4K TVs are pretty much common place on the market now now, but they've still yet to find their way into everyone's homes, because for some they're still
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Showing posts with label Pocket-lint. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Pocket-lint. Show all posts
Thursday, March 22, 2018
What is Fortnite Battle Royale? How does it work and what devices can you play it on?
Unless you've been hiding under a rock for the last few months you might have heard rumblings on social media about Fortnite. A game that's quickly gaining incredible popularity for various reasons not least of which is that it's free to play and available on various gaming platforms - including a mobile version which is just now launching.
You might not be aware of what Fortnite is though, how it works, how to play or why everyone cares so much. We're here to help with a breakdown about what the game is about and everything else you need to know.
What is Fortnite Battle Royale?
The original version of Fortnite was intended by developers Epic Games to be a zombie survival game. An open-ended experience pitching co-operative players against waves of zombies while giving those players the ability to gather resources and build bases to defend against the oncoming hordes.
Coming around the time that PlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds was starting to make waves, the development team decided to build and release a new free-to-play mode for Fortnite with a similar Battle Royale style.
This new style of game is based on the Japanese thriller "Battle Royale" originally released in 2001. The premise of the gameplay is simple enough - 100 players are dropped from an aeroplane (or in Fortnite's case a floating battle bus) onto a large island where they then need to fight it out against one another until there's a final survivor or surviving team left.
To add to the tension, a randomly placed shrinking circle of doom forces players into closer and closer proximity as the game progresses. Anyone caught outside this zone will inevitably die and be removed from the running. The game is therefore not just a fight against other players, but a race against the clock.
This design was popularised by PlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds, but with Fortnite, Epic Games added something new. The resource gathering, base building elements of the main game appear in the Battle Royale version too. Meaning players have a variety of choices in how they play which include building a base at the end to defend themselves from other players, building walkways into the sky or onto nearby mountain tops or even quickly building defensive walls to protect fallen teammates from incoming gunfire while they're revived.
The game starts as a race to gather resources, find and collect bigger and better weapons and kill or avoid other players who happen to be in the vicinity. Players need to be constantly aware of the shrinking play zone and aim to remain inside it while not getting eliminated along the way. The game ends when the final players shoot it out and one team or individual is victorious.
Fortnite is playable alone or with friends and it's the playing with friends where this game really shines. You can play with up to four players in a squad or two players in duos mode. The game players will experience will vary wildly depending on how many people are playing. On your own, you've got no one to watch your back but you're not likely to bump into a group of four enemy players at the same time either.
The experience is certainly thrilling and gamers are loving it. This gameplay style seems to be incredibly popular but the game itself is also seeing huge and growing numbers of players because it's not only available on multiple platforms, it's also free.
Fortnite Battle Royale also features bright cartoon-like graphics that make it appealing and easier to access than the more serious PlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds. With character emotes, daft animations and well-crafted building mechanics it often appears silly and more amusing than a serious competitively-styled game too.
The game currently has a low age rating of 12+ but parents should be aware it does still involve shooting and killing other players.
How to download and play Fortnite
As we've already mentioned Fortnite is available to play on multiple gaming platforms, the most recent of which is mobile. It's also been designed to allow for cross-platform play meaning PC gamers can face off against PlayStation players. Epic Games has also promised that Xbox One players will soon be able to do the same.
The intention here is to eventually to allow everyone to play with their friends no matter what machine or device they're playing on. As the game is free, it's also easy for anyone to dive in.
Playing on PC
On PC you can download Fortnite straight from the official website. All you need is an Epic Games account and then you're free to download the installer and get started.
Playing on PlayStation 4
To start playing Fortnite on PS4 you simply need to go to the PlayStation store and search for "Fortnite Battle Royale". Again, the basic version is free so just add it to your basket and download. If you're on PC you can also add it to your account via the PlayStation store website.
Playing on Xbox One
Go to the store and search for "Fortnite Battle Royale" then click to get it for free. You can also get it in your browser here. It's worth noting that Fortnite is also on the list of Xbox One X Enhanced games.
Mobile
On mobile, Fortnite is a work in progress with sign-up available for an iOS beta that allows play on Apple iPhone 6S/SE, iPad Mini 4, iPad Air 2, iPad 2017, iPad Pro devices or newer devices. There's a waiting list, so you need to register for an email invite.
An Android version is in the works too and Epic Games say that "...on phones and tablets, Fortnite is the same 100-player game you know from Xbox One, PlayStation 4, PC, and Mac. Same gameplay, same map, same content, same weekly updates."
There's certainly plenty to be excited about at the moment. Even with the limited availability Sensor Tower has reported that Fortnite made $1million in the first 72 hours of launching.
How much does Fortnite cost?
Fortnite Battle Royale is free to play. The original survival game (now called Fortnite: Save The World) can be purchased from the website and from various console stores, but the game that everyone is obsessed with is free to access.
If you choose to do so, you can pay for cosmetic items to change the look of your character, but there's nothing to help you win or get the edge over other players.
Fortnite Battle Royale also offers a Battle Pass which is an optional purchase that allows players to unlock various exclusive rewards including cosmetics such as loading screens, banners, character emotes, different gliders and more.
These Battle Passes are being sold on a "season" basis which means they apply for a limited period and will appeal more to dedicated players and fans of the game. Once purchased, the more you play, the more rewards you unlock with 100 rewards being available - one for each of the tiers in the season. Players can also purchase a "Battle Bundle" which instantly unlocks 25 tiers and requires less playtime.
Battle Passes and other in-game items can be purchased inside the game itself. A Battle Pass costs 950 V-Bucks - the game's own special currency. 1,000 V-Bucks costs around £7.99 in real-world money. When you see that the Battle Bundle costs 2,800 V-Bucks for just 25 of the 100 possible tiers available in the Battle Pass, it's clear the costs would soon mount if you wanted to buy your way to the top.
Each tier of the Battle Pass can also be purchased for 150 V-Bucks, which means if you were to purchase all 100 tiers it would cost around £120. These purchases are certainly something for parents to be aware of as the game makes its way onto mobile devices across the world.
Huge fans of Fortnite can also show the love by purchasing official merchandise.
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Get snap-happy with £110 off the Canon EOS M3 mirrorless camera
Looking for a new compact camera with interchangeable lenses for an affordable price for your summer holidays? The Canon EOS M3 is £369, complete with an EF-M 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 kit lens in the Amazon Easter sales, making it ideal for budding amateur photographers. That's a huge £110 discount.
The EOS M3 is a couple of years old now (the EOS M6 is the latest model, but is just over double the price) but being a Canon camera, is still capable of taking stunning images. It features a 24.2-megapixel APS-C sensor, taken from its EOS 750 and 760 DSLR cousins.
It sports a nice, compact design but still feels solid when you hold it. The touchscreen on the back is mounted on a tilt-bracket so you can flip it round to take selfies, and a couple of physical dials make accessing controls a breeze.
There isn't a built-in viewfinder, but you can add one via the hotshoe on top, along with a number of other accessories and there is full HD 1080p video recording up to 30fps.
This Canon deal lasts just one day, so snap one up quick to grab yourself a bargain.
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Save up to £160 on Polar fitness trackers in the Amazon Easter sales
Amazon has knocked money off three different Polar fitness trackers for its week of Easter sales, with savings of up to £160 to be had.
The better news is that £160 has been knocked off the flagship Polar M600 smartwatch/fitness tracker hybrid, which we consider to be not only one of the best fitness trackers around, but one of the best Android Wear devices. The black version is slightly cheaper than the white, too.
The M600 has a simple-to-use design, with only two physical buttons being your main points of contact. The built-in GPS and heart-rate monitoring are among some of the most accurate we've come across. Couple that with tracking for all manner of sports and the ability to store music locally to play on Bluetooth headphones and you have yourself a mighty fine fitness tracker.
Also on offer in the Easter sales is the Polar M430, which takes all the features of the M400 and adds wrist-based heart rate monitoring. The M430 also has GPS for accurate activity monitoring, but also benefits from Polar Flow, Polar's software that lets you see how your workouts affect your fitness.
Amazon has a range of colours available at discount prices, with up to £80 of savings to be had.
Finally, you can get the Polar M200 with up to £60 off depending on which colour you choose. The M200 is a basic running watch, but does come with GPS and heart rate monitoring, however you don't get a colour screen or a fancy design. However, for such a low asking price they're trade-offs we're happy to compromise on.
These deals are for one day only, so be quick to snap one up.
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Great Galaxy S9 and S9+ accessories at Carphone Warehouse and Mobiles.co.uk
Enjoying your Samsung Galaxy S9 or S9 Plus? The Samsung Galaxy S9 and S9+ are without a doubt, beautiful smartphones, and chances are you probably want to keep them that way.
It's not just about keeping them safe from knocks and bumps either. There are plenty of ways you can accessorise the new flagship smartphones, be it with a Samsung Gear smartwatch, wireless battery charger, or some wireless headphones.
Whatever your budget, here are 10 great accessories from Carphone Warehouse and Mobiles.co.uk to get for your new phone.
Samsung S9 Hyperknit back cover
One for the Nike fans out there. The Hyperknit Back Cover is an official Samsung case that's sporty, light and slim. It looks amazing, adding a stylish finish to your Samsung Galaxy S9, while providing an extra layer of protection against drops without the appearance of plastic in sight.
Get it from Carphone Warehouse for £29.99
GEAR4 Piccadilly for Galaxy S9
The GEAR4 Piccadilly Case for the Samsung Galaxy S9 is made from polycarbonate plastic with impact-resistant D30 built-in for greater protection. Coming in a range of fashionable colours, it's slim, stylish and has a scratch-resistant UV coating.
Get it from Carphone Warehouse for £29.99
Belkin Wireless Charging Pad
Who needs wires? Take advantage of the Samsung Galaxy S9 and S9+ wireless charging capabilities and get a Belkin Wireless Charger for your night stand. Now rather than fumbling for a cable every night you can simply place your new Android phone on the charging pad and watch the battery meter go up.
Get it from Mobiles.co.uk for £29.99
Samsung Galaxy S9 Essential Bundle
With a solid-yet-slim screen protector, a portable car charger and a protective case, the Samsung Galaxy S9 Essential Bundle contains everything you need to keep your phone charged up and protected.
Get it from Carphone Warehouse for £19.99
Samsung S9 LED Cover
If you're worried about that amazing new screen on the S9, the Samsung S9 LED Wallet Cover protects every contour of your device and has a clever LED system on the front panel, which can show you the time, incoming calls, notifications plus more without you even needing to open the case.
Get it from Carphone Warehouse for £59.99
Goji Bluetooth in-Ear Headphones Black
Looking for a headphone that can help you through a workout or two? The Goji Bluetooth in-ear headphones offer wireless connectivity, a water and sweat resistant rubber coating and lightweight design that'll stay in your ear no matter how hard you work. They're sure to help you work up a sweat.
Get it from Mobiles.co.uk for £24.99
Samsung Gear S3 Black Frontier
If you're really trying to maximise your productivity, you can opt for the Samsung Gear S3 Black Frontier smartwatch. The Gear S3 Frontier offers a more adventurous design than the S3 Classic, with a ridged rotating bezel and dark steel build, and pairs perfectly with the S9.
Get it from Carphone Warehouse for £299.99
Samsung Icon X2018
It's time to start running. The new fitness earbuds from Samsung, with simple tap button controls and built-in Auto Tracker and Running Coaching work perfectly with both the Samsung Galaxy S9 and S9+. The wireless buds can store up to 1,000 music tracks so you can leave your S9 at home if you can cope with doing that.
Get it from Carphone Warehouse for £199.99
Samsung Gear VR Headset (2017)
Lose yourself in VR with the Samsung Gear VR Headset and the Samsung Galaxy S9 or S9+. Powered Oculus you'll have access to over 600 games and applications and the the newGear VR comes with a handheld controller to let your do more in the virtual reality worlds.
Get it from Carphone Warehouse for £119.99
GojiWireless QI Charger Pad
Wires and cables are old hat. The Goji wireless charger pad lets you simply plug the charger into the wall, keeping cables hidden from sight. All you've got to do is pop your wireless device onto the charging plate to give it a power boost. Better still the Goji Wireless QI charger pad is compatible with a range of different smartphones so others in the house can use it to get a recharge too.
Get it from Mobiles.co.uk for £19.99
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HTC Vive Focus: Release date, specs, and everything you need to know
HTC has officially unveiled a brand new VR headset called the HTC Vive Focus. It's a standalone headset that runs on HTC's own VR platform, the also brand new Vive Wave and has access to the Viveport content store for downloading apps and games.
Allow us to explain everything there is to know about HTC's new headset, including where it's available, when you can buy it and what it can do.
- HTC Vive Pro vs HTC Vive: What's the difference?
- HTC Vive Pro initial review: Better resolution and more
What is the HTC Vive Focus?
- 6-Degrees-of-Freedom tracking
- No need for external sensors or gaming PC
- Designed for comfort, additional 3-Degrees-of-Freedom hand controller
The HTC Vive Focus is a brand new VR headset announced by HTC at its annual Vive Developer's Conference. It was originally thought to be a Daydream headset, made in collaboration with Google, but those plans have since been cancelled.
The HTC Vive Focus will instead run on a new VR platform developed by HTC called Vive Wave. It's a standalone headset and has inside-out 6-degrees-of-freedom tracking, which means it doesn't need to be connected to a gaming PC or use external sensors to work. Instead, all the technology is built into the headset itself, so you can immerse yourself in VR gaming wherever you want.
The Vive Focus runs on the Qualcomm Snapdragon 835 VR platform with instant-on support while inside the headset there is a "high-resolution" AMOLED screen. The headband is similar to the Deluxe Audio Strap for the HTC Vive in that has an adjustment dial to help you find a snug fit, but it doesn't have built-in headphones.
Finally, the Vive Focus headset also comes with a 3-degrees-of-freedom hand controller, while the headset itself adopts a slightly unusual design, including a bright blue colour finish.
What is HTC Vive Wave?
- Open VR platform
- 12 hardware partners signed up
HTC Vive Wave is the VR platform that will run on the Vive Focus VR headset. It's essentially Daydream but for China instead, meaning the Vive Focus is the VR headset we expected to come to the UK and US, but running Daydream instead. 12 hardware partners have already signed up to the platform, including 360QIKU, Baofengmojing, Coocaa, EmdoorVR, Idealens, iQIYI, Juhaokan, Nubia, Pico, Pimax, Quanta and Thundercomm.
Vive Wave is an open VR platform, so when developers port content originally made for the HTC Vive across to the Vive Focus, they can either make use of the new 3DoF hand controller, or keep the 6DoF controls and use additional accessories.
Daydream and Samsung Gear VR content can be ported across to Vive Wave, too and any developers using Unity can upload content to Viveport at the click of a single button.
When can I buy HTC Vive Focus?
The HTC Vive Focus technically had a limited launch last year in China, but soon, it'll be available going worldwide. The company announced the news during the 2018 Game Developers Conference in San Francisco. There's no word yet on how much it will cost.
HTC is probably eager to rollout the Vive Focus since the Oculus Go, a $199 phone-free device from the makers of the Oculus Rift, is expected to arrive in May. Plus, Lenovo's Mirage Solo Daydream headset is coming soon, too. It runs on Google's Daydream VR ecosystem, which is what the HTC Vive Focus was originally supposed to run on as well. But, clearly, those plans have since been cancelled.
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HTC's standalone Vive Focus VR headset will launch worldwide in 2018
HTC's standalone virtual reality headset will arrive by the end of the year, the company has announced.
The HTC Vive Focus technically had a limited launch last year in China, but soon, it'll be available going worldwide. The company announced the news during the 2018 Game Developers Conference in San Francisco. Originally thought to be a Daydream headset made with Google, the Vive Focus ended up being an altogether different beast, one that runs on a new Vive Wave platform by HTC.
It's a standalone headset that has inside-out, 6-degrees-of-freedom tracking, which means it doesn't need to be connected to a gaming PC or use external sensors to work. Instead, all the technology is built into the headset itself, so you can immerse yourself in VR gaming wherever you want. It has a Qualcomm Snapdragon 835 processor and is compatible with HTC's Viveport VR apps and games.
- HTC Vive Pro vs HTC Vive: What's the difference?
- HTC Vive Pro initial review: Better resolution and more
HTC is probably eager to rollout the Vive Focus since the Oculus Go, a $199 phone-free device from the makers of the Oculus Rift, is expected to arrive in May. Plus, Lenovo's Mirage Solo Daydream headset is coming soon, too. It runs on Google's Daydream VR ecosystem, which, again, is what the HTC Vive Focus was originally supposed to run on as well. But, clearly, those plans have been cancelled.
You can read all about the headset and its evolution from here.
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Cambridge Analytica scandal: Mark Zuckerberg breaks silence, promises three changes to Facebook
Facebook's CEO has finally responded to the Cambridge Analytica scandal and laid out a three-step plan to remedy the incident.
The scandal, which revealed that a UK-based digital analytics firm had harvested data from more than 50 million Facebook users and then weaponised that data to influence people's opinions and political votes via possibly unethical marketing campaigns on social media, took the world by storm over the weekend. And, yet, Mark Zuckerberg laid low. He remained suspiciously quiet about the whole saga - until now.
Facebook's CEO and COO both responded
In a post, Zuckerberg said he is working to prevent similar abuses:
“We have a responsibility to protect your data, and if we can’t then we don’t deserve to serve you. I’ve been working to understand exactly what happened and how to make sure this doesn’t happen again. The good news is that the most important actions to prevent this from happening again today we have already taken years ago. But we also made mistakes, there’s more to do, and we need to step up and do it.”
In another post, Facebook's chief operating officer, Sheryl Sandberg, mirrored the CEO’s comments: “We know that this was a major violation of peoples’ trust, and I deeply regret that we didn’t do enough to deal with it,” she said. “We have a responsibility to protect your data."
They didn't quite give a full-throated apology, though Zuckerberg clearly accepted blame for the breach, which The New York Times, The Observer, and Channel 4 first reported. Zuckerberg was absent from Facebook's first official responses, in which it disputed any claims that the incident was a data "breach." It insisted people "knowingly" provided their information, and that "no systems were infiltrated'.
Nevertheless, Facebook's stock price has plunged lately, and it's faced stiff criticism. Investigations in the US and UK are underway, as well.
How Facebook will crack down on abuse
Restrict developers' data access
It was only a matter of time before Zuckerberg emerged. Now that he's done so, he's laid out a three-step plan to rebuilding user trust. The most important change is that Facebook will now remove developer access to your data if you haven’t used an app in three months. And it will reduce the data you give an app when you sign in - to only your name, profile photo, and email address, Zuckerberg said.
Investigate apps
Facebook will perform investigations on all apps that had access to user data before it removed developers’ ability to harvest information from your friends’ profiles. It will also conduct a full audit of any app with suspicious activity and ban developers who don't agree to an audit.
New tool on news feed
Facebook wants to make sure you understand which apps you've allowed to access your data. So, in the next month, it will show everyone a revamped tool at the top of your news feed. It will highlight the apps you've used and offer an easy way to revoke their permissions to your data. Zuckerberg noted it already has a tool to do this in your privacy settings, which you can read all about from here.
However, going forward, the tool will be found on the news feed so everyone can easily see and access it. You can read more about Facebook's attempt to crack down on platform abuse in the wake of the Cambridge Analytica scandal from here on the Facebook Newsroom hub.
- 17 Facebook tips and tricks you probably never heard about
- 17 Facebook Messenger tips and tricks you likely didn't know
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Apple has all-new pastel Apple Watch bands for you to buy this spring
Apple just announced a springtime-themed Apple Watch band collection.
Although you may still have a foot of snow outside your home, Apple wants to show you all the pretty pink, blue, and yellow colours you can strap around your wrist. Its new bands are mostly pastel and include updates to the company’s Hermes line, as well as its Nike line and the regular Apple Watch bands. They'll be available to order later this month from Apple.com, Apple Stores, and other stores and carriers.
Starting with the Hermes Single Tour Rallye and Double Tour bands, they now have contrasting paint details in both 38mm and 42mm sizes. The Nike Sport Loop has one new color, which you can check out in the gallery below. It will be sold separately but will join new Nike Sport Band colours. The Nike Sport Band, for instance, will come in barely rose/pearl pink combo, black/white, and cargo khaki/black.
As for the Nike Sport Loop, it will come in black/pure platinum combo, bright crimson/black, cargo khaki, midnight fog, and pearl pink. Also above you'll see one of the new, regular Apple Watch bands. Apple said the regular Sport Band will be available in denim blue, lemonade, and red raspberry, while the regular Woven Nylon band for Apple Watch will come in black stripe, blue stripe, grey stripe, and pink stripe.
Then there's the Sport Loop, which will come in flash light, hot pink, marine green, and tahoe blue, and finally, the regular Classic Buckle will be available in spring yellow, electric blue, and soft pink. So, there's a tonne of new bands to match your outfits this season. Woo!
But there's no word yet on pricing or international availability.
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Best VPN Services 2018 - Top 10 VPNs to keep your browsing secure
If you're in the market for the best VPN to keep your browsing secure, then you've come to the right place. We'll explain what a VPN is and why you need one, but first check out these top VPN prices.
- NordVPN - Exclusive 77% discount on the 3-Year Plan ($2.75 a month). UK readers read more here - US readers read more here.
- ExpressVPN - 49% off annual subscription. See this deal here.
What is a VPN?
VPNs, or virtual private networks, are becoming more popular as a means to keep internet browsing private and access services that may be region locked, as well as help people hide away from the more malicious parts of the internet.
In normal internet use, your data flows from your computer, mobile device or home network across your internet service provider's (ISP) infrastructure and out to the internet on its way to the server on which the website or service you're accessing is based.
During this journey all manner of people could be snooping on your data and activity by tracking your IP address; from governments and hackers to advertisers looking to work out what you're interested in to target their ads at you.
All this saps at your internet privacy and can potentially put you in the firing line of hackers and cyber criminals.
By effectively creating an encrypted and secure connection between your computer and a VPN server, your actual IP address is hidden from snoopers, who will only see the VPN's IP address, essentially masking your internet activity.
But VPNs have another trick up their sleeves: they can spoof your location. Many popular streaming services such as Netflix, Hulu and BBC iPlayer have content locked to specific regions, while some gaming services cannot be accessed from certain nations. And countries like China often ban access to certain websites like Facebook.
Through the use of "geo-spoofing" you can use a VPN to look like you're browsing within a country where service and website blocks don't apply.
Our pick of the best VPNs today
There are a lot of VPNs around, some very similar to each other, some offering a service with a specific angle, such as ease-of-use or security. To help you work out which VPN is best for you, we have selected ten of the best VPN services available for both beginners and experienced users alike.
ExpressVPN
- More than 1,700 servers worldwide in 94 countries
- Prices start from $6.67 a month (save 49%)
- 30-day money back guarantee no questions asked
- 3 months free when you purchase 12 months - UK readers - US readers
Aimed at people who want a VPN outside their home country to access region locked services like US Netflix from the UK, as well as keep their internet browsing private, ExpressVPN offers more than 1,500 servers across 94 countries.
Thanks to a clean user interface, ExpressVPN is easy to setup for Windows, Mac, iOS, Android and Linux devices, as well as offering support for kit such as smart TVs and games consoles, and it also comes with 24/7 live chat customer support if you happen to get stuck.
Alongside a reputation for solid support, the service offers a "kill switch" to hide your IP address if the the VPN connection happens to drop, peer-to-peer support and powerful encryption.
This comes at a price: $12.95 a month or $8.32 a month for a 12-month service, and you'll need to sign up to it right away as there's no free trial. ExpressVPN also only supports up to three connections, but if you don't feel like it's going to fulfil your VPN needs then a 30-day money back guarantee means you can give it a whirl across a couple of devices and see if the performance and features on offer justify the price.
Special offer for UK Pocket-lint readers | Special offer for US Pocket-lint readers
NordVPN
- 1,000+ servers worldwide in 61 countries
- Prices start from $5.75 a month
- 30-day money back guarantee
- Special offers for Pocket-lint readers - UK readers - US readers
A well established name in the VPN world, NordVPN is known for offering very secure connections thanks to using military-grade 2048-bit encryption which it applies twice to connections to its 1,000 plus servers spread across 61 countries and counting.
A straightforward interface means you can easily connect up to six devices, whether they run Windows, Mac, iOS, Android or even BlackBerry OS, to the secure service.
Alongside peer-to-peer (P2P) sharing support, a kill switch, and fast connection speeds, NordVPN offers additional privacy features like the ability to use dedicated IP addresses, enable ad blocking, and pay using bitcoin.
NordVPN boasts no data logging and a cyber security option to help you avoid malware riddled websites while still enjoying your web surfing freedom.
Finally, unlimited bandwidth as well as being one of the few services to support access to The Onion Router (TOR) network over VPN completes NordVPN's features.
And all this comes at a reasonable price, starting at $11.95 a month, reducing to $3.29 a month for a 2 year contract. There's even a 30-day money back guarantee to sweeten the deal.
Special offer for UK Pocket-lint readers | Special offer for US Pocket-lint readers
Private Internet Access
- 3,253 servers in 25 countries
- Prices start at $3.33 a month
- 7-day money back guarantee
In contrast to the more straightforward VPN services, Private Internet Access has been designed to help power users get the most of of their VPN connections.
Private Internet Access comes loaded with support for all manner of platforms, including Chromebooks and routers, as well as support for P2P connections, unlimited bandwidth and a policy to not log any activity.
Access to a maximum of five device connections is on offer, and those devices can access some 3,253 servers across 25 countries, with Private Internet Access claiming that these are real locations with access to real "bare metal" servers, though users are not able to select specific servers.
For both privacy and flexibility, there's a kill switch, ad-blocker and anti-tracker tools, while the ability to pay for the service with bitcoin adds another layer of anti-snooping.
The interface leaves a little to be desired in terms of slickness and clarity of information, but people familiar with using VPNs and keen to make use of the features Private Internet Access offers will not likely be put off by the user interface.
No free trial is on offer, so if you want to take a punt with Private Internet Access the most affordable pricing plan will set you back $39.95 for a year's worth of use, which works out at an affordable $3.33 a month. People not willing to commit to 12 months use can access Private Internet Access for $6.95 per month
Special offer for UK Pocket-lint readers using code pocketlintuk | Special offer for US Pocket-lint readers using code pocketlintus
KeepSolid VPN Unlimited
- 1,200 servers in 80 locations
- 10% off for Pocket-lint users
- 7-day free trial
For people who travel a lot or like to work out of coffee shops and make prolific use of public Wi-Fi hotspots, KeepSolid could be the VPN you need to keep your internet use private and unrestricted.
Thanks to more than 1,200 servers located across 80 locations, and support for five devices ranging from Windows PCs to Android and iOS smartphones, KeepSolid provides a VPN service with solid performance and a decent range of configuration options, without becoming too complex for the average user.
One particularly interesting feature is KeepSolid disguises its VPN traffic as HTTPS traffic, which allows it to bypass blocks in nations which have banned the use of VPNs and have restricted access to the internet.
Power users can pick personal IP addresses and even opt for a personal server that won't be shared with other KeepSolid VPN customers, but you'll need to pay $21.99 per month for that privilege. All this can be accessed through a smartly designed user interface that offers a glut of information.
Fans of torrenting should be aware that while BitTorrent is supported, torrents are not supported across all servers and accessing region-specific Netflix is also currently unavailable.
KeepSolid brings a lot of flexibility when it comes to pricing, with weekly option on offer starting at $3.99, running through to $89.99 for a lifetime's use. Monthly cost comes in a $9.99, but sign up for a year and that drops to the monthly equivalent of $4.16. Combined with a 7-day free trial, the range of options available should give you plenty of scope to see how KeepSolid's VPN service can suit you.
Special offer for UK Pocket-lint readers | Special offer for US Pocket-lint readers
PureVPN
Special offer: 3 year special offer plan is only $69.00 ($1.91 per month). Read more about it here.
PureVPN have an incredible offer currently offering you 3 years of VPN access for only $69.00.
A big name in the VPN world, PureVPN is aimed at people who want some of the fastest connections around, as well as a wealth of connection options, thanks to its 750 plus servers in more than 141 countries and giving users the option to choose which data they wish to send through a VPN and which they want to pipe through a regular ISP connection.
PureVPN also offers a full suite of VPN features, ranging from unlimited server switching and data transfer, to ad blocking, anti malware protection and filtering of URLs to avoid people from accessing websites loaded with spam and malicious code.
Completing the rest of the feature list is support for multiple security and connectivity protocols such as OpenVPN and PPTP and 256-bit encryption, while a secure Wi-Fi service help keep users safe when using a public Wi-Fi hotspot.
All that comes in at chunky $10.95 a month, but for that you get connections for up to five devices and the option to pick from more than 88,000 IP addresses to keep your internet use anonymous. If you sign up to two year's worth of use that price can be reduced substantially to a very affordable $2.95 a month. And despite the lack of a free trial, PureVPN offers a seven-day money-back guarantee, so you can give it a whirl risk free.
IPVanish
- 850 servers in 60 countries
- Prices start from $6.49 a month
- 7-day money back guarantee
Aimed at providing a high quality service over cost-savings, IPVanish is one of the more expensive VPN services in the market. But IPVanish boasts the fastest VPN connections with more than 850 servers in more than 60 countries, and offers unlimited bandwidth for those connections.
Alongside offering geographically diverse server locations, it provides support for P2P connections, anonymous torrenting, and access to censored websites and apps. And it will do this while keeping your connection secure with 256-bit encryption and zero traffic logs.
The user interface of IPVanish isn't the most beautiful, offering function over form, but 24/7 support is available and there's a 7-day money back guarantee if you don't find its performance and support for up to five devices to be up to scratch.
Some might find the $10 a month cost to be a bit expensive, particularly when there's no free trial, but sign up to a year's use and that drops to $6.49 a month, with the option to pay with bitcoin as well as traditional payment methods.
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Golden Frog VyprVPN
- 700 servers in 70 locations
- Prices start from £4.08
- Free 3-day trial with unlimited data
- 30 day money back guarantee for Pocket-lint readers
VyprVPN is another VPN focused on the sweet spots of performance and security, offering speedy connections mixed with features like a kill switch, 256-bit encryption and more than 200,000 IP addresses to choose from.
More than 700 servers across 70 plus locations gives VyprVPN the reach to appeal to all manner of users, whether they're trying to access a wide range of gaming and streaming services or get around government censorship of certain websites and apps, thanks to VyprVPN's proprietary Chameleon technology.
A clean yet informative user interface provides all you need to set up connections for a good range of devices, from Windows and Mac machines to iOS and Android smartphones.
However, you'll need to choose which devices you want to use with the VPN as it only supports up to three device connections in its basic package, which starts at £6.95 a month or £4.08 if you sign up for a year's use.
To get more out of VyprVPN the Premium package offers five connections for a £10.40 a month or a much cheaper £5.83 for 12 months use. A free 3-day trial limited to 500MB of data use is also on offer if you fancy seeing how well VyprVPN performs for you.
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TunnelBear VPN
- 20 countries covered
- Prices from $4.99 a month
- Free 500MB per month plus more for tweeting
Sometimes you just want an easy way to get started with VPNs, that's TunnelBear's greatest strength. User friendly and easy to set up, TunnelBear works across a variety of devices, including Windows PCs, iPads, iPhones and Android devices.
TunnelBear might not have as many servers on offer as other VPN providers, but the Canada-based service still covers more than 20 countries and can be used with up to five devices per account.
A lack of technical jargon comes with the caveat that there's not a lot of options and features for advanced users to deeply customise their VPN configuration. But its ease of use is handy for people who want to quickly setup a VPN for streaming Netflix or using gaming services from abroad.
TunnelBear is also proficient at protecting privacy thank to avoiding logging session data and IP addresses assigned to the account, and applying 256-bit encryption to connections.
The best performance from TunnelBear can be had when using a relatively close VPN, while performance can slow down once you start accessing VPN servers further away.
You can sign up to TunnelBear for free and get 500MB per month of data use, while a tweet to the service can win you another 1GB. Opt for the $9.99 a month package and the data is unlimited, but for better value sign up for 12 months and you'll end up paying a modest $4.99 a month.
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CyberGhost
- $2.90 a month
- Use on tablet and smartphones
- 900 servers across 38 countries
- Special offer: 72% off when you purchase the 2 year plan
CyberGhost still offers access to more than 800 servers spread across 38 countries.
To make things easy for beginners, CyberGhost's interface asks people what they want to use the VPN service for, whether that's for surfing anonymously or torrenting, rather than ask users to select a server. Pretty much everything you need from a VPN has been designed to be enabled through just a single click.
There are more options available for more experienced users to dig into as well, such as being able to set up a proxy server, and live chat support is on offer if you need help to get more out of the service.
Opt to pay £3.99 a month and CyberGhost will offer up to five times faster connection speeds and no adverts, while £6.99 a month offers connections for up to five devices if you decide you want to use CyberGhost on your smartphone and tablet rather than just a Windows or Mac machine.
CyberGhost also now support Netflix, Hulu, HBO and Sky streaming.
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Windscribe
- Servers in 46 locations
- Prices start from £6.99 a month
- Free to use VPN with 10GB monthly allowance
Normally free VPNs offer limited features and data allowance, making them a good gateway into using VPNs but not much else for long-term use. Windscribe tends to buck that trend by offering a 10GB monthly data allowance, providing you register your email address when signing up, or a still decent 2GB if you don’t.
Windscribe offers the normal suite of privacy protection and unrestricted internet access, alongside a promise to never track its users. And rather than limit the free version to just Windows machines, the VPN can be used with Mac, iOS and Android devices as well.
The only shortcoming is you're limited to one device connection and a selection of servers in a mere eight countries, but for VPN beginners this should still be enough to get started with.
If you do want more, then for $9 a month you can get unlimited access to servers in 46 locations as well as more options to configure your VPN; opt for 12 months and the you can reduce your monthly bill to a reasonable $7.50.
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Google Home Mini bargain: Add Google Assistant to your home for £34
Google has knocked £15 off the Home Mini smart assistant until 4 April, so you can add Google Assistant to your home for less this Easter. The nationwide discount means the Google Home Mini can now be had for a very reasonable £34.
The Home Mini deal is available from the majority of retailers, including directly from Google, Currys, John Lewis and Argos.
- Google Store: Google Home Mini for £34 (save £15)
- Currys: Google Home Mini for £34 (save £15)
- John Lewis: Google Home Mini for £34 (save £15)
- Argos: Google Home Mini for £34 (save £15)
The new Google Home Mini is the smallest and most affordable way to add Google Assistant to your home, ideal for a second room. With the current price, it's almost rude not to buy one. You could even push the boat out and buy two. There are plenty of reasons to do so.
- Google Home review: A better voice assistant than Amazon Echo?
- Google Home Mini review: Great voice-assistant, not-so-great speaker
- Doubling up on Google Home: How and why to use multiple Google Home devices
- Google Home vs Google Home Mini vs Google Home Max: Which Google Home speaker should you buy?
- Google Home tips and tricks: Master your domestic AI
Google isn't the only manufacturer offering discounts for Easter, as Amazon has knocked money off the Echo , Echo Dot, and Fire TV with 4K
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OnePlus 6 may not be as cheap as you'd expect
Since the very first model, OnePlus phones have always offered "flagship killer" specs for a fraction of the price of its rivals, so recommending them has always been easy.
However, according to a leaked information sheet posted online by Chinese site CNMO and picked up by TechTastic, shows the OnePlus 6 may cost $749 when it launches. While not confirmed, it would be fair to assume that the price will carry across exactly when it launches in Europe, to €749.
It is worth noting that for the more substantial price you do get 8GB of RAM and 256GB of storage, so theoretically it is still cheaper than its main Samsung and Apple rivals. But $749/€749 is around $200/$250 more than the most expensive OnePlus 5T.
However, in return for your investment, you're likely to still get one of the very best phones of 2018, if recent leaks and rumours are to be believed. Keeping hot on the heels of the big-name flagships, the OnePlus 6 may feature a notch design as well, which will house a front-facing camera to be used for facial recognition security. With Apple offering a similar design and tech for around £1000, the OnePlus' price can be considered affordable.
The image leak that revealed the OnePlus' potential design also showed it had 6GB of RAM and 64GB of storage, so there will be various configurations available, with various prices to match. The images also showed the OnePlus 6 may sport a new glass design which looks simply stunning, and we're seriously hoping it's the real deal.
OnePlus has still yet to reveal the exact launch date for its next flagship killer, but has confirmed it will launch in Q2 2018, which puts in somewhere between April and June, so fortunately we don't have long to wait to hear any news.
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Barclays bPay now supported by 7 watch brands including Guess and Timex
bPay, the contactless payment system from Barclays, has announced partnerships with a total of seven watch brands that will see its payment chip embedded in myriad watches and fitness trackers.
- bPay Loop adds payments to your wearable: Garmin and Mondaine confirm support
- bPay: Using Barclaycard's vision of a cashless future
The partnered watch brands include: Timex, Guess, Suunto, LBS, Mondaine, Kronaby and Adexe. By partnering with these brands, it means you can make reap all the benefits of contactless payments, but from a regular, analogue watch, so you don't have to invest in a smartwatch if you're not going to use the other features.
Barclays and bPay already has a partnership with Timex, with the Fairfield Contactless watch model already being available for £150, but Timex will now release a further eight watches with the bPay chip embedded from May. Guess Watches will release six models for men and women later this year, along with silicone and leather straps with the bPay chip embedded that can be added to some of Guess' best-selling models.
Suunto will release a refreshed version of the 3 Fitness watch that launched in January this year, while strap manufacturer LBS will launch a wide range of 'TapStraps' that can be added to any watch with an interchangeable strap in 18mm, 20mm and 22mm sizes.
Barclays says contactless payments made via bPay jumped 129 per cent year-on-year in 2017, so thought it high time to roll the technology out to more watches to increase its customer base.
bPay is incredibly simple to set up, you need to register the chip with the smartphone app - available for iOS and Android - and your current account, and then you can either choose how much money you want to load onto the chip, or set it to auto top up.
Adam Herson, Business Development Director, Barclays Mobile Payments said: "Consumer appetite for wearable payments is reaching critical mass, and we’re proud to be meeting this growing demand with the help of our industry-leading partners."
"Thanks to the range of products these agreements will bring to market, customers will be able to buy a watch or fitness tracker that not only suits their taste, but also unlocks benefits of speed and ease in everyday purchases."
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Bandai Namco 2018 mobile game line-up: Here are the trailers of Dragon Ball Legends and more
During this year's Games Developers Conference, Japanese publisher Bandai Namco showed that it is betting big on online multiplayer for its 2018 mobile game line-up.
Real-time battles are huge on its agenda, with One Piece Bounty Rush and Sword Art Online: Integral Factor featuring multiplayer online action. Then, of course, there is Dragon Ball Legends, a hugely ambitious fighting game that will levy the Google Cloud Platform to serve fast-paced fights between two players located anywhere across the globe.
Finishing the line-up will be Naruto X Baruto Ninja Voltage, which will be served by all new content this year.
Here then is the Bandai Namco 2018 mobile game line-up in all its trailer-tastic glory. The games are either available now or are coming soon for iOS and Android.
Dragon Ball Legends
The major announcement for Bandai Namco during GDC, Dragon Ball Legends is a fast and furious fighting game that pitches real players against each other in real time. It is simple to play, with one-finger gameplay mechanics. You can either tap or swipe the screen for simple attacks and dodges, while a card system provides heavier and special attacks.
It's great fun to play and will eventually feature all the characters from across the vast world of Dragon Ball.
It will be available from this summer and pre-registration is open now on both the Apple App Store and Google Play.
Sword Art Online: Integral Factor
Sword Art Online: Integral Factor is a massive role-playing game with some multiplayer online elements. It features an excellent character customisation system and open world feel to the gameplay.
Your character, and a companion, will visit Aincrad - a floating island created inside virtual reality to test champions, often to the death. There are 100 levels to progress through, each with ever increasingly more difficult enemies and bosses, and it is likely that they will be released as content packs in batches after the initial release.
The game is coming "later this year", although you can pre-register for iOS or Android and get a load of exclusive bonus content to play with on launch.
One Piece Bounty Rush
Take the loot, you pirate! One Piece Bounty Rush is a madcap 4V4 multiplayer battle game set on the anime series of the same name.
You can choose between five different character types, each with different move skill sets and must earn point by collecting coins and dispatching both AI enemies and players from the other team.
It took us a while to get used to the action during GDC, partly because so much was going on in the game, but we reckon with time and practice it'll be a fun blast.
The launch date is yet to be revealed - it has been available elsewhere on a soft launch for testing - but pre-registration is available on Google Play for now.
Naruto X Baruto Ninja Voltage
Action RPG Naruto X Baruto: Ninja Voltage came out at the tail end of last year and features both the son and father fighters from the anime series in the same game for the first time.
It features multidevice co-op play and the new content will unlock all the collectable ninjas in the game without you having to actually collect them, plus an all-new character in the form of Mitsuki.
You can download and play Naruto X Baruto Ninja Voltage for iOS and Android now.
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Wednesday, March 21, 2018
How to install a VPN on an Amazon Fire TV Stick or Fire TV
Amazon's Fire TV Stick and 4K Fire TV streaming devices each allow you to convert any TV into a smart one. You just plug one into a spare USB or HDMI port and connect it to the internet. This opens up a multitude of new video services, including Amazon Prime Video featuring shows like The Grand Tour and many movies.
- Win an iPhone X with PureVPN
- Exclusive offer: NordVPN for $2.75 a month for US customers - UK customers click here
It also allows you to access other streaming services, such as Netflix, BBC iPlayer and ITV Hub, along with audio services such as Spotify and Amazon Music.
Buy an Amazon Fire TV Stick or Fire TV
The award-winning Fire TV and Fire TV Stick streaming devices each plug into the back of a set and give you access to streamed video and Alexa voice support through an included remote control. The main difference between them is that the slightly more expensive Fire TV is capable of 4K HDR video playback, while the Stick offers a maximum of 1080p (Full HD) video.
- See the 4K Amazon Fire TV on Amazon UK - Amazon US
- See the Amazon Fire TV Stick on Amazon UK - Amazon US
Why use a VPN on the Fire TV and Fire TV Stick?
While the use of a VPN on a set-top streaming box might not spring to mind straight away, it's still a device that can connect to the internet and therefore something you might want to cloak or protect from prying eyes.
Alternatively, adding a VPN to a streaming device has other advantages, some of which the makers of the box might not want you to be aware of.
As with many streaming systems, some content can be geo-locked; certain content, such as Amazon Prime Video, is only available in certain geographical locations. And with the Amazon Fire TV Stick being portable enough to take abroad with you, you might want to fool it into thinking you're still at home to watch the shows you most enjoy.
Using a VPN to spoof your location can open up some of this content and is surprisingly simple to do. You just need to choose a virtual private network from our list of best VPN services today and follow our steps below.
Check which Fire TV model you have, it might not work
If you were an early adopter of the Amazon Fire TV Stick and have a version 1 model, you’re out of luck sadly. The processor on this model isn’t capable of running a VPN. Only the one with the Alexa Voice Remote or above has the processing power required.
Installing a VPN on the Amazon Fire TV
Given that the Amazon Fire TV and Fire TV Stick each runs a variant of the Android operating system and most VPN providers already provide Android apps, this should be easy.
Some VPN providers do have Fire TV friendly apps that are available via the built in Amazon app store, so we’d suggest going for one of these if you’re not too technically minded.
At the time of writing, there are a number of VPN providers that offer apps directly in the app store, including IPVanish, Windscribe VPN, Puer VPN and Private VPN.
To install these apps, just follow the following steps:
- Turn on your Fire TV Stick (or Fire TV)
- At the top of the screen, you’ll see "Apps". Select this.
- Under "Categories", choose the "Utilities" option.
- Here, you should see a number of VPN apps. Choose your required VPN client and select "Get" to download the app. Once downloaded, and installed, select "Open".
- Then follow the onscreen instructions to log into your VPN provider using your username and password.
- Once logged in, choose the server location you want to connect to and allow it to establish.
- Once connected, press the "Home" button on the remote control and you’re all good to go.
All is not lost if your VPN provider of choice doesn’t have an app directly on the app store. It is possible to install most Android apps, but it’s a little more fiddly than the method described above.
Installing an Android APK on the Fire TV Stick
In order to get a VPN onto your Fire TV Stick or Fire TV, you’ll need to install an Android APK file. These should be available from your VPN provider, and we’d advise always downloading directly from its website, rather than a third party that may contain malware or adware.
You’ll also need to enable your Fire TV device to install apps from outside the app store. To do this, open the System and Settings section on the Fire TV menu. Under the "Developers Options" section, there is a toggle to allow apps from unknown sources. Turn this on. Then go back out to the main menu.
Type "Downloader" into the search bar. This should find an app called Downloader.
Once downloaded, open the app and type in the address for your VPN provider's APK file. If you can't find it on the web page, try contacting the customer services department and asking for the direct link.
This should automatically run and install the VPN client, but if not, click on the downloaded file in the Downloader app.
You’ll now need to log in and connect to your VPN provider.
From the start menu, head to "Settings", then "Applications" and then "Manage Installed Applications"
Find the VPN app you downloaded and launch it via the sub menu. This should take you to your VPN login page where you can enter your login and password (you may need to use a controller or keyboard for this step).
Once logged in, you should be ready to go. You may have the option to set the app to automatically reconnect, and we’d advise turning this on.
You are now good to use your Fire TV or Fire TV Stick with a VPN.
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Ni no Kuni II Revenant Kingdom review: As irresistible as Zelda and as heavyweight as The Witcher 3
Back in 2010 Ni no Kuni: Wrath of the White Witch was the epitome of a cult game, delighting the non-conformist subset of gamers who harbour an obsession with Japanese role-playing games (JRPGs, as they're universally known) but refusing to pander to those who prefer their action real-time and preferably involving guns. Ni no Kuni II: Revenant Kingdom, however, is a thoroughly different beast.
While it may share an achingly cute visual style with its predecessor – it looks like a movie created by the legendary kings of anime, Studio Ghibli, where developer Level-5's art director Yoshiyuki Momose used to work – its gameplay has more in common with heavyweight, action-based open-world RPGs like The Witcher 3. There's the no doubt that it has the chops to launch a bid to establish JRPGs as legitimately mainstream.
Cat-ears and kookiness
This time around, you play as Evan, a young boy-king with cat-ears. As a native of the land of Ding Dong Dell, he is a cat-human known as a Grymalkin. Following the death of his father, Evan is about to ascend to the throne of Ding Dong Dell, when disaster strikes in the form of a coup by Mausinger, a mouse-human who was his father's most trusted advisor. With the aid of Roland, teleported in mysteriously from a world which looks suspiciously like our own, Evan escapes and embarks, in classic RPG style, on a series of quests.
Initially, those involve local Sky Pirates, and when Evan has performed various missions on their behalf, he's finally elevated to full kingship, after proving his kingly status with puzzle-solving and a boss-battle, and being bonded to a Kingmaker – in his case a tiny creature known ironically as Lofty, whereas all the other Kingmakers are giant bosses which must be fought at some point.
But while Evan is now officially a king, he has no kingdom. So, after more questing – much of it in the gambling-obsessed, glorious-looking city of Goldpaw – he lays the foundations of his own kingdom, Evermore. At which point Ni no Kuni II: Revenant Kingdom reveals the full extent of its scope and ambition.
Rewarding exploration
In its first four or five hours Ni no Kuni II feels a bit linear, mainly because it is determined to introduce you to its various gameplay mechanics and protagonists as gently and understandably as possible. But Evermore brings a Civilization-style Kingdom Builder element to the game, which chugs away in the background and cleverly feeds into every other aspect, becoming increasingly crucial as you progress.
Ni no Kuni II retains plenty of the classic elements that habitually constitute JRPGs, such as a battle system (thankfully real-time rather than turn-based this time around), monster-battles that pop up while you're traversing the world, and an ever-growing cast of characters you can draft into your three-man party (each of whom you can switch between during battles).
But it adds several gameplay elements more commonly found in Western RPGs. Along with the Kingdom Builder, there's a Skirmish system influenced by RTS games, which sees you control an army split into four battalions and which adds a more tactical element to proceedings (although in truth, Skirmishes aren't as much fun as the main action).
Plus the game has a set of mazy dungeons which feel procedurally generated. And Evan gradually accumulates spells which let him access previously inaccessible paths (for example by making mushrooms grow so that he can jump onto them).
Once Evermore is established, the open world really unfolds, rewarding exploration.
Battle brilliance
At the heart of the game lies an exemplary battle system. It's easy to grasp, giving you light and heavy melee attacks, a block, a ranged attack and four magic attacks that must be charged with mana.
At first, you're inclined to stick to the default party of Evan, Roland and Tani – the last of whom is a young Sky Pirate with ranged weapons specialism. But when you start to come up against high-level monsters and difficult bosses, it pays to shuffle party-members, and to pay attention to how to use the Kingdom Builder to learn new spells and upgrade existing ones.
There's no skills tree, but equipping the right armour, weapons and kit, along with adding new spells to your armoury, is vital – again, you can return to Evermore to research weapons and armour.
Sink into the story
Story-wise, Ni no Kuni II is imbued with a similar vibe to the Zelda games. Its narrative is told from a child-like perspective, but that doesn't mean that it fails to explore serious themes, such as how power inevitably corrupts. It even has a pop at the hubris of modern Silicon Valley companies which essentially acquire the power of full-blown nations without the accompanying responsibility.
Underlying everything is Evan's rather naïve take on the world, signalling a theme of how innocence can triumph over creeping evil. So while the game superficially seems directed towards kids, in reality it operates on an adult level, too. Which will strike a chord with anyone who has played a Zelda game.
It's satisfyingly meaty, also, with a main story that should keep you occupied alone for more than 30 hours, and countless side-missions and activities for those looking to secure the most desirable loot.
Its visuals are also to die for: its vibrant, primary-colour palette alone puts all those games seemingly constructed entirely from black, brown and grey to shame. The cities, in particular, are visual feasts occupied by interesting characters that you will spend hours exploring from top to bottom.
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How to watch the Huawei P20 and P20 Pro launch live
Huawei will soon unveil its latest handsets, the Huawei P20 and the Huawei P20 Pro. The company says that these devices will bring in a "new renaissance" in smartphone photography, teasing a wide range of features.
Looking to shake-up the established world order in smartphones, the launch of the Huawei P20 is looking to be the biggest Huawei launch yet.
When is the Huawei P20 launch?
Huawei has confirmed that the new P20 phones will be announced on 27 March 2018 at a global launch event at the Grand Palais in central Paris.
The Huawei press conference is due to start at 15:00 CEST, which works out as:
- 15:00 CEST
- 14:00 BST
- 09:00 EDT
- 06:00 PDT
- 18:30 IST
Huawei P20 launch livestream
Can you watch the Huawei P20 launch online? Yes, you can. The company has confirmed that it will be livestreaming the event. Currently there are few details about exactly how it will be livestreamed, but there is a Facebook page setup for it.
We suspect that Huawei will be hosting a livestream on YouTube, and we'll bring you the details as soon as they are confirmed.
Step into the frame. Ready to light up your life? Join us LIVE from Paris at 15:00 CEST 27.03.18 #SeeMooore #HuaweiP20 https://t.co/MilMef6zlT pic.twitter.com/oWR8T6HLtR
— Huawei Mobile (@HuaweiMobile) March 20, 2018
What to expect from the Huawei P20 launch
There have been extensive leaks surrounding the new phones from Huawei, with the P20 family reported to include a P20 Lite as well as the P20 Pro.
The regular Huawei P20 is said to be a 5.8-inch device with a full screen display, with a notch like the iPhone X. Expect a slim handset finished in glass and powered by the Kirin 970 chipset.
With all the talk of photography, the Huawei P20 is expected to have a dual camera on the rear, while the larger 6.1-inch P20 Pro has a triple camera system.
It's this three camera system that's seen most of the attention, claiming that there will be a 40-megapixel camera, stabilisation, 960fps slow-motion and optical zoom. Much of Huawei's teasing around the new camera supports these aspects.
We've compared the rumours on the new phones if you want to know more and we've been long tracking the leaks - including full images of all the Huawei P20 colours.
- Huawei P20 specs, release date and news: Everything you need to know about P20, P20 Pro and P20 Lite
- Huawei P20 vs P20 Pro: What's the difference?
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