Get a £55 Amazon.co.uk Gift Card with this cheap broadband deal from TalkTalk

When it comes to the competitive world of internet providers, what's even better than a cheap broadband deal? Nothing, right? Well, what about a cheap broadband deal that comes with a £55 Gift Card that you can spend at Amazon.co.uk, Tesco, Argos or Ticketmaster? Oh yeah, now we've got your attention...

This offer that is EXCLUSIVE to TechRadar readers only, comes courtesy of TalkTalk who is offering the Gift Card alongside its Fast Broadband package. That's average speeds of 11Mb, no activation or set up fees and just £19.95 per month. While that's already a rather good deal TalkTalk is also throwing in this £55 Gift Card that you can use at your choice of those popular retailers.

To get your hands on this deal you'll have to go to this GiftCloud page and enter your email - you won't be eligible if you head straight to the TalkTalk site. You will then be guided through the process of getting your new broadband with that added £55 incentive. That page also has full terms and conditions of the offer.

Scroll down to see this deal in full or go to our broadband deals page if this one just doesn't quite fit what you're looking for. But keep in mind that this offer is only available on the TalkTalk Fast Broadband package.

TalkTalk's Amazon.co.uk Gift Card deal in full:

Are there any cheaper broadband deals around?

We're glad you asked, because there's yet another TechRadar exclusive internet plan from Black Friday that's still just about running. And we think you might like it...

It's with provider Onestream, and the headline is that it costs a mere £9.99 per month! Simply put, it's the cheapest broadband deal we've EVER seen. It's still going, but we know that there are less than 200 to claim, so you may need to hurry if the idea of £9.99 a month internet sounds like something you'd be up for - head here for all the details and to sign up.

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Firefox Reality now supports 360-degree video and seven extra languages

Firefox Reality, Mozilla's VR web browser, has received its first major update since its launch in September. Firefox Reality 1.1 (available to download now for Oculus and Google Daydream) adds several new features to make browsing the web easier and more natural while wearing a headset.

Firefox Reality now supports 360-degree video from sources like YouTube, so you can leave the browser interface behind completely and become fully immersed in the action. There's also a new Theater mode for regular videos, which dims everything except the playback window so you can focus more easily.

There's improved localization, with support for seven additional languages, and the browser now offers improved voice search - an addition that makes using the web much easier than 'typing' using a controller and a virtual keyboard. 

A different approach

Other new additions include improved interface performance (for tasks like resizing windows) and the ability to create bookmarks that are stored locally. These might seem unremarkable, but many of the tools and options we've come to expect in desktop and mobile web browsers require a different approach in VR. For example, resizing involves using a controller to change the size of the browser window, moving it up and down to make the window larger or smaller rather than dragging a corner as you would with a mouse.

Mozilla is currently working on adding multi-window support, tabs and content-syncing to Firefox Reality - all of which will also need a different approach to other versions of the browser. We'll be interested to see how the developer adapts them for use without a keyboard, mouse or touchscreen.

• The best VR headset 2018

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Another one bites the dust as Netflix cancels Daredevil

Following the surprise cancellations of Netflix's Iron Fist and Luke Cage shows, the streaming service has struck again by axing the Marvel series that started it all, Daredevil, as reported by Deadline.

Exploding out the gate with a popular and well-received first series, interest in the show began to dwindle following a two year hiatus and the disappointing team-up event, The Defenders. 

While the third season, which landed on Netflix last month, has been met with much more acclaim, it was seemingly not enough to save the Devil of Hell's Kitchen from the service's chopping block. 

It's unknown whether Marvel's move towards the upcoming Disney+ streaming service has anything to do with the decision, though the studio has already announced new shows starring Loki, Falcon and the Winter Soldier for the Netflix competitor. 

Pour one out for Matt Murdock

“Marvel’s Daredevil will not return for a fourth season on Netflix," said the company in an official statement on the matter. "We are tremendously proud of the show’s last and final season and although it’s painful for the fans, we feel it best to close this chapter on a high note." 

The statement continued, "We’re thankful to showrunner Erik Oleson, the show’s writers, stellar crew and incredible cast including Charlie Cox as Daredevil himself, and we’re grateful to the fans who have supported the show over the years."

Curiously, Netflix then goes on to suggest that we haven't seen the last of the character, though it's difficult to discern what it means from a live-action standpoint. "While the series on Netflix has ended, the three existing seasons will remain on the service for years to come, while the Daredevil character will live on in future projects for Marvel.”

Currently, Marvel's Jessica Jones and The Punisher shows still remain, with each set to return for another season. Whether they continue beyond that is another story. 

• Ant-Man and the Wasp is set to be Netflix's final Marvel movie

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4K upscaling: Everything you need to know about how TVs turn HD into 4K

Nintendo Switch forecasted to outsell the PS4 in 2019

The Switch has been a monster hit for Nintendo by nearly every measure. The convertible console is precisely the success the company needed after a few years in the wilderness following the Wii U flop and smartphone foot-dragging.

Strategy Analytics predicts more good things for the platform, predicting that Nintendo will surpass Sony in console sales next year. The margins are admittedly pretty thin, with Nintendo selling 17.3 million Switches to Sony’s 17.1 million PS4/PS4 Pro (Microsoft’s in a distant third here at an even 10 million), but if it holds, it will be an impressive feat nonetheless. 

That number would put Nintendo ahead of the pack for the first time in 10 years, back in the Wii/PS3/Xbox 360 days. The company’s gearing up to release one of the console’s biggest titles yet, with the new Super Smash Bros. due out next week, and rumors have been swirling around update hardware for 2019, which would be pretty standard fare for Nintendo.

While those sales would propel the company to the front of the pack, Sony’s still got a much larger overall user base, accounting for around half of consoles currently in use — an impressive 84 percent of which are PS4s.

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Privacy search engine Startpage launches anonymous browsing feature

In an effort to further protect its users online, privacy search engine Startpage.com has launched a new “Anonymous View” feature.

The new feature protects users against tracking by serving as an anonymous buffer between websites and end users.

Most users are aware of Google Chrome and other browsers' 'incognito mode' which prevents your browsing history as well as cookies from being stored. However, incognito mode gives users a false sense of privacy since it does not actually protect users from websites that track, save and sell their web behaviour.

Anonymous View on the other hand, actually does. When a user clicks on an Anonymous View link, Startpage.com goes to the website, loads the page and displays it for them. Though instead of seeing the user, the webpage sees Startpage as the visitor while the user remains invisible.

Protecting users' privacy

A free Anonymous View link is available to the right of every search result on Startpage.com which makes it incredibly easy for users to visit websites while protecting their privacy.

The company's CEO Robert Beens provided further insight on this new feature in a statement, saying:

"With this innovation, we make it easier for consumers to keep personal data more private than ever before. Anonymous View is easy to use and unique for any search engine," said Startpage.com CEO Robert Beens. “Unlike the incognito mode in your browser, Anonymous View really protects you. It combines searching in privacy with viewing in privacy.

“We will continue to offer the world's best search results without the tracking and profiling,” Beens promised. “We are proud of our new features together with our new design and faster results. We will continue to develop new online tools that help people take back their privacy.”

• Take your online privacy to the next level with our top picks for the best VPN

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Starbucks plans to block adult content on its Wi-Fi in 2019

Starting in 2019, Starbucks will begin blocking adult content on its stores' Wi-Fi following increased public pressure from an internet-safety group.

While viewing adult content on the company's wireless network has always violated its policy, now the coffee giant has a way to stop it all together.

A Starbucks representative offered more details on how it plans to filter appropriate and inappropriate content to NBC News, saying:

"We have identified a solution to prevent this content from being viewed within our stores and we will begin introducing it to our U.S. locations in 2019.”

Public pressure

Starbucks' announcement comes after a recent petition from internet-safety advocacy group Enough is Enough earned 26,000 signatures. 

Back in 2014, the group launched an adult content-free campaign geared at McDonald's and Starbucks. While McDonald's responded to the campaign proactively, Starbucks did not which is why Enough is Enough decided to put additional pressure on the coffee chain to do something about the issue.

In a statement on its site, CEO of Enough is Enough Donna Rice Hughes criticised Starbucks' inaction in the US and explained how the lack of filters on its Wi-Fi could be harming the country's youth, saying:

"Starbucks has had a tremendous opportunity to put its best foot forward in protecting its customers from images deemed obscene and illegal under the law, but they haven't budged, despite their promise two years ago and despite the fact that they voluntarily filter this same content in the UK. Having unfiltered hotspots also allows children and teens to easily bypass filters and other parental control tools set up by their parents on their smart phones, tablets and laptops." 

Bypassing filters and dangers of public Wi-Fi

While filtering adult content may sound like a good idea on paper, there are certainly some issues with the system. For instance, those that do wish to access illegal or adult content will likely be able to find a way around the filters and will spread this information to others online. Also legitimate content could end up being filtered unintentionally which could upset customers used to browsing the web openly.

At the same time, public Wi-Fi poses a danger to everyone using it no matter what content they're searching for. Without the right security tools in place such as a VPN, malicious third parties on the same network could try to steal your login credentials and even other sensitive information stored on your laptop or smartphone.

As a general rule of thumb when it comes to free public Wi-Fi, you get what you pay for (or don't pay for in this case) and we strongly advise against using it unless absolutely necessary even with the right security tools in place.

Via NBC News

• Also check out the best VPN to protect yourself and your data while on public Wi-Fi

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