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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Securing the playbook: safeguarding robotics in the AI-age
Fri, 08 Feb 2019 12:00:48 +0000
Last Sunday saw Super Bowl LIII, with the New England Patriots claiming the most Super Bowl victories in NFL history alongside the Pittsburgh Steelers. But it’s not just about the football – many tune into this global sporting event for the glitz, glamour, half time show and not forgetting, the advertisements.
Let’s briefly examine the adverts from this year’s event. The best ads were the “not brewed with corn syrup” ads from Budweiser Light. The ads kept the popular “Dilly! Dilly!” concept going while cleverly weaving in Bud Light’s new “not brewed with corn syrup” theme. And the Bud Light take-over ad by HBO’s Game of Thrones was completely unexpected and captivating.
However, even when watching the Super Bowl, I couldn’t switch off from thinking about cybersecurity. So, I noticed just how many of this year’s Super Bowl ads related to the power and potential downside of artificial intelligence.
Why mobile is at the heart of Industry 4.0What most companies forget when fighting off cyberattacksThe forgotten history of the 800-year-old robot AI’s portrayal at the Super BowlThe most positive depiction of AI came with the ad for the Mercedes A class. The protagonist uses AI-backed voice recognition software to make his wishes come true, including swapping out the singer at an opera for Ludacris and freeing a whale in a ‘Free Willy’ fashion. Although the Mercedes A class cannot make these dreams come true in real life, the voice recognition and AI can in fact free up the driver’s hands by making cabin temperature adjustments. It can also change the media that’s playing or altering the cabin lighting.
In contrast, other ads hinted at some of the potential risks that AI could bring. A good example here is the SimpliSafe home security ad where an anxious middle aged man worries that robots are going to take his job and that his smart speakers are “always listening”. But, the ad that best exposes the risks of AI is the ad from Alexa showing some of the functions that didn’t make the cut, including a dog collar that let Harrison Ford’s pug order alarming quantities of dog food and sausage, while Harrison Ford is left looking on helpless.
Although done in a humorous spirit for a mass audience, the ad does point to the tangible down side of poorly designed, poorly secured and ‘always-connected’ AI-powered technology. Although an Alexa dog collar that allows Fido to order a tonne of dog food might seem funny, a manufacturing organisation that has its industrial robots hacked could face very serious consequences.
Image Credit: iStock
Protecting robots from cyberattacksRecent reports have pointed to the risk of cyberattacks against industrial robots. These risks are increasing as more of these robots are being connected to the Internet and as the adoption of 5G encourages more connected automation. An attacker could potentially leverage unsecured privileged access to take control of a manufacturing robot and alter its movements so that it creates defective products. Or attackers could plant malware in the robots, forcing companies to pay a ransom before they can return to normal operations.
The risks are not strictly limited to the domain of manufacturing robots. Software bots are becoming increasingly popular as enterprises adopt Robotic Process Automation (RPA). RPA automates and standardises repeatable business processes with the use of software robots. These software robots interact with applications in the same way that a person does. While RPA delivers tremendous business benefits to organisations in terms of increased operational efficiency, it can come with some risks if not properly secured. For example, an attacker could compromise a highly privileged robot user account to gain access to sensitive data and move laterally within a network or a malicious insider could train a bot to destroy high-value data or interrupt key business processes.
I doubt that Amazon’s Alexa Super Bowl ad was supposed to send viewers down this line of thinking, but let’s hope that other vendors of AI powered technology will share the “not everything makes the cut” sentiment of this ad. In our software-defined world, the volume of attack vectors for hackers has significantly increased and there has never been a more critical time to ensure robust cyber security measures are in place in the world of software robotics.
David Higgins, Director of Customer Development EMEA at CyberArk
This is everything you need to know about Industry 4.0
Google job listing hints the company is planning a big wearables expansion
Fri, 08 Feb 2019 11:41:11 +0000
Even though Google said in late 2018 that it wouldn't be releasing a Google Pixel Watch anytime soon, the company seems to be putting a big focus on making own-brand wearable devices.
According to a new job listing, Google is in the process of looking for a Vice President of Hardware Engineering for Wearables.
Although the listing doesn't confirm the company will be releasing a Google Pixel Watch soon, the role will be responsible for developing new Google wearable products for the next few years.
All we know about the Pixel WatchDon't want to wait? Best Wear OS watch is for youRumors of a Samsung Galaxy Watch Active are buildingThis obviously suggests the company will be working on multiple iterations of its own Wear OS device, which is something we've seen heavily rumored since the middle of last year.
Right now, Google only has one wearable product with its own branding, that being the Google Pixel Buds, so it may be the company is looking to expand that line or it may be planning more Google Daydream VR related products too.
The job listing says "As the VP of Hardware Engineering for Wearables, you'll work collaboratively with the Senior Leadership team for Google Hardware and will be responsible for the design, development, and shipment of all Google's Wearable products.
"You will lead and enable the effectiveness of a large engineering organization primarily based in Mountain View to develop multiple next-generation wearable products simultaneously."
That sounds like Google has some big plans for its next foray into the world of wearables, which we expect means an expansion of Wear OS. There's also a new listing for a Wearables Design Manager, but the job listing doesn't provide as much information.
Google announced it was buying technology from Fossil last month for $40 million.
Neither company has provided details on what the tech involves, but we assume it's a new type of fitness tech, as Fossil confirmed the tech came from its sport brand Misfit's research and development team.
Why the $40 million Fossil deal doesn’t make a Google Pixel Watch more likelyVia Android Police
The best Netflix series in the UK (February 2019): fantastic Netflix shows to binge
Fri, 08 Feb 2019 11:30:37 +0000
Exclusives, originals, classics, when it comes to the best of the best TV shows, Netflix is still our number one streaming platform. Although Now TV and Amazon Prime have a great selection of movies and TV, Netflix is still our firm favourite because it's constantly being updated with such a great mix of series both old and new.
[Update: February on Netflix sees the launch of a brand new series fronted by OITNB's Natasha Lyyone, Russian Doll, Netflix's first ever dating show, Dating Around, and the release of The Umbrella Academy, an Ellen Page-fronted series based on the comic books by My Chemical Romance's Gerard Way.
Netflix has also confirmed that the season three of Stranger Things will arrive on July 4 2019.]
January on Netflix saw the launch of whip-smart new comedy Sex Education, as well as as the fifth season of popular comedy, Grace and Frankie. The end of the month also saw the final installment of Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt hitting our screens, too.
In other Netflix news, the streaming platform has now amassed an enormous 139 million subscribers, more than the populations of Tokyo, Delhi, Shanghai, Sao Paolo, and Mumbai combined.
The best VPN for Netflix 2019 What's coming soon on Netflix?As you can probably tell from that quick rundown, one of the best things about Netflix is it really does cater for every taste, from gritty true crime and thrillers through to fantasy, space adventures and plenty of cartoons and fun for kids. We can’t guarantee it, but we’re pretty sure there’s something for everyone.
Let’s not forget that a lot of the best shows on Netflix right now are originals that have been created by the Netflix team and the studios behind them. In short, Netflix is really on a roll.
Here's some of the brilliant Netflix UK shows you can expect in early 2019:
Brooklyn Nine-Nine, Season 5 - March 8 2019Stranger Things, Season 4 - July 4 2019For more, read our round up of the best upcoming TV shows and movies on Netflix
A still from Star Trek: Discovery
Credit: Netflix
Image credit: Netflix
Russian DollOrange Is The New Black's Natasha Lyonne stars in this dark comedy as Nadia, who keeps dying and reliving her 36th birthday party in a surreal time loop – much like Groundhog Day.
With it's cynical and witty examination of living and dying, Russian Doll switches rapidly between laugh-out-loud hilarity and devastating sadness – it's a must-watch.
Seasons on Netflix: 1
Image credit: Netflix
ManiacA bizarre new sci-fi series based on a Norwegian TV show of the same name. It's about Annie and Owen, played by Emma Stone and Jonah Hill, two troubled strangers who are brought together during some strange pharmaceutical trials. Dr. James K. Mantleray claims that a new series of pills he's created can solve all kinds of mental illness and heartbreak, but there's something much deeper and more sinister going on too.
Seasons on Netflix: 1
Image credit: Netflix
Bojack HorsemanYes, Bojack Horseman is hilarious. Yes, it’s the best thing Will Arnett has done since Arrested Development. And, yes, it should be the next thing you watch if you are into anthropomorphic comedy about a once great TV star who has fallen on hard times. It’s all of that but it’s also a pretty accurate portrayal of depression and should be celebrated as such.
For those who are worried it may be too dark for them, fear not - there's loads of slapstick humor, word play, and stunning animation to keep everything balanced.
Seasons on Netflix: 5
Image credit: Netflix
The CrownIs The Crown Netflix's crowning glory? It could be, as a sumptuous look at one of the world's most famous families: the Royal family. Charting the early years of the relationship between the Queen (Claire Foy) and Prince Philip (former Doctor Who Matt Smith), the show was written by Peter Morgan and, at £100 million, is one of the most expensive TV series ever made. Which means there's enough pomp and ceremony to keep those pining for a Downton Abbey replacement happy.
The second season is now on Netflix and is a nice improvement on the first series - it's also the last that stars the current cast, with Olivia Coleman and Helena Bonham Carter slated to appear as the Queen and Princess Margaret respectively in the next couple on seasons.
Seasons on Netflix: 2
Image credit: Netflix
Orange is the New BlackOrange Is The New Black is back for its sixth season and is a show that consistently one of the best to watch, with its superb tale of life in a women's prison.
It's so popular that it is now the most watched series on Netflix - although the makers have announced that the show's next season will be its last.
The show has returned for a sixth season and things are looking pretty bleak for the inmates of Litchfield Penitentiary. Tensions and issues with the US prison system brought to the fore. While the comedy is still there, it's slathered with a fair bit of drama and darkness.
Seasons on Netflix: 6
Image credit: Netflix
GLOWThe long-awaited second season of the female wrestling comedy GLOW is finally here. The Gorgeous Ladies Of Wrestling have returned and this time they’ve been commissioned for a full series of their trashy, hot-pink, hairspray-fuelled wrestling show led by their coked-up director (played by Marc Maron). The fantastic second season could potentially even outshine the first for its refreshing female-fronted cast and writers, and its brilliant balancing act between empowerment and exploitation. It’s a must-watch.
Seasons on Netflix: 2
The best upcoming TV shows and movies on Netflix Best drama series on Netflix
Image credit: Sony Pictures Television
Breaking BadBreaking Bad is must-watch TV and one of the reasons Netflix has risen to the popularity it has. Before Breaking Bad, Netflix was seen as a fairly decent streaming service. After it got the rights to show the final season of Breaking Bad in the UK, Netflix propelled itself to superstardom. Not bad for a show that’s ostensibly about a high-school teacher with cancer who goes on to sell meth to pay for his hospital bills.
It goes without saying, if you haven’t yet spent time with Walter White and Jesse - do so now! But, be warned, the show is as addictive as the stuff Walter is peddling.
Seasons on Netflix: 5
Image credit: BBC
SherlockThis contemporary BBC remake of the Arthur Conan Doyle classic is dark, funny, and intricately written, and it's brought Victorian sleuth Sherlock Holmes bang up to date for the modern age.
With stellar performances from Benedict Cumberbatch and Martin Freeman as Holmes and Dr Watson respectively, this BBC adaptation is an absolute must-watch. Storylines packed with intrigue and nail-biting tension are offset by moments of genuine humor, so even the scaredy-cats in the family will find something to love about this series.
Seasons on Netflix: 4
Image credit: Channel 4 / Clerkenwell Films
The End of the F***ing WorldAdapted from the comic book of the same name (mins the ***), The End Of The F***ing World is f***ing brilliant. It tells the tale of two teenagers on a journey; both are loners on the run but one of them just happens to be a bit of a psychopath. It's funny, but brutal TV. It's British and co-funded by Channel 4 and there's a fantastic edge to everything in it - and it's perfectly bite-sized, too at just under 20 minutes an episode. It's so good, it's destined to get a second season. The first ends so perfectly, though, it's actually a real shame that this will happen.
Seasons on Netflix: 1 (and it needs to stay that way)
Image credit: Lionsgate Television
Mad MenOn the face of it, Mad Men is about advertising execs - lead by the ever-conflicted Don Draper - in the Sixties but it's much much more. Each episode lingers, taking time to tell its tale, but it's worth the wait. Superb television that you can get caught up in.
Seasons on Netflix: 7
Best comedy series on NetflixImage credit: Netflix
Sex EducationThis British comedy series sees socially awkward sixth-former Otis (who lives with his sex therapist mother) team up with the smart and rebellious Maeve, to create a sex clinic for the school's sexually frustrated students.
It's equally funny as it is heartfelt, and offers a frank and uncensored view of teen sexuality and the social quagmire that is sixth-form education.
Don't be put off by the Americanisation of this high school comedy that's apparently set in a seemingly quaint British village – the temporal and physical ambiguity is what gives this fantastic series part of its charm.
Seasons on Netflix: 1
Image credit: NBC / Fremulon
The Good PlaceComedy is in a good place right now and, funnily enough, The Good Place is a perfect example of that. Starring Ted Danson and Kristen Bell, this off-the-wall comedy focuses on a recently deceased woman who is sent to a heaven-like utopia called the Good Place completely by accident. In order to stay there she goes to any lengths to hide what a terrible person she was when living.
Season 1 and 2 have already aired in the UK through Netflix, with new season 3 episodes being added each week in line with their US release.
A great cast, clever writing and an original concept make this a must-watch.
Seasons on Netflix: 3
Image credit: Objective Productions / Channel 4
Peep ShowAll nine seasons of Peep Show are now on Netflix - and if you haven't seen the show, then you are in for a treat. Charting the rather mundane lives of two flatmates Jez (Robert Webb) and Mark (David Mitchell), the show is a wry look at adults trying and failing to be adults.
All shot in first person - hence the name - Peep Show doesn't shirk from sex, drugs and political incorrectness but it does it all in such a brilliantly British way, that you don't mind at all when you are watching some of the most awkward TV moments, including one of the characters serving up a dead dog for dinner.
Don't ask, just watch.
Seasons on Netflix: 9
Image credit: FX
It's Always Sunny in PhiladelphiaInitially made on a shoe-string budget, It's Always Sunny In Philadelphia first season had a cult following, but low viewing figures meant it was destined to be a one-series wonder. Thankfully, everything changed when Season 2 was eventually green-lit, thanks to some big-time star power. Danny De Vito joined for a 10-episode run that was extended because he loved it so much.
He's still in the show that's now in its 13th season, bringing with him huge viewing figures. The antics of Dennis (Glenn Howerton), Mac (Rob McElhenney, the show's creator), Charlie (Charlie Kelly) and Sweet Dee (Kaitlin Olson) won't be for everyone - at its darkest the show's 'comedy' themes range from nazism to drug abuse - but stick with it and this deliciously depraved classic will reward you.
Its 13th season has finally arrived on Netflix, and we're happy to say, it's just as funny as the previous 12.
Seasons on Netflix: 13
Image credit: Netflix
Arrested DevelopmentArrested Development is one of the best comedies ever made. So it made sense that Netflix would want to resurrect it for a fifth season. The fourth season was funny, but it wasn’t perfect - primarily because most of the cast were too busy to get into the same room. But the fifth season brings back some of that Bluth magic, which is full of in-jokes, jokes that run for entire seasons and more, well, jokes, this is essential TV.
Seasons on Netflix: 5
Image credit: Fox
Brooklyn Nine-NineFollowing the brilliant but immature NYPD detective Jake Peralta, this Golden Globe-winning series is a laugh-a-minute, with plenty of deadpan jokes, physical comedy, and crackpot characters.
Although there are five series, you can only find four on Netflix right now - but don't worry, with around 20 episodes per season Brooklyn Nine-Nine is still totally bingeable.
Seasons on Netflix: 4
Best sci-fi / fantasy series on Netflix
Image credit: Netflix
Stranger ThingsWhen it comes to TV and movies, the '80s is the nostalgia decade of the moment. Whether it's Jeff Nichols' Midnight Special that plays like a Steven Spielberg film, if Spielberg still made films like he did in the Eighties, or The Goldbergs and Red Oaks mining the decade for laughs, filmmakers can't get enough of the shell suits and Sony Walkmans.
Stranger Things is another brilliant homage to this era. Leaning heavily on Spielberg, John Carpenter and Stephen King - so much King - the story revolves around a small town, a group of friends, a missing person and a dodgy science lab. Writing anything else would give away the myriad twists in a show that is full of brilliant creepy fun.
The second season continues the brilliance of the first and you’ll be pleased to read that the quality has not diminished. In fact everything’s been ramped up - the horror is more horrific, the homages more on the nose and the creatures are, well, you’ll have to find out for yourself but you will not be disappointed.
[Update: Netflix has just released the titles for each episode of season 3 in this teaser video, and confirmed the new season will arrive on July 4 2019.]
Seasons on Netflix: 2
Image credit: Netflix
The OACo-created by and starring the ever-brilliant Brit Marling, The OA consists of eight episodes that rival Stranger Things for, well, strangeness.
Marling is a blind woman who comes back after disappearing for many years. Her sight is restored and she has a tale to tell. Although there are eight episodes they vary wildly in length - from 70 minutes to 30 minutes. The whole thing has been made to make you feel uneasy and it does a great job of that.
Seasons on Netflix: 1
Image credit: CBS
Star Trek: DiscoveryWell, this series went to places we never thought it would. Set before the exploits of the Starship Enterprise, the show is filled with Roddenberry characters. But while the original series had shades of light this is a much darker look at space exploration. Sonequa Martin-Green is great as the first officer who has a past intrinsically linked to Star Trek characters of the past - we can't wait to see where this series goes.
[Update: the new season of Star Trek: Discovery is out now!]
Seasons on Netflix: 2
Image credit: Netflix
Black MirrorSeason 4 of Black Mirror is out now and is the darkest, most varied season of the show yet. Comprising six episodes of varying (almost feature) length, Charlie Brooker has concocted another dose of dystopian satire that riffs off everything from Star Trek to, well, schlock-horror The Driller Killer.
Before Black Mirror, Charlie Brooker was best known for his snarky looky at the news in Weekly Wipe and his fantastic, caustic look at 'meeja' types in London’s Shoreditch. Now the show has given him superstar status. For good reason, it’s fantastic TV with each episode taking on a different dystopia topic, mostly framed around technology going very long. The third season was commissioned by Netflix and is in 4K, with most of the episodes being feature length.
[Update: A new Black Mirror movie is here! Called Bandersnatch, it's an interactive adventure that puts the viewer in control of key decisions throughout the film, with multiple possible outcomes and endings.]
Seasons on Netflix: 4
Image credit: Netflix
DarkDark is a German-language supernatural thriller in which the disappearance of two children in a small town brings the fractured relationships and dark pasts of the people living there to the surface.
Adding a touch of Scandinavian crime thriller to American drama, this 10-part series was renewed for a second season, which is expected to land in 2019.
Seasons on Netflix: 1
Best horror movies: scary films to stream or buy in 2018 Best animated series on Netflix
Image credit: Warner Bros.
Rick and MortyRick and Morty has enjoyed an almost obsessive cult following since its release in 2013, and with three seasons on Netflix, there's a lot to catch up on if you haven't seen it yet.
The series follows the crazy inter-dimensional adventures of mad scientist Rick Sanchez and his timid grandson Morty, as they navigate both the multiverse and fraught family relationships.
Part of it's wide appeal is creator Dan Harmon's masterful combination of side-splitting humor with sometimes devastating emotional depth, meaning Rick and Morty is a series you will unlikely be able to stop watching once you start.
Seasons on Netflix: 3
Image credit: Warner Bros.
Final SpaceAnother sci-fi entry here: after human prisoner Gary meets a planet-destroying alien, they must go on an interstellar mission to save Earth. Alongside a ragtag team of misfits, Gary embarks on a journey through space to find out the true meaning of 'final space', or where the universe ends.
Laugh-out-loud funny, and surprisingly emotional, the series was picked up for another season in May 2018.
Seasons on Netflix: 1
Image credit: Netflix
F is for FamilyBased on the life of comedian Bill Burr, F is for Family is a funny and endearing cartoon set in 1970's American suburbia, and centres around Burr's father Frank Murphy.
A little like an even more adult version of The Simpsons, the series is all about 70's nostalgia, with musical, costume, and cultural throwbacks interspersed with Frank's profane rants at his misbehaving children and long suffering wife Sue.
Full to the brim with laugh-out-loud moments, the series is just as heartwarming as it is hilarious - and it's back for a brilliant third season.
Seasons on Netflix: 3
Image credit: FXX
ArcherArcher is back on Netflix for its penultimate ninth season, and like the previous season, the characters are playing different versions of themselves as Archer still lies in a coma.
This time Archer is a drunken co-pilot alongside Pam, who crash their plane onto the verdant Pacific island of Mitimotu, with the series paying homage to the short-lived television series Tales of the Golden Monkey and the Indiana Jones films.
Seasons on Netflix: 9
Image credit: WIT Studio
Attack on TitanBased on the manga of the same name by Hajime Isayama, Attack on Titan is an action -packed anime that's set in a world where humans live in cities protected by enormous walls to protect them from gigantic humanoid monsters called Titans who devour them at any opportunity.
When a Titan breaks through the wall of protagonist Eren Yeager's hometown, he vows to get revenge by joining a group of soldiers who battle them. Although the show has a dedicated fan following, the second and third seasons are yet to be released on Netflix.
Seasons on Netflix: 1
Image credit: Cartoon Network
Over the Garden WallNow something for the kids – originally aired on Cartoon Network, Over the Garden Wall is a charming mini-series that centers on two half brothers Wirt and Greg (voiced by Elijah Wood and Collin Dean respectively) who must find their way home through an enchanted forest.
Stalked by an evil ancient creature called 'The Beast', the two boys encounter the strange and sometimes wonderful inhabitants of the forest along their way.
With stunning animation inspired by Victorian illustrations and postcards, Over the Garden Wall is the perfect watch for adults and children alike.
Seasons on Netflix: 1
Want to know more? Here's our top 12 Netflix cartoons Best documentaries on Netflix
Image credit: Netflix
Conversations with a Killer: The Ted Bundy TapesThe latest true crime documentary to land on Netflix is this fascinating insight into the crimes of notorious serial killer, Ted Bundy. The four-part series features present day interviews, archival footage of Bundy, and audio recordings made with the killer on death row.
With chilling images and descriptions of Bundy's crimes, it's not a watch for the faint-hearted. But, if you can stomach it, this documentary is completely captivating.
Seasons on Netflix: 1
Image credit: Netflix
Making a MurdererThe world's fascination with real crime seems to be at its highest at the moment and it's all thanks to the podcast Serial. Now on to its second series, Serial highlights cases of crime in forensic detail. Making a Murderer is in a similar vein. This 10-part series looks at Steven Avery, someone who spent 18 years in prison for a crime he didn't commit and is then accused of a different crime. The show has been ten years in the making and is gripping stuff.
Seasons on Netflix: 2
Image credit: Duplass Brothers Productions
Evil GeniusIf true crime is your thing, then you'll want to get stuck into Evil Genius this weekend. It's about the very odd story of a pizza delivery man who robs a bank with a bomb tied around his neck. And that's all we can really say without ruining some of the more baffling details.
Described by numerous review sites as "unnerving" and "Lynchian", this isn't one for rom-com lovers or those looking for a chilled Sunday evening watch.
Seasons on Netflix: 1
Image credit: BBC
Planet Earth IINature buffs will have likely already watched this breath-taking documentary series when it first premiered on the BBC back in 2016, but you can rewatch it all again now the entire second season has landed on Netflix.
Following on from the super popular Planet Earth, this beautiful, breath-taking and at times brutal look at our planet and the plants, animals and people that thrive on it is made even more compelling because it's narrated by David Attenborough and the main music is composed by Hans Zimmer.
Seasons on Netflix: 1
Image credit: Netflix
Last Chance UESPN might've had the world of sports documentaries well in hand with its 30 for 30 series. But that was before Netflix got the crazy idea to make one of its own. Inspired by an article in GQ magazine, Last Chance U follows student athletes who are one step away from never playing football again. On top of the pressures on the field, students face problems in the classroom where class absences and the fear failing hit harder than a defensive lineman. It's gritty, heart-wrenching and exactly the kind of series that gives you something to root for all while biting your nails.
Just in time for football season, the third season of the show – which follows a new team in Independence, Kansas – is now available.
Seasons on Netflix: 3
Created by Netflix and Vox Media, this handy and smart series takes a look at some of the most popular ideas and tech around today and explains them in a way that's poignant in its presentation without feeling overwhelming to take in.
From the racial wealth gap, cryptocurrency and why diets rarely work through to K-Pop and the stock market, it's an insightful look at the problems, ideas and trends around today and the stuff that could shape tomorrow. At the very least, it gives you enough knowledge to have a really good debate down at the pub.
Seasons on Netflix: 1
Best reality series on Netflix
Image credit: Netflix
Tidying up with Marie KondoDoes this item spark joy? Marie Kondo is Japanese organizing consultant, and in this series, she visits families and helps them to re-organise their lives.
Using her KonMarie method, she instructs her students to go through their belongings, only keeping things that "spark joy". Relaxing and uplifting, this show is the perfect thing to watch before a spring clean.
Seasons on Netflix: 1
Image credit: Netflix
Queer EyeNeed a dose of feel-good TV to help cope with today's rocky political landscape? Check out Queer Eye, a show about being the best you with help from five of the coolest dudes on the planet. The show just entered its second season and we're still loving the premise of taking people stuck in a rut and hoisting them to the self-respecting, self-loving person we all want to be. Werk.
Seasons on Netflix: 2
Image credit: Love Productions / Channel 4
The Great British Bake OffEveryone’s favourite baking show is on Netflix and ready to stream. If you didn’t binge on baking as you binged on chocolate eggs, head on over to the streaming site now to watch seven seasons of GBBO. For those not in the know (seriously, how?), Great British Bake Off is a baking reality show that follows wannabe bakers through a series of challenges week after week. Each time, someone is eliminated and it’s made all the more addictive by judges Mary Berry and Paul Hollywood.
The reboot of the series by Channel 4 (with an entirely new lineup apart from Hollywood) isn't yet available on Netflix, but the rights have been acquired by the streaming giant so it shouldn't be too long now.
Seasons on Netflix: 7
Image credit: World of Wonder
It's been going strong for 8 years and 10 seasons, but RuPaul's Drag Race is still giving fierce fans a heavy dose of fabulous. For those not already in the know, the elimination-style reality show sees RuPaul go on the hunt for America's next drag superstar - expect lots of glitter, drama, and fun.
[Update: A brand new animated series starring show alumni Ginger Minj Trixie Mattel, Shangela, and Willam called Super Drags landed on Netflix on November 8.]
Seasons on Netflix: 9
Image credit: Netflix
Nailed it!If watching The Great British Bake Off makes you feel inadequate, you should try Nailed It!, the baking show for people who suck at baking. The series sees three contestants per episode take on two impossible baking challenges, with the winner receiving $10,000.
Hosted by the infectiously upbeat Nicole Byer and suave French pastry chef Jaques Torres, this show is guaranteed to make you smile.
[Update: The Christmas edition, Nailed It: Holiday is out now...perfect watching for a cosy night in.]
Seasons on Netflix: 2
Image credit: Netflix
Ultimate BeastmasterIf you were a fan of Takeshi's Castle back in the day, or more recently, Ninja Warrior, you're going to love Ultimate Beastmaster. The competition sees 2 contestants from six to nine countries take on 'The Beast', a ridiculously challenging obstacle course that only the fittest will be able to take on.
What sets this series apart from other obstacle course shows is that Netflix produces six localized versions, featuring "select television hosts, actors, comedians and athletes as commentators from the six countries competing in the show".
Seasons on Netflix: 3
Surface Studio 2 is now on sale in the UK – but boy it’s expensive
Fri, 08 Feb 2019 11:24:06 +0000
Microsoft’s Surface Studio 2 is now on sale in the UK with the price for the base version of the machine starting at £3,549.
The all-in-one sequel has been available over in the US for some time now, having been launched back in October of last year, with pre-orders going live immediately. But the delay isn’t surprising, as we often have to wait quite some time for Microsoft hardware to make its way over to these shores.
The more disappointing news for UK punters is that, as is often the case these days, the price in pounds is pretty much the same as the dollar amount, despite these currencies' relative values.
The Surface Dial could get a nifty new touch sensorSurface Studio 2 vs Surface Studio: is it time to upgrade?This is what Microsoft should do with the Surface Studio 3In fact, the Surface Studio 2 starts at $3,499 in the US, so the price of £3,549 is actually slightly more than the dollar figure.
Furthermore, Microsoft’s all-in-one is considerably more expensive when compared to the pricing of the original. With the first Surface Studio, £3,549 is where the mid-range model is pitched (it’s still on sale), not the entry-level PC (which is £2,999).
Still, if you’re tempted to buy the Surface Studio 2, at least you can now do so in the UK, and you can pick one up either direct from Microsoft, or alternatively from John Lewis (where you get a three-year guarantee).
Speedier StudioThe aforementioned base model priced at £3,549 comes with an Intel Core i7-7820HQ (yes, a 7th-gen processor), 16GB of system RAM, a GeForce GTX 1060 graphics solution, and a 1TB SSD.
The next model up costs £4,249 and doubles the RAM to 32GB while upgrading the graphics card to a GTX 1070. The top-end Surface Studio 2 also comes with 32GB of system memory and a GTX 1070, plus it doubles the SSD to 2TB.
If your wallet can stand the heat, there are some very compelling reasons to pick up the Surface Studio 2 despite the ramped-up asking price, as we observed in our review. This is not a machine designed for your average user, but the creative types who will benefit from everything the all-in-one offers could well find the PC worth forking out for.
The Surface Studio 2 still tops our list of the best all-in-one PCs
Haibike SDURO Hardnine 2.5 Street: a sporty hardtail e-bike with Yamaha power
Fri, 08 Feb 2019 11:14:43 +0000
Unlike conventional cycles where all the power comes from the rider, e-bikes get an extra boost from electric motor. This is generally a standalone unit built into the frame of the bike and it’s an area that has been dominated by Shimano and Bosch.
The great thing about these self-contained motor units is that they can be designed and engineered as bolt-on or bolt-in components.
That means a whole variety of bike makers can subsequently design their bikes around them and they can be placed in situ during assembly. It’s a simple but effective formula.
E-bikes are pretty common now too, so it’s easy to find a dealership to take a look at one should you run into any problems along the way. Using a power wash to get off dirt and grime is one example of a no no that could render your power unit dead on arrival.
Less common, at least in the UK and Europe are motor units from Yamaha, although that’s not to say they are any less effective. Indeed, German manufacturer Haibike knows a thing or two about putting together a decent bicycle having been building them under that brand name since the mid 90s, but with cycling roots that go back much farther.
So if it’s good enough for them then opting for Yamaha electric assistance over Shimano or Bosch should be all fine and dandy, right?
Understated looksThis new model, the Haibike SDURO Hardnine 2.5 Street is billed as a ‘sporty hardtail e-mountain bike’ by the manufacturer. It's a nice bit of kit, but the 'mountain bike' bit is a misnomer because this is more of a street bike with a hint of off-road capability. Think gravel tracks and grassy trails rather than mud, especially with the less-than-knobbly tyres.
It’s not a bona fide headturner like the awesome Shimano-powered Merida we looked at a while ago during our e-bike overview either. Nope, the Haibike is pretty low-key – understated, even – but if you’re planning on using it around town where bikes get pinched on a daily basis then that’s no bad thing.
At its core is, of course, the e-bike bit of the equation. The SDURO Hardnine 2.5 Street benefits from a Yamaha PW-SE motor, which is paired with a 400Wh Yamaha Lithium Ion battery. The bike comes with a Yamaha 4A quick charger too.
Information relating to the power unit, what you’re doing with it and how much longer you’ve got left in the battery is on show up on the handlebars via a Yamaha display. Plenty of continuity in the electronics department then.
Built to lastThe rest of the bike ticks plenty of boxes in terms of day-to-day usability. We particularly liked the front and back wraparound mudguards, which obviously saves your clothes from the worst that the wheels can flick up from the road. Having a muddy wet streak up your back is always the downside of a mudguard-free two-wheeler.
The Tektro M275 disc brakes, both front and rear work to great effect thanks to their 180mm two-piston design. There’s suspension on the front forks only though, with steel springs offering the ability to soak up divots, potholes, steps and kerbs to reasonable effect. At the back though it’s just the air in your tyres and your leg muscles that absorb the shocks. A skid plate, incidentally, protects the motor from knocks.
The frame itself is a good all-rounder, with a low-slung design and crossbar that curves up from beneath the saddle towards the handlebar stem. In that respect the SDURO Hardnine 2.5 Street is easy to get on and ride. In fact, it feels rather like a unisex bike that can be ridden by anyone. There are models available for both sexes however.
The 29-inch wheels feel just right too, especially if you’re pootling around town, but out on a run and with assistance from the battery and motor combo it feels pretty zippy, with a maximum torque of 70Nm on tap.
Solid ridingWe took the bike for several spins over the course of a couple of weeks and it’s good news if you were wondering about the ability of the Yamaha powertrain. Haibike has added the PW-SE motor units to all of their Yamaha models for this year and they reckon there’s improved response to higher cadence and better all-round performance thanks to that higher torque output. Out on the street, gravel paths and occasionally the fields, we found the bike perky enough and battery life seemed solid too.
Riding is a breeze, with four modes to choose from if you’re using the electric motor: Eco Plus, Eco, Standard and High. These, along with the walk assist option, can be called up using remote control via the left-hand grip. The LCD screen keeps you posted on what’s happening, displaying the likes of current speed, battery level and remaining range, plus frequency, mileage and time.
In other words, it’s more than adequate. There’s no need to worry about being home by dark either, because the SDURO Hardnine 2.5 Street comes with front and rear lights.
The model we tried is £1,949 (about $2,500, AU$3,500), but there are cheaper and more expensive models in the range worth considering. All in all, it’s a bundle of fun, even if it's not born for the mountains.
The tech that made freeride mountain biker Sam Pilgrim a world champion
Samsung Galaxy S10e Canary Yellow edition images leaked
Fri, 08 Feb 2019 11:11:31 +0000
Images of the Canary Yellow version Samsung Galaxy S10e have been leaked, and the device looks every bit as dazzling as the name suggests.
Front and rear renders of the device were acquired by mysmartprice, and as well as showing off the yellow finish they corroborate previously leaked details about the device.
The Samsung Galaxy S10e is set to be the Samsung Galaxy S10’s affordable alternative, offering a pared-down version of the flagship device at a lower price point.
Find out everything we know about the Samsung Galaxy S10 flagshipOr check out the S10 giant, the Galaxy S10 PlusWe're sure to find out about many new phones at MWC 2019As with the previous leaked batch of renders, these new images show the Samsung Galaxy S10e with a single-lens ‘punch-hole’ front camera and dual-lens selfie snapper, an Infinity-O display, and no fingerprint sensor – reports suggest this will be incorporated in the power button on the side of the handset.
Perhaps the most interesting aspect of the render is the color itself – few manufacturers choose to create phones in bright or bold colours, instead opting for subtler tones, with one notable exception being the iPhone XR, which also has a yellow variant. As well as Canary Yellow, it’s rumored that the Galaxy S10e will also be available in Prism Black, Green and White at launch, with a Blue variant available later.
The newest images of Canary Yellow Samsung Galaxy S10e. Image credit: mysmartprice
What else do we know about the Samsung Galaxy S10e?Reports suggest the device will only launch in one size, with 6GB RAM and 128GB internal memory. The only price we’ve seen rumored so far is €749, which converts to about $850, £660 or AU$1200.
We’ve also heard that the device will be kitted out with a 3100mAh battery and a notchless 5.8-inch Infinity-O screen, which chimes with the latest punch-hole rumor. Previous leaks all point towards these specifications, which suggests the S10e will have both a smaller screen and a smaller battery than the S10.
There’s been no shortage of leaks regarding the Samsung Galaxy S10e, which means we have quite a good idea of what to expect when the device is launched at Samsung’s pre-MWC 2019 event on February 20. We’ll be reporting live on the event to bring you all the information about the three S10 devices we expect Samsung to launch.
One of the earliest S10 leaks even included case designs
Huawei would accept EU 'supervision'
Fri, 08 Feb 2019 11:01:31 +0000
Huawei has said it is willing for its equipment and activities to be supervised by the European Union (EU) as it continues to fend off the threat of restrictions on the use of its kit in 5G networks.
Last year it emerged the US, which has long frozen out the company from its own telecommunications infrastructure, had been encouraging other western nations to take similar action.
The main basis for Washington’s fears is a perception that Huawei is linked to the Chinese government and that the use of the company’s equipment risks the possibility of backdoors that could be used for espionage. These fears are heightened by 5G because of the sensitive information these networks will carry.
The US is concerned that if its allies continue to use Huawei kit, then America’s security will be threatened.
What is 5G? Everything you need to knowGSMA suggests Huawei talks at MWC 2019These could be the first 5G phones Huawei EUThis rhetoric has stepped up in the past week, with US officials holding talks with the EU in Brussels and there are plans for similar discussions with national governments. Meanwhile there have been reports the EU is considering a de facto ban.
Now, Abraham Liu, Huawei’s chief representative to EU institutions, has used a speech to mark the Chinese New Year to repeat the company’s denials and to stress its willingness to cooperate with the EU and European governments.
“Cybersecurity should remain as a technical issue instead of an ideological issue. Because technical issues can always be resolved through the right solutions while ideological issue cannot,” he is quoted as saying.
“We are always willing to accept the supervision and suggestions of all European governments, customers and partners.”
A number of European nations, including the UK and Germany, have expressed concern about the use of Huawei equipment in their telecoms infrastructure, however earlier this week, France rejected proposals that would increase checks.
Huawei denialsIn the UK, Huawei is a key partner for many telcos and is already subject to monitoring by a specialist unit. The unit’s most recent report cited a lack of progress in addressing previous concerns, but Huawei has promised to remedy this with a $2 billion investment over five years.
The Shenzhen-based company has continually rejected claims that its kit is a security threat, pointing out that it sells products to more than 500 operators in 170 countries without issue, while no evidence of its supposed threat had ever been produced.
“Our solid track record in security is our strongest evidence [against the security allegations],” said Ryan Ding, the head of Huawei’s carrier business group. “The governments in some countries have labelled Huawei as a security threat, but they have never substantiated these allegations with solid evidence.”
“We would like to reiterate that Huawei has never received any such requests [from the Chinese government] and in the event we did … we would categorically refuse to comply with it. Huawei is a closely watched company. Were Huawei ever to engage in malicious behaviour, it would not go unnoticed – and it would certainly destroy our business.”
Here are the best Huawei phone deals for January 2019
Data Protection Day: Spotlighting DNS for all the right reasons
Fri, 08 Feb 2019 11:00:12 +0000
January 28th has come and gone, leaving in its wake the ever-growing reminder of the importance of protecting personal information online. While it applies to both private citizens and corporate networks alike, Data Protection Day began in Europe to raise awareness on personal data privacy rights, and has deep undertones to businesses.
The effects of their non-compliance with GDPR regulations should begin to accelerate this year, with Gartner predicting upwards of a billion euros in issued sanctions by the end of 2021. This makes it even more important to keep security top-of-mind throughout the year, particularly when it comes to backdoors into a network.
While most security tools block data transfer mechanisms like File Transfer Protocol (FTP), common internet protocol like the Domain Name System (DNS) are often left unsecured giving attackers a loophole; one where connections to arbitrary servers aren’t blocked. Hence, the DNS protocol is widely recognised as a prime target for data exfiltration. In a study conducted in 2018, it was highlighted that 33% of companies were victims of data stolen via the DNS, so exfiltration via DNS has become a major concern to businesses in the midst of becoming compliant to data privacy laws.
Data Protection Day 2019: Privacy firmly in the limelight2019 is the year we discover the true cost of poor data protectionHere is the one reason why companies are getting data protection wrong
Image Credit: Shutterstock
Data exfiltrationThis type of breach can be extremely difficult to detect, as it often closely resembles typical network traffic, meaning incidents often only become noticeable long after exfiltration has already been achieved. To ensure compliance, the need to protect data and detect exfiltration attempts in near real-time has increased. Firewalls alone are not good enough anymore so need to be complemented with DNS security solutions which provide context-aware behavioural analysis of DNS traffic, at the same time helping eliminate risk of false positives.
In the above-mentioned study, 38% of surveyed companies reported the prioritisation of monitoring and analysis of DNS traffic for helping ensure data confidentiality. Yet despite this acknowledgement of the importance to protect, companies are still fraught with DNS-based breaches, costing them not only their reputations, but also their time and money. The average cost of damages soared in the past year according to survey results, totaling $715,000 per attack, a 57% increase from 2017. This kind of report data proves that DNS security must be considered a key component of any company’s overall network security strategy.
Some key recommendations to consider:
Traditional monitoring techniques have a risk of blocking legitimate traffic and slowing down applications. The decentralised architecture of global DNS service makes it nearly impossible to know every server in use. Therefore, security must be embedded in the heart of DNS- its own servers.‘Privacy by Design’ isn’t a new concept...but GDPR now demands that data privacy be taken into consideration during the design and development lifecycle of any project that involves processing personal information. This process at the application level relies, amongst other things, on network infrastructure. DNS is a core foundation of IT architectures, but is also one of the easiest options for exfiltrating data. Special attention should be paid to the DNS during network planning and execution phases.Threat Intelligence should rely on internal networks as well as global information. Data feeds from global sources help protect against menaces at an internet scale, but don’t address company-specific threat information like logs or traffic flow . With the DNS’ capability to collect maximum amounts of data related to network activity, it can help organisations build more personalised threat intelligence.Start considering predictive security for DNS using machine learning (ML). This involves analysis of user and IoT behaviour, making use of stats per source IP address to detect abnormal requests and zero-day malicious domains.Data Protection Day serves as an annual reminder that no one is safe unless steps are taken to defend consciously and thoughtfully. We’ve been conditioned over the past few years to treat data breaches of major corporations as commonplace. A movement dedicated to safeguarding personal data is required in the current ecosystem- with accountability and a consumer-first mentality being key.
Maintaining control of their own information has become a priority to modern individuals, and preserving those individuals’ trust is paramount for businesses. We can only hope that preventative action supports these notions, and continues to evolve alongside the threat landscape into the future.
Ronan David, VP Business Development and Marketing at EfficientIP
Also check out the best VPN
The best MMO games 2019: live a second life on console and PC
Fri, 08 Feb 2019 10:54:09 +0000
Oh, the MMO (that's Mass - or Massively - Multiplayer Online games for the uninitiated). This genre of game is all about sprawling fantasy worlds, huge online servers and a massive selection of players from all over the globe coming together for an experience like no other.
It's similar to other game genres, like RPG, RTS or FPS, and it's an acronym that often gets bandied around without much explanation.
Even if you aren't familiar with the phrase MMO or MMORPG (that's with Role Playing Game bolted on), we're willing to bet a big bag of gold that you've heard of at least one of the games that fall into these categories.
We're talking about World of Warcraft or Runescape. You've at least heard of them, right? We're pretty sure everyone who has spent a considerable amount of time on the internet will have seen a banner ad for one of them in their browser at some point.
These days even Amazon is getting in on the action, with a 17th century MMO called New World based on its in-house cloud technology that's set to support thousands of online players.
World of Warcraft: Battle for Azeroth
If this still isn't making sense, think of MMOs are large, virtual worlds where you can live another life as an avatar - which you can choose. You can battle, trade or level up your avatar over the course of the game.
Now, as you might expect, these games take time commitment and they won't appeal to everyone. But given the huge number of games in this genre, as well as the amount of money they're known for bringing in, there's clearly a huge market for those looking for a second in-game life.
That's not to say that a fun second life is the same for everyone. Perhaps you want to play an elven mage in a high fantasy world; or if all that Game of Thrones stuff isn’t for you, maybe piloting your own space ship across the galaxy would be a better fit.
And it's not just the genre and worlds you have a choice over, but the way it unfolds. For example, once you’ve found your world, do you want to have complete freedom over what you do next, or would you like a detailed story to engage with? Is playing alongside your friends to defeat monsters and villains the idea of a good time, or would you rather be a lone wolf taking on every other player on a server?
One of the huge appeals of these games is the amount of choice on offer. Not only are there lots of different games, but lots of different characters, storylines, styles of play and everything else you can imagine.
So, whichever of these scenarios appeals the most, there’s probably an MMO game out there that will suit you. To make it easier to find the second life that you wish was your first, we’ve put together a list of the best of the best mass multiplayer online games out there right now.
What can I play it on? PC
What’s the payment structure? Free trial up to level 20, then a monthly subscription fee
Let's face it, this was an obvious one. Blizzard's World of Warcraft has been going since around 2004 and it's been the reigning champion of the MMO genre for a long time. But in that time it's changed quite a lot.
It's one of the most successful and influential games in the genre with new content frequently being added for a thriving, dedicated player base. If subscriber numbers look like they're wavering even slightly, you can be sure Blizzard will come out with another great expansion to corral everyone back into the fold and maybe bring some newbies with them.
The latest expansion, Battle for Azeroth, hit in August and packs in a new load of dungeons, with a raised level cap for experienced players, and an option to 'boost' your level for newer ones wanting a more level playing field.
World of Warcraft is kind of an essential for anyone interested in the high fantasy MMORPG and we can’t see it being knocked from prominence any time soon.
You can download the game for free on the official website.
What can I play it on? PS4 and PC
What's the payment model? Free-to-play
Planetside 2 is a first person shooter on a massive scale. If you're not interested in the kind of granular play offered by games like Black Desert Online, then this game's focus on all out war against other players might appeal to you.
The game revolves around three factions in a constant state of war. Players will choose their faction and then spend their time attacking and defending bases on a huge map to remain ahead of the competition. One day you could be on the attack, the next you could be desperately defending. Either way you're always fighting.
Planetside 2 is now five years old and though it doesn't have quite the same popularity or playerbase as it once did, it offers something a little different to the rest of the MMOs on this list.
You can get going for free on the official site.
What can I play it on? PC
What's the payment model? Free-to-play
Rather than a sprawling world with endless choice, Secret World Legends is an MMO which places a lot of focus on storytelling. If you're tired out by the usual high fantasy and space fare, this is a game which is set in a world very close to our own. Well, kind of. It's our world if cults, mythological creatures, crazy conspiracies and supernatural phenomenons were commonplace.
There's more than 100 hours of story to enjoy here and players are able to explore locations all over the world and take part in a range of missions to unlock the mysteries of the world.
While it's possible to play through the story on your own, you can also team up with others and adventure with players from across the world.
You can start your story via the official website or on Steam.
What can I play it on? PC
What's the payment structure? You can download the base game for free and then each expansion is buy-to-play
If you're looking for player-versus-player combat then you should definitely give Guild Wars 2 some of your time. Whether you like fighting other players in contained structured modes or you'd be interested in fighting against hundreds across sprawling maps in World-versus-World mode, Guild Wars has you covered.
For those that don't enjoy the grinding that's traditionally involved in MMOs then guild Wars 2 will also appeal – this is an accessible game and it doesn't try to copy World of Warcraft. The game's world is dynamic and player decisions have real consequences which promises a story that feels individual.
You can download the game and purchase expansions on the official site.
What can I play it on? PC
What's the payment model? Free-to-play, with purchasable DLC and optional subscription
Few fictional worlds are as perfect for the MMO treatment as Tolkein's Middle-earth. Sure, Frodo's adventure was thrilling, but we all know we could have one equally as exciting if we had the chance.
You get to choose between being a Human, Elf, Dwarf or Hobbit before you drop into Middle-earth and explore the locations you know and love with an intimacy that no other Lord of the Rings game has allowed.
You can expect to find the usual World of Warcraft style of questing here, alongside crafting mechanics and the ability to purchase and set up a home. Overall, it's a pretty standard MMORPG in terms of mechanics, but its setting really helps it stand out.
Though the game is free-to-play, there are expansions available for purchase which add to the game's story and introduce new items and mechanics. Even better for Tolkien fans: the storylines follow in line with the books.
You can fine the base game for free on the official site or Steam.
What can I play it on? PS4, Xbox One, PC
What's the payment structure? Buy-to-play
It's been a while since the last mainline Elder Scrolls release and we're pretty sure it'll be a while until the next one so if you're a fan looking to breathe fresh life into Tamriel, Elder Scrolls Online is an excellent option.
Like Final Fantasy 14, this is a game that struggled initially. But since dropping its subscription fees for a buy-to-play model, perception has dramatically improved. Despite being one of the most modern and recent MMOs to hit the market, Elder Scrolls Online has really picked up traction, which is undoubtedly helped by being in a recognizable universe that many wish to return to.
After the success of Morrowind, Elder Scrolls Online has had several DLC updates including Summerset, Wolfhunter and Murkmire.
Here you'll find the traditional Elder Scrolls viewpoint and combat but it’s all neatly tied in with those traditional MMO features like looting, crafting systems and PvP and PvE missions.
What can I play it on? PC and mobile later in 2018.
What's the payment structure? Free-to-play but can pay monthly membership for more items, character customization, quests and game world access. Membership will also include mobile game access when it's launched.
Like World of Warcraft, Runescape is one of those names that's renowned in the MMO world, partly because it's one of the oldest games in the genre still going. And yet, with its user base managing to double in 2018, it's still very much alive and kicking.
Originally a browser-only game, over the years Runescape has expanded into its own program with vastly improved visuals and mechanics. At its heart, though, it remains a game that's dedicated to giving players freedom in combat and questing. It's perhaps for this reason that it remains one of the most popular and updated games in the MMO genre.
You can start playing via the official Runescape site.
What can I play it on? PC, Xbox One, PS4
What's the payment structure? Buy-to-play with optional in-game purchases
Black Desert Online certainly isn't one of the more accessible games on this list, but it's one that you may find it worth investing some time into. As a Korean MMO it does place a heavy emphasis on grinding, but for anyone looking for in-depth profession and crafting systems it's a contender.
More than many other MMOs, this is one that will try to draw you into a second life. It also has one of the most robust character creation systems in the genre. This is a game that has something to engage with on big and small scales. Want to fish and farm? You can do that. But you can also take part in guild wars and sieges past a certain level.
Don't expect a vast story here – this is very much a sandbox game where you craft your own story and adventure.
But there are various systems and mechanics to engage with and connecting them together can be rewarding, even if the process proves time-consuming and complicated.
Black Desert Online is a complex but stunning game. It has its problems, but its move from PC onto Playstation and Xbox One has only made it more relevant for a mainstream audience.
What can I play it on? PC
What's the payment structure? Free-to-play or subscription
There's been a lot of high fantasy in this list so far – if you're more of a space age type then you might want to take a look at Eve Online.
A word of warning, though: we said Black Desert Online is complicated but Eve Online edges to beat it. This is a game world that's been going for 14 years and it's become somewhat infamous for being one of uncaring betrayal. While you can do whatever you want in the game, just remember that others can do whatever they want. And sometimes that involves ruining you. Space colonization is a tough game and there's no room for lasting friendships.
EVE Online is kind of the ultimate in sandbox MMO gaming – it's a game world driven by its playerbase; a playerbase capable of dragging out wars and schemes over periods of months with plenty of fighting, smuggling and sabotage in between.
Just because it's not the easiest game to learn doesn't mean you can't do it, though. Unlike the creators of Black Desert Online, over the years developer CCP has attempted to make it slightly more accessible and the developer has put together a thorough and helpful tutorial for beginners.
Besides, sometimes there's no better lesson than getting something horrifically wrong. The introduction of a free-to-play option is also a great chance to dip your toes in and see if you're interested in delving deeper.
What can I play it on? PS4 and PC
What's the payment structure? Buy-to-play
It's not been an easy journey for this Final Fantasy MMO. First launched in 2010 to an overwhelmingly negative response (and for good reason), Square Enix then spent two years reworking and rebuilding it to create something much better.
In its latest and vastly improved form, Final Fantasy XIV is a game that will appeal to franchise fans and newcomers alike.
Boasting an accomplished class system and a story that builds steadily over the game's various expansions, this is an MMO which really captures the essence of the Final Fantasy franchise with plenty of fan service.
Huawei P30 release date, price, news and leaks
Fri, 08 Feb 2019 10:52:31 +0000
Update: A new rumor suggests that the Huawei P30 range will skip MWC and instead be announced at the end of March.
The Huawei P20 is a strong phone and the Huawei P20 Pro is even better, rivalling the likes of the Samsung Galaxy S9 Plus.
We want to see the Huawei P30 build on that momentum and we’ve come up with a list of things that would help that happen.
But before that here’s what we know and suspect about the phone so far. Rumors are starting to roll in and we now have a good idea of what to expect from Huawei's next flagship.
Cut to the chase What is it? The successor to the Huawei P20When is it out? Possibly late MarchWhat will it cost? Likely upwards of £599 (roughly $790, AU$1,070) Huawei P30 release date and priceThe Huawei P30 (or P21) is likely to land in early 2019, given that the Huawei P20 was announced in March 2018 and the Huawei P10 was revealed in February 2017.
The latter was announced at MWC 2017, so it’s possible that the Huawei P30 will be announced at MWC 2019, which takes place from 25-28 February, but given that the P20 skipped MWC we wouldn’t count on it, especially as we'd expect to have heard more about the phone by now if it was going to launch at MWC.
So far there's only one release date rumor, and that points to an announcement in Paris at the end of March. We're not sure where the source got their information from, so we'd take it with a pinch of salt, but for now Match is looking like the most likely option.
Note though that if you’re in the US you might not be able to buy it, as the Huawei P20 and P20 Pro didn’t land in the US.
As for the price, it’s likely to be at least as expensive as the £599 (roughly $790, AU$1,070) Huawei P20, but will likely land alongside an even pricier Huawei P30 Pro.
The P30 may undercut some flagships but it might not launch in the US
Huawei P30 design and displayHottest leaks:
Almost no bezelA 3.5mm headphone portOur best look yet at the possible design of the Huawei P30 comes from renders shared by @OnLeaks, who has a solid track record.
You can see some of these below. Note that the phone has a gradient color scheme on the back, which appears to be made of glass.
You can also see a teardrop notch on the front, tiny bezels, a triple-lens rear camera, a 3.5mm headphone port and no visible fingerprint scanner, suggesting it's built into the screen. The headphone port is slightly surprising, since Huawei didn't include one on the P20 range.
Shortly before those images emerged we saw some case shots, shown below, but these seemingly show the Huawei P30 Pro (rather than the standard P30) and include four rear cameras. That aside though they look similar.
Huawei P30 cameraHottest leaks:
A triple-lens cameraA 38MP or 40MP lensP30 Pro could have a quad-lens cameraWe've heard rumors that the Huawei P30 Pro might have a 38MP camera. Specifically, an unannounced Sony one.
According to another source the Huawei P30 will have a triple-lens rear camera, potentially with a lens of up to 40MP. It could also have a 5x lossless optical zoom and a 24MP front-facing camera.
And we've seen images of cases supposedly made for both the Huawei P30 and Huawei P30 Pro. From these we can see that there are seemingly at least three rear cameras on both models, with the Pro model also having a big flash unit.
The P30 Pro is also shown from the front in one image, with tiny bezels and a teardrop notch, which lines up with the images we've seen elsewhere.
However, it looks like the Huawei P30 Pro could have four lenses rather than three, as not only do some of the images above show that, but other reports also point in that direction. Additionally it might sport 10x optical zoom and an upgraded 3D sensor for judging distance and creating focus effects.
Elsewhere, Huawei's European boss Walter Ji has talked about the possibility of four rear cameras on a phone in 2019 in an interview with Android Pit. He also talked about the possibility of 10x zoom, though he didn't specifically say that the Huawei P30 would get either of these features.
Huawei P30 OS and powerWe don't know anything about the core specs of the P30 yet, but we can also look at the Mate 20 (and Huawei Mate 20 Pro) for an idea of some of the likely specs and features of the Huawei P30.
For one thing, the P30 will probably have the same Kirin 980 chipset as the Mate 20 range. This debuted on the Mate 20 range and Huawei has previously used the same chipset on the Mate range one year and the P range the following year.
That's not necessarily a bad thing, as it will still be fairly new by the time the Huawei P30 launches and it's a good chip. It's the first 7nm Android one and it arguably has any other 2018 Android chip beat. Though of course it will be competing with the likes of the Snapdragon 855 by the time the P30 lands.
Huawei is also known to be working on both a folding phone and a 5G handset. Of those it's possible that the Huawei P30 will support 5G, but we doubt it will fold.
Huawei P30 nameAccording to Huawei's CEO the Huawei P30 will be better than the Huawei P20 Pro or the Huawei Mate 20.
That's hardly surprising, but what's more notable is that he referred to the phone as the P30. While that would have been our best guess for the launch name anyway, you can now take it as more or less confirmed.
What we want to seeWe expect to learn much more about the Huawei P30 (including whether it will actually be called the Huawei P21) soon, but in the meantime, this is what we want from it.
1. A sharper screen
The Huawei P20's screen isn't quite as sharp as we'd expect a flagship to be
Huawei has stuck with a Full HD+ screen on its P20 range, but with Samsung, Sony and others upping the resolution it’s time Huawei did the same.
So for the Huawei P30 we want a QHD resolution. There’s probably no need for more than that, but given the likely large screen size a resolution of around 1440 x 2960 really would make a difference.
2. Bring back the headphone jackMany phones – including the Huawei P20 range – are now ditching headphone jacks, but we’re still not convinced the tech is at the point where everyone will be happy to go wireless, so we’d like to see this brought back for the Huawei P30.
It’s unlikely to happen as it could be seen as a step backwards, or as admitting that removing it was a mistake, but it would be nice.
3. Wireless charging
All flagships should really support wireless charging
While the Huawei P20 range has good battery life and fast charging it lacks wireless charging, which is a feature we’d expect to see come as standard on flagship phones.
So hopefully it’s something that the Huawei P30 - or at least the Huawei P30 Pro - will offer. There's reason to suspect it might, since the Huawei Mate 20 Pro does.
4. Three cameras on all modelsHuawei has only just moved on to triple-lens cameras with the Huawei P20 Pro so we’re not in any hurry for that to change, but we do want to see three lenses on the standard Huawei P30, rather than the feature being reserved for the P30 Pro.
And while we definitely don’t need more than three lenses on the back we would like to see some improvements to them as well, perhaps for example improvements to the AI scene recognition.
5. An in-screen fingerprint scanner
Building the scanner into the screen would give the P30 a big selling point
The Huawei Mate 20 Pro and Porsche Design Huawei Mate RS have an in-screen fingerprint scanner, and even the Honor 10 (made by a Huawei sub-brand) has an under-glass scanner, so it wouldn’t be at all surprising if the Huawei P30 had an in-screen scanner of its own.
And it would be a good thing too, since it’s the sort of high-tech feature that would help the phone stand apart from many other handsets, not to mention allowing it to keep the bezels small without resorting to having a scanner on the back.
6. A top-end chipsetThe Huawei P20 range uses the Kirin 970 chipset, which is high-end, but it’s older and less powerful than the latest Snapdragon and Exynos chipsets.
For the Huawei P30 and P30 Pro we’d really like Huawei to use a brand-new chipset that makes its debut on those phones and can truly compete with the best around, rather than what it will probably actually do, which is equip them with the slightly older Kirin 980 chip that first appeared in the Huawei Mate 20.
7. No notch or bezelsLike so many of 2018’s phones, the Huawei P20 and P20 Pro each have a notch in the screen, and while you can somewhat hide it with software we’d rather there was no notch at all.
But we don’t want a strip of bezel either, instead we want a truly bezel-free front. If Huawei does build the fingerprint scanner into the screen on the P30 then it could be well on the way to achieving that, so it’s possible, though it will need to hide the likes of the front-facing camera somewhere too.
Check out the best phones you can buy right now
Mobile industry and tech channel moves for February 2019
Fri, 08 Feb 2019 10:50:34 +0000
Got some good news to share with us about your moves? Send the details to desire.athow@futurenet.com with a photo if possible.
Mark Gilmour is the new Head of Mobile Connectivity Solutions at Colt Technology Services. Most recently he was Senior Advisor for Product Line Management Cellular and Wireless at Ciena.
Philip Jansen has formally succeeded Gavin Patterson as CEO of BT following a transition period. Jansen was previously co-CEO of Worldpay
Nokia has named Sandra Motley as President of its Fixed Networks Business Group. Motley replaces Federico Guillén who is the new Nokia President of Customer Operations and joined the company as part of the Alcatel-Lucent merger in 2016.
Charles Davies is the new MD for Hyperoptic’s ISP business. Davies will work to build the Hyperoptic brand and will report to CEO Dana Tobak.
Orange CEO Stephane Richard has been named the new Chair of the GSMA. He will be responsible for overseeing strategic direction that the mobile industry body.
BT Security CEO Mark Hughes is leaving his position to take on a "senior" role at another company, reports the FT. Hughes had spent 16 years at BT and will now oversee a transition period.
BT has confirmed Worldpay joint-CEO Philip Jansen will become its new chief executive next year, ending the search for a successor to current boss Gavin Patterson.
Mobile phone case manufacturer Tech21 has named its former marketing director and head of sales Colin Woodward as its new CEO. Woodward has 20 years experience in the technology industry having previously served at HTC and Sony
BT and EE alumnus Mansoor Hanif is Ofcom’s new Chief Technology Officer (CTO), replacing the long-serving Steve Unger who left the regulator in June.
Hanif’s new remit will be to ensure Ofcom’s work is informed by the latest developments in network technology, having previously served as head of convergence at BT-EE.
Fibre to the Premise (FTTP) network builder Hyperoptic has appointed Boris Dragovic has been appointed as Chief Strategy and Transformation Officer. Dragovic will be responsible for helping the altnet scale and operate more efficiently as it gears up for expansion
Three CTO Bryn Jones has left the company after six years, believing the time is right for a career and lifestyle change.
Jones joined Three in May 2012 and was responsible for network strategy, design and deployment. Prior to that he was Director of Mobile Delivery at Virgin Media.
EE's MD of marketing Max Taylor has left company to take on a new position elsewhere. Pete Oliver has taken on the newly combined role of Marketing for BT Consumer, EE and Plusnet. Taylor had been at EE for 15 years
Wilkin Lee has left his role as Honor UK sales and marketing director after nearly four years with the Huawei-owned smartphone maker. It is unclear where his next position will be, but Lee did say on Twitter that there were “exciting challenges” in the pipeline.
Gigaclear COO Mike Surrey has been promoted to CEO following the departure of Matthew Hare. Hare, who founded the alternative network infrastructure builder, had been a champion for ultrafast broadband during his eight year tenure.
Nick Read will become the new CEO of Vodafone Group in October, replacing the long-serving Vittorio Colao, who spent a decade in the top job. Read is the current CFO of Vodafone Group and has previously served as the CEO of Vodafone UK.
Uber has appointed the former MD of Virgin Mobile as its new head of Northern and Eastern Europe. He was previously director of electronics at Amazon UK and replaces Jo Bertram who left last year. His biggest task will be dealing with Transport for London (TfL) about renewing his licence.
Helmut Reisinger has been promoted to CEO of Orange Business Services, replacing Thierry Bonhomme, who will retire later this year. Reisinger was previously head of international, covering the firm's business outside France, and will report directly to Orange CEO Stephane Richard.
Andrew Cantle is Unlockd's new Chief Commercial Officer
Andrew Cantle is the new chief commercial officer at mobile advertising firm Unlockd. Cantle was previously head of EMEA and APAC at GoCanvas and before that he was Australia and UK country manager at Tranglo Mobile Payments. At Unlockd, he will be tasked with growing the firm and obtaining new supply partners.
Matt Stagg swaps EE role for BT Sport Director of Mobile Strategy
EE's head of media and broadcast Matt Stagg is to take up the newly created role of BT Sport Director of Mobile Strategy. Mobile is an increasingly important platform for the broadcaster and Stagg will be tasked with growing the audience and helping identify new technologies.
Gerry McQuade to be BT Enterprise CEO
Gerry McQuade will be the first chief executive of the new BT Enterprise division when it launches on 1 October. McQuade is currently CEO of BT Wholesale and Ventures, which is to be combined with BT Business and Public Sector, whose own CEO Graeme Sutherland is to depart the company.
Paul Jacobs joins Exertis from Tech Data
Exertis has appointed Paul Jacobs to the newly created position of Director of business development and innovation, where he will be responsible for bringing new and emerging technologies that can add value to resellers. He was previously Business Unit Director at Tech Data UK.
Anson Zhang is Huawei's new UK MD
Huawei has named Anson Zhang as the new UK managing director for its consumer business. Zhang joined the company as its Finland MD in 2009 before taking up similar positions in Poland and the Czech Republic.
Ericsson names new chief legal officer
Ericsson appoints Xavier Dedullen (pictured) as it chief legal officer and head of legal affairs of compliance. He was previously Group General Counsel and Chief Compliance Officer at Swiss-based firm LafargeHolcim. Ericsson has also appointed its CTO Erik Ekudden to its executive team.
Former Uber head is O2's new chief digital and strategy officer
Jo Bertram has been named O2's new digital and strategy officer, reporting directly to CEO Mark evans reports the FT. Bertram was head of Uber's northern European business but left last October. Since then she has been an executive in residence at tech fund EQT Ventures, a position she will retain once she joins O2 in April.
Andrew Taylor to be new Gamma Communications CEO
Andrew Taylor will take over the reins as CEO of Gamma Communications in May following the retirement of long-serving incumbent Bob Falconer. Taylor was previously CEO of Nomad Digital, which was acquired by Alstom in 2017, and before that was at Digicel where he oversaw the firm’s fixed and mobile networks in the Northern Caribbean
BT appoints new Chief Strategy and Transformation Officer
BT has hired Michael Sherman to fill the newly-created role of Chief Strategy and Transformation Officer, reporting to CEO Gavin Patterson. Sherman joins from the Boston Consulting Group where he spent 11 years heading its Technology, Media and Telecommunications (TMT) group in the US.
Acer has appointed a new country manager for the UK, with Craig Booth promoted from within to replace Preben Fjeld who became Lenovo’s General Manager for UK and Ireland last November.
Micron has appointed Raj Talluri as Senior Vice President and General Manager of Mobile Business Unit. He will be responsible for leading and growing Micron’s mobile business. This includes building mobile solutions to address the growing market opportunity driven by new usage models.
Huawei P30 could land at the end of March
Fri, 08 Feb 2019 10:44:11 +0000
The Huawei P30 and Huawei P30 Pro are both likely to land soon, but exactly when has been unclear so far, with no real release date rumors. But now one rumor has emerged, and points to an announcement at the end of March.
The source of this rumor is Polish site Telix.pl, which adds that the unveiling will be in Paris, but it’s not clear where it got the information from, so we’d take it with a pinch of salt.
However, it makes a lot of sense. Our best guesses for when the Huawei P30 would be announced were either MWC 2019, which is a major phone show that takes place at the end of February, or in March, as that’s when the Huawei P20 range landed.
Everything we've heard about MWC 2019The Samsung Galaxy S10 is also coming soonCould the P30 be one of the first 5G phones? Four rear cameras?If the Huawei P30 was going to land at MWC we’d expect to have heard more about it by now, so a March launch is starting to look like the most likely option even without this rumor.
While we don’t know a huge amount about the Huawei P30 range yet, we have heard some things. For example, the P30 is rumored to have a triple-lens rear camera while the P30 Pro could have four lenses, and one or both models could have a 38MP or 40MP lens.
We’ve also seen leaked images, showing a phone with a tiny teardrop notch and very little bezel. The phones are also likely to have the same Kirin 980 chipset as the Huawei Mate 20 range. Nothing is certain yet, but if the rumored March launch is accurate we’ll learn all about the phones soon.
Huawei P30 release date, price, news and leaksVia Phandroid
Tesla is making a safer world for motorists, and their dogs
Fri, 08 Feb 2019 10:42:04 +0000
Elon Musk, CEO of Tesla Motors, has confirmed that Tesla electric vehicles will see a number of new user features rolled out as soon as "next week".
First, Sentry Mode, which provides a 360-degree video feed of a Tesla vehicle's surroundings, so that owners can check up on their electric car using just their phone.
Tesla cars start at $35,000 for the Tesla Model 3, while the iconic Tesla Roadster was previously on sale for upwards of $200,000 – so it's understandable that Tesla customers want to make sure their purchases stay safe.
Tesla Model 3 can now park by itselfWhat are electric vehicles?Do driverless cars need a rethink?The second feature, Dog Mode, would display a message on the car's dashboard when pets were left in the car, alerting concerned passersby that the owner would be back imminently to look after their lone canine. Equally important, if not as financially ruinous as a damaged electric car.
Musk took to Twitter in response to an account called Tesla Owners Silicon Valley (you can guess why they're called that), which posted a photo of a Tesla vehicle with its window smashed in, asking when improved security features would arrive. You can see the exchange below.
Pet peevesWhile two new security features are certainly practical uses for the Tesla team to develop and provide to its customers, the Dog Mode also reflects on a growing interest in using modern tech developments to enhance the raising and care of domestic animals.
There's a burgeoning market for animal wearables to track your pet's health and location - the way you would yourself with a Fitbit or Apple Watch – and manufacturers are jumping on the bandwagon with everything from smart collars to food bowls with facial recognition.
With Tesla's incoming update, at least, we're hoping the focus on animals' well-being sees fewer animals suffering in the summer heat – if its customers are actually coming back when they say they will...
Do you really need smart pet tech?Via BGR
Google is making budget handsets more secure with a new form of encryption
Fri, 08 Feb 2019 10:41:17 +0000
Google has launched a new form of encryption called Adiantum, which it has specifically developed to make budget smartphones more secure.
Higher powered smartphones tend to come with hardware which provides additional security for users, but cheaper devices often miss out on the more advanced hardware, which is why Google is now stepping in.
The search giant made the Adiantum announcement via its blog with Eugene Liderman, Director of Mobile Security Strategy, Android Security & Privacy Team, saying "encryption isn't always practical, since it would slow some computers, smartphones and other devices to the point of being unusable."
We're less than two weeks away from the Samsung S102019 is the year of 5G phonesGet ready for a glut of smartphone launches at MWC 2019The encryption offered by Adiantum shouldn't slow down budget phones with lower powered chipsets and less RAM at their hearts.
It won't just feature on smartphones though, as Google's plan is to bring Adiantum to more devices, such as smartwatches and internet-connected medical devices.
Not available just yetIf you're wondering where Google got the name for its new form of encryption, it's revealed in a more detailed post on the company's security blog.
"Adiantum is named after the genus of the maidenhair fern, which in the Victorian language of flowers (floriography) represents sincerity and discretion." So there you go.
It doesn't sound like Adiantum will be available to current budget Android phones though, with Liderman noting that it "will make the next generation of devices more secure than their predecessors."
Google hasn't provided any clear timescale as to when we can expect Adiantum to land in its first devices, but they could well arrive this year.
WhatsApp is getting more secure - find out how
Latest Asus Zenfone 6 leaks indicate a 16:9 aspect ratio display and three rear cameras
Fri, 08 Feb 2019 10:27:54 +0000
Asus Zenfone 6 has made an appearance yet again and it seems quite different than the previous rumours (via Android Pure) let alone the pictures of the prototypes that made their way to the web back in October 2018. The latest pictures indicate that the upcoming smartphone from Asus will feature a triple camera setup on the rear. There's also the gradient colour of the phone which seems to be a mix of maroon and blue hues.
It also appears that the Zenfone 6 will have a 16:9 display without any cutout for a notch of any kind. This is a bit strange as the Taiwanese company launched the Asus Zenfone 5 and Zenfone 5Z last year with a notch design on the front and to succeed it with an older design just seems odd enough. There could be an explanation behind the move, if at all, and we could get more information regarding it as we near the launch.
In addition, the leaked pictures also indicate that Asus Zenfone 6 will have a home button on the chin which could double up as the fingerprint sensor. This is easily noticeable on the packaging that is kept below the phone which the source revealed to be the retail box of the Zenfone 6. There are thick bezels surrounding the front of the phone which hints at the possibility of a smaller screen-to-body ratio than what we have come to see from the latest smartphones by Asus.
Last year, many pictures and videos allegedly of the Zenfone 6 made their way to the web revealing either an in-display selfie camera or a waterdrop notch design on the front with thin bezels. While the latest leak points us towards Asus going back to its roots with the Zenfone 6, we'll just have to wait till the company makes an official announcement.
Also Read: Sony α6400 mirrorless camera with the world's fastest autofocus launched in India
Spotify clamps down on ad-blockers
Fri, 08 Feb 2019 10:25:47 +0000
Spotify has reinforced its fight against ad-blockers by explicitly banning them in its terms of service. According to a new update, dodging ads or building tools for the purpose might result in your account being banned.
Spotify already has detection measures in place to identify users who are circumventing ads, and last year it estimated that two million people were using its free service in a way that generated no revenue for the company or musicians.
We've rounded up the best music streaming servicesNeed a free media player? We've got just the thingGet more from your music with the best headphonesThat figure represented 1% of total users, and 2% of people using the ad-supported service. For a business the size of Spotify, that's a serious problem.
No second chancesUntil now, listeners who broke the rules had their accounts suspended, and were sent a warning via email. If they upgraded to a premium account or removed their ad-blockers, their accounts would be restored.
Now, the gloves are off. When the new terms of service come into force on March 1, Spotify will instantly ban users who are avoiding ads. No warnings, and no second chances.
The update comes just days after Spotify acquired two podcasting companies to become a more serious player in non-music streaming.
“These acquisitions will meaningfully accelerate our path to becoming the world’s leading audio platform, give users around the world access to the best podcast content, and improve the quality of our listening experience as well as enhance the Spotify brand," said the company's CEO and co-founder Daniel Ek.
Via The Verge
Enjoy easy listening with the best free music apps of 2019
Apple cracks down on apps that record your screen
Fri, 08 Feb 2019 10:13:00 +0000
Apple is reportedly cracking down on iOS apps that use screen-recording technology, telling developers that they must "disclose or remove their use of analytics code that allows them to record how a user interacts with their iPhone apps".
This follows reports by TechCrunch and the App Analyst that revealed iOS applications from the likes of Air Canada, Abercrombie and Fitch, Singapore Airlines, Expedia, and Hotels.com have used "session replay" technology from data analytics company Glassbox to record user's screens while using their apps.
While the software can prevent sensitive data like credit card information or passwords being recorded by blocking it out, the App Analyst found that this feature was not always successful, leading to personal information being displayed.
In a statement sent to TechRadar, Glassbox claimed the TechCunch report was "misleading", and that Glassbox and its customers are "not interested in 'spying' on consumers."
Glassbox also claims that "no data collected by Glassbox customers is shared with third parties", and that it meets the "highest security and data privacy standards".
In response to the App Analyst's YouTube video, which showed sensitive information on display within the Air Canada app, Glassbox says: "We provide our customers with the ability to mask every piece of data entered by a consumer, restrict access to authorized users, and maintain a full audit log of every user accessing the system."
Are you ready for the new iPhone?The next iPhone update is probably iOS 13Read everything about the Galaxy S10An Apple spokesperson told TechCrunch that "protecting user privacy is paramount in the Apple ecosystem. Our App Store Review Guidelines require that apps request explicit user consent and provide a clear visual indication when recording, logging, or otherwise making a record of user activity.”
The spokesperson went on to say that Apple has "notified the developers that are in violation of these strict privacy terms and guidelines, and will take immediate action if necessary,” which suggests some of these apps could face removal from the App Store if they don't comply.
According to TechCrunch, one app developer was given less than a day to "remove the code and resubmit their app or the app would be removed from the App Store."
This doesn't mean that screen-recording technology will become a thing of the past in the App Store, as it looks like developers could still use data analytics companies like Glassbox to record their users' screens, provided they seek consent from the user beforehand.
These iPhone apps reportedly record your screen while you use them
Best iPad apps 2019: download these now
Fri, 08 Feb 2019 10:10:00 +0000
It's the apps that really set iOS apart from other platforms - there are higher quality apps available on the App Store for the iPad than any other tablet. So which ones are worth your cash? And which are the best free apps?
Luckily for you we've tested thousands of the best iPad apps so that you don't have to. So read on for our selection of the best iPad apps - the definitive list of what applications you need to download for your iPad now.
Haven't bought an iPad yet and not sure which is best? We've got them listed on our best iPad ranking - or you can check out the best tablets list to see the full range available now.If you are looking for games, then head over to Best iPad games - where we showcase the greatest games around for your iOS device. Or if you're using an iPhone X or iPhone 8 head over to our best iPhone apps list. And if you're a professional, you may want to head straight to our top business apps.
New: David Bowie is… ($9.99/£9.99/AU$14.99)
David Bowie is… takes 2013’s blockbuster Bowie exhibition and stuffs it inside of your iPad as an AR experience.
Curated by theme rather than chronologically, the exhibition is a set of interactive scenes, ‘projected’ onto your desktop. Optional narration by Gary Oldman adds backstory as you examine lyrics, costumes and videos, exploring the life of a music icon.
On iPad, David Bowie is… works especially well. The screen’s squarer aspect ratio makes examining content less awkward than on iPhone, and the larger display lets everything shine. The only thing that might give you pause is the price, but for far less than a ticket to the original exhibition, you get unlimited access to all the goodies – including dozens of songs and videos – without having to peer over other people’s shoulders.
Can't figure out which iPad to buy? Watch our guide video below!
Glitch Art Studio is an effects app that aims to make even dull photos and videos look interesting. The filters are based around glitches and animated distortion, and can be edited to the point you can barely tell what the subject was.
Depending on whether you’re in it for speed or control, you can delve into presets or a bunch of individual menus respectively. Either way, you’ll end up concocting something resembling the display of a barely working old television, or some kind of deranged hallucinogenic episode.
On iPad, the larger canvas lets you fully appreciate the effects on offer – which are deeply impressive. If you’re fed up with filters that ape old paintings, use Glitch Studio to bring your creative photographic endeavors kicking and screaming into the (relatively) modern era.
djay is a full-featured DJ solution for iOS. You get a two-deck mode with crossfader, looping, and effects for free, but splash out on the pro subscription and you’re instantly equipped with enough DJ power to keep you spinning decks into the small hours.
You get a two-deck view with flanking libraries – and a four-deck view when two isn’t enough. There’s VJ mixing when you fancy adding some video, support for a slew of controllers, and over 1GB of samples you can fire off to stamp your personal style over whatever’s blasting from the local sound system.
Naturally, it’s total overkill (albeit fun total overkill) for the typical home user; but if you’re a pro DJ armed with an external controller, it may well be enough to chuck all that traditional kit on eBay.
Sizzle & Stew shows why young children – along with sloths and llamas – need supervision in the kitchen. Your kid helps the furry duo concoct culinary ‘delights’ that would give a Michelin Star chef chills.
Creating dishes involves partaking in all manner of havoc in the kitchen. Want to microwave a carrot into oblivion? Go for it. Stick broccoli in the oven until it’s unrecognizable? Sure. In the washing machine, too? That’s even tastier. (Just as well, then, that these beasts will eat anything.)
With its absurdist, open-ended, risk-free nature, Sizzle & Stew is bound to appeal to kids. Even better, on iPad a simultaneous two-player split-screen mode has room to breathe, so you can pit your skills against your kid’s – shortly before finding out neither of you’s likely to get a TV chef gig.
Bloom: 10 Worlds is the follow-up to 2008’s Bloom, which never made it to iPad. That app had you tap the screen to simultaneously play notes and create spots of color. The former looped and slowly evolved; the latter disappeared into the background like ripples in a pond.
10 Worlds expands this premise out from a ‘single’ into a full album. There are 10 takes on the format to enjoy, each with its own visuals and audio. The visuals in particular have been significantly improved from the original Bloom, replacing that app’s hard geometric forms with a more painterly approach.
However, it’s the intriguing mix of instrument, album, and art that still shines through. The result is an essential addition to iPad, perfectly complementing existing Eno/Chilvers collaborations Scape and Reflection.
SquareSynth 2 is an iPad synth that recalls the era of 8-bit computing. Its capabilities and pre-sets blast audio goodness into your ears that might once have emanated from a NES or a Commodore 64. And although such sounds are of their time, they can provide some much-needed punch to any contemporary composition.
For dabblers, the noises alone will be fun enough. But start playing with the editor and you’ll find plenty of scope for working up your own ear-smashing sounds.
Audiobus and AudioUnit support means custom creations aren’t stuck in the app either – you can wire up SquareSynth 2 to all manner of iPad apps, or even squirt the entire thing into GarageBand. Good stuff, then, for twanging your nostalgia gland, or just getting lo-fi electronic sounds into your tracks.
Paprika is ideal for people who live in the kitchen. Whereas other cooking apps are content to serve up some recipes and a shopping list, Paprika is a full-fledged scrapbook and meal planner you can use for every aspect of your culinary world.
Recipes can be added manually or snipped from favorite websites. Anything added to the app can be adjusted, if you decide you’ve figured out a way to improve the dish or preparation methods, or fancy adding some photos. Beyond that, there’s an ingredients tracker, meal planner (with Calendar integration), menu creator, and the means to print recipes.
It’s not as visually flashy as the likes of Kitchen Stories and Tasty, but Paprika feels like the best bet for anyone whose iPad spends almost as much time in the kitchen as they do.
Shepard Fairey AR - Damaged takes a warehouse-sized art exhibit and transforms it into a virtual space. This means instead of getting a digital book, where you swipe between stills, you instead experience the context and atmospherics of the original show, dragging the screen to move, or actually walking around in AR, adjusting your view on the basis of where you hold your iPad.
Fairey – creator of the iconic ‘Hope’ image of Barack Obama – is on fine form here, exploring issues relating to social media, celebrity, and the notion of constructing your own reality. Optionally, his narrative can accompany your journey around his work, adding extra insight. But however you check out Damaged, it proves itself to be the finest example of a virtual gallery on mobile, looking to the future rather than the past.
Oilist comes across like someone’s trapped over 40 painters inside your iPad. Feed the app an image, and it’s recreated in the style – and level of abstraction – of your choosing.
You also get to be a back-seat artist, if you so desire. By tapping buttons at the side of the screen, you can fiddle with mood and brush types, or introduce ‘chaos’ and ‘gravity’ in a disruptive manner that probably makes the virtual artist want to stab you in the eye with their brush.
At any point, you can save a snap of the current work, which in 4K resolution is suitable for printing. Superb stuff, then, whether you want to turn treasured holiday snaps into a Van Gogh, or just fancy some mesmerizing living art to stare at.
Tweetbot 5 is a premium Twitter client. Unlike Twitter’s own client, which is determined to present tweets as it sees fit, Tweetbot lists tweets in order, omits ads, and doesn’t clutter up your mentions feed with notifications about retweets and likes. There’s a night mode, for tweeting in the dark, iCloud sync across devices for keeping your place, and nice sound effects that make the app feel alive.
On iPad, the app of course supports Split View and Slide Over, but it also has its own built-in column view. This means if you’re the kind of person who lives on Twitter, you can, for example, simultaneously scroll through your feed in the main pane, while chatting with people via direct messages in another. Top stuff for power users – or anyone who wants to avoid social network noise.
VideoGrade is a color-grading app for video, giving you a taste of Hollywood on your iPad.
It’s a powerful app, but one that’s nonetheless straightforward to use. On launch, it finds all your videos. Select one and tools are displayed at the right-hand side of the screen. Open a menu, drag a slider, and changes are made instantly. Any tool used gets a handy green dot next to its name, helping you keep track of complex adjustments.
Filters (color changes, levels, pixelation and so on) are applied live, and a single tap fires up a full preview. Combinations of settings can be saved for later reuse. Also, the app’s various presets are available as a Photos extension. That means you needn’t even delve headlong into VideoGrade itself to apply some of its magic to your favorite videos.
Yoink is what’s known as a ‘shelf’ app – a kind of souped-up clipboard that can be used to collate files and content from disparate sources.
On iPad, Yoink proves especially useful, working in Split View and Slide Over, and making it a cinch to gather images, text, URLs and documents. You can import items as well, and even get at things you’ve stashed on other devices by way of iCloud sync.
With extended use, Yoink feels like an app that sweats the details. Copying and removing items depends on the status of a padlock icon. What you’ve saved in Yoink can be browsed in Apple’s Files app. You can edit text documents within Yoink, and interact with it via Siri. In all, it’s indispensable for power users – or anyone wanting a place to quickly store items before subsequently sharing them.
WeatherPro for iPad is a weather app for people at the geekier end of the spectrum when it comes to meteorology and forecasts. It’s far from the prettiest app in the world, but it does pack a ton of information into your iPad’s display.
Set up several locations and their current conditions sit in a scrolling pane at the side of the screen. For the current selection, you can in the main pane check out a rainfall radar, along with the outlook for the coming week. And that’s way beyond a few symbols and temperature predictions – graphs and wiggly lines outline sun hours, precipitation, wind, and more.
For at-a-glance forecasting, you’re probably better off with Dark Sky. But for digging into the details, Weather Pro’s a good bet, especially considering the small outlay.
Ferrite Recording Studio at first looks like a souped-up voice memos app, but beneath lies a powerful multi-track editor, so if you’re armed with an iPad, the app and some time, you can create your own podcast.
For free, there are limitations: an hour of recording, ten-minute projects and three tracks. Go Pro and Ferrite gives desktop editors a run for their money: 32 tracks, projects up to a day long, and recording time limited only by the space on your iPad.
The pro version adds further handy tools for improving recordings, such as effects, auto-leveling, MP3 chapters and dead air removal, bt the most impressive thing is how this all comes together. Ferrite might be powerful, but it’s also extremely usable. It therefore comes highly recommended if you’ve any interest in multi-track voice recording projects.
Dark Sky Weather provides weather forecasts with an emphasis on hyperlocal rainfall. The Forecast tab displays current conditions, with a handy map indicating the movements of nearby storms. If rain’s imminent, its severity is shown in graph form.
Below that are outlooks for the next 24 hours and upcoming week. The app also includes notifications, including the means to make custom ones triggered by changes in temperature, rain/snowfall, wind, UV, and humidity.
In the past, Dark Sky never felt optimized for iPad. It’s still a bit wasteful of space (notably in the tricky-to-parse Next 24 Hours view), but the latest redesign feels more considered and less like a blown-up iPhone app.
Also, the Map view is best experienced on a tablet, where you can watch the ebb and flow of temperatures and rainfall across a virtual Earth you spin with a finger.
Drafts 5 initially looks like a straightforward text editor, albeit one with a heavily loaded custom keyboard bar. As you type, a word/character count keeps track in the corner, and you can prod the aforementioned bar’s buttons to perform actions, and adjust the cursor’s position.
What sets Drafts apart is its flexibility. For one thing, the keyboard bar can be customized. When a text is completed, it can be tagged for easier subsequent retrieval in the app’s inbox. And actions enable you to process text or send it elsewhere.
That’s all in the free tier, but splash out on Pro and Drafts becomes a seriously powerful tool. You can create and edit automation actions, change the app’s theme, adjust your workspace, and explore pro-oriented widgets. It feels like the spiritual successor to Editorial, and in either incarnation is a must-have for writers.
Streaks is habit-forming – in a good way. It’s effectively a to-do manager that focuses on what you want to do in your life – and bad habits you want to eradicate.
To get started, you create tasks, assign icons, and define durations. The app’s flexible regarding how often tasks should be done; and you can create time-based ones (whereupon the app temporarily becomes a timer), those that interact with Apple’s Health app, and ‘negative’ ones you don’t want to ‘complete’. Streaks then tracks your progress in handy graph form.
The app’s iPhone origins are obvious, not least in the main display that’s optimized for six tasks and therefore looks comical on iPad. But it’s nonetheless great to have this superb app in native form on Apple’s tablet, and iCloud sync ensures any changes you make are accessible across all your Apple gear.
Patterning 2 offers a decidedly different spin on drum machines and rhythm making. Rather than you smacking a set of virtual pads, or tapping out notes on a grid, Patterning 2 gives you a wheel. In fact, it gives you several – one for each of eight selectable drum samples.
The interface might be unique, but it’s also versatile. You drag sliders to set an item’s properties. Depending on the selected layer, you can quickly adjust velocity, panning, and tuning; the last of those opening up many possibilities for melodies.
Patterning 2 also wants you to experiment - automation, per-sample directional playback, and randomization can make for complex, rich rhythms you’d be hard pressed to make in any other music app on your iPad.
Procreate is the kind of digital painting app that could feasibly tear jobbing artists away from the desktop. Feature rich, it also has an immediacy that makes it approachable for relative newcomers looking to paint on a touchscreen.
The interface is unobtrusive; by default, tools are accessed from a strip at the top of the screen, and brush size and opacity sliders sit at the left. Simple gestures can take you full screen, or undo a duff stroke.
This simple interface is augmented with a slew of features: custom, sharable brushes; layers with masking; drawing guides (such as isometric grids); live symmetry effects; Quickline for snapping strokes to straight lines; warp and liquify. As your skills advance, you can export video of you painting your masterpiece – or a 30-second timelapse ready for social media.
Affinity Designer brings desktop-grade vector illustration to iPad. Its huge range of tools are ideally suited to anything from high-end illustrations through to interface design. Every stroke always remains editable, and you can zoom to an absurd degree, and never lose detail.
The app works nicely with Apple Pencil or your own digits, and has a smart gestural system where holding fingers on the screen mirrors desktop keyboard modifiers. Elsewhere, you can pinch layers to group them, or drag one layer on to another to create a mask.
This is an app you can get lost in – but in a good way. The more you use it, the more you realize its sheer scope. And it even shares a file format with Affinity Photo, so you can bounce documents between the two without losing anything.
LiquidText PDF Reader has a misleading name. Although it is for reading and annotating PDFs, thinking it only capable of those things does the app a disservice. Really, you should consider it a hugely powerful product for dynamically gathering your thoughts, and quickly getting at important content within documents.
For free, you can import PDFs (along with Microsoft Office files), make highlights, and drag excerpts to a work area. Go pro and you can gather and link information across multiple files.
The app feels perfectly suited to the touchscreen. You can use Apple Pencil to scribble live ink lines that become dynamic links between documents. Gestures enable you to quickly collapse lengthy documents to read highlights, search results, or non-contiguous pages. For students, researchers, and anyone who wants to go beyond paper, LiquidText is a must-have.
Pixelmator is a full-featured but approachable photo and image editor. Loosely based on its desktop cousin, it provides a raft of creative tools, whether you need to make a few tweaks to a favorite photo, or have a burning desire to craft a multi-layered composition comprising images, drawings, text and shapes.
The app doesn’t try to ape desktop editors in terms of interaction. Brush selection, for example, provides a full-screen view with large tappable previews. And although adjustment controls sit within a sidebar, this still feels friendly rather than complex; the last thing Pixelmator wants to do is pack the screen with palettes.
If nothing else, this app also represents astonishing value for money. Pixelmator is the logical next step when Snapseed doesn’t meet your creative demands, and you desire the freedom to begin photographic artwork from a blank canvas, rather than just tweak the odd snap.
Scanbot Pro is a scanner app that uses your iPad’s camera to snap documents. Assuming there’s sufficient contrast, outlines are automatically cropped, whereupon you can rotate, color-adjust, and save the result.
To some extent, this echoes functionality now built into Apple’s Notes app, but there’s an advantage to having a standalone app for scanning. It’s faster and more efficient, for one. But also, this app does more than just scan.
Your documents remain within the app and can be signed and annotated. OCR technology attempts – with some success – to create searchable text from your images, and to extract important details. These are presented as action triggers, for example to kick off a phone call or visit a website. In all, then, probably more useful than a hardware scanner – and rather more convenient to carry around with you too.
Lily invites you to make music from geometric, minimal spinning flowers. You select a color and shape – the former dictating the instrument, and the latter the lily’s petals. Open the flower and you then gain access to a pulsating playback head.
At this point, you get to set notes by dragging bars across horizontal regions. Repeat the process with multiple lilies and you’ll soon have an oddly delicate cacophony serenading your ears. This music can be exported, and you can save your current composition when you want to start a new one.
Lily is a very sweet app. It’s rather too abstract to be as immediate is it would like, but if you fancy a decidedly different and exploratory, playful take on music-making, it’s a joy.
Noted cleverly combines an audio recorder and notepad. The rich text editor is like a simplified Pages, with predefined styles for headings and lists, image support, and a highlighter for drawing a reader’s attention to important bits.
That’s nothing new on iPad, but the way text and audio integrate is. During recordings, tapping the tag button adds an inline ‘#TimeTag’. Tapping this tag later will jump to the relevant point in the recording. This means you can spend more time in meetings and lectures listening, and later return to flesh out brief notes, adding context based on the audio.
Naturally, Noted’s own format is bespoke, but you can share notes with other users via iCloud. Otherwise, you can export audio to M4A format, and everything else to PDF. In all, then, an ideal productivity aid for a wide range of scenarios.
Poison Maps is an app for finding points of interest – POIs – on maps. Hence: Poison Maps. If you were hoping it’d provide insight into finding toxins, you’re out of luck, but for restaurants, hotels, banks, tourist attractions, parking, shops, hospitals and so on, it does the job – millions of such POIs can be found by way of the efficient search function.
This might strike you as unnecessary, given the existence of the entirely free Google Maps, but Poison Maps has some trump cards. First, it has interesting and useful interface components, such as signs that clearly denote the distance to and direction of off-screen POIs.
Beyond static POIs, cycling and transport routes are built-in. Poison Maps also works offline, so should you find yourself in a new town and without a data connection, you’ll still have a fighting chance of finding the things you need.
CARROT Fit is the answer if a more sensible exercise app just isn’t doing it for you. Like CARROT Weather, this fitness tool is helmed by a snarky, sarcastic AI. Here, she comes across like the deranged offspring of HAL 9000 and a personal trainer. To wit, she’ll threaten, ridicule and bribe you, in order to “prevent your body from blimping up.”
The actual exercise bit is, broadly speaking, conventional, in that you partake in recognizable routines. But even there, CARROT Fit has a very distinct character, referring to push-ups as ‘Kowtows to Cthulhu,’ and subtly renaming the seven-minute workout ‘7 Minutes in Hell.’ Still, you’ll likely need some humor when sitting on the floor in a sweaty heap after a few minutes of exercise, and CARROT Fit has that over its straight-laced contemporaries.
Away is an ambitious, multi-layered relaxation aid. It depicts a single scene, focused on a large blossom tree near a stream. Chill-out music begins when you tap the play button, mixed with sounds from the scene.
Tap the settings button to select from three background tracks and adjust the mix. You can also shift the visual scene from sunrise to night time, with each period of day offering new sounds. There’s also a mixing disc that you can use to determine which sounds you’d like to be more prominent, such as leaves in the wind, the babbling stream or twittering birds.
There’s a timer for defined meditation sessions, and if you hanker for more, the app’s developer offers several similar themed multi-scene apps based around wind, rain, and water sounds.
Pause puts relaxation at your fingertip as you use a digit to slowly track a pulsating blob. It gradually fills the screen, whereupon the app urges you to close your eyes and keep mindfully moving your finger. A bell sounds when it’s time to return to the real world.
The app’s creator talks of Tai Chi principles and EEG-technology validation, and it’s easy to be skeptical of such claims, but Pause can be effective. Slow, deliberate movements provide a sense of focus and calm, augmented by ambient audio.
Pause could be more helpful in some ways – it stops if you move too fast, when an audible warning would be better, and you may find using it on iPad unwieldy. With the right setup and frame of mind, however, Pause provides a beautiful, tactile route into mindfulness on your iPad.
Tinyclouds is an adorable weather app. That’s perhaps a slightly odd description to use for something that’s usually utilitarian, but then Carrot Weather (elsewhere in this list) showcases how weather apps can have a character of their own, and Tinyclouds is certainly unique.
Select a location (you can store several within the app) and it provides a big temperature reading at the top of the sidebar, along with a forecast for the rest of the day and an outlook for the coming week. The rest of the screen is an ever-changing isometric city, with cars zipping about, its weather mirroring that of your chosen location.
The app does, admittedly, feel like a sketch – it could do with more detail, and at least a wider range of views. Still, as a simple, great-looking weather app for a docked and charging iPad, it’s well worth a couple of bucks.
White Noise+ is a sound machine designed to reduce distractions by way of ambient noise. Many apps in this space are a bit new age and flowery, and quite a few are, frankly, rubbish. Fortunately, White Noise+ is none of those things, instead providing a thoroughly modern, tactile take on noise generation.
The app’s based around a grid akin to smart drums in GarageBand. Here, you get 16 slots, into which you drag icons that represent different sounds. Those toward the top play more loudly, and those toward the right have more complex loops. Your mixes can be saved, and sleep timers and alarms are available if you want to use White Noise+ for meditation sessions – or for waking you up should you doze off.
You get a handful of sounds to play with for free, but the full set requires a one-off IAP. Given the quality of the app, it’s well worth the outlay.
Streaks Workout wants you to get fit. Such apps are usually associated with iPhone – hardly surprising, seeing as you’re unlikely to go jogging with an iPad strapped to your arm – but for quick sessions of personal training, it fits the bill.
You select from the exercises you’re happy to perform, and choose a workout length – from six minutes (‘quick’) to 30 (‘pain’). The app then randomly sends exercises your way, which are impossible to miss on the large display.
When you’re done with an exercise, you tap the screen to continue, but if you find that a distraction, you can switch from rep counts to timed exercise periods. You can create bespoke custom workouts, too.
During downtime, you can collapse in a heap and flick through saved statistics, mulling that iCloud support means Streaks Workout can follow you to every device, meaning you’ve no excuse to ever stop exercising.
Ventusky is a weather service that started out online, but feels like it was always destined for iPad.
Select a location and the main view enables you to switch the large map between various weather layers, including temperature, precipitation, snow cover, and air pressure. If you’re a weather nerd (and/or British), drag upward and you get an extended forecast to scroll through, along with a ton of graphs and data to bury yourself in.
The one snag is Ventusky lacks Dark Sky’s animated radar, and so you don’t see storms rolling in – just where they will be during a three-hour window. Even so, the wind streaking across your display as tiny white lines helps you understand why conditions are the way they are.
In short, then, this app looks great, is wonderfully tactile, and is pleasingly different from its contemporaries.
Samplebot on the iPhone is primarily about collecting sounds and using them to make a noise (by way of live playback on a pad grid), or turning them into oddball songs via an easy to use built-in sequencer. This is still possible on iPad of course, but with a less portable device, Samplebot’s other abilities transform it into a subtly different app.
Although you can of course still record you tapping pots, pans, glasses, and your own head, Samplebot can also bring in audio from Music, iCloud Drive, or the iOS clipboard, and sample from other apps if you’ve got Audiobus installed.
The end result is a grid pad and sample editor that’s immense fun to play around with, twinned with a sequencer that’s simple, but still powerful enough to sketch out the basics of your next hit record.
Retrospecs is a photo filter app that revels in the history of computing and gaming. Rather than turning any photo or image into a tiny Picasso with a tap, it instead reimagines whatever you load as if it was on the screen of a Game Boy, Apple Mac or C64.
In fact, over 40 systems exist once you pay for the IAP (you can test Retrospecs for free with a small selection), and if that’s not enough, you can fashion your own custom emulations. For properly authentic retro output, you can edit dither modes, add glitch animations, tweak CRT effects and more.
Full support for video combined with some bonkers filters (PETSCII! Teletext!) adds scope for YouTube weirdness. But even if you only grab Retrospecs because you’ve always wondered what your face would look like on a NES, it’s worth the outlay.
Linia Sketch is an iPad sketching tool that deftly balances elegance and power. Create a new sketch and all of the tools sit at the screen edges. Scribble nearby and they temporarily get out of the way, and you can also invoke full-screen with a tap.
This isn’t an app that cares for realism. Blending with the small selection of pens is minimal, and the end results look digital, but this is a superb app for speed. You can quickly surround a selection and transform it in various ways. And there’s the ZipLine feature, which lets you draw a line and hold for a second to straighten it. It’s then possible to add further lines (to create a polygon, or map out floor plan walls) by tap-holding.
Virtual artists should look elsewhere, but if you’re after an app to jot down quick storyboard ideas or create diagrams, Linia Sketch is ideal.
Monster Park - AR Dino World figures everyone should have their own dinosaur park, and enables you to create one on a table, in a garden, or in a mall when you’re feeling hemmed in by concrete and glass.
Fire things up and a T-rex stomps about and bellows while pteranodons fly overhead. A US$0.99/99p/AU$1.49 IAP adds extra beasts, and the app enables you to augment your prehistoric critters with a virtual jungle.
Alternatively, position the experience at a distance to create a ‘portal’ into an ancient world, with the T-rex terrifyingly poking its head through and threatening you with its massive teeth.
Interaction is limited (tap the ground to make a dinosaur move, tap it repeatedly to unsportingly knock it down, and record any of your escapades), but this is nonetheless an entertaining take on augmented reality for kids of any age.
OmniOutliner 3 is a desktop-quality outlining tool that aims to bring structured writing to the masses.
It’s effectively two apps in one. Essentials is about quickly getting down and organizing ideas hierarchically. It’s quick and easy to add, promote and demote items (including with a physical keyboard, so you don’t have to keep reaching for the screen), and to shift rows around with drag and drop. The built-in search further elevates the app from more basic tools, filtering out non-matching rows so you only see only what’s relevant.
If your needs are greater, you can opt for Pro (US$38.99/£38.99/AU$62.99). This pushes the app towards word processing and spreadsheet territory, adding automation, styling options for document types (lists, book drafts, mathematical and so on) and section navigation from a sidebar. In either incarnation, the app is excellent, and a free two-week trial lets you switch between both versions to see which best suits.
FileBrowser makes it easy to grab documents from just about anywhere, then view and edit them. Think of it like a companion app to Files. Although Apple’s file manager supports iCloud and integrates with the likes of Dropbox, FileBrowser can explore connected Macs and PCs, FTP servers, NAS servers and more.
Setting things up is straightforward, and the app’s tabbed interface makes it a cinch to quickly switch between sources. Unfortunately, tabs aren’t drag-and-drop aware, but sidebar shortcuts are. File viewing works well, and you can annotate PDFs and create/unpack ZIP archives.
It’d be good to see FileBrowser more fully embrace the space available on iPad – an optional two-pane view, for example. The lack of Share sheet support is also a pity. Other than that, it’s a solid option when your file management needs exceed what Files can do.
Typorama is about adding text to your photos – or creating typographic designs from scratch – with a minimum of effort. Select a photo, flat color, or a stock image background, choose an output size, and you’re ready to get started.
Other apps in this space let you select fonts, but Typorama has you select designs. Enter some text, tap a design style, and what you typed is instantly transformed. If you’re not keen on what you see, tap the style again for variations.
You can add multiple type layers, and apply shadows and gradient effects to each one. There’s also a 3D rotation/perspective tool, and a selective eraser. Some features are locked in the free version and you must put up with watermarks, but there are various IAP available, including the ability to unlock everything for $5.99/£5.99/AU$9.99.
Toca Life: Office gives your kids a chance to play out what they imagine their working parents get up to all day – albeit in exciting environments likely more colorful and interesting than the real thing.
For young children, there’s plenty of fun to be had simply in moving the little figures about, and poking backgrounds to see what happens. For slightly older kids, exploration can prove rewarding in other ways – there’s a secret exit from the jail, a working copy machine in the office, and a cafe where you can merrily experiment with what’s on the menu.
Neatly, there’s even a recording feature, so kids can get creative and act out a scene, which can then be shared with friends. In all, this is another superb Toca Boca creation that ticks all the right boxes.
Affinity Photo extinguishes any lingering doubt regarding the iPad’s suitability for creative professionals. In short, it’s Serif’s impressive Mac/PC Photoshop rival, carefully reimagined for the touchscreen.
This is pro-level photo/image-editing fare, and you need the hardware to match – at least an iPad Air 2, but preferably an iPad Pro – but with the right kit, you get a huge range of features for image editing, creation and retouching.
The live filters and liquify tools are particularly impressive, responding to edits in real time. Working with a finger or Pencil is pleasingly tactile in a manner desktop equivalents can’t match.
RAW shooting/processing support, the ability to add fonts, layer isolation, and robust Files integration all cement Affinity Photo’s place among the iPad app greats. And if you become an expert, there’s even a ‘Show Touches’ option for making tutorials that other users can follow.
Core Animator is an app for creating motion graphics on your iPad. If you’ve ever seen Adobe Animate (formerly Flash), you’ll feel at home. If not, the app might take longer to get to grips with, but you’re helped along by built-in tutorials and Core Animator’s usable, logical interface.
The basics involve adding objects to a canvas and manipulating them at various ‘keyframes’ on the timeline. You can adjust each one’s position, rotation, scale, and opacity, and Core Animator deals with all the frames in between.
It’s worth noting there are no drawing tools, so you must import elements created elsewhere. The app also demands time and patience, but give it both and you can end up with superb results.
Things 3 is a powerful task manager based around to-dos. Its ultimate aim is to ensure you get more done, and this is achieved by a smart and sleek workflow model that makes it simple to collect your thoughts, figure out your day, and plan far into the future.
The app can be as expansive or as simple as you need it to be. You can live in the Today and Upcoming views, working from basic to-dos, or add extra context and nested lists for more complex tasks. With iOS 11, Things 3 adds support for Split View and drag-and-drop, so you can drag links or emails right to a to-do.
This is the kind of app where you quickly wonder how you lived without it. And although it’s pricey when you buy it across iPad, iPhone and Mac, the time you’ll gain ensures it’s good value for money.
Bandimal is a music toy for the rest of us. Actually, its App Store description states it’s a music composer for kids, but ignore that because Bandimal is great fun for everyone.
It offers three slots into which you swipe an animal. A quick tap opens a dotted grid, on to which you assign notes by prodding the dots. These trigger loops when the playhead moves over them, and there are no wrong choices.
There’s a drum track too, along with some basic effects and a speed dial. And as you’re composing, your little menagerie will bop to the beat, with animation that’s so much fun it’s sure to make any cartoonists in the vicinity a touch envious.
You might avoid Bandimal because you’re not a musician. Don’t. This app’s only to be avoided if you hate fun.
Concepts is an advanced vector-based sketching and design app. Every stroke remains editable, and similar flexibility is evident elsewhere, with varied grids (dot; lined; isometric), definable gestures, and an adjustable interface.
With version 5, Concepts’ design revamp transformed the main toolbar into a space-efficient tool wheel, from which Copic swatches pleasingly explode when you switch colors. As such, the app’s a touch alien at first, and can be fiddly if you don’t have a Pencil.
But Concepts soon becomes natural and fluid in use, and it’s apparent the app’s been designed for touch, rather than a developer hammering desktop concepts into your iPad.
If you’re not a professional architect, illustrator or the like it might be overkill, but if you’re unsure, you can get a feel for the app for free. IAPs subsequently allow you to unlock shape guides, SVG and PDF export, infinite layers, and object packs.
Artomaton - The Motion Painter is an ‘artificial intelligence artist’ – recreating photos as sketches and paintings. For free, you get a small selection of media, but pay a $2.99/£2.99/AU$4.49 IAP and you unlock the full range, including the arresting ‘Pointil’ (as in ‘lism’), scribbly crayons, and a lovely sketch/watercolor combo.
Unlike most competing apps, this one has many settings for adjusting properties, such as vignettes, stroke width, hatching angle, and color saturation.
It even works with video, and although it takes some time for Artomaton to draw all of the individual frames (just a 20-second clip will need close to 200), output with ‘Sketch&Water’ has a gorgeous scratchy hand-drawn quality.
For free, then, this is a great download; but grab that paid IAP for something really special.
MindNode 5 is a mind-mapping app. That might sound dull, given that such tools are associated with boring business meetings that involve massive whiteboards... and the hope the ground will swallow you up.
But MindNode 5 is different. It’s sleek and fun to use as you smash out ideas. You can start with a Quick Entry list, which the app then turns into a mind map; or you can manually create and position nodes. For more context, it’s possible to add photos, stickers, and notes to your maps. And for when you do have to get properly businesslike, there’s a vertical layout for organizational charts.
Whatever you’re working on, MindNode 5 is far better than paper equivalents – it’s flexible, sharable, and always comprehensible.
Human Anatomy Atlas 2018 represents a leap forward for iPad education apps and digital textbooks alike. In short, it turns your iPad into an anatomy lab – and augmented reality extends this to nearby flat surfaces.
You can explore your virtual cadaver by region or system. Additionally, you can examine cross-sections, micro-anatomy (eyes; bone layers; touch receptors, and so on), and muscle actions. If you want to learn what makes you tick, it’s fascinating to spin a virtual body beneath your finger, and ‘dissect’ it by removing sections.
But the AR element is a real prize, giving you a captivating, slightly unnerving virtual body to explore. Ideal fodder for medical students, then, but great even for the simply curious. And although it’s pricey for the latter audience, the app’s often on sale, most recently dropping as low as $0.99/£0.99/AU$1.49. Snap it up if you see it cheap.
Zipped largely fixes a major shortcoming of the iOS Files app for iPad – its inability to deal with ZIP archives. The default Files app merely lets you peek inside a ZIP and extract items one at a time, but Zipped is far more capable.
If you need to unpack an archive, that can be done with a couple of taps. The files within are then saved to a user-defined location – either as they are, or within a named folder.
Creating archives is simple, too, and works via drag and drop in Split View or – an often better option – Slide Over. The one snag is Zipped only recognizes specific file formats, although the most common are covered.
Still, the low price makes it worth grabbing even if you only use it to quickly get at files within ZIPs, rather than laboriously extracting them one by one.
Clip Studio Paint Ex for manga brings the popular PC desktop app for digital artists to the iPad. And we mean that almost literally – Clip Studio looks pretty much identical to the desktop release.
In one sense, this isn’t great news – menus, for example, are fiddly to access, but it does mean you get a feature-rich, powerful app. There are loads of brushes and tools, vector capabilities, effect lines and tones for comic art, and onion skinning for animations. It also takes full advantage of Pencil, so pro artists can be freed from the desktop, and work wherever they like.
The app could do with better export and desktop workflow integration, and even some fans might be irked by the subscription model. But Clip Studio’s features and quality mean most will muddle through the former issues and pay for the latter.
Zen Studio is a unique, beautifully conceived painting and coloring app. Instead of giving you a blank canvas for free-form scribbling, Zen Studio opts for a triangular grid. Tap spaces and they fill with your selected color as a note plays. This combination of coloring and ad-hoc melody proves very relaxing – for children and adults alike.
In its free version, this is an entertaining app, but it’s worth grabbing the main $2.99/£2.99/AU$4.99 IAP. This lets you save unlimited drawings (rather than just eight), and unlocks white paint, which acts as an eraser on compositions with white backgrounds.
It also provides access to a slew of tutorials. These have you build up a picture by coloring inside stencils, which even a two-year-old should be able to cope with – and then subsequently scrawl over when the stencils disappear.
Percolator is a photo filter app for ‘brewing’ circular mosaics using a custom recipe. The coffee theme is fanciful, but it is admittedly lovely to see your photo explode into a bunch of bubbles that disappear and then reform when major changes are made to the ‘grind’ (circle size and effect) settings.
Mostly, though, we were impressed by Percolator because its effects range from the bizarre to the beautiful. Some have a kind of classical feel, a few look like high-end art posters, and with careful tweaking of ‘brew’ (pattern and blend) and ‘serve’ (effect and texture) settings, you can even approximate painterly effects.
It’s a pity you can’t save your own custom presets, although the app does at least offer some examples to get you started. For the most part, though, Percolator’s a tasty treat.
Prompts is a writing tool designed for anyone having a hard time getting started. Create a new document and the app draws from over 300,000 unique starting lines and prompts. If you’re not keen on what it provides, tap refresh until you get something suitably inspirational.
As you’re typing away, the app then leaves you alone, but you can at any point tap the prompts icon to get a further helping hand. Often, the suggestions are rather obvious, but that doesn’t mean they’re not helpful.
The app also includes a tracking and statistics system, to try and get you writing regularly. On that basis, it’s a useful training aid to keep your writing ‘muscles’ fit and healthy, even if you naturally gravitate towards Scrivener and iA Writer when it’s time to get down to serious writing.
Little Digits is a new spin on finger counting, making use of the iPad’s large screen, and its ability to recognize loads of fingers pressing down at once.
The app’s most basic mode responds to how many fingers are touching the screen. Use a single digit, and the app chirps ONE! while a grinning one-shaped monster jigs about. Add another finger and the one is replaced by a furry two. You get the idea.
Beyond this, the app offers some basic training in number ordering, addition and subtraction, making it a great learning tool for young children.
But the smartest feature may well be multiple language support and recording. This means you can use the app to learn to count in anything from French to Swedish, and record custom prompts if your own language isn’t supported.
SoundForest is a creative sound toy that mashes up minimalist animal stickers and song-making.
Across four environments, you drag stickers from a strip at the bottom of the screen onto your canvas. Each one – be it animal, plant, or landmark – makes a sound that rarely recalls reality. A mandrill, for example, blasts forth a raucous slap bass. It’s colorful, entertaining, and encourages discovery and experimentation.
Once you’ve dotted your stickers about, you can fire up your composition. The sun or moon acts as a playback head, and your stickers animate as your oddball musical masterpiece blasts forth.
Pros may be frustrated by the app’s lack of export functionality, but really SoundForest is more for the masses than them – an approachable, fun way to make a noisy music loop, using a vibrant, unique interface.
Toca Life: Farm is an ambitious and rich exploratory title for kids, inviting them to manage a farm and fashion their own stories.
There are four locations: barn, house, field, and store. Each of them is packed full of elements to interact with. For youngsters, there’s plenty of fun to be had just poking around, making noises, and dragging colorful characters about.
Toca Life: Farm encourages older kids to think a little more. They can grow their own ingredients, which can subsequently be made into food. Animals can be fed and cared for, whereupon it’s possible to reap the rewards of eggs from chickens and milk from cows.
There’s no stress - this title is all about moving at your own pace. Importantly, it also eschews advertising and IAP, ensuring your little farmer can’t accidentally spend real-world cash on virtual hay bales.
Chambers Thesaurus is a thesaurus for your iPad. You might argue that doesn’t sound like the most exciting app in the world – and you’d be right. But if you do any writing on your iPad, it’s pretty much essential.
On macOS, Apple bundles a thesaurus with its Dictionary app, but this is absent on iOS, which merely attempts to correct spellings. Chambers’ offering therefore fills a void – and it does so in a straightforward, unassuming, highly usable manner.
Entries are clearly laid out, and you get a handy search sidebar in landscape. Pages can be bookmarked, and shared, or sent to equally impressive sister app Chambers Dictionary. If you fancy both, grab the bundle to save a few bucks.
MaxCurve is a professional-quality photo editor, designed for people who want plenty of control over the images they’re working on. Much of the app is based around curves you typically find in high-end editors such as Photoshop.
Adjusting curves is pleasingly tactile, enabling you to make dramatic or subtle adjustments to colors and exposure settings with ease. It makes many of MaxCurve’s iPad contemporaries seem comparatively crude. Smartly, edits are stored as virtual layers, which can be toggled, and there are also tools for cropping and vignettes.
The app feels at home on iPad, which provides enough space to see your photo and tools, without the latter obscuring the former. MaxCurve could probably do with some quick-fix solutions for things like exposure, but then perhaps that’s missing the point of an app more about careful, considered edits rather than speed.
The Brainstormer is designed to spark ideas when you’re working on a story. In its default state, it’s something of a visual oddity, with three wheels that you spin for a random set-up of plot/conflict, theme/setting, and subject/location. Individual wheels can be locked, and you can swap the wheels for a ‘slot machine’ interface if you prefer.
Although that might seem a bit gimmicky, The Brainstormer can be genuinely useful if you need a little nudge to get going. Also, the app is extensible, vastly broadening its scope. You can buy additional wheels via IAP, such as creature and world builders.
You can also directly edit existing wheels, or create your own from scratch. When you’re fresh out of ideas, a couple of bucks for endless new ones could be a bargain buy that sends you on your way to a best-seller.
Textastic is a text editor geared towards markup and coding. It’s an app that takes a no-nonsense approach – very evident the second you sit before its tasteful, minimal interface.
But that doesn’t mean the app’s heavily stripped back. As you work with Textastic, you realize it’s been cleverly optimized to speed your work along. The custom keyboard row is superb, providing fast access to a slew of handy characters.
Not keen on the way code is presented? Quickly flip to the settings, and tweak the fonts or choose an entirely new theme.
As ever, there are limitations to an iPad editor of this kind, most notably local previews when coding web pages. On that basis, you’re probably not going to create a site from scratch with Textastic.
But with its smart editor, useful settings, Split View support, and a built-in file-transfer system, it’s ideal for making quick changes or typing up Markdown notes when on the move – or on the sofa.
Thinkrolls Kings & Queens is a set of logic and physics tests for children disguised as a game.
Like other Thinkrolls titles, it involves rotund protagonists working their way to the bottom of a series of blocky towers. Their way is regularly barred by various elements that must be successfully manipulated to fashion a way onward.
For example, gears and racks might need combining to create a conveyor belt, or a mirror shifted to reflect light and remove a ghost.
It’s all clever stuff, and also broadly stress-free. There are no time limits at all, and multiple profiles can be set up to cater for several kids on a single device.
And although Kings & Queens is intended for kids between five and eight years old, the interface and design is such that younger children should be able to delve into the adventure, too – albeit perhaps with supervision to initially help them understand the trickier challenges.
CARROT Weather is a weather app helmed by a HAL-like artificial intelligence that hates humans. As you check whether it’ll be sunny at the weekend, or if you’ll be caught in a deluge should you venture outside, CARROT will helpfully call you a ‘meatbag’ and pepper its forecasts with snark.
That probably sounds like a throwaway gimmick, but it’s actually a lot of fun – adding color and personality to a kind of app usually devoid of both. Most importantly, though, CARROT Weather is a really good weather app.
The forecasts are clearly displayed, the interface is superb, and the Today view widget is one of the best around. There’s even an amusing mini-game for finding ‘collectable’ hidden locations.
There are some downsides: the rainfall/cloud maps are weak, and there are no notifications. But if you’re bored of the straight-laced, dull competition, and fancy a weather app that’s informative and entertaining, CARROT Weather’s well worth the outlay.
Axel Scheffler’s Flip Flap Safari is an entertaining digital take on those children’s games where you create weird and wonderful (and occasionally terrifying) creatures by combining different body parts. Here, you get tops and bottoms to swipe between, in order to construct the likes of a ‘zeboceros’ or ‘crocingo’.
Each animal is nicely illustrated and comes with two verses of text, which the app can optionally read aloud. Also, note you don’t have to create strange new animals – you can instead match halves to make normal ones.
Perfect for when your resident tiny person is getting a bit perplexed at seeing a grinning elephant propped up by a spindly pair of flamingo legs.
On the Mac, PDF Expert 6 is a friendly, efficient, usable PDF editor. If anything, the app’s often even better on iPad.
You can grab PDFs from iCloud or Dropbox. Pages can be rearranged by drag-and-drop, and you can add or extract pages with a few taps. Adding pages from another document sadly remains beyond the app, but you can merge two PDFs in its file manager.
As a reader, PDF Expert 6 fares well, ably dealing with large PDFs, and the text-to-speech mode can read documents at a speed of your choosing. Similarly, the app makes short work of annotations, document signing, and outline editing.
Buy the ‘Edit PDF’ IAP ($9.99/£9.99/AU$14.99 on top of the original price) and you can directly update text, redact passages, and replace images. You’re obviously a little limited by a document’s existing fonts and layout, but this functionality is great if you spot a glaring error while checking a vital PDF on your iPad.
With visible pixels essentially eradicated from modern mobile device screens, it’s amusing to see retro-style pixel art stubbornly clinging on.
But chunky pixels are a pleasing aesthetic, evoking nostalgia, and you know thought’s gone into the placement of every dot. Pixaki is an iPad pixel art ‘studio’, ideal for illustrators, games designers, and animators.
At its most minimal, the interface shows your canvas and some tool icons: pencil; eraser; fill; shapes; select; color picker. But there are also slide-in panels for layers/palettes, and the frame-based animation system.
Bar a slightly awkward selection/move process, workflow is sleek and efficient (not least with the superb fill tool, which optionally works non-contiguously across multiple layers), and the app has robust, flexible import and export options.
Perhaps most importantly, Pixaki’s just really nice to use – more so than crafting similar art on a PC or Mac, and although pricey it’s worth the money for anyone serious about pixel art.
The iPad may not be an ideal device for shooting photos, but its large screen makes it pretty great for editing them. And Mextures is perhaps the finest app around for anyone wanting to infuse their digital snaps with character by way of textures, grunge, and gradients.
The editing process is entirely non-destructive, with you building up effects by adding layers. In each case, textures, blend modes and rotation of scanned objects can be adjusted to suit, and you can experiment without fear of edits being ‘burned in’.
Particularly interesting combinations can be saved as ‘formulas’ and shared with the Mextures community – or you can speed along your own editing by downloading one of the many formulas that already exist.
There are quite a few dictionary apps on iPad, and most of them don’t tend to stray much from paper-based tomes, save adding a search function. LookUp has a more colorful way of thinking, primarily with its entry screen. This features rows of illustrated cards, each of which houses an interesting word you can discover more about with a tap.
The app is elsewhere a mite more conventional – you can type in a word to confirm a spelling, and access its meaning, etymology, and Wikipedia entry.
The app’s lack of speed and customization means it likely won’t be a writer’s first port of call when working – but it is an interesting app for anyone fascinated by language, allowing you to explore words and their histories in rather more relaxed circumstances.
There are so many amazing music-making apps on iPad that it’s hard to choose between them. With Audiobus 3, you sort of don’t have to, because it acts as a kind of behind-the-scenes plumbing.
Virtual cabling might not sound sexy, but it hugely boosts creative potential. You can send live audio or MIDI data between apps and through effects, mix the various channels, and then send the entire output to the likes of GarageBand.
Much of these features are new to Audiobus 3, and this latest update also adds Audio Unit support, enabling you to open some synths and effects directly in the app.
With support for over 900 iOS products in all, Audiobus 3 is an essential buy for anyone serious about creating music on an iPad.
Young children love wooden puzzles, where you plug a load of letters into letter-shaped holes (with a little luck, ones that actually fit). The thing is, those puzzles never change, whereas Endless Alphabet has over a hundred words to play with.
On selecting a word, a horde of colorful monsters sprints across the screen, scattering the letters, which must then be dragged back into place. As you do so, the letters entertainingly grumble and animate. Once the entire word’s complete, a short cut-scene plays to explain what it means.
From start to finish, Endless Alphabet is an excellent and joyful production. The interface is intuitive enough for young toddlers to grasp, and the app’s tactile nature works wonderfully on the iPad’s large display.
The ‘pro’ bit in Redshift Pro’s name is rather important, because this astronomy app is very much geared at the enthusiast. It dispenses with the gimmickry seen in some competing apps, and is instead packed with a ton of features, including an explorable planetarium, an observation planner and sky diary, 3D models of the planetary bodies, simulations, and even the means to control a telescope.
Although more workmanlike than pretty, the app does the business when you’re zooming through the heavens, on a 3D journey to a body of choice, or just lazily browsing whatever you’d be staring at in the night sky if your ceiling wasn’t in the way.
And if it all feels a bit rich, the developer has you covered with the slightly cut down – but still impressive – Redshift, for half the outlay.
Generally speaking, music apps echo real-world instruments, as evidenced by the piano keyboards found in the likes of GarageBand. KRFT is different – along with creating loops and riffs (either by bashing out a tune on a grid of pads, or tapping out notes on a piano roll), you also create the play surface itself.
Designing your instrument in KRFT is all based around shapes and icons – diamonds trigger loops, dials adjust sound properties, and squares can be set to trigger several loops at once.
Admittedly, staring at a blank canvas can intimidate, because you must consider composition and instrument construction as one. But KRFT bundles several inspirational demos to show what it can do – and they’re so much fun they might be worth the entry fee on their own.
If you’re the kind of person who likes spinning virtual decks, you’ll tell right away with djay Pro that you have in your hands something special. On the iPad – and especially on an iPad Pro – the app has room to breathe, lining up all kinds of features for being creative when playing other people’s music.
You get four-deck mixing, a sampler, varied waveform layouts, and useful DJ tools like cue points and beat-matching. There are also 70 keyboard shortcuts for quickly getting at important features, such as matching keys and adjusting levels.
For a newcomer, it’s perhaps overkill, and the similarly impressive djay 2 is cheaper. But if you’ve got the cash, djay Pro is a best-in-class app suitable for everyone – right up to jobbing DJs.
Even iPads with the largest amount of storage can’t cope with a great deal of on-board video. Infuse Pro is designed to access your collection, without any of it needing to be on your device.
The app connects to local drives and cloud services, and plays a wide range of file types, including MOV, MKV and VIDEO_TS. If the files are named sensibly, Infuse downloads cover art and can optionally grab soft subtitles. The interface throughout is superb.
On iPad, you also get full support for Split View and picture-in-picture, so you can pretend to work while watching your favorite shows. And if you continue on another device – this universal app is compatible with iPhone and Apple TV – cloud sync lets you pick up where you left off.
If you find iMovie isn’t quite doing it for you from a video editing standpoint, take a look at LumaFusion. This multitrack editor is designed with the more demanding user in mind, and is packed full of features to keep you editing at your iPad rather than nipping to a Mac or PC.
The main timeline provides you with three tracks for photos, videos, titles and graphics, and you get another three audio tracks for complex audio mixes involving narration and sound effects. Should you wish to take things further, LumaFusion includes a slew of effects and clip manipulation tools seemingly brought over from the developer’s own – and similarly impressive – LumaFX.
Occasionally, the app perhaps lacks some of the elegance iMovie enjoys, and LumaFusion is certainly a more involved product than Apple’s. But if you want fully-fledged video editing on your iPad, it’s hard to think of a better option.
On iPhone, Hipstamatic lets you switch between a virtual retro camera and a sleek modern camera app. On iPad, it all goes a bit weird, with the former option giving you a camera floating in space, and the latter making you wonder why you’d use a tablet for taking snaps.
But Hipstamatic nonetheless gets a recommendation on the basis of other things it does. Load an image from your Camera Roll, and you can delve into Hipstamatic’s editor. If you’re in a hurry, select a predefined style – Vintage; Cinematic; Blogger – and export.
Should you fancy a bit more fine-tuning, you can experiment with lenses, film, and flashes. And plenty of other adjustments are available, too, such as cropping, vignettes, curves, and a really nice depth of field effect.
Carl Burton’s Islands: Non-Places is listed in the App Store as a game, but don’t believe a word of it. Really, this ten-scene artistic endeavor is a surreal, mesmerizing semi-interactive animated film.
Each ‘non-place’ is somewhere you’d usually ignore or stay only on a very temporary basis, but here, the mundane is subverted through unusual and unexpected juxtapositions.
You’ll find yourself staring at a luggage carousel, before the bags begin a lazy Mexican wave. Elsewhere, palm trees ride mall escalators, while a run-of-the-mill seating area is suddenly flooded, a warning siren slicing its way through inane background chatter.
The result is frequently disorientating, but Islands also has the capacity to surprise, and is often oddly beautiful.
It’s concert time for the motley crew of Toca Band, in this toy designed to help kids explore music creatively. (And, um, adults who might get sucked in a bit.)
It’s all very simple: drag weird cartoon characters (each of which plays their own instrument) to spots on the stage, and they automatically jam along with the only song that Toca Band appears to know. Lob a musician at the star and they start a unique solo improv with a modicum of user control.
Toca Band is a very sweet app, which even toddlers should be able to grasp. A word of warning, though: that Toca Band riff will quickly become an earworm you’ll be hard pressed to remove.
iA Writer provides a writing environment suitably focused for iPad, but that also makes nods to the desktop.
The main screen is smartly designed, with a custom keyboard bar offering Markdown and navigation buttons; if you’re using a mechanical keyboard, standard shortcuts are supported.
Further focus comes by way of a typewriter mode (auto-scrolling to the area you’re editing) and graying out lines other than the one you’re working on.
Elsewhere, you get an optional live character count, iCloud sync, and a robust Markdown preview. We’d like to see a split-screen mode for the last of those (as per the Mac version), but otherwise iA Writer’s a solid, effective and affordable minimal writing app for iPad.
We're not sure what makes this edition of the famous mockney chef's recipe book 'ultimate', bar that word being very clearly written on the icon.
Still, Jamie Oliver's Ultimate Recipes is certainly a very tasty app. The 600 recipes should satisfy any given mood, whether you're after a sickeningly healthy salad or fancy binging on ALL THE SUGAR until your teeth scream for mercy.
Smartly, every recipe offers step-by-step photos, so you can see how badly you’re going wrong at any point. And when you've nearly burned down the kitchen, given up and ordered a pizza, you can watch the two hours of videos that reportedly tell you how to "become a real kitchen ninja".
Note: this doesn't involve wearing lots of black and hurling sharp objects at walls, sadly.
So, you’ve picked up an iPad synth to compose music, play live, or bound about like a maniac, pretending you're on stage at Glastonbury. Fortunately, Poison-202 is ideal for all such sets of circumstances.
The moody black and red graphic design is very 1990s, but it's Poison-202's sounds that hurl you back to the halcyon days of electronic music. Aficionados of The Prodigy, Chemical Brothers and Orbital will be overjoyed at the familiar (and brilliant) sounds you can conjure up simply by selecting presets and prodding a few keys.
And if you're not satisfied by the creator's (frankly awesome) sound design smarts (in which case, we glare at you with the menace of a thousand Keith Flints), all manner of sliders and dials enable you to create your own wall-wobbling bass and ear-searing leads.
There are iPad synths that have more ambition, and many are more authentic to classic hardware; but few are more fun.
As a combination clock and weather app, Living Earth works well across all iOS devices, but use it with an iPad in a stand and you've got something that'll make other clocks in the immediate vicinity green with envy.
As you might expect, your first job with the app is to define the cities you'd like to keep track of. At any point, you can then switch between them, updating the main clock and weather forecasts accordingly. Tap the weather and you can access an extended forecast for the week; tap the location and you get the current times and weather for your defined locations.
But it's the Earth that gets pride of place, taking up the bulk of the screen. It shows clouds by default, although weather geeks can instead choose colors denoting temperature, wind speed or humidity values. Then with a little swipe the globe rotates, neatly showing heavily populated locations during night time as lattices of artificial man-made light.
Animation can be painstaking, whether doing it for your career or just for fun. Fortunately, Stop Motion Studio Pro streamlines the process, providing a sleek and efficient app for your next animated masterpiece.
It caters to various kinds of animation: you can use your iPad’s camera to capture a scene, import images or videos (which are broken down into stills), or use a remote app installed on an iPhone. Although most people will export raw footage to the likes of iMovie, Stop Motion Pro shoots for a full animation suite by including audio and title capabilities.
There are some snags. Moving frames requires an awkward copy/paste/delete workaround. Also, drawing tools are clumsy, making the app’s claim of being capable of rotoscoping a tad suspect. But as an affordable and broadly usable app for crafting animation, it fits the bill.
On the desktop, Scrivener is widely acclaimed as the writer's tool of choice. The feature-rich app provides all kinds of ways to write, even incorporating research documents directly into projects. Everything's always within reach, and your work can constantly be rethought, reorganised, and reworked.
On iPad, Scrivener is, astonishingly, almost identical to its desktop cousin. Bar some simplification regarding view and export options, it's essentially the same app. You get a powerful 'binder' sidebar for organizing notes and documents, while the main view area enables you to write and structure text, or to work with index cards on a cork board.
There's even an internal 'Split View', for simultaneously smashing out a screenplay while peering at research. With Dropbox sync to access existing projects, Scrivener is a no-brainer for existing users; and for newcomers, it's the most capable rich text/scriptwriting app on iPad.
Your eyes might pop at the price tag of this iPad synth, but the hardware reissue of this amazing Moog was priced at a wallet-smashing $10,000. By contrast, the Model 15 iPad app seems quite the bargain. To our ears, it's also the best standalone iOS synth on mobile, and gives anything on the desktop a run for its money.
For people used to messing around with modular synths and plugging in patch leads, they'll be in heaven. But this isn't retro-central: you can switch the piano keyboard for Animoog's gestural equivalent; newcomers can work through straightforward tutorials about how to build new sounds from scratch; and those who want to dive right in can select from and experiment with loads of diverse, superb-sounding presets.
There are plenty of apps that enable you to add comic-like filters and the odd speech balloon to your photos, but Comic Life 3 goes the whole hog regarding comic creation. You select from pre-defined templates or basic page layouts, and can then begin working on a Marvel-worrying masterpiece.
Importing images is straightforward, and you get plenty of control over sound effects and speech balloons. For people who are perhaps taking things a bit too seriously (or actual comic creators, who can use this app for quick mock-ups), there's a bundled script editor as well.
Oddly, Comic Life 3's filters aren't that impressive, not making your photos look especially hand-drawn. But otherwise the app is an excellent means of crafting stories on an iPad, and you can export your work in a range of formats to share with friends - and Stan Lee.
This music app is inspired by layered composition techniques used in some classical music. You tap out notes on a piano roll, and can then have up to four playheads simultaneously interpret your notes, each using unique speeds, directions and transpositions. For the amateur, Fugue Machine is intuitive and mesmerising, not least because of how easy it is to create something that sounds gorgeous.
For pros, it's a must-have, not least due to MIDI output support for driving external software. It took us mere seconds to have Fugue Machine working with Animoog's voices, and the result ruined our productivity for an entire morning.
(Unless you count composing beautiful music when you should be doing something else as 'being productive'. In which case, we salute you.)
There's a miniature revolution taking place in digital comics. Echoing the music industry some years ago, more publishers are cottoning on to readers very much liking DRM-free content. With that in mind, you now need a decent iPad reader for your PDFs and CBRs, rather than whatever iffy reading experience is welded to a storefront.
Chunky is the best comic-reader on iPad. The interface is simple but customisable. If you want rid of transitions, they're gone. Tinted pages can be brightened. And smart upscaling makes low-res comics look good.
Paying the one-off 'pro' IAP enables you to connect to Mac or Windows shared folders or FTP. Downloading comics then takes seconds, and the app will happily bring over folders full of images and convert them on-the-fly into readable digital publications.
You're probably dead inside if you sit down with Metamorphabet and it doesn't raise a smile — doubly so if you use it alongside a tiny human. The app takes you through all the letters of the alphabet, which contort and animate into all kinds of shapes. It suitably starts with A, which when prodded grows antlers, transforms into an arch, and then goes for an amble. It's adorable.
The app's surreal, playful nature never lets up, and any doubts you might have regarding certain scenes — such as floaty clouds representing 'daydream' in a manner that doesn't really work — evaporate when you see tiny fingers and thumbs carefully pawing at the iPad's glass while young eyes remain utterly transfixed.
Pop music is about getting what you expect. Ambient music has always felt subtly different, almost like anything could happen. With generative audio, this line of thinking became reality. Scape gives you a combined album/playground in this nascent genre, from the minds of Brian Eno and Peter Chilvers.
Each track is formed by way of adding musical elements to a canvas, which then interact in sometimes unforeseen ways. Described as music that "thinks for itself", Scape becomes a pleasing, fresh and infinitely replayable slice of chillout bliss. And if you're feeling particularly lazy, you can sit back and listen to an album composed by the app's creators.
The lofty boast with RealBeat is that you can use the app to make music with everything. The remarkable thing is, you really can. The app has eight slots for samples, waiting for input from your iPad's mic.
You can record snippets of any audio you fancy: your voice; a spoon smacking a saucepan; a pet, confused at you holding your iPad right in front of its face. These samples can then be arranged into loops and songs using a familiar drum-machine-style sequencer and pattern editor.
Completed masterpieces can be exported using Audio Copy and iTunes File Sharing, and the app also integrates with Audiobus.
Previously known as iDraw, Graphic is now part of the Autodesk stable. Visually, it looks an awful lot like Adobe Illustrator, and it brings some suitably high-end vector-drawing smarts to Apple's tablet.
All the tools and features you'd expect are present and correct; and while it's admittedly a bit slower and fiddlier to construct complex imagery on an iPad than a PC, Graphic is great to have handy when you're on the move. Smartly, the app boasts plentiful export functions, to continue your work elsewhere, and will sync with its iPhone and Mac cousins across iCloud.
iPad video editors tend to have a bunch of effects and filters lurking within, but with VideoGrade you can go full-on Hollywood. On launch, the app helpfully rifles through your albums, making it easy to find your videos. Load one and you get access to a whopping 13 colour-grading and repair tools.
Despite the evident power VideoGrade offers, the interface is remarkably straightforward. Select a tool (such as Vibrance, Brightness or Tint), choose a setting, and drag to make a change. Drag up before moving your finger left or right to make subtler adjustments.
Smartly, any tool already used gets a little green dash beneath, and you can go back and change or remove edits at any point.
All filters are applied live to the currently shown frame, and you can also tap a button to view a preview of how your entire exported video will look. Want to compare your edit with the original video? Horizontal and vertical split-views are available at the tap of a button. Usefully, favorite filter combinations can be stored and reused, and videos can be queued rather than laboriously rendered individually.
Korg Gadget bills itself as the "ultimate mobile synth collection on your iPad" and it's hard to argue. You get well over a dozen varied synths, ranging from drum machines through to ear-splitting electro monsters, and an intuitive piano roll for laying down notes.
A scene/loop arranger enables you to craft entire compositions in the app, which can then be shared via the Soundcloud-powered GadgetCloud or sent to Dropbox. This is a more expensive app than most, but if you're a keen electronic-music-oriented songwriter with an iPad, it's hard to find a product that's better value.
There are quite a few apps for virtual stargazing, but Sky Guide is the best of them on iPad. Like its rivals, the app allows you to search the heavens in real-time, providing details of constellations and satellites in your field of view (or, if you fancy, on the other side of the world).
Indoors, it transforms into a kind of reference guide, offering further insight into distant heavenly bodies, and the means to view the sky at different points in history. What sets Sky Guide apart, though, is an effortless elegance. It's simply the nicest app of its kind to use, with a polish and refinement that cements its essential nature.
When you're told you can control the forces of nature with your fingertips that probably puts you more in mind of a game than a book. And, in a sense, Earth Primer does gamify learning about our planet. You get a series of engaging and interactive explanatory pages, and a free-for-all sandbox that cleverly only unlocks its full riches when you've read the rest of the book.
Although ultimately designed for children, it's a treat for all ages, likely to plaster a grin across the face of anyone from 9 to 90 when a volcano erupts from their fingertips.
You might argue that Google Maps is far better suited to a smartphone, but we reckon the king of mapping apps deserves a place on your iPad, too. Apple's own Maps app has improved, but Google still outsmarts its rival when it comes to public transport, finding local businesses, saving chunks of maps offline, and virtual tourism by way of Street View.
Google's 'OS within an OS' also affords a certain amount of cross-device sync when it comes to searches. We don't, however, recommend you strap your cellular iPad to your steering wheel and use Google Maps as a sat-nav replacement, unless you want to come across as some kind of nutcase.
Adult colouring books are all the rage, proponents claiming bringing colour to intricate abstract shapes helps reduce stress - at least until you realise you've got pen on your shirt and ground oil pastels into the sofa.
You'd think the process of colouring would be ideal for iPad, but most relevant apps are awful, some even forcing tap-to-fill. That is to colouring what using a motorbike is to running a marathon - a big cheat. Pigment is an exception, marrying a love for colouring with serious digital smarts.
On selecting an illustration, there's a range of palettes and tools to explore. You can use pencils and markers, adjusting opacity and brush sizes, and work with subtle gradients. Colouring can be 'freestyle', or you can tap to select an area and ensure you don't go over the lines while furiously scribbling. With a finger, Pigment works well, but it's better with a stylus; with an iPad Pro and a Pencil, you'll lob your real books in the bin.
The one niggle: printing and accessing the larger library requires a subscription in-app purchase. It's a pity there's no one-off payment for individual books, but you do get plenty of free illustrations, and so it's hard to grumble.
Podcasts are mostly associated with small portable devices - after all, the very name is a mash-up of 'iPod' and 'broadcast'. But that doesn't mean you should ignore your favourite shows when armed with an iPad rather than an iPhone.
We're big fans of Overcast on Apple's smaller devices, but the app makes good use of the iPad's extra screen space, with a smart two-column display. On the left, episodes are listed, and the current podcast loads into the larger space on the right.
The big plusses with Overcast, though, remain playback and podcast management. It's the one podcast app we've used that retains plenty of clarity when playback is sped up; and there are clever effects for removing dead air and boosting vocals in podcasts with lower production values.
Playlists can be straightforward in nature, or quite intricate, automatically boosting favourites to the top of the list, and excluding specific episodes. And if you do mostly use an iPhone for listening, Overcast automatically syncs your podcasts and progress, so you can always pick up where you left off.
On opening Toca Nature, you find yourself staring at a slab of land floating in the void. After selecting relevant icons, a drag of a finger is all it takes to raise mountains or dig deep gullies for rivers and lakes.
Finishing touches to your tiny landscape can then be made by tapping to plant trees. Wait for a bit and a little ecosystem takes shape, deers darting about glades, and fish swimming in the water. Using the magnifying glass, you can zoom into and explore this little world and feed its various inhabitants.
Although designed primarily for kids, Toca Nature is a genuinely enjoyable experience whatever your age.
The one big negative is that it starts from scratch every time — some save states would be nice, so each family member could have their own space to tend to and explore. Still, blank canvases keep everything fresh, and building a tiny nature reserve never really gets old.
The fairly large screen of the iPad means you can access desktop-style websites, rather than ones hacked down for iPhone. That sounds great until you realise most of them want to fire adverts into your face until you beg for mercy.
Old people will wisely suggest 'RSS', and then they'll explain that means you can subscribe to sites and get their content piped into an app.
Reeder 3 is a great RSS reader for iPad. It's fast, efficient, caches content for offline use and — importantly — bundles a Readability view. This downloads entire articles for RSS feeds that otherwise would only show synopses.
Like on the iPhone, Reeder's perhaps a bit gesture-happy, but it somehow feels more usable on the iPad's larger display. And we're happy to see the app continue to improve its feature set, including Split View and iPad Pro support, font options for the article viewer, and the means to sync across Instapaper content.
Although Apple introduced iCloud Keychain in iOS 7, designed to securely store passwords and payment information, 1Password is a more powerful system. Along with integrating with Safari, it can be used to hold identities, secure notes, network information and app licence details. It's also cross-platform, meaning it will work with Windows and Android.
And since 1Password is a standalone app, accessing and editing your information is fast and efficient. The core app is free – the company primarily makes its money on the desktop. However, you’ll need a monthly subscription or to pay a one-off $9.99/£9.99/AU$14.99 IAP to access advanced features (multiple vaults, Apple Watch support, tagging, and custom fields).
Apple's own Calendar app is fiddly and irritating, and so the existence of Fantastical is very welcome. In a single screen, you get a week view, a month calendar and a scrolling list of events. There's also support for reminders, and all data syncs with iCloud, making Fantastical compatible with Calendar (formerly iCal) for macOS.
The best bit, though, is Fantastical's natural-language input, where you can type an event and watch it build as you add details, such as times and locations. On iPad, we do question the layout a little - a large amount of space is given over to a month calendar view. Still, in portrait or, better, Split View, Fantastical 2 is transformative.
Touch Press somewhat cornered the market in amazing iOS books with The Elements, but Journeys of Invention takes things a step further. In partnership with the Science Museum, it leads you through many of science's greatest discoveries, weaving them into a compelling mesh of stories.
Many objects can be explored in detail, and some are more fully interactive, such as the Enigma machine, which you can use to share coded messages with friends.
What's especially great is that none of this feels gimmicky. Instead, this app points towards the future of books, strong content being married to useful and engaging interactivity.
There are loads of note-taking apps for the iPad, but Notability hits that sweet spot of being usable and feature-rich. Using the app's various tools, you can scribble on a virtual canvas, using your finger or a stylus. Should you want precision copy, you can drag out text boxes to type into. It's also possible to import documents.
One of the smartest features, though, is audio recording. This enables you to record a lecture or meeting, and the app will later play back your notes live alongside the audio, helping you see everything in context. Naturally, the app has plenty of back-up and export options, too, so you can send whatever you create to other apps and devices.
Apple's Photos app has editing capabilities, but they're not terribly exciting — especially when compared to Snapseed. Here, you select from a number of from a number of tools and filters, and proceed to pinch and swipe your way to a transformed image.
You get all the basics - cropping, rotation, healing brushes, and the like — but the filters are where you can get really creative.
There are blurs, photographic effects, and more extreme options like 'grunge' and 'grainy film', which can add plenty of atmosphere to your photographs. The vast majority of effects are tweakable, mostly by dragging up and down on the canvas to select a parameter and then horizontally to adjust its strength.
Brilliantly, the app also records applied effects as separate layers, each of which remains fully editable until you decide to save your image and work on something else.
Soulver is more or less the love child of a spreadsheet and the kind of calculations you do on the back of an envelope. You write figures in context, and Souvler extracts the maths bits and tots up totals; each line's results can be used as a token in subsequent lines, enabling live updating of complex calculations. Drafts can be saved, exported to HTML, and also synced via Dropbox or iCloud.
Initially, the app feels a bit alien, given that people have been used to digital versions of desktop calculators since the dawn of home computing. But scribbling down sums in Soulver soon becomes second nature.
We're big fans of the Foldify apps, which enable people to fashion and customise little 3D characters on an iPad, before printing them out and making them for real. This mix of digital painting, sharing (models can be browsed, uploaded and rated) and crafting a physical object is exciting in a world where people spend so much time glued to virtual content on screens.
But it's Foldify Dinosaurs that makes this list because, well, dinosaurs. Who wouldn't be thrilled at the prospect of making a magenta T-Rex with a natty moustache? Should that person exist, we don't want to meet them.
Banish those winter blues with email security
Fri, 08 Feb 2019 10:00:26 +0000
January was the annual month when a perfect storm of deeply depressing factors converge to make everyone feel as terrible as possible.
Now the holiday celebrations are a distant memory, aside from some extra weight gain and a big fat credit card bill for the previous months. Cold weather has kept folks indoors, increasing coughs, colds and other airborne viruses. Most workers are gloomy about having another week to wait before getting paid. The lack of daylight makes everyone feel even more lethargic and grumpy.
One in five email attacks uses compromised accountsEmail cyberattacks on the rise - are you protected?How to send secure email messages with Bitmessage Reasons to be cheerfulRather than languish in melancholy, we thought it would be far more worthwhile to provide something constructive to help MSPs avoid feeling blue.
Even better, helping MSPs spread a little sunshine among their customers by easing their security fears. Within the current threat landscape, even those with the sunniest of dispositions could find more reasons to be fearful than cheerful. You need only looks as far as your inbox for a glimpse of the dark world of cybercrime. Depressing stuff.
In a recent EMEA customer survey on cyber security conducted by Barracuda MSP, it looks likely that the challenge facing IT security practitioners will continue to grow in 2019. 93% of targeted cyber-attacks start with an email, and this threat shows no sign of slowing down. Last year, four out of five (80%) organisations faced an attack, with 73% of respondents certain that the frequency of email attacks is increasing.
A major focus for Barracuda MSP in 2019 is providing protection from this growing threat, helping MSPs safeguard their customers from costly and damaging attacks. And protecting sensitive data, the bottom-line and reputation of customers is sure to put a smile on their faces.
Image Credit: Pixabay
Essentials of email securityEmail security is entering a new dawn of intuition and responsiveness, easing the woes of customers by reducing not just the incidences of attacks but the time it takes to get them back up and running should the worst happen.
MSPs can take advantage of tailor-made off-the-shelf solutions that include protection, encryption, data leakage protection and that all-important email continuity at affordable prices. With all bases covered, as well as added support, MSPs can focus on providing customer value and driving growth. Happy customer. Happier MSP.
An intelligent response to a growing problemWith so many sources of vulnerability to email attacks, protection needs to be hyper-intelligent and multi-layered. Protecting customers from targeted email attacks through email filtering, spam blocking and encryption is a great starting point. But MSPs need to go further.
Some of the most dangerous attacks come from advanced threats that are designed to evade email filters. Some of the more sophisticated security products can offer further defence against ransomware and other malware, such as zero-day attacks. When asked about ransomware, 30% of survey respondents said their organisation had fallen victim of a ransomware attack, with nearly three quarters saying these attacks had come via email.
Security products that can integrate with employee mailboxes are the smartest approach. Having visibility into internal communication can enable the security software to detect attacks originating from internal accounts - which is critical for stopping socially-engineered spear phishing and account takeover threats.
Image Credit: Pexels
Turning staff from a liability to a line of defenceKeeping customers protected from email security threats is a complex business. Not least because one of the weakest links in the security chain is often the organisation itself. The recent survey revealed 79% of IT professionals think poor employee behaviour is a greater concern than inadequate cyber security tools. It serves as a reminder that throwing money at your cyber security architecture will be for nought if staff are still falling for phishing attacks that cybercriminals get in.
Departments with access to sensitive information were seen as most at risk, with finance (26%) and sales (18%) departments singled out. When it comes to minimising the human risk, IT professionals should consider training alongside getting the right technology in place.
The future is bright, not blueWhile there may be plenty of reasons to feel heartily depressed in January, it’s not all doom and gloom for MSPs trying to protect their customers from email security threats. With two thirds of respondents claiming that social engineering detection (66%) and phishing simulations (61%) would benefit their organisation, it’s obvious that customers are beginning to appreciate the value of multi-layered security products.
Many of the respondents (60%) recognised the importance of new technologies such as artificial intelligence and machine learning to give them the best levels of protection. This puts more value on the services provided by MSPs who offer the latest security products.
That’s got to be worth a smile!
Jason Howells, EMEA Director at Barracuda MSP
We've also highlighted the best email service provider
Canon EOS RP: what we want to see
Fri, 08 Feb 2019 09:45:02 +0000
Are we about to see the launch of the Canon EOS RP? Canon’s EOS R, the company’s first full-frame mirrorless camera, is neither a budget option nor a resolution-hungry monster, with its 30MP full-frame sensor and asking price of over £3,000 / $3,000 placing it somewhere in between.
That means Canon’s next addition to the line would be as likely to fall on either side of EOS R in terms of its positioning and capabilities, but if recent rumors are to be believed it’s going to be the more budget-conscious user that’s satisfied first.
Rumors of an entry-level model, possibly called the Canon EOS RP, are growing stronger, and a major leak of specs and images appears to have given us a good idea of what to expect. Here’s what we want to see on the Canon EOS RP, if that's indeed what it's called…
Read our comprehensive Canon EOS R review 1. A fresh sensor
Could the new model feature an existing sensor, such as the one inside the EOS 6D Mark II?
Such a model would be a likely rival to the Nikon Z6, Sony A7 III and Panasonic S1, each of which sports a 24MP full-frame sensor. Given that Canon’s EOS R has a 30MP sensor, something along the same lines as those cameras makes a lot of sense, as it would be high enough to put it on a par with its rivals, but low enough to provide clear separation between the two models.
While we’d love for the camera to arrive with something new, one likely scenario – and indeed, a strong rumor – is that Canon will include a sensor we've seen before, and the most likely choice would be the 26.2MP option found in the EOS 6D Mark II. Using an existing sensor would no doubt simplify the manufacturing process and would also keep costs down, enabling Canon to launch the model at a more aggressive price.
2. No M-Fn bar
The M-Fn bar on the EOS R hasn't been universally welcomed
Canon's M-Fn bar, which first appeared on the EOS R, hasn’t been very well received either by users or reviewers. While the fact that its function can be customized to taste appears to be useful in theory, it doesn’t provide a particularly positive user experience in reality, with its touch-sensitive control and lack of feedback failing to gel with the rest of the camera’s physical controls.
No doubt the rumored new camera will have been planned for some time, but we hope Canon has had a chance to listen to feedback from the EOS R, about the M-Fn bar in particular, and take this into account when developing its next model.
3. AF joystick
An AF joystick, such as the one found on the Canon EOS 5D Mark IV, would be welcome on the new model
Should Canon see fit to drop the M-Fn bar it would leave enough space to include a joystick-type control for selecting AF points, the likes of which we’ve already seen on the EOS 5D Mark IV. Not including such a control on the EOS R was seen by many as a missed opportunity, so we hope Canon rights this wrong by including one on its next body.
4. No top-plate LCD
Top-plate LCDs are nice to have, but not essential on a more affordable body
Top-plate LCD screens are nice to have, as they conveniently keep the user updated on camera settings and status. That said, they’re not strictly necessary, and including these no doubt adds to the manufacturing cost, which in turn affects the retail price of the camera.
Canon desperately needs to have a significantly cheaper body than the EOS R to tempt users into its system, particularly with competitors retailing under the £2,000 / $2,000 mark.
The EOS R sports one of these top-plate LCDs, and it can be used with the dial next to it to switch between exposure modes. Assuming the new camera takes a similar form to the EOS R, it would make more sense to devote this area to extra controls – perhaps a more conventional mode dial with marked exposure options. Sometimes, it's the simple ideas that work best, and the ease and convenience of a regular mode dial is hard to argue with.
5. Smaller and lighter body
We'd expect a more junior partner to the EOS R to have a smaller and lighter body
As capable as the EOS R is, it’s not the most portable mirrorless camera. In fact, when you view it next to the EOS 5D Mark IV or EOS 6D Mark II, you see just how little advantage it delivers.
With the more junior user in mind, we expect Canon will give the new model a trim to make it more portable. Clearly there's a balance to be struck; make it too small and you risk failing to provide enough support for any mounted lenses, and most of the RF lenses released so far are on the large side. Then again, the range is still developing, and it’s likely that more compact offerings should pad out the series.
6. Sensor-based image stabilisation
The EOS R's sensor doesn't offer image stabilisation, but we hope that changes with a new model.
A number of manufacturers are now partnering sensor-based image stabilisation with the equivalent systems inside their lenses, and this principle is often said to allow for more effective stabilisation than either system used on its own. Sensor-based stabilisation can, of course, be used on its own where necessary, with the main advantage being that it can be used with unstabilised lenses.
Canon chose to include image stabilisation inside its RF series lenses rather than in the EOS R body, which means that image stabilisation can only be called upon when using such a lens, rather than at all times. If Canon focuses on developing image-stabilised lenses for its RF range from now on this may not end up being too great an issue, although it has already released two unstabilised RF lenses and the camera can work with many further lenses that lack image stabilisation through one of the EF adapters available.
So, we’d hope Canon includes sensor-based stabilisation on a new model. It’s a long shot for sure, but it’s currently a significant advantage on rival bodies from Nikon, Sony and Panasonic, and arguably important enough to be a deal-breaker if you’re not tied to any particular brand.
7. Same great EVF as the EOS R
The 3.69-million dot viewfinder is one of the EOS R's most impressive features
One of the EOS R’s finest features is its 0.5-inch 3.69million-dot viewfinder. Its clear, detailed reproduction of the scene can make you forget you're using an electronic viewfinder, and while its 0.76x magnification may not be class leading, it’s certainly good enough. So, we very much hope this filters down to a more junior model.
That said, electronic viewfinders aren’t cheap to manufacture, particularly high-quality ones such as the one inside the EOS R, so we wouldn’t be surprised if the new model's viewfinder capabilities are scaled back a touch. Cameras are, after all, still being released with 2.36million-dot viewfinders, so this is one area where Canon may look to differentiate its two offerings.
8. Better video specs
The new Panasonic S1 sports some serious video specs, including 4K recording to 60/50p and full pixel readout at 30p. Will Canon's next camera be able to match this?
High-megapixel cameras may impress when it comes to the resolution of stills, but often it’s those with more modest sensors that shine when it comes to video. The 24MP Nikon Z6 is one such example, while the 24MP Panasonic S1 is also a stronger video tool on paper its S1R sibling.
Such cameras can typically record slightly oversampled footage using the full width of the sensor without pixel binning or line skipping, which is subsequently downsized to a 4K output. This can provide better quality footage than their higher resolution alternatives, while sensors don't allow them to capture footage in the same way.
While the difference between the EOS R’s sensor and the one expected to feature in a more junior model isn’t quite as vast in terms of pixel count as on rival systems, the limitations of the EOS R’s video functionality – principally a heavy crop factor and a lack of in-camera stabilisation – does give us hope the a new model will be slightly stronger here. Canon's EOS 5D series of cameras may have democratized video recording, but rivals have caught up and are now offering compelling alternatives.
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