Techno

Sunday, July 5, 2020

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At long last, the 2020 Formula 1 season is about to get under way, as the likes of Lewis Hamilton, Max Verstappen and Charles Leclerc vie for glory in today's Austrian Grand Prix. Last year's race saw Red Bull's Verstappen and Ferrari's Leclerc take the top spots on the podium, while Mercedes' Hamilton could only manage a 5th place finish. It was a rare off-day for the British star, though, as he ultimately won his sixth Drivers' Championship by nearly 100 points in 2019. Will we see similar drama this year? Here's how to watch an F1 live stream of the Austrian Grand Prix this Sunday and find out.

Austrian Grand Prix live stream

Sky Sports is the UK home of all things F1, but that doesn't mean you need a hefty contract to enjoy the racing - just grab a great value Now TV Sky Sports Monthly Pass and you'll get not only the Austrian GP but all of July's Formula 1 action. In the US, it's ESPN you want - and the channel's included in Sling TV's Orange package, which is currently available on a FREE 14-day trial.

The Austrian GP takes place at the Red Bull Ring in Spielberg, Styria - a state in the south of Austria where Graz is the regional capital. It won't come as a surprise, but there'll be no spectators in attendance at today's Grand Prix as the race is the first of eight to get the go-ahead from Formula 1's governing body, FIA, as the sporting world recovers from the Covid-19 pandemic.

The hope is ultimately for a 15-to-18 race F1 2020 season, with the second race of this year's circuit - the Steiermark Grand Prix - also taking place at the Red Bull Ring (July 10-12). After that, there's time for a pit-stop in Budapest for the famous Hungarian GP, before F1 whizzes over to the UK and Silverstone for a two-race stay: the usual British GP being joined this year by a special 70th Anniversary Grand Prix.

By then, we should have a much better idea of if Lewis Hamilton is on his way to winning a seventh Drivers' Championship and equalling Michael Schumacher's record. It all starts today, though, so read on as we explain how to find a quality F1 live stream and watch the Austrian Grand Prix 2020 online no matter where you are in the world right now.

Now streaming: how to watch Hamilton online

How to live stream the F1 Austrian Grand Prix from outside your country

If you're resident in the UK, US, Canada, Australia or New Zealand, you can scroll a bit further down for a guide to who's showing the Formula 1 Austrian GP in your country. But if you're abroad for whatever reason, you might encounter a problem accessing your normal coverage in the form of geo-blocking.

You needn't worry, though - by using one of the best VPN services we recommend, you can whizz around these digital borders and tune in to a reliable Austrian Grand Prix live stream, just like you would at home. Here's how to get started.

We've taken the time to try out all the best VPN providers and we found ExpressVPN to sit at the front of the grid. It works with lots of devices and offers super fast connections across its many servers.

Access ExpressVPN via your laptop, iPhone, tablet, Android phone, PlayStation, Xbox and plenty more. Express is a do-it-all service that also benefits from 24/7 customer support.

ExpressVPN is the best all-round VPN for streaming at (appropriately) excellent speeds - and perhaps best of all, it has a 30-day money back guarantee plus three months FREE when you subscribe for a year.

2020 Austrian Grand Prix live stream: how to watch F1 in the UK

This year, there's almost no free live coverage of the F1 in the UK,as Sky has nailed down the rights to Formula 1. This isn't necessarily a bad thing, though, as you can see it all via Sky Sports and its dedicated Sky Sports F1 channel. Subscribers also get to watch on the move using the widely available Sky Go app .

For those without Sky, the best option is to nab a Now TV Sky Sports Monthly Pass, which includes all 11 channels - and is currently £10 off and down to just £25 a month as part of a special offer. Taken out at the right time, this should get you access to all eight confirmed races of the revised 2020 season - as well as live Premier League football, PGA Tour golf, and a whole lot more.

Coverage begins on the dedicated Sky Sports F1 channel at 1pm Sunday for the Austrian Grand Prix, which has an expected 2.05pm start time.

To access your usual streaming service from outside the UK, you'll need to download a good VPN as detailed above.

watch f1 austrian grand prix live stream US

How to watch an F1 Austrian Grand Prix live stream in the US

For the 2020 F1 season, it's ESPN that will be providing broadcasts in the US. Cord cutters are in luck, too, as you don't have to use cable to access ESPN.

Sling TV's Orange package includes ESPN and offers a FREE 14-day trial period before billing you at $30 a month. If you just want access to ESPN and the F1 action, this is the cheapest way to go.

For a more complete cable replacement solution, consider Hulu + Live TV, which costs $54.99 but comes with over 65 channels including ESPN as well as Hulu's full line-up of original and on demand content. It's got a FREE 1-week trial going at the moment, too, so check it out.

ESPN's F1 Austrian Grand Prix coverage starts at 8am ET/5am PT this Sunday, with the race expected to get under way at 9.05am / 6.05am.

US residents heading outside of the country can still access the feed they normally use and pay for by using a VPN as per the method described above.

how to watch f1 austrian grand prix 2020

How to watch an F1 live stream of the Austrian GP in Canada

In Canada, 2020 F1 races are aired a pair of Bell Media-owned sports broadcasters: the English-language TSN and its French-language counterpart RDS. Check your local listings for linear TV details, but those wanting to watch online are well-served by their digital platforms.

The TSN Direct and RDS Direct streaming services cost just CA$4.99 a day or (much better value) $19.99 a month and can be purchased by anyone, regardless of whether you have the channels as part of a pay TV package - though existing subscribers should note they can log in to live streams at no extra charge with details of their provider. They both also offer apps for convenient on-the-go streaming.

The Austrian Grand Prix starts at 9.05am ET/6.05am PT on Sunday, July 5.

Canadians abroad can use a VPN to zip back to the Great White North and watch the streaming coverage they normally do at home - only from anywhere in the world.

austrian grand prixe 2020 live stream f1

How to watch F1 and get an Austrian Grand Prix live stream in Australia

Paid-for service Fox Sports is showing every race of the 2020 Formula 1 season and is available to Foxtel subscribers on linear TV.

But Australians can also live stream F1 action without pay TV via great value Kayo Sports , which will give you access to Fox Sports coverage of Formula 1 without a length contract or eye-watering price.

In fact, it's available from just $25 a month - and it comes with a FREE 2-week trial period so you can see how it works for yourself. It's also home to comprehensive NRL and AFL coverage, making it a great all-around choice for Aussies.

For the best value, consider the upgraded Kayo Sports Premium Package, which provides three concurrent streams for $35 per month. We probably don't need to tell you, but if you've got mates or family who also like to watch F1, this can be shared and breaks at just over a tenner a head.

This Sunday (July 5), you can watch the Austrian GP live from 10pm AEST.

Don't forget, you can take your coverage abroad with you as well - just grab a VPN and follow our instructions above to take your streaming service of choice with you wherever you go in the world.

how to watch austrian grand prix f1 live stream

How to watch F1 in New Zealand: Austrian Grand Prix live stream

New Zealand will get the 2020 F1 races broadcast by Spark Sport which costs $19.99 per month. But if you just want to catch one race for free, you're in luck as there is a 7-day free trial.

Qualifying coverage is set to start at 12.30am NZST in the early hours of Sunday, July 5 - and the Austrian Grand Prix 2020 will be on-air from 12.30am on Monday, July 6.

Should you go elsewhere in the world and want to still sign-in to watch your subscription you can, then using one of our best VPN recommendations should have you covered.

More sport: how to watch a Premier League live stream

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Amazon Prime Video is a success story in many ways. As a competitor to the leading TV streaming service Netflix, and a perk of an Amazon Prime membership – thrown in with one-day delivery, Amazon Music Unlimited, and more – the on demand TV service has taken a firm hold of our eyeballs in recent years.

With exceptional Amazon Originals such as The Boys or The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel, along with high-profile titles like The Farewell or The Handmaiden, it’s not hard to see why viewers have been drawn to the service – especially when a subscription will include all sorts of exclusive retail offers and faster delivery advantages alongside it. But there’s still a lot that needs to be improved in how users are forced to navigate the platform.

The main problem with Amazon Prime Video is that it was so clearly developed as an offshoot of the main Amazon Prime retail website, rather than a TV platform in its own right.

That’s led to a host of user experience issues, including the way that TV seasons are listed separately in Amazon search results, rather than being under a single banner – a continuation of the days when Amazon was shipping DVDs rather than streaming hit series.

Titles are still treated as one-off purchases, rather than entertainment experiences that viewers expect some level of fluidity to. To even find titles in the browser app, you have to go to the search bar and select ‘Prime Video’ in between ‘Premium Beauty’ and ‘Shoes and Bags’.

As a result, searching for Buffy the Vampire Slayer (or any Amazon TV show) is a visually confusing experience, and the platform can’t even manage to list seasons in consecutive order. On browsers, search results are also kicked off with ‘Sponsored’ items from the retail section of the site, meaning that, even if you’re specifically searching through Prime Video, you’re presented with other purchase options instead.

Our Entertainment Editor, Samuel Roberts, seconds this design mentality: “They think you see Prime Video as a perk of being a Prime member, rather than as a standalone service.”

You may resume

Several members of the TechRadar team have vouched for issues with Amazon Prime Video app resuming TV shows where they left off, too. I’ve had sitcoms ‘resume’ in the wrong episode, the wrong season, and even in the wrong part of a new episode (skipping the pre-credits scenes in Parks and Recreation, for example).

These are small, irregular issues, and easily fixed by searching for your relevant episode manually. There are also plenty of things Amazon Prime Video is doing right, as with its unique X-Ray feature, which mines IMDb's production database to tell you which actors are onscreen at any one time, inform you of the soundtrack playing, and just tell you general tidbits about the show.

One facet that’s plagued the service since its inception has been the muddy divide between the video content included or not included in a Prime membership. There are many titles available to rent or buy, and it’s fairly easy to be flicking through content rows on the website and settle on a title only to find you’re going to need to pay a surcharge.

This was largely improved by the addition of a ‘Free to me’ tab listing titles free to view with a Prime membership – as distinct from the ‘Store’ where rent/buy titles are still listed.

However, Amazon has a big financial incentive to draw users towards additional purchases, and it’s telling that the homepage still mixes these titles liberally, along with films and shows that require add-on Amazon Channels subscriptions such as HBO, Showtime, Cinemax, or MUBI. Showing all available content, and then throwing up the paywall once you’ve decided on a title, consistently feels misleading.

For a Prime subscriber, or someone enticed by Amazon exclusive films and shows, there’s plenty reason to use it. But it’s clear that the Amazon Prime Video UI doesn’t put the user experience (and, by extension, the users) first.

What are the best Amazon Prime movies? Find out here

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Jordan-based mobile games publisher for the Arabic speaking market – Tamatem – sees 2020 to be dominated by smartphone gaming despite Covid-19 pandemic.

Eyad Al Basheer, COO at Tamatem, told TechRadar Pro Middle East, said that they have seen a 250% increase in spend so far and Saudi Arabia has overtaken Turkey in consumer spend this year.

“The Middle East and North Africa is a high-growth market and Saudi Arabia has seven times more average revenue per user [ARPU] than China, highest in the world. Monetisation is very strong in the region,” he said.

The seven-year-old company has more than 50 games from more than 15 developers and the genres of games include racing, drifting, MMO-RPG, strategy, puzzle and word, story-based games and trivia games.

“We partner with international game developers that have successful games globally and help them localise their games and launch them in the region. Till today, we have more than 100m downloads on our portfolio,” he said.

Even though Arabic is the fourth most spoken language worldwide, he said that Arabic content available online still has less than 1%.

So, he said that there’s a huge demand for Arabic apps and Tamatem helps international developers to enter the region and accelerate their growth.

“We do the user acquisition, app store optimisation, marketing, user support and product management, apart from these, we do all kinds of monetisation techniques, analyzing the data and perform actions based on that,” Al Basheer said.

From localisation to culturalisation

Moreover, Al Basheer said the Arab region has a cultural sensitivity such as having a casino but it is changed in the local version and sometimes places are changed to relevant cities in the region.

In one game, he said they even changed the original music as it wasn’t culturally accepted in Saudi Arabia.

“You can’t change the culture. It’s difficult for international developers to have an idea of what to expect when they enter the region but we can anticipate what Arabic players want from a game,” he said.

Tamatem is a data-driven company and he said that they have grown significantly year over year and have also hired 15 employees during the pandemic.

The company is seeing a growing opportunity for female gamers despite being a male-dominated world.

Al Basheer said that most of the Arabic games in the app stores target male audience and “we saw a lack of games targeting the female audience. We did extensive research on games to see whether targeting female audience will be a success or not but we found none of it.”

However, Al Basheer said that they have one game – Fashion Queen - targeting females and it has proved that it is working well and have just signed another one - My Story, a huge game in the US.

Having the localised version, he said made Fashion Queen ten times more successful than the original one - Hollywood Story - from Nanobit.

“We evaluate the games and the developer capabilities and see if it will fit into the local market before we bring in. We see the metrics of the original game and build a financial mode on top of that,” he said.

Among the app stores, he said that app downloads are much higher on Google but the app monetisation is much stronger on Apple store.

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AMD’s Ryzen 7 4700G, the rumored to soon be incoming ‘Renoir’ APU, has had a benchmark leaked which allegedly uses the final production version of the chip – and it keeps pace with the Ryzen 7 3800X while using a lot less power.

As we’ve seen in previous rumors, this is an 8-core model (with 16-threads) with a base clock of 3.6GHz (we even got a purported glimpse of the chip a couple of months back).

Check out how to overclock your CPU
There's a whole world of PC components out there
These are the best gaming laptops of 2020

The latest spillage highlighted by Wccftech comes from ITCooker (via Xfastest HK unit), and as mentioned is reportedly a benchmark of the finished version of the Ryzen 7 4700G (which is the first AMD desktop APU to carry the Ryzen 7 branding).

In Cinebench R20 multi-core the 4700G managed to achieve a CPU score of 5,102 and in Cinebench R15 the CPU hit 2,168 points. Comparing to the existing Ryzen 7 3800X processor, that model scores about 5,000 and 2,100 in those benchmarks respectively, so the performance levels are roughly equal here.

AMD Ryzen 7 4700G leak — (Image credit: ITCooker / Wccftech)

Power-efficient

Of course, we do have to bear in mind that this is just a single benchmark – and a leak which we can’t be sure is genuine – but bearing these caveats in mind, this definitely looks to be an impressive performance considering that the 4700G runs with a 65W TDP, compared to the 95W power consumption of the 3800X (almost 50% more).

We heard back in May that it shouldn’t be long before Ryzen 4000 Renoir APUs are on shelves, and indeed the latest from the CPU grapevine is that they will launch in the coming month.

Only then will we be able to be sure of the performance levels offered by these chips, when we get them in for testing.

Here are the best graphics cards of 2020

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Google Chrome for Android is making the jump from 64-bit to 32-bit architecture – a move which comes a full six years since Android itself started to support 64-bit apps and which should ensure improved security and performance in the mobile browser.

As spotted by Android Police, the release logs for the upcoming Chrome 85 show the switch is imminent (we're currently on Chrome 83 if you're using the stable version on your phone, though the progression shouldn't take too long).

In terms of the end user experience, you won't really see any change while using Chrome on your Android device. The upgrade to 64-bit should ensure improved efficiency and better performance under the hood though, as well as tighter security.

Find the best browser
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The change won't be rolling out for everyone, however – the 64-bit version of Google Chrome will only be available to those running Android 10 or later, so you might have to wait for a software update on your phone before you can take advantage of Google's behind-the-scenes upgrade.

Bits and pieces

According to Android Police, some users are seeing the 64-bit version of the browser appear in an update to the beta version of Chrome 84, though this doesn't seem to apply to everyone, and there doesn't appear to be any reliable way of forcing it to happen.

The vast majority of smartphones now come running 64-bit processors, and Google is requiring all apps to have support for 64-bit architecture by August 2021. Android 5.0 Lollipop, launched back in 2014, was the first to support 64-bit.

Apple, meanwhile, has been making 64-bit apps mandatory since the arrival of iOS 11 in 2017, though with more control over the hardware devices running iOS and the software available on it, it's a little easier for Apple to do.

Essentially, 64-bit apps on 64-bit processors mean more data can be handled and more can be done with that data at once. With some apps the difference may not be too noticeable, but 64-bit is definitely preferable – so it's good to see Chrome making the switch in the near future.

How to use Chrome dark mode: the easy way

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By the end of July, when Microsoft reveals more about first-party games coming to Xbox Series X, we'll have a fairly complete picture of what the next-gen launch line-up is going to look like (except this year's Call of Duty game, which is a missing piece of the puzzle).

Sony, after all, has already revealed what the PS5's first-party launch line-up looks like, with Spider-Man: Miles Morales looking like the only major title to release this year. Deathloop, a great-looking first-person game from the brilliant minds at Arkane Studios, is a timed exclusive that'll help bulk out the software available from launch.

Still, in addition to the games we know about, there are 10 more big, exciting games that have either been announced or credibly rumored, and we predict they're coming to PS5 and Xbox Series X, too. Below, we've rounded them up so you have an idea of what the next few years of each console will look like, though it's worth noting that none of the below are officially confirmed for these new platforms yet.

PS5 games: what's coming to Sony's next-gen console?
Xbox Series X games: which ones we know about
The best PS4 games

Elden Ring

Elden Ring has been announced for PS4, Xbox One and PC and no next-gen platforms as of yet. Without a release date set for this year, though, we'd be surprised to see Dark Souls developer From Software's next big series kick off in 2021 without a next-gen edition. It could also follow the Dark Souls 2 pattern, of releasing on current generation consoles first, before getting an enhanced version for newer hardware.

Starfield

The next singleplayer RPG from Bethesda Game Studios, Starfield, hasn't been confirmed for any formats yet. In fact, we haven't seen anything of the space-based RPG since its reveal back in 2018, when it was made clear the project was pretty early on in development. We feel fairly certain, though, that it'll end up on next-gen formats in some way or another, simply because publisher Bethesda has already been pretty pro-active in focusing on next-gen consoles. Deathloop and Ghostwire: Tokyo, for example, are set for release on PS5 but not PS4 as it stands.

Elder Scrolls 6

This image is from Elder Scrolls Online. (Image credit: Bethesda)

A similar situation to Starfield, but even further off. Starfield is coming before Elder Scrolls 6 from Bethesda Game Studios, and we wouldn't expect to see the follow-up to Skyrim until the tail end of the next generation of consoles. Try not to think about how old you'll be by then.

Harry Potter RPG

This is from one of EA's disappointing Harry Potter games, so you'll just have to imagine what the new game looks like. (Image credit: EA)

In a Bloomberg report on the unannounced Harry Potter RPG that previously leaked back in 2018, it was mentioned from two sources that the PS5 and Xbox Series X were among the formats targeted with this game. Hopefully this'll be the first great non-Lego game set in the fictional universe.

Dragon Age 4

A game we know exists but has no official name, EA basically confirmed the next Dragon Age game was set for PS5 and Xbox Series X with some tech demo footage released during EA Play 2020. Footage of what looks like an environment from the game was shown off (though EA didn't specifically name which game it was from), with EA explaining that BioWare is "using this next generation of technology to make those fantasy worlds your reality."

Skate

We're Back! pic.twitter.com/EYCH07wz7EJune 18, 2020

EA confirmed a new Skate is in the works at its 2020 Play event. No formats were named, but since production is so early on they didn't even show off a glimpse of the game, we expect to see this debut on PS5 and Xbox Series X.

Batman: Gotham Knights (rumored)

The next Batman game doesn't have a name, yet, but recent URL registrations captured by Resetera suggest 'Gotham Knights' is the subtitle. Arkham Origins developer Warner Bros Montreal is widely expected to be the developer, based on multiple teasers posted on its Twitter account. According to that same Bloomberg report on the Harry Potter project, it was mentioned the next Batman game will be revealed at August's DC Fandome event.

A Eurogamer report says it's heading for next-gen hardware too.

Suicide Squad (rumored)

That same Eurogamer report says Rocksteady Studios, developer of the Batman: Arkham series, is working on a game based on DC Comics' Suicide Squad characters. This too is apparently targeted for next-gen consoles. This must've been in the works for a long time, now: Rocksteady hasn't released a new game since 2016's Arkham VR.

Diablo 4

Diablo 4 is currently announced for PC, PS4 and Xbox One, but a next-gen release is likely too. When Blizzard's Allen Adham was asked about next-gen consoles by The Telegraph, he said "you can bet we have our eyes on it." Given that Blizzard supports its games with expansions over a number of years, it makes sense that we'd see the game on new platforms.

Beyond Good and Evil 2

It's hard to tell if Ubisoft's long-gestating sequel is ever going to crystallize into a real game, since it was revealed three years ago and still has no release date, but we sure hope so. This co-op action RPG lets players fly spaceships around a big sci-fi world, but it's hard to figure out exactly what it'll be like to play from moment-to-moment based on what Ubisoft has released so far. Platforms are listed as 'pending', so we expect to see it announced for PS5 and Xbox Series X when it pops up again.

The best games of 2020 so far

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Because Android is such a popular smartphone operating system, this list has a lot in common with our list of the best smartphones. This is a rundown of the best Android phones or ones that aren't an iPhone.

If you want to work out what the best Android phone to buy is based on your budget and needs then you’ve come to the right place. We’ve fully tested and reviewed all ten phones on this list and judged their displays, cameras, battery life and more to decide which we think is best.

Best smartphone: the top phones we've tested
Best affordable phones: head here if don't want to spend thousands

Compared to buying an iPhone, buying an Android phone can be a dizzying choice thanks to the huge array of different devices from different manufacturers. While there are mid-range and budget Android options, this list is our collection of the best Android phones overall, so they’re higher in price as they have the best current features like top cameras, displays and build quality.

This list collects all the big names, from Samsung and Huawei to the increasingly-prevalent Chinese manufacturers like OnePlus. There are loads of variations in screen size, processing power, camera capabilities and more, which does make finding the best Android phone for you pretty tough.

So here they are - the best Android phones money can buy today.

1. Samsung Galaxy S20 & S20 Plus

These are the very best Android phones

The best screen around

Excellent cameras

High price

Iterative improvements

The Samsung Galaxy S20 and Galaxy S20 Plus are – along with the Galaxy S20 Ultra – Samsung’s latest and greatest flagship phones, so it’s no wonder they top this list.

While the S20 Plus has a slight specs edge, thanks to a larger 6.7-inch screen, a bigger 4,500mAh battery, a fourth camera lens (for depth-sensing) and optionally more storage, they’re largely very similar phones, so they’re fit to share the top spot.

Both have a highly capable camera array, with 12MP standard, 12MP ultra-wide, and 64MP telephoto sensors, and both also have top-end power, thanks to a Snapdragon 865 or Exynos 990 chipset (depending on where in the world you are) and up to 12GB of RAM.

They also both have a stunning 1440 x 3200 display with a refresh rate of up to 120Hz. At the time of writing this is arguably the best screen you’ll find on any smartphone.

The design is premium too, and they’re both packed full of features, like reverse wireless charging, 5G, an in-screen fingerprint scanner, and water resistance. They might not quite be the very best at everything, but they’re certainly the best Android phones overall.

Read more: Samsung Galaxy S20 review

Read more: Samsung Galaxy S20 Plus review

2. Huawei P30 Pro

Huawei's best Android phone ever

Fantastic cameras

Eye-catching design

Display 'only' Full HD

EMUI getting better

The Huawei P30 Pro could be the best Android phone we've used when it comes to photography. Its 5x and 10x zoom capabilities are staggeringly good. It also performs fantastically well in low light.

For those who really want to get up close to their subject, the P30 Pro also offers a 50x digital zoom, and although quality is reduced it's still impressive.

You also get plenty of power under the hood, an in-display fingerprint scanner, premium design and wireless charging with the ability to wireless charge other devices from the back of the P30 Pro.

It's a top, top Android phone and only narrowly misses out on top spot due to the Galaxy S10 Plus' overall slicker and more rounded smartphone experience.

Read more: Huawei P30 Pro review

3. Samsung Galaxy Note 10 & Note 10 Plus

A top Android phone, and the best with a stylus

Best screen on a smartphone

Handy S Pen Stylus

Supremely expensive

Camera isn't the 'best'

The Samsung Galaxy Note 10 Plus is the best that Samsung currently has to offer and is on top our list of the best Android phones, even with its huge price tag.

There's a lot to love in Samsung's Note phablet, from its beautiful 6.8-inch screen to the powerful selfie camera and the S Pen stylus which transforms your smartphone experience.

Sure, the cameras aren't as good as the Huawei P30 Pro, and the body leaves a bit to be desired with its huge frame and slippery design, but this is still a great smartphone if you can stomach the price.

Read more: Samsung Galaxy Note 10 Plus review

4. OnePlus 8 Pro

The most accomplished OnePlus ever, but also the priciest

One of the best displays around

5G and plenty of power

Most expensive OnePlus yet

Sizable rear camera bump

The OnePlus 8 Pro is the latest and greatest OnePlus handset, and it comes very close to challenging the best Samsung phones.

Its screen can rival them in fact – with its 120Hz refresh rate and crisp resolution, the OnePlus 8 Pro has one of the best displays you’ll find on a smartphone.

It also has a top-end Snapdragon 865 chipset, more RAM than you’ll know what to do with, and most of the other flagship bells and whistles, such as water resistance and wireless charging.

Its cameras arguably can’t quite match those of the very best phones – but they come close, and the price is the highest yet for a OnePlus phone – but still lower than some top-end handsets. All in all though, this is a stunning effort.

Read more: OnePlus 8 Pro review

Image Credit: TechRadar (Image credit: Huawei)

5. Huawei P40 Pro

Another top Huawei phone

Great camera

Powerful processor

No wireless charging

P30 Pro is superior

The Huawei P40 Pro is the best camera phone you can buy. it’s that simple. Recommending it does comes with its own set of caveats given the Huawei/Google situation though. That’s why despite its extensive list of stellar features, you definitely need to read our P40 Pro review before picking one up.

The P40 Pro’s Leica-branded imaging system is spearheaded by a brand new 50MP sensor, which uses RYYB (red yellow yellow blue) sub-pixel formation, like the 40MP P30 Pro before it. Huawei claims this makes its cameras better able to handle dark scenes like a champion, and we can attest to the fact the P40 Pro absolutely can.

The rest of the phone’s hardware is top-tier, it looks a treat and has plenty of power, so if (and only if) you’re comfortable with the Google-free software experience, the P40 Pro packs plenty to love.

Read more: Huawei P40 Pro review

Keep your Android protected online with an Android VPN

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The best Ultrabooks are more than just status symbols. These thin and light laptops also deliver sheer performance on top of portability, long battery life and smart-looking aesthetic.

Excellent for professionals and creatives who want to stay mobile or are always on the move, the best Ultrabooks are powerful enough to get you through the more demanding tasks like photo editing and 3D design. That’s all thanks to the best processors and SSDs they boast under their svelte hood, allowing them to handle a hefty workload. And, they’ve got that battery life to match, so you won’t get caught out with a dying laptop and no outlet in sight.

We gathered all the best Ultrabooks on the market to make your search for the ideal one easier. We’ve tested and reviewed every single one ourselves, so you know you can count on whichever one you choose.

The best ultrabooks at a glance:

Dell XPS 15
HP Elite Dragonfly
Huawei Matebook 13
HP Spectre x360 (2020)
Microsoft Surface Laptop 3
Lenovo Yoga C930
Microsoft Surface Book 3

1. Dell XPS 15 (2020)

The ultimate laptop has arrived

CPU: 10th Gen Intel Core i5 – i7 | Graphics: Intel UHD Graphics – NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1650 Ti | RAM: 8GB – 64GB | Screen: 15.6" FHD+ (1920 x 1200) InfinityEdge Non-Touch Anti-Glare 500-Nit – 15.6" UHD+ (3840 x 2400) InfinityEdge Touch Anti-Reflective 500-Nit Display | Storage: 256GB – 2TB M.2 PCIe NVMe

Amazing speakers

Beautiful display

Comfy keyboard

GTX 1650 Ti is a little weak

The Dell XPS 15 might just be incredible enough to tempt hardcore Mac users. It’s easily the best Ultrabook in 2020, and in a lot of ways, the best laptop (period). Combining staggering power in a stylish thin and light chassis, this laptop doesn’t hold back when it comes to internals and features that improve your computing experience overall. Among those amazing features are a gorgeous bright display with 500 nits of brightness, an extremely comfortable keyboard, impressive speakers, and a terrific trackpad. We’re not saying that this laptop is perfect, but our coveted 5 out of 5 rating should speak for itself.

Read the full review: Dell XPS 15

2. HP Elite Dragonfly

The best Ultrabook for the traveling professional

CPU: 8th-generation Intel Core i5 – i7 | Graphics: Intel UHD Graphics 620 | RAM: 8GB - 16GB | Screen: 13.3" diagonal Full HD touch display – Full HD touch Sure View display | Storage: 256 GB SSD

Impeccable design

Excellent battery life

Pretty expensive

If you’re a traveling professional, and you’re looking for the best of the best this 2020, then you will be hard-pressed to find anything that will rival the HP Elite Dragonfly. Garnering our coveted five-star rating, this laptop tops many of our lists this year, including the best Ultrabooks list. It’s no surprise, as it delivers a deadly combination of incredible features like a sublime keyboard and amazing speakers, raw power, portability, a beautiful design and a long battery life. Admittedly, it’s pricier than many of its competition; but if you’ve got the funds, it’s worth every penny.

Read the full review: HP Elite Dragonfly

3. Huawei Matebook 13

The Ultrabook to beat

CPU: 8th-generation Intel Core i5 – i7 | Graphics: Intel UHD Graphics 620; Nvidia GeForce MX150 (optional) | RAM: 8GB | Screen: 13.3-inch 2K (2,560 x 1,440; touch) | Storage: 256GB – 512GB SSD

Excellent value

Discrete Nvidia graphics

Limited RAM

For a few years now, Huawei has been lurking in the shadows, ready to take on the best Ultrabooks, and its time has finally arrived. Like the Huawei MateBook X Pro before it, the Huawei Matebook 13 packs in a ton of powerful hardware into an attractive shell, while keeping the price low enough for anyone to afford. Plus, we have to mention those discrete graphics – it may be one of the smallest laptops out there to pack an MX150 GPU. It’s not hard to see why the Huawei Matebook 13 is one of the best Ultrabook right now.

Read the full review: Huawei MateBook 13

4. HP Spectre x360 (2020)

HP’s flagship 2-in-1 gets a 2020 refresh

CPU: 10th-generation Intel Core i5 – i7 | Graphics: Intel Iris Plus Graphics | RAM: 8GB – 16GB | Screen: 13.3" FHD (1920 x 1080) IPS BrightView micro-edge WLED-backlit multitouch – 13.3" diagonal 4K (3840 x 2160) UWVA BrightView micro-edge AMOLED multitouch | Storage: 256GB – 2TB SSD

Stylish and high-quality finish

Great all-around performance

Built-in security features are useful

Battery life takes a hit

Can run hot at times

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, one of the best Ultrabooks out there. Is it a wonder that this is one of our favorite laptops of 2020? If you care about aesthetics as much as you do performance and overall quality, this is the laptop for you.

Read the full review: HP Spectre x360 (2020)

5. Surface Laptop 3

Longer-lasting than most

CPU: Quad-core 10th Gen Intel Core i5 – i7 | Graphics: Intel Iris Plus Graphics | RAM: 8GB – 32GB | Screen: 15” 2496 x 1664 PixelSense Touch Display | Storage: 128GB – 1TB

Excellent battery life

Exciting AMD flagship debut

Far too few ports

Lacking in power

With an impressive, reasonable price tag and some of the best battery life we’ve experienced in a 15-inch laptop, the Surface Laptop 3 certainly has a lot going for it. That also includes the fact that it’s got a great look and feel, as well as a weight that surprisingly light for a product its size. Performance-wise, it certainly knocks it out of the park. While it isn’t the most powerful 15-inch laptop out there, it has Intel’s 10th-generation chips and the Iris Plus graphics. That’s more than enough to make it one of the best Ultrabooks out there for 2020.

Read the full review: Surface Laptop 3

6. Lenovo Yoga C930

A 2-in-1 laptop experience with little to no compromise

CPU: 8th-generation Intel Core i5 – i7 | Graphics: Intel UHD Graphics 620 | RAM: up to 16 GB DDR4 | Screen: 13.9-inch FHD (1,920 x 1,080) – UHD (3,840 x 2,160) | Storage: up to 2 TB PCIe SSD

Strong build quality

Robust feature set

Excellent battery life

Weak graphics performance

Pricey upgrade options

The Lenovo Yoga C930 has quite a few of the makings of the best Ultrabook – from an absurd 14.5 hours of battery life and dual Thunderbolt-enabled USB-C ports to internal components that will easily handle those daily productivity tasks. That’s without even considering it’s a 2-in-1 that offers form versatility so you can squeeze in some light gaming and movie-watching once you’re done working. It has a few cherries on top as well, specifically the integrated self-charging stylus and the fab speaker system.

Read the full review: Lenovo Yoga C930

7. Microsoft Surface Book 3

An extremely premium piece of kit

CPU: 10th Gen Intel Core i5-1035G7 – i7-1065G7 | Graphics: Intel Iris Plus Graphics – NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1660 Ti with Max-Q Design | RAM: 8GB – 32GB 3733Mhz LPDDR4x | Screen: 13.5-inch 3000 x 2000 (267 PPI) – 15-inch 3240 x 2160 (260 PPI) PixelSense Display | Storage: 256GB, 512GB, 1TB, or 2TB PCIe SSD

Beautiful design

Comfortable keyboard

Gorgeous screen

Weak U-series processor

Tiny trackpad

Lackluster speakers

In many ways, the Surface Book 3 is an example of just how far the best laptops have come in just a few short years. It has an extremely premium piece of kit – with one of the best displays we’ve used in a laptop, a keyboard that will put the MacBook Pro’s new Magic Keyboards to shame, and a hybrid design with a removable screen. At less than an inch thick, and only 12.3 x 9.14 inches for its 13-inch model and 13.5 x 9.87 inches for its 15-inch version, this is also among the best Ultrabooks 2020 has to offer. Unfortunately, it’s held back by a weaker processor (next to its rivals), lacklust speakers and a high price tag. Still, it’s an excellent portable, if you’ve got the money for it and don’t.

Read the full review: Microsoft Surface Book 3

Bill Thomas and Gabe Carey have also contributed to this article

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Latest Tech News

The Galaxy Note series is one of the most prolific flagship launches of the second half of the year. According to a new leak, the next Unpacked event by Samsung will take place on August 5.

Amid a global crisis, earlier reports stated that Samsung is on schedule to unveil its next range of products, including the Galaxy Note 20 series. For the second Unpacked event of 2020, the Tab S7, a new pair of TWS, and an upgraded foldable are also expected to be announced.

August 5, TheNextGalaxyJuly 5, 2020

Ice Universe, a reliable Samsung leakster took to Twitter to share the information. According to him, the event is scheduled for August 5. This is expected to be the first-ever major launch from the Korean giant that will be an online-only affair. Historically too, Samsung has unveiled its Note series flagships in early August, adding substance to the leak. Besides, this isn’t the first time we’re hearing August 5 as the launch date. It will be the first of many high-profile launches expected in this quarter.

For 2020, two variants of the Samsung Galaxy Note 20 are expected, with a regular and a Plus/Ultra variant. The bigger variant should bring a QHD+ panel while the smaller one might be limited to FHD+. The refresh rate will be 120Hz, but it’s unclear if it can be toggled in tandem with the highest resolution. It is also said to be a return to a flat display too.

The cameras are said to take a page from the S20 series, with a 108MP primary shooter, followed by an ultra-wide and a telephoto lens. The Note 20 Ultra might add a ToF depth sensor to the mix. The primary camera is said to implement an upgraded sensor that addresses the autofocus issues that marred the first one.

The stage is likely to be shared with the Samsung Galaxy Tab S7 and the Galaxy “Beans” true wireless earphones with ANC. We might also get a refreshed Galaxy Z Flip with 5G capabilities. However, the Fold 2 might be not be unveiled for another month.

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Latest Tech News

Sony's next generation gaming console PS5 could arrive in India almost simultaneously with its scheduled global launch or within a very short time after that. Both Amazon India and close rival Flipkart have opened up sign-ups where fans can get notified when this next-gen console becomes available for pre-order.

These pages showcase the two console variants, one with a disk drive and another without. It also indicates a set of accessories that will be available and showscases the two variants - a PS5 with disk drive and a PS5 Digital Edition that comes without the disk drive.

PS5 price and pre-orders: what we know
PS5 vs Xbox Series X: how do the consoles compare?
PS5 vs PS4 Pro: is it worth the upgrade?

While the PS5 landing page on Amazon India notify-me page carries a bit more details about the games, the page on Flipkart provides details of the product and its accessories, indicating that all four of them, viz., the camera, the headset, the charging dock and the media remote would be available for sale in the country.

Sony has not revealed the launch date or the price points though there have been leaks late last month suggesting that the PS5 could release on November 20 and that the Digital Edition would cost Euro 399 (approximately Rs.33,500) while the standard edition would be more expensive at Euros 499 (about Rs.42,000).

The big buzz around PS5

The PS5, which marks the ninth generation of the gaming console, generated lots of interest during the digital launch last month. The twin-tone white design of the console with black accents and blue lighting gave it a futuristic look compared to the Xbox Series X that appeared to retain features from the earlier generation, thus appearing quite tame in comparison.

Even the accessories created lots of buzz as the media remote, the Pulse 3d wireless headset, the DualSense charging station and the brand new HD camera appears to add the chutzpah to the PS5, though experts argued that all of these additions could burn a larger hole in the pockets of those seeking to buy the console.

Four additional games confirmed

Meanwhile, Sony had also confirmed four additional games on the PS5. In a post on the US PlayStation Blog, head of PlayStation indies Shuhei Yoshida announced the company’s new promotion, which hopes to spotlight and support the best indie games published on PS4 and PS5. A new indie title will also be released on PS Now every month moving forward, starting with Hello Neighbor.

Sony has officially confirmed that the PS5 will release globally "in time for Holiday 2020", so likely some time between October and December 2020 - putting it in direct competition with the Xbox Series X, which is releasing in the same window.

The specs and games

The PS5 is powered by an eight-core AMD Zen 2 CPU and a custom AMD RDNA 2-based GPU. It comes with custom AMD chips that are capable of providing 10.28 teraflops and 825GB of SSD storage and 5.5GB of processing performance. Additionally, the console supports 4K graphics with a refresh rate of 120Hz that promises a seamless gaming experience.

The Amazon Prime page also lists out the mix of both first and third-party games that the PS5 would bring with it. This includes Spider-Man: Miles Morales, Horizon II: Forbidden West and Gran Turismo, Resident Evil Village, Assassin’s Creed Valhalla and Hitman 3, among others.

PS5 games list: every PlayStation 5 exclusive and cross-gen game announced so far

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Latest Tech News

We talk to other people every day. Now we talk to our phones and smart speakers dotted around our home. So the natural progression of course would be to talk to our cars. We’ve seen Mercedes-Benz’s MBUX system before while driving the A250, and it returns in full force in the 2020 Mercedes-Benz GLC 300.

Aside from swift voice commands, the GLC 300 packs other great tech for safer driving on the road, as well as plenty of creature comforts that offer a superb driving experience. It’s certainly priced to match the amount of tech crammed in here, but know that if you do buy the GLC 300, you’re investing in some substantial amount of tech.

WE DROVE

Mercedes-Benz GLC 300

Engine: 1.9-litre 4-cylinder petrol
Power output: 190kW/258hp
Max speed: 240 km/h
0-100km/h: 6.2 seconds
Price: from $69,900

The interior leather finish in our Premium+ model is sadly not the best for Dubai’s sweltering summers, but it does look fantastic. It feels like you’re stepping into a car from the future, ready to drive you to your destination while you flex your Sudoku muscles.

One of the eye-catching features of the cabin is the digital instrument panel, featuring a crisp 10.5” screen with a 1920x720 resolution. Come day or night, it’s always easy to read whatever is on screen, and there are a number of options to cycle through just the information that’s useful to you as a driver.

A second screen sits squarely in the middle of the dashboard, offering navigation, audio controls, climate information, and the various settings related to the car. It also supports Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, though we found that while using Android Auto, it doesn’t utilize the entire screen, but is cropped to fill in only a part of it. More tech comes in the form of a hidden wireless charging pad for your phone, as well as USB-C ports hidden in the center armrest and at the back.

Elsewhere, the GLC 300 flexes more style with adjustable ambient lighting around the cabin, a gorgeous, panoramic sliding sunroof, and plenty of space for rear passengers as well as for cargo in the back.

On the outside you’ll spot improved changes such as new LED lights and revamped front and rear bumpers. Our review model featured a red metallic finish, which on the road really stands out from the crowd. Only when you get behind the wheel of the GLC 300 do you really understand what all the fuss is about.

Driving the GLC 300 is a whole other experience, and there’s a lot to take in. Firstly, cabin noise is at a bare minimum here – if you’re coasting along the highway you’ll get the faintest bit of wind noise from the side mirrors, but otherwise you can barely hear the low rumble of the engine.

Pickup is also excellent when you need to overtake someone, with the engine quickly (and quietly) roaring to life to give you that needed speed boost. Handling is also very responsive, and taking sharp turns or roundabouts don’t make you feel like you’re being flung around in your seat.

There’s an exhaustive list of safety and driving aids as well, including lane assist, 360-degree camera, and blind spot assist when changing lanes. It all comes together to ensure that no matter what comes in front or behind your vehicle, you’re always aware and kept safe.

We found it at times to be a little too precautious, with the sensors warning us of objects that were nowhere in front of us, so there’s a bit of tweaking to do in the settings to adjust their sensitivity. The different driving modes also adjust the car’s handling accordingly – use ECO for the best fuel mileage, Comfort for long-distance driving, and Sport for when you really want to zip around the roads.

The tech dazzling continues with Mercedes-Benz’s MBUX system, which offers nearly complete control of the car using just your voice. A simple ‘Hey Mercedes’ automatically kicks the voice assistant into gear, while simultaneously muting the music and even lowering the AC fan speed so your voice can be clearly heard. You can easily dial contacts, ask for directions, adjust the cabin temperature, and even inquire about weather reports for other cities.

It’s a much more connected system that offers more control of your car than what’s on your smartphone. Accuracy was almost always on point, and over time the system will get better at recognizing your commands the more you use it. The future dream of course would be to sit in your car and say ‘drive me to work’, but we’ll keep that as a pipe dream for now.

As with previous cars, the GLC 300 supports the ‘Mercedes me connect app’, which offers in-depth information about your vehicle at any time. You can use the app to quickly schedule a service appointment, or even remotely start your car’s engine or lock the doors. It’s a fun add-on that expands the utility of your vehicle, but isn’t essential if you don’t want to use it.

There’s a lot to enjoy with the GLC 300, both in terms of its driving and the amount of tech it has to offer. It offers plenty of safety features that will appeal to anyone who wants to stay extra-alert on the road, and for families it makes an excellent road trip companion.

The GLC 300 pricing starts at $69,900 for the Premium Line and $74,550 for the Premium+ Line. Our review car is priced at $76,750.

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Saturday, July 4, 2020

Latest Gadgets News

A rocket from small-satellite launch firm Rocket Lab failed to reach orbit minutes after a successful liftoff from New Zealand on Saturday, the company said, losing its payload of seven small satellites it had intended to carry to space.

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Hamilton on Disney Plus a heartwarming cross between play and TV movie - CNET

Review: The film version of the Broadway hit isn't exactly like going to the theater, but still delivers a theatrical thrill.

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Latest Tech News

Dell Inspiron 15 3000 Laptop - $440.99
This 4th of July, get your hands on the cheapest AMD Ryzen 5 laptop on the market - available at 10% off this weekend. Despite the low price, this machine packs 8GB of DDR4 memory, a 256GB PCIe SSD and a 15.6-inch full HD display.View Deal

At $440.99 from Dell direct, the Inspiron 15 3000 is the cheapest Ryzen 5 laptop currently on the market for this 4th of July (and you should be able to get an additional 10% discount using the coupon code SAVE10 this weekend).

You won't find a better AMD laptop deal anywhere at the moment, and the Ryzen 5-powered model (albeit the older 2500U with integrated Vega 8 GPU) is well worth it.

Despite the price, this is a quad-core machine that packs 8GB of DDR4 memory (dual channel) and a 256GB PCIe SSD. We love the fact it has a 15.6-inch full HD display and Qualcomm-based 802.11ac Wi-Fi.

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Ryzen 5 deal

There’s no optical drive (as is usually the case with laptops of this size), which also means the device has a lightweight feel, weighing in at less than 5 lbs. There's also a card reader, three USB ports (including a USB 2.0, an anachronistic addition), HDMI, an Ethernet port and an audio jack.

We would have appreciated an upgrade path to Windows 10 Pro, but at least you get a 12-month subscription to McAfee LiveSafe antivirus and Cyberlink's ubiquitous MediaSuite Essentials to sweeten the deal.

A unique selling point compared to the competition is the presence of Dell's Mobile Connect, which essentially mirrors your Android or iOS smartphone to your laptop, allowing you to make calls, send texts and use apps seamlessly.

Check out our list of the best rugged tablets on the market

Bear in mind

If you've managed to get your hands on a cheaper product with equivalent specifications, in stock and brand new, let us know and we'll tip our hat to you.

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