With the Galaxy Note 20 launch just a week away, all eyes will be on what upgrades Samsung brings to the table. While the chipset might remain unchanged, there might be a silver lining. While Samsung flagship like the Note series and the S series are powered by Snapdragon chipsets in the US and European markets, they come with Exynos chipset in Asian markets such as India. It often tends to lose out on the performance front against Qualcomm Snapdragon counterparts. However, a new leak suggests some good news in this regard. Samsung Galaxy Note 20 release date, price, news and leaks Upcoming smartphones in India: Specs, launch date, price (Image credit: Samsung/WinFuture) According to a tweet by Anthony, a Youtuber, Samsung Galaxy Note 20 will continue to be powered by the Exynos 990 chipset, but with major improvements in terms of the performance and efficiency. These optimizations should bring it closer to the Snapdragon 865 series. He even suggested that it is almost li
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Golden boots: the extraordinary evolution of football footwear
While it may have been left lagging behind other sports in adopting video referees and goal-line tech - although we have seen a lot of this at the 2018 Russia World Cup - when it comes to futuristic footwear the beautiful game leads the way.
From ultra-lightweight uppers for increased speed, to aerodynamic studs for greater grip, today’s football boots boast the sort of engineering you’d expect to find in the aviation industry.
But how did humble footy cleats become such technological marvels? Below we chart the advancement of the football boot - from their origin as up-cycled workwear to the hi-tech kicks being sported by the likes of Ronaldo and Messi in Russia this summer.
Main image credit: Niek Beck
The Pre-stud yearsWhile more noted for his multiple wives rather than his fancy footwork, the first ever recorded reference to football boots are nevertheless from an inventory of Henry VIII's clothes when he died in 1547. Designed by royal shoemaker Cornelius Johnson and costing four shillings, the thick leather boots were said to have been ankle high and extremely heavy.
As the game evolved over the next 300 years from the brutal, almost aimless hoofing of a heavy pig skin around a field without goals or markings of Tudor times, to a more organised sport with rules and tournaments, so did the footwear demands of those playing the game.
Old football boots from the 19th Century (credit: National Football Museum)
With the game growing in popularity across Britain during the mid-19th Century, factory workers began modifying their long-laced, steel toe-capped work boots to improve their grip on muddy playing surfaces, often hammering tacks and nails into them. While these proto-studs improved the players balance and footing, they inevitably caused serious injuries for any player on the receiving end of a horror lunge from an opponent.
The practice of makeshift grips was eventually outlawed by the newly established Football Association in 1863, with the FA decreeing that: "No one wearing projecting nails, iron plates or gutta percha on the soles of his boots is allowed to play."
The brand tourBy the beginning of the 20th century, the demand for regulated footwear saw a number of sportswear brands we recognise today like Gola and Hummel begin to emerge as makers of studded football boots. One such company to enter the market at this time was the Dassler Brothers Shoe Factory.
Early Dassler boot (credit: Adidas)
Best known for track and field wear (the German company’s athletic spikes were worn by Jesse Owens at the 1936 Berlin Olympic Games no less), by the end of WWII the factory had become one of leading brands for football boots.
A disagreement between the two brothers following WWII saw them dissolve the company, with the pair setting up rival sportswear brands that would go on to dominate the football boot market. While the Dassler’s were having their fall out, the growing trend among high-profile players was away from the heavy, protection-focused ankle boot, towards lightweight, low cut boots as preferred by South American stars, which improved control as well as speed.
Studs go Atom-icThe next major breakthrough would come with Puma’s 'Super Atom' in 1952 – the first manufactured football boot with interchangeable studs which could be changed to suit different conditions.
Puma Super Atom (credit: Puma)
The ground-breaking boot would be worn by half of FC Kaiserslautern’s championship-winning team the following year.
Adidas 1954 Argentina boot (Credit: Adidas)
Adidas would go one step further. Its take on the screw-in studded boot, the Argentina, would be worn by the entire West German football team, with their long nylon studs cited as helping them win their first World Cup in 1954 ,after seeing off Hungary 3-2 during a rain-soaked final in Switzerland.
Color and the age of endorsementBy the 1960s player power was beginning to have an influence on the game and in turn football boot design. The likes of Bobby Moore (Adidas Diamant) and Portuguese legend Eusebio (Puma King) both wore custom made boots as part of endorsement deals during the 1966 World Cup.
Pele would pick up a cool $125,000 cheque to wear Puma Kings during the 1970 World Cup, with the Brazilian infamously asking the referee for a moment so he could tie his laces, guaranteeing that the TV cameras were pointed at his sponsored shoes during his side’s triumphant win over Italy in the final.
Pele advertising Puma Kings
Up until this point, boots had predominantly been a uniform black colour, but a trend for dazzling designs would begin during the 1970 Charity Shield between Everton and Chelsea.
Looking to make an impact in the UK, German firm Hummel sponsored Everton star Alan Ball, arranging for him to wear white boots that would stand out during colour TV broadcasts of the match. Unhappy with the fit and feel of boots, Ball would in fact wear a pair of spray-painted Adidas boots with Hummel’s chevrons sewn on the side.
The classic eraThe late seventies saw the introduction of arguably the most popular football boot of all time. Designed for the forthcoming Spain 1982 World Cup, Adidas’ Copa Mundial featured tough kangaroo leather, moulded studs, and a foam-cushioned instep.
The Adidas Copa Mundial (Credit: Adidas)
The boot would become the weapon of choice for the likes of Paolo Rossi, Diego Maradona and Zinedine Zidane and also proved popular with Rugby players. It remains part of Adidas boot line-up today.
Boosts, blades and samba stylesThere would be a wait of almost 15 years before the next great leap in boot engineering. Once again it would come from Adidas, but this time via a somewhat unlikely source. A key member of Liverpool’s imperious late Eighties side, Australian midfielder Craig Johnson turned inventor after retiring early from the game to care for his ill sister.
During a coaching session teaching young players how to curl the ball, Johnson hit upon an idea to attach rubber strips from a table tennis bat to the forefoot of his boots, instantly improving the amount of spin and power that could be applied to the ball.
The concept of a shoe with rubber strips on the instep was eventually licensed by Adidas for their Predator boot range in 1994 which would also feature Johnson’s pioneering Traxion soles - a hybrid of traditional studs or and blade grips, which enabled a player to turn in tight spaces and at high speed.
Worn by the likes of David Beckham and Zinedine Zidane, the two ground-breaking concepts would change the design of football boots forever.
The original Adidas Predator (Credit: Adidas)
Although having made football boots since the early 70s, it wouldn’t be until the Nineties that Nike would become a major player in the world of soccer. Supplying the kit for the then world champions Brazil, their star player Ronaldo would wear the brand’s first truly classic boot during the France 98 World Cup.
The Nike Mercurial (Credit: Nike)
The Nike Mercurial would bring innovations such as lightweight 'synthetic leather' and a sticky outer layer adapted from racing motorcycles tire materials to enhance the touch and feel of the ball for players.
The modern ageAs well as helping improve player speeds, modern boots were also recording just how fast they were running. Heralded as a boot with a brain when it was introduced in 2011, the Adidas adiZero F50 miCoach featured a built-in sensor chip that could measure average speed, maximum speed, number of sprints, and distance covered.
Adidas adiZero F50 miCoach
The new century brought about something of an arms race between the main manufacturers to build the lightest boot humanly possible. Adidas and Nike would both incorporate their newly developed high tech knitted material from their running shoes into their soccer lines, heralding the age of the mid-cut 'sock boot', with the likes of the Nike Magista and the Adidas Primeknit FS having the stated aim of a tighter fit to match the actual contours of the player’s foot.
The Nike Magista
A smaller footprint of a different kind was being offered by Nike with its limited edition GS boot in 2012 - an ultra-light football boot featuring components made from beans and recycled plastic. Meanwhile 2016 saw Adidas introduce the ACE 16 + Purecontrol, a super-svelte boot that did away with laces, instead using a discrete locking system for a glove-like fit.
Adidas ACE 16 and Purecontrol
For this year’s World Cup in Russia there remains a trend for mid-cut boots as exemplified by the limited edition Nike Mercurial Superfly 360’s Ronaldo is set to wear - offering a slight nod in the direction of the innovative ankle boots worn during the early days of the game.
TechRadar's World Cup coverage is brought to you in association with Honor.
Sony Xperia XZ3: what we want to see
The Sony Xperia XZ3 is currently rumored to arrive in the second half of 2018, and if it does we'd like to see major changes over the Xperia XZ2 it will be replacing.
It's not that the Xperia XZ2 was a bad phone, but when you compare it to what rivals are offering for the same, or in some cases less, money it's difficult to get excited about Sony's current flagship handset.
Sony has a lot of potential in mobile, with a long history in the market and a lot of great technology at its disposal. In recent years, though, it hasn't been able to quite find the right combination of features, form and function to really make its smartphones stand out from the crowd.
The hope is that the Sony Xperia XZ3 may, finally, move away from the traditional 'Sony look' that's been used for the last few years, bringing itself and the brand back to the fore.
XZ3 rumors are slowly starting to appear online, and we'll be updating this page with everything you need to know as soon as news breaks, but we've also offered up Sony suggestions on what we'd like to see from the new Xperia XZ3 - just in case it's still looking for some inspiration.
Read our in-depth Sony Xperia XZ2 review Cut to the chase What is it? Sony's next flagship smartphoneWhen is out it? Launch likely to be August 30What will it cost? Sony usually puts a premium price tag on its flagships Sony Xperia XZ3 release date and priceThe Sony Xperia XZ3 launch date could well be August 30, as that's the date set for the Japanese firm's IFA 2018 press conference where it will offer up an "exclusive booth unveiling".
This wouldn't be the first time Sony has launched new handsets at the Berlin, Germany technology show, as only last year did it launch the Xperia XZ1, XZ1 Compact and XA1 Plus at its IFA 2017 press conference.
It means there's a good chance we'll see the Xperia XZ3 at the end of August, although it'll likely go on sale sometime in September.
Don't be put off the possible August 30 launch by the fact Sony launched the flagship Xperia XZ2 at MWC 2018 at the end of February either, as the firm has a long history of launching an updated flagship device every six months.
As far as the Sony Xperia XZ3 price goes, everything is still up in the air, but going on previous top-end Sony handsets the XZ3 will likely carry a premium price tag that's in line with the likes of the LG, HTC and Huawei.
The Xperia XZ2 arrived at $799 (£699, around AU$1,000) SIM-free, and we'd expect the Xperia XZ3 to carry a similar price tag.
Sony Xperia XZ3 news and leaksWe're slowly starting to see information on the Sony Xperia XZ3 leak out online, with the key leak to date comprising of a handful of images appearing to show the handset in real life.
Many may be disappointed to learn that the phone in question doesn't look all the different to the Xperia XZ2, with a very similar design, but there appears to be a dual-camera setup on the rear. The fingerprint scanner, however, still looks like it may be awkwardly positioned too close to the cameras, as was an issue on the Xperia XZ2.
Of course, this candid snaps may well turn out to be false, so it's worth taking them with a pinch of salt.
Sony Xperia XZ3: what we want to seeAs the Xperia XZ3 leaks are only just starting to appear, we've put our thinking caps on here at TechRadar and come up with a list of things we'd love to see on Sony's upcoming flagship smartphone.
We've considered the issues we faced with the Xperia XZ2, what's on offer from rivals, and the emerging technology that's attempting to break-through in the market to build what we'd hope would be the ultimate Sony smartphone.
1. A better placed fingerprint scannerOne of our biggest bugbears with the Xperia XZ2 was its placement of the fingerprint scanner. It was too low-down the back of the phone, too close to the camera, and too similar in size and shape - making it very difficult to hit.
It meant we were constantly tapping our fingertip on the camera, rather than the sensor, which after using the phone for a few days and attempting to unlock it a multitude of times, became rather frustrating.
So, request No. 1 for the Sony Xperia XZ3 is please, please, please, can a better position fingerprint scanner? It's a simple thing, but something that will make a huge difference.
Poor fingerprint placement on the Xperia XZ2
2. A more refined, and current, designThere's no questioning it, Sony smartphones look like Sony smartphones. They have a distinctive shape and style, but it's one that feels rather old and tired now.
Sony has, over the years, slightly tweaked its Omnibalance design, making the edges softer, the sides more sculpted and the finish more premium, but they still feel a little blocky, square and, well, old.
The current trend in the smartphone world is for large displays, minimal bezels, slender frames and an overall more curvaceous look.
A familiar look
3. Smaller bezels, higher resolution displaySony did at least introduce the on-trend 18:9 screen aspect ratio on the Xperia XZ2, but in a world where notch is king (thanks to the likes of the iPhone X, Huawei P20, LG G7 ThinQ, OnePlus 6 etc) it still appeared a little bezel heavy.
We'd like to see Sony cut back on those bezels even more with the Xperia XZ3, and while we're aware that the notch splits opinion, it's an easy way to increase the amount of screen on a device.
However, the the recent launch of the notch-less, all-screen Vivo Nex and Oppo Find X, we'd love to see the Sony Xperia XZ3 follow suit with a much more innovative approach to design.
We'd also love to see a QHD resolution on the Xperia XZ3, as previous models have only had a full HD panel.
The XZ2 Compact also has a full HD display, and that suits the smaller form-factor well, but the Xperia XZ3's display will be 5.7 inches or larger, and a QHD resolution would make games and videos look fantastic alongside HDR support.
The all-screen Oppo Find X has pop-up front and rear cameras
4. An exciting innovationSony equipped the Xperia XZ2 with a brand new feature called Dynamic Vibration. Its aim was to make gaming and videos more immersive, but in reality it had the opposite effect.
It detracted from the action on screen more often than not, as the vibrations seemed erratic rather than immersive.
We like where Sony's head was at though, exploring ways to make its flagship feel more connected to you and the experience you're having, and we'd love to see the Xperia XZ3 offer another new innovation, just one that's better than Dynamic Vibration. Something that will really make it stand out from its peers.
5. More internal storageWe're seeing 128GB as a common storage size in smartphones these days, and there are even a select few which offer up to 256GB of internal space - giving you ample room for apps, games, videos, music, photos and more.
With Sony's phones often leading the way when it comes to videoing recording - expect the Xperia XZ3 to offer 4K HDR recording - it makes sense to offer up bags of storage, however the Xperia XZ2 came with just 64GB.
Now for many that will probably be plenty, but when you're paying top dollar for a device you want the best and we'd say 128GB is now the benchmark, and a 256GB Xperia XZ3 variant would also be nice to see.
Sure, Sony will also likely include a microSD card slot on the Xperia XZ3, but internal storage works much faster, and makes it much easier to manage all your files.
6. Dual rear camerasMulti rear cameras is definitely the trend for our phones in 2018, but it's not just a spec-race feature as these cameras provide genuinely useful functions.
Whether they're in charge of pulling in more light for better low light shots, collecting depth data for great looking Bokeh modes or offering a wide-angle option for your photos, there are numerous ways Sony can integrate a dual (or greater) camera setup onto the back of the Xperia XZ3.
Single rear cameras just don't cut it anymore
7. A bigger batteryThe Xperia XZ2 was one of the thickest flagship smartphones at 11.1mm, but its battery was one of the smallest at 3,180mAh, beating only the LG G7 ThinQ and Samsung Galaxy S9.
Its battery capacity was smaller than the OnePlus 6 (3300mAh), Honor 10 (3400mAh), HTC U12+ (3500mAh), Galaxy S9 Plus (3500mAh), Huawei P20 (3400mAh) and P20 Pro (4000mAh).
For the Sony Xperia XZ3 we'd like to see a bigger power pack squeezed into a body that's no larger than its predecessor - and ideally a shade slimmer - to give us comfortable a full day of use, and hopefully at least a day and a half from a single charge.
We're also looking forward to the OnePlus 7 and LG G8
How to watch the British Championships: live stream athletics online from anywhere
In the midst of the omnipresent football fest unfolding in Russia right now, sports fans would be forgiven for letting the 2018 British Athletics Championships slip their mind. But the all-important track-and-field event is upon us and there's plenty to compete for, so make sure you catch all the action by following one of the free live stream options we've outlined below.
Upping the stakes in Birmingham this year is the fact that spots in Team GB for the European Championships are up for grabs as well as the national titles themselves, so expect a full-blooded showing from those competing at the Alexander Stadium in Birmingham.
Among them will be Zharnel Hughes going head-to-head with defending champion Reece Prescod in the men's 100m, while the women's 800m looks particularly intriguing with Shelayna Oskan-Clarke defending her title against in-form Alex Bell, former European champion Lynsey Sharp and British Indoor champion Adelle Tracey.
That's just the tip of the iceberg and you can live stream the key action of the British Athletics Championships for free, wherever you are in the world, via one of the options below.
See how to stream F1 live and for free from the Austrian Grand Prix
In the UK, the British Athletics Championships will be shown live on BBC Two, the BBC Red Button and BBC Sport online. That means you can watch for free when the coverage kicks of at 2.45pm on Saturday, June 30 (Red Button and online only), and from 1pm on Sunday, July 1 (BBC Two until 5pm, Red Button and online only from 5-6pm).
Alternatively you can live stream the action via the BBC iPlayer platform or through a third-party online streaming TV service such as TVPlayer.com. This means you can catch the athletics on TV, computer, tablet and smartphone for free if you're in the UK.
Not in the UK this weekend? No worries - just download and install a VPN and use a UK location to watch as if you were back in blighty. Full instructions below.
How to live stream the British Athletics Championships for free anywhere else in the worldIf you're outside the UK and try to start streaming the athletics on the BBC, you'll soon discover that it is location restricted. But there's a way you can watch for free anyway. By downloading and installing a VPN, you can effectively trick your computer into thinking that it's in the UK. That way you can enjoy the free coverage without having to pay your local broadcaster or find an illegal stream.
It's really easy to get started with a VPN - here's how to do it:
Main image courtesy of www.britishathletics.org.uk
The best Prime Day deals: how to get the best Amazon deals in July
Amazon Prime Day deals are coming your way in July and we want to help you find the best deals in what is usually the sales event of the summer.
Thanks to a leak we exclusively uncovered last week, it looks like Amazon Prime Day is probably going to start at midday on July 16th and carry on until midnight the following day on the 17th. That's one hell of a long 'day' Amazon. The date has not been confirmed officially yet but we've got all our money firmly placed on those days.
We love a good deal here at TechRadar and we've been bringing you highlights of the best prices for years now around Prime Day, Black Friday, Cyber Monday, Boxing Day, Memorial Day, bank holiday sales and every day in between too. And yes, we've got you covered for this weekend's 4th of July sales too. So if you want to see the best deals rounded up by seasoned pros instead of seasonal enthusiasts, we'd very much like to see you right here on July 16th.
For now though, take a look at our top tips on how to get the most from the best Amazon Prime Day deals so you can get ready in advance to have a stress free shopping experience on the day. And you don't even have to leave the house. Remember those days, when you had to go out to buy things? What an awful time.
How to get the best Amazon Prime Day deals:
We'll be pointing you towards the best Amazon Prime Day deals throughout the event here at TechRadar with our dedicated 20-strong team of deal hunters tracking down the best bargains.
We're looking for deals all year round, not just Prime Day and Black Friday, so we're pretty handy at spotting the genuine bargains over the fake discounts that aren't worth your time. So feel free to bookmark us if you want to stay up to date with the finest deals.
To get the best Prime Day deals from Amazon you'll have to be a member of Amazon Prime. Signing up doesn't take long at all, but considering some of the deals can potentially sell out in minutes, it's a step you really don't want to be doing on the day.
Pro tip? If you've never signed up before, you can actually sign up for a free 30-day trial right now, which will last right through the sale in mid-July. You can enjoy all the membership benefits straight away too like fast delivery and the excellent Prime Video streaming service. We've actually written extensively about the benefits Amazon Prime offers. Here are some links to the free trial in the following countries: US, UK, Canada, India and Australia.
An odd site name for sure, but CamelCamelCamel.com is a fantastic resource for checking just how good a deal is. Simply copy/paste in the Amazon URL on the site of an item you're thinking of buying and you'll see an extensive price history for it on Amazon stretching back over a year. This way you can see if that day's deal is really the best ever price, or how often it gets a similar discount and how likely it is you'll see a similar price in a few months' time.
With so much hype around Prime Day deals it's easy to get swept away by the huge amount of deals and supposed big discounts. So yes, use CamelCamelCamel like we mentioned above, but even if it is the lowest price yet, that doesn't mean it's the right deal for you.
If you've set aside a budget and you know it's important to not overspend, try and stick to your guns. Prime Day is not the final sale of the year, hell it's not even the final sale of the summer, there will be plenty of other fantastic deals and it's our job to find you the best ones all year round in our Deals section. So while that exact TV might not be available at that price again for a while, you can be sure some nigh-on identical ones will be before the kids go back to school.
The best Lightning Deals on Amazon Prime Day could be gone in matter of minutes, so be sure to check how many have been sold with the information provided on Amazon's site. Deals of the Day will have an expiry date, but some will sell out long before they reach that time. Game consoles and 4K TVs are especially popular on Prime Day, so if you see a price you like on your lunch break, you're risking it being gone by the time you get home from work.
While the Amazon app and mobile sites are pretty reliable most of the time, Prime Day last year saw quite a few buyers struggle to complete purchases with adding items to the basket being as issue.
We're confident Amazon will be better equipped to deal the huge numbers of traffic this year, but all the same, we'd recommend browsing the deals on a laptop or PC if you can as the desktop version of the site might be a bit more stable.
In the UK many items will be eligible for free next day delivery or two business days in the US and Australia. Now as a Prime member, you're paying for that delivery promise, well unless you're on the free trial, then it's free.
But if your delivery doesn't turn up on the day it's supposed to, then you need to put in a complaint to Amazon. This has happened to us a small number of times over the years and Amazon is keen to make it right. We've had an extra month added to our Prime membership for free as an apology and even had the whole cost of some cheap items refunded in full without having to return it. Naturally, if you're not home when Amazon try to deliver on the original date that's on you. You'll find a nice orange slip informing you what to do next though.
While Amazon will be the main focus of course, last year we saw a wide range of rival retailers cash-in by having a sale of their own too. So it's certainly worth checking to see if they've price-matched Amazon or have maybe gone even lower.
And unlike Amazon Prime Day deals, you won't have to be a 'member' at other stores to get the deals. Or if you have a points-card elsewhere, it might be a good opportunity to bag a decent haul. We'll be keeping an eye on other retailers for you to give you as many options as possible on the day.
France vs Argentina live stream: how to watch today's World Cup football online
Here we go. The knock-out stages of the 2018 FIFA World Cup are here and they kick off with a bang, with France and Argentina locking horns in Kazan at Russia 2018.
Despite the wealth of talent in both squads, it hasn't been an easy ride for either side so far in Russia. France laboured through their group and will need the likes of Giroud, Griezmann and Mbappe to up the tempo and increase the threat in the final third if they are to go all the way. Given Argentina's flaky defensive showing so far, it could well be these attacking outlets that prove decisive for the French in this one.
Argentina's group stage journey was traumatic, including a draw with Iceland, a heavy defeat against Croatia and fall-outs between coach Jorge Sampaoli and the players. But with Messi off the mark and Ever Banega orchestrating a much-improved performance against Nigeria in their triumphant final group match, the Albiceleste may finally have some momentum.
This is one not to be missed, so that's why we're showing you how to live stream France vs Argentina from the 2018 World Cup for free, wherever you are in the world.
You don't have to miss a single minute of World Cup soccer - even if the country where you are isn't broadcasting certain games. Because every second of action is being shown somewhere (the UK, for example, is televising every game for free - see below), you can simply use a VPN to login to a region that is broadcasting the game. And it's really easy to do:
Wolfenstein II: The New Colossus (Nintendo Switch) review
Late last year, developer Panic Button worked wonders by transplanting id Software's hellish FPS DOOM to the Nintendo Switch. Visual downgrades aside, it was an incredibly accurate conversion of relatively recent AAA shooter, and proof that Nintendo's system – despite its relative lack of grunt when compared to Sony and Microsoft's home consoles – was capable of handling visually intense multi-format releases. Unsurprisingly, it established Panic Button as one of the Switch's most exciting developers.
Fast-forward to the present, and publisher Bethesda has once again entrusted Panic Button with porting duties for a second high-profile shooter: MachineGames' Wolfenstein II: The New Colossus. The result is yet another impressive entry on Panic Button's burgeoning CV, even if some of the concessions that have been made render it slightly less appealing than its home console iterations, which launched in October last year.
The New Colossus follows on directly from the events of the 2014 title Wolfenstein: The New Order, which – if you're a seasoned Nintendo veteran – you may not have had the chance to play, as it was only available on Xbox One, PS4 and PC. The New Colossus does a commendable job of summarizing the events of that game in its introduction sequence – it even allows you to relive a distressing (but important) choice which impacts the narrative of the sequel you're about to play – but it's a real shame that Switch owners have to jump into this one totally cold, as you're missing out on vital character development that gave The New Colossus some of its most emotional (and shocking) moments.
Reich here, Reich nowStepping into the boots of William Joseph 'B.J.' Blazkowicz, you find yourself crippled and wheelchair-bound aboard the stolen Nazi U-boat Eva's Hammer. You've been in a coma for months following the catastrophic conclusion of The New Order, but your respite is cruelly cut short by an attack by the unhinged Frau Engel, a key protagonist from the first game who has good reason to want your head on a stick.
It's a brave move to place the player in the role of a character who has limited movement from the off, but it sets into motion a breakneck pace that doesn't let up, even as you hijack Nazi flying fortresses, plan a revolution in the ruins of Manhattan and stalk through the slums of New Orleans.
The storyline veers from utterly shocking to hilariously silly in the blink of an eye, but it's a mix that somehow holds together – thanks in no small part to some excellent scripting and stellar voice acting, especially on the part of the gruff-voiced Brian Bloom, who turns the previously one-dimensional Blazkowicz (lest we forget, his tour of duty began way back on 1992 in Wolfenstein 3D) into a relatable hero. It's also impossible to deny the satisfaction one can gain from taking down hordes of nasty Nazis, and the game never shirks from giving you an opportunity to enact revenge on members of the hated Reich.
Speak softly and carry a big stickWhile your path through the carnage is largely a linear one, the environments are usually big and maze-like enough to encourage you to consider a different strategy to the tried-and-tested 'all guns blazing' approach. Nazi officers will signal for help when alerted to your presence, which means that silent takedown kills – executed by pushing the 'R' stick down when in range of an enemy – are preferable, especially when you're low on health and ammo.
Of course, there are moments when stealth simply isn't an option, and it's here that the game's superbly-crafted gun-play becomes apparent. All of the weapons – from the smallest pistol to the largest laser-spewing rifle – have a lovely heft to them, and projectile-filled battles with streams of Nazi soldiers – all of who will try to use cover intelligently and outflank you – are never anything less than thrilling. The opportunity to dual-wield certain weapons adds to your destructive power.
DOOM on Switch was vastly improved by the addition of motion controls, and thankfully The New Colossus is blessed with these from the very start. Nintendo fans who lived through the Wii U era will already know what a difference motion-aided aiming can make; it almost feels like having a third analog stick with which you can fine-tune your shots. We honestly don't know if we can go back to standard single-stick aiming after playing this; it's that good.
AAA gaming on the goWhat's truly remarkable about Panic Room's Switch port is that despite a blindly obvious downgrade in visual fidelity, the action is faithful to that seen in the other versions of the game. The developer has wisely decided to sacrifice detail for responsiveness and speed, and as a result The New Colossus on Switch runs at around 30fps at all times. Lighting effects and motion blur help mask the much-reduced pixel count, and it would seem that Panic Room has employed dynamic resolution scaling to help Nintendo's console cope with packed scenes.
During slower moments, though, the cutbacks are plain to see – textures are muddy and everything lacks detail thanks to the lower resolution. In both docked and handheld mode, it often seems like you're playing The New Colossus through a thick film of vaseline, and if you've played the game elsewhere then the downgrade might be off-putting.
On the plus side, the Switch's 720p screen does a good job of hiding these shortcomings, and being able to play such a recent AAA console game on the move is nothing short of a miracle; the main thing is that Panic Button has transferred the essence of what makes The New Colossus great to Switch successfully.
There's sadly no multiplayer to speak of (there wasn't any in the original release, either) which means that once the end credits have rolled there's little reason to return, unless you fancy taking on one of the harder difficulty levels.
Verdict: Play it nowWolfenstein II: The New Colossus is an incredible ride while it lasts, and proof positive that Nintendo's hybrid console is more than capable of hosting faithful ports of big-name third-party releases – even if some of the visual spectacle has to be dialed back in the process.
The concessions made by developer Panic Button make sense in the grand scheme of things, and being able to blast away Nazis in portable mode is something of a game-changer – even if you've already experienced this adventure on PS4 or Xbox One.
More details leak out about Microsoft's new "pocketable" Surface
Just what is Microsoft planning next for its Surface line of hardware? We've had numerous hints in recent weeks and months that a Surface Phone or something like it might be on the cards, and now a leaked email is pointing to a "pocketable" Surface device that's been two years in the works.
In an internal email obtained by The Verge, the device is described as part of the Andromeda project – Microsoft's plan to roll out different versions of WIndows suited to different devices. Including, maybe, a phone.
But it sounds like this new Surface device isn't exactly like a conventional smartphone. It's intended to create a "new and disruptive" device category, as per the leaked email, and will combine "innovative new hardware and software experiences to create a truly personal and versatile computing experience".
Phone meets computerIn other words, it's sounds very much like a phone-laptop hybrid in the same way that the Surface Pro is a tablet-laptop hybrid: not a direct iPhone or Pixel competitor but something that gets close to the full Windows 10 experience on a smaller screen while also letting you make phone calls too.
As for what it'll look like, the concepts made by designer David Breyer (one of which you can see at the top of this page) are rumored to be pretty on the mark. As well as being pocketable, it's also going to be foldable – something Microsoft has been thinking about for a long, long time.
We've also heard speculation that the imminent Snapdragon 1000 chipset is going to be powering everything, and that the device will support stylus input like the Galaxy Note. The newly leaked email doesn't add to many pieces to the puzzle, unfortunately, but Microsoft's next Surface device is slowly coming into view.
These are the very best smartphones you can buy in 2018
Here’s how Walkie-Talkie mode works on your Apple Watch
When smartwatches became a thing, everyone kept talking about how it was bringing the ‘Dick Tracy’ capability of talking to your wrist - but that didn’t actually materialize.
With the launch of the Walkie-Talkie app within watchOS 5 though, Apple brought a childhood dream of many to life: being able to chat with a buddy just by talking on the wrist.
There was a key question we were left with though: how hard will it actually be to use? How will you stop being interrupted all day long?
The Walkie-Talkie is pretty simple: you’ll get a list of of cards, with all the Apple Watch owners you’ve spoke to recently at the top (or the option to add more with a tap of the ‘plus’ icon underneath).
Above the cards is the ‘Available’ slider - tap this to the off position and people won’t be able to contact you at all (the same if you’ve got the Do Not Disturb option turned on too).
Tapping the person you want to chat to will move you to a screen packing the yellow circle emblazoned with ‘Talk’ - and you’ll know what to do then.
At this point, the other big question hovered into view: would owning an Apple Watch suddenly mean anyone you knew with a similar device could start shouting out of your wrist?
After all, at the advent of the Apple Watch who didn’t endure a number of rude digital sketches being sent to their wrist from their supposed friends?
The good news for those that work in sensitive offices is that you’ll need to accept the conversation. The person beginning the chat will press Talk, and speak into their Watch - and on the other end, the intended subject will hear a couple of beeps and feel a haptic buzz.
If they want to chat, a tap will play the message. Covering the Watch with your hand will stop the message from blaring out loud - but otherwise you’re going to hear the vocal missive from your pal.
While the first message hangs in the ether until it’s played, from then on the chat is the true walkie-talkie experience you’d be looking for: instantaneous chats from wrist to wrist in pretty high-quality audio. Saying ‘over’ at the end of each statement is optional.
Wrist chatterThe chats are either sent over Wi-Fi, cellular data (if you’ve got an LTE-enabled Watch) or if you’re connected to your phone, you’ll piggyback on the phone’s connection to get the chats to your Watch.
Once finished, the connection will hang open for around five to six minutes, at which point it’ll terminate. It seems there’s no way to end it manually though, so if you’re chatting away and your boss walks in you’ll need to quickly set yourself to ‘unavailable’ or snap on the Do Not Disturb option, lest she or he hear your chum waxing lyrical their latest trip to the bathroom.
Is it worth the price of a new Apple Watch to just have the chance to chat aimlessly to a friend, when you can just, you know, phone them? Well, such is the nostalgic thrill… kind of.
Here’s what watchOS 5 tells us about the Apple Watch 4
How to watch the Austrian Grand Prix online: stream F1 live for free from anywhere
So whose weekend is this one going to be? The F1 drivers' championship keeps swinging between Lewis Hamilton and Sebastian Vettel, with Hamilton's win in France last week giving him the edge...for now. You can stream F1 live with this guide to see how things progress at the Austrian Grand Prix.
So it's all starting to look a bit like a two-horse race, with Hamilton and Vettel looking like they'll be going head-to-head at the top of the Drivers' World Championship. But Hamilton had the best of it in Friday's practice sessions, leading his Mercedes teammate Valtteri Bottas in second in both the morning and afternoon. Bottas, incidentally, won at Austria's Red Bull Ring last year and will be hungry to make it two in a row this year to make up some ground on Hamilton and Vettel.
Watching the Austrian Grand Prix from the comfort of your own TV is thankfully really straightforward, and on pretty much any device. And the best thing about it...you can do so absolutely free of charge, regardless of where on earth you are! Read on to find out how to stream F1 live.
Discover how to live stream the FIFA World Cup 2018 for FREE How to watch the Austrian Grand Prix for free anywhere in the worldIf you don't have easy access to watch the Austrian Grand Prix online in your country, the best way to watch it for free is to download and install a VPN service, which effectively tricks your computer into thinking that it's in another country. It's really easy to do, and works for loads of sporting events where live streams may not be readily available where you are:
Photos courtesy of Formula1.com
The 787 planning to intercept the 'Einstein eclipse'
As far as inflight entertainment goes, EFLIGHT 2019-MAX has it sorted. Not only will this Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner gives its passengers a view of a rare total solar eclipse above the clouds, but it will chase this natural phenomenon as it rolls across the planet, extending what would otherwise be a two-minute totality to an eight or even nine-minute totality.
EFLIGHT 2019-MAX is scheduled to take off from Easter Island on July 2 2019, the date of the next total solar eclipse, and race along with the moon's shadow at at over 560mph. Fancy being on board? It'll cost you: seats are priced from $6,750 to $9,750.
What is a total solar eclipse?Remember the Great American Eclipse? If you were in the US on August 21 2017, you'll know all about eclipses and the wonder of totality. A total solar eclipse is when a new moon crosses the Sun as seen from a particular, and rather narrow, path across the surface of the Earth. That's called the path of totality, and only within this 70 miles (or so) wide zone can you witness the moon shadow sweeping across you.
EFLIGHT 2019-MAX will ‘fool Mother Nature’. Credit: LATAM Airlines
The temperature drops, daylight fades to night, and all that's left is a beautiful halo around the moon – the Sun's corona. During a precious couple of minutes it becomes obvious that the Sun is not yellow, but ice-white. The structure you can see in the solar corona is incredible; it twists and billows, and within it you can see bright red explosions on the surface of the Sun. As the moon moves away, beads of sunlight pour through the valleys of the Moon, eventually causing a flash of light called the diamond ring. Totality is over. As emotionally powerful as it is visually stunning, totality is so sweet, but so short.
Why is EFLIGHT 2019-MAX intercepting the eclipse?And that's the trouble with totality – it only lasts a couple of minutes. Only a relatively small part of Chile and Argentina will get a good view of the July 2019 total solar eclipse, and only for about 2 minutes and 20 seconds. Since total solar eclipses only occur every 18 months or so, why not try extending that to nine minutes?
Totality is stunning, but you need clear skies to see it. Credit: LATAM Airlines
EFLIGHT 2019-MAX is the brainchild of Dr Glenn Schneider of the Steward Observatory and the Department of Astronomy at the University of Arizona. "It's an absolutely spectacular experience to watch, from horizon to horizon, the transit of the moon's shadow as it's projected on to the surface of the Earth," says Schneider. And he should know: an avid eclipse-chaser, he's seen 35 total solar eclipses from the ground, and 14 of them from 37,000ft.
How is the EFLIGHT 2019-MAX's flightpath calculated?"It's all about velocity of the moon's shadow, and how much it slows down to," explains Schneider. "The moon is relatively close to Earth during this eclipse, so the shadow is wider, it's close to the equator, where the rotational velocity of the air helps, and there's also the high speed of the aircraft."
The geometrical circumstances are ideal for such a chase. "The velocity of the moon's shadow at the point of greatest eclipse – about 4 minutes 32 seconds – is only 2,000kmh [about 1,240mph], so the aircraft speed, which is a little bit less than half of that, will prolong the duration to nine minutes," explains Schneider.
EFLIGHT 2019-MAX will take-off from Easter Island in the South Pacific. Credit: Creative Commons CC0
His eclipse flight of 11 July 2010 was the last time a flight with as long a duration of totality as EFLIGHT 2019-MAX was possible, but 2019 will be a one-off. "It is a unique thing we're doing," says Schneider. "It's all about the look-up angle through the airline's windows, and a 787 has very tall windows compared to most aircraft."
Although it can’t be repeated, the supersonic but now-retired Concorde raced the Moon’s shadow along the the Tropic of Cancer back in 1973 to create a whopping 74-minute totality.
Where will everyone sit on EFLIGHT 2019-MAX?All on one side, although in economy some rows have access to two windows and some to one, such is the design of aircraft. "You buy yourself a row of seats, and if you want to time-share those nine minutes of totality with a partner or friend, then you can do that at no extra cost," says Schneider. "It's a little different in the front of the aircraft, where seating arrangements are different in business class, where you book an individual window."
The Dreamliner's tall windows will make it easier for passengers to view the eclipse. Credit: LATAM Airlines
Since the eclipse will be at an attitude of 50 degrees, it will be difficult for two people to observe simultaneously on a row with only one window. "I expect the majority will be individual people using an entire row, though maybe a third will be sharing," says Schneider. "With nine minutes of totality, you can trade off."
Why is it called the 'Einstein eclipse'?The Great South American Eclipse that will occur on July 2 2019 comes a fraction over 100 years since a total solar eclipse on May 29 1919 which proved that Albert Einstein's General Theory of Relativity, first described in 1915, was correct. It changed science forever.
In Einstein's theory, the gravitational field of the Sun should bend light, since it distorts spacetime in its vicinity. The only time it's possible to test that theory is during totality, when it's possible to photograph the position of stars around the Sun, and later see how their exact position differs using photographs of the same stars in a regular night sky.
Totality viewed from Earthbound locations such as Chile’s Elqui Valley will be just over two minutes. Credit: Creative Commons CC0
It's called gravitational lensing, and it's regularly observed today in deep space. On the island of Principe, off the west coast of Africa, British astronomer Arthur Stanley Eddington took photographs that proved Einstein's theory was correct. Physics has never been the same.
While it's now possible to prove Einstein was right using some fairly basic equipment, it's not certain there will be scientists on board EFLIGHT 2019-MAX performing experiments. However, there will certainly be astronomers on hand to get the best view of one of nature’s greatest events.
“The sky clarity is great for observing totality, but the view of the shadow and its motion across the Earth is an unbelievable thing to see,” says Schneider. “It really puts you in your place in the solar system.”
TechRadar's Innovation series is brought to you in association with Honor
How to watch the World Cup finals: live stream every game from anywhere
This is usually the time at a FIFA World Cup when we talk about how things are about to get interesting. But the Russia 2018 group stages were so jam-packed with excitement, great goals and the occasional upset that instead we can simply celebrate the festival of football continuing at pace.
And you've come to the right place to find out how to live stream every last joyous, heartbreaking minute of the Russia 2018 World Cup absolutely free and regardless of where you live.
The round of 16 knockout games are a bit of a mixed bag. They kick off in explosive fashion with possibly the tie of the round - France vs Argentina. From there we get to see whether other past winners such as Spain, Brazil, Uruguay and, yes, England can proceed to the quarter-finals. And will hosts Russia continue to be the surprise package of the 2018 World Cup?
If you want to know where you'll be able to watch the games, we'll tell you exactly where you can watch the FIFA World Cup matches where you live. And if you're looking for a free live stream, we've got that key information for you, too.
See how football and tech combine in TechRadar's guide to the World CupYou don't have to miss a single minute of World Cup soccer - even if the country where you are isn't broadcasting certain games. Because every second of action is being shown somewhere (the UK, for example, is televising every game for free - see below), you can simply use a VPN to login to a region that is broadcasting the game. And it's really easy to do:
The UK's two main free-to-air channels - BBC and ITV - are sharing out the World Cup coverage very fairly indeed, with an equal number of group stage and knockout games and live coverage of the World Cup final on both channels. That obviously means you can make the most of their respective iPlayer and ITV Hub apps if you're looking to watch on your phone or tablet, too.
If you can't be bothered faffing about finding out what matches are on which channel, just head to TVPlayer.com instead (or, you know, cast your eyes right for a moment). That hosts all UK freeview channels, so you can just easily click on whichever one is showing the match.
Abroad for the World Cup but still want the UK coverage, then grab a VPN and follow the instructions above.
Image courtesy of fifa.com
TechRadar's World Cup coverage is brought to you in association with Honor.
Xbox Two: what we want to see out of a new Xbox
For the past few years, the next Xbox was nothing more than a fanboy's dream. We had hoped Microsoft was working on something new, even suspected that might be the case, but until recently, we weren't sure.
Now we can confidently say that not only is Xbox Two (a.k.a. Xbox Scarlett) now in development, but it's closer than it's ever been to being unveiled.
The official story starts just a few months ago when Xbox Chief Phil Spencer told the thousands of attendees at E3 2018 that the console - or, rather, series of consoles is in development: "Our hardware team is deep into developing the next generation of Xbox consoles, where we will once again deliver on our commitment to set the benchmark for console gaming."
Since Spencer's announcement details have slowly bubbled up all around the net on the purported system. First we got a codename - Xbox Scarlett - and now we've heard rumblings of the first games to be designed for the next-gen Xbox: The Elder Scrolls 6, Cyberpunk 2077 and Halo Infinite. If these all manage to launch on the console when it releases somewhere around 2020 or 2021, it could be enough to put Microsoft back on top of the gaming world.
While it'd be nice to have a new console ready for E3 2019, work hasn’t gone so far that we can expect to see the console any sooner than 2019. According to Windows Central’s Jez Corden, 2 years would be too soon to expect the new console but it would likely still be backwards compatible with the rest of the Xbox family.
Interestingly, 2019 to 2020 is around the time that analysts are predicting Sony will launch the PlayStation 5.
If you ask us, we think it's unlikely that Microsoft would let Sony launch a brand new console without answering with its own within a year, but we don't think the company would try to beat Sony to the post given Microsoft’s first foray into true 4K gaming hasn't even been on store shelves even a year yet.
That said, however, that's not going to stop us from thinking ahead to the next Xbox and what it’ll bring - corroborated by information scoured from across the web.
It will house some impressive tech
A new job listing suggests that Microsoft is hard at work on the next Xbox. The company is looking for a senior electrical engineer to "come be a part of what's next" in Xbox hardware.
Xbox is seeking for an engineer to “lead the DRAM solutions for the Xbox console hardware development team" adding that the “DRAM solutions include DDR3, GDDR5, GDDR6 and future DRAM technologies."
This person will be working on "currently shipping and future Xbox design projects." It was already suggested by Jez Corden in 2017 that the next Xbox is being designed and this gives greater credence to that.
Andrew House talks the next generation
Former PlayStation chief, Andrew House, has been talking about the future of consoles at GamesBeat Summit in California recently. Though House wasn't willing to go into specifics on the next PlayStation itself, he did say that he thinks physical media will be around for all consoles for some time to come, thanks to the need to continue breaking into new markets. One would assume this is something that would also be relevant to any future Xbox console.
In his interview, House said, "I don’t have any firm knowledge on this, but my sense is that you will see the disc around in the industry for a while. If you’re going to tap into some of these [developing] markets, then allowing for that more traditional physical purchase model as an option is probably no bad thing."
Despite this, though, House also believes that streaming will be big in the future of gaming – an opinion which ties neatly with Microsoft's Phil Spencer's who emphasised the need for a 'Netflix for video games.' This would be, one would imagine, a natural extension of the download-based Xbox Game Pass in the next generation.
What will the new Xbox be called?The hardest part of this future-gazing is actually trying to guess what the console might be called, given the naming progression that’s come before. Microsoft isn't going to abandon the Xbox brand anytime soon, surely, but the subtitle is a little harder to pin down.
If it’s a brand new console generation it’d make sense to call it Xbox Two, but Xbox 720 made a retrospectively perplexing amount of sense at one point so let’s not be too confident in that.
If we're going to really get our tinfoil hats on, looking at the naming progression we can see the latest console is the Xbox One X. If X were to be read as ten, the next console would be the Xbox One II or Xbox II (2). Okay, we're just kidding. Regardless,Microsoft is a hard company to predict when it comes to console naming.
What will it the new Xbox be capable of?What’s slightly easier is predicting the features that are likely to appear in this new Xbox.
The Xbox One X is a huge step forward for Microsoft, bringing native 4K gaming and near-PC power into a console. It's currently the most powerful console on the market so where can Microsoft go from here?
We can only imagine. So that’s exactly what we’re going to do; join us won’t you?
A powerful console focused on games
We like to think Microsoft has learned a lot of lessons from the difficult launch of the Xbox One. The Xbox One didn’t have the advantage of being the only HD console option on the market like the Xbox 360 did, and additionally its launch ended up being marred by a Kinect bundle that pushed its price way higher than it should have been.
As a result, the PlayStation 4 took (and has maintained) a commanding lead in terms of market share.
Microsoft has definitely addressed a lot of these issues with the Xbox One X. It's a piece of hardware that's almost entirely focused on games, and it's not bundled with any superfluous hardware. In fact, Microsoft's gone so far as to drop the Kinect port entirely. We imagine this focus will continue into the future.
Budget and premium options
With the One S and the One X Microsoft is embracing both an iterative and a tiered model. The company is not only launching incrementally better pieces of hardware over time, but it's also supporting previous versions of the console and allowing them to exist as budget options.
As a case in point, the One X is still expensive (much more so than the PS4 Pro), but the Xbox One S is still being presented as a worthy and attractively priced 4K upscaling alternative that will still be capable of playing all the same games, not just from this generation but the previous generation too.
However, after each console has had its chance at being the budget model, they've each fallen away into obscurity. We've already seen this with the original Xbox One, and it's likely that the Xbox Two will eventually have the same effect on the Xbox One S.
We imagine Microsoft may want a certain degree of market saturation for the Xbox One X (or at the very least 4K TVs) before launching the Xbox Two but when the console does launch it’s less likely to feel like the same leap that moving from Xbox 360 to Xbox One did.
Trial and error, rather than a jump into the unknown
In some senses we feel that it’s reasonable to assume we’ll be slowly drip-fed a lot of the technology that will end up in the Xbox Two.
This has the big advantage of allowing Microsoft to establish what works and what doesn't work over time rather than having to take a big leap of faith with a brand new piece of hardware.
VR and AR support is likely
We've learned that certain things are unimportant for consoles this generation, like motion-sensing and touch-screen, but the new technologies like VR and AR are proving to be very exciting fields for developers.
Microsoft has already confirmed that the Xbox One X will support Windows 10 virtual and mixed reality headsets but it’s not being forceful with pushing them. They were notably absent from the console’s presentation at E3 2017 and we still have plenty of questions.
Get a great deal on a 4K TVIf PlayStation VR continues to grow in strength we expect Microsoft will be more clear about the Xbox One X’s stance on these headsets and much more active about developing the technology for its successor. Xbox Two could very well be the HoloLens console. If the technology flops, Microsoft can easily phase it out from its next generation plans like the Kinect but much more neatly and less to the detriment of initial sales.
Meanwhile, if the Xbox One X’s 4K visuals fail to make the console appeal as much as Microsoft hopes they will, we don’t doubt they’ll still be a feature of the Xbox Two, but they may be less of a focus in the overall marketing.
The latest and greatest audio visual technology
Recently Microsoft has been really keen on integrating the latest audio visual technologies into its consoles - Dolby Atmos support, 4K and HDR are all here. This is something we can see continuing into the next generation.
It’s clear Microsoft wants gaming on Xbox to be a full sensory experience and it’s possible that the next console will include some kind of projection system similar to Project Ariana that Razer showcased at CES 2017 whereby gaming environments were extended beyond the screen and into the player’s room. With something like this, Xbox Two has the potential to be an immersive gaming machine and we already know technology of a similar ilk was being considered in the Illumiroom project from back in 2013.
The best Xbox One S deals you can get right nowAn increasingly cross-platform ecosystem
In the way that Nintendo is bridging the gap between its handheld and home console divisions with the Switch, we can see Microsoft moving its PC and console users closer as we move onto the Xbox Two.
Cross-platform play, accounts and digital purchases are being encouraged in the Windows 10 and Xbox stores and this is something we can see Microsoft continuing to push into the new generation, particularly if it’s going to continue to manufacture consoles that boast near-PC specs.
Learnings from the PC
It’s likely that the new Xbox will likely have more of a Steam-esque interface that puts games first and doesn't confuse the customer. A system with a more indie- and mod-friendly focus is also important (we’re already seeing this with Indie@Xbox), and if the console consumer base doesn't jibe with mid-lifecycle console upgrades, perhaps a more PC piecemeal approach with more swappable parts will be in order.
When will the next Xbox be released?So we can agree we’re almost certainly going to get another console but will we have to wait eight years like we did between the previous generation and this one? It might end up that way, actually, but thanks to iteration it certainly won’t feel like it.
Though it won’t come as soon as two years from now, we think it’d be reasonable to expect the Xbox Two in three years, perhaps releasing in 2021. This would be eight years after the release of the original Xbox One and a good time, perhaps, to move onto the new generation. It'd also be around the time, or one year after, analysts are expecting Sony to release the PlayStation 5.
With the steady and considered steps Microsoft is making and the way the company seems to be listening to feedback from its users more than ever, we anticipate that the Xbox Two could be its most considered launch yet. In the meantime, a lot hinges on the Xbox One X.
We've also done some speculating about the future of the PlayStation, check out everything we want to see from the PlayStation 5.
Moss and more VR games are free right now for new Viveport subscribers
With the Vive Summer Sale 2018 still in full swing, HTC Vive and HTC Vive Pro owners can find plenty of discounted VR games until July 8.
But, HTC is also giving away some premier games to Vive owners for free—provided they buy into Viveport first.
Viveport, Vive’s Game Pass-like subscription service to a library of over 200 VR experiences, currently retails for $8.99 / £8.99 per month, or £19.99 / $19.99 for three months.
If you subscribe for three, six, or 12 months before July 8, you’ll still pay the regular subscription fee. However, you’ll also get a copy of Moss VR for free, one of our favorite VR games on any headset.
Previously a PlayStation VR exclusive, Moss has you controlling the brave little squeaker Quill through a series of puzzles and sword fights. Polyarc Games, a game dev comprised of former Bungie engineers, only ported Moss to Vive and Oculus Rift last month—which makes it especially tempting as a free perk.
Moss VR | Credit: Polyarc
As another incentive to sign up, HTC is also giving away Shooty Fruity to Viveport subscribers this weekend, a cartoonish shooter in which you defend your store from mutant fruits.
Plus, HTC will give another unnamed game away for free to subscribers next weekend. You can sign up for a 14-day trial to snag Shooty Fruity and the other mystery title for free, but this method won’t get you Moss, which usually retails for $29.99 / £29.99.
Current subscribers also have the option to get Moss. Simply purchase another pre-paid subscription bundle and then add it to the end of your current subscription window.
Moss: definitive edition?In an interview with HTC, Danny Bulla, co-founder and design director at Polyarc, described how Moss for PC arguably improves upon the PlayStation VR exclusive.
“The ability to have two tracked controllers is more intuitive when it comes to reaching into the world and interacting with things from a mechanics standpoint,” Bulla said. “Intuitively players will reach in if their hands are free and that alone helps with the immersion.”
He also praised how the PC version gives players more control over customizing graphics and settings, in a way that apparently the Sony version could not offer.
So, for Vive owners who haven’t had a chance to try the acclaimed Moss out yet, the Summer Sale offer seems like an exciting opportunity. You can find the subscription page here.
Check out other great PC deals in the Steam Summer SaleBest VR headsets, best PlayStation VR games – we've got lots of great VR reads!
Facebook patent would have your TV tell your phone to secretly record you
Facebook has patented some disturbing-sounding ideas over the years.
Earlier this week, for instance, a newly-discovered Facebook patent revealed how an AI could predict major events in its users’ lives—like the birth of a child or death of a parent—to better target ads.
The company’s latest patent, discovered by Metro UK, takes the cake for creepiest proprietary idea, unveiling blueprints for using inaudible TV signals to trigger your phone’s mic, which would then secretly record your reaction to TV content and send it directly to Facebook.
Facebook's system would connect secretly with all of the smartphones in your living room | Credit: Facebook via Free Patents Online
In this theoretical system, Facebook would lease out its hidden signal to companies to place in their TV commercials. Facebook would then analyze the recordings and inform companies whether TV viewers engaged with their ads.
For example, Facebook would study whether people stayed to watch the ad or walked away to do other things; or whether people actually talked about the ad or ignored it.
This figure shows how a sound wave would disguise the hidden signal, which would communicate with your phone using Morse code-style patterns | Credit: Facebook via Free Patents Online
In another example, Facebook said it could examine how many people watching content online skipped adverts using an ad blocker.
In a statement to Engadget, Facebook VP Allen Lo said that this technology “has not been included in any of our products, and never will be”. This appears to be the same boilerplate language Facebook used to insist it wouldn’t use its patented plan to predict when we’ll die.
In this case, Lo continued by saying that the patent was made “to prevent aggression from other companies” that could “commercialize” that technology themselves.
How much can we trust tech companies?During his April testimony to Congress concerning the Cambridge Analytica scandal, Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg insisted that the idea that Facebook secretly taps into your microphones for targeted ads is a “conspiracy theory”. This patent won’t do anything to put that theory to rest.
Keep in mind that Facebook isn’t the only tech giant to patent tech plans to violate privacy while keeping users in the dark.
We’ve previously covered how Amazon and Google patented ways to secretly record your lives to build up advertising profiles on you.
As far as we know, none of these companies have acted on these patents. Still, considering their ability to implement using morse-code signals and other impossible-to-detect tricks, we unfortunately have to rely on trust that they won’t.
Why one TR editor thinks smart speakers aren’t spying on usHow Amazon may be helping the police to surveil citizens
Apple Maps is still terrible, but Apple is doing something about it
Apple Maps doesn’t exactly have a sparkling history, and even Apple has admitted that it was embarrassed by its launch back in 2012. Thankfully, the company is completely rebuilding Apple Maps from the ground up.
Starting in the iOS 12 beta and starting with Cupertino, this reinvention of Apple Maps isn’t just going to be from Apple updating the existing app with new city records and third-party map data – Apple has invested in its own mapping tech to rival Google Maps, according to TechCrunch.
Apple’s fleet of advanced mapping vans, similar to Google Street View cars that gather data and photos at a street level, is finally going to put its data to use this year. The new Apple vans are strapped with LiDAR arrays and eight overlapping cameras along with the standard measuring tools.
The most interesting map-curation tool at Apple’s disposal, however, is your iPhone. Apple already gathers location data from iPhones, but it will be doing this even more from here on out in an effort to change the map real-time.
It doesn’t end at the iPhone and street level, either. Apple has deployed satellites to gather even more data and satellite imagery. It will then be cross-referenced with the street level data so that the maps are as accurate as possible.
Mapping out the futureFor the longest time, Google has reigned supreme when it came to Google Maps, but now Apple wants a shot at giving it some serious competition. Apple Senior Vice President of Internet Software and Services Eddie Cue even goes as far as to say he hopes Apple will have “the best map app in the world”.
This means you can expect more consistent Apple Maps updates outside of year-to-year iOS refreshes. Apple says it will use location data to “change the map real-time and often”, which means you should be notified to sudden changes to your route.
If Apple is able to build an infrastructure that uses this its own van and iPhone data to create a constantly updated map, the third-party Google Maps might not be everyone’s default app choice anymore when they’re looking for directions.
For anyone worried about their data anonymity, Apple says you don’t need to worry – the company promises it will collect data from its users in a privacy-first manner in order to update map data on the fly with new street and heavy traffic changes. It will only collect data in bits and pieces and never know a person traveled from point A to point B.
The new Apple Maps will launch in San Francisco and the Bay Area in a future iOS 12 beta update and should cover Northern California around the time we expect an iPhone XI and iPhone 9.
The best Xbox One games 2018: 25 must-play titles
Even though the Xbox One is approaching its fifth birthday (which makes it positively geriatric in console years) we think it's just reaching its peak. With a strong library of games and services to offer and lots more exciting new games in the pipeline, we think the Xbox One family of consoles has a lot of life in it yet.
Although the Xbox One receives criticism for its first-party lineup, it does have some unmissable genre-defining exclusives which include the Forza, Halo, Gears of War and Sea of Thieves series. And with the 4K capabilities of the Xbox One X, these games are looking better than ever.
As well as AAA releases, Xbox One is also a great place to find high-quality indie games thanks to its ID @ Xbox program which has made titles like Ori and the Blind Forest and Cuphead absolutely essential plays for this generation.
Thanks to Microsoft's commitment to backwards compatibility, it doesn't matter whether you're using the Xbox One S or the 4K powerhouse that is the Xbox One X, there's going to be something on this list of the best Xbox One games that will suit you.
Read on to see which games make the Xbox One shine. And keep checking back – we're updating this list all the time.
Got the shiny new 4K console? These are the best Xbox One X gamesMake the most of your console with the best Xbox One accessoriesOn the PlayStation platform? Check our our picks of the best PS4 gamesLooking to Switch it up? These are the best games on Nintendo SwitchCheck out the video below to see more on the Xbox One X
The best Xbox One deals and Xbox One S dealsMaking the old feel new again
After a year away, Assassin's Creed is back and it's bigger and better than ever. In Assassin's Creed Origins you go back to ancient Egypt, before the brotherhood and before the Templars, where you play as the original assassin Bayek.
Assassin's Creed is a series that was growing increasingly stale but with Origins the formula has been refreshed with new RPG mechanics, story-driven side quests and a far more free-flowing combat system.
Whether you're new to the series or a fatiguing fan, Assassin's Creed Origins is absolutely worth playing as it's the strongest installment we've seen in years.
Read our full review of the game and our tips and tricks guide.
A refreshing jump back in time
In the latest Battlefield game, DICE takes players back in time to World War One and by doing so completely rejuvenates the once stagnating franchise.
The game offers a poignant and entertaining single-player campaign that sets a new standard for first-person shooter. Broken into six sections, each following a different character and front line location, the campaign never feels dull or repetitive –and even feeds neatly into Battlefield 1's multiplayer mode which, while familiar, also benefits from the much-needed breath of life that the change in setting gives.
Graphically impressive, entertaining, and sometimes touching, Battlefield 1 is a return to form for the series.
Remastered Thrillride
Xbox is home to a number of great driving titles already but Burnout Paradise Remastered is the latest to hit the road. First released in 2008, Paradise wasn't quite as appreciated as it should have been.
Sure, it was different to the rest of the Burnout series but it's a prime example of how to do an open world driving game right and we're happy to see it returned and remastered. The visuals aren't massively different and that's a real shame but you do get that 4K resolution and buttery smooth frame rate of the latest generation. Plus a lot of DLC.
Beautiful and frustrating in equal measure
After a long development and lots of anticipation, Xbox indie exclusive Cuphead has finally been released. Was it worth the wait? It certainly was. Cuphead is a run-and-gun platformer with stationary boss fight levels thrown in.
With visuals and a soundtrack inspired by 1930s animation but gameplay inspired by the platformers of the 80s this game has had us torn since we first tried it at Gamescom. It's lovely to look at but its gameplay is challenging and you're going to find yourself frustrated and dying a lot.
We enjoyed Cuphead so much we named it Best Xbox Exclusive in our 2017 Game of the Year Awards.
Still, it's an indie experience that shouldn't be missed and you'll only find it on Xbox and PC.
Master the remaster
Dark Souls is an iconic series in the gaming world and with this remaster you have the chance to go back to where it all started in 2011, but with improved visual fidelity and performance. All the better to see those horrific and punishing enemies.
This is the same original game with all of its DLC but that's no bad thing. Dark Souls is a fantastic, must-play title and it's great to see it on the latest generation of consoles. Not just because the framerate bump to 60 fps makes it a much smoother and more exhilarating gameplay experience.
A smart, stealthy, steampunk adventure
Following the surprise 2012 hit Dishonored wasn't going to be an easy task, but Dishonored 2 has more than lived up to its expectations.
Picking up 15 years after the events of the original, Dishonored 2 takes players back to the Victorian Steampunk city of Dunwall. This time, though, you have the choice of whether or not you want to play as the original title's protagonist Corvo, or his equally-skilled protegee Emily.
Dishonored 2 doesn't differ wildly from the first game, but there was nothing wrong with Dishonored in the first place. What we get is a vastly improved and close to perfected take on it.
Anyone who likes their games filled with atmosphere, character, and a bit of wit and intelligence will find Dishonored 2 worth picking up.
The best Xbox One deals and Xbox One S dealsA retro-slash-modern romp through the underworld
DOOM is very, very good. Not in a “wow, that’s good for a remake” kind of way, either. It’s genuinely a great shooter – so much so that we gave it a Game of the Year award in 2016. While Overwatch reinventing the wheel for first-person shooting games, DOOM impresses us by bringing us back to the time where dial-up internet was the only way to access AOL email: DOOM is, in so many ways, an excellent evolution of what the series was 20 years ago. It’s brutal. It’s bloody. It has devilish, frightening creatures that bleed when you slice them in half with a chainsaw. It’s the experience we wanted two decades ago but couldn’t articulate it because of the limitations of technology.
"Our weapons are fear, surprise, ruthless efficiency and gigantic sidequests."
Inquisition is the proverbial RPG banquet - a 200-hour array of quests, magic-infused scraps, postcard landscapes and well-written character interactions that's perhaps a bit too familiar, at times, but makes up for it with sheer generosity.
It puts you in charge not just of a four-man party of adventurers but also a private army with its own castle and attendant strategic meta-game, tasked with defeating a mysterious demon menace.
The choice of Unreal Engine makes for vast open environments and sexily SFX-laden combat – fortunately, you can pause the latter to issue orders if the onslaught becomes overwhelming. It's a genre giant.
The homecoming we've waited seven years for
All things considered, this is one of the best games Bethesda has made. It ticks all the boxes: a massive, detail-oriented open-world; still-fantastic tenets of looting and shooting; a story filled with intriguing side quests and subplots that feel like they matter; and of course a classic soundtrack that brings it all to life.
In many ways it's the game we've been waiting for since Fallout 3 steered the series away from its top-down role-playing roots. Not only is the world itself wider, but the plot is better, and more digestible, than any of the games before it. There's still a sense of mystery about what's happening but you no longer have to dig forever and a day through terminals to piece it together.
Welcome home, stranger.
Still the best football sim money can buy
FIFA is, for many console owners, a highly anticipated annual event. The latest and arguably greatest installment in the football sim series has arrived in the form of FIFA 18.
Whether you're looking to play against others online, build up a management career on your own or play a cinematic story mode that'll give you an insight into the dramatic life of a premier league footballer, FIFA has a game mode just for you.
The best thing is, there's always more than enough to throw yourself into and agonize over until the next game rolls around with further incremental improvements that'll convince you to upgrade.
You can read our full review of FIFA 18 right here and make sure you're the best on the pitch using our tips and tricks guide.
Huge, exotic and amazing to behold: Australia is a petrol-head's dream
While the original Forza titles were about pristine driving skills around perfectly kept tracks, the Horizon series has a penchant for trading paint and isn't afraid to have you get down and dirty with off-road races from time to time.
While the first two entries in Turn 10's spin-off franchise surprised and delighted, Forza Horizon 3 is the unabashed pinnacle of the series, and stands amid some of the greatest racing games ever made. Good news for Xbox One X owners – Forza Horizon 3 now has its 4K and HDR patch.
The Gears keep on turning for this excellent third-person shooter franchise
Despite a new platform, a new development team and a new-ish set of muscled heroes on its box art, Gears of War 4 isn't some grand reimagining of the series that helped Xbox 360 go supernova back in 2006. But then again, such a revelation shouldn't come as a shock – this is the cover shooter that made cover shooters a fad-filled genre all unto itself, so messing too drastically with that special sauce was never a viable option.
Instead, the Xbox One and Xbox One S get the Gears of War template we all know and love with a few extra features gently stirred into the pot. For a start, the jump to current-gen tech has made all the difference to The Coalition's first full-fat Gears title. Spend a little time in the previously remastered Gears of War: Ultimate Edition and you'll see how small and confined those original level designs were, even with a graphical upgrade to make it feel relevant again.
It's more than just graphics, though. It's the return to form for the franchise; the focus on what makes a Gears game so great, that really won us over.
There's no fear and loathing in Los Santos – just explosive entertainment
Yes, including one of last generation's greatest games among this generation's finest is rather boring, but GTA V on Xbox One is too good to ignore, with HD visuals, a longer draw distance and a faster frame-rate.
Among other, more practical perks it includes a first-person mode, which genuinely makes this feel like a different game, though the missions, tools and characters are the same. The new perspective pushes Rockstar's attention to detail to the fore, allowing you to better appreciate the landscape's abundance of in-jokes and ambient details.
GTA V's open world multiplayer remains a laidback thrill, whether you're stuntdiving with friends or teaming up to complete a Heist (a long overdue addition to MP, but worth the wait) – it's probably the best place to hang out on Xbox Live.
Halo multiplayer at its best
A franchise that has defined Xbox as a platform for a long time is Halo and Halo 5: Guardians is a worthy addition to the series. With both a single-player campaign and the usual thrilling multiplayer combat, this is the Halo game for Xbox One you don't want to miss.
Though its single-player campaign isn't the best in the franchise in terms of story, this is Halo multiplayer combat at its most fun and anyone that loves playing online with friends will enjoy what the various modes on offer.
Say hello to the triple indie
Hellblade: Senua's Sacrifice is developer Ninja Theory's first attempt at publishing its own game and it's quite an achievement. The game follows Senua, a Celtic warrior suffering from psychosis who travels to Hell to rescue her lost lover.
The game uses an interesting mix of binaural audio and innovative visual techniques to communicate Senua's experience with her psychosis to the player, resulting in a game that's likely to be quite different from anything else you've played recently.
Disturbing, insightful and extremely enjoyable to play, this is a game worth taking a look at and we're glad to see it makes its debut on Xbox One. Xbox One X owners will have the benefit of being able to choose between three visual modes which promote either resolution, framerate or visual richness.
You can read all about our experience with the motion capture tech behind Hellblade right here.
How many Snakes does it take to change a lightbulb?
Okay, so Hideo Kojima's last game for Konami - and his last ever Metal Gear game - might be a little tough for the MGS n00b to get to grips with, but it's still one of the best stealth-action games ever crafted. The open-world shenanigans will satisfy all your behind-enemy-lines / Rambo fantasies and probably confuse you with crazy plot twists and a million characters all with the same gravel-toned voices.
But hey, that's all part of its charm, right?
Bold, brilliant and brutal
Middle-earth: Shadow of War is the sequel to the accomplished Middle-earth: Shadow of Mordor and builds upon all of its strengths.
Taking up the role of Talion once more, this game takes you back to a beautifully realized world that's bursting with originality. If you were a fan of the original game, we highly recommend that you pick of Shadow of War as it's an improvement in almost every way.
Read our full review here and check out our handy tips and tricks guide.
Friends who slay together, stay together
You've probably heard of the Monster Hunter franchise before now – it's a classic that's been going a long time. But we haven't seen it on console for a while. Until now. Monster Hunter: World is the franchise's debut on the latest generation of consoles and it's a true breath of fresh air.
Giving players the option to play solo or team up with up to three other friends, this game invites you into a living, breathing game world to hunt down some monsters. For research. And fun.
You'll face a learning curve with Monster Hunter: World and the dark-souls style of combat has the potential to frustrate, but this is the most accessible Monster Hunter game we've seen in years. If you've been looking for a chance to break into the series, this is it.
In our review we called the game "a bold and confident new chapter" and gave it a "play it now" recommendation. Thinking of becoming a Monster Hunter yourself? Make sure you check out our full survival guide.
A Metroid-Vania platformer with light RPG elements and loads of heart
Although Ori was released early on in the Xbox One's life cycle, it remains one of the best platformers on the console, bar none. Shockingly beautiful and ultra-deadly, the world of Ori and the Blind Forest inspires and impresses in equal measure. Add to that the game's phenomenal, easy-to-learn-hard-to-master control scheme and light RPG elements and you have the recipe for a timeless classic.
Sure, there are some sequences that aren't as enjoyable as the rest of the game (we're looking at you timed post-boss fight sequences) but ultimately this is a series that continues to enthrall long after you put the controller down.
Not had enough Ori in your life? We've learned that the game will be getting a sequel in 2019 called Ori and the Will of the Wisps. It will pick up where are story left off (no spoilers, please!) and will see Ori platforming his way through the eponymous forest for a second run.
The team-based shooter you need to buy on Xbox One
Overwatch has, without a doubt, been one of our favorite games to come out of the last year – garnering our Game of the Year 2016 award.
It's a classic team arena shooter from Blizzard that sets two six-person teams of wildly different characters against each other in a bright and cartoonish science fiction universe. And while it feels similar to the Call of Duty you've played before, Overwatch turns traditional shooters on their heads by adding unique character abilities and cool-downs to the mix that force you to strategize every once in a while instead of blindly running from room to room.
Great graphics, tight maps, and a good roster of characters to enjoy playing. Overwatch is good old fashioned fun and we thoroughly recommend it.
A chilling return to form
Your gaming collection isn't really complete if it doesn't have a quality horror title and if we had to suggest one it'd be the newest installment in the Resident Evil franchise.
Resident Evil is the franchise that put survival-horror games on the map and though it lost its way slightly in later titles, the newest game is a return to form for Capcom.
By going back to the survival-horror basics and getting them dead on, Capcom has made Resident Evil 7 a genuinely frightening and exhilarating gaming experience. If you have the stomach for the gore, it's absolutely worth playing.
Don't miss our full review of the game.
The name of the game is freedom in Lara's latest sprawling outing
Despite being the sequel to a prequel about the young life of the Lara Croft, this still feels like a Tomb Raider game that has grown up. The reboot which saw a brave new direction for the franchise seemed a lot of the time to be little more than a bit of light Uncharted cosplay, but Rise is a far more accomplished game.
There's now a genuine open world which feels like there is always something to do, and something more than just harvesting up collectibles in exchange for a light dusting of XP. There are also tombs. Yes, that might seem a fatuous thing to say given the name, but the previous game gave them short shrift. In Rise though they are deeper and more plentiful. Rise also has one of the best narratives of any Tomb Raider game, penned again by Rhianna Pratchett, it's sometimes rather poignant.
So come on, ditch Fallout 4's wasteland for a while and give Lara some love.
They had the technology to rebuild him, better than before
The original Titanfall was a great game – so great that it long held a place on this very list. However, its sequel, Titanfall 2, improves on it every conceivable way: the motion is more fluid, there are more distinct titans to choose from and, hold onto your hats here, there's actually a single-player campaign that might take the cake for the best first-person shooter story of the year.
This game's pedigree is inherited from one of this generation's smartest and most unusual shooters. The original Titanfall married ninja-fast on-foot combat to the gloriously thuggish thrill of piloting giant mechs, which are summoned from orbit a few minutes into each match.
The skill with which Respawn has balanced this mix of styles in the sequel is remarkable – Titans have firepower in excess but they're easy to hit, and maps offer plenty of places for infantry to hide. These ideas coalesce into one of this year's most remarkable entries in the genre and is well-deserving its own shot in the spotlight as well as a Game of the Year nomination.
Stories don't come bigger than this
Geralt didn't have the smoothest of entries to consoles, but after some heavy patching and a lot of angry words about visual downgrades, we're left with an RPG boasting tremendous scope and storytelling.
Oh, and combat. And don't forget Gwent, the in-game card game. And there's the crafting to get stuck into. And the alchemy.
You're rarely short of things to entertain yourself with in The Witcher 3's quasi-open world, then, and all the better that you're in a universe that involves the supernatural without leaning on the same old Tolkien fantasy tropes. Invigorating stuff.
Superb in every sense
Looking for an incredible single-player shooter? Look no further than the 2017 wonder that was Wolfenstein II. Picking up from where the original game left off, this game is a timely social commentary and a superbly silly adventure all rolled into one well-written package.
With tight mechanics and a story worth caring about this is one of the most satisfying first-person shooters we've played in a long time. In our full review we called it "expertly crafted" and recommended that you play it now.
Here are the biggest new releases this week.
Crash Bandicoot N. Sane Trilogy (Out June 29): Crash Bandicoot spins his way to Microsoft's console for the first time in franchise history with the 2017 re-make of the original Crash trilogy. Levels are just as challenging as you remember but now have that 4K polish you've come to expect from modern games.
The Crew 2 (Out June 26): Continuing Ubisoft's experiment in racing games, The Crew 2 returns to the U.S. with planes and speedboats in toe. You can swap between vehicles on the fly and you'll once again be competing in races across the States and try to best opponents both computer-controlled and live online.
NieR: Automata - Become as Gods Edition (Out June 26): One of the best Action RPGs last year is finally coming to Xbox One. Nier: Automata offers a unique aesthetic and fast-paced combat alongside traditional RPG elements. There's an element of replayability to it, but we won't ruin any of those surprises here.
The Awesome Adventures of Captain Spirit (Out June 26): A free downloadable title set in Dontnod's Life is Strange universe, Captain Spirit is the outwardly charming but deeply troubling story of a son trapped with his emotionally and physically abusive father. These style of games, in case you've never played them, are more about immersive gameplay over run-and-gun action, but they're heartfelt looks at sometimes dark, sometimes beautiful moments in a character's life.
Nvidia GeForce GTX 1180 release date, news and rumors
It’s been a while since Nvidia has released a new generation of graphics cards. Over the last year or so we’ve been on the edge of our seats trying to follow what Nvidia is up to with its next-gen graphics architecture, with speculation around three different codenames – Volta (an architecture some high-end graphics cards are already using), Ampere and Turing – and exactly where these might fit in with company’s consumer (GeForce) and pro-targeted GPUs going forward.
Thankfully, that wait is nearly over.
Over the last few weeks, we’ve seen a ton of rumors crop up regarding the Turing-powered Nvidia GTX 1180 Founders Edition. And, while a lot of the information is still speculation, we have a pretty good feeling that it’s right on the nose.
Initial speculation pointed to the GTX 1180 showing up as early as July, but it doesn’t look like Nvidia is going to hit that date. Instead, we might see it at Gamescom 2018, if recent speculation reported by Wccftech is to be believed. Beyond that, we don’t know when we’re going to get it, as Nvidia didn’t have anything to say about it at Computex 2018 beyond hinting that it’d be coming out a ‘long time from now’. Either way, keep this page bookmarked, as we’ll update it as soon as any new information comes our way.
Cut to the Chase What is it? Nvidia’s next-generation flagship graphics cardWhen is it out? Possibly July 2018How much will it cost? About the same, if not more than the GTX 1080
The GTX 1180 first popped up on our radar thanks to a Tom’s Hardware report that it would show up in July. That’s probably not true though, as we didn’t get any information about the GTX 1180 at Computex 2018. However, we have seen some reports that Nvidia will reveal its next-generation GPUs at the Hot Chips conference on August 20. However, those reports have been contradicted by a leak suggesting that Nvidia will release the GTX 1180 at Gamescom 2018.
So, besides the fact that we know it’s not coming out this month, we really don’t know when the GTX 1180 is going to release. However, we’ve essentially narrowed it down to either August or sometime in the fall. We’re not sure, but we still think it’s coming before the end of the year.
Either way, the GTX 1180 seems likely to release by the end of the year and we can’t wait.
This is where things might get a little tricky, and it’s also where we’ve seen little speculation. With the current segment of 10-series GPUs, Nvidia changed the way they charged for its reference cards by renaming them “Founders Edition”, putting an advanced blower-style cooler and vapor chamber cooling system in them and charging $100 more for it.
This approach worked really well for Team Green, so we expect it to do the same this time around. This would put the pricing of the GTX 1180 around $699 (about £520, AU$920), but we could see them raising the price to $749 (about £560, AU$990) or even higher.
For reference, the Nvidia GeForce GTX 1080 Ti and Nvdia GTX 1080 came with a starting prices at $699 (£679, AU$1099) and $599 (£600, AU$925), respectively.
However, we’re sure we’ll find out exactly what Nvidia will be charging for its new GPU in the very near future either way.
This is the exciting part of the article. In May, the reported specs of the Nvidia GeForce GTX 1180 were spotted in the TechPowerUp GPU database, and it is looking juicy.
This next-generation card, if this ‘spec speculation’ is to be believed, is more powerful than even the Nvidia Titan Xp, the most powerful consumer graphics card Nvidia has ever made.
We believe that the GTX 1180, whenever it shows up, will be running GDDR6 memory, and that’s backed up by a PCB using GDDR6 spotted by a reddit commenter. Now, we’re not sure if this points to the Turing-backed GTX 1180 or to a Tesla card, but it does suggest that the memory on the next generation of GPUs will be much more powerful.
Running at 200 watts and manufactured with a new 12nm process, the GTX 1180 will pack 3,584 CUDA cores, 224 TMUs (texture mapping units), 16GB of GDDR6 VRAM and a rated Floating Point 32 (FP32) performance of a whopping 13 Teraflops.
Compared to 2016’s GTX 1080, with its 2,560 CUDA cores, 160 TMUs, 8GB of GDDR5 VRAM and 8.7 teraflops of FP32 performance, you’re looking at massive performance gains.
And, it doesn’t even end with the reported specs for the GTX 1180 either, as we’ve also seen rumored specs for the lower-end GTX 1170 pop up on Wccftech. The lower tier card will reportedly run with 2,688 CUDA cores, 168 TMUs, 8-16GB of GDDR6 VRAM and 9.75 Teraflops of FP32 performance.
This means, even if you can’t afford the GTX 1180, you can still beat out the last-generation flagship at a bargain price.
Intel Cannon Lake release date, news, and rumors
Remember how Intel was going to release Cannon Lake in 2016? And, then when it got pushed back to 2018? Well, according to Intel’s Q1 financial results we won’t see the long-awaited follow-up to Kaby Lake until 2019 – at least in a consumer-ready state.
But, before we get into all the juicy rumors surrounding Cannon Lake, we’re going to take a step back, because Intel’s recent releases have been kind of hard to follow. So, in the past, Intel followed a predictable ‘Tick-Tock’ release schedule, where generations would switch between introducing a new die process and architecture. This is why we all expected Cannon Lake to succeed Skylake in 2016.
Obviously, that didn’t happen. Instead, Intel switched things up by pushing Cannon Lake back and released Kaby Lake instead – an ‘optimization’ in a new ‘process-architecture-optimization’ release schedule. Ok, so the 10nm Cannon Lake would follow after Kaby Lake, right? Well, that’s what we thought too. Instead Intel launched its 8th-generation Kaby Lake R and Coffee Lake processors, the fourth and fifth releases using Intel’s 14nm process.
If you find this to be confusing, trust us, you’re not alone. Now, there’s some good news – we’ve seen a listing for the first Cannon Lake CPU. Now while it’s just a 10nm laptop chip that’ll likely not see a retail release, it’s at least a sign of what’s to come.
It’s more likely that most Cannon Lake processors will look like that rumored octa-core Coffee Lake-S chip that’s supposedly coming in September. As time goes on, it’s looking like that chip is going to kick off the 9th-generation Core i9 launch in the mainstream. Intel also showed off a 28-core behemoth at Computex 2018, but that’s looking like a server-grade Cascade Lake-X chip rather than Cannon Lake. So, where is Cannon Lake?
Either way, there’s not a lot of solid information to run on, but that doesn’t mean we can’t speculate using our CPU expertise. But, be sure to keep this article bookmarked, as we’ll update it with all the latest and greatest Cannon Lake information that comes our way.
We were supposed to get Cannon Lake twice already. The presumably 9th-generation Intel CPUs were initially supposed to follow Skylake in 2016, then Kaby Lake in 2018. But according to Intel’s Q1 2018 financial report, it’s “currently shipping low-volume 10nm product and now expects 10nm volume production to shift to 2019.” So, we’re not getting Cannon Lake in 2018.
So, we know we’re going to have to wait until at least 2019 to see Cannon Lake, but when in 2019? Well, the short answer is ‘we don’t know’, but we can look at past releases for some guidance. Coffee Lake launched back in October 2017, and now that Intel is looking like it’s going to pad the gap between architectures with Coffee Lake-S, the second half of 2019 is looking more likely. That is, if it’s not pushed back to 2020.
Intel probably isn’t going to rock the boat too much here. We expect prices to fall in line with the current lineup of 8th-generation Coffee Lake processors. We’ve taken the liberty of listing some of the prices here.
Intel Core i7-8700K – $350 (£290, AU$520) Intel Core i7-8700 – $313 (£290, AU$430) Intel Core i5-8400 – $190 (£183, AU$250) Intel Core i5-8600K – $257 (£190, AU$325) Intel Core i5-8600 – $213 (about £150, AU$277) Intel Core i3-8100 – $130 (£99, AU$145) Intel Core i3-8350K – $180 (£160, AU$240) Intel Core i3-8300 – $138 (about £98, AU$180)Unfortunately, we won’t know until Intel actually releases pricing information, but between generations, Intel doesn’t generally shift its pricing all that much.
This is where things are going to get interesting. It’s been a very long time since we’ve seen a die process shrink at Intel, but when Broadwell succeeded Haswell (yeah, it’s been that long), we saw 30% gains in efficiency. This will mean that battery life in the best laptops will surge, and we’ll be able to overclock even harder while keeping temps manageable.
Tom’s Hardware has reported that a dual-core Cannon Lake CPU was shipped last year according to a Spectre microcode guidance document, but it’s highly unlikely that consumer units will be the same. Otherwise AMD would eat them alive for that. We’ll likely see higher core counts, as Intel is going to want to go up against AMD in a major way.
This dual-core chip was likely that Intel Core i3 8121U processor that was just listed by Intel. According to the product listing the processor features two cores and fou threads delivering 2.2GHz of base performance and boost clock of 3.2GHz. It also has a TDP of just 15W and a 4MB cache.
We’ve also seen a leaked document that suggests a new X399 chipset in the works that would support existing Coffee Lake CPUs and possibly Cannon Lake processors as well, suggesting enthusiasts won’t need to upgrade their motherboard to get on the Cannon Lake train.
If the newly-announced Intel i7-8086K is any kind of clue as to what we can expect from future Intel products with its 5GHz boost clock, we won’t only see high core counts as a result of the move to a 10nm process, but crazy high clock speeds as well.
Ultimately, we won’t know what performance advantages Cannon Lake CPUs will offer until Intel shares some more information about it, but because it’s been pushed back until 2019. It’s likely we won’t hear anything from the tech behemoth until CES 2019. But, don’t worry if anything changes, we’ll update this page. So, keep your eyes glued to this page.
Best CPU cooler 2018: top CPU coolers for your PC
What’s cooler than being cool? That’s right, keeping your PC components ice cold. Here at TechRadar, we love building and overclocking the best gaming PCs we can get our hands on – and we know that the best CPU coolers will help you squeeze every drop of performance out of even the best processors, as lower CPU temps allow your PC to run faster and last longer.
The best CPU coolers will come in every shape and size, and what you need for your build will largely depend on what you’re going to do with it. Luckily, there are awesome CPU coolers at every price point – so you don’t need to let your budget hold you back. If you’re overclocking the best processors, you should consider investing in a beefy liquid cooling solution, so you don’t break anything.
No matter what kind of CPU cooler you’re in the market for, we here at TechRadar will help you find it with this list of the best CPU coolers you can buy in 2018 – each one tested and ranked right here.
The Noctua NH-D15 is the best CPU cooler you can buy in 2018 simply because it performs just as well as – if not better than some liquid coolers, while costing a fraction of the price. Now, you might not be too familiar with Noctua’s name, as they’re relatively small in the CPU cooler world, but its business is centered around designing coolers, so you know that when you buy one of their products, you’re getting a product by people who really know their craft. Not only will you get fantastic cooling performance from the NH-D15, but it’s nearly silent too.
A constant reminder of the age-old saying ‘if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it’, the Cooler Master Hyper 212 Evo is a mainstay in pretty much any budget build, as its one of the most affordable CPU coolers you can buy today. Although it only features four heatpipes and an aluminum fin structure, this renowned CPU cooler has proven itself time and again to be as efficient as any liquid cooling system. These air coolers are designed to make heat dissipation a breeze, whether you’re playing Destiny 2 at max settings or reading TechRadar in a web browser.
This CPU cooler is among one of the smallest we’ve ever used for our own Mini ATX builds. It come from an Austrian company as our best CPU cooler that specializes entirely in PC coolers and fans, which means no compromises are made in the way of quality assurance despite its low-profile form-factor.
Known best for its cases, such as those produced in collaboration with Asus and Razer, you may be surprised to learn that NZXT’s CPU coolers are every bit as impressive as the hardware which encloses them. The Kraken X62 is no exception, being one of the few 280mm all-in-one liquid coolers to feature RGB lighting. Given that the radiator comes pre-attached and the thermal paste pre-applied, the NZXT Kraken x62 is awfully easy to set up too. The packed-in CAM software, which lets you tweak settings on the fly, is merely icing on the cake.
There isn’t a single component that can’t be made better with RGB, and Cooler Master knows this – jumping on the RGB bandwagon with the MasterLiquid ML 120R RGB. What’s more, it integrates some of the first addressable LEDs seen on a liquid cooler. This all-in-one liquid cooling solution isn’t just about aesthetics either – as it features an oxidation-free pump and an efficient radiator. This means that not only will it last longer – but it’ll keep your CPU cooler, and all without giving up too much case real estate.
For less than 70 big ones in both US dollars and British sterling, the Arctic Liquid Freezer 120 is a deal you can’t pass up if you’re on the prowl for a liquid cooler that won’t break the bank. While it lacks the bells and whistles of pricier, more extravagant liquid coolers, like the NZXT Kraken, the Arctic Liquid cooler is enough to get you by, not to mention it’s still a massive step up from the classic fan and heatsink pairing. So, while you can’t expect RGB lighting or software – or even hardware-based fan control, the 120mm variant of the Arctic Liquid Freezer will keep your system refrigerated at a (mostly) quiet volume.
This product is only available in the US and UK at the time of this writing. Australian readers: check out a fine alternative in the Corsair Hydro Series H5 SF
Even if you have a budget that allows for some of the more serious liquid cooling solutions, even some of the sweetest PC cases don’t permit the sheer mass of a bulkier, dual-fan or even a single 120mm radiator. That’s where the Hydro Series H5 SF proves building small doesn doesn’t mean you have to give up on liquid cooling. NZXT Kraken X62
Unless you’re already neck deep in the rabbit hole that is silent PC assembly, you’ve probably never heard of NoFan, a South Korean component company that specializes in helping enthusiasts reach that 0dBA silent sweet spot. In doing so, of course, you can count on severely limiting yourself in terms of power, with its CR-95C fanless solution being limited in compatibility to processors whose TDP fall below 95W. Still, the NoFan CR-95C is worth a shot for those sporting low-power rigs that prioritize tranquility over raw horsepower.
This Product is only available in the US at the time of this writing. UK and Australian readers: check out a fine alternative in the Noctua NH-L9 We’ve also ranked and reviewed the best gaming keyboards of 2018
Intel Coffee Lake release date, news and features
Fifth time’s the charm. At least that seems to be the case with Intel’s fifth round of processors based on the 14nm manufacturing process.
After the release of the laptop-centric 8th-generation Kaby Lake R processors back in August, Intel finally released the 8th-generation Coffee Lake desktop CPUs in October 2017, along with a lineup of processors and motherboards. We’ve also seen leaks for a X399 chipset, likely for the upcoming Cannon Lake processors.
Meanwhile, there are whispers of a new Z390 platform that likely also supports Coffee Lake and even the anticipated Canon Lake processors.
Back in April, Intel released its Coffee Lake H-Series processors for laptops, including the beefy Core i9-8950HK, which is behind some of the best gaming laptops of 2018. We’ve also seen speculation that Intel is going to bring more Core i9 chips to the mainstream, in what may be the beginnings of the 9th generation. This further backs up that rumor that we’re getting an octa-core Coffee Lake processor in September.
Intel has also released the Intel Core i7-8086K, celebrating its 40th anniversary, running 6 cores at a stock 5GHz clock speed. We also saw Intel showing off a 28-core CPU at Computex 2018, also running at 5GHz, but we don’t know if that’s at all indicative of its real-world performance.
In spite of earlier, more modest statements, Intel’s 8th-generation Coffee Lake processors are up to 45% faster than their Kaby Lake predecessors. This explains the requirement for users to upgrade to a new motherboard – even though some clever modders found a way around that.
Unfortunately, Coffee Lake CPUs were subject to the Spectre and Meltdown exploits, but Intel says that their CPUs will soon be immune, and fixes are currently being rolled out.
Unsurprisingly, the lineup includes processors in each of the Core i3, i5, i7, and the potentially new i9 categories.
Cut to the chase What is it? Intel's 8th-generation desktop CPU architectureWhen is it out? October 5thWhat will it cost? From $117 (about £85, AU$145) – $359 (about £265, AU$450)
The Intel Coffee Lake processors finally touched down on October 5, 2017. Intel has also announced a new line of 8th generation Coffee Lake CPUs featuring Radeon RX Vega graphics that should be out sometime in the coming months.
Originally, in February 2017, Intel stated that Coffee Lake would surface in the latter half of the year. Intel reassured us of this claim at Computex 2017 held in Taipei, Taiwan.
Later into 2017, the Santa Clara chipmaker came out and teased an August 21 livestream reveal of its 8th-generation processors, which turned out to be a refresh of its 7th-generation processors for Ultrabooks and laptops, called Kaby Lake Refresh.
Then, back in April 2018, Intel released its H-series Intel Core CPUs alongside several high-profile laptops, like the MSI GS65 Stealth. We also saw Intel’s low-power T-series desktop chips release at the same time.
At Computex 2018, Intel announced the Core i7-8086K, celebrating its 50th anniversary. This beast of a chip rocks 6 cores and 12 threads, and you can preorder it now.
There’s been some speculation that Intel would be launching an 8-Core Coffee Lake-S chip in September. But, after some other recent speculation, it would seem that this chip may be heralding the launch of Intel 9th-generation processors. Who knows if we’re going to actually see it in September, but it’s not going to be just one chip anymore.
Arguably the most elusive aspect of Coffee Lake leading up to its canonical announcement was pricing. Aside from looking at the processor market AMD Ryzen rewrote, we didn’t have much to base our speculation. And now that Intel has released its first CPUs with discrete AMD Radeon graphics, we don’t have much to base the pricing for the laptops that will feature them.
Luckily, Intel has revealed a total rundown of the latest 8th-generation Coffee Lake chips since their announcement. And with that reveal, we finally knew that the Santa Clara tech behemoth was going to unleash an entire assortment of processors with a wide range of different prices.
Starting with the cheapest, the Intel Core i3 CPUs are Intel’s entry-level line is priced as follows.
Intel Core i3-8100 – $130 (£99, AU$145) Intel Core i3-8350K – $180 (£160, AU$240) Intel Core i3-8300 – $138 (about £98, AU$180) Intel Core i3-8300T – $138 (about £98, AU$180) Intel Core i3-8100T – $117 (about £83, AU$152)At the mid-range you have the Intel Core i5 CPUs, aimed squarely at a mainstream audience. They’re priced as follows:
Intel Core i5-8400 – $190 (£183, AU$250) Intel Core i5-8600K – $257 (£190, AU$325) Intel Core i5-8600 – $213 (about £150, AU$277) Intel Core i5-8500 – $138 (about £98, AU$180) Intel Core i5-8600T – $213 (about £150, AU$277) Intel Core i5-8500T – $192 (about £137, AU$250) Intel Core i5-8400T – $182 (about £129, AU$237)And, then you have the Intel Core i7 CPUs, aimed exclusively at enthusiast consumers, and are perfect for media editing, or any other multi-threaded workloads. They’re priced as follows:
Intel Core i7-8700K – $350 (£290, AU$520) Intel Core i7-8700 – $313 (£290, AU$430) Intel Core i7-8700T – $303 (about £215, AU$395) Intel Core i7-8086K – $425 (£380, about AU$560)Comparatively, an Intel Kaby Lake processor on its own will, as of this writing, set you back anywhere from $42 (£39, AU$66) to $350 (£415, AU$469), while Ryzen processors range from $168 (£158, AU$245) to $499 or £499 (AU$650).
Let’s break it down: although all of the 8th-generation Coffee Lake chips are still manufactured on the 14nm node, Intel has proven that there’s still plenty of life in the process yet.
Again, starting from the ground up, the Intel Core i3 chips this time boast four cores each for the first time in the mainstream CPU space. What’s more, whereas the Intel Core i3-8100 takes advantage of four cores and four threads running at 3.6GHz, the unlocked Core i3-8350K totes the same number of cores and threads, but instead opts for a base frequency of 4GHz.
As for the Core i5 range, the plain Intel Core i5-8400 is a now a hexa-core monster, bearing six cores and six threads. Moreover, its base clock is 2.8GHz, and it operates at 4GHz with Turbo Boost.
Meanwhile the Core i5-8600K also squeezes six cores and six threads into the 14nm chip while brandishing base/boost speeds of 3.6GHz and 4.3GHz, respectively.
Then you’ve got the Intel Core i7-8700 and i7-8700K. The former is yet another six-core demon, albeit with double the number of threads as the i5-8600K. Its overclockable analogue, the Intel Core i7-8700K, poses a threat to the AMD Ryzen 7 1800X, sporting six cores, 12 threads and base/boost clock speeds of 3.7GHz/4.7GHz.
Then, rounding out the Core i7 Coffee Lake CPUs, you have the Intel Core i7 8086K, which a 6-core 12-thread chip, clocked at 4.0GHz with a whopping 5.0GHz boost clock. This makes it the highest-clocked consumer chip Intel has released. Fitting way to celebrate its 50th anniversary.
And, following the announcement for the anticipated H-Series Coffee Lake Processors, including the Core i9-8950HK, clocked at 2.9GHz with a 4.8GHZ boost clock, we’re going to see some blazing fast laptops powered by these 6 core, 12 thread behemoths. Intel has also announced a new line of low-powered T-series desktop CPUs that should effectively fill out the budget segment of the CPU market.
We might be getting a Coffee Lake-S octa-core processor in september, according to leaked Intel documents. And, then further leaks have revealed that Intel may be planning on releasing a Core i9 chip in the mainstream, reportedly as the launch of the 9th generation. There were also two other chips revealed – a 6-core 12-thread Core i7 and a 6-core i5 with no hyperthreading. So, could this next generation spell the end of the Core i3? Maybe it’ll just get released later.
That’s all we know for now. We’ve seen a wide array of 8th-generation Coffee Lake processors, including some Coffee Lake processors for laptops. Now we might be seeing 9th-generation Coffee Lake-S processors kicking off the next generation of CPUs, and we’re sure to see Coffee Lake-X chips eventually.
There still a ton of news to come. Per our usual advice, we encourage you return to this page periodically for in-depth coverage of the latest Intel Coffee Lake reveals.
Be sure to check out "AMD Ryzen 2nd Generation"Joe Osborne has also contributed to this report
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