Jio Effect: Airtel Launches Rs 181 Prepaid Recharge Plan Which Offers 3GB Daily Data And 14 Days Validity

Airtel is offering 3GB of data every day same like the Rs 199 prepaid plan, but the validity of the newly launched Rs 181 prepaid recharge is just 14 days.

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Facebook Security Breach Fallout: 2.2 Billion Users Must Login Again, Say Experts

Cyber experts on Saturday warned over 2.3 billion users to log out and log back into Facebook, or any of third-party apps that use Facebook login.

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Apple iPhone XS Max Charging Issues: The Curious Case of iOS 12 And How an Update May Fix it

We really aren’t the know-it-all experts or therapists of any sort, but our understanding of the issue suggests that the iPhone XS Max charging issues are because of a software configuration issue.

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Chinese tech has taken hefty blows but giants like Tencent and Baidu are not out for the count

Collectively, the BATs or Baidu, Alibaba and Tencent, have lost around $165 billion in value year-to-date, each for their own reasons. While the stocks may have taken a couple of hefty blows this year, they're certainly not down for the count.

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Elon Musk Escapes the Worst, but Tesla Still Faces a Bumpy Road

Those traits contributed to fraud charges brought against Musk on Thursday by federal regulators, a potentially serious blow coming just as Tesla is ramping up efforts to become a mainstream manufacturer.

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Deciphering The Curious Case of The Apple iPhone XS Max Charging Issues

We really aren’t the know-it-all experts or therapists of any sort, but our understanding of the issue suggests that the iPhone XS Max charging issues are because of a software configuration issue.

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Microsoft 'Robot OS' Coming For Windows 10

With the advancements of robots, Microsoft plans to experiment into advanced development tools.

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Trump Govt Sues After California Enacts ‘Toughest’ Net Neutrality Law Yet

This marked the latest clash between the Trump administration and California, which have sparred over environmental, immigration and other hot-button issues.

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Did The Facebook Hackers Learn Their Tricks From YouTube Videos?

Hours after Facebook revealed the breach on Friday, some YouTube videos, which were seen several thousand times, described a method similar to the one used by the hackers to get access to the millions of Facebook accounts.

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Facebook Faces $1.63 Billion in EU Fine Over Fresh Data Breach

In the biggest-ever security breach after Cambridge Analytica scandal, Facebook on Friday admitted hackers broke into nearly 50 million users' accounts by stealing their "access tokens" or digital keys.

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Nokia 5.1 First Sale on Flipkart at 12 pm: Price, Specifications And More

As for the launch offers, buyers using their HDFC Bank Credit Card or Axis Bank Buzz Credit Card can get five percent off on the selling price.

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2019 Jeep Renegade gets a new face and a new turbo engine - Roadshow

A 1.3-liter turbo engine replaces last year's 1.4-liter.

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Google's Android Fragmentation Problem Persists as Android 9 is Yet to Make Its Mark

As per the latest distribution numbers shared by Google, the newest Android 9 Pie is not available yet on enough devices to even make a mark ahead of the 0.3% share that Android Gingerbread has, which was released in 2010.

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Elon Musk tells Tesla staff to 'ignore the distractions,' hints at being profitable

Elon Musk believes Tesla is "very close" to turning a profit after years of burning through cash, but warned that Sunday would prove pivotal to the car marker achieving an "epic victory."

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Marvel Rising: Secret Warriors review: Heroes of all kinds take spotlight - CNET

Marvel's animated teamup bravely tackles diversity without breaking a sweat.

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California's 'gold standard' net neutrality becomes law - CNET

It's official. California has adopted net neutrality protections that surpass the Obama-era rules thrown out by the Trump administration last year.

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iPhone XS specs vs. XS Max, XR, X: What's new and different - CNET

See how Apple's new iPhones compare spec-by-spec with last year's iPhone X.

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The regional gap in AI adoption

To better understand how artificial intelligence (AI) is being adopted differently by nations around the world, we sat down with Virtusa's Executive Vice President of Global Digital Solutions, Frank Palermo.

• We've also highlighted the best AI platforms for business

1. Is there much disparity between different global regions’ approaches to robotics, artificial intelligence and autonomous vehicles or, indeed, their policies on these technologies?

As AI takes a more prevalent role in our society, the issue of ethics and governance has become critical, and policymakers around the globe have a collective responsibility to be forward thinking when deciding how best to regulate it. It is imperative that AI is managed in a way that allows the technology to reach its full potential, while ensuring it doesn’t have a negative impact on humans and society.

The US has historically left technology companies relatively unimpeded by government oversight or stringent regulation, with the market dominance of the FAANG companies (Facebook, Apple, Amazon, Netflix and Alphabet's Google) serving as a perfect example of this. While China has taken almost the opposite approach, with the Chinese government having a more ‘hands-on’ role, specifically mentioning AI in their ‘grand vision’ for the country, this has somehow still resulted in a similar ecosystem of tech giants, namely the BAT companies (Baidu, Alibaba and Tencent). Like America’s FAANGs, China’s BATs have established their own AI-dedicated labs, with Baidu in particular investing 15% of its revenue in R&D in AI related research.

Elsewhere, Europe has a growing AI industry presence, inviting considerable attention from European regulators, though there is currently no overarching legislative approach towards AI in the region. Additionally, in the Middle East, attitudes towards AI are fairly liberal. For example, Saudi Arabia grabbed international headlines for granting citizenshipto Sophia (the AI robot) and the Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai launched the UAE Artificial Intelligence Strategy 2031 – aiming to enhance sectors like education, transportation, energy and space to achieve 100% reliance on AI for government services and data analysis by 2031.  

2. Can you comment on the investment environments in these different regions?

With the global business value derived from AI projected to total $1.2 trillion in 2018, it stands to reason that global investments in the technology continue to skyrocket.   

China is aggressively investing in AI, with the country’s AI startups benefitting from government support as state agencies are directing capital to these companies. One such beneficiary, facial recognition startup Megvii, received a $460 million investment from a Chinese government-backed venture capital fund. 

3. What is your view on mature and emerging technologies within the AI sphere?

The field of AI is rapidly maturing due to the availability of data, data storage and compute power that is now readily available through cloud and API services. The technology has moved from simple back-office automation, revolutionising the way businesses interact with their customers.

Voice-enabled digital assistants are a great example of this, having quickly become a staple in the consumer and home market. Expect to see more companies adopt virtual assistants to support people in their use of technology in the workplace, with the assistants developing more human characteristics in the future, and better interpreting context and meaning.

The world of robotics is also changing, with robots becoming more sophisticated, mobile, collaborative and human friendly. This improved level of maturity has caused rapid expansion of robots into industries beyond manufacturing, including healthcare, service industries and transportation. Robotics were initially focused on improving efficiency and enabling greater productivity but now, the technology is beginning to address other global concerns such as skills shortages, workplace safety, and keeping up with the accelerating pace of business.

4. What are some of the areas causing uncertainty within AI?  Anything, perhaps, controversial?

There are many areas of uncertainty and controversy with regard to AI, with some even proving to be deadly. 

For example, if AI accidentally kills a human being, who is responsible? Last year, Tesla reported its first Autopilot fatality when its sensors did not detect the white side of a tractor trailer against a brightly lit sky. A controversial debate immediately surfaced on whether Tesla had to be held responsible for this. Similarly, there are concerns on how we can control the weaponising of AI. The United Nations recently discussed the use of autonomous weapons and the possibility to institute an international ban on “killer robots.”  

There are also many questions surrounding how can we control AI from being unleashed in cyber-attacks. Last year, two data scientists from security firm ZeroFOX conducted an experiment to see who was better at getting Twitter users to click on malicious links: humans or artificial intelligence. The researchers taught an AI to study the behaviour of social network users, and then design and implement its own phishing bait. In tests, the artificial hacker was substantially better than its human competitors, composing and distributing more phishing tweets than humans, and with a substantially better conversion rate. 

These uses of AI and many others need to be carefully considered and regulated to protect humans and society from harm. To accomplish this, organisations must come together to discuss the proper governance and ethics mechanisms that must be implemented to minimise the risks of AI, while harnessing the full potential of this technology.

5. Finally, what will be the ultimate effect of AI?

AI-powered technology such as robotics and machine learning has already improved productivity and enhanced the economies of many nations, and will continue to do so. Future advancements will certainly have an even greater effect on some classes of jobs, though it is important to bear in mind that apocalyptic predictions of robot overlords are hyperbolic, and AI will also create jobs and roles we have not yet fully envisioned. Ultimately, AI is about improving human performance and intelligence, not replacing it.

AI will be the battlefield of the future, with the successful deployment of the tech influencing how countries compete, shifting the balance of power in both the global economy and international relations. Countries that master AI first will have a crucial strategic advantage in writing the rules for the next global order. That’s why investing in AI is becoming a major initiative for both emerging and well-established economies.

Frank Palermo is Executive Vice President – Global Digital Solutions at Virtusa

• Also check out how to successfully implement an AI system 

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iOS 12: new features and the iOS 12.1 release date

Apple launched new iOS 12 features two weeks ago and changes keep coming with iOS 12.1 beta. It's a big shift for your iPhone and iPad we recommend downloading, even if there are some iOS 12 problems.

What's in the iOS 12 update? The features list includes Memoji, Grouped Notification, Screen Time and, importantly, better performance for older iPhones. iOS 12.1 adds Group FaceTime, live bokeh photo adjustments, and new eSIM support.

Best of all, you don't need the pricey iPhone XS or XS Max to get iOS 12. In fact, the software update makes your old iPhone and iPad feel like new. We have a how to download iOS 12 guide in case you're looking to update still. or want iOS 12.1

Good news: perks like Group Notifications make the UI easier to navigate and Siri Shortcuts will save you time. Bad news: Group FaceTime was delayed to iOS 12.1, and isn't expected to launch until October, maybe with iPhone XR on October 26.

Apple has made its mobile operating system and competitive in the wake of Google's Android Pie update and impending Google Pixel 3 launch. Here's what you need to know about iOS 12, whether you're upgrade an older iPhone or getting it out of the box with iPhone XS Max.

What's the difference between the latest phones showcasing iOS? Watch our handy explainer to find out:

Here's what is in the iOS 12.1 update

• Group FaceTime for up to 32 users is part of the iOS 12.1 beta
• Adjust photo background blur (bokeh) in real time (not just afterward)
• eSIM support menus are live in the beta – but carrier support is needed
• References 'iPadfall2018' – a big iPad Pro 2018 hint

The iOS 12.1 release date is expected in October, and it could very well launch at the same time at iPhone XR on October 23. Until, then iOS 12.1 beta is out for both developers and the general public.

There are four important iOS 12.1 changes:

First, Group FaceTime for up to 32 users is here. To test it out, however, you're going to have to pair up with people who have iOS 12.1 beta, so its use cases are limited right now.

Second, Apple expanded upon the bokeh (blur) adjustments you can on an iPhone XS and iPhone XS Max in portrait mode. Before you could adjust the blur in post, meaning after a picture was taken. Now, with iOS 12.1, you can also adjust the blur in real-time, as you're snapping a photo. This helps you better frame portrait photos.

Third, eSIM iPhone support is live with the proper setup menus. But there's a catch for setting up the simulated dual-SIM. You'll have to wait for your carrier to start supporting the feature. That may come about on the official iOS 12.1 release date.

Third, and even more interesting, the iOS 12.1 code references 'iPad2018fall'. We're likely to see the iPad Pro 2018 launch in October. New iPad Pro rumors point to a bezel-reduced iPad, one with a TrueDepth camera for Face ID and Memoji. There are plenty of hints in iOS 12.1 that Animoji and Memoji are going to be supersized on Apple's tablet soon.

The top iOS 12 features

1. iOS 12 makes your old iPhone and iPad faster

• Older iPhones are 40% to 70% faster at certain tasks
• Apple's looking to put the problematic iOS 11 behind it

iOS 12 focuses on reliability and performance with this update, and it supports all of the same iPhones and iPads that iOS 11 worked with.

Apple calls out the iPhone 6 Plus, specifically, saying iOS 12 makes this phone 40% faster at launching apps, 70% faster at launching the camera app, and 50% faster at displaying the keyboard. Keyboard typing and other routine features on older iPhones can slow down with every new iOS update, and Apple is looking to change these pain points with iOS 12.

This makes your existing iPhone and iPad more reliable, and your older devices can be used by family members or be sold now that they'll be more function with iOS 12. They don't have to sit in a drawer because they're too slow.

2. Grouped notifications

• Grouped notification on iOS 12 clean up individual notifications mess
• Smartly grouped by app, topic, thread. Tap in to look to unbind them
• Can clear a whole group of notifications with a single swipe

Grouped notifications are a part of iOS 12. This is a small, but very important tweak (maybe the most important in the iOS 12 update) because it changes the lock screen alerts you see each and every day. 

It binds together notifications by message threads and topics, making it easier to see everything at a glance. Right now, individual notifications in the morning are a big pain to check as they pile up.

3. Memoji and changes to Animoji

• Personalized 'Memoji' to look like you or 'the real you'
• Four new Animoji masks: Ghost, Koala, Tiger and T-Rex
• Animoji and Memoji clips last 30 seconds (up to 10 seconds)
• Tongue and wink detection for iOS 12 masks

Memoji is a customizable mask that can look like you – or the real you, according to Apple. It still resides in Messages. You can select hairstyles, eye color and accessories like earrings and sunglasses.

Like Animoji, this is a feature for newer iPhones in the X lineup due to requiring Apple's TrueDepth front-facing camera.

Animoji is expanded, not just with new masks, but with tongue detection and wink detection. Ghost, Koala, Tiger, and T-Rex will be joining the cast of Animoji masks.

4. iOS 12 allows for more than one Face ID face

Face ID on iOS 12 supports more than one face within the Setting menu labeled 'Face ID & Passcode.' Look for the 'Set up an Alternative Appearance' sub-menu to add a second look.

This is helpful for two reasons: You can either allow a partner to have access to your iPhone or iPad with Face ID, or you can add your alter ego to make sure Face ID unlocks your phone no matter what you look like today, tomorrow or the next day.

5. Siri Shortcuts can find your lost keys, more

• Siri Shortcuts allows you to assign phrases to tasks
• 'I lost my keys' can ring your Tile tracker to find keys
• 'Heading home' sends ETA notification to roommate, sets thermostat and fan, and brings up the fastest route via Apple Maps
• Gallery and library full of pre-configured Siri Shortcuts

Siri is smarter. If you set up Siri Shortcuts, a brand new app, It‘ll know that “I lost my keys” means to ring your Tile tracker. 

Sure, Tile is a handy gadget, but getting to the slow app is a pain when you've lost your keys. An integrated Siri is a game-changer for both Tile and our peace of mind.

Siri Shortcuts go far beyond this example. Apple allows for all sorts of formulas. The app can suggests coffee orders from the place you always order from, and nudge you to message contacts to tell them you're running late. 

There's also Kayak-based flight information you can call up via voice. By pressing the add to Siri button, you can then say “Travel plans” and Siri will read back information such as your hotel address.

Apple's IFTTT-like Siri Shortcuts app launched alongside the final iOS 12 software. However, not all shortcuts will be found in the new app. Some companies, like the aforementioned Tile, will host shortcuts within their own app, so look out for that.

6. Group FaceTime (now launching later)

• Group FaceTime for up to 32 people with dynamic UI
• Can use Animoji and Memoji in FaceTime
• Won't launch with the final software on day one

Group FaceTime is coming to iOS 12 with up to 32 participants, and you go directly from a group chat to a group FaceTime in the Messages app.

Update: Apple has delayed the launch of iOS 12 Group Notifications, according to release notes indicating that it'll come out this 'fall'. To us, that sounds like an iOS 12.1 launch – like Apple Pay, Apple Cash, AirPlay 2 and other features didn't make it live on day one in previous operating system updates.

People can drop in and drop out at any time. The interface is filled with tiles that can expand, and 'the roster' along the bottom for everyone else in the Group FaceTime chat. When people start to speak, their window gets bigger, even if they're in the bottom roster of participants. It works on iPhone, iPad and Mac, and you can even answer on the Apple Watch and HomePod with just audio.

Animoji is coming to FaceTime and Group FaceTime. You'll of course need to update to iOS 12 and an iPhone X, iPhone XS, iPhone XS Max or an iPhone XR to make that magic happen.

7. Screen time – using your iPhone less

• Reports give a weekly activity summary on how you use iOS 12
• Breakdown: ranks app usage, highest phone pick up times (and what app draws you in first), and apps that send you the most notifications
• Set self-imposed time limits via reminders and temporary app blocking
• Limit kids time in apps by category or individual apps via Family Sharing

Screen time is Apple's way of limiting your iPhone usage – calculating how much time you're spending on apps, which apps you use the most, and which apps are sending you the most notifications. Screen time doesn't lie.

For those without self-control, Apple has created app limits. You can set your own limit, with a notification letting you know when time is almost up. A 'Time is up' message will display when you've reached your self-imposed-Siri-assisted limit.

Parents can create limits for kids with Allowances, time-of-day-based downtime controls, and category controls. Education and essential message apps can also be greenlit thanks to an always-allowed settings. 

The best part? Setting limits for your kids uses Family Sharing, so you can manage it all remotely from your parental device – no need to get hold of your 12-year-old kid's phone to execute on these new iOS 12 controls.

8. Do Not Disturb goes visual in iOS 12

• Do Not Disturb during bedtime to hide visual display of notifications
• It offers a clean lock screen with only a reminder than DND mode is on

Apple has expanding its Do Not Disturb capabilities with a cleaner 'Do Not Disturb During Bedtime' mode. It'll silence not just the notification delivery sounds, but also the visual notifications clutter that can distract you when you're trying to sleep.

The lock screen remains clear until you unlock your iPhone in the morning. You can allow certain apps to break through, just like with DND mode right now. Apple refers to these as critical alerts, and they're opt-in.

We really like the solo DND notification hanging out on the lock screen. It's peaceful without distracting visual clutter at night and it reminds us that DND mode is on. All notched iPhones don't have the DND icon at the top, so it was always hard to tell before iOS 12.

9. Instant Tuning for axing notifications

• Instant Tuning to send future notifications silently or turn them off
• Siri can suggest which notifications to silence based on usage

Instant Tuning is an iOS 12 feature you'll love if you've ever gotten a notification from an app you always seem to dismiss (HQ trivia, breaking news alerts, etc), but don't have time to turn off future notifications in the many submenus of Settings. Apple is allowing you to control individual app notification profiles right from the lockscreen, without making you leave what you're doing.

Deliver Quietly is an option within Instant Tuning, and it'll allow you to choose to have notifications delivered silently Notification Center by default so you’re not interrupted by alerts on the lockscreen. It's a nice in between option.

Siri helps clean up your messy lock screen with notification delivery suggestions based on how you interact with notifications. Siri will understand which notifications it should deliver prominently and which ones to send to Notification Center. It's like iOS 12's version of 'clean up your desktop' system nudges.

10. New 'Measure' app and USDZ file format

• New USDZ file type dedicated at augmented reality
• Measure app replaces your old-fashioned measuring tape

'Measure' is getting its own AR app. It uses the iPhone's and iPad's sensors to measure objects in front of you, including suitcases, as shown in the first iOS 12 demo. All it takes it just tap-and-drag along the edges of the object on the screen. 

It also automatically detects the approximate dimensions of a photo – we've used it to buy a photo frame when we couldn't find the old-fashioned tape measure. iOS 12 to the rescue.

For AR developers, Apple has created a new file type called 'USDZ.' The company worked on USDZ with Pixar, and Adobe is supporting it, too. The file format can be shared across FIles, Mail, Messages and Safari. This is an important step forward for developers working on AR apps.

11. Apple News, Stocks, Voice Memos and CarPlay

• Apple News: new Browse tab and sidebar navigation
• Stocks: robust chart design and stock news integration
• Voice memos: easier menus, iCloud support, on iPad (finally)
• CarPlay: third-party app support, like Google News and Waze

Apps are indeed getting updates with iOS 12, starting with Apple News. There’s a new Browse tab and a sidebar for better navigation. Stocks is finally being rebuilt with a helpful news design, complete with charts and Apple news headline integrated into into stocks. The top stories will be business news curated by Apple News editors.

Voice Memos has come to iPad (as well as macOS), and it’ll get iCloud support, long overdue changes. Now you won't have to AirDrop conversations between devices in order to listen back. It'll also be easier to assign names to voice clips thanks to an overhauled Voice Memos redesign.

Apple Books is the new name for iBooks, allowing you to pick up reading where you left off and a new store interface to browse buy ebooks and audio books.

CarPlay now support third-party applications, with Waze and Google Maps appearing on-screen. Apple didn’t call out the Google-owned apps by name, but they were there on the screen. This was a major highlight of iOS 12.

12. Some NFC features work even with a dead battery

Apple delivers a clever trick with NFC, allowing you to use a metro pass or student ID in the Wallet app, even if your iPhone has a depleted battery.

Express Cards with power reserve ensures you're not stranded outside of a train station or a dorm room because there's still some low-level power in your phone. This is one of our biggest fears for users who routinely rly on NFC. 

Apple solves this, and though there's not enough power to give you visual feedback, when you touch your dead iPhone to an NFC-equipped terminal and you'll get a haptic response. And like magic, it works.

Just don't expect this new feature to work with Apple Pay. That requires Face ID, so you're going to have to possess a powered-on smartphone for that to work. 

13. Closing apps in multitasking mode is easier

For 12 and 13, iOS 12 fixes some irksome features we hated about iOS 11. They're the kind of problems only first-year iPhone X users will know about.

Closing open app windows in iOS 12 is easier. All you have to do is slide up on an open app to dismiss it from the multitasking menu. iOS 11 had us press down on the app until a bunch of red close icons appeared over top of each app, and then to tap those little red icons to dismiss the app. That was unpleasant.

14. Accidental screenshots are less common

Whenever we picked up our iPhone X, we'd always press the volume up and power button accidentally, which is the new 'take a screenshot' button combination on iPhone X. Apple has disabled this action whenever the phone screen is off. Our iOS 12 Photos app is no longer going to be filled with errant screenshots on the daily.

15. ARKit 2 and multiplayer gaming

• ARKit 2 allows for 'shared experiences' for AR multiplayer
• Lego, Fender, Adobe and Pixar are all working on AR with Apple

iOS 12 cements Apple as a leader in augmented reality (AR) with the arrival of groundbreaking multiplayer capabilities it calls Shared Experiences in ARKit 2.

These multi-user virtual environments allow for multiplayer gaming and experiences through iPhones and iPads. iOS 12 creates a more collaborative (and competitive) way of experiencing AR. 

Lego demoed a four-player game at WWDC in June, pledging that it was in when it came to Apple's “creative play possibilities.” Players were involved in building up an AR town. It was like The Sims was reimagined for the future.

ARKit 2 opens up AR to hundreds of millions of users, according to Apple, and that makes iOS 12 the broadest AR platform in the world. We got a taste of AR last year, but multi-user virtual environments bring more advanced tools and gameplay.

16. Camera app changes

Smart DHR is reserved for the A12 chip-equipped iPhone XS and iPhone XR phones, but iOS 12 also tweaks the default camera app on older devices with new tricks.

First, the Portrait Lighting mode (on newer iPhones with dual-lens cameras) looks more natural. The software will be able to define crisper edges by more effectively separating a person from a background scene. Apple is also allowing third-party apps to use the software to separate the foreground and background.

Second, it's the end of an era for our how to scan a QR code from your iPhone and iPad guide. The default camera in iOS 12 makes QR code reading automatic.

Third, while not part of the camera app, RAW photos can be imported and managed on an iPhone and iPad, with the bonus ability of editing RAW photos on an iPad Pro.

17. Photos app is now smarter with iOS 12

• Betters search and a new 'For you' tab
• Suggestions on who to share photo collections with
• Share back suggestions nudge friends to send their photos

The Photos app expands its search capabilities in an effort to compete with Google Photos. It recognizes photos by event now and indexes them accordingly. Apple says it takes into account over four million events, citing the Aspen Ideas Festival as a very niche example. 

This lets you search by event without any thankless manual tagging. Searching by event joins other smart suggestions, including filtering by people, places, and relative dates (searching via Siri works with all of these and is quite handy in our experience). 

The iOS 12 Photos search capabilities have also been broadened to let you use multiple search terms at once. Seeking "dog, animal" should weed out all of your gourmet hotdog results (this is a real problem we just tested at TechRadar).

A new tab 'For you' is a part of the iOS 12 Photos app, and it's filled with personalized suggestions on how to improve and share your pictures. Sharing has gotten smarter, letting you share at full-resolution and suggesting who to share these photos with.

Share back suggestions is a neat feature that lets you send photos to a friend, and it uses machine learning to poke them to send photos they took to you. Bonus: iOS 12’s photo sharing features uses iMessage's end-to-end encryption.

18. iPad switches to iPhone-like gestures

It's confusing owning both an iPad and a new iPhone X right now because returning to the home screen and opening Control Center are executed by different gestures.

The iPad takes cues from the iPhone X with the iOS 12 update: swipe up from the bottom to return home and check Control Center by pulling down from the top right-hand corner.

This may be a prelude to the iPad Pro 2018 that's rumored to include Apple's TrueDepth camera for Face ID, Animoji, and Memoji.

19. Siri translates new languages, learns motorsport scores

• Siri can now translate over 40 language pairs
• Motorsports scores, schedules and stats knowledge
• Food and celebrity facts knowledge expanded upon
• Password search not part of Siri's duties in iOS 12

Try asking Siri to translate something into Spanish. It works, and with iOS 12 it'll be even more robust with over 40 language pairs to aid your international travels.

So far, Siri will translate English (US) into Brazilian Portuguese, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Mandarin Chinese, Russian and Spanish. We really hope Siri will be able to translate foreign words into English. That may have to wait for iOS 13.

Siri will also learn the language of motorsports, per se. Asking for Formula One and NASCAR information will have Siri recite live standings, schedule, roster and stat info.

Food knowledge and celebrity facts are also part the Siri update. Right now, asking "How healthy is fish" gives a smatter of search results and requires opening up Siri. In the future, a specific answers about food will come from the USDA database, citing calories, vitamins, and how healthy the food is overall.

Password hunting is now within Siri's grasp, letting you search any saved passwords, according to Apple. This applies to both apps and websites.

20. Pinpoints 911 calls in the US

You won't have to worry about reciting your exact location when calling 911 in the US thanks to iOS 12. It'll pinpoint your whereabouts during emergency calls.

Apple says it'll "automatically and securely" share your iPhone location with first responders, but only with them and only during such emergencies. It's an effort to reduce response time, yet maintain your privacy.

21. iOS 12 compatibility

• Compatible with iPhone 5S, iPad mini 2 and iPad Air and newer
• 11 iPhones, 10 iPads, 1 iPod touch – the broadest iOS update yet 

iOS 12 will run on all devices that have its 64-bit chipset. It'll work on the iPhone 5S and newer, while the iPad Air and iPad mini 2 are the oldest iPads that are compatible with iOS 12. 

That's means this update is supporting 11 different iPhones, 10 different iPads, and the sole iPod touch 6th generation, still clinging to life. It’s the broadest support for a software update Apple has ever offered, and this is one of the biggest advantages Apple has over Android phones.

22. Weather app warns unhealthy air quality

Apple's official weather app contains new messaging that indicates air quality in cities. This is where Sunny, Cloudy, and Partly Cloudy messaging usually sits. iOS 12 puts it in a spot where you'll see it more regularly, as opposed to a separate air quality app.

The forecast New York City as of writing this, for example, tells us that the area has 'Unhealthy Air Quality for Sensitive Groups'. People with asthma therefore may want to stay indoors.

When did iOS 12 launch?

• June 4 – Developer beta launched (to paid Apple Developers)
• June 25 – iOS 12 public beta launched (it's free)
• September 17 – the final iOS 12 software (still free)

iOS 12 released on Monday, September 17 following the iPhone XS launch event, where Apple announced the official launch date. You can now download it.

There were actually three phases to the iOS 12 launch: one for developers, one for public beta testers, and one final version launching in mid-September.

First, the developer beta launched at WWDC and got more frequent refreshes, but it was early software. You have to be a registered Apple developer, which costs $99 for the annual membership. It's for people who like to tinker with Xcode and make apps.

Second, iOS 12 public beta launched on June 25 and was completely free. It was less problematic than the developer beta. The downside? It was always one step behind what the developers have access to.

Third, the final software, meant for everyone, launched on September 17. There's no need to jump through hoops to enroll in a beta. iOS 12 is now here in its final form, right in time for the iPhone XS release date.

That's a wrap for new iOS 12 features. 

The two biggest highlights were Grouped notifications and Group FaceTime with Memoji. Of course, Group FaceTime is not due to launch just yet, which means an inevitable iOS 12.1 and more updates for us to write about.

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Hey Venom, please don't suck - CNET

Commentary: As a lifelong fan of the character, I'm worried about the movie.

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Adam Driver hosts SNL, but Matt Damon steals show as Kavanaugh - CNET

Star Wars talk was kept to a minimum as politics, including Kanye West's pro-Trump remarks, were the talk of the show.

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Modern history: how the heritage business is embracing mobile tech

What is the IoT? Everything you need to know

What is the IoT?

The world around us is getting smarter and more connected as technology becomes a common sight in many areas.

Digital devices are not just in our pockets or our offices, but increasingly in our homes, buildings, and many places and cities. Helping collect, analyse and monitor data and information about their surroundings, these devices are able to communicate with each other through the ‘Internet of Things’.

Often shortened to the IoT, this worldwide, interconnected network allows devices to talk to each other and to us, delivering reams of data through smarter processes that will greatly increase the quality of life around the world. 

The Internet of Things is predicted to revolutionise the way in which we live our lives, with many industry experts tipping it to have the biggest technological impact since cloud computing, as more data than ever before can be collected, stored and analysed.

Many consumers are already enjoying the benefits of the IoT, as popular products such as the Amazon Echo smart speaker and the Nest thermostat from Google becoming common sights in homes around the world.

But the wider world can also benefit from the IoT, with businesses being able to streamline previously complex and data-hungry processes through improved automation, freeing up employees for other tasks. 

Public sector organisations such as hospitals can also use sensors to monitor patients more effectively, and local governments can monitor pollution, traffic levels, weather data, and much much more.

The IoT is growing fast, and is set to affect more and more areas of our lives in the years to come, resulting in a smart world that previously was only imaginable in science fiction.

IoT - the latest news and views

27/09 - "Most sophisticated" Torii botnet targeting IoT devices - The newly discovered malware strain is building the most sophisticated botnet ever seen...

21/09 - Privacy in the age of IoT: the future’s connected for VPN - Many have asked: do ‘normal people’ actually care about online privacy and VPNs? Yes, they do...

20/09 - How can the IoT transform the sports business? - Sports venues are getting a much needed upgrade from IoT technology...

19/09 - IoT malware grew significantly during the first half of 2018 - New research from Kaspersky Lab reveals how cybercriminals are targeting IoT devices...

06/08 - Why IBM is pushing to be the driving force in the IoT - The IoT and IBM could prove to be a match made in heaven...

03/08 - Qualcomm reveals major IoT push - Chipmaker unveils its plans to help power the global IoT..

18/07 - Vodafone expands IoT range for businesses - New surveillance and energy management tools bring IoT to more companies across the UK...

17/07 - Microsoft and GE team up for major IoT launch - Partnership will see major expansion of Industrial IoT from Azure and GE Digital...

13/06 - Vodafone: 5G smartphone uncertainty means focus on core network and IoT - Vodafone UK CTO says 5G will be a gamechanger, but smartphone innovation in the 4G era won't be matched...

04/06 - Vodafone and Deutsche Telekom test NB-IoT roaming - Two operators claim trial is massive step forward for cross-border IoT...

01/06 - LPWAN is the final piece in the mobile IoT puzzle - Vodafone's IoT business is focusing on services and partnerships rather than technology...

31/05 - GSMA: Mobile operators must change to grab $1.1tn IoT market - GSMA warns that just 5 per cent of IoT revenue will be found in connectivity, so mobile operators need to evolve...

17/05 - Mobile IoT networks to be a 'core component' of 5G - GSMA says NB-IoT and LTE-M deployments are paving the way for massive IoT powered by 5G...

08/05 - Nokia snaps up SpaceTime Insights to boost IoT drive - SpaceTime Insights acquisition allows Nokia to expand IoT work...

24/04 - Telcos exploring mixed approaches to IoT - Communications providers see the potential in IoT but are taking multiple paths, Ericsson report says...

23/03 - Operator partnerships could be the key to IoT success - O2 says it wants to do more than just dish out SIMs and connectivity...

22/03 - IoT security spend to reach £1bn in 2018 - Gartner figures suggests increased awareness of threats is boosting spend...

07/03 - New internet of things security code aims to stamp out Mirai and other threats - The government is taking action on IoT security...

22/12 - Why 2018 could be a decisive year for IoT - Major report highlights struggle between competing technologies over the next year...

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How shoemaker Taft uses Instagram to become the go-to dress shoe for NBA players off the court

Taft footwear has set itself apart as a well known e-commerce luxury shoe designer, most notably with young urban professionals, celebrities and NBA 

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Salesforce training program hopes to make finding diverse job candidates easy - CNET

The answer might well be a job fair that brings the candidates right to the event.

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iPhone XS vs. iPhone X: Just how much better is the new camera? - CNET

Looks like the same dual 12-megapixel cameras as last year. Trust us, they’re not.

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Britain’s Fleet Air Arm Museum is an awesome show of sea air power - CNET

Celebrating over 100 years of naval air power, the stunning museum has loads of biplanes, iconic jets, and legendary supersonic aircraft. Here's the full tour

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Sea Fury, Seafire, Sea King: A century of sea air power on display - CNET

With their special requirements, naval aircraft are different from their land-based counterparts. The UK's Fleet Air Arm Museum museum celebrates 100 years of these amazing planes.

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iPhone XS and iPhone XS Max reportedly hit with a charging bug

The brand new iPhone XS and iPhone XS Max handsets have only been in customers' hands for a week, but already a problem has emerged – namely that some models don't start charging when plugged into the mains if the screen is off when they're connected.

At the moment the issue is only anecdotal, but based on forum posts and YouTube videos it seems to be genuine, even if the scale of the problem isn't clear yet. We've tested charging behavior on our own iPhone XS in the TechRadar office and it works fine, so this isn't something that's affecting every handset out there.

Some users report it's phone inactivity that causes the charging cable not to be recognized, rather than the screen being off. In just about every case we've seen, charging carries on normally as soon as the phone gets unlocked or is interacted with.

It's a bug's life

Considering charging is only disabled under certain conditions, it seems that this is likely to be a software issue that Apple could fix with a quick iOS update, rather than having to recall millions of iPhones only days after the first batch got sent out. As yet Apple hasn't commented on the issue, but we'll post its response here if one arrives.

One possibility is that the bug is related to the restrictions Apple has placed around USB access to the iPhone with iOS 12. They're designed to make it more difficult to extract data from the device when the screen is locked, but it might have interfered with charging too.

For now though that's just speculation – we'll have to wait and see what the Apple engineers say when they've taken a look at the issue. Considering iOS 11 had its fair share of bugs, including autocorrect problems and unresponsive screens, Apple will want to get this one fixed as quickly as it can.

• iPhone XS drop test: see the Apple's 'most durable glass ever' fall from two stories

Via MacRumors

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Here's where Brazi Bites is today after its feeding frenzy on 'Shark Tank'

How these Shark Tank entrepreneurs transformed their class project idea into a national retail success

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NASA will send humans to Mars within the next 2 decades — but here's why the moon should come first

Former NASA Administrator Charles Bolden explained that the Trump Administration why sending humans back to the moon is important. 

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Grace Hopper confab offers optimism amid #MeToo, Supreme Court hearings - CNET

The annual Grace Hopper Celebration of women in computing coincided with a contentious round of Senate hearings over sexual assault accusations.

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Ford uses simulators to make race cars -- and your next car -- better - Roadshow

Ford uses technology to save money and speed up development, whether it's for NASCAR or family cars.

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Driving the $1.5M Nissan GT-R50 by Italdesign concept - Roadshow

The $1.5 million coupe might go into production in 2019.

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How Neil Armstrong became First Man in real life - CNET

His biographer talks about Armstrong's experiences as a pilot and astronaut, and why the new movie has a dark side to it.

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This NASA rocket plane launched the space age, and got left behind - CNET

The X-15, one of the most powerful aircraft ever built, was flying high back when the space agency was just getting under way.

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Best mobile games of 2018 - CNET

Looking for a new game to play on your phone or tablet? Here are our picks of the best mobile games.

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Making the holodeck a virtual reality - CNET

From Star Trek to PlayStation VR: here's how '90s science fiction influenced the headsets you can buy today, and shows where it's heading

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Best Netflix documentaries for October 2018 - CNET

A selection of mind-blowing original documentaries and docuseries you can stream this weekend.

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The 50 best iPhone games - CNET

If you're all about the iPhone, these are some of the best games you can play.

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Facebook, Twitter to Help Election Commission Check Fake News, Targeted Communication to Voters During Polls

OP Rawat said a committee under Senior Deputy Election Commissioner Umesh Sinha had called regional and local heads of Google, Facebook and Twitter and had asked them as to what they can do for ensuring purity of Indian elections.

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Future battlefields: how the wars of tomorrow will be fought

Google launches “Abtal Al Internet” initiative to teach children online safety habits

Aiming to encourage children to be confident online explorers while avoiding potential cybersecurity pitfalls, Google has launched “Abtal Al Internet” (Internet Heroes) initiative in Arabic, a free online platform full of learning resources and interactive activities on online safety for kids, parents and educators. This move seems in line with Google’s Be Internet Awesome initiative launched last year.

Children now access the internet at very young ages and are vulnerable to online predators and scams whether it be on social media or online games. To that effort, Abtal Al Internet is designed to teach kids the fundamentals of digital citizenship and safety and help them confidently navigate the online world by being smart, alert, strong, kind and brave. 

Also part of the online learning program is an online adventure, A’lam al Internet (Interland), that allows kids to develop good digital habits such as not sharing information online to those they don’t trust, building strong passwords, staying away from fake profiles and phishing scams, being kind to others online and reporting inappropriate content. 

According to Google’s survey, majority of teachers in the Arab world believe that online safety should be part of curriculum and have reportedly witnessed concerning online incidents. To that end, Abtal Al Internet aims to provide guidance for educators and parents to teach kids about digital safety in homes as well as classrooms through videos, activities and more.

The program has been developed in collaboration with online safety experts including Family Online Safety Institute, the Internet Keep Safe Coalition and ConnectSafely. It can be accessed here: g.co/abtalinternet

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The 44 best Android games of 2018 - CNET

These are unequivocally the best Android games on the planet.

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iPhone XS vs. XS Max vs. XR: Buy your best iPhone for 2018 - CNET

Your iPhone buying guide for Apple's three new phones.

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Ryder Cup live stream: how to watch Sunday's USA vs Europe singles golf wherever you are

And so it begins! If Sunday at the 2018 Ryder Cup is anywhere near as exciting as the first two days, then you're in a for a real treat today. It's time for the Day 3 Singles and we'll tell you how to live stream the Ryder Cup finale no matter where you live - it's even FREE to live stream if you're in the US.

It's surely Europe's for the taking? Four points up going into the Sunday of a Ryder Cup certainly suggests that, but the US team will inevitably have been watching videos of Brookline and Medinah on repeat for inspiration for an unlikely turn around.

Sunday sees every player of each team play in singles matchplay golf. That means there are 12 points in total to play for - more than enough for the USA to overturn the deficit. Justin Thomas and Rory McIlroy go out first at 12.05am local time (11.05am BST, 6.05am ET, 3.05am PT), with Bryson DeChambeau vs Alex Noren finishing things off. Leading the European troops at Le Golf National is Thomas Bjørn, desperate to wrestle back the Ryder Cup. But opposition captain Kim Furyk has no shortage of talent at his disposal to stop him.

Find out who will come out on top in 2018 by following the instructions below and tuning into a 2018 Ryder Cup live stream from wherever you find yourself in the world without paying a penny.

Watch all the singles games at RyderCup.com for FREE

Great news for golf fans in North America and Canada – the Ryder Cup's official site will be showing all the action for free. There may be some late nights/early mornings involved for US viewers to catch the action from France, but tuning in online should be a breeze wherever you are.

Live stream the Ryder Cup Day 3 from anywhere

How to watch the 2018 Ryder Cup: UK stream

• Improve your game with one of these best golf watches for 2018

Alternative ways to watch Ryder Cup golf in the US

There are number of options for watching the 2018 Ryder Cup golf if you're stateside:

- That live stream at RyderCup.com is the obvious way. Although you'll be limited to what the website wants to show you and we doubt the coverage will have the sheen and depth of most dedicated broadcasters.

- If you're at home and have cable, then NBC is the official broadcaster. The network will be splitting coverage between its main sports channels and it's specialist station, the Golf Channel, which is available from most cable providers. NBC has promised 220 hours of coverage to get right under the Ryder Cup bonnet this year. 

- If you're outside the US this weekend but want to access one of the above options, then you can use a VPN service to effectively transport your computer, phone or tablet's IP back to a US location.

Sunday's Ryder Cup singles schedule:

Rory McIlroy vs Justin Thomas starts at 12.05pm local time (11.05am BST, 6.05am ET, 3.05am PT) 

Paul Casey v Brooks Koepka starts at 12.17pm local time

Justin Rose v Webb Simpson starts at 12.29pm local time

Jon Rahm vs Tiger Woods starts at 12.41pm local time

Tommy Fleetwood vs Tony Finau starts at 12.53pm local time

Ian Poulter vs Dustin Johnson starts at 1.05pm local time

Thorbjorn Olesen vs Jordan Spieth starts at 1.17pm local time

Sergio Garcia vs Rickie Fowler starts at 1.29pm local time

Francesco Molinari vs Phil Mickelson starts at 1.41pm local time

Tyrrell Hatton vs Patrick Reed starts at 1.53pm local time

Henrik Stenson vs Bubba Watson starts at 2.05pm local time

Alex Noren vs Bryson DeChambeau starts at 2.17pm local time (1.17pm BST, 8.05am ET, 5.05am PT) 

Europe team for the 2018 Ryder Cup

• Paul Casey
• Tommy Fleetwood
• Sergio Garcia 
• Tyrell Hatton
• Rory McIlroy
• Francesco Molinari
• Alex Noren
• Thorbjørn Olesen
• Ian Poulter
• Jon Rahm
• Justin Rose
• Henrik Stenson

US team for the 2018 Ryder Cup

• Bryson Dechambeau
• Tony Finau
• Ricky Fowler
• Dustin Johnson
• Brooks Koepka
• Phil Mickelson
• Patrick Reed
• Webb Simpson
• Jordan Spieth
• Justin Thomas
• Bubba Watson
• Tiger Woods

Image courtesy of RyderCup.com

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20 ways to promote your website

We’re all familiar with the term ‘one hit wonder’, and many artists or groups have had huge success with a single song, then subsequently nosedived into commercial oblivion with their following tracks.

The lifecycle of a website can be disturbingly similar, at least to a point. There’s a kind of gravitational force which acts on all websites, pulling them down the search engine rankings as they’re replaced with newer, fresher, more successfully promoted sites.

If you want to defy this natural force, you’ll need a promotional plan, many clever tricks, and a concerted effort from your web development team. With that in mind, here’s a list of 20 ways in which you can promote your website, and keep it as visible as possible.

• We’ve chosen the best web hosting services right here

1. Be SEO smart

Most of the time, your website will be found via a search engine, and the vast majority of folks out there are using Google for search duties. And where your site is placed in terms of the rankings in any given search is heavily influenced by how Google matches the words and phrases that people are using to search. 

Consider altering the site’s content to include popular phrases that people are searching for, and find the magic words that you need using the Google AdWord keyword planner. This process – although there’s a lot more to it – is known as SEO, which stands for Search Engine Optimization.

2. Get reciprocal

The more links that external websites have to your site, and the more links you make to them, will be seen by search engines as a good reason to elevate your importance as a web location. 

Therefore if you have commercial relationships, you can strengthen those by exchanging links and building a flow of traffic between your mutual sites. This is especially useful if you are part of a bigger conglomerate, where the group site can link to all the subsidiaries without the need for permissions.

3. Facebook ads

If you want to sell door-to-door, then you need to turn up when people are at home, and the web equivalent of this is catching them on social media. Despite some recent flattening of growth, many millions of people still use Facebook, and this platform has the advantage that you can target users of a specific age or gender, those with certain interests, or those who follow particular brands or celebrities.

4. Connect with influencers

Perhaps you can’t get an A-list star to blog about your products or services, but maybe you could find a blogger who has a dedicated following that they can influence. 

Compared with celebrity endorsements, the costs will be minimal, and some might even cover a product for a free sample if asked.

5. Go beyond Google

Google may be the search giant of the world, but not everyone uses it. For example, in China, more surfers use Baidu. Submitting to all those other search engines aside from Google and Bing is a worthwhile exercise, especially if you do business in locations outside of the US and Europe. 

Instead of submitting to each engine in turn, use a tool like Submit Express to hit a large number in a single operation.

6. Use YouTube

The right video on YouTube can rapidly attract tens of thousands of views, and can subsequently generate links in Facebook and Twitter. Even if it’s just a recording of a seminar speech or something made to promote a new product line, it’s all worth placing on YouTube to create interest and attract visitors to your website.

7. Be adaptable

Tracking and analyzing information from your website will tell you where visitors typically enter, and the pages they most often access. You can then concentrate on enhancing the more popular areas of your site – and deprioritize the sections which see less traffic – and that should hopefully see your visitor count grow. Not only that, but those who do visit will be more likely to come back, elevating your status with search engines.

8. Use Reddit

Modestly labelled as the ‘front page of the internet’, any news story or press release from your company should be put on here, with links to bring people back to your site. 

However, be advised that Reddit users can take a dislike to anything perceived as overtly corporate, so be careful about how you position content and interact with the denizens of the site. 

9. Be a community player

As a representative for your business, you might want to join appropriate Facebook and Google+ groups, so that you can tap into what they’re thinking, and how they react to product launches and promotions.

10. Be professional

If you post images on your website or social media, then make sure they’re really good quality ones, and even consider having them link to the full resolution original. 

The same goes for video footage. Avoid portrait recordings made by a phone with no image stabilization, at the very least.

11. Answer questions

People love online experts who can answer questions, so be one of them. There are numerous question-and-answer forums run by the likes of Quora, Yahoo, and so on, which are all free to join. 

You might also consider adding a question page to your site. You could then take the best answers, and use them to construct a FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions).

12. Create infographics

Infographics are those charts which you see here and there about the web, which graphically illustrate an interesting trend or the breakdown of a market by percentages. Making one that relates to your business, or the market that it operates in, and then distributing this infographic is an excellent way to get visitors.

13. Incorporate a blog

This is a method that both Google and Microsoft (and many others) employ, where they have senior staff blog about new or interesting products that they’re working on. 

Visitors react better to people than corporate entities, and personalizing product development, in particular, can be highly influential. Often this is a much better way to release company news, rather than an official press release.

14. Use Google My Business

This is most useful if you run a local business where customers can physically come to your office or store to collect products, or engage in personal interaction. The Google My Business tool allows your company to appear on a Google Map search so that you can be found easily by anyone looking for you. 

A nifty added benefit of being on here is that if your company name is searched via Google, the result returned will also bring up a map showing where you are.

15. Get a webmaster account

Most search engines have special accounts for those who run websites, and once you have this connection with them, you can use it to interact with the company about how you might improve your search ranking. 

A Google account, for example, is an excellent way to make sure that the site is indexed correctly, and isn’t being ignored for some spurious reason.

16. Use email marketing

A timely reminder to previous customers or a nudge to potentially new ones is an effective way to stimulate web traffic. It’s also a great idea to include links to new and interesting content within the marketing email, stimulating the recipient to visit. 

Just make sure that those who get the emails have a means to decline receiving any further messages, or you’ll get a reputation as a spammer.

17. Cross-marketing

Once you have a web presence up and running, make sure that the web address is clearly visible on all stationery, printed promotional materials, giveaway pens, T-shirts or other merchandize. 

The more places that your web address is visible, the greater the chances that new folks will see the URL and decide to visit.

18. Have an email signature

All company emails should have a branded signature, and in that information, a link to the website should be included. By doing this, you ensure that any email which is forwarded to another person will include the link, and allow the recipient to click through to your site with the minimum of effort.

19. Invest in search engines

Search engine marketing allows you to promote the position you will appear at on a search, and those links that are present on the first page of results will get the majority of traffic for any given keyword.

Paying for a sponsored link enables this to happen, assuming you pay more than your competitors for each link that is clicked. Depending on the keyword, each click might cost you very little or a good bit more, but the fact that most large companies use this method demonstrates that it’s an effective marketing strategy. 

20. Use Wikipedia

Most companies have a Wikipedia page, and those that don’t need to make one. 
Not only is this a good place to chart the growth of the firm and how it compares to competitors, but it can also provide a good linkage to the main website that anyone researching a subject related to your business might run into.

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Intel, ESL and the future of esports in the UK

Last week, over 300 leading figures from sports, technology and esports attended the biggest esports business conference in Europe: ESI London. During the two-day conference, the esports industry’s best and brightest took part in discussions and debates surrounding the most pressing issues facing their field. 

The primary focus: what does the future hold for the thriving esports industry? An economy which, according to Newszoo’s 2018 Global Esports Market Report, is expected to be worth almost one billion dollars in the coming year. That’s a year-on-year increase of a whopping 38%. 

We caught up with Intel’s UK gaming & esports lead Scott Gillingham, ESL COO Rob Black and ESL’s UK managing director James Dean at EGX 2018 to chat about where they see esports heading in the next few years and why the UK has fallen behind the rest of the world. 

A brief history of esports

Esports (or electronic sports) are professional, organized video games competitions. In other words, people play videogames against one another competitively, often for large sums of money and prestige.

While the assumption is that esports are only a recent phenomenon, in reality the first esports competition was held back in 1972, when Stamford University students competed in a Spacewar tournament. But, while the quiet rumbling of future craze were present, the 80s focused more on beating high scores and enjoying videogames as entertainment rather than something you could make a career out of.

However, as gaming became more popular, the '90s became the first decade when esports (which wasn’t a well-known term then) began to really take off, with companies such as Nintendo and Sega holding professional gaming tournaments. This is also when we began to see the money becoming a factor in professional gaming - people were no longer merely playing for kudos but for $15,000 jackpots. 

It was from the noughties that we began seeing what we now know to be modern-day esports. As streaming platforms such as Twitch and YouTube took off, people began to show interest in not only playing videogames but watching them too. In addition, prize pools got eye-wateringly large. The Dota 2 tournament earlier this year had a prize pool of over $25 million, making it the largest in esports history, and the total prize pool for esports tournaments in 2017 was $112 million. 

And this is only the start, as Newzoo predicts that global esports revenue will reach $906 million in 2018, with North America account for $345 million of the total and China for $164 million. 

In addition, Newszoo’s report suggests this figure will grow to $1.4 billion by 2021. But how does the esports industry expect to achieve this growth and where does the UK fit in?

Gathering the Intel

Two of the UK’s major driving forces behind esports are Intel and ESL, who partnered up 12 years ago to create the Intel Extreme Masters, which is the longest running global pro gaming tour in the world.

The Intel Extreme Masters originally started with an attendance of 500 people in 2006, but by 2017 that attendance had grown to 173,000 people - a staggering 53% increase from the previous year. In addition, this year’s IEM had a viewership of 1.8 million in the UK.

“One of key things is supporting esports and helping esports grow and I think our partnership does that very well,” Intel’s UK gaming and esports lead Scott Gillingham told TechRadar.  “It's our way of giving back to the community - by putting on big esports tournaments.”

"Being able to sponsor these big events and creating those events with ESL is something the community love, appreciate and get behind.”

However, Gillingham acknowledges the UK esports industry has a way to go to catch up with its US and Chinese cousins despite being the fifth largest gaming market in the world.

"You look at some of the top four - the US, Asia etc - they have very big game business but they have big esports leagues,” Gillingham explains. “I think a lot of that has been the investments into those leagues and maybe in the UK we've had that stigma about esports and it's kind of been a little bit behind because of that. But it's now growing. 

“This year has been a big growth in esports. We've had ESL one - again partnered with Intel we brought that tournament with ESL to the UK. I think people are a bit dubious whether it was going to be a big tournament and the whole tournament sold out in 24 hours. It was the fastest selling tournament for ESL globally and over 24,000 people attended that event. So yes, it's a little bit behind compared to other countries but it is growing and we are seeing that develop.”

It’s all well and good to appeal to appeal to those who are already gamers and who understand the industry however, as esports grows, the gap between those who ‘get it’ and those who don’t arguably grows increasingly wider. That’s where influencers, or gaming personalities, play a major role. 

“We have Sacriel, JackFrags and the TechChamp [among others],” Gillingham explains. “That's another route of getting a message out there and also showing people that gaming is fun.”

Growth spurt

So how do you bridge the gap and encourage young people to pursue a career in esports? “There's a lot of perception to it,” ESL COO Rob Black explains. “I think actually this year is probably a tipping point for us.”

ESL has been trying to do just that, working with Intel on a campaign called Memories which showcases videos on how the biggest names in esports got to be where they are now.

“Sujoy is on there and he was like the first pro gamer from the UK - that was in 2000,” Black tells TechRadar. “People don't really know that we've got a heritage in esports and I think it's important for us to acknowledge the fact that we have history there, and that we have a lot more talent and a lot more people in esports globally than is obvious.”

The Memories campaign is part of ESL and Intel’s goal to get more young people involved in esports and to understand the industry involves more roles than being a gamer. Alongside this, ESL UK ran a Future Generations competition at EGX 2018, which seen the company searching for the best young talent in esports commentating. 

“The only way they can [progress]  is if they're being given a platform,” ESL’s UK managing director James Dean explains. “You can't go from playing in a bedroom to playing on a stage. You have to progress so that's where the importance of grassroots is.”

“We've been working with universities in the UK to help students to understand that working in esports is way more than just being a player,” Black continues. “We have 40 people in ESL UK at the moment and we've got accountants who like gaming, a paralegal who likes gaming, so there's a lot there that's not just your standard run-of-the-mill 'I could be a player or a manager’.”

Grassroots is at the heart of sustaining a skyrocketing industry such as esports, especially given the industry is so new that it’s difficult to estimate where exactly it will go in the future. So how do you evaluate which steps to take? 

“The community dictates that,” Black tells us. “In that regard, we will always follow what people want.”

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Things we are excited to see in Mate 20 launch in October

Apple released the iPhone XS last weekend with a price tag that can run as high as AED 6,000 (US$ 1,600) and as good of a phone as it is, you might want to wait some time before committing that much money. There are tons of new Android phones being announced in October from the likes of LG, Samsung, HMD and Huawei. And based on recent leaks, the Huawei Mate 20 is shaping up to be the phone to beat this year.

Where the iPhone XS and the Galaxy Note 9 were minor upgrades from last years models with not much in terms of innovation, the Huawei Mate 20 is looking to be brand new handsets with technologies that will power the next generation of smartphones.

Let’s take a look at some of the features that are expected on the Mate 20 series based on the recent leaks leading up to the launch in mid-October.

Design

According to a leak on Weibo, the Huawei Mate 20 series might feature a smooth and symmetrical body This source also suggests that the Huawei Mate 20 series features the world’s first design where the speaker and microphone are integrated into the USB Type-C port.

Other than that, some "official marketing pictures" have been picked up by WinFuture and show three color options, with black and blue finishes showing up alongside Huawei's stylish Twilight, two-tone finish.

There is a feature which is noticeably absent - a fingerprint scanner. This could indicate that the Huawei Mate 20 Pro could come with face recognition technology as its main biometric function, but according to the same source it will also feature an in-display fingerprint scanner.

Chipset

The Huawei Mate 20 Pro will pack the new Kirin 980 chipset which was the world’s first officially announced 7nm silicon and boast an octa-core setup. We’ve covered this new chipset from Huawei claims is 75% faster than its previous generation as far as the CPU is concerned and 46% faster when it comes to the GPU. 

Besides being very speedy, power efficiency is supposedly 57% better on the processor and an extremely impressive 178% better on the the GPU. These advancements should make the Kirin 980 faster and a lot more efficient.

Camera

Huawei has continuously pushed the boundaries with camera technology on their smartphones. The Hauwei Mate 20 series is expected to continue with the three camera setup found on the Huawei P20 Pro released earlier this year. There are bound to be improvements which are most likely be on the software and AI side.

The latest leak suggests that the Mate 20 Pro could have the best camera on a smartphone with the highest DXO Mark score of 116. That's a full seven points higher than the previous top score of 109, achieved by the Huawei P20 Pro, but since the Mate 20 Pro is likely to have an upgraded version of that phone’s camera it’s believable.

Wireless Supercharging

One feature that has been lacking on Huawei phones is wireless charging and looks like Huawei is set to make a grand entry with that. An image posted on Weibo shows Huawei's wireless charger LZ80 with a 20W output.

To put things in perspective, Samsung's latest wireless charger has an output of 9W.  Whilst Qi wireless charging standard only supports up to 15W, it is believed there will be some kind of custom chipset in Huawei devices that would allow it to take advantage of the charger’s full power. This could be built into the Kirin 980, meaning the Mate 20 will be able to use the full 20W, while other Qi compatible devices will only have access to 15W.

Huawei is expected to reveal the Mate 20 series on October 16th in London. TechRadar will be there to cover the event and report about any of the above and all other exciting announcements from the launch.

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Real Madrid vs Atletico Madrid live stream: how to watch the La Liga derby online

Real Madrid have a chance to avenge the 4-2 Super Cup defeat to local rivals Atletico Madrid last month – and you can live stream the latest Madrid derby simply by following the instructions in this guide. 

Real have so far adapted pretty well to life after Ronaldo. Gareth Bale even commented that his teammates are now playing with more freedom without CR7, and the fine form of the Welshman and fellow forwards Benzema, Isco and Asensio suggests he may be right. 

Under Diego Simeone, Atleti have been formidable at stifling this kind of attacking talent and keeping pace with their city foes, and they'll once again need to be at their organisational best in El Derbi. They also have plenty of threat to pose themselves, with Diego Costa up against Sergio Ramos sure to be an entertainingly physical battle at the Bernabeu.

The Madrid derby is always one of the highlights of the La Liga season so make sure you don't miss out on a live stream of Real Madrid vs Atletico Madrid tonight. Read on to find out how you watch wherever you are in the world. 

• Find out how to watch every single Premier League game this season

Use a VPN to watch La Liga football from anywhere

If you're in a country that's not showing the El Derbi on TV, don't sweat. With a VPN service you can connect to channels from a country that will have the match. Follow the instructions below and live stream this La Liga clash wherever you are in the world. 

How to stream Real Madrid vs Atletico Madrid live in the UK 

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Voice unlock and more advanced tech tipped for the Huawei Mate 20 Pro

As the official October 16 launch date of the Huawei Mate 20 Pro approaches, we're hearing more and more about what to expect from Huawei's latest premium handset. The latest leaks suggest the phone will come packed with some cutting-edge mobile tech.

According to internal presentation slides obtained by Israeli tech site Girafa, we're going to see something called Bone Voice ID, which will use bundled earphones and bone conduction technology to verify users based on their voice. There will also be an in-display fingerprint scanner on the front of the phone, which we've heard about before.

The slides also show off the Nano SD memory card format that Huawei supposedly has in the works – the primary difference between this proprietary tech and standard memory cards seems to be a smaller size, but we'll no doubt hear more on October 16.

Specs appeal

There's also mention of the smartphone specs we've seen mooted before: a huge 6.9-inch screen, the Kirin 980 chipset, 6GB of RAM and a 4,200mAh battery. It looks like Huawei is going to pack everything it's got into the Pro version of the Mate 20.

We've also got confirmation of the specs of the standard Huawei Mate 20 – a 6.53-inch screen, 4GB of RAM and a 4,000mAh battery. This smartphone looks set to arrive without the in-display fingerprint scanner, just a standard one around the back, but both phones will have Voice ID as well as an advanced face unlock mechanism.

Finally, it looks like both the Mate 20 and the Mate 20 Pro will have a 24-megapixel, triple-lens camera pixel camera around the back. Of course the Huawei Mate 20 Lite has already been unveiled, the lower-end of the three handsets.

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Chelsea vs Liverpool live stream: how to watch today's Premier League football online

The first major face-off of the fledgling Premier League title race is here as Chelsea take on Liverpool just three days after meeting in the Carabao Cup, and you can live stream what should be a pulsating 90 minutes by following this guide.

Chelsea have adapted to the more attacking style of manager Maurizio Sarri faster than many expected, but drew a blank for the first time last week in a drab 0-0 at West Ham. With Eden Hazard in excellent form, the Blues have one of the biggest threats in the league but Sarri needs his strikers to start firing too – Morata and Giroud have just one goal between them so far this season.

So it's opponents Liverpool who are now the only side in the Premier League with a 100% record. The Reds have breezed to the top of the league with the explosive Salah - Firmino - Mane strikeforce propped up by an in-form James Milner and formidable partnership between Gomez and Van Dijk in defence.

Will Klopp's men be too strong for The Blues or is the Premier League's last remaining 100% record about to be toppled? Find out by grabbing a Chelsea vs Liverpool live stream via the instructions below – and don't forget, we've got the rest of your live stream options covered for the season in our Premier League watching guide.

Use a VPN to watch Premier League football from anywhere

If you're in a country that's not showing a televised Premier League match, or if you're not by a TV come kick-off time for the big games – don't sweat. With numerous online channels and, crucially, the option of a VPN service, you can tune into this televised fixture no matter where you are in the world. And best of all, it's really easy to do: 

How to stream Chelsea vs Liverpool live in the UK 

How to watch Chelsea vs Liverpool: US live stream 

How to watch Chelsea vs Liverpool: Canada live stream 

How to watch Chelsea vs Liverpool: Australia live stream

How to watch Chelsea vs Liverpool: New Zealand live stream 

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