NASCAR is back: How to watch Sunday's race without cable - CNET

After two months of racing in simulators, NASCAR drivers get back on the track this Sunday at Darlington.

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Star Wars The Mandalorian casts Deadwood's Timothy Olyphant - CNET

The Deadwood and Justified actor will join the cast for season 2 of the hit Star Wars show on Disney Plus.

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Latest Tech News

Cybercriminals continue to use the coronavirus as a lure to launch cyberattacks against both businesses and individuals which is why Microsoft has decided to open source its Covid-19 threat intelligence.

By sharing information that provides a more complete view of hackers' shifting techniques, the entire security intelligence community can be more proactive in protecting, detecting and defending against these attacks.

Microsoft's own security products, such as its Microsoft Defender Advanced Threat Protection (ATP), already provide built-in protection against these and other threats, though the company has published detailed guidance in a blog post titled “Responding to COVID-19 together” in order to help organizations combat them as well.

• Microsoft and Intel are turning malware into images
• "Corona antivirus" infects victims with malware
• Hackers are spreading malware through coronavirus maps

The software giant's threat experts have also shared examples of malicious lures and enabled guided hunting of coronavirus-themed threats using Azure Sentinel Notebooks.

Covid-19 threat intelligence

Microsoft is taking its Covid-19 threat intelligence sharing a step further by making some of its own indicators publicly available to those not protected by its solutions. This will help raise awareness of attackers' shift in techniques, how to spot them and how others can hunt for threats on their own.

The company's indicators are now available in the Azure Sentinel GitHub and through the Microsoft Graph Security API. Enterprise customers that use MISP for storing and sharing threat intelligence can consume these indicators via a MISP feed.

Microsoft's threat intelligence is provided for use by the wider security community as well as by customers that want to perform additional hunting. In a blog post, Microsoft explained that it will continue to maintain its threat intelligence feed during the peak of the coronavirus outbreak, saying:

“This COVID-specific threat intelligence feed represents a start at sharing some of Microsoft’s COVID-related IOCs. We will continue to explore ways to improve the data over the duration of the crisis. While some threats and actors are still best defended more discreetly, we are committed to greater transparency and taking community feedback on what types of information is most useful to defenders in protecting against COVID-related threats. This is a time-limited feed. We are maintaining this feed through the peak of the outbreak to help organizations focus on recovery.”

• Keep your devices protected with the best antivirus software

Via TNW

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Snowpiercer review: Gripping new TV adaptation packs a whodunit twist - CNET

Orphan Black creator Graeme Manson and Hamilton's Daveed Diggs are all aboard for this sci-fi post-apocalyptic cautionary tale that comments on class.

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This Star Wars R2-D2 robot vacuum is perfect for lockdown cleanup fun - CNET

Meet the homemade Star Wars housekeeping droid you are looking for.

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The $22 Snapback Glove is a novel way to keep from touching the novel coronavirus - CNET

Save 40% on this clever clip-on mitten that helps you stay at arm's length from stuff when you leave the house.

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Microsoft Surface Duo foldable phone specs reportedly leak - CNET

The dual-screen device could launch sooner than the holidays, a report says.

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Latest Gadgets News

A coalition of consumer groups filed a complaint Thursday with US regulators claiming the popular video app TikTok has failed to live up to an agreement last year limiting data collection from children.

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Latest Tech News

New Hulu Originals are coming thick and fast and this historical comedy drama is the latest to hit the streaming service. Read on to find out how to watch The Great online from anywhere in the world, including for free where possible.

A satirical take on the reign of Catherine the Great and her odious husband Peter, it stars Maleficent's Elle Fanning as the long-reigning Russian ruler and Nicholas Hoult (Skins, X-Men: Days of Future Past) as her partner in crime. 

Directed by Oscar-nominated writer Tony McNamara (‘The Favourite’), The Great follows Catherine as she rises to become one of Europe’s most powerful monarchs, having arrived in Russia as a German outsider.

Seemingly playing hard and loose with recorded events, it promises a darkly fun, fictionalised version of her ascent - with Katherine out to kill her husband and take the throne for herself after realising the depths of his depravity.

Alongside Fanning and Hoult, there's a strong supporting cast with Sacha Dhawan, who plays The Master in Doctor Who, Bohemian Rhapsody’s Gwilym Lee, and Charity Wakefield (Jack Whitehall’s sister in Bounty Hunters).

Here's how to watch The Great and stream every episode of the new Hulu show online for free no matter where you on the planet.

• More can't miss TV: here's how to watch Normal People

How to watch The Great episodes from outside your country

If you're looking to watch The Great but find yourself abroad during the lockdown, you might worry that you'll be unable to watch the show using your normal streaming service, due to pesky geo-blocking restrictions.

Fortunately, there's an easy solution. Downloading a VPN will allow you to watch The Great no matter where you are. This simple bit of software 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 couch munching your favorite takeout.

How to watch The Great for FREE in the US

How to watch The Great for free online in the UK 

How to watch The Great in Australia

How to watch The Great online in Canada

• Sport is back: watch a Bundesliga live stream from anywhere

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Latest Tech News

PC enthusiasts have flocked to crowdfunding platform Crowdsupply to back an ongoing campaign for a unique new laptop: the MNT Reform.

In a nutshell, the device promises to be open, customizable, hackable and entirely transparent. It's also the only notebook in existence that complies in full with the standards of the Open Source Hardware Association.

At the time of writing, 108 backers have committed more than $124,600 - well over the initial goal of $115,000 and with 35 days left in the campaign.

• Here's our list of the best business laptops on the market
• Check out our list of the best mobile workstations around
• We've built a list of the best business computers available

MNT reform

The project was launched by Germany-based MNT Research GmbH, which has spent the last 18 months attempting to build a laptop that embraces the open source ideology, while remaining as practical as possible.

The result is a laptop that costs $999 (roughly £820/AU$1550) and comes, in the spirit of the first microcomputers, as a kit. If you don't want to pay a premium for assembly, the marketing blurb makes it clear you'll have to build the MNT Reform yourself from the individual boards, display and case parts.

The fully assembled model retails for $1,300 and comes with Debian GNU/Linux 11 on SD card, a printed operator handbook and international power supply (110/230 V), but no Wi-Fi.

An additional $200 gets you a 1TB SSD, Wi-Fi, an mPCIe Wi-Fi card, and a custom Black Piñatex Leather Sleeve (vegan) made in Berlin by fashion designer Greta Melnik.

For the price, you’d be forgiven for expecting a laptop with at least a few bells and whistles, but you'd be wrong. The MNT Reform features 4GB of DDR4 memory, a quad-core ARM Cortex A53 CPU (similar to the Raspberry Pi 3's processor), a 12.5-inch full HD display, five USB ports, a Gigabit Ethernet port and a mechanical keyboard.

Ultimately, it is not a laptop for the average person and its core target audience will likely be fully aware of its limitations. For standard users looking to preserve their privacy, a business laptop with Windows Hello, password manager, a solid antivirus and leading VPN should do just fine.

• Here's our list of the best laptops for programmers of 2020

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Best shower head of 2020 - CNET

Make your morning routine better with the best shower head. We help you sort through the options to find the one that will make getting clean feel great.

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Apple supplier report details safety changes due to COVID-19 - CNET

The change are designed "to ensure people are able to return to work safely," Apple says.

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We're going back to work, but not the way we used to - CNET

Deloitte's expert on the future of work says get ready for more gig jobs, Zoom calls and a new kind of manager.

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Latest Tech News

If you’re looking for a cheap laptop or a mammoth saving on a premium portable computer, you’ve come to the right place. We’ve scoured the web for savings and rounded up all the genuine deals in one neat place.

You’ll find we’ve covered everything from budget browsing machines to high-performance powerhouses, so you’ll no doubt find something here to match your needs.

We’ve highlighted a selection of the latest deals that we’ve sniffed out, and if you scroll further down, we've rounded up some of our favourite laptops in a dedicated buying guide.

• Keep your devices safe from cyber attacks and save money at the same time with our round-up of the best antivirus deals and discounts in Australia.

Best laptop deals this week

• Find great bargains and compare Australian prices on the latest tech at Getprice.

We'll keep on updating the list of deals as and when we find them. Below, you'll find up to date prices on TechRadar's favourite laptops, so keep an eye out for those savings.

The best deals on our favourite laptops

Over the years we've reviewed plenty of laptops, and as a result, we've seen what to avoid and what to jump on when there's savings to be had. We'll keep track of the prices of some of the best we've seen so that you can snatch up a bargain when they do show up. Check out the prices below and see if anything has dropped enough to spark your interest.

Saying that we’re very happy with Dell’s XPS 13 is a huge understatement. At first glance, its slim profile and small frame don’t give away the powerful performance and gorgeous 13-inch display inside. Typically, you’d have to weigh up portability and performance, but the XPS 13 has managed to strike a fine balance between the two. Sporting Intel’s latest 10th-generation chips, much-improved battery life and barely-there bezels, the starting price of the newest iteration of the XPS 13 is a tempting proposition. We’re so chuffed with it that it’s still our favourite Ultrabook, and has taken the top spot as the best laptop overall.

Read the full review: Dell XPS 13 (2020)

It’s true, the Aero 15 range from Gigabyte is aimed at creatives. However, it’s also an attractive option for gamers – with powerful internals, a brilliant display and a sleek chassis – so we think it’s one of the best-value gaming machines Australians can get their hands on. The 2019 model boasts a 15-inch 4K HDR screen, which is ideal whether you’re looking to buy for high-resolution on-the-go gaming or its intended creative use. Under the hood it’s also got the option of the latest Nvidia RTX series GPUs and 9th-gen Intel Core CPUs.

Read the full review: Gigabyte Aero 15 OLED

This premium portable 2-in-1 has a lot to love: a strong build, excellent battery life and a robust feature set. It has a 360° hinge, so can easily be converted from a conventional clamshell to a handheld tablet. There’s also the addition of Dolby Atmos speakers, cleverly built into the rotating hinge, so you’ll have superb sound whichever way you use it. The screen too is vibrant, though the graphics performance could leave some wanting. Still, with an 8th-generation chip, it’s a solid all-rounder for the 2-in-1 crowd.

Read the full review: Lenovo Yoga C930

If you’re looking for a student laptop, chances are you’re shopping on a budget. If that’s the case, our go-to bang-for-buck pick is the Acer Aspire 3 15-inch laptop. It’s a Chromebook, which means it runs on Google’s Chrome OS and is ideal for those with a reliable internet connection who want a laptop to browse the web and complete coursework online. The battery life isn’t the best, but if you don’t mind keeping your charging cable with you during the day, it certainly offers excellent value for money.

If you’re firmly placed in the Apple ecosystem, or you’re a Windows user thinking about converting, then we think the 2019 version of the MacBook Pro is the best Mac you can buy. It has a generous 16-inch display, and while that may spell a bulky laptop for other brands on the market, Apple remains true to form with this svelte machine. It’s got the latest and greatest components under the hood, rounded out with high-quality speakers and a much better keyboard than older models.

Read the full review: Apple MacBook Pro (16-inch, 2019)

If you're after some more further info on the best laptops, check out some of our other dedicated articles:

• The best laptops in Australia
• Best gaming laptops
• The best ultrabooks
• Best business laptops
• Best 2-in-1 laptops

Watch the video below for the top 7 things to consider when buying a laptop. 

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Latest Tech News

Earlier this year Netflix announced that it would cut streaming video quality to reduce the amount of bandwidth consumed by its users during the pandemic. With more people working from home than ever before, the company's decision made sense at the time.

However, it has now been almost two months and Netflix customers in Europe and the UK are upset with the streaming service for still delivering throttled HD and Ultra HD video with bit rates at less than 50 percent of their normal capacity in some cases as reported by Variety.

The streaming service's users say that the reduced bit rates are causing noticeable degradation of image quality such as blurring and pixelation on larger televisions.

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Netflix users are upset about this because the company charges different subscription rates based on video quality. For instance, its entry-level Basic plan only allows users to stream in SD while its Standard tier provides HD quality and its Premium plan is required to stream in Ultra HD.

Streaming quality issues

At the moment, Netflix does not have a specific timeline in place for when bit rates in Europe will be returned to their original levels. However, in a statement to Variety, a company spokesperson explained that the streaming service will lift bit rate caps once network conditions improve, saying:

“As network conditions improve we will begin lifting the bit-rate caps we introduced in March on a country-by-country basis. In the last two months we’ve added more than four times the normal capacity to deal with the increased demand and help maintain the quality of our service for members.”

This means that Netflix's streaming quality will eventually return to normal. However, Premium users still paying $15.99 a month to watch content in 4K are paying for better video quality which they're not getting. In a blog post back in March, the company's VP of content delivery, Ken Florance made the bit rate caps sound much less worse than they've turned out to be, saying: 

“If you are particularly tuned into video quality you may notice a very slight decrease in quality within each resolution. But you will still get the video quality you paid for.”

European Union Commissioner for the Internal Market Thierry Breton urged Netflix to throttle bit rates over concerns that ISPs would be strained with millions of people stuck at home. That hasn't been the case though as European internet networks have handled the increase in traffic without major congestion. 

Hopefully Netflix begins increasing the bit rates of its streaming video soon or else customers may turn to other streaming services for their content.

• These are the best working Netflix VPNs

Via Variety

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