Here is the review of the Netgem Soundbox HD is looking to help minimise the fuss around your TV space by being an Alexa-powered soundbar, set-top box and streaming device all in one at the time of writing this review it is in a sale on Amazon for £179 normal £249 until 31st October 2018, also the Netbox is at a special price of £59 from £129.99 until 31st October 2018.
Settings Up
Setting up is very easy to do, just plug in the power lead, tv antenna cable and HDMI to the tv and connect to the internet and just follow the onscreen guide.
Design
The Netgem Soundbox HD is positively small, that – you could hold it in one hand without any hassle, which is doubly impressive considering it’s serving multiple purposes.
The Soundbox HD is a soundbar, with basically a Netbox HD built into it. It’s obviously larger, but coming in at 450mm in length, it’s a very compact soundbar. It’s black in finish, sits on rubber feet and has mesh covering most of it. To the rear of the unit, is an aerial in, HDMI out, aux out, power in and USB 2.0.
The contents inside the box
The performance of the set top box is very good, Freeview Play is excellent and really opens your TV to current and past tv shows & movies.
Navigation is easy, there is a Netgem option, which allows access to the internet services such as Amazon Prime Video. Picture quality is good, offering up to full HD 1080p clarity. On the remote control, there are dedicated Freeview Play & Amazon Prime buttons, which is very handy.
The remote control is the Alexa interface, so hold the button down and speak into the top of the mic to use Alexa.
With the Amazon Alexa integration, allowing you to say what you want, ‘Alexa, watch the Grand Tour’, or pause live tv, control soundbar bar etc. Freeview channels as standard, plus Internet-based services such as Amazon Prime Video, Hayu, Hopster, BBC iPlayer, ITV hub, All 4, My 5 and UKTV Play. No Netflix, no YouTube.
With Music playback via Deezer, Trace, Box Plus & Radioline, via the Soundbox HD. No Spotify.
The second part is the audio performance from the Soundbox. Not only will this offer sound from the set-top box, but it’s also Bluetooth enabled, so you can connect your phone to it. Overall sound quality very good you clicking the music note on the control and flicking left and right through the different sound options such as Clear Voice (helps for elderly people to hear dialogue clearer with bass reduce), bass boost etc, works well with TV. It can also get quite loud, and quality is maintained at the higher volumes.
The HUAWEI Mate 20 Series is shipped with the highly customised Android P-based EMUI 9 operating system, on which consumers can enjoy all productivity and entertainment features easily and conveniently with a few simple taps and swipes.
“Smartphones are an important entrance to the digital world. The HUAWEI Mate 20 Series is designed to be the best ‘mate’ of consumers, accompanying and empowering them to enjoy a richer, more fulfilled life with their higher intelligence, unparalleled battery lives and powerful camera performance,” said Richard Yu, CEO of Huawei Consumer BG.
Ultimate Performance and Battery Life
The SoC at the core of smartphones has a determining factor in a device’s performance and efficiency. Manufactured with the cutting-edge 7nm technology process, the SoC fits 6.9 billion transistors within a die the size of a fingernail. Compared to Kirin 970, the latest chipset is equipped with CPU that is up to 75 percent more powerful, GPU that is up to 46 percent more powerful and NPU that is up to 226 percent more powerful. Furthermore, the efficiency of the components has also been elevated: the CPU is up to 58 percent more efficient, GPU is up to 178 percent more efficient, and the NPU is up to 182 percent more efficient. The Kirin 980 is the world’s first commercial SoC to use the Cortex-A76-based cores. Huawei has innovatively designed a three-tier architecture that consists of two ultra-large cores, two large cores and four small cores. This grants the CPU the flexibility to allocate the optimal amount of resources to heavy, medium and light tasks for unprecedented levels of efficiency, simultaneously improving the performance of the SoC while enhancing the battery life. The Kirin 980 is also the industry’s first SoC to be equipped with Dual-NPU, granting it higher On-Device AI processing capability to support any and all AI applications.
HUAWEI Mate 20 Pro is the world’s first smartphone to support the 4.5G LTE Cat. 21 standard, allowing consumers to experience download speeds of up to 1.4Gbps. It also supports the world’s fastest Wi-Fi connection speeds–2GB footage requires only 10 seconds to download. The top-end flagship also supports dual-band (L1+L5) GPS positioning technology. The AI GPS Satellite Selection technology enhances the positioning accuracy across a wide range of scenarios.
Besides superb performance, the HUAWEI Mate 20 Series also features groundbreaking improvement on battery life. The HUAWEI Mate 20 Pro houses a large, high-density 4200mAh battery, and supports 40W HUAWEI SuperCharge, which gives the device up to 70 percent charge in 30 minutes. The safety of the charging technology is certified by TÜV Rheinland.
Moreover, HUAWEI Mate 20 Pro supports 15W HUAWEI Wireless Quick Charge, the industry’s fastest wireless charging solution, and Wireless Reverse Charge, which enables the device to work as a power bank for selected electronic devices supporting wireless charging.
Matrix Camera System
Building on the foundation of HUAWEI P20 Series’ camera system, Huawei augmented the HUAWEI Mate 20 with a powerful addition—16mm Leica Ultra Wide Angle Lens. This wider perspective creates a sense of spaciousness and a three dimensional effect to the images. The new camera system also supports macro distance, which produces crisp images of objects that are placed as close as 2.5cm from the lens. The added ultra-wide angle lens and macro support completes the feature set of the camera system, elevating it to a truly all-round camera that is ready to capture any and all action. The HUAWEI Mate 20 Pro is equipped with a 40MP main camera, a 20MP ultra wide-angle camera, and an 8MP telephoto camera. Together, the trio of lenses supports a wide range of focal lengths (equivalent to the performance of a 16-270mm zoom lens), enabling it to mimic the results from professional cameras.
The HUAWEI Mate 20 Series also features an AI Portrait Colour video mode. Using AI, the HUAWEI Mate 20 Series can isolate human subjects and desaturate the colors around them to dramatically highlight the person. AI Spotlight Reel identifies clips with a shared theme and auto-generates a montage, made entirely of highlights.
HUAWEI Mate 20 Pro support 3D Face Unlock. The solution quickly and securely authenticates users within 0.6s at a false acceptance rate of below 1/1,000,000. Using the 3D Depth Sensing Camera System located at the front, the two devices can accurately read the facial features of a subject and recognize even small details. Besides user authentication, this suite of sensors also enables the portrait beautification effects to be realised in a more natural and effective way.
EMUI 9 Enables a Quality Life
The HUAWEI Mate 20 Series comes with EMUI 9, a smart operating system based on Android P. Through AI self-learning algorithms, an integrated and granular resource allocation system, and a highly optimised Android environment, EMUI 9 delivers an “evergreen” experience—it remains smooth even through extended use.
EMUI 9 incorporates a unified, ergonomic design and a streamlined settings menu. The new gesture navigation support allows users to effortlessly interact with their devices using just taps and swipes. It also introduces new AI features that enable the HUAWEI Mate 20 Series to perform or enhance a range of tasks from object identification to food calorie counting. Using 3D Live Object Modeling, consumers can even create a fun digital avatar to dance or interact with.
As a key pillar supporting Huawei’s all-connected, all-scenario ecosystem, HUAWEI Share 3.0 delivers a revolutionary improvement in device interconnection, allowing users to transfer files between smartphones and PC. This is an innovative, Huawei-proprietary solution that enables device interconnectivity. It revolutionises the way people transfer images and videos: all it takes is one tap to establish a connection between a smartphone and PC for easy and fast file sharing.
Futuristic Design
As an expression of the HUAWEI Mate Series DNA, all devices carry a FullView display with a high screen-to-body ratio. Compactly engineered, every device in the series can be comfortably used with a single hand.
The grace of natural elements is captured on the design of the HUAWEI Mate 20 Series. In particular the HUAWEI Mate 20 Pro’s chassis is curved on all eight sides—a marvel to behold, and a pleasure to hold in the hand. The back of the HUAWEI Mate 20 Series features a four-point design with the three cameras and sensor encircled in a polished metal frame, producing an avant-garde look that is both bold and distinct. The flagship series comes in a new Emerald Green colourway, which is as brilliant as its namesake gemstone. The Hyper Optical Pattern on the glass back uses a complex hairline pattern to produce an iridescent effect that is not only highly durable, but also makes the device easy to grip and fingerprint resistant. The devices retain a clean look even when they have been used extensively.
The HUAWEI Mate 20 Pro (6GB + 128GB configuration) will have a MSRP of £899/EUR1049 from 16th October, 2018.
Embodying exquisite design, powerful performance, extraordinary capturing capabilities and next-generation intelligence, the new HUAWEI Mate 20 Series is the partner of choice for professionals pursuing quality of life.
The review of the Huawei Mate 20 Pro will up very soon.
ZA/UM Studio, E-Line Media and Modus Games will be showcasing their upcoming titles at MCM London Comic Con, taking place at ExCel on 26-28 October 2018. You can find them all in the Rezzed Zone on the show floor (sandwiched between Sony and Nintendo).
Disco Elysium | ZA/UM Studio
Disco Elysium is a ground-breaking blend of hardboiled cop show and isometric RPG. Solve a massive, open-ended case in a unique urban fantasy setting. Kick in doors, interrogate suspects, or just get lost exploring the gorgeously rendered city of Revachol. What kind of cop you are — is up to you.
Coming to PC in 2019
Beyond Blue | E-Line Media
Beyond Blue is the spiritual successor to Never Alone and is set in the not so distant future. This collaboration with the BBC Blue Planet II stars Mirai, the lead on a new deep-sea research team. As Mirai, players will experience being up close to creatures of the deep sea, explore and research the environment as well as embark upon a resource management, narrative adventure.
Coming to PlayStation 4, Xbox One and PC.
Override: Mech City Brawl | Modus Games
Override: Mech City Brawl is a 3D mech-based 1 to 4 player party brawler. Playable in split-screen and online, pilot your very own mech and pit them against other enormous robots or jump in with team mates and control different parts of the beast. Play in fully-destructible arenas modelled after real world locations like San Francisco, Egypt, Mexico, and Japan.
Coming to PlayStation 4, Xbox One and PC on 4th December 2018.
Bendy and the Ink Machine | Maximum Games / Rooster Teeth Games
Bendy and the Ink Machine is a first person puzzle action horror game that begins in the far days past of animation and ends in a very dark future. Play as Henry as he revisits the demons of his past by exploring the abandoned animator’s workshop of Joey Drew Studios. With twists and turns around every corner, “Bendy and the Ink Machine” is sure to thrill you… and decimate your childhood.
Coming to Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4 and Xbox One.
The diverse cast of characters in Starlink will team up with ace pilot and leader of the Star Fox team, Fox McCloud, and pilot his iconic Arwing* ship in exclusive add-on content for the Nintendo Switch.
*The Arwing Starship and Fox McCloud Pilot will only be compatible with the Nintendo Switch version of the game
Players can play through the entire campaign as Fox McCloud and embark on exclusive missions in Atlas to take down Star Fox team rival Wolf O’Donnell.
America, 1899. The end of the Wild West era has begun. After a robbery goes badly wrong in the western town of Blackwater, Arthur Morgan and the Van der Linde gang are forced to flee. With federal agents and the best bounty hunters in the nation massing on their heels, the gang must rob, steal and fight their way across the rugged heartland of America in order to survive. As deepening internal divisions threaten to tear the gang apart, Arthur must make a choice between his own ideals and loyalty to the gang who raised him.
Red Dead Redemption 2, an epic tale of life in America at the dawn of the modern age, arrives for PlayStation 4 and Xbox One on October 26th.
Assassin’s Creed underwent a big evolution last year with Origins which celebrated the 10 year anniversary of the series by showing fans how the Assassin’s Brotherhood was created by telling the story of Bayek and his wife Aya. But it was the change up in gameplay that really surprised fans with the game taking the first steps into a vast open world with a more grounded foundation in the RPG world. It was hugely impressive both in moving the modern-day story further by introducing us to new character Layla Hassan but also in just how new yet familiar the change in gameplay was. A year later and we have Assassin’s Creed Odyssey and the series makes another huge evolution yet again which initially had me worried about certain story aspects but after 110 hours at time of completion completely blew me away with what it achieves.
I am not kidding when I say at the point of completing the story I had a save file at just over 110 hours and even then, there are areas of the world map I have yet to visit and side quests still left to do, which is staggering to me and refreshing. My play style particularly in Assassin’s Creed games is to do everything you can do story wise, which usually left not much left to do which meant waiting for DLC content to land to extend the games. Origins stepped this up by having a huge world to explore which alone gave me a playthrough of around 75 hours before completing the story but this was just a practice run for the massive open world in Odyssey. I will talk more about the size of this game but I just wanted to paint that picture before going forward.
Odyssey takes players back earlier than any previous Assassin’s Creed title in a historical setting by taking us to Ancient Greece in 431 BCE which is even earlier than the events in Origins and for the first time, allow players to choose the hero they want to play as with the choice of playing as either Alexios or Kassandra through the story which in itself is a decision that has divided die hard fans of the series and another thing that I will come back to later. The opening to the game is definitely something special as it begins by putting players in control of King Leonidas of Sparta as he bravely battles the Persian at Thermopylae and serves as a brilliant first look at the new refined combat system from Origins which still using right bumper and right trigger (or R1 and R2 on PS4) for light and heavy attacks but now also has special moves that use up an adrenalin bar to activate. As a fan of the film 300, this opening had an immediate impact into what it would feel like to be a powerful Spartan soldier in battle and who better then the most famous Spartan of all, well there is the Master Chief but he never used a spear!
Both Alexios and Kassandra are the grandchildren of Leonidas and have his spear although now broken as a weapon and raised by their mother Myrrine and Nikalaos to be strong Spartan warriors until one night as children, when the local priest demands that a sacrifice is made forcing Nikalaos to throw the baby (depending on if player chooses either Alexios or Kassandra the other will be the baby). With Myrrine being held back by temple guards, you then make the choice to try and save the baby but end up pushing the priest instead off the cliff. Retribution is swiftly ordered and Nikalaos then drops Alexios/Kassandra off as well. This will see the players chosen hero, washed up on the beach of Kephallonia and discovered by Markos. Now all grown up, our hero is now a Misthios which is basically a working mercenary willing to do any job for money whilst the Greek world is now firmly in the grip of the Peloponnesian War which has placed Sparta and Athens are war with each other. When a wealthy stranger offers our hero a huge prize in Drachma (gold) for finding and killing the Spartan General known as the Wolf of Sparta, which means our hero must earn their trust by fighting for Spartan forces in order to be granted an audience.
Odyssey really takes all the things that Origins did so well and brings it to a whole new level and with both games having been developed at the same time, with Odyssey having a three-year development plan I did feel that many of the rough edges in Origins are a result of testing so many of the systems used for Odyssey. This is why so many things feel so familiar to origins with the way the upgrading of armour and weapons work which still rely on finding crafting materials such as rocks, wood and animal skins to keep weapons and armour in line with the player’s own level which I will say is vital to succeed as for example if you are say level 15 but are still using level 10 armour and weapons, the enemies you face will match your player level or be higher so taking the time to keep everything at the same level is crucial.
The open world has evolved into something mind-blowing with all of the Greek islands now fully explorable with most regions being part of main story quests which will send you there but there are areas which are there just to go and have and explore at your leisure. A new feature for Origins comes in the form of choosing when you start a new game, whether to select a Guided or Exploration mode style of playing. Exploration mode basically means story and side quests will not provide you with a direct location marker to go do the quest but instead will give you clues in order to locate where you need to go with guided mode simply giving you that marker. Exploration really is the best way to play this game and experience its world and it works amazing well and clearly took inspiration from how Witcher 3 handled its open world in terms of the size and scope of the world.
The freedom to just be in the world and to do what you want to do is definitely something that I appreciated in Origins and now even more so in Odyssey as there is an abundance in activities to do in and around the main story quest lines. As a Misthios you are able to use the message boards in every town and city to collect side quests which can range from taking on bounties on targets to investigating the disappearance of people. Alongside message boards you can find people all over the world to give a side quest which can have a mini story to them and can then lead to follow up side quests. Completing all these will reward in XP, money and new armour and weapons so they are all worth doing as you try to become stronger. My biggest fear was that these could become repetitive after a while, and towards the 100 hr mark and near story completion I did leave many of them alone as I had already hit the maximum player level of 50 so did not need the XP, but with the story completed and still being able to go back and do some clean up, they will no doubt give me plenty more hours of content to enjoy before any DLC becomes available.
The combat and stealth aspects from Origins have been overhauled and refined for Odyssey and they work so well now. I really enjoyed the combat with the different weapon choices allowing for different combat styles when chaining light and heavy attacks with the parry move now a press of both bumper buttons (L1 and R1 on PS4) and some brutal execution final blow animations. Stealth feels far more natural and responsive than in Origins, with large forts and guarded areas to tackle. The ability tree really helps players customise their own playing style with three main areas to work on with Hunter being archery, Warrior being melee combat and Assassin for all the stealth side. Each time you level up you are granted one to use with some skills being passive ones but some will give you new special moves to equip to the left bumper dial wheel to use either in combat or if you like to use your bow like me, to do some sneaky archery at distance and some very handy Assassin abilities to help when you need to work from the shadows. Odyssey really is the final step for Assassin’s Creed to embrace the RPG genre fully and does so brilliantly for me that as much as Origins felt almost alien to me after the traditional AC playing style but now feels completely natural.
One question I was asked a lot by friends was who made a better main hero to play as, Alexios or Kassandra. I played throughout as Alexios but have played the first 12 hours or so as Kassandra and the impression I have from seeing the game as both is that this definitely feels like a game that was supposed to have Kassandra as the main choice. This is shown in the abilities tree as previews of the special moves mostly show Kassandra executing them. In terms of how each voice actor delivers the dialogue, I have to say that Kassandra is the most consistent throughout the game in terms of dialogue and cutscenes, not to say that Alexios is terrible, not by a long shot but there are moments where the emotion of a cut scene and dialogue exchange is performed better by Kassandra which makes it no surprise to see how popular a choice she is to play as. The writing for Odyssey is superb though, with a very Assassin’s Creed story for the main quest but also in all the side stories being told as you play throughout and meet different characters around the Greek world.
A big change for the story telling now comes with how players can now choose alternative dialogue options which can shape decisions in the game added a player choice and consequence element to an Assassin’s Cred game for the firs time. In fact, Odyssey has multiple endings and which one you get is determined by certain major choices you can make during the main story with either dialogue options or actions making an impact on which ending you get. Now this is rather controversial because as a fan of the series, the Animus to this point has not been a simulator which allowed you to alter the events in the genetic memories the user is experiencing but here, not only can you decide the gender of the main hero for the first time, but now your own choices determine what ending you get which does feel strange as you can have a good ending, which I managed to get or you can have a bad ending and will be interesting to see if the ending you get has any impact on the planned DLC expansion stories for Odyssey going forward.
The new Mercenary factor was a welcome surprise and works well with the bounty system in that high-level soldiers will come looking for you, once a bounty has been placed on you with the higher the bounty level is, the more Mercs will come after you. When you are on an important quest mission such as taken down a region leader by weakening the area by attacking forts and supplies, you can build up quite a bounty increasing the chance of having a Mercenary come find you and can prove very challenging to defeat until you are a high enough level to deal with them. This alongside the region conquest system for helping to decide who should control that region, Sparta or Athens, is a living system in the game which will give a constant reason to explore outside the main story missions especially in that you can actively seek out and fight the mercenaries and should you defeat them, you can earn high level armour or weapons and you can even recruit them to the crew of your ship so they will assist you in naval combat when boarding enemy ships.
The modern say side to the story is something I do feel however is very underused in Odyssey so far, with Layla Hassan from Origins now fully working with the Assassin Brotherhood to stop Abstergo and Templars from gaining the Staff of Hermes Isu artefact which is why she uses DNA found on the Spear of Leonidas to go back and find out where the Staff is. It was ten hours before I had the first modern day section and unlike Origins, the modern-day side is very much an after thought with 90% of the game keeping the player in Ancient Greece. My sense is that the future DLC will expand the modern say side far more than the main campaign itself which is a little disappointing as for me, it is a big part of any Assassin’s Creed game but will have to wait and see if my gut feeling is right.
Assassin’s Creed Odyssey completes the evolution of the series from Action Adventure into a full RPG story experience that began with Origins. Content wise this is one massive game that even now without any DLC is the largest game in the series to date and I have already put more hours into it with things still to do then when I 100% the Ezio collection. It is new and at the same time keeping hold of all the familiar aspects to previous games with a full return of Navel combat first scene in Assassin’s Creed III and Black Flag and a protagonist as charismatic as Ezio himself with a far deeper look into the Isu (Ones who came before) then I had expected. For those worrying about a game not using the Assassin Brotherhood or Templar titles following Origins, please do not be concerned, this is a fully-fledged story in the vast Assassin’s Creed Universe and will satisfy newcomers to the series as well as die-hard long-term fans.
If this is the future of Assassin’s Creed in terms or how large the world in which the historical side of it can be, then fans are in for a fun future and with no new title for 2019, the DLC will need to be strong to fill in the gap until then but I do have a feeling it will be going by the strengths shown in this game already. Yet again Ubisoft has taken player feedback and made improvements whilst taken brave steps to evolve the series for the future. There are some things I did find silly such as the Unicorn skin for your horse that has glitter rainbow trails when you gallop and some of the time saving booster packs that can be bought with real money make me roll my eyes but this is a game best experience as intended and hitting level 50 at 90 hours and completing the game at 110 hours with quite a few regions and side missions still to complete. For a series now 11 years old, Odyssey has made it feel new and refreshed whilst not ignoring or forgetting its roots which makes it such a complete experience for fans that it is a no brainer to have this in your collection.
The Master Chief and Kratos himself would be honoured to serve with the new iconic Spartans Alexios and Kassandra, so all you can really do now is bring back your shield or be on it!
Carphone Warehouse, the UK’s largest independent mobile phone retailer, has announced the eagerly-anticipated Huawei Mate 20 Pro is available for pre-order in-stores nationwide and online ahead of its eventual release on October 26th.
Perfect for customers looking to upgrade their current handset to something more advanced during the autumn months, Huawei’s Mate 20 Pro smartphone comes jam-packed with new features and a host of performance upgrades that sets it apart from its predecessors. The device will be available to buy in three stylish colour variants: Black, Green and Twilight.
Huawei fans keen to get their hands on the latest device can do so SIM-free via Carphone Warehouse for £899. Meanwhile, those looking to snap up the handset, Post Pay, can buy the Mate 20 Pro with 16GB of data for £54 per month with a £79.99 upfront cost on Vodafone; O2 is also offering the device for £45 per month and a £249.99 upfront cost with double the amount of data for the price at a generous 100GB.
New and existing customers will also receive impressive bonus perks in the form of a free Smart Watch worth £199 and Wireless Charger worth £69.99 via Redemption when purchasing the Mate 20 Pro.
As mobile phones are seemingly getting a hard time, Three UK is taking on the cynics and bringing some balance to the debate with its new brand campaign Phones Are Good.
In its controversial new campaign launching today, Three tackles the topical debate that ‘phones are bad’ by humorously reimagining pivotal moments in history. Demonstrating in each scene how much better things would have been if phones had been available – from starving cavemen ordering Deliveroo, to Henry VIII’s wives avoiding execution thanks to Tinder.
Shadi Halliwell, Chief Marketing Officer at Three, said: “At a time when we are being told to get off our phones, Three’s customers are actually using them three and a half times more than other providers*. That’s because, unlike others, we understand how real people use their phones. And although we shouldn’t be on our phones 24/7, if it weren’t for our mobiles how would you find love lounging on the sofa? Buy new shoes while sitting on the toilet? Or get a chicken cooked, seasoned, garnished and delivered to your door at the drop of a hat?
“As the Best Network for Data, it is our duty to challenge the cynics, and help everyone see that Phones Are Good.”
Three’s new Phones Are Good campaign is a huge step-change for the company – aimed to create a debate about our relationships with phones and how to strike a healthy life/phone balance.
Created with Wieden+Kennedy London, Phones Are Good will see a mobile-first launch on the morning of 17th October, on Three’s Twitter channel – @ThreeUK – as is fitting for the tone of the ad. The campaign will then go live across Instagram, Facebook, YouTube, digital, TV, cinema and OOH.
The ad was directed by Ian Pons Jewell – famed for his work with Nike, Google and various music videos including Naughty Boy’s La La La. It was produced by Friend, with media planning from Mindshare. The campaign features brands such as Samsung, Instagram, Deliveroo, Snapchat, LinkedIn and Tinder.
Speaking on its new brand campaign, Halliwell added: “The great thing about Phones Are Good is that we can all see a little bit of ourselves in this. Whether it’s ordering a cheeky takeaway on your way home, requesting an Uber for a five-minute walk or shopping on the loo. Phones are good because they make life easier, simpler and better. They connect us to the things and people we love. And they help us to experience more and live our best life.”
To support the campaign, Three has also commissioned London painter Reuben Dangoor, famed for painting today’s grime artists in 17th century grandeur, to exclusively reimagine historical figures and paintings through the mobile lens of today’s social media profile pictures. Reuben’s paintings will be exhibited at a bespoke gallery, open to the public at 13 Soho Square, London, from October 26-27, 2018.
Porsche Design and Huawei Consumer Business Group (BG) yesterday unveiled the new PORSCHE DESIGN HUAWEI Mate 20 RS Series smartphone, the latest mobile luxury device created through the collaboration between Porsche Design and Huawei. As the fourth handset to join the exclusive line-up, PORSCHE DESIGN HUAWEI Mate 20 RS continues the tradition set by its predecessors, blending state-of-the-art technology with uncompromising design. Inside, it has one of the world’s most powerful chipsets, the newest Kirin 980, supporting industry-leading performance and AI capabilities. The extreme performance is encased within an automotive-inspired chassis, the back of which is accentuated with genuine leather for a premium hand feel. The all-new device represents the pinnacle in mobile luxury and mobile AI, expressed in a timeless functional design.
The two companies collaborated to design the chassis of the new PORSCHE DESIGN HUAWEI Mate 20 RS. Rounded on the sides with bold, aesthetically pleasing curves, the device reflects its high level of performance in its outside appearance. The iconic automotive design element is incorporated into the back of the PORSCHE DESIGN HUAWEI Mate 20 RS—a device with the Rennsport “RS” designation—with a luxury twist.
Artisan Leather Flanks
The PORSCHE DESIGN HUAWEI Mate 20 RS racing stripe motifs are put together with all-natural leather and glass. Aligned vertically at the back of the device, the unique design provides a sporty, striking contrast that is instantly recognisable—the leather sides add a natural, personal touch to the design, symbolising the consumer-centric ethos that drives Porsche Design and Huawei, whilst giving a more luxurious look to the device. Together with perfectly rounded edges, the soft natural leather ensures a firm, ergonomic grip and premium touch that evokes the feeling of complete control.
The handcrafted semi-aniline top grain leather integrated into the design of PORSCHE DESIGN HUAWEI Mate 20 RS is soft yet highly durable, able to withstand the wear and tear of everyday use. Being a product of passion and ingenuity, this device it is a celebration of craftsmanship and innovation.
Ultimate Performance
The PORSCHE DESIGN HUAWEI Mate 20 RS is powered by a high-performance chipset—Kirin 980, which is manufactured using the cutting-edge 7nm process. With the Dual-NPU, the new Kirin chipset enables the smartphone to strike the perfect balance between high performance and state-of-the-art power efficiency, even when running at full throttle. The Kirin 980 is also the world’s first commercial SoC to use Cortex-A76-based high-performance cores. The Cortex-A76-based cores work in concert with high-efficiency Cortex-A55 cores to deliver blazing fast performance. Meanwhile, the Mali-G76 GPU drives maximum graphical performance for all use cases.
Ultimate Camera
Separating the two leather stripes at the back of the device is a pane of glass, which highlights the technology aspect of the PORSCHE DESIGN HUAWEI Mate 20 RS. The all-new Leica Triple Camera, comprised of a 40MP main camera, a 20MP camera with Leica Ultra Wide Angle Lens and an 8MP telephoto camera, is nestled stylishly underneath the glass. The camera system is arranged in a two-by-two matrix that captivates its viewers as it captures them. It comes with a brand-new capability: macro distance. Users can get as close to an object as 2.5cm from the lenses and capture vivid details with an ultra-sharp focus.
Leveraging the AI capabilities of the Dual-NPU embedded in the Kirin 980, PORSCHE DESIGN HUAWEI Mate 20 delivers AI experiences via EMUI 9.0, Huawei’s Android P-based operating system. HiVision, a new feature coming with EMUI 9.0, gives users a smart encyclopedia that fits in their pocket. Pointing a camera towards famous paintings and landmarks reveals their rich history—an especially handy feature for jet-setting globetrotters on their adventures.
Ultimate Identification
The PORSCHE DESIGN HUAWEI Mate 20 RS features an In-Screen Fingerprint sensor. Huawei has evolved the design of its sensor with Dynamic Pressure Sensing Technology to achieve an improved success rate and up to 30 per cent better recognition speed[1]. The device displays a prompt whenever it detects a finger is hovering above the sensor. Once the authentication process is complete, the unobtrusive prompt quickly disappears into the background. Furthermore, it is equipped with a 3D Face Unlock solution which, through mapping, a user’s face s, enables the device to accurately read the face of a user. The sophisticated sensors and Dual-NPU-powered AI enable 3D Face Unlock to identify a user quickly (under 0.6s) and work across a broad range of lighting conditions, including in pitch-black darkness. Moreover, 3D Face Unlock authenticates users at a false acceptance rate of below 1/1,000,000.
Ultimate Energy
The PORSCHE DESIGN HUAWEI Mate 20 RS houses an industry leading 4200mAh (typical value) battery that supports German TÜV Safe Fast-Charge System Certified 40W HUAWEI SuperCharge technology.
Tested relentlessly to the limits by Huawei’s engineers, the battery in PORSCHE DESIGN HUAWEI Mate 20 RS supports more than a full day of intensive use, and can be charged back at unprecedented speeds. Utilising 40W HUAWEI SuperCharge, users can charge their battery from nil to approximately 70 percent (2940mAh) in 30 minutes[2]. A HUAWEI Wireless Charger supporting 15W HUAWEI Wireless Quick Charge is also available (sold separately). Furthermore, it supports HUAWEI Wireless Reverse Charge, which lets the exclusive device to act as a wireless power bank.
Ultimate Design
The frontal view of the PORSCHE DESIGN HUAWEI Mate 20 RS is symmetrical. Porsche Design and Huawei have evolved the lower bezel in favour of a larger screen size, providing consumers with even more display space for any work or play usage scenario.
The PORSCHE DESIGN HUAWEI Mate 20 RS comes in a second colour version—Red. While the colour black represents status, professionalism, simplicity and strength, red is passionate, glamorous and adventurous—the perfect colour for those who would like to express their more playful side.
A Leather Smart View Flip Case complements the new device. Made of the same natural leather as the back of the device, it offers additional protection to the exquisite handset, while leaving an opening for the FullView display to show information including time and notifications, as well as the Porsche Design logo.
Richard Yu, CEO of Huawei Consumer BG, said, “The PORSCHE DESIGN HUAWEI Mate 20 RS is a bespoke device uniquely tailored for consumers with a refined taste for genuine luxury. Featuring cutting-edge technology encased in an artisan body, it is the ultimate form of AI.”
Jan Becker, CEO of Porsche Design Group, said, “Functional design is the DNA of Porsche Design, and every iteration of the PORSCHE DESIGN HUAWEI Mate Series sees a natural evolution of that principle. The latest novelty exemplifies this by the use of leather, which is simultaneously steeped in tradition and innovative design.”
The PORSCHE DESIGN HUAWEI Mate 20 RS epitomises the passion in cutting-edge technology and design shared by Porsche Design and Huawei. With an inspired design, powerful performance, best-in-class battery technologies and sophisticated biometric identification features, the latest luxury flagship appeals to discerning consumers with a taste for Porsche Design’s signature purist aesthetics and Huawei’s leading technologies.
Huawei Consumer Business Group (CBG) has announced two new wearables: HUAWEI WATCH GT and HUAWEI Band 3 Pro. Launched alongside the flagship HUAWEI Mate 20 Series, the new wearables offer novel and sophisticated ways for consumers to track their activities and receive fitness coaching that is based on scientific research.
Featuring the classic wristwatch design, ultra-high battery life, low power consumption, sophisticated activity tracking and fitness coaching features, the HUAWEI WATCH GT is one of the most hotly anticipated wearables of the year. The new HUAWEI watch bears the GT name to call attention to its high performance and reliability—just as grand tourers, or high-performance automobiles, are trusted for their prowess.
Made for Urban Explorers
Spurred by technical advancements and improving living standards, people are becoming more keen to explore the world around them. As an extension of smartphones, wearables complement the feature sets of today’s handsets to help consumers get more out of their devices. Designed for today’s urban explorers, the HUAWEI WATCH GT addresses one of the most common pain points of wearables: battery life.
The HUAWEI WATCH GT uses an innovative smart power-saving algorithm that enables it to dynamically switch between performance and efficiency modes, depending on user activity, for maximum battery life. This allows the smartwatch to stay powered for up to two weeks for frequent use mode. Furthermore, the dual-core architecture of the HUAWEI WATCH GT lets the wearable user enjoy the best of both worlds—it is simultaneously a powerful and highly efficient smartwatch.
HUAWEI WATCH GT
Besides improved performance and new features, the HUAWEI WATCH GT also sports a unique design. The 1.39-inch 454×254 AMOLED high-resolution display presents information cleanly on the wrist. The smartwatch body incorporates a dual-crown design with stainless steel and ceramic bezels and is treated with a DLC diamond carbon coating to provide users with durability that will last for decades. The 10.6mm case body is compatible with two band options—a dual-colour silicone band and an elegant leather-rubber band—giving users more choices to customise their HUAWEI WATCH GT for any occasion.
Powerful New Features
In addition to the ultra-long battery life, the HUAWEI WATCH GT features industry-leading positioning capabilities. The smartwatch can simultaneously tap into GPS, GLONASS and GALILEO, three of the major satellite positioning systems, for precise positioning. A tracking algorithm then optimises the tracking data to achieve one-to-one positioning even in areas with numerous disparate signals.
The HUAWEI WATCH GT also addresses the needs of active users. Based on its strength in positioning, HUAWEI WATCH GT also supports all-round sports activity tracking. Working with professional sports organisations, Huawei enables tracking for a range of sports, including indoor exercises, outdoor running, mountain climbing, cycling and open water swimming. The watch also supports fitness coaching features. By analysing the heart rate of users with scientific methods, this feature lets users exercise more safely and healthily than ever before.
The TruSeen™ 3.0 heart rate monitoring technology tracks the user’s active and resting heart rate. Combining innovative PPG optical and hardware design and AI algorithms, the solution can monitor the heart rate of users in real time with high precision. In Sport mode, the HUAWEI WATCH GT can be set up to notify users to adjust the intensity of their workout based on a pre-set target heart rate interval. In Rest mode, the smartwatch automatically monitors and records the resting heart rate of users. The HUAWEI WATCH GT uses invisible lights to monitor the user’s heart rate during sleep, which is more intimate than other traditional methods.
HUAWEI Band 3 Pro: A Sports Wristband with Full Touch Screen
While smart wristbands on the market today often feature simple health monitoring functions, the lack of standardisation made a lot of the data unsuitable for medical use. In view of that, Huawei launches HUAWEI Band 3 Pro, a new smart wristband supporting a range of precise and professional monitoring capabilities, including improved heart rate and sleep monitoring.
HUAWEI Band 3 Pro
With HUAWEI TruSeen 3.0, HUAWEI Band 3 Pro accurately monitors the heart rate of a user throughout the day. Huawei also pioneered the use of IR (infrared) sensors to accurately track the user heart rate without using the obtrusive lights of conventional trackers.
Leveraging the same technology powering TruSeen 3.0, HUAWEI Band 3 Pro can also track sleep patterns with HUAWEI TruSleep 2.0. Moreover, the solution uses big data analysis to provide personalised services and suggestions to improve sleep quality. All of the aforementioned technologies were developed by Huawei in collaboration with authoritative organisations around the world, ensuring that the wearables are highly functional and professional.
The HUAWEI Band 3 Pro features a 0.95-inch HD AMOLED colour touchscreen that offers an expansive space to display data. The controls are easy and intuitive—users can navigate the various options on the screen by swiping vertically or horizontally, or by tapping the screen to return to Home.
Pricing and AvailabilityUK pricing and availability for the HUAWEI WATCH GT (€199), HUAWEI WATCH Classic edition (€249) and the HUAWEI Band 3 Pro (€99) will be available in due course
American Football has always been the one sport that both intrigues and confuses me. As someone who spent the majority of their young adult life playing Rugby, American Football was always something I understood as a sport but struggled with the TV presentation with all the stops with ad breaks and game stoppages making it what should be a sensible thing to watch into a two to three hour event just for the match itself. This is a sport that really comes to life in video games more than real life so after watching the New Orleans Saints take on the Miami Dolphins at Wembley Stadium last year, the MADDEN series jumped back onto my radar. But can a person relatively new to the series pick up the latest instalment and not feel completely lost?
Thankfully I had two really good mates who were familiar with MADDEN enough to guide me through the newest edition from EA Sports in MADDEN 19 and on the surface, it certainly felt like what I know about the FIFA series with how the game is presented and the modes it offers. In fact it was almost disorientating to see just how much the FIFA menu system and style fits into MADDEN 19. It was a very daunting thing to see all the teams and modes and to know where to start.
But a start I must make and I will jump in and that visually MADDEN 19 is one of the best-looking sports video games I have seen and it really has made tremendous use of the FROST Engine to deliver an amazing looking game. In FIFA you only really go close up on the players in celebrations or ceremonial cut scenes but the action in American Football puts the camera right up close and behind the action and it is impressive to say the least. Looking at the build up to this game and there was a heavy focus on the new ‘Real Player Motion’ mechanic to the gameplay in an attempt to give the action a more realistic animation style which also allows more control oh how a player acts on the field from running with the ball and avoiding tackles to playing as defence and stopping pass attempts and stopping running plays. From previous games I remember trying to make a running play and hitting a defence player and that was it, hit and stopped. With Real Player Motion I genuinely felt I had more options especially in offence to change direction and even to escape tackle situations.
The fluidity in movement really surprised me, and it just works so well in this probably more so than FIFA because of how great this game looks up close thanks to the camera angle which makes every play and down you work for just jump off the screen and makes you feel each one. It is the type of system I would love to see adapted for Rugby, a sport which has never really been able to transfer to a video game well, could really benefit from. The level of detail and putting the player into the match is fantastic and probably as life life as a sports video game can get and even my mates who are more familiar with the series were impressed with this new evolution in gameplay.
MADDEN also has its own version of Ultimate Team, were players can create and manage their very own Team to take on those of other by collecting player cards to build your own squad just as you can in FIFA and was a mode I now always enjoy dabbling in so to find it here in MADDEN feels logical and comfortable. Ultimate Team mode has been refined since its introduction in last year’s game with a focus on making it less convoluted and complicated reducing the amount of time micro managing the small stuff such as player contracts, something that drove me nuts in the FIFA 18 version of UT.
Team chemistry is still a factor of a good team and by putting together compatible players you can strengthen your team and again thanks to the overhaul has made far simpler now that the pre-existing chemistry which cards had originally have now been removed making it easier to put a squad together that you what want. Players can be upgraded by using training to enhance their skills ratings with training points being acquired when selling unwanted player cards. Ultimate Team is still the greatest ‘Fantasy Football’ a fan of a sport can enjoy and with American Football expanding this to include draft season and Franchise ownership, this is the truest experience die hard fans can enjoy.
So, MADDEN 19 already has more than enough content and modes for any fan of the sport to dig their teeth into and enjoy which is why the continuation of the story mode is as baffling to me in this game just as ‘The Journey’ is in FIFA. In MADDEN this comes in the form of ‘Longshot: Homecoming’. This is now the second chapter of this mode after being introduced last year and even as a casual fan of American Football, this had me eye rolling at the cringing way in how the story of Devin Wade still chasing his dream of being an NFL Superstar as he is battling to earn a place on the Dallas Cowboy’s roster. Another character in Colt Cruise also returns and is now working as a musician as he is also waiting to hear about an opportunity to play for an NFL team. As a story this is very much more soap opera then becoming a sporting hero and living your dream. I mean why the story writers felt the need to introduce a surprise sibling to Colt in the form of a sister he never knew about just felt so non-sport related and pointless to me. It has a four hour length as well, so unless you are a fan of this story mode from last year, it just comes across as a distraction which has zero impact on your own UT team for example and has issues with cut scenes not reflecting your performance in the gameplay portions as in one instance I deliberately played as badly as I could, and still had a “you’re looking promising” scene afterwards. I never understood why EA felt the need to inject a cinematic story mode into their sports titles, and this here just failed to grabbed me at all or left me wanting to see what happens to the characters in the future.
MADDEN 19 is a solid sporting game and considering it has no rivals, provides the only and best NFL experience you can have right now. Visually impressive with gameplay mechanics in ‘Real Player Motion’ that really add something to the physicality of each match. I will say that going into this relatively blind but with some experience of the sport, it did not do enough to help me really learn the ropes, it is a series that now expects you to have played previous games and simply react to the improvements made rather then welcoming in new players to the series. I enjoyed playing against friends and even when taking this online and getting my butt handed to me repeatedly by more experience players was fun. I was able to learn the different plays and come up with my own strategy which admittedly still needs plenty of work, but I am enjoying it a great deal as a casual fan of the sport.
This may not offer any ground-breaking changes for those who are long term players of the series but the tweaks and refinements have made some of the modes like Ultimate Team far more user friendly. Now if I can just make that last minute Superbowl style long pass into a touchdown moment, I would be a very happy fan!
Huawei has just announced the Huawei’s Mate 20 series at a massive event in London today. To introduce its second flagship smartphones for the second half of the year.
The Mate 20 Pro has a 6.39-inch OLED display, slightly rounded at the sides. The panel has a fingerprint reader integrated into the lower area behind the actual screen, the display works with a full 3120 x 1440 pixels.
Huawei’s display of the Mate 20 Pro, also a Vertical Surface Emitting Laser (VSEL) module In order to realize in this way an Apple’s Face ID in many ways similar unlocking by means of face recognition via infrared laser technology.
With a flash on the top left and 40 megapixel on the top right bottom left is an 8 megapixel and the bottom right is a 20 megapixel
So again comes from the Huawei P20 Pro known the main sensor with a full 40-megapixel resolution is used, which has an F / 1.8 aperture and is to provide by “Light Fusion” technology for better pictures. It combines in the standard setting four pixels to one, so as to increase the image quality.
Huawei Mate 20 Pro 6.39″
Huawei also installed a 20-megapixel sensor with F / 2.2 aperture, which is equipped with a Telephoto, and a new ultra-wide-angle sensor, which dissolves with eight megapixel. Together, the sensors should correspond to focal lengths of 16 to 80 millimetres and, in addition to an optical 5x zoom, enable ultra-macro shots from the smallest distances – Huawei promises that you can shoot pictures from a distance of only 2.5 centimetres.
Of course, we also want to provide again the previously introduced functions in the field of artificial intelligence, in which the smartphone with the help of two Neural Processing Units (NPU) analyzed the image content and uses optimized settings.
Photo settings on the Mate 20 Pro
Among other things, Nightshot images are possible in which the software analyzes images based on various points and thus electronically stabilized.
Huawei’s own Kirin 980 Octa-core SoC, already announced at the IFA this year, is under the hood. It is the first SoC with seven-nanometer structure width, which is installed in an Android smartphone. The chip uses three clusters of differently fast clocked ARM Cortex-A55 and ARM Cortex-A76 cores, the latter being divided into two groups. The A55 powerlines run as a cluster of four cores with a maximum of 1.8 gigahertz, while two of the A76 high-end cores with up to 1.9 and two more with up to 2.6 gigahertz work.
Add to that a powerful ARM Mali-G72 graphics engine, which, together with the new, faster ARM cores, gives the Kirin 980 tremendous power that puts the chip at the forefront of Android-powered processors for the time being. Depending on the country and model, the Huawei Mate 20 Pro will be equipped with six or even eight gigabytes of fast LPDDR4X memory.
You can expect optical zoom support of up to 5X and support for macro shots, Huawei says you’ll be able to place the camera as close as 2.5cm to the subject.
Other specs include a 6.39-inch OLED screen with 3120 X 1440 resolution, 7nm Kirin 980 processor with second-gen NPU, 6GB RAM, 128GB of UFS 2.1 storage, NFC, Bluetooth 5.0, Gigabit WLAN, LTE, and a 4,200mAh battery.
Huawei introduces has announced its own memory card format with the Mate 20 Pro, while the P20 Pro didn’t come with a MicroSD card slot, the Mate 20 Pro is no different. However, Huawei can help in other ways: The company introduces the so-called “Nano-Memory Cards”, which are memory cards in the format of a Nano-SIM card, which comes with capacities of up to 256 gigabytes. These should be as fast as good MicroSD cards, just much smaller.
The Huawei Mate 20 Pro is equipped with a 4200mAh large battery, which compared to its predecessor and the P20 Pro thus once again a whole piece has grown. It’s loaded with a new 40-watt power supply in no time at all, with Huawei setting its own, once again improved, SuperCharge standard.
The improved power supply is apparently supplied directly from the factory. It can charge the Mate 20 Pro’s huge battery to 70% of its capacity in 30 minutes, with the Mate 20 will do 58% in 30 minutes.
The Mate 20 Pro also offers wireless charging for the first time, and also offers the option of directly downloading compatible devices.
Huawei wireless charger 15 watts
The reverse wireless charging technique could, therefore, be used by the user to charge other smartphones wirelessly.
The Mate 20 Pro is waterproof to IP68 and is therefore designed to resist both dust and water with depths of up to 1.5 meters. The device supports both extremely fast LTE networks but also transmits via NFC, Bluetooth 5.0 and Gigabit WLAN with dual-band support. The device is 8.6 millimetres thick and brings it to a weight of 189 grams, which is probably due mainly to the large battery in this years model.
Android 9.0 ‘Pie’ and EMUI 9.0
The operating system is the new Android 9.0 “Pie” in conjunction with the Huawei’s own interface EMUI 9.0 used. Huawei has just overhauled the software in many ways and tried to slim down. So, among other things, the handling of the countless settings should be easier to do.
In addition, Huawei’s navigation via gesture control has now arrived, which has already become standard on Google’s pixel smartphones.
TwilightMidnight BluePink GoldBlackEmerald Green
Huawei is launching the Mate 20 Pro in four colours both the Midnight Blue and Emerald Green has a texture like on the back like a vinyl record this makes fewer fingerprint marks on your phone and adds more grip to the device also available in Black and Twilight and Pink Gold, my two favourite colours are the Emerald Green and the Twilight.
Price starting from €1049, with preorders starting today the 16th October.
Libratone announced that the AirPlay2 update is now available on its ZIPP, enabling Libratone owners to easily stream music or podcasts from Apple devices and group them together to play music anywhere in the home, all in-sync.
With AirPlay 2, users can control what’s playing on the ZIPP from an iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch, Apple TV and HomePod, or by simply asking Siri. With 10 hours of battery time, the ZIPP range offers listeners the flexibility of a portable, multi-speaker system that can be enjoyed anywhere in and around the home, making it a perfect companion to HomePod.
ZIPP owners can update to AirPlay 2 by downloading the Libratone app from the App Store and following the instructions to update the firmware. The free software update allows compatibility across the entire Libratone ZIPP home speaker range. Libratone redefines wireless speakers by combining convenience with rich sound and multi-room capabilities of traditional WiFi speakers, wrapped into a modern design.
The ZIPP range is available to purchase from selected retailers including Apple stores across Europe and Amazon.
Players looking to commemorate the arrival of the Lord of Terror to Nintendo Switch can now preorder the Nintendo Switch Diablo III Eternal Collection Bundle. The bundle includes a Diablo III-themed Nintendo Switch system and dock, a Diablo III-edition carrying case, and a download code for Diablo III Eternal Collection.
Diablo III: Eternal Collection contains the full classic game as well as all of its expansion content: Rise of the Necromancer and Reaper of Souls. In addition, fans who play the Nintendo Switch version will receive in-game items that are only available on Nintendo’s hit console. These in-game bonuses include a variety of items from The Legend of Zelda series, including Ganondorf Transmog Armor, a companion Cucco pet, “Echoes of the Mask” Wings, and a Golden Triforce Portrait Frame.
In Diablo III: Eternal Collection, players choose between one of seven classes, including Barbarian, Crusader, Demon Hunter, Monk, Necromancer, Witch Doctor, and Wizard, to set off on a dark and memorable adventure to destroy demons and discover loot. The critically acclaimed game is hailed for its style and gameplay, which is perfect for playing on the TV or on the go using Nintendo Switch.
The Nintendo Switch Diablo III Eternal Collection Bundle is available from today for pre-order at select retail locations and will be available for direct purchase on November 2.
