Apple iPhone X Plus May Come With iPad-Like Landscape Mode, iOS 12 Beta Hints

https://ift.tt/wEcZxH 6.5-inch OLED iPhone expected in fall 2018 could support landscape mode is some native apps.

from RSS Feeds | MOBILES - RSS Feed - NDTV Gadgets360.com https://ift.tt/2O2tlaB

Huawei Mate 20 to Debut With Kirin 980 SoC and Wireless Charging Support, Leaked Firmware Files Reveal

https://ift.tt/wEcZxH Huawei Mate 20 Lite and Mate 20 Pro are also speculated in the new family, running Android P out-of-the-box.

from RSS Feeds | MOBILES - RSS Feed - NDTV Gadgets360.com https://ift.tt/2LHwf81

Samsung Galaxy Note 9 Release Date, Launch Offers Leaked via Promotional Poster

https://ift.tt/154AwVo Galaxy Note 9 pre-orders will begin on August 10, one day after the phone's launch and it will go on sale on August 24, the promo material shows.

from RSS Feeds | MOBILES - RSS Feed - NDTV Gadgets360.com https://ift.tt/2ABeDFM

Huawei the Second Biggest Smartphone Vendor Ahead of Apple in Q2 2018: IDC

https://ift.tt/2gKvzPo was the first time since early 2010 that Apple wasn't in one of the top two spots in the smartphone market, according to IDC.

from RSS Feeds | MOBILES - RSS Feed - NDTV Gadgets360.com https://ift.tt/2OvDhdP

iPhone X Sales, Services Revenue Deliver Another Strong Quarter for Apple

https://ift.tt/wEcZxH news boosted Apple shares in after-hours trading, putting it ever closer to a history-making, trillion-dollar market value.

from RSS Feeds | MOBILES - RSS Feed - NDTV Gadgets360.com https://ift.tt/2OxHOMA

Xiaomi Redmi Note 5 Pro, Mi TV Flash Sales Today at 12pm

https://ift.tt/2iKcJpn Redmi Note 5 Pro flash sale starts at 12pm on Flipkart and Mi.com, while the Mi TV models will be only available via Mi.com at 12pm.

from RSS Feeds | MOBILES - RSS Feed - NDTV Gadgets360.com https://ift.tt/2M3Q2uf

Surface Studio 2: what we want to see

When it was revealed by Microsoft, the Windows 10-powered Surface Studio shocked the world. Fast forward to 2018, and we’re extremely eager to get our hands on the sequel.

While the original was lacking when it came to ports, the Surface Studio could – and should – rectify this by coming with an 8th-generation Coffee Lake CPU and a 5K display. If Microsoft pulls this off, it could be the perfect competition to Apple’s iMac Pro.

We don’t have much to go off of, though, as Microsoft remains tight-lipped about the Surface Studio sequel. However, we don’t need to know much to do some speculation, though, so let’s dive into what the Surface Studio 2 may look like.

Cut to the chase

• What is it? The would-be second Surface Studio desktop
• When is it out? Possibly between September and November 2018
• What will it cost? Likely as much as – if not more than – the current model

Surface Studio 2 release date

The original Surface Studio launched in late 2016, so Microsoft’s iMac competitor is due for a refresh given the firm’s general cadence for Surface products that aren’t the Surface Pro.

However, we haven’t really heard anything about when the Surface Studio sequel is coming. All we have to go off of is a Windows Central report citing sources that said ‘Surface Studio 2 is a-go.’ As such, the outlet expects to see the device ‘in the fall.’

That amounts to anytime between September and November for a possible Surface Studio 2 launch – though time is running out to make that date. Until more concrete information shows up, though, this is the expectation we’ll have to stick with.

Surface Studio 2 price

Sadly, there’s even less known regarding the Surface Studio 2’s possible pricing, i.e. absolutely nothing. So, all we can expect of the potential device’s price so far is for it to hold close to that of the previous model.

Currently, the Surface Studio goes for anywhere between $2,999 (£2,999, AU$4,699) and $4,199 (£4,249, AU$6,599). For Microsoft to go any further above that price might be a shot in the foot, especially considering the pricing of its primary competition, the Apple iMac line.

Conversely, it’s tough to expect Microsoft to drive the price much lower than it is now, either, as the original Surface Studio saw an impressive demand at its current price point during launch. Stay tuned to this space as more rumors and leaks come to light.

What we want to see in Surface Studio 2

For as impressed as we were – and still are – by the Surface Studio, plenty has progressed in the nearly two years since its release, and there’s always room for improvement. Here’s what we hope to see come to fruition in the Surface Studio 2:

More powerful components
This is obvious, sure, but the Surface Studio 2 could use some more powerful hardware – the original had weak hardware on release day. This time around, a proper desktop-grade processor is all but essential, as are up-to-date graphics – a Coffee Lake, or even a 9th-generation Coffee Lake-S CPU and Nvidia Turing graphics would be a nice touch. Plus, one of the best SSDs would be hugely beneficial to the creatives it’s targeted at. 

An even sharper screen
The current Surface Studio screen is absolutely gorgeous, sporting a massive 4,500 x 3,000-pixel resolution across the sRGB, DCI-P3 and Vivid color spaces. But, there’s no reason that it can’t go further. Seeing a 5K Surface Studio to directly rival the priciest iMac would be awfully exciting for content creators.

Thunderbolt 3 connectivity
For as versatile as the Thunderbolt 2 DisplayPort is on the current Surface Studio, it's time for Microsoft to collectively move onto Thunderbolt 3 via USB-C. Not only does the it offer more throughput for file transfers, it could also serve as a one plug hub for all displays and other peripherals you want to connect. If the Surface Studio 2 is to truly compete, it needs to respect this growing standard for its target audience’s sake.

All accessories included
For what it’s charging for the current – and will charge for the future – Surface Studio, Microsoft should be including all of the essential accessories in the box. Yes, that includes the awesome Surface Dial alongside the Surface Mouse and Keyboard. It’s only fair for a several-grand purchase.

• These are the best computers we’ve tested to date

from TechRadar - All the latest technology news https://ift.tt/2FNhfBJ

MacBook Pro 2019: what we want to see

If you’ve been a MacBook user for many years now, you might feel like Apple has lost that edge that essentially propelled the company out of its dark ages. While they’ve been rolling up new MacBook Pro models (and other devices, for that matter) faster than our bank accounts can keep up – and some of those individual upgrades have definitely helped make for improved machines – those updates have felt a little hollow.

Since 2016, Apple has taken a different tack with the MacBook Pro, focusing on features friendlier to the mainstream, like the Touch Bar, and even further streamlining its design, as with the removal of all ports but Thunderbolt 3. . It’s a case of “if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it,” and it’s been disappointing to seasoned users.

Granted, the MacBook Pro 2018 has been upgraded to boast the 8th generation Intel processor and a newer, faster SSD that some have argued is better than anything else out there, giving it unprecedented speed. They’ve also upped the display with True Tone technology, fixed some of the Butterfly keyboard issues from 2017 (though not the keyboard itself which still feels stiff and has less travel), all while maintaining last year’s battery life numbers.

Do we have high hopes for the 2019 update? Well, this new direction isn’t likely going away anytime soon, and you’re gonna have to get with the times, so to speak. But, we are hopeful that Apple dials down the frills and wows us with updates that we do need. Here’s to hoping Apple gives us back some of the things we loved about the older models.

Cut to the chase

• What is it? The 2019 MacBook Pro update
• When is it out? It’s too early to tell, but most likely summer of 2019
• What will it cost? If the Touch Bar stays, likely as much as the 2018 models

MacBook Pro 2019 release date

Although a 2019 update to the MacBook Pro (as well as the Mac Pro) is expected, there’s no rumored release date at the moment. It’s hardly a surprise, as the the 2018 update just dropped this July. We might need to wait a few months or even early next year for a clearer date.

However, going by Apple’s previous release dates — MacBook Pro 2017 debuted in June 2017 while the MacBook Pro 2018 model came out a few weeks ago in July — a summer release for the MacBook Pro 2019 makes sense and is highly plausible. Keep an eye out for updates.

MacBook Pro 2019 price

Just the fact that Apple hasn’t upgraded its non-Touch Bar MacBook Pros this year says a lot about its direction, which is likely to phase them out and continue asking us pay for tech that, while promising, hasn’t been perfected yet.

The worst part of the 2018 models is the fact that you need to shell out thousands to get the highest amount of RAM (the 32GB RAM option is only available to the 15-inch models) and the largest SSD combo. Otherwise, you’re stuck with base amount of RAM and a Touch Bar that isn’t even universally compatible yet. Photographers and filmmakers who need a bigger screen? You can forget about getting a non-Touch Bar model.

You can also forget about upgrading your 13-inch. The majority of its parts are soldered, so you’ll have to bring in a professional and break your warranty. Then you may have to invest in a third-party docking station because the only ports available to you are the USB-C Thunderbolt 3 ports and a headphone jack.

Of course, it’s hard to predict these things, but you’ll probably see more of the same prices. At the moment, the basic 13-inch with Touch Bar configuration, featuring 8GB of RAM, a 256GB SSD and four Thunderbolt 3 ports, will set you back $1,799 (£1,749, A$2,699). You’re basically paying 300 bucks more for the Touch Bar, Touch ID and two additional Thunderbolt 3 ports.

Considering Apple left starting prices unchanged this year over last, expect more of the same for the MacBook Pro 2019.

What we want to see from MacBook Pro 2019

Apple hasn’t been getting a lot of love lately, what with the great keyboard debacle of 2016-2017, the troubled Touch Bar and the soldered RAM, to name a few. But, we’re still hoping Apple takes a new lease on life in 2019 and actually gives the users some of the things they need.

More port variety, please
Or, at least, if Apple’s going to insist on Thunderbolt 3, provide us with a docking station or an adapter for USB, Mini DisplayPort and HDMI. You know, instead of leaving us to pay extra for a third-party one. 

However, if we’re really being honest, limiting us to Thunderbolt 3 is inconvenient. MacBook Pro is for professionals who want a more seamless workflow. Yes, the Thunderbolt 3 is powerful and versatile, allowing for charging, output and data transfers; but we’re still using other devices and accessories that don’t support it. If we’re expected to connect this cable to that adapter to plug in to that port, we’re not going to be happy.

And, while we’re at it, can we just bring back MagSafe charging, please? Some of us tend to trip over those cables, and it was nice to know that we wouldn’t damage those older models in the process.

Improved Touch Bar
When it comes to the new Touch Bar, it seems that Apple is standing its ground. Despite many complaints from users and despite the fact that many still prefer not having it, Apple seems to be in the process of phasing out the MacBook Pros without the Touch Bar. In fact, it’s only the MacBook Pros with Touch Bar that received the 8th-gen Intel processor and True Tone display upgrades this year.

That’s all fine and dandy and, we must admit, the technology has promise. However, if Apple is going to ask for a few hundred bucks for a new feature, can we please get more use out of it? So far, Touch Bar compatibility is only limited to a few programs and apps, and we want to see more added to this list. Plus, it would be nice to get it properly working without the freezes and fat finger issues.

Or offer an alternative
Again, the Touch Bar shows promise, but it isn’t exactly something that most users need. Not all of us are photographers or filmmakers or designers. Some use the MacBook Pro for productivity because of the simple fact that it’s interface is more streamlined and user-friendly. But they won’t have a need for a Touch Bar at all. In fact, it’ll just get in the way.

We’d like to see an option for such users. Bring back the Touch Bar-free 15-inch model and upgrade the 13-inch model without it, perhaps.

Better keyboard, display and sound
Sure, Apple has ‘improved’ the keyboard so that it’s quieter, but it’s still a tad stiff and has less travel than most keyboards. As far as ergonomics, the keyboard isn’t the best. It’s not that we hate it, but it’s certainly more difficult to love it. We could get used to the keyboard, but we’d rather see a better one. Better yet, Apple could bring back the old design we’ve come to know and love.

The MacBook Pro designers should take cues from the iPhone X and get rid of the bezeled display. That’s a lot of precious real estate wasted, and pushing for a bezel-free display will give users a bigger screen without having to compromise the size. Plus, by going bezel-free, it’ll give the update a fresher, more modern look. Also, a laptop designed to edit 4K media should have a 4K screen option.

And, while Apple’s at it, we’d like to see it reconsider those speakers. We get that Apple is pushing for a more compact design, but the speakers in the older MacBook Pros are so much better. With all the technology they come up with, it would be welcome to receive a premium set of speakers with better base and more volume.

New Intel processor
Rumor has it that Intel is designing a new processor, the 10nm ‘Cannon Lake,’ and we’d love to see it on the MacBook Pro 2019 update. Obviously, the 2018 models just got the 8th-generation Coffee Lake boost, but Cannon Lake is expected to be more efficient and even better performing, which would be great for users who skipped on the 2018 update or need to upgrade their units that year.

Of course, since it’s been confirmed that Intel doesn’t expect this chip to drop until late 2019, Apple would have to delay their release until the chip comes out, and that seems highly unlikely. Still, we’d rather see it delayed and have an even better processor than invest in one with only superficial upgrades. Regardless, keep it locked to TechRadar as this page includes more and more rumors and leaks in the lead up to launch.

• These are the best Macs you can buy today

from TechRadar - All the latest technology news https://ift.tt/2NYKIZH

The best Windows tablets 2018: all of the top Windows tablets reviewed

Now that the Windows 10 April 2018 Update has been released, the best Windows tablets are more versatile than they’ve ever been. You can now even switch out of Windows 10 S Mode, so now the best Windows tablets can easily run the full-fat version of Windows 10.

Due to their flexibility, the best Windows tablets are capable of covering a wide variety of different use cases. From power-heavy behemoths like the Surface Pro to economical featherweight Windows tablets like the Lenovo Miix 630, there really is a Windows tablet for everybody. Plus, anyone who’s been waiting for a budget Surface Device will be happy to know that Microsoft has announced the Surface Go, which comes out soon.

That’s why we’ve gathered together the best Windows tablets we’ve used over the last year or so. There are obvious choices, like the Surface Pro, alongside the surprisingly powerful HP Spectre x2 and the gorgeous Samsung Galaxy TabPro S. No matter which you choose, you can rest assured that you’ll be getting a great Windows experience with any of these tablets.  

The Surface Pro is the massively successful Surface Pro 4’s sequel – we know, it’s confusing – and it deserves to have a number attached to it. This is because the latest version of the Surface Pro not only sees massive battery improvements up to 32%, but it now features an updated Kaby Lake CPU, too. Plus, even though it’s unfortunately no longer included, the Surface Pen now has 4,096 levels of pressure sensitivity. 

Read the full review: Microsoft Surface Pro

If you want the versatility that the Surface Pro offers, but don’t want to pay the exorbitant price that a competent model asks, you might want to check out the Acer Switch 5. You’ll lose a bit in screen resolution and sound quality, but you’re saving hundreds of dollars. The Acer Switch 5 is one of the best Windows tablets for any students or professionals who need to get work done on the go, and save some cash at the same time.

Read the full review: Acer Switch 5 

While it’s rocking a 6th-generation Intel processor, the Samsung Galaxy TabPro S is a knockout 12-inch tablet that manages to be thinner and better built than most Windows 10 tablets. It also offers a gorgeous Super AMOLED display that you won’t find on any other Windows device, plus a pair of high-quality speakers that sound better than most other tablet speakers. The keyboard is a bit iffy, but if you’re looking for a tablet to consume media on, you won’t do much better than the Samsung Galaxy Tab Pro S. 

Read the full review: Samsung Galaxy TabPro S

Originally designed as a budget alternative to the Surface Pro, HP has redesigned the Spectre x2 to vie for Microsoft’s crown. In many ways, we have to admit it succeeds. The HP Spectre x2 rocks a 7th-generation Kaby Lake i7 CPU at a lower price point – it even looks better than the Surface Pro. It gets better, the Active Pen and keyboard come packaged in – which we still wish was the case with the Surface Pro. 

Read our full review: HP Spectre x2

In a sense, the Lenovo Miix 510 is the Surface Pro alternative that you buy when you’re fed up with Microsoft’s reluctance to move forward with its connectivity practices. USB-C is here, and it’s brought USB 3.0 with it. While the screen is limited to 1080p, the Lenovo Miix 510 comes with an active stylus, a detachable AccuType keyboard and an articulating kickstand for flexibility without limits. While the battery suffers, the Lenovo Miix 510 is still a surefire win.

Read the full review: Lenovo Miix 510 

Gabe Carey has also contributed to this article

from TechRadar - All the latest technology news https://ift.tt/VZOnGb

Best laptop games 2018: 20 games for laptops that won't melt your machine

These days, the best games aren’t limited to expensive consoles with online memberships that cost hundreds of dollars per year. And, while the best laptops won’t be able to play some of the best PC games, like Far Cry 5, the best laptop games and their convenience more than make up for the lack of visual splendor.

You can just look at some of the best indie games of the last few years, like Cuphead, and you’ll realize that the best laptops can be beautiful, without relying on complicated graphics. Plus, there are classic titles like Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic that may look dated, but still hold up with stellar gameplay and stories – even if that particular game isn’t canon in the Star Wars universe anymore.

The best laptop games on the market today range from tiny indie games you maybe haven’t heard of, like Thimbleweed Park, to wildly popular triple-A games along the lines of The Sims 4. Whatever your play style, schedule and hardware, we’re willing to bet you’ll find something on this list that you’ll enjoy.

• Once you're looking for something meatier, check out our best PC games

• CPU: 2 GHz
• RAM: 4 GB
• GPU: Intel HD 3000 or better

Whether he’s at LucasArts, Double-Fine or here and now in a new indie studio, veteran developer Ron Gilbert is also sure to serve up a slice of veritable gaming gold. 

That tradition of impeccable output continues with Thimbleweed Park, a pixel art point ‘n’ click adventure that harks back to the glory days of Maniac Mansion while weaving it together with a very modern eye for creativity.

It’s effectively a murder mystery graphic adventure, where FBI agents Reyes and Ray - who in now way resemble another famous pair of fictional, UFO-chasing member of the Bureau - arrive in a quiet town to investigate a murder most horrid. 

The way it weaves together a genuinely clever story and a cast of peculiar yet instantly memorable characters is something most games with far larger budgets miss entirely.

• CPU: Intel Core2 Duo E8400, 3.0GHz or AMD Athlon 64 X2 6000+, 3.0GHz or higher
• RAM: 2 GB
• GPU: Geforce 9600 GT or AMD HD 3870 512MB

You might be turned off by the intimidating amount of challenge it poses, but we assure you, Cuphead is worth a shot. If you don’t already find its colorful, whimsical art style endearing, then maybe you’ll be convinced by some backstory of how it was made.

Cuphead hails from indie developer Studio MDHR (short for Studio Moldenhauer), named after the two brothers who started the project, Chad and Jared Moldenhauer. In fact, the entire company consists of family members and friends who sought out to complete their dream project.

Marija Moldenhauer, Chad’s wife, did all of the inking and clean up in this hand-drawn ode to 2D platforming classics like Mega Man and 1930s Fleischer cartoons like Betty Boop. And, if the 19 bosses aren’t enough for you, Cuphead is getting a major DLC next year with new bosses, areas and a new playable character.

• CPU: 2 Ghz
• RAM: 2 GB
• GPU: 256 mb video memory, shader model 3.0+

If you love farming sims (and, judging by how well the likes of Farming Simulator and Harvest Moon sell, there’s quite a few of you out there), then few games are going to get you jumping for agricultural joy more than the bewitching busywork of Stardew Valley. 

Taking many a cue from the Harvest Moon games, Stardew Valley's top-down POV and cutesy characters feel meld together perfectly.

It’s a dull sounding core concept to be sure - tend your fields, grow produce, raising livestock, etc - but that’s the beauty of it. There’s a moreish peace to the mundanity of SV’s minutia as you expand your farm, fish down at the river and even head into the village to strike up friendships (and maybe something more *wink wink*) with a cast of NPCs. Farming has never been so much fun.

• CPU: Intel i5 Quad-Core
• RAM: 4 GB
• GPU: Intel HD 4000

In many ways, we’re inclined to describe Night in the Woods as Life is Strange meets Bojack Horseman. The interactive dialogue bits derive from the former while the overarching themes of coping with mental health issues rings true in the latter.

Night In The Woods itself was developed in Unity by Infinite Fall, the virtual studio where you’ll find coder and composer Alec Holowka and Twitter jokester slash illustrator and animator Scott Benson. Together, these two have created not just a game, but a gorgeous world full of relatable characters that you will hopefully resonate with.

You’re put in the shoes of Mae, a cat who dropped out of college and recently returned to her hometown of Possum Springs. And, because it’s modern point-and-click adventure game, it’s heavily narrative driven, with very few gameplay hooks that will keep your attention. So, if you like the Telltale games or Life is Strange, we reckon you’ll adore Night in the Woods.

Best of all, it will run pretty easily on integrated graphics, given that it has an appealing, but not highly demanding, art style. Surely, this is a title we’ll be talking about for years and years to come, even if it was snubbed at The Game Awards.

• CPU: 1.2GHz
• RAM: 512 MB
• GPU: DirectX 8-compatible graphics card with at least 32MB of video memory

You’d wonder whether Hotline Miami’s neon-drenched ultraviolence would exist if the film Drive had never been made, and while it’s hard to miss just how vigorously it doffs its bloody mask at the Gosling classic, the end result is an utterly brilliant little indie title.

With a pixel art evoking a top-down look of Grand Theft Auto’s retro years, Hotline Miami indulges in its almost psychedelic violence. The concept is simple: adorn a mask (each one is styled on an animal and adds is own buffs, debuffs and unique abilities), enter a stage and coat the walls with the blood of your enemies.

Add in buckets of neon, a synth soundtrack that’ll have you sewing a scorpion onto the back of a white jacket in no time and one messed up storyline and you’ve got a classic in its own right.

• CPU: Intel Core i3-2100T @ 2.50 GHz / AMD Phenom II X3 B73
• RAM: 4 GB
• GPU: ATI Radeon HD 4850 or NVIDIA GeForce 9600 GT

Even though its a 2018 title, and has a pretty huge following, your laptop’s integrated graphics can still handle Pillars of Eternity 2: Deadfire. It largely has the same forgiving system requirements that its predecessor does, so if you were a fan of that game, you should be able to enjoy this one as well.

Pillars of Eternity 2: Deadfire drops players in the Deadfire archipelago and tasks them with hunting down a rogue god. And, much like its predecessor, it features rich storytelling and deep RPG gameplay that harkens to the days of Baldur’s Gate and Neverwinter Nights.

Even though all the backgrounds are in 2D and viewed from a top-down perspective, they’re still lovely to behold. Plus, the myriad spell effects will keep you enchanted as you work your way through the intense and tactical combat.

And, because it's coming from Obsidian, a studio known for making the best RPGs of all time, you can be confident that you’re getting an adventure that’s worth every penny.  

• CPU: 1.5 GHz Core2Duo
• RAM: 2 GB
• GPU: OpenGL 1.4 or better

If someone told you a game about working in a border control office would be one of the most addictive games ever, we’d imagine you’d scoff and walk off shaking your head. 

That is unless you’ve played a little indie gem by the name of Papers, Please. Set in a fictional take on the Eastern Bloc, you’re an immigration clerk tasked with processing refugees from an unfriendly neighbouring nation.

The core concept is simple: check each person’s documents against a clear set of rules, process those who meet the requirements and detain those with false papers. 

The game’s designed to test your attention to detail, but also the strength of your moral compass. Sometimes you’ll have to decide if certain sympathetic characters should be granted asylum, even if it goes against the rules. 

The twist is good performance effectively feeds you family, while mistakes put their lives in danger. It’s dark, but engrossingly so.

• CPU: Intel Pentium 3 1Ghz or AMD Athlon 1GHz
• RAM: 256
• GPU: 32 MB with Hardware T&L

Come on, do we really need to convince you to go out and own a copy of Knights Of The Old Republic? Arguably the greatest Star Wars game ever made (yes, even better than Dark Forces II and Rogue Squadron), KOTOR proved that the most recognisable lore ever could feel fresh and exciting again outside of the silver screen.

Coming from Bioware, the Canadian studio that would go on to create the Dragon Age and Mass Effect series, KOTOR offers compelling characters, intense action that mixes real-time tactics with turn-based mechanics a galaxy of stories that felt tangible and real. Sure, it’s technically not canon anymore, but it still remains one of the greatest games ever coded. Get this in your collection now.

• CPU: 2GHz+
• RAM: 3 GB
• GPU: 512MB

Part role-playing game, part bullet hell shooter, Undertale is a game like no other. The fact that this amazing game is the work of one man is astounding, considering the depth of consequence developer Toby Fox has built into Undertale’s world.

In the diminutive boots of a child who’s fallen into a monster-filled world beneath the earth, you’ll encounter vicious bosses where only the quick thinking survive.

The fact you can befriend bosses as well as fight them changes the fabric of the story, and proves it’s not just NPCs that offer vital moments of dialogue. It’s a game of empathetic reflection, where your actions dictate how a boss or monster reacts to you. 

Aggression leads to more powerful attacks against you, while avoiding retaliation will soften the blows. Strange and seductive in its own special way, Undertale is a curio definitely worth chasing.

• CPU: Intel Core 2 Duo or AMD Athlon 64X2
• RAM: 2 GB
• GPU: NVIDIA GeForce 100 series (512 Mb) or Radeon HD 3xxx or better

When it comes to CCGs (collectible card games), Hearthstone does a pretty great job of keeping you and your deck of animated cards entertained throughout - but what happens when you want something a little less innocuous? You give a CCG with a unique spin such as Chronicle: RuneScape Legends a gander.

Based on the classic lore of Runescape, Chronicle combines card-dealing with the 3D setup of a RPG. Cards represent real characters and enemies that appear across a 3D-rendered pop-up books. 

Cards are played sequentially, with player characters facing each one (ranging from foes to curses to stat buffs), before facing off against one another at the end. It’s bizarre, brilliant and absolutely worth your time. 

Hey, it’s even got new single-player content when you don’t want to test your mettle against other users. Not bad for a low-spec CCG.

• CPU: 2GHz
• RAM: 1GB
• GPU: Card with 128MB+ dedicated memory

FTL sounds like an ultra-hardcore game when you describe it: a real-time strategic space roguelike. A roguelike is a game that makes you start from scratch when you die. However, FTL is actually well-suited to pretty casual laptop gaming. You can even get it for iPad, after all.

You tool up your star ship, recruit your crew and do your best not to get destroyed as you take an important message from one end of the galaxy to the other. Screenshots don't really to FTL justice, as all you just see is a blocky graphic of your ship, not really its spacey surroundings.

However, it's the perfect game for public play: nothing on-screen to make you feel too embarrassed. Or keep fellow passengers glued to your screen if you play on train journeys.

• CPU: dual-core 2GHz
• RAM: 2GB
• GPU: DirectX 9 compatible

Few games stay relevant as long as Skyrim. It should feel ancient, but a mod scene has kept it vital for the past half-decade. Being so old has also meant humble hardware has been able to catch up with its real-life spec requirements.

It'll run pretty well on Intel Core-series processors from the last 2-3 years, and even plays pretty well on some recent Atom/Pentium CPUs on its lowest settings. If you have a real dog of a laptop, there's also a mod that'll cut down the settings even further than the game itself allows, called Ultra Low Graphics Mod. Imaginative naming.

In case you've been locked in a cupboard for the past five years, Skyrim is a massive open-world RPG that won countless 'game of the year' awards when it was released back in 2011.

• CPU: 1.7GHz dual-core
• RAM: 2GB
• GPU: Intel HD 3000 or newer

Remember the game that earned millions and millions of dollars of funding on Kickstarter back when such things were unheard-of? That's Broken Age, the point 'n' click platform made by one of the people who came up with Monkey Island back in the 90s.

While it didn't single-handedly revive the genre, it is a fun tale that is nowhere near as frustrating as most of the early 90s adventures, most of which are best viewed through a pair of rose-tinted nostalgia specs. From a distance.

You play as both male and female characters, skipping between chapters in their respective stories to make sure the narrative doesn't get stale. We're steering clear of spoilers, so we'll leave it at that.

• CPU: 1.7GHz
• RAM: 512MB
• GPU: DX 8.1 compatible card

You might head straight for 2D games when you think of games that'll work with pretty modest hardware. However, some once-fancy 3D games work very well with non-gaming laptops. Valve's Source engine is particularly good at working with lesser GPUs, making classics like Half-life 2 play well on modern integrated graphics hardware.

If you're not up for a thinking person's FPS like Half-Life 2, you might want to check out fantastic first-person puzzler Portal 2 instead. It is also based on the Source engine. Portal 2 takes the portal gun from Half-Life 2, which makes teleporting holes in walls, and makes a whole game out of it. Possible one of the best games of all time, actually.

• CPU: Intel Pentium D
• RAM: 2GB
• GPU: Intel HD

It's easy to think of Minecraft as retro in some way, but it's far more innovative than some of the nay-saying haters would have you believe. It is not just for kids. Try it, you might just like it.

This world-building classic was never out to wow audiences with its Crysis-style graphics, but its highly scalable visuals let you tweak Minecraft to suit any machine. As well being able to fiddle with the draw distance and the few visual effects the game uses, you can change the field of view too.

Minecraft is also well-suited to laptop gaming because you don't need to be super accurate with your cursor, which is handy if you're using a trackpad rather than a mouse.

• CPU: 1.6GHz
• RAM: 1GB
• GPU: x1950 Pro, 7900 gt

Take 90s platform stylings, add a roguelike twist, a thoroughly modern random level generator and a few RPG sprinkles and you have Rogue Legacy. It's one of the most addictive indie games of the last decade.

You play as a knight type, leaping right into a castle full of nasties. When you die, and you will die, you return as one of that warrior's descendants. The castle will be different, as will the class of your character. While you have to start from scratch each time, you can unlock bonuses by collecting gold from chests in the castle.

This is the bit that makes it more accessible than a true roguelike game, where you really have to start from square one when you die.

• CPU: 2GHz
• RAM: 1GB
• GPU: Nvidia HD 4450

Don't Starve is a cracking little game where you wander around in a slightly twisted nightmarish world, exploring and picking up supplies to try to survive, day by day. When the sun goes down, awful creatures start prowling around the shadows. If you don't build a fire, you're a goner.

You have to eat to keep yourself healthy, and even your mental health deteriorates if you don't find out ways to pep yourself up.

There are some nice visual effects in don't starve, but as a predominantly 2D near-top-down game, it's happy to work with all but the most basic laptops.

• CPU: Intel Core 2 Duo
• RAM: 2GB
• GPU: Intel HD 1000

If you don't mind a real risk of addiction in your laptop gaming, Hearthstone is a title not to miss. It is a little like nerd classic card battler game (and also video game) Magic: The Gathering, but much better-suited to quick, casual play.

Like so many modern casual games, though, you'll probably end up playing it for a lot longer than five minutes. And it feels even more "right" on a laptop than a hulking desktop.

It's a Valve game and, like most Valve titles, fares incredibly well on lower-end hardware. It officially supports the Intel HD 1000 integrated GPU, from way back in the Sandy Bridge generation half a decade ago.

• CPU: Intel Core 2 Duo
• RAM: 2GB
• GPU: Intel HD

Is Civilisation the ultimate "PC" game? Many of us have spent a fistful of full days working through Civilization's virtual recap of the ages of man, whether it was back in the 90s, or just last week. Civilization V has more of the casual vibe that previous Civ games, but that makes it more palatable if you're looking for something to kill 30 mins, rather than 3 hours.

It'll work on almost any Intel Core series laptop from the past five years, but if you find yours still isn't up to the task, don't forget Civilization IV. Despite being ancient, it still works fine on Windows 10 through Steam.

• CPU: Core 2 Duo
• RAM: 2GB
• GPU: Intel HD 3000

EA gets a lot of flak. It was rated as the most hated company in America two years in a row, after all. However, it doesn't half know how to court a big audience. And that means making sure games like The Sims 4 work on just about everything.

This infamous lifestyle sim even has a "laptop" mode designed for systems that can barely make it through the title screen of The Witcher 3. The game itself is very much business as usual: you slog through a virtual life, making bucks and designing living rooms. Or doing your best to torture some poor virtual peon by locking them in an inescapable toilet.

Other less casual EA games that work amazingly well on most laptops include Dead Space 1-3 and Dragon Age: Origins.

from TechRadar - All the latest technology news https://ift.tt/2gOKOrQ

Mac mini 2018: what we want to see

It’s been years since we’ve seen a new Mac Mini. And, while you’d be forgiven for thinking that Apple’s silence serves as a death knell for the tiniest Mac, we’re still optimistic that might actually get a Mac Mini 2018.

Sure, we didn’t get a Mac Mini in 2017, but Apple CEO Tim Cook himself reassured fans that Apple would still support the Mac Mini, so we might actually see it this year.

That’s why we were so surprised when WWDC 2018 came and went without any hardware. However, all hope’s not lost. Famed Apple analyst Ming Chi Kuo recently predicted that the rumored Mac Mini 2018 would be coming out this fall, alongside a wave of other Macs. So, we could see the new Mac Mini show up any time – especially when we consider the surprise launch of the MacBook Pro 2018.

We don’t have much concrete information beyond this speculation, so keep this page bookmarked, and we’ll update it just as soon as we hear any new rumors or information.

Cut to the chase

• What is it? A new version of Apple’s compact Mac
• When is it out?  Maybe November 2018? 
• What will it cost? Hopefully around the price of previous models

Mac mini 2018 release date

As with other upcoming Apple products, we haven’t got a solid release date for the Mac mini 2018. Rumors have been thin on the ground as well, so we’re going to have to use a bit of speculation when it comes to the possible release date.

The previous Mac mini was released way back on October 16, 2014, so could we witness an October launch for the new Mac mini?

Well, the latest speculation makes that October release date actually seem pretty likely. There’s a rumor floating around that Apple is going to be refreshing several Macs, including the Mac Mini 2018 this fall. That rumor, in addition to the complete lack of hardware at WWDC 2018 and another rumor that Apple is working on five MacBooks bodes well for the Mac Mini coming out in the near future.

These are both admittedly shaky ideas, but Apple has kept a tight lid on when and if the Mac Mini will be announced. Either way, we’ll keep an eye on any rumors and update this article as soon as any new information comes our way.

Mac mini 2018 price

Again, we haven’t heard much about the potential price of the Mac mini 2018 just yet, but that’s to be expected, as pricing rumors usually begin to circulate closer to the release date.

But, could the price of previous Mac minis give us a clue to what the price of any new Mac minis would be?

The lowest spec Mac mini cost $499 (£399, around AU$650) when it launched in 2014, with the middle Mac mini costing cost $699 (£569, around AU$900) and the top-of-the range Mac mini came with a $999 (£569, around AU$1,300) price tag.

 What we want to see in Mac mini 2018 

While we don’t know a lot about the Mac mini 2018 at the moment, we certainly know what we want to see from a refreshed Mac mini. 

1. An attractive new design

Honestly, there’s nothing particularly wrong with the current Mac Mini’s design, but if we’re going to get the first major refresh in nearly four years, we’d love to see a nice makeover as well. Thinner, smaller and quieter – is that too much to ask? We don’t think so.

An old rumor from early 2017 suggested that the high-end Mac mini ‘won’t be so mini anymore’ which led people to assume more powerful components will be added, requiring more room for better cooling.

However, this rumor is quite vague, so we’d urge caution when taking this completely at face value.

Of course, powerful components will mean more heat produced, so a redesigned Mac mini isn’t out of the question, but as Apple has shown with the iMac and iMac Pro, it’s a dab hand at putting powerful components into svelte devices and keep them cool.

2. A power boost

One of the things we'd most like to see from a Mac mini 2018 is an upgrade to its components, which would make it a formidable mini machine to compete with other small form factor PCs like the Asus VivoMini and Intel NUC, which have been upgraded to 7th- and 8th-generation Intel Core processors, respectively. 

So, to begin, we’d like to see a newer CPU than the current Mac mini’s 4th generation chip. Refreshing the silicon would make modern amenities like Thunderbolt 3 (USB-C), Display Port 1.2 and 4K video possible, and would give the Mac mini 2018 a considerable power boost over previous models. 

Apple is reportedly planning on releasing three Macs in 2018 with custom co-processors, though we doubt the Mac mini, even if it does come out, would be included.

RAM-wise, the previous Mac mini came with 4GB, and while that could remain, we’d like to see a base 8GB of RAM, as with the MacBook Air. 

2. Mouse and keyboard included

While the Mac mini has a reputation for being the most compact and economical Apple computer around, it’s also known for its lack of included (yet essential) accessories. The Magic Mouse 2 and Magic Keyboard can only be purchased separately from the Mac mini itself. That means you’ll have to shell out an additional cost for parts that are required to use it.

A recent patent filed by Apple suggests that the company is interested in bringing spill-free and crumb-resistant keyboards to its MacBooks. We would argue that this guard structure technology, designed to “keep contaminants from reaching the innards of the machine” would be a useful addition to the Mac mini as well.

3.  4K support 

Wouldn’t it be great if the Mac mini 2018 could also act as an alternative to the Apple TV? For that to happen, the Mac mini 2018 would need to be a capable 4K machine – something previous models were decidedly not.

Thankfully, as we mentioned earlier, if the new Mac mini is going to feature recent Intel processors, then the integrated graphics should give it enough graphical power to handle 4K.

Previous models of the Mac mini couldn't quite handle 4K content, and this was due to hardware limitations of the time, coupled with Apple's desire to keep the Mac mini as an entry-level device, price-wise.

However, in 2018 even budget processors come with integrated graphics that are powerful enough to render 4K interfaces and play ultra high definition content from Netflix and iTunes, so we want to see Apple make use of this technology in any new Mac mini that it produces. 

4.  For it to actually exist 

We can speculate all day about what the Mac Mini 2018 might look like, and what it’s capable of, but none of that matters if it doesn’t exist in the first place. It’s been a long time since we’ve seen an update to the Mac Mini, and Apple has a lot to gain from a market where they’re starting to see more competition than ever before. 

If Apple can put out a Mac Mini that improves and innovates on its design, they might end up with one of the best multimedia PCs on the market. So, let’s just hope that Tim Cook’s stated support of the Mac mini means that the Cupertino behemoth has something up its sleeves. 

• These are the best Macs that 2018 has to offer so far

Gabe Carey has also contributed to this report

from TechRadar - All the latest technology news https://ift.tt/2nOF4Pk