Sony XBR-65X850C 3D LCD Ultra HDTV

Is it safe yet to buy a 4K TV? Manufacturers want us to think so, even though it seems that there’s always some new hitch to make consumers wary that the set they buy today will be an expensive doorstop a year or two down the road. For example, the first few 4K TVs lacked an HDMI 2.0 interface—a necessity if you wanted your set to be compatible with future 60-fps Ultra HD content like sports. When the next generation of 4K sets came out, there was a question of whether the HDMI 2.0 interface would support HDCP 2.2 content protection—a necessity if you wanted to watch copy-protected Ultra HD movies.

Code With AI2. Dice Shaker

Build an Android dice shaker app with David Briddock

Over the last few articles we’ve used App Inventor 2 (AI2) to build our first Android app, a useful timer.

In subsequent issues we’ll build apps that explore particular aspects of AI2 coding. This time it’s a random dice shaker app that’s driven by a motion sensor.

Remember, all you need to play along is a Windows/Mac/Linux PC, web browser and Google account. Ideally you’ll also have an Android smartphone or tablet for testing.

Gaming Laptops For All Budgets

If you need your gaming to be portable, but still want to play the latest releases, you’ll need a laptop designed for the task

Most serious PC gamers spend a lot of time setting up their desktop systems; we’re talking machines that include the best GPUs, tons of RAM and a powerful CPU, capable of playing the latest games at the highest detail with the best frame rates. It’s almost an artform, and serving the needs of such demanding customers has always been to the forefront of the minds of those in the hardware industry, not least because of its a passionate community of early adopters.

Surround Sound Headphones For PC Gaming

Surround sound is a common feature of modern games, but how well can it translate to headphones?

Audiophiles know that a good pair of headphones can produce sound better than any speaker, not least because they can deliver a far more nuanced set of frequencies directly into your ears. That’s fine if you’re listening to something that was mixed in stereo – most audiophiles are, after all – but what if you’re a gamer or a movie fan? Are there headphones that can give you the full immersive experience of surround speakers AND the nuance and subtlety of high-quality, up-close output?

How Vulnerable Is Your Home To Hackers?

More and more everyday devices can connect to the internet. While there are advantages to that, there might be some serious safety issues involved, too. Sarah Dobbs takes a look…

The idea of ‘the Internet of Things’ is a pretty exciting one. Forget the jibes about internet fridges that never quite took off – now we’re looking at a world where you can control your central heating and even the colour of the lighting in your living room from your smartphone via internet-connected devices, should you so choose. Almost anything and everything comes with an internet connection nowadays, and the days of only being able to go online from a landline-connected PC in one corner seem like a million years ago.