There are many reasons to take an active interest in VPNs. Countless providers are all vying for your business. With so many to choose from, how do you decide?
One strong contender is the Canadian provider TunnelBear. It aims to simplify the VPN, making it useful for everyone. Its commitment to protecting your privacy online makes it a great provider. We’ve put TunnelBear through its paces — so, how does it stack up?
Why Should You Trust Us?
As a site, we pride ourselves in covering a wide range of tools that you can use in a variety of settings. We know that everyone has differing needs and priorities. That’s why we have covered a large number of VPN services in the past and will continue to do so. Just have a look at our Best VPN Page to see what we mean!
Our writers are based all around the world and together we represent a diverse range of views and priorities. It helps us recognize that there is no “one-size-fits-all” approach. We highlight the pros and cons of any tool to help you make the best choice for your needs.
Easy Setup
Many people first come into contact with VPNs at their workplace. Used to securely connect you back to your office, they are often complicated, temperamental affairs. TunnelBear cuts through all the complex VPN setup with its remarkable simplicity.
The setup experience is well thought-out and uncluttered. There are no options to work your way through, and no complicated terminology. TunnelBear’s bear mascot makes a number of animated appearances that actually had me chuckling during the installation. It might seem like a novelty, but it enforces how the company places importance on making the experience friendly, inviting, and simple.
In keeping with the minimalist, easy-to-use aesthetic, once the app is installed it is ready to use without any further setup. Simply choose a server in one of 20 supported countries and you are ready to go. You could even use the auto connection feature that chooses the best performing server.
Here are just a few of the supported countries with TunnelBear servers:
United Kingdom
United States
Canada
Germany
France
Switzerland
If you want to dive into the settings there are only a couple of options. For more experienced users, this lack of customization may be a point of frustration. However, when the software just works out-of-the-box then there’s no need to add in complexity. It is without a doubt the easiest experience of any VPN provider you are likely to come across.
Pricing and Payments
TunnelBear offers three plans; Little, Giant, and Grizzly. Little is a free plan with 500MB of data per month. Giant offers unlimited data at $9.99/month, while Grizzly offers unlimited data for a year for an upfront payment of $59.88. Grizzly is the best value plan, working out to an equivalent cost of $4.99/month.
TunnelBear proves its credibility as a trustworthy, privacy-focused VPN by offering payment either via card or anonymously using Bitcoin.
Many providers are either free or premium, with little crossover. The general wisdom is that if a service is free, you are the product. As TunnelBear has a premium option it is likely that those services subsidize the free plan.
Google Play Music now recommends new music via a station called New Release Radio. This station offers up new music Google thinks you’ll enjoy. And with this one idea Google Play Music becomes a more viable competitor to Spotify, which specializes in recommending new music.
Streaming music services are here to stay, with the likes of Spotify, Apple Music, and Google Play Music adding users at an impressive rate of knots. People are subscribing because these services represent great value for money, but they’re staying for the new music recommendations.
Google Play Music Knows New Release
Spotify has been helping its users discover new music for a long time. Spotify’s automagic playlists such as Discover Weekly, Release Radar, and Daily Mixes mean the music never stops. And now Google Play Music is offering its own spin on Release Radar called New Release Radio.
New Release Radio serves up a selection of new music Google thinks you’ll enjoy listening to. Google will use machine learning in order to find the right mix of music for each individual. This will essentially analyze the songs, artists, and genres you have previously listened to and recommend music released in the past two weeks. New Release Radio will update every day.
New Release Radio has been available to Samsung owners for several months thanks to a partnership with Google. This gave Samsung-owning Google Play Music users some benefits over their non-Samsung-owning friends. One of which was clearly early access to new features. However, New Release Radio is now available globally to free users and paid subscribers.
New Release Radio Is a Promising Start
Streaming music is the future. And one of the many advantages streaming music services offer is their ability to recommend new music based on past listening habits. Google Play Music has lagged behind on this particular aspect, but New Release Radio represents a promising start.
Do you use Google Play Music? Do you pay for the privilege or just take advantage of the free offering? How do you rate Google Play Music against Spotify and Apple Music? Will New Release Radio help Google Play Music succeed? Please let us know in the comments below!
While many folks play video games as an escape, others enjoy the artistic excellence of select games. Every aspect of a game, from its pacing to immersion factor and even the soundtrack, is important. For these gamers, playing is not just about entertainment. It’s about getting a reaction, and there’s no greater reaction than laughter.
We previously wrote about the funniest games ever made, but the laughs don’t end there. Along with providing fantastic gameplay, the creators of these controllable comedies made a particular effort to make these games hil–arious. Here are ten more of the funniest games out there for your gaming pleasure.
NSFW Warning: Some of these games are aimed at adult audiences and contain language, violence, and other content not appropriate for children.
1. Conker’s Bad Fur Day (2001)
Conker’s Bad Fur Day still stands as one of the most hilarious and replayable games in gaming history, despite its release late in the N64’s lifetime. Its humor, though raunchy at times, reaches every aspect of the game.
This game is satire at its best: an adult cartoon about a cute, murderous squirrel. It wasn’t enough to choose a cartoonish artistic style. Everything, from voice acting to character design, was meant to stretch the conventions of platform gaming at the time.
Every boss is memorable. Any given line in the game is one of the funniest in gaming. Conker’s Bad Fur Day has absolutely no respect and isn’t beneath using a fart noise (and too many poo jokes to count) for a laugh. That’s the point. While there are more realistically violent games — both physically and verbally — nothing will ever quite match the vile comedic brilliance of Conker.
In short: there are no fanboys when it comes to Conker’s Bad Fur Day. You either like it or you’re incorrect.
2. Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas (2004)
Everyone has a favorite Grand Theft Auto for one reason or another. Mine is undoubtedly San Andreas.
One bit we have to mention about San Andreas is how naturally smooth the game is. Although it was released on the PS2 in 2004 and thus suffers from the graphical oddities of yesteryear, the game covered topics of race, gang life, and financial success without ever feeling emotionally heavy.
Going to eat is funny. Cutscenes are hilarious. Even the hairstyles in the game were comical, and let’s not forget Grand Theft Auto‘s talk radio shows remain some of the funniest moments in gaming.
This game has it all, from a landmark Cluckin’ Bell drive-thru order to a cubic character fashioned after Eazy E. While most games from the 2000s simply can’t hold up due to graphical limitations, I dare you to tell me the game’s writing, familiar characters, and bare-bones hilarious missions wouldn’t hold up today.
3. Goat Simulator: Waste Of Space (2016)
Not Goat Simulator itself, mind you. I’m referring specifically to its expansion: Waste Of Space.
Why? It’s in the title — space!
You probably never thought of exploring space as a goat, but how can you argue with a trailer that sincerely funny? You don’t play as an anthropomorphic goat, though — only actual goats are present. Goat Simulator perfectly satirizes the simulator game market, wherein players perform common tasks in typical, professional instances. But its true brilliance comes from its ability to take the absurdity of an already ridiculous gaming franchise up a notch.
You’re a goat in space, but that’s not where the comedic element ends. Goat Simulator: Waste Of Space is hilariously referential. Even the name Waste Of Space can be taken ironically, considering the paradoxical vastness and uselessness of most modern gaming libraries.
This DLC has you start out in a Portal-esque branded jumpsuit speaking to a mustachioed man in a top-hat named Lawrence S. Windler (read as swindler) with Mass Effect-style chat menus wherein all entries are labeled “Baaa!”
And that’s just the first scene! In a gaming world where we’ve seen too many serious blockbusters,Goat Simulator: Waste Of Space is a fantastic relief.
4. Lisa (2014)
Many 2D games fail to impress because they reek of someone learning to make games using Unity. But the best show that a developer is confident enough to ingrain an entire and immersive world into two dimensions.
Lisa does just that. Fair warning: this isn’t your average sidescroller. It’s dark, it’s raw, and at times it’ll have you asking if there’s something wrong with the developer.
It also incorporates two of the rarest qualities in gaming: originality and hilarity. Every text box has a punchline, the fight mechanics are funny in their own right, the characters can’t be any more perfect, and the game is frustrating in a way that makes you love it even more.
To cite a specific example would be to rob you of a hilarious experience, and this game is full of them.
5. South Park: The Stick Of Truth (2014)
Before playing this game, many thought it was going to be a flop. A fantastic animated TV show turned video game seemed too susceptible to kitsch and bad taste. With South Park: The Stick Of Truth, I realized the truth — Trey Stone and Matt Parker can do no wrong.
The game makes absolutely no compromises. It’s as hilarious as South Park and the fight mechanics only add to the overall enjoyable feeling of being in South Park. More importantly, the storyline plays like a South Park episode. All your favorite lovable, deplorable characters are depicted just as they should be.
The developers have done something impossible with Stick of Truth. They’ve made all the typically boring parts of an RPG — like perks, game mechanics, and cutscenes — funny. Like, laugh-out-loud funny.
While I could also recommend the upcoming sequel to this game, The Fractured But Whole, it looks as though the creators bumped the absurdity level a little too high to appeal to everyone. If you’re aSouth Park fan, however, consider the games canon and play them. Trust me.
6. Psychonauts (2005)
Psychonauts is brilliantly weird. If you’re not familiar with the game, you’re not alone. But know that director Tim Schafer is not a name to take lightly, and his game writing ranks among my personal favorite and the favorite of many others.
This game is deep on multiple levels. The basic activity of the game is as follows: communicate with a twisted character, enter their minds, and solve (or at least understand) their issues through puzzle solving in a 3D platform environment.
It’s astounding how quickly you can understand the different character quirks through the dialogue alone. The characters are witty and individual, which makes the whole game an enjoyable experience. My favorite character is Napoleon — once you play the game, you’ll have a favorite too.
7. Banjo-Kazooie (1998)
You know Banjo-Kazooie, I know Banjo-Kazooie — do I really have to say more?
Banjo-Kazooie is one of those games that will never quite leave you, even if you last played it years and years ago. While there are plenty of offshoots which try to adopt aspects of this game, the unique storytelling — along with the tight-knit character comradery — is unmatched.
The fact that this game packs as much hilarity in without leaning towards depravity only stands as testament to how funny it actually is. Kids and adults alike will get a kick out of Banjo-Kazooie.
You’ll chuckle at Kazooie’s snide remarks, their happy faces whenever your honeycomb health is full, the overly cartoonish character eyes, alligator Banjo, walrus Banjo… there are too many enjoyable aspects of this game to list. Play it if you never have, and replay (or speedrun) it if you have already.
8. Ratchet and Clank Series (2002-Present)
Ratchet and Clank is one of those games that does almost everything right: from graphics to shooting mechanics, it’s a fantastic experience.
Unsurprisingly, Ratchet and Clank naturally oozes funny from every pore. Keep in mind that all these qualities can refer to the original, the sequels, or the 2016 PS4 remake. It’s a silly and enjoyable experience all the way through, and the sillier it gets — ehem, Skidd McMarx — the better it is.
Best of all, Ratchet and Clank manages to provide a hilarious gaming experience to young and old fans alike. Say what you want, I’ll never get over the Groovitron.
Playing Ratchet and Clank is like being a part of a movie, which it — in part — is. Better yet, it’s like being part of a legitimately funny movie.
9. Deadpool (2013)
I know — a game based on a movie? A superhero movie? Hear me out.
Deadpool has for a long time been the premiere comedic staple of the Marvel universe. That becomes immediately apparent in the Deadpool game. Somehow, the developers managed to pack everything about Deadpool that makes the franchise amazing in an entertaining shooter-slasher.
Besides the fun in-game mechanics, the writing is quintessentially Deadpool. From the cutscenes to the fourth wall-breaking offhand remarks, you still get the same quirky mutant. If you dig lewd and crude comedy — from one of the most hilarious heroes (and villains) in comic book history — playDeadpool.
10. The Stanley Parable (2013)
The Stanley Parable is an amazing game. The sheer amount of self-reflection this game mandates from the player is impressive. What’s more impressive in this game, though, is just how funny it is.
I don’t mean “ha-ha” funny. It’s more of an “I’m not comfortable with how comfortably the narrator is designating my decisions” funny. The Stanley Parable insults you constantly. The narrator’s dry British wit is annoying. Once you start playing, though, you won’t want to stop.
You can’t. The constant fourth-dimensional barrage is enough to hook even the most casual players. While playing, you can’t avoid thinking that the developers actually tried to do something with this title.
In most comedic games, the writing and plot are satirical. In The Stanley Parable, you are the satire.
Any other funny games you’d recommend? Tell us which games left you in stitches in the comments below!
Short Bytes: According to the latest reports, a supposedly fake dark website called The Rodeo is being promoted through a web browser disguised as TOR. Rodeo allows the users to purchase illegal products from the dark web and pay using Bitcoins. But in reality, the website appears to be a scam to steal people’s money.
Dark Web is the part of the world wide web which is beyond the reach of normal search engines and is accessible with the help of specific tools like the Tor Browser.
The dark web has a lot of shady and illegal stuff. But what’s shadier is a fake Tor browser that’s being promoted among the users in the form of YouTube videos.
The fake Tor Browser was spotted last week by Lawrence Abrams of Bleeping Computer. The said YouTube videos are tutorials to teach users about buying stuff from a Dark Web marketplace known as The Rodeo.
Fake Tor Connection
The only way you can relate the imposter web browser to Rodeo is that it carries the name in the title bar. After further digging, it was found that the software carries Tor’s UI and houses .NET code under the hood. Most of the options and buttons don’t work except the one in the Settings drop down menu which opens the Rodeo marketplace.
When opened, it doesn’t even connect to the Tor network but loads all the site data from a remote FTP server while it pretends to fetch data from a fake onion address.
The Rodeo About Us page
There is a question about the legitimacy of the website as well. Users can do all the normal operations like account creation, view vendor profiles, browsing products (mostly illegal), paying via Bitcoin, etc. But it’s unclear if they would ever receive the product they purchase from the website.
All the data related to the user, vendors, and even the passwords and private messages are stored on the FTP servers in text files from where it’s retrieved. Bleeping Computer wasn’t able to verify the website’s claims implemented PGP key encryption for all orders.
Hacking Services page
For each user who registered on the marketplace, a folder was created. There were around 138 such folders. It’s believed that the different vendors present on the site are actually the same person who operators the site. Bleeping Computer was able to find the Bitcoin address of three people who might have paid some amount to the website operator.
For more information, read the original post published here.
Got something to add? Drop your thoughts and feedback.
Your smartphone has plenty of games to keep you entertained, but that’s not the only way it doubles as a toy. There are some awesome gizmos that you can control with an app, making them better than any toy you had as a kid.
Sure, you can build an RC car with an Arduino, but it’s not as fancy as a toy. If you really want to have some fun, treat yourself to one of these gadgets. Because no matter how old you get, don’t forget about the child within you.
Sphero is obviously the first choice for anyone looking for a phone-controlled toy, but the BB-8 won a special place in our geeky hearts. And it’s dropped in price considerably from its launch cost of $150, available for just $60 now.
The BB-8 is almost like any other Sphero ball, only it comes with a detachable magnetic head. You can control the bot with your phone from 100 feet away, as it rolls at a top speed of 5 miles per hour. Oh yeah, and it reacts to voice commands too!
For more on this one, read our full review of the Sphero BB-8.
Ollie is the other Sphero bot that has been wowing everyone who uses it. It’s much faster than the regular Sphero, with a top speed of 14 miles per hour, and has built-in LEDs that shine in the night.
Ollie also performs several tricks, like jumping and flipping. The best part about Ollie is that it also doubles as a teaching tool. Gift Ollie to a child and they can play with it.
Psst, check out the “Darkside Edition” of the Ollie, it’s way cooler than the regular one (and cheaper too).
Dash is a more child-oriented version of Sphero, with a cartoonish appearance and a charming personality. And what’s more, it is a great way to teach kids the basics of programming.
It’s a simple drag-and-drop interface that children can use to get the basic hang of how logic works in programming. By default, Dash can move, dance, light up, make sounds, avoid obstacles, and even react to your voice. And you can unlock other features in the coding app.
As you can see in the video, Dash responds perfectly to input from your phone or tablet. It’s the ideal gift for kids aged six and more.
You have to play a game with the Robotic Enhanced Vehicles (R.E.V.) kit to really appreciate how awesome it is. The kit includes a quadcopter drone and a car, with both being a part of an epic battle to the death.
It’s an augmented reality game, so your gadgets don’t actually take any hits. You can choose to play as the drone or the car, while the other is operated by an artificial intelligence (AI). Out-manoeuvre the attacks and bring down your opponent to win.
R.E.V. also allows for two players to control each vehicle, and you can have friends bring their own R.E.V. vehicles for a four-player battle royale. Wicked fun!
The reviews are unanimous: The TobyRich Moskito is the best starter toy for anyone who wants to fly a plane with their phone. It’s easy and intuitive, it is resilient to crashes, and it’s pretty cheap.
The Moskito is made out of durable materials because crashes are a part of the toy flying experience. The rudder is a little flimsy, but you can get a replacement part easily.
Importantly, you will adapt to the Moskito’s intuitive controls in minutes. And the gesture-based controls mean that your eyes stay on the plane, not on your phone, which what all the fun is about.
This is one of those toys that makes you freak out about how awesome technology is. The POWERUP actually turns any paper airplane into a remote-controlled plane for your phone!
It’s a tiny gadget with a smart sensor at the front, and a rudder and propellor behind. Build a paper airplane, place the gadget in it, and you can now control the airplane’s flight. How amazing is that?
POWERUP charges with a microUSB cord, and the whole thing is pretty durable. Plus, a kit of spare parts costs less than $10, in case anything breaks.
Don’t forget to go to POWERUP’s official site to find different designs to make a variety of cool-looking paper airplanes.
If your house has a pool or you love to go outdoors, the Brookstone Rover Land and Sea will be an entertaining companion. It’s like a souped-up version of a classic RC car.
The built-in camera shows everything that the Rover sees, letting you control it from 150 feet away. It’s an all-terrain vehicle, handling lawns with the same ease as tiled floors. Oh, and did we mention it’s amphibious?
That’s right, the Rover Land and Sea operates in water too, and you can control its movement like on land. That’s a fun pool buddy, right there. Of course, you might want to put a waterproof case on your iPhone first.
If you grew up playing with Hot Wheels or any other such tiny cars, you will instantly fall in love with Anki Overdrive.
Lay out the track that comes as a part of the Anki Overdrive kit, place your cars on it, and get ready to race. Don’t be afraid to get rough with your opponents and fire virtual rockets or bullets at them. Anything goes in Overdrive, and all the action plays out on your screen.
The best one, though, is the Battle mode. There’s no race here, your job is to take out your opponent as many times as possible. It’s like playing Mario Kart in real life!
But What About Drones?
You might have noticed the conspicuous absence of quadcopters and drones in this list. Thing is, drones are now their own market and recommending one would be impossible. That’s why we have this guide for the best drones in any budget.
Now tell us, have you got any of the toys on this list? Which other cool smartphone-controlled gizmos have we missed?
Microsoft has officially pulled the plug on Windows Phone, having ended all support for Windows Phone 8.1. This means that if you’re still using a phone powered by Window Phone 8.1 then you now belong in the same camp as those people persevering with the also-dead Windows XP.
We used to write about Windows Phone. We treated it the same as Android and iOS. And then we realized nobody was reading the articles because no one actually cared. That is until we declared Windows Phone dead, at which point hundreds of people felt compelled to complain.
Now, Windows Phone is actually dead, and this time it’s official…
Microsoft Stops Supporting Windows Phone 8.1
Microsoft ended support for Windows Phone 8.1 on July 11, 2017. Windows Phone 8.1 shared this death date with a host of other older and obscure products no one cares about, including Microsoft Identity Lifecycle Manager 2007, Microsoft ProClarity Analytics Server 6.3, and Microsoft Visual SourceSafe 2005 Standard Edition. None of which anyone has ever even heard of.
In layman’s terms Microsoft ending support for Windows Phone 8.1 means there will be “no new security updates, non-security updates, free or paid assisted support options or online technical content updates”. Which means you’re on your own, even if something goes badly wrong.
While it’s now official, most pundits declared Windows Phone dead ages ago. Which is unfortunate as most of the Microsoft-powered smartphones in the wild are still running Windows Phone 7, Windows Phone 8, or Windows Phone 8.1. None of which are supported any more.
Onwards and Upwards to Windows 10 Mobile
So, Windows Phone is dead, long live Windows 10 Mobile, perhaps?
Unfortunately even Windows 10 Mobile only boasts a negligible share of the mobile market. So Microsoft’s previous attempt at overcoming the might of Android and iOS is dead, and its current attempt is on life support. Maybe Microsoft should just stick to computers from now on.
Do you own a Windows Phone phone? If so, are you bothered by Microsoft ending support for your mobile operating system of choice? Are you going to move onto something new? If so, will it be Windows 10 Mobile, Android, or iOS? Please let us know in the comments below!
It’s actually happened. Yes, Ubuntu is available on the Windows Store. Windows Insiders can now download and install Ubuntu onto Windows 10, adding some command-line fun. This brings Linux and Windows together in an unholy union few ever imagined they’d live long enough to witness.
This day has been coming for some time. Microsoft first announced it was adding Windows 10 support for the Bash shell at Build 2016. Then in May 2017 Microsoft announced it was bringing Ubuntu, Fedora, and OpenSUSE to the Windows Store. And Ubuntu is first to arrive on the scene.
How to Install Ubuntu on Windows 10
Ubuntu has now been added to the Windows Store, with the description:, “Ubuntu on Windows allows one to use Ubuntu Terminal and run Ubuntu command line utilities including bash, ssh, git, apt and many more.” Ubuntu runs in a sandbox alongside Windows 10, sharing access to files.
Back in May 2017, Microsoft’s Terry Myerson explained, “We’ve simplified the install of Ubuntu by bringing it to the Windows Store. We also announced we are working with SUSE Linux and Fedora Linux running on the Windows Subsystem for Linux— to bring them to the Windows Store. Now, Windows is the only platform that can run both Windows apps and Linux apps side-by-side.”
To download and install Ubuntu on Windows 10 you need to do the following:
Open the Windows 10 Control Panel and click “Programs”
Find and select “Turn Windows features on or off”
Select “Windows Subsystem for Linux” and click “OK”
Reboot your PC to start using Ubuntu on Windows 10
It should be noted that this is currently only available to people using the latest Windows Insider build of Windows 10. However, in time anyone using Windows 10 after the Fall Creators Update has dropped will gain access to Ubuntu. And we’ll be sure to let you know when that happens.
Linux vs. Windows = David vs. Goliath
For anyone who grew up at a time when Linux was the David to the Windows Goliath, this is an odd turn of events. And the fact that Microsoft now loves Linux just shows how things have changed for all concerned. What’s next? Google and Apple merging Android and iOS into one mobile operating system? You may snigger but this has proved that anything is possible.
Are you currently using Windows 10? Are you a Windows Insider with early access to Ubuntu on the Windows Store? If so, what do you think of it? Are you a fan of Ubuntu? Is this a good or bad thing for Linux overall? Please let us know in the comments below!
Microsoft has unveiled Microsoft 365, a new offering for businesses which brings together Office365, Windows 10, and Enterprise Mobility + Security. This is an attempt to make it easier for companies to dive into the Microsoft ecosystem without IT departments losing their minds .
Microsoft currently sells its various products to businesses big and small in a number of different ways. Microsoft 365 unifies Redmond’s various offerings into one complete package. The hope is to make it as attractive as possible for a company to go all-in on Microsoft products.
Microsoft 365 Means Microsoft Means Business
Microsoft 365 comes in two distinct flavors: Microsoft 365 Enterprise (aimed at large organizations) and Microsoft 365 Business (aimed at small- to medium-sized businesses). Enterprise will be available from August 1, 2017, with Business available in public preview from August 2, 2017. When it launches fully in the fall it will cost businesses $20-per-user, per-month.
On the Official Microsoft Blog, Judson Althoff – Executive Vice President, Worldwide Commercial Business describes Microsoft 365 as “a complete, intelligent and secure solution to empower all companies and all workers, recognizing that people are at the heart of digital transformation.” He then adds, “It puts people at the center, giving them flexibility to work where and how they want and giving them new ways to collaborate with others — all while protecting company data.”
As part of Microsoft 365 Business Microsoft is adding three new tailored applications. Microsoft Connections is a “simple-to-use email marketing service,” Microsoft Listings is an “easy way to publish your business information on top sites,” and Microsoft Invoicing is a “new way to create professional invoices and get paid fast”. These will also be added to Office 365 Business Premium.
Microsoft Is Selling Software As a Service
As Microsoft continues its evolution into a company selling Software as a Service it needs to offer easier solutions for individuals and companies alike. Microsoft 365 is a prime example of this mindset, offering a cohesive solution that lifts the burden off of overstretched IT departments.
Do you work at a company that has gone all-in on Microsoft? How have you found the experience? Do you think Microsoft 365 will make everything better? Or would you prefer your company to look elsewhere for its IT needs? Please let us know in the comments below!
Sony has added a selection of PS4 games to PlayStation Now. Which means that for the first time ever you can now play PS4 games on your PC. This also represents a significant upgrade to the PlayStation Now service overall, which until now has only been capable of streaming PS3 games.
PlayStation Now is a cloud gaming service. For a flat fee (of $19.99/month or $99/year) you get access to hundreds of PlayStation games. Unlike the Xbox Games Pass you don’t get to download the games to play offline. Instead, you stream them just as you stream movies on Netflix.
The PlayStation 4 Joins PlayStation Now
As announced in March 2017, Sony has switched things up by adding PS4 titles to the PlayStation Now roster for the first time. There are just 20 PS4 games included in this initial batch, with Sony promising many more from the likes of 2K, Capcom, Codemasters to come down the pike.
For now, the list of PS4 games available on PlayStation Now is as follows:
Killzone Shadow Fall
God of War 3 Remastered
Saints Row IV: Re-Elected
WWE 2K16
Tropico 5
Ultra Street Fighter IV
F1 2015
Darksiders II Deathinitive Edition
Evolve
MX vs ATV Supercross Encore
Resogun
Helldivers
Broken Age
Dead Nation: Apocalypse Edition
Grim Fandango Remastered
Akiba’s Beat
Castlestorm Definitive Edition
Exist Archive: The Other Side of the Sky
Nidhogg
Super Mega Baseball
This is a mixed selection of games, with some gems (God of War 3 Remastered, WWE 2K16) mixed in with a lot of middling titles you can already play on other platforms. Still, this is early days for PS4 games on PlayStation Now, and the quality and quantity of titles is sure to improve over time.
Playing PS4 games on a PS4 is, well, nothing out of the ordinary. However, PlayStation Now also lets you stream games on a Windows PC, and that is potentially worth the price of admission. PlayStation Now also used to work on the PS3, PS Vita, PlayStation TV, Samsung Smart TVs, Sony Bravia TVs, and Sony Blu-ray players, but Sony is ending support for those platforms on August 15.
Just Make Sure You Have Good Internets
This is an important development for PlayStation Now. It changes it from a service for those looking to play classic games on their PS4 or PC to a service for everyone ensconced in the PlayStation ecosystem. It would still be preferable to download the games rather than stream them, but assuming you have fast enough internets, PlayStation Now could be for you.
Do you currently pay for PlayStation Now? If so, how are you finding it? Are you pleased to see PS4 games joining the lineup? If you don’t currently pay for PlayStation Now, are these new additions enough to make you consider it? Please let us know in the comments below!
Instagram users are finding themselves locked out of their accounts for no apparent reason. Some are even getting a “Sorry, this page isn’t available message” when trying to visit their user profile. However, Instagram has blamed a bug for the problems, and promised to fix the issue ASAP.
Like all social networks, Instagram relies on you using it every day. As soon as you stop being active, social networks suffer, and a MySpace-like future beckons. Instagram is showing no signs of collapsing, but preventing people from accessing their accounts certainly isn’t going to help.
Help! My Instagram Account Has Been Disabled
Complaints from Instagram users starting popping up online on Thursday (July 6). People were finding themselves locked out of their accounts having been shown one of a handful of error messages. Instagram’s social media accounts are full of angry messages from frustrated users.
Some were told they’d had their accounts disabled for violating Instagram’s Terms of Use, even though they’re sure they haven’t broken any rules. Others were prompted to enter their phone number in order to verify their account. But entering the relevant security code didn’t work.
We’re aware of a bug that's causing some users to be logged out of their accounts. We’re working to resolve this as quickly as possible.
Instagram tweeted out an explanation, blaming “a bug that’s causing some users to be logged out of their accounts.” The company has also promised that it’s “working to resolve this as quickly as possible.” In the meantime, a small percentage of Instagram users have been locked out of their accounts, and left wondering whether they’ll ever actually get back in. And it’s still happening.
Do you have an Instagram account? Have you accessed it over the last few days? If so, has your account been disabled? Do you buy Instagram’s explanation that this is all down to a bug? Or do you think there’s more going on here? Please let us know in the comments below!
