Thursday, October 31, 2019

Huawei UK 5G decision 'delayed' until after General Election 2019

Huawei UK 5G decision 'delayed' until after General Election 2019

A decision on whether Huawei will be able to participate in the UK 5G rollout is set to be delayed by political developments once again, with Bloomberg reporting a ruling will not be made until after the General Election.

Huawei is a key supplier for all four major UK operators but its future role had been uncertain due to fears the use of its kit constituted a national security risk – allegations the company has persistently denied.

MPs and intelligence chiefs have suggested there is no technical reason to exclude Huawei from 5G and that the decision is a political one.

Huawei UK 5G

A decision was expected in the Spring, with leaks suggestion that former Prime Minister would continue to allow Huawei to provide radio kit, but  not equipment for the core layer of the network, where data processing takes place. Given no UK operator plans to use Huawei in their 5G core, such a ruling would effectively preserve the status quo.

However the change in leadership has added further delays, with May’s successor Boris Johnson eager not to upset US President Donald Trump without upsetting China and risking potential trade and investment deals. The US, which has banned Huawei, is urging allies to follow its lead without presenting evidence to support its claims.

After months of deliberation, it was claimed Johnson had come to the same view as May following talks between Huawei and the government and a decision could be made before Christmas. The belief in Whitehall is that other vendors cannot offer alternatives to some of Huawei’s technology, meaning the UK could be left behind if the company was banned.

There are also concerns that the government may not be able to deliver its more ambitious connectivity targets with Huawei kit as operators would be forced to spend hundreds of millions of pounds over several years replacing equipment. Whitehall officials also share the view that the UK has the technological expertise to protect against any threats.

However with a General Election set for 12 December, the matter has been delayed once again, this time until 2020.

Via Bloomberg



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October 31, 2019 at 03:29PM

Samsung Galaxy S11 Lite leaked again with impressive specs

Samsung Galaxy S11 Lite leaked again with impressive specs

Recently a reputable leaker claimed that Samsung was working on a Galaxy S10 Lite or Galaxy S11 Lite with the model number SM-G770F, and now that model has been benchmarked.

Spotted on Geekbench 5 by SamMobile, the phone has a Snapdragon 855 chipset and 8GB of RAM. The former is the same chipset as the Galaxy S10 range uses in the US, while the latter would mean more RAM than the base version of the Samsung Galaxy S10e.

Additionally, this phone is listed as running Android 10, and achieves a single-core score of 742 and a multi-core one of 2,604. Those results put it in line with the rest of the Galaxy S10 range and even the Galaxy Note 10 range.

10 or 11?

There’s enough evidence of this phone to suggest that it’s likely to be a real device, but whether it’s the Galaxy S10 Lite or the Galaxy S11 Lite (or something else entirely) is still a big question.

Our money is on the Samsung Galaxy S11 Lite though. The model number suggests it’s part of the Galaxy S range, but coming this long after the rest of the S10 series, and with the Galaxy S10e already filling a ‘Lite’ roll, it seems unlikely that it would be an S10 Lite.

Then again, it is using a now-slightly-dated chipset, and we’d expect the Samsung Galaxy S11 range to use the Snapdragon 865 in regions where it uses Snapdragon chips, so we can’t be sure either way.

In any case, we should have a better idea soon. If this is the Galaxy S11 Lite then it’s likely to land alongside the rest of that range in early 2020, and if it’s the S10 Lite then it could launch even sooner.



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October 31, 2019 at 03:29PM

Modex Blockchain Database, a game-changer for the enterprise market

Modex Blockchain Database, a game-changer for the enterprise market

Their proposed solution which later took shape in Modex BCDB modifies a set of connectors in order to link the database to a blockchain network, thus significantly enhancing storage capabilities.

Modex Blockchain Database is a software product designed to empower businesses by enabling them to develop and deploy blockchain software solutions in matter of days. Modex Blockchain Database (BCDB) is created by an experienced team of developers and brings many world firsts and unrivalled advantages for companies offering: cost cutting, data security, and time efficiency.  

From a technical standpoint, Modex Blockchain Database (BCDB) falls into the middleware category, as it positions itself between the client’s software application server and their database. What sets Modex BCDB apart from its competitors is its approach to handling data. From the start, the minds behind this new innovative take on blockchain technology decided to employ a minimally invasive approach, in the sense that companies and enterprises keep their data models intact. 

How does this benefit my business? Why should I change the way in which is store my data?

Modex has adopted a plug and play approach, in the sense that any technical operations required to facilitate the transition to the BCDB framework are performed by the Modex development team. As previously mentioned, the procedure involves a minimal level of changes, consisting mostly of writing and implementing the connectors which enable the database to communicate with the blockchain network. This approach means that all the heavy lifting is done by Modex team, which means that clients need only to get familiarized with our interface. To maintain a high level of flexibility and versatility and to satisfy the needs of a large spectrum of the developer community, Modex BCDB employs a wide variety of APIs. Be it Java, Javascript, C, C++, Golang, C#, etc, BCDB  enable developers to connect through a REST API and GRAPH QL, while providing drivers for the most popular programming languages. 

Probably the first question that comes to mind is ‘How does this benefit my business? Why should I change the way in which is store my data?’. Modex’s middleware solution has a transformative property in the sense that it bestows all the advantages and inherent capabilities of blockchain technology, data distribution, immutability, as well as a real-time backup functionality. 

A core feature that distinguishes Modex BCDB is the fact that it is blockchain and database agnostic. This characteristic opens a new window of opportunities, as compatibility related issues become a thing of the past. Regardless of the type of database a company is employing, or the type of blockchain it wishes to connect to, our solution ensures a seamless connection between the two technologies. Modex BCDB doesn’t aim to replace the existing database but to improve it by adding a blockchain layer. By situating ourselves between the database component and the client’s software, we ensure a higher degree of security and trust, while giving access to a mechanism through which clients can create their own infrastructure.

An agnostic take on blockchain

The versatility of Modex BCDB stems from the agnostic design of the framework. On a deeper level, it can be observed that each node in the network can host a distinct database. As a result, one node can hold a NoSQL database such as MongoDB, while another node from the same network can host a SQL database. 

This layer of flexibility can prove to be invaluable to a consortium network, where multiple companies can synchronize their databases, without requiring to change their database providers. As a result, the system becomes database agnostic, which implies that Oracle, IBM, Mongo DB, Microsoft SQL databases can synchronize with each other. Modex BCDB positions itself between the client’s application and database without altering data entries to facilitate communication with different types of databases. 

Modex BCDB, unique design choices and features

Modex BCDB is the first middleware solution that manages to be both database and blockchain agnostic. Currently, other solutions present on the market are either blockchain or database agnostic, but not both at the same time. By adopting a modular design, Modex BCDB becomes truly agnostic in the sense that it to any type of database and blockchain. To push the envelope even further, BCDB can connect to different databases at the same time, as a result, clients are not obliged to change their database provider. Through Modex BCDB it becomes possible to build a distributed database network with different database engines. Distributed databases exist for some time, but this new system allows developers to combine different databases and distribute them across different database engines.

An important characteristic that sets Modex BCDB apart stems from how users interact with the solution. Prior knowledge of blockchain technology development isn’t required, as the system is designed to be operated as a database engine. Being a blockchain enabling platform, BCDB removes the need for companies to hire an in house team of blockchain developers. If a company relies heavily on Java for development purposes, they can interact through the Java driver with our middleware and create an environment that is connected on the back end level with a blockchain architecture.

Because Modex BCDB falls into the middleware software category, it has been designed with flexibility in mind, as to allow it to mold seamlessly on client applications and requirements. Developers are able to lock the structure of a node. This means that a company can create a custom table and arrange the fields according to their desired outcome, and allow other companies to introduce new data without permitting them to modify the structure of the table. Only the owner of the node will be able to implement any structural changes.

Licensing methodology is another aspect that makes Modex BCDB stand out. During an intense development process, Modex team modified each blockchain engine to enable and streamline the authentication process. Other solutions present on the market allow users to authenticate to the whole network, they can’t restrict specific nodes from authenticating to the network. Blockchain is a difficult technology to get into because, from a technical perspective, it is low level, in the sense that developers need to know the precise inner workings of the technology and have a solid grasp of their SDK to be able to start to work with them. Modex’s solution is situated at a higher level, as it drastically simplifies implementation. BCDB already provides the Sawtooth and Tendermint, and will do soon Fabric and Ethereum.  

Database migration is a sensitive topic for every enterprise, as any breach or data corruption could prove disastrous. Blockchain is a viable solution for improving database management and increase tamper resistance, but it is surprisingly difficult to integrate an existing platform in a blockchain network. Besides the complexity involved, the process would also attract significant costs and a long period of time for implementation. Modex BCDB overcomes these issues with its migration tool, which allows developers to easily move a database to a blockchain framework. The migration tool does all the heavy lifting: it scans the database and replicates the data model in our middleware, it creates metadata for each record and uploads it to the blockchain to ensure immutability. Modex’s approach to handling data differs, no record is deleted and the whole structure is kept intact. The database migration is initiated only after minor changes are implemented on the client’s side. A minimally invasive approach brings a much-needed breath of fresh air to legacy systems where changes are difficult to implement. But by simply changing a few connectors a legacy system will benefit from everything blockchain has to offer.



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October 31, 2019 at 03:09PM

Got an old Sonos speaker at home? Here's how you can save 30% on a new model

Got an old Sonos speaker at home? Here's how you can save 30% on a new model

The Sonos Move is the best Bluetooth speaker we've ever tested, but its rich feature-set means that it's pretty expensive to buy off the bat, with a $399 / £399 / AU$649 price tag. 

However, if you have an older Sonos speaker knocking around at home, that cost could come down, thanks to the company's new Trade Up program, which gives you a 30% discount on new models when you recycle your unwanted Sonos speakers.

Eligible models include the Sonos Connect, Connect:Amp, ZP80, ZP90, ZP100, and ZP120 – the Sonos Play:1, which has now been discontinued, isn't included on that list, as you can still buy it from the Sonos website.

The Sonos One

Moving on up

To take advantage of the program, you'll need to head to the Sonos app, select My Account, and then System. 

Here you can select each device you want to swap – yes, you can do this with multiple speakers and you'll get the 30% discount for each model you trade up. 

Once you've confirmed within in the Sonos app, you'll receive your discount to be put towards a new device, whether you opt for the Move, soundbars like the Beam and the Playbase, or wireless speakers like the Play:5, or the One.

After 21 days, your old devices will enter Recycle Mode, which means that their data is wiped and they're permanently deactivated – then you'll need to recycle them yourself. 

You have a few options when it comes to recycling; you can either take your old Sonos speakers to a certified e-recycling centre or a participating retailer, or printing off a prepaid shipping label and sending your old speakers back to Sonos. 

Now that Amazon has released its own cheaper audiophile wireless speaker, the Echo Studio, it makes sense that Sonos would incentive its customers to stick with its brand.

Don't have an old Sonos speaker to trade in? Black Friday and Cyber Monday could see in some great Sonos deals, so make sure you bookmark our dedicated Black Friday deals page for the latest from the massive sales event.


Via What Hi-Fi?



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October 31, 2019 at 02:59PM

Steam's ace new-look Library is now available to all

Steam's ace new-look Library is now available to all

PC gamers get to enjoy a fresh lick of paint to their Steam libraries today – Valve has announced that September's Steam library redesign beta is now available to all.

With a greater focus on rich artwork, it's designed to give you a better look at the games you're playing – and new games you may want to. A central area now focuses on game news, what your pals are up to and your recent games, while there's the option to create 'Collections' based on certain tag criteria or simply of your own manual choosing. 

Along the top of the Library tab you'll also see a 'What's New' option, focusing on in-game events for the titles you own, new add-ons or special multiplayer events. You'll also see a little icon appear under a game's artwork to give you an at-a-glance indication if a friend is currently playing.

Note that you might have to open and close Steam a few times before the prompt to update the application appears.

Remote Play Together expansion

The update also expands the reach of Steam's new Remote Play Together feature.

Now all Steam users can take advantage of the feature, not just those running the test beta application. Remote Play Together allows you to host what would usually be an on-the-couch local multiplayer session over the internet, letting those on your friends list join a local multiplayer game as if they were in the same room as you. 

Like many game streaming applications, they simply take control of a video stream that you're broadcasting on their local machines – and, for the privacy conscious, note that their view is limited to only the in-game action, not your desktop.

It's a meaty update from Steam, and a much-needed one, given the aggressive challenge its rival the Epic Games Store has delivered over the past year.



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October 31, 2019 at 02:29PM

With an impressive two-week battery life and 15 sports modes, HUAWEI WATCH GT 2 pushes the boundaries of what is expected from a wearable

With an impressive two-week battery life and 15 sports modes, HUAWEI WATCH GT 2 pushes the boundaries of what is expected from a wearable

Huawei’s latest wearable – Huawei Watch GT 2 series - is a noticeable upgrade from last year’s model, and is a great choice for anyone looking for a comprehensive wearable that offers both a pleasing aesthetic and plenty of features. It continues the series strong points, namely a strong design and excellent battery life, while also bringing new features to the table – all powered by Huawei’s first wearable chipset, the Kirin A1. It uses Huawei’s homegrown LiteOS and includes comprehensive fitness tracking for various activities.

One of the biggest changes on the Watch GT 2 46mm is the addition of a built-in microphone and speaker allowing you to take calls straight from the watch. Another big change is that it’s powered by Huawei’s proprietary Kirin A1 chip. This chip is specifically geared towards wearables and is capable of ultra-low power consumption, meaning you’ll get the best possible battery life out of the wearable.

In the HUAWEI Watch GT 2 46mm case, with continuous operation you can get a battery life of up to two weeks. And that’s with both the intelligent heart rate monitor and call notification functions enabled. We’ve tried it ourselves and that’s exactly the kind of battery life you can expect, which is quite impressive. This is great news for active people who are looking for a wearable that can continuously track their fitness activity without having to worry about charging it frequently.

Speaking of fitness, the HUAWEI Watch GT 2 has extensive health monitoring and management capabilities baked-in. There’s a continuous 24/7 intelligent heart rate monitor on board, stress tracking, and detailed sleep tracking with sleep cycle graphs that give you deep insights into your sleeping patterns.

When it comes to exercise, the HUAWEI Watch GT 2 is a great companion to take on training sessions. There’s also 4GB of storage on the watch, so you can store music for offline listening. When you get moving, the watch will automatically detect a workout and start tracking activity. There’s a built-in GPS for tracking outdoor walks and running, and a barometer to measure air pressure. The watch supports 15 sports modes including indoor and outdoor training, as well as swimming and common workouts on gym machines.

The HUAWEI Watch GT 2 comes in two sizes - 42mm and 46mm. You can choose which size you prefer depending on your own preference and style, but both have vibrant circular OLED displays measuring from 1.2 to 1.39-inches. They are encased in an all-in-one 3D glass screen that creates this wider, boundless display. No matter which size you choose, they both look gorgeous.

The Watch GT 2 inherits the best from traditional watch craftsmanship, with a round watch case and smooth glass over the display, as well as a dial etched into the frame and two crown-like buttons on the side. The silicone strap has a smooth texture that’s easy to wipe when it gets wet, and feels very light and comfortable against the skin.

You can buy the HUAWEI Watch GT 2 right now across Huawei experience stores and select retailers in the UAE. The 46mm Sport edition we looked at today costs AED 849. There’s a classic version for AED949 and Elite models will set you back AED1149. Huawei is also running a special bundle offer for new HUAWEI nova 5t and Watch GT 2 Orange Color at a price of AED 1,999 starting October 31st.



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October 31, 2019 at 01:34PM

Redmi Note 8T to bring NFC and a new color finish to the Note 8

Redmi Note 8T to bring NFC and a new color finish to the Note 8

The upcoming Redmi Note 8T is expected to bring NFC and a new Blue color variant over the Redmi Note 8, as a small incremental update. 

The Redmi Note 8 was unveiled almost two months ago and was a pretty decent value offering considering the price. One of the few notable exclusions was NFC, which may finally be coming now. Leaked listing and images of the Redmi Note 8T suggest that it will be the NFC-enabled variant of the regular Note 8.

Redmi Note 8T specifications

The live images also give a fair idea of what to expect from the Note 8T in terms of specifications. It will be powered by the Snapdragon 665 AIE chipset and will run on a 4,000 mAh battery. 18W fast charging support will also make the cut, and the charger seems to be included in the box. 

The front has a 6.3-inch display with a small “Dot Drop” notch and will be protected by Gorilla Glass 5. The back will continue to offer a quad-camera setup and is likely to be the same array consisting of a 48MP primary camera, augmented by an ultra-wide lens and a dedicated macro camera. The last one will be a depth sensor.

The images also suggest that a new Blue finish will be available with the Redmi Note 8T, which will be pretty different than the Nebula Blue we’ve seen on the Redmi Note 8. Other than that, all specifications seem to align between the two phones.

The Redmi Note 8 is yet to see a full-fledged global release, and we might see the Note 8T take its place in markets outside China, where NFC has a much bigger demand. The pricing, too, is expected to be very similar to the Redmi Note 8, starting at around 199 Euros.  Considering that we already have live images of the device and its retail packaging, the launch shouldn't be far.



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October 31, 2019 at 01:34PM

How to watch RuPaul's Drag Race UK online: stream from the UK or abroad

The library is open and mother has arrived! With more drama, make up and lip-syncing than ever, RuPaul's Drag Race UK is officially underway with more glamour and style than ever. We know you don't want to miss a second of the action so here is how you can watch RuPaul's Drag Race UK online. 

Sissy that walk for RuPaul's Drag Race UK hennies. Everyone's ready to see the best woman win and the rest sashay away! A wonderful exploration of drag, art and sexuality, it is safe to say we stan RuPaul's Drag Race UK.

The first UK Snatch Game ever was iconic - with the Queens bringing the likes of Margaret Thatcher, Donald Trump and David Attenborough to life. Whilst some of the celebrity impressions dazzled, others were below average.

And of course everyone is more than ready for the next episode and predictions are that the contestants will be split into two groups  to watch the Queens for a group girl battle. Everyone's ready to see these cover girls put that bass in their walk! 

Don't want to miss a second of this fierce competition? Keep reading to find out here how you can watch RuPaul's Drag Race UK online.

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Watch RuPaul's Drag Race online

How to watch RuPaul's Drag Race UK online for free in the UK:

For those trying to watch RuPaul's Drag Race UK, BBC Three is the place to be. The show will be put up at 8pm UK time on Thursday nights. BBC Three no longer features on your freeview channels or Sky tuners, so you'll have to go online or login through iPlayer (where they'll stay well after the event) to watch.

Live stream RuPaul's Drag Race UK from outside your country:

As well as the UK above, we'll tell you about your viewing options in the US, Canada and Australia further down this page.

Planned a holiday at the wrong time? Had to go on a business trip? Don't panic, you can still watch RuPaul's Drag Race UK online. This is by using a VPN to bypass the whole geo-location situation. 

Which VPN is the ideal one for you? Our top pick is ExpressVPN. And how do you use that to watch RuPaul's Drag Race UK? We're glad you asked...

How to watch RuPaul's Drag Race UK online in the US:

RuPaul's Drag Race UK is available in the US on Logo and WOW Presents Plus. You can get fairly cheap subscription to WOW Presents Plus, with subscriptions starting at $3.99 a month with a 30-day FREE trial.

To watch it on Logo you simply need a TV subscription that includes the channel, plus luckily for you logo has an app so you can download it to watch on your tablet or smartphone. RuPaul's Drag Race UK will air in the US on Friday, 11 Oct at 8pm PT - new episodes then air every Friday at 8pm PT.

Where to watch RuPaul's Drag Race UK from anywhere else 

Neither in the UK nor the US? Don't worry hennies we have tracked down other countries where you'll be able to watch RuPaul's Drag Race UK online.

In Canada, subscription services Crave and OUTtv have picked up the rights. While it's WOW Presents Plus and Stan in Australia

Crave and OUTtv will air the episodes the same day as they air in the UK- which means the premiere of this fabulous series is already available and waiting for you to watch it. The same goes for Stan and WOW Presents Plus - they have already added the premiere of RuPaul's Drag Race UK. You will need a subscription to the service that you wish to watch it on (Crave, OUTtv, WOW Presents Plus or Stan).

If you're elsewhere, maybe holidaying abroad or living in a country not on this list? Don't worry, you can always get a VPN and stream the show from one of the countries above.

Who are the RuPaul's Drag Race UK Contestants?

Without further ado we introduce to you the Queens: 

  • Divina De Campo, 35 from West Yorkshire
  • Cheryl Hole, 25 from Essex
  • Blu Hydrangea, 23 from Belfast
  • Baga Chipz, 29 from London
  • Crystal, 34 from London (originally from Canada)
  • The Vivienne, 27 from Liverpool

Who has been eliminated?

  • Gothy Kendoll, 21 from Leicester
  • Scaredy Kat, 19 from Wiltshire
  • Vinegar Strokes, 35 from London
  • Sum Ting Wong, 30 from Reading


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Apex Legends finally gets the mode everyone's been asking for

Apex Legends is finally getting a Duos mode – but for a limited time only. Developer Respawn Entertainment announced on Twitter that the new Duos mode will launch next week, on November 5, for all platforms. 

Duos mode will allow players to team up with one other player to take on other pairs, much like squads but with less people. Check out Respawn Entertainment's Twitter announcement below:

Highly requested

Players have been requesting a Duos mode in Apex Legends since the game's launch earlier this year; however, don't hold your breath waiting for it to make a comeback after the limited-time end.

To date, we haven't seen any of Apex Legends' limited-time modes become permanent features in the game – but that's not to say it could never happen. It's possible that, if the mode is popular enough, it may become an integral feature.

There's no word yet on how long the Duos mode will be available for, but previous limited-time modes in Apex Legends modes have lasted for around three weeks. And don't worry about how to access Duos – you'll get a free update to your game that will allow you to jump straight in when it becomes available.



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Samsung Galaxy S11 could join iPhones and Pixels with face unlock – but do we need it?

Several smartphone companies use advanced facial recognition as a way to unlock a smartphone, among them Apple and Google, and it seems Samsung is set to get in on the fun too, as new information about the Samsung Galaxy S11 points to it toting the feature.

That news comes from Max Weinbach (a writer for XDADevelopers), who noticed lines of code in a facial unlocking app, which points to the Samsung Galaxy S11 using the tech as a fundamental part of the device.

Picasso is a code-name for Galaxy S11 – we've heard this from many leaks, and it makes sense given Samsung's tendency to name its devices after painters and artists (da Vinci was the code-name for the Galaxy Note 10). On top of that, the artist Pablo Picasso was particularly known for his portraits, so the use of face unlocking – of positioning your face in front of the camera – is thematically apt.

Previous phones from Apple and Google, like the iPhone 11 and Google Pixel 4, have relied on an advanced face unlock, doing away with the physical or in-screen fingerprint sensors that most other handsets use. But is facial recognition a good way of unlocking your smartphone?

Is face unlocking the new in-screen fingerprint sensor?

It's worth pointing out that most smartphones (including the Galaxy S10) do have basic facial recognition to complement other means of unlocking your phone, but these are 2D picture-based, which is less secure (though quicker) than the more complex systems of Apple and Google.

Weinbach is quick to point out that what he's found doesn't prove that 3D facial recognition is coming to the S11, but with Samsung working on the feature at all it suggests some improvements.

In our testing of the Galaxy S10, we found the face recognition to be rather slow, which is a problem we've had with Apple's products in the past, but at least the latter is more secure.

Even the snappiest face unlocking we've found in a phone is still significantly slower than simply using an in-screen, rear-mounted or side-mounted fingerprint sensor, as those are both quicker to use, and found in locations on the device that make them more natural to use.

Fingerprint scanners are more secure too, as people have found it rather easy to use pictures of people, or sleeping people, to unlock a handset using face recognition. 

If the Samsung Galaxy S11 uses facial recognition as a primary way of unlocking your phone, that makes three companies who have embraced the tech, even though there's limited evidence of people actually wanting this.

Now that three of the biggest smartphone makers are using the feature, it could be a sign of the times to come, so in the future smartphones from smaller brands could use the tech too.

Via T3



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Huawei UK 5G decision 'delayed' until after General Election 2019

A decision on whether Huawei will be able to participate in the UK 5G rollout is set to be delayed by political developments once again, with Bloomberg reporting a ruling will not be made until after the General Election.

Huawei is a key supplier for all four major UK operators but its future role had been uncertain due to fears the use of its kit constituted a national security risk – allegations the company has persistently denied.

MPs and intelligence chiefs have suggested there is no technical reason to exclude Huawei from 5G and that the decision is a political one.

Huawei UK 5G

A decision was expected in the Spring, with leaks suggestion that former Prime Minister would continue to allow Huawei to provide radio kit, but  not equipment for the core layer of the network, where data processing takes place. Given no UK operator plans to use Huawei in their 5G core, such a ruling would effectively preserve the status quo.

However the change in leadership has added further delays, with May’s successor Boris Johnson eager not to upset US President Donald Trump without upsetting China and risking potential trade and investment deals. The US, which has banned Huawei, is urging allies to follow its lead without presenting evidence to support its claims.

After months of deliberation, it was claimed Johnson had come to the same view as May following talks between Huawei and the government and a decision could be made before Christmas. The belief in Whitehall is that other vendors cannot offer alternatives to some of Huawei’s technology, meaning the UK could be left behind if the company was banned.

There are also concerns that the government may not be able to deliver its more ambitious connectivity targets with Huawei kit as operators would be forced to spend hundreds of millions of pounds over several years replacing equipment. Whitehall officials also share the view that the UK has the technological expertise to protect against any threats.

However with a General Election set for 12 December, the matter has been delayed once again, this time until 2020.

Via Bloomberg



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Samsung Galaxy S11 Lite leaked again with impressive specs

Recently a reputable leaker claimed that Samsung was working on a Galaxy S10 Lite or Galaxy S11 Lite with the model number SM-G770F, and now that model has been benchmarked.

Spotted on Geekbench 5 by SamMobile, the phone has a Snapdragon 855 chipset and 8GB of RAM. The former is the same chipset as the Galaxy S10 range uses in the US, while the latter would mean more RAM than the base version of the Samsung Galaxy S10e.

Additionally, this phone is listed as running Android 10, and achieves a single-core score of 742 and a multi-core one of 2,604. Those results put it in line with the rest of the Galaxy S10 range and even the Galaxy Note 10 range.

10 or 11?

There’s enough evidence of this phone to suggest that it’s likely to be a real device, but whether it’s the Galaxy S10 Lite or the Galaxy S11 Lite (or something else entirely) is still a big question.

Our money is on the Samsung Galaxy S11 Lite though. The model number suggests it’s part of the Galaxy S range, but coming this long after the rest of the S10 series, and with the Galaxy S10e already filling a ‘Lite’ roll, it seems unlikely that it would be an S10 Lite.

Then again, it is using a now-slightly-dated chipset, and we’d expect the Samsung Galaxy S11 range to use the Snapdragon 865 in regions where it uses Snapdragon chips, so we can’t be sure either way.

In any case, we should have a better idea soon. If this is the Galaxy S11 Lite then it’s likely to land alongside the rest of that range in early 2020, and if it’s the S10 Lite then it could launch even sooner.



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Modex Blockchain Database, a game-changer for the enterprise market

Their proposed solution which later took shape in Modex BCDB modifies a set of connectors in order to link the database to a blockchain network, thus significantly enhancing storage capabilities.

Modex Blockchain Database is a software product designed to empower businesses by enabling them to develop and deploy blockchain software solutions in matter of days. Modex Blockchain Database (BCDB) is created by an experienced team of developers and brings many world firsts and unrivalled advantages for companies offering: cost cutting, data security, and time efficiency.  

From a technical standpoint, Modex Blockchain Database (BCDB) falls into the middleware category, as it positions itself between the client’s software application server and their database. What sets Modex BCDB apart from its competitors is its approach to handling data. From the start, the minds behind this new innovative take on blockchain technology decided to employ a minimally invasive approach, in the sense that companies and enterprises keep their data models intact. 

How does this benefit my business? Why should I change the way in which is store my data?

Modex has adopted a plug and play approach, in the sense that any technical operations required to facilitate the transition to the BCDB framework are performed by the Modex development team. As previously mentioned, the procedure involves a minimal level of changes, consisting mostly of writing and implementing the connectors which enable the database to communicate with the blockchain network. This approach means that all the heavy lifting is done by Modex team, which means that clients need only to get familiarized with our interface. To maintain a high level of flexibility and versatility and to satisfy the needs of a large spectrum of the developer community, Modex BCDB employs a wide variety of APIs. Be it Java, Javascript, C, C++, Golang, C#, etc, BCDB  enable developers to connect through a REST API and GRAPH QL, while providing drivers for the most popular programming languages. 

Probably the first question that comes to mind is ‘How does this benefit my business? Why should I change the way in which is store my data?’. Modex’s middleware solution has a transformative property in the sense that it bestows all the advantages and inherent capabilities of blockchain technology, data distribution, immutability, as well as a real-time backup functionality. 

A core feature that distinguishes Modex BCDB is the fact that it is blockchain and database agnostic. This characteristic opens a new window of opportunities, as compatibility related issues become a thing of the past. Regardless of the type of database a company is employing, or the type of blockchain it wishes to connect to, our solution ensures a seamless connection between the two technologies. Modex BCDB doesn’t aim to replace the existing database but to improve it by adding a blockchain layer. By situating ourselves between the database component and the client’s software, we ensure a higher degree of security and trust, while giving access to a mechanism through which clients can create their own infrastructure.

An agnostic take on blockchain

The versatility of Modex BCDB stems from the agnostic design of the framework. On a deeper level, it can be observed that each node in the network can host a distinct database. As a result, one node can hold a NoSQL database such as MongoDB, while another node from the same network can host a SQL database. 

This layer of flexibility can prove to be invaluable to a consortium network, where multiple companies can synchronize their databases, without requiring to change their database providers. As a result, the system becomes database agnostic, which implies that Oracle, IBM, Mongo DB, Microsoft SQL databases can synchronize with each other. Modex BCDB positions itself between the client’s application and database without altering data entries to facilitate communication with different types of databases. 

Modex BCDB, unique design choices and features

Modex BCDB is the first middleware solution that manages to be both database and blockchain agnostic. Currently, other solutions present on the market are either blockchain or database agnostic, but not both at the same time. By adopting a modular design, Modex BCDB becomes truly agnostic in the sense that it to any type of database and blockchain. To push the envelope even further, BCDB can connect to different databases at the same time, as a result, clients are not obliged to change their database provider. Through Modex BCDB it becomes possible to build a distributed database network with different database engines. Distributed databases exist for some time, but this new system allows developers to combine different databases and distribute them across different database engines.

An important characteristic that sets Modex BCDB apart stems from how users interact with the solution. Prior knowledge of blockchain technology development isn’t required, as the system is designed to be operated as a database engine. Being a blockchain enabling platform, BCDB removes the need for companies to hire an in house team of blockchain developers. If a company relies heavily on Java for development purposes, they can interact through the Java driver with our middleware and create an environment that is connected on the back end level with a blockchain architecture.

Because Modex BCDB falls into the middleware software category, it has been designed with flexibility in mind, as to allow it to mold seamlessly on client applications and requirements. Developers are able to lock the structure of a node. This means that a company can create a custom table and arrange the fields according to their desired outcome, and allow other companies to introduce new data without permitting them to modify the structure of the table. Only the owner of the node will be able to implement any structural changes.

Licensing methodology is another aspect that makes Modex BCDB stand out. During an intense development process, Modex team modified each blockchain engine to enable and streamline the authentication process. Other solutions present on the market allow users to authenticate to the whole network, they can’t restrict specific nodes from authenticating to the network. Blockchain is a difficult technology to get into because, from a technical perspective, it is low level, in the sense that developers need to know the precise inner workings of the technology and have a solid grasp of their SDK to be able to start to work with them. Modex’s solution is situated at a higher level, as it drastically simplifies implementation. BCDB already provides the Sawtooth and Tendermint, and will do soon Fabric and Ethereum.  

Database migration is a sensitive topic for every enterprise, as any breach or data corruption could prove disastrous. Blockchain is a viable solution for improving database management and increase tamper resistance, but it is surprisingly difficult to integrate an existing platform in a blockchain network. Besides the complexity involved, the process would also attract significant costs and a long period of time for implementation. Modex BCDB overcomes these issues with its migration tool, which allows developers to easily move a database to a blockchain framework. The migration tool does all the heavy lifting: it scans the database and replicates the data model in our middleware, it creates metadata for each record and uploads it to the blockchain to ensure immutability. Modex’s approach to handling data differs, no record is deleted and the whole structure is kept intact. The database migration is initiated only after minor changes are implemented on the client’s side. A minimally invasive approach brings a much-needed breath of fresh air to legacy systems where changes are difficult to implement. But by simply changing a few connectors a legacy system will benefit from everything blockchain has to offer.



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Got an old Sonos speaker at home? Here's how you can save 30% on a new model

The Sonos Move is the best Bluetooth speaker we've ever tested, but its rich feature-set means that it's pretty expensive to buy off the bat, with a $399 / £399 / AU$649 price tag. 

However, if you have an older Sonos speaker knocking around at home, that cost could come down, thanks to the company's new Trade Up program, which gives you a 30% discount on new models when you recycle your unwanted Sonos speakers.

Eligible models include the Sonos Connect, Connect:Amp, ZP80, ZP90, ZP100, and ZP120 – the Sonos Play:1, which has now been discontinued, isn't included on that list, as you can still buy it from the Sonos website.

The Sonos One

Moving on up

To take advantage of the program, you'll need to head to the Sonos app, select My Account, and then System. 

Here you can select each device you want to swap – yes, you can do this with multiple speakers and you'll get the 30% discount for each model you trade up. 

Once you've confirmed within in the Sonos app, you'll receive your discount to be put towards a new device, whether you opt for the Move, soundbars like the Beam and the Playbase, or wireless speakers like the Play:5, or the One.

After 21 days, your old devices will enter Recycle Mode, which means that their data is wiped and they're permanently deactivated – then you'll need to recycle them yourself. 

You have a few options when it comes to recycling; you can either take your old Sonos speakers to a certified e-recycling centre or a participating retailer, or printing off a prepaid shipping label and sending your old speakers back to Sonos. 

Now that Amazon has released its own cheaper audiophile wireless speaker, the Echo Studio, it makes sense that Sonos would incentive its customers to stick with its brand.

Don't have an old Sonos speaker to trade in? Black Friday and Cyber Monday could see in some great Sonos deals, so make sure you bookmark our dedicated Black Friday deals page for the latest from the massive sales event.


Via What Hi-Fi?



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Steam's ace new-look Library is now available to all

PC gamers get to enjoy a fresh lick of paint to their Steam libraries today – Valve has announced that September's Steam library redesign beta is now available to all.

With a greater focus on rich artwork, it's designed to give you a better look at the games you're playing – and new games you may want to. A central area now focuses on game news, what your pals are up to and your recent games, while there's the option to create 'Collections' based on certain tag criteria or simply of your own manual choosing. 

Along the top of the Library tab you'll also see a 'What's New' option, focusing on in-game events for the titles you own, new add-ons or special multiplayer events. You'll also see a little icon appear under a game's artwork to give you an at-a-glance indication if a friend is currently playing.

Note that you might have to open and close Steam a few times before the prompt to update the application appears.

Remote Play Together expansion

The update also expands the reach of Steam's new Remote Play Together feature.

Now all Steam users can take advantage of the feature, not just those running the test beta application. Remote Play Together allows you to host what would usually be an on-the-couch local multiplayer session over the internet, letting those on your friends list join a local multiplayer game as if they were in the same room as you. 

Like many game streaming applications, they simply take control of a video stream that you're broadcasting on their local machines – and, for the privacy conscious, note that their view is limited to only the in-game action, not your desktop.

It's a meaty update from Steam, and a much-needed one, given the aggressive challenge its rival the Epic Games Store has delivered over the past year.



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With an impressive two-week battery life and 15 sports modes, HUAWEI WATCH GT 2 pushes the boundaries of what is expected from a wearable

Huawei’s latest wearable – Huawei Watch GT 2 series - is a noticeable upgrade from last year’s model, and is a great choice for anyone looking for a comprehensive wearable that offers both a pleasing aesthetic and plenty of features. It continues the series strong points, namely a strong design and excellent battery life, while also bringing new features to the table – all powered by Huawei’s first wearable chipset, the Kirin A1. It uses Huawei’s homegrown LiteOS and includes comprehensive fitness tracking for various activities.

One of the biggest changes on the Watch GT 2 46mm is the addition of a built-in microphone and speaker allowing you to take calls straight from the watch. Another big change is that it’s powered by Huawei’s proprietary Kirin A1 chip. This chip is specifically geared towards wearables and is capable of ultra-low power consumption, meaning you’ll get the best possible battery life out of the wearable.

In the HUAWEI Watch GT 2 46mm case, with continuous operation you can get a battery life of up to two weeks. And that’s with both the intelligent heart rate monitor and call notification functions enabled. We’ve tried it ourselves and that’s exactly the kind of battery life you can expect, which is quite impressive. This is great news for active people who are looking for a wearable that can continuously track their fitness activity without having to worry about charging it frequently.

Speaking of fitness, the HUAWEI Watch GT 2 has extensive health monitoring and management capabilities baked-in. There’s a continuous 24/7 intelligent heart rate monitor on board, stress tracking, and detailed sleep tracking with sleep cycle graphs that give you deep insights into your sleeping patterns.

When it comes to exercise, the HUAWEI Watch GT 2 is a great companion to take on training sessions. There’s also 4GB of storage on the watch, so you can store music for offline listening. When you get moving, the watch will automatically detect a workout and start tracking activity. There’s a built-in GPS for tracking outdoor walks and running, and a barometer to measure air pressure. The watch supports 15 sports modes including indoor and outdoor training, as well as swimming and common workouts on gym machines.

The HUAWEI Watch GT 2 comes in two sizes - 42mm and 46mm. You can choose which size you prefer depending on your own preference and style, but both have vibrant circular OLED displays measuring from 1.2 to 1.39-inches. They are encased in an all-in-one 3D glass screen that creates this wider, boundless display. No matter which size you choose, they both look gorgeous.

The Watch GT 2 inherits the best from traditional watch craftsmanship, with a round watch case and smooth glass over the display, as well as a dial etched into the frame and two crown-like buttons on the side. The silicone strap has a smooth texture that’s easy to wipe when it gets wet, and feels very light and comfortable against the skin.

You can buy the HUAWEI Watch GT 2 right now across Huawei experience stores and select retailers in the UAE. The 46mm Sport edition we looked at today costs AED 849. There’s a classic version for AED949 and Elite models will set you back AED1149. Huawei is also running a special bundle offer for new HUAWEI nova 5t and Watch GT 2 Orange Color at a price of AED 1,999 starting October 31st.



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Redmi Note 8T to bring NFC and a new color finish to the Note 8

The upcoming Redmi Note 8T is expected to bring NFC and a new Blue color variant over the Redmi Note 8, as a small incremental update. 

The Redmi Note 8 was unveiled almost two months ago and was a pretty decent value offering considering the price. One of the few notable exclusions was NFC, which may finally be coming now. Leaked listing and images of the Redmi Note 8T suggest that it will be the NFC-enabled variant of the regular Note 8.

Redmi Note 8T specifications

The live images also give a fair idea of what to expect from the Note 8T in terms of specifications. It will be powered by the Snapdragon 665 AIE chipset and will run on a 4,000 mAh battery. 18W fast charging support will also make the cut, and the charger seems to be included in the box. 

The front has a 6.3-inch display with a small “Dot Drop” notch and will be protected by Gorilla Glass 5. The back will continue to offer a quad-camera setup and is likely to be the same array consisting of a 48MP primary camera, augmented by an ultra-wide lens and a dedicated macro camera. The last one will be a depth sensor.

The images also suggest that a new Blue finish will be available with the Redmi Note 8T, which will be pretty different than the Nebula Blue we’ve seen on the Redmi Note 8. Other than that, all specifications seem to align between the two phones.

The Redmi Note 8 is yet to see a full-fledged global release, and we might see the Note 8T take its place in markets outside China, where NFC has a much bigger demand. The pricing, too, is expected to be very similar to the Redmi Note 8, starting at around 199 Euros.  Considering that we already have live images of the device and its retail packaging, the launch shouldn't be far.



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Xiaomi Mi CC9 Pro with 108MP penta-cam to be announced on November 5

Update (October 31, 2019): Added more specifications

Xiaomi has had a busy 2019, but it seems like the upcoming Mi CC9 Pro could be the company's most exciting consumer smartphone of the year, bringing a 108MP penta-cam setup.

A couple of weeks back, news surfaced that Xiaomi has at least four smartphones with a 108MP camera module in the pipeline. After the Mi MIX Alpha, the Mi CC9 Pro is going to be the second Xiaomi device to sport one, as confirmed by the teasers shared by it in Chinese.

Mi CC9 Pro camera specifications

The five-camera setup is going to be the key highlight of the CC9 Pro, which is one of the first phones to sport the 108MP Samsung ISOCELL Bright HMX image sensor. This primary camera is a rather sizeable 1/1.33-inch sensor with an f/1.7 aperture.

A 20MP ultra-wide lens will follow that with a 117-degree field-of-view. On the other end of the spectrum will be a 12MP telephoto lens with an approximately 2x optical zoom (50mm focal length) with a large 1.4μm pixel size and dual phase-detection autofocus. 

There could be another telephoto lens with a 5x optical zoom equivalent focal length, which will provide shots with a 10x hybrid zoom and 50x digital zoom. It’s unlikely to follow the Huawei P30 Pro’s periscopic zoom mechanism. The fifth camera will be a macro lens that can focus on subjects as close as 1.5cm. The renders also suggest two dual-LED flash setups.

Mi CC9 Pro specifcations

The phone also passed through TENAA which gave us a glimpse at its specifications. The display will be a 6.47-inch AMOLED panel with a Full HD+ resolution with an in-display fingerprint scanner. Internally, it is powered by the Snapdragon 730G chipset with 6GB of RAM on at least one of the variants. The battery is said to be rated at a whopping 5,260 mAh, which will be one of the biggest ever seen on a Xiaomi smartphone. There will be 30W fast charging onboard, which is said to take the phone from 0 to full in 65 minutes.   

The new teasers point at a display that curves from the sides, and has a small waterdrop notch on the top.

Soon after the teasers, Xiaomi’s global channels went on to share teasers of the Mi Note 10, calling it the world’s first 108MP penta-cam smartphone. It could mean that the Mi CC9 Pro could be rebranded as the Mi Note 10 outside of China. It make sense as the Mi CC series has never crossed the Chinese borders in the past.

The same event is likely to see the debuts of the Mi Smartwatch and the Mi TV 5. Unlike the Mi Band, the Mi Watch will be a true smartwatch with a squarish display and a digital crown on the side.



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This is the cheapest 1TB memory card can can buy right now - but it isn't microSD

This is the cheapest 1TB memory card can can buy right now - but it isn't microSD

Amazon has cut the price of the Lexar Professional 633X 1TB SDXC memory card from $400 to $279 in a standout storage deal.

Announced in January 2019, it is the cheapest way to get a 1TB memory card right now and compares favorably with the $440 that the  1TB version of the Sandisk Extreme, the most affordable 1TB microSD card costs. You can't use a SDXC in your smartphone but you can on your camera (usually) and in your laptop.

It still carries a premium (although not that massive) over smaller capacities. The 128GB version for example retails just under $20, 57% of its per GB price.

More coming but where’s Samsung?

The card (officially known as the LSD128GCB1NL633) comes with a lifetime warranty (US-only) and 10 years of cover everywhere else  Lexar says that it can withstand extreme temperatures and has a built-in write protect to safeguard your content, but there's no news if it is waterproof, shockproof and X-ray proof like some of its competitors.

With a read speed of up to 95MBps, the Lexar Professional is compatible with the new V30 speed class and should record videos at 4K without a hitch.

There are several other major players that are currently selling 512GB microSD cards, including the likes of Samsung, Kingston, PNY and Integral - but none have confirmed when they will offer a 1TB version.

For now, Micron and Sandisk are the only other manufacturers to have already announced a 1TB microSD card; with the former reportedly set to go on sale before the end of the month.



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October 31, 2019 at 12:39PM

The best scary movies to stream in Australia this Halloween

The best scary movies to stream in Australia this Halloween
The best scary movies to stream in Australia this Halloween

Looking for a monstrously good time this Halloween but don't want to leave the house? Well, what better way to celebrate this positively ghoulish time of year than to cosy up on the couch (or behind it) and have your own horror movie marathon?

Video streaming services is more popular than ever in Australia, and that means Aussie horror fans now have quick and convenient access to a huge variety of genre favourites and newcomers.

Here are our recommendations for the most frightfully entertaining horror movies currently streaming on Australian SVOD services.

Hereditary

Toni Collette in Hereditary

Horror fans know an instant classic when they see one, and writer-director Ari Aster's debut film Hereditary is exactly that. A film that chills to the bone, Hereditary follows a troubled family that's haunted by the dark secrets of its own ancestry. Australia's own Toni Collette gives a revelatory performance as Annie, a mother who's driven to uncover her family's cryptic past after an immensely tragic occurrence leaves them devastated. Trust us when we tell you that Hereditary is quite disturbing – there are moments of horror in the film that will leave you utterly speechless, while other scenes lean into truly uncomfortable darkness that's seldom explored in this type of film. While it can be a tough watch at times, Hereditary is a rewarding and immaculately-crafted horror experience that's well worth taking.

Watch Hereditary on Netflix right now

Evil Dead

Evil Dead

The remake to the classic splatter flick The Evil Dead, this 2013 version takes the series in an even gorier direction than before. Director Fede Alvarez (Don't Breathe) ratchets the tension by leaving out the slapstick comedy that the series ended up embracing from Evil Dead II onwards. Though no one in the cast can fill the Bruce Campbell-sized void left behind by the star's absence from this particular entry, the film is a slime-covered blast that puts its actors through hell regardless – just the way it should be. 

Watch Evil Dead on Stan

The Cabin in the Woods

The Cabin in the Woods

From Joss Whedon (Buffy the Vampire Slayer, The Avengers) and Drew Goddard (Cloverfield, Marvel's Daredevil) comes an extremely-meta take on a well-worn  horror scenario. It all starts as you'd expect – a group of young people (including a pre-Thor Chris Hemsworth) take a break from college to go relax at a 'cabin in the woods' and before long, all hell breaks loose. What these kids don't know, however, is that a secret organisation is behind all of the horrors they're experiencing. To reveal any more than that would ruin the film's many surprises, so trust us when we say that The Cabin in the Woods is clever, hilarious, gory and a must-see for any self-respecting horror fan that wants to see their genre expectations flipped. 

Watch The Cabin in the Woods on Netflix

The Babysitter

The Babysitter

Before she kicked butt in the 2019 scare flick Ready or Not, Australia's own Samara Weaving starred in the demented Netflix Original horror comedy The Babysitter, from director McG (Charlie's Angels). It's not uncommon for young people to develop a crush on their babysitter, but what happens when that sitter turns out to be a sadistic, devil-worshipping killer with a group of equally psychotic friends? Gory and funny in equal measure, The Babysitter is destined to become a Halloween sleepover favourite amongst teenagers. 

Watch The Babysitter on Netflix

Carrie

Carrie

Though it was remade a couple years back, the original Carrie, directed by Brian De Palma, is a horror masterpiece that has the distinction of being the first movie adapted from one of Stephen King's novels. Thanks to a religiously domineering mother (Piper Laurie), Carrie (Sissy Spacek) is a social outcast at school. Relentlessly tormented at home and at school, Carrie starts developing telekinetic powers as a means of defence. Things start looking up for Carrie when the most popular guy in school (William Katt) asks Carrie to go to the prom with him. However, her classmates have planned a prank on her on prom night that is sure to have explosive consequences. Featuring a young John Travolta in his first film role, Carrie is one of the best horror movies ever made.

Watch Carrie on Stan

Wolf Creek

Wolf Creek

A movie that has likely made countless tourists hesitant to travel across the Outback, Wolf Creek became a global sensation when it released back in 2005, with its memorably-ocker killer Mick Taylor (John Jarratt) gaining immediate admittance to the horror villain 'hall of fame' thanks to his bloodlust and his sick sense of humour. Loosely based on the Ivan Milat killings and the Bradley John Murdoch murder of English tourist Peter Falconio, Wolf Creek is a nail-bitingly intense horror film that some people may find hard to stomach.

Watch Wolf Creek on Stan

Terrifier

Terrifier

Scared of clowns? Terrifier's Art the Clown makes Pennywise look like Ronald McDonald. Set on Halloween night, Terrifier sees a homicidal clown named Art terrorise helpless victims in an old, rundown tenement building. Sure, it's not the most original plot of all time, but it's quite effective. One kill in particular will make even the most hardened horror fans wince (seriously, this film is not for the squeamish). While Terrifier has a relatively low budget compared to the other horror films on this list, it actually grants the film a creepier, more unsettling vibe. Some of acting from the victims is a little questionable, but the totally-silent character of Art is consistently terrifying, making Terrifier the perfect title for this grimy little horror flick.

Watch Terrifier on Netflix

The Ring

The Ring

We aren't normally that keen on US remakes of classic foreign horror films around these parts, but director Gore Verbinski (Pirates of the Caribbean) knocked it out of the park with The Ring, an English-language take on the classic Hideo Nakata-directed J-horror, Ringu. The premise is simple: there's a cursed videotape that will kill you seven days after watching it. Unfortunately, the young son of journalist Rachel (Naomi Watts) has watched the video, and now she must unravel the mystery behind the tape if she has any hope of keeping her child alive. Truly skin-crawling, The Ring is one of the best horror remakes of all time.

Watch The Ring on Stan

Overlord

Overlord

Feeling a bit like Re-Animator crossed with Wolfenstein, the J.J. Abrams-produced horror flick Overlord sees a group of American soldiers in WWII go behind enemy lines in Nazi-occupied France only to discover that the Third Reich is creating super soldiers from dead prisoners. Intense, relentless and filled with action-packed mayhem, the Aussie-directed Overlord isn't afraid to get gory in its quest to freak out audiences.

Watch Overlord on Amazon Prime Video

The Babadook

The Babadook

Another homegrown horror film for the list, The Babadook is one of the most critically-acclaimed horror films released in the last few years, making a huge splash overseas and winning a number of awards in the process. After losing her husband in a terrible accident, a mother has to come to grips her young son's intense fear of a (twisted) children's book monster that he believes is terrorising him. Though she dismisses his stories at first, his horrified reactions start to intensify, and before long, this evil presence known as The Babadook aggressively comes after her. Original, unpredictable and legitimately scary, The Babadook taps into every child's most primal fears, regardless of their age. 

Watch The Babadook on Amazon Prime Video

The Conjuring

The Conjuring

From Aussie director James Wan (Saw, Insidious) comes this spooky story of a family terrorised by a demonic presence. Inspired by (supposedly) true events from the lives of paranormal investigators Ed and Lorraine Warren, The Conjuring is a non-stop 'frightmare' that will have you covering your eyes on more than one occasion. And, if you enjoy this film, you can also follow it up with the equally-terrifying sequel, The Conjuring 2 – also available to stream on Netflix. 

Watch The Conjuring on Netflix

The Thing

John Carpenter's The Thing

An alien film that was underappreciated at the time of its release in 1982 (you can blame Steven Spielberg's warm and fuzzy E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial for that), John Carpenter's The Thing has since earned the distinction of being considered an undisputed masterpiece of horror cinema. A cold and gruelling film, The Thing deals with an American research team in Antarctica who is being hunted by a grotesque shapeshifter. Able to perfectly mimic any person or creature, it becomes impossible for anyone in the team to be trusted, leading to a highly paranoid atmosphere with no escape. Featuring incredible horror makeup effects from Rob Bottin and a terrific cast of actors that includes Kurt Russell, Wilford Brimley and Keith David, The Thing is required viewing for any horror fan. 

Watch The Thing on Netflix

Scream

Scream

"What's your favourite scary movie?" asks Ghostface, the mysterious killer in director Wes Craven's Scream series, which sees horror film obsessed killers repeatedly stalk and attempt to murder Sidney Prescott (Neve Campbell) and her friends over the course of four films. The first (and undoubtedly best) film single-handedly revitalised the flagging horror genre upon its release in 1996, inspiring movie countless imitators in the process. What many of those films lacked, however, is a clever and biting 'whodunnit' script which somehow manages to parody well-worn horror conventions while simultaneously paying respect to them. To answer Ghostface's question, yes we do like scary movies – particularly this one.

Watch Scream on Amazon Prime Video
Watch Scream on Stan

A Quiet Place

A Quiet Place

An edge-of-your-seat thriller, A Quiet Place manages to make total silence suspenseful as hell. This is because the film sees its characters pursued by blind creatures that hunt solely by sound. After losing a young child to these creatures, a young family, led by John Krasinski (Jack Ryan) and Emily Blunt (Sicario), must learn to remain completely silent at all times – even in the face of extreme danger. Krasinski, who also writes and directs the film, cranks up the tension in every single quiet moment – every tiny creak or noise could lead to the characters' deaths, forcing the audience to also sit in silence and play close attention. That sounds pretty good to us.

Watch A Quiet Place on Amazon Prime Video

The Exorcist

The Exorcist

Considered by many to be the scariest film of all time, The Exorcist sees teenage girl Regan (Linda Blair) become possessed by the devil, leading her desperate mother (Ellen Burstyn) to seek the help of two priests (Max von Sydow and Jason Miller) who will attempt to expunge this evil entity. Oscar winning filmmaker William Friedkin (The French Connection) directs the hell out of The Exorcist, presenting the story's rapidly escalating horror with complete and utter effectiveness all the way until the film's unforgettable climax. 

Watch The Exorcist on Netflix



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October 31, 2019 at 09:29AM
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October 31, 2019 at 09:52AM

This is the cheapest 1TB memory card can can buy right now - but it isn't microSD

Amazon has cut the price of the Lexar Professional 633X 1TB SDXC memory card from $400 to $279 in a standout storage deal.

Announced in January 2019, it is the cheapest way to get a 1TB memory card right now and compares favorably with the $440 that the  1TB version of the Sandisk Extreme, the most affordable 1TB microSD card costs. You can't use a SDXC in your smartphone but you can on your camera (usually) and in your laptop.

It still carries a premium (although not that massive) over smaller capacities. The 128GB version for example retails just under $20, 57% of its per GB price.

More coming but where’s Samsung?

The card (officially known as the LSD128GCB1NL633) comes with a lifetime warranty (US-only) and 10 years of cover everywhere else  Lexar says that it can withstand extreme temperatures and has a built-in write protect to safeguard your content, but there's no news if it is waterproof, shockproof and X-ray proof like some of its competitors.

With a read speed of up to 95MBps, the Lexar Professional is compatible with the new V30 speed class and should record videos at 4K without a hitch.

There are several other major players that are currently selling 512GB microSD cards, including the likes of Samsung, Kingston, PNY and Integral - but none have confirmed when they will offer a 1TB version.

For now, Micron and Sandisk are the only other manufacturers to have already announced a 1TB microSD card; with the former reportedly set to go on sale before the end of the month.



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The best scary movies to stream in Australia this Halloween

The best scary movies to stream in Australia this Halloween

Looking for a monstrously good time this Halloween but don't want to leave the house? Well, what better way to celebrate this positively ghoulish time of year than to cosy up on the couch (or behind it) and have your own horror movie marathon?

Video streaming services is more popular than ever in Australia, and that means Aussie horror fans now have quick and convenient access to a huge variety of genre favourites and newcomers.

Here are our recommendations for the most frightfully entertaining horror movies currently streaming on Australian SVOD services.

Hereditary

Toni Collette in Hereditary

Horror fans know an instant classic when they see one, and writer-director Ari Aster's debut film Hereditary is exactly that. A film that chills to the bone, Hereditary follows a troubled family that's haunted by the dark secrets of its own ancestry. Australia's own Toni Collette gives a revelatory performance as Annie, a mother who's driven to uncover her family's cryptic past after an immensely tragic occurrence leaves them devastated. Trust us when we tell you that Hereditary is quite disturbing – there are moments of horror in the film that will leave you utterly speechless, while other scenes lean into truly uncomfortable darkness that's seldom explored in this type of film. While it can be a tough watch at times, Hereditary is a rewarding and immaculately-crafted horror experience that's well worth taking.

Watch Hereditary on Netflix right now

Evil Dead

Evil Dead

The remake to the classic splatter flick The Evil Dead, this 2013 version takes the series in an even gorier direction than before. Director Fede Alvarez (Don't Breathe) ratchets the tension by leaving out the slapstick comedy that the series ended up embracing from Evil Dead II onwards. Though no one in the cast can fill the Bruce Campbell-sized void left behind by the star's absence from this particular entry, the film is a slime-covered blast that puts its actors through hell regardless – just the way it should be. 

Watch Evil Dead on Stan

The Cabin in the Woods

The Cabin in the Woods

From Joss Whedon (Buffy the Vampire Slayer, The Avengers) and Drew Goddard (Cloverfield, Marvel's Daredevil) comes an extremely-meta take on a well-worn  horror scenario. It all starts as you'd expect – a group of young people (including a pre-Thor Chris Hemsworth) take a break from college to go relax at a 'cabin in the woods' and before long, all hell breaks loose. What these kids don't know, however, is that a secret organisation is behind all of the horrors they're experiencing. To reveal any more than that would ruin the film's many surprises, so trust us when we say that The Cabin in the Woods is clever, hilarious, gory and a must-see for any self-respecting horror fan that wants to see their genre expectations flipped. 

Watch The Cabin in the Woods on Netflix

The Babysitter

The Babysitter

Before she kicked butt in the 2019 scare flick Ready or Not, Australia's own Samara Weaving starred in the demented Netflix Original horror comedy The Babysitter, from director McG (Charlie's Angels). It's not uncommon for young people to develop a crush on their babysitter, but what happens when that sitter turns out to be a sadistic, devil-worshipping killer with a group of equally psychotic friends? Gory and funny in equal measure, The Babysitter is destined to become a Halloween sleepover favourite amongst teenagers. 

Watch The Babysitter on Netflix

Carrie

Carrie

Though it was remade a couple years back, the original Carrie, directed by Brian De Palma, is a horror masterpiece that has the distinction of being the first movie adapted from one of Stephen King's novels. Thanks to a religiously domineering mother (Piper Laurie), Carrie (Sissy Spacek) is a social outcast at school. Relentlessly tormented at home and at school, Carrie starts developing telekinetic powers as a means of defence. Things start looking up for Carrie when the most popular guy in school (William Katt) asks Carrie to go to the prom with him. However, her classmates have planned a prank on her on prom night that is sure to have explosive consequences. Featuring a young John Travolta in his first film role, Carrie is one of the best horror movies ever made.

Watch Carrie on Stan

Wolf Creek

Wolf Creek

A movie that has likely made countless tourists hesitant to travel across the Outback, Wolf Creek became a global sensation when it released back in 2005, with its memorably-ocker killer Mick Taylor (John Jarratt) gaining immediate admittance to the horror villain 'hall of fame' thanks to his bloodlust and his sick sense of humour. Loosely based on the Ivan Milat killings and the Bradley John Murdoch murder of English tourist Peter Falconio, Wolf Creek is a nail-bitingly intense horror film that some people may find hard to stomach.

Watch Wolf Creek on Stan

Terrifier

Terrifier

Scared of clowns? Terrifier's Art the Clown makes Pennywise look like Ronald McDonald. Set on Halloween night, Terrifier sees a homicidal clown named Art terrorise helpless victims in an old, rundown tenement building. Sure, it's not the most original plot of all time, but it's quite effective. One kill in particular will make even the most hardened horror fans wince (seriously, this film is not for the squeamish). While Terrifier has a relatively low budget compared to the other horror films on this list, it actually grants the film a creepier, more unsettling vibe. Some of acting from the victims is a little questionable, but the totally-silent character of Art is consistently terrifying, making Terrifier the perfect title for this grimy little horror flick.

Watch Terrifier on Netflix

The Ring

The Ring

We aren't normally that keen on US remakes of classic foreign horror films around these parts, but director Gore Verbinski (Pirates of the Caribbean) knocked it out of the park with The Ring, an English-language take on the classic Hideo Nakata-directed J-horror, Ringu. The premise is simple: there's a cursed videotape that will kill you seven days after watching it. Unfortunately, the young son of journalist Rachel (Naomi Watts) has watched the video, and now she must unravel the mystery behind the tape if she has any hope of keeping her child alive. Truly skin-crawling, The Ring is one of the best horror remakes of all time.

Watch The Ring on Stan

Overlord

Overlord

Feeling a bit like Re-Animator crossed with Wolfenstein, the J.J. Abrams-produced horror flick Overlord sees a group of American soldiers in WWII go behind enemy lines in Nazi-occupied France only to discover that the Third Reich is creating super soldiers from dead prisoners. Intense, relentless and filled with action-packed mayhem, the Aussie-directed Overlord isn't afraid to get gory in its quest to freak out audiences.

Watch Overlord on Amazon Prime Video

The Babadook

The Babadook

Another homegrown horror film for the list, The Babadook is one of the most critically-acclaimed horror films released in the last few years, making a huge splash overseas and winning a number of awards in the process. After losing her husband in a terrible accident, a mother has to come to grips her young son's intense fear of a (twisted) children's book monster that he believes is terrorising him. Though she dismisses his stories at first, his horrified reactions start to intensify, and before long, this evil presence known as The Babadook aggressively comes after her. Original, unpredictable and legitimately scary, The Babadook taps into every child's most primal fears, regardless of their age. 

Watch The Babadook on Amazon Prime Video

The Conjuring

The Conjuring

From Aussie director James Wan (Saw, Insidious) comes this spooky story of a family terrorised by a demonic presence. Inspired by (supposedly) true events from the lives of paranormal investigators Ed and Lorraine Warren, The Conjuring is a non-stop 'frightmare' that will have you covering your eyes on more than one occasion. And, if you enjoy this film, you can also follow it up with the equally-terrifying sequel, The Conjuring 2 – also available to stream on Netflix. 

Watch The Conjuring on Netflix

The Thing

John Carpenter's The Thing

An alien film that was underappreciated at the time of its release in 1982 (you can blame Steven Spielberg's warm and fuzzy E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial for that), John Carpenter's The Thing has since earned the distinction of being considered an undisputed masterpiece of horror cinema. A cold and gruelling film, The Thing deals with an American research team in Antarctica who is being hunted by a grotesque shapeshifter. Able to perfectly mimic any person or creature, it becomes impossible for anyone in the team to be trusted, leading to a highly paranoid atmosphere with no escape. Featuring incredible horror makeup effects from Rob Bottin and a terrific cast of actors that includes Kurt Russell, Wilford Brimley and Keith David, The Thing is required viewing for any horror fan. 

Watch The Thing on Netflix

Scream

Scream

"What's your favourite scary movie?" asks Ghostface, the mysterious killer in director Wes Craven's Scream series, which sees horror film obsessed killers repeatedly stalk and attempt to murder Sidney Prescott (Neve Campbell) and her friends over the course of four films. The first (and undoubtedly best) film single-handedly revitalised the flagging horror genre upon its release in 1996, inspiring movie countless imitators in the process. What many of those films lacked, however, is a clever and biting 'whodunnit' script which somehow manages to parody well-worn horror conventions while simultaneously paying respect to them. To answer Ghostface's question, yes we do like scary movies – particularly this one.

Watch Scream on Amazon Prime Video
Watch Scream on Stan

A Quiet Place

A Quiet Place

An edge-of-your-seat thriller, A Quiet Place manages to make total silence suspenseful as hell. This is because the film sees its characters pursued by blind creatures that hunt solely by sound. After losing a young child to these creatures, a young family, led by John Krasinski (Jack Ryan) and Emily Blunt (Sicario), must learn to remain completely silent at all times – even in the face of extreme danger. Krasinski, who also writes and directs the film, cranks up the tension in every single quiet moment – every tiny creak or noise could lead to the characters' deaths, forcing the audience to also sit in silence and play close attention. That sounds pretty good to us.

Watch A Quiet Place on Amazon Prime Video

The Exorcist

The Exorcist

Considered by many to be the scariest film of all time, The Exorcist sees teenage girl Regan (Linda Blair) become possessed by the devil, leading her desperate mother (Ellen Burstyn) to seek the help of two priests (Max von Sydow and Jason Miller) who will attempt to expunge this evil entity. Oscar winning filmmaker William Friedkin (The French Connection) directs the hell out of The Exorcist, presenting the story's rapidly escalating horror with complete and utter effectiveness all the way until the film's unforgettable climax. 

Watch The Exorcist on Netflix



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October 31, 2019 at 09:29AM

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