-in-1 is a strong contender for consumers light on cash, but if you do decide to go for gold, be ready to break the bank.
To be fair, we loved the 13-inch Surface Book 2 already, so when we first caught word that a 15-inch Surface Book 2 was in the works, our expectations were amplified. In the end, Microsoft’s second 2-in-1 laptop isn’t perfect, but it is an impressive feat held back by a handful of (frankly necessary) concessions. For starters, this machine features cutting-edge 8th-generation Intel processors and Nvidia 10-series graphics, making it a neat option for gamers and creatives. Pair that with its nifty convertibility, and we have ourselves a winner.
HP Envy x360 (2019) offers a premium build and 9 hours of video playback, to start.
Thanks to its sleek, 13-inch design, this 2-in-1 is leaner that you might have expected, which works in your favor when engaging it in tablet mode. There are other compelling reasons why the HP Envy x360 (2019) is worth considering when you’re on the lookout for the best 2 in 1 laptops. This HP beauty offers a premium build, boasts 9 hours of video playback and delivers a performance that will get you through most of your schoolwork and project, at a very reasonable price.
When Samsung had launched a bevy of Galaxy S20 smartphones at the fag end of February in India this year, no one would have foreseen that the entire country would spend well over a month under lockdown rules. Pre-bookings had commenced in February and came with some enticing offers which could be redeemed by the end of April.
However, several consumers who had pre-booked their smartphones could not get their hands on them or redeem the offer due to nationwide lockdown.
Samsung is now sharing a message of goodwill ‘that we care’ to all those who had pre-booked the Samsung Galaxy S20 by extending the offer till June 15, 2020. However, customers across India must collect their pre-booked S20 device and activate their smartphone at least before May 20, 2020. The company had launched the Galaxy S20+ and S20 Ultra alongwith the S20.
What's on offer
The South Korean electronics giant has revealed details of the following offers which can be availed in India:
Upgrade
Trading in your old smartphone could fetch an extra Rs 5,000 discount when you purchase the Galaxy S20, S20+ or S20 Ultra in India
Galaxy Buds+
Those who had pre-booked the S20+ and S20 Ultra can purchase the Galaxy Buds+ for just Rs 2,999. The Buds+ retails for Rs 11,990 when bought without applying this offer. June 15, 2020 is the last date for offer redemption.
Samsung Care+
Samsung Care + benefits worth Rs 3,999 are available at Rs 1,999 for Galaxy S20+ and S20 Ultra customers who have pre-booked and this offer is valid till June 15 as well.
Double Data From Telecoms
Reliance Jio, Bharti Airtel, and Vodafone to provide double data benefits to S20 series subscribers.
YouTube Premium
YouTube Premium subscription is available for 4-months for buyers of S20, S20+ and S20 Ultra.
Mother’s Day is fast approaching and if you’re struggling with what to get your mum or the special woman in your life that isn’t the generic chocolate and flowers, lay your eyes on this amazing deal from Amazon. You can grab Mobvoi TicPods Free for an attractive 66% off the original price!
The shape and design of these ‘buds are very similar to Apple’s AirPods but are considerably less expensive (and that’s without the discount). TicPods Free are designed with interactive touch controls and Bluetooth connectivity so it can be paired with any smartphone.
With noise-cancelling technology, the special lady in your life can enjoy listening to her favourite tunes in peace, or be uninterrupted during those important phone calls. These ‘buds also come with voice control so she can play her music, make calls and receive notifications with a simple voice command, perfect when she’s making your way around town.
The TicPods Free are also water resistant and have a sweat-proof rating of IPX5 so she shouldn’t have to worry if she’s caught out in the rain or having a hard-hitting workout in the gym.
Whether it be for your mum, wife or yourself, this is one of the best deals around today, make sure you grab it while it’s hot from Amazon and save a whopping AU$131 at checkout.
Xiaomi is gearing up to add a new device to its Redmi Note 9 family. The launch date is set for April 30 and here is everything we need to know about the device so far.
Xiaomi recently said that it would announce new members of the Redmi Note 9 series. Along with the launch of new Redmi Note 9 series device, the company might also announce the Redmi Note 9 Pro and the Redmi Note 9 Pro Max to the global markets.
As per the teaser images posted by the company’s official Twitter handle, Xiaomi will be hosting an online event to unveil the new smartphone at 8 pm GMT on April 30. The launch event will be live-streamed on Twitter, Facebook, YouTube as well as on the Mi community.
The teaser also says “Get ready to meet the newest members of Redmi Note 9 Series as well as other great Xiaomi products”. So, we can expect Xiaomi to announce multiple products on April 30.
Although the official teaser doesn’t give us any hint about the upcoming device, it is clear that the device will come under the Redmi Note 9 series. Speculation suggests that the vanilla Redmi Note 9 will also finally be announced.
The Redmi Note 9 was expected to come out alongside the launch of the Redmi Note 9 Pro and Redmi Note 9 Pro Max devices which were launched in India recently. However, the company didn’t announce the vanilla Redmi Note 9.
A recent report suggests that the Redmi Note 9 could be launched as the Redmi 10X in China. And, most likely this is the device that Xiaomi will be unveiling a few days from now. The Redmi Note 9 was found on the Chinese telecom site and here are the details of the phone.
The Redmi Note 9 is likely to be a budget 4G handset with a 6.53-inch Full HD+ LCD panel with 2,340 x 1,080 resolution. The site also said the device will be powered by new MediaTek Helio G85 chipset and will pack in a massive 5,020mAh battery. The device is expected to run on MIUI 11 based on Android 10.
Furthermore, it is expected to sport a quad-camera with a 48MP primary camera, an 8MP ultra-wide lens followed by a couple of 2MP cameras and a 13MP selfie shooter. The listing showed only one variant with 6GB RAM and 128GB internal storage. But, then we can expect Redmii to announce the phone in different RAM and storage variants.
Lastly, the report also suggests a price of CNY 1499 which is around Rs 16,100 in India.
Who doesn’t love a good instant camera? The nostalgia, the instant gratification and the amazement that these retro pieces of technology provide make them at once charming and useful. The only downside is that you can’t pre-choose your photo – what you click is what you get, regardless of how your shot turned out.
That’s where the Fujifilm Instax Mini LiPlay comes onto the scene – the perfect mixture of a digital and an instant camera that prints (selected) memories instantly.
The LiPlay is the world’s smallest hybrid camera capable of instantly printing your favourite snaps at the drop of a hat. While it may be small, it still holds a decent 4.9MP 1/5-inch CMOS sensor and has built-in storage for 45 images that can be increased with a microSD (an available slot is on the camera).
The Mini LiPlay is fixed with a wide-angle lens with a 35mm focal length equivalent of 28mm and an aperture of f/2. You can frame your shots via a 2.7-inch, 230k-dot rear LCD screen – unique for a camera it’s size.
The Fujifilm Instax Mini LiPlay is a pretty cool mini camera that would suit anyone – from the creative type that wants to flex their artistic muscles or simply someone who wants a nifty camera that instantly prints the photos you want. What makes it even more appealing is its price – you can grab the Instax Mini LiPlay through Camera House and receive a 23% discount at checkout, available in either Blush Gold or Elegant Black with Gold Trim.
Ever since OnePlus announced the highly anticipated wireless charging feature with its new OnePlus 8 series earlier this month, many of us have been waiting with bated breath to know what it would cost in India, given that the phone itself was cheaper than in the United States.
The latest leak suggests that OnePlus would be offering wireless charger also at a discount on Indian shores.
As per the tip by Ishan Agarwal to Pricebaba, the OnePlus Warp Charge 30 Wireless charger could cost Rs 3,990 ($53 approximately). Notably, the same charger is priced at $69.95 (roughly Rs. 5,300) in the United States. The charger should also go on sale at about the same time as the phones and current expectations that the date should be sometime in May. The exact dates are still unclear.
Of course, since the cost of the wireless charges is based on a leak, we would urge our readers to take it with a pinch of salt, though the data comes from someone with a decent track record of accuracy.
As the name implies, the OnePlus charger can power up OnePlus 8 series phones at 30W. This is as fast as the company’s wired-charging solution could perform in the previous editions of the smartphone. This means that the wireless charger can juice up the phone up to 40 percent in just 30 minutes.
The charger also has an integrated cooling fan as well as a Bedtime mode option, which lets users turn off the fan at night for silent operations at the cost of reduced 10W charging speeds. The OnePlus charger is also compatible with other Qi-certified phones though users must note that speeds will be reduced to 10W.
Similar to the wireless charger, the OnePlus 8 series phones are also comparatively priced significantly lower in India. For instance, the base OnePlus 8 model costs Rs $699 (roughly Rs. 53,000) in the US while the same model can be had for Rs. 44,999 (roughly $590).
Welcome to another week of Joe Wicks' PE workouts - and kudos to you, whether you've been following on YouTube since the start or are just dipping your toe in. It'll kick off at 9AM BST / 6PM AEST, so do refresh this article then as we'll have the video embedded below.
PE with Joe has been mixed up a little of late in terms of the exercises he shows you how to do, but there's always the same format: warming up, 20 minutes of working out, which usually is 10 exercises (with a 30 second rest after each), a two minute break, and then a second set of 10 before a cool-down stretch.
You can re-watch the early sessions at the bottom of this article, as well as the more recent ones - and don't forget to think of a costume each week for Fancy Dress Friday.
Even better news if you're doing this - every penny raised in advertising is going to the NHS, with nearly £100,000 raised overall. So it's not just you (and maybe your kids) that's getting a benefit from doing the workout - it's the heroes of the NHS too.
Remember to bookmark this page if you're a regular PE with Joe Wicks fan - we'll be embedding the live video every day. if you're new to it, well, just bookmark it anyway and commit to getting fit during isolation.
This article is about helping you watch along with the big workout, as well as some recommendations to help you exercise more easily. All you need to do is follow along with what's being instructed (as best you can) and keep going each day and the benefits will come. It's not just for kids - getting everyone active is the key here.
We'd recommend doing the workout in front of a TV rather than an iPad or smartphone - and we've picked out the tech you'll need to do so. Most smart TVs can connect using the 'cast' icon, or you can get an additional unit for cheap.
And definitely get a fitness tracker to show yourself how much fitter you're getting (and you can get some brilliant cheap fitness trackers), smart scales to follow your fitness journey, and some smart other accessories like a yoga mat to make jumping around the living room that much simpler.
Alternatively, you can head to the BodyCoachTV YouTube channel and watch all the sessions for yourself, as well as finding easier sessions for those less mobile (or slightly harder workouts to get yourself really active if you're out-performing the current offerings).
If you're working out in front of the TV or huddled around a smartphone, here are our quick picks of what we recommend to enhance the experience:
If you just want to upgrade your current TV to let you see what's happening on a larger display than an iPad or phone, a Chromecast or Roku stick will simply plug into a space HDMI port on the rear of your TV and allow easy streaming:
And if you want to track your heart rate and effort over the course of the workout, or just want to extend your exercise, then check out these picks:
What time does Joe Wicks’ PE lesson start each day - and how can I watch the workout?
If you want a taste of recent workouts - check out the session from last week on Fancy Dress Friday:
If you’re itching to get your slice of Wicks live each day, then you’ll need to have YouTube open and waiting at 9AM BST / 6PM AEST each day.
(If you're in other parts of the world and don't want to get up ridiculously early each day to watch live, we've got the recent uploads listed at the bottom of this article).
The sessions last for 30 mins, and include a warm up and cool down, and two repetitions of the circuits he walks (or sprints) you through.
Pay special attention to the warm up and cool down routines - those will help to keep you feeling limber and less stiff in the next few days - Joe Wicks even has one of those to help out (as he's often too busy reading messages viewers have sent in):
If you‘re interesting in getting involved with The Body Coach as it happens, and can cope with irrepressible enthusiasm as this hour, then you’ll need to have your YouTube portal open on your TV, tablet or smartphone at around 8:55AM BST.
You won't see him on camera straight away - but try to memorise all the items on his shelves as there's a daily spot the difference for the die-hard fans.
(If you want to watch it on catch up each day, at a time that suits you, then you can just follow the same instructions above, where the previous workouts will be posted to catch up on.)
How to watch Joe Wicks’ kids workout on a TV
The best way - if you’ve got the space - is to watch the workout in front of a TV. There are myriad ways to get YouTube on your tellybox, thus making it simpler to get active.
This is the 'cast' icon. Tapping it will show you other devices on your Wi-Fi network that you can stream to.
Using your smart TV
The easiest way is if you've got a smart TV into your life - and you might find that you're already connected. A simple way to find out is tapping the icon we've highlighted above and seeing if your TV or streaming device is listed. If it is, you're good to go.
If not, and your TV is connected to the internet, open up your smart hub and navigate to YouTube, where you can follow the searching instructions above to find The Body Coach TV, with a new video going live each day at 9AM GMT.
If you don't see it straight away, then it should appear just before 9AM - and Wicks gives you a few minutes to get ready too.
Using Google Chromecast
Alternatively you can use streaming sticks - one of the simplest is Google's Chromecast, which plugs into your HDMI socket and will stream content from your phone to the TV.
Fire up YouTube on your smartphone or tablet and look for the cast icon in one of the corners.
The Chromecast isn't too expensive either, and is a simple way to turn your TV smart - allowing you to stream a multitude of services (like Netflix and other streaming platforms) from your small phone screen to a larger display:
How to watch on a Roku stick:
More advanced than a Chromecast, the Roku stick turns your TV into a smart hub easily too. When plugged in, hit the 'source' button on your remote and navigate to the HDMI port where your Roku stick is located (or, with some modern TVs, just pressing the 'Home' button on the Roku remote will achieve the same thing).
From there, open the YouTube app and navigate to the Body Coach TV at 9AM GMT... or fire it up on your smartphone or tablet and look for the 'cast' icon above, tap it and see if the Roku is listed (which it should be if all devices are connected to the same Wi-Fi network).
How to watch Joe Wicks’ PE workout on an iPad
You’ve got two options here: if you’ve already got the YouTube app downloaded onto your tablet, then just search for ‘The Body Coach’ and click the icon at the top of the screen for ‘Body Coach TV’.
From there you’ll see a list of all the videos, and at 9AM the new option should pop up - although you may need to refresh.
You can achieve the same thing if you don’t have the iPad app by heading to your Safari or Chrome browser and clicking the link to the The Body Coach’s YouTube channel - you can play the video directly from there, and hit the full-screen option in the bottom right-hand corner.
What HIIT timer does Joe Wicks use?
Joe Wicks uses the Seconds Timer app for his workouts - you can download it for iPhone / iPad or Android phones.
There are lots of options for free use, but if you want to use it regularly and not get irritated by having to create workouts again and again (as well as supporting developers, a lovely thing to do whenever you're using an app a lot) you'll need to make an in-app purchase.
If you're serious about making the most out of your workouts - whether that's HIIT, Tabata or just standard running - it's definitely worth a look.
How did Joe Wicks break his arm?
For those wondering why Joe Wicks' PE workouts feature a man that can't do all of his exercises because of the cast on his wrist, it's because he fell off his bike before embarking on a pledge to become the nation's PE teacher - you can see all about it over on his Instagram Stories.
How to catch up on Joe Wicks' other PE workouts
If you missed anything, or want to browse previous workouts, they're all available on his YouTube channel (do subscribe if you're going to be a regular, as he has loads of top workouts there too) or you can start at the beginning right here:
India’s smartphone landscape has seen some phenomenal growth over the past few years. Coming second only to the world’s largest market, China, there is still huge potential in the consumer segment here.
Besides the retail market, the manufacturing industry has also been seeing growth. With the government's lucrative push to "Make In India", big smartphone brands like Samsung, Xiaomi, and Apple have set up manufacturing plants and assembly lines in the country. In fact, the world’s biggest smartphone factory is also in India.
In the end, the benefits of these large scale facilities not only go to the brands but also to the Indian consumer in the form of more affordable products. Chinese smartphone OEMs like Vivo and Oppo have begun to see the potential in these projects and have earmarked big investments for such manufacturing facilities in India for the near future.
It is also worth noting that most of these units/facilities that we will mention are assembly factories where smartphone parts are brought in from different places and put together. However, there are a few where Printed Circuit Boards (PCBs) are made. One of the reasons for this is that India lacks the prowess to produce components such as chipsets and displays, and are thus usually imported from China.
Apple
Apple has two major facilities in India. One is from its partner Foxconn situated in Chennai while the other is from its Taiwanese partner, Wistron which is in Bengaluru. The Cupertino giant makes smartphone models at these Wistron and Foxconn facilities, including the iPhone XR, iPhone 6s and the first-gen iPhone SE. Last year, Finland’s Salcomp, a supplier to Apple, announced a $20 billion investment to make mobile chargers and other smartphone components from March 2020.
Samsung
The Korean conglomerate is easily one of the biggest investors of the Make in India campaign. And unlike most other manufacturers Samsung actually produces Printed Circuit Boards (PCBs) in India since 2007. It has two manufacturing facilities, one in Chennai, the other in Noida, UP. The Noida facility, in particular, is the largest Samsung mobile factory in the world. It spans an area of over 1,29,000 sq. metres.
With it, Samsung plans to double the current production capacity to 120mn. The company also recently announced plans to start producing displays in India in 2020. Samsung assembles most of its portfolio in India barring the new Galaxy S20 series and its complexly-built foldables.
Xiaomi
Xiaomi is the most aggressive Chinese smartphone OEM to invest in the Make in India campaign. Along with its newest power bank manufacturing plant in Noida, UP, the company has a total of seven smartphone manufacturing plants in India to date. Partnered by Foxconn and China’s HiPad Technologies, and US-based Flex Electronics, these campuses are located in Sri City, Andhra Pradesh, and two in Sriperumbudur, Tamil Nadu. Last year, a 1 million sq ft facility, in partnership with electronics manufacturing company, Flex, was inaugurated in Chennai. This has led to job opportunities for 20,000 people, of which more than 95 per cent are women.
Also, since Xiaomi also now manufactures PCBs locally, this means that rather than just assembling them, Xiaomi actually produces most of its smartphones in India. The company itself says 99 percent of Its phones sold in India are made in India. We expect this figure to also include products from the Redmi and Poco sub-brands.
Oppo
The BBK Electronics-backed Chinese powerhouse has a manufacturing facility in Greater Noida. It is spread over 110-acres and employs a 10,000 strong workforce across manufacturing, quality assurance and product testing. The company currently produces 4 million smartphones every month and it has plans to double that up by the end of 2020 to 8 million.
With this facility at full power, Oppo also plans to export to South Asia, Middle East and Africa markets soon. Oppo is one of the top five smartphone sellers in India coming below the likes of Xiaomi and Samsung
Vivo
Vivo is another promising Chinese contributor to the ‘Make in India’ initiative. At its manufacturing facility in WTC Tech Zone situated in Greater Noida, Uttar Pradesh, the company plans to produce 8 million devices annually. The company’s existing setup has a capacity of 25 million units per annum and a workforce of 8000 people. Currently, all devices catering to Vivo’s Indian market are indigenously made. The BBK electronics-owned company, which also owns OnePlus, plans to add another 5000 employees as part of the second phase of the expansion plan by the end of Q2 2020.
The way many people around the world live, work and entertain themselves is - at least temporarily - changing. Social-distancing and self-isolation measures across the globe have certainly limited access to many real-world resources.
Many schools, universities and public spaces such as libraries have been forced to temporarily close their doors, for example, leaving countless people without access to educational materials, and kids without their favorite stories.
But there's some encouraging positivity coming out during this time of uncertainty, too, with a number of organizations opening up free access to what were previously paid resources.
On this page, we're going to maintain a continuously updated list of all of those – alongside any other useful ones we discover.
With schools closed in some parts of the world and parents choosing to keep their kids at home in many others, Amazon’s Audible has launched Audible Stories, a new service providing free audiobooks to kids and teenagers everywhere.
Its collection of audiobook titles include young children’s storybooks to literary classics, and will be made available to stream in English, French, German, Spanish, Italian and Japanese.
Amazon has also made a selection of its family-friendly movies and TV shows available to stream for free on Amazon Prime Video. Its range of Amazon Original content for children will be free to watch worldwide, though the selection of licensed content for kids will vary by country.
This service is usually a perk of becoming an Amazon Prime member, but the e-commerce giant is making it available to all customers with an Amazon account.
As we spend more time indoors, zoos across the globe are making sure we can still connect to animals in the outside world. Many are doing this by live streaming feeding time, but the Australian Reptile Park has created a new educational series for students called Animal Tales with Tim Faulkner.
Zoos may be closed, but you can still see your favorite animals from home. A number of zoos from around the world are giving a behind-the-scenes peek at feeding times and life inside a zoo.
Taronga Zoo in Sydney, Australia has launched Taronga TV, and is featuring 24/7 live streams of tigers, elephants, meerkats and more, plus chats with the keepers so you and your kids can learn more about wildlife from the experts. There’s also educational videos from Taronga’s animal hospital and conservation programs, so your kids can learn about the importance of protecting endangered wildlife.
Mastercard is giving free access to a section of its dedicated science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) program Girls4Tech, which is aimed at young girls aged between eight and 12.
There are separate lessons to download for both teachers and families, with subjects that give kids real-world challenges and the chance to play the role of STEM professionals. It’s currently only available in English, though other languages are set to be included.
JSTOR is a digital library of academic resources, and part of its database has been accessible to the public for some time.
They have more than 6,000 ebooks and 150 journals available, and the organization has stated they are currently working with publishers to make a larger set of content freely available to institutions where students no longer have access to educational resources.
As teachers, researchers and students are increasingly finding themselves having to teach and learn from home, Cambridge University Press (CUP) has made its collection of academic textbooks available online for free to university libraries until the end of May.
Availability was temporarily suspended due to unprecedented demand (and potential misuse of the offer), but its range of textbooks are now available again to higher education institutions and their students. A number of open access journals are also available online to anyone.
In response to the pandemic, Internet Archive has created a National Emergency Library so anyone can continue to borrow books. It has suspended waitlists for the 1.4 million books in its digitized collection until June 30, ensuring students and teachers can still access materials while physical libraries in many parts of the world have closed their doors.
The organization says while its collection isn’t comprehensive, it focuses on materials that were published during the 20th century – the vast majority of which aren’t commercially available as an ebook. Signing up to the Internet Archive is all that’s required to borrow from their digital library shelves.
The organization is calling it a time of need, and for those stuck at home, the Professional Photographers of America (PPA) has opened up its entire catalogue of online photography courses to everyone free of charge. There are over 1,100 courses to choose from across a variety of topics for beginners and more advanced photographers alike. Courses will be free until the end of May.
The PPA isn't the only organization lending a helping hand to creatives stuck indoors. Camera maker Nikon is helping those who are keen on photography find new ways to be creative. While initially making its online classes free for the month of April, Nikon has now extended its complimentary classes through to the end of May.
The courses cater to photographers of all skill levels, and each class is taught by a professional photographer, with subjects ranging from the basics of getting to know your Nikon DSLR to how to create video content and plenty in between. Signing up with your email address is all that's required to get started.
Nikon has also launched a new Creator’s Hour series, which features in-depth conversations with professional photographers on how they landed the perfect shot, as well as photo challenges to spur on your creativity during your time at home.
Netflix has made a selection of its documentaries available for free on its YouTube channel. The streaming service usually allows teachers to access these documentaries for free in the classroom, but with schools closed, some students have lost access to the engrossing films.
At the request of teachers, Netflix has made 10 of its documentary films and series available to anyone, and each title has educational resources available for parents, teachers and students.
Netflix also says it’ll be holding Q&As with some of the creators behind these projects, so students can learn more from them firsthand.
In the face of an unemployment crisis, and one that has already claimed 26 million jobs in the US alone, online learning platform Coursera has announced the Coursera Workforce Recovery Initiative.
The US-based organization has made its 3,800 strong course catalogue available for free to local, state and federal governments in the US states of Arizona, Illinois and Oklahoma, while governments in Colombia, Costa Rica, Greece, Malaysia, Panama, Ukraine and Uzbekistan are also taking part.
Unfortunately that means individuals won’t be able to apply for the free courses themselves, rather government employment agencies will have to apply on their behalf for free access. Coursera is expecting more US states and countries to get onboard over the coming weeks, and says it's also looking at providing free courses through non-government organizations on a “case-by-case basis”.
We’ll be monitoring their progress, and will update you with any new developments.
