The arrival of global media controls for Chrome meant that users were given an easy way to play, pause and navigate audio and video playing on a website. Now Google has added a new option to the Canary build of the web browser that makes it possible to pop out a video into picture-in-picture mode, so you can keep watching a video while you browse other sites.
The new option is quicker than double right-clicking a video and selecting the PiP option, and – as TechDows notes – it can also be enabled in the new Chromium-based version of Microsoft Edge.
Global media controls (which Google calls the ‘media hub’) eliminate the need to trawl through a site to stop an auto-playing video disturbing you, and the new feature makes it even more useful.
For now, the new picture-in-picture controls are only available in the Canary preview build of the browser, but it shouldn’t be long until the feature makes its way to the main release.
If you have Chrome Canary and want to give it a try, there area few steps you’ll have to take to enable the new option.
Enable picture-in-picture
First visit chrome://flags to access the hidden settings necessary to switch on the picture-in-picture option.
Search for ‘global media controls picture-in-picture’ and use the drop-down menu to select ‘Enable’. Repeat for global media controls and then restart Chrome.
When you next click the global media control/media hub button in Chrome, in addition to the backwards, forwards and play/pause buttons, you will also see a picture-in-picture button.
While still relatively unknown in the UK, 1MORE is famed for producing high-quality audio products at a discounted price point. We were blown away with the Stylish TWS earbuds the company released in 2019, praising the design and audio quality, especially at a cheap price point, so when we heard about the AirPods Pro-rivalling True Wireless ANC earbuds, we were excited.
Can 1MORE take on Apple for the title of best wireless ANC earbuds? Carry on reading to find out.
Pricing and availability
Following a January 2020 launch, you can now buy the 1MORE True Wireless ANC earbuds exclusively from Amazon in the UK, while those in the US have a choice of either or Amazon. The ANC-enabled wireless earbuds have an RRP of £199/$199, but you can pick it up for a discounted £179.99 in the UK at the time of writing.
If you’re on the hunt for something a little more budget-friendly, we’ve got a selection of the best true wireless earbuds available right now at a variety of price points.
1MORE’s latest wireless earbuds are framed as a premium product that can take on AirPods Pro at a cheaper price point, but can 1MORE tempt users away from such a well-received product? Let’s discuss.
An all-round upgrade
The 1MORE True Wireless ANC earbuds look similar to that of the budget-friendly Stylish TWS earbuds the company released in 2019, but with a handful of differences that help the two models stand apart. The most noticeable design aspect of the new earbuds is undoubtedly the carbon fibre finish, giving the earbuds a premium finish compared to the all-plastic body of the cheaper variant.
The inclusion of carbon fibre should tell you all you need to know about the 1MORE Wireless ANC earbuds; they’re a premium option, and align themselves with high-end earbuds like Apple’s AirPods Pro.
One element of the original TWS earbuds that we loved was the fact that the buds were small enough to fit nicely into the ear without having something stick out like a poorly-designed Doctor Who villain. Sadly, the hybrid dual drivers and additional tech required to provide ANC meant a sacrifice to the overall form factor of the buds, with the ANC-enabled earbuds noticeably larger than the standard TWS earbuds.
That’s why the included O-hooks are so important; unique to 1MORE, both sets of true wireless earbuds sport special O-hooks that help keep the earbuds secure in your ears. You get three sets of silicone O-hooks with the earbuds, and like with the eartips, it’s important to find the right size for your ears – choose wrong and chances are you’ll find yourself constantly readjusting the buds.
Like the O-hooks, eartips are an element of earbud design that 1MORE takes seriously. So seriously, in fact, that the True Wireless ANC earbuds come with three sets of silicone eartips (S/M/L) and four sets of circular silicone eartips (XS/S/M/L) to provide something that’s both comfortable and sounds great.
But with that being said, it can be a daunting task finding the right fit, especially if your ears aren’t identical. It took us around half an hour of fiddling around with the various tips and O-hooks on offer before we found what we felt was the ideal fit, so be prepared to put the time in.
It’s not quite as user-friendly as what’s on offer from the likes of the AirPods Pro, featuring three sets of tips and functionality that’ll automatically test whether the earbuds are the right size for your ears, but at least 1MORE is trying to be as accommodating as possible.
When not in use, the 1MORE True Wireless ANC earbuds are stored in a brushed metal carry case, further adding to the premium look and feel of the earbuds. The case also sports a flat bottom with a layer of grippy rubber, allowing the case to stand upright on a table or desk without sliding or falling over.
It’s certainly a step up from the all-plastic TWS earbuds, but it’s also noticeably larger than other earbud carry cases on the market. It’s not huge by any means, but its presence was certainly noticeable when carried around in our pocket.
Enhanced smarts
When it comes to connectivity, 1MORE’s True Wireless ANC earbuds are top-notch. The premium earbuds sport a Qualcomm Bluetooth 5.0 chipset that, along with great-sounding audio, provides instant connectivity – by the time we take the earbuds out of the case and put them in, they’re already connected and ready to go.
Latency isn’t an issue either; the chipset provides near-instant synchronisation, providing a lag-free experience whether you’re watching Netflix on your commute or you’re squeezing in a cheeky game of Call of Duty Mobile on your break.
Connectivity aside, there’s plenty of smarts on offer from the True Wireless ANC earbuds.
You’ll find an IR sensor embedded into each earbud tasked with working out when the earbuds are being worn, and when they’re taken out. Similar to Apple’s AirPods collection, removing one or both of the True Wireless ANC earbuds will automatically pause music playback, making it easy to respond to the heathens that try and speak to you when you’ve got headphones in.
The option to resume playback when you put the earbuds back in is currently disabled, as is the case with the AirPods Pro, but 1MORE has reassured us that the functionality should be pushed out in a firmware update via the all-new (and slightly barebones) 1MORE Music app for iOS and Android in the coming weeks.
The crowning feature is, of course, the built-in Active Noise Cancellation, activated by double-tapping either earbud, but there are other modes on offer too. You’ve got two levels of ANC to choose from – one for loud environments like planes and another for walking the streets – along with a Passthrough mode that activates the exterior microphones to let in a bit of ambient noise and a standard, no-thrills mode with uncompromised sound quality.
Touch controls aside, there’s a single button atop each earbud that provides extra functionality compared to the original Stylish TWS earbuds. You now can click once to adjust audio, double click to play or pause music and skip tracks by holding down the button for a second or two.
The issue is that the controls are bud-specific, meaning double-clicking the button of the left bud does something different to the right, and it can be pretty confusing when getting used to the controls. The controls also change when wearing a single earbud, somewhat obviously, and it’s a similar story with phone calls too.
It does admittedly click after about a week – at least it did with us – and we’re now able to easily control media playback without getting our phone out of our pocket, but there’s definitely a learning curve there.
Good audio quality, middling ANC
As mentioned, there are two levels of Active Noise Cancellation (ANC) available on 1MORE’s latest earbuds. The high-level ANC is suited to loud environments like trains and planes, while the second ANC mode is optimal for when you’re out and about and want to tune out environmental noise – on paper, anyway.
In reality, the ANC isn’t quite what we were hoping for. There’s definitely a level of ANC available, but even when using the most powerful mode, we could still hear environmental noise quite clearly, whether that’s the rattle of the tube or the hiss of buses driving past during rush hour. It seems like it’s tailored to filtering out low-pitched humming noises, like the subtle roar of an aeroplane jet during a flight, and doesn’t really do much when it comes to higher-pitched noise like people talking and the clicky-clack of keys on a keyboard.
We’re not saying that the AirPods Pro or other wireless earbuds completely cancel out exterior sounds, because that’s certainly not the case, but it’s more powerful than what we’ve experienced with the 1MORE earbuds.
What’s more, the audio playback sounds noticeably different with ANC on compared to having it off – especially when it comes to the bass department. Toggling on ANC tweaks the output of the audio to produce levels of bass more accustomed to standard headphones, and while it’s great when listening to Dubstep, DnB or any bass-heavy music, there’s a sacrifice to the overall clarity of the audio.
We can’t help but feel that this change in output has been purposely implemented to help mask any environmental noise that the ANC can’t cancel out.
Interestingly, it’s when the ANC is disabled that the dual-hybrid-drivers perform at their best. Without the ANC, the audio produced is surprisingly bright considering the deep bass tones on offer, with crisp, warm vocals suited to a range of music, and the overall volume is impressive for such small earbuds.
However, it’s clear that each bud features a driver focused on the bass tones and another focused on the high-end, but what about the mids? To us, it sounds like the mid-range has been neglected, lacking any real presence regardless of music genre or playback mode.
Decent battery life
The 1MORE True Wireless ANC earbuds last around five to six hours depending on the overall volume as well as the level of active noise cancellation used, which is average for most wireless earbuds in 2020. The battery life is displayed in the form of a multi-colour LED on the earbuds and the case; green means fully charged, and red means it’s time to top-up the power.
Popping the earbuds into the carry case will charge them up, and the case offers 22 additional hours of charge when the buds run out of battery, allowing you to stay untethered for longer.
What’s more is the case actually has built-in fast charging, providing enough charge for two hours’ use after 15 minutes of charging, and the earbuds can go from flat-to-full in around an hour. That’s not exactly ground-breaking, but it’s more than enough to see you get through a few days without having to top-up.
It takes a little longer to charge the case via USB-C – around two hours in our experience – and you’ve also got the option of wireless charging, but as this is limited to 5W, it’ll take a bit longer to charge up.
Verdict
The 1MORE True Wireless ANC earbuds are a bit of a mixed bag.
On the one hand, you’ve got a comfortable pair of earbuds that create a perfect seal for impressive audio quality, and the added smarts are a welcome addition compared to the original Stylish TWS earbuds. But on the other, you’ve got middling ANC that quietens the environment rather than cancels it out, and the bass-heavy output with the mode enabled is either great or annoying depending on your personal preference.
These are decent ANC-enabled earbuds suited to both iOS and Android users, but with the AirPods Pro costing only £50/$50 more with a streamlined setup, balanced audio performance and more powerful ANC, we’d probably opt for Apple’s option.
The Samsung Galaxy S20, S20 Plus and S20 Ultra are all set to be launched today, February 11, in San Francisco at Samsung’s Galaxy Unpacked event.
While many would have expected this to be the Samsung Galaxy S11 series, consistent leaks make it certain that we’ll be getting the Galaxy S20 range instead – even Samsung’s own website has listed accessories with the name Galaxy S20.
If you’re in a hurry, here’s a quick overview of what we’re likely to see today – but scroll further down for a deep dive into the likely specs and features we’ll be seeing later today (and don’t forget, we’re almost certain to be see the introduction of the folding Samsung Galaxy Z Flip after it appeared in commercials during the Oscars.)
The two-minute takeaway
A render of the expected Samsung Galaxy S20
The Samsung Galaxy S20 range is going to consist of three phones, with the ‘basic’ S20 offering the fewest features and set to be the low-cost model.
The design of each phone will be more screen on the front – we’ve not seen many leaks here, but a large 6.2-inch display for the S20, a 6.7-inch option for the S20 Plus and large 6.9-inch screen for the S20 Ultra seems to be the most likely.
That’s a pretty big increase on the screen size of last year’s S10 models, with the screen expected to dominate the front of the phone.
The screens will all be 3200 x 1440, which is an extended QHD resolution… but we’re expecting that to be downscaled by default to Full HD+ in order to preserve battery life.
They’ll still reportedly be using Samsung’s impressive Super AMOLED technology to give rich colors and deep blacks, and word is new 120Hz tech will make scrolling through your home screen, apps and the internet will be far more fluid and smooth.
There’s not a huge amount of info on the design leaked so far, but we do think the S20 Ultra will be the heaviest model thanks to using steel inside for a more premium feel, rather than the aluminum seen in the S20 and S20 Plus.
We’ve heard far more of the rear of the S20 family, with more information leaking out about the cameras (all of which have rather unsightly rectangular bumps on the back).
The standard Galaxy S20 and S20 will reportedly come with a 12MP, 12MP and 64MP sensor, and manage up to 3x optical and 30x digital zoom.
The S20 Ultra will apparently be the snapper for the mobile photography enthusiast though, with a 12MP wide-angle lens, 48MP zoomed-in sensor and massive 108MP main sensor, capable of combining pixels together to make bright, sharp 12MP snaps.
Each camera is set to come with a number of smart features and improved photography modes – check out our dedicated section below to find out about them in more detail.
When it comes to the battery life each phone is likely to pack, we’re expecting the S20 to offer a 4,000mAh unit, 4,500mAh for the S20 Plus and the S20 Ultra will come with a huge 5,000mAh option, meaning the biggest phone will also probably be the longest-lasting.
We’re still expecting the price for the cheapest S20 variant to begin at $899 / £799 / AU$1,349, and up to $1,149 / £999 / AU$1,699 for the S20 Ultra – although it could go even higher than that if you go for the mooted 512GB option.
We’re also expecting all the phones to be offered as a 5G option by default, but this might be stripped for some variants in certain countries.
The Samsung Galaxy S20 launch date is locked in for today (that’s Tuesday, February 11) and it’ll be in San Francisco. That’s almost a whole year after Samsung unveiled its 2019 trio of flagship Galaxy phones. If you want to catch all the action, here’s how to watch the live stream.
When will the S20 actually be available to buy? If you pre-register your interest on the Samsung website for its next flagship phone you’ll be told the phone will be delivered on March 6. That seems likely to be the worldwide release date.
Originally we expected the Samsung Galaxy S20 price to be similar to the $899 / £799 / AU$1,349 launch price for the Galaxy S10. That was for its lowest storage size, and the price went all the way up to $1,149 / £999 / AU$1,699 for the highest.
That may still be the case, according to one big leak that suggests there will be both 4G and 5G versions of the Galaxy S20 and S20 Plus while the Galaxy S20 Ultra will just come in 5G.
We’ve seen multiple leaks over the last few weeks – the main ones are for European price, US price and a final one for UK prices – and we’ve combined the information (plus our best estimates for Australia) in an easy to read chart below.
Which phone?
UK leaked price
Euros leaked price
US leaked AT&T price
Australia estimate
Samsung Galaxy S20 4G
£799
€900 – €1,000
N/A
AU$1,350-AU$1,650
Samsung Galaxy S20 5G
£874
N/A
$899
AU$1,700
Samsung Galaxy S20 Plus 4G
£999
€1,100
N/A
AU$1,775
Samsung Galaxy S20 Plus 5G
£1,074
N/A
$1,099
AU$2,100
Samsung Galaxy S20 Ultra 5G
£1,149
€1,349
$1,299
AU$2,200
Don’t take these prices as gospel as there’s no certainty that these leaks are accurate, plus the conversions are only estimated pricing as well so could be a lot different when the phone is on shop shelves.
Plus one leak has also suggested some markets will get an 8GB of RAM version of the 4G phone to ensure there is a more affordable option. Exactly where you’ll be able to buy that is currently unclear, and we don’t know how much cheaper it’ll be.
Samsung Galaxy S20 design
November 2019 was when we first started seeing images of the Samsung Galaxy S20 appearing, and below you’ll find a selection of the best ones we have seen so far that we believe to be accurate.
Starting with the standard Samsung Galaxy S20, we’ve seen the below image courtesy of leaker Ishan Agarwal and 91Mobiles.
Nearly all renders point to the rear cameras being housed in a large bump in the top left of the back of the phone.
Hands-on images of the Samsung Galaxy S20 Plus make us think that the lenses and flash will be arranged in two rows in the camera bump, as that’s what the pictures show. The chin under the display looks a little thick, but may be an earlier render.
We’ve also seen renders of cases and images of a screen protector that back up these ideas, and renowned tipster Evan Blass has recently posted a picture showing the back of the Galaxy S20 Plus and the Galaxy S20 Ultra.
As you can see from the image above, the camera arrays are arranged in rectangular blocks rather than a strip – and it looks as though if you pre-order the S20 Plus and S20 Ultra you’ll also get a pair of Galaxy Buds Plus wireless earphones thrown in as well.
A later leak of another screen cover suggests the device will have thin bezels, though the leaker noted that the ‘S11’s “forehead” and “chin” are very optimistic’, suggesting they could be thicker than the images show.
We’ve also heard that the Samsung Galaxy S20 could move the punch-hole camera to the top center of the screen, similar to the Galaxy Note 10 range, as we’ve since seen in leaked images, but smaller than on last year’s Note.
In terms of materials, we’d expect the front and back to be Corning Gorilla Glass as most phones use. While premium devices typically have an aluminum frame, the Samsung Galaxy S20 Ultra could have a top-end stainless steel frame instead if one leak is to be believed.
Currently only top-end iPhones and certain other handsets use this pricey and heavy material in their builds, so if true this shows the S20 Ultra is set to sport a truly ‘premium’ design.
A later leak points to the colors: the S20 will apparently come in Cosmic Grey, Cloud Blue, and Cloud Pink; the S20 Plus in Cosmic Black, Cosmic Grey, and Cloud Blue; and the S20 Ultra in Cosmic Grey and Cosmic Black.
Interestingly, this leak also suggests the curved 3D edges typical of the S-line will be toned down to more subtle 2.5D angles, meaning the screen might only have minimal curves.
Multiple leaks around the headphone jack (or the lack thereof) mean we almost certainly won’t see the round port on the S20 range.
Samsung Galaxy S20 display
A big upgrade for the Galaxy S20 series is likely to be a 120Hz refresh rate technology – this means smoother scrolling around the home screen and through the web / apps than last year’s S10 – with a video from XDA Developers purportedly showing this off.
There’s no guarantee this will be included on all devices, but it’s looking very likely for the Galaxy S20 Plus at least.
It also looks like the 120Hz setting will only be available when the phone is on Full HD+ resolution. That’s the default setting on modern Samsung smartphones (to save battery), but it’s thought you’d be able to increase the resolution to WQHD+ while getting a 60Hz refresh rate.
The most enduring size rumor suggests that the Samsung Galaxy S20 will have a 6.2-inch screen, the S20 Plus will have a 6.7-inch one, and the S20 Ultra will have a 6.9-inch display. That’s a pretty sizeable increase on the previous generation, with each packing a 3200 x 1440 pixel count, making the smallest S20 phone the sharpest.
The S20 range could also use a new screen tech, as Samsung hastrademarked the name SAMOLED, which sounds like a new take on the AMOLED screens used by its phones, and could be the name for the 120Hz tech.
It’s also thought the whole Galaxy S20 range will come with ultrasonic in-screen fingerprint scanners.
Samsung Galaxy S20 camera
We’re expecting the Samsung Galaxy S20 range to have some impressive camera equipment, but the S20 and S20 Plus are seemingly set to bring a different snapping experience to the S20 Ultra.
We have seen an incredibly detailed spec dump, where three sources simultaneously revealed information on the cameras, and it gives us a huge look at what to expect (if true). All the details are below in an easy-to-read chart:
Camera
Samsung Galaxy S20
Samsung Galaxy S20 Plus
Samsung Galaxy S20 Ultra
Main
12MP
12MP
108MP
Telephoto
64MP
64MP
48MP
Wide-angle
12MP
12MP
12MP
Extras
ToF
ToF
Front-facing camera
10MP
10MP
40MP
Those are some pretty impressive specs if true, although it’s curious that the telephoto sensors have a higher megapixel count on the lower end devices.
We’ve heard a range of zooms cited for the telephoto lenses, but it seems to be 3x optical / 30x digital for the Galaxy S20 and S20 Plus, and a whopping 10x optical / 100x digital for the S20 Ultra – 100x is immense, but multiple leaks have pointed to it.
That latter spec from the leak could be wrong though, as we’ve also heard that all the devices will have 5x optical zoom. This comes from news that a company has been supplying this type of zoom lens to Samsung for the devices, and it’s a slightly more plausible spec than 10x zoom.
As for the 108MP sensor on the Galaxy S20 Ultra, that might not actually take 108MP photos, as Samsung has applied to trademark a tech called ‘Nonacell’, which is believed to combine nine pixels into one, and is rumored to be present in the 108MP camera.
That means it would actually take 12MP shots, but with huge pixels which should allow for great low light performance. It might also be able to take 108MP shots but we’re not sure currently.
We’ve also now heard more details about the 64MP telephoto camera on the Galaxy S20 and S20 Plus, which won’t do any smart pixel combining and just take large, high-resolution pictures.
It will also apparently be this camera that’s used for 8K video recording, and the camera will supposedly be capable of ‘pixel cropping’ to assist zoom. We assume that’s in addition to an optical zoom, letting you get in even closer with a hybrid zoom, but the source was unclear on that point.
We’ve also heard loads of cool features trademarked by Samsung that could end up in the handset, from ‘Space Zoom’ astrophotography mode to a ‘Bright Night Sensor’, which sounds a lot like a low light mode but with dedicated hardware.
According to Max Weinbach, Samsung is also developing a feature called ‘Quick Take’ that uses all cameras at the same time. It could let you take a zoomed picture as well as a standard one, or an ultra-wide at the same time as the basic picture.
Improved optical image stabilisation (OIS) tech is set to be added, as low light and especially night sky photos could benefit from longer exposures, which usually need either a tripod or decent OIS to prevent blur.
Elsewhere, mention of several new camera features has been found in official Samsung software. There’s a Director’s View mode for tracking a subject, Single Take Photo, which could use AI to automatically take photos at the optimal moment, the return of Samsung’s Pro Video mode, allowing you to adjust the ISO, exposure and the like when shooting video, and some new Live Focus bokeh effects.
Of course, specs and features are one thing, real world performance is quite another, but we’ve now also seen some camera samples supposedly shot by the Samsung Galaxy S20 and Galaxy S20 Plus.
They show off the main, wide-angle and telephoto lenses as well as the low light skills, the latter of which you can see below as compared to the Galaxy S10.
As you can see, the S20’s shots are a lot brighter and generally better, so we’re expecting good things from the camera, particularly at night.
Samsung Galaxy S20 battery life
Samsung Galaxy S10 with its reverse wireless charging
So far, it seems like the Samsung Galaxy S20 range will have impressive battery capacity, with one big spec leak suggesting the Samsung Galaxy S20 will have a 4,000mAh cell, the Galaxy S20 Plus will sport a 4,500mAh cell and the Galaxy S20 Ultra will have a 5,000mAh one.
These battery sizes are looking quite likely, and it’s expected the same 45W fast-charging tech and 15W wireless charging from the Samsung Galaxy Note 10 Plus will also be on all three devices.
An industry insider has suggested the reason the upcoming phones can use such big batteries is due to shrinking a part of the internals, a technique which the iPhone 12 could use too.
Previous rumors have also suggested Samsung is working on a battery health feature, which could tell you how worn out your S20’s battery is.
Samsung Galaxy S20 specs and features
We’re pretty certain the Samsung Galaxy S20 will come with the Snapdragon 865 chipset unveiled in late 2019, which has been benchmarked with scores that beat any other phone.
Well, it will probably have this processor in the US, but most other regions will likely get an upgraded Exynos processor, probably the 9830.
A rumor also suggests the Galaxy S20 Ultra, the top-end device, will have 128GB / 256GB / 512GB storage options, with a slot for a microSD card that will add another 1TB of space. We don’t know the options for the other devices, though.
All three Samsung Galaxy S20 phones are expected to be IP68 waterproof and dust resistant, according to one leak.
A more unlikely feature that the S20 could pack is a spectrometer, which could be used to determine the chemical composition of objects. Samsung has patented a phone-like device with just such a feature, so it’s possible, but it sounds a bit far-fetched and niche.
The iPhone 11 and Google Pixel 4 have similar systems, where instead of using in-screen fingerprint sensors, they use facial recognition, and this is a rather secure form of unlocking (compared to Samsung’s current photo-based facial recognition) but it’s slower than using a fingerprint.
There’s also a leak suggesting Samsung phones will get an AirDrop-like service called Quick Share to easily swap files between nearby Galaxy phones. This could be extended to older Samsung phones with a software update, though it’s unclear if it will come to other Galaxy products (like the Tabs).
The final point is the confusion over Samsung’s 5G strategy with these devices. It may well be that each and every Samsung Galaxy S20 phone features 5G, or the company may be offering 5G variants of each instead.
Whatever happens, we’re almost certain you’ll be able to purchase a 5G variant of the Galaxy S20, S20 Plus and S20 Ultra, so if you’re keen to get on board with the new technology you won’t be left behind.
The Xbox One consoles are impressive. There’s the powerful Xbox One S for 4K gaming or the upgraded Xbox One X for an even more high-end gaming experience. Whichever one you choose, you’ll want to make the most of your powerful console with the best Xbox One accessories to go along with it.
There’s one big (but good) problem: with such a wide variety of choices, it can be hard to work out which accessories are best for you. Do you need another controller? A headset? Xbox Live Gold membership?
We’ve put together this list of the best Xbox One accessories to help you make the most of your Xbox One S or Xbox One X console.
UPDATE:If you’re a fan of Xbox consoles, then stay up-to-date with all the rumors, news and specs that we can all expect from the upcoming Xbox Series X.
The Xbox One controller is already a pretty solid piece of hardware, improving on the Xbox 360’s controller that became the industry standard. Somehow, Microsoft managed even further improvement in the form of the Xbox One Elite Wireless Controller.
There’s swappable thumbsticks and directional pads that offer up a better feel than the standard Xbox One controller, as well as quick-hit triggers to help out in the most high-impact shooters. While it’s pretty pricy for a pad at almost three times the cost of a standard controller, you definitely get what you pay for with this premium piece of hardware.
While there is some benefit to having the Xbox One controller use standard batteries (like not having to worry about having a controller-free console in a few years when the other platforms controller batteries start dying and the platform manufacturers have moved on), the process of switching out AA batteries every few weeks can be maddening.
If you yearn for some simplicity, though, the Xbox One Play and Charge Kit puts the Xbox One Controller on the same playing field as the competition. Just put the simple battery back where you’d put the batteries and use a micro-USB cable to keep the controller fresh when you run out of juice.
Image credit: Microsoft
Ever since the PlayStation 2 put a DVD player in the homes of millions, one constant has remained this millennium; using a controller to watch videos on consoles is the worst. If you’re using your Xbox One as a streamer, Blu-ray player, and TV watcher, the Xbox One Media Remote is a great way to watch all of your favorite content without fumbling to remember the proper controller command to bring up closed captions or time remaining.
This remote is perfectly sized to fit every important command (including volume options that controllers and Xbox One Smartglass cant handle), is very sleek, and has a backlight that’s perfect for home theaters and late-night video-watching.
Image credit: Turtle Beach
Turtle Beach is the longest established specialist gaming headset manufacturer, with a fanatical following among pro-gamers – and when you unbox its top-of-the-range Elite Pro, you can see why. It simply oozes no-expense-spared design, and sports all manner of neat touches born from decades of pro-gaming experience.
But more importantly than that, it sounds spectacular, with huge bass and crystal-clear treble adding up to a sound which will allow you to get deeply immersed into whatever game you’re playing. Comfort-wise, it’s exemplary, with big, thick earpads that eliminate all ambient noise, and can be easily adjusted to fit all head-sizes. A neat feature lets you add spacing to the earpads to accommodate a pair of glasses.
On an Xbox One, we’d recommend teaming it up with piece of kit called the Tactical Audio Adapter, which clips into the Xbox One controller and operates as an amplifier, adding some of the extra sound-control features which come in a separate graphic equaliser-style box called the Tactical Audio Controller (which is pricey but adds Dolby 7.1 Surround Sound).
Those features include Turtle Beach’s Superhuman Hearing, which enhances the sound of incoming players’ footsteps and is great for hardcore first-person shooter fans, and Dynamic Chat Boost, which keeps chat-levels audible even when background noise rises. Plus, it lets you independently adjust game and chat volumes.
Add tank-like build-quality to the equation and you have a headset which has become something of a status symbol for those who take their gaming seriously.
Over the last decade-plus, Xbox Live has been synonymous with Xbox consoles; if you want to get the most out of your Xbox 360 or Xbox One, having Xbox Live to play online with friends is tantamount. Even if you don’t play games online regularly, there’s still a lot of value that comes with this subscription.
On top of weekly discounts, Xbox Live members also get free Xbox One games (and another pair of backwards-compatible Xbox 360 games) to keep as long as their Xbox Live subscription stays valid. It’s a great deal that ensures you’ll rarely even have to pick up new games, given the breadth and depth of freebies that come to Xbox Live on a monthly basis.
Image credit: Microsoft
Sometimes, a voice message won’t do and you’ve got to send some words to your Xbox cohorts. So what do you do? Painfully trudge through the UI keyboard to slowly…type…out… each… word? Pull up your phone and dive through a series of Smartglass menus to text your fellow players? Wouldn’t it be great if you had a keyboard handy at all times?
That’s why the Xbox One Chatpad is so darn handy. Sending messages is a snap, even in the dark thanks to the back-lit mini-keyboard. Sending longer messages to friends or redeeming one of the Xbox One’s insane 25-character redemption codes is a heck of a lot easier with this sweet add-on that fits flush with your controller.
Image credit: TechRadar
Microsoft’s Xbox Adaptive Controller is truly an innovative piece of tech, making gaming more accessible for gamers with limited mobility. While this Xbox One accessory isn’t necessarily for everyone, its large programmable buttons and ability to connect to external switches, buttons, mounts and joystick means the controller can be customized for users of varying needs.
However, the issue with this controller is price. While it works with a range of devices, they all need to be purchased separately (as the purchase price is only for the main controller). So if you have more precise needs, then you will need to buy more plug ins. It’s not ideal but Microsoft’s effort to make gaming more accessible is definitely a step forward.
You can purchase the Xbox Adaptive Controller from Microsoft for £74.99 / $99.99 / AU$129.99.
Whether you’ve got an old reliable headset that saw you through some Xbox 360 battles or want your PC gaming headset to pull double duty, you’ll need something to get a non-official headset working with the Xbox One’s proprietary controller connector.
Thankfully, there’s the Xbox One Headset Adaptor that allows one to plug a standard wired gaming headset on the Xbox One console. It also helps things out by centralizing the headset commands right underneath the controller. No longer will you have to feel around on your headset’s wires to find the volume and muting controls; it’s all right there on the controller no matter what headset you’ve got connected.
Image credit: Seagate
Even with the streamlined simplicity that consoles offer, sometimes storage can be tricky, especially given the sheer variety of external hard drives on the market. Will a hard drive get enough power from the console to run properly? Is the speed up to snuff enough to play full games at a proper clip? Sometimes reliability and peace of mind is worth spending a little more for, which is why Seagate’s official external drive is worth seeking out.
Beyond the snazzy look and logo, you’re guaranteed a solution to your storage ills and a hard drive that will work right out of the box. If you’ve ever had to futz around formatting your drive and crossing your fingers that your console will recognize it, the Game Drive is a breath of fresh air.
We know that you’ve had enough of the tireless searching, the constant analysing and trying to keep up to date with all these Sky TV deals, packages and special offers flying around.
That’s why we’re here to tell you to close those endless tabs and keep reading this page, because we’ve got the very best and latest Sky deals. Each week we take a look at the latest and best Sky TV packages to make sure that you’re getting the very best prices when you decide to sign up.
So whether you’re trying to decide which Sky TV package is for you, or you’re questioning what Sky Q offers are out there or what it even is – then you’ve come to the right place.
And if you’re looking to add a Sky broadband deal with your TV bundle, we’ve got you covered too!
All you have to do now is scroll down the page and choose your ideal Sky deal, package or offer – we have plenty outlined for you. And if timing is your concern don’t worry we constantly update this page, so you’re definitely getting the most current and up to date offers.
The basic Sky TV package
Basically, as it stands it’s pretty simple. The basic standardised Sky TV package comes at a flat cost of £21 a month which includes 300 Sky TV and over 35 Catch Up channels (pretty good value for money if you ask us).
You can then personalise the package and get add-ons like Sky Box Sets, Netflix, Sky Sports and Sky Cinema (this comes at an extra cost). You can check out just below!
Sky TV deals
If you wan to check out the latest Sky TV deals and Sky packages you can go straight to the Sky website, but if you’re asking us our top choice is the Sports + Entertainment + Cinema bundle which you find just below.
The good news is that as a new customer, once you purchase a Sky TV package, the Sky Q 1TB box (for £20) comes as part of the bundle. So you don’t need to worry about having to purchase the device separately.
And if you’re wondering what is a Sky Q 1TB box, what is Sky Q and do you need it, just keep reading as we explain this all below.
Sky Q boxes
Sky Q is a subscription that allows you to seamlessly stream and record in 4K , across multiple screens (depending if you purchase a 1TB or a 2TB Sky Q box). To access Sky Q you need a Sky Q 1TB or a Sky QTB box. If you need more information make sure you check out our Sky Q review.
All basic Sky TV packages come with a Sky Q subscription but this doesn’t include HD, for an extra £5 per month you can get HD.
Now if you’re deciding if you should pick between a Sky Q 1TB or a Sky Q 2TB box all we can tell you is that the 2TB box costs start from £50 (one-off) but they do come with a few benefits. These include being able to record six shows at once instead of three, while watching a seventh, you’d also get the fancier Sky Q Touch remote control, an extra tablet allowance, and you’ll be able to enjoy select channels in Ultra HD.
And if you don’t want it to be all or nothing there are also options to buy a 1TB Sky Q box and a mini box. Whichever you decide to get, we recommend visiting the Sky website to check out all the Sky Q boxes options and pick the ideal one for you.
Sky TV packages add-ons
Sky TV deal add-ons are much easier to understand since the reshuffle. Better yet you get to customize and create your perfect Sky TV package, this is ideal for new or existing customers.
Sky broadband and TV deals:
How do I contact Sky by phone?
You sure can! If you’d prefer to talk to a person to walk you through each step then you can phone 0800 014 2334 to sign up for a Sky TV package. We recommend having a good read through the sections above about each add-on first, just so you can go in with a good idea of what’s available and you don’t feel pressured.
What channels do you get on the basic Sky package?
Sky’s basic package gives you over 300 channels, including TV’s familiar favorites such as BBC One, ITV, Channel 4, MTV, Sky Atlantic, Comedy Central and many more!
In terms of HD, with all packages you get at least the standard free to air HD channels. To be honest you also get a fair few of these with standard Freeview HD. If you sign up for Sky Sports, there’s no longer an extra fee to be paid to get them in HD as the channels now show in High Definition by default.
And if you get the extra HD add-on for £5 a month you’d be getting 35+ all Sky channels in HD! Below, are all the channels that come in HD without the added £5 a month.
There are a few more frustrating scenarios than being huddled around a small monitor at a business meeting. If you’re giving a presentation, on the other hand, it can be disheartening to find that the stats you have worked hard on squeezing into your PowerPoint presentation have been downsized to such a degree that your colleagues can’t actually read them.
The ideal scenario, then, would involve blowing up your efforts onto a large format display to show it off in all of its glory. Sure, most of the best large format displays aren’t cheap, but they offer a premium experience that brings out the best of content thanks to dazzling panels, a wide range of connectivity options and useful integrated online services.
We picked out the best large format displays for companies that won’t want to compromise, and for those that do, we’ve also thrown in a few budget or two.
Want your company or services to be added to this buyer’s guide? Please email your request to desire.athow@futurenet.com with the URL of the buying guide in the subject line.
Best large format displays – at a glance
Sony FWD-85Z9G 85-inch 8K Smart Commercial IPTV
NEC MultiSync X981UHD-2 98-inch 4K
Sharp 8MB70AUU 70-inch 8K Commercial Monitor
LG 84WS70B 84-inch 4K UHD
NEC MultiSync E905 SST E Series 90” LED
Samsung QM85D 85” 4K Ultra HD LED
iiyama ProLite LE8640UH-B1 86” LED 4K Ultra HD
BenQ ST430K 43-inch 4K
Spanning 85 inches, this mammoth large format display is pretty while also costing a pretty penny. It justifies its premium price tag as it uses the latest 8K screen tech, which flaunts four times the number of pixels as 4K and 16 times that of a regular 1080p TV.
This stunning display is optimized for professional display applications and uses Sony is X1 Altimus image processor combined with 8K X-Reality PRO to display high-contrast HDR images packed with detail, rich color and exceptional contrast. It runs Android 8.0, so you can display content from other devices using its inbuilt IPTV service or integrated Chromecast capabilities.
Boasting a giant 98-inch display, this model opt for a more sensible 4K resolution, rather than 8K, which lends it a greater degree of compatibility with content that’s out in the wild. Designed for use in control rooms or large training rooms where ultra-high definition is required, it is also compatible with a range of NEC solutions.
They include the company’s NEC MultiPresenter Stick, its wireless presentation solution for NEC Displays, and it also supports multiple simultaneous connections on Windows, macOS, iOS and Android.
If you are looking for a large format display that doubles down on image quality, this sizeable screen sports high color gamut coverage which makes it ideal for streaming video services.
The secret sauce here is its high dynamic range (or HDR), which expands the contrast ratio and color pallet to display a more realistic and natural image. With a maximum brightness of 400 nits, it’s not going to blow you away, but it’s more than adequate for showing content in anything but the brightest of rooms.
LG has been making top-tier displays for years, many of which have appeared on smartphones and, more recently, virtual reality headsets. This 84-inch 4K large format carries over that quality to deliver high-contrast, true-to-life images.
The display totes high-color-gamut coverage, which combined with HDR is ideal for streaming a range of video services. The 84WS70B also packs impressive sound which can be fine-tuned for the environment, allowing you to choose from Standard, Music, Cinema, Sports and Games modes.
There aren’t many large format displays that have multitouch, which makes the NEC MultiSync E905 SST an interesting option. It’s hardly a small screen at 90-inches across the diagonal, but it can be interacted with up to 6 simultaneous touch points thanks to NEC’s ShadowSense technology.
An advanced optical position sensing technology, it uses high-performance sensors to provide high performance, stability, and accuracy. The display also sports an anti-reflective coating to reduce reflections to a minimum, which makes content displayed on it easier to read.
Samsung’s QM85D is a large format display that sports an impressive 120Hz refresh rate, which makes movements across the display – whether that’s dragging windows and other content or watching a video – appear much smoother while reducing stutter.
This model also packs UHD upscaling, which is useful for displaying full HD content in 4K. Another handy feature is the QM85D’s ability to divide the entire screen into four quadrants using PIP (Picture-in-Picture) mode, allowing you to share content from up to four different devices.
This ProLite model is a large format display with a sharp 4K resolution. It features a slim design with hardly any noticeable bezel, which allows content on its IPS LED panel to shine when combined with its exceptional colors and image performance.
Plus, it comes with iiyama’s iiSignage content creation and management software, which is a boon for businesses who want to get their messages across to clients. Its built-in expansion slot supports the Open Pluggable Specification (OPS) standard, which simplifies the installation of a plug-in PC for digital signage applications.
A far more affordable large format displayed than others on our list, this BenQ model is much smaller at 43 inches while still packing an ultra-sharp 4K display.
A well-rounded package suitable for small business and corporate settings, it combines a number of features including 4K resolution for enhanced engagement, an eye-catching slim design, and BenQ’s X-Sign software that makes content creation and management a cinch.
Our favorite feature, however, is this display’s integration with video conferencing software Zoom, which lets you instantly chat to teams and clients without requiring computing hardware.
There are a few more frustrating scenarios than being huddled around a small monitor at a business meeting. If you’re giving a presentation, on the other hand, it can be disheartening to find that the stats you have worked hard on squeezing into your PowerPoint presentation have been downsized to such a degree that your colleagues can’t actually read them.
The ideal scenario, then, would involve blowing up your efforts onto a large format display to show it off in all of its glory. Sure, most of the best large format displays aren’t cheap, but they offer a premium experience that brings out the best of content thanks to dazzling panels, a wide range of connectivity options and useful integrated online services.
We picked out the best large format displays for companies that won’t want to compromise, and for those that do, we’ve also thrown in a few budget or two.
Want your company or services to be added to this buyer’s guide? Please email your request to desire.athow@futurenet.com with the URL of the buying guide in the subject line.
Best large format displays – at a glance
Sony FWD-85Z9G 85-inch 8K Smart Commercial IPTV
NEC MultiSync X981UHD-2 98-inch 4K
Sharp 8MB70AUU 70-inch 8K Commercial Monitor
LG 84WS70B 84-inch 4K UHD
NEC MultiSync E905 SST E Series 90” LED
Samsung QM85D 85” 4K Ultra HD LED
iiyama ProLite LE8640UH-B1 86” LED 4K Ultra HD
BenQ ST430K 43-inch 4K
Spanning 85 inches, this mammoth large format display is pretty while also costing a pretty penny. It justifies its premium price tag as it uses the latest 8K screen tech, which flaunts four times the number of pixels as 4K and 16 times that of a regular 1080p TV.
This stunning display is optimized for professional display applications and uses Sony is X1 Altimus image processor combined with 8K X-Reality PRO to display high-contrast HDR images packed with detail, rich color and exceptional contrast. It runs Android 8.0, so you can display content from other devices using its inbuilt IPTV service or integrated Chromecast capabilities.
Boasting a giant 98-inch display, this model opt for a more sensible 4K resolution, rather than 8K, which lends it a greater degree of compatibility with content that’s out in the wild. Designed for use in control rooms or large training rooms where ultra-high definition is required, it is also compatible with a range of NEC solutions.
They include the company’s NEC MultiPresenter Stick, its wireless presentation solution for NEC Displays, and it also supports multiple simultaneous connections on Windows, macOS, iOS and Android.
If you are looking for a large format display that doubles down on image quality, this sizeable screen sports high color gamut coverage which makes it ideal for streaming video services.
The secret sauce here is its high dynamic range (or HDR), which expands the contrast ratio and color pallet to display a more realistic and natural image. With a maximum brightness of 400 nits, it’s not going to blow you away, but it’s more than adequate for showing content in anything but the brightest of rooms.
LG has been making top-tier displays for years, many of which have appeared on smartphones and, more recently, virtual reality headsets. This 84-inch 4K large format carries over that quality to deliver high-contrast, true-to-life images.
The display totes high-color-gamut coverage, which combined with HDR is ideal for streaming a range of video services. The 84WS70B also packs impressive sound which can be fine-tuned for the environment, allowing you to choose from Standard, Music, Cinema, Sports and Games modes.
There aren’t many large format displays that have multitouch, which makes the NEC MultiSync E905 SST an interesting option. It’s hardly a small screen at 90-inches across the diagonal, but it can be interacted with up to 6 simultaneous touch points thanks to NEC’s ShadowSense technology.
An advanced optical position sensing technology, it uses high-performance sensors to provide high performance, stability, and accuracy. The display also sports an anti-reflective coating to reduce reflections to a minimum, which makes content displayed on it easier to read.
Samsung’s QM85D is a large format display that sports an impressive 120Hz refresh rate, which makes movements across the display – whether that’s dragging windows and other content or watching a video – appear much smoother while reducing stutter.
This model also packs UHD upscaling, which is useful for displaying full HD content in 4K. Another handy feature is the QM85D’s ability to divide the entire screen into four quadrants using PIP (Picture-in-Picture) mode, allowing you to share content from up to four different devices.
This ProLite model is a large format display with a sharp 4K resolution. It features a slim design with hardly any noticeable bezel, which allows content on its IPS LED panel to shine when combined with its exceptional colors and image performance.
Plus, it comes with iiyama’s iiSignage content creation and management software, which is a boon for businesses who want to get their messages across to clients. Its built-in expansion slot supports the Open Pluggable Specification (OPS) standard, which simplifies the installation of a plug-in PC for digital signage applications.
A far more affordable large format displayed than others on our list, this BenQ model is much smaller at 43 inches while still packing an ultra-sharp 4K display.
A well-rounded package suitable for small business and corporate settings, it combines a number of features including 4K resolution for enhanced engagement, an eye-catching slim design, and BenQ’s X-Sign software that makes content creation and management a cinch.
Our favorite feature, however, is this display’s integration with video conferencing software Zoom, which lets you instantly chat to teams and clients without requiring computing hardware.
