OBS update makes adding green screen effects easy with new virtual backgrounds

To commemorate its 10 year anniversary, OBS Studio is launching version 28.0 of its app adding new features which include support for select features from NVIDIA Broadcast.

OBS (Open Broadcaster Software) Studio is an open source streaming software that people use to record, compose, and broadcast a live stream. Twitch and YouTube streamers typically use OBS to pull together different audio and video sources to form a singular production environment. When it comes to creating a set, many streamers like to use a green screen so they can project the game behind them for a more immersive experience.

Now with OBS Studio 28.0,  live streamers no longer need a physical green screen or plugins thanks to the newfound integration with NVIDIA Broadcast. This is a software suite that comes with a lot of tools to enhance a videos or live stream with one of the key features being Virtual Backgrounds.  

Migrating from NVIDIA Broadcast

Powered by AI, Virtual Backgrounds can completely replace a streamer’s studio background with an image of space, a coral reef, or the video game that they’re playing. The tech isn’t perfect, however. If you look at NVIDIA’s official page for its Broadcast suite, you will see a noticeable flickering whenever the streamer moves too much. But since the live feed of a streamer is typically in the corner of the video, you probably won't notice.

OBS Studio 28.0 will also have Broadcast’s Noise and Echo Removal. This feature eliminates any and all “unwanted background noise” that can interfere with a live stream. This includes noises like annoying keyboard typing, loud PC fans, and distracting static. The same goes for room echo. The removal tools can be activated by turning on their respective filters in OBS, giving people a bit of flexibility on what they want to eliminate and from which source.

Codec support

Besides the Broadcast features, OBS is also getting the long-awaited support for the HEVC (High Efficiency Video Coding) codec and HDR (high dynamic range). 

HEVC is a codec that is highly efficient at compressing video, by up to 15 percent according to NVIDIA. This allows streamers to upload their videos in small files on HEVC-supported platforms like YouTube while maintaining a high quality.

The HDR support allows users to record and stream in the standard allowing for brighter colors and darker blacks, resulting in more visually stunning videos. NVIDIA states in the past users had to turn off the HDR feature on their computers because it would mess with the OBS recording. Videos would have washed out colors if recorded at different bits, apparently. But with new advancements in tech such as the prevalence of HDR displays, the developers saw it was a good time to add the support. 

Missing features

Going back to NVIDIA Broadcast, you may notice it has some features not found in OBS 28.0. Video Noise Removal, which enhances webcam quality, and Auto Frame, a feature that allows your camera to follow you while streaming, are not in the new OBS. We reached out to NVIDIA for information as to why these features were omitted.

A representative told us NVIDIA gave access to all of Broadcast’s features to the OBS developers, plus the resources and support to help integrate the tools. However, it’s up to the OBS developers whether or not they want to fully integrate all of Broadcast's features. Currently, it's unknown if they want to add more support.

If you’re a fledgling live streamer, we recommend checking out TechRadar's own NVIDIA Broadcast guide to help you get started with the software.

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There's a trivia app in Tom Hanks' boot, and it's coming to Apple Arcade

If Wordle is no longer scratching your itch for brainteasers, there might be a solution from an unlikely source: celebrated actor and director Tom Hanks.

Hanks is collaborating with indie game developer BlueLine Studios to create Hanx 101 Trivia, a new quiz game releasing exclusively on Apple Arcade on September 2.

Don't worry if you aren’t a Tom Hanks buff and can’t separate your Woodys from your Wilsons. Despite the name, Hanx 101 Trivia will cover a range of topics like history, food, art, and technology. Tom Hanks will still feature in the game though, utilizing his dulcet tones as its narrator.

While Hanx 101 Trivia is the first game that Tom Hanks has created it’s not his first rodeo on the App Store. Back in 2014 he launched Hanx Writer, a typewriter app inspired by his love of the mechanical writing device.

If you want to play Hanx 101 Trivia when it launches, all you need is one of the best iPhones, best iPads, best Macbooks, or an Apple TV 4K, as well as an Apple Arcade subscription. A subscription costs just $5 / £5 / AU$8 per month, so even if you're only interested in trying Hanks’ game it’s not much to spend for the opportunity to play it for 30 days.

And if you can't wait until September 2, here are the best Apple Arcade games you can play right now.

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The Rings of Power's detailed world is a goldmine for eagle-eyed Tolkien fans

The Rings of Power isn't ready to give up its plot-based secrets for a while – but it is willing to reward eagle-eyed Tolkien fans who might spot some unexpected Easter eggs and Middle-earth references throughout its first season.

The forthcoming Prime Video series, which is on track to be the most expensive TV show ever made, counts many Tolkienites among its extensive cast and crew. Unsurprisingly, then, there are plenty of intricate details and blink-and-you'll-miss-it secrets hidden within The Rings of Power's multiple sets, costumes, and weaponry.

Speaking exclusively to TechRadar at The Rings of Power's UK junket, co-showrunner Patrick McKay revealed that it would take multiple viewings of the first season's 10 episodes to even crack the surface of the high-fantasy show's immeasurable amount of secrets and Tolkien references.

"We wanted the visual language to be as rich and layered as we found the books to be," McKay explained. "If you're looking at any frame of the show, there are all kinds of stories being told that might not be apparent on first viewing. If you enjoy the first couple – or all of – the episodes, watch them again and you may find some really interesting secrets."

Some Middle-earth references will be immediately obvious to viewers. The wood-based armor worn by Ismael Cruz Cordova's Arondir, for example, is a clear nod to his silvan elf heritage (silvan elves primarily reside in forest cities including Lothlórien).

There are plenty of symbolic secrets to be found within the Harfoots' costume design. (Image credit: Ben Rothstein/Amazon Studios)

Others, though, will only be picked up on by the biggest Tolkien fans – McKay offered one example of the sheer amount of detail that went into every design for The Rings of Power's considerable cast of characters and various realms.

"Look at every piece of jewellery that [Elven High-King] Gil-galad wears," McKay said. "Each of his rings carry significance, and they even lock together to form brass knuckles, because he's known as the Warrior King. Every single character throughout all of our locations has that level of imagination and detail in their costume."

McKay isn't being hyperbolic, either. Markella Kavenagh, who plays Nori Brandyfoot – a member of a nomadic Hobbit precursor race called the Harfoots – revealed how one particular element of each Harfoot costume symbolizes how important the themes of family and community are to Middle-earth's halfling race.

"Each member of the Harfoot community has these necklaces of apple seeds," Kavenagh explained. "Some members, such as the elders, have many more because they've lost more Harfoots during each migration they've embarked on. So the amount of apple seeds represents how many members of the Harfoot community have passed away during each migration. It's such a small detail, but it's pivotal to the unity within their community."

Clearly, The Rings of Power has been painstakingly crafted to deliver a visual feast for the eyes. Established Tolkien fans, as well as newcomers to the franchise, will want to keep their eyes peeled for a seemingly infinite amount of big and small details in Amazon's Lord of the Rings series.

The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power's first two episodes will exclusively launch on Prime Video on Friday, September 2 in most world regions. However, US audiences will be able to stream the two-episode premiere on Thursday, September 1 – read our in-depth Rings of Power episode 1 and 2 release time guide for more details.

TechRadar will be bringing you plenty of content surrounding the Rings of Power over the next few days. Firstly, find out how you can stream both episodes in 8K with Samsung devices, or check out the show's final trailer before launch day arrives.

Be sure to check back later today (August 31) for our spoiler-free review of The Rings of Power's first two episodes, too, and keep an eye out for more from our exclusive chats with the show's cast and crew later this week.

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LG’s new OLED TV is also a curved gaming monitor… but you control the curve

LG has announced its next OLED TV, the LG Flex, which is designed to double up as a big curved 4K monitor, and you can choose how much it curves, based on your setup.

The stand includes motorized arms that push the edges of the OLED panel, curving them forward up to a maximum curve of 800R (which is very curved) for if you’re sitting right in front of it at a desk, or back to flat… and with 18 steps in between those two. You can choose your favorite settings, and a dedicated button on the remote lets you switch between them at will.

We would love to demonstrate this to you through pictures or some other kind of visual aid, but at the time of writing, LG had not provided pictures of the Flex that we can use, though we have seen it in a virtual briefing.

The OLED panel itself is essentially the same as in the 42-inch LG C2, with the exception that it includes a coating that’s 25% less reflective than the one used in the LG C2. LG told us that this is used because this is designed to be a gaming monitor as well as a TV, and the closer you sit to a screen, the wider the angle of reflections you see.

The regular LG C2 is more designed for sitting at a comfortable distance from your sofa, which means you get a narrower window of reflections. Now we’d say that having a lower-reflection coating on all models of LG C2 would still be nice, since its brightness is a bit limited, but maybe it’ll appear on the LG C3.

As far as other gaming features go, the set essentially copies the LG C2 in those ways as well. You get multiple HDMI 2.1 ports for your 4K 120Hz gaming needs – there’s no DisplayPort connectivity at all, which may cause consternation with some gaming PC fans. 

It also supports Dolby Vision for gaming (including at 120fps) and HGiG, which is rare in gaming monitors. There’s FreeSync Pro, G-Sync and HDMI Forum VRR support built-in too.

There's no HDR-rating (as in 'HDR400' or 'HDR600'), but based on previous testing of the LG C2 42-inch, you can probably expect 600-700 nits of peak brightness, depending on your settings.

LG’s Gaming Hub interface is great for those who want to tinker with settings. You can turn the features mentioned above on and off, but you can also get right under the hood of the picture processing options in the LG Alpha 9 chip that powers it (another feature brought over from the C2). 

You can tweak shadow and highlight settings in great detail, as well as all kinds of other elements that will change the response times, so you can get a balance of picture quality and low latency that suits you. 

Of course, any use of picture processing comes with some inherent lag, so hardcore PC gamers might just reject this screen outright because it uses a TV chip.

Analysis: Too much TV, not enough monitor?

That’s kind of the big question for the LG Flex, really: is it too much of a TV and not enough of a monitor if it’s going to sit on your desk?

The point of having one of the best curved monitors is that when you’re sitting right at the center of it at a short distance (ie, on your desk), the curve helps with eyestrain in a way that’s especially beneficial when gaming. Using a flat screen, the edges are a large relative distance away from your eyes compared to the center – your eye has to do quite a jump in refocusing if you’re flicking from looking at the crosshair up to an ammo count in the corner, for example. The same eye flick doesn’t have the same eye-strain issue when looking at a TV across the room, because the corner and the center are practically the same relative distance from your eye.

What curved monitors do is reduce the distance from the edges of the screen to your eye, meaning that the middle of the screen and the edges are roughly the same distance away from you – so when your eye flicks to the corner now, it doesn’t have to refocus. That makes them much more comfortable over long periods.

The great thing about the LG Flex is that you get the choose the curve, so however far you’re going to sit from the desk, you can find the exact curve level that’s perfect for your eyes. No quibbles here; that’s excellent.

But it’s a 42-inch TV. That’s really quite large for desk setup – too big to use as a general computer monitor. So it can’t replace the monitor at your desk for general use, but maybe you could wall mount it above your monitor? Nope – it can’t be wall mounted, because its curving motors are all built into the stand.

So it’s basically designed for a one-person gaming room setup, really. Maybe you have it in your room with your PS5 instead of a desk you actually work at. Maybe you live alone and can have it in your living room, but you can sit close enough for the curve to feel worthwhile. These are all good use cases – but they’re quite specific. It may well be that falls down the cracks for a lot of people: too big and TV-like to replace the best gaming monitors, but too chunky and specialist to buy instead of the best 42-inch TVs.

We think the LG Flex looks like a genius bit of engineering, still – we’ll find out whether it’s practical as well as cool when we can get our hands on it.

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The cheapest Chromecast prices and deals for September 2022

Chromecast prices are falling further than ever these days, now that some of the best models have spent some decent time on the shelves. Not only are these devices primed for discounts themselves, but the market for streaming devices has been flooded with budget alternatives since the Chromecast first appeared. That makes for some particularly competitive Chromecast deals as well.

Why the Chromecast over the competition? Google's streamer manages to break ahead with a wide array of excellent features and excellent support from Google Assistant and the best Chromecast apps. 

With prices already pretty cheap, there's no need to hang on for specific Chromecast sales. If you're in the UK or US and would prefer to stream content from a standalone box, you should take a look at the latest Roku deals. Otherwise, there's a strong selection of streaming devices over on our Amazon Fire TV Stick prices and deals page.

(Image credit: Google)

The cheapest Chromecast with Google TV prices

The Chromecast with Google TV is the newest member of the Chromecast family – with 4K HDR streaming, a bundled remote, and an improved Google TV interface. If you have a 4K TV or are planning on getting one, it's certainly worth picking one of these up. Chromecast with Google TV deals are usually around $49.99 / £59.99 / AU$99 – and as the latest model, it's well worth keeping an eye out for deals.

The cheapest Chromecast 3 prices

The newest version of the standard (non-4K) Chromecast is this 3rd-gen iteration. Generally, you'll find it for the same prices as the previous model. It's phasing out stock of the older model, although if you spot the older one for a decent amount less, you're not missing much at all by skipping the new one. 

The only real improvement is a modest boost to the speed it'll load up videos and start running them in full HD. The actual dongle looks a bit different too (see images), but other than the speed boost, that's all your getting for the Chromecast 3. At least now we know why Google basically launched this without really letting anyone know. 

The cheapest Chromecast Ultra prices

The 4K Chromecast Ultra is a high-spec streamer that's since been outshone by the Google TV model above. The specs are pretty similar aside from the interface difference – the Ultra using Android TV instead – but you won't get a remote with this model.

Chromecast Ultra deals are usually around £69/US$69/AU$95, so anything cheaper is an added bonus. It's worth noting though that the 4K-ready Amazon Fire TV Stick prices are cheaper nowadays though and that device also comes with a remote.

The cheapest Chromecast 2 prices

The Chromecast 2 is very similar to the now-discontinued 2013 Chromecast. Sure, it looks a little different. And it's got slightly faster network performance and a few other tweaks such as coming with a dangly cable instead of as a rigid stick. But essentially the same product in a different shape - that's why the prices were basically the same. There's a newer version out now, although it's only moderately faster.

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The best cheap Fire Stick sales and deals for 08 2022

With the latest Amazon Fire Stick sales, you'll find turning your TV into a fully equipped smart TV is much cheaper than you would think. Hundreds of shows and apps will be at your fingertips, and our roundup of the cheapest Amazon Fire Stick deals is here to point you in the right direction.

You'll find all of Amazon's Fire Stick prices on display today, including the all-new Fire TV Stick 4K Max, the budget Fire TV Stick Lite, and the original Fire TV Stick. We've also included the powerful Fire TV Cube, which acts as a combination of an Echo speaker and Fire TV device, and the US-exclusive Fire TV Recast, which allows you to record free over-the-air content - one for all you cord-cutters out there.

The main advantage we've seen with the Amazon Fire TV devices over competitors like Roku and Now TV is the now-standard inclusion of Amazon's Alexa smart assistant, thanks to the voice-remote that comes with every Fire TV device. Several available apps and games just can't be matched by competitors either. So if you want the smartest of smart TV experiences for less, these Amazon Fire Stick sales are the way to go. You can also find some of the best Fire Stick sales at the upcoming 20200 Prime Day deals event.

The best cheap Fire TV Stick sales and deals

1. Amazon Fire Stick Lite

Amazon's cheapest streaming device

Picture quality: Up to 1080p Full HD | Voice remote: Yes | Alexa-enabled: Yes | Storage: 8GB | Ethernet port: No - requires aditional adapter | Launch price: $29.99/£29.99

Alexa Voice Remote

Affordable

Full HD

No TV controls

The Fire TV Stick Lite was released in 2020 to the Amazon Fire TV family, and it's the cheapest device that Amazon has put out yet. The budget streaming stick allows you to stream your favorite content from apps like Hulu, Amazon Video, Netflix, and more. You'll get access to tens of thousands of channels, Alexa skills, and apps, and the Alexa voice remote allows you to browse shows, launch movies, adjust the volume, and more completely hands-free.

2. Amazon Fire TV Stick

A super cheap option for making your basic TV smarter

Picture quality: Up to 1080p (Full HD) | Voice remote: Yes | Alexa-enabled: Yes | Storage: 8GB | Ethernet port: No - requires aditional adapter | Launch price: $39.99/£39.99

Easy to navigate

Alexa well-integrated

Speedy interface

No 4K

Amazon's 3rd generation Fire TV Stick was released last year as an updated version and retails for $39.99/£39.99. The 2021 Fire TV Stick now includes an Alexa voice remote allowing you to use your voice to launch movies, apps, shows, and more. While this model only supports HD streaming, the Fire TV Stick is 50% more powerful than the 2nd generation, and the Alexa remote includes all-new preset buttons, including Netflix, Hulu, Amazon Video, and Disney Plus, allowing you to get your apps faster.

If you're wondering the difference between the FIre TV Stick Lite and the Fire TV Stick - you're getting Dolby Atmos with the Fire TV Stick delivering a more immersive audio experience. If this isn't important to you, we suggest going with the Fire TV Stick Lite, which comes with a much cheaper price tag. 

3. Amazon Fire Stick 4K

The best for streaming 4K content

Picture quality: Up to 4K HDR10+ | Voice remote: Yes | Alexa-enabled: Yes | Storage: 8GB | Ethernet port: No - requires aditional adapter | Launch price: $49.99/£49.99

Alexa Voice Remote

4K and HDR 10+

Dolby Atmos Audio

Amazon's 2021 Fire TV Stick 4K streaming device packs a wealth of features into a thumb-drive-sized stick for $49.99/£54.99. The updated Fire TV Stick features 4K Ultra HD capability with support for Dolby Vision, HDR, and HDR10+. You're also getting a 1.7GHz quad-core processor, and Dolby Atmos Audio—something very few streaming sticks have. Plus, you also get Alexa, Amazon's smart assistant, and its voice control capabilities.

4. Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K Max

Amazon's most powerful streaming stick

Picture quality: Up to 4K HDR10+ | Voice remote: Yes | Alexa-enabled: Yes | Storage: 8GB | Ethernet port: No - requires aditional adapter | Launch price: $54.99/£54.99

Wi-Fi 6 support

Fast performance

Dolby Vision and Dolby Atmos support

Expensive

The Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K Max was released in October of last year with a starting price of $54.99/£54.99. The Fire TV Stick Max is Amazon's most powerful streaming stick, with support for Dolby Vision, HDR 10, HDR10+, and Dolby Atmos. Unlike the Fire TV Stick 4K, the 4K Max supports Wi-Fi 6 and features the new quad-core 1.8 GHz processor that Amazon claims offers 40% more power than the previous generation.

5. Amazon Fire TV Cube

Like an Echo Dot and Fire TV Stick in one

Picture quality: Up to 4K Ultra HD with HDR10+ and Dolby Vision | Voice remote: Yes | Alexa-enabled: Yes | Storage: 16GB | Ethernet port: Yes | Launch price: $119.99/£109/AU$160

Hands free streaming

Supports 4K content

HDR10+ support and Dolby Vision

Amazon's Fire TV Cube is a hybrid between a smart speaker and a streaming media player. Calling itself the "first hands-free streaming media player with Alexa." Amazon seems to be betting on this combined functionality to sway consumers away from rival Chromecast or Apple TV devices.  

Like the Amazon Echo speakers, customers can navigate Fire TV and play/pause/fast-forward content without the need for a remote while still using Alexa for all their weather/shopping/trivia concerns. Don't worry, you get an actual remote control too. 

The Cube comes with its own Ethernet port, 16GB of storage, a built-in speaker, and top-of-the-range picture quality, as long as your TV can display it. Users can also control other compatible smart home devices, including additional speakers, soundbars, thermostats, and security cameras. Compared to Amazon Fire Stick prices, the TV Cube doesn't come cheap, retailing for $119/£109.99. You are getting complete control of your Amazon smart home in one neat little black box, making it the easiest way to combine all your connected tech.  

6. Fire TV Recast

Watch and record live TV with Alexa

Picture quality: Up to HD | Tuners: 2/4 | Voice remote: Yes | Alexa-enabled: Yes | Storage: 500GB/1TB (up to 75/150 hours of HD TV content | Ethernet port: Yes | Launch price: $229.99/$279.99

Amazon's own DVR

75/150-hour capacity

Compatible with Alexa-enabled products

Only available in the US. Amazon has released its own DVR (Digital Video Recorder) to record free over-the-air content and watch it via an Amazon Fire TV device or Echo Show (so you'll need one of those too). There are no subscription fees here, so it's a tempting option for all you cord cutters out there and with a 500GB capacity on the cheapest model, you're looking at around 75 hours of storage, so there's no need to pick up an external drive to save content, which is an issue with some DVRs. 

There's a larger 1TB capacity version if you want to double down. Hook it up to a HD antenna and you'll be able to watch and record content from the likes of ABC, CBS, FOX, NBC, PBS, and The CW. Better yet, just ask Alexa to do it for you if you've got a modern Fire TV device with a voice-remote.

Which Fire Stick prices are right for you?

The Fire Stick and the Fire Stick 4K prices are fairly similar to begin with ($39.99/£39.99 and $49.99/£49.99 respectively. So, when the sales do come around, you may well find that the more popular 4K model is cheaper than the original HD-only version. Even if you don't own a 4K TV, there's little point in picking up the older version when this happens (and it seems to regularly). In fact, even if the original Fire Stick prices are cheaper than the 4K offering, if there's a sale on both regardless you might as well pick up the latest model and future-proof your purchase. 

• Back to the top ^
• Like Amazon devices? Check out the best Amazon Echo prices
• See how to get an Amazon Fire Stick VPN
• Roku vs Fire Stick: which streaming video devices are better?

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The best cheap Roku sales and deals for 08 2022

We often see Roku sale prices falling well below MSRP, all thanks to the particularly competitive world of streaming sticks. Whether you're after a super simple HDMI plugin, or something designed to offer high quality 4K resolution and plenty of smart home features, you'll find all the best Roku deals right here.

Roku's Streaming sticks and boxes plug into your TV via an HDMI port, essentially turning any old HD/4K TV into a smart TV or boosting the number of apps on any modern smart TV that seems to be missing a few of your favorites. In a video streaming device world dominated by Amazon, Google, and Apple, Roku is the plucky underdog that continues to hold its own.

There are a lot of Roku devices out there in the wild, though, and some of them have been discontinued as they've been made obsolete by newer releases. Some, however, have an advantage or feature that new sticks don't cater for, so we've kept price comparison charts around for those models. 

Generally, though, we've cut down the list to include the most relevant Roku streaming devices that are readily available and represent great value of money for you.

• Check out the best cheap TV deals and sales of the week

Roku Express deals

The best entry-level Roku streamer

Picture quality: 1080p HD | Connectivity: Wireless | Remote: Standard | Headphone jack: No | Storage expansion: N/A

Dirt cheap

Faster than the old cheap models

No 4K Streaming

This is the cheapest streaming device in the Roku family. The Roku Express is newer and cheaper than the other standard Roku Streaming Stick and does all the same jobs. If you want to turn any HDMI TV into a Smart TV for as little as possible - this is for you. 

However, we'd be tempted to keep an eye out for a good deal on the 4K version mentioned earlier just to avoid having to buy one once 4K content becomes the norm.

Roku Streaming Stick Plus deals

A tiny yet superb 4K streaming device

Picture quality: 1080p HD, 4K, HDR | Connectivity: Wireless | Remote: Voice with TV power and volume controls | Headphone jack: No | Storage expansion: N/A

Cheap 4K Streaming

Improved remote

Packed with apps

Roku continues to give rival streaming devices something to worry about as the new Roku Streaming Stick Plus is super modern, super small and, most importantly, super cheap. Not to mention, unlike many of the older models it's been released in the UK too. Now Brits can finally join the 4K Roku party like the US has been enjoying for years! You're even getting HDR content from supported apps too.

While Amazon's 4K Fire TV Sticks are similarly priced and have a more intuitive remote design, plus Alexa support, you might find the wider range of streaming services on the Roku more appealing.

Roku Express 4K Plus 2021

Roku's latest 4K HDR streaming device

Picture quality: HD, 4K, HDR10+ | Connectivity: Wireless | Remote: Voice with TV power and volume controls | Headphone jack: No | Storage expansion: N/A

Affordable

4K HDR (and HDR10+) streaming

Voice remote

The Roku Express 4K Plus was released in April of this year and allows you to stream your favorite content in 4K Ultra HD resolution with support for HDR10+. The affordable streaming stick includes a Roku voice remote so you can launch movies, search for titles and adjust the volume completely hands-free.

The 4K streaming device launched in the US and UK with a starting price of $39.99/£39.99. Even though the Roku Express 4K is a new release, we've already seen slight discounts on the streaming device, and we're hoping to see a record-low price during the upcoming Black Friday 2021 sale.

Roku Ultra deals

The one with all the features

Picture quality: 1080p HD, 4K, HDR | Connectivity: Wireless or ethernet | Remote: Voice with TV power, volume and gaming controls | Headphone jack: Yes - on remote and box | Storage expansion: Micro SD and USB

Headphone jack on remote

Expandable storage

Gaming remote

More expensive

This Roku was not released in the UK. So don't expect many (if any) UK prices. The Roku Ultra is the most feature-packed of all the Roku media streamers. It has all the quality 4K and HDR streaming and ports of the Roku Premiere Plus. So what do you get for the extra cash? The remote control gets the most attention on the Ultra as it can be used for voice search, it has extra buttons to make it a handy game controller and there's even a little speaker to help you find it via a button on the console. There's also a USB storage slot and an optical out audio port.  We're loving the option for private listening via the bundled-in JBL headphones headphones that you can plug into the remote too. 

If you're not bothered about the extra audio ports, expandable storage and using the Roku for gaming, then you should opt for one of the Roku deals we mentioned earlier and save a big chunk of cash.

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Sony's new Dolby Atmos soundbar is like a cheaper Sonos Arc, and it's tempting

Sony has just announced its latest soundbar, the Sony HT-A3000, which is an all-in-one bar that's designed to deliver positional Dolby Atmos sound and great bass from a single box.

The Sony HT-A3000 will be available in October, and will cost £599 / $699, with an Australian launch yet to be confirmed.

Its speaker configuration is officially 3.1 channels, with three forward-firing speakers (left, right and center), and dual subwoofer units. There are no upfiring drivers for Dolby Atmos, but it does support the audio format, and it includes Sony's excellent sound processing that creates the impression of height and extra width – we've heard it before in the likes of the Sony HT-G700, and it's seriously impressive, landing that product a place in our list of the best soundbars.

You get HDMI eARC and optical input to get your sound into the bar, though there's no HDMI passthrough sadly – it seems an odd omission at this mid-range price, considering Sony has included it in cheaper options in the past. 

It works with DTS:X as well as Dolby Atmos, and it also supports Sony's Acoustic Center Sync feature, which means that if you use it with compatible Sony Bravia XR TVs (such as the Sony X90J or Sony A80K), the TV's speakers will combine with the soundbar for an even bigger sound.

And it doesn't have to be a one-box soundbar if you don't want it to.

Angling against the Arc?

The design and features of this soundbar seem to be targeted straight at the success of the Sonos Arc – it offers the same kind of promise (immersive 3D sound and solid bass from a single box), but comes in at £300 / $200 cheaper than Sonos' option.

Now, it should be noted that the Sonos Arc features many more speaker drivers than this, including side- and up-firing drivers as well as forward-firing speakers. That gives it more directional power as well likely more dynamic sound (we're basing that on our experience with both the Arc and the Sony HT-G700).

However, not everyone counts the number of speakers. What they want is one of the best Dolby Atmos soundbars and maybe don't have the space or aesthetic desire for a separate subwoofer. And maybe they don't want to spend as much as the Sonos Arc costs.

That could cover a lot of people, and we think the price and feature combination here could tap into them really well. And like Sonos' soundbars, you can add more units for a more elaborate setup. You can add rear speakers for a full 5.1 surround setup, or an actual dedicated subwoofer, which will mean deeper and meatier bass than a soundbar alone can deliver. The Sony SA-RS3S rear speakers are the ideal match for the A3000, and they'll cost £449 / $349.

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Twitter Circle can finally help me tweet Spice Girls facts to a chosen few

Twitter has switched on a feature called Circle for all of its users, allowing you to tweet to up to 150 followers without feeling the shame of everyone finding out some facts that may be best kept to yourself.

We've all most likely been in a situation where we want to share some content that only a select few will understand – it's similar to a private joke that you and your partner could only laugh at. Twitter Circle is exactly that, which has been in testing since May.

While Elon Musk is relentlessly finding ways to get out of his deal to buy the company, it hasn't stopped the team at Twitter to look at ways to make tweeting easier for its users.

When you have a big Tweet that's meant for a smaller crowd, send it to your Twitter Circle –– now available for everyone.Select up to 150 people who can view and interact with the Tweets you send in your Circle. Get started from the Tweet composer or sidebar menu. pic.twitter.com/c4YJTJpOGQAugust 30, 2022

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Slowly rolling out to everyone on Android and iOS, it's a simple affair to create a Twitter Circle. Regardless of whether someone follows you or not, you can add anyone into the circle when you're about to compose a tweet, by pressing the 'Everyone' button.

The Circle option should appear if it hasn't already, and you can start adding those chosen users to read your guilty pleasures.

Already this is a feature that I know I'll be using. In the past I've been tweeting plenty of Sonic facts, Simpsons memes or Spice Girls facts to my followers, whether they want to read it on their Twitter timeline or not. But now I can treat a certain group with all of these.

Did you know that the third album from the Spice Girls was allegedly going to be a live album of previous and new songs for 1999 before Geri 'Ginger Spice' Halliwell left the group? Now you do – expect that and more to be in my Twitter Circle soon.

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Netflix axes Resident Evil series after just one season

Netflix has canned its TV show adaptation of Resident Evil on Friday – and many have breathed a sigh of relief.

The series doesn't stick to the game's canon, and uses the lore more as inspiration than a roadmap. That may be why it's garnered a rating of 3.9 on Rotten Tomatoes, reflecting the largely negative response of many diehard fans of the Resident Evil Capcom game franchise, which made its PlayStation debut back in 1996.

In a Deadline exclusive, it was announced that the popular streaming service decided not to renew the action-horror show after its first season failed to break the skin for many viewers.

(Image credit: Netflix)

A bitter taste

On Saturday, actor Lance Reddick, who played the iconic villain and Umbrella Corporation heavyweight Albert Wesker, posted a heartfelt message to the show's supporters on his Twitter account.

"The haters and the trolls notwithstanding, I wanted to give a special thank you to all the fans who watched the show, who got what we were doing, and who really loved it – because there is a hell of a lot of you," he said in a short video on his Twitter account.

He then went on to thank showrunner Andrew Dabb, his fellow co-stars, and "the executives at Netflix who believed in the show." 

Off the back of this, fans of Wesker and the legacy he brought to Resident Evil will be excited to learn that the date for Dead By Daylight's Project W chapter release has been announced.

On September 30, the asymmetrical horror game will add Wesker to their roster of bloodthirsty Killers as players pick a side and fight for escape – or for sacrifice – in The Entity's domain.

Get stuck in with the best PC gaming headsets to optimize your experience as you smash and dash your way around the Raccoon City Police Department.

• You can play Nintendo Switch games one-handed, thanks to this modded controller

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The next Windows 11 update will finally make Task Manager useful again

Task Manager in Windows 11 has always been a last resort for users trying to troubleshoot their PCs, me included, but it's been left by the wayside by Microsoft for years. Yet with the upcoming Sun Valley 2 update, it's finally getting a redesign that brings it up to a modern standard, such as dark mode.

Pressing CTRL+ALT+DELETE is a shortcut etched into the minds of many a Windows user, and has always launched Task Manager. It can forcibly close apps, prevent others from launching when you switch on your PC, and see how much memory some apps are using.

There's a bunch of improvements currently in testing that are bound to please a lot of users. You can try it in the Windows 11 Build 25188, available in the Dev Channel if you're signed in to the Insider program, which allows you to try out features that may or may not appear in a future Windows 11 update.

A Task Manager for everyone

(Image credit: TechRadar)

Straight away you can see that the design has been refreshed to adapt the Fluent Design interface, which can be seen in Paint, Snipping Tool and other apps that have been updated in the same fashion since Windows 11 came out in October 2021.

However there's more beneath the surface that's made me breathe multiple sighs of relief. With the options being moved to the left instead of tabs at the top as before, there's plenty more that you can do with apps and services in Task Manager.

You can enable 'Efficiency Mode', which can limit how apps use your PC in memory and processor usage to better control your laptop's battery life for example.

(Image credit: TechRadar)

The design of this new Task Manager also makes it easier for touchscreen devices, which will make my wife's touchscreen laptop even easier to use in Windows 11 when some apps are refusing to shut down.

This is a further attempt by Microsoft to make its apps cohesive across the board in Windows 11, from the visual flares to the new features that can give users better control over how apps use the hardware in a PC.

However we're yet to hear as to when Sun Valley 2 will arrive for everyone, which looks to bring tabs to File Explorer and an improved Settings app. Regardless of when it may appear, the vast improvements it looks to bring could alleviate any frustrations with what some users have been experiencing with Windows 11 so far.

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What is Softaculous and how do I use it?

While the idea of building your website from scratch can sound thrilling at first, but it’s often a tough, tiresome, and time-consuming task. Thankfully, there’s Softaculous to save the day and make this daunting duty a bit simpler.

Today, there’s a whole variety of valuable open-source applications out there (WordPress, Joomla, and Magento to name a few) and they can help you build a fully-functional and breathtakingly beautiful site without much trouble.

However, to tap into their potential you’ll have to install them and get them up and running first – and these installations can get somewhat tricky since they almost always call for unzipping files, creating databases with specific user permissions, renaming and editing PHP configuration files, uploading these file to the correct web directories and then running installation scripts.

Fortunately, there’s a less troublesome way to get your favorite apps in full swing and you can do it in a flash – enter Softaculous, an open-source app auto-installer that’ll allow you to install any app you want in a couple of clicks.

So, let’s check out Softaculous - what it is and how you can use it to simplify your life. 

What is Softaculous? 

Softaculous is an auto-script installer that allows its users to install and configure a wide variety of commercial and open-source apps via scripts and PHP classes. 

This installer supports multiple control panels (including cPanel, Plesk, and DirectAdmin) and it can also take up installs of other auto-installers. It’s able to work well with custom hosting panels, but for that, you’ll have to opt for a premium plan.

Along with installing scripts, you can also utilize Softaculous to keep your installs up to date, back them all up, and even create a staging site where you can test any changes and try out any features you wish to add to your live site inside a secure environment.

How to use Softaculous? 

To make use of Softaculous, you’ll want to head out to your site's administration area – that is, to the control panel of your choice – since Softaculous runs within it. 

Most beginner-friendly web hosting providers offer a Softaculous installation right from the start, but if you choose one that doesn’t you can install it with a bit of technical know-how (or Linux-savvy friends).

Softaculous installation script collection includes a wide selection of web apps covering categories such as blogging sites, ad management, ecommerce, social networking, customer support, and much more. 

Created to be a one-click installer, Softaculous can get any of the 380 currently available scripts up and running in a matter of seconds. In addition to installing apps, Softaculous will keep all these apps up to date and also allow users to change the language, screen display of side menus, or time zone.

Installing apps with Softaculous is surprisingly simple – just go to your control panel, find a Softaculous icon in the software section, and tap into it. This will send you to the scrip library with the most popular scripts (WordPress, Joomla, AbanteCart, and so forth) placed at the top of the list. Now, choose an app you wish to install, check app specifications, and click on the “Install Now” button – it will take you to yet another page.

Here, you’ll be asked to fill in a form including the installation URL, version of the app you want to use, site name and description, your (or administrator's) user name, password, and e-mail address. 

In the end, you’ll add another (or the same email address) where all installation details will be sent, and click on the “Install” button. 

Once the installation is successful you’ll get the standard congratulations message and that’s it – you’ve installed your first app using Softaculous.

How to install Softaculous on a VPS/dedicated server with cPanel/WHM

Before starting with Softaculous installation, make sure that ionCube Loaders are enabled on cPanel/WHM on your control panel server – otherwise, you might be faced with an error. 

Once this is done, access the cPanel/WHM as a root user and go to the “Server Configuration” section where you’ll select “Tweak Settings” and then proceed to the PHP tab. There, you’ll want to select an ionCube check box for the cPanel PHP Loader and click on the “Save” button right below. 

Now, to install Softaculous you’ll need to log into your server via SSH and run the following command:  

Once the installation file is downloaded, you’ll want to run the next commands, one after another:

A congratulatory message should appear on the screen once the Softaculous installation is completed. If it did, go back to cPanel/WHM, choose the “Plugins” section, and click on Softaculous - “Instant Installs” option. 

Here, we should note that if suPHP is enabled on your server, some adjustments should be made to set the correct permissions for writable files and folders. 

So, if this is the case for you, go to the “Settings” section in Softaculous and edit CHMOD Files to “0644” and CHMOD Directories to “0755” – and that’s it, after this Softaculous should be installed on your suPHP server without a hitch.

However, if suPHP isn’t enabled on your server, skip this step altogether. 

Softaculous Free vs Premium

As suggested, the free version of Softaculous is completely cost-free while the premium version comes with a price tag and it can be billed on a monthly or an annual basis.

As we write, 38 scripts are available with a free version while you can get up to 380 of them with a premium plan. Also, there are no scripts for Perl, no use of custom apps, no adding scripts, and no modifying email templates with the freemium edition of Softaculous.

If you’re not sure whether you should purchase a premium version of Softaculous, you can sign up for one month of free trial and make that decision down the line.  

How to check if your license is Softaculous?

There are a couple of ways you can check if your license is Softaculous and the simplest one includes going to Softaculous’ official site, finding the “Verify License” button in the bottom menu, and tapping into it. Here, you’ll be asked to provide your server's IP address, after which you get the details about your license (that is, if you have it) including status, type, and its owner.

If you have server access, go to cPanel/WHM, scroll down to the “Plugins” section, find “Softaculous” and proceed to “Instant Installs”.  

Alternatively, you can check the license details of Softaculous on your server by executing the following command line:

To renew your Softaculous license head to “My Licenses” on the app’s client center, select the license key, and click on the “Renew” button. 

This will redirect you to the “Purchase Softaculous” page where you’ll be required to fill in details about the license and tap into the “Purchase Softaculous” button. 

Now you’ll see the invoice, so choose the payment method (all major credit/debit cards and PayPal are available), leave a few pieces of personal information, and hit the “Buy” button.

As soon as the payment is completed, your license will be activated at once – and you’ll get an email as confirmation.  

How do I use Softaculous in WordPress?

If your web hosting provider supports Softaculous, you can make use of its built-in feature called WordPress Manager to simplify your site management. 

To use it, log into your web hosting account and head to your control panel where you should find “WordPress Manager by Softaculous” inside the software section. If you’re already in the Softaculous user panel you can find a WordPress icon in the upper right corner.

Here, you’ll be able to see all your WordPress installations including plugins and themes – and you can add, upload, and install them in a matter of seconds. Also, you can change a couple of settings such as enabling/disabling debug mode, WordPress cron, search engine visibility, and auto-upgrades for plugins and themes. 

From here you can also utilize some superb Softaculous features such as cloning instances into separate installs, staging copies of live installs for testing, creating and restoring backups, and more. 

Get online with ease

It doesn’t matter if you’re on a mission to set up an online store, build a business site, or start a personal blog – Softaculous will make it much simpler.

Its intuitive, user-friendly interface will save you the time you would otherwise spend on installing, updating, and testing out your CMS and other apps - which means you can immediately invest that time in growing your online project.

So, now that you know what Softaculous is and how you can use it – go and get cracking with it.

• You'll need the best website builder on the market to create your site

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What time are The Rings of Power episodes 1 and 2 released on Prime Video?

It's almost time to go on another Middle-earth adventure. The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power finally launches on Prime Video this week, and we're sure you're as excited as we are for its arrival.

If you're among The Lord of the Rings' global fanbase that's been waiting for the Prime Video show to be released, you'll want to know when The Rings of Power will officially arrive. Below, we'll run you through when Amazon's Lord of the Rings TV show will be released in your world region, with the fantasy series set to debut at different times and on different dates, based on where you live.

That's not all, though. We'll also provide you with a full release schedule for the forthcoming Prime Video production, so you'll know when new episodes land on Amazons' streaming platform. We're a fellowship, after all, so we help each other out.

Before we begin, be sure to check out our latest Rings of Power coverage. Watch the show's final drama-fuelled and action-packed trailer, which arrived last week. Meanwhile, find out how Amazon Studios is teaming up with Samsung to bring you the former's Lord of the Rings project in full 8K resolution.

All caught up? Great, don your best Lord of the Rings cosplay, and let's find out when The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power episodes 1 and 2 will arrive on Prime Video.

When will The Rings of Power premiere on Prime Video?

The Rings of Power will introduce us to the Harfoots, a precursor race of the Hobbits. (Image credit: Ben Rothstein/Amazon Studios)

The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power will officially launch on Prime Video on Thursday, September 1 at 6 PM PT / 9 PM ET.

That's when US, Canadian, and Latin American audiences will want to tune into Prime Video to catch its two-episode premiere, anyway. Other territories, such as the UK, Australia, and India, will be able to catch The Rings of Power on Friday, September 2. However, the times it'll launch on Amazon's streamer will vary on where you live. 

For a full rundown of what time The Rings of Power's first two episodes will be available to stream in your world region on September 2, check out the list below:

• Australia – 11 AM AEST
• Brazil – 10 PM BRT (Thursday, September 1)
• Europe – 3 AM CEST
• India – 6:30 AM IST
• Japan – 10 AM JST
• Middle East – 5 AM MEST
• New Zealand – 1 PM NZST
• United Kingdom – 2 AM BST

The Rings of Power: full Prime Video release schedule

Prepare to venture to Númenor for the first time in a Lord of the Rings live-action project. (Image credit: Ben Rothstein/Prime Video)

Interested in finding out when subsequent episodes of The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power will be made available? Fret not, dear reader, for we have answers for you on that front, too.

As confirmed by Amazon Studios, new episodes will arrive weekly every Friday on Prime Video after the show's premiere. So, for instance, The Rings of Power episode 3 will launch on Friday, September 9 in every region globally, with new entries officially landing at 12 AM ET / 5 AM BST / 9:30 AM IST / 2 PM AEST.

The only outlier in all of this is those of you who operate on Pacific Time. Because The Rings of Power debuts at 12 AM ET, you'll be able to watch it at 9 PM PT on Thursday, September 8. Such are the rewards for living in a different time zone, eh?

But we digress. Read on for a full release schedule for The Rings of Power episodes 3 to 8:

• The Rings of Power episode 1 – Thursday, September 1 / Friday, September 2
• The Rings of Power episode 2 – Thursday, September 1 / Friday, September 2
• The Rings of Power episode 3 – Friday, September 9
• The Rings of Power episode 4 – Friday, September 16
• The Rings of Power episode 5 – Friday, September 23
• The Rings of Power episode 6 – Friday, September 30
• The Rings of Power episode 7 – Friday, October 7
• The Rings of Power episode 8 – Friday, October 14

For more Lord of the Rings-based content, find out why some Tolkien fans may not enjoy The Rings of Power as much as more casual viewers. Alternatively, read up on the latest Lord of the Rings videogame to be announced.

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The cheaper QD-OLED TVs we're hoping for might be on the way next year

This year, Samsung finally launched its own competitor to the best OLED TVs – the Samsung S95B, which uses a next-gen 'QD-OLED' screen. By combining the Quantum Dot color technology that Samsung's QLEDs are famed for with the pixel-precise contrast of OLED, it produces images that we called "ground-breaking" and "sensational" in our five-star review.

The one downside is that QD-OLED technology isn't cheap – new-gen tech never is – and it also only comes in 55- and 65-inch sizes currently.

But it sounds like Samsung Display has plans in place that are likely to change both of these issues, ready for next year's models. According to a report in The Elec, Samsung Display has already increased the yield rate to 85%, and it expects to increase the number of QD-OLED panels it's producing by 30% towards the end of the year.

The 'yield rate' refers to how many of the TV screens Samsung Display actually work well enough to be used in a final product. In 2021, QD-OLED's yield rate was said to be just 50%, meaning that half of the screens it attempted to make were waste. A low yield rate drives up the price of the screen, because you have to factor the cost of all that waste material and energy into the price of the successful screens. So this increase in efficiency means that less can be charged for the QD-OLED panels.

And increasing the number of screens being made by 30% can also mean cheaper screens, because economies of scale improve (meaning: the more you make of something, the cheaper each individual one becomes to produce).

Need a different size of QD-OLED TV? You might be in luck next year. (Image credit: Future)

At the same time, investing in these new production facilities will reportedly mean that Samsung is able to produce 49-inch and 77-inch QD-OLED screens too. However, that's not as exciting for mid-size TV fans as you might hope: The Elec's story suggests that the 49-inch panel will be aimed at being a monitor rather than a TV – expect a super-sized 32:9 version of the ultra-wide 34-inch Alienware QD-OLED monitor than a 4K TV, based on what The Elec says. We've seen this kind of thing (without OLED) before: the Samsung Odyssey Neo G9 and the Philips Brilliance 499P9H, for example.

However, there is a catch: Samsung Display is waiting to invest in these new production facilities until it hears whether Samsung Electronics (the part of the company that actually puts the screens into TVs and monitors) will commit to launching more QD-OLED products.

That's hard to predict at this point, but given that Samsung and LG have been unable to agree on a price for Samsung to use regular (non-QD) OLED screens for its TVs, it only makes sense for Samsung to push forward more strongly with its own version of OLED as an alternative.

And the price could drop further after 2024

There's a second report in The Elec that's also good news for QD-OLED pricing in the future – but it appears to be further off. The report reveals that Samsung Display has been working on a new thinner way of building QD-OLED screens with a company called ETRI, as confirmed at a display conference in South Korea.

We don't really care about the thinness for aesthetic reasons (have you seen current OLED TVs? Thickness is not an issue!), but the way Samsung and ETRI are planning to achieve this is by removing a lamination layer that's included in the current screens. This would simplify the production, making the whole process more efficient, and therefore cheaper per-panel in the long term.

However, the report says that commercialization of this tech is unlikely until "after 2024".

It's no surprise that Samsung has plans for more advanced screen designs in the works – Samsung Display is one of the leading centers of OLED product research, and has also been researching ways to improve the efficiency of the blue OLED pixels that QD-OLED screens rely on to generate their light, which would also help bring down the price of QD-OLED, but similarly appears to be several years away.

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This new Google Meet update could be a real career-saver

A new Google Meet update could spell the end to potentially embarrassing occasions when on a video call for good.

The video conferencing service will now let users to quickly mute themselves in a meeting by holding down the spacebar button. To unmute, users simply need to release the button.

"We hope this makes it even easier for you to participate in your meetings by quickly unmuting to say something," the company wrote in a Google Workspace update blog post, adding that it could also be helpful in situations where users forget to mute themselves again after unmuting in a group call.

Press to talk

The feature is off by default, but can be enabled in the Google Meet settings menu, and will begin rolling out to users on September 9, where it will be available to all Google Workspace customers and users with personal Google Accounts on all web browsers.

A similar function is already available in Zoom, which also allows users to mute and unmute with a press of the spacebar. In contrast, Microsoft Teams, the other great rival, requires users to press two buttons (Ctrl+Spacebar) to unmute.

Read more

> Google Meet will now rat on you if you're late for a meeting

> Our list of the best online collaboration software around

> Google Meet really wants to stream all your videos, games and more

The update arrives as the company continues its merger of Google Duo and Meet to create a single video calling service.

It also comes shortly after the platform finally added improved support for USB accessories, meaning users will be able to toggle between mute and unmute using headsets, speaker microphones, and other USB peripherals.

Fortunately, another recent Google Workspace update will also tweak how its smart assistant reacts when users are on a video conferencing call, specifically if anyone says "Hey Google".

The change means Google Assistant will now only be active when a device is not in a meeting, as well as only being active in the 10 minutes leading to an upcoming meeting.

• We've also rounded up the best business webcams arund

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Microsoft Teams is adding one of the worst things about phone calls

If you've ever been left waiting to connect to a Microsoft Teams call and thought, "what might make this experience even more tedious?", then you may just be in luck.

The video conferencing service has announced it will be adding hold music for users unlucky enough to have their call transferred.

When a call transfer is initiated, music "can be played" to those on hold, the company said in a new entry on the Microsoft 365 roadmap - replacing the silent void that is currently in place as you wait to be connected.

Hold please

It's not yet known exactly what music will be played to those on hold - whether it's elevator-style muzak, some smooth summer jazz, or even customized options to let you play whatever song you choose.

The feature has a scheduled general availability date of September 2022, so users won't have too long to wait to "enjoy" the new addition. When released, it will be available for all users across Microsoft Teams on web, desktop and Mac.

Read more

> Here's our list of the best headsets for conference calls right now

> How to set up a Microsoft Teams meeting

> Exclusive: The numbers that show Zoom, not Teams, is the king of video conferencing

The addition is the latest from Microsoft Teams as the company looks to make using the platform more intuitive and helpful for users.

Recently, Microsoft announced users would have the option to choose live captions in whatever language they like. When starting and setting up a call, Microsoft Teams users will be able to select live captions in the language of their choice, helping them gain better understanding with other participants.

Elsewhere, the company also noted it is working on an "Interactive Large Gallery" upgrade that will mean your calls will now include feeds from up to 49 video participants at once. Users can interact with others via actions like pin and spotlight, and observe their meeting activity like raise hand and reactions.

Microsoft has also announced it is working on adding Question and Answer capabilities to Teams webinars and meetings, bringing a whole new level of interactivity and collaboration.

• Check out our list of the best headsets for conference calls out there

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13 movies and TV shows to stream on Netflix, Disney Plus, and more in September 2022

September 2022 is almost here, and, with it, comes a changing of the seasons. The nights are starting to get longer, cooler, and darker (in the northern hemisphere, anyway) and, subsequently, we suspect you'll be staying indoors more often than not.

Still, you won't be struggling for things to watch if you favor a cosy night in. Netflix, Prime Video, Disney Plus, and other popular streaming services will be delivering a bounty of new content to check out in September, ranging from highly anticipated TV shows to potentially big movies.

Below, we've rounded up 13 of the biggest TV series and films to get excited about on HBO Max, Paramount Plus, Hulu, and more. We've done our best to cater to every type of viewer, too, so there's bound to be something that will pique your interest from our selection.

Here, then, are the best and most eagerly awaited movies and TV shows set to launch on the biggest streaming platforms around in September 2022.

The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power (Prime Video)

When to stream it: Friday, September 2

The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power is Amazon's biggest hope for 2022 – and with good reason. Its first season cost $465 million alone and, with Stranger Things and House of the Dragon posting huge viewing figures on Netflix and HBO Max respectively, Amazon Studios needs its own big-budget, prestige fantasy show to keep its fanbase engaged.

The Rings of Power is a series inspired by J.R.R. Tolkien's legendary Lord of the Rings novels. Set 3,500 years before the events of The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings, it'll tell the multi-narrative tale of events that play out during Middle-earth's Second Age. That includes the forging of the titular Rings of Power, Sauron's attempt to become Middle-earth's totalitarian ruler, and his eventual defeat during the Last Alliance of elves and men.

However, it isn't a prequel to Peter Jackson's multi-award winning film trilogy. Sure, it exists in the same fictional universe, but it sits apart from Jackson's Lord of the Rings cinematic offerings. Equally noteworthy is The Rings of Power's condensing of the Second Age's timeline – the Prime Video show isn't set across three millennia, instead taking place over a few decades so that mortal and immortal beings can co-exist, with their stories running parallel to one another. It's a huge creative divergence from Tolkien's source material, and one that's alienated some diehard fans.

Still, it'll be worth watching. If nothing else, it'll provide plenty of watercooler talking points in the office on Monday mornings – and who knows? It might actually be a terrific show. Keep an eye out for our spoiler-free review for our thoughts very soon.

Elvis (HBO Max)

When to stream it: Friday, September 2

Almost three months on from its theatrical release, Elvis swings its way into the HBO Max movie back catalog to entertain folks on the small screen.

The musical biopic stars Austin Butler as the legendary rock and roll star, with Tom Hanks playing Elvis' nefarious manager Colonel Tom Parker. The film charts the meteoric rise of the King of Rock and Roll through the eyes of Parker, capturing the complicated 20-year relationship between the pair and delving into other areas of Presley's private life, such as his drug addiction and marriage to Priscilla Beaulieu.

Elvis wowed critics and audiences back in June and, while it grossed less than $300 million at the global box office, the Baz Luhrmann-directed movie is a stirring and drama-fulled musical epic that deserves your attention. One for the weekend if you're looking for an alternative to Amazon's Lord of the Rings TV series.

Pinocchio (Disney Plus)

When to stream it: Thursday, September 8

Launching as part of the second annual Disney Plus Day, a live-action remake of classic movie Pinocchio lands in early September.

The Disney Plus movie has been directed by the award-winning Robert Zemeckis (Back to the Future, Forrest Gump), and comes with some serious star power. Tom Hanks, Luke Evans, Cynthia Erivo, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, and Keegan-Michael Key are among its all-star cast. Meanwhile, relative newcomer Benjamin Evan Ainsworth voices the titular puppet who dreams of becoming a real boy.

Pinocchio isn't likely to deviate too much from the story that fans across the globe will already know – that honor is reserved for Guillermo del Toro's stop-motion animated adaptation of Pinocchio, which arrives on Netflix later this year. Even so, you know what you'll be getting from a live-action remake of a beloved Disney film, and it's a flick that's sure to entertain the whole family.

Thor: Love and Thunder (Disney Plus)

When to stream it: Thursday, September 8

Thor: Love and Thunder storms onto Disney Plus in time for the September 8 festivities, too.

The god of thunder's fourth solo film was the 29th MCU movie – check out our Marvel movies in order guide for more details – to arrive in cinemas worldwide. Despite mixed reviews (read our Thor 4 spoiler-free review for our thoughts), it's currently the sixth highest-grossing film of 2022. Still, we suspect a few people would've held off seeing it in theaters, which makes it eventual arrival on Disney Plus a big deal.

Set after Avengers: Endgame, Thor: Love and Thunder sees the Norse god (Chris Hemsworth) doing some soul searching as he seeks to find new purpose to his life. However, when the villainous Gorr the God Butcher (Christian Bale) begins wiping out gods across the cosmos in a quest for vengeance, Thor puts a team together – comprising Valkyrie (Tessa Thompson), Korg (Taiki Waititi), and ex-girlfriend-turned-superhero Jane Foster (Natalie Portman), aka the Mighty Thor – to put an end to Gorr's crusade.

Once you've watch the superhero movie, be sure to check out our Thor 4 ending and post-credits scene explainer for more on his MCU future.

Cobra Kai season 5 (Netflix)

When to stream it: Friday, September 9

Cobra Kai, the cult Netflix series, is back for its fifth season – and, based on the footage we've seen, as well as what went down in the season 4 finale, the stakes are greater than they've ever been. Well, where the art of karate is concerned, anyway.

Following the shocking events that played out in the All Valley Tournament, Terry Silver is gearing up to expand his 'No Mercy' style of karate in California. And, really, who is there to stop him? John Kreese is behind bars, while Johnny Lawrence has temporarily walked away from his role as mentor-in-chief to repair the damage he's caused. Well, Daniel LaRusso is around, so it looks like the job title of 'season 5 hero' rests on his shoulders. Except, he won't be doing it alone *tease tease*.

The comedy-drama series is one of Netflix's big hitters for September, so expect it to perform as well as previous installments. It's got a high bar to reach, though – Cobra Kai's four seasons to date have achieved at least a 90% certified fresh rating on review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes. No pressure, then, Cobra Kai season 5.

American Gigolo (Paramount Plus)

When to stream it: Saturday, September 10

Now this could be a surprise hit. American Gigolo, a remake of the 1980 drama movie of the same name, is the next potentially big Paramount Plus show to land on our screens. 

Why do we say that? Namely, because of the talent attached to it. Jon Bernthal (The Punisher, The Many Saints of Newark) is the series' lead star, while the likes of Rosie O'Donnell (A League of Their Own, Russian Doll) and Gretchen Mol (Yellowstone, Perry Mason) are among its stellar supporting cast. David Hollander, who created hit shows including Ray Donovan, acts as showrunner, too.

American Gigolo tells the story of Julian Kaye (Bernthal), a former Los Angeles-based sex worker who struggles to move past being arrested and imprisoned for murder 15 years earlier. Grappling with the complicated relationships in his current life and unable to let go of his past, Julian embarks on a mission to seek the truth behind his framing – a crime that Detective Sunday (O'Donnell) also happens to be looking into. Cue a wider conspiracy that emerges as the duo search for answers.

American Gigolo's two trailers have amassed almost 12 million views combined on YouTube – viewing figures that shouldn't be sniffed at. So it to be another surprising slam dunk for Paramount along the lines of Yellowjackets and 1883.

The Handmaid's Tale season 5 (Hulu)

When to stream it: Wednesday, September 14

15 months after its fourth season was released, The Handmaid's Tale is back for its fifth outing. The award-winning Hulu TV series will pick up after the shocking season 4 finale, which saw Elisabeth Moss' June Osborne – alongside some of her former handmaids – murder one of the show's other major characters. Expect the dystopian drama show to explore the ramifications of this incident on June and everyone else involved.

The Handmaid's Tale season 4 didn't live up to critics or fans' expectations, with the show's latest entry rated as the worst season in the series yet. Hulu executives will be hoping that its next installment will fare much better, then – as will the series' cast and crew. A sixth season hasn't been greenlit but, if The Handmaid's Tale season 5 turns things around, you can expect it to be renewed.

Do Revenge (Netflix)

When to stream it: Friday, September 16

Netflix has become the go-to streamer for Gen Z-styled content. From hit TV series like Sex Education to less well received projects such as Boo Bitch, it seems that the streaming giant prides itself on making films and shows for teen audiences.

Do Revenge, a forthcoming Netflix movie, certainly falls into that category. Starring Stranger Things' Maya Hawke and Fairfax's Camila Mendes, Do Revenge is billed as a dark comedy that was surprisingly inspired by Alfred Hitchcock's Strangers on a Train. Go figure.

So, what's it about? Do Revenge sees Mendes' Drea and Hawke's Eleanor team up and, well, seek revenge on their fellow high schoolers after they're embarrassed by their peers. For Drea, it's the leaking of a topless video – meant only for ex-boyfriend Max's eyes – while Eleanor is shunned when rumors spread that she tried to force herself on her crush Carissa.

It's not a very novel storytelling idea, but it's sure to draw in viewers of a certain age who are looking for something of this ilk to stream. Expect this one to do reasonably well and then drop out of Netflix's Top 10 lists as quickly as it arrived.

Andor (Disney Plus)

When to stream it: Wednesday, September 21

It's only been three months since Obi-Wan Kenobi's standalone series ended, but it's time for the next Star Wars project to make landfall on Disney Plus.

Set five years before Star Wars: Rogue One, Andor tells the tale of Cassian Andor (Diego Luna), the drifter-turned-rebel spy who becomes a key player in the Rebel Alliance's fight against the tyrannical Galactic Empire.

The show's first season – a second one will begin filming in November – is set across a 12-month period, and it'll follow Andor (and characters who become entwined in his orbit) as his revolutionary journey begins with the Rebellion. The 12-episode season will also explore his backstory, as well as the roles key individuals in the Rebellion's formation, such as Mon Mothma (Genevieve O'Reilly) and the mysterious Luthen Rael (Stellan Skarsgaard). Andor will also train a spotlight on the Empire's middle management, with tragic villains in Syril Karn (Kyle Soller) and Dedra Meero (Denise Gough) also prominent throughout.

Andor will launch with an unprecedented three-episode premiere – where Disney Plus shows are concerned anyway – on release day. Keep an eye out for our spoiler-free review closer to release.

Blonde (Netflix)

When to stream it: Friday, September 28

Netflix is still searching for its first Academy Award for Best Picture, with Apple beating it to the punch at the 2022 ceremony with CODA. Based on what we've seen of Blonde, though, the world's biggest streamer may finally end its wait for the most coveted Oscar on the 2023 awards circuit.

Starring Ana de Armas (The Gray Man, Knives Out, No Time to Die), Blonde is based on the best-selling novel of the same name that reimagines the life of iconic actor Marilyn Monroe. The psychological-fuelled biographical movie will examine the stark contrast between her professional and personal lives, with her confident, bubbly on-screen persona a far cry from the woman who struggles to cope with her dysfunctional love life and drug addiction, as well as the exploitation she endured.

Andrew Dominik (Mindhunter, This Much I Know Is True) directs the film, while Adrian Brody (The Pianist, Predators), Bobby Cannavale (Mr Robot, Ant-Man), Tobias Huss (King of the Hill) and Julianna Nicholson (Mare of Easttown) are among its supporting cast.

The film has drawn controversy pre-release for its age rating and Armas' casting, but we still expect this to be a massive hit (particularly among critics) when it arrives.

Hocus Pocus 2 (Disney Plus)

When to stream it: Friday, September 30

Almost 30 years after the original was release in theaters, the sequel to cult classic Hocus Pocus is gearing up to bring early scares to Disney's streaming audience.

The fantasy comedy horror flick sees Sarah Jessica Parker, Bette Midler, and Kathy Najimy reprise their roles as the villainous Sanderson Sisters – witches who wrought havoc on the small town of Salem in the 90s and aim to do so again in the present. It'll be up to Becca (Whitney Peak), Izzy (Belissa Escobedo), and Cassie (Lilia Buckingham) to stop the sinister trio after Becca and Izzy accidentally conjure them back into existence. Ted Lasso's Hannah Waddingham and Arrested Development's Tony Hale are among the film's supporting cast.

It seems odd that Disney wouldn't release Hocus Pocus 2 in cinemas – after all, the first film has amassed a global cult following in the three decades after its release. Still, Disney Plus subscribers will be able to get an early Halloween fix when the supernatural comedy arrives at the end of September.

Jungle (Prime Video)

When to stream it: Friday, September 30

Like American Gigolo, we think this Prime Video offering could be a surprise hit for Amazon Studios.

From the minds of Junior Okoli and Chas Appeti, Jungle is a cyberpunk-style, music-based drama that looks set to redraw the lines of what's possible from cinematography, production design, and soundtrack perspectives.

The six-part series will follow the interconnected lives of several strangers in inner city London, who must face up to various personal and sociopolitical issues, which are viewed through the lens of the UK rap, drill, and grime music scenes. As each character's world begins to unravel around them, the show's core theme of 'every action has a consequence' will play out through a distinct blend of music and dialog – a uniquely creative choice that'll push the narrative boundaries of what's possible from likeminded productions.

Some of the UK's biggest drill and rap artists, including Tinie Tempah, Big Narstie, Kaykae, and Jordan McCann, will feature among the series' cast. Variety recently labeled Appeti and Okoli as two of the Top 10 European creators to watch in 2022 – high praise indeed, and a nomination that's sure to help Jungle fly when it lands on Prime Video.

The Greatest Beer Run Ever (Apple TV Plus)

When to stream it: Friday, September 30

Based on Joanna Molloy and John 'Chickie' Donohue's book of the same name, The Greatest Beer Run Ever is a biographical action-comedy flick inspired by surreal, real-life events.

Set in 1967, the Apple TV Plus film tells the tale of Donohue (played by Zac Efron), a 26-year old Marine Corps veteran. After he gets drunk one night, Donohue unwittingly accepts a challenge to sneak into Vietnam, track down his friends – who are part of the US army during the Vietnam War – and deliver them a can of beer each to raise their spirits. As Donohue quickly finds out, though, taking on this unusual mission won't be easy – especially when it comes to actually traveling across and then leaving Vietnam when a deadly war is being fought.

Perhaps unsurprisingly, this Apple TV Plus production has is full if recognizable faces. Iconic actors in Russell Crowe and Bill Murray are part of the supporting cast, while Archie Renaux (Shadow and Bone) and Jake Picking (Top Gun: Maverick) also feature. Peter Farrelly, who directed Oscar-winning movie Green Book, as well as both Dumb and Dumber movies, helms the flick. One to stick on your must-watch list for September, then.

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