Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi today took the first shot of the Covid-19 vaccine as the second phase of the vaccination drive in India got underway.
India is inoculating people over the age of 60, and those over 45 with existing health conditions (co-morbidities). It aims to cover 10 crore people across the country. So far in the first phase, more than 1.5 core people have received Covid-19 shots.
Alongside the second phase of inoculation, the Co-WIN platform for registering for the Covid-19 vaccine is live for those people eligible for it. Those falling in the eligible criteria can get themselves registered at https://selfregistration.cowin.gov.in/
Co-WIN (Covid Vaccine Intelligence Network) monitors the inoculation drive and also tracks the listed beneficiaries for vaccination on a real-time basis.
Govt releases user manual for help in registration
Snapshot of what the self-registration on Co-WIN entails(Image credit: Indian government)
More than 10,000 private hospitals empanelled under Ayushman Bharat PMJAY, more than 600 hospitals under the CGHS and other private hospitals empanelled under State schemes are functioning as vaccination centres.
The government has also shared a user manual for registration and appointment for the vaccination programme.
The second phase of the inoculation programme will be conducted at 10,000 government facilities, with people receiving shots free of charge, and at 20,000 private hospitals where a fee will be charged.
Private hospitals, it is said, can charge up to Rs 250 per dose of a Covid-19 vaccine.
India, it may be recalled, granted emergency-use approval to two vaccines -- Covishield, the local name of the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine manufactured by the Serum Institute of India, and Covaxin, which was developed by Indian drugmaker Bharat Biotech. Both require two doses, administered 28 days apart.
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi taking the Covid-19 vaccine shot at AIIMS, New Delhi today (March 1, 2021).(Image credit: Indian government)
Technical glitches while registering on Co-WIN
Meanwhile, reports have emerged that the Android app has encountered a glitch regarding the One-Time Password (OTP) verification.
After entering the mobile number, users are supposed to get an OTP to successfully register themselves on the app --- only the Android version in available till now.
But as per a news story in News18, the Co-WIN mobile app is not sending the OTP to users’ mobile numbers in order to get registered for the vaccine.
This complaint was also echoed by a few Twitter users who tried to register themselves on the Co-WIN platform.
CoWIN registration done , I can’t move beyond that , not able to chose next step of selection vaccination center , glitches in Govt CoWIN app , what a let down when ppl have been waiting for this this day for vac jab pic.twitter.com/h5yKgqJ7SNMarch 1, 2021
To receive the vaccine, one must register on the app using their mobile number or any other identity documents. The person then needs to visit the vaccination centre on the scheduled date and time and get the inoculation done, following which he gets a certificate.
The Co-WIN dashboard will provide all information including name, age, mobile number, vaccination status, date and time of vaccination, place of vaccination, session site, health facility and name of vaccinator.
The government has also clarified recently that Aadhaar is not mandatory for registration on Co-WIN portal.
For registration, users can upload any one of the officially recognised 12 identification documents.
Want to know about the latest happenings in tech? Follow TechRadar India on Twitter, Facebookand Instagram!
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi today took the first shot of the Covid-19 vaccine as the second phase of the vaccination drive in India got underway.
India is inoculating people over the age of 60, and those over 45 with existing health conditions (co-morbidities). It aims to cover 10 crore people across the country. So far in the first phase, more than 1.5 core people have received Covid-19 shots.
Alongside the second phase of inoculation, the Co-WIN platform for registering for the Covid-19 vaccine is live for those people eligible for it. Those falling in the eligible criteria can get themselves registered at https://selfregistration.cowin.gov.in/
Co-WIN (Covid Vaccine Intelligence Network) monitors the inoculation drive and also tracks the listed beneficiaries for vaccination on a real-time basis.
Govt releases user manual for help in registration
Snapshot of what the self-registration on Co-WIN entails(Image credit: Indian government)
More than 10,000 private hospitals empanelled under Ayushman Bharat PMJAY, more than 600 hospitals under the CGHS and other private hospitals empanelled under State schemes are functioning as vaccination centres.
The government has also shared a user manual for registration and appointment for the vaccination programme.
The second phase of the inoculation programme will be conducted at 10,000 government facilities, with people receiving shots free of charge, and at 20,000 private hospitals where a fee will be charged.
Private hospitals, it is said, can charge up to Rs 250 per dose of a Covid-19 vaccine.
India, it may be recalled, granted emergency-use approval to two vaccines -- Covishield, the local name of the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine manufactured by the Serum Institute of India, and Covaxin, which was developed by Indian drugmaker Bharat Biotech. Both require two doses, administered 28 days apart.
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi taking the Covid-19 vaccine shot at AIIMS, New Delhi today (March 1, 2021).(Image credit: Indian government)
Technical glitches while registering on Co-WIN
Meanwhile, reports have emerged that the Android app has encountered a glitch regarding the One-Time Password (OTP) verification.
After entering the mobile number, users are supposed to get an OTP to successfully register themselves on the app --- only the Android version in available till now.
But as per a news story in News18, the Co-WIN mobile app is not sending the OTP to users’ mobile numbers in order to get registered for the vaccine.
This complaint was also echoed by a few Twitter users who tried to register themselves on the Co-WIN platform.
CoWIN registration done , I can’t move beyond that , not able to chose next step of selection vaccination center , glitches in Govt CoWIN app , what a let down when ppl have been waiting for this this day for vac jab pic.twitter.com/h5yKgqJ7SNMarch 1, 2021
To receive the vaccine, one must register on the app using their mobile number or any other identity documents. The person then needs to visit the vaccination centre on the scheduled date and time and get the inoculation done, following which he gets a certificate.
The Co-WIN dashboard will provide all information including name, age, mobile number, vaccination status, date and time of vaccination, place of vaccination, session site, health facility and name of vaccinator.
The government has also clarified recently that Aadhaar is not mandatory for registration on Co-WIN portal.
For registration, users can upload any one of the officially recognised 12 identification documents.
Want to know about the latest happenings in tech? Follow TechRadar India on Twitter, Facebookand Instagram!
Broadband users across the country can be broadly divided into three parts. One that has access to blazing-fast internet connections with almost 100% uptime and thanks to the competition, these fibre broadband connections are affordable as well. The second category is of the users who are stuck at a place with poor infrastructure or are of low interest to the service providers, hence these users may have broadband access but at abysmal speeds and exorbitant costs.
Then comes the category where there is no connectivity. Forget broadband, even being able to connect to the internet using your phone is a luxury.
A satellite-based internet system may not be of huge interest to the first category apart from the users who are facing troubled connectivity and for the rest, this can be life-changing. Starlink is one such company that plans to bring fast internet connectivity regardless of their physical locations.
With the help of over 12000 low Earth orbit (LEO) satellites, Elon Musk’s Starlink will beam high speed, low latency internet across the globe. These satellites are being deployed in Earth’s orbit in a phased manner and will form an array around the Earth to relay internet connectivity from the ground-based stations.
These satellites will be interconnected with the help of lasers to offer seamless coverage across the globe.
Is Starlink feasible in India?
Starlink or any other satellite internet service can be of major help in a country like India. It can offer high-speed wireless connection in congested metro cities and tough terrains where installing wired connectivity is still a challenge.
From villages in the desert of Rajasthan to the hilly Himachal, forests in central India or the coastal regions, high-speed internet will not only help people to connect easily but can be a gamechanger when it comes to education, farming, transport, local commerce etc and can boost the economy.
Apart from metros and some tier 2 cities, a wired broadband connection is scarce. The high cost of setting up and maintaining infrastructure turns out to be the biggest roadblock for ISPs, hence an internet connection that doesn’t cost much is easy to set up and can offer seamless connectivity is a godsend in a country like India.
Additionally, offering connectivity in remote locations of the country will be in line with the federal government's “Digital India” dreams. Though, the government prefers local manufacturing and promotes local businesses under Vocal for Local, however, letting Elon Musk’s ambitious project connect rural India to the world could be a massive step in the direction to support innovation.
Starlink, like Tesla, has plans to offer its services in India. SpaceX has already written to the Indian government to the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) for facilitating approvals to use satellite technology for internet access in remote areas.
(Image credit: Future)
How can I sign-up for Starlink internet in India?
As of now Starlink is offering public beta connections and has over 10,000 users enrolled in the service across various countries like the US, UK, Canada, Mexico, and Australia etc.
Anyone can apply for a Starlink connection in India. Since it’s a beta phase, the connection is being rolled out in a phased manner. Its official website states that the service “is available to a limited number of users per coverage area at this time. Orders will be fulfilled on a first-come, first-served basis.”
You can enter your street address to check the availability. This availability date may depend on the area that you live in. In most cases that we’ve come across (including ours), the website mentions limited availability and probably 2022 is when you can expect the services in the country.
What is the cost of a Starlink subscription in India?
Starlink does not have any tie-ups with local payment services in India. Hence all the payments you make will be in US dollars. The payments can be made using a credit card, debit card as well as Apple Pay. The subscriptions charges are as below:
Upfront deposit - $99. This will be deducted from the monthly subscription fee once the connection is activated. This is a refundable deposit that will be refunded, in case, Starlink isn’t able to provide services in your area.
Monthly subscription fee - $99. This includes unlimited data access
Hardware cost - $499 + shipping. The Starlink kit includes an antenna similar to DTH antennas installed all around us, a router, a power supply, and a mount.
This Starlink kit is sent across when the company is able to offer connectivity services in your area. Apart from shipping, customs charges could be additional.
What kind of speed can I expect from Starlink in India?
The speeds offered by Starlink may vary initially depending on the satellite coverage. The website itself warns you to be ready for occasional no connectivity periods as well. Though this is subject to improve as SpaceX deploys more satellites into orbit.
As of now, users who’re a part of the beta test are reportedly getting download speeds of 100 Mbps (megabits per second) and upload speeds of 20 Mbps with latency is at or below 31 milliseconds.
While the current speeds may not be extremely impressive as in most cases wired broadband can offer way faster services, however, Starlink is currently offering internet with the help of one-twelfth of the planned satellites. Once fully deployed, according to the company’s claims, Starlink can offer up to 10Gbps download speeds.
(Image credit: Future)
Should I apply for a Starlink subscription?
Since the service is already in its beta testing phase, it may soon go live for a wider audience. However, in India it may go live sometime next year, subject to regulatory approvals. That being said, you still can sign up for the beta program.
However, keep in mind the below points before paying the upfront fees:
No specific date mentioned for the services to go live
Currently, the speeds are limited. You may get faster internet speeds already on fiber in your area or may get it before Starlink goes live
The subscription charges are $99 per month that translates to Rs. 7000 approximately every month and compared to other ISPs in India, this is the costliest service at the moment.
It is ideal for places with no connectivity.
There could be periods of total blackout as mentioned above
It may not have any local support centre, at least initially
Its services are impacted by bad weather just like your DTH connection
Are there any Starlink competitors in India?
The idea of space on the internet is not new and Starlink is not the only company in its segment. India has Bharti-backed OneWeb with similar plans. It will launch over 640 satellites across 21 launches to offer satellite internet services across the globe. Like Starlink, even OneWeb is expected to start offering services in India in 2022.
Even Amazon’s Project Kuiper is one such service that could beam the internet directly from space and may use over 3,236 satellites. Project Kuiper is also expected to go live next year.
Also, worth mentioning is Google’s Project Loon, which was recently shut down but was working on similar principles. Though rather than using satellites, Google deployed balloons in the stratosphere to deliver wireless internet in remote areas of the world. This project was shut down recently because Google felt that it was not commercially viable. Even Facebook’s Aquila solar-powered internet plane that wanted to beam internet via laser was found impractical and was closed down prematurely.
Having said that, the space internet industry is hotting up. Apart from these multinational corporations, there are smaller companies that are planning to launch similar services, however, for a specific geo-location like a country-specific. We’re yet to hear any such announcements for India.
Aside, State-run BSNL in collaboration with Skylo is also looking to set up the world’s first satellite-based IoT network. This is aimed at offering connectivity to billions of sensors and machines in maritime, agriculture, railway, logistics, and the ones that help in disaster management. Though this may not offer satellite internet commercially, however, works on similar principles.
With so many shows and movies to choose from on Australia's major streaming services, it can often be difficult to find the best new stuff to entertain yourself with each week.
In an effort to make things easier, every Monday we'll be highlighting the best new shows and movies to watch on Aussie streaming platforms, covering the likes of Netflix, Disney Plus, Binge, Foxtel Now, Stan and Amazon Prime Video.
Below, you'll find a list of this week's highlights, separated by streaming service, with binge-worthy new shows sitting alongside some great big-budget new movie arrivals – and a couple of oddball left-of-field entries, just for some variety.
Thankfully, there's a nice selection of new shows and great movies landing on Australia's streaming services for watching Monday through Sunday. Here are our streaming picks for the week of March 1-7, 2021.
Disney Plus
WandaVision (TV series – series finale available 5/3/2021)
After all these years, last week's episode of WandaVision saw Wanda finally receive the title of Scarlet Witch from her new nemesis. Now, it's time to see what Wanda will do to get herself out of her current predicament. One thing's likely: we imagine this week's finale will have big consequences for the future of the MCU.
A sequel over thirty years in the making, Eddie Murphy's beloved comedy classic Coming to America is getting an official follow-up in the ingeniously titled Coming 2 America. Now King of Zamunda, Akeem (Murphy) discovers he has an estranged son in America and must go back to Queens, New York in order to find him. Of course, his trusted confidante, Semmi (Arsenio Hall), will also be along for the ride, much to his chagrin. Expect all your favourite characters from the original film to return, including the Barbershop guys and even Randy Watson and Sexual Chocolate!
Directed by the funny and talented Amy Poehler (Parks and Recreation), the new Netflix Original comedy Moxie sees a shy 16-year old girl anonymously publish a zine as a way to stick it to the sexist, toxic guys at her high school. The zine immediately picks up traction with her classmates, starting a school-wide revolution of sorts.
The Walking Dead (TV Series – Season 10C returns 1/3/2021)
After an extended break, The Walking Dead's 10th season returns today with the first of six new episodes. Picking up after the fall of Alpha (Samantha Morton) and the end of the Whisperers War, we find the survivors trying to put the pieces back together and rebuild.
Manhunt: Deadly Games(TV Series – season premieres 5/3/2021)
The latest season of Manhunt is once again inspired by true events, this time the story of Richard Jewell (Cameron Britton), a security officer who partly foils a bombing and then is immediately hung out to dry by the media who sell the narrative of a man who orchestrated the whole thing to pretend to be a hero.
Star on Disney Plus has officially launched in New Zealand, bringing with it a wider range of movies in the process – including films which are strictly for grown ups.
For those of you who were already existing Disney Plus subscribers, that means you essentially get twice the content for only a minor increase in price, which is exceptional value.
Along with a huge selection of newly added TV shows, the arrival of Star to the Disney Plus streaming service brings with it a vast back catalogue of films from 20th Century Studios, which has a large number of classics in its lineup.
Best of all, many of the movies added have been made available to stream in 4K HDR, which is a nice bonus for those looking to revisit some greats from Fox's library.
For many '90s kids, there was no bigger cinematic event than the arrival of Independence Day, a science-fiction epic that put all of humanity up against some very hostile invading aliens. It was the movie that solidified Will Smith as a film star, and which doubled down on the charm exhibited by Jeff Goldblum only a few years after his turn in Jurassic Park. A grand-scale movie that's packed with charm and heart, Independence Day is blockbuster cinema at its most entertaining.
The Shape of Water
(Image credit: 20th Century Studios)
Fan-favourite filmmaker Guillermo del Toro (Pan's Labyrinth, Pacific Rim) achieved massive awards success with The Shape of Water, a film which went on to earn several Oscars, including Best Director and Best Picture. A fantasy-tinged romance, The Shape of Water follows a mute cleaner (Sally Hawkins) and her burgeoning relationship with an amphibious creature (Doug Jones) who's being held captive in the facility she works at. Despite its wild premise, The Shape of Water wears its heart on its sleeve, approaching the material with complete seriousness and conviction, which is what all great films should strive for.
Deadpool
(Image credit: 20th Century Studios)
Disney Plus has long been the streaming home of Marvel, but the service's roster of popular Marvel characters has always suffered from one major omission: Deadpool. Of course, the 'Merc with a Mouth' didn't quite fit with Disney's family friendly image, but that all changes with the arrival of Star, meaning Deadpool can finally join the rest of Marvel's lineup without any censoring whatsoever. Pretty f---ing good news if you ask us.
Deadpool 2
(Image credit: 20th Century Studios)
Loved Deadpool? Well, why not keep the party going with Deadpool 2? It's a film that ups the ante in terms of scope and action, bringing in fan favourite characters from the X-Men universe such as Cable (Josh Brolin) and Domino (Zazie Beetz) to fill out its super-powered roster. As violent and profane as its predecessor, Deadpool 2 is a great follow-up that sets up even bigger things in the future.
Die Hard
(Image credit: 20th Century Studios)
There are countless Christmas movies to stream on Disney Plus, but thanks to the arrival of Star, we now have access to arguably the greatest Christmas movie of all: Die Hard. John McClane (Bruce Willis) is a New York cop who arrives in Los Angeles to attend his estranged wife's work Christmas party. Unfortunately, the party attracts a number of uninvited guests who proceed to take the entire building hostage. Now, it's up to McClane to save his wife and stop the terrorists.
Patton
(Image credit: 20th Century Studios)
One of the great war films of all time, Patton has arrived on Disney Plus Star in glorious 4K HDR. Based on true events, the film stars the late, great George C. Scott, who would win an Oscar for his performance as the titular general (Scott famously refused to accept the award, stating he did not believe in competition with other actors). The film would also go on to win six other Academy Awards, including Best Director and Best Picture. If you haven't seen Patton, now's the time to fill that gap in your cinematic knowledge.
Logan
(Image credit: 20th Century Studios)
Another grown-up Marvel effort, Logan arrives on Disney Plus Star alongside Deadpool to showcase a grittier, more violent side to the superhero genre. Logan acts as a swansong for Hugh Jackman's portrayal of Wolverine, the tortured mutant known for his ability to instantly heal and the metal claws that shoot out of his knuckles whenever he or his friends are threatened. In his final outing, Logan is tasked with protecting a young girl (Dafne Keen), who shares his exact abilities, from people who want to capture and exploit her powers.
Alien
(Image credit: 20 Century Studios)
Director Ridley Scott's sci-fi horror masterpiece Alien arrives on Disney Plus sporting a glorious 4K remaster which enhances the film's spectacular art design and creature effects. In the coldness of space, the merchant vessel Nostromo receives a distress signal which they are forced to investigate. Once there, a crew member is attacked by an alien creature. Despite the protestations of acting senior office Ellen Ripley (Sigourney Weaver), the crew member is allowed back on board the Nostromo, unwittingly bringing an implanted alien in with him.
Rise of the Planet of the Apes
(Image credit: 20th Century Studios)
While many consider Dawn of the Planet of the Apes to be the superior film, its predecessor Rise of the Planet of the Apes is arguably the more important entry in the series, setting the bar when it comes to the character development of computer-generated characters. In Rise, we get to witness the complete transformation of Caesar (Andy Serkis), who goes from happy chimp to ape revolutionary in a way that plays out like a Shakespearean tragedy. The film also boasts the most standout moment in the new Apes trilogy, in which Caesar speaks for the first time – truly the stuff of movie magic.
Hollywood kicks off its 2021 awards season tonight at the Beverly Hilton with the Golden Globes, a celebration of the best cinema and TV of the past 12 months that will be held virtually for the first time in its decorated 78 year history. Follow our guide below as we explain how to watch the Golden Globes 2021 online and live stream the ceremony wherever you are in the world right now.
As our guide to this year's Golden Globes nominations highlights, the 2021 awards is a bumper year for original content produced by streaming giants like Netflix, Amazon and Hulu, who are increasingly matching both the ambition and budget of major networks and film studios.
Tonight's winners will be catapulted not only to the top of everyone's must-watch list, but also be installed as instant favorites for the 2021 Oscars - postponed until April this year due to Covid-19, just like the Globes themselves were delayed by two months.
Sometimes dubbed the 'drunk uncle' of the Academy Awards because it sees the stars getting skewered as well as honored, the Globes is can't-miss TV precisely because of its unpredictable nature. This year, that extends to some of the shortlists, with James Corden somehow popping up in the Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture (Musical or Comedy) category, yet Michaela Coel's I May Destroy You failing to receive a single nod. Hmm....
Still, most of the movies, shows, actors, and directors being celebrated tonight are thoroughly deserving of it, so read on as we explain how to watch Golden Globes 2021 awards action online tonight - live stream the virtual ceremony from anywhere today, even if you're currently in a country like the UK where there's no coverage (but would normally be able to tune in at home).
How to watch a Golden Globes live stream from outside your country
For Golden Globes TV and streaming details for a number of major markets including the US, Canada, Australia and New Zealand, scroll down - but the 2021 awards aren't being shown everywhere, with one particularly notable omission being the UK.
Unfortunately, if you try to watch your domestic coverage from somewhere outside your home country, you'll soon find a problem - geo-blocking. That's where the broadcaster prevents you from watching your usual feed from abroad. It's a common problem for streamers all over the world, but there's an easy solution.
ExpressVPN - get the world's best VPN We've put all the major VPNs through their paces and we rate ExpressVPN as our top pick, thanks to its speed, ease of use and strong security features.
It's also compatible with just about any streaming device out there, including Amazon Fire TV Stick, Apple TV, Xbox and PlayStation, as well as Android and Apple mobiles.
Sign up for an annual plan now and get an extra 3 months absolutely FREE. And if you change your mind within the first 30 days, let them know and they'll give you your money back without a quibble.
Once you've chosen and installed your VPN of choice, simply open the service's corresponding app, hit 'choose location', select the appropriate country and you'll be able to watch the broadcast as if you were back at home.
How to watch Golden Globes 2021 free: live stream the awards online in the US
In the US, NBC is the place to watch the Golden Globes both on TV and online.
If you have it on cable, head straight to the NBC website and login with details of your provider. Coverage starts at 8pm ET / 5pm PT and while there's plenty of pre-show action, there's no red carpet glamor at this year's virtual Globes.
Those who don't needn't worry, as you can watch NBC and therefore the Globes without cable by using an over-the-top streaming service.
How to watch Golden Globes without cable
Right now, we'd recommend checking out a FREE FuboTV trial if you're after a complete cable replacement service. Pricing starts at $64.99 a month after the trial end, but it's got pretty much everything you'd want and is particularly strong on local channels like NBC and sports networks.
Alternatively, consider going with Sling TV's free trial if you're on a bit more of a budget. It's the Sling Blue package you want and NBC is on offer in most major US metro area markets.
Lastly, NBC's own streaming service Peacock will also be streaming the Globes - but only from Monday, March 1. If you don't mind the catch-up aspect, this is actually the best value of all as Peacock costs just $4.99 a month for a Premium subscription - and there's also a free Peacock trial available still.
Not in the US tonight? New or existing subscribers to US streaming services can still access the platform of their choice from abroad, too - all you need is the help of a good VPN.
Our latest 2021 testing confirms that our recommended VPN works effectively to help Americans abroad access Sling, Fubo and Peacock.
How to watch the Golden Globes online: live stream 2021 awards in Canada
In Canada, you can watch the 2021 Golden Globe Awards live at the same time they're taking place in the US - so 8pm ET / 5pm PT.
Canadian network CTV is the place to head for coverage north of the border, but you'll be flat out of luck if you don't have it as part of a cable package, as there's no over-the-top streaming option like in some other countries.
The Golden Globe Awards 2021 aren't being aired anywhere in the UK, so the only option is if you're currently in the UK from a country where coverage is being offered.
2021 Golden Globes live stream: how to watch the awards online in Australia
Folks Down Under will find the Golden Globe Awards starting at 12pm AEDT on Monday, March 1 and coverage being provided by Fox Arena - a Foxtel pay TV channel.
Anyone without cable in Australia can still watch Golden Globes action live as it happens, though, thanks to great value streaming service Binge.
Pricing starts at just AUD$10 a month, but you can check out a FREE Binge trial first to see if it's right for you, essentially making the Globes free to watch online today.
If you're currently out of the country but want to catch your native Golden Globes live stream, you'll need to get yourself a VPN to connect.
How to live stream and watch the Golden Globe Awards 2021 in New Zealand
Live Golden Globes coverage in New Zealand comes courtesy of Vibe, an entertainment channel available exclusively on Sky.
Subscribers can watch online using the country's Sky Go service and coverage gets under way at 2pm NZDT on Monday, March 1.
Anyone in New Zealand from abroad or vice-versa can use the VPN route outlined earlier to access their preferred coverage just like they would at home.
(Image credit: FREDERIC J. BROWN/AFP via Getty Images)
Who are the Golden Globes hosts in 2021?
Taking over from deadpan British funnyman Ricky Gervais to host this year's Golden Globes are Tina Fey and Amy Poehler.
The duo have host three times before, so we're in good hands tonight, last getting a chance to rip into some of the world's biggest stars back in 2015.
Streaming services have been on the rise at awards shows for a few years now, and the trend very much continues at the 2021 Golden Globes - especially with the coronavirus pandemic prompting many major Hollywood studios to delay the release of some of their biggest films.
With 10 nominations, Amazon Studios has also capitalized on the closure of cinemas around the world, with its Golden Globes charge led by Borat Subsequent Moviefilm and Small Axe, as has Hulu, which has 10 nominations of its own, with its hopes largely pinned on Palm Springs and Normal People. Disney Plus and HBO Max have also registered their first ever Golden Globe nominations.
By way of some history, Netflix picked up its first ever Golden Globe Award in 2014 - and seven years on the streaming service is the dominant force at the show, with no fewer than 42 nominations across the film and TV categories, with Mank, The Queen’s Gambit and The Crown expected to be some of the biggest hitters of all.
The great news for fans of quality entertainment is that this means many of the Golden Globe winners will be available to watch right away!
Golden Globes winners: who won the major awards last year?
Best Film (Drama) - 1917
Best Foreign Language Film - Parasite
Best Actress in a Film (Drama) - Renee Zellweger, Judy
Best Actor in a Film (Drama) - Joaquin Phoenix, Joker
Best Film (Musical or Comedy) - Once Upon a Time in Hollywood
Best Actress in a Film (Musical or Comedy) - Awkwafina, The Farewell
Best Actor in a Film (Musical or Comedy) - Taron Egerton, Rocketman
As multiple recent elections on both sides of the Atlantic have proven, the pollsters can quite easily be wrong.
To find out more about the crisis of confidence in polling, we caught up with Don Vaughn, Ph.D., Head of Product at data analytics firm Invisibly, which claims to have predicted the outcome of the US presidential election to the greatest degree of accuracy.
According to Vaughn, a fundamental overhaul to traditional polling methods is needed, with an emphasis on real-time research.
What is the difference between a poll and a survey?
Polls traditionally focus on the measurement of one thing, for example an election race. Surveys typically involve a broader series of questions on a topic and attempt to collect more data.
Why do you say that traditional polling has become obsolete?
To be clear, it isn’t that traditional polling is obsolete in the sense that it isn't practiced anymore - it is obsolete in that it is outdated.
The problem is that these outdated data collection practices in polling are still the most popular and get the most attention. Many polls are done person-to-person via telephone which in itself cause biases in the data collected. We need to move to more anonymous polling that is suitable for the digital age which fits within our day to day life and is not disruptive. Invisibly Realtime Research solves this issue.
What prevents Facebook or Google from launching a similar project?
Google already does have a survey tool, but it’s built in a way that is meant to make money or drive views to content, not to collect completely unbiased data. Invisibly is different in that its goal is to protect user data and privacy, while also getting the most accurate results possible by not having a paywall, or content blocking function.
How far are we from a 100% AI polling solution?
I would imagine we aren’t that far off. There has definitely been innovation in this space. It’s one thing to ask someone who they are voting for, but there are examples of AI making election predictions based on sentiment on social media and not asking voters directly. AI is not perfect, but eventually inferences might be able to be made accurately without directly interacting with voters.
What is the holy grail for survey professionals?
The holy grail is being able to survey a large random sample of people and have them answer multiple questions. In addition, one needs to be able to reach specific groups of people (e.g. Nike might only want to survey people who have purchased Nike products in the past).
Invisibly’s Realtime Research product leads the polling and market research space in finding the largest random sampling of respondents, and we are building towards being able to facilitate communication between brands and individuals that fall into a desired cohort (e.g. people who have a verified purchase of a Nike product).
What trends have you identified in the market research business in 2021?
There are trends that don’t just apply to market research but research in general. There has been a decrease of in-person surveys due to pandemic. This means an increase in other types of surveys such as telephone surveying. However, we recently saw the benefits of Invisibly’s online style surveys proven over telephone surveys due to the chaos that occurred with the 2020 Presidential Election, for which many of the major polls still were done by telephone and ended up being very far off the actual election results. Some major research institutions such as Pew Research shut down in-person surveys due to the pandemic and were exploring telephone surveys. The question is whether or not virtual research trends will remain after the pandemic.
Windows 10 has received a preview version of a cumulative update, and it’s one that gamers might want to apply if they’ve been having any kind of trouble with stuttering or flickering (or indeed other rendering issues) when playing certain games.
As Microsoft states, patch KB4601382 (for Windows 10 May 2020 Update and October 2020 Update) applies the following fix: “Updates an issue with screen rendering after opening games with certain hardware configurations.”
As it’s in preview, you’ll have to manually find and install this bunch of fixes via Windows Update (this patch will be next month’s cumulative update when it lands on March 9 – but folks who are exasperated with the bugs that it cures may just want to grab it now to save them from another week of pulling their hair out).
As mentioned, as well as the problems with games, there are other fixes here. These include several display-related bugbears like an “issue that might cause video playback to flicker when rendering on certain low-latency capable monitors”, and incorrect refresh rates showing under advanced display settings when it comes to HDR-capable monitors.
KB4601382 also delivers a solution for unexpected screens popping up in the Windows 10 setup experience (initial out of box installation process, that is).
Caution first
If you’re not affected by any of these issues, or at least not bothered by them to any pressing degree, it’s best to steer clear of a preview update – because as the name suggests, these are still in testing, so may be rough around the edges or have unintended consequences in one form or another.
Strictly speaking, it’s best to wait for the finalized patch (indeed, as we’ve seen many times in the past, even the finished version can mistakenly introduce fresh bugs – so preview updates need to be treated with some caution).
While many people will be perfectly happy using Office 365 and Google Workspace products for all their word processing and spreadsheet needs, others will prefer something a little less...proprietary.
There are a couple of significant benefits of opting for an open source alternative to Office; the products are almost always free and often benefit from continual improvement from a large network of committed developers.
We caught up with Italo Vignoli of The Document Foundation, which oversees popular open source productivity software suite LibreOffice, to hear more about the project and where it is headed in the future.
What is The Document Foundation? Does it only support the development of LibreOffice or does it have a wider mandate?
The Document Foundation was announced at the same time of the LibreOffice fork, as the home of the LibreOffice community. All activities are focused on the LibreOffice community, but are not limited to the development of the FOSS office suite.
There are other major projects, such as the participation in the ODF (Open Document Format) Technical Committee for the advancement of the only ISO standard file format for true interoperability, the development of import/export filters for legacy and current proprietary file formats at the Document Liberation Project, the participation in advocacy groups for FOSS in public administrations (in Asia, Europe and Central/South America) and the support of native language communities (LibreOffice is released in 119 different language version, more than any other software worldwide).
Could you explain the reasons that led to suffixing release post v7.1 as "Community"?
The sustainability of FOSS projects doesn't happen by magic, especially if software is widely deployed in enterprise environments such as LibreOffice. We launched the LibreOffice project back in 2010, based on the following sustainability concept: individuals would support back-office and development of features that are not targeted to enterprise deployments with donations; volunteers would contribute their time to develop their own features and to contribute to other activities such as localization, quality assurance, documentation, design and marketing. Enterprises, meanwhile, would support the development of mainstream features through the purchase of LTS versions or the direct engagement of developers from ecosystem partners, who are firmly committed in merging all features in a timely manner on the master branch at The Document Foundation (TDF), for the reciprocal benefit of all individual and enterprise users.
As a result, we would have had a "vanilla" version released by TDF and supported solely by volunteers (who can provide assistance to individual users, according to their own schedule), and an enterprise version with LTS (Long Term Support) from professionals, backed by SLAs (Service Level Agreements).
This has worked for a while, but over time the number of enterprises supporting the project has shrunk, and as a consequence the number of new features has also shrunk. At the moment, we estimate than less than 10% of LibreOffice enterprise users are supporting the project by "giving back" through ecosystem partners, as they deploy the vanilla version from TDF and ask for support to volunteers. As we do want to stay loyal to the FOSS nature of LibreOffice, and avoid a dual licensed open core software (where the enterprise LTS version has more features than the free version, but is released under a proprietary license), we have added the "community" label to encourage enterprises to seriously consider deploying the version optimized for their needs.
Of course, a simple label is not enough, so we will develop and engage in communication activities focused on educating enterprises about supporting FOSS projects effectively and responsibly. FOSS has become pervasive, and enterprises should consider that focusing on the zero cost of the software can seriously harm projects they are now relying on as strategic assets of their infrastructure, because it is short-sighted, as you save a lot today by not paying a dime, but you have to spend a lot tomorrow if the project is not able to self sustain, and you have to switch back to a proprietary solution with a huge price tag attached.
For people who aren’t aware, could you give us a 20,000 foot view of the LibreOffice ecosystem, including how you engage with the ecosystem partners?
The LibreOffice ecosystem is large and diverse; there are volunteers, both individuals and native language communities (i.e. individuals organized in groups based on their language, plus their geographical locations if the language is spread over different continents).
There are companies focused on LibreOffice development and other companies focused on building added value around LibreOffice, e.g. by providing services, consultancy and support. There are FOSS organizations such as FSF, FSFE, GNOME and KDE, and large corporations like Google, who are backing the LibreOffice project as they support our philosophy. Organizations are usually represented inside the TDF Advisory Board, which is meeting on a quarterly basis to discuss the progress of activities.
Most of the engagement, though, happens spontaneously on the typical tools of FOSS projects such as mailing lists and various chatrooms on several messengers. This is something which happens only inside open source projects, where meritocracy wins over bureaucracy.
One of the most interesting aspects of the project for many is LibreOffice Online. However, getting the office suite to run inside a web browser isn’t a priority for the project. Why is that, and will the stance change with the WebAssembly port finally approaching production quality?
A cloud solution based on the LibreOffice Technology has been available for several years from Collabora, which are the main code contributors of the Online branch, and is called Collabora Online. The WebAssembly port by allotropia will provide a different approach to getting LibreOffice into the browser. Both are based on the same platform for personal productivity called LibreOffice Technology, which offers unparalleled advantages over the technical puzzle of other office suites, which use a different engine and a different file structure for desktop, mobile and cloud.
The fact that a cloud solution based on LibreOffice is not released by TDF is a detail, and cannot be seen as a lack of interest from the project. Rather the contrary - deploying a cloud office suite is not a trivial task, as you have to associate a secure sign-on solution and a cloud environment for file storage and access rights, and as such needs the resources of a professional service provider. At the moment this product is available from our commercial ecosystem, and this is perfectly in line with the spirit of the project.
What are some of the interesting ongoing developments that you’re particularly looking forward to landing in LibreOffice?
LibreOffice has a large feature set, which is comparable to proprietary solutions and is larger than in many other office suites. In addition, LibreOffice has a stronger focus on interoperability than any other office suite, including Microsoft Office. So, in a time where sharing digital content is more important than specific features, the development focus will be on compatibility with proprietary file formats.
More broadly speaking, what are the priorities for the project in the near future?
In addition to improving the overall quality and interoperability of LibreOffice, the project has priorities which are typical of FOSS projects, such as increasing the number of language versions, and advocating the adoption of the Open Document Format (ODF) and LibreOffice by governments and large organizations.
Available to members of the company’s early access program, the new Transform option can be sampled via the Microsoft Word web client, under the File > Transform menu.
When selected, the feature will prompt the user to pick out a visual style to apply to the presentation, before generating a preview in PowerPoint and dropping the presentation file into OneDrive.
While the Transform facility is still undergoing early access testing, Microsoft expects the feature to roll out to all users in the near future.
The company did not respond immediately to our request for clarification over whether the feature will be extended to desktop clients as well.
Turn your Word document into a PowerPoint presentation
While the prospect of automating the painstaking presentation building process is an enticing one, the Transform feature is currently limited in a number of respects.
For now, the feature only works with English language documents and, even then, only when using certain web browsers. The now defunct Internet Explorer is not supported, perhaps predictably, but the Transform feature is also incompatible with Apple’s Safari, the second largest browser in the world.
The feature is also limited to text resources only and will leave behind any multimedia content present in the source document.
“We only support text content for the transformation to presentation, other media content is not currently available. You can add your own media to the presentation after you have transformed your Word document,” explained Mohit Anand, who works on PowerPoint at Microsoft.
The company has conceded that the quality of converted presentations may be a little patchy at first, but claims the Transform feature will eventually be able to distinguish effectively between different document sections and migrate over any accompanying images, videos, fonts and more.
Amazon Prime has been pretty indispensable during the pandemic: ensuring we got our groceries and gag-worthy TV shows on demand. As a result, Prime Video – its on-demand streaming element – is crushing the competition in terms of number of subscribers and worldwide availability.
Despite the platform’s ubiquity, an Amazon Prime Video free trial of 30 days is still up for grabs. That’s a huge draw for entertainment junkies: an entire month to catch award-winning Amazon Originals, buzz-worthy series The Boys, live sport, and Golden-Globe nominated titles like the hilarious Borat’s Subsequent Moviefilm and Regina King’s One Night in Miami.
Signing up is easy, there’s tons to watch, and a paid membership doesn’t have to break the bank once the Amazon Prime free trial is over. Read on and we’ll explain all below.
Your Amazon account will need a current, valid credit card linked to it. But, as long as you cancel your membership before the free trial period expires, you won't be charged.
What is the cheapest way to get Amazon Prime Video after the free trial?
A typical Amazon Prime sub – which bundles together Prime Video, unlimited music, Prime Reading, free delivery and more – is $12.99 a month in the US, and £7.99 / AU$6.99 / €7.99 around the world.
Pay $119 for the annual membership and save a decent wedge, all the while getting lightning-fast delivery and multi-media entertainment all year round.
But if you’re only interested in blockbuster movies or the weekly drama of Amazon Original series, then an $8.99 Prime Video membership will leave you $3 a month better off. That's an option only available stateside. It really does pay to study too, because once the 6-month free trial ends, students only have to pay $6.49 a month to access everything on Prime. That’s 50% less than the typical fee and cheaper than a basic Netflix plan.
What can I watch with my Amazon Prime Video free trial?
There’s plenty to feast your eyes on: over 13,000 movies and TV series. It has classic Hollywood fare like It’s A Wonderful Life, brooding modern thrillers – You Were Never Really Here and Zodiac, for example – and plenty of comedies and feel-good indie flicks.
Prime is packed with great Amazon Originals too: Transparent, Hunters, Fleabag, and Tales from the Loop to name only a few. Then there’s a slew of recent Golden-Globe nominated titles like Sound of Metal and the Amazon exclusive Small Axe.
Meanwhile, sports fans can enjoy live matches and docuseries like All or Nothing. And, if some of your favorite programming is missing, chances are you’ll find it via Amazon Channels. There are more than a 100 you can subscribe to, such as HBO, Showtime, Cinemax, and Shudder, which often provide their own 7-day free trial.
Much like Netflix, the content available does vary from country to country. So the best way to see exactly what's on offer where you are is to head to Amazon and grab that 30-day free trial.
Wondering what's new on Netflix in March 2021? This month sees Sherlock Holmes spin-off The Irregulars land on the streamer, as well as two potentially big anime series in Pacific Rim: The Black and DOTA: Dragon's Blood. There are plenty of other movies and TV series to wrap your eyes around, though, including Season 3 of Formula 1: Drive to Survive and Moxie.
Despite a focus on US audiences, every show and film listed below with 'Netflix Original', 'Netflix Film', 'Netflix Documentary', 'Netflix Family', or 'Netflix Anime' next to it can be viewed worldwide. There's something for everyone, so check out what's available to watch below.
Spider-Man 3 finally has an official title. Spider-Man: No Way Home will swing into theaters – Covid-19 permitting – on December 17. There's a chance this could be a bittersweet moment: it's technically the last Spider-Man movie in the actor's contract with Sony, though he's open to more, and we'd expect to see him return.
Plot details are naturally thin on the ground right now, but that hasn’t stopped the internet rumor mill from going into overdrive about what Spider-Man 3’s title actually means. No Way Home is an obvious nod to Spidey’s previous MCU films – Homecoming and Far From Home – but there seems to be more to it than meets the eye. This is Marvel, after all, so there may be some hidden context behind the subtitle.
With that in mind, we’ve come up with some theories as to what the third Spider-Man MCU movie’s title could mean. Our guesses below are based on what we know about the movie so far, Peter Parker’s comic book history, and how Sony’s own Spider-Verse could hold the key to Spider-Man’s future.
Spider-Man: No Way Home theory 1: Peter Parker is on the run
(Image credit: Marvel Studios/Sony)
No Way Home could be a simply reference to Far From Home’s mid-credits scene. After defeating Mysterio and taking MJ for a romantic swing through the city, one of New York’s giant screens broadcasts a ‘breaking news’ segment. To our surprise, J.K. Simmons’ J. Jonah Jameson – who was part of Sony’s first Spider-Man adaptation – appears.
Jameson broadcasts doctored footage of Mysterio, which suggests that Spider-Man killed the villain’s real-world persona – Quentin Beck – and was the real culprit behind the London drone attack. Then, to Peter’s shock, Jameson reveals his real name to the world.
Naturally, such a revelation would force anyone into hiding, let alone a superhero who has tried to keep their identity secret. If Peter is on the run from the authorities and other supervillains – more on those later – then it makes sense why ‘No Way Home’ is referenced in the title.
It just means that he can’t return to Aunt May, and the normal life he craves after the events of Avengers: Infinity War and Avengers: Endgame. There’s literally no way for him to go home until he finds a solution to this problem. Still, if nothing else, it looks like MJ and Ned are on hand to help him seek one out.
Spider-Man: No Way Home theory 2: the Marvel multiverse may be to blame
(Image credit: Marvel Studios/Sony)
Alternatively, No Way Home may refer to rumors surrounding a possible Marvel Cinematic multiverse.
During Mysterio's first meeting with Spider-Man, Beck mentions that he’s from another version of Earth – Earth-833 – and not the MCU’s Earth-616. Of course, Beck was bluffing as part of his plan to get hold of the Stark Industries technology that he needed for his drones, rather than telling the truth about his origins.
Still, this Easter egg and WandaVision's choice to feature the X-Men movies' Evan Peters feel like hints at something larger – we know multiple universes are coming to the MCU, because it's literally in the title of next year's Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness.
In an interview with Rotten Tomatoes TV, Marvel Studios President Kevin Feige has also stated that the multiverse will affect the MCU “before and after” Doctor Strange 2, which lends credence to the MCM being the next evolution of the MCU. Add in the potential for WandaVision’s season finale to dive into some multiverse mayhem, based on what we learned about Wanda in episode eight, and we have ourselves a Marvel multiverse.
How does this tie into Spider-Man: No Way Home? Reports have suggested that Jamie Foxx and Alfred Molina will reprise their roles as Electro and Doc Ock in the film, who each starred in Sony's previous two Spider-Man adaptations.
This duo wouldn’t have a route into the MCU without some multiverse trickery. If they have been transported to Peter's Earth from their respective worlds, No Way Home could be hinting that there isn't a way for them to get back to their own dimensions. This could be down to multiverse exits being closed after they arrive on Earth-616, and that it will be up to Spider-Man to defeat them here or find a way to return them to their realities.
Of course, it could be the other way around, and Peter could end up in their universes – hence, No Way Home for him.
It remains unclear if the MCU’s Spider-Man would have help in the form of Tobey Maguire’s and Andrew Garfield’s iterations. Rumors have circulated that the pair will reprise their roles from Sony’s other Spider-Man series, but Holland shot that speculation down in an interview with Esquire. If Holland is telling the truth, it looks like he’ll be fighting No Way Home’s villains alone.
Spider-Man: No Way Home theory 3: the comics may hold the key
(Image credit: Marvel Studios/Sony)
Comic book movies have always taken inspiration from their paper-based counterparts, and No Way Home is certain to chart a similar path. While we have no idea about which comics Spider-Man 3 could lift ideas from, the four-part One More Day arc could have an influence on its plot.
In this storyline, Aunt May has been shot and Peter is desperately searching for a way to save her life. After an encounter with the demon Mephisto, Peter and Mary Jane agree to give up her marriage to save her. Mephisto also removes the world’s collective memory of Peter’s superhero identity, which he had personally revealed as part of the Civil War comic arc.
One More Day was panned by fans and critics alike for destroying Peter and Mary Jane’s marriage, as it went against what webslinger fans had come to love about the characters over recent years. Despite being largely hated, however, One More Day could form a base for what No Way Home means in this context.
It’s plausible that Peter comes across some nefarious way of eradicating the world’s knowledge of his superhero identity. It doesn’t have to be tied to Mephisto per se, but we do know that dark magic exists in the MCU based on the demonic-looking Dark Hold tome we saw in WandaVision episode 7. All it would take is for Peter to be double-crossed by a villainous sorcerer, who grants his wish to re-conceal his alias’ identity but – in doing so – alters the world as Peter knows it.
In that sense, there would be no home for him to return to, and he would need to seek out the help of another sorcerer – Doctor Strange, anyone? – to return things back to normal. Back in October, The Hollywood Reporter claimed that Benedict Cumberbatch was signed on to appear in Spider-Man: No Way Home, so it isn’t out of the realms of possibility that he could be the one to help Peter out.
Spider-Man: No Way Home theory 4: Sony’s Spider-Verse could become Peter Parker’s new reality
(Image credit: Marvel Studios/Sony)
Our final theory is a bit of a stretch, but hear us out. If the MCU does have gateways to alternate universes, it’s possible that Holland’s incarnation of Spider-Man may end up becoming trapped in another reality and, as such, be unable to return home. See? It would literally be 'No Way Home' for him.
Spider-Man 3’s climax could very well see Peter trying to return Electro, Doc Ock, or any other supervillains and characters to their respective dimensions. In doing so, he could have to make a major sacrifice in order to close a faulty portal.
If the choice came down to it, we know that Peter’s selflessness would mean he’d do the right thing, make the ultimate sacrifice, and save Earth-616 from being overrun with villains. He’s already seen the impact that outside influences can have on his world – we’re looking at you, Thanos – so he wouldn’t want a repeat of something that may end up hurting Aunt May, MJ, Ned, and other people he’s close to.
If this did happen, No Way Home could even appease fans’ desires to finally see a Spider-Man vs. Venom movie. Holland’s Spider-Man could end up in the same universe as Tom Hardy’s Eddie Brock, and how amazing would it be to see the webslinger go up against one of his most famous foes?
Sony and Marvel seem to have a good relationship when it comes to Spider-Man’s inclusion in the MCU, so something like this doesn't seem impossible. And hey, if Marvel ever needed the wall crawler for a future Avengers film, we could always see Peter return back through a multiverse gateway. He’s a smart kid, after all, so finding a way back to Earth-616 (if indeed it's called that in the MCU as it is in the comics) wouldn’t be outside of his wheelhouse.
Hopefully, it won’t be long before we get an official trailer for Spider-Man: No Way Home, which would help us hone our theories on what to expect from the threequel. For now, No Way Home could mean any number of things, and it’ll be interesting to see if any of our theories turn out to be correct.
