Best TV Buying Guide: Settle in for TechRadar’s round-up of the best TV sets you can get your hands on in 2018.

Picking a TV is no simple task. If you’re a movie buff, this screen may end up as your best friend not just for the coming months, but years – while we replace our phones on a fairly regular basis, the best TV screens should sit prettily in our living rooms for a good long while. They’re pricey purchases, and we expect to get our money’s worth. With the 2018 World Cup ready to take over screens this summer, football fans may be particularly keen to upgrade.

And with so many features to consider, with new TV technologies being introduced all the time, making a decision is getting harder all the time. A brand new top-of-the-line TV can offer such a wide range of different technologies and features that it can be hard to know what you’re looking for. With the major manufacturers in a yearly arms race to outdo rivals, keeping up with all the latest developments isn’t always easy. 

• Confused about high dynamic range? Don’t miss our guide to HDR 

Feeling flummoxed? Don’t worry, TechRadar is here to be your guide. Our guide to the best TVs available will help you separate the cheap panels from the best 4K screens. We’ll help you find an awesome flatscreen without wasting hours of research comparing spec sheets. 

If you’re looking for a buying guide that deals with TVs that only support the new Ultra HD resolution, check out our guide to the best 4K TVs. If getting a flatscreen on the cheap is your main concern, check out the best 4K TV deals.

But, if you’re looking for the best-of-the-best TV out there today without limits or stipulations, this is the place for you. 

“So, should I buy a TV now or wait it out?”

We hear this question a lot. Like most technology, TVs are getting incrementally better all the time, but recently there has been a huge flurry of progress as manufacturers have rushed to embrace new display standards including Ultra HD and HDR.  

Thankfully, things seem to have settled down a little in this department, and the majority of TV manufacturers now support these next generation of features, including newer versions of HDR such as Hybrid Log Gamma. 

So long as your next TV purchase supports these technologies (looking for an Ultra HD Premium certification is a good way to go), we reckon you won’t be kicking yourself in six month’s time when the next batch of sets arrive 

That said, we’d be remiss if we didn’t let you know about the cool technologies that are just around the corner in TV tech. Chief amongst them is support for the new HDMI 2.1 standard, which as well as allowing support for 8K at 60 frames per second and 4K at 120 will also allow for FreeSync to be supported over HDMI. 

It’s cool technology for sure, but unless you’re seriously into your gaming then we reckon you’re safe making a purchase now. 

• Want better audio? Check out our guide to the best soundbars available.
• Once you’ve decided on a panel, make sure you read our guide on how to set up your TV to make sure you’re getting the most out of it.

1. Sony XBR-Z9D Series (2016)

65-inch: Sony XBR-65Z9D | 75-inch: Sony XBR-75Z9D | 100-inch: Sony XBR-100Z9D

From the moment we laid eyes on the the XBR-65Z9D we’ve been desperate to get our hands on one. It is, hands down, the holy grail of television for 2017: a TV able to combine the extreme, high dynamic range-friendly brightness of LCD technology with a backlight arrangement capable of getting LCD closer than ever before to the stunning light control you get with OLED technology.

This backlight arrangement comprises more than 600 LEDs that sit behind the 65Z9D’s screen that are capable of outputting their own light levels independently of their neighbors. This should enable the TV to produce more of the extremes of light and shade associated with new high dynamic range (HDR) technology while suffering less than other LCD TVs with distracting clouds, stripes or halos of unwanted, extraneous light.

As if this wasn’t already attraction enough, the 65Z9D also sports Sony’s new ‘X1 Extreme’ video processing system and the latest version of Sony’s reliable Triluminos wide color technology for unlocking the extended color spectrums associated with HDR sources.

2. LG Signature Series W7 OLED (2017)

65-inch: LG 65W7OLED | 77-inch: LG 77W7OLED

The LG W7 OLED is truly something special. Not only is it one of the thinnest TVs to ever grace our vision (it’s 2.75mm thin), but it’s also one of the most gorgeous. When fed the right kind of content – in this case, 4K HDR10 or Dolby Vision video – it truly shines. A super-slim design alone wouldn’t have been enough to warrant the extra cost to upgrade to LG’s latest panel. But the thin frame on top of a Dolby Atmos soundbar on top of four types of HDR support on top of the magnetic mounting system on top of the new webOS 3.5 operating system surely did the trick. This incredibly gorgeous TV isn’t without its faults (see: motion handling, its sticker price and soundbar issues), but in terms of sheer picture performance there’s nothing else like it right now. 

3. Samsung QLED Q9F (2017)

75-inch: Samsung QE75Q9F | 65-inch: Samsung QE65Q9F

It looks like someone on Samsung’s TV design team has been watching 2001: A Space Odyssey. The 65-inch Q9 is a ringer for that film’s mysterious black monolith thanks to the way both its front and back sides are completely flat and feature ultra-robust, polished finishes. Ultra HD HDR playback is what the Q9F was created to do and, given Samsung’s potent HDR track record, it’s no surprise to find that it does it supremely well. Even though the Q9F has 4K HDR optimisation in its DNA, it’s capable of looking seriously good with high definition standard dynamic range content too.

4. Sony XBR-X930E Series (2017)

65-inch: Sony XBR-65X930E | 55-inch: Sony XBR-55X930E

The X930E Series builds on last year’s X930D series in a few important ways, the first of which is by including one of Sony’s new X1 Extreme chipsets. These are around 40% more powerful than the original X1 chips, and introduce separate databases to help the TV analyze noise and upscale sub-4K sources to the screen’s native 4K resolution. Add in an apparently much-improved sound system and Sony’s Triluminos technology for delivering today’s wider color ranges and the X930E series seems to tick all the right boxes. 

Unfortunately, though, even an improved version of Sony’s Slim Backlight Drive can’t completely hide the fact that with current edge LED technology there’s always a backlight-based price to pay for all that HDR-sating brightness. 

5. Samsung KS9800 Series (2016)

When it came out, the KS9800 produced the most dramatic demonstration of what new high dynamic range technology was capable of. Its brightness in particular was unprecedented, which helped it deliver a much fuller sense of HDR’s expanded light range and color capabilities than we’d ever seen.

The screen features that helped it excel with HDR also made the UN65KS9800 gorgeous to behold with standard dynamic range sources, and it even sounds fantastic despite having no visible speakers. That said, it was expensive.

But instead of going straight for Samsung’s flagship from last year, consider LG’s E6 or G6 OLED TVs as well. The OLED screens deliver superior black levels, avoid backlight bleed issues and excel with standard dynamic range content, but the UN65KS9800 delivers more punch, dynamism and detail with HDR.

6. Sony Bravia A1 OLED

65-inch: Sony Bravia 65A1E | 55-inch: Sony Bravia 55A1E

If LG’s OLED isn’t your thing, spend some time checking out Sony’s version.

The 55A1 – and the A1 OLED series overall – are crowd pleasers in just about every way. Their ‘picture only’ design has been beautifully realized, managing to be simultaneously subtle and dramatic. 

Their vibrating screen delivers a far more powerful and effective sound performance than I’d thought possible, too. The real stars of the show here, though, are the A1’s exquisitely detailed, contrast-rich and colourful pictures. 

These prove emphatically what we’ve long suspected: More brands using OLED technology can only lead to good things. 

Only it’s exceptionally high price tag prevents it from toppling LG’s budget panels.

Continue on to page two to read about what to look for when buying a TV! 

http://www.techradar.com/news/best-tv-in-the-uae-for-2017-which-tv-should-you-buy

One criteria that Google requires phone and tablet manufacturers to comply with if they want access to the internet giant’s Play Store on their Android devices is that Google Chrome and Google Search need to be preinstalled on the device. And European antitrust regulators are none too happy with that.

According to Margrethe Vestager, European Union’s competition chief, this requirement ensures Google’s dominance in maintaining its own ecosystem, giving the company undue advantage over any competing search tool and browser.

Vestager is expected to deliver a decision next week on whether Google will be fined billions of dollars for forcing its apps on makers of Android-toting devices, which could result in significant changes to the mobile operating system.

Cut Google down to size

The crux of Vestager’s argument is the fact that device manufacturers are faced with “an anti-competitive choice” – either Chrome and Google Search need be default tools on the device or they will not be able to use the Google Play Store, something Android users need to download apps and games.

If she decides to slap Google with the fine, it will be the second record fine since last year, when the EU fined Google US$2.7 billion for allegedly lowering the ranking of competitor shopping comparison tools to promote its own. The decision could also force Google into offering Android users easier ways to swap their browsers and search engines.

On the flip side

The other side of the argument is that Google needs to make money to ensure its mobile OS continues to operate. Android is an open source OS that Google licenses to device manufacturers for free. So if phone makers want access to specific apps, it shouldn’t be too much for them to take on the whole suite, if it enables Google to maintain Android.

Google has also always maintained that if someone isn’t happy with what the company has to offer “competition is just a click away”.

Yet setting Chrome and Search as default apps in Android devices ensures Google gets a front-row seat into its users’ lives, something that has come under the microscope recently in our increasingly privacy-conscious world.

If Vestager’s decision goes against the company, Google will be able to appeal. However, it will need to change its business model or risk further penalties.

[Via the Washington Post]

http://www.techradar.com/news/google-could-be-forced-to-make-significant-changes-to-android

Using one of the best VPN services is a crucial consideration for any modern business which has a flexible and mobile workforce, in terms of maintaining high levels of privacy and security. When it comes to precious business data, there’s clearly a vital need to keep the company network and internet connection secure, and to allow for secure remote access facilities, too.

This is especially true in the world of small businesses, which usually have limited resources to devote to managing security. Fortunately, there are business VPN services out there which are a breeze to set up and manage, plus they can be scaled to fit the organisation’s needs as it grows.

Best business VPN in 2018

1. Perimeter 81 (powered by SaferVPN)

Number of servers: 700+ | Server locations: 35+ | IP addresses: N/A | Maximum devices supported: 5-100+ and custom options

Perimeter 81, powered by SaferVPN, offers a great business VPN experience for users who work across multiple devices and switch from one to another frequently.

It has well-designed clients for Windows, Mac, iOS and Android, is compatible with Linux and Chromebook, and includes a single-click web management console. 

While the server coverage may be slightly limited, it didn’t bother us as we got above-average speeds in our performance tests. The service upholds a strict no-logging policy. Perimeter 81 supports IKEv2, OpenVPN, L2TP and PPTP security protocols, features automatic Wi-Fi security, and business clients enjoy priority support around the clock.

Perimeter 81 has two business plans to choose from, depending on the number of users needed – including a custom plan if required. The packages available are:

2. VyprVPN

Number of servers: 700+ | Server locations: 70+ | IP addresses: 200,000+ | Maximum devices supported: 9-30

[Save 40%] Until July 31, 2018, get 40% off VyprVPN’s annual  plans, just in time to boost up your coverage of the 2018 World Cup in  Russia. VyprVPN is a fast, highly secure VPN without third-parties, all  for as little as $36.00 for the first year. Get VyprVPN here.  

(25% Off) Exclusive VyprVPN Deal: TechRadar readers get 25% off VyprVPN annual plans ($45 USD for 1 year). VyprVPN is a fast, highly secure VPN without third parties. Get VyprVPN here 

VyprVPN manages all of its own servers which definitely shows when it comes to performance levels. In our tests, we found our download speeds more than doubled compared to our normal rates with the VPN turned off – it doesn’t come any better than that.

The service provides you with easy-to-use and intuitive software for overall account management, as well as apps for all major platforms. In addition to OpenVPN, PPTP and L2TP/IPsec protocols, VyprVPN offers additional security features like a NAT Firewall and its own Chameleon technology for preventing deep packet inspection (DPI), VPN blocking and throttling. 24/7 live chat support is in place for when you need assistance.

Interestingly, there isn’t much information listed on the website regarding the business plans. To find out more about them, and discover the exact pricing, you have to apply for a free trial or contact customer support. There are two of these plans pitched pretty closely together, starting from $299 and $349 respectively. The packages available are:

3. Hotspot Shield

Number of servers: 2500 | Server locations: 25 | IP addresses: N/A | Maximum devices supported: 20

Hotspot Shield delivers a consistently fast service with competitive pricing for consumers, and its business offering is no different. In performance terms, our tests showed a significant increase in download speeds with a slight increase in upload speeds compared to our normal rates, and barely any change in latency.

On the downside, the number of server locations is rather low, while the service doesn’t offer any management software so you only have native apps at your disposal. 

The privacy policy is favorable, not keeping any logs, and on the security front you get all the usual protocols. Additional features include private browsing and virtual locations, among others. There’s dedicated customer support in case you run into any hiccups.

You can choose from three plans, and they are quite affordable with the lower-end plan being a laudably cheap option for small businesses. The packages available are:

4. NordVPN

Number of servers: 4597 | Server locations: 62 | IP addresses: N/A | Maximum devices supported: 1-100+

Corporate users benefit from the same sterling levels of security and reliability NordVPN is known to provide consumers with, alongside the added bonus of getting a dedicated account manager for business account holders. Companies also get a dedicated business VPN server for internal use, and each VPN account is assigned a dedicated IP address.

With the number of servers constantly growing, NordVPN is one of the better VPN providers when it comes to server numbers. It’s not the fastest network out there, but it’s fast enough – and more importantly, this service is consistent in terms of its performance. 

This provider offers lots of security features, including double data encryption, a kill switch, and much more. NordVPN is privacy-focused, keeping no logs of user activity and requiring no company details to purchase. 

Do note that there is no dedicated management software, although you’ll get VPN clients for all major operating systems. Another caveat comes on the pricing front, as there’s no pricing scheme laid out on the website, and you have to fill in a form to get a quote. Depending on your exact needs, you can select between (up to) 5 and 100+ users.

5. TorGuard

Number of servers: 3000+ | Server locations: 50+ | IP addresses: N/A | Maximum devices supported: 10-50+

TorGuard certainly has a huge selection of servers, meaning you should never have a problem finding a reliable connection. That said, our testing revealed only average levels of performance, with some spikes in latency. Still, the speed trade-off might well be worth it as you get tons of options to set up your VPN experience on any OS.

Every TorGuard business VPN account comes with a 24/7 dedicated account manager and access to a dedicated VPN management portal. Security-wise, TorGuard takes care of business (ahem) with all the regular protocols, 256-bit AES encryption, and a ‘Stealth VPN’ service that avoids deep packet inspection.

There are three business price plans plus a custom option. Each gets you unlimited access and support, the only difference being the number of users covered, and dedicated IP and email addresses. The packages available are:

How to choose the best VPN service for business

Obviously, protecting sensitive business data is the main priority here, so you need a VPN with the beefiest levels of security. Since you’ll be handling multiple accounts at once, for multiple staff members, quality management software or a dedicated account manager are important considerations.

Having access to plenty of server locations is always a good thing, particularly when it comes to a mobile workforce, and nippy performance is handy for transferring large files or perhaps partaking of HD videoconferencing. Another important factor is the number of connections available and supported devices, which must suit the size of your firm and the hardware your employees use.

Also consider

1. Jungle disk: It is an easy, secure VPN access for small businesses supporting SSL and IPsec including remote access and site-to-site. There’s no hardware purchase, no setup fees, all pay-as-you-go monthly, in a fully managed service. The service is aimed at 2-250 employee businesses with under 10 locations. 

2. ibVPN : Their VPN service is best for securing your company’s data with military grade encryption while working remotely and to access business tools while traveling or when connected to public WiFi. They claim that they “provide the most complete business VPN solution offering fast VPN servers, SmartDNS and Proxies to make sure it suits all your company’s needs”, adding “for easy access we have developed VPN clients for major OS (Windows, Mac, iOS and Android) so even the less techie can connect in seconds with a simple click.”

3. Hide.me : This service is geared towards “any company which wants to give its employees the geographical freedom to work without compromising on their security, any company which wants to make sure that their employees are always secure even while using public Wi-Fi connections, any company which does not want to spend a lot of time on administrating its VPN solution and any company which does not want to spend a lot of money on their VPN solution.”  Hide.me’s Business VPN offers a flexible Windows SDK to control the VPN connection over an API. You can bundle the SDK into your existing application or just build your GUI on top of it. With their API, you can automatically create, delete, disable, and enable VPN accounts.  They don’t ask you to pay upfront and offers a monthly consolidated billing option so that you pay only for accounts that have been active. 

http://www.techradar.com/news/best-vpn-for-business-our-5-top-choices