Fossil has launched its fifth generation take on Google’s somewhat struggling Wear OS platform. The Gen 5 Fossil Touchscreen Smartwatch won’t win any naming awards but with features like extended battery mode, a swimproof speaker and the latest Snapdragon chip it might at least help reinvigorate interest in Android smartwatches.
Starting at £279 and available today, the Carlyle HR for men and Julianna HR for women watches come in a variety of colours and strap styles.
The Gen 5 has the Snapdragon WearTM 3100 chip also found in the Skagen Falster 2 that delivers far superior performance to the 2100 that was a mainstay for Wear OS devices for nigh on three years.
Specs also include 8GB of storage compared to the 4GB of the last generation, paired with 1GB RAM. You also get GPS, NFC and fast wireless charging.
Fossil is betting this generation’s success on its proprietary battery modes that aim to give you more control over how your watch functions in line with how long you can go between charges. Daily, Extended Battery, Time-Only and Custom modes mean you can stretch the Fossil into several days on a few functions or a single day on all of them.
Extended Battery mode will run what Fossil deems ‘essential’ features like notifications and heart rate but block batter draining apps and background processes to keep you ticking for longer.
While this is welcome, it highlights the strange reluctance the market has for buying into smartwatches that you have to charge daily even though we all have smartphones with the exact same wimpy batteries. A fickle bunch, the tech-buying public.
Still, the Gen 5 Fossil adds a few more features to entice you. It’ll offer tethered calls from your wrist for Android phones from launch and, for the first time on Wear OS, from iPhones – though this relies on a separate app coming later in the autumn. This is cool, but it’ll take more than that to tempt an iPhone owner to buy a Wear OS watch when they can buy an Apple Watch that, you know, just works.
Also pre-installed is , a third party app that monitors heart health. Many smartwatches have heart rate monitors but the software tends to not give you much useful information aside from BPM. This app claims to help you spot irregularities in your heart rate that could
Fossil is also touting the prowess of the built-in speaker on the Gen 5. It’s swimproof and will let you hear responses from Google Assistant after you bellow questions at your wrist in public. It will also do the usual things like sound notification bells, play music and more, but it’s not clear how this is any different to any other smartwatch speaker judging from what Fossil has announced.
In reality, this Gen 5 Wear OS watch will likely constitute a small upgrade from the last version. It’s positive that Wear OS watches like it now have the 3100 chip but it’ll take more than new silicone and longer battery life to fix Google’s sluggish and buggy platform – even if Fossil continues to make attractive and relatively affordable hardware.
Razer, maker of award-winning gaming laptops and light-up toasters, has made its first foray into the automotive industry with the release of a heavily branded limited-edition electric car.
In January, Razer reported that it was working on in-car lighting for startup Leapmotor, but its newly unveiled vehicle is the result of a partnership with the established automaker NIO.
The all-electric SUV, the NIO x Razer ES6 Night Explorer, is now available to buy in China, though the run is limited to just 88 cars (eight being a lucky number).
In the coming years, the two companies will work together to create cars that are more mainstream and look a little less like gaming mice. Although not quite so ostentatious, these will still feature Chroma lighting in the cockpit, lighting that syncs with music from the entertainment system, and “game integrations”.
(Image credit: Razer)
These integrations might be similar to the newly released Tesla Arcade, which offers an array of games to keep drivers occupied while their electric cars are charging. Once full automation becomes a reality, motorists will be able to sit back and enjoy some gaming on the move as well.
Another bright idea
The Razer toaster started life as an April Fool’s Day prank, Project Breadwinner, which promised a Chroma Energy Butter Application System: “Now with Razer Venom! Secrete your high-performance gamer butter all over your toast mid roast. Color coordinated with your current Razer Chroma profile for the ultimate in culinary Chroma chow.”
It sounded deeply unappealing, but captured the imagination of gamers, who petitioned the company to turn it into a real product. In May, the company’s CEO Min-Liang Tan finally caved to the pressure.
(Image credit: Razer)
“It will take a few years – but I’ll be sure to share the progress – and make it a community affair,” Tan said on Facebook. “A Razer Toaster – For Razer Toaster Lovers. By Razer Toaster Lovers”.
First revealed in 2017, The Witcher TV series is produced by Netflix and is based on the novels by Andrzej Sapkowski.
Over eight episodes, Superman actor Henry Cavill will bring to life Geralt of Rivia – a mutated, supernaturally-gifted monster hunter who becomes embroiled in the conflict between two powerful human nations: the Nilfgaardian Empire and Northern Kingdoms.
Cut to the chase:
What is it? A fantasy drama, based on the novels by Andrzej Sapkowski, The Witcher will also be familiar to the fans of the massively-popular video game series of the same name.
Where can I watch it? The Witcher is set to be a Netflix exclusive.
When can I watch it? A firm release date has yet to be set, but The Witcher TV series should air towards the end of 2019.
It’s a fantastical setting – there are elves, dwarfs, and cryptozoo of incredible monsters – but it’s nevertheless rich with relatable stories. The books and games are as capable of telling tales of petty human prejudice as they are epic stories of unmatched scale and sweep. And, best of all, we don’t have long to wait: the show will be aired in late 2019.
The Witcher TV series trailer
Ahead of its full release, Netflix has given fans a glimpse of what the show has to offer in a reasonably lengthy trailer. Take a peek at what’s in store from The Witcher TV series trailer below:
The Witcher TV series cast and crew announcements: Henry Cavill and more
It’s a prestigious production. The showrunner is Daredevil and The Defenders writer Lauren Schmidt Hissrich and Cavill brings measured star power to the role of Geralt – a stoic, wary, and refreshingly nuanced hero, exploring a world that struggles to accept him.
It helps that Cavill is also a massive fan of the series – apparently, he called his agent every day until the role was confirmed.
(Image credit: Netflix)
Series author Andrzej Sapkowski is also on board as creative consultant, and there’s direct creative links to the video games, too: CD Projekt Red’s Tomas Baginski – the man behind the stirring cinematics seen at the start of all three titles – is earmarked to direct at least one episode.
In terms of characters, anyone who’s read the book or played the games will recognise plenty of faces.
(Image credit: Netflix)
Anya Chalotra plays Yennefer of Vengerberg, a fiery, independant sorcerer and longtime paramour of Geralt; Freya Allan plays Ciri, a destiny-touched Witcher whom Geralt takes under his wing; and we’ve even seen Geralt’s faithful horse, Roach. (Or one of the Roaches, at least: Geralt is over 100 years old and gives every horse he has the same name – he’s been through a few.)
Dandelion, the bard who documents the events of the story and Geralt’s best friend, will also feature, but he’ll be using his name from the books: Jaskier. This Polish word actually refers to the buttercup flower, which feels far too Princess Bride for this moody fantasy setting.
The Witcher TV series: story rumors
As anyone familiar with the books or games knows, The Witcher is all about moral ambiguity. The showrunners have promised that characters we’ll hate when we first meet them could become ones we love later on. And even Geralt himself isn’t a classical hero: Witchers kill monsters for money, not altruism, and the SDCC trailer suggests that coin is all Geralt cares about early on.
Cavill has already mentioned that despite Geralt being a hero, he “won’t treat everyone perfectly”. And even the show’s tagline, “The worst monsters are the ones we create” hints at some thematic things: chiefly that in this world, having your horse devoured by a griffon is the least of your problems.
(Image credit: Netflix)
The topline description of the story is simply about a monster hunter struggling to find his place in a grasping, war-torn world. But it’s worth reiterating this is based on the books, not just the games, and that might allay some fears of yet another failed video game adaptation. Because it’s based on Andrzej Sapkowski’s novels, events will take place before the game trilogy.
But even if you’ve only played the games, there’s plenty here you’ll recognise. We don’t yet know exactly which stories are being adapted, but based on the trailers and on what Hissrich has said about The Witcher’s “disjointed family” it sounds like the tumultuous relationship between Geralt, Ciri, and Yennefer will be the primary focus.
There are eight Witcher novels – as well as a glut of short stories – and it sounds like the show will take inspiration from the five books that deal with Geralt’s relationship with Ciri. Does this mean that there will be no specific references to the games? That depends. Hissrich has said that if the show runs for multiple seasons, we may eventually get to the games, but right now she’s taking it one season at a time.
She has confirmed, however, that the Witcher bathtub beloved by our sister site PC Gamer may make an appearance. She told io9 at San Diego Comic-Con that yes, “There is a bathtub. I won’t tell you who’s in the bathtub, but there is a bathtub.”
The Witcher TV series production design
Design-wise, it’s impossible not to infer some inspiration from the games, although there are some differences. The initial response to the first make-up test of Cavill as Geralt was mixed – specifically, the blond wig made him look more like a Creatine-pumped Legolas than the lithe character we recognise from the CD Projekt Red series. But it makes more sense seeing him in motion in recent trailers, and Geralt’s (apparently very uncomfortable) studded mail armour feels like it could be an in- game drop.
Not all the armour we’ve seen has been positively received: fans of the game were less sold on the crumpled Nilfgaardian armour seen in leaked footage from the set, with one commenter eloquently describing the soldiers as, “ballsacks with swords.” There’s a chance it might look this way in order to add some post-production effects, or this could be the finished product.
And then there are Geralt’s swords. Or to be more accurate, , singular. Game Twitter was more-aghast-than-normal on learning the Netflix version of the Butcher of Blaviken only carried one sword, rather than the two he uses in the game (steel for humans, silver for monsters). But this, again, is true to the source material: Geralt has two blades in the books, but he keeps his silver sword on his horse, Roach. Later images confirmed this: you can see a seductive glint of silver pommel on the image below:
(Image credit: Netflix)
On balance, there are plenty of reasons to be positive. The series won’t break the curse of terrible video game adaptations, because it isn’t one. Instead, Hissrich can draw on a vast selection of stories from a fully fleshed out fantasy universe. There’s a large, dragon-shaped fantasy gap in our TV schedule right now; The Witcher may be exactly the thing to fill it.
The Asus Zenfone 6 is now available to pre-order in the US, bringing with it a unique motorized flip camera, a hefty 5,000mAh battery, and a tempting staring price.
You can get two-day battery life out of the Asus Zenfone 6, all while staring down at its lovely 6.4-inch notch-free screen. There are no punch holes on this display.
Where’s the front-facing camera? It turns out that the back camera array flips to the front with a motor. It sits on top, like the OnePlus 7 Pro, but pulls double duty here, fielding photos for both the main and selfie camera.
Where to buy Asus Zenfone 6 in the US
The Asus Zenfone 6 is supposed to be available today, although some retailers are still showing ‘coming soon’ or pre-order pages for the Android handset.
It starts at $499 at stores like the ASUS Store, Amazon, B&H and Mobile Advance, and at that price, our Asus Zenfone 6 review deemed this a very good value.
It’s among the most powerful Android phones available today, with the Snapdragon 855 chipset and up to 8GB of RAM. The Galaxy Note 10 will change that in a matter of days, but likely for more than double the price.
A malicious email campaign looking to blackmail victims has affected millions of innocent users around the world, a new report has found.
Researchers from Cofense Labs have published a database of over 200 million compromised accounts hit by a wide-ranging campaign that is looking to spread malware and rake in ransoms from innoncent victims.
The campaign used a “for rent” botnet was used primarily to send sextortion emails, which look to extort money from the victims by threatening to release sexually-explicit content reportedly accessed on their device.
‘Spray and pray’
Cofense Labs analysed over seven million email addresses impacted by sextortion in the first half of 2019 alone, finding that more than $1.5M in payments had been made to bitcoin wallets associated with sextortion campaigns this year. Many of these accounts were included in recent data breaches, but some were as much as ten years old.
The company says that poor password hygiene, including infrequent changes and reuse across multiple sites, is worsening the issue. Cofense is advising that anyone with emails included in the database should immediately change the passwords for any accounts linked to that address – and if a sextortion email is received, to not respond to the email or pay the ransom.
“This botnet is not infecting computers to acquire new data sets – it is a true “spray and pray” attack reusing credentials culled from past data breaches to fuel legitimacy and panic through sextortion scams,” said Aaron Higbee, Cofense Co-Founder and CTO.
“If your email address is found in a target list used by the botnet, it’s highly likely you will receive a sextortion email – if you haven’t already. We felt it was critical to get this information out. We hope that victims receiving a sextortion email will find our resource center so they can avoid the anxiety and stress of trying to figure out whether to pay a bitcoin ransom.”
Apple makes some of the best phones out there but obviously with that comes a pretty big price tag. With devices such as the iPhone XS Max and XR costing eye-watering prices, it can make sense to go back a models and pick yourself up one of Apple’s older plus size models.
This is where the iPhone 8 Plus deals come in. If you want one of the newest large screened Apple smartphones, but the price of the iPhone XS make you feel dizzy, then the 8 Plus will be the one for you.
So how are iPhone 8 Plus prices looking. On average, if you shop wisely (using our price comparison chart below) you’ll save yourself around £300 if you go for this handset over the iPhone X. We’ve seen monthly tariffs as low as the £25 region if you’re prepared to stick a wedge down upfront.
Still feeling a bit overwhelmed by these prices? Don’t forget that iPhone 8 deals are also available if you’d prefer the smaller smartphone, along with the smaller prices. And you can save £10 on the upfront cost of any iPhone 8 Plus deal at Mobiles.co.uk by using the voucher code 10OFF at the checkout.
The 5 best iPhone 8 Plus deals you can get in the UK right now:
iPhone 8 Plus | O2 | £165 upfront (with 10OFF code) | 3GB data | Unlimited minutes and texts | £28pm Cheap monthly bills on iPhone 8 Plus deals don’t come around often, that’s why this deal is such a gem. With monthly bills of £28 you’re paying far less than average for this contract. The only downsides, the slightly higher upfront cost and the lack of a big data cap. Total cost over 24 months is £837
iPhone 8 Plus | EE | £50 upfront | 30GB data | Unlimited minutes and texts | £36pm We might as well get straight into it with the hands down best iPhone 8 Plus deal out there. With no upfront spends and a monthly cost of just £36 the pricing looks pretty good here. It only gets better with the implementation of the 30GB of data and all of the benefits of being on EE – the UK’s fastest 4G network. Total cost over 24 months is £914
iPhone 8 Plus | O2 | £19 upfront | 15GB data | Unlimited calls and texts | £40pm For those hoping for affordability on an iPhone 8 Plus deal with O2 – you might be out of luck. A recent change in O2 deals means that prices have shot up on this network, knocking out the cheap deals it once offered. This is easily the best option now, with an upfront cost of £32.99 and monthly payments of £40, this is the O2 deal to choose. Total cost over 24 months is £989
iPhone 8 Plus | Three | £49 upfront | Unlimited data | Unlimited minutes and texts | £55pm Need even more data? Yes? Are you quite sure? 30GB is really rather a lot. You simply need unlimited? Well, OK then, you’ll have to go with Three. Obviously this should only be thought about if your downloading and streaming habits are off the scale. Considering the fact that this deal is only £55 a month you are getting a pretty good price for this huge amount of data. Total cost over 24 months is £1,369
iPhone 8 Plus | Vodafone | £39.99 upfront | Unlimited data | Unlimited minutes and texts | £39pm Much like the Three offer above, this contract offers an unlimited amount of data. However, it comes in at a price way below what is offered on Three. How can this be so much cheaper? Your speeds are capped, meaning you will struggle with big downloads and heavy HD streaming sessions. Total cost over 24 months is £975.99
A mighty £699. That’s how much the 64GB iPhone 8 Plus will cost you in the UK according to the RRP. That might seem like a lot but that’s one hundred pounds cheaper than when it first came out.
Need more memory? Then your only other option is spending an extra £150 and grabbing a £849 256GB iPhone 8 Plus.
If you opt to buy the iPhone 8 Plus upfront without a contract you will save money in the long run, but of course £699 is a lot of money to pay. If you can afford it though it the way to go once you pair it with a cheap SIM only deal.
iPhone 8 Plus review in brief
Cheap and brilliant, but still in the shade of the iPhone X
This is the iPhone you want if you can’t quite afford the iPhone X or iPhone XS Max. It’s got the larger battery, same powerful innards and strong camera. If you don’t mind the poorer screen, it’s a good option – and the screen is still a beaut. And we prefer it quite a lot more to the regular iPhone 8.
When it comes to Apple, there is a clear divide between its top of the line flagship devices with their massive price tags, and Apple’s earlier, far more affordable devices with their mid-range specs – the iPhone 6S falls into the latter category.
We’ve had a fair few new iPhones since the 6S, we’ve had the 8’s, iPhone X’s and now the iPhone XS Max (bit of a mouthful really). The good news here is that these new releases have driven the prices of the iPhone 6S way, way down. Sub-£20 a month tariffs appear quite frequently now, so getting a great deal on Apple’s 2015 flagship phone makes it a great budget option if you don’t want to spend the earth on your new iPhone deal.
If you want more than the minimum of data, then check out our comparison chart below, or head straight down to our pick of the best tariffs on the web.
The 6S may be one of iPhone’s older phones now, but it still features a lot of the features we have come to expect from flagships. It has improved battery life and 3D touch, where you can press a bit harder on the screen to get a different response.
The top 5 best iPhone 6S deals in the UK this month:
We’ve gone all Top of the Pops to show you our favourite five iPhone 6S deals on the market right now – we’ll give you a clue…they’re much cheaper than the iPhone XS! Read about all of the best iPhone 6S deals here, including tariffs on EE, O2 and Vodafone.
iPhone 6S 32GB | Vodafone | FREE upfront | Unlimited calls and texts | 5GB data | £24pm Looking for a Vodafone contract? This is our pick for the best choice right now. Voda prices shot up recently but you can still get this one for £24 a month. On top of that you just don’t have to pay anything upfront. The data may not be brilliant but the price really is. Total cost over 24 months is £576
iPhone 6S 32GB | O2 | £9.99 upfront | Unlimited calls and texts | 1GB data | £20pm There was a time not too long ago where O2 could not compete on the iPhone 6S, now it has one of the cheapest deals out there. With monthly costs of just £20 and a quick easy payment of £9.99 upfront, this is the perfect deal for the budget buyers out there – just watch that 1GB data cap. Total cost over 24 months is £489.99
iPhone 6S 32GB | EE | £9.99 upfront |1000 minutes and unlimited texts | 2GB data | £20pm This deal is fantastic – just £20 per month and absolutely nothing upfront grabs you a brilliant 2GB EE plan. Combine those monthly costs with the spend of just £9.99 upfront and we can’t see there being any offer that will beat this one! Total cost over 24 months is £489.99
iPhone 6S 128GB | Vodafone | FREE upfront | Unlimited calls, texts and data | £32pm | If you want unlimited data then you have two separate choices – either Vodafone or Three. Going with Vodafone will cost you £32 a month, making it the consistently cheaper options, however a special deal ran by Three right now helps it take the win. Total cost over 24 months is £768
iPhone 6S 32GB | Three | £19 upfront | Unlimited calls and texts | Unlimited data | £36pm Need unlimited data? Luckily you can get it slightly cheaper right now. For the first six months of your contract you pay just £18 a month, a price that then jumps back up to £36 for the other 18 months. Total cost over 24 months is £756
It may be very similar to its predecessor, but there’s no denying that the iPhone 6s makes a fantastic alternative to the more expensive Apple devices like the iPhone 8 and iPhone XR. The phone works fluidly at nearly every task and will cost you a lot less than Apple’s current flagships. Low end cost with high end features
