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The Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra currently tops our list of the best camera phones, and yet the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra could be significantly better for photography; with improvements to the main camera, telephoto performance, and low light shots.

That’s according to leaker @UniverseIce, who has a reasonable track record and sent out a flurry of tweets, hyping this upcoming phone.

They claim that its night photography and night video skills have both been “greatly improved,” with low light photos being much better than those on the Galaxy S22 Ultra. In fact, they go so far as to say that this is “the biggest improvement of Samsung’s flagship mobile phone in five years.”

It can be confirmed that S23 Ultra's night photos are very strong and much better than S22 Ultra's. I think it's the biggest improvement of Samsung's flagship mobile phone in five years.October 27, 2022

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Presumably they just mean the biggest improvement to night photography, but either way that’s a big claim.

It’s not just night photos that are apparently getting better though, with the same source also saying – not for the first time – that the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra will have a 200MP main sensor, up from 108MP on the Galaxy S22 Ultra.

That’s not a new claim, but they add here that it’s the strongest 200MP camera they’ve so far seen on a phone, and that it has “unparalleled analytical power.”

The 200MP of Samsung S23 Ultra is too strong. It has unparalleled analytical power. It is stronger than all the 200MP I have seen before.😭October 27, 2022

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Slightly less promisingly though, they say that this 200MP camera isn’t currently capable of taking 50MP photos through pixel binning. Though this is apparently a software, rather than hardware, issue and is being worked on; so by the time the phone launches, 50MP shots might be possible.

Finally, the say that while the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra will apparently have the same 3x and 10x optical zoom cameras as the S22 Ultra, the resulting photo quality will be improved; thanks to better colors and AI algorithms.

So, the only expected rear camera not mentioned here is the ultra-wide, which might mean that’s not being improved, but only time will tell. Either way, if @UniverseIce’s claims pan out, the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra could be the top camera phone in 2023, just like the S22 Ultra is this year.

Although the 3x and 10x camera specs are exactly the same as those of the S22 Ultra, the S23 Ultra still has an improvement in telephoto, and the improvement in color and some AI algorithms is obvious.October 28, 2022

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Analysis: the cameras could be the main upgrade

All of this sounds extremely promising, even if we would have liked to see hardware upgrades for the telephoto cameras, but it’s sounding like for the Galaxy S23 Ultra, Samsung is putting almost all of its attention on the cameras.

That’s because other leaks suggest very little else is changing. The overall design is reportedly near identical, and while the screen might offer improved HDR and a higher peak brightness, it will supposedly be 6.8 inches, again – and likely the same resolution as the S22 Ultra’s display. We’ve also heard reports that the battery will once again be 5,000mAh.

Beyond the cameras, one thing that will, of course, be changing is the chipset, but that’s not overly exciting, since that gets upgraded every year. Though at least this time Samsung might offer the same chipset globally.

So while the Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra’s design overhaul made it feel like a major improvement, the S23 Ultra might be a more modest upgrade overall. Still, it’s building on an already excellent handset, so it will probably rank among the best phones, regardless.

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Windows 11 has got a nifty new feature that allows for much more conveniently hooking up your PC to a mobile phone with the latter acting as a Wi-Fi hotspot, although the functionality is just in testing for now, and only works with Samsung smartphones.

The ability to instantly access your phone’s hotspot is facilitated by the Phone Link app (formerly Your Phone), and it’s introduced in preview build 25231 in the Dev Channel (early testing channel for Windows Insiders).

Instant hotspot means you can very swiftly connect to your handset’s hotspot just by clicking a button – assuming the device is in range – without having to touch your phone or mess around with any hotspot settings, typing in passwords and so forth.

(Image credit: Microsoft)

As mentioned, you need a Samsung device – running One UI 4.1.1+ to be precise – and your PC must support Bluetooth. You also need to be running the new preview build 25231 of Windows 11, of course, and have the Phone Link desktop app version v1.22082.111.0 (or better).

For more details on how to set it all up, see Microsoft’s blog post on the new build which further lists the other tweaks the software giant has made here, which are mainly bug fixes (and known issues).

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Analysis: Please, Microsoft, bring this to other phones besides Samsung

This is a really smart and convenient touch for Phone Link to cut down on the hassle related to using your phone as a hotspot for your Windows 11 machine.

Common scenarios for when you might avail yourself of the instant hotspot are, for example, when you’re out and about, and want to use your Windows 11 laptop with your smartphone’s cellular connection. Or, maybe you’re at home and the broadband goes down – you might then want to hop on your mobile broadband instead via your phone, and can do so instantly with no fuss using this feature (until your full-fat broadband comes back on).

The obvious annoyance here is that it’s a Samsung-only feature, but for Phone Link users, that particular stumbling block is nothing new, as functionality has been tied to Samsung devices exclusively in the past a number of times.

When will instant hotspot come to other phones? We don’t know. Indeed, this is the early testing channel as observed above, so there’s a chance the feature may be ditched before making the cut for the release version of Windows 11. In this case, that seems unlikely, but who knows.

At any rate, fingers crossed for wider support than just Samsung devices with this one. It certainly seems a bit daft that you can’t benefit from this ability on Microsoft’s own Android-powered Surface Duo 2, but hopefully that’ll change soon enough.

Via Neowin

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Not sure whether to plump for one of the best soundbars or go a little more traditional with a set of the best stereo speakers this holiday season? French loudspeaker company Cabasse has a lovely alternative option: a new pair of active standmounts with TV connectivity and built-in streaming smarts and TV connectivity. 

The product is called the Rialto, and in each one of the speaker pair Cabasse has put a 13cm coaxially-aligned midrange/tweeter unit, with each driver powered by a 300W amplification module. 

Interestingly, the low end is handled by a 17cm ‘HELD’ (High Excursion Low Distortion) bass driver which is rear-firing and powered by a third dedicated amplifier, this time a 450W one. Cabasse has gone with something called a ‘DEAP’ (Digital Enhancement of Acoustical Performance) DSP tuner to boast a low-frequency reach of 30Hz. 

In terms of connectivity, you get HDMI eARC, TOSLINK, analogue RCA and Ethernet options around the back of the 'main' speaker (even though these are billed as active speakers rather than simply powered, one box still takes the lead), plus Bluetooth, Spotify Connect, Tidal Connect, Apple AirPlay plus Qobuz and Deezer baked right in via Cabasse’s own StreamCONTROL app. 

You also get Cabasse’s proprietary room compensation software and a volume control ring above the master speaker, which surrounds a touch panel display for playback controls and even cover art images. And while you can certainly tell that Cabasse also makes otherworldly spherical options, this is a more sensible aesthetic entirely. 

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Opinion: good stereo speakers offer far more nuance and separation than standalone soundbars 

Why might you opt for a set of standmount speakers rather than a one-box five-star 'bar? Because you've got a bigger lounge or very low-slung TV, maybe?

Perhaps, but mostly it should be because when stereo speakers are placed a little further away from your TV (possibly closer to the corners of your room, depending on its dimensions and acoustics), positioned at the ideal distance from a rear wall and 'toed in' to create the ideal listening spot, they offer oodles more separation, nuance and detail than almost any high-end soundbar on the market. 

That's the beauty of moveable wireless audio kit; it isn't limited to being popped under your TV along with all of your other consoles and Blu-rays (you still have those, right?). Those two driver-filled boxes can be moved and angled so the frequencies hit you just right! 

The speakers are named after the most famous and oldest bridge in Venice, and with its own Rialto, Cabasse says it wants to bridge the gap between traditional hi-fi and newer connected technologies that it's developed over the last 10 years (see what they did there?).  

Although US and UK distribution is not yet finalized (we're waiting on that), we do know that the Cabasse Rialto will sell for €2,990 (so, around $3,000, £2,596 or AU$4650) per pair in your choice of black or white.

It's probably not a product we should expect to see in any Black Friday deals. Then again, you never know… 

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The Oculus Quest 3 has been confirmed for 2023 if comments from Meta’s CFO Dave Wehner are to be believed.

According to Wehner in the Company’s Q3 earnings call, it’ll be released “next year” - which isn't long for people who are looking to get their hands on Meta's next consumer-focused VR headset.

While Meta’s latest headset (the Meta Quest Pro) only launched on October 25, people are already chomping at the bit for news about its next headset: the Oculus Quest 3. The Quest Pro is a major improvement over Meta’s Oculus Quest 2 – with better specs and new features like face tracking and color passthrough – but it also comes at a price that most consumers won’t be able to afford ($1,500 / £1,500 / AU$2,450).

Couple that with our opinion that it isn’t the best VR headset out there – it’s designed to be a mixed reality device that blends real and virtual worlds together instead – and there will be a lot of people that the Quest Pro isn’t suited for.

The Meta Quest Pro is great, but it won't be the best next-gen headset for everyone. (Image credit: Meta)

In the Q3 Earning call, Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg also discussed his company’s next-generation consumer VR headset – however neither elaborated on its specs nor even its official name. That said, Meta has previously said that its non-Pro Quest headset line (the Oculus Quest, Oculus Quest 2, Oculus Quest 3, etc) is its consumer-focused line. So much like how we expect the next iPhone to be the iPhone 15 and the next PlayStation to be the PS6, Meta's next consumer VR headset will almost certainly be the Quest 3 even if it's being cagey about that on this earnings call.

Additionally, these remarks come only a couple of weeks after Mark Zuckerberg confirmed that the Quest 3 is in development. He also revealed that it’ll be a heck of a lot cheaper than the Quest Pro too, with Zuckerberg saying that the Quest 3 will be in the “price range of $300, $400, or $500.”

Until Meta officially confirms the release date or price we’ll have to take everything it says with a pinch of salt – production delays or increased costs could see either of its Quest 3 promises change. But even so, these comments should make anyone looking to upgrade their VR setup or get a headset for the first time think carefully about their decision.

If you see some great Black Friday Oculus Quest 2 deals in November, then think about picking it up, but if you’re able to hold out for another 12 months (give or take), then you could nab Meta’s new improved VR headset instead.

While we wait for the Oculus Quest 3 to launch – whenever that happens to be – why don’t you pass the time by trying out one of the best VR games out there?

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When Konami announced a Silent Hill 2 remake, I didn’t think it could get better, but there were still 45 minutes left on the clock. The publisher then laid a detailed explanation of how it would expand the series, revealing new games and a movie. 

After two decades of waiting, Konami’s extensive roadmap for Silent Hill is a big swing. There’s the mysterious Silent Hill Townfall, a strange game made by Stories Untold developer No Code, and a tease of a Japanese-set horror game called Silent Hill F. But why do publishers feel the need to plot out their big series’ futures publicly? 

Well, the MCU is to blame.

Unique occurrence 

When I stopped to think about it, this kind of large-scale roadmap announcement wasn’t the first one I’d seen recently. Prior to Konami breaking its silence, Ubisoft and CD Projekt made similar announcements for Assassin’s Creed, The Witcher, and Cyberpunk 2077. Ubisoft revealed Assassin’s Creed Mirage, alongside new details about Assassin’s Creed Infinity, and teased games with simple codenames, Red, Jade, and Hexe. We don’t know much about the games, only that we will have Assassin’s Creed content for a long, long time. 

It’s one thing to have a good idea of where your franchise is heading but another thing entirely to have publicly plotted out step by step where it will go and what it will do long into the future. All of this micromanaging and corporate marketing is something we’ve seen before, but not in games: in films. 

Games are taking a page out of Marvel’s comic as they plot out their own version of the cinematic universe. 

Need directions?

Game publishers and developers are likely following Marvel's (and Disney’s lead) for similar reasons. It encourages investment, both from fans and shareholders.

By laying out a decade of games in the same series, you’re telling fans that time spent with a game isn’t wasted, and the lore and world will continue to expand. Let’s not get into whether time spent in a game is more valuable if it is part of a developing series, there are far too many examples of excellent standalone, one-shot games for that argument to hold much water. But, there are active communities surrounding series like The Elder Scrolls and Mass Effect, precisely because they want to see the world’s growth with new games and stories.

(Image credit: Konami)

For shareholders, the publisher is saying, “Look, this successful series our fans like, we’re returning to that well throughout the next decade. We’re planning on turning one success into a series of successes. If you invest your money in us, it will grow.”

However, the MCU has affected what and how much fans have come to expect from their favorite series. Many look for reassurance from game developers and publishers that series won’t end, characters will return, and stories will get sequels, prequels, and spinoffs.

This reassurance may be needed for certain games to keep fans (and shareholders) on board. For example, it was important for CD Projekt Red to make clear its plans to fix Cyberpunk and continue the series, to show it was worth buying the game even after the poor reviews. While fans of Silent Hill hadn’t heard anything in so long, it was crucial for Konami to reassure them that this time Silent Hill is here to stay. 

•   Resident Evil 4 Remake is embracing its eccentric roots with open arms 

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Running a business is never easy, with a hundred different issues and ideas to consider every day as you look to grow and prosper.

But when it comes to worries, IT doesn't need to be keeping you up at night, as there are a myriad of solutions available to make sure you and your business get the most out of your data.

Zoho WorkDrive looks to address a number of the most prevalent problems for businesses of all sizes, so what can it do for you?

First up, WorkDrive’s Team Folders look to offer a whole new way to collaborate based on instant and real-time sharing. Folders allow your employees to create a tailored space just for them, where they can share the files that really matter. Files are stored and arranged in a clear and intelligent manner for quick discovery when you need it most, and instant notifications will alert team members to any changes or updates, no matter where they are. You can even set specific permissions for different members of the team, and if the worst does happen, you can quickly retrieve deleted files, making sure no mistakes are ever too costly. 

Its built-in Zoho Office Suite provides familiar services such as the Writer word processor, Show presentation tool and Sheet spreadsheet software, but with a twist. Focusing on offering seamless collaboration and real-time teamwork, functions such as a unified user directory and smart file restoration will help put your projects one step ahead of the competition.

When you need to make sure your files are being classified and stored just how you require them to me, WorkDrive comes with specially-designed Data Templates for that extra level of organization. Data Templates allow you to add custom fields, meaning you can add useful metadata and classify and organize your data to drive actionable business insights.

If your business is creating a lot of data every day, finding the files and information that you need can sometimes be tricky. Fortunately, WorkDrive comes with a helpful Smart Search function that lets you track down the items you need right away. Users can search for any file or folder using not only the file name, but also text keywords and image content (including objects or even the text within the images themselves) to get what they need - especially useful if you're in a hurry to meet a deadline.

Elsewhere, there are a number of useful apps and services for Windows and Mac that take Zoho WorkDrive to the next level. Take WorkDrive Genie, which removes the need to switch between apps to edit a file stored in WorkDrive - instead allowing you to modify and manage the files you need in one place on your desktop.

And even when you're offline, WorkDrive TrueSync means your work will be saved automatically, with the changes uploaded as soon as you reconnect - saving you the worry of wondering if your edits survived the mobile blackspot on your train journey to the office.

And to boost your productivity and aid the ease of use, Zoho WorkDrive comes with a number of useful add-ons and integrations. Popular tools such as Gmail, Microsoft 365 and  Zapier can all be included to give your workers and systems a much-needed efficiency boost.

Finally, it's always important to consider security protection, particularly when it comes to your most valuable business documents. Zoho WorkDrive is built with privacy and security in mind, providing security at the physical, logical, and data levels. 

This includes a specially-designed Admin console, where specific levels of control can be assigned in order to make sure only the right people have access to the right files. 

Along with two-factor authentication for that additional level of security, WorkDrive also includes the option of expiring share links, file ownership protocols and role-based permissions, meaning no-one should have access to data they shouldn't - an issue that has grown hugely in importance now more of us are working remotely or from home on potentially insecure personal devices. 

Zoho WorkDrive servers and clients are connected through SSL and secured with an RSA-based 2048-bit encryption key, ensuring your data is as safe as it can be. Zoho WorkDrive also meets industry-specific compliance standards such as SOC 2 Type II and ISO 27001, so you can rest easy knowing your data is protected.

So if all these features and more sound like the ideal technological ally for your business, Zoho WorkDrive could be the answer for you.

You can find out more on the company's website here, and there's even a 15-day free trial available for TechRadarPro users on offer now - click here for more information. 

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Nvidia’s RTX 4090 could have a problem its cable melting, at least according to a couple of reports from buyers, issues which Team Green is currently investigating.

As Tom’s Hardware flagged up, a Gigabyte RTX 4090 owner wrote about this problem on Reddit, and that post was followed by another user who had encountered the same worrying flaw.

Specifically, this is the adapter cable being burnt – the one provided with the RTX 4090 to allow connection to an ATX 2.0 PSU (4 x 8-pin to 16-pin) – and the first Redditor provided photographic evidence showing that it’d been rather toasted indeed (see above).

The other RTX 4090 buyer (this time with an Asus TUF Gaming OC card) then chimed in: “You aren’t the only one. This happened to me today as well, not as badly burned as yours though. I was having a gaming session few hours ago, playing Black Desert with my dungeon party. All the sudden the screen went black and all the fans started spinning at 100%. Powered off the machine and after some inspection noticed that the power adapter was damaged.”

Nvidia told Tom’s Hardware: “We are investigating the reports. We are in contact with the first owner and will be reaching out to the other for additional information.”

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Analysis: The 35mm rule and safe seating of connectors

At the moment these appear to be the only two instances of this melting issue reported, as we can’t see any other complaints on Reddit (or elsewhere online for that matter).

So, there’s always the possibility that these folks got really unlucky with their graphics cards somehow, or there was something wrong with their setup, or the way the cable was installed.

What most folks are currently concerned about is the way in which the adapter is installed, as this has been problematic in terms of the adapter cable being very stiff and troublesome to bend round in order to fit it, while still being able to put the side panel back on the PC case.

Indeed, the worry aired by many here is that if the cable is bent round at a sharp angle to fit, this could pull on the pins, and the connector won’t be properly seated in the 4090 graphics card – and this isn’t safe, especially with the amount of power chugging through those cables (450W, maybe more with overclocking and such). Could this be the reason for these melted adapters? We simply don’t know for sure, of course, but it seems like the most likely culprit at this point.

Nvidia’s investigations will doubtless throw more light on the matter, although some people have already criticized the design of the adapter for ATX 2.0 power supplies, and are now questioning why it didn’t come with a right-angled connector to avoid bending the cable – which officially is not supposed to be bent any closer than 35mm from the connector on the end. There is a third-party 90-degree angled 16-pin connector coming, mind you, as you may have seen.

For now, though, what worried RTX 4090 owners can do is check the cable connector is firmly seated in the card, and don’t bend the cable within 35mm of the end – leave plenty of room. (Easier said than done with many PC cases, though, unless you’re going to leave the side panel off, which is far from ideal for a number of reasons like dust, potential for damage to the hardware innards, and a noisier PC when all those fans kick in).

Do note that this potential cable melting issue shouldn’t affect folks who have a new ATX 3.0 PSU, which can just use the 16-pin cable to hook up to the RTX 4090 with no need for any adapter. At least in theory those PSUs won’t have any problems, anyway.

Let’s hope Nvidia clears this matter up, and confirms what happened in these two cases, sooner rather than later, so we can know what’s up for sure.

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The GoPro Hero 11 Black Mini is one the most interesting action cams we've seen for a few years, but we'll sadly have to wait a bit longer to see it – GoPro has delayed its expected availability until next month.

The Hero 11 Black Mini, which packs most of the GoPro Hero 11 Black's shooting power into a cheaper, smaller form factor, was due to start shipping today. But GoPro has updated that expected availability to November 18.

Interestingly, GoPro hasn't blamed the delay on supply chain issues, which is the typical reason we've seen for late camera shipping. Instead, GoPro CEO Nicholas Woodman simply said that "we’re giving ourselves a little more time to perfect the product for our excited customers".

That suggests a teething problem of some kind – we've asked GoPro for more specifics, but we'll likely simply have to wait the extra three weeks and hope everything's been properly ironed out.

Given the relatively short delay, the issue is most likely to be software-related. One of the big differences between the Hero 11 Black and its Mini sibling is that the latter lacks a touchscreen, instead offering only a tiny monochrome display on the top next to its shutter button. This means that changing your shooting settings and styles involves using the GoPro Quik app, which is likely to be updated when the Hero 11 Black Mini launches. 

Another challenge for the Hero 11 Black Mini is likely to be battery life and minimizing overheating. The action cam has a non-removable 1,500mAh battery, and GoPro hasn't yet released its expect battery life per charge. The camera also has heat sinks on its back to keep it cool, but we'll be interested to see how it performs when shooting continuously both with and without airflow.

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Analysis: Minor delay hopefully means minor issues

(Image credit: GoPro)

The Hero 11 Black Mini's shipping delay is both good news and bad news. On the plus side, it's good that GoPro is planning to smooth out any teething problems before the action cam launches, which isn't always the case. It also hasn't been pushed back to next year. 

In recent years, we've seen many products, like the DJI Mavic 3, launch well before they were ready, requiring lots of firmware updates to get them up to their claimed levels of performance and feature sets.

On the other hand, we don't yet know why the Hero 11 Black Mini's shipping has been delayed, and that expected availability is getting dangerously close to peak shopping season.

We'll be putting the Hero 11 Black Mini through its paces before that November 18 shipping date, so look out for our full review before then. If you want a breakdown of how the compact action cam compares to its big brother, check out out GoPro Hero 11 Black vs Hero 11 Black Mini comparison.

And, if both of those new action cams are a bit beyond your budget, it's well worth keeping an eye on the Black Friday GoPro deals. While we likely won't see any major discounts until November, our guide takes you through what to expect and which older GoPro models are likely to offer the best value during this year's sales.

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It looks like WhatsApp is down. Millions of users have been trying to send messages on the app, but rather than being sent, people are simply seeing a clock icon next to their messages.

As of the morning of Tuesday, October 25, WhatsApp seems incapable of sending apps, although people can still log in and see previously sent messages.

We've fired up this live blog to bring you all the latest developments, while we - and hopefully the WhatsApp team at Meta - try to figure out what's happening.

Welcome to our WhatsApp is down live blog. After seeing numerous reports about WhatsApp being down, I've tried sending a message myself, and sure enough, it won't send - instead I'm getting a clock icon next to the message, which suggests the WhatsApp servers are failing.

Very frustrating.

(Image credit: Down Detector)

According to the Downdetector website, there's been a spike in people reporting issues with WhatsApp since around 9am BST (4am ET, 1am PT) on Tuesday October 25.

The most common issue is sending messages, which is the problem I've been experiencing, as well as other members of the TechRadar team.

I've had a check of the official WhatsApp Twitter account, but so far it has not posted anything regarding the problem, but WhatsApp is trending in the United Kingdom, so this is clearly a widespread issue.

At least the memes are enjoyable.

Whatsapp Down pic.twitter.com/7EFWe3fjvGOctober 25, 2022

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(Image credit: Shutterstock / rafapress)

We have now got a comment from WhatsApp's parent company Meta, which said (as per Reuters): "We're aware that some people are currently having trouble sending messages and we're working to restore WhatsApp for everyone as quickly as possible."

Here's what we're seeing when using the web version of WhatsApp in a browser. As you can see, we can't connect to WhatsApp's servers, and messages aren't sending.

(Image credit: WhatsApp)

Video calls via WhatsApp are also down. I've just tried it, and after a few seconds, the call ends, and a message says that the video call failed and that I should check my internet connection. Thanks WhatsApp.

(Image credit: Meta / Future)

Here's the error message I'm getting when trying to make a video call. Definitely seems to be a server issue on WhatsApp's side.

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If you're reading this on your laptop (even one of the best laptops) or tablet, take a quick glance at the little grilles either side of your keyboard – or on the edge of the screen, firing outwards from your handheld device. 

Now, gaze upon the powered speaker pair above, designed specifically for your desktop and each one toting dual four-inch woofers, a one-inch silk dome tweeter, a 5.25-inch passive radiator and 50W of class D amplification, which you're able to toe in (or not – hey, it's your system) to find the ideal listening position. Hardly a contest, is it? 

The product is the Monolith MTM 100 and as well as being a powerful 100W proposition, it's a well-connected one too: pair them to your compact smartphone as well as your computer with Bluetooth 5.0 with aptX HD, or hardwire them with a pair of RCAs for analog listening, 3.5mm aux-in, or Toslink optical and USB-C to connect digitally utilizing the onboard high performance DAC. 

They also come with a wireless remote and have a connection for a subwoofer too – let's face it, not many of even the best Bluetooth speakers have those… 

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Opinion: these desktop speakers are not just for work

That's an awful lot of connectivity for the money (Image credit: Monoprice Monolith)

Having tested some of the best party speakers on the market, the TechRadar team prides itself on knowing the kind of sound quality (and volume) it takes to get a party going in full swing, and this is it – although there's a headphone jack on the front of one speaker if you're a party of one today. 

To quickly explain what powered speakers are: each of the the products in our best stereo speakers guide can be categorised into three different species – active, powered, and passive. Passive speakers are the traditional driver-filled boxes that require an external pre/power amp combo to produce sound – but they don't have to be traditional-looking, as my favorite mildly terrifying Wilson Audio speakers prove. What happens is that once the signal from the amp reaches these boxes, an internal crossover within the speakers senses and sends the appropriate frequencies to each of the drivers (tweeter, midrange driver, woofer, etc.) 

Active speakers have all of that amplification built in – and crucially, they have one amp unit dedicated for each 'way'. So, a two-way speaker with one tweeter and one mid/bass driver unit has two power amplifier modules, one for each driver (or 'way') fed by an 'active' powered crossover.

Then, powered speakers – which is what we have here (although another good example is the Q Acoustics M20 HD). Here, the amplifier is still built in, but it is usually squirrelled away into one of the boxes and powers all of the drivers within the system, which means one speaker is assigned as the 'master' and one is the 'slave'. 

Powered speakers tend to be a cost-effective option, because you don't have to shell out on extra hi-fi separates (in a passive setup) or extra dedicated amp modules (in active speakers). And even though I have yet to hear them, at just $499.99 (around £440 or AU$795, but we're waiting on official pricing), I think these speakers are worth shouting about. 

See, that's $100 cheaper than the Q Acoustics option above, although it should be noted that you are getting 2 x 65W of power there, which I'd argue is a bit much for the average office setup. 

My advice? If you're an avid gamer, musician, content creator, or just someone who loves powerful audio at their desk and wants a range of connectivity options, an alternative to even one of the best PC gaming headsets or best computer speakers could be revelatory – and the Monoprice Monolith MTM 100 is well worth a look. 

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Eagle-eyed Reddit users have spotted something’s not right with the Overwatch 2 support hero Lucio. 

It appears that Lucio can be seen through the walls of Overwatch 2’s Illios map if he’s wearing the Snowfox winter skin – an old but distinctive cosmetic that was added in the first Overwatch. You can see the revealing glow in a screenshot posted on Reddit by user FidgetSpinnetMan.

More users came forward in the comments to say that this had happened to them while wearing the skin. Others found the funny side to this claim, saying the screenshot with the tiny spec and the red circle on it looked less like a picture of an Overwatch bug and more like a UFO conspiracy image. 

bug_report_i_was_playing_a_game_and_i_noticed from r/Overwatch

Gone with the wind

Since Overwatch 2’s release in early October, two damage heroes have been removed from the game and reworked due to bugs. Torbjorn was released back into the wild after Blizzard fixed a glitch that let you extend his overload ability. We are yet to see the robotic turret Bastion return after being sin-binned for a serious bug that let players carpet-bomb the map.

Removing two key heroes changed the dynamics of Overwatch 2 competitive games as both act as counters to other characters. Torbjorn, for instance, with his auto-firing turret, is a great counter to the fast-moving Lucio. So, in his absence, Lucio players have enjoyed Torbjorn and turret-free competitive matches for the last few weeks; it must be nice. 

Now the tables are turned, and Lucio may be sent off for a holiday to the Blizzard’s rework station. Finally, I can feel safe next to ledges again without the prospect of being booped off by a Lucio. 

(Image credit: Blizzard Entertainment )

Unstoppable  

Even if Lucio isn’t sent off for reworks, I can’t say that this bug is game-breaking for people who want to play Lucio. Firstly, you can simply change your skin. This can be done by going to the hero gallery on the game's main page, choosing Lucio, and then selecting another skin at the top. If you are already in a game, you can change your skin after picking Lucio by clicking the skin selector on the top right-hand corner of the screen.

With his wall ride ability and speed boost power, Lucio is an incredibly mobile character who can increase his team's movement capabilities. As a support, he can turn the tide of a match if you play his cards right.

So even if you can see this support hero coming, it doesn’t mean you’ll be able to kill him or even know where he will go next. He is too fast and agile to be pinned down and predicted. 

•  I can't believe Blizzard made babysitting the payload worse in Overwatch 2 

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