Friday, November 30, 2018
కూకట్‌పల్లిలో అక్క తరఫున ప్రచారం.. డైలామాలో జూనియర్ ఎన్టీఆర్?
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Janhvi Kapoor: కరణ్ జోహార్ ఆఫీస్‌కు విజయ్ దేవరకొండ, జాన్వీతో చిత్రానికి సై!
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2.0 Piracy: 12వేల వెబ్‌సైట్లకు మద్రాస్ హైకోర్టు షాక్
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‘పల్లె కోయిల’ బేబీ పాటకు కుంచే రఘు స్వరాలు.. అద్భుతహ:
from Telugu Cinema News | తెలుగు సినిమా న్యూస్ | Latest Telugu Cinema News in Telugu https://ift.tt/2ztSbve
ఉరేసుకుని ఆత్మహత్యకు పాల్పడిన సినీ నటి రియా
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ఉరేసుకుని ఆత్మహత్యకు పాల్పడిన సినీ నటి రియా
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ప్రభాస్ స్థానంలో విజయ్ దేవరకొండ... ఆమె ద్వారా సెట్ చేశారా?
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అతడితో ఎఫైర్ నిజమే... మరో హింట్ ఇచ్చిన హాట్ బ్యూటీ!
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భళా!! శంకర్ భళా!! ప్రతిభకు పట్టం కడుతూ సెలబ్రిటీ ట్వీట్స్
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ప్రభాస్ స్థానంలో విజయ్ దేవరకొండ... ఆమె ద్వారా సెట్ చేశారా?
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ఆర్ఆర్ఆర్: రాజమౌళి నుంచి మరో అనౌన్స్‌మెంట్!
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AI as banking’s WD-40: five examples of a frictionless future
The term ‘financial services’ conjures images of people in dark suits in tall buildings, when in reality it underpins the smooth running of your day-to-day life. Your daily customer experience in fact. It is fast moving towards a future of full integration to the point where it’s almost invisible.
Consider how things have changed over the last 20 years. Chip-and-pin was only introduced in 2004, and contactless payments have only recently really been widely adopted, enabling an era of not only frictionless payments but also travel. Mobile banking has come on leaps and bounds, now using biometric authentication on your phone and looking to do away with the card reader machines of the past. Even your gaming experience has changed, allowing you to seamlessly buy custom skins on Fortnite in a couple of clicks. Just imagine what the next 20 years has in store!
For this ‘invisible’ vision to come true, financial services need to work on one main challenge: removing friction, be it from sales, complaints, or whatever transaction the customer wants. And the way this is achieved (at least in part) is through applied AI. This is no easy task. It takes a huge amount of data aggregation, modelling, anticipation, and risk management, not to mention a completely connected network of customer and internal touchpoints to be truly realised through applied AI. But the benefits could be in the orders of magnitude. Banking is in essence the business of managing risk, and spending on artificial intelligence does sound like a risky venture. Yet AI in fact presents a very simple business argument, especially to the ‘tier ones’ or ‘encumbants’: invest now, save later.
To help paint a picture, here are five examples of where and how artificial intelligence and advanced analytics will help make future processes seamless:
1. Mortgage selection, payment and settlement processes
This area requires a fundamental shift in how we think of ‘the customer experience’ being delivered. The experience should be built around ‘having a new house’ (an exciting and joyous experience) versus the mortgage application process (a lengthy and painful process that needs to almost disappear). AI could, for example, allow banks to measure risk and calculate credit scores in advance so that the application process is already 99% complete before the customer is asked to input anything. Imagine logging onto your lender or brokerage and already having all of your provisional quotes lined up with no input from you!
2. Wealth maximisation and spending patterns
Everyone wants saving and growth to be as simple as possible. Making a customers’ wealth maximisation plan easier to set up, monitor and achieve would be another great form of applied AI. Surely an AI could optimise the combination of income, savings and taxation to give you the maximum wealth across an annualised period. The seamless customer experience would be that it would be easy to set up in line for your objective for the year, monitor what you need, and the banks would be able to offer advice throughout the year e.g. “We think your spending patterns could be improved, here’s how…” This feature could even become a point of competition between banks, with each touting their top-performing products to help customers hit their wealth maximisation goals.
3. Mortgage protection
Banks can come under pressure from regulators to accommodate customers that might default on their mortgages. However, doing-so without putting in preventative measures results in a bad time for all parties. So, banks need to know if and when this might happen. By training the AI (i.e. machine learning) using the previous behavioural patterns of the entire historical customer loan book – including those who have defaulted – banks are able to recognise similar behaviours well in advance of the event. The data here is more ‘operational’ than ‘transactional’, e.g. looks at how regular payments are, if ahead of time or late, how much etc. rather than based on current account spend. This provides banks with the ability to engage and consult with the customer way ahead of time, and put in place solutions before the problem comes to a head. As an added bonus, they’ll also be able to demonstrate to the regulator that they’re doing so to the best of their abilities.
4. Complaints and customer handling
Using predictive analytics to identify when a customer is going to complain is invaluable. It augments the bank’s intelligence. Not only does it highlight internal issues, it allows them to fix or at least get in front of them before the complaint is logged, e.g. by refunding money prior to receiving an overdraft fee complaint and notifying the customer of this by text. This not only helps build a healthy customer relationship, it also saves money for the bank in the long term by mitigating account closures due to poor service. What’s more, analytics can also be used to monitor the emotional states of any callers, group them into personality and emotional states, and then offer guidance to the call handler on how best to steer the conversation.
5. Fraud detection
If you think about fraud detection, AI is already being largely employed to provide real time checks on fraud patterns. This used to be a lengthy process – taking many days, weeks, or even months through an application process. Now, using machine learning you can detect patterns very quickly. The machine’s decisions are based on historic patterns to detect when there is a likely fraud. And while it will never achieve 100% detection rate it affords a much quicker response to those likely outliers that need investigation.
What’s more, once the machine has done so, you can also interrogate how the machine arrived at that decision (at least to a certain degree). While banks are coming on leaps and bounds with this application of AI, there are still terribly ‘clunky’ practices such as video feeds, photocopying and so on involved in the process. As and when banks are able to generate a purely digital decision and arrive at that purely programmatically, that is when you will be able to interrogate each individual aspect of the decision making and arrive at ever more accurate detections. This all means that our money is in ever safer hands.
It’s important that financial services are able to look beyond the hype and recognise applied AI for the business opportunity it presents. These five examples alone warrant enough of a reason to at least think twice, and with the wealth of fintechs on the scene, artificial intelligence and our ‘invisible’ future is beginning to look a lot more realistic.
Richard Hamerton-Stove, Principal at Capgemini Invent
- We've also highlighted the best AI platforms for business
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Get a £55 Amazon.co.uk Gift Card with this cheap broadband deal from TalkTalk
When it comes to the competitive world of internet providers, what's even better than a cheap broadband deal? Nothing, right? Well, what about a cheap broadband deal that comes with a £55 Gift Card that you can spend at Amazon.co.uk, Tesco, Argos or Ticketmaster? Oh yeah, now we've got your attention...
This offer that is EXCLUSIVE to TechRadar readers only, comes courtesy of TalkTalk who is offering the Gift Card alongside its Fast Broadband package. That's average speeds of 11Mb, no activation or set up fees and just £19.95 per month. While that's already a rather good deal TalkTalk is also throwing in this £55 Gift Card that you can use at your choice of those popular retailers.
To get your hands on this deal you'll have to go to this GiftCloud page and enter your email - you won't be eligible if you head straight to the TalkTalk site. You will then be guided through the process of getting your new broadband with that added £55 incentive. That page also has full terms and conditions of the offer.
Scroll down to see this deal in full or go to our broadband deals page if this one just doesn't quite fit what you're looking for. But keep in mind that this offer is only available on the TalkTalk Fast Broadband package.
TalkTalk's Amazon.co.uk Gift Card deal in full:
Are there any cheaper broadband deals around?
We're glad you asked, because there's yet another TechRadar exclusive internet plan from Black Friday that's still just about running. And we think you might like it...
It's with provider Onestream, and the headline is that it costs a mere £9.99 per month! Simply put, it's the cheapest broadband deal we've EVER seen. It's still going, but we know that there are less than 200 to claim, so you may need to hurry if the idea of £9.99 a month internet sounds like something you'd be up for - head here for all the details and to sign up.
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‘పల్లె కోయిల’ బేబీ పాటకు కుంచే రఘు స్వరాలు.. అద్భుతహ:
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Riyamikka Suicide: ఉరేసుకుని ఆత్మహత్యకు పాల్పడిన సినీ నటి రియా
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భళా!! శంకర్ భళా!! ప్రతిభకు పట్టం కడుతూ సెలబ్రిటీ ట్వీట్స్
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భళా!! శంకర్ భళా!! ప్రతిభకు పట్టం కడుతూ సెలబ్రిటీ ట్వీట్స్
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2.O మూవీ రివ్యూ అండ్ రేటింగ్: గ్రాఫిక్స్‌తో ఇంద్రజాలం
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ఆర్ఆర్ఆర్: రాజమౌళి నుంచి మరో అనౌన్స్‌మెంట్!
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WhatsApp and Google directed to store UPI-based payment data exclusively in India
The National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) has asked Google and WhatsApp to share plans regarding how they intend to store all UPI-based payment data exclusively within India. At present, both companies do store all payment data in India, but they also keep a mirror copy abroad.
According to an ET report, the NPCI has sent letters to both Google and WhatsApp asking them to comply with guidelines set by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI). Storage of data of Indian users on their respective UPI-based payment apps exclusively within the country was made mandatory by RBI, and the deadline set by the bank was October 15.
“Companies say they store payments data in India, but are keeping a mirror copy abroad. India, however, is looking at keeping everything locally,” a senior government official told ET.
While Google hasn’t said anything specifically about the RBI regulation, its spokesperson in a statement to ET said, “We are working to increase our data residency capacity in India to support our partners that are regulated by RBI.”
WhatsApp, on the other hand, had earlier said that it has started storing payments data in India, but there was no clarity on whether the data is being stored ‘exclusively’ within the country.
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ఆర్ఆర్ఆర్: రాజమౌళి నుంచి మరో అనౌన్స్‌మెంట్!
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Some users report static waves on OnePlus 6T display
A handful of OnePlus 6T users have reported on the company forums that they are affected by a display issue that is causing occasional static waves on the screen. There seems to be no definitive trigger.
A thread on the OnePlus forum has multiple users reporting this issue. It seems to be sporadic, but one user manage to capture it and has uploaded a video to YouTube.
The glitch manifests as a short burst of static-like waves on a small section of the screen. While there doesn't seem to be any serious problem with the device, the company will have to investigate.
Users on the forum are discussing likely causes and solutions, but it seems to be happening differently for everyone. The glitch is seen on both on the phone’s lock screen as well as when the device is unlocked. A factory reset doesn't seem to be solving the problem.
The OnePlus 6T was launched in early November in India, and also got a new Thunder Purple colour variant recently. We have been using the phone as a primary driver, but we haven't experienced such issue with our unit. We have reached out the brand about the issue, expect an update as soon as we hear from them.
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Samsung Galaxy S10 to Have 2 In-Display Fingerprint Sensor Suppliers: Report
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కొణిదెల బ్యానర్‌లో అఖిల్.. రాంచరణేనా, ఉత్కంఠ రేపుతున్న క్రేజీ కాంబినేషన్!
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‘ఎన్టీఆర్ బయోపిక్’లో ఆర్ఎక్స్ 100 హీరోయిన్?
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వినాయక్ చివరి చిత్రం ఇదేనా.. నందమూరి హీరోతో!
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'రాక్షసన్'.. ఉత్కంఠ రేపుతున్న నితిన్ నిర్ణయం!
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Microsoft Office 365 Icons Updated With New Design to Reflect Cloud-Oriented Approach
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Samsung Galaxy S10 to Have 2 In-Display Fingerprint Sensor Suppliers: Report
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This OnePlus 5T Limited Edition is a perfect memorabilia for Star Wars fanatics
Star Wars, the iconic series that took off in the year 1977 has a long history attached to humanity when you look at it today. Created by George Lucas, the space opera has defined modern technology in ways that could not have been fathomed back then. With the second film in the sequel trilogy, hitting theaters on Friday, OnePlus has launched a Star Wars Edition of their latest flagship smartphone, OnePlus 5T.
OnePlus’ homage to the series is an interesting take on the whole franchise. Here is a company of modern times welcoming back Luke Skywalker, 30 years after the events of Return of the Jedi. And if that itself doesn’t give goosebumps to the Star Wars fan in you, their Star Wars Edition OnePlus 5T surely will. While this special edition has design tweaks, the hardware that comes with it is the same as that of the normal 5T. You can read our full review of OnePlus 5T here.
In a galaxy far, far away
The OnePlus 5T comes in a black box with the markings of Star Wars The Last Jedi, OnePlus 5T in red and white accents. It's a special edition and the company has made it feel just that. Pop-out the cover and you will see the smartphone in all its glory.
The OnePlus 5T Star Wars Edition has a Sandstone white finish on the rear which is how it is placed inside the box, surrounded by the dark side.
It just feels like a surreal mix of Star Wars legacy and smartphones that every fan of the franchise will feel nostalgic, hyperactive and happy when unboxing this special edition. This experience is elated even further when one removes the sheet on which the phone rests. Underneath, there’s a custom-made case for the phone which resembles a miniaturized version of Kylo Ren’s mask.
The case feels sturdy in hand, like one of those Otterbox or Spigen armor cases. It's one thing to have just another armor case to protect your Star Wars edition smartphone, but having this case is just straight-up pizzazz. It has Star Wars The Last Jedi stamped on the inside and the OnePlus insignia engraved on the bottom-right side.
With all of this, you will probably feel overwhelmed just like the fan inside me did. Next item inside the box is the proprietary Dash Charger in a mix of white and red. Things don’t end up there. There’s the usual paperwork followed by a OnePlus Star Wars sticker which looks amazing, ready to go on the laptop.
OnePlus seems to have left no stones unturned with the Star Wars Edition of OnePlus 5T and you will be thrilled to unbox it just like us.
Design and build quality: How's it like?
OnePlus 5T Star Wars Edition treads the line between the dark and light side of the force. The back of the smartphone has a similar finish to that of the Sandstone Black variant of previous OnePlus phones, only white. It’s a rough white finish with the OnePlus logo beneath the ceramic fingerprint sensor in metallic black and the Star Wars emblem in red outline.
On the right edge, the lock/unlock button and the SIM slot have a black accent while on the left only the volume rockers are black colored. The alert slider on the left edge has a red accent (which OnePlus calls Red Mineral) to it that looks really cool.
Now, one might think as to why OnePlus went with the White and Red combination here. One reason for it is that the back of the Star Wars Edition is a reference to the light side of the Force while the all black front more than makes it up to the dark side.
The second reason is that the Sandstone White finish on the rear has got to do with a new planet that will be introduced in The Last Jedi. Planet Crait, which has already made its debut in the film's trailers, is an uninhabited planet in a remote location of the galaxy. It is a small planet with its surface covered with white salt. Hence the back of the OnePlus 5T Star Wars Edition. Underneath, its red mineral cover forms the base of the planet.
In one of the introductory videos, director Rian Johnson curiously says, “what would a battle on a planet like that look like?” and if you have seen the trailers, you do know how they look like.
This red mineral covered planet is the inspiration behind all the red elements on the Star Wars Edition OnePlus 5T.
The phone looks really nice to hold in hand and as OnePlus has done away with the metallic back in lieu of Sandstone White, the 5T feels lighter than the normal version.
To make the OnePlus 5T feel more like a tribute to series, OnePlus has created a special Star Wars red theme for this edition which looks awesome and goes with the theme. Apart from this, there are special Star Wars wallpapers which are really cool and fulfils the overall experience the phone demands.
Other than the design and the theme, it's everything that the OnePlus 5T is. A powerful smartphone powered by Qualcomm Snapdragon 835 paired with 6GB/8GB of RAM and internal storage of 64GB/128GB.
Made for fans
The Star Wars Edition is something that will attract many fans because it stays true to the pop-culture icon that Star Wars is with its design and aesthetics. It's a treat for every fan of the series because the panache is strong with this one.
OnePlus 5T Star Wars Edition price and availability
The OnePlus 5T Star Wars Limited Edition with 8GB RAM and 128GB storage will go on sale starting December 15th midnight at Rs 38,999.
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Realme U1 launched in India starting at Rs 11,999
Realme Mobiles, a spinoff from OPPO which was formed about six months back has launched its fifth smartphone in India. The Realme U1 broke cover earlier this morning at an event held in the capital. The U1 is the first smartphone by Realme in their new U-series lineup which the company claims is the new “photography expert” on the block.
The U1 features a 6.3-inch FHD+ (2340 x 1080 pixels) IPS display which sits flush with a waterdrop notch design on the front. This gives the phone a 90.8% screen-to-body ratio with a 19.5:9 aspect ratio. This is further topped with a layer of 2.5D Gorilla Glass 3 for protection against regular wear and tear.
Realme U1 is 8mm at its thickest and weighs around 168g. The company has adopted for a diffraction effect on the rear panel that has been treated to a 13-layer lamination. The U1 comes in three color variants, black, blue and gold.
The launch of the Realme U1 was also the global debut of MediaTek Helio P70 chipset which is supported by an octa-core CPU clocked at upto 2.1GHz. The SoC uses ARM Mali-G72 for graphics rendering. There are two RAM and storage variants of the U1 for buyers to choose from - 3GB RAM with 32GB storage and 4GB of RAM with 64GB internal storage. The storage can further be expanded by upto 256GB via microSD card.
Realme U1 runs on Android 8.1 Oreo with ColorOS 5.2 custom skin.
Coming to the camera department which Realme touts as the USP of the phone, the U1 sports dual cameras on the back. The primary sensor is a 13MP snapper with a f/2.2 aperture and a 2MP secondary camera with a f/2.4 aperture which assists in collecting depth information.
On the front, there’s a 25MP selfie camera with Sony IMX576 sensor and a wide f/2.0 aperture. Additionally, the selfie camera has features like back-light clarity, night shot, portrait mode with different lighting effects among others.
Other features include a game space that boosts the performance of games, system optimizations that result in faster app launches and face recognition. There’s a fingerprint sensor on the rear panel as well, in case you do not want to unlock the phone using your face.
Powering the Realme U1 is a 3,500mAh battery which should easily power through a day’s worth of usage on a single charge.
Realme U1 price and availability
The Realme U1 starts at Rs 11,999 for the variant with 3GB RAM and 32GB storage while interested buyers will have to shell out Rs 14,499 for the top-end variant with 4GB RAM and 64GB onboard storage.
Alongside the U1, Realme also launched two new accessories for the phone, the Realme U1 Iconic Case and Realme Buds, both of which are priced at Rs 499.
Realme U1 goes on sale on December 5 at 12 in the afternoon exclusively on Amazon India.
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Firefox Reality now supports 360-degree video and seven extra languages
Firefox Reality, Mozilla's VR web browser, has received its first major update since its launch in September. Firefox Reality 1.1 (available to download now for Oculus and Google Daydream) adds several new features to make browsing the web easier and more natural while wearing a headset.
Firefox Reality now supports 360-degree video from sources like YouTube, so you can leave the browser interface behind completely and become fully immersed in the action. There's also a new Theater mode for regular videos, which dims everything except the playback window so you can focus more easily.
There's improved localization, with support for seven additional languages, and the browser now offers improved voice search - an addition that makes using the web much easier than 'typing' using a controller and a virtual keyboard.
A different approach
Other new additions include improved interface performance (for tasks like resizing windows) and the ability to create bookmarks that are stored locally. These might seem unremarkable, but many of the tools and options we've come to expect in desktop and mobile web browsers require a different approach in VR. For example, resizing involves using a controller to change the size of the browser window, moving it up and down to make the window larger or smaller rather than dragging a corner as you would with a mouse.
Mozilla is currently working on adding multi-window support, tabs and content-syncing to Firefox Reality - all of which will also need a different approach to other versions of the browser. We'll be interested to see how the developer adapts them for use without a keyboard, mouse or touchscreen.
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What's new on Netflix Australia for December 2018
As the number of shows and movies available to stream in Australia continues to grow at an impressive rate, it can be tough to keep up with all the new additions to each streaming service each month.
We've all come to anticipate a new stable of Netflix Originals releases each month, but figuring out which shows they are and when exactly they become available isn't so easy. And what about the large number licensed shows and films that are made available to stream, if only for a limited time?
In an effort to keep you informed of the best shows and movies that are in the process of being added to Netflix, we'll be bringing you an updated list of what you can expect on the service on a monthly basis.
Not only that, we'll also be singling out the biggest releases, as well as a number of quality TV shows and films which we believe deserve your Netflixing time.
So get ready to kick off the month with an epic binge – here's what's new on Netflix in December 2018. Check out the month's highlights video below!
TV shows highlights for December 2018
Chilling Adventures of Sabrina: A Midwinter's Tale (14/12/2018)
In a devilish twist on the usual 'Christmas special' formula, Chilling Adventures of Sabrina: A Midwinter's Tale sees Sabrina orchestrate an emotional séance with serious consequences as the winter solstice approaches, and Susie's merry plans turn menacing.
Tidelands (14/12/2018)
Australia's very first Netflix Original series sees an ex-con return to her hometown Orphelin Bay blows the lid off a generations-long conspiracy of silence around murder, drugs and sirens – or are they mermaids?
Perfume (21/12/2018)
A modern retelling of the Patrick Süskind novel of the same name (which was also adapted as a film in 2006), a perfumer with a superhuman sense of smell begins killing female students at a boarding school to distill their essence and create the perfect scent.
Watership Down: Limited Series (coming in December)
You may want to keep your young children away from this terrifying animated tale, which sees a warren of rabbits battles many threats on their daring journey to find a new home in this adaptation of the classic novel by Richard Adams.
Movies highlights for December 2018
Dumplin’ (7/12/2018)
Dumplin’ (Danielle Macdonald) is the plus-size, teenage daughter of a former beauty queen (Jennifer Aniston), who shakes up her small Texas town when she signs up for her mum’s pageant as a protest and inspires other local people to join her.
Mowgli: Legend of the Jungle (7/12/2018)
If you didn't get enough live-action Jungle Book action from Disney's recent adaptation, you're in luck – motion capture genius Andy Serkis reinvents Rudyard Kipling’s beloved masterpiece, bringing stars Christian Bale, Cate Blanchett, Benedict Cumberbatch, Freida Pinto, Matthew Rhys and Naomie Harris along for the ride.
ROMA (14/12/2018)
A deeply personal film from Oscar winner Alfonso Cuarón (Gravity, Children of Men), ROMA chronicles a tumultuous year in the life of a middle-class family in Mexico City in the early 1970s.
Ellen DeGeneres: Relatable (18/12/2018)
Talk show host extraordinaire Ellen DeGeneres returns to stand-up after 15 years for her debut Netflix original comedy special, Relatable.
American Graffiti (7/12/2018)
George Lucas' first true masterpiece, the nostalgic film American Graffiti follows a couple of high school grads as they spend one final night cruising the strip with their buddies before they go off to college.
ReMastered: Who Killed Jam Master Jay? (7/12/18)
This true crime documentary explores the still-unsolved murder of Jam Master Jay, legendary DJ behind the groundbreaking '80s rap group, Run-D.M.C.
...and the rest for December 2018
ORIGINAL SERIES
The Sound of Your Heart: Reboot Season 2 (3/12/2018)
Dogs of Berlin (7/12/2018)
The Hook Up Plan (7/12/2018)
El recluso (7/12/2018)
The Ranch: Part 6 (7/12/2018)
Nailed It! Holiday! (7/12/2018)
Bad Blood (7/12/2018)
The Fix (14/12/2018)
The Protector (14/12/2018)
Fuller House: Season 4 (14/12/2018)
Travelers: Season 3 (14/12/2018)
Inside the Real Narcos: Series 1 (14/12/2018)
Inside the World’s Toughest Prisons: Season 3 (14/12/2018)
Sunderland Til I Die (14/12/2018)
Terrace House: Opening New Doors: Part 5 (18/12/2018)
Diablero (21/12/2018)
Derry Girls (21/12/2018)
7 Days Out (21/12/2018)
The Casketeers (21/12/2018)
BÖRÜ (Wolf) (21/12/2018)
You (26/12/2018)
Selection Day (28/12/2018)
Murder Mountain (28/12/2018)
NETFLIX WEEKLY SERIES
Memories of the Alhambra (1/12/2018)
NETFLIX FILM
Battle (1/12/2018)
Crossroads: One Two Jaga (1/12/2018)
5 Star Christmas (7/12/2018)
Struggle: The Life and Lost Art of Szukalski (21/12/2018)
Bad Seeds (21/12/2018)
Bird Box (21/12/2018)
La noche de 12 años (28/12/2018)
When Angels Sleep (28/12/2018)
ORIGINAL COMEDY
Vir Das: Losing It (11/12/2018)
ORIGINAL DOCUMENTARY
The American Meme (7/12/2018)
Out of Many, One (12/12/2018)
The Innocent Man (14/12/2018)
Springsteen on Broadway (16/12/2018)
NETFLIX KIDS & FAMILY
Free Rein: The Twelve Neighs of Christmas (7/12/2018)
Super Monsters and the Wish Star (7/12/2018)
Dance & Sing with True: Songs (14/12/2018)
Voltron: Legendary Defender: Season 8 (14/12/2018)
Prince of Peoria: A Christmas Moose Miracle (14/12/2018)
3Below: Tales of Arcadia (21/12/2018)
Alexa & Katie: Season 2 (26/12/2018)
NETFLIX ORIGINAL ANIME
Hero Mask (3/12/2018)
Neo Yokio: Pink Christmas (7/12/2018)
Back Street Girls: Gokudols (12/12/2018)
Baki (18/12/2018)
LAST HOPE: Part 2 (21/12/2018)
Sirius the Jeager (21/12/2018)
Hi Score Girl (24/12/2018)
MORE HIGHLIGHTS
Love Actually (7/12/2018)
The Holiday (7/12/2018)
Brooklyn (8/12/2018)
Passengers (12/12/2018)
The Founder (12/12/2018)
Schitt's Creek: Season 4: “Christmas” (19/12/2018)
Captain Fantastic (4/12/2018)
Winchester (6/12/2018)
About a Boy (7/12/2018)
Paul (7/12/2018)
The Change-Up (7/12/2018)
Scent of a Woman (7/12/2018)
Sisters: Season 1 (7/12/2018)
Middle School: The Worst Years of My Life (12/12/2018)
Hello, My Name Is Doris (15/12/2018)
Tales by Light: Season 3 (21/12/2018)
The Angry Birds Movie (22/12/2018)
Carrie (23/12/2018)
One Direction: This Is Us (23/12/2018)
About Last Night (23/12/2018)
The Last Animals (24/12/2018)
Aquamarine (26/12/2018)
Yummy Mummies: Season 1 (28/12/2018)
xXx: The Return of Xander Cage (30/12/2018)
Fences (30/12/2018)
Rings (30/12/2018)
Monster Trucks (30/12/2018)
Allied (30/12/2018)
What's coming next month and beyond?
Netflix has has big plans for 2018, with a number of high-profile shows and movies confirmed for release on the service. Here's our list of the best upcoming TV shows and movies on Netflix.
- None of these take your fancy? Check out our list of best Netflix TV shows: the top Netflix television series in Australia
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Another one bites the dust as Netflix cancels Daredevil
Following the surprise cancellations of Netflix's Iron Fist and Luke Cage shows, the streaming service has struck again by axing the Marvel series that started it all, Daredevil, as reported by Deadline.
Exploding out the gate with a popular and well-received first series, interest in the show began to dwindle following a two year hiatus and the disappointing team-up event, The Defenders.
While the third season, which landed on Netflix last month, has been met with much more acclaim, it was seemingly not enough to save the Devil of Hell's Kitchen from the service's chopping block.
It's unknown whether Marvel's move towards the upcoming Disney+ streaming service has anything to do with the decision, though the studio has already announced new shows starring Loki, Falcon and the Winter Soldier for the Netflix competitor.
Pour one out for Matt Murdock
“Marvel’s Daredevil will not return for a fourth season on Netflix," said the company in an official statement on the matter. "We are tremendously proud of the show’s last and final season and although it’s painful for the fans, we feel it best to close this chapter on a high note."
The statement continued, "We’re thankful to showrunner Erik Oleson, the show’s writers, stellar crew and incredible cast including Charlie Cox as Daredevil himself, and we’re grateful to the fans who have supported the show over the years."
Curiously, Netflix then goes on to suggest that we haven't seen the last of the character, though it's difficult to discern what it means from a live-action standpoint. "While the series on Netflix has ended, the three existing seasons will remain on the service for years to come, while the Daredevil character will live on in future projects for Marvel.”
Currently, Marvel's Jessica Jones and The Punisher shows still remain, with each set to return for another season. Whether they continue beyond that is another story.
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Sennheiser software may expose users to virtual attacks
The software for Sennheiser’s high-end headphones has been discovered to have a major security flaw which could potentially allow hackers access to a users’ personal details.
During a random check, security consulting firm Secorvo has found that Sennheiser’s HeadSetup and HeadSetup Pro softwares installed a root certificate into the Trusted Root CA Certificate store along with a non-unique private key.
This private key isn’t unique to each user, which is where the problem lies. It means that if someone is able to decrypt the key, they could then gain access to any of the affected users’ systems via faking a website and asking the user to enter their personal details.
To make matters worse, uninstalling the software itself doesn’t remove this trusted root certificate. So anyone who has ever installed the software is at risk.
Sennheiser has released an update that patches the issue and is imploring users both past and present to install it, even if they have since uninstalled an earlier version of HeadSetup.
So if you think you may have ever used this software on your PC or Mac, we highly recommend you install this update.
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Best Mac apps: the best macOS apps for your Apple computer
Now that macOS Mojave has graced our Macs, we finally have access to some key iOS apps on the Mac, like News and Stocks. However, that’s not even the tip of the iceberg of software available to macOS. Your Mac can do everything – at the end of the day, the software, more than anything else, is what keeps people coming back to the Jony Ive designed hardware every year.
You can do so many different things with the best Mac apps, so some might not appeal to you. However, there are some Mac apps like Evernote, the best note-taking app around, that anyone can find a use for.
You won’t find every Mac app on this list on the App Store, but they’re still all worth your time. So, read on to find the best Mac apps that you can download right now. From free apps and utilities to programs for creatives and professionals, these Mac apps will make the best Macs even better.
Bill Thomas and Gabe Carey have also contributed to this article
Check out our Linux vs Windows vs Mac - OS comparison video below.
- Get it from: App Store
- Price: Free
No brand of computer is without its annoyances. For so long now, it’s been impossible to use our MacBooks – unbound by the chains of a power adapter – while video outputs to an external monitor. As we all know here at TechRadar, Apple’s laptops automatically enter sleep mode whenever the lid is closed. For the lot of us, this can be a huge inconvenience should you prefer the sheer magnitude of a monitor as opposed to a 12- or 13- or 15-inch laptop screen.
Fortunately, Amphetamine allows you to continue using your MacBook while closed. Before, you could do this by using a similar app called Caffeine, but we prefer the UI features you get with this freebie. Not only does it fit in naturally with the rest of your Menu Bar items, but Amphetamine also supports hotkey commands as well as deactivation reminders – not to mention there are no annoying ads in sight.
- Get it from: App Store
- Price: $9.99 (£7.99 or around AUS$14)
While you’ve been able to snap programs to the edge of the screen in Windows since Windows 7, Apple didn’t have a solution until OS X El Capitan. What’s more, even then it lacked some of the comprehensiveness of Microsoft’s alternative. Luckily, HyperDock gives us that full-fledged functionality we so desperately crave, allowing anyone with a Mac to apply it to both the app Dock and windows.
In Windows, you can drag an app to the left or right edges of the screen (or the corners) and it’ll automatically fill that space. This makes it much easier to be productive on the desktop without wasting time dragging windows from the corners. For the Dock, hovering over apps activates something close to Windows 7’s thumbnail previews, giving an overview of the window that can be accessed by a click or closed directly from the preview. Useful.
- Get it from: Parallels
- Price: $79.99/year (Home & Student) Around £60 or AUS$100)
If you have recently picked up a Mac and miss some of your old Windows applications, don’t fret – Parallels Desktop 13 can bring them back. Instead of having to dual-boot your Mac into a Windows partition, Parallels Desktop 13 allows Windows and macOS Sierra to co-exist side by side, and you can even run Microsoft-only programs such as Visual Studio 2015, or the Windows versions of the company’s Office 365 apps, alongside your native macOS ones.
All you need is a Windows 10 license – so prepare to buy one if you haven't already. Or, alternatively, you can use Parallels to try a handful of free operating systems including Chromium (a free distribution of Chrome OS) or Linux Debian. The latest version of Parallels in particular has seen improvements such as Touch Bar support, better resolution scaling for Retina displays and picture-in-picture for using other operating systems in conjunction with macOS.
- Get it from: App Store
- Price: £14.99 (around $20 or AUS$25)
If you’re anything like us, working on just one monitor or screen is just painful. Portable monitors are still fairly expensive (and bulky), luckily, though, you can use an iPad instead using a nifty app called Duet. Developed by ex-Apple engineers, it works by tethering your iPad to your Mac using one of Apple’s Lightning cables and firing up the app on both devices.
You can then drag apps and windows onto your iPad’s screen just like you would with a second monitor, and if you have a more recent iPad with a Retina display, you’ll get the full benefit of all those beautiful pixels. Just realize that the bandwidth isn’t quite what you would get with one of the best monitors, so it can be a bit laggy when you bump the quality up. But it’s still better for watching videos, reading websites and typing up documents.
- Get it from: Atom
- Price: Free
Atom is a text editor that's primarily designed for coders, but its flexibility and customization options make it a viable option for many different types of users. That's because of two reasons: first, you can download a number of different Packages - effectively plug-ins - to make it bend to your will. It can be transformed into a Markdown editor for writing blog posts, for example, or you can hook it up to Evernote for storing notes in the cloud.
There's at least 10 different word counters out there, and you can even add typewriter sound effects as you hammer out your delicious prose. Atom is also infinitely customizable on the visual side thanks to an editable back-end, allowing you to do anything from changing the font size, line height and colors to giving the caret Word 2016-like elasticity.
- Get it from: App Store
- Price: £149.99 (around $195 or AUS$255)
Whether you’re a world-famous producer or you just like creating some music in your downtime, Logic Pro X is one of the best music creation suites on the Mac. Developed by Apple itself, its accessible interface hides a ton of advanced functionality. The latest version also comes with a svelte design, 64-bit architecture and a new session drummer that will save you from having to drop more cash on a drum machine.
It also works in natural harmony with iPads, providing a touch-based alternative method of creating song structures to dragging and dropping blocks in the main visual editor. Whether you're a seasoned producer already (Sia used the app to record her hit song 'Chandelier') or are looking to upgrade from Garageband, Logic Pro X likely has what you need.
- Get it from: App Store
- Price: Free
An uncomplicated app, but a great one, to do app Wunderlist’s selling point is its cross device functionality. It’s available on Mac, PC, Android and iOS, allowing you to sync your to do list wherever you’re using macOS’ Handoff feature.
Once you've started a list, you can schedule reminders, add notes and embed it into the macOS Notification Center using a widget. Team-based features are unlocked by signing up for Wunderlists’s pro subscription, and you can add files of any size without running into limits.
- Get it from: App Store
- Price: Free
Evernote has morphed into a mighty note-taking app over the years. While some people will say that it's too bloated, the sheer number of things that you can do with it still makes it best-in-class. You can type up notes, obviously, organizing them using a combination of folders and tags. You can even embed Google Drive documents, which are accessible in a click.
There's also the ability to set reminders, share notes with friends, find information related to notes using Evernote's 'Context' feature, create lists, and favorite notes that you frequently return to. Better yet, all of your notes are synchronized using the company's servers, making them accessible on nearly any PC (through a browser or the native Evernote app) or mobile device in the world. The paid version lets you use Evernote with more than two devices while upping the amount of data you can sync each month.
- Get it from: Website
- Price: Free
GIMP or GNU Image Manipulation, is one of the best free image editing apps out there. It’s a great alternative to Adobe Photoshop and comes with a wide array of pro-level functions that let you tweak existing images in a range of formats or create fresh ones from scratch. Features include layers, highly customizable brushes, automatic image enhancing tools and filters. You can do even more with plugins, which are available to download from the GIMP Plugin Registry.
- Get it from: App Store
- Price: £34.99 (around $45/AUS$60)
These days, balancing features with simplicity and good design in the best Mac apps is critically important. However, unlike Word 2016, or even Apple’s own Pages, Ulysses has an extremely minimalistic interface. This allows you to get on with writing without being distracted by so many buttons and menus. The app uses its own version of Markdown – a type of text formatting engine – that allows users to focus on their writing in a way that not only makes organization easier but also makes exporting easier – Ulysses will format it in an attractive way, using one of many export styles, when you’re done writing.
There's a handy attachments bar on the right-hand side that features an attractive word counter and lets you write notes to assist you in your writing. Notes can be accessed anywhere thanks to iCloud support, so you can pick up your iPad and carry on where you left off using macOS's Handoff feature.
- Get it from: Website
- Price: $20
Sometimes you want to play your Xbox One, but you can’t because your roommate has decided to use the living room TV for watching the whole run of Ugly Delicious in one sitting. Now, you could technically stream Halo 5 or Sea of Thieves if you had a Windows PC. However, you just have a Mac.
That’s where OneCast comes in, a third-party work of reverse engineering performed by an independent developer to bring Xbox One game streaming to macOS. It works as easily as connecting both your Mac and Xbox One to the same network and subsequently logging in to Xbox Live. It works pretty well in our experience, though you should have both systems connected to your modem via ethernet if possible.
- Get it from: App Store
- Price: Free
Nobody can deny that the best Macs are great for network admin uses, and if you need to manage a bunch of Windows devices, being able to remote into a PC to diagnose problems is critically important. Luckily, Microsoft has provided an app just for that.
With Microsoft Remote Desktop 10, you get an officially-supported app that gives you remote access to any PCs on your network – as long as you’re a network admin or an authorized user. It can be a bit of a pain to set up, and the PC you’re trying to access will need to be running Windows 10 Pro. But once you get going, you can access files, copy/paste across desktops and even run games – though, we don’t recommend that last bit.
Microsoft Remote Desktop 10 is a godsend for network admins and IT professionals, and is easily one of the best Mac apps you can download right now.
- Get it from: App Store
- Price: Free
It’s simple and not at all essential in the grand scheme of things, but DeskCover is a free and easy way to stay focused when you need to.
For anyone working on larger monitors, full screen apps can strain your peripheral vision, and so you’ll have no other choice but to resort to smaller windows. Of course, this can lead to you getting distracted by your desktop background – this is where DeskCover comes in handy. Allowing you to easily blur your desktop and lower the opacity, DeskCover puts the task at hand front and center so that nothing else can get in the way of getting your work done.
In other words, DeskCover is basically a free version of Hazeover, which we’re not complaining about. What’s more, your options aren’t limited to manipulation of your existing wallpaper alone. You can also temporarily replace your background with something a little more plain, blocking it out with a solid color of your choosing. Best of all, DeskCover is compatible with hotkeys, thereby minimizing the distraction possibilities of the app itself.
- Get it from: App Store
- Price: Free
The market for disk optimization apps is neither desolate nor particularly interesting, particularly on the Mac – where Apple usually does a good job of cleaning up its drives on its own. However, for a program that’s far more intuitive and user friendly than, say, the built-in Macintosh HD storage management software, your best bet is to turn your attention to Dr. Cleaner. This app splits up all your data into easily digestible chunks that would otherwise be obtuse.
Dr. Cleaner groups up all the trash on your Mac and labels them in groups like ‘Junk Files’ and ‘Big Files’ – rather than listing off 30GB of documents and 10GB of iOS files you can’t comprehend. Then, you can look at the file names themselves and decide whether or not you want to keep them on your PC. You can also use Dr. Cleaner to monitor CPU, network and RAM usage as well, for the sake of putting some pep in your aging Mac’s step.
- Get it from: Website
- Price: Free
It might be kind of like three apps than just one, but SoftMaker Office 2018 takes all the key features of Microsoft Office and puts them into an interface that tailors to your needs. It comes with a group of programs called TextMaker, PlanMaker and Presentations 2018 that are similar enough to Office 365 without the rolling subscription.
Regardless of whether you need an easy-to-use word processor or a spreadsheet or slideshow creator of equal accessibility, SoftMaker Office has what you’re looking for. And, because it’s still in beta, you can get a complimentary, albeit temporary, license over email if you want to give it a spin. Otherwise, there’s a permanent free version called SoftMaker FreeOffice, but it’s only available on Windows, Android and Linux.
- Get it from: App Store
- Price: $9.99 (about £7.19, AU$12.82)
Since you’re obviously going to install all of the other apps we’ve mentioned, you’re going to need at least a utility that, well, declutters your desktop. Unclutter is the solution you’re looking for whether you’re a frivolous notetaker or a temporary file hoarder like we are. It’s designed to keep your memos, documents and pasteboard clips in one place rather than scattered across several folders.
It’s a brilliant idea made even better by the fact that it can be configured for use with gesture controls. At any given point, you can swipe down from the top of the screen with two fingers on the trackpad (or one on the mouse) to reveal a trio of windows that can be concealed and re-summoned whenever you please.
- Get it from: Website
- Price: Free
When you’re out there hustling every day, it’s easy to lose track of messages. With so many social media companies, SMS platforms and instant messaging services to choose from, most of us also have a number of different accounts used to administer to all of those messages. But what if you only had to log into one?
That’s the central idea in Franz, a messaging app that allows you to view and send messages in WhatsApp, Facebook Messenger, Slack, HipChat and more. It lets you seamlessly switch between any of these apps as easily as you can toggle between Slack workspaces. Best of all, there’s no limit to the amount of services you can use at once. That way, even if you have 10 Facebook accounts for whatever reason, all of your messages will be visible in the same place.
- Get it from: App Store
- Price: $4.99 (£4.99, AU$7.99)
If you’re anything like us, you have tons of packages coming in all the time – and it can get hard to keep track of everything. Luckily, there’s an app for that. With Deliveries, you can keep track of all your incoming deliveries in one place in an easy-to-read interface.
It will notify you whenever there’s a change in your delivery, syncing the information between macOS and iOS so you are on top of things, even on the go. All you have to do to track a package is hit Command + New and paste in the tracking number – that’s it. It really is one of the best Mac apps for anyone with a busy mailbox.
- Get it from: App Store
- Price: $29.99 (£28.99, AU$46.99)
If you do a lot of cooking, and you have a hard time keeping your recipes organized – especially on a digital platform – you’re going to love Paprika. With this app, you can download any recipe you find online, and it will automatically format it in a way that’s extremely easy to read.
What’s more, if you download the iOS app, you’ll be able to sync your recipes between all of your devices, so that you can keep tabs on the ingredients you need when you run to the store in a panic.
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The 34 best indie games on PC and consoles
Gaming keeps evolving as time marches on, and the best indie games are no exception. One of the most interesting things about indie games in 2018 is that, unlike AAA game publishers, who can’t help themselves from monetizing every inch of their titles, the top indie games simply cost what they cost and don’t try to milk you for every dime – most of the time, at least. Free from corporate influence, the best indie games represent the pure artistic vision of the developers – especially if you have one of the best gaming PCs.
That’s not to say the top indie games can’t keep up with the latest Assassin’s Creed or Call of Duty, though. In fact, the best indie games regularly surpass the latest AAA games in both quality and scope, thanks to their less repetitive nature – they don’t need to rely on tired tropes and cliches to appeal to a mass market.
So, now, we found the best 33 indie games you can play today. We mixed in classics like Braid and Dwarf Fortress, with modern indie darlings, like Dead Cells and Return of the Obra Dinn. To discover all the best indie games that made our list, read on.
Linux, Windows or Mac - which one is best for you? Watch our guide video below:
Bill Thomas, Joe Osborne, Kane Fulton and Gabe Carey have also contributed to this article
Described as a sort of combination of Pokémon, Harvest Moon and Animal Crossing, we couldn’t help but recommend that you keep your eye on Ooblets until it releases at some point in 2018. This indie game is being developed by first-time studio Glumberland with the backing of the beloved Double Fine studios. The art style here curiously reminds us of Adventure Time. However, the game itself revolves around collecting creatures called ooblets in a town called, well, Oob.
Upon doing so, you’ll be able to train and battle your ooblets against other ooblet trainers. At the same time, you’ll have to balance your ooblet training with the real-world responsibilities of being a farmer. That’s right, drawing influence from the likes of Stardew Valley, you can cultivate produce and decorate your house with various trimmings as well. You’ll also be able to join an Ooblet Club comprised of friends (NPCs) you’ll meet along the way.
If you don’t know what to do in Ooblets, simply walk around and discover new shops and buildings that suit your interest. While you’re at it, you can open up your own shop and sell produce that you’ve grown on the farm in addition to items you’ve scavenged from throughout the world. Otherwise, you can feed the leftover crops to your ooblets to watch them level up and learn new techniques to be used in the turn-based RPG-style battles.
Expected: 2018
Jonathan Blow's masterpiece first appears to be a simple pastiche of Super Mario Bros, with a middle-aged curmudgeon replacing the titular plumber but still seeking to rescue a princess.
But, the longer you spend in the game, the more that’s revealed to you, moving from a series of time-bending puzzles to quiet reflective texts – which doesn’t stop it from being the smartest puzzle game until SpaceChem. Blow himself has subtly hinted that the ultimate story may revolve around the atomic bomb.
First released as PC freeware by Japanese designer Daisuke "Pixel" Amaya back in 2004 after five years of 100% solo development, Cave Story predates the recent indie renaissance by a few years. Because of when and how it was first released, it's often forgotten in discussions of indie gaming.
But this classic deserves to be on every best-of list for its loving homage to the classic action platforming games of the Super Nintendo era, its incredible music and its incredibly vibrant world. Oh, and don't forget the hugely intuitive controls, gobs of secrets and weapons that are entirely too fun to use. If you've yet to enjoy this one, just put it on your backlog already.
From family-owned and operated Studio MDHR, Cuphead has connected with millions of people around the world, many of whom normally wouldn’t touch a run-and-gun platformer with a ten-foot pole.
Although its gameplay was inspired by classic games like Mega Man and Contra, most gamers would likely compare it to a Fleischer Studios cartoon, like Betty Boop. Because Cpuhead utilizes a hand-drawn art style likened to a 1930s animation, it’s been universally praised for its gorgeous visuals.
Its beauty is more than skin deep, though, Cuphead is a challenging and engaging series of 19 boss fights, with actual levels taking place between them. And, if that’s not enough, Studio MDHR has announced the Cuphead: The Delicious Last Course DLC, with a new isle to explore, new bosses to conquer and, most importantly, a new playable character.
Many AAA games serve as escapist power fantasies, where the player is ultimately able to dominate the game’s universe – right up until the game ends. However, many indie games serve as the opposite – like the IGF award winner and misery simulator Cart Life.
Papers Please is similar to Cart Life – it's also an IGF winner with elements of misery about it - but it's better, being a smart, weird sim about the compromised life of a border guard under a totalitarian regime. It's ugly and desperate, but also innovative, uproariously funny and terribly smart.
Among the hardcore gamers of my acquaintance, Spelunky is the go-to drug. Even today, several years after its release, some of them still play it every day, despite having completed it many times over. That's because Spelunky, an ostensibly rogue-like platformer with a definite end, is tough, varied and highly randomized.
It also has more dark secrets than a presidential candidate, meaning there are many, many ways to finish it, and its daily challenges are a sure-fire way to public humiliation.
Unfortunately, humor is often missing among games, mostly being restricted to slapstick comedy or crude one-liners. The Stanley Parable, however, is hilarious without being dumbed down. Players follow (or don’t) a very British narrator who changes the world around you, depending on your decisions.
No decision is punished, every play-through throws up new humor and weirdness. Being trapped in the closet in the Stanley Parable is more moving and funny than 9/10 of other games.
- Further reading: Retro-me-do! Digitiser's Mr Biffo on his top PC games of all time
It took more than nine years to make, but Owlboy was definitely worth the wait. Originally contrived for PCs and released in late 20166, the clever masterpiece of an indie game is now available to experience on Mac and Linux as well – and there’s even a Nintendo Switch version! Owlboy centers around a race of owl-human hybrid characters called, well, Owls. Of them, you control Otis, an Owl who is censured by his mentor for his inept flying skills.
The story sees Otis’ village dismantled by pirates who clearly have conflict with the Owls. As a result, Otis has to work with an assortment of villagers in-game to take out enemies. Of course, when boss battles arise, you’ll need to manage allies accordingly, as each character comes with their own set of unique skill sets to use in conjunction with one another. If you’ve ever played and enjoyed a Kid Icarus game, this is one for the books. Otherwise, play it anyway.
Similar to The Stanley Parable, Gone Home falls into the unofficially labeled ‘walking simulator’ genre. Where it diverts from the clever and philosophical Stanley Parable, however is its focus on life’s difficult realities, instead of light humor.
After arriving at your childhood home after an overseas visit, you play as 21-year-old Kaitlin Greenbriar who is greeted by a vacant house. While gameplay is basically limited to scavenging through notes to find out where your family is, the gripping story is a extremely emotional and compelling, as long as you keep an open mind. After all this time, Gone Home stands out as one of the best indie games out there.
Only SpaceChem has mingled education with entertainment as successfully as The Kerbal Space Program. The game is simple - design and build spacecraft to take the cutesy Kerbals to the Mun and beyond.
Yet its focused use of real physics means that you'll find yourself following NASA in building multi-stage rockets, space stations and exploring the Kerbal's strange universe on EVAs, before bringing your discoveries back to research on the Kerbal planet - that's if you can get off the ground at all. It's a huge, complex, challenging and fun game, that's smart without being preachy.
The exact opposite of the Kerbal Space Program, The Binding of Isaac is an action roguelike par excellence. Matched only by the equally visceral Nuclear Throne for replayability, you play as a young boy attempting to kill his damned siblings, his Mom, and possibly the Devil, using only his tears. Which he shoots from his eyes, of course.
With hundreds of weird modifiers to discover, endlessly touch procedurally-generated levels, and secrets galore, Isaac is a very dark take on the exploratory model established by Spelunky.
Though you might get put off by the pixel art graphics, Undertale isn’t a game that would have fit on the Super Nintendo. That’s because, in Undertale, you decisions make a huge difference in how the game ends and, more importantly, how it continues in New Game Plus.
While playing Undertale, you’ll come to realize just how much freedom the game gives you. Despite its ingenious and intense boss matches, you’ll be able to make it through the entire nine or so hours of Undertale as a complete pacifist. Plus, when you go through the game a second time, you’ll bear the weight of the consequences from your previous run. And, now Undertale is out on the Nintendo Switch, so you can take this masterpiece of game design wherever you go.
From developer Playdead, Inside is comparable to its predecessor, Limbo, in some ways but with an added layer of depth that inspires frequent wonder. This is mostly a result of the unspoken narrative, which revolves around yet another nameless boy. In Inside, however, the boy in the story is running away from a group of men who – if you fail to stay out of their sights – will try to mercilessly kill you.
Though it isn't quite clear why the boy is running from these men or why you should even care since you don't know who he is, Inside will leave you begging for answers. The bleak, lifeless setting of Inside is more than worth the price of admission. Its minimalist art style alone is avant-garde enough to feel right at home in a museum. Add in a game that's both fun to play and dripping with curiosity, though, and Inside is one of the best indie games money can buy.
Developed single-handedly by Eric Barone, Stardew Valley is undoubtedly a technical feat for that little facet alone. If you’ve ever played a Harvest Moon game, you’re already familiar with the premise of Stardew Valley – you may just not know it yet. Stardew Valley is an addictive farming simulator which sees you interact with townees to the point where you can literally marry them.
Stardew Valley isn’t just farming, though – it’s a whole bunch of things at the same time. You can go fishing, you can cook, you can craft stuff – you can even go explore procedurally-generated caves to mine for items and even attack slime-monster-things. However, you should keep in mind that your health and energy are finite, so you'll want to keep your character rested and fed to avoid suffering from exhaustion. Pass out and you’ll lose a considerable amount of money and items you’ve worked hard to attain. Stardew Valley will have you addicted for hours on end, for better or worse. (Definitely better.)
From Canadian game developer Alec Holowka, the creator of the award-winning Aquaria (also featured on this list) and independent artist/animator Scott Benson, Night in the Woods is an unconventional side-scrolling adventure game centering around a 20-year-old protagonist named Mae who drops out of college to move back in with her parents.
Featuring a story largely based around dialog choices and mini games that put a spin on mundane tasks, like carrying boxes up the stairs and eating perogies, Night in the Woods is a timeless coming-of-age tale. Not only will you experience middle class America through the eyes of a personified cat, but virtually every interaction in-game will have you laughing aloud. And now that it’s coming to the Nintendo Switch on February 1, you’ll be able to take it wherever you go.
If you’re a fan of the recent wave of games inspired by Dark Souls, you’ll absolutely love Hollow Knight. You take control of the Hollow Knight, and lead them through the deceptively adorable landscape to take on bosses and other difficult challenges. Much like Dark Souls, it’s not immediately clear what you’re actually supposed to be doing as the narrative is intentionally obtuse.
The Dark Souls inspirations don’t end there, however. It also adopts Dark Souls’ ‘tough but fair’ philosophy, where the game is only as hard as you make it – you can overcome anything as long as you have patience and learn from your mistakes. Hollow Knight takes these lessons from Dark Souls and injects them into a MetroidVania, with all the side-scrolling and upgrades you could possibly want. You can even play it on the Nintendo Switch now.
If you’re looking for a game that’s as unforgiving as it is fun, look no further than Dead Cells. It takes gameplay inspiration from so many places – from roguelikes, to MetroidVania to even a hint of Dark Souls, to create a unique action game that will test your limits.
Each time you play this game, it will be different. And, while you’ll lose some progress each time you die – and you’ll die a lot – the game will become more and more rewarding as the complex and fluid combat becomes second nature. In the final release of the game, you get access to over 90 weapons, skills and abilities that’ll let you tailor your gameplay however you want.
Whatever you do, don’t get discouraged when you fail. Get up and try again, Dead Cells will only reward you in the end – which is why it’s one of the best indie games 2018 has to offer.
Introversions was one of the earliest 'indie' companies, releasing games like Uplink, Defcon and Darwinia whilst Vlambeer were still in short pants. After years of struggling, they've finally hit a huge success with Prison Architect, a game where you build, staff, outfit and manage a maximum security prison.
With smart prisoners who are willing to do anything to escape, you'll struggle to keep them all inside - or keep them from rioting - and turn a profit. It's still in alpha, but it's eminently playable right now..
While something like Kerbal Space Program can actually take you to the moon, To The Moon is a game about wish fulfillment, and thrives on narrative beauty. If we were to make comparisons to films, Kerbal Space Program is Gravity, The Binding of Isaac is Saw and To the Moon is Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind.
You control two doctors who are exploring a dying man’s memories to implant a false memory so he can die in peace. Which is all depicted in a classic 16-bit Zelda style. It’s a rare, emotional, adult game.
Dwarf Fortress is its own genre, its own industry. This is a game that, before you've even set foot in it, has to generate the entire geography, mythology and history of its massive world. Then it tracks every single one of the dwarfs you're managing down to the hairs on their legs and the particular horrible elephant murder that they witnessed and they're now carving on an ornamental chair.
Your task is to keep the dwarves alive as they carve out their subterranean kingdom - given that insanity, monsters, and starvation plague are thrown at them at every stage that's not easy. And dwarves, always, always mine too deep.
Run. Jump. Die. Repeat. That’s essentially the gameplay loop of Super Meat Boy, a fiendishly addictive 2D platformer that’s also bloody hard, with an emphasis on bloody. Gallons of blood is spilled as the game’s eponymous meaty hero leaps over deadly drops, spinning saws and walking chainsaws in a bid to rescue his girlfriend, Bandage Girl, from the evil Dr Foetus. Obviously. Boasting tight controls, plenty of humor and colorful graphics, Super Meat Boy lept onto the PS4 and Vita last year in style – with a Nintendo Switch release coming soon, as well.
It might not be Playdead’s most recent game, but Limbo is timeless. Even five years after its release, the game’s haunting storyline still affects us. You play the Boy, a child with glowing eyes who’s cast into Limbo to find his sister. Making your way through a bleak and dangerous world full of hostile silhouettes, giant spiders and deadly gravitational fields, you’ll need to think quickly and perfectly time your movements if you’re going to survive.
But Limbo is much more than a simple platformer: it's an experience, and one that has you pondering the very essence of life by the time it's over. Deep, profound and absorbing, it's one indie game everybody should take time out to play.
If you're yearning for a retro-styled multiplayer archery combat game (aren't we all?), TowerFall: Ascension is the pick of the lot. Fast, frenetic and teeth-gnashingly hard in hardcore mode, the game's mechanics are simple: fire arrows at enemies or jump on their heads to stay alive until the round ends.
Arrows that don't hit are embedded in walls, making for tense scenarios when you have to traverse the map while dodging enemies to retrieve them. As such, practicing until you achieve Robin Hood-esque levels of accuracy is recommended. Ascension is best experienced with friends in local multiplayer mode, which recalls Super Smash Bros' most manic moments.
It’s not often that a platformer manages to balance challenging and engaging gameplay with an emotional and thought-provoking narrative, but Celeste pulls it off. From the developers of Towerfall, Celeste follows the story of Madeline, a young girl who decides to face her mental health issues by climbing to the top of the mysterious Celeste Mountain. Ind doing so, she learns more not only about the mountain, but about herself amid the heartwarming process.
An inevitable classic, Celeste integrates the obvious jump, air-dash and climb controls into a brutal series of platforming challenges in upwards of 700 unique screens. And, if that’s too easy, you’ll unlock B-side chapters along the way, designed for only the bravest of hardcore players. Better yet, you don’t have to worry about waiting an eternity between each respawn. Instead, Celeste brings you back from the grave instantaneously, a welcome departure from the typically extensive load screens.
Admittedly, exclusive indie games always wind up with the short end of the stick. That continues to ring true for Golf Story, an homage to Mario Golf on the Game Boy Color developed by Sidebar Games. As it’s a debut title for the Nintendo Switch, you might have overlooked Golf Story considering it came out on the same day as Stardew Valley, but here’s what you need to know.
You don’t have to obsess over the PGA Tour to get into Golf Story, as you’re likely better off appreciating it for its RPG elements. Substituting combat for an athletic sport, you begin your adventure as a kid who is mentored by his dad before realizing he isn’t very good at golfing, something you’ll have to overcome as you pursue professional golf.
After the raging success that was the original Nidhogg, it’s a shame to see the superior sequel get thrown under the bus. Nevertheless, in spite of its controversial art style, Nidhogg 2 packs a refined, gorgeous look that the first version, a cult-classic, couldn’t even think to compete with. In still frames, we can see how this could get misconstrued, but fortunately, it’s the fun and addictive local multiplayer gameplay that makes Nidhogg, well, Nidhogg. And it’s all there in Nidhogg 2. Plus, every time you respawn, you get one of four unique weapons that only bolster the challenge.
Esteemed indie designer Jon Blow's follow up to Braid may look like an entirely different adventure, being 3D and all, but the two are more thematically alike than you might think. The Witness, at its core, is another puzzle game that tells an interesting story through said puzzles.
This puzzler takes place in an almost equally impressionist – albeit heavily Myst-inspired – world, but it's story is far more nuanced and mysterious than Blow's previous. At almost every corner of this island that you've simply woken up on (or beneath), there is a clue as to how you got onto this island and why you're here.
Don’t get us wrong, we liked Bastion, but we won’t deny that Transistor was SuperGiant Games’ best work to date. Much of that has to do with the convergence of action-based and turn-based RPG elements contained within its cyberpunk futurescape. Likewise, in classic SuperGiant fashion, those mechanics are complemented by a gorgeous art style and a music score so unforgettable it’ll make you want to buy the soundtrack.
Leaving key gameplay beats up to the player, the story isn’t so variable. Transistor’s main character, Red, is a renowned singer in the city of Cloudbank. However, she’s been attacked by a group of vicious robots who call themselves the Process, operated by another group called the Camerata. In her journey, she finds the Transistor, a mysterious sword with the voice of a man. Soon enough, she’ll learn more about him and how he will shake up her world.
It’s weird to think that Oxenfree came out before the first season of Stranger Things, and yet, the two properties coincidentally have a lot in common. The 80s-inspired heavy synth music composed by scntfc, for one, accentuates some truly gripping sci-fi horror centering around – you guessed it – a group of teenagers stuck on an island.
The story involves a handful of uniquely written characters, namely the main character Alex, along with her stoner friend Ren, her newfound stepbrother Jonas, her dead brother Michael’s ex-girlfriend Clarissa and her best friend Nona (who Ren happens to be in love with).
The plot is explained through branching speech dialogue, similar to Life is Strange or modern-day Telltale games, and features five different endings depending on your choices.
Exploring a surreal wilderness seems like quite the trend these days in gaming, and developer Campo Santo's debut only serves to keep it going strong. Set in the wilderness of 1989 Wyoming, you're Henry, a fire lookout that's all alone in the woods after exploring something strange in the distance.
That is, save for your partner on the other line of a walkie-talkie: Delilah. She's your only point of contact as you explore the wilderness. Will you make it back alive? Will the decisions you make help or harm the relationship with your only lifeline to the outside world, your boss? Don't worry about those questions just yet – just look at those forestscapes!
Rust is one of the more successful indie titles of recent times. By the end of 2015 it had sold more than 3 million copies, which isn't too shabby considering it isn't even finished — the game has been on Steam's Early Access scheme since launching in December 2013.
Still, it seems people can't get enough of the Day Z-inspired survival sim. It sees you use your wits and bearings to survive its harsh open world, starting off with nothing but a rock. After gathering resources needed to build a house and weapons to fend off attackers (other online players, in other words), Rust gradually becomes more intense as you defend your growing base — or attempt to breach others'.
Fans of the original Overcooked will not be disappointed by the second installment in the chaotic couch co-op series from British indie game developer Team17.
This time your task is to defeat the 'Un-Bread' (zombie baked goods) that have taken over the Onion Kingdom, by battling through brand new recipes including sushi, pizza, and burgers in increasingly chaotic kitchens with up to three other people.
To add to the frantic fun, you must battle obstacles including random fires, collapsing floors, and interfering passers by, all while getting your orders out to the pass in time.
Things get complicated incredibly quickly, and relationships, friendships, and family bonds will be tested as you work together to complete your recipes on time, making it a fun and challenging couch co-op game that will make you truly understand the meaning of "too many cooks spoil the broth."
The natural progression of survival games, SCUM takes what both predecessors like Rust and PlayerUnknown’s battlegrounds succeeded at and iterates in impressive ways. And, while it’s still in early access, it offers a unique twist – combining the frenetic gameplay of battle royale games with the slow, thoughtful gameplay of a survival sim.
SCUM, unlike other similar games, is extremely heavy on the simulation side of things, however. You shouldn’t expect to run in guns blazing, as you’re going to get tired quickly (just as you would if you tried running outside yourself with a ton of stuff in your backpack). But, if heavy statistic systems is something your into, you’ll find a lot to love here. It’s like spreadsheets with a physics engine.
Just don’t go in expecting a polished experience just yet. However, developer Croteam is promising to add more features over time, and as they’re backed by Devolver, you can trust that the game is going to shape up into something great.
Every so often there’s a game that perfectly merges aesthetic, gameplay and narrative – where everything feels like it just, well, fits. The best indie games are always the best at this, and Return of the Obra Dinn is a great example. A mystery taking place on a derelict ship, you’re tasked with figuring out how the crew of this lost ship died, disappeared or worse.
The entire game has this old-school visual style that, combined with the simple controls and gameplay style make it feel like a nostalgic adventure. Right from the settings menu, you’ll get to choose what kind of monitor you’d like to emulate – we picked an old school Macintosh option – that should give you an idea of the type of retro revivalism on offer here.
Return of the Obra Dinn is a game that will require critical thinking, exploration and a ton of reading. So, if that all sounds appealing to you, and you’re all good with retro aesthetics, you will find a lot to love – it’s one of the best indie games, in a season marked with AAA decadence.
If you’re anything like us, you’ve spent hundreds of hours playing Roller Coaster Tycoon during your childhood. And, while there have been plenty of amusement park simulators over the last few years, they’ve never quite hit the spot.
Until now.
Parkitect is the closest we’ve ever been to those early aughts park simulators, and we’re absolutely in love. From the cartoonish art style to the realistic simulation and Steam Workshop integration, Parkitect is one of the best indie games 2018 has to offer.
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Best HP laptops 2018: the top HP laptops we’ve seen and tested
HP has been hard at work for the last couple of years rebuilding a reputation – mostly through the best HP laptops. These mobile workhorses were thought to be dead just a few years ago, but thanks to Windows 10 and the best Ultrabooks, the best laptops from HP have morphed into products that concentrate on design flair over cheapness.
The HP revolution has brought the popular ‘privacy filter,’ called Sure View, to the best HP laptops. Plus, these fresh HP laptops have this gorgeous gold trim that we’re used to seeing in HP’s high-end HP Spectre 2-in-1s and Ultrabooks.
In our mind, the best HP laptops balance design flair with raw power, and the HP Spectre x360 is a perfect example. The 2018 model features perfectly slim bezels and is light enough to use in tablet mode comfortably. As a regular laptop, you’ll have trouble finding a better keyboard, brighter display and more powerful components – especially considering its size.
Read the full review: HP Spectre x360
This isn’t just one of the best HP laptops. The HP Spectre 13 may just be one of the most beautiful laptops we’ve ever seen. The ceramic white finish is beautifully topped off by a two prong, glossy hinge design that’s extremely stylish. It goes beyond the aesthetics, though – the HP Spectre 13 is one of the best HP laptops in terms of power, too. It leverages the sheer power of 8th-generation Intel Kaby Lake Refresh processors perfectly – you’ll be able to get all your work done, and look good while doing it.
Read the full review: HP Spectre 13
The HP Pavilion 15 isn’t going to blow your mind with sheer power, but it will make up for it with finesse. It’s one of the few remaining AMD Ryzen-based laptops in HP’s stable – which could change – but the Ryzen chips here are worth paying attention to. This is the best HP laptop for anyone on a budget, it's a rare example of a laptop that can strike a golden balance between price and performance, making it one of the best laptops for college students.
You shouldn’t have to break open your piggy bank to get one of the best HP laptops, which is why devices like the HP Chromebook 14 G5 exist. It’s an economical Chromebook that never feels cheap, which is a distinction that Chromebooks wear like a badge of honor. This Chromebook in particular boasts a sleek aesthetic and passable performance, especially when you spec it out. It’s easy to see why, for people on a budget, the HP Chromebook 14 G% is one of the best HP laptops.
The best gaming laptops have a shaky reputation for their lack of upgradeability, making them more disposable than a gaming desktop by nature. Luckily, HP has subverted this issue by adding plenty of essential features that most gaming laptops lack. For instance, you can overclock the Omen X, which just means free performance – which will keep it at the top of the stack longer than competitors. For gamers, the HP Omen X is the best HP laptop on the market.
- Bill Thomas has also contributed to this article
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