Windows 10 May 2020 Update, the next major upgrade for Microsoft’s OS which is due late in May, will drop support for the 32-bit version of the operating system on the OEM side.
In other words, as of the next big update, hardware manufacturers will no longer be offered 32-bit versions of Windows 10 to install on their devices, and any PC made going forward will have a 64-bit installation.
This isn’t a great surprise, really, and pretty much an expected move from Microsoft. If you look at the number of folks out there actually running Windows 10 32-bit, it’s an extremely small percentage (one fifth of a percent, looking at the most recent Steam hardware survey as an example). And the number of new PCs running a 32-bit version is doubtless even smaller…
Don’t panic
That said, before those with old PCs, or folks who are running the 32-bit spin on Windows 10 for legacy reasons, start to panic, Microsoft will still continue to support existing 32-bit installations of the operating system going forward.
Microsoft clarified: “This does not impact 32-bit customer systems that are manufactured with earlier versions of Windows 10; Microsoft remains committed to providing feature and security updates on these devices, including continued 32-bit media availability in non-OEM channels to support various upgrade installation scenarios.”
However, with Windows 10 32-bit being phased out as of the May 2020 Update, it’s clearly on the path to complete extinction now. And as to how long Microsoft feels it’s viable to continue providing updates for existing 32-bit systems, that’s an unknown factor – we’ll just have to see. But as we’ve already mentioned, the percentage of users out there is already vanishingly tiny, and at some point, a decision might be made about the use of resources in continuing that support.
Of course, Windows 10 32-bit is hamstrung in various ways, not least of which is the ability to only support 4GB of system RAM.
Openreach is to accelerate the migration from an analogue to a digital phone network with the withdrawal of copper-based wholesale products in parts of the country in June 2021.
BT-owned Openreach wants to complete the switchover from Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN) to IP by December 2025 so its voice services can compete better with over the top (OTT) offerings such as Skype and WhatsApp.
Whereas PSTN requires a complex network of physical lines, IP services only need the Internet to function, meaning communications providers could simply deliver a digital voice service over the top of a more modern broadband system.
The new system, called Single Order Generic Ethernet Access (SOGEA), is being rolled out the entirety of Openreach’s 27.7 million-strong fibre to the cabinet (FTTC) footprint. The migration will pave the way for the UK to switch off its copper telecoms infrastructure once Openreach has completed its planned nationwide build of full fibre.
Openreach plans to reach 10 million premises by the middle of the 2020s and 20 million by the end of the decade, depending on favourable regulations and government support. The short-term goal is 4.5 million by March 2021.
Accordingly, BT favours a phased approach to switchover. Once an exchange area is served by full fibre, it makes little sense for Openreach to operate a copper network concurrently. Shifting customers from analogue to digital phone lines means that when fibre does arrive, the copper network can be switched off.
Openreach has been trialling migrations in Mildenhall and Salisbury (the first location to receive universal access to Openreach’s full fibre network). The 118 exchanges identified for the first stage of the PSTN switchover have been selected because 75 per cent will have access to full fibre by June 2021. Openreach will then accelerate deployment in these areas.
Wholesale customers such as Sky, TalkTalk and BT itself will be given 12 months’ notice of the changes in June.
Even with the arrival of the new, shiny and very cheap iPhone SE, the iPhone 11 still holds a special place in our hearts as what is probably the best iPhone out there right now.
Blending affordability, specs and a stylish design, it continues to be a popular choice, and there are a number of iPhone 11 deals to choose between. So what are the best options for anyone looking for a contract? Well, if you're leaning towards something on EE, there are a host of plans available.
The UK's fastest 4G network has whipped up tariffs ranging from affordable on the monthly bills scale to options full of data. back around to free upfront plans and other similar options to give you plenty of choice.
We've gone and pulled our top picks for these EE phone deals and listed them for you below.
The cheapest of Apple's flagship range, the iPhone 11 continues to prove itself as a top phone choice, mixing strong specs and affordable pricing.
Internally, there's a 3110mAh battery, Apple's high-powered A13 Bionic chip, and an IP68 rating. Look outside, and Apple rocks a Liquid Retina PS LCD display - very high-definition, in other words.
But where this phone really shines is its camera with 4K video, impressive night mode, portrait mode and a dual lens set-up.
AiPods deals and AirPods Pro deals are dropping right now in the UK, showcasing some of the cheapest prices we've seen for months, thanks to the latest Apple sale from Amazon and Laptops Direct.
Just back in stock at Amazon is this cheap AirPods deal on the second-generation AirPods with a wireless charging case for just £158.99 (was £199 - a total saving of £40. This Apple sale has been out of stock for weeks, so if you've been waiting for some cheap AirPods then it's definitely time to pull the trigger.
If you're only looking for the best of the best then you're also in luck with this AirPods Pro deal for just £219 (was £299) at Laptops Direct, you'll be saving a massive £80 off retail price. Not only is this the cheapest UK AirPods Pro deal we've seen this year but Laptops Direct is also offering free delivery by Friday.
These brand new 2019 AirPods were both released last year and quickly became the bestselling premium earbuds on the market. Both variants share the same hallmarks, namely seamless iOS integration and device pairing, innovative tap gesture controls, and a balanced sound profile. If you've already got an iOS device in your pocket, then quite simply, you're onto a winner with these. Note - if you're looking for noise cancellation specifically, then that's offered on the AirPods Pro only, as is a water-proof build and adjustable silicone earbuds.
Outside the UK? We've included the best Apple Airpods deals in your region just below.
The best AirPods deals and AirPods Pro deals in the UK
Amazon- Apple Airpods deals at their lowest ever price this week
Apple UK- Free engravings on all Apple Airpods deals
John Lewis- 2-year guarantees on all Apple Airpod deals
If you're just looking for some great wireless earbuds that will pair nicely with iOS devices and work right out of the box, then we recommend the standard AirPods for most casual users. They've still got a great comfortable fit for most people, and overall have a nice, balanced sound profile that's generally suited to a wide pallet of genres. The wireless charging case is a good pick up also if you have a Qi-compatible charging mat - a fairly inexpensive and handy thing to have since most modern phones now support it also.
The main selling point of the AirPods Pro is the noise cancellation features, which may be a big thing for you if you're facing a noisy commute or working situation for example. They're also waterproof and have upgraded silicone earbuds, which are more customisable and therefore may suit a wider range of users than the molded plastic buds of the standard line. Outside of these key upgrades, you're getting around the same battery life at around 4.5 hours per charge, so if you can do without these premium features, you may be better off with the standard AirPods.
Our Apple AirPods deals page is another fantastic resource for tracking down the best deals on Apple's premium earbuds, especially if you're visiting in from the US.
If you'd like something a little cheaper then we also recommend heading over to our Beats headphone deals page, where we're looking at Apple's other excellent headphones range.
The Toshiba WK3 4K TV has been announced for 2020, bringing with it a new, small TV with voice command smarts above and beyond what you might expect.
The WK3 will come with built-in Alexa capability – specifically through a microphone embedded into the bezel of the TV itself – in order to respond to on/off commands, volume changes, and the like without having to lift a finger.
It's a much more refined solution than the foray into Alexa that Toshiba pursued last year, with the likes of the UL5A coming with an optional Toshiba Connect add-on: a cheap plug-in microphone that enabled your television to pick up voice commands in place of a smart speaker like the Amazon Echo.
The WK3 is available now in two sizes, with a 24-inch model retailing at £179, and a 32-inch model costing just a smidge more at £199.
The set is clearly aimed at more of a smart display-minded customer, given its compact sizing and press imagery – which locates the WK3 largely in the bedroom or kitchen, rather than a living room centrepiece. For the price, though, there's plenty reason to buy it as a second screen for your home.
Alexa, can you hear me?
Bart Kuijten, commercial director at Toshiba UK, said in a press release that, “The WK3 is a fantastic proposition for our customers, the Alexa embedded technology takes voice activation to a new level for our customers.
"With the vast majority of day-to-day functions available through hands free voice control, this fantastic TV is ideal for viewing while cooking, cleaning or bathing, eliminating the need to pick up a remote.”
Even an Amazon rep has chimed in to call the WK3 "the UK’s first hands-free TV, powered by Alexa," which isn't technically true in our minds – given a number of 2019 Toshiba TVs had similar functionality through its Toshiba Connect accessory.
However, the Toshiba Connect microphone had its problems, with an unreliable mute button that frequently unmuted by itself – not very reassuring for the privacy-minded among us.
Given the incredibly low price point, though, and the smart move to opt for built-in functionality, the Toshiba WK3 may well be a small TV to keep your eye on in 2020.
Over the last couple of months, India has been dealing with possibly the biggest crisis that it may ever face. Sectors like hospitality, aviation, food and recreation etc. have faced the maximum brunt. However, the way schools and colleges with the help of the teachers have hosted remote classes, it has been nothing less than a silver lining in the dark skies.
While everyone agrees that most institutions are not ready for the extreme situation, effective and timely use of technology has ensured that students are not deprived of education.
Smart Teaching Initiative
Further in continuation with its ongoing approach, Acer has today announced its partnership with Indian Principals' Network, a national-level think-tank of school leaders. This partnership, according to the company is aimed at empowering teachers with important tools like laptops and tablets and enabling them to impart education more smartly and effectively.
Under this program that starts from May 14 (today), Acer will offer various benefits to teachers like an additional discount, extended warranty for 2 years, 1 year of Accidental Damage Protection and more.
Identifying the challenges presented by the current scenario, Acer India’s CMO and Consumer Business Head, Chandrahas Panigrahi said, “During the nationwide lockdown due to COVID-19 situation, it’s extremely significant to design new ways to help students and teachers to continue with learning and educating. At Acer, we believe that in this unprecedented time, technology is every day changing our lives and hence must make a mark in a new paradigm shift towards the education sector as well.”
Back to school
To make it easier for students to continue their e-learning journey, Acer has collaborated with EduThrill has announced a new scheme that makes buying a new laptop for students easier and affordable than ever.
The students who procure a new Acer laptop during these testing times will have an option to buy a new device at zero down payment and EMI’s starting at Rs. 1666 per month. Additionally, students will get benefits like free 2 year additional warranty plus one-year Accidental Damage Protection.
The offer also includes a free subscription to Amazon Prime, Zee5 and Gaana. For students who opt for a slightly more powerful device to mix education with gaming, Acer is offering a free PUBG game worth Rs 4500 plus Gamer Sensei coaching bundle for every purchase of a laptop powered by a 9th Gen Intel i5 processor.
The offer runs through June 30th 2020 on a wide range of Acer laptops offering parents and students an option to choose the laptop that fits best in their budget and requirements.
Speaking about the offer, Panigrahi mentioned that “With class rooms moving to the living rooms the best investment any parent can make for their child is a laptop so their learning never stops. Our offers are designed in a way which will help buying, owning and enjoying the PC a great experience.”
Researchers have discovered a new and advanced form of malware capable of bypassing even the most strict security measures.
Identified by cybersecurity firm ESET, the newly discovered Ramsay malware appears to have been designed expressly to infiltrate air-gapped devices and networks, which are considered near-impossible to breach.
Having infected a machine, the malware reportedly scrapes Word, PDF and ZIP files, along with other sensitive information, before lying in wait for an opportunity to transport the data out of the closed system.
The practice of air-gapping allows businesses to isolate networks or individual computers from the wider corporate network and also the public Internet.
This most stringent of security measures is used primarily by large enterprises and government entities to safeguard highly sensitive documents, intelligence and intellectual property.
ESET claims to have identified three versions of the Ramsay malware, one built in September and a further two in March, suggesting the operators are delivering frequent iterative improvements.
One version contains a spreader module, which is said to be highly aggressive, capable of infecting portable executables (PE) found on removable storage devices such as USB sticks. Researchers believe this is the mechanism by which the malware is transported onto isolated devices and networks.
It is not yet clear how Ramsay is able to extract data from air-gapped environments, with which the malware operators have no way of communicating remotely.
ESET researcher Ignacio Sanmillan has suggested a hacker might compromise an Internet-connected device used to transfer files to air-gapped systems, which can then be used to perform exfiltration, or else might have physical access to the infected network.
Although the malware has not been formally attributed to a cybercriminal group, Sanmillan believes Ramsay shares common qualities with Retro, a malware strain developed and operated by South Korean syndicate DarkHotel.
The Boys season 2 is one of our most anticipated shows of 2020, especially among Amazon Prime originals. The first season marked our favorite TV take on superheroes yet, taking the gritty comics by Garth Ennis and retaining the ultraviolence, but adding a surprising amount of heart, too. The Boys season 2 release date hasn't been revealed yet, but we suspect it's getting closer, now that we're in the summer months.
The Boys season 2 was announced before the show even debuted, demonstrating Amazon Prime's confidence in what it had. It became one of the platform's most successful shows to date. In season 2, expect to meet brand new Supes, as showrunner Eric Kripke and company dig deeper into the comics.
Filming wrapped on The Boys season 2 some time ago, so now it's just a matter of waiting. Below, we’ll tell you everything we know about the release date of The Boys season 2, show you the official trailer, reveal which new heroes and villains are joining the series, and more.
The first season of The Boys debuted in late July 2019, so we expect The Boys season 2 release date at about the same time. In fact, creator Eric Kripke said as much at SDCC 2019. Kripke told Collider to expect the second season at "about the same time next year". A summer release of July 2020 seems the most likely.
We were due to learn more about The Boys season 2 during the PaleyFest TV festival in March 2020, but the event was cancelled over the global pandemic. It's possible that this is when Amazon planned on revealing a tentative release date.
A release date of mid-2020 still fits, as actor Karl Urban confirmed on Instagram that he wrapped filming on the show back in November 2019.
The Boys season 2 trailer: first look at the show here
The Boys season 2 trailer (watch it here) doesn't reveal much about the plot, but it - predictably - has plenty of violence, and snapshots of the show's characters. That was released in December 2019, and remains our only look at season 2 to date.
It appears that The Boys season 2 will pick up right where the first left off, with the evil Superman stand-in Homelander (the magnificent Antony Starr) revealing a super-powered son, and Hughie (Jack Quaid) saving the life of speedster A-Train (Jessie T. Usher), despite running through his girlfriend at the start of the show. Ouch.
We also caught a shot of Terror, Billy Butcher's dog from the comics which, given his special, err, talent, is one of the most exciting additions to the cast going in to season 2.
If it'll help tide you over until season 2 arrives, Amazon released this short 'Young Homelander' clip below in November 2019, to remind you why he's not very nice.
The Boys season 2 cast hints at the new story to come
Expect both The Boys and The Seven's cast members to return. Karl Urban will return as Billy Butcher, along with Jack Quaid as Hughie, Laz Alonso as Mother's Milk, Tomer Kapon as Frenchie, and Karen Fukuhara as The Female, all of whom survived the first season.
Starlight (Erin Moriarty) will return, along with other members from The Seven: Homelander (Antony Starr), gross fish man The Deep (Chace Crawford), Queen Maeve (Dominique McElligott) and probably A-Train (Jessie T Usher). However, the latter will need to recover from the heart attack he suffered at the end of season 1.
Giancarlo Esposito (best known as Breaking Bad's Gus Fring and Moff Gideon in The Mandalorian) appeared in the first season's finale, guest starring as enigmatic Vought CEO, Mr Edgar. Expect him to play a larger role in season 2, especially with Madelyn Stillwell (Shue) killed in the finale.
Actor and comedian Patton Oswalt will join Aya Cash's Stormfront, along with two other new faces playing key roles: according to Deadline, Goran Visnjic and Claudia Doumit are also in for the grisly season 2 party. Our first look at Stormfront has been revealed. Take a look at her design below:
Stormfront will be like a "hand grenade" thrown into the Seven, according to Cash. "I think she’s here to blow up Vought," Cash told EW. "She’s here to try to get Vought back to the original idea behind creating superheroes... And she can be quite the feminist. There’s a lot of, I wouldn’t say misdirect, but she also is a very empowered woman." This new Vought 'Supe' has enough power to actually fight The Seven.
Visnjic plays Alistair Adana, the cultish leader of a shadowy church, while Doumit plays an up-and-coming congresswoman. Hugh Campbell Snr. will not return, Simon Pegg told Collider.
Will we see a return of the so-called "invisible c**t"? In Eric Kripke's tweet above, we can see a "green guy" who looks an awful lot like Alex Hassell's Translucent. The trouble is, Translucent was killed by Frenchie and his "ass bomb", by, err, shoving explosive where the sun don't shine. So we're not sure how Hassell is returning, but we're interested to see how it's going to happen.
While nothing is confirmed, it looks like Jeffrey Dean Morgan (best known as the fiendish Negan in The Walking Dead) could have a place in The Boys season 2 cast. Following Eric Kripke's tweet saying "I'll make you a deal. Season 3. I'll write it, and if you're avail, come shoot it!", Morgan replied, "in a heartbeat!"
What is confirmed is that the "terrifying" Black Noir is set to play a major role in the second season. Announced at C2E2 Expo (via ComicBook.com), the mystery of the dark-suited masked vigilante will hang over season 2, and he'll have no lines of dialogue or action scenes. We'll never even see his face. "You're going to love what's coming up for Black Noir. It's so good," Karl Urban enthused at a panel.
The Boys season 2 episode titles hint at what's to come
Episode titles for The Boys season 2 were revealed on the WGA website. They don't reveal much, but hint just a little at what to expect from the coming year.
Butcher, Baker, Candlestick Maker - written by Craig Rosenberg
Nothing Like It In The World - written by Michael Saltzman
Over The Hill With The Swords Of A Thousand Men - written by Craig Rosenberg
Proper Preparation and Planning - written by Rebecca Sonnenshine
The Big Ride - written by Eric Kripke
The Bloody Doors Off - written by Anslem Richardson
We Gotta Go Now - written by Ellie Monahan
What I Know - written by Rebecca Sonnenshine
A few elements hang in the air from the season one finale. First, expect Compound V, the mysterious drug that gives superpowers to humans, to remain a recurring mystery.
"If it’s a secret, if it’s nothing the world knows about yet, then it [Compound V] becomes a secret that everyone will kill for, and it gives you an object that everybody wants, and it does all the great things a McGuffin does," Kripke told Entertainment Weekly. Now Billy and Hughie know that secret, what happens next?
At the end of season one, Homelander dropped Billy Butcher on the lawn of his wife, Becca, who he presumed dead. Instead, she has a family with Homelander, including their superpowered son. It's quite a predicament for poor Billy: how will he escape? And does this mean Billy and the rest of The Boys will struggle to function as an underground group, now Homelander has Billy in his laser sights?
The death of Madelyn Stillwell (Elisabeth Shue) will be important for season 2's story, naturally. Then there's Vought International's mysterious CEO, Mr Edgar (Giancarlo Esposito), who looks to be appearing in around four or five episodes, having made a notable cameo at the end of the season. At least one new villain will be added to the mix from the comics, too: Stormfront (Aya Cash), a kind of Thor/Shazam mash-up who's gender-flipped from the comics. We can't tell if she'll be a villain or not yet, though...
The best superhero show on TV?
The Boys was one of the surprise hits of the year, with a strong ensemble cast and an original angle on the superheroes in a time almost saturated with them. Executive producer Seth Rogen's words about the next set of episodes to Collider justify our optimism for the show's future. "We just watched, actually, the first episode of the second season this week. It was a wonderful thing as producers. This is way better than I ever could’ve hoped it would be."
Finding a Bluetooth speaker that ticks all the boxes can be tricky, especially if you're looking for something that will perform outdoors as well as in your home.
Bang & Olufsen claims to have the answer with the second-generation Beosound A1, what it says is "the world’s first Bluetooth speaker with fully integrated Alexa".
Now, it's important to take that claim with a pinch of salt – other portable speakers like the UE Megablast can connect with Alexa over Wi-Fi – but the Beosound A1 solely relies on Bluetooth to do this. This means that as long as you have data, you don't need a Wi-Fi connection to access Alexa's smarts or control your smart home devices.
As well as built-in Alexa, the puck-shaped Bluetooth speaker has been given a light redesign, with a slimmer build that are "fully dust and waterproof", according to the company – while retaining its chic carrying handle.
Bang & Olufsen says that the Beosound A1 comes with an IP67 certification, which means "the speaker is resistant to water ingress up to 1m deep for 30 minutes, and safe from sand and dirt so users can enjoy music outside by the pool and at the beach".
So, how does it sound? Well, Bang & Olufsen says that the new Beosound A1 can deliver 360 degrees of audio, with two 30W Class D amplifiers powering a woofer and a tweeter.
If you want to make that audio more immersive, you can pair two of the second-gen A1s for stereo sound, while a dive into the Bang & Olufsen app will give you customizable equalizer presets to let you personalize the sound.
The brand also says that voice calls should sound just as good, thanks to a three microphone array, while support for Microsoft Swift Pair and Google Fast Pair "gives a fast setup if you want to use the speaker for business conference calls".
Available from May 14, the new waterproof speaker will set you back $250 / £200 / AU$400.
Looking for something else? Check out the best Bluetooth speaker deals we've found today below:
Below the iPad Pro and iPad Air lines sits the 'basic' iPad, a cheap and cheerful entry-level device that recently has been getting yearly iterations with small tweaks. But it seems that this year one of those 'small' tweaks could actually be another increase in size.
According to an investor note written by Ming-Chi Kuo, an analyst with a great track record for Apple leaks, and published by Macrumors, the new 2020 iPad will have a 10.8-inch screen. That's quite a step up from the iPad 10.2 in 2019, which was itself a jump from the iPad 9.7 in 2018.
The new iPad 10.8 wasn't the only product Kuo mentioned, as he also claimed that there's a new iPad mini coming in the first half of 2021, which will supposedly have a screen measuring somewhere between 8.5 inches and 9 inches.
Again, that's much bigger than the iPad mini (2019), which has a 7.9-inch display - and if it turns out to be 9 inches then it would be a more dramatic size increase than the standard iPad is said to be getting.
Upsizing
If Kuo is correct, Apple is in the process of bolstering its iPad range with devices that are larger than before.
It's possible that this is indicative of a broader trend, and we'll see this size increase in the iPad Air and iPad Pro ranges too, although the latter is already so big that a size increase is arguably unlikely - the iPad Pro 12.9 would be bigger than some Apple laptops if it got a larger screen.
Kuo didn't mention any new iPad Pro models though, and it's possible he would have done if any were coming this year. That's worth noting, as elsewhere there have been rumors that there's a new iPad Pro coming later in 2020.
Either way, we'll find out if Kuo is correct in due course - the iPad 10.2 was released towards the end of 2019, and if we are indeed going to see an iPad 10.8 then it'll likely be out towards the end of this year.
Many of us rely on smart video doorbells like the Google Nest Hello to help keep our homes safe – but in one worrying instance, a user discovered that their Google Nest Hub was displaying footage taken from a stranger's Nest doorbell.
Reddit user u/The_Mustard_Tiger took to the site after claiming that a stranger's Nest Hello Doorbell feed randomly popped up on their own Google Nest Hub, showing a someone walking up to the front door of a house they didn't recognize.
Puzzlingly, the user said that they do not own a Nest camera, so the footage couldn't possibly be from their own front door – which raises concerns over the security of Google's Nest Hello Doorbell.
Users receiving notifications from a complete stranger's front door is bad enough, but imagine if footage from an indoor Nest cam was randomly broadcast to other Google Home Hubs around the world? That could represent a serious breach of personal data.
We've reached out to Google for comment, but are yet to receive a response.
Are smart security cameras really safe?
Video doorbells have long been the subject of debate, particularly when it comes to security.
Earlier this year, hackers took advantage of some Google Nest users in a sextortion scam, in which the perpetrators claimed to have compromising footage of the victims – which they would then surrender for a payment.
It's important to note that the scam wasn't the result of an IoT breach (that is, the victims' own security cameras were not actually hacked). While the footage was taken from the Google Nest site, it didn't actually belong to any of the victims targeted in sextortion campaign.
Google now requires all Nest users to enable two-factor authentication, which it says "helps prevent someone from signing in to your account in the Nest app without your permission".
The Google Nest Hub
That doesn't mean that connected devices are totally foolproof, though, with everything from Ring Doorbells to smart toys for children having been proven to be hackable.
Google Nest's biggest competitor, Ring, came under fire in late 2019 after a data breach exposed the personal data of more than 3,000 device owners.
Further concerns surrounding Ring, and in particular its Neighbors app, are on the rise, with some fearing that the company is building a for-profit private surveillance network.
Ring addressed some of these security concerns in February, unveiling a new web dashboard of privacy controls that allows its users to better manage the access settings of their devices and keeping hackers out.
Whatever smart security camera you own, be sure to enable two-factor authentication if you can, and avoid opening suspicious emails.
Ducati has unveiled a new range of high-end electric scooters, with models for both streets and rough trails.
Although best known for its heritage in motorbikes, this isn't Ducati's first venture into other two-wheelers. The company has been making e-bikes with various partners for several years, and revealed its first electric mountain bikes in 2018.
The bikes are powerful, stylish and very expensive, with prices ranging from €3,699 (about $4,000 / £3,300 / AU$6,200) all the way up to €8,890 (about $9,600 / £8,000 / AU$15,000).
Prices for the new e-scooters are yet to be announced, but judging by the specs we're expect they'll put a pretty hefty dent in your bank balance too. Their motors will range in power from 250W (which is standard for most electric scooters) to 500W.
You'll find the most powerful motor on the Ducati Scrambler Cross-E scooter (pictured above), which is designed for rough roads and trails rather than city streets. It also features fat anti-puncture tires, has a top speed of 21mph (though, like any electric scooter, it'll do significantly less uphill), and a large LCD display on the handlebars.
City slicker
The Pro II scooter is intended for smoother roads, with a slimmer profile and less powerful motor, and more subtle design than the tractor-like Cross-E. Both models have both an electric rim brake at the front and a disc brake at the rear, helping you stop swiftly in an emergency.
The Cross-E is expected to hit the trails on June 20, with the Pro II following close behind on July 6. Two more models will join the range later, with the whole set being available to buy (if your budget can stretch to it) before the end of the year.
The Google Pixel 4a is starting to look like the Pixel 4 device you may actually pick up, and it could be one of the best affordable phones to come out in 2020.
Google surprised everyone in 2019 by releasing the Pixel 3a and 3a XL in the middle of the year as affordable versions of the Pixel 3 and 3 XL that retained some of the hardware and software of the premium devices at a mid-range pricetag. In short, consumers could once again buy the famed Pixel photography at an affordable price.
It looks like Google will follow a similar strategy in 2020 by releasing both Pixel 4a and 4a XL handsets, which should preserve some of the best perks from the Pixel 4 and 4 XL in a phone that's far more affordable.
Leaks have started flowing in since the beginning of 2020, so it looks like a budget Google Pixel 4a could be coming at some point soon – although we've also heard the phone might be released alone without its larger XL sibling. That might make sense, though we'd hope the regular 4a wouldn't retain the standard Pixel 4's battery issues.
The Pixel 4 and 4 XL were popular devices, but didn't land with quite the fanfare of the Pixel 3 handsets. The cheaper Pixel 4a phones could be Google's opportunity to win back consumers, especially those who have been reducing their phone budgets amid the current outbreak.
Below we've put together everything we know so far about the upcoming phones including details on when to expect it and the first images of the upcoming handsets.
Latest story: A Pixel 4a price rumor suggests it could be even cheaper than the Pixel 3a while offering more storage.
Cut to the chase
What is it? An affordable variant of the Pixel 4 smartphone
When is it out? Maybe May 22, if leaks are true
How much will it cost? Around $399 / £399 / AU$649 or less
Google Pixel 4a release date and price
The Google Pixel 4
Originally, we had expected to see Google introduce its next affordable devices at Google IO 2020, which was expected to take place between May 12-14, but that event has now been cancelled due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
The Google Pixel 3a and 3a XL were announced at last year's Google IO, but in its absence, we've heard a rumor that the Google Pixel 4a could release on May 22. That release date leak was for Germany though, and it's possible it'd be different in different parts of the world.
But a subsequent rumor pushed that expected date back to June 5. Why? Probably to coincide with the Android 11 developer beta's launch – which is getting its own minorly-hyped event on June 3 which will likely introduce several features coming in the next operating system update. For introducing a new phone, it's the next best thing to a Google IO stage.
The Pixel 3a cost $399 / £399 / AU$649 at launch, while the Pixel 3a XL cost $479 / £469 / AU$799. In terms of how much you'll pay for the 4a, the Google Pixel 4a price could actually be lower than the Pixel 3a price.
We say that because the Pixel 4 cost less than the Pixel 3 in some regions (when directly comparing release prices), and we could see that pattern repeat here.
Indeed, one price rumor puts the Pixel 4a at $349 (roughly £285 / AU$540) for 128GB of storage - so you'd be paying less and getting twice as much storage. And it's always possible there would be an even cheaper 64GB model.
Having said that, an older price rumor points to $399, which is exactly the same as the Pixel 3a, so we're not sure right now.
Google Pixel 4a news and leaks
The Google Pixel 3a XL
We're going to start with a rumor that might disappoint some of you: word is that Google might not put out a Pixel 4a XL, only focusing on the smaller device.
Apparently this is so people looking for a bigger phone stick with the Pixel 4 XL, as supposedly the Pixel 3a XL stole sales from the Pixel 3 XL.
While that rumor is seemingly backed up by the relative lack of Pixel 4a XL rumors, we've heard there could be three Pixel 4a devices, including a 5G model. This comes from Android code which refers to three different devices, presumably consisting of a main device as well as an XL and 5G phone, although they aren't named as such.
Those devices have appeared again in subsequent Google code, and this time two of them were alongside the phrase ‘pixel_20_mid_range’, all but confirming that they're unannounced mid-range Pixel phones, though the source speculates that the third code name might refer to a circuit board rather than a device.
As such, we'd say there might well be a Pixel 4a XL, but either way there's almost certainly at least going to be a Pixel 4a. So what will the base Pixel 4a look like? We think it'll be like the below, which we don't believe are hands on shots of the phone and are instead doctored image of the original Pixel.
We've left these images here though as they show what other sources believe the device may look like. It may have a punch-hole selfie camera in the top left of the screen, which would be a first for a Pixel phone.
Elsewhere, we've also seen leaked images seemingly showing retail boxes for the phone, which match the design above.
We've also seen a full specs leak for the Pixel 4a, claiming that it will have a 5.81-inch 1080 x 2340 OLED screen, a mid-range Snapdragon 730 chipset, 6GB of RAM, a 3,080mAh battery, 128GB of storage, a 12.2MP main camera, an 8MP front-facing one (in a punch-hole), a 3.5mm headphone port, and that it will come in Just Black’ and ‘Barely Blue’ shades.
There's also said to be no Soli chip, which allowed you to navigate the Pixel 4 hands-free (well, in theory). This is unlikely to be available on the Pixel 4a in order to keep the price as low as possible.
What is powering the Google Pixel 4a? That's currently a little uncertain as while the leaks above points to a Snapdragon 730, an investigation run by XDA Developers dug up prototypes of the phone that run both the Qualcomm Snapdragon 730 and the Snapdragon 765.
The Snapdragon 765 prototype may be a 5G-ready version of the phone as that chipset is designed to power 5G hardware. We've heard conflicting rumors on whether there will be a next-gen internet version of the Pixel 4a, but consistent rumors suggest it may be a reality.
A leaked benchmarks score also suggests the phone will be more powerful than the Google Pixel 3a but won't be as capable about the Pixel 4 series. It scored 6,366 in Geekbench 4 testing, which is quite impressive.
Based on a leaked image posted to the web, we're looking at 6GB of RAM (as leaked above) and faster UFS 2.1 flash storage when the Pixel 4a finally appears, with 64GB being one of the storage options. When we say faster, it's an upgrade on the flash storage used in the Pixel 3a.
Then we have the camera to talk about. We're expecting it to be similar to the Google Pixel 4's shooter - one of the best smartphone cameras around - but it's unlikely to have all the bells and whistles of that device's tech.
Someone with an early piece of hardware has provided the below camera samples with the Google Pixel 4a. It seems the shooter works well at color reproduction, but there's no gurantee this sort of tech will make its way onto the final device.
The tweet adds more evidence to the suggestion we'll see a 12MP main shooter on the Google Pixel 4a.
What we want to see in the Google Pixel 4a
The Google Pixel 4 was an innovative flagship feature, but when it comes to adapting this feature to a budget price tag, there are a few things we'd like it to consider. Here's what we want to see:
1. Bring back the fingerprint scanner
The Google Pixel 4 has no rear-mounted fingerprint scanner like the Pixel 3, not does it have an in-screen one like many premium smartphones around. Instead, it relies on facial recognition unlocking for you to access your phone.
For some, this is a useful feature to help them get into their phone quickly and easily; others find this an unsecured and frustrating experience. For the Pixel 4a, we'd like Google to drop this feature, and instead have a physical or screen-mounted fingerprint sensor.
It's likely Google will make this change, as the tech involved in efficient face unlocking adds quite a bit of price to the phone, so if the company wants to slash the price of the new device, it'd make sense to remove face recognition first.
2. Improved battery life
A recurring problem with Google Pixel smartphones is that their battery lives always leave a lot to be desired, and plummet quicker than competing devices. Saying that, the Pixel 3a solved that problem with a bigger battery capacity and a weaker processor, which meant it drained battery less.
Since most normal people need smartphone batteries that'll last them a day, even in a pinch, the more affordable and accessible Pixel 4a needs a battery that'll last it this long, which means a bigger capacity than the 4 as well as tools in place to keep it going longer, like canny optimizations.
3. Drop the 90Hz screen
This is bound to be a pretty controversial suggestion, but if Google is looking for features to cut to keep the Pixel 4a price down, we'd argue the 90Hz screen is an unnecessary luxury that could be lost without making the device worse.
While some people really love 90Hz screens in phones like the Pixel 4, as it makes the viewing experience a little smoother, many more people struggle to notice the difference, especially people who aren't huge tech fans who don't know the feature is in place.
That means it's not a vital feature, and when there are aspects of the Pixel 4 that we would like to see in the 4a, we'd say the 90Hz screens are expendable.
4. Keep the telephoto camera
The Google Pixel 4 smartphones bumped the number of cameras on Google's devices from one to two, adding a telephoto snapper for optical zoom.
The Pixel 3a devices saw the cameras slightly downgraded from the Pixel 3 line, but that was purely in terms of software post-processing, and the hardware was exactly the same.
A telephoto lens in a camera is really useful, so you can take better pictures of a subject without dropping the quality dramatically, and we'd love to see it kept in the Pixel 4a. We'd be surprised if this wasn't the case, as the telephoto lens really ties the rear design together. And talking of Pixel 4a design...
5. Stick with the weird design
The Google Pixel 4 smartphones are weird looking devices, there's no getting around that. They're bare on the back except for a pretty sizeable camera bump (no fingerprint sensor, like in previous Pixels), with a glass back but a rubber frame around the edges. Yep, you read that right, rubber in a smartphone!
On the front, there's a notch the likes of which you barely see in modern smartphones, with a sizeable chin at the bottom of the screen. All in all, the Pixel 4 devices are far from 'conventional' Android phones, for better or worse.
Well, we kind of like the design. It's unique, and the Pixel 4 feels distinct in hand when you're using it. We'd like to see the Pixel 4a retain the 'weird' design, especially the rubber frame, as we found it great for protecting the phone.
The Covid-19 crisis has thrown off product refresh cycles across the world. Now, as companies slowly inch towards resuming operations, a Vivo spokesperson went on record to talk about its next major launch.
In an interview with The Mobile Indian, Nipun Marya, Marketing Head of Vivo India talked about the Vivo V20 and confirmed that it will launch in India later this year. It will be the successor to the Vivo V19, which is currently at the top of Vivo’s lineup in India.
He also touches upon other product categories in the interview. When asked about accessories such as true wireless earbuds, he replied, “We will launch accessories in the near future that will complement our mobile ecosystem. We will launch those accessories, which we think is closely related to our smartphones. If we are able to provide the same experience, as we have done with our smartphones, only then we will launch mobile accessories in the country.”, implying that hot categories will not be blindly entered into.
He also confirmed that Vivo India has committed to invest Rs 7,500 crores in India for manufacturing facilities as a part of the Make in India campaign. Other important topics included a new monthly update cycle, which will be shared with users soon.
Vivo refreshes its V series twice a year in India, as the V17 came late last year and the V19 launched recently. Extrapolating that, and it comes as no surprise that the V20 is also expected this year. Its launch timeline could have been thrown off due to the current crisis.
It needs to be pointed out that Nipun doesn’t explicitly mention the Vivo V20. In the past, Vivo has always avoided even numbers for its V series. With that logic, it is more likely that we get to see a Vivo V21 instead in the second half of the year.
In a first for on-demand movie streaming service in India, Amazon Prime Video has acquired the rights of seven Indian movies that would directly release on the OTT platform. Three of the movies are in Hindi, two in Kannada, one each in Tamil and Malayalam and a bilingual in Tamil and Telugu.
Besides the Amitabh Bachchan - Ayushman Khurrana comedy Gulabo Sitabo, the Hindi movies include the biopic of Indian mathematical genius Shakuntala Devi with Vidya Balan in the lead. The other movies that Amazon Prime has acquired include Tamil drama Ponmagal Vandhal, Law and French Biryani (both Kannada), Sufiyum Sujatayum (Malayalam) and Penguin (a bilingual in Tamil and Telugu.
The seven movies would be released over the next three months with Gulabo Sitabo scheduled to a global premiere on June 12, the company said in a prepared statement.
Prime Video subscribers would not have to pay any additional fee for watching these movies, which should just be what the doctor ordered for movie buffs in India who have been facing a nationwide lockdown since March 25 that also left close to 10,000 single screen and multiplex theatres in the country shut down.
Though the move is a welcome step for filmmakers and viewers, the theatre owners haven't taken kindly to it. Two of the largest multiplex chain owners PVR and INOX, which together account for 1,500 screens in India have released media statements suggesting that they were alarmed by the digital-only release of films.
“Such acts, though isolated, vitiate the atmosphere of mutual partnership and paint these content producers as fair-weather friends rather than all-weather life-long partners. Needless to say, INOX will be constrained to examine its options, and reserves all rights, including taking retributive measures, in dealing with such fair-weather friends,” said INOX in a statement.
A big win for Amazon
Amazon provides Prime Video in its $13-a-year plan that reaches 4,000 cities and towns in India and over 200 other countries. Though the company does not share numbers of its subscribers, the fact remains that since the lockdown, the 40-plus OTT platforms have all reported growth in subscriptions.
In a prepared statement, Gaurav Gandhi, Director and Country General Manager of Amazon Prime Video India, said “Indian audiences have been eagerly awaiting the release of these 7 highly anticipated films and we are delighted that Amazon Prime Video will now be premiering these movies for our customers – who can enjoy watching these from the safety and comfort of their homes and on a screen of their choice.”
There is no mention of how much the company paid to acquire the rights for these movies, though there were indications that it wasn't a big one. Ronnie Lahiri, the co-producer of Gulabo Sitabo told Huffington Post India that it was a win-win for both though there was no insane amount that they received from Amazon Prime.
Vijay Subramaniam, director and head, Content, Amazon Prime Video, India, told Reuters in an interview, that he did not see acquisition costs going up for the streaming platform.
He added: "There will be a reset in the way that producers and studios think about their portfolios".
Tamil movie Ponmagal Vandhal is scheduled to release on May 29 and stars Jyothika, Parthiban, Bhagyaraj, Pratap Pothen and Pandiarajan. It is a legal drama written and directed by JJ Frederick and produced by Suriya and Rajsekar Karpoorasundarapandian.
Penguin is a bilingual written and directed by Eshavar Karthic with national award winning actor Keerthy Suresh in the lead. The movie is scheduled to release on Amazon Prime Video on June 19.
Could this be the the harbinger of many more movies hitting the OTT platform without having to go for a theatrical release? Or will things normalise once the lockdown is removed and cinema watching becomes a celebration rather than something that one does sitting behind closed doors?
Avatar 2 began filming last year, and recently we got our first look at what the production process looks like on the film, which will feature a substantial amount of underwater motion capture. That's because Avatar 2 will take audiences to oceanic parts of the fictional planet of Pandora.
The image shows actors Zoe Saldana, Sam Worthington, Kate Winslet and Cliff Curtis in a tank used for motion capture. The tank itself carries a staggering 900,000 gallons of water.
Winslet plays a water-dwelling Na'vi character called Ronal in the movie, while Curtis plays Tonowari, another Na'vi figure. Clearly, a lot of effort is being made to have this film feel like it's set underwater. Can't say we'd want to swap with the cast in this case.
Director James Cameron is shooting Avatar 2 back to back with Avatar 3, 4 and 5. Avatar 2 is due to release on 17 December, 2021, with the subsequent instalments planned for December 2023, December 2025 and December 2027 - try not to think about how old you'll be when all this is done.
Production on the sequels in New Zealand was initially hit by the coronavirus pandemic, but now that the outbreak appears to be under control in the country it's likely the sequels will resume filming very soon. The same goes for Amazon's big-budget The Lord of the Rings series, which is also filming there.
Speaking to Empire from his Malibu home about the challengers presented by the virus, Cameron said: "I want to get back to work on Avatar, which right now we're not allowed to do under state emergency laws or rules. So it's all on hold right now.
"We were about to shoot down in New Zealand, so that got pushed. We're trying to get back to it as quick as we can."
If all goes to plan, you'll have more Avatar than you can possibly handle for the next decade.
The way in which accountancy firms are using technology to manage client engagements is becoming increasingly fragmented. It’s leading many in the industry to believe quality is suffering under increasing time pressures and the need to juggle multiple applications to keep work on track.
This is the key finding from a new study published by Huddle, comprising interviews with more than 250 partners and senior executives across the US to understand how firms are using technology to work with clients.
The findings reveal that although 88% of US accountancy firms have a client engagement strategy in place, 35% of respondents feel that their organizations are far too slow in adopting the right technologies to accommodate client demands.
As a result, employees are becoming fatigued by the sheer number of technology solutions options available to them when working with clients, causing fragmentation in common workflows, slowing productivity and introducing risk.
The research goes on to highlight that with so many different systems available to them, 31% of employees are forced to jump between multiple applications to keep track of client updates. 35% also agreed that it was becoming challenging just to keep control of document revisions, with a similar number (33%) also reporting difficulties tracking tasks.
As a result, 27% cited increasing instances of deadlines being missed and 24% reported inefficiencies caused by duplication of effort, with multiple people unknowingly working on the same piece of work.
“US accountancy firms are ramping up their digital transformation initiatives. However, the results suggest that teams are now being bounced between different apps to manage their client engagements. Combined with ever-growing client demands, it can be challenging on teams to keep control. Productivity is quickly damaged and the audit trail of activity is immediately broken,” explains Huddle CMO, Tim Deluca-Smith.
One of the risks presented in the report is that confusion is causing accountancy professionals to use less secure methods of working with their clients. For example, 36% of Partners and senior executives admitted to using a personal file sharing apps at work.
This can put sensitive client data at immediate risk. Others are being pushed to use new technologies such as Microsoft Teams for client engagement, despite concerns that it can present a number of issues when working externally with clients.
Other key findings in the report reveal that 38% believe the quality of client engagements is suffering under increasing time pressures, while 27% say that deadlines are frequently missed because of client delays.
Time-sapping tasks are another area of consternation, with 19% spending more than one hour per day on file admin (finding, saving, sharing electronic files).
Meanwhile, 32% agree that their IT policy makes it too restrictive to effectively collaborate with clients and 35% believe that their firm is too slow to adopt the right technology to digitally transform.
“It should be the role of the client portal to manage client engagements,” adds Deluca-Smith.
“However, the research shows that many legacy accountancy portals are little more than basic file sharing services with no ability to manage and track tasks, approvals or manage file versions. In fact, just 65% of employees had the ability to track client activity and tasks through their portal solution. Given these findings, we believe the need for a more holistic and collaborative approach to managing client engagements is paramount to delivering on the client experience and to protect the firm from potential data breaches.”
The study published by Huddle is based on interviews with more than 250 partners and senior executives across the US with a view to understand how firms are using technology to work with clients.
The iPhone 12 is landing later in 2020 and hopes are high that it will be a major shake-up for the range, as it's the first numbered iPhone of a new decade, and it's following the iPhone 11 series, which was a fairly conservative update from the iPhone XS series.
In fact, we haven't seen a big change since the iPhone X, so one is overdue, and current rumors suggest that's exactly what we'll get - offering buyers an expensive alternative to the relatively affordable new iPhone SE that's already launched this year.
While we're still months away from the launch of the iPhone 12 (and the rumored iPhone 12 Max, iPhone 12 Pro, and iPhone 12 Pro Max) we already have a good idea of what to expect, with everything from prices to design to core specs, camera details, and more having been leaked.
So there's a lot to know, which is where this article comes in. We've collected all the likely leaks and rumors in one place (here) divided by section - so if you care specifically about the camera for example, you can jump straight to that heading.
We're also keeping this article constantly updated with all the latest iPhone 12 leaks and rumors, so make sure to check back regularly if you want to stay up to date on Apple's next flagship.
Latest iPhone 12 news: A huge leak has provided further evidence of the iPhone 12 range, and even suggests that the larger cheaper model will be called the iPhone 12 Max. You can read all about the leaks below, as well as our separate news story here.
iPhone 12: cut to the chase
What is it? The new iPhone family from Apple
When is it out? Probably September 2020
What will it cost? We're expecting over $700 / £700
iPhone 12 release date: will it be delayed?
The iPhone 11 Pro Max
There isn't any official iPhone 12 release date information available yet. We're almost certain the phone (or phones) will appear in 2020 though as Apple launches its new phones almost metronomically.
So much so that we can get even more specific and say that the new iPhone release date will probably be in September 2020 - and it's usually around the second week of the month. It's almost always unveiled on a Tuesday too, so we'd put our money on it being revealed on September 8, 2020.
There's always the chance it may be pushed back to September 15 though as it isn't always the second week of the month.
We'd predict that you'll be able to pick it up 10 days after that, so you might need a Friday off work if you're desperate to get your hands on one. That said, we can't be as confident of these dates as usual, because there's a chance that the Covid-19 pandemic's impact on the production of the next iPhone may push things back.
So what is going to happen? No one knows for certain yet, but there's a strong possibility that the iPhone 12 release date may be staggered by model. This is something said by respected analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, who says it would likely be the larger models of the phone that would come later than September.
As of April 2020, the most recent news on this subject comes from a report in The Wall Street Journal, which states that production of the iPhone 12 has been delayed by around a month.
That doesn't necessarily mean that the release date of the range will also be delayed as the company may find a way to make up for lost time, but we'd think there's a significant chance that it will be.
In which case, we could be looking at October for the iPhone 12 release date. Despite some sources saying it could slip into next year though we'd say that is very unlikely.
iPhone 12 price
When it comes to the iPhone 12 price, it’s likely to stay broadly in line with the current models. For reference, the iPhone 11 started at $699 / £729 / AU$1,199, the iPhone 11 Pro starts at $999 / £1,049 / AU$1,749, and the iPhone 11 Pro Max starts at $1,099 / £1,149 / AU$1,899.
That's backed up by the rumors too, and one big leak from YouTuber and prolific leaker Jon Prosser has shared information on how much he believes the phones will cost in the US. This is according to a source close to Apple, and we've put it into a handy chart below:
Model
128GB
256GB
512GB
iPhone 12
$649
$749
Not an option
iPhone 12 Max
$749
$849
Not an option
iPhone 12 Pro
$999
$1,099
$1,299
iPhone 12 Pro Max
$1,099
$1,199
$1,399
There's no accurate information about prices for the UK or Australia, but it seems to largely match the iPhone 11 series with the cheapest model being slightly less this year for the iPhone 12.
Having said all that, one previous report suggested that the cost of materials for the iPhone 12 range might go up, which could mean even higher prices at retail. We won't know for certain until Apple announces this on stage.
iPhone 12 name
The iPhone 11
First things first: we're pretty confident the 2020 Apple phones will be called the iPhone 12 series. It's likely not to be the 11S or similar, and that's mostly thanks to an industry analyst (with a great track record) saying as such.
That's why we're calling it the iPhone 12 throughout this article, even though Apple hasn't confirmed this name. Others might be calling it the iPhone 2020 or the 'new iPhone' - but we're not thinking that will be the moniker Apple plumps for.
That said, Apple may surprise us with a whole new name entirely so that may be subject to change in the future.
Before we get started on the rest of the leaks and rumors, it's important to note that we expect there to be four versions of the iPhone 12. Unlike the last two years where we've seen three models, lots of consistent and recent leaks suggest there will be four models.
iPhone 12 design
So far, leaks suggest the iPhone 12 is set to get a very different design but it's likely going to take elements we've seen on previous iPhone models and use them here. Remember the iPhone 4? You may recognize some of the elements.
First off, you'll have four sizes to choose from. According to the most recent information on models, there will be the below:
iPhone 12 with a 5.4-inch display
iPhone 12Max with a 6.1-inch display
iPhone 12 Pro with a 6.1-inch display
iPhone 12 Pro Max with a 6.7-inch display
That offers a larger screen size for those who don't want to spend lots on an iPhone 12 Pro model, and essentially means you'll have the choice of two devices are each of the price points.
Jon Prosser - a Twitter leaker who proved to have consistently correct information on the iPhone SE and MacBook Pro 13 - this information is correct and you can see some of the specs below.
Consistent leaks have suggested the iPhone 12 will have a metal frame, and the most trusted source before Prosser was Apple analyst Ming-Ch Kuo. The rear of all four phones is is still expected to be made of glass, but the edges are expected to be more squared than the rounded ones on current models.
Prosser's information suggests it'll be aluminum used on the iPhone 12, while the iPhone 12 Pro and Pro Max will come with a stainless steel body.
Some sources speaking to Bloomberg claim similar, and they make comparisons to the design of the iPad Pro, saying that the iPhone 12 Pro and iPhone 12 Pro Max will have flat stainless steel edges, more sharply rounded corners, and flat screens.
The reports above also point to smaller notches on all four rumored models, which is something we've heard consistently since new Face ID technology was first rumored in October 2019.
You should still expect a notch at the top of the phone's display, but it looks like it'll be a lot smaller than before but won't be drastically different to previous models.
One of the upcoming phones might even lack a notch according to analysts, with the front-facing camera potentially set to be embedded under the screen instead. If this happens we’d expect it to be the most expensive iPhone 12 model that has this feature – likely the iPhone 12 Pro Max, or whatever it launches as.
One report has also suggested Face ID will be dropped entirely in favor of an under screen fingerprint scanner, though this seems unlikely.
This would be a big change for the brand, since current models don’t have a fingerprint scanner at all. That said, if the camera really is in-screen then it might not be possible to have all the Face ID sensors, so it could be that this fingerprint scanner will replace Face ID, though we're not convinced Apple would go that far.
iPhone 12 colors
As for the iPhone 12 colors, we've heard a rumor that Apple will be debuting a navy blue on its top-end models. Reports say the Midnight Green color that debuted on the iPhone 11 Pro sold beyond Apple's expectations, so it may decide to keep that or it may be replaced in the lineup by this navy shade.
The iPhone 11 Pro and Pro Max were available in Space Gray, Silver and Gold alongside the Midnight Green. Those shades may remain for the iPhone 12 Pro and Pro Max, but we've yet to hear any firm evidence those colors will return.
As for the standard iPhone 12, we're expecting a similar pastel range to the iPhone 11. That phone is available in Black, Green, Yellow, Purple, Red and White, so you should probably expect some of those colors to return for 2020's device.
iPhone 12 display
We've touched upon display a little bit above and the four different models you can expect in 2020, but here we're going to dive into the rumors about the tech for the screens being used.
That said, the iPhone 12 and iPhone 12 Max displays are expected to be manufactured by BOE while Samsung will make the OLED tech on the top-end two models.
The iPhone 11 features an LCD display, while the iPhone 11 Pro features OLED technology. That may allow for a far stronger screen on the standard iPhone 12 models, although we don't yet have any clear details on the resolution you can expect from any of the four phone's displays.
The iPhone 11 Pro
Another source has said that the two Pro models will use a form of OLED that's both thinner and cheaper to produce than the screens used in the iPhone 11 Pro range. That could mean lower prices, but we wouldn't count on it.
The other big rumored change for the 2020 iPhone display is the move to a 120Hz refresh rate. The current iPhones - and a lot of other smartphones - sport a refresh rate of 60Hz, so upping that to 120Hz makes the screen reload quicker and gives you a smoother experience when scrolling through social media feeds or gaming.
Max Weinbach shared some leaked information on the iPhone 12 Pro that suggested this was the model that would get the improved screen tech. Prosser since suggests that tech would also come to the iPhone 12 Pro Max.
This is a claim we've now heard more than once, and some phones already have higher refresh rates than 60Hz, as do some iPads, so this isn’t unbelievable. That's especially true as top-end phones like the Samsung Galaxy S20 and OnePlus 8 Pro now feature the tech too.
All of this said, the source that provides information to Prosser has said that Apple may "nerf" the technology. That may mean there are limitations to when the 120Hz refresh rate works, and that may come down to the battery life of the handsets.
We've also heard that at least some iPhone 12 models could have thinner, cheaper and more energy-efficient screens than the iPhone 11 range. This in turn may allow the phones themselves to be thinner, as well as lasting longer between charges.
iPhone 12 5G
Another big change could take the form of 5G, which has been widely rumored for the iPhone 12 as many of its competitors now sport the technology. Back in July 2019, Kuo predicted that all models will support 5G.
At the time, we only expected this feature to come to one model in the iPhone 12 range but it now looks like it'll be on all four devices. Prosser has suggested as much in his specs that he learned from a source at Apple.
The big caveat here is that the base iPhone 12 models may not support mmWave 5G technology. It's expected this will be a feature reserved for the two top-end models, so those on carriers like Verizon in the US will have to opt for those.
iPhone 12 specs
How are these phones going to power 5G connectivity? One rumor suggests it'll have a custom-made 5G antenna alongside a 5nm A14 Bionic processor.
What that means for the average consumer is an iPhone with an even longer battery life and more power than ever. That would be rather impressive, given the iPhone battery life is currently the best we've ever seen from Apple.
The RAM could also get a boost, with analysts claiming that the iPhone 12 Pro and iPhone 12 Pro Max will have 6GB of the stuff, up from 4GB on their predecessors - though the standard iPhone 12 will apparently stick with 4GB. This is something we've now heard again and again, so it may well be true.
The chipset seems ready to wow too, as an A14 Bionic leaked benchmark showed it had a single-core and multi-score score that was ahead of the Snapdragon 865, the processor we've seen in almost all Android flagships in 2020.
And the iPhone 12 might also support the new 802.11ay specification, which could allow it to share content at speeds of at least 20-30Gbps. So in every sense this phone is likely to be fast.
How much storage will you have? You may have seen earlier up the page, but a pricing leak from Prosser showed us the iPhone 12 and iPhone 12 Max will come in 128GB and 256GB models while the iPhone 12 Pro and iPhone 12 Pro Max will come in both of those and 512GB.
Battery capacity is an unknown at the moment for the iPhone 12 range. One rumor from late 2019 suggested that Apple may be using a smaller battery protection module for the iPhone 12 that would allow it to pack in a larger cell.
Whether that happens or not is currently unknown, and we may not even know that until someone manages to get one to do a teardown on the exact internals of the new iPhone.
A recent EU ruling may also mean future iPhones won't be able to use Lightning cables in Europe. That may force Apple to switch the connector on future phones to USB-C, and while it's not clear yet whether this will be the case for the iPhone 12 it may be something to consider.
Another report from Chinese publication Caifa news also suggests Apple and other manufacturers may soon use GaN power adapters. These are currently used by Xiaomi, and allow for fast-charging speeds up to 65 watts.
There's no gurantee this will debut on the iPhone 12 - or any future iPhone for that matter - but it may mean we see an improved fast-charging experience along the line.
iPhone 12 camera
The iPhone 12 range is likely to get a camera upgrade, with the main change likely being the addition of a LiDAR scanner, just like we've seen on the iPad Pro 2020. This can accurately judge distances and therefore depth, and would allow for improved augmented reality and Portrait mode.
We've heardspecific mentions of a LiDAR scanner being included on the iPhone 12 Pro and iPhone 12 Pro Max (alongside three lenses), while the basic iPhone 12 and iPhone 12 Max are said to have two camera lenses and no LiDAR scanner. These claims have been made by multiple sources.
We've also seen a leaked sketch supposedly showing four rear lenses on the iPhone 12 Pro. This sketch supposedly came from a build of iOS 14 and is backed up by lots of sources.
Three of the lenses look like those on the iPhone 11 Pro, if perhaps slightly bigger, but the new fourth lens looks like the LiDAR scanner found on the iPad Pro 2020, backing up other claims of such a lens.
Before all the LiDAR scanner rumors, we'd heard that a laser-powered 3D camera was rumored for inclusion. This would be on the back, and while only one rumor mentions lasers, another also talks about a depth-sensing snapper, while one mentions 3D sensing.
Another report from Fast Company cites sources close to production of the phone and also says a rear-facing 3D camera is in development. One of the sources for this rumor claims the two top models would get this, along with a triple-lens camera, while the two lower end ones would just get a dual-lens camera without 3D sensing.
All of this sounds along the same lines as the LiDAR scanner we're now expecting, so this is one very likely feature.
Elsewhere, one source says the iPhone 12 might have a 64MP main camera, over the 12MP snapper on the previous few versions, which would be a huge upgrade. This leak also suggests that the phone will have multiple lenses that support night mode shooting, and the ultra-wide snapper could have a dedicated macro mode.
We've also heard that the top-end iPhone 12 (likely the iPhone 12 Pro Max) will get a new image stabilization tech called 'sensor-shift', which would allow the sensor to move in order to counteract camera shake.
The camera on Apple's iPhone 11 Pro Max
Plus, reputable leaker Max Weinbach says he has heard that the iPhone 12 Pro will feature Smart HDR functionality for improved low-light performance. That's alongside a 3x optical zoom, which is an increase from the 2x zoom capability featured in the iPhone 11 range.
iPhone 12 software
Apple's big software developer conference is set to start on June 22. It's called WWDC 2020 and it's expected to be the event where we first hear about iOS 14, which is likely to debut on the new iPhone.
It's also likely to come to your existing handset, but the iPhone 12 will be where it originates and it's likely to come with a few major upgrades over iOS 13.
That said, little is actually rumored about iOS 14 so far. There are rumors of a new Fitness App that will come to iPhone, Apple Watch and Apple TV that allows you to watch fitness related videos on your phone.
iMessage is heavily rumored to be getting some upgrades too with an ability to tag people - with an @ sign like you can do on other messaging platforms like Slack - as well as a way to delete your messages after you've sent them.
The iPhone 12 release date is still around half a year away, if the September 2020 launch window stays constant, so you should probably consider the iPhone 11 series if you need a new iPhone in the next few days, weeks or even months.
If you need a new top-tier Apple phone now, you’re looking at the iPhone 11 or the higher-spec iPhone 11 Pro or iPhone 11 Pro Max. Here are the best prices in your region:
Want to know what we want to see from the iPhone 12? Head on over to the next page to find out.
The iPhone 11 range is a strong - but safe, and thus a bit dull - upgrade for Apple. So for the iPhone 12 we want to see bigger, riskier changes, such as the following.
1. Exciting new features
First things first - the new iPhone needs to be good. Brilliant. Better than expected. We’re talking things that we haven’t even thought of. Things that we’re hoping Apple’s brightest minds are currently dreaming up in the company’s labs.
This might sound like a very vague request, but Apple is one of the biggest companies in the world and if any brand could make a decent folding handset, or one with detachable VR glasses, it's Cook's Crew.
Because a tweaked design and improved specs are expected, ordinary, and no longer enough as consumers are holding onto their handsets for longer than ever. Come on Apple, give us something mind-blowing.
2. A new design
The back of the iPhone 11 Pro
Perhaps the thing we want most from the iPhone 12 is a new design. Apple has been rolling out basically the same design for several years now, ever since it refreshed the look with the iPhone X.
Sure, some things get tweaked, but the core is the same. And it’s starting to look a bit dated. That’s thanks mostly to the large notch, which might be necessary for all the camera components needed for Face ID, but which we’d like to see shrunk or removed if possible.
Beyond that, we’d really like a whole new look. There’s not too much wrong with the rest of the iPhone 11 Pro’s design, but it certainly feels overly familiar at this point.
3. An in-screen everything
We’d like the iPhone 12 to have an all-screen front, and one way to achieve that is to move the front-facing camera under the display. If Apple can effectively achieve that, it’s sure to impress.
While it’s on, we’d like Apple to re-add a fingerprint scanner, for those times when Face ID isn’t working quite as slickly as it should. But we want this in the screen too, or better yet, make the whole screen one big fingerprint scanner, as it has been rumored Apple might be planning for a future phone.
4. A higher refresh rate
The iPhone 11 Pro
One way some companies are further improving their displays is by upping the refresh rate from the standard 60Hz. The OnePlus 7 Pro for example has an optional 90Hz refresh rate, while the Razer Phone 2 goes up to 120Hz.
This can help make interactions with the handset and animations feel silky smooth, so we’d like to see Apple offer a higher refresh rate of its own. It’s not out of the question, especially as some iPad Pro models have a refresh rate of up to 120Hz. Indeed, exactly that refresh rate has been rumored for the upcoming iPhones.
5. Further battery boosts
For the first time in years, with the iPhone 11 range it feels like Apple has really prioritized battery life in its phones, but we want the company to go even further with the iPhone 12. Or at the very least not go backwards.
We’re still waiting on an iPhone that can comfortably last two days, and we’d like the iPhone 12 (or at least the iPhone 12 Pro Max) to be it.
6. 5G support
Samsung's Galaxy S10 Plus 5G
Apple is behind when it comes to 5G, as none of the iPhone 11 range offer it, while rival handsets like the Samsung Galaxy S20 family and OnePlus 7 Pro 5G do.
Apple’s lack of support isn’t a big deal right now, as 5G coverage is still very sparse in most countries, but by the time the iPhone 12 launches it will be more widely available and a large number of other handsets will support it, so it will be time for Apple to jump on board.
The good news is that it’s heavily rumored that 2020’s iPhones will support 5G, so this is one thing we’re likely to get.
7. A lower price
We ask for this every year with new iPhones and this year we actually kind of got it, with the base iPhone 11 starting at less than the iPhone XR did. So it’s actually not impossible that we could see an even lower price – or a reduced price for the rest of the range – with the iPhone 12.
We wouldn’t count on it, but Apple’s more affordable phones are typically its best-selling in recent years, so there should be some incentive to cut costs where possible.
Oppo is expanding its audio products portfolio in India once again with the release of two affordable Bluetooth earphones - the Enco W31 and Enco M31 neckband. Amazon India has listed the Enco W31 on sale at a price of Rs 3,999 and sales will start from today. The Enco M31 is a newer product that is cheaper costing Rs 1,999 and will go on sale starting May 23 on Amazon.
Oppo Enco W31 Earbuds
Although the Enco W31 was launched alongside the Reno 3 Pro and Oppo’s Enco Free TWS earbuds, it’s only going on sale now. Moreover, it’s debut price was Rs 4,499 and this new price could be a revised one. It’s available in Black and White colours. If you’ve seen the Enco Free TWS earbuds, the Enco W31 looks very similar except that they have in-ear silicone tips. The charging case, which has a USB-C port for charging is circular, can give 15 hours of music playback.
The battery life of the buds is pitched at 3.5 hours. The Enco W31 has 7mm dynamic drivers, a frequency range of 20Hz and 20kHz, and Bluetooth 5.0 with an approximate range of 10 metres.
The Enco W31 is the affordable version of the premium Enco Free. It also supports in-ear detection (for ColorOS 7 devices) as well as touch controls for music playback and managing calls. The earbuds will likely compete directly with Xiaomi’s Mi True Wireless earbuds and Realme’s offering, among other products.
Oppo Enco M31 Neckband
The Oppo M31 has a typical neckband design and 9.2 dynamic drivers, Bluetooth 5.0, and noise reduction powered by AI. Also, the Enco M31 supports LDAC for high-quality audio output over the Bluetooth connection. They come in Black and Green colour options. As mentioned earlier, sales begin on May 23 on Amazon.
A critical vulnerability found in Google’s official WordPress plugin, Site Kit, could allow intruders access to Google Search Console to the targeted site.
The plugin, which has over 400,000 installations, is used to configure various Google products that offer insights like web traffic, revenue from advertisements, website speed and optimization into WordPress.
The Google Search Console Privilege Escalation vulnerability, which has now been fixed, was rated as critical as it could not only let the hackers access the Search Console but also modify sitemaps or tamper with search engine result pages (SERPs).
According to experts at Wordfence, after connecting with the Search console for the first time, the plugin generates a proxySetupURL which directs the web admin to Google OAuth to run a verification process by leveraging a proxy.
Another issue where “the verification request used to verify a site’s ownership was a registered admin action" could not verify the request’s authenticity. Combined, these flaws “made it possible for subscriber-level users to become Google Search Console owners on any affected site,” stated the researchers.
Once hackers gained access of the Google Search Console, they could run black hat SEO campaigns by manipulating search engine result pages, inject malicious code for illicit monetization and modify sitemaps. It also allows unauthorized access to view competitive performance data as well as remove web pages from Google search engine result pages.
Google has now released a patched version of the Site Kit plugin by adding capability checks and an ability to verify that the request was sent during a legitimate authenticated session. Additionally, it will now alert Search Console owners whenever a new owner is added to the console as an additional security.
