All about Technology: April 2019

Tuesday, 30 April 2019

The Moto E6 could be the next budget offering from Motorola

The Moto E5 was a budget smartphone with some pretty impressive features for its price point – but its inevitable predecessor could be a little less impressive.

According to leaked specs from Mishaal Rahman, who has a respectable track record of hardware information leaks, the Moto E6, which we haven't heard of so far, could be similar to the Moto E5 in many ways, but perhaps a downgrade in others.

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What's up with the Moto E6

Some of the Moto E6 specs look to be the same as in the Moto E5 – the 13MP rear camera, 5MP front camera, 2GB of RAM and 16GB of storage are all common between the two phones.

While the Moto E5 ran on a Snapdragon 425 chipset, the Moto E6 apparently runs on a Snapdragon 430, so it has a modest step up in terms of processor, and the 32GB memory option may appeal to some.

But in other ways, the Moto E6 is a downgrade, specifically in terms of screen specs. While we praised the Moto E5's 5.7-inch screen size, at 5.45 inches the Moto E6 would actually be a smaller phone, although Rahman does admit he's not totally sure of these dimensions.

While we typically expect new phones to be improvements on their predecessors, if this leak is accurate, it suggests the Moto E6 could be mostly the same, and with one important downgrade.

The Moto E series phones have a roughly yearly release schedule – if the Moto E6 is released a year on from the Moto E5, we'd expect to see it in the next few months, so stay tuned to TechRadar to find out the final Moto E6 specs.

These are the best Moto phones you can buy in 2019

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Best DSLR camera 2019: 10 great cameras to suit all budgets

For quite some time now, if you've wanted to get serious about your photography your best option is to have invested in a DSLR camera. These cameras are designed for users at all technical levels, and they have traditionally offered three main advantages over smartphones and compacts: a large sensor, plenty of manual control, and the option to change lenses to suit the scene and subject.

Today, mirrorless cameras are incredibly popular as they manage to offer the benefits described above but, usually, in an even more compact and lighter package. The reason for this is that they lack the mirror common to DSLRs (hence the name), and most replace the optical viewfinder with high-resolution, electronic alternatives too. They may use smaller and lighter lenses too, which further helps to reduce size and weight.

If you want to know more about how they compare, read this: Mirrorless vs DSLR: 10 key differences. Or, if you want to know more about different camera types in general, check out our step-by-step guide: What camera should I buy?

While mirrorless cameras are grabbing all the headlines at the moment, don't think DSLRs are dead and buried.

A DSLR is still the cheapest way to get a camera with interchangeable lenses and a viewfinder (you'll find most entry-level mirrorless cameras don't have viewfinders). At the other end of the scale, almost all professional sports, press and wildlife photographers choose full-frame DSLRs over every other camera type.

That said, there are some cracking mirrorless cameras out there at the moment that are taking the place of DSLRs in pro photographers' kit bags, including the Nikon Z7, Fujifilm X-T3, Panasonic Lumix G9 and Sony Alpha A7R III.

In between entry-level and full-frame DSLRs are a whole range of models aimed at different users, different levels of experience and different budgets. Here's our pick of the best DSLR cameras you can buy right now.

Before we get onto our top 10 picks of the best DSLRs you can buy right now, let's take a look at this great value option. Nikon's D7200 may be showing its age in a few places, but its still loaded with all the core features every enthusiast needs to take their imaging to the next level. The 24.2MP sensor produces great images, while the 6fps burst shooting option and excellent 51-point autofocus system make it easy to grab shots of moving subjects. On top of that you get Full HD video to 60p along with Wi-Fi and NFC.

Read our in-depth Nikon D7200 review

Best DSLR cameras in 2019

If you're looking for the ultimate DSLR right now (or any camera for that matter), then the Nikon D850 is it. This full-frame monster of a camera might be on the pricey side, but for the cash you get a stunning camera that won't disappoint. The huge 45.4MP sensor delivers images with stunning detail and noise performance even at high ISOs, while the highly sophisticated 153-point AF system is borrowed from Nikon's flagship D5. Add in 7fps burst shooting and a host of advanced features, wrap it in a durable magnesium alloy body and you've got a camera that's pretty much at the top of its game for any subject you want to shoot. A brilliant piece of kit.

Like the sound of the D850, but want to go mirrorless? Well, while not strictly a mirrorless version of the D850, Nikon's newer Z7 mirrorless camera shares the same 45MP resolution as the D850, but features some clever tech of its own, including an all-new lens mount.

Read our in-depth Nikon D850 review

Watch our hands-on video below (Nikon D850 review):

Canon's EOS 5D series of cameras has a rich heritage – the original EOS 5D bought full-frame photography to the masses, the Mark II unleashed Full HD video capture for the first time on a DSLR, and while the Mark III became a firm favourite amongst photographers for doing everything it did so well. The EOS 5D Mark IV pretty much tweaks and improves on everything before it, with a newer 30.4MP sensor and advanced 61-point AF system along with 4K video recording. It's still a brilliant DSLR that was until recently our top pick, but the arrival of the D850 means it slips a place down to number two.

Read our in-depth Canon EOS 5D Mark IV review

Nikon has taken its flagship D5 DSLR and most of its high-end features and distilled all of this into a smaller, but still very durable metal body. The full-frame sensor is replaced by an 20.9MP APS-C sized chip that allows the D500 to shoot at a rapid 10fps and deliver a great high ISO performance. A brilliant all-rounder with a high-performance 153-point AF system means it excels at fast action like sports and wildlife photography, but still has the chops to shoot landscapes and portraits. If the cost is a bit steep, then take a look at the D7500 below.

Read our in-depth Nikon D500 review

The D7500 is cheaper than the D500, and while it doesn't offer quite the same pro-spec performance and build quality, it packs the same excellent 20.9MP sensor inside an even more compact and affordable body. The new camera may not get the 153-point AF system from the D500, but the enhanced 51-point system in the D7500 still puts a lot of rival systems in the shade, while the 4K video capture, tilt-angle touchscreen display and 8fps burst shooting are some of the other highlights. If you're on a bit of a tighter budget, take a look at the 24.2MP D7200 - it may have been surpassed by the D7500, but it's still one of the best enthusiast DSLRs out there.

Read our in-depth Nikon D7500 review

Watch our video review of the Nikon D7500 below

The EOS 80D is Canon's high-end enthusiast DSLR, and while it might be getting on a bit – it's one of the oldest DSLRs in the Canon line-up – it's still a great buy. It features a fast and effective 45-point autofocusing system, while the clever Dual Pixel CMOS AF system for Live View shooting delivers snappy focusing speeds. The camera's handling is excellent, promoting creative shooting as well as making setting adjustments quick and easy. It also has a high-quality 24.2MP sensor that is able to capture a good level of detail while keeping noise under control. A great enthusiast DSLR that packs a decent performance.

Read our in-depth Canon EOS 80D review

At the opposite end of the spectrum to some of the full-frame DSLRs here, the D3500 is super affordable, has one of the sharpest APS-C sensors out there, and a neat retracting kit lens (there are two versions, spend the extra $20/£20 and get it with VR, Nikon's image stabilization system). It's proof that you don't have to pay a fortune to get a great camera, and we say its value for money makes it just as impressive as much more advanced (and much more expensive) alternatives. It has a great 24MP sensor and although the controls are designed to be simple for novices, in the right hands the little D3500 is a match for cameras costing far more. If you're looking to get more creative with your photography, and looking for your first DSLR, the Nikon D3500 is hard to beat.

Read our in-depth Nikon D3500 review

Costing a bit more than the Nikon D3400, but offering quite a bit more in the way of features, the Canon EOS Rebel T7i (known as the EOS 800D outside the US) is a great entry-level DSLR. The sensor impresses, as does the 45-point autofocus system backed up by excellent live view AF, while the graphical interface will certainly make this camera even more appealing to new users. The absence of 4K video and the quality of the exterior materials disappoint, but this aside, if you're looking for a well-rounded and easy to use camera for your first DSLR the EOS Rebel T7i / EOS 800D is certainly a very good bet.

Read our in-depth Canon EOS Rebel T7i / EOS 800D review

Like the look of Nikon's D850 further up the top, but don't want to shell out quite that much? Then look no further than the 24MP full-frame D750. It doesn't have that magnificent 45MP sensor that the D850 does, but its 24MP alternative still delivers top-quality results – especially at high ISO settings. The D750 also features a very respectable 6.5fps continuous shooting speed, together with a handy tilting screen and a pretty attractive asking price. Wi-Fi allows you to get your shots online without any hassle too, although as an older model there's no 4K video nor a touchscreen.

Read our in-depth Nikon D750 review

Still one of the best options for sports and action photographers, the EOS 7D Mark II has performance and speed as its primary focus. To that end, it combines a 20.7MP APS-C sensor with Canon's excellent Dual Pixel CMOS AF system for smooth autofocus in live view and during video recording, together with a 10fps burst shooting mode and a 65-point AF system. It also boasts excellent ergonomics and a rugged, weather-resistant body, which makes it a fine choice for anyone who tends to shoot outside in variable conditions, whether it's for sports, wildlife, nature or landscapes.

Read our in-depth Canon EOS 7D Mark II review

It may not be the smallest or most affordable way into Canon's vast EOS DSLR ecosystem, and has recently been updated by the Rebel SL3, but we'd sooner choose the Rebel SL2 – also known as the EOS 200D – over the company's more junior and older offerings. Its strong feature set includes Canon's excellent Dual Pixel CMOS AF system, which delivers swift autofocus during videos and in live view, while the LCD screen flips out and responds to touch – and it's 2019, after all, so why settle for anything less? Despite its small size, handling is great too, making it a solid choice for those with small or larger hands alike. What's not to love? Other than the understandably plasticky body and lack of 4K video, not much at all.

Read our in-depth Canon EOS Rebel SL2 / 200D review

Also consider...

It's been on the market for some time but we still have a soft spot for the D5300 – and the fact that it can still be bought brand new is testament to just how relevant it continues to be. It provides first-time DSLR users with a stronger set of specs than the average entry-level DSLR, with a 3.2in LCD that flips all the way out to face the front, together with a 39-point AF system, Full HD video recording to 60p and 5fps burst shooting. Of course, none of that would matter if the image quality wasn't up to scratch, but fortunately it is; the 24.1MP APS-C sensor has been designed without the optical low-pass filter to help as much detail to get into images as possible, and results at high ISO settings remain strong.

http://bit.ly/2D2RAlJ

AMD Radeon VII is the new king of Ethereum cryptocurrency mining

The AMD Radeon VII, AMD’s recent high-end graphics card, isn’t just great at pushing pixels while playing games, as it appears to be the new king of Ethereum cryptocurrency mining when it comes to performance.

According to VoskCoin, a member of the Bitcointalk forum, the Radeon VII is able to achieve a hash rate of 90MH/s without any tweaking. As Wccftech points out, this is almost three times the performance of the AMD RX Vega 64, and handily beats the 69MH/s hash rate of Nvidia’s powerful Titan V graphics card.

If you’re happy to do some tweaking to the GPU, then the AMD Radeon VII will perform even better, with a hash rate of between 90MH/s and 100MH/s.

These impressive results are in part thanks to the improved memory bandwidth of the new card, and the Radeon VII comes with a memory bandwidth of 1TB/s and 16GB of HBM2 (High Bandwidth Memory), whereas the older RX Vega 64 has a memory bandwidth of 484GB/s and 8GB of HBM2.

Perhaps most importantly of all, the Radeon VII is a more powe-efficient card, which brings running costs down when you’re using it to mine every hour of the day.

Clash of the Titans

The Titan V was once considered one of the very best GPUs for cryptocurrency mining, able to mine Ethereum twice as fast as the RX Vega 64.

The fact that the AMD Radeon VII breezes past Nvidia’s GPU when it comes to Ethereum mining is noteworthy because even though the Titan V is now a few years old, it still costs near $2,999 (around £2,200, AU$4,000), compared to the Radeon VII, which costs $699 (£699, around AU$980).

A much lower cost, for much better results, makes the Radeon VII a far better purchase for budding miners. While the popularity of cryptocurrency mining has died down of late, the release of this card, which offers such good results for such a reasonable price, could convince many people to fire up their old mining rigs again.

Check out VoskCoin’s video review of the Radeon VII’s mining capabilities below.

Here’s our picks for the best graphics cards of 2019

http://bit.ly/2PFPLk2

Unsecured database of 50m found on Azure

In the latest blow to consumer privacy, researchers have discovered that the addresses and personal details of over 80m US households have been left unsecured in a cloud database.

The group of independent security researchers, led by Noam Rotem, have found that the unidentified database contains names, ages and genders as well as income levels and marital status. Some of the information such as gender, marital status and income level is coded while the names, ages and addresses are not.

Fortunately, the data stored in the database does not include any payment information or Social Security numbers.

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Rotem and his team have verified that the data is accurate but the team of researchers did not download the data in order to minimize the invasion of privacy of those whose information is listed.

Exposed database

Rotem partnered with the Israeli VPN review site VPNMentor to conduct his research and in a recently published blog post, the company called on the public to help identify the owner of the database hosted on Microsoft Azure.

Securing the data inside the database is not Microsoft's responsibility but rather that of its owners. However, if the owner can be identified, the company could contact its customer to let it know of the problem.

The server hosting the data first came online February according to Rotem who discovered it in April using tools he had developed to search for and catalog unsecured databases.

The database contains information about adults aged 40 and over who could be even more susceptible to scammers trying to obtain their information to try to defraud them.

Rotem's discovery of the unsecured database could lead to its owner being identified but even more so, his research sheds light on the fact that open databases full of valuable user information exist online and could make online fraud even easier for cybercriminals.

Via CNET

Protect your online privacy with the best VPN

http://bit.ly/2ZMkNLG

Anki, maker of adorable robot companions, is shutting down

Anki, the San Francisco-based company behind smart, pocket-sized robots Vector and Cozmo, is shutting down this week.

According to Recode, almost 200 employees are being made redundant on Wednesday, and will receive just a week of severance pay.

Check out the best robot toys of 2019
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How Anki made robots with real personality

Anki has attracted serious investment in the past, from big names including Index Ventures (which also backed Slack, Etsy, Skype and Just Eat in their early days) and Andreessen Horowitz (whose portfolio includes BuzzFeed, Facebook, Honor and Github).

Unfortunately, hardware is a notoriously expensive business and the company was left struggling after a more recent round of funding fell through. CEO Boris Sofman had previously told staff that companies including Microsoft, Amazon and Comcast were interested in acquiring Anki, but such a deal never materialized.

“Despite our past successes, we pursued every financial avenue to fund our future product development and expand on our platforms,” a company spokesperson said in a statement to Recode.

Powering down

It's a shame for a company that was so committed to the idea of robots as household companions. The most sophisticated of its devices, Vector, recently became compatible with Amazon Alexa, making it part pet and part free-roaming virtual assistant.

The company was keen to state that its products weren't toys, instead pitching them as AI-powered companions, and bringing experienced character designers on board to infuse them with personality.

"I feel like the future of home robotics needs to include character," Meghan McDowell, director of program management at Anki, told TechRadar in an interview earlier this year.

"We've seen with Vector, and even some of our previous products like Cozmo, that adding character to AI and robotics really is where the magic happens. It’s really important to the future of people accepting robots in their homes, to have people feel comfortable, and have a better, richer, deeper experience with their robot."

Sadly, it seems that household robots (at least for purposes other than housework) are still some way off becoming mainstream.

Are robot pets and companions useful, or just sad gimmicks?

http://bit.ly/2UOUQr5

Honor 20 Pro leaks again, and this time it's in another color

The best iPhone 6S deals and UK contracts in May 2019

OnePlus 7 Pro confirmed to have no notch or bezel

OnePlus rarely waits for the full announcement to give details away about its phones, and the OnePlus 7 Pro is no exception, as the company has taken out a big advert in the New York Times which, among other things, reveals that there’s no notch or bezel.

The advert – shared in full on Twitter by @jerflash and in part by OnePlus itself - doesn’t fully rule out a punch-hole, but based on leaks of the OnePlus 7 Pro we’re expecting an all-screen front with nothing on the top edge and instead a pop-up selfie camera.

That includes no real bezel on the top edge, though leaks have shown a slim strip of bezel below the screen, so while we wouldn’t take the company’s claims of no bezel too literally, there just probably won’t be much.

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According to the advert there’s also no bells and whistles, no bloatware, no app lag, no random music and no $2000 price tag, so while few phones cost quite that much, it suggests the OnePlus 7 Pro will still undercut most flagships.

You can also see schematics of the OnePlus 7 Pro in the advert, which further suggest an all-screen front, and which appear to show a motorized front camera, which would allow it to pop up, as leaks have shown.

These aren’t the first details about the OnePlus 7 Pro that OnePlus itself has shared. The company has previously for example teased that the phone will be “smooth”, pointing to the rumored 90Hz refresh rate of the screen.

As for everything else, all will be revealed soon, as the OnePlus 7 Pro (likely alongside the standard OnePlus 7 and OnePlus 7 Pro 5G) will be announced on May 14.

Read our full OnePlus 6T review

http://bit.ly/2VGLdPS

The best Samsung Galaxy S8 Plus deals in May 2019

It wasn't that long ago that the Galaxy S8 Plus was the big dog in the Samsung yard. It was the go to Android phablet for any looking for a bigger phone for a good six months or so after its release in 2017. With the S9 Plus, Note 9 and Samsung Galaxy S10 Plus deals all now available, the S8 Plus has been slowly replaced. But Galaxy S8 Plus deals are still well worth a look - possibly now more than ever.

A year might have passed since its release, but the S8+ remains one of our absolute favourites, especially as the Galaxy S9 Plus doesn't offer much in the way of massive improvements. The S8 Plus is a way more affordable alternative to its successor, as well as to the Galaxy Note 9 and iPhone XS Max.

If that's got you sold, then you'll want to hear a little about pricing. We have the full rundown of the best Galaxy S8 Plus deals right here in our comparison chart, with the cheapest prices from the major networks - EE, O2, Vodafone and Three - including sub-£25pm tariffs that have really got our pulses racing.

The prices on the Galaxy S8+ are lower than ever, but if they still look a little rich for your blood, then you can buy the smaller Galaxy S8 for less or head over to our best mobile phone deals page for something completely different. If it's the Plus-sized screen that you need though, then we'll find you the best S8 Plus deal here.

If you want a huge Android phone with market leading specifications, an incredible display and a superb camera, then the Galaxy S8 Plus is a must for your shortlist. The price will be a bit cheaper than some of the newer flagships but it still holds a lot of the same features

Read TechRadar's full Samsung Galaxy S8 Plus review

http://bit.ly/2mKwVvQ

Unsecured database of 50m found on Azure

In the latest blow to consumer privacy, researchers have discovered that the addresses and personal details of over 80m US households have been left unsecured in a cloud database.

Fortunately, the data stored in the database does not include any payment information or Social Security numbers.

Microsoft ups cloud security with Azure Sentinel launch
Data in the cloud is more exposed than organisations think
EU to create major biometric database

Rotem and his team have verified that the data is accurate but the team of researchers did not download the data in order to minimize the invasion of privacy of those whose information is listed.

Exposed database

The server hosting the data first came online February according to Rotem who discovered it in April using tools he had developed to search for and catalog unsecured databases.

The database contains information about adults aged 40 and over who could be even more susceptible to scammers trying to obtain their information to try to defraud them.

Via CNET

Protect your online privacy with the best VPN

http://bit.ly/2ZMkNLG

Anki, maker of adorable robot companions, is shutting down

Anki, the San Francisco-based company behind smart, pocket-sized robots Vector and Cozmo, is shutting down this week.

According to Recode, almost 200 employees are being made redundant on Wednesday, and will receive just a week of severance pay.

Check out the best robot toys of 2019
Clean up with our guide to the best robot vacuums
How Anki made robots with real personality

“Despite our past successes, we pursued every financial avenue to fund our future product development and expand on our platforms,” a company spokesperson said in a statement to Recode.

Powering down

The company was keen to state that its products weren't toys, instead pitching them as AI-powered companions, and bringing experienced character designers on board to infuse them with personality.

"I feel like the future of home robotics needs to include character," Meghan McDowell, director of program management at Anki, told TechRadar in an interview earlier this year.

Sadly, it seems that household robots (at least for purposes other than housework) are still some way off becoming mainstream.

Are robot pets and companions useful, or just sad gimmicks?

http://bit.ly/2UOUQr5

Honor 20 Pro leaks again, and this time it's in another color

The best iPhone 6S deals and UK contracts in May 2019

OnePlus 7 Pro confirmed to have no notch or bezel

Everything we've heard about the OnePlus 7
See what we think of the Galaxy S10
The OnePlus 7 could be one of the first 5G phones

As for everything else, all will be revealed soon, as the OnePlus 7 Pro (likely alongside the standard OnePlus 7 and OnePlus 7 Pro 5G) will be announced on May 14.

Read our full OnePlus 6T review

http://bit.ly/2VGLdPS

The best iPhone 6S deals and UK contracts in May 2019

OnePlus 7 Pro confirmed to have no notch or bezel

Everything we've heard about the OnePlus 7
See what we think of the Galaxy S10
The OnePlus 7 could be one of the first 5G phones

As for everything else, all will be revealed soon, as the OnePlus 7 Pro (likely alongside the standard OnePlus 7 and OnePlus 7 Pro 5G) will be announced on May 14.

Read our full OnePlus 6T review

http://bit.ly/2VGLdPS

The best Samsung Galaxy S8 Plus deals in April 2019

Read TechRadar's full Samsung Galaxy S8 Plus review

http://bit.ly/2mKwVvQ

Prisma Labs raises $6.7M for its AI-powered approach to visual editing

Remember Prisma? The Moscow-based team behind the app that sparked a style transfer craze in 2016 has raised a €6 million (~$6.7M) Series A, led by early stage artificial intelligence focused VC firm, Haxus.

While two of Prisma’s original co-founders left the company in the middle of last year, to work on building a new social app — the still, as yet, unreleased Capture — co-founder Andrey Usoltsev stayed on to keep developing Prisma Labs, taking up the CEO role.

The Series A funding will go towards expanding Prisma’s 21-strong team and scaling the business by spending on marketing to grow uptake of its apps’ premium subscription offers. These include a subscription layer for its eponymous app which gives users access to styles not available in the free version.

“We’re going to grow rapidly. We’re going to double our team this year and set up the impressive marketing budget,” says Usoltsev.

Late last year the team released a new freemium selfie retouching app, called Lensa, hoping to capture a slice of the beauty filter/photo-editing market. Their twist was to bake in AI smarts that power automatic adjustments — smoothing skin tone, whitening teeth, brightening eyes and so on, at the touch of the in-app camera button — as if by technomagic.

Their pitch for the selfie retoucher is ‘natural’ looking enhancements. And Prisma claims it’s seeing “very high” retention rates for Lensa, more akin to a sticky social network than photo-retouching software.

They argue the app’s face-retouching machine learning algorithms have benefited from the heap of data amassed from Prisma’s multi-millions of selfie-submitting users. And while there’s certainly no shortage of rival apps out there claiming to make selfies look better, Lensa’s AI-powered retouching does offer — at a glance — less crude/more plausible results than plenty of gimmicky ‘beauty filter’ apps also touting reality-editing wares.

“There is competition [for selfie retouching] and we think that it is good because it shows the size of the market,” says Usoltsev. “It’s huge. There are millions of people using apps like Facetune and what our advantage is is that we have a great technical team, R&D team that creates the best technology on the market in some areas… that trained building Prisma.

“We’re focusing on the quality and the natural look of the results. And some apps on the market didn’t pay as much attention as needed to these two things. We’re going to focus on this. We are not the first in this space but we are going to be the best in this space.”

“Automation is the key,” he adds. “We can now provide users with new kind of product, new kind of photo- and video-editors that automate the routine and requires less effort from the user side to get awesome results.”

Lensa, which launched in December with a subscription offering right off the bat, now has more than 100,000 users, according to Usoltsev — though it’s not breaking out paying subs yet.

The early userbase skews female and young — without, according to Usoltsev, Prisma doing any overt targeting — the main group being 18-24 year old women, somewhat unsurprisingly for a selfie beautifying app.

“The product is not viral, like Prisma, and most of the users are acquired from paid sources like Facebook ads and so on so. We strongly control the amount of users we acquire and now the product is not ready for the real scale,” he continues, noting they’re in the process of tweaking the app to expand the features and improve product market fit.

They’re also playing with the business model, with the initial subscription offering definitely feeling a bit underwhelming vs the core free AI-powered edits. (You can read our first look at Lensa here.)

“Right now we’re very close to start scaling it,” he adds. “We need a couple of more releases to be ready 100% and then we start scaling.

“We’re going to expand the range of features. We’re going to add a video feature because our primary feature — retouching — works in real-time and we tested it even on livestreaming and it works well. We’re working on optimizing it even more, to work faster, and in better quality.”

Other ongoing dev work to polish Lensa’s proposition includes tweaking the auto-adjustments it makes by determining the best settings for portrait-influencing factors, such as exposure, contrast, highlights and shadows. “For each adjustment we use a neural network,” he notes. “They work together… to find the best output result.”

Prisma is also monetizing its namesake original app — which grabbed around 70M downloads in a few months back in 2016, with Usoltsev saying they’re still relying mostly on organic/viral downloads rather than active promotion, riding the Prisma craze’s long viral tail.

They now have more than 100,000 paying subscribers for Prisma, though they’re not breaking out active usage — beyond saying it runs into the “millions”. (Back in 2017 they were reporting active monthly usage for the app of around 10M.) A premium sub offering was switched on in Prisma in January 2018.

“The paying audience is actually diverse. The major group by age I think it’s 24-35 year olds. And men and women is about the same proportion,” he adds.

Last year’s launch of Lensa came despite an earlier focus shift for the startup to b2b, after the style transfer craze that had powered its namesake app’s 2016 virality appeared on the cusp of being crazed (and, well, cloned) to death.

The plan, as it was in 2017, was for Prisma Labs to offer an SDK for computer vision-powered effects that developers could use to enhance their own apps. But the team kept its hand in the consumer space, maintaining their apps as testing grounds. A decision that set them up for what now looks a full reverse pivot back to consumer.

Usoltsev tells us the earlier b2b switch was “mostly” at the behest of Prisma’s investors — and wasn’t something the wider team was keen on.

They’re fully stoked to get back to their consumer roots, he adds.

“It didn’t really resonate with our team experience and our company DNA,” he adds of the b2b phase. “But in the process we figured out this is not what we want to do. We came up with the idea for the new product in the process and came up with the broader vision for the entire company and what we want to do.

“The core team was all about consumer products and b2b was not seen as interesting topic at all.”

So what’s on the slate for the future, as the team thinks about other features and/or consumer apps it might want to launch this year?

“Right now we’re thinking a lot about video,” he says. “Video is so fast growing space right now and we see a lot of new apps that break into the market — like TikTok — that grows insanely and based on video. And we’re going to provide users with automated tools to enhance their videos.

“Videos is more complicated to edit than photos because it requires more skill… to learn how to edit videos. And if your clip is longer than one minute it’s so hard to create it because montage could be a boring process and the longer the video is the more complicated the process is. So we’re going to fix this — and provide users with automated tools to help them create great videos quickly and with no effort, or as little as possible.”

AI-enabled auto video editing is “probably” going to be a standalone app, he says, rather than a feature baked into one of Prisma’s existing apps. But, well, watch this space.

https://tcrn.ch/2V5eO5V

The best Samsung Galaxy S8 Plus deals in April 2019

Read TechRadar's full Samsung Galaxy S8 Plus review

http://bit.ly/2mKwVvQ

The best Samsung Galaxy S8 Plus deals in April 2019

Read TechRadar's full Samsung Galaxy S8 Plus review

http://bit.ly/2mKwVvQ

Spotify boasts twice as many paid subscribers as Apple Music

Less than a month ago, it was revealed that Apple Music had overtaken Spotify in terms of paid subscribers in the US – a milestone for the music streaming service – but Spotify’s latest earnings report shows that it’s still well and truly dominating the overall global market.

“Premium Subscribers grew up to 100 million, up 32% year on year,'' the report reads, a figure that's double that of Apple Music’s last reported subscriber count, from January of this year.

The report attributes the growth, at least in part, to the success of certain promotions such as Family Plan offers, bundles with the Google Home Mini in a variety of regions, and Hulu partnerships in the US.

Apple Music overtakes Spotify's paid subscribers in the US

It’s worth considering that Spotify offers a free tier on its service, whereas Apple Music does not, and when factoring these figures in, Spotify’s total global listenership more than quadruples Apple’s, with 217 million monthly active users (a growth of 26% from last year).

In Apple’s defense, the most recent figures that it has officially released date back to the end of 2018, so Spotify has a four-month advantage on these numbers in terms of paid subscribers, although this may change during Apple’s anticipated Q2 earnings report.

It's no secret that the two competing services are feuding, with Spotify officially complaining about Apple's alleged anti-competitive practices, but with Amazon tipped to be launching a hi-res audio streaming service as well as a free ad-supported service, there'll soon be a new kid on the block that's likely a serious threat to both.

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Samsung's latest patent shows phone with wraparound display

According to a new patent spotted by Dutch technology site LetsGoDigital, Samsung could be working on a smartphone with a wraparound display that continues over the phone's edge and onto the rear of the device.

The patent, titled 'Electronic Device Having Plurality of Display and Method for Controlling Same', suggests a handset with a screen that can be viewed from both sides, which should assist immeasurably when it comes to photographing friends and selfie-taking.

In the patent application, Samsung describes a device with "a display configured to include a first surface in a first direction, a second surface in a second direction opposite to the first direction, and a third surface enclosing at least a portion of the space formed between the first surface and the second surface."

Presumably, the third surface described consists of the small area of the display that curves over the edge of the handset.

Below, you'll find some of the drawings that accompanied the patent application, which should give you an idea of what Samsung is going for with the proposed device.

Of course, the idea of a display that curves around to the rear of the device is not necessarily a new one – Huawei's foldable Mate X offers similar functionality for selfie and photo taking, and while Samsung's own Galaxy Fold uses a secondary outer screen and not a single curved one, it also allows for friends to see themselves while their photos are being taken.

At present, we don't know whether the patent's proposed design will make its way into an actual phone, though it's believed that the next Samsung Galaxy Fold could fold twice over.

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Google IO 2019: date and keynote predictions

IFA GPC 2019 highlights: Sennheiser’s superb soundbar, an AI razor and a new 8K TV

Providing something of an early teaser for the massive IFA tech expo in Berlin in September, the annual IFA Global Press Conference offers a first look at new gadgets set to be shown off at the show later in the year.

This year’s event took place in Huelva in Spain over the weekend, attracting over 300 media attendees from around the world and it didn’t disappoint – delivering a number of intriguing announcements and unveilings, including an AI-powered razor, an 8K screen and a number of neat new appliances.

For those who weren't able to attend, we've rounded up all the big news from the show and have categorized it by manufacturer below.

Sennheiser AMBEO Soundbar

Sennheiser’s long awaited first foray in to the world of consumer speakers is edging closer. With its original prototype having wowed visitors at CES back in January, the final retail version of their 3D audio AMBEO soundbar was being demoed at IFA GPC ahead of its release next month.

Packed with 13 separate drivers including two 3.5” top-firing speakers, the AMBEO delivers 5.1.4 immersive sound with compatibility with the three main 3D audio formats (Dolby Atmos, MPEG-H and DTS:X).

Using a combination of acoustic wave guides and digital processing, like most other soundbars, the AMBEO uses reflections off walls via its directional speakers to create a surround effect. On the evidence of our demo however, Sennheiser’s processing appears to be on another level to its rivals, with a real sense of height and separation of sounds delivered. This was particularly acute during a demo of a rainforest scene, with the sound of dripping water genuinely feeling like it was coming from a non-existent speaker behind us thanks to the convincing 360 degree soundstage.

Most impressive of all is its sheer power. With its bass response dropping to 30hz, while there’s the option of adding a separate third-party subwoofer, the amount of low-end the soundbar provides renders this option as all but unnecessary.

There’s no support for Apple Airplay 2 at this stage, but both Google Chromecast and Bluetooth (4.2) are integrated, as well as support for UPnP. On the physical input front, there’s three HDMI (v2.0a) inputs, one HDMI Out (eARC, v2.0a) as well as digital optical audio and aux-in.

The high-end performance will carry an unsurprisingly hefty asking price of €2,499 / £2,200, when it goes on sale on May 28 in Germany, UK, and Australia, while home cinema fans in the US will be able to pick one in early June for $2,499.

A further barrier for some will be that in order to fit in all those drivers, the AMBEO has a fairly sizable footprint compared to other soundbars. As well as being almost 17 cm deep, its 13.44cm height will likely cause an issue when pairing it with TV’s that aren’t wall mounted.

Nevertheless, on this showing the Ambeo soundbar is clearly set to be something of a game-changer for home cinema. With Sennheiser hinting at the show that they may be planning smaller speakers and systems in the future, the home audio market looks to have a new major player that’s set to shake things up.

Philips S7000 Smart Shaver

Proving that beards can indeed be smart, Philips announced at the event that it will be releasing a new AI-powered razor.

Nestling underneath its flagship S9000 shaver in its range, (thanks to boasting fancier finishing and housing), the new S7000 is nevertheless far more advanced, featuring its own dedicated app which helps to prevent skin irritation. The app works in conjunction with the S7000’s built-in Beard Adapt Sensor, which records dozens of measurements per second of hair density and direction and adjusts the blade accordingly to optimise shaving for each area of the face.

Having transferred its TV business to a joint venture with TPV Technology, and spun off its lighting line, Philips now concerns itself primarily with matters of health. A big part of this focus is on those with sleep-related issues including insomnia and sleep apnoea. The big talking point of its new Smart Sleeping range however appears to be its new anti-snoring wearable which aims to tackle the problem which, according to Philips, affects around 40% of the world’s population.

The belt-like SmartSleep Snoring Relief Band works using “positional training”, with its built-in sensor first monitoring the user’s sleep positions over a period of a few nights. After learning your resting habits, it then delivers gentle vibrations when it detects that you’re lying on your back – the chief cause of snoring – prompting you to instead lay on your side. Philips claim the vibrations will be light enough not to break your sleep, unlike the sharp kick in the shins most suffers no doubt normally experience from their partners.

Hisense 74U9E 8K TV

Chinese manufacturer Hisense used the event to show off its new 8K TV, the 74U9E, due for release in Asia at the end of the year, with the US and Europe to follow early in 2020. The 75” LED display has an impressive 5,376 local dimming zones for improved contrast and it seemed to perform very well during an encouraging demo session with what appeared to be upscaled 4K content.

It’s also set to boast a somewhat unique approach to sound: The prototype on show featured a subwoofer cleverly integrated into the set’s triangular rear stand. The 74U9E’s design is still yet to be finalised - there’s a fair amount of depth required to place the set on a table top thanks to the sub and it’s not yet clear if the speaker needs to be discarded completely in order to wall-mount the display.

Nevertheless, while we weren’t able to hear the speaker in action, it certainly seems like an ingenious way of adding some decent low-end to the notoriously underpowered speakers commonly found on super-flat TVs.

TCL's plan to take over TVs

While fellow Chinese rivals TCL didn’t have any products on show, a briefing delivered by Sales and Marketing Manager Frédéric Langin outlined the company’s hugely ambitious plans to become the world’s biggest TV manufacturer – with the company claiming it expects to increase sales in the UK by 50% in the coming year.

As well as revealing it would be joining Panasonic and Philips in supporting both Dolby Vision and HDR10+ with its 2019 TVs, the company also announced that their forthcoming ranges would feature printed OLED, QLED and Mini LED displays – with TCL’s next flagship TV set to use the latter technology, which will boast an astounding 20000 LEDs and 1000 zones.

Haier Candy Rapid'ò Washing Machines

Having recently added white goods maker Candy to its stable alongside other big brands like Hoover and GE Electrical, Chinese firm Haier is fast on its way to becoming the world’s biggest home appliances manufacturer.

Judging by European CEO’s Yannick Fierling’s presentation, Haier looked to be making good on their aim of not just being the biggest, but the most innovative company in the market, after highlighting some intriguing new solutions for everyday household chores from its upcoming ranges.

Its new line of Candy Rapid'ò washing machines work in tandem with a dedicated app, which will feature a “Snap and Wash” option. Take a picture of your laundry pile and Haier claim the app’s sophisticated built-in algorithm will magically recognise the material of each item and then automatically set the appropriate program and maximum water temperature for the wash.

Arguably even more impressive was the new Hoover H-KEEPHEAT 700, which offers the tantalising prospect of being able to keep meals at the perfect serving temperature for up to two weeks - doing away with the need for freezing and re-heating dishes.

Making use of its new Exever technology, the top-spec convection oven is able to keep its chamber at between 63 degrees Centigrade or 70 degrees Centigrade depending on what ingredients have been used, ensuring that the perfect temperature is used to preserve the food for a prolonged period.

Responding to questions on what sort of impact on energy consumption using the feature would have, a Haier rep claimed it would costs around 75p a day to run the oven in its keep-warm mode.

Safera Power Control Unit

Among a number of kitchen appliances showcased at IFA CPC 2019, arguably the most important on display was that from Finish firm Safera,

It’s new Sense smart cooking sensor aims to eradicate cooking-related fires – the current leading cause of domestic blazes.

The simple, one primary button device is placed above the stove and can recognise different cooking events, set timers automatically and act as an alarm should it notices irregularities.

As well as monitoring surface temperature and air quality when used with its corresponding app, the sensor can also be linked up to an optional smart plug called the Power Control Unit. This automatically shuts off electricity to the stove should the sensor detect dangerous heat levels. The sensor can also be linked to similar third-party options for gas stoves.

Sense also offers support for voice control via Amazon’s Alexa or Google Home, while Apple’s HomeKit digital assistant is also catered for. The sensor is available with a one price fits all fee of 149 pounds/euros/dollars depending on where you are in the world, with the Power Control Unitsold separately for the same price. The company is also working with cooker manufacturers to offer the sensor as an inbuilt feature, with several big name brands set to be named as partners in the coming months.

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The Huawei P30 Pro camera just got even better somehow

We just updated our best camera phone page to name the Huawei P30 Pro the best for taking photos in 2019 (so far), and it's about to get even better soon.

The promised dual-view video recording mode has arrived in a software update, according to XDA Developers, and it allows you to capture video from two perspectives.

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Specifically, you're now able to simultaneously record 'panoramic' and 'close-up video images', according to the official EMUI 9.1.0.153 release notes in China. In practice, this seems to record both standard and zoomed-in footage.

The update still needs to launch worldwide, but we know what the resulting footage looks like: it appears in a split-screen video format, as demoed below. (Sorry, Huawei P30 standard owners – the report only mentions the update coming to the P30 Pro.)

Why the Huawei P30 Pro is the best camera

The P30 Pro combines its powers of the main camera and the 'periscope' telephoto lens, which is icing on the cake. There are four cameras on the phone's rear (the above, plus an ultrawide and depth-sensing time-of-flight lenses) and one front-facing shooter.

The entire camera array handles low-light scenes without much trouble compared to its competition, and the 40MP main camera sometimes beats the Google Pixel 3.

As Huawei continues to tweak the software of the P30 Pro, we're destined to get an even better camera while we wait for the Google Pixel 4 to reclaim its crown.

The Samsung Galaxy Note 10 should have a great camera

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Samsung is making a vertical TV for all your Instagram Stories

Continuing the trend of creating new form factor screens, Samsung has announced a new TV for the South Korean market called 'The Sero' that can swivel to display videos vertically, similar to how you watch content on your phone.

The Sero, a close cousin to Samsung's Serif and The Frame TVs, will be part of the manufacturer’s 2019 Samsung TV lineup and will also use a quantum dot screen similar to the ones we’ve seen in its other QLED TV series.

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According to the specs provided by Samsung, the TV is 43-inches across from corner-to-corner and features 4.1-channel audio through its 60w speakers.

The Sero will also include Bixby. Because a TV this strange wouldn’t be complete without Bixby.

The Sero will be available exclusively in Korea for now with no international release in the near future – which is a shame, because at just 1.9 million won (around $1,600, £1,260, AU$2,300), there are plenty of influencers who'd buy it ironically.

Vertical screens: fad or functional?

Admittedly, even to us the idea of a vertical TV sounds a bit laughable - especially considering the TV’s eye-watering price tag.

And yet, while Samsung is really taking vertical screens to their limit, other tech companies are behind the idea of smaller vertical screens. Just look at the Facebook Portal, a Google Home Hub-type display that connects you with friends and family members on Facebook.

Whether vertical screens will take off outside of the computing world remains to be seen, but you can't blame Samsung for not trying.

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VMB launches new 500MBps broadband for SMEs

Virgin Media Business (VMB) has launched Voom 500 business broadband to improve the connectivity of SMEs by offering download speeds of up to 500Mbps and upload speeds of up to 35Mbps.

This speed boost will allow the telecom's business division to deliver broadband service that is more than four times faster than the equivalent speeds offered by its rivals.

New and existing business customers will be able to take advantage of the new download and upload speeds on May 2nd.

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Additionally, customers will be able to choose a range of additional options to suit their needs including increased upload speeds and support options.

Voom Fibre

With VMB's Voom Fibre, businesses will have a choice between three price plans and upload speeds with a number of add-ons and discounts on additional services to help them tailor the product to the specific needs of their business. Prices start from £30 per month though there are two additional options priced at £40 and £55 a month.

Managing Director at Virgin Media Business, Peter Kelly explained the company's decision to launch Voom Fibre, saying:

“We have, for many years now been the champions of small business, in particular entrepreneurs, through both our VOOM Competition platform and our Pioneers Community. With the launch of Voom Fibre we want to unleash every small business by providing the digital backbone they need for their business. For UK small business to thrive in this evolving digital economy they should have the technical ability and capacity in place so they can focus on development and growth, we are removing a barrier and enabling them to fulfil their digital potential - offering them all the speed they need to achieve success.”

VMB is also helping SMEs connect with each other through socializing and developing their community. The community will be a UK-wide network of seers and providers of advice where a geo-located platform will enable entrepreneurs to share, co-create and collaborate with other SME owners in their local area.

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Best managed WordPress hosting 2019

Europe lags behind in race to the cloud

New research from O'Reilly Media has revealed that Europe is struggling to keep pace with global cloud development.

The company's Evolving Data Infrastructure report also revealed that companies in the region have been slower than others to adopt the necessary tools and capabilities for cutting-edge solutions such as analytics and artificial intelligence (AI).

European organizations are aiming to make progress this year by investing heavily in data solutions to catch up. However, persistent skill shortages may continue to derail the region's efforts to emerge as a world leader in future technologies.

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Businesses in Europe have been slower to adopt cloud-based data infrastructures than the rest of the world with less than a quarter (24%) having used cloud in production for over four years. Surprisingly as many as a third (32%) of European companies say they are 'just exploring' cloud options and are yet to commit.

Looking to the future

Despite falling behind in cloud adoptions, European organizations broadly align with the rest of the world when it comes to their future priorities. The region has invested heavily in solutions that will help improve accessibility and usability of data with 59 percent building or evaluating solutions in data integration and extract, transform, load (ETL) processes.

When it comes to adopting DevOps modes of working, Europe has been slightly faster than the rest of the world with almost half (48%) of the organizations surveyed saying they are using specialized DevOps roles for machine cloud computing services and deployments, compared to 47 percent worldwide.

However, European progress in data infrastructure and analytics is being held back by skill shortages in several key areas. Data science talent is in especially high demand (47%) as well as data engineering (37%) roles. Companies in the region are also finding it slightly higher on average to fill roles in security.

Chief Data Scientist and Program Chair for the Strata Data Conference at O'Reilly Media, Ben Lorica provided further insight on the report's findings, saying:

“Innovation needs a strong foundation. Years of delayed investment and a reliance on legacy infrastructures may be holding European organisations back in the global race to the cloud. Yet, whilst they have some way to go before they achieve parity with their counterparts, it’s positive to see so many investing in data. A strong core of organised, clean and actionable data is crucial for any AI or analytics project. Provided companies become more competitive in attracting the best talent, 2019 may be the year that the continent turns a corner.”

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The best Huawei phones of 2019: find your perfect Huawei

Samsung TV sale at Walmart: save up to $500 on Samsung 4K TVs

If you're looking to save money on a new TV, then you've come to the right place. For a limited time, you can find discounts on a wide array of Samsung TVs at Walmart. The deals include fantastic savings on Samsung 4K HDR TVs that even include 2019 models.

A standout deal from the sale is the Samsung 65-inch 4K TV that's on sale for $597.99. That's a massive $500+ discount and the lowest price we've found for the UHD TV. The 65-inch TV features smart capabilities, so you can stream your favorite movies and TV shows all in one place using the Samsung remote. You can also control other smart home devices from your TV by downloading the SmartThings app. You'll enjoy a stunning picture with sharp contrasts and vibrant colors thanks to the 2160p Ultra HD resolution. The Samsung TV will also look good in your home thanks to ultra slim design and clean cable solution.

This week-long sale ends on Sunday May 5, so be sure to snag one of these discounted TVs before it's too late.

See more Samsung TV deals below.

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See more of the cheapest OLED TV prices and deals and shop other cheap TV deals and sale prices that are currently going on.

You can also learn more about our top-rated TVs with our guide on the best TVs of 2019: the big-screen TVs worth buying this year.

Learn more about Prime Day with our guide on Amazon Prime Day 2019: everything you need to know for the July deals event.

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GoDaddy shuts down 15k subdomains used in massive spam campaign

Web hosting provider and domain registrar GoDaddy has taken down over 15,000 subdomains following a two year investigation into a spam operation that tried to sell consumers fake products.

First users would receive a spam email promoting a product and if they happened to click on any of the links contained within the message, they would be sent to one of the fraudulent subdomains which were hosted on legitimate sites without their owner's knowledge.

All of the subdomains that were part of the scam shared one thing in common, they all sold products backed by fake endorsements from celebrities including Stephen Hawking, Jennifer Lopez, Gwen Stefani, Blake Shelton, Wolf Blitzer, the cast from Shark Tank and others.

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In terms of the fake products being peddled on these scam subdomains, the majority were health-related such as CBD oil, weight loss pills and brain supplements.

Hacked GoDaddy accounts

The massive network of shady domains was first discovered by security researcher Jeff White at Palo Alto Networks two years ago and since then he has been collecting the spam emails sent out in the campaign and indexing the subdomain URLs promoting these fake products.

White shared his findings with GoDaddy earlier this year and the company then launched its own investigation into the matter in which it discovered that the group behind the scam had likely used either phishing or credential stuffing attacks to gain access to its customers' accounts.

After gaining access to a user's GoDaddy account, the cybercriminals would create a subdomain for their legitimate sites that would later be used to host shady product pages and lure users with spam email campaigns.

The web host has put the number of hacked accounts at “several hundred”. After taking down more than 15k subdomains from its servers, GoDaddy also reset the passwords for the accounts that had been compromised and notified the users that had been impacted.

In related web hosting news, ICANN, the organization which oversees the domain name system, has proposed an end to price caps on the .org, .info and .biz top-level domains. The move comes at a time when the domain name system has seen thousands of new extensions added over the past five years, all of which are free to set their own prices. If the change does go into effect, the cost of hosting a website could rise significantly over the next few years.

Via ZDNet

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