Those excited for the Xbox One X are certainly making their enthusiasm known, as Microsoft claims its 4K-capable console has sold through its first batch of pre-orders in record time. Just five days after opening up the Xbox One X Project Scorpio edition for pre-order, more units of the day-one version of the upcoming console have been pre-sold in that time than any other Xbox console before it, according to an Xbox press release. While this makes the Xbox One X the fastest-selling pre-order in

A sunrise or sunset is what’s known as a wide dynamic range sceneA sunrise or sunset is what’s known as a wide dynamic range scene, displaying a significant difference in exposure between the highlight and shadow areas in the frame. A scene with a narrow dynamic range has much more subtle differences between highlight and shadow areas, and as such, it’s easier for a camera’s sensor to record the full range of tones. Camera sensors and dynamic rangeWhen you take a shot, not only do you have to co

My usual novel-writing implement – a Lenovo Ideapad 100S I snapped up last Black Friday – isn’t exactly weighty or cumbersome. I’m now 25,496 words in and don’t want to lose the flow. The smallest models all have a hinge right down the centre, which fractures the standard QWERTY layout and would probably drive me mad. The Ideapad is roughly three times the size of the Battop keyboard (or 12 KitKat Chunky bars)The Battop definitely feels cramped, but not prohibitively so, and there’s a surprising

With console exclusive games in decline and more people than ever choosing to play together in massive online multiplayer worlds it’s unsurprising that cross-platform play between consoles is being hotly debated once more. Though PC and consoles are playing nice and we’re seeing an increasing number of titles such as Rocket League and Minecraft become playable across different platforms, it’s a very different story with consoles. Sony’s resistanceTraditionally, while Microsoft has been more open

For the next three Fridays, you can watch an Academy Award winning film for free on Facebook Live. Admittedly, none of them are current major Hollywood blockbusters, but they are all brilliant films, and they are totally free to watch! The movies will be shown at 6pm PST / 9PM BST, kicking off on August 25 with The Motorcycle Diaries. Sit back 🛋, relax 🍿, and join the live #FocusFridays watch party on Facebook, Fridays at 6pm (PST) /9pm (EST). If you want to know more about Facebook’s plans for

Microsoft has a fresh deal on the Surface Pro 4 as the new school year rolls around, with the base model of the hybrid bundled with a Type Cover keyboard having been discounted to £649. For the money, you get a Surface Pro 4 powered by an Intel Core m3 processor with 128GB of storage, plus your choice of Type Cover in either black, red or dark blue (the lighter blue colour is out of stock now). Speaking of out of stock, Microsoft notes that this offer is only available for a limited time via its

Sony may have given UHD Blu-ray short shrift with the PS4 Pro, but it now offers two dedicated 4K Blu-ray players: the custom-install centric UBP-X1000ES and this mainstream torch bearer, the UBP-X800. Dapper design, impressive build qualityCosmetically, the UBP-X800 is similar to Sony’s previous HD Blu-ray player, the UHP-H1. Night time action in John Wick 2 (UHD Blu-ray) proves a stunning showcase for high contrast imagery, with excellent shadow detail juxtaposed against vibrant neon colours.

As much as we all love to watch our favorite films, TV shows and even record ourselves playing video games, the multitude of file formats can cause huge problems when you’re trying to play your media on various devices. Apple users who want to play home videos in iTunes for instance need to use the MOV or MP4 format. Meanwhile, some televisions come with a handy USB port to play your home videos but only support the AVI format. Fortunately the free, cross platform VideoLan (VLC) Media Player can

By this point, most people have given up on the idea that we’ll ever see Half-Life 3, the long awaited follow-up to 2007’s Half-Life 2: Episode 2, but a new plot posted online by longtime series writer has given us a tantalising glimpse of what its story might have been. Writing on Twitter, Marc Laidlaw described the plot outline as “a genderswapped snapshot of a dream I had many years ago” and many details of the plot have been changed. Even the title of the plot (or ‘fanfic’ as Laidlaw refers

Lower prices will go into effect for staples such as select organic apples, Whole Trade bananas, organic avocados, organic and responsibly farmed fish, organic baby kale and organic large brown eggs. “Everybody should be able to eat Whole Foods Market quality – we will lower prices without compromising Whole Foods Market’s long-help commitment to the highest standards,” he said. Additional lower prices will arrive over time as the two companies integrate their systems and logistics. Amazon Prime

As if there weren’t enough hints that a fifth-generation Apple TV was in the works, it appears even more likely Apple will unveil its next set-top box really soon. Apple is gearing up to announce the next iteration of Apple TV, which will support 4K HDR content, sources familiar with the matter tell Bloomberg. The upgraded Apple TV is said to get its official announcement this September, during the same event where Apple is expected to unveil the iPhone 8. More pixels, more binge-watchingThis is

If you own the HTC U11 smartphone and are in the US, you’ll get to enjoy Google’s new mobile operating system by year’s end. HTC USA took to Twitter to reveal the HTC U11 will be the first of its phones treated to Oreo beginning in Q4, or sometime between October and December. The HTC U Ultra and HTC 10 are also in for Android 8.0 at a later date. We’re excited to bring Android 8.0 to the HTC U11, U Ultra, & 10, beginning with U11 in Q4. Android Oreo is Google’s latest mobile operating system, b

That represents a 54% increase from the standard iPhone 7 to the iPhone 8 in the US (math: $649 x 54% = $350 | $649 + $350 = 999). iPhone 7S and iPhone 7S Plus to the rescue? Your best bet for a new iPhone in 2017 without paying through the nose may be to look into the iPhone 7S and iPhone 7S Plus. The 7S and 7S Plus could reflect the iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus pricing and still include a basic specs bump and new features like wireless charging. We should know the true iPhone 8 price in a matter

Though a handy accessory for artists, businesses or those who simply prefer the feel of a writing utensil, the Apple Pencil is limited in use because it’s exclusively compatible with the iPad Pro. That may change, however, as a new patent suggests the Apple Pencil could one day expand to other devices, including future iterations of the iPhone, according to Patently Apple. This may be an exciting tease for Pencil fans and iPhone users, but, as always, a patent is not confirmation of an official

Sources divulged to Bloomberg that the tech giant behind gadgets like the lauded HTC Vive headset and HTC U11 smartphone has brought on an adviser as it considers strategic avenues. TechRadar asked HTC about on today’s report and were told by a spokesperson that, per company policy, HTC doesn’t comment on rumors or speculation. HTC U11Virtual reality was seen as a way for HTC to expand its business into a new market, and the HTC Vive is a fantastic result of those efforts. One scenario we see pl

The Stealth 600 uses Microsoft’s Xbox Wireless tech, allowing the peripheral to sync up with an Xbox One, Xbox One S or even the upcoming Xbox One X without the need to install a special adapter or dongle in the back. All sound, no fussConnectivity aside, the Stealth 600 features 50mm over-the-ear speakers, a 15-hour rechargeable battery, a flip-up microphone that mutes when put away and a special ‘ProSpecs’ design for comfort even when wearing glasses. Since the Stealth 600 uses Xbox Wireless,

Samsung’s Galaxy Note 8 phablet is now official with a 6.3-inch QHD Infinity display, dual-lens rear camera, a 3,300mAh battery and super powerful internals. Samsung has confirmed some color choices for the release of the Galaxy Note 8 and below you’ll find all of the shades you’ll be able to buy. The first color for the Samsung Galaxy Note 8 is Midnight Black, which we saw available on the Galaxy S8 and Galaxy S8 Plus. Other colorsThe Samsung Galaxy S8 also came in a silver gray option, which i

The findings from Malwarebytes show that as of July 2017, there has been a huge leap of 230% in Mac malware compared to the previous year. Malwarebytes also observed that the Mac App Store is currently awash with a ‘tidal wave’ of scam software. As Betanews reports, the authors of the study looked to the future, predicting that: “In 2018, Mac malware will increase but PUPs will see the largest growth. “Mac users are already experiencing some of this now, with an explosion of fake anti-virus apps

Yes, the latest preview build for Office Insiders introduces in-line chat functionality that allows you to have a chinwag with co-authors in Word, Excel or PowerPoint. In other words, you get a neat little chat window in these respective apps that facilitates real-time discussions with collaborators. Microsoft has also jazzed up inks to include the likes of rainbow, galaxy, lava, ocean, gold and silver effects, allowing for sparkly and/or glittery touches to be bestowed in the three main Office

With audiophile drivers and refined digital amplification, this high-end Dolby Atmos soundbar is as at home with High-Res Audio as it is with movie…Sony’s first Dolby Atmos-enabled soundbar is a beast. In addition to Dolby Atmos decoding, there’s High-Res Audio support, Chromecast Built-in, dual-band Wi-Fi and Bluetooth. Evidence of its Dolby Atmos credentials can be found up top. We likedSony’s debut Dolby Atmos soundbar is a no-compromise solution for audiophiles looking to mix refined music w