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Cyber Security Hub recently asked the community “What is the last thing to do in 2020?” Not surprisingly, a consistent response was manage risk. Both taking inventory of risk and budgeting or insuring…
Posts tagged "know"
Everything you need to know about electronic signature
Going paperless is an essential part of helping your business go digital.
macOS Catalina is here: everything you need to know about macOS 10.15
Apple has announced macOS Catalina, and it’s finally live. Here’s everything we know.
The Department Of No Becomes The Department Of Know
Bob Turner- a friend and Board member of the Cyber Security Hub- was kind enough to make some time for an interview. The following is an overview of the past, the present and perceptions of the future…
Xbox Series X: 5 things you need to know
Let battle commence! With both Microsoft’s Xbox Series X and Sony’s PlayStation 5 next-gen consoles having bared their innards, we’re now much closer to knowing the full strengths and weaknesses of each console.
And Microsoft is off to a flying start. With fan-friendly features, a dramatic commitment to cross gen play and the most powerful internal hardware of any console we’ve ever seen, the Xbox Series X is already looking worthy of your gaming time.
So what’s the key stuff to know about the fourth generation of Xbox hardware? What will you be bragging about after pre-ordering the console in the coming months? Read on for the most exciting features of the Xbox Series X we’ve seen so far.
- PS5: everything we know about the next gen console
- Will there be a Nintendo Switch Pro?
- Xbox Series X: the full lowdown on Microsoft's new console
Full Backwards Compatibility
It was one of the best good-will moves Microsoft has made in years. After a rocky launch, the Xbox One got back on track with a renewed focus on games – and that included keeping your favorite, older classics available on the newer machine.
That’s a trend that’s going to continue with the Xbox Series X – and Microsoft won’t be scrimping on the range on offer. Not only will the entire Xbox One back catalogue work on the new Xbox Series X, but so will select games from all previous Xbox console generations. So whether you’re looking to play the OG Xbox’s Fusion Frenzy or go for another trek around Albion in the Xbox 360’s Fable II, you’ll be able to do it on your brand-spanking new console. And Microsoft has some extra treats in store, too…
Retrofitting HDR to Older Games
Yep, you read that correctly. Not only will you be able to play your favorite older games on the Xbox Series X, but they’ll also look better than ever before too. Going a step beyond the Xbox One X’s “enhanced” 4K upscaling tech, the Xbox Series X will be able to add HDR effects to older games that never previously had them.
Machine learning will be used to intelligently, retroactively apply HDR visual via the raw-power of the Xbox Series X – with no developer intervention necessarily needed. And that goes right the way back to first-gen Xbox games, too. So far, Microsoft has demoed Fusion Frenzy showing off the trick, as well as Gears of War: Ultimate Edition, which runs at 1080p on Xbox One, and now runs at full 2160p (4K) with HDR on Xbox Series X.
Pause and Resume Multiple Games in an Instant
For months now we’ve known that the Xbox Series X will make use of a custom SSD storage system to boost what developers are capable of building in their games. While we expected this to result in faster loading speeds and improved texture loading, Microsoft has also used it to implement a sweet new feature ‘Quick Resume’.
While we’re still figuring out the exact details of this is going to work, it’ll essentially let you leave multiple games in a stasis-like state, letting you jump instantaneously between a few different titles stored on your machines – and at the exact point you left them at. Think of how you can swipe between apps on your phone and come immediately back to where they were left, but for console games, and you’ll be on the right track. We believe that this will be possible immediately after booting a console from sleep, too.
Smart Delivery will Upgrade Older Games You Own
As the ‘Series’ part of the name suggests, Microsoft sees the new Xbox Series X machines as part of a continuum of the Xbox family heritage. As such, it’s no longer thinking of generational console exclusives, and has committed that first party Xbox games going forward will work on both the new machines (complete with the bells and whistles more powerful hardware affords) and the outgoing Xbox One hardware.
Does that mean you’ll have to buy a game twice? Absolutely not. Microsoft will be introducing a new ‘Smart Delivery’ system which will identify which console you’re playing a game on, and deploy the right version, with all the appropriate graphical bonuses, for your system. And it’ll do this without requiring an additional purchase – buy a game on the Xbox One that supports Smart Delivery, and you’ll get the Xbox Series X version for free. So far, Microsoft has committed to all its incoming first party games supporting the technology, while CD Projekt Red has said it’s Cyberpunk 2077 game will make use of Smart Delivery, too. So don’t scrimp on buying Cyberpunk in this generation for fear of missing out on the next.
It’s Insanely Powerful
As if the above hadn’t already suggested so, the Xbox Series X is going to be a ridiculously powerful console.
The Xbox Series X is using a custom-designed processor from AMD (an 8-core, 16-thread processor with a maximum clock of 3.8 GHz, making use of Zen 2 and Navi architecture), a a 12TFLOP GPU (with 3,328 Stream Processors spread across 52 compute units) and 16GB of 14Gbps GDDR6(shared between the CPU and GPU).
What is interesting is Microsoft seems at pains to point out that the machine will have twice the graphical grunt as the Xbox One X – you're looking at 12TFLOPs vs Xbox One X's 6TFLOPS – but this shouldn't be confused with compute power. Still, combined with the HDMI 2.1 standard, there's enough raw power here to get games running at frame rates as high as 120fps, or potential 8K resolutions for less-demanding content.
- Xbox Series X games: all the titles confirmed and expected to land
New iPad Pro 2020 release date, price, news and everything you need to know
Two new iPad Pro models have just been unveiled by Apple, upgrading the company's top-end tablet series.
The new iPads succeed 2018's iPad Pro 11 and iPad Pro 12.9, and they come with some upgraded specs such as new cameras and improved internals that we'll tell you about.
These are the top-end tablets that Apple make, so while you'll be paying a lot for one of these we fully expect them to be some of the best tablets money can buy.
Some observers had speculated that Apple might announce the iPhone 9 alongside its new iPads, but there doesn't seem to be any announcement from the company at this stage.
Below we've put together everything we know so far about the iPad Pro 11 and iPad Pro 12.9 for 2020.
Cut to the chase
- What is it? The next generation of Apple's premium iPad Pro tablets
- When is it out? Just announced, ready to buy now
- How much will it cost? A range of prices depending on size, but all rather pricey
New iPad Pro 2020 release date and price
The new iPad Pro models were announced on March 18, and you're able to buy them from today on Apple's online store. Apple has closed its physical stores for the foreseeable future owing to the Covid-19 outbreak.
The company has still said the new iPad Pro will be on sale in stores from next week, but there aren't any specific details yet.
How much will these cost? We only have pricing confirmed for the UK and US, and we'll be sure to update prices for Australia as soon as possible.
The 11-inch iPad Pro with 128GB of storage is $ 799 / £769 / AU1,329 for the Wi-Fi model while the same storage size with cellular support is $ 949 / £919 / AU$ 1,579.
The 12.9-inch model starts at $ 999 / £969 / AU$ 1,649 and the cellular model comes in at $ 1,149 / £1,119 / AU$ 1,899. We'll be sure to include full pricing in this article as soon as possible.
New iPad Pro 2020 design and display
As in 2018, there are two models of the 2020 iPad Pro. You have the choice of one with an 11-inch display, or one with 12.9-inch.
It comes with 120Hz refresh rate, which should allow for a fast refreshing display that makes gaming and scrolling through your social media feeds look smoother than on standard 90Hz screens.
If you opt for the smaller display, you'll get a resolution of 2388 x 1668. The larger model has 2732 x 2048, and both offer 264 pixels per inch.
We don't know the exact specifics for the resolution of the display on the new iPad models but we'll be sure to put that here once we know it. Both tablets are available in either silver or space grey.
The bottom edge of the tablet comes with a USB-C port, but there's no 3.5mm headphone jack here for wired headsets. That's something Apple dropped on the iPad Pro 2018, and it hasn't made a return for this model.
iPad Pro 2020 software and key features
iPadOS 13 will be up and running on the new iPads if you buy them on day one. You can expect software updates from Apple over the next couple of years too.
Previously, iPad products have used iOS software but last year the company spun out the software on its tablets to its own name. It works much the same, but there are a few improvements that are meant to help productivity.
The camera is where Apple seems to have mostly improved its new iPad. That isn't a big focus for many people, but this is aimed at those who want to experience augmented reality experiences on their iPad.
For the first time, Apple has included two rear cameras on the iPad Pro. One is a 12MP f/1.8 wide camera while the other is a 10MP f/2.4 aperture.
There is also a new feature called a LiDAR Scanner that is designed for depth-sensing capabilities. That should improve Portrait photography on your iPad, but it's mostly set to be used to improve augmented reality apps.
The scanner is capable of measuring the distance of items up to 5 meters away. The cameras are able to film in 4K too, so you can film your footage and edit it directly on the iPad.
If that's your intention, the new iPad comes with five microphones in an attempt to pick up cleaner audio than on previous products.
Apple says, "The combination of pro cameras, pro audio and the large display make iPad Pro a versatile mobile studio for creative pros including filmmakers, video professionals, podcasters and other content creators."
New iPad Pro 2020 specs and performance
Apple's new A12Z Bionic Chip is inside the tablet, and while we've yet to be able to test it Apple's claims on paper seem strong. The company says this chip is designed for demanding tasks like "editing 4K video or designing 3D models".
Apple also claims the iPad Pro is now "more powerful than most Windows PC laptops". We've yet to see the evidence to back up that claim, but we'll ask Apple where it has got its details from.
There are lots of storage options for the iPad Pro 2020, and both models have the same amount of variants. The lowest is 128GB, then if you need more there's 256GB, 512GB and 1TB options.
As ever, Apple doesn't offer the option for adding a microSD card in so whatever storage you buy you'll be stuck with.
You have the choice of a Wi-Fi-only model, or a cellular version. Note that this is just a 4G version, and Apple's new tablet won't be able to connect to emerging 5G networks like the Samsung Galaxy Tab S6 5G can.
Apple hasn't shared with us the exact battery capacity specs, but it claims all models will be able to last up to 10 hours of watching video or internet browsing over Wi-Fi. That claim drops to nine hours if you're using a cellular network.
New iPad Pro 2020 Magic Keyboard and accessories
As you'd expect, the second-gen Apple Pencil will work with the new iPad. If you own the original, that won't be compatible with this product as it charges via Lightning and the new iPads have USB-C connectors.
There is a new keyboard attachment from Apple that the company is calling the Magic Keyboard. It has a specific hinge that hasn't been included on previous accessories allowing for adjusted viewing angles up to 130 degrees.
The keys are backlit for the first time on an iPad keyboard, and the company calls it protective too. We assume that means it will protect the display when folded up in your bag.
The worst part? It's set to cost $ 299.
This is a breaking story, so please bear with us as we update this story with the latest information. The below is information we've previously heard about the new tablets, and will be updated soon.
Samsung Galaxy S20 / Galaxy S11 release date, leaks and everything we know so far
The Samsung Galaxy S20 launch event will be on February 11, which is an official fact because Samsung itself sent out official invites to its next big Unpacked keynote.
We're expecting three smartphones in this year’s lineup, consisting of the main Samsung Galaxy S20 and a top-end S20 Ultra, and also the Galaxy S20 Plus, the latter of which we've given an individual page because there's so much there to cover.
We consider all three phones on this page, though, as new features are coming to all three – and all of them could end up being 5G phones. We know that because the next-in-line chipset, the Snapdragon 865, makes including a 5G modem mandatory. In other words, Samsung would seemingly have to go out of their way not to include connectivity to the next-gen mobile networks.
Originally, we expected this phone to be called the Galaxy S11 but most rumors are now pointing toward the company skipping S11 through S19 to go straight to S20.
There are also features we can work out might come to the Galaxy S11 or S20, from perks we expected but didn't see in the Samsung Galaxy S10 to aspects of the Samsung Galaxy Note 10, Samsung Galaxy A80, Galaxy S10 Lite and Galaxy Fold that would work well in a new Galaxy S flagship.
Inspired by all these phones, we've also drawn up a list of the things we'd like to see in the Samsung Galaxy S20, or whatever the next Galaxy S phone ends up being called. We've also done a separate guide for the Samsung Galaxy S20 Plus.
It may be introduced alongside the Samsung Galaxy Fold 2, or Galaxy Bloom, or Galaxy Z Flip, as various different leaks have suggested Samsung's new foldable phone will be called.
Here's everything that we've heard about the Samsung Galaxy S20 so far, including the plenty of leaks we've seen.
Update: We've seen potential renders of the Samsung Galaxy S20 Ultra, the most premium of the range, which show off its rumored 48MP telephoto lens in a two-tone camera bump. Plus, we’ve got initial pricing – and the Ultra’s cost is looking steep.
Cut to the chase
- What is it? The next Galaxy S smartphone from Samsung
- When is it out? Tuesday, February 11
- What will it cost? Likely more than $ 899 / £799 / AU$ 1,349
Samsung Galaxy S20 release date and price
The Samsung Galaxy S11 launch date is locked in for Tuesday, February 11 in San Francisco. That's the same month and city venue as 2019's trio of Galaxy phones.
That means we could see the Galaxy S11 phones in stores the first week of March. For context, the Galaxy S10 release date was March 8, though this year's launch event is nine days sooner than last year's, so things may shift a bit.
Samsung’s Galaxy launch invite that was sent to TechRadar
The Galaxy S11 price could be the same as the S10 at $ 899 / £799 / AU$ 1,349 for its cheapest storage size, and all the way up to $ 1,149 / £999 / AU$ 1,699.
There's always a chance Samsung could price the Galaxy S11 to be more expensive though, indeed one leak suggests it might be a little more, with prices in euros rumored to start at €900-1,000 for the 5G version, with the 4G model apparently likely to start at around €100 euros less than that.
Another leak listed prices for all three models (conversions estimated by us): the S20 prices for 4G/5G versions conform to those above, while the Galaxy S20 Plus 5G seemingly starts at €1,099 (around $ 1,215 / £926 / AU$ 1,775). And the top-tier Samsung Galaxy Ultra 5G comes in at a whopping €1,349 (around $ 1,491 / £1,136 / AU$ 2,179) for the 128GB version, while the 512GB model could cost €1,549 (around $ 1,712 / £1,305 / AU$ 2,502).
The price in dollars is likely to be similar, with the price in pounds probably set to be slightly lower than that. Note however that with rumors of a Samsung Galaxy S20 Ultra at the top of the range, the base S11 / S20 is likely to essentially be the S11e in all but name, making these prices high if accurate.
Accompanying the launch of the Galaxy S11 might be new premium wireless earbuds to rival the Apple AirPods Pro called the Samsung Galaxy Buds Plus. Given the original Galaxy Buds were introduced alongside the Galaxy S10, it makes sense that the new ones would come out with the next Samsung flagship.
Samsung Galaxy S20 name
While the Samsung Galaxy S11 is the most obvious name for Samsung's next flagship, coming as it does after the Samsung Galaxy S10, it's not the only possible one, with Samsung Galaxy S20 having also been rumored. This is reportedly done because the handset will come out in 2020, and Samsung wants the phone names to match with the years.
Specifically, according to few sources including a reliable leaker and possibly the Samsung CEO himself, we could get a Samsung Galaxy S20, Samsung Galaxy S20 Plus, and Samsung Galaxy S20 Ultra, instead of the S11e, S11 and S11 Plus as we've been reporting on.
There's also no mention of a 5G model, though this is no surprise, as it's likely Samsung would include 5G in the standard models, much as it did with the 5G version of the Galaxy Note 10 Plus, rather than making a unique 5G handset, as it did with the Galaxy S10 5G. Some later leaks have included 5G in the name – e.g. the Samsung Galaxy S20 Ultra 5G – so it’s unclear whether each 5G-capable version will have it appended.
How about this for a rumor though: could the Galaxy S line be discontinued, and the Galaxy S11 never see the light of day? That's what one source suggests, that the S11 and Galaxy Note 11 will merge to create the Galaxy One, a new series that combines all Samsung's premium features into one smartphone.
Sure, we've heard that before about Samsung phones and it turned out to be wrong, but given the similarities between both ranges, it's not something we can totally rule out.
Samsung Galaxy S20 design and display
We’ve seen plenty of leaked renders of the Samsung Galaxy S11 or S20 series, and while there are variations between lots of them, they all are clearly variations on the same idea. You can see some here, others here, and even more here.
Nearly all renders point to the rear cameras being housed in a large bump in the top left of the back of the phone. The exact layout of them is unclear though, with some renders showing them in an organised row and others pointing to a more messy splattering.
Hands-on images of the Samsung Galaxy S20 Plus, as it's called in the leak, make us think that the lenses and flash will be arranged in two rows in the camera bump, as that's what the pictures show. The chin under the display looks worryingly thick though.
We've also seen renders of cases and images of a screen protector that back up these ideas.
A later leak with another screen cover reference model suggests the device will have thin bezels, though the leaker noted that the 'S11's "forehead" and "chin" are very optimistic', suggesting they could be thicker than the reference expects.
We've also heard that the Samsung Galaxy S11 could move the punch-hole camera to the top center of the screen, similar to the Galaxy Note 10 range, as we've since seen in leaked images. The source adds that the camera would be smaller than on the Note 10 range though. You can see how this might look in the images above and the one below.
The most enduring size rumor suggests that the Samsung Galaxy S20 (which could launch instead of the S11e) will have a 6.2-inch screen, the S20 Plus (or S11) will have a 6.7-inch one, and the S20 Ultra (S11 Plus) will have a 6.9-inch one. That’s a pretty sizeable increase on the previous generation.
In terms of materials, we'd expect the front and back to be Corning Gorilla Glass as most phones use, but while premium devices typically have an aluminium frame between, the Samsung Galaxy S20 Ultra could have a top-end stainless steel frame. Currently only top-end iPhones and certain other handsets use this pricey and heavy material in their builds, so if true this shows the S20 Ultra is set to redefine 'premium' smartphone design.
As for the rest of the design, one thing we've heard is that the standard Galaxy S11 might come in blue, grey and black shades, while the Samsung Galaxy S11e might come in blue, grey and pink. The source doesn't say what colors to expect the Samsung Galaxy S11 Plus in though.
A later leak points to official colors: the S20 will come in Cosmic Grey, Cloud Blue, and Cloud Pink; the S20 Plus in Cosmic Black, Cosmic Grey, and Cloud Blue; and the S20 Ultra in Cosmic Grey and Cosmic Black. Interestingly, this leak also suggests the curved 3D edges typical of the S-line will be toned down to more subtle 2.5D angles.
These displays might have a 120Hz refresh rate, offering smoother interactions than the 60Hz found on the S10 range. That theory is mostly based on a 120Hz mode being spotted in a beta for Samsung's smartphone software. There's no guarantee the feature will arrive on the Galaxy S11 range, but it seems a likely candidate, especially as a source has now said as much.
A huge phone leak backed up the Galaxy S20 refresh rate and screen size rumors, adding the resolution of each would be 3200 x 1440. That would make the smallest device have technically the best pixel-per-inch count.
The S11 could also use a new screen tech, as Samsung has trademarked the name SAMOLED, which sounds like a new take on the AMOLED screens used by its phones, though we don't know how SAMOLED would differ.
Samsung Galaxy S20 camera
We’re expecting the Samsung Galaxy S11 (or S20 Plus, but maybe not the ‘Lite’ S20 model) to come with a brand new 108MP sensor, as we’ve heard not one but two leaks suggesting that. This 108MP sensor used will apparently combine nine pixels into one, for 12MP shots that can take in a lot of light.
One source has pointed to a 5x optical zoom lens on the smartphone too, which we’ve heard could be 48MP, the most high-res sensor we’ve seen paired with a zoom lens so far. We’ve finally seen some leaked renders of the S20 line, and the camera bump is pointedly different between the S20 and S20 Plus models with an all-glossy block and the S20 Ultra, which has glossy on the top and a small matte section on the bottom housing the supposed 48MP telephoto – to spotlight it, we presume.
We haven’t heard much about other lenses but we’d expect an ultra-wide angle lens as well as possibly a depth sensor and maybe even a macro lens, as the recent Samsung Galaxy S10 Lite introduced the series’ first.
We've seen how the camera arrangement on the Galaxy S11 Plus (or Galaxy S20 Ultra) might look, and you can see this below. A more recent rumor from the same source suggests there will be a four-camera array on the rear of the Samsung Galaxy S11 and Galaxy S11 Plus (or S20 Plus and S20 Ultra)
Esteemed leaker IceUniverse previously claimed it would be a five camera setup, but says this new information is from a more recent prototype so they believe this to be the accurate details. That matches up with one of the most recent renders we've seen leaked, but so many different renders have leaked that we’ve no concrete idea at what the rear array will look like.
We have heard an incredibly detailed spec dump, when three sources simultaneously revealed information on the cameras, and it gives us a huge look at what to expect (if true). We'll detail it below.
| Camera | Samsung Galaxy S20 | Samsung Galaxy S20 Plus | Samsung Galaxy S20 Ultra |
|---|---|---|---|
| Main | 12MP | 12MP | 108MP |
| Telephoto | 64MP | 64MP | 48MP |
| Wide-angle | 12MP | 12MP | 12MP |
| Extras | ToF | ToF | |
| Front-facing camera | 10MP | 10MP | 40MP |
We've added the selfie camera count to that list which came not from the aforementioned leak but a subsequent one. This latter leak echoed the camera specs with the addition of the selfie camera megapixel resolution.
Those are some pretty impressive specs if true, although it's curious the telephoto lenses are better on the smaller devices. We've heard a range of zooms cited for the telephoto lenses, but it seems to be 3x optical / 30x digital for the Galaxy S20 and S20 Plus, and a whopping 10x optical / 100x digital for the S20 Ultra, although that seems too good to be true. We have heard quite a few 100x digital zoom leaks though, so who knows?
That latter spec could be wrong though, as we've also heard that all the devices will have 5x optical zoom. This comes from news that a company has been supplying this type of zoom lens to Samsung for the devices, and it's a slightly more plausible spec than 10x zoom.
We’ve heard loads of cool features trademarked by Samsung that could end up in the handset, from ‘Space Zoom’ astrophotography mode to the 'Bright Night Sensor', which sounds a lot like a low light mode but with dedicated hardware.
Samsung is also rumored to be putting the best optical image stabilization (OIS) of any phone in the Galaxy S10 Lite – and if it does, it's likely to also include the tech in the S11. That would make sense, as low light and especially night sky photos could benefit from longer exposures, which usually need either a tripod or decent OIS to prevent blur.
Elsewhere, mention of several new camera features has been found in official Samsung software. There's a Director's View mode for tracking a subject, Single Take Photo, which could use AI to automatically take photos at the optimal moment, the return of Samsung's Pro Video mode, allowing you to adjust the ISO, exposure and the like when shooting video, and some new Live Focus bokeh effects.
With regards to video recording, a rumor has suggested that the Samsung Galaxy S11 will support 8K video recording.
Samsung Galaxy S20 battery life
We've heard that the Samsung Galaxy S11 (or Galaxy S20 Plus, based on the new naming rumors) will come with a 4,500mAh battery – that's based on a photo shared by a certification website in Korea, so it seems legitimate, but you can never be totally certain. If this is true, the Galaxy S11 will have the same capacity as the Galaxy Note 10 Plus, which should compensate for the new tech we're expecting to see in the device.
We've heard from another source that the Samsung Galaxy S11 Plus (or Galaxy S20 Ultra) will use a 5,000mAh battery, which would be the biggest used in a Galaxy S device. Another source has since backed up that 5,000mAh claim. This rumor makes sense, because it would be an expected step up between the S11 and S11 Plus, but we don't know for sure.
Plus, one rumor suggests the Galaxy S11e will have a larger battery than the Galaxy S10e, though again this could refer to the base Galaxy S20 in the suggested new naming conventions. We’d expect this, as new generations of handsets often bring upgrades like this, and one leak has suggested it'll be 4,000mAh.
An industry insider has suggested the reason the smartphones can use such big batteries is due to shrinking one part of the internals, a technique which the iPhone 12 could use too.
It also looks like Samsung is working on a battery health feature, which could tell you how worn out your S11's battery is.
Samsung Galaxy S10 with its reverse wireless charging
Samsung Galaxy S20 specs and features
We’re pretty certain the Samsung Galaxy S11 will come with the Snapdragon 865 chipset unveiled in late 2019, which has been benchmarked with scores that beat any other phone. Well, it’ll have this processor in the US, but most other regions will likely get an upgraded Exynos processor, probably the 9830.
We've heard that the Samsung Galaxy S20 devices (as the leak suggests) will all come with a base 12GB RAM, although that could go up to 16GB or possibly even beyond. Who would need this RAM in a smartphone is beyond us, but it's indicative of the premium nature of the device.
A rumor also suggests the Galaxy S20 Ultra, the top-end device, will have 128GB / 256GB / 512GB storage options, with a slot for a microSD card that'll add another 1TB space. We don't know the options for the other devices, though.
All three Samsung Galaxy S20 / S11 phones are expected to be IP68 waterproof and dust resistant, according to one leak.
A more unlikely feature that the S11 could pack is a spectrometer, which could be used to determine the chemical composition of objects. Samsung has patented a phone-like device with just such a feature, so it's possible, but it sounds a bit far-fetched and niche.
We can also look to the Samsung Galaxy Note 10 for some possible specs and features. The Galaxy S11 for example probably won't have a headphone port, since Samsung has ditched it for the latest Note. Similarly, it likely won't have a Bixby button.
However, by freeing up space that would have been used for a headphone port, Samsung could potentially make the battery bigger and/or the body thinner.
We could see the Galaxy S11 range launch without an in-screen fingerprint sensor, judging by the news that the upcoming Galaxy phone could use facial recognition unlocking tech instead. The iPhone 11 and Google Pixel 4 have similar systems, where instead of using in-screen fingerprint sensors, they use facial recognition, and this is a rather secure form of unlocking (compared to Samsung's current photo-based facial recognition) but it's slower than using a fingerprint.
There’s also a leak suggesting Samsung phones will get an AirDrop-like service called Quick Share to easily swap files between nearby Galaxy phones. This could be extended to older Samsung phones with a software update, though it’s unclear if it will come to other Galaxy products (like the Tabs).
Samsung Galaxy S20: what we want to see
While early rumors have started to swirl, in reality there's still a long way to go before we see the Samsung Galaxy S11, which is good news as it gives Samsung plenty of time to take our suggestions on board.
So, listen up Samsung, here's what we want to see from the Galaxy S11. Please don't let us down.
1. Better camera specs
The Samsung Galaxy S10 has three rear cameras: the 12MP main sensor with a regular lens, the 12MP second sensor with a telephoto lens for distance shots, and the 16MP third sensor with an ultra-wide lens.
The three lenses are generally what we'd expect in a smartphone camera, but the resolution of each is a lot lower than in many other phones.
Handsets like the Honor 20 Pro have a 48MP main snapper, which is a big step up from 12MP, and even affordable handsets sometimes now come with four lenses (the extra is usually a time-of-flight or macro sensor for close-up shots), so to stay competitive in the smartphone camera game Samsung needs to up its game with the Galaxy S11.
The Honor 20 Pro’s four cameras. Image credit: TechRadar
We've heard that Samsung is working on a 64MP smartphone camera that could be put in the Samsung Galaxy S11 – if this is true, the new phone would blow its competitors out of the water.
2. A 3.5mm headphone jack
If you're scratching your head thinking "the Samsung Galaxy S10 does have a 3.5mm headphone jack", then you're right – but it may be the last of its kind.
Newer Galaxy smartphones like the Samsung Galaxy Note 10 and Galaxy A80 have ditched the headphone jack, so it seems Samsung is following suit behind many other smartphone companies in getting rid of the physical headphone port.
But since many, many people still use non-Bluetooth earphones, it's a feature that we'd love to see return in future Samsung smartphones, especially given it's one of the only high-end smartphone manufacturers to still be using them.
3. Different front-facing camera arrangement
The Galaxy S10 was one of the first phones to have a 'punch-hole' front-facing camera, which means the front snapper was in a cut-out section inside the screen, in the corner.
The Galaxy S10 Plus’ punch-hole camera. Image credit: TechRadar
In theory this is a useful feature that replaces the top notch, so you get more screen real estate – but in practice the punch-hole takes just as much space, as there's a sliver of screen between the camera and the edge that just isn't used.
Going forward, we'd like to see the Samsung Galaxy S11 take a different tack – Samsung itself has said it's planning to drop the punch-hole in favor of a camera under the screen, but that could still be a few Galaxy S phones down the line.
4. Greater battery capacity
The Galaxy S10 had a 3,400mAh battery – that's fine, but you've got no hope of that lasting more than a second day of use, especially if you use your phone a lot.
We'd hope the Samsung Galaxy S11 battery life would surpass that – it will definitely have to have a bigger capacity to cater for all the new tech the phone uses, but we'd like to see a serious improvement on the capacity, perhaps 4,000mAh or above.
5. More launch colors
The Galaxy S10 comes in a few colors, most commonly prism white and black – but we always love a vibrant design in a phone, and so far Samsung handsets have often seemed a little dull.
The vibrant Samsung Galaxy S10e. Image credit: TechRadar
We're not asking for the crazy back patterns of a Huawei or Honor phone, but it would be nice for the Samsung Galaxy S11 to launch in a few different colors.
The Galaxy S10 has a few colors that are only available in certain regions, like yellow, green or red, but if Samsung made these designs available from the get-go in all regions, we'd appreciate the design a lot more.
6. Affordable 5G
We're expecting there to be a Samsung Galaxy S11 5G – there was a Samsung Galaxy S10 5G, after all, and by the time the S11 launches 5G will be available in many countries.
However, the Galaxy S10 5G is even bigger than the Galaxy S10 Plus, and so is massive and expensive. Currently there are no affordable 5G smartphones on the horizon, but Samsung could really get ahead of the curve if the Galaxy S11, or Galaxy S11e, had a low price and ran on 5G networks.
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The AMD Radeon RX 5600 XT launch is a mess: here’s what you need to know
AMD announced the Radeon RX 5600 XT back at CES 2020, and the pitch is solid: provide the ultimate 1080p gaming experience at a price that makes it competitive with the GTX 1660 Ti.
And that's the way it would have played out, at least until Nvidia decided to drop the price on the GeForce RTX 2060 down to $ 299 (£274, AU$ 539) to put the pressure on AMD. That's where the drama starts – but it only gets spicier from here.
Now, when we reviewed the AMD Radeon RX 5600 XT, it actually holds its own against the RTX 2060, even beating it in several tests. But, after we did our tests for the review, aftermarket graphics card manufacturers pushed out VBIOS (VGA Basic Input Output System) updates that enhanced performance even further. If that sounded like a whole bunch of nonsensical jargon, that's because it was – which highlights a major problem with the launch of the AMD Radeon RX 5600 XT.
So, we thought it'd be a good idea to not only dive into the performance gains that we found when we updated the VBIOS of the Sapphire Pulse model of the Radeon RX 5600 XT we reviewed, but also dive into the often confusing world of aftermarket graphics cards. Our end goal is to help you make the right decision, so if you do buy a Radeon RX 5600 XT or any other graphics card, you can make sure you get one that doesn't ultimately disappoint you.
What's the deal with aftermarket graphics cards, anyway?
Imagine this: you're in a Best Buy and you walk into the computing section. You've always been tempted to get into PC gaming, and you heard a whole bunch of people tell you that you have to buy your own. When you look at the graphics cards, not only do you see AMD and Nvidia graphics cards, but there are other brand names on the boxes like EVGA, Sapphire, XFX or MSI.
For anyone that's just getting into the PC components scene, this can definitely be a point of confusion. So, here's the deal:
Both AMD and Nvidia design GPUs, or graphics processing units, which is how they've both have built their reputation (AMD also makes CPUs). And, while both Team Red and Team Green will produce their own graphics cards, they only typically tend to do so for the higher end of their respective founders stacks. For Nvidia, these graphics cards are called "Founders Edition," which right now are exclusively found with the GeForce RTX 2060 and above. AMD will also manufacture its own versions of its high-end GPUs, though right now it's limited to the Radeon RX 5700 and RX 5700 XT.
AMD and Nvidia both tackle these differently, though. Nvidia's Founders Edition cards feature premium coolers and are overclocked over the base spec, whereas AMD's cards are the basic spec. These are both the versions of the cards Nvidia and AMD will send us for review when a new GPU hits the market. For the most part, you can pick up these versions of the graphics cards, and you're pretty much guaranteed a good experience.
But, what about the lower end of the market?
Well, with more affordable graphics cards like the recently-released AMD Radeon RX 5600 XT, both graphics card manufacturers will simply design the GPU, along with a general design for the board with power requirements, VRAM capacity, and so on. Everything else beyond the GPU, like the cooler design, BIOS, any additional overclock or lighting – that's all up to aftermarket graphics card manufacturers. Which is why you'll see so many different versions of every GPU.
Typically, when Nvidia or AMD announce a graphics card at, say, $ 300, that's going to be the base-level price. You will be able to find graphics cards at this price point, but they'll typically be very basic. You'll get the bare minimum base clock speeds, along with a cooler that will get the job done but won't leave a ton of room for overclocking.
You'll also find the same GPU in graphics cards that are much more expensive, too. These will typically have extremely beefy coolers with up to three fans and hefty overclocks that can see them perform much faster than the base-level spec, sometimes even seeing double-digit performance improvements.
What's the deal with the Radeon RX 5600 XT?
Seemingly in response to Nvidia dropping the price of the GeForce RTX 2060, AMD gave the green light to its aftermarket partners to release new VBIOS software, raising power consumption and performance to have a performance edge over Team Green's card.
So, there will be a small window of time where users may have to update the VBIOS of their own graphics cards. Because historically this has been a risky procedure, we reached out to Sapphire, the manufacturer behind the specific Radeon RX 5600 XT we reviewed and we were told "The good news is that cards on sale in NA have already been updated to the latest BIOS". There is a chance, though, that a card slipped through the cracks and didn't get the update. But, in those cases Sapphire is still recommending customers make the update.
For the specific model we reviewed, we were assured that "with the card having dual BIOS the chances of causing a non-repairable error is very limited." We did specifically ask whether or not the cards would be covered by warranty if the BIOS flash went wrong, however, and we didn't get a very assuring answer. Instead we were just told that if anyone has any concerns to just "contact regional support".
So, it seems like most of the Sapphire Pulse graphics cards that are out there either have the VBIOS already, or will be easy to update. And, of course, going forward, you won't have to worry about the whole VBIOS mess at all. But, the Sapphire Pulse is one graphics card in a sea of Radeon RX 5600 XTs.
Obviously, if there's a deluge of graphics cards out there, and only some of them are going to be updated with these new clock speeds and power targets, that would make it extremely confusing to consumers who are going to be jumping into the market for the first time. When we think of the people that would be going for a graphics card in this price range, there's probably a sizable portion that are just going to buy it right off the shelf at Best Buy for their first PC build.
This isn't the same enthusiast audience that would go for an RTX 2080 Ti, who we expect would relentlessly scan through product pages to make sure it has the highest clock speeds and most robust cooling.
To that end, we reached out to AMD for some clarity on this. Most importantly, we wanted to know if the entire Radeon RX 5600 XT lineup would be featuring this new VBIOS. AMD stopped short of confirming this is the case, instead telling us that "AMD has made the VBIOS update available to all its AIB partners. AIBs can choose to update select existing or upcoming RX 5600 XT models, depending on their respective product plans."
This basically tells us nothing. Of course AMD made the update available to all of its AIB, or aftermarket, partners. From the sound of it, though, this VBIOS update wasn't mandated for the 5600 XT lineup, which means that they won't all be created equal.
Over the next few months, then, we're probably going to see a vast majority of Radeon RX 5600 XTs out there with the new VBIOS that are absolute beasts. However, particularly right around the lower end of the Radeon RX 5600 XT pricing scale, it's possible that some of the graphics cards won't be rocking this new software.
Now, we have to be abundantly clear here. At TechRadar, we don't typically review a wide range of aftermarket graphics cards. There are simply too many of them, and we on the computing team simply don't have the bandwidth for that many graphics cards. As a general rule, if you want to be safe when buying a graphics card we've reviewed, you should go with the specific model we reviewed. We understand that there are a ton out there, and we definitely want to help if you have questions, so please reach out on Twitter or through email if you have any questions about any particular graphics card.
There are plenty of outlets out there, however, that do review a wide swath of graphics card for every GPU, like our friends over at Tom's Hardware. We urge you to make sure you read reviews of the specific graphics card you're looking at to make sure it's up to snuff.
Is the Radeon RX 5600 XT still worth getting?
Like we mentioned earlier, we tested the Radeon RX 5600 XT out of the box with the old VBIOS, so our star rating is entirely based on that basic VBIOS. Even if you get a basic Radeon RX 5600 XT, you can still expect a strong 1080p performer.
After hearing about all of this commotion surrounding the Radeon RX 5600 XT, we went back, flashed the new VBIOS onto our review sample and ran through all of our testing again, and we included the new numbers down below.
As you can see, after the new VBIOS, the Sapphire Pulse Radeon RX 5600 XT is now very comfortably ahead of the RTX 2060 in all tests except for Time Spy Ultra and Middle Earth: Shadow of War – and that's due to the limited 6GB VRAM. And, it's also important to keep in mind that the Sapphire Pulse Radeon RX 5600 XT is $ 289 (£269, about AU$ 420), rather than the $ 299 (£274, about AU$ 440) of the RTX 2060 Founders Edition.
Especially here in a couple months when all of the cards on the market have the new VBIOS and customers are no longer at risk of bricking their cards by flashing the wrong VBIOS, this performance advantage puts AMD in the lead. Nvidia still has the RTX feature, though, something that AMD's cards simply can't do right now, no matter the VBIOS.
So if ray tracing is a thing you're into, and it is very freaking cool, our advice is the same as what we came to in our review: buy Nvidia 100% of the time. But, if you just want raw performance and you're comfortable with potentially flashing the VBIOS, the AMD Radeon RX 5600 XT is potentially significantly faster and less expensive.
Of course, that recommendation comes with a meaty caveat. You should absolutely do some research into the Radeon RX 5600 XT model you buy. At the end of the day, we've only tested one, so we can only speak to that specific unit.
All the Radeon RX 5600 XT cards will be using the same GPU, however, so the variance isn't going to be like night and day. At the bare minimum, you should still be able to expect a passable 1080p experience, you just might not get as much as someone with a more expensive version of the card. So be wary, and again, feel free to reach out to us on the TechRadar computing team if you have any questions at all, and we'll be happy to give you some advice.
At the end of the day, the way AMD handled this launch was not great, and it wasn't very consumer-friendly. The fact that it is willing to launch out a VBIOS update last minute like this, potentially putting consumer's purchases at risk is not a good look. But we still don't think it's a deal breaker, and the Radeon RX 5600 XT is still a beast of a graphics card – just make sure you do your research before jumping in. In fact, we think that's good advice for any graphics card you buy, period.
The Umbrella Academy season 2: release date, cast, story and what we know
Netflix might've left Marvel shows behind with the final season of Jessica Jones, but the streaming service was far from ready to say goodbye to superheroes. The Umbrella Academy landed in early 2019, a big-budget adaptation of the cult favorite Dark Horse-published comic series by Gerard Way and Gabriel Bá. This show offered a radically different and exciting angle on superhuman fiction that immediately resonated with fans.
Essentially a superhero story viewed through a quirky, Wes Anderson-shaped prism, the Umbrella Academy told the story of a dysfunctional superpowered family. The seven Hargreeves siblings were rounded up by an eccentric billionaire who put saving the world over good parenting, which did some real damage to the kids.
With a smash hit first season behind it that was among Netflix’s top 10 shows of 2019, The Umbrella Academy season 2 is set to land some time in 2020. With the end of the world quite literally coming to pass in the final episode of season 1, expect an extremely different second year – read on to find out everything you need to know about what’s in store for the Hargreeves kids next time they team up for action…
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The Umbrella Academy season 2 release date: 2020 (probably)
While The Umbrella Academy season 2 was confirmed by Netflix in April 2019 and shooting wrapped in November 2019, the streaming service is yet to confirm when the show will return to our screens. The closest Netflix has come to a clue is saying it’s “Coming Soon” back in October 2019 – which, frankly, could mean any time in 2020.
Showrunner Blackman has also said it takes about 18 months to make a season, which – given that season one debuted on February 15, 2019 – would put season 2 somewhere around August. But seeing as shooting on the season is already complete, we’re hopeful we might see something sooner.
Netflix usually reveals release dates a month in advance, accompanied by a trailer, so keep that in mind as you wait.
Cut to the chase
- What is it? The second season of Netflix’s big-budget adaptation of Gerard Way and Gabriel Bá’s Dark Horse graphic novel series about a superpowered family.
- Where can I watch it? Like the first season of The Umbrella Academy, season 2 will be available exclusively on Netflix.
- When can I watch it? This is still TBC, but it’ll almost certainly land at some time during 2020.
The Umbrella Academy season 2 story: what we expect
Right now, that’s the big mystery, because everyone connected to the show is playing their cards very close to their chests.
It’s fairly safe to say, however, that the series will pick up directly after the end of season 1, where Number Seven/Vanya (who, unbeknownst to her family, had superpowers all along) blasted a chunk off the Moon – inadvertently causing the destruction of planet Earth. The teleporting Number Five saved the Hargreeves siblings by transporting them to another time – in the process reverting them to their teenage selves.
“The truth is, we don't know where they are,” returning showrunner Steve Blackman told The Hollywood Reporter back in February 2019. “We don't know what happened to them. I wanted this to really be the best of cliffhangers, in that you're like ‘Wait, what? What happened?’ It gives us a lot of openness and legroom to tell the best story we can. But the apocalypse is not solved. They did not save the world, which is a slight alteration of the comic. To me, it was the right Netflix cliffhanger. You really want people to go into the off-season saying, ‘I gotta know what happened’, and that will be revealed when you see season two.”
All very mysterious – at least we know that the first episode of The Umbrella Academy season 2 will be called “Right Back Where We Started”.
While the TV show made a dramatic change from the comic book storyline because the Hargreeves siblings didn’t save the apocalypse, the show’s writer’s room is still using Gerard Way and Gabriel Bá’s graphic novels as a blueprint for the series. That means, there may be some clues in there – for example, it won’t be a surprise if The Umbrella Academy season 2 sees Number One/Luther dealing with depression, in the wake of revelations about his father’s decision to send him to the Moon for four years.
“The goal is not to diverge [from the graphic novels],” Blackman told Indiewire. “Not everything translates from the graphic novel page to the screen, but there’s a legion of fans and I want to bring in a whole new legion of fans who’ve never read the graphic novel, so the goal is not to just go off in our own direction.”
And Gerard Way (arguably more famous for his other job as My Chemical Romance’s frontman) is keen that the planned eight-part graphic novel arc he’s writing with Bá’s should keep setting the agenda – nobody involved wants the show to overtake the source material as Game of Thrones did George RR Martin’s novels.
“The goal for us is to stay ahead of the show,” Way said in the same interview, “and since we’re on series three [of the comics], we are now ahead of the show.”
And in case of emergency, Way and Bá have assembled an 18-page roadmap for Blackman and the rest of the writing team so they know where everything’s going.
What questions does The Umbrella Academy season 2 need to answer?
The mystery of Vanya/Number Seven’s apparent lack of powers may have been solved, but The Umbrella Academy season 1 finale left plenty of threads dangling still to be explored.
Crucially, we know that on October 1, 1989, 43 women gave birth simultaneously. We’ve met seven of them, but what happened to the other 36? Surely we’ll be encountering more superpowered 30-somethings in season 2.
Then there’s the mystery of Sir Reginald Hargreeves, the superpowered siblings’ adoptive dad. The flashback in episode 10, “The White Violin”, suggests he may have come from another planet, but how did he end up on Earth? And how was he so certain about the impending apocalypse that he was prepared to kill himself to reunite his kids to save the world?
We’ve also got questions about the true extent of Klaus/Number Four and Vanya/Number Seven’s powers, and how spiritual, tentacle-wielding sibling Number Six/Ben lost his life. And we’d really like to know more about The Handler and her timeline-managing Temps Commission.
Umbrella Academy season 2 cast: who's in the show
Although they’ll presumably be starting out in their teenage incarnations, the grown-up versions of the Hargreeves siblings are all back in action in season 2.
That means returns for Tom Hopper (Number One/Luther – ability: super strength), David Castañeda (Number Two/Diego – ability: controlling the trajectory of projectiles), Emmy Raver-Lampman (Number Three/Allison – ability: can make people do anything she tells them to), Robert Sheehan (Number Four/Klaus – ability: talks to the dead), Aidan Gallagher (Number Five – ability: teleporting/time travel), Justin H Min (Number Six/Ben – ability: weird tentacle things) and Ellen Page (Number Seven/Vanya – ability: initially nothing, then everything).
This Instagram post shows five of them having an on-set family reunion:
Three newcomers to the cast have also been announced – and seeing as they’re all the right sort of age to play 30-somethings, we reckon they could be members of that exclusive club of 43 superpowered sprogs born on October 1, 1989. The official Umbrella Academy Twitter account has this to say about them:
Lila (played by Ritu Arya)
- A chameleon who can be as brilliant or as clinically insane as the situation requires.
- Unpredictable, mischievous, sarcastic.
- Twisted sense of humour.
Raymond (played by Yusuf Gatewood)
- Born leader and devoted husband.
- Has the smarts, gravitas, and confidence to never have to prove it to anyone.
- Has the innate ability to disarm you with a look.
Sissy (played by Marin Ireland)
- Fearless, no-nonsense Texas mom.
- Married young for all the wrong reasons.
- Eager to rediscover what life and love has to offer.
And this is yet to be confirmed officially, but the timeline-hopping storyline means the apocalypse surely won’t have meant the end for time-travelling assassins Cha-Cha (Mary J Blige) and Hazel (Cameron Britton), or their boss The Handler (Kate Walsh).
And somewhere between time travel, flashbacks and Klaus’s ability to talk to the dead, there should be numerous routes back for the deceased Sir Reginald Hargreeves (Colm Feore), the siblings’ android Mom, Grace (Jordan Claire Robbins), and chimpanzee assistant Pogo (Adam Godley).
Bring on season 2
The end of the Marvel shows on Netflix might be a blessing in disguise. Marvel Studios now controls all live-action versions of its characters, and it's seemingly pushed Netflix to adapt some more unusual superhero fiction. As well as The Umbrella Academy, the streaming service also has adaptations of comics by Kick-Ass creator Mark Millar on the way (which will be a very different proposition).
Being based on a non-Marvel comic clearly didn't hurt The Umbrella Academy's popularity at all. Let's hope we see many more seasons of it.