Game of Thrones season 8 deleted scenes bring Dany and Missandei together - CNET

The season 8 DVD is finally out and there's only one reason to buy it: Khaleesi.

from CNET https://ift.tt/2qmY3Fe

Latest Tech News

It's never been easier to get into smart home technology. There are endless ways to make your home smarter, more helpful and more fun, and there are really great products to suit every home and every budget.

Here at Techradar we've reviewed more smart home tech than we've had hot dinners – and some of that smart home tech actually helps you make hot dinners. From smart lights to smart security, home entertainment to home automation, the tech is here, it's affordable and it's generally brilliant.

One of the best things about smart home tech is how easy it is to get started. All you need to get going is a small, stylish and super-affordable device such as the Google Home Mini, which is just £29, or the 2nd generation Google Nest Mini that has 2x better bass. That puts a smart home hub into your home, and that hub can connect to an entire ecosystem of smart devices to create a home that’s as unique as you are.

Let's discover what smart home tech can do for you.

Control your home by talking to it

The Google Home Mini smart speaker

We've been promised voice control since the sci-fi programmes of the sixties, but it's finally here and it works brilliantly. Voice control is one of our very favourite things about smart home tech.

Let's take our Google Home Mini as an example. It has the Google Assistant, so all you need to do is say "Hey, Google" and you can get the latest weather forecasts and traffic information, your favourite playlist or your favourite podcast. You can ask it to play a song or tell you today's schedule, to remind you to pick up the dry cleaning later or to set an alarm so you can go back to bed.

And that's just one bit of smart home tech. When you connect other products, you can do even more with your voice. If you've got a Chromecast you can tell your TV to play your favourite programme. If you've got smart lights you can tell them to make themselves brighter, or change colour, or dim the room because it's movie night. It feels very much like living in the future.

Do everything from anywhere

The Google Nest Hub smart display

Smart home includes smart security. If you upgrade to the Google Nest Hub, which adds a touchscreen to all the cool features of the Google Home Mini, you can connect to products such as the Nest Hello Doorbell. That means you can see who's knocking from wherever you choose to put it in your home.

It also means you can see them when you're not at home. Because the Nest Hello Doorbell can send its crystal-clear HD video to your phone, you can see callers and couriers when you're not in. You can even chat with them. 

Enjoy home entertainment heaven

Once you add smart devices to your home you can enjoy an incredible world of entertainment and information. Your Nest Hub can sync seamlessly with your Google Photos to become the ultimate digital photo frame. It can play your favourite videos from YouTube and get music from there and from Spotify, Deezer, Pandora and many other music services. 

It gives you a world of entertainment for free, and you don’t even need to lift a finger: when you want to see the new Star Wars trailer, just ask the Google Assistant to play it for you on whatever device is handy: your phone, your Nest Hub or your Chromecast-connected TV.

The Nest Hub's smart display also brings you all the information you need when you need it. It’ll tell you when you need to leave to be on time for work, what the traffic's doing, whether you'll need a raincoat and what news stories you need to know about. It's a great way to start the day.

Be cosy. Save money.

The Nest Thermostat E.

Smart home tech isn’t just about saving time. It’s about saving money too. For example, if you have our current favourite smart thermostat, the Nest Thermostat E, you can cut your energy bills. It’s also better for the environment! 

That’s because it optimises your home heating, learning your routines so your home is completely cosy when it needs to be while making sure you’re not heating an empty house. 

And because like all great smart home tech it’s accessible from anywhere, you can use your phone to make sure everything’s nice and toasty if you’re coming home early or if the weather’s suddenly turned frosty. 

Beat the burglars

The Google Nest Cam.

One of the most useful things you can do with smart home tech is use it to keep your home safe and secure. For example, you can use the Google Nest Cam to keep a watchful eye on your home both inside and out: there are rugged, weatherproof versions for outdoor use and stylish ones for inside too. 

By delivering 24/7 live video recording, a huge 130-degree field of view, 1080p full HD and even night vision, the Google Nest Cam is a great home security product.

It’s also a really clever home security product. It has motion tracking and face recognition, so it can tell you not just when someone’s on your property but also if it’s someone you know. Thanks to smartphone alerts and streaming video you can check in on your home no matter where you happen to be.

The smarter way to live and play

We’re sold on smart tech: it’s made our lives simpler and a lot more fun, and unlike some technologies it does exactly what it promises to do: no fuss, no faff, no fiddling around with anything complicated. 

Whether it’s a Google Nest Thermostat E or a Chromecast-connected TV, a Google Nest Hub or a Nest Cam Outdoor, making your home smart couldn’t be simpler.

• Explore all of Google smart home products

from TechRadar - All the latest technology news https://ift.tt/2rSYibc

Firewatch follow-up In The Valley of Gods 'on hold' indefinitely - CNET

Blame Half-Life: Alyx.

from CNET https://ift.tt/2sHYlqY

Scientists develop artificial nerve cells which behave just like real cells - CNET

A tiny silicon chip could provide new treatment options for spinal cord injury and heart failure.

from CNET https://ift.tt/2YeUpd5

Netflix's The Witcher: Critics praise the first episodes - CNET

Henry Cavill loses the cape and gets a horse in the new series.

from CNET https://ift.tt/2RgCVvf

Modern Warfare season 1 and Battle Pass are live - CNET

The re-imagined military shooter is out now.

from CNET https://ift.tt/2PdFMCD

Latest Tech News

Smartphone gaming has grown by leaps and bounds in recent years, with games like Fortnite, PUBG and Call of Duty Mobile offering compelling console-quality experiences and, on Android devices, even the ability to fine-tune graphical and performance settings in order to maintain a competitive edge.

This upward trend has led to the release of a several gaming-focused handsets, each offering the kinds of features usually reserved for PC gaming rigs, including high refresh rate displays with ultra fast response times.

As of today, Australians have one more gaming smartphone to choose from, with Asus' Republic of Gamers announcing the local release of its beastly ROG Phone 2.

• Best phone for gaming 2019: the top 10 mobile game performers
• Smartphones are the future of gaming, according to Epic Games CEO
• The best free Android games 2019

The Asus ROG Phone 2 boasts a number of features that are sure to please gamers across the country, including a 120Hz AMOLED display with 1ms response time (a smartphone first), a vapor-chamber cooling system and a massive 6,000mAh battery with 30W fast-charging capability.

Asus' device is powered by the latest Snapdragon 855 Plus chipset, which is clocked at 2.96GHz and works in conjunction with Qualcomm's Adreno 640 GPU and 12GB of RAM for exceptional gaming performance.

Sounds good

In terms of audio, the ROG Phone 2 features front-facing stereo speakers with Dual Surrounding Vibration and even includes the much-loved 3.5mm headphone jack, allowing players to take advantage of the device's DTS:X Ultra 7.1 virtual surround sound.

Asus ROG Phone 2, which comes with a ROG Kunai Gamepad, AeroActive Cooler II and Aero Case in the box, is available in Australia exclusively from JB Hi-Fi for an RRP of AU$1,699.

• Best phones in Australia 2019: top 10 smartphones tested and ranked

from TechRadar - All the latest technology news https://ift.tt/2RcQSu8

TikTok accused of secretly gathering user data and sending it to China - CNET

A proposed class-action lawsuit alleges the app "includes Chinese surveillance software."

from CNET https://ift.tt/2RanGnD

eBay's Cyber Monday deals still going strong and include $1,400 off Canon EOS 5D camera body (just updated) - CNET

It's Cyber Monday and eBay is running some hot deals that won't end until supplies run out.

from CNET https://ift.tt/383znCK

Apple Cyber Monday 2019 deals: Save up to $200 on MacBooks, HomePod, Beats, iPhone 11 and iPad - CNET

Don't miss out on high-end Apple gear deals, like an iPad 10.2 for $250 and a HomePod for $200.

from CNET https://ift.tt/2Lhgd2c

Latest Tech News

Through the course of 2019 Huawei has struggled with a ban placed on it by the US Government, forcing the company to cease using any American-made hardware components or software.

This precludes its smartphones and laptops from running on the well-established Android and Windows operating systems, which are created and maintained by US-based Google and Microsoft respectively.

This has led the world’s second largest smartphone manufacturer to release its first ever smartphone range that (according to analysts speaking with The Wall Street Journal) doesn’t use a single US component, either physical or otherwise – namely, the Huawei Mate 30 and Mate 30 Pro.

• Huawei Mate 30 officially banned from using Google apps

Similarly, a spokesperson from the company revealed to the Journal that all of its 5G hardware “is now America-free”. Huawei is currently the world’s number one manufacturer for networking tech and is especially prominent in 5G infrastructures being used in the global rollout of the next generation of mobile connectivity.

“We would like to continue using American components,” the spokesperson said. “It’s good for Huawei. That has been taken out of our hands.” 

While it’s clear the US won’t be using Huawei’s 5G technology, other regions such as the UK are still grappling with the decision, while the likes of Australia and New Zealand have both decided to forego the company’s technology. 

Huawei is at the centre of a trade war being waged by the US on China and was one of the many companies placed on the ‘entity list’, deeming it an ongoing threat to national security due to the possibility of surveillance, espionage, or sabotage. The Chinese Government and Huawei have both denied these accusations.

• Trump wants Apple to work on 5G

from TechRadar - All the latest technology news https://ift.tt/2OFUkMf

Newegg Cyber Monday 2019 deals: discounts on huge LG TVs, laptops and tech gear - CNET

Cyber Monday is nearly at an end, but deals at Newegg are slated all week with the lowest prices we've seen on LG's 82-inch LED behemoth, laptops, headphones and more.

from CNET https://ift.tt/2P1ShkA

Amazon Cyber Monday 2019: Best deals on Echo Show, Nintendo Switch and more - CNET

Shop these great Cyber Monday deals on everything from TVs to tablets at Amazon.

from CNET https://ift.tt/2P7LYvH

Apple Cyber Monday 2019 iPad deals: Biggest savings on the 10.2-inch iPad, Mini, Air and Pro - CNET

From iPad Pro to iPad Mini to iPad Air -- the Apple range of tablets is getting more vast and complex. Cyber Monday brings savings across the board, so let us help you choose the right one for your holiday shopping list.

from CNET https://ift.tt/33JRgmo

NASA is going to shoot an asteroid and Europe will examine the mess - CNET

NASA is preparing to slam a spacecraft into an asteroid. The European Space Agency want to sift through the crash.

from CNET https://ift.tt/2DAZL8Z