Tech Spite

Saturday's Australian Open Women's Final brings together a pairing few would have predicted a fortnight ago. It's set to be a fascinating final that you'll be able to watch as it happens from anywhere in the world with our Kenin v Muguruza live stream guide. Spanish star Garbine Muguruza may be a former Roland-Garros and Wimbledon champion, but the 26-year-old came into the tournament unseeded with little expectation of a decent run in Melbourne. While Sofia Kenin was at least ranked as a 14th seed, Saturday's match will be her maiden Grand Slam final, an achievement that few would have expected. Muguruza has beaten three top 10 seeds on the way to the final, the most impressive of those will likely be her shock win over the in-form world number four Simona Halep. Kenin broke the home crowd's hearts by knocking out Australia’s Ash Barty in their semi-final clash, in a close straight-sets win over the world number one. The only previous tour-level meeting bet...

Take a smartphone, shrink it and strap it to your wrist and you'll get a sense of what the TicWris Max smartwatch is trying to do. The idea, as ludicrous as it may sound, is gaining popularity in Asia. Sold for $160 at Gearbest, this device has some interesting uses for those working in challenging outdoor environments thanks to its 4G connectivity and IP67 waterproof rating - meaning that you won’t be able to swim with it, but it should withstand a shower. There's nothing shabby about the rest of the configuration either. It has a quad-core processor, 3GB of RAM, 32GB onboard storage, a 2880mAh battery and an 8-megapixel front facing camera that does Face ID as well. We've curated a list of the best smartphones on the market Check out the best rugged smartphones of 2020 Here is our shortlist of the best business smartphones right now If that wasn’t enough, it runs on Android 7.1.1, has built-in GPS, Wi-Fi and can even tell the time on its 640x480-pixel 2.86-in...

Microsoft has observed that the hacking group known as Evil Corp or TA505 has switched up the tactics in its ongoing phishing campaign to deliver malware by using malicious Excel documents. The company provided more details on the new campaign in a series of tweets in which its researchers said that the final payload is now being delivered by using an Excel document containing a malicious macro . Evil Corp has been active since 2014 and the cybercrime group is financially motivated. It is known for targeting retail companies as well as financial institutions by using large malicious spam campaigns powered by the Necurs botnet. Nearly half of workers have clicked on a phishing email Millions of Microsoft users are reusing passwords Office 365 phishing attacks targets admin accounts Researchers from Microsoft Security Intelligence explained how Evil Corp's new campaign works in a tweet , which reads: “The new campaign uses HTML redirectors attached to emails. When opened, t...

The Russian government has blocked access to Proton Technologies end-to-end encrypted email service ProtonMail as well as to the company's VPN service ProtonVPN for failing to comply with local laws. In a press release , Russia's telecommunications watchdog Roskomnadzor explained why it decided to block access to the company's services, saying: “This email service was used by cybercriminals both in 2019 and especially actively in January 2020 to send false messages about the massive mining of objects in the Russian Federation under the guise of reliable information. The company responded with a categorical refusal to Roskomnadzor’s repeated requests for information to be included in the register of information dissemination organizers on the Internet. Information about the administrators of the mailboxes used to send threats has not been provided.” ProtonMail adds encrypted calendar to its mail service How safe is Tor ? Ask the CIA ProtonVPN releases source code and...

There is no doubt that Artificial Intelligence (AI) has captured global imagination and attention. But in the business world, the rate of adoption of artificial intelligence has lagged behind the level of interest through 2019. Even though we hear that most business leaders believe AI provides a competitive advantage, up until recently, some industry watchers have pegged enterprise adoption at between 4% and 14%. But as we enter 2020, we are seeing an uptick, not only in interest but in AI adoption. And that uptick is reflected in the results of a new survey commissioned by IBM in late 2019. From Roadblock to Scale: The Global Sprint Towards AI polled more than 4,500 technology decision makers – including over 500 from the UK. We wanted to gauge the current and future states of AI deployment to better understand the landscape and the challenges. As you’ll see, it’s about to change dramatically. AI Adoption on the Rise UK results from the survey indicate that while there is still w...

If you were a fan of the Samsung Galaxy Fold from 2019, you can rejoice, because Samsung has not one but multiple foldable phones in the works that will be released over the course of 2020. This news comes from Samsung itself, albeit in a cryptic way. The company recently posted an analysis of its 2019 earnings to its newsroom , and there are multiple references to 'new foldable devices' and 'foldable models'. The fact that 'devices' and 'models' are both pluralized tells us everything we need to know. We've ranked all the best Samsung phones Find out about all the foldable phones we know of What did we think of the Samsung Galaxy Fold ? The post also confirms the company will be 'introducing new designs for foldable products', so rumors of the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip clamshell device might not be far-fetched. We were expecting the Galaxy Z Flip foldable phone to be unveiled alongside the Samsung Galaxy S20 on February 11, with a re...

Rumors of a pair of Apple over-ear headphones have been circling for a while now, with numerous outlets reporting that the San Cupertino company is planning to release a pair of studio-quality cans this year.  According to a report (via  9to5Mac ) by respected analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, who correctly predicted the release of the upgraded  Apple AirPods  and the  AirPods Pro  in 2019, the  wireless headphones  will launch alongside a number of new products in the first half of 2020. That means we could see the Apple over-ear headphones at WWDC in June. Saying that, Apple has been known to hold launches far earlier in the year, revealing  Apple Arcade  and  Apple TV Plus  in March 2019, as well as the upgraded AirPods. Cut to the chase What is it? Apple's first over-ear headphones. When will they be released? It's rumored that they'll launch in the first half of 2020. What will they be called? That's unclear, but ...

Test footage of the canceled Star Wars TV show Underworld has surfaced on YouTube. The show, which George Lucas apparently wanted to be 100 episodes long, was first discussed after the release of Revenge of the Sith in 2005, and was officially put on hold in 2010 due to budget restrictions.  It shows Star Wars as you've never seen it before: a Blade Runner or Cyberpunk 2077 -esque vision of Coruscant with bright lights, flying cars and an underground resistance movement forming against the Empire. With citizens going to desperate measures to stop the Empire, it might also remind you a little of Saw Gerrera's fighters in Rogue One .  Check it out: There's roughly five minutes of test footage and five minutes showing how the short show was made. This was likely created as a proof-of-concept – the effects studio mentioned above, Stargate, has worked on everything from the Jennifer Lopez movie  Hustlers to ABC show The Walking Dead.  Polygon points out that it's ac...

On this week’s show, we talk about Vine's rebirth as Byte, and the new Razr reboot, which now comes with (of course) a folding screen. from Wired https://ift.tt/36NKddT

We’ve waited a long time for the iPhone SE 2 , and the wait still isn’t quite over, but we’re already hearing about the iPhone SE 2 Plus – a phone that might launch in the first half of 2021, and that might have a new design for its fingerprint scanner. That’s according to Ming-Chi Kuo (an analyst with a good track record when it comes to Apple information), in a research note seen by MacRumors . The iPhone SE 2 Plus name has been thrown around before, and Kuo has previously said that the phone will have an all-screen design (presumably like the iPhone 11 range) with a 5.5 or 6.1-inch display, but with no Face ID. Instead, it will have Touch ID built into the power button on the side of the device, so there’s no need for a button below the screen. Read our full iPhone 11 Pro review See what we thought of the iPhone 11 Pro Max These are the best iPhones A new design for a better experience Now he’s restating that claim, adding that the fingerprint scanner will sport a “new des...

If you were waiting with baited breath for a new Nintendo Switch console model in the near future, we have bad news for you: Nintendo's CEO Shuntaro Furukawa has shut down rumors of a hardware refresh, saying that there are "no plans to launch a new Nintendo Switch model during 2020." Rumors of a new Nintendo Switch, Nintendo Switch Pro, or Nintendo Switch 4K – whatever you think it might be called – have been growing in recent months, with speculation that a far more powerful Switch model could be on its way. Given that the original Switch can only output to 720p in handheld mode, and 1080p to a TV when docked, many are hoping a new model would see a jump in resolution to match the likes of the 4K-capable Xbox One and PS4 Pro . New Nintendo Switch : what we want to see in a new console What are the best Nintendo Switch games ? Check out the best Nintendo Switch memory cards There had been reports of a new console getting a mid-year release around E3 2020 , but...

It's heavily rumored that Samsung will introduce its second foldable phone in the next few weeks alongside the Samsung Galaxy S20 series - but it may not come with 5G on board. We know this because the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip - the current rumored name for one of the foldable phones the company has in development - recently had authentication from the FCC (Federal Communications Commission).  This is a US government agency that regulates gadgets that use radio signals in the US, and the listing so far doesn't include a 5G band for the upcoming device. The very best Samsung phones All of the confirmed foldable phones There are also rumors of a Samsung Galaxy Fold 2 While that may mean the phone doesn't support 5G at all, it could be that this is just one variant of the phone that has been run through the FCC. Samsung's Galaxy Fold came in a 5G version in some markets including the UK and South Korea, but it was never an option for those who live in the US. Th...

BT customers will be required to return their equipment at the end of their contract in a move that it hopes will aid sustainability initiatives and save money. The company will no longer charge up-front fees for routers or TV set top boxes and has abolished any costs for returning unused kit early if a contract is cancelled before the end of a minimum term Customers are free to send their old gear back to BT at any time and will be covered by a warranty that extends beyond their contract. If a customer does not return their kit – or for some reason wants to keep hold of it – will be charged. Vodafone half-size SIMs to have green impact Lack of phone recycling  leads to metal shortage  Exertis to offer  refurbished handsets to resellers BT router cost This policy will allow suitable equipment to be refurbished and reused, or disposed of responsibly rather than ending up in landfill. There is obviously a financial benefit to BT too as fewer routers means lower exp...

In May 2019, Google banned Huawei from using the Google Mobile Services on Huawei phones , resulting in the Mate 30 and possibly the future P40 handsets lacking a Play Store, among other things. While many thought the situation could resolve itself by the ban being lifted, it seems Huawei is fully committed to creating its own app ecosystem instead. That's according to Huawei executive Fred Wangfei, who hosted a conference to talk though Huawei's future strategy (as reported by DerStandard , an Austrian publication, which is where the conference was held). It's worth pointing out that the Standard doesn't include any of Wangfei's quotes, just reports on what he said. According to the Standard, Wangfei pledged Huawei won't return to Google services even if the ban is lifted, for the main reason that there's no guarantee another ban won't be subsequently placed. What do we know about Harmony OS These are the best Huawei phones What we want to see ...

The PS5 and Xbox Series X will be "substantially" more powerful than the PS4 Pro and Xbox One X currently sat under your televisions, it seems. That's the word on high from game development and publishing giant EA, which has sung the praises of the incoming next-generation machines during an investor call. "The power of the new consoles is gonna be substantially greater than existing consoles," said EA CFO Blake Jorgensen.  "We can do a lot more [with PS5 and Xbox Series X]. Things we’re doing will blow people’s minds." All the games we know are coming to PS5 Everything we know so far about the PS5's controller Thinking about the competition?  Everything we know about the Xbox Series X Innovation over reruns Though much of the hype around both console's launch line-ups has been speculation around the return of known franchises, Jorgensen stressed that "innovation" would be on the way from EA and its competitors. And, wh...

We've tested and ranked the best free screen recorders that make it easy to record everything that's happening on your PC, complete with commentary and annotations if you want. It's important to choose the right free screen recorder depending on what you intend to do with the footage you capture. Different recorders offer a range of differing features, can save captures in varying formats, or capture footage from external sources such as a webcam – and some even give you the opportunity to upload to the internet directly from within the program. Some run nicely on average hardware, while others are more demanding. The point is that there is plenty of choice. Need to clip or crop your recorded footage? Take a look at our guide to the best free video editors to find the right software for the job. No matter what you're hoping to do with footage captured from your computer, you need the right tool for the job. And this is where our look at the best free screen recorder...

For information about adding your event to this list and featured listing opportunities please contact mike.moore@futurenet.com. Love it or loathe it, events and conferences are often where wheelers and dealers in the world of technology meet to decide on the future of the industry. TechRadar Pro and ITProPortal have joined forces with the tech B2B PR industry to curate a list of national and international technology events, conferences and happenings. Mobile World Congress 2020 February 24th-27th, Barcelona MWC is the largest mobile event in the world, bringing together the latest innovations and leading-edge technology alongside today’s most influential visionaries. Why attend? The world's most important mobile show brings all the key players under one roof. Insight Technology Conference March 6th, London The 2020 London Insight Technology Conference invited delegates to learn, share and deliberate technology that’s enhancing how we connect with our customers and w...

Apple still hasn't given up on Apple Maps. For a long while, Apple Maps was terrible , but the latest update could bring it more up to speed with Google Maps. The map visuals are getting a major overhaul, and Apple is adding more data and increasing accuracy, according to its press release . The changes are rolling out first in certain parts of the US, available immediately, but will also be heading to Europe in the months ahead. Users who update will see a visually improved map across the United States straight away. The biggest improvement you'll see is how much more detail is showing up on the map. Before, you'd get roads, highways and businesses displayed, but now, you'll be seeing individual buidlings, including residences, as well as different land types to help you more easily see parks, airports, malls and more. You'll get even more real-time transit data, too, as Apple has just added data for Miami. These are the best iPhone apps But what about the bes...

Apple is on the verge of releasing its first-ever wireless over-ear headphones , according to KGI Securities analyst, Ming-Chi Kuo. A report from Kuo (via 9to5Mac ), who correctly predicted the release of the upgraded Apple AirPods and the AirPods Pro in 2019, says that the wireless headphones will launch alongside a number of new products in the first half of 2020. That means we could see the Apple over-ear headphones at WWDC in June. Saying that, Apple has been known to hold launches far earlier in the year, revealing Apple Arcade and Apple TV Plus in March 2019, as well as the upgraded AirPods. In fact, the company has held March product launches in four of the last five years (2019, 2018, 2016, and 2015), so it wouldn't be out of the question to expect the new headphones in a matter of weeks, rather than months. Apple over-ear headphones: what we want to see Read our Apple AirPods review Looking for noise cancellation? Check out the AirPods Pro Kuo claims that the...

OnePlus is now officially a member of the Wireless Power Consortium, the promoter group of various wireless charging standards. It pretty much implies that future OnePlus devices could also support wireless charging. OnePlus has long been skipping wireless charging on its flagships, stating speed and convenience to not be at acceptable levels. It has been one of the few notable omissions on its seemingly complete flagship smartphones each year, especially since it moved to glass backs from metal a few years ago. It seems like that is about to change. The WPC is one of the biggest standards development groups with over 500 member companies from around the world, working towards worldwide compatibility of all wireless chargers and wireless power sources. The applications primarily include three interface standards —  Qi, Cordless Kitchen, and Medium Power.  Qi wireless charging (pronounced as chee), as you may recognize, is the most popular standard for inductive charging...

This last-four Australian Open showdown pits two European players who came into the tournament with next to no expectation, yet have flourished over the course of the fortnight. There's a place in the final against defending champ Novak Djokovic up for grabs, but which player will take their opportunity? Its a match you'll be able to watch as it happens from anywhere in the world with our Thiem v Zverev live stream guide. Austria's Dominic Thiem delivered one of the performance of the Open so far to beat world number one Rafael Nadal in their quarter-final match, while Germany's Alexander Zverev edged past Stan Wawrinka over four sets to reach the semi-finals. Thiem comes into the match as favourite, with a dominant 6-2 head-to-head record over Zverev. The German will be looking to be far more competitive than their encounter in a semis of the ATP Finals back in November, which Thiem ease his way to a straight sets victory. Make sure you don't miss any of this 2...

Virat Kohli's army in blue marches on and, with three T20 cricket wins already secured over New Zealand in the last few days, it will now be seeking the full whitewash of the Black Caps. To make sure you don't miss a single six or wicket, we've put together this guide to getting a New Zealand vs India live stream from pretty much anywhere in the world. New Zealand came into this five-match series looking to bounce back after a 3-0 test thrashing to great rivals Australia and a Super Over loss to England in their last T20I. But visitors India chased down pretty gettable targets twice in succession, before sealing the series on a ridiculously exciting Super Over. Despite having to contend with a lengthy injury list, the Black Caps still boast a strong squad, but will their second string be enough to knock a rampart India off their stride? Key players Trent Boult and Lockie Ferguson, along with Tom Latham and Matt Henry are all missing for the hosts, but there's a recall...

VAIO is fondly remembered as a cutting edge computing brand by many, and its new SX12 continues in the path of its predecessors. A utilitarian design combines with a super light frame that sees an overall weight of just over 900g (2lbs) for the heavier unit. The 2020 version adds 10th generation Intel CPUs (including a six-core model), and shrinks its footprint to 287 x 203mm, meaning that although it's not small, it is certainly still portable.  When it comes to connectors, Sony didn’t hold back. The SX12 boasts a Gigabit Ethernet connector, four USB ports, an HDMI connector, an audio connector, a card reader and, most surprisingly, a VGA connector. These are the best business laptops on the market Check out our list of the best rugged laptops We curated a list of the best business tablets right now D-Sub ports are still popular with many businesses, especially in Japan, where legacy projectors and displays abound. Their maximum resolution is limited, but they are still...