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Samsung confirms that future phones - like Note 21 - won’t come with chargers - TechRadar

But it might not be a sudden change

One change Samsung made for the Samsung Galaxy S21 range wasnt an addition but a loss, as its not including charging plugs or earphones in the box, and the company has now confirmed that this change wont be limited to the Galaxy S21 range. In a Q&A post on the companys mobile press page, Patrick Chomet, EVP and Head of the Customer Experience Office at Samsung, said the following: We believe that the gradual removal of charger plugs and earphones from our in-box device packaging can help address sustainable consumption issues and remove any pressure that consumers may feel towards continually receiving unnecessary charger accessories with new phones.” From that it sounds like the goal is ultimately to no longer include a charging plug or earphones with any Samsung phone or any other relevant Samsung devices either. However, the mention of this being a gradual removal” suggests it wont be a sudden change. In other words, some future Samsung phones probably will still have one or both of those things in the box, but others probably wont, and over time theyll become less common. Samsung also gave reasons for their removal, explaining that many of its customers are reusing their old accessories, and that no longer including a charging plug or earphones is more environmentally sustainable. The company also notes that its been including standardized USB-C charging ports since 2017, meaning that older chargers will still work with newer Samsung Galaxy devices. As for which upcoming phones will keep or lose their chargers and earphones, we can only really speculate for now, but its likely at the very least that the Samsung Galaxy S22 range wont have these things in the box, since the S21 range doesnt. Via Phone Arena

Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra vs iPhone 12 Pro Max: which top-end phone is for you? - TechRadar

Two ultra-premium handsets, but which is right for you?

The Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra is the biggest, most expensive entry in the Samsung Galaxy S21 range, so of course its directly competing with the iPhone 12 Pro Max Apples biggest and most expensive phone. These are both big, ultra-high-end handsets, and both come with much of what youd expect, including top-tier power and near endless features. But while they have a lot in common, the specifics of what they offer also vary in numerous ways. So if youre trying to decide between the Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra and the iPhone 12 Pro Max, this article should help, as it compares the two phones in full. Design The Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra has a slightly curved glass back with a very large camera block in the top left corner, from the front, theres an all-screen design, with curved edges and a single-lens punch-hole camera in the top center. The iPhone 12 Pro Max on the other hand is a lot flatter both on the front and back, but it too has a glass back and is light on bezel, though rather than a cut-out in the screen for the selfie camera, it has a sizeable notch at the top. Its rear camera block is smaller than the Galaxy S21 Ultras though, and its square, where Samsungs is more rectangular. The iPhone 12 Pro Max itself is a similar size to the S21 Ultra though, coming in at 160.8 x 78.1 x 7.4mm, while the Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra is 165.1 x 75.6 x 8.9mm. So Samsungs phone is a bit taller and thicker, but slightly narrower. The two phones weigh exactly the same amount though, at 228g each. The iPhone 12 Pro Max (Image credit: TechRadar) Both handsets also have IP68 certification, meaning theyre dust and water resistant. In the case of the iPhone 12 Pro Max, that water resistance extends to depths of 6 meters for 30 minutes though, while the Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra is only tested to depths of 1.5 meters for 30 minutes. As for colors, you can get the Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra in Phantom Black and Phantom Silver, while the iPhone 12 Pro Max is available in Graphite, Silver, Gold, and Pacific Blue shades. Screen The Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultras screen is enormous at 6.8 inches. Its a curved OLED screen with a 1440 x 3200 resolution and a 120Hz refresh rate. Unlike previous Samsung flagships you can also run it at both full resolution and the highest refresh rate simultaneously. The iPhone 12 Pro Max also has a big screen, in fact its the biggest Apple has ever put on a phone, but its slightly smaller at 6.7 inches. The S21 Ultra has a slightly larger screen (Image credit: Future) This also uses OLED, but its a flat display, and it comes in at 1284 x 2778. In terms of pixel density, youre looking at 515 pixels per inch on the Galaxy S21 Ultra, and 458 on the iPhone 12 Pro Max. While we havent yet fully tested the S21 Ultras screen, Samsungs flagships typically have among the best smartphone screens of their release year, but so do Apples phones, and in our review we found that the iPhone 12 Pro Max had a great, bright screen with excellent color reproduction. Camera Theres a quad-lens camera on the Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra, with a 108MP f/1.8 main sensor, a 12MP f/2.2 ultra-wide one, a 10MP f/2.4 telephoto one (capable of 3x optical zoom), and a second 10MP telephoto one, this time with an f/4.9 aperture and support for 10x optical zoom. The iPhone 12 Pro Max also has a quad-lens camera, but the specs are quite different. Theres a 12MP f/1.6 main snapper, a 12MP f/2.4 ultra-wide one, a 12MP f/2.2 telephoto one (with 2.5x optical zoom) and a LiDAR scanner, for judging depth and distances which is particularly useful for augmented reality. Both phones have four rear cameras (Image credit: Future) On the front meanwhile, the Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra has a 40MP f/2.2 camera, while the iPhone 12 Pro Max has a 12MP f/2.2 one. While the numbers might look less impressive on Apples camera, we were certainly impressed in our review, noting that the camera is “powerful” and performs well even at night. It remains to be seen how the Galaxy S21 Ultras camera will perform at the time of writing, but were expecting good things. Battery life Theres a huge 5,000mAh battery in the Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra, which dwarfs the 3,687mAh one in the iPhone 12 Pro Max. We dont know how long the S21 Ultras will last yet, but in our tests we found that the iPhone 12 Pro Max lasted over a day comfortably, but was unlikely to stretch to two. With its slightly sharper and larger screen the Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra might eat through battery faster, but then its got a lot more available as well. Both phones support fast charging and wireless charging, and the Galaxy S21 Ultra additionally supports Wireless PowerShare which lets you use it to wirelessly charge other gadgets. Specs and features Both of these phones are very powerful, as youd expect, though the exact specs differ. The Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra has either a Snapdragon 888 chipset (if youre in the US) or an Exynos 2100 (in most other regions), while the iPhone 12 Pro Max has an A14 Bionic. All three of these though are the top of their ranges. One thing that the Galaxy S21 Ultra has a lot more of though is RAM, with 12GB included in the 128GB and 256GB models, while the 512GB model has 16GB of RAM. The iPhone 12 Pro Max on the other hand only has 6GB of RAM, whichever model you buy (128GB, 256GB, or 512GB). That said, the iPhone 12 Pro Max is a very fast phone, so we wouldnt read too much into that. One feature that both of these phones have is 5G, so youll be ready to take advantage of the new generation of mobile connectivity, but a lot of their other features differ. The iPhone 12 Pro Max supports MagSafe (Image credit: TechRadar) For one thing, while the Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra has an in-screen fingerprint scanner, the iPhone 12 Pro Max instead goes all in on Face ID. The Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra also supports Samsungs S Pen stylus (though this is sold separately), while the iPhone 12 Pro Max supports MagSafe accessories, which you can magnetically attach to the back of the phone. Of course, they also have very different operating systems, with the Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra running Android 11, while the iPhone 12 Pro Max runs iOS 14. Price and availability The Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra starts at $1,199 / £1,149 / AU$1,849, for which youll get a 128GB model. Its easy to do a direct comparison with the iPhone 12 Pro Max, as that also starts with 128GB of storage, for which youll pay $1,099 / £1,099 / AU$1,849. So the two phones cost the same amount in Australia, but in the US and the UK the iPhone 12 Pro Max is actually slightly cheaper, which isnt a sentence youll hear very often. Theres not much in it though. As for availability, the iPhone 12 Pro Max is of course available now, while at the time of writing you can pre-order the Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra, with it going on sale on January 29. (Image credit: Future) Takeaway The iPhone 12 Pro Max and Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra really stand up well to each other on paper. Both have premium builds, top-end power, 5G, quad-lens cameras, up to 512GB of storage, and similarly large screens. The Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultras display is marginally larger and higher resolution, it has longer range optical zoom, a bigger battery, and more RAM, plus support for the S Pen stylus. But with the iPhone 12 Pro Max you get MagSafe support, better water resistance, and a LiDAR scanner, plus in most places the iPhone 12 Pro Max has a slightly lower starting price. If any of those factors are a big deal for you, that should help in making a purchase decision, but you might want to wait for our full Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra review before buying either.

Here's why WhatsApp users are fleeing for other platforms - TechRadar

Change in terms and conditions are sending WhatsApp users to seek out alternatives

Users are reportedly quitting WhatsApp in their droves after the messaging service introduced controversial new terms and conditions. WhatsApp, which has over two billion users worldwide, began informing users of the changes earlier this week, alarming many with mentions of sharing data from the app with parent company Facebook, despite previously having pledged never to do so. This has led users to flee to the likes of Signal and Telegram, which claim to offer full end-to-end encryption to keep user data safe. The new WhatsApp terms and conditions, which users will be required to view and accept when opening the app, include advice that data will now be shared with Facebook. Although this data does not include messages sent or calls made using WhatsApp, or a user's location, it does include personal details used to set up an account, such as name and phone number, as well as information on what exact model of device they are using, as well as the IP address. "We want to be clear that the policy update does not affect the privacy of your messages with friends or family in any way," WhatsApp wrote in a company blog explaining the changes.  "Instead, this update includes changes related to messaging a business on WhatsApp, which is optional, and provides further transparency about how we collect and use data." Users are told they must accept the new terms by February 8, or not be able to access WhatsApp at all.  The warning does not apply to users in the UK and Europe, but has still been sent to devices in these regions. WhatsApp added that its practice of sharing data with Facebook was not new. Users have now flocked to alternative services such as Telegram, which has seen its user base nearly double in the space of a few weeks. The app promises to offer full end-to-end encryption for its users, keeping their conversations private. Elsewhere, Signal, which has received support from the world's richest man Elon Musk, recently tweeted that its user base had increased from around 10 million to over 50 million users in a matter of days. The platform has added more capacity to deal with the surge, and introduced wider group chats and better image sharing to support its new users. Via BBC

The PS2-themed black PS5 has now officially sold out, but more could be on the way - TechRadar

The black PS5 launch didn't exactly go to plan

The black PS5 from SUP3R5 has officially sold out after going on sale on January 8. However, more consoles could be on the way in the future. Perhaps unsurprisingly, the launch did not go smoothly. Many users encountered payment issues and were charged for pre-orders that weren't actually available.  Production of the black PS5 was limited to just 304 units, and demand far exceeded expectations: a trend that has become all too familiar whenever PS5 stock appears. SUP3R5 has since apologized on Twitter for the frustration some users faced, and vowed to do better in the future. The team also clarified what will happen to those who were charged mistakenly. "If you were charged today, but received no confirmation email, your order did not complete," the statement reads. "Charges for orders that did not complete will be reversed back to you. This usually happens within one day." Users who were banking on international shipping will also be feeling rather aggrieved today, as SUP3R5 has delayed any international pre-orders until later this month. We're sorry about today. This will not happen again. Please be patient with us as we go through every order. pic.twitter.com/97hpLdp89fJanuary 9, 2021 However, there is some potentially good news for those who missed out on securing a black PS5. The team hints in the statement above that any future releases will be spread out into smaller batches to avoid the same "strain on our systems", which could mean more consoles become available. SUP3R5 has also said it is processing any cancellation requests, which means some previously reserved consoles could come back into circulation. If you have placed an order and would like to contact SUP3R5, you can do so here.  We are processing all cancellation requests tonight. If you sent us one, you should receive a cancellation and refund notification sometime this evening. Thank you for being patient with us. We aren't pleased about these issues.January 8, 2021 The custom console and accompanying DualSense controller are due to ship in late spring 2021, and the design reflects the look of the iconic PS2, which still remains the best-selling PlayStation console to date with 155 million units sold worldwide.  But why were only 304 units made? Well, it's because the PS2 was originally released on 03/04/00. If you only wanted the DualSense controller, you had a slightly better chance of getting one, as there were 500 units up for grabs. It was easy to predict that the launch wouldn't go exactly to plan on the morning of January 8. A staggering 54K were already on the waitlist for the console, and that number continued to rise before preorders went live. Although they say you should never be told your chances, we also want everyone to have expectations in check for tomorrow. Right now, we have just under 54k on the "waitlist".We're horrified at that number. We're rooting for each and every one of you.January 8, 2021 If you wanted the black PS5, you had to pay a premium of $99 for the DualSense controller (usually $69) and $649 for the PS5 console (usually $499). But when you compare it to the garish gold PS5 that costs over $10,000, it almost seems reasonable.  It goes without saying that if you ordered the PS5 or a DualSense controller from SUP3R5 or plan to do so in the future, you do so at your own risk. Sony might also wield the ban hammer before the console is actually shipped, as it already shut down a retailer that was selling custom PS5 faceplates last year. However, it hasn't taken any action as of yet.  If you’re still searching for a standard PS5, we’re helping you find where to buy PS5 by checking all the major retailers for any new stock updates.

Microsoft has asked AMD for help in combating Xbox Series X stock shortages - TechRadar

Microsoft is 'working as hard as we can' to increase Xbox Series X/S stock

Nearly three months after the release of the Xbox Series X and Xbox Series S, Microsoft is still struggling to meet demand for its new consoles, with stock shortages expected to carry on until at least April 2021.  But, during a recent appearance on Xbox Live director of programming Larry Hyrb's (AKA Major Nelson) video podcast (via VGC), Xbox boss Phil Spencer assured fans that the company is "working as hard as we can" to make more Xbox Series X stock available, with the executive revealing that he has even reached out to AMD to ask if the processor manufacturer could increase production to help with demand. "I get some people [asking], why didnt you build more? Why didnt you start earlier? Why didnt you ship them earlier? All of those things,” Spencer told Hyrb. "Its really just down to physics and engineering. Were not holding them back: were building them as fast as we can. We have all the assembly lines going. I was on the phone last week with Lisa Su at AMD [asking], how do we get more? So its something that were constantly working on." AMD manufactures the GPU and CPU for both the Xbox Series X and Xbox Series S, with the console's custom designed processor made up of an 8 core AMD Zen 2 CPU and an RDNA 2-class GPU. By AMD increasing the production of these chips, more consoles (in theory) could be manufactured by Microsoft.  But it's not just the Xbox consoles that utilize AMD chips. The PS5 also uses an AMD Radeon RDNA 2 GPU and AMD Zen 2-based CPU with 8 cores, and has similarly been plagued by stock shortages since its launch. “Its not just us: gaming has really come into its own in 2020," Spencer told Hyrb. "Obviously, PlayStation 5 is in very tight supply. When you look at the graphics cards from AMD and Nvidia theres just a lot of interest in gaming right now and console sales are just a sign of that, game sales are a sign of that and hardware is in short supply. “But were working as hard as we can. The teams are incredibly dedicated, and I appreciate peoples patience as we work to build more.” While Microsoft seems determined to build more consoles, it is inevitably tied by the components required to build them. Currently, we're seeing an AMD and Nvidia graphics card shortage, which could reportedly continue until February 2021. According to French publication Cowcotland, both AMD and Nvidia have been hit by GDDR6 supply constraints and will likely continue to face shortages until early next year. This GDDR6 RAM is used in both the PS5 and Xbox Series X consoles - and may be impacting the production of the new consoles. Its also possible that component shipments could be further disrupted by global efforts to distribute the Covid-19 vaccine.  But it's not just component shortages that could be affecting console stock shortages: we've also seen scalpers buying consoles as soon as they come into stock before selling them for extortionate prices online. Microsoft has already stated that it's unlikely to get a handle on Xbox stock issues until at least April this year. Speaking at the Jefferies Interactive Entertainment Virtual Conference in mid-November 2020, Xbox chief financial officer Tim Stuart stated that supply shortages would continue "as we head into the post-holiday quarter, so Microsoft's Q3, calendar Q1." That suggests we won't be seeing a jump in console stock until we're well into 2021 – April at the earliest, but very possibly even later in the year. "We'll have supply cranking up over the next, what, four, five, six months," Stuart added. "And that's when I expect to see really that demand profile start to be met."

New Samsung Galaxy S21 leak could be bad news for a lot of people - TechRadar

No charger or headphones included for the UK

Samsung Galaxy S21 leaks are coming thick and fast, but this latest one is, if true, certainly disappointing, with popular leaker Ishan Agarwal claiming that there will be no charger or earphones included with the upcoming handset in the UK. Instead, according to Agarwal, the Samsung Galaxy S21 will only come with a USB-C cable. While this new leak only concerns the UK, weve also seen hints that in other countries, such as Brazil, the Galaxy S21 will ship without headphones and a charger. It seems, then, that Samsung is following Apples footsteps, despite the company initially mocking the iPhone maker for not including a charger or headphones with its latest iPhone 12 devices. Agarwal also confirmed a 2,400 x 1,080 FHD+ resolution for the display, and the MySmartPrice website also quoted Agarwal as confirming the Galaxy S21 launch date as January 14, 2021. So, should we give up hope of getting a charger and headphones with the Galaxy S21? Perhaps not. First, despite Agarwals reputation, these rumors are still unconfirmed, and until Samsung officially reveals the Galaxy S21, and what comes in the box, we wouldnt get too downbeat. Also, the tweet Agarwal posted that claimed there would be no charger or earphones included with the Galaxy S21 in the UK was deleted (GSMArena managed to take a screenshot of it, however), which could mean the tipster got further information that contradicted the leak, or otherwise lost confidence in their information.  Its looking increasingly likely that Samsung will show off the Galaxy S21 at an event on January 14, so hopefully we wont have too long to wait to find out what will be coming with the companys latest flagship smartphone.

PS5 Target restock: consoles now out of stock, but here's where you could still snag one - TechRadar

PS5 stocks were plentiful to start, but quickly sold out

Update 06:46: our store scanning is now returning no stock of either the Digital Edition or disc console, so we're calling them both as out of stock now for the PS5 Target restock session. Target's much-rumored PS5 restock drop was live between 5:30 - 6:15AM ET for the main disc version, but is now sold out. That was quickly followed by stocks of the Digital Edition, which went live between 6:25-6:40AM ET, but that lasted significantly less time. It shows that Target had more PS5 stock of the main, popular console, focusing less on the PS5 Digital Edition. However, if you miss out on this latest PS5 stock announcement, you might still be in luck this week. There's often a queue on the Sony website weekdays, so if you're after a Sony Direct PS5 restock, then you could be lucky during the days this week. While PS5 stock is rare and severely limited, here's where else to check when it does land: Target had been tipped to have PS5 restock shipments incoming, and the expected time frame was December 27-29, according to video game site Spiel Times, which cited 'Someone of higher designation' as the source of Target PS5 restock info. This means the window has been narrowed down to tomorrow. The stock was heading to stores earlier in the week, and that drop has now happened, albeit at the very last minute. It seem the Spiel Times' source is accurate and the detail in the report was strong: specific regions are likely to get more than others, and that's what we're seeing right now. When the PS5 restock appears... The only good news is that retailers are offering the stock in waves to stop their sites crashing under heavy loads at certain times – that could also explain why Target is doing drops in the early hours.  Spiel Times is suggesting that 3am-7am is the key time for PS5 stock to land (which turned out to be true), and that's something we've experienced in the past too. This previous Tweet from Spiel Times earlier in December is also worth remembering: [TARGET INFO]Keep in mind Target is keeping a close watch on Twitter accounts and info floating around social media. So, there could be rescheduling or delays.More Info - https://t.co/wcLOvYVIYN https://t.co/rACRFX5XFODecember 17, 2020 The PS5 stock drop will be in-store pickup only with no walk-in orders (thankfully, to avoid the Covid-tempting stampedes at the news of a PS5 console) – so you'll order online and get them in store at a specific time.  The key thing with these PS5 restock drops is making the checkout process as smooth as possible – you'll often be able to add to cart, but every second and click after that reduces your chance of actually getting one dramatically. Should you buy a PS5? The PS5 comes with a revolutionary new DualSense controller, and is capable of 4K gaming at 120fps. It's also backwards compatible with all the best PS4 games, so you can revisit some classic titles and take your existing library with you. What's more, the PS5's selection of games is already shaping up nicely. Games such as Demon's Souls and Marvel's Spider-Man: Miles Morales are must-haves, and continue Sony's legacy of creating compelling exclusives you won't find anywhere else.

How to watch Wonder Woman 1984 online: stream WW84 from anywhere today - TechRadar

Blockbuster DC sequel starring Gal Gadot is out now

It's been a frustrating year for film fans, to say the least. Fortunately, a number of VOD platforms have stepped up in 2020 to fill the void left by physical cinematic releases - in many countries, still deemed unsuitable by their governments for the public to attend. The latest example? That would be DC Comics' Christmas Day premiere of Wonder Woman 1984 on HBO Max. Read on we explain how to watch Wonder Woman 1984 online and stream the full WW84 movie wherever you are in the world right now. How to watch Wonder Woman 1984 online Release date: December 25, 2020 Director: Patty Jenkins Cast: Gal Gadot, Chris Pine, Kristen Wiig, Pedro Pascal, Robin Wright, Connie Nielsen Run time: 151 minutes Rating: PG-13 (US) / 12A (UK) Stream now: HBO Max (US-only) Watch anywhere: try a 100% risk-free VPN trial The sequel to 2017's first DC Wonder Woman movie is again directed by Patty Jenkins. And of course, WW84 sees Gal Gadot reprise her fantastic performance as Diana Price, aka Wonder Woman. A stellar supporting cast features Chris Pine, Kristen Wiig, Pedro Pascal, Robin Wright and Connie Nielsen - many of them also returnees from the original. We don't want to spoil Wonder Woman 1984 for you, so all we'll say is that the new movie sees Diana taking on two all-new foes in Max Lord and The Cheetah - and that the production values are every bit as fantastic as you'd expect from a DC effort. Filming locations, you ask? Global capitals Washington D.C. and London, England are two of the main spots, with Spain's Andalusia and Canary Islands regions adding to the movie's stunning backdrops. In other words, breathtaking.  So if you find yourself outside a country currently allowing you to go to the movies or would simply rather stay home in your PJs as it's Christmas, read on as we explain how to watch Wonder Woman 1984 online with HBO Max - and stream WW84 wherever you are in the world. If you're away from home right now, you can still watch Wonder Woman 1984 no matter where youve ended up.  In some places, cinematic releases are still going ahead. In others, it's available through local streaming services like HBO Max in the US - or to buy on VOD platforms. If you're traveling from the US, you'll want to be able to access the same streaming service you would at home. And as HBO Max is only available within the United States, youll need to download a VPN to do so. Use a VPN to watch Wonder Woman 1984 online from anywhere ExpressVPN is the world's top VPN right nowWe've taken the time to try out all the biggest VPN providers and we found ExpressVPN to be the best of the best. It works with lots of devices and offers super fast connections across its many servers.  Throw in its robust set of security features and ExpressVPN is the best all-round VPN for streaming  - and perhaps best of all, it has a 30-day money back guarantee plus 3 months FREE when you subscribe for a year. Access ExpressVPN via your laptop, iPhone, tablet, Android phone, PlayStation, Xbox and plenty more. Express is a do-it-all service that also benefits from 24/7 customer support. - Try ExpressVPN 100% risk-free for 30 days How to watch Wonder Woman 1984 online in the US Youll need to subscribe to streaming service HBO Max to watch Wonder Woman online, as its one of its exclusive feature films. It has a monthly price tag of $14.99, which isn't as cheap as some, but then there's no accounting for the sheer amount of quality content on offer here – around 10,000 hours at launch. And new customers can enjoy aFREE 7-day trial before paying a thing. Wondering how can you watch HBO Max? Compatible devices include compatible iPhone and Android devices, Apple and Samsung TVs, PlayStation 4 and Xbox One consoles, Chromecast and Chromebooks, and laptops and PCS. Be aware, however, that it doesnt work with Roku or the Amazon Fire Stick as of yet. Also, remember that you'll need a valid US-based credit card if you want to take out an HBO Max subscription for the first time - so have yours handy to help streamline the whole sign-up process. Lastly, you might already be eligible for HBO Max and not know it – say, if youre a current HBO Now subscriber or pay for HBO through your cable subscriber. If so, check here to find out if you can receive HBO Max free of charge. How to watch Wonder Woman 1984 in Canada Canadians don't have access to HBO Max - but they are still getting WW84 as a VOD release on December 25. The exact platforms that will offer the film haven't been confirmed by Warner Bros Canada - but we'd be amazed if Amazon Prime wasn't one of them - at an extra cost, rather than as part of its subscription.  Expect it to cost something like CAD$29.99 for to stream - and other obvious  VOD platforms to check out in Prime Video isn't delivering the woods are iTunes and Google Play. Americans in Canada have another option, though, as they can simply download a quality VPN and connect to whatever service back home offers the movie. Warner Bros has apparently confirmed that the UK will get a Wonder Woman VOD release date of January 13, 2021.  They have mentioned who'll be offering, beyond saying they'll partner with "premium video on-demand outlets". In some parts of the country, you can actually go see it at the cinema. We couldn't tell you where, precisely, but such do still apparently exist. As above, folks currently in the UK from other countries where Wonder Woman 84 is offered by their streaming service can consider using a VPN to access it from abroad. Good news and bad news, Aussie film fans. The good news is you're apparently Covid-free enough that Warner Bros is happy to just let Wonder Woman 1984 hit Australian cinemas from December 26 - though a few select screenings will go ahead on Christmas Day. The bad news is your adherence to basic hygiene principles means you won't be getting a Wonder Woman 1984 VOD release like some other countries. It'll come in time, of course - HBO Max and Aussie streaming service Binge have a good relationship - but right now you'll have to enjoy your freedom or miss out on the latest DC superhero epic. Anyone currently in Australia from countries where WW84 is available for VOD streaming can try accessing their home service using the VPN method we describe above.  (Image credit: Warner Bros/DC Entertainment) What is HBO Max? Available since May, HBO Max is a worthy competitor to Disney Plus, Hulu, Amazon Prime, and Netflix. Its at an immediate advantage, having a coveted library of acclaimed HBO TV shows and films at its disposal: The Sopranos, Westworld, The Wire, Succession, and Game of Thrones to name only a few. Having access to WarnerMedias far-reaching library of content, as well as that of third-party providers, makes it even more enticing. It means not just 100 years worth of Warner Brothers movies and TV shows, but content from New Line Cinema, DC Entertainment, Turner Classic Movies, Bad Robot Productions, Crunchyroll, and many others. That line-up embraces old Hollywood films, anime and manga, contemporary blockbusters, TV series, and everything in between. Its a hugely diverse selection. HBO Max also provides exclusive access to all seasons of Friends (itll produce the much-anticipated reunion special, too), The Big Bang Theory and Rick and Morty, as well as being the only US service that allows you to watch Studio Ghibli movies – 21 out of 22 of their animated films, including the Oscar-winning Spirited Away.  Not only do it have access to a stunning archive of content, but HBO Max intends to create a bounty of exciting new programming for the platform too. Among the roster of current Max Originals is DCs Doom Patrol, vogueing reality show Legendary, scripted comedy Love Life, and The Not Too Late Show with Elmo. There will be huge growth in this area too, as Warner Bros intends to produce 8-10 mid-budget films annually, as well as creating 31 original series for HBO Max in its first year.

Xiaomi Mi 11 launch date confirmed, but don't bother tuning in for the live event - TechRadar

The next generation of Xiaomi phones

The Xiaomi Mi 11 was one of the most anticipated phones of 2021 - we say 'was' because, as it turns out, it's actually coming in 2020. On Chinese social media platform Weibo, Xiaomi confirmed its Mi 11 line of smartphones, the next generation of its flagship line, will launch on December 28 at 7:30pm CST (1:30pm GMT, 8:30am ET, 5:30am PT). That's a day earlier than rumors were suggesting, and months earlier than the February launch precedent would suggest. The event teaser was light on details of the phone apart from confirming its name as the Xiaomi Mi 11, so we're going to have to wait and see what the handset looks like, and how many siblings it'll come with. However, if you're a big tech fan and you like tuning into phone launch events you might want to skip this one. As with most, but not all, Xiaomi phone launches, the Xiaomi Mi 11 unveiling is a China-only event. Text and spoken language will be in Mandarin, and region-specific information like availability and price will only be provided for China. If you speak the language, the event will make sense for you but if not tuning in might be a confusing experience. That doesn't mean the phone will only come out in China - Xiaomi often hosts subsequent global launches where it unveils pricing in many other currencies. We could also find out which handsets are coming to which countries - Xiaomi tends to launch a random selection of phones in markets like the UK. So, when could this second event be? The Xiaomi Mi 10 global launch took place six weeks after its Chinese one, so perhaps we'll see the Xiaomi Mi 11 in late January or early February. Only time will tell. If you're desperate to know what the Xiaomi Mi 11 will be like, TechRadar will tune into the Chinese event and bring you all the relevant information, so stay tuned on December 29 for that.

The Cyberpunk 2077 console launch mess somehow seems even worse now - TechRadar

A CD Projekt Red conference call doesn't make things any better

The Cyberpunk 2077 launch has been a mess on consoles. With reports of hard crashes, bugs and poor performance on the base Xbox One and PS4 units, CD Projekt Red has entered damage control on its open world RPG.  First, the developer offered refunds via social media (the now-famous black font on a yellow background, which usually means 'bad Cyberpunk news') and the developer also released a transcript of a conference call addressing issues with the game. Honestly, it doesn't make the situation seem any better. "After three delays, we as the Management Board were too focused on releasing the game," begins president and joint CEO Adam Kiciński. "We underestimated the scale and complexity of the issues, we ignored the signals about the need for additional time to refine the game on the base last-gen consoles. It was the wrong approach and against our business philosophy. On top of that, during the campaign, we showed the game mostly on PCs." CD Projekt recognizes that the console launch has damaged its reputation among players, which was arguably sky-high after The Witcher 3, and led to a lot of goodwill in advance of Cyberpunk 2077's release. "This caused the loss of gamers trust and the reputation that we've been building through a big part of our lives. Thats why our first steps are solely focused on regaining those two things. We are concentrated on fixing Cyberpunk on last-gen consoles." Mention is then made of the upcoming patches rolling out before the end of the year, and the others coming in January and February. CD Projekt Red didn't show gameplay of Cyberpunk 2077 on the base PS4 and Xbox One consoles before release it did show footage on the upgraded PS4 Pro and Xbox One X machines, but it's meant the game's performance issues have seemed like a nasty surprise to many players. Cyberpunk 2077 garnered 8 million sales just from pre-orders, with a significant portion of those on consoles. It's not a good look. The parts of this call drawing the most ire on the internet right now are the following few passages, after the speakers are asked more about the game's delays, the console version not getting enough attention, and whether the priority was to not let the game delay again into next year. "First your question was about the focus and the cause of ours ignoring, so to speak, the shortcomings of the current-gen version. It is more about us looking as was previously stated at the PC and next-gen performance rather than current-gen," said SVP of business development Michał Nowakowski. "We definitely did not spend enough time looking at that." Nowakowski continued, this time addressing the delays, and what the situation was with certification on the game with Sony and Microsoft this process occurs prior to a game's release on those platforms.  "I wouldnt say that we felt any external or internal pressure to launch on the date other than the normal pressure, which is typical for any release. So that was not the cause. In terms of the certification process and the third parties this is definitely on our side. I can only assume that they trusted that were going to fix things upon release, and that obviously did not come together exactly as we had planned." None of this really adds up to a good excuse for why the game has launched in a rough state on base consoles. The transcript also touches upon the effects of Covid-19 on testing for the game, as well as addressing why throwing hundreds more developers at the project wouldn't have made a difference to the end result. It does also note that players enjoying the game on next-gen consoles, PC and Stadia are having a better experience.  It's a fascinating transcript to read the developer is very contrite about how things went down. And there is a hard commitment to fixing the game. "Unfortunately I cannot share the cost related to additional work, but the cost of patching the game is irrelevant compared to what we have already spent," says CFO Piotr Nielubowicz. "So theres no question we definitely want to fix the game; we made a promise to gamers and well be doing everything to stick with it." Players are absolutely justified in being frustrated by the state the game launched in, however it's also disappointing that the console version of CD Projekt Red's latest RPG was apparently not provided to reviewers before the game's review embargo lifted. That means the critics' verdict on the game was made on the PC version, which is not without its issues, but pretty amazing to behold when it's actually running smoothly (which does require demanding hardware). We'll wait and see on how this develops there is a good game under the launch issues for Cyberpunk 2077. It's just a shame you're not necessarily getting that if you buy it on PS4 and Xbox One right now.

SpaceX explosion: watch the Starship SN8 rocket meet fiery end - TechRadar

The SpaceX Starship SN8 high-altitude flight test succeeded at everything but the landing

Update: The SpaceX rocket explosion video is now embedded below, and we've updated this news story to include both quotes both SpaceX and tweets from Elon Musk.   The SpaceX Starship SN8 high-altitude flight test was a success during the first few minutes of the liftoff live stream, but it couldn't stick the landing, exploding in spectacular fashion upon impact with the landing site. You can watch the fiery SpaceX Starship explosion video below. The rocket begins its ultimate descent five minutes after liftoff (if you want to fast-forward). In between and also right at the end, you can observe a green flame coming from the engines. The suborbital flight of this prototype rocket was designed to test a number of objectives, including how the three Raptor engines performed, aerodynamic entry capabilities of the vehicle (including the body flaps) and how it managed propellant transition, according to SpaceX. It wasn't bound for space or carrying a valuable payload. Even before the twice-delayed liftoff on Wednesday, December 9, SpaceX noted that Starship SN8 would "attempt to perform a landing flip maneuver, which would be a first for a vehicle of this size." SpaceX founder Elon Musk gave the entire test flight a 1 in 3 chance of fully succeeding. SpaceX also mentioned in the description of the live stream liftoff video that "a test such as this, success is not measured by completion of specific objectives but rather how much we can learn as a whole." This was written before the explosion. It went on to say that today's Starship test "will inform and improve the probability of success in the future as SpaceX rapidly advances development of Starship." Musk, in a post-launch and explosion tweet went on to back up this tone, saying the data meant to be collected was indeed a success.  Fuel header tank pressure was low during landing burn, causing touchdown velocity to be high & RUD, but we got all the data we needed! Congrats SpaceX team hell yeah!!December 9, 2020 Cue SpaceX Starship SN9. Update: Musk followed up his tweet, confirming that the Starship 'SN8 did great' despite the fiery explosion upon its landing attempt. SN8 did great! Even reaching apogee wouldve been great, so controlling all way to putting the crater in the right spot was epic!!December 10, 2020

Official Samsung Galaxy S21 teasers have leaked, confirming minimal camera bump - TechRadar

Galaxy S21, S21 Plus and S21Ultra teased

While Samsung has yet to officially reveal its upcoming Galaxy S21 lineup, there've been plenty of leaks and rumors on the upcoming flagships, and today Android Police has gotten a hold of three official-looking teaser videos, giving us our best look at the Galaxy S21, Galaxy S21 Plus and Galaxy S21 Ultra to date. Although the leaked teasers don't show any of the phones in full, they do offer a very clear look at each handset's rear camera arrays and glimpses at their displays, confirming the designs seen in previously leaked renders and real-word photos. The short Samsung Galaxy S21 and S21 Plus teasers show two seemingly identical handsets (which will almost certainly differ in size and battery capacity when finally released), as well as a gorgeous new two-tone color option that's reportedly dubbed Phantom Violet.  Both handsets sport a flat display, a centered pinhole selfie camera and a rear triple camera array with an almost flat bezel.  (Image credit: Android Police) Meanwhile, Samsung's design diverges somewhat with the Galaxy S21 Ultra, which boasts a curved display with centered pinhole selfie camera, alongside a quad camera setup on the rear which reportedly includes a 108MP primary sensor, a 10MP periscope telephoto lens, an additional 10MP telephoto lens and a 12MP ultra-wide sensor.  Another supposed inclusion is a laser-autofocus sensor, which is said to replace the Galaxy S20 Ultra's ToF (time of flight) sensor. (Image credit: Android Police) Unfortunately, the teaser doesn't show enough of the Galaxy S21 Ultra to confirm a rumor that suggests the upcoming handset might get an S Pen, meaning we'll have to wait until Samsung's expected unveiling on January 14, 2020.