Toy Story 4 Teaser Trailer and first look at a new toy

Chris Hare
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Toy Story 4 Teaser Trailer and first look at a new toy

Everyone’s favourite pull-string cowboy sheriff Woody, along with his best friends Buzz Lightyear and Jessie, are happy taking care of their kid, Bonnie, until a new toy called “Forky” arrives in her room. According to Forky, a spork-turned-craft-project, he’s not a toy at all—and he’d rather skip this big adventure completely, if only they’d let him. Tom Hanks, Tim Allen and Joan Cusack return as the voices of Woody, Buzz and Jessie, and comedian Tony Hale lends his voice to Forky. Directed by Josh Cooley (“Riley’s First Date?”) and produced by Jonas Rivera (“Inside Out,” “Up”) and Mark Nielsen (associate producer “Inside Out”), “Toy Story 4” ventures to UK cinemas on the 21st June 2019.

Woody has always been confident about his place in the world and that his priority is taking care of his kid, whether that’s Andy or Bonnie. But when Bonnie adds a reluctant new toy called “Forky” to her room, a road trip adventure alongside old and new friends will show Woody how big the world can be for a toy. Directed by Josh Cooley (“Riley’s First Date?”) and produced by Jonas Rivera (“Inside Out,” “Up”) and Mark Nielsen (associate producer “Inside Out”), Disney·Pixar’s “Toy Story 4” ventures to UK cinemas on the 21st June 2019.

 

Once upon a Deadpool now has a UK release date

Chris Hare
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Once upon a Deadpool now has a UK release date

Twentieth Century Fox has today made available the poster for ONCE UPON A DEADPOOL, starring Ryan Reynolds.

ONCE UPON A DEADPOOL arrives in UK cinemas – for one night only – on 11th December, with the 12th December for the USA.

Deadpool 2 has had its goriest and rudest moments edited out, to achieve a PG-13 rating for Once Upon A Deadpool.

 

Watch the Shadow of the Tomb Raider – The Forge trailer

Chris Hare
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Watch the Shadow of the Tomb Raider – The Forge trailer

Brave the lava-flooded Forge of the Fallen Gods to uncover the secrets of a lost city! Conquer this all-new challenge tomb, playable solo or in co-op, to unlock the new Brocken outfit, Umbrage 3-80 weapon, and Grenadier skill.

Along the way, Lara must uncover details of a friend’s ancient legacy, and overcome a danger thought to be lost in flames.

Available from the 13th November for PS4/Xbox One and PC.

Review: Doctor Who Series 11 Episode 6 – Demons of the Punjab

Sean McCarthy
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Review: Doctor Who Series 11 Episode 6 – Demons of the Punjab

I have to be honest and say that last week’s episode ‘The Tsuranga Conundrum’ was the lowest point of this new series so far with a weak story, terrible side character performances and failing to really give the members of TEAM Tardis anything worthwhile to do and actually for me, showcased all my fears about having the Doctor travelling with three companions. Thankfully Jodie Whittaker’s Doctor was brilliant and has really taken this role in her grip firmly already. Now going into Episode 6 and just like with episode ‘Rosa’,  is looking to go back into real historical events and will focus on Yasmin, putting her front and centre in the story which is something I have been hoping for since episode one.

Starting off I will say that seeing a new writer taking the reigns for this episode instead of Chris Chibnall was a sigh of relief for me, after a promising start to the series last week’s episode was heartbreaking to sit through so knowing that this episode as well as the next three episodes are not written by him allows the show to grow in terms of ideas and story telling. I am sure Chibnall will return with better stories than last week but a good part of  my Whovian soul is relieved to see him taking a step back from writing for this series.

I am pleased to see Mandip Gill who plays Yasmin getting the chance to step up more instead of just being the one who follows the Doctor about all star struck and wide eyed, sadly something her character has been due to having such a large group of three companions every week rotating to get lines and screen time. Demons of the Punjab takes Team TARDIS back to India in 1947 on Partition Day, after Yas asks the Doctor to take her back to see her Grandmother as a young woman. With a bit of reluctance and warning about interfering with ones own timeline, they arrive in 1947 in a very troubled time for India and whilst Yas seeks out to discover her Grandmother’s secret history, the Doctor discovers another threat to India that must be dealt with.

By focusing on this time in history, the story is able to tell the audience or in some cases teach the audience about Indian history, that on this day in 1947 in an attempt to separate two religions of Hindu and Islam, Britain split India into two regions of Pakistan and India and the fallout this had on families and people of India. This episode puts Team TARDIS smack in the middle of Partition day as Yas’s family show the impact of the split had on them as well as learning about their past which comes as both a shock and surprise to Yas. It lacks the same emotional impact of Rosa Park’s story but it is still a powerful one to tell and the use of cinematography is the best yet for the series to tell this story.

This is an episode that very much sticks to the same style and flow as ‘Rosa’ in that it not only seeks to educate the audience on real historical events in the hope it gives them a new perspective on current world issues, but also in leading one member of Team TARDIS to have a life changing moment leaving the Doctor to go and do some world saving Doctor hero stuff. But there has started to be a rather clumsy way of the Doctor suddenly remembering all these brand new and never seen or mentioned before alien species and just bringing them in to the series in every episode. Now the Whovian in me could say this is solely because the Doctor has never encountered them before or maybe this latest regeneration is the reason why previously forgotten information has been recovered by the newest Doctor, but still it feels all the more forced to explain the new monster of the week.

So again we have the Doctor herself as almost a side story to the history lesson the episode wants the audience to have and in doing so you have a story of two halves which at times can come together but still feels separated. A consequence leaves yet again, members of Team TARDIS with little to do, namely Ryan who becomes a spectator to events and Graham, who has suddenly become the character who tries to comfort everyone else each episode with his wisdom and little jokes. This issue is really holding back the story telling for me as each companion, who are yet to be referred to as companions, take turns in having a story centre on them.

Jodie’s performance is again spot on and so far she and the new Doctor feel the most comfortable and set for this series with all the problems currently for me at least, coming from the over crowded Team TARDIS and it is noticeable when one or more falls into the background in the story telling. There is real intent on behalf of Chris Chibnall to change what fans can expect from Doctor Who and the focus on social commentary with two huge emotional episodes such as Demons of the Punjab and Rosa are well put together and tell their stories incredibly well and powerfully, but the lack of a series arc for the Doctor is starting to grate on me now with six episodes down and it is simply the Doctor and Team TARDIS having an adventure of the week with no real fluidity or connection to each other except for lines of dialogue dropped here and there.

Demons of the Punjab has again raised the bar in terms of what stories can be told via Doctor Who and Mandip Gill finally had her episode to shine as Yasmin with two stories now focusing on her family. The new Doctor is one of bravery and compassion and will defend those around her to the end, but the quirkiness that Jodie brings to each episode has truly made the role her own. I would like to see more of the timey whimey stories of old and some lighthearted stories now, this series has been quite dark and heavy with the history lessons and the way in which episodes can end without the Doctor on screen to give the final scene or dialogue is refreshing but strange at the same time.

This was another strong episode for the series and a return to form after last week’s terrible outing. For some reason I am still waiting for all the changes in the presentation and style of the series to feel natural for me, the size of Team TARDIS continues to be a problem and lack of a series over arching story-line still feels out of place. The cinematography and visuals make great use of being on location and the musical score to the episode is striking and evocative of the story being told and gives the episode a real big budget feel as well has helping to tell the story beautifully.

With just three episodes left this series, I am unsure of how it will end for Doctor or new friends, but i am still enjoying the 13th Doctor even if the rest of the new look Doctor Who has yet to settle into something I can reliably look forward to every Sunday.

Win Swimming With Men on DVD

Andrew Edney
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Win Swimming With Men on DVD

To celebrate the release of Swimming With Men on DVD, we have three copies to give away.

Faced with a full-blown mid-life crisis, accountant Eric (Rob Brydon) joins an all-male group of synchronised swimmers and discovers that making patterns in a pool can, for a couple of hours at least, gives him escapism from the bumps in his work and marriage. The life affirming British comedy Swimming With Men is available to download to own on 26th October, and is released on DVD on 12th November from Vertigo Releasing and Universal Pictures (UK). 

Initially keeping their personal lives in the locker, the ramshackle squad including Luke (Rupert Graves), Ted (Jim Carter), Kurt (Adeel Akhtar), Tom (Thomas Turgoose), Colin (Daniel Mays) and coach Susan (Charlotte Riley) slowly begin to reveal their inner lives, as well as their paunches. But can they get their routines, not to mention their lives, in sync as they embark on an unlikely journey to Milan to compete in the World Championship?

 

Swimming with Men features a stellar ensemble cast including Jane Horrocks and Nathaniel Parker, and is directed by Oliver Parker. Don’t be left high and dry; dip your toe into Swimming With Men this Autumn.  

How to enter to win

We have three copies of Swimming With Men on DVD to give away.

For your chance to win simply enter below:

Win Swimming With Men on DVD

The closing date is 12.00am on 26th November 2018.

This contest is only open to those in the UK – sorry!

Swimming With Men is available now from Vertigo Releasing and Universal Pictures (UK).

 

ID@Xbox Releases for November 2nd – 5th 2018

Andrew Edney
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ID@Xbox Releases for November 2nd – 5th 2018

Each week a number of new ID@Xbox titles are released. Here is the roundup of the releases for this week.

GRIP

GRIP is a high octane, hardcore combat racer, packing ferocious speed and armed to the teeth with heavy weapons.

Harnessing gravity defying physics alongside a bristling arsenal of outlandish weapons, GRIP delivers the fastest, most competitive racing experience ever. Scale walls, ceilings and anything else you can get your tyres on to… as you master tantalizing tracks, tricks and perform mind-blowing stunts to race your way across the cosmos.

The Shapeshifting Detective

The Shapeshifting Detective is a supernatural-noir murder mystery FMV game where you play as a detective who can shapeshift into other characters, allowing you to unlock secret conversations and private encounters.

Agents vs Villain

An evil time traveling cat is trying to take over the world! Hot on his paws are secret agents trying to stop him. In this action-packed party platformer game you take the role as either a secret agent or the evil cat villain. The agents race through the villain’s lairs filled with deadly traps and bosses, all controlled by the evil cat. Find out whom of your friends is the best agent, and which of you is the best villain!

Scalextric

Speed through stunning 3D tracks you created and discover the magic of SCALEXTRIC!

Regions: Everywhere except the US, Japan and Korea

Doodle God: Crime City

Over 500 puzzles to solve and items to create as you play the role of Crime Boss or Cop. You decide how you want to play as you play through multiple hard-nosed storylines & play modes.

As you build your Gang and make your fortune you must evade the Cops as well as fight off rival games in order to become the “Big Boss” of the City. In the “City” mode watch your Crime City come alive as you successfully pull off heists, escape the Cops or beat-off rival gangs. But you gotta watch your back because behind every corner there is a good Cop trying to make a name for himself or a rival Gangster trying to take your turf!

Noir Chronicles: City of Crime 

Step into the shoes of Alfred Fox, a private eye with a knack for getting into trouble, and confront the danger looming over your old flame, Barbara Le Purr. Using your own intuition and wide investigation techniques you will follow the intrigue and face many, sometimes deadly, consequences.

MechaNika

Meet Nika, a brilliant girl that doesn’t fit the world she lives in. Perhaps it’s the chocolate shake with a shot of cognac she carries in her backpack which makes her different. Or maybe it’s the fact that at 7 years old her favourite things are the transfer of energy, magnetic fields and electrical engineering. But anyway… It doesn’t matter if her parents don’t listen to her. It doesn’t matter if her teacher ignores her. It doesn’t matter if her classmates are dorks. Nothing matters anymore because she has a plan to solve everything. A really… odd plan.

Chasm

A remote mining town has shut down inexplicably overnight. To earn your stripes as a knight, you must come to the rescue of the villagers and uncover the mystery of what happened to them. As you explore the labyrinthine world below, you will find powerful weapons, armor, and other treasures that will help you on your quest. But be forewarned, your world map will be unique to you. No one but you can decide the best path to take!

StickType

StickType is an old school 2D platformer where the player evolves to meet the awaiting challenges…

See you next week for another round-up of the new ID@Xbox releases.

Review: FIFA 19

Bungle Sparkey
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0
Review: FIFA 19

Teetering on the precipice of perfection.

In recent years, the commonly held view is that FIFA has all the licenses and PES is like proper football. FIFA is more arcade, while PES Is the ultimate Simulation. That is plainly bollocks.

Football is a game about small events; mistakes or moments of skill, a burst of speed or positional awareness. In this regard, FIFA 19 is the ultimate football experience in gaming, showcasing those small moments that can change a match.

Infused with a new-found tactical awareness which much more vividly replicates the beautiful game, EA’s latest foray duplicates formations relatively well, the movements and transitions of players, as well as the mistakes individuals can make to causes stress to the systems so diligently worked on every day by managers around the country.

PES, on the other hand (loved unconditionally by journalists) is slow, follows specific lines and play patters, while letting the ball be the decided of games. FIFA 19 does something beautiful; it allows you to be the decider of games. So if anyone says PES is unpredictable and a better recreation, tell them to start learning about zones. Show them this for an eye opener: https://www.globallcoach.com/blog/2018/3/23/zone-14-explaining-the-trends-and-buzzwords

Now we’ve established FIFA 19 is the best representation of football (opinion is subjective, remember), let’s talk about what’s new in this year’s iteration.

New Licenses

The Champions League license is the big thing on show this year, with Konami and UEFA mutually agreeing to part ways after and extend exclusivity period. What this ultimately boils down to, is that EA offered more money as part of the deal, or UEFA saw FIFA as the best option for its branding opportunities for partners (the more people playing gives more value to sponsors for display advertising). There are new team additions from Russia, Czech Republic, Ukraine and Croatia, while new leagues join the fray such as the Argentinian league.

However, there are some losses, including China, and some glaring omissions, such as the Croatian national team, and pretend players from Brazil, Ivory Coast and Paraguay. While we can’t expect every license under the sun, the World Cup runners up should’ve been added, while Brazilian players continue to be created rather than included. One day, FIFA players. One day.

New Modes

Again, The Champions League license as well as the Europa League allows seasons to be much more authentic, but EA didn’t stop there with the licenses, including Ultimate Team implementations and a new champions channel experience. Division Rivals essentially takes the online seasons mode and brings this to Ultimate team.

Kick-Off has also seen a major update this year, with options including specific modes, situations, and more use of the Champions League license offering round selections, so you can skip straight to the final. There’s a wealth of options here, each offering its own way to up the ante amongst friends.

New Gameplay Features

Three main gameplay tweaks for the basis of 19’s improved recreation of football, and timed shooting takes much of the limelight. Designed to offer a more accurate shot, those who get the timing of the shot right will produce barnstorming efforts, while a rush or delayed shot will see the ball fly off into the stands or hobble over towards the corner flag.

Where this addition really feels pivotal is during online or high-pressure offline games that can decide a season or settle a rivalry with friends. Like real life, you’ll have little time on the ball as the opponents press you contain you, making your reflexes and reactions dictate the flight of the ball as timing is imperative.

Active touch serves two purposes, and in effect, two different styles of players. With it, you can decide how to receive the ball, with multiple ways to trap the ball, or control in the air with the players head, chest, knees and feet. The second element is for the flair players, as each of these options allow you to move the ball on without stopping it dead, producing a flick of real quality to create that much needed space, or create an opening for transition or counter attack.

Dynamic Tactics is billed as an overhaul but is effectively a relabelling of tactics previously usable on the D-pad, short cuts to slight tactical tweaks or defensive and attacking mentality.

One day, FIFA will present us with an attacking and a defending formation. We can only hope. Imagine for instance, you’re setting up a team with a 4-3-3 formation. That’s how it appears as you begin the game. If you’re not kicking off, you’re press with one, two or three players, or if you’re one of the top teams, five players and a high defensive line. In transition, five to six players surge forward, and as the transition completes, you’re effectively a fluid 2-3-2-3 attacking sensation, seeking out space and opportunities to score. When FIFA offers us this; the ability to set defensive, transition and attacking formations, it would become that which is seeks; the be unmatchable.

It’s incredible how many new features or tweaks the team at EA has been able to employ in FIFA 19, but that does come at a price. There are parts of FIFA 19 that are five years old, and its reliance on Frostbite, an engine designed for large world 1st person shooter experiences, may now be holding the franchise back.

Player models are beginning to look dated; even those that benefit from official licences. Cloth physics are still a little over exaggerated. The graphics are excellent in modelled stadiums, but pitch representations and non-official stadiums are starting to look old. When faced with high-end PC and both Pro and X variations on console, there’s so much more these machines are capable of, but EA is still catering to the base model consoles and middle ground PC owners. Perhaps these are the pitfalls of utilising an engine designed for something else, despite the obvious skills on display at EA’s engineering team. 

In the end, though, these are just minor quips; something to find issue with in a game that is so complete in terms of options for the player and licenses, that I’m really trying to find fault for fairness.

FIFA 19 is the best representation of the kind of football I love. The ability to change styles of play mid-game from a two touch Tottenham Hotspurs style to a controlled Mourinho masterclass of boredom and the attacking verve of Manchester City and Liverpool; FIFA almost has it all.

What FIFA 19 doesn’t have, is a real competitor. In the UK, the NBA 2K series now outsells PES, and FIFA blows them both out of the water. If Komani can muster a late surge for its next football outing, then there’s still plenty of the game left to be played. Until then, there’s only one king of the castle, and FIFA 19 rightly wears that crown with aplomb.

Vodafone UK launches its Christmas campaign with Martin Freeman

Chris Hare
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Vodafone UK launches its Christmas campaign with Martin Freeman

Vodafone UK and WPP Team Red (Ogilvy UK and Wavemaker) have launched its Christmas marketing campaign starring much-loved British actor, Martin Freeman.

The integrated #ChristmasCovered campaign, which rolls out across TV, out of home, digital, retail, social and PR platforms, shows Freeman being saved from a potential family disaster, thanks to Vodafone’s best ever 4G network. To celebrate, we see Martin perform an ice dancing routine worthy of a place at the Winter Olympics.

In this year’s Christmas advert, Freeman’s character and his girlfriend Clare (who he fell for in last year’s Christmas campaign) arrive at a family Christmas gathering. To everyone’s surprise, Aunty Sue arrives unannounced – which means the couple didn’t get her a gift. A panicked Freeman doesn’t know what to do, but with a few taps on her Google Pixel 3, Clare has the gift all sorted, thanks to Vodafone’s great network connectivity. In elation, Freeman is transported to the rink, where he gives the performance of his life.

The humorous spot highlights Vodafone’s dedication to helping customers stay connected this Christmas, making life that much easier during the hectic festive season. Everyone has those last minute emergencies during the festive season but no matter how chaotic Christmas can be, Vodafone customers can rely on having great connectivity thanks to our best ever 4G network, which covers 99% of the UK population.

The Vodafone Christmas brand campaign kicks off on Friday 9th November on TV, appearing in commercial breaks during the X Factor live show on Saturday 10th November and Coronation Street on Monday 12th November. It will also air in the much-anticipated launch of I’m a Celebrity on 18th November.

EnGenius Introduces World’s First 2×2 802.11ax Access Point for Enterprise-Minded SMBs

Chris Hare
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0
EnGenius Introduces World’s First 2×2 802.11ax Access Point for Enterprise-Minded SMBs

EnGenius Technologies Inc. has today launched the industry’s first 802.11ax (Wi-Fi 6) 2×2 access point EWS357AP. The new member of the EnGenius family brings next-generation cutting-edge features within reach of forward-thinking SMBs. Early adopters will no longer have to wait to take advantage of enterprise-level features. With its unique capabilities, EWS357AP helps forward-thinking SMBs take advantage of some of the most sophisticated wireless technology in the world.

 

 

This revolutionary 2×2 11ax access point fulfils the Wi-Fi connectivity demands of small and midsize organizations by:

  • Matching the needs of the majority of today’s clients, which are 1×1 and 2×2
  • Enabling advancements within a network without demanding a significant restructuring
  • Supporting existing and future device and application needs
  • Being backward-compatible with legacy Wi-Fi
  • Re-energizing the capacity and reach of the 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz frequencies

Equipped with Qualcomm Technologies’ newest chipset, the EWS357AP features 11ax technology, which deepens and expands the capabilities of Wi-Fi as well as fortifies small and midsize business networks. The new 802.11ax technology (Wi-Fi 6) builds upon real-world deployment of 802.11ac. As the next-generation Wi-Fi, 11ax is no longer just about speeds but also about stronger, steadier, and more efficient wireless connections.

The First 2×2 11ax Access Point in the Industry

SMBs using the EWS357AP can take advantage of 11ax technology, which enables more efficient channel use, reduces latency between AP and client devices, and provides other groundbreaking features, such as:

  • OFDMA (orthogonal frequency division multiple access for more efficient channel use) 
  • Uplink and downlink of MU-MIMO (ensures optimal signal and reception reliability)
  • BSS Coloring (tags packets with a “color” to differentiate between adjacent basic service sets)
  • Target wake time (a power-saving feature that allows for scheduled wake times)

A sleek, low-profile 2×2 access point, the EWS357AP is packed with enterprise-level management features, such as mass configurations of access points, so businesses can quickly and easily install future-proof devices into existing networks. Loaded with new advanced hardware components and support for powerful computing, the access point runs more efficiently and consumes less power, making it ideal for SMBs. They also can immediately deploy the EWS357AP into existing switch infrastructures without suffering a major blow to their budgets or resources.

EnGenius offers a solution for SMBs located in higher-density environments, too. The popular manufacturer of data networking and telephony products is also launching an 802.11ax 4×4 access point.  The new EWS377AP is in place to enhance the new 802.11ax technology offering a mix of applications to EnGenius’ clients.

“Here at EnGenius, we believe that the newest Wi-Fi technology must be accessible to small and medium-sized organizations too instead of just enterprises,” said MC Leo, general manager at EnGenius Technologies. “The 2×2 EWS357AP access point puts the power of 11ax in reach of early adopters from the SMB space.”

“The variety of devices competing for wireless connections in the modern workplace demands a cure for slow or congested network performance,” said Nick Kucharewski, vice president and general manager, wired/wireless infrastructure and networking, Qualcomm Technologies, Inc. “By leveraging Qualcomm Technologies’ Wi-Fi 6 technology, EnGenius is delivering a 2×2 Wi-Fi 6 solution designed to address the demand for capacity on enterprise networks, while optimizing wireless performance for more devices and users than ever before.”

The new EWS357AP ($189 USD MSRP) and EWS377AP ($289 USD MSRP) will hit the shelves in early Q1, 2019.

Xiaomi officially launches into the UK

Chris Hare
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0
Xiaomi officially launches into the UK

Xiaomi today has entered the UK with a slew of exciting products at its first-ever launch event in the market, highlighting its stunning flagship Mi 8 Pro packed with world-class technology innovations making its global debut outside Greater China. Other products announced include Redmi 6A that offers great value and Xiaomi Band 3, Xiaomi’s wildly popular fitness band, as well as Mi Electric Scooter.

In addition to the impressive spec of the Mi 8 which boasts Qualcomm Snapdragon 845, AI dual camera, IR face unlock and 6.21” AMOLED Full Screen Display, the Mi 8 Pro upgrades the popular Mi 8 smartphone with a pressure sensitive in-display fingerprint sensor and a transparent glass back cover.

Xiaomi has shipped more than 100 million smartphones this year, and the Mi 8 series, with a total shipment over 6 million and counting, has been a major contributor to this global success. Mi 8 Pro shares the same great performance and photography capabilities with Mi 8, and adds a pressure sensitive in-display fingerprint sensor and a transparent glass back exposing a decorative cover crafted using electronic components, making it one of the most unique-looking smartphones on the market.

Xiaomi’s entry into the UK follows its arrival in France and Italy this May, and the official entry last November into Spain, its first Western European market, where it had already become the #3 smartphone vendor as per Canalys. Today Xiaomi has entered 74 markets globally and is top in 30 markets. As per Q2 IDC report, Xiaomi is ranked 4th in the global smartphone market with nearly a 50% year on year growth rate.

Wang Xiang, Senior Vice President of Xiaomi Corporation, said: “Today we witness a new chapter in Xiaomi’s global expansion journey, underpinned by our global ambitions. We are thrilled to make great strides by announcing our arrival in the UK. By bringing a range of our amazing products at honest pricing we want to offer more choices and let everyone in the UK enjoy a connected simple life through our innovative technology ”

Pressure sensitive in-display fingerprint sensor
Unlike other in-display fingerprint technologies that constantly ping the screen to see if a finger is present, the Mi 8 Pro’s dedicated pressure sensor only activates the unlocking process once you place your finger on the screen, which is faster and more power-efficient.

12MP + 12MP AI dual camera
Mi 8 Pro sports the same camera setup as Mi 8, which received a DxOMark score of 105 for photography. The Sony IMX363 primary sensor features massive 1.4μm pixels and dual pixel autofocus, enhancing photo brightness and quality while drastically improving focus speed, especially in low-light conditions. Bolstering 4-axis OIS and 2x optical zoom, plus a bunch of handy AI features such as AI portrait, AI beautify and AI scene detection, this is one of the best camera setups in the world.

6.21” AMOLED Full-Screen Display, Always-On display
This AMOLED panel offers a startling contrast ratio of 60,000 to 1, meaning incredibly crisp colours and deep, power-saving blacks. With an 18.7:9 aspect ratio, it provides an unmatched visual experience that is highly practical and beautiful. Always-On display support provides a convenient way to check your notifications, the date, and the time while saving time and battery life by keeping the screen off.

Mi 8 Pro sports the flagship Qualcomm Snapdragon 845 platform. With a 2.8GHz maximum clock speed and the new Qualcomm Adreno 630 GPU, the platform outperforms its predecessor by up to 30 percent. The platform also features a newly introduced DSP architecture with AI performance three times higher than the previous generation. Supported by 8GB LPDDR4x DRAM, Mi 8 Pro can render the most demanding games at high FPS for an unparalleled gaming experience.

Mi 8 Pro also features face unlock with an infrared camera paired with a dedicated infrared illuminator, enabling rapid and accurate face unlock in a dark environment and uses the same dual frequency GPS as Mi 8 for more accurate navigation.

The Mi 8 Pro comes in Transparent Titanium with an 8GB + 128GB setup and will be available from the 9th November through Three, Amazon, Argos, John Lewis, Carphone Warehouse, Currys PC World, Very, gomobile, mobile phones direct, Katana and Mi.com and the first Authorised Mi Store that will be opened on Nov 18.

Redmi 6A offers great value
Starting at £99, Redmi 6A sports the MediaTek Helio A22 SoC that is also built on the 12nm process. Its 3000mAh battery allows the phone to stay in standby mode for up to 19 days. Redmi 6A has a 13MP rear camera featuring phase detection autofocus and a 5MP front camera—both capable of using Xiaomi’s AI Portrait mode.

In the UK, Xiaomi is introducing the following well-loved Mi Ecosystem products:

Xiaomi Band 3

Priced at £26.99 Xiaomi Band 3 has a large OLED touchscreen display in addition to a physical button for easy control. It is an all-round upgrade on Xiaomi’s wildly popular fitness tracker, complete with a more comfortable and secure wristband, along with a 20-day battery life and 50-meter water resistance.

Xiaomi Band 3 will be available from the 9th November through Amazon.co.uk, Mi.com, Three, ebuyer.com, SCAN, buyitdirect, Box, Curryspc World, Carphone Warehouse. It will be available in the Authorised Mi Store starting from the 18th November.

Mi Electric Scooter

Priced at £399, Mi Electric Scooter has an award-winning design and is incredibly easy to master. It travels 30km on a single charge and weighs just 12.5kg, and comes with an LED headlight and features such as regenerative braking. By connecting to an app, users can also use their phone as a dashboard.

Mi Electric Scooter will be available at Amazon.com, Mi.com, ebuyer.com, SCAN, Box, halfords, very, littlewoods, Halfords, Pure and Authorised Mi Store later this month.

First ever Authorised Mi Store in the UK

Xiaomi also announced today that it will open its first-ever Authorised Mi Store in the UK, opening 18th November 2018 in Westfield London which will also host a range of its exclusive Mi Ecosystem products. Designed to be user-centric through mobile internet, the ecosystem creates a network of long-lasting, and stylish looking smart devices designed to make life easier from Mi Band 3 to the Mi Sphere Camera Kit.

Get ready for the Xiaomi UK launch today?

Chris Hare
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0
Get ready for the Xiaomi UK launch today?

Today is the day the Xiaomi officially lands in the UK, with Three UK being the exclusive partner in the UK.

With Mi 8 Pro being launched globally today at the event, we should be seeing the Pocophone F1 that’s already available to buy on Amazon UK (6GB RAM / 64GB Storage £329.99 or 6GB RAM / 128GB Storage for £349.99)

Most likely Mi Mix 2S, Redmi Note 5 and the Redmi 6 as Three Ireland launched with them last week, although many products will also be sold on Xiaomi’s own site and its new authorised Mi store that opens in Westfield (Shepherds Bush) on Sunday 18th November.

We will be at the event later today to get hands-on with all the new products coming to the UK.

Mad Catz Ships New Range of R.A.T. Gaming Mice

Chris Hare
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3
Mad Catz Ships New Range of R.A.T. Gaming Mice

Mad Catz Global Limited, have today announced the shipping of an all-new range of R.A.T. mice, the first line of products to ship from the reborn Mad Catz Global. The first territories to receive the new line of mice will be Germany, Austria and France with the rest of Europe, North America and beyond receiving product shortly.

With a reputation built on first-rate adjustability and comfort, the multi-award winning R.A.T. mice return featuring cutting-edge sensor technology and a host of upgrades, supercharging the range for a modern gaming audience and utilizing the latest technology to provide gamers with a winning edge.

Products shipping in the new R.A.T. range include:

R.A.T.4+ Featuring industry leading OMRON switches with a lifecycle of 20 million clicks, the R.A.T.4+ has been designed to deliver flawless precision. Powerful LEDs provide multi-zone backlighting and the Pixart PMW 3330 optical sensor provides trusted performance that gamers can rely on.

R.A.T.6+ Extending the customization options, the R.A.T.6+ features nine programmable buttons and an adjustable palm rest, in addition to a removable weight system that allows gamers to find the ideal weight for their personal preference. Chameleon RGB Intelligent Lighting illuminates the mouse across three separate zones, bathing the R.A.T. with over 16 million lighting combinations, while luxury OMRON switches have been tested to up to 50 million clicks for superior performance.

R.A.T.8+ Designed for the professional gamer, the state-of-the-art Pixart PMW 3389 optical sensor delivers unrivalled precision for any gaming genre. Fully customisable, the R.A.T.8+ features an adjustable palm rest and thumb rest, as well as removable pinkie grip. 18G of removable weights enable gamers to perfect the feel of their R.A.T., while the three stage Chameleon RGB lighting keeps the mouse looking as good as it performs. Onboard memory allows gamers to save up to three profiles, allowing for personalized macro button, sensor and lighting settings when travelling to tournaments.

R.A.T. Pro S3 Lightweight, ergonomic and unmistakably R.A.T., the PRO S3 concentrates on delivering the essentials professional gamers demand. The powerful Pixart PMW 3330 sensor delivers proven gaming performance, while ultra-reliable OMRON switches have been tested to an impressive 50 million clicks. The palm rest is fully adjustable, tilting plus or minus 15 degrees, side-to-side and extending up to 12mm from the mainframe. The PRO S3 also features Chameleon RGB lighting for stunning visual effects during gaming sessions.

“Since announcing our comeback earlier in the year, gamers have inundated us with requests for new R.A.T. mice, and the passion and enthusiasm we’ve encountered from the community is truly inspiring. We’ve been working hard to ensure the new products do justice to the incredible Mad Catz legacy and we’re delighted to start shipping the first products in the new range,” said Selena Chang, Director of Sales and Operations for Mad Catz Global Limited, “The R.A.T. range continues to be a beacon of innovation and we’re confident gamers will be thrilled with the new mice, which we believe offer superb value and unsurpassed quality for all budgets and gaming abilities.”

OPPO unveils its brand new smartphones: RX17 Pro & RX17 Neo

Chris Hare
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OPPO unveils its brand new smartphones: RX17 Pro & RX17 Neo

OPPO’s new RX series aims to offer consumers a unique, bold and revolutionary experience with its sleek design and advanced technology, to empower people to pursue extraordinary experiences. At their core, both the RX17 Pro and the RX17 Neo are built upon four founding pillars of design, innovation, community and young people, and these form part of OPPO’s approach to challenging the smartphone sector in Europe.

The new RX series surprises with its artistic design, bespoke colour palette, and unique photography features. Introducing dynamic and vivid colours, and enhanced image quality with both devices, the RX17 Pro also goes one-step further, with its new Ultra Night Mode camera feature.

 

“At OPPO, we want to create products that can offer the perfect combination of design and technology. Deploying this strong concept, which is also our credo, we have come up with two new models, the RX17 PRO and the RX17 Neo, integrating innovative design and the latest technologies that concretely meet the needs of European consumers. In our development strategy, we rely on the expertise of our local teams and are attentive to the needs of our customers.  OPPO continuously aspires to adapt in order to meet our customers’ expectations, offering the best smartphone experience. Market understanding, combined with creativity and technological expertise, is our key to delivering value-added products”, said Vincent Wong, President of OPPO Europe.

The OPPO RX17 launch event was held last night in Milan, playing host to an immersive experience that provided attendees with the opportunity to try out the new RX17 series. Through an interactive exhibition, guests were able to test out the Ultra Night Mode camera setting on the RX17 Pro handset for the first time in Europe.

RX17 Pro: Intelligent camera brings new depths to smartphones

The RX17 Pro is specially designed for night shooting, thanks to its hardware and software upgrade from the AI Ultra-Clear Engine, Smart Aperture and OIS (Optical Image Stabilization). The AI Ultra-clear Engine, OPPO’s image-enhancing technology, offers an outstanding definition. The scene recognition mode can recognise up to 23 types of independent scenes and up to 864 mixed scenarios and uses this information to automatically set the camera to the optimum mode for the user. Through pixel-level colour reconstruction, images are clearer and brighter. The photos are refined, with added intelligent noise reduction and highlight restoration.

Equipped with a 25MP front camera, Sony IMX576 sensor, F1.5/F2.4 smart aperture with real-time HDR support, the RX17 Pro is able to provide up to eight million different beautification schemes to intelligently match different users across the globe. The customised beauty mode can now identify up to four people in the frame and enables users to adjust the facial features and preview the effects in real time.

 

Key features

RX17 Pro RX17 Neo
Colour Radiant Mist/Emerald Green Mocha Red/Astral Blue (3D Gradient Design)
Processor Qualcomm Snapdragon 710 Qualcomm Snapdragon 660
Memory 6GB+128GB 4GB+128GB
Display 6.4″ AMOLED, Waterdrop screen,

2340 x 1080 FHD+ 91.5% Screen Ratio, Corning Gorilla Glass 6

 91% Screen Ratio

6.4″ Waterdrop screen,

2340 x 1080 FHD+
Camera Front: 25MP (f/2.0)  Rear: 12MP f/1.5-f/2.4) +20MP (f/2.6) Front: 25MP AI Camera

Rear: Dual Rear Camera
NFC Support NFC wireless payment /
Battery 2x1850mAh, SuperVOOC Flash Charge, Type C 3600 mAh
OS Android 8.1 (ColorOS 5.2) Android 8.1 (ColorOS 5.2)

 

Other key features include:

·         ‘Waterdrop’ screen: 6.4-inch functional screen, including a ‘Hidden Fingerprint Unlock’ feature and ‘Smart Bar’ multitasking function to enable direct reply to messages without quitting a game or a video.

·         Corning® Gorilla® Glass 6: first smartphone manufacturer to offer the most durable cover glass to date for high-impact resistance. Able to withstand a drop from a height of one-metre to a rough service for an average 15 times, doubling that of the Gorilla Glass 5 performance

·         Ultra-fast charging: SuperVOOC flash charging technology, allowing users to enjoy the safest and most efficient charging technology in the industry. Taking only 10 minutes to get a 40% charge and 40 minutes to get a full charge, Oppo has set a new standard for mobile phone charging

·         Wireless payment: A perfect life assist, The RX17 Pro supports NFC wireless payment, making the transition to mobile payments easy and convenient

·         Revolutionary Gradient Design: OPPO has been leading the way for making gradient designs an emerging trend for smartphone design. The RX17 Pro introduces a brand-new “Radiant Mist Color”, using 3D fog glass to give the body a soft look and feel. OPPO also added a layer of condensed light between the colour layer and the glass surface, giving a special curve and texture, which can reflect light according to the texture

The RX17 Neo: Lightweight and mighty

Precision engineering meets natural perfection with a vivid screen. The 6.4-inch waterdrop display front panel, with a screen-to-body ratio of 91%, offers the better game and video play. With more screen space and a compact design, the RX17 Neo is just as lightweight as it is advanced.

Its exterior is meticulously crafted to please the eye, displaying a dynamic colour range (Mocha red and Astral blue) as it moves between light and shadow. With its combination of original design and cutting-edge IMT gradient construction, no two angles will ever look the same.

Thanks to its front 25MP AI Front Camera, with just a click of its shutter, the RX17 Neo’s 25MP camera can instantly recognize 296 facial features while running microsecond analysis of a person’s complexion. The camera is backed up by an AI algorithm, which uses more than eight million reference points to ensure every dimension is brought into focus.

A dual rear camera makes it easy to shoot and edit photos at the press of a button. With smart recognition for 16 different scene types and AI-enhanced portrait mode with natural depth effects, it is like having powerful desktop-like photo editing software in the pocket.

The RX17 Neo is built for fun from the inside out. It also comes with optimised versions of games like “Arena of Valor” and “PUBG: Mobile”, providing fluid gameplay that will not run the battery down. New to the ColorOS 5.2 operating system, OPPO’s Smart Bar lets users toggle through apps and functions with effortless freedom. Its new Music on Display means the screen can be turned off and still play music, video audio, or other media.

Peter Connelly announces All-New Tomb Raider: The Dark Angel Symphony Kickstarter Campaign

Chris Hare
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Peter Connelly announces All-New Tomb Raider: The Dark Angel Symphony Kickstarter Campaign

Peter Connelly, legendary video game composer and sound designer, best known for his incredible work on the Tomb Raider franchise, announced today a brand new crowdfunding campaign (via Kickstarter) with the intention of producing Tomb Raider: The Dark Angel Symphony, a studio album featuring the music from Tomb Raider: The Last Revelation, Tomb Raider: Chronicles and, most excitingly of all, Tomb Raider: The Angel of Darkness.
Organised entirely by a dedicated group of dedicated, die-hard Tomb Raider fans, this all-new Kickstarter campaign is backed by world-class names within the music industry.
For nearly 20 years, Connelly and Tomb Raider fans have dreamed of hearing these beloved musical scores on a fully mastered studio album. Now, thanks to the crowd-funding power of Kickstarter, they have their chance to realise this dream. This campaign is running now until 11:59pm on December 3rd, 2018 and can be seen here: http://kickstarter.trdarkangel.com/.

No mere lazy copy of the original game scores, the new album with remain faith faithful to the Tomb Raider scores that fans cherish but will be totally transformed and rearranged using state-of-the-art techniques and professional audio engineers, simply not available or practical when the games were being designed some 15–20 years ago. Connelly intends to bring the musical compositions and recordings up to date and provide the listener, not only a sense of nostalgia, but with a whole new experience of this familiar and much-loved Tomb Raider music.

For those craving the original audio compositions, the original versions of Connelly’s pieces will also be made available, properly remastered and beautifully presented, to tie-in with the new orchestral album so that fans can enjoy the original scores in the best possible quality.

Kindly sanctioned by Square Enix Europe and Crystal Dynamics, Tomb Raider: The Dark Angel Symphony has been in development for two years, uniquely driven and arranged entirely by those who love the franchise the most: “By the fans, for the fans”!

Tomb Raider: The Dark Angel Symphony will be recorded at the prestigious Air Lyndhurst Studios, London. This cutting-edge studio has the perfect facilities to achieve the album’s ambitious production requirements.

Artwork, promotional material, pledge rewards, websites and social media feeds, pamphlets and miscellany are also being produced by Connelly’s team. Backers of the Kickstarter campaign will have the chance to obtain rare and sought-after Tomb Raider merchandise and exclusive memorabilia.

Tomb Raider: The Dark Angel Symphony treats old and new fans alike to the finest musicians, sound engineers and arrangers in the world, including:

  • Dr. Richard Niles – Orchestrator / Arranger / Musician: One of the most versatile men in modern music, Dr. Niles has worked alongside such musical legends such as Paul McCartney, the Pet Shop Boys (“Left to my Own Devices” ), Ray Charles, Cher, James Brown, Kylie Minogue, Tears for Fears (“Sowing The Seeds of Love”), Tina Turner, Cat Stevens, Grace Jones, Swing Out Sister, Take That, and Grammy- and Ivor Novello Award-winning producer Trevor Horn CBE (“The Man Who Invented The Eighties”).
  • Isobel Griffiths – Orchestra Contractor: A frequent collaborator of Dr.Niles, Isobel has also worked with Hans Zimmer, Howard Shaw, and James Horner (to name but a few) in hand-picking musicians for orchestral ensembles.
  • Martin Iveson (Atjazz) – Musician, Composer, and Audio Production/ Mastering: A true audio specialist with a long history of working in video games and the music industry.
  • Tina Guo – Celebrity Solo Cellist: Tina is an internationally acclaimed, Grammy-nominated virtuoso acoustic/electric cellist, recording artist, and composer. Ms. Guo is regularly engaged by orchestras and venues around the globe, featured in commercials and world tours, and has been a featured soloist in events such as the Cirque Du Soleil’s Michael Jackson ‘The Immortal’ World Tour and the League of Legends’ World Championship in Los Angeles, streaming to an audience of over 33 million online.
  • Julie Elven –Solo Vocalist: Julie Elven is an award-winning Soundtrack and Filmscore Vocalist based in Munich, Germany. During her career, Julie has featured alongside James Newton Howard and multiple orchestras, including the Czech National Orchestra, the North Netherlands Symphony Orchestra, and the Malága Symphony Orchestra. Julie is best known for her soloist vocal work on triple-A gaming titles such as Horizon Zero Dawn, World of Warcraft: Legion (plus many other famous titles by Blizzard Entertainment), Riot Games’ League of Legends, and more.
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