The Google Pixel 5 is official, and we've learned all about the newest flagship phone from the maker of Android at the company's Launch Night In livestream event.

Google revealed the new Pixel 5 alongside the Google Pixel 4a 5G, Google Nest Audio and Chromecast with Google TV. Notably what it didn't land alongside is the Pixel 5 XL, as there's no such phone - even though there really should be.

The Pixel 5 is a curious creation that's in some ways an upgrade on the Pixel 4 but in other ways a definite downgrade, as our Google Pixel 5 vs Google Pixel 4 comparison shows.

Below we'll focus just on the new phone and run you through all the key details we know about the Google Pixel 5 so far, including how much it'll cost, what it looks like, and what specs you can expect for your money.

• Read our hands-on Chromecast with Google TV review
• Google has also unveiled the Google Nest Audio smart speaker
• Why the Google Pixel 5 XL doesn’t exist but really should

Cut to the chase

• What is the Google Pixel 5? Google's latest flagship phone
• When is it out? October 15, pre-orders open now
• How much does it cost? $699 / £599 / AU$999

Google Pixel 5 release date and price

(Image credit: Google)

The Google Pixel 5 costs $699 / £599 / AU$999. Google has confirmed that the phone is coming to the US, UK and Australia, and you can pre-order it now directly from Google's web store.

The Google Pixel 5 will be available in the US, UK and Australia on October 15. A variety of retailers in all three of those markets have already confirmed deals, and we've put together some of the best for you market below.

Google Pixel 5 design and display

The Google Pixel 5 design is what you see above. The phone comes in two colors with odd names: Sorta Sage (a green color) and Just Black (that's just black). The body of the phone is made of recycled aluminum, which is notable as most phones have a glass or plastic back.

The main reason metal is rarely used is that you can't use wireless charging through metal, yet the Pixel 5 still has that feature because - as revealed by Daniel Bader of Android Central - there’s a small hole on top of the wireless charging coil, which is covered by a resin and painted over to match the aluminum.

Image 1 of 3

(Image credit: Google)

Image 2 of 3

(Image credit: Google)

Image 3 of 3

(Image credit: Google)

The phone is IPX8 water-resistant, which should mean you're able to submerge this device in water for up to half an hour. The phone weighs 151 grams, and it has dimensions of 144.7 x 70.4 x 8mm.

The Pixel 5 comes with a 6-inch Full HD display with a resolution of 1080 x 2340, which is 432 pixels per inch. It's an always-on display, and it's an OLED panel.

Google has included 90Hz tech here, so the screen refresh rate will be faster than many other devices with smoother scrolling and transitions. That said, this isn't as good as some top-end handsets that feature a 120Hz refresh rate, while the newly announced Xiaomi Mi 10T Pro boasts a 144Hz refresh rate.

(Image credit: Google)

There's a USB-C port at the bottom of the phone, but there's no 3.5mm headphone jack here. The phone also comes with stereo speakers, but there's no 3.5mm audio jack included in the box.

Unlike the Pixel 4, the Pixel 5 comes with a fingerprint scanner. It's on the rear of the phone, and the company has dropped its 3D Face Unlock technology that was housed in the top bezel on last year's phone.

That has allowed Google to trim the bezel at the top of the phone, but it does also mean the company has dropped its Soli gesture technology as well so you won't get that on the Pixel 5.

Google Pixel 5 camera

Image 1 of 1

The Google Pixel 5 (Image credit: Google)

The camera is where there are a few changes for the Google Pixel 5. It features a 12.2MP dual-pixel shooter with 1.4μm pixel width, and there's also a 16MP ultra-wide shooter.

That replaces the telephoto shooter on last year's phone, which some may miss, but it's likely you'll enjoy the wide camera more in everyday usage.

The company's impressive Night Sight and Portrait Modes are returning on the Pixel 5. We've found similar cameras on previous phones to perform brilliantly in our reviews of those older phones, so we're hoping for a similar result here. 

It's worth noting that the new Google Pixel 4a 5G seems to sport exactly the same camera setup though, so if you don't want to spend as much as this phone costs you could always opt for that.

On the front of the phone you'll find an 8MP selfie camera. That seems to be similar to previous phones from Google, which we've found to perform well in our testing.

Google Pixel 5 specs and performance

(Image credit: Google)

Unlike previous Pixel flagships, the Pixel 5 doesn't feature the top-end chipset you'd expect. Instead, the company has opted for a Qualcomm Snapdragon 765G processor, which won't be as powerful as the chipsets you find in phones like the OnePlus 8 Pro or Samsung Galaxy Note 20 Ultra.

That said, the phones we've seen running this chipset have been powerful enough for everyday tasks, so we hope it's a similar story with the Pixel 5 when we're able to try the phone out.

There's 8GB of RAM in the phone, and 128GB of storage. There's no microSD support, and Google has yet to announce any other storage variants for the Pixel 5, so you'll be limited to just 128GB.

There's a 4,080mAh battery inside the phone, and the company has included wireless charging as well. There's also a reverse-charging feature called Battery Share, so you can use your Pixel 5 to charge supported devices.

It supports 18W fast-charging, and the correct charger for you to be able to reach those speeds is included in the box.

Google claims the phone will last a full day from a single charge, and we'll be sure to put that claim to the test in our full review. The Google Pixel 4's battery life wasn't impressive, so we're hoping Google has improved things here.

(Image credit: Google)

You get 5G connectivity on the Pixel 5 as well, but be warned that you'll need to have a 5G contract, and live in area that has 5G connectivity, to make the most of that.

The Google Pixel 5 comes running Android 11 out of the box, which is the company's latest version of its operating system. You can expect this device to get software updates over the next couple of years at least, and it should get them on or near day one.

There are also improvements to Google's own apps that you can get on Pixel. For example, the Recorder app - that's the one that records voice notes and transcribes them automatically - will now allow you to edit out audio when you take it directly out of the transcription.

• What we expect from the new iPhone

from TechRadar - All the latest technology news https://ift.tt/34kyjcf

Can't find the time to keep up with tech news? Looking for some awesome lockdown listening? We have you covered with the Noise Cancelling podcast, which is brought to you by TechRadar and our sister sites Laptop Mag and Tom's Guide.

This week's show is presented by Gareth Beavis, TechRadar's Global Editor-in-Chief, and Sherri L. Smith, Editor-in-Chief of Laptop Mag.

This week our guests are John McCann, TechRadar's Deputy Editor, and Gerald Lynch, Executive Editor at TechRadar, who join us (remotely, of course) to talk about the last seven days in tech.

Week 32: Echo Show 10, Xbox buys Bethesda, Google Event and flying tech

As usual, we're talking about a variety of topics from the world of tech. We begin the show with this week's Big Question: with Amazon releasing a drone that flies around your home, what piece of tech would you like that flies about?

We also share our thoughts on everything announced at the Amazon event 2020, talk about the Echo Show 10 and Amazon's interesting new home security drone. We also touch on Microsoft's acquisition of Bethesda, the Google Event and share some extremely sad news from one of our sister publications.

For all this and more, tune into the all-new Noise Cancelling podcast – you can subscribe on Spotify, grab it on Apple podcasts, or find us wherever you get your pods. New episodes land every Friday.

• You can find every episode of Noise Cancelling here too

from TechRadar - All the latest technology news https://ift.tt/36whE8F

We've finally entered the closing stages of the 2020 Telstra NRL Premiership and, as always, there's been no shortage of sweat, blood and tears. All those battles and the drama has been for a place in the Grand Final, but before that can happen, the top eight teams will need to fight hard through the qualifying rounds.

And that begins tonight (Friday, October 2).

The road to Grand Final glory kicks off today with the first of four qualifiers this week at 7:50pm AEST, with the Penrith Panthers taking on the Sydney Roosters at Panthers Stadium. 

The Panthers have a hard task ahead as defending champs, Roosters, have won back-to-back Premierships and will be looking to redeem their fourth-place drop in the ladder after losing to the Bunnies.

• Live stream every match from NRL Finals week on Kayo Sports

The excitement, of course, doesn't stop there. Saturday has two qualifiers back-to-back – the Raiders from Canberra will be taking on the Cronulla Sharks at 5:30pm AEST on October 3 at GIO Stadium, after which Melbourne Storm and the Parramatta Eels face off from Suncorp Stadium at 7:50pm AEST.

The fourth match for the first week of qualifiers will be at 4pm AEST on Sunday, October 4, with South Sydney's Rabbitohs against the Newcastle Knights at ANZ Stadium.

How to watch NRL 2020 Finals Week online

The best place to catch all the qualifiers live online would be on Kayo Sports. This streaming service is dedicated to sports and designed to be a die-hard sports fan's best friend.

It's feature-packed with things like SplitView, which lets you watch up to four different streams on the same window, and interactive live stats that are available for all NRL games.

If you happen to miss a game but don't have time to watch a full replay, Kayo Minis will get you up to date with all the highlights in bite-sized clips.

Better yet, the basic Kayo Sports package allows you to stream your favourite sports across two devices simultaneously, or you can opt for the premium package and stream across three different devices at once.

That not enough? Kayo gives you a 14-day free trial to figure out if you'll be happy with the service or not. For a more in-depth look at what the sports streaming service has to offer, check out our Kayo Sports review.

Kayo Sports basic package | 14-day free trial, then AU$25 per month

Kayo’s Basic package will let you live stream and catch up on over 50 sports on two devices at the same time. You’ll have access to Kayo’s features such as SplitView, and you can cancel any time as there’s no lock-in contract.View Deal

How to live stream NRL 2020 Finals Week for free

The Nine Network has broadcast rights to all the qualifier games during Finals Week, meaning you will be able to watch all the qualifiers live and free on Channel Nine. 

That also means you can watch the matches on 9Now, the Nine Network's online platform, where the games will be streamed live.

How to live stream NRL 2020 Finals Week from abroad

League fans currently living outside of Australia, New Zealand or the Pacific Islands can also catch every scrum and try online via the Watch NRL streaming service.

Like Kayo, Watch NRL is a subscription service and has three different plans to choose from:

Weekly: US$17 / £13 / €17 / AU$20 
Monthly: US$33 / £25 / €33 / AU$39 
Annual: US$165 / £130 / €155 / AU$199

For the qualifiers, Watch NRL has a new option called the Finals Pass, which temporarily replaces the monthly plan. It gives customers the ability to watch all the matches during Finals Week as well as the Grand Finals live.

Watch NRL Finals Pass | US$33 / £25 / €33 / AU$39

The contents of this streaming service are only available to view outside of Australia, New Zealand and the Pacific Islands, but a subscription can be purchased from anywhere. It includes every match in the Premiership. Watch NRL allows you to pause and rewind live matches, and also allows you to download matches for offline viewing. While you can watch the livestream on desktop via the website, the Watch NRL app is also available for iOS, Android and Apple TV. You can even cast onto a TV via AirPlay or Google Chromecast.View Deal

If you're currently abroad and aren't too keen on getting yourself a Watch NRL Finals Pass, you will need a VPN, and we've rounded up the best VPN services for you to choose from.

from TechRadar - All the latest technology news https://ift.tt/30rMhrJ

via TechRadar - All the latest technology news https://ift.tt/30rMhrJ

via TechRadar - All the latest technology news https://ift.tt/3cNrXWX

via TechRadar - All the latest technology news https://ift.tt/36rdn6o

Reliance Industries' subsidiaries, Jio Platforms and Reliance Retail, seem to be following the same script: Get big-ticket investors to drive growth.

Jio Platforms had 13 investors investing $20.6 billion (Rs 1.52 lakh crore) investing in it. Out of the 13, four have invested in Reliance Retail too. Silver Lake, General Atlantic and KKR had ploughed money into the retail of the Reliance Industries.

And now, as predicted in our report here, Mubadala, has become the fourth investor in Reliance Retail.

Mubadala Investment Company  (Mubadala), the Abu Dhabi-based sovereign investor, will invest Rs 6,247.5 crore ($852.84 million) into Reliance Retail. The investment values Reliance Retail at a pre money equity value of Rs 4.285 lakh crore. Mubadala’s investment will translate into a 1.40%  equity stake in Reliance Retail on a fully diluted basis.

Mubadala had earlier chipped in with $1.2 billion investment in Jio Platforms.

Reliance Retail, through its New Commerce strategy, has started the digitalization of small and unorganised merchants and is committed to expanding the network to over 20 million of these merchants. This will enable the merchants to use technology tools and an efficient supply chain infrastructure to deliver a superior value proposition to their  customers.

• The Ambani ambush: Reliance in talks to acquire a clutch of online firms
• Reliance Jio Mart launched - how will it impact India's e-commerce?

Reliance Retail has so far raised Rs 24, 847.5 crore

All 13 investors who had poured huge sums of money in Jio Platforms have been offered a chance to explore investing in the retail unit.

Reliance Retail has since September raised Rs 24,847.5 crore by selling 5.65% of its stake.

Mukesh Ambani, Chairman and Managing Director of Reliance Industries, in a statement said: “We value the  partnership with a knowledge-rich organization like Mubadala and acknowledge their  confidence in our mission to strengthen the core of India’s retail sector – the millions of small  retailers, merchants and shopkeepers – through the power of technology. Mubadala’s  investment and guidance will be an invaluable support in this journey.” 

Khaldoon Al Mubarak, Managing Director and Group CEO, Mubadala Investment  Company, said: "We are pleased to deepen our relationship with Reliance Industries through  this investment in Reliance Retail Ventures. Their vision is the inclusive transformation of  India’s consumer economy through the power of digitization, creating opportunities and  market access for millions of small businesses across the country, and we are committed to  supporting the company’s continuing development."

It may be recalled that addressing shareholders at Reliance Industries 43rd annual general meeting recently, Mukesh Ambani had said "Reliance Retail has received strong interest from strategic and financial investors."

Ambani explained his plans to add newer categories like electronics, fashion, pharmaceutical and healthcare into its omni-channel venture, JioMart.

Jio Mart is positioned to take on Walmart-backed Flipkart and the other behemoth in the business Amazon. 

• Check out the biggest tech stories of the past week

from TechRadar - All the latest technology news https://ift.tt/3cNrXWX

There’s good news for those looking to buy a brand-new laptop – Dell has just kicked off a sale, and you can save up to 40% on regular machines, 2-in-1s and high-performance beasts from Alienware.

You’ll also find the XPS 13 discounted – one of our favourites – plus big savings on gaming rigs featuring the powerful Nvidia RTX 2080 Super.

We’ve highlighted these deals along with some of our other top picks below, or if you’d like, you can shop the entire sale directly from Dell. These offers will end on October 8, so don’t delay!

Dell Inspiron 15 7000 2-in-1 | i7 / 16GB / 512GB SSD | AU$1,679 (RRP AU$2,799; save AU$1,120)

You can now pick up a hefty 40% discount on this 15-inch 2-in-1 from Dell. Inside you’ll find a 10th-generation Intel Core i7 chip, working alongside 16GB of RAM and a 512GB SSD. It’s all encased in a sleek chassis which houses adaptive thermals, so it should be comfortable to use whether you’re at the desk or curled up on the couch. It doesn’t come with the Active Pen, so be sure to add it at checkout if you’d like to pick it up as well. Buy directly from Dell and save a massive AU$1,120.View Deal

Dell XPS 13 (7390) | i5 / 8GB / 256GB SSD | AU$1,614 (RRP AU$1,899; save AU$285)

It may be last year’s version, but this discounted Dell XPS 13 is still a stellar machine. This configuration has Intel’s latest 10th-gen Core i5 processor inside, plus 8GB of RAM and 256GB of solid-state storage. The barely-there bezels show off its bright and beautiful display, leaving plenty of screen real estate for streaming. Work or play, this sleek machine will deliver. Now 15% off when buying directly from Dell.View Deal

Dell Inspiron 15 5000 (5501) | i7 / 8GB / 512GB SSD | AU$1,364 (RRP AU$2,099; save AU$735)

Dell has slashed the price of this Inspiron laptop by a solid 35%. Under the hood is a 10th-generation Intel Core i7 processor for smooth and seamless multitasking. This updated design is sleek and clean, with an aluminium cover making this Inspiron feel a little more… inspired. It also features ExpressCharge, which Dell promises will add 80% juice in just 60 minutes. Head directly to Dell to save AU$735.View Deal

Dell G7 17 (7700) | i7 / 16GB / 512GB SSD / GTX 1660 Ti | AU$2,634 (RRP AU$3,099; save AU$465)

If you’re looking for a gaming laptop, this Dell G7 17 comes with a 10th-gen Intel Core i7 CPU. It’s also equipped with a respectable Nvidia GTX 1660 Ti GPU, which is well-matched to the screen’s 1080 resolution and will allow excellent performance on high detail in most games. Dell has shaved 15% off the asking price, so you can save AU$465 when you buy directly from the maker.View Deal

Dell G5 15 (5500) | i7 / 16GB / 512GB SSD / GTX 1650 Ti | AU$1,954 (RRP AU$2,299; save AU$345)

For an even more affordable gaming laptop, you could consider this discounted Dell G5 15. It’s powered by a 10th-gen Intel Core i7 processor and a Nvidia 1650 Ti GPU, which will do well against its 15-inch screen with 1080 resolution. The 16GB of RAM will keep gaming running smooth, while dual-fans keep the hardware cool. Dell has taken 15% off this machine, saving you AU$345.View Deal

Alienware m17 R3 | i7 / 32GB / 1TB SSD / RTX 2080 Super | AU$4,929 (RRP AU$5,799; save AU$870)

For an absolute gaming beast, check out this deal. This Alienware m17 R3 has been outfitted with a 10th-gen Intel Core i7 CPU and a powerful Nvidia RTX 2080 Super. Match that with the screen’s 1080p resolution and 300Hz refresh rate, and you have an excellent gaming rig on your hands. Build quality too is great, with a unique intergalactic-inspired design. Dell has axed 15% from the RRP, which will see you save AU$870.View Deal

Alienware Area 51m R2 | i7 / 16GB / 512GB SSD / RTX 2070 Super | AU$4,249 (RRP AU$4,999; save AU$750)

The second iteration of Alienware’s powerful Area 51m machine has also seen a price cut. This rig is equipped with a 10th-gen Intel Core i7 CPU and an Nvidia 2070 Super. The display stretches 17-inches with 1080p resolution, and a 144Hz refresh rate (which can be bumped up to 300Hz for an additional AU$100). You can now save AU$750 on this machine when you pick it up from Dell.View Deal

Dell Vostro 15 7000 | i7 / 16GB / 1TB SSD / GTX 1650 Ti | AU$2,057 (RRP AU$3,429; save AU$1,372)

If you’re in need of a machine to seamlessly switch between both work and play, this Dell Vostro is worth considering. It’s designed for the office, but there’s also a discrete Nvidia GTX 1650 Ti graphics card to handle demanding applications, and for some gaming when you need to switch off. Plus the 1TB SSD is great for software developers, photographers and content creators who need plenty of room for storage. Now slashed by 40%, taking a massive AU$1,372 off the asking price.View Deal

Dell Vostro Small Desktop (3681) | i7 / 8GB / 256GB SSD | AU$1,145 (RRP AU$1,909; save AU$764)

If you’re looking for a desktop PC, this Dell Vostro has been steeply discounted. It’s sporting the latest Intel Core i7 CPU for fast performance, 8GB of RAM and a 256GB SSD. It’s a small piece of hardware that doesn’t skimp on any of the essentials with plenty of ports and slot options available. Pick it up directly from the maker to save AU$764.View Deal

• Best laptops of 2020 in Australia

from TechRadar - All the latest technology news https://ift.tt/36rdn6o

In the lead up to Prime Day 2020, Amazon is flexing it’s deal muscles by pumping out daily discounts that are worth looking at.

The latest offering is no exception with the online retail giant producing a decent two-for-one bargain: pre-order the Samsung Galaxy S20 FE and Amazon will sweeten the deal by chucking in a pair of Buds Live for free.

For those who don’t know, the Galaxy S20 FE is the recent budget addition to Samsung’s S20 range. The Fan Edition inherits much of the power of the regular S20 while cutting some costs with a more economical chassis. This makes it a great choice for those looking to upgrade from their old Samsung devices or for those who want recent tech but don't want to cough up the dough for the standard range.

(Image credit: Roland Quandt / WinFuture)

• You can read more about the Samsung Galaxy S20 FE here

The Buds Live are also new to Samsung’s range of noise-cancelling headphones which competes with the likes of the Apple AirPods and Google Pixel Buds, offering many of the same features (and a few extra). 

They aren’t the best-of-the-best when it comes to noise-cancellation and the sound isn’t memorable but these issues that bump the Buds Live down a few pegs can be forgiven… because they’re free! 

(Image credit: Samsung)

• You can read more about the Samsung Galaxy Buds Live here

If you’re serious about purchasing a new Android and you’re on a limited budget, you can’t go wrong with this deal – you get a decent phone at a reasonable price and a pair of wireless earbuds for nothing… too easy! 

If this deal tickles your fancy, head on over to Amazon by clicking here and you’ll be whisked away.

from TechRadar - All the latest technology news https://ift.tt/3l8LX9w

via TechRadar - All the latest technology news https://ift.tt/3l8LX9w

Xiaomi started life as a smartphone vendor, but is rapidly turning into the closest China has to a Samsung or LG equivalent, thanks to its endless product list.

The firm recently unveiled an 8K television called the Mi TV Master Extreme Edition, which comes with 5G connectivity and a gargantuan 82-inch displaying - meaning it will make for an excellent digital signage solution or large format display.

The screen supports Quantum Dot technology and offers a 98% P3 wide color gamut, 120Hz refresh rate, MEMC technology, Dolby Vision, HDR10+ certification and a 400,000:1 contrast ratio.

• Here's our list of the best interactive kiosk providers around
• These are the best business monitors on the market
• Also check out the best photo editing monitors available

Unsurprisingly, it has a built-in Android computer based on the quad-core Novatek 72685 8K chip, paired with a Mali-G51 MP4 GPU, 4GB of RAM and 256GB of storage.

We don’t know how much it costs, whether it will ever go on sale outside of China, what version of Android it uses nor whether the 5G capabilities can be used to power a built-in wireless hotspot.

The mini-LED display can of course be used as a business monitor, or for gaming thanks to its 120Hz refresh rate (provided you have an Nvidia RTX 3080/3090 GPU).

Another feature worth highlighting is a pair of retractable “sound wings” that contain four speakers each. And the rest of the specification sheet is rounded out by an HDMI 2.1 port, USB 3.0 port and an Ethernet connector (hopefully Gigabit capable).

• We've also highlighted the best business projector

from TechRadar - All the latest technology news https://ift.tt/2GqmhpB

via TechRadar - All the latest technology news https://ift.tt/2GqmhpB

In a year, Nintendo would have demoed, in person, Mario Kart Live: Home Circuit. The company would have invited select members of the press into some rented event space and let us experience the game first-hand, like it had with Labo and Ring Fit Adventures. It’s 2020, however, and that’s just not how we do things.

Watching someone else play an RC game over teleconference software is not ideal. But it’s nothing if not extremely of the moment. And more importantly, it’s probably a testament to what Nintendo has built here that it translates so well with a less than ideal setup. Granted, I won’t feel comfortable offering a proper review until I’ve played the game on my Switch, but I can confidently say that Mario Kart Live makes for one hell of an impressive demo.

Image Credits: Nintendo

Like the recently released Mario Lego sets, this is the kind of toy that makes me jealous of kids today. It also, frankly, bums me out that I don’t have more space at home to lay out a track. I’ve heard it was a buyer’s market, so maybe I’ll go buy a house. Whatever the case, bringing Mario to a real-world RC car is one of those no-brainer ideas, and the execution looks great.

Here’s the full lineup of Lego Super Mario sets, due out August 1

The game also finds Nintendo embracing augmented reality in a really convincing and clever way. We’ve seen some AR from the company, most notably in the form of Pokémon GO — which, to be fair, was more of a Niantic joint and, as plenty will happily point out, not really proper AR. And like that title, Nintendo worked closely with a third party. In this case, it’s the New York-state based Velan Studios, which was started by brothers Guha and Karthik Bala who also founded Vicarious Visions, an Albany-based game developer now owned by Activision.

“It started as an experiment by a small team at Velan,” the startup said in a blog post today. “Like many prototypes, the main goal was to “find the fun”. We built an RC car by kitbashing together drone parts, cameras, and sensors to create a unique third–person view driving experience. It gave us the exhilaration of speed and allowed us to see the world from a totally different perspective.”

Image Credits: Nintendo

The execution of Mario Kart Live is a perfect bit of synergy in that it leverages the Switch to really bring the whole thing to life — in a manner similar to what the company has already done with Labo and Ring Fit. Of course, much or most of the real magic here comes courtesy of the racer. Currently limited to Mario and Luigi (no word yet on additional characters), the cars feature both a camera for FPV on the Switch and all of the requisite sensors.

Nintendo’s Ring Fit Adventure is a silly, gentle way to shape up

Nintendo declined to answer specific questions about the on-board sensors and other hardware, but one assumes depth-sensing plays a big role here. There’s no calibration out of the box. You can pretty much start it up and start driving around. Once you actually unfold and set up the three gates to create the circular course, however, that will require some driving to generate the lay of the land. Nintendo’s employed a clever graphic for that, with Lakitu dropping a bucket of paint the character drives over and tracks with his wheels.

Image Credits: Nintendo

The game also employs some clever physics, with game action impacting speed and steering. There’s a range of top speeds, from 50 to 200 cc. A demo stripped of AR shows how in-game elements impact the actual kart speed. Other elements, like the sudden occasional sand storm, cause the kart to drift to the sides. The game will also react, if, say, you crash it into a table leg — sending coins flying just as it would in a Mario Kart game.

On that note, the company tells me that the karts are quite robust, with a bumper that’s essentially designed to run into stuff. That shouldn’t cause any damage, given the top speeds here. Though the company notes that if, say, a heavy book falls on top of the kart after it jostled it loose from a shelf, that could ultimately be an issue. Nintendo says there will be a way to repair the karts, but offered no specifics on warranty.

Image Credits: Nintendo

Races can be played with up to four, though a kart is required to play. In fact, the actual game will be free to download from the Nintendo store, but is essentially worthless without a kart. Until that’s set up, the only thing you’ll be able to access is a game trailer. At the moment, the in-game opponents are just the Koopalings.

Image Credits: Nintendo

Like the karts themselves, however, it seems likely — or even certain — that the company will introduce additional characters down the road. Perhaps we can look for expansions along the lines of what the company has done with Smash Bros. Also, like Mario Maker, you can customize both your character and car for the in-game FPV AR overlays (though these won’t be visible to other players).

Mario Kart Live: Home Circuit arrives October 16, priced at $100 a kart. You’ll need either a Switch or Switch Lite to play.

Nintendo’s latest trick is turning the Switch into an RC controller for an AR Mario Kart game

from TechCrunch https://ift.tt/2GhKBdB

via TechRadar - All the latest technology news https://ift.tt/3l0oGWU

After undergoing a series of comparative VPN connection speed tests, NordVPN has been acknowledged as the fastest VPN service on the market by AV-Test.

The independent provider of comparative tests and reviews for antivirus, anti-malware and security software conducted the comparative test by measuring the download and upload speed of NordVPN and comparing it to an unencrypted connection in the UK, Japan and the United States' West Coast.

AV-Test provided further insight on the VPN company's speed tests results in a new report, saying:

• We've put together a list of the best secure VPN providers around
• Secure your entire network with one of the best VPN routers
• We've also highlighted the best antivirus software on the market

“NordVPN was the clear winner in this performance test for measured download and upload performance in all three major world regions. Getting the first spot in five tested categories and only missing the last top spot by a small margin. Outperforming the next ranked VPN by sometimes doubling the performance”.

Improving NordVPN's speed

While using a VPN can help you protect your privacy and stay secure online, one of the most common drawbacks to using a VPN is the fact that your internet speed will be reduced as a result of the encryption process.

In order to overcome this issue, NordVPN built a custom VPN protocol called NordLynx which is built around the WireGuard protocol that uses state-of-the-art cryptography and is also backed by academic research. However, since WireGuard is so fast, it does have some privacy shortcomings that the company was able to get the better of by building a custom double Network Address Translation (NAT) system. The system allows NordVPN's clients to establish a secure VPN connection without storing any identifiable data on a server.

According to AV-Test's results, NordVPN outperformed other VPN services including  ExpressVPN, Private Internet Access, PrivateVPN, ProtonVPN, PureVPN and TorGuard by a margin of over 60 percent when connected to a local VPN server. At the same time though, the company's VPN service leads by a double margin in overseas download speed.

Digital privacy expert at NordVPN Daniel Markuson provided further insight on the results of AV-Test's comparative VPN speed tests, saying:

“We have made a promise to our users and ourselves to become the fastest VPN in the universe, and now I am proud to say we are. Security measures still require sacrificing some of the service speed, but what we’ve achieved is already groundbreaking. Our users can rest assured that we are working towards a seamless, all-around cybersecurity protection every day, and the test proves that we are moving in the right direction.” 

• Also check out our complete list of the best VPN services

from TechRadar - All the latest technology news https://ift.tt/3l0oGWU

via TechRadar - All the latest technology news https://ift.tt/2GpJl7W

Microsoft has introduced another family member to its Surface range of portable computing devices – the Surface Laptop Go – available for pre-order now in Australia and looking set to take on the rumoured 12-inch MacBook.

As the name suggests, this is a more affordable entry in the premium Surface Laptop line-up (Microsoft’s MacBook equivalents), starting at just AU$999 and getting more expensive with more powerful configurations.

The Surface Laptop Go sports a more compact form factor than its bigger Surface siblings and, although Microsoft has kept costs down by sticking with an i5 processor for all configurations, you do still get a full-featured laptop.

It sports a 12.4-inch PixelSense touchscreen, a full-sized keyboard, a fingerprint scanner, an HD camera and the promise of 13 hours of battery life. There's also a USB-C and USB-A port. Alongside the 10th-gen Intel Core i5 CPUs are configurations ranging from 4GB, 8GB or 16GB of system memory (RAM) and 64GB, 128GB, or 256GB SSD storage.

Most importantly though, the new Surface Laptop Go is available in three stylish shades – Ice Blue, Sandstone, and Platinum.

As mentioned, Microsoft has opened up pre-orders already, with the device shipping out from October 13.

Microsoft Surface Laptop Go | from AU$999

Available for pre-order right now in three different colours and shipping from October 13, this 12-inch laptop promises not just portability but some decent amount of power as well. This might actually give Apple a run for its money, potentially making it a great Windows alternative for students or anyone on a limited budget.View Deal

• We've rounded up the best laptops available in Australia right now in case you're looking for more options

from TechRadar - All the latest technology news https://ift.tt/2GpJl7W

John Hight, Executive Producer of Blizzard's World of Warcraft, announced in a blog post Thursday that World of Warcraft: Shadowlands was being delayed until some time later this year.

"I wanted to let you know that we’re delaying the release of Shadowlands to later this year—and while we’re still in the process of determining the right new date to launch," Hight said, "we felt it was important to let you know about this change in plans as soon as we could."

In a post on Wowhead about the news, several commenters actually applauded Blizzard for delaying the official launch of their highly anticipated expansion to the best-selling World of Warcraft MMO, apparently due to considerable work that remains to be done polishing up the game - something Hight himself acknowledges in his post.

"Shadowlands is one of the most intricate expansions we’ve yet created, and while we’ve made great progress, the challenge of tuning the endgame was compounded by the team having to work from home."

"Blizzard has a commitment to quality," Hight said. "We believe Shadowlands will be something special, and we’ve heard from many of you who feel the same. We need this extra time to ensure that Shadowlands lives up to its full potential."

On the bright side of the Shadowlands, there's finally a date for the prepatch 

While it's disappointing to hear that Shadowlands itself is being delayed by several weeks or even a couple of months, Hight did announce that the Shadowlands prepatch - where the expansion's level rebalancing of existing characters and other changes will be implemented - will drop in two weeks.

"In the meantime, we’re excited to announce that beginning October 13 we will be releasing the Shadowlands pre-patch, which lays a lot of the groundwork for the expansion and includes our revamped character leveling, new-player experience on Exile’s Reach, and a host of new character customization options," Hight said. 

"And once we get closer to Shadowlands’ release, you’ll be called upon to defend Azeroth against a resurgence of the Scourge during our pre-launch event."

While this will likely break the hearts of an entire burning legion of diehard fans, no doubt it's for the best. It is 2020, after all.

• WoW! That World of Warcraft: Shadowlands Afterlives animation is everything I needed

from TechRadar - All the latest technology news https://ift.tt/2ER3Bil

As we've entered a new era of space exploration where commercial companies such as Elon Musk's Space X and Jeff Bezos' Blue Origin, along with smaller companies, have begun to launch satellites into orbit, a new report from the cybersecurity company McAfee warns that space may be the next frontier for cybercriminals.

In a recently published technical research paper, the firm's Advanced Threat Research team in collaboration with Cork Institute of Technology, Blackrock Castle Observatory and the National Space Center in Cork, Ireland, have outlined the threats posed to space 4.0.

According to the European Space Agency, space 4.0 represents the evolution of the space sector into a new era where governments and private sector businesses are working together with an increased number of diverse space actors around the world to launch small satellites and make commercial space travel a reality.

• We've put together a list of the best cloud storage services
• Protect your privacy online with one of the best VPN services
• Also check out our roundup of the best endpoint protection software

Up until now, cyberattacks in space have been fairly infrequent though the extent of these attacks is not known due to the fact the majority of the industry is operated by government agencies. However, with the proliferation of small satellites currently being launched into orbit by commercial companies, there will likely be an uptick in the number of publicly known cyberattacks in space.

Taking a cybersecurity approach to space

In a blog post outlining the findings from their technical research paper, McAfee's Eoin Carroll and Christiaan Beek explained why space security should adopt a cybersecurity approach, saying:

“Space security has typically been analyzed from the perspective of ground segment, communications or datalink and space segment. Additionally, the attack classes have been categorized as electronic (jamming), eavesdropping, hijacking and control. We need to think about Space 4.0 with a cybersecurity approach due to the increased connectivity and data, as opposed to the traditional approach of ground, communication and space segments. Cybercriminals will target the data and systems as opposed to the RF transmission layer.”

The research team also likened the emerging Space 4.0 industry to the rise of the Internet of Things (IoT) where hardware makers brought a number of new devices to market without proper security protections in place. This has led IoT devices to become a popular target for cybercriminals and if the space industry isn't careful, the same thing could happen to satellites and other devices as well.

McAfee's Advanced Threat Research team believes that now is the time for the space industry to take steps to secure their devices or risk repeating the mistakes of the IoT where “the rush to adopt new and faster technology resulted in large scale deployment of insecure hardware and software”.

• We've also highlighted the best antivirus software

Via Verdict

from TechRadar - All the latest technology news https://ift.tt/2SjLq8g

via TechRadar - All the latest technology news https://ift.tt/2ER3Bil

via TechRadar - All the latest technology news https://ift.tt/2SjLq8g

via TechRadar - All the latest technology news https://ift.tt/3ndzovs

The Google Pixel 5 is the latest flagship from Google, and the successor to 2019’s Google Pixel 4. But the new phone isn’t as much of an upgrade as you might expect – in fact, it's arguably not an upgrade at all, as the chipset is mid-range and the price is temptingly low.

As such, you might be wondering whether it’s better to just pick up a Pixel 4 instead, or if it’s worth upgrading from the Pixel 4 to the Pixel 5. To help you answer those questions we’ve compared the two phones based on their core specs and features and – in the case of the Pixel 4 – our hands-on experiences. 

So read on to see how the new Google Pixel 5 stacks up against the older Google Pixel 4 in all the areas that matter – from the screen to the camera, and the all-important price.

Design

From the back the Google Pixel 4 and Google Pixel 5 look quite similar. They both have a square camera block in the top-left corner and a Google logo near the bottom, and are otherwise near featureless single-color slabs.

However there are two key differences. Firstly, the Pixel 5 has a fingerprint scanner on the rear, whereas the Pixel 4 doesn’t have a fingerprint scanner at all. The other big difference is that while the Pixel 4’s back is made of glass, Google has gone with the unusual choice of using aluminum for the Pixel 5.

The colors of the back also differ – the Pixel 4 comes in black, white, and orange shades, while the Pixel 5 is available in a choice of green or black.

The Pixel 5 has a plain metal back (Image credit: Google)

From the front these phones look quite a lot different, as while the Google Pixel 4 has a large bezel above the screen, which houses its front-facing camera, the Google Pixel 5 has a more modern (and Pixel 4a-like) punch-hole camera and minimal bezel. However, one thing you get with both phones is water and dust resistance.

As for dimensions and weight, the Google Pixel 5 comes in at 144.7 x 70.4 x 8mm and 151g, while the Pixel 4 is 147.1 x 68.8 x 8.2mm and 162g, so they’re very similar in size, but the Pixel 5 is a little shorter, wider, thinner and lighter.

Screen

The Pixel 5 has a bigger screen than the Pixel 4: it’s a 6-inch 1080 x 2340 OLED display, with 432 pixels per inch and a 90Hz refresh rate.

The Google Pixel 4, meanwhile, has a 5.7-inch one with a marginally lower resolution of 1080 x 2280 and 444 pixels per inch. It’s still OLED though, and also has a 90Hz refresh rate, so interactions should feel just as smooth.

The Pixel 5 (above) has a bigger screen than the Pixel 4 (Image credit: Google)

Really on paper then there’s minimal difference between these two screens – the Pixel 5’s is a little bigger, but that’s about all. Of course, it might perform better in practice, but we won’t know that until we’ve put the phone through our testing process.

For what it’s worth, we were reasonably impressed with the Pixel 4’s screen, calling it “bright and colorful” in our review.

Camera

As with the screen, there’s not a huge amount of difference between the cameras on these two phones, at least on paper.

They both have a dual-lens camera with a 12.2MP f/1.7 main snapper, although while the Pixel 4 has a 16MP f/2.4 telephoto camera (with 2x optical zoom), the Pixel 5 swaps it for a 16MP f/2.2 ultra-wide one. Both phones have an 8MP camera on the front.

The Google Pixel 4 has a telephoto lens (Image credit: Future)

The fact that the Pixel 5 has the same main camera isn;t necessarily a bad thing, as the Google Pixel 4’s snapper is excellent – in our review we called it “great” and we found that it performed well even in low light.

But we were also fond of the telephoto camera, so whether the change to an ultra-wide on the Pixel 5 will prove the right decision remains to be seen.

Battery life

One big upgrade in the Google Pixel 5 is its battery, as the phone has a 4,080mAh cell, while the Pixel 4’s comes in at just 2,800mAh.

Whether that will lead to much better life from the Pixel 5 remains to be seen – while Google claims that both phones offer “all-day” life, in our Pixel 4 review we found that the phone had “frustratingly short” battery life, with the phone often failing to make it through a full day.

The Google Pixel 5 (Image credit: Google)

So we certainly hope the larger capacity translates into a significantly longer lifespan. It’s likely to have done, but we’ll let you know for sure once we’ve fully reviewed the Pixel 5.

Both phones support 18W fast charging, and both support wireless charging.

Specs and features

The Google Pixel 5 has an upper mid-range Snapdragon 765G chipset, 8GB of RAM, and 128GB of storage. While those specs are reasonable, the processor isn't a match for the likes of the Snapdragon 865 and Snapdragon 865 Plus, found in phones such as the OnePlus 8 Pro and Samsung Galaxy Note 20 Ultra.

In fact, it’s debatable whether the Pixel 5’s chipset is even an upgrade on the Pixel 4’s, which is the Snapdragon 855. That’s an older chipset, but it was high-end at launch. However, it’s paired with just 6GB of RAM in the Pixel 4, along with either 64GB or 128GB of storage. It’s also worth noting that while the Google Pixel 5 supports 5G, the Pixel 4 doesn’t.

The Pixel 4 has less RAM but a potentially faster chipset (Image credit: Future)

In terms of software, both phones run Android 11 – although while the Pixel 5 runs it out of the box, the Pixel 4 launched with Android 10 and will probably stop getting updates before the Pixel 5 does.

As for features, one of the biggest features on the Pixel 4 was Motion Sense. This allows the phone to detect when you’re near it and automatically turn the screen on. It also allows you to perform air gestures above the screen, so you can interact with your handset without touching it.

However, we found that its usefulness was limited, and that it was a big battery drain, so it’s perhaps unsurprising that Google has ditched the feature for the Pixel 5.

One thing you do get on the Google Pixel 5, though, is a fingerprint scanner. This is located on the back of the phone, and it’s something the Pixel 4 doesn’t have at all – it’s instead reliant on facial recognition.

Price and availability

The Google Pixel 5 costs $699 / £599 / AU$1,079. It’s not yet available to buy at the time of writing, but you can pre-order it now, and it’s landing on October 15.

The Google Pixel 4 has of course been on sale for a while, and starts at $799 / £669 / AU$1,049 for 64GB of storage, rising to $899 / £769 / AU$1,199 for 128GB.

So the Pixel 5 is actually cheaper than its predecessor, thanks presumably to its lesser chipset – though of course the Pixel 4 is likely to start being heavily discounted now that the Pixel 5 has landed, so you may well be able to find the older phone for less than the new one.

Surprisingly, the Pixel 4 is the more expensive of the two (Image credit: Future)

Takeaway

Based on first impressions the Google Pixel 5 is a bit of an oddity – it’s a clear upgrade on the Pixel 4 in some ways, offering a bigger battery, 5G, more RAM and a larger screen.

But the chipset is arguably a downgrade, and some other aspects are either much the same or different without necessarily being better, such as the change from a telephoto lens to an ultra-wide one.

The phone is priced accordingly, but as a successor to the Pixel 4 it might disappoint people hoping for a 2020 Google flagship. We’ll have to put it through a full review to know for sure though – and the lower price may end up giving the phone more mainstream appeal than its predecessor.

• Google Pixel 4a 5G cameras and 5G offer a better value than the Pixel 5

from TechRadar - All the latest technology news https://ift.tt/2SrGnTn

As people spend less time out and about and more time daydreaming about when a vaccine will arrive, lifestyle shoes are only gaining traction.

One obvious beneficiary is Allbirds, the San Francisco-based maker of comfortable, sustainable kicks that launched in 2016 and quickly became a favorite in Silicon Valley circles before taking off elsewhere.

Though the company saw its business slow this year because of the pandemic, its products are now available to purchase in 35 countries and its 20 brick-and-mortar stores are sprinkled throughout the U.S. and Europe, with another outpost in Tokyo and several shops in China.

Investors clearly see room for more growth. Allbirds just closed on $100 million in Series E funding at roughly the same $1.6 billion valuation it was assigned after closing on $27 million in Series D funding earlier this year, and blank-check companies have been calling, says cofounder and CEO Joey Zwillinger. He talked with us  earlier this week in a chat that has been edited for length and clarity.

TC: Your shoes are sold worldwide. What are your biggest markets?

JZ: The biggest market by far is the U.S., and the same day that we started here in 2016, we also launched in New Zealand, so that’s been very good to us over the last four years, too. But we’ve seen growth in Japan and Korea and China and Canada and Australia. We have a network of warehouses globally that lets us reach 2.5 billion people [who], if they were so inclined, could get their product in three days. We’re proud of the infrastructure we’ve set up.

TC: We’ve all worn shoes a lot less than we might have expected in 2020. How has that impacted your business?

JZ: We’re growing but definitely not at the same pace we would be had the pandemic not occurred. We’re predominantly digital in terms of how we reach people, but stores are important for us. And we had to switch [those] off completely and lost a portion of our sales for a long time.

TC: Did you have to lay off your retail employees?

JZ: A large portion of our retail force was unable to work, but we were luckily able to keep them fully paid for four months, plus [some received] government benefits if they got that. And now all of our 20 stores are up and running again in a way that’s totally safe and everyone feels really comfortable.

We also donated shoes to frontline workers — 10,000 pairs or around a million dollars’ worth.

TC: What does Allbirds have up its sleeve, in terms of new offerings?

JZ: We just launched our native mobile app, and through it we’re able to give our more loyal fans exclusives. It’s a really cool experience that blends technology with fashion. You can try on shoes in a virtual mirror; you’re given information [about different looks] that you wouldn’t have otherwise.

We also launched wool-based weather-proofed running shoes in April that have blown away our expectations but [were fast discovered by] people who haven’t really been running for 10 to 15 years and are running again [because of gym closures]. It’s a super high-stakes category and one that’s hard to break into because people buy on repeat. But we spent two years making it. It’s not like we launched it because of the pandemic. It’s a shoe for 5K to 10K distances — it’s not a marathon shoe or a trail shoe — and that we’ve been able to clearly articulate that speaks to its success, I think.

TC: What about clothing?

We launched underwear and socks last year in a small launch. We developed a textile that hasn’t been used before — it’s a blend of tree fiber and merino wool because our view is that nature can unlock magic. Underwear is typically synthetic — it’s made from plastics — or cotton, which isn’t a great material for a whole bunch of reasons. [Meanwhile] ours is phenomenal for temperature control; it also feels like cashmere.

TC: Patagonia really advertises its social and environmental values. Do you see Allbirds evolving in a similar way, with a growing spate of offerings?

JZ: I’m incredibly humbled by [the comparison]. Given their environmental stewardship of the retail sector, we hope we’re compared to them. But they are much more of an outdoor brand — not a competitor so to speak. And we’d love to share more of the retail world with them so we can do our environmental thing together.

TC: You just raised funding. Are you profitable and, if not, is profitability in sight?

JZ: We’ve been profitable for most of our existence. Having some discipline as we grow is good. We’re not close to the profitability that we’ll eventually have, but we’re still a small company in investment mode. After we emerge from the pandemic, we’ll enter a ramping-up phase.

TC: Everyone and their brother is raising money for a blank-check company, or SPAC, which can make it a lot faster for a private company to go public. Have you been approached, and might this option interest you?

JZ: Yes and no. Yes we’ve been approached, and no, we’re [not interested]. We want to build a great company and being public might be something that helps enable that for a whole bunch of reasons. But we want to do it at the right time, in a way that helps the business grow in the most durable and sustainable fashion. Just jumping at the opportunity of a SPAC without doing the rigorous prep the way we want to, we’re not super focused on that

from TechCrunch https://ift.tt/36koNIO