As employees around the world made the transition to working from home, slow internet was one of the main factors that prevented them from being as productive as they could be according to a new study.
To learn more about why remote worker struggle when it comes to productivity, HighSpeedInternet.com surveyed 1,000 American workers who currently work or have worked from home to discover that 80 percent of them say that their internet connection prevented them from getting work done.
As remote work and hybrid work are quickly becoming the norm for many industries, two thirds (67%) of those surveyed think their employer should cover their internet costs while they work from home. At the same time, 75 percent say they would upgrade their internet plan if their employer provided them with a stipend.
While upgrading to high speed internet can help improve your connection, purchasing a new wireless router or placing Wi-Fi extenders around your home can also eliminate dead spots and help you get more done when working from home.
Bad work from home habits
In addition to slow internet speeds, Americans working from home also picked up a number of bad habits that made it difficult for them to stay productive while working from home.
As many struggle with their work-life balance when working remotely, the survey also found that over half of respondents added fake meetings to their calendars or faked a bad internet connection to turn off their webcam while video conferencing in order to catch a break.
When it came to bad habits, three quarters (77%) of those surveyed admitted to using their work computer to check social media or to shop online during company time. Surprisingly, just over half (51%) of respondents also said they played video games or spent their day watching content on streaming services instead of working.
Although working from home has its perks, it also has its challenges and to get more done, remote workers should try out the wide range of productivity tools now available or even consider using time management apps to keep better track of their days.
While the 2022 Super Bowl is still over a month away (February 13, to be exact), you can prepare for the big game early with epic Super Bowl TV deals that are happening right now. Our Super Bowl TV sales guide includes today's best offers on a range of 4K, OLED, and QLED TV from retailers like Best Buy, Walmart, and Amazon.
Our top Super Bowl TV deal picks include everything from a mid-size 50-inch TV to a massive 75-inch set, with features such as QLED and voice control, and at a range of prices to meet all your football viewing needs.
We've split our selection of Super Bowl TV deals into three categories: the outright best TVs for watching the Super Bowl, the best mid-range TVs, and the best budget TVs. We've included a range of different sizes in each category, and we've also picked a standout model for our Super Bowl TV deal of the week.
We'll be updating this guide with all the best Super Bowl TV deals leading up to the big game, so make sure to bookmark this page for all the latest offers.
Super Bowl TV Deal of the Week
Samsung 70-inch 4K Crystal UHD Smart Tizen TV:$749.99$679.99 at Best Buy
Save $70- Our Super Bowl TV deal of the week is this stunning Samsung 70-inch display that's on sale for just $679.99. The big-screen display supports 4K content, HDR, and its UHD goes well beyond HDTV. If you're looking for a mid-range TV from a reputable brand that makes a real statement for the big game, this Samsung set is a fantastic option.
The best Super Bowl TV deals 2021:
1. Best Super Bowl TV overall
LG C1 Series OLED TV
Screen size: 48-inch, 55-inch, 65-inch, 77-inch, 83-inch | Resolution: 4K HD | Display technology: OLED | Smart TV: LG ThinqQ AI, webOS | Curved: No
Stunning picture quality
WebOS smart platform
Ultra-thin design
One of this year's best TVs, the LG C1 features a stunning OLED display within an Alpha a9 Gen. 4 processor, providing a cinema-like viewing experience - perfect for watching the Super Bowl. Gamers will appreciate the Game Optimizer menu, which allows you to easily access your games settings. The LG OLED TV also features virtual surround sound audio, four separate HDMI 2.1 ports, and works with Amazon Alexa and the Google Assistant, enabling you to control your TV and compatible smart home devices completely hands-free.
Shop more of our top picks for the best Super Bowl TV deals for watching the Super Bowl.
Samsung 50-inch The Frame QLED 4K Smart TV (2021):$1,299.99$1,197.99 at Amazon
Save $72 - If you're looking for a premium 50-inch display, Amazon has Samsung's stunning The Frame TV on sale for $1,197.99. The 50-inch set transforms into a beautiful piece of art to seamlessly blend into your home's decor and includes customizable bezels, a QLED display, and smart capabilities.
Samsung 60-inch Q60A Series QLED 4K Smart TV:$999.99$797.99 at Amazon
Save $202 - Amazon has Samsung's 60-inch QLED TV on sale for only $797.99. That's the lowest price we've ever seen and a superb deal for a stunning QLED display. The Samsung set delivers a premium picture experience thanks to the Quantum Dot technology, producing over a billion brilliant color shades. You're also getting smart capabilities, a sleek, slim design, and Amazon Alexa built-in for hands-free control.
LG OLED G1 Series 77-inch UHD Smart TV:$3,999.99$3,796.99 at Amazon
Save $203 - The G1 from LG is an outstanding OLED TV that offers excellent contrast and better brightness than we've seen before paired with an impressively thin design. It's no surprise that it's on TechRadar's list of best TVs of 2021 and it's currently on sale for $3,796.99 at Amazon.
2. Best mid-range Super Bowl TV
TCL 6-Series with Mini LED
Screen size: 55-inch, 65-inch, 75-inch | Resolution: 4K HDR | Display technology: QLED | Smart TV: Roku | Curved: No
Mini LED backlighting
Supports Dolby Vision
Roku streaming service built-in
Insignia 50-inch F50 Series Smart 4K QLED Fire TV (2021):$599.99$399.99 at Amazon
Save $200 - If you're looking for a budget QLED display, Amazon has the all-new Insignia 50-inch F50 Series TV on sale for just $399.99. Not only will you get a 4K image with Quantum Dot technology, but the Insignia set also includes smart capabilities with Amazon Alexa built-in for hands-free control. This is the best deal you can find right now and an incredible price for a QLED TV.
Samsung 65-inch 4K Smart TV:$648$498 at Walmart
Save $150 – A solid choice for a big screen on a budget, this Crystal UHD from Samsung is one of the company's entry-level displays, and it's on sale for a record-low price of $498 at Walmart. This Super Bowl TV deal packs a solid 'Crystal' UHD 4K processor, an easy-to-use Tizen operating system, and full HDR support.
LG 75-inch UP8070 Series 4K UHD Smart TV:$1,179.99$869.99 at Best Buy
Save $310 - If you're looking a big-screen display under $1,000, Best Buy has this 75-inch 4K TV from LG that's on sale for $869.99. The LG display packs a powerful 4K Quad-Core processor resulting in bold, bright colors and realistic images, and includes webOS and a Magic Remote for easy streaming.
This TCL Mini LED TV has everything and more that you'd want in your mid-range dream TV. The QLED display delivers a stunning picture with bright, bold colors and life-like images thanks to the Quantum Dot technology and Dolby Vision HDR. You're also getting the Roku experience and voice control built-in, so you can use your voice to launch movies, browse shows, control the volume, and more.
Shop more of our top picks for the best mid-range Super Bowl TV deals.
The Hisense H8G Quantum Series TV comes in a range of sizes, starting at 50 inches and going all the way up to 75 inches. The budget TV features smart capabilities, so you can stream your favorite movies and TV shows all in one place using the handy voice remote. You'll enjoy a stunning picture with bright, bold colors and sharp contrast thanks to the Quantum Dot technology and Dolby Vision Atmos.
Shop more of our top picks for the best budget Super Bowl TV deals.
TCL 55-inch Class 4 Series LED 4K TV:$499.99$329.99 at Best Buy
Save $170 – If you're looking for a cheap mid-size TV, Best Buy has this 55-inch 4K display from TCL on sale for just $329.99. TCL's 4 Series set supports 4K, HDR, and Dolby Digital+ audio – plus you get a voice remote and built-in Chromecast to access all top streaming apps such as Netflix, Disney+, and Prime Video.
Hisense 65-inch A6G Series 4K UHD Smart TV:$599.99$499.99 at Best Buy
Save $100 - At just $499.99, this Hisense 65-inch smart TV is a fantastic option if you're looking for a big-screen budget TV. The 65-inch display features HDR, DTS studio sound, and a massive range of channels thanks to the Fire operating system - all for under $500 which is a fantastic value.
Insignia 70-inch 4K UHD Smart Fire TV:$749.99$549.99 at Best Buy
Save $250 - One of our favorite Super Bowl TV deals is this 70-inch 4K TV from Insignia that's on sale for just $549.99 - $30 less than the Black Friday price an incredible price for a 70-inch 4K TV. The Insignia set packs 4K Ultra HD resolution, DTS Studio Sound, and features the Fire OS for seamless streaming and a handy Alexa voice remote.
Razer's mask concept, a darling of last year's CES, turned into a disappointing reality at CES 2022. This model seeks to add back one of the key features the wearable air purifier lacks.
Android in the car shifts into high gear at CES 2022 with new apps like Lyft for Android Auto and deeper integration for cars powered by Android Automotive OS.
Razer has dubbed itself as the world's leading 'lifestyle' brand for gamers, something it looks set to embrace further in the coming year if the products unveiled at CES 2022 are any indication.
Razer usually supplies some of the weirder gaming tech and product concepts at the annual show such as Project Hazel and Project Brooklyn from CES 2021, and this year is no exception.
Alongside upgraded models of the beloved Blade laptop series, we got to see a few surprises thrown into the mix that takes us one step closer to the possibility of kitting out our entire homes with the Razer family of products and ecosystem. We're still no closer to getting that Chroma Toaster though.
Razer Blade 14, 15 and 17
(Image credit: Razer)
We saw three updated models of the popular Razer Blade series of gaming laptops that are kitted out with the latest and greatest hardware.
AMD's new Ryzen 6000 series processors will be found in the Blade 14, with every configuration being made available with a Ryzen 9 6900HX. Small form factor laptops have been catching our eye of late, and we're especially excited to see what the Razer Blade 14 (2022) can do with all that power under the hood.
If you're wanting to side with Intel instead then both the Blade 15 and Blade 17 come equipped with the newest 12th generation of Intel processors, with up to an Intel i9-12900H being available in both models, hitting frequencies of up to 5.0GHz.
All three will also be rocking the freshly announced Nvidia RTX 3000-series GPUs, up to an Nvidia RTX 3080 Ti. We're also seeing a few other upgrades, such as a new 1080p webcam on the Razer Blade 14, as well as having high refresh rates and Windows 11 across all three devices.
The new Razer Blade 14 starts at $1,999.99 (around £1,500 / AU$2,750) MSRP on Razer.com and will be available for pre-order at Razer.com, Razer Store locations and select retailers on February 10th and for purchase from select retailers in Q1 2022.
The new Razer Blade 15 starts at $2,499.99 (around £1,850 / AU$3,500) MSRP and will be available for pre-order exclusively at Razer.com and Razer Store locations on January 25th and for purchase from select retailers in Q1 2022.
The new Razer Blade 17 starts at $2,699.99 (around £2,000 / AU$3,750) MSRP and will be available for pre-order exclusively at Razer.com and Razer Store locations on January 25th and for purchase from select retailers in Q1 2022.
Fantastic furniture
(Image credit: Razer)
If you want some wacky gaming innovation then two products stand out, and neither are a peripheral, something that Razer is best known for. After having released the Iskur gaming chair last year it would seem that Razer is looking to see how far the gaming experience can be affected by your physical environment, and have taken a leaf out of the Playstation 5's DualSense controllers.
The Enki Pro Hypersense gaming chair is powered by an advanced haptic engine that has been developed to simulate a range of vibrations, textures, and motions. This makes games feel more interactive and apparently already has native support for over 2,200 games, movies and music titles. Being a Razer product, it also has a customizable RGB headrest so you can match the rest of your setup.
Razer also assures consumers that even games not directly supported through the software can still be enjoyed with haptic feedback through "Direct Input Haptics, where controller, keyboard, and mouse inputs will generate physical feedback when used."
For something that reads like a glorified vibrating chair, this does sound genuinely intriguing, though some people do find haptic feedback to be as distracting as it is immersive, so we'll just have to see if there's enough demand for this for it to take off.
The most notable thing Razer revealed at CES 2022 is a concept desk dubbed as 'Project Sophia', which is much wilder than you might be thinking. This 'desk' looks like something straight out of a sci-fi movie, with thirteen different modular sections that can be reconfigured for different tasks, such as working from home, streaming and gaming, allowing you to switch out slots for temperature readouts, audio mixers and other useful functions.
The desk itself also has a PC built into it, containing a custom PCB and a glass top that houses an Intel processor and Nvidia GPU. We're unsure if this allows for any future upgrades, but it's hard to imagine that Razer would allow something so futuristic to be held back by physical hardware, even if it might be a pain to open up and tinker with.
That said, It's likely that this concept is going to remain as just that – a concept, as many of these 'future of gaming' projects are fanciful imaginations and 3D renders rather than a plan to actually create the product itself. It certainly does look cool though, and is designed with that familiar Razer Chroma RGB lighting wrapped around the edge of the desk.
Razer and Fossil create a smartwatch...for gamers
(Image credit: Razer)
Smartwatches and fitness trackers have gained some serious popularity over the years, so it's little wonder that Razer is trying to get in on the action. That said, you'll be pretty hard-pressed to find this offering in the wild as only 1,337 units are being produced. Because of course there are, this being both the Hong Kong stock code for Razer, as well as representing the word 'elite' in outdated gamer speak from the early days of the internet.
Created in collaboration with Fossil, a well-established watch brand, the Razer X Fossil Gen 6 will be launching globally this month for $329 (around £250 / AU$450) and is the first smartwatch powered by the Snapdragon Wear 4100+ Platform. Alongside the Chroma RGB you'd expect, it has plenty of other functionality such as sleep tracking, health & fitness tracking and fast charging, reaching 80% charge in just 30 minutes.
Addie Tan, Associate Director, Business Development at Razer states that “We are always on the lookout for opportunities to compliment gamers’ lifestyles and to bring them products that not only look good but bring value to their lives as well. This is why we kept the gamers’ well-being at the heart of the Razer X Fossil Gen 6. Leveraging Fossil’s innovative technology and Razer’s iconic design aesthetic, this smartwatch will be the perfect accessory to keep you ahead of the game.”
After looking through the information, there's no actual 'gaming' functionality to the watch itself, so this mostly appears to be a marketed aesthetic rather than something to actually improve performance while playing something.
Check out all of TechRadar's CES 2022 coverage. We're bringing you all the breaking tech news and launches, everything from 8K TVs and foldable displays to new phones, laptops and smart home gadgets.
from TechRadar - All the latest technology news https://ift.tt/3n1ahxf
Naughty Dog, the development studio behind hugely successful PlayStation console exclusives like Uncharted and The Last of Us, has revealed that it’s currently hard at work on “multiple game projects”.
This news comes from the studio’s co-president Neil Druckmann, who made an appearance in Sony’s CES 2022 press conference. During the presentation, Druckmann touches on the studio’s excitement about the upcoming Uncharted movie as well as HBO’s adaptation of The Last of Us for TV. Druckmann closes out his segment by saying that the team at Naughty Dog is “dying to share” the “multiple game projects” they have in the works.
This isn’t the first time Druckmann has teased that there’s plenty going on at Naughty Dog following the release of The Last of Us 2. Back in March 2021, Druckmann tweeted to say that while he wasn’t able to talk about future projects, the studio had “several cool things” to share, adding that as soon as they could share them, they would.
Best PS5 games: the PlayStation 5 games you need to play
New PS5 games: upcoming PlayStation 5 game release dates
Whether or not all of these projects are full steam ahead all at the same time is another matter. Naughty Dog co-president, Evan Wells, has previously said in a 2021 episode of the Game Maker’s Notebook podcast (via VGC) that while the studio “definitely” has multiple projects, there’s “only one that is getting the lion’s share of focus at any time.”
“We don’t have two projects that have several hundred people on them,” he explained. “We have one [project] and then some that are in pre-production, or maybe just creeping out of pre-production, but will have to wait until the main focus has completed before we move everybody off of that project.”
Analysis: What could Naughty Dog be working on?
So, what could Naughty Dog be working on? Well, there have been plenty of reports around that over the last year.
One thing we do know that’s happening is a standalone multiplayer for The Last of Us. Naughty Dog revealed it would sit separately to The Last of Us 2 back in 2019, explaining that “the vision of the team grew beyond an additional mode.” In September 2021, the studio confirmed that the project was still in development and that it was in “full swing of hiring for MP-related positions.” As yet, the multiplayer doesn’t have a release date.
As for what else could be in the works, there are plenty of rumors and no official confirmations. In April 2021, for instance, a report emerged that Naughty Dog could be working on a PS5 remake of the original The Last of Us that would have a “similar look and feel” to The Last of Us 2.
Then there’s Neil Druckmann’s revelation in April 2021 that he and co-writer Halley Gross have written an outline for The Last of Us 3, though he did at that they weren’t making it but simply hoped it would “one day it will see the light of day”.
Regardless of specifics, it sounds like Naughty Dog is hard at work and we’re hoping we’ll find out more about its multiple projects as we get further into 2022.
Where to buy PS5: all the retailers to check for the Sony console
from TechRadar - All the latest technology news https://ift.tt/3qOikhX
Gamers with tight budgets should wait to see what retail prices are before getting excited, as manufacturers and retail channels continue to overcharge for GPUs in 2022.
AT&T is giving all current and new 5G plan subscribers a six-month free trial of Nvidia GeForce Now.
The new deal was just announced as part of Nvidia’s CES 2022 virtual keynote - where it also announced the RTX 3090 Ti - and will give all AT&T 5G plan users six months of Priority Membership for free, which typically costs $49.99.
Once you’ve claimed the promotion and signed up, you can install the GeForce Now app to your Android phone or tablet to start streaming games. iPhone and iPad users will have to head to the GeForce Now website through the Safari browser.
You can also use your subscription through your Mac and Windows computer too, just by signing into your account.
GeForce Now is a lot like the Google Stadia subscription AT&T has previously given away to customers as it only lets you stream games that you own - unlike Xbox’s Cloud Gaming platform, which is more like Netflix.
Once you’ve signed up to the service you can connect your Steam, Epic Games Store, and GOG libraries - as well as a slew of other digital marketplaces - to begin streaming your favorite games to your smartphone while you’re out on the go. All you need is a compatible gamepad.
As a Priority member, you’ll get priority access to Nvidia’s premium servers and can enjoy gaming sessions of up to six hours before having to rejoin the queue - free members only get access to one-hour sessions and have to wait in line behind paying subscribers.
Unfortunately, AT&T isn’t giving away subscriptions to GeForce Now’s RTX 3080 tier which lets you game on an RTX 3080 powered rig over Wi-Fi. However, given that this offer is free to all 5G plan owners we won’t be complaining too loudly.
To take advantage of the Nvidia GeForce Now promotion you'll need to head to the official offer sign-up page and fill out your details.
All laptop segments from high-end gaming to ultraportables and foldables will be refreshed with new 12th Gen Intel 'Alder Lake' CPUs featuring heterogenous cores in Q1 2022
