Month: August 2021

We’ve tested Amazon-owned Blink and Ring home security cameras to see which one wins out best for your home.

Blink and Ring smart home cameras are among the best in their category, and for good reason. Both brands offer affordable options to a first-time buyer who wants to dip their toe into the smart home arena, and they’re easy to set up.

For several years, both Blink and Ring have earned a place in our best home security cameras and best video doorbell guides due to the range of devices that both brands offer. However, deciding which one is best for you may be a challenge, as both offer products that may or may not fit your needs.

It’s also worth noting that Blink and Ring are owned by Amazon, so both work seamlessly with Amazon Alexa for easy management via their respective apps.

With all that in mind, we’ve put together a guide below to help you decide between the two brands, making it easier to determine which one fits your needs and your home best.

Blink and you’ll miss it

(Image credit: Blink/Amazon)

Blink has a much smaller product offering than Ring when it comes to home security cameras. It’s also worth noting that while Ring’s cameras and video doorbells are available worldwide, Blink products are currently only on sale in the US and UK. 

The Blink Mini 2, priced at $34.99 / £34.99 is the brand’s entry-level home security camera, released in May 2024. This compact device can be used outside with the purchase of a Blink Weather Resistant Power Adaptor, but can also be used inside as long as it’s plugged into a wall socket nearby.

If you’re looking for a battery-powered camera that offers more flexibility about where it can be placed, the Blink Indoor is worth considering. Not quite as compact as the Blink Mini but considerably smaller than most of Ring’s offerings, it has the same square-shaped black design and will set you back $79.99 / £79.99. However, it’s a battery-operated camera, rather than mains-powered, and uses two AA batteries that Blink claims will last for up to two years before they need changing.

Blink’s third and final home security camera is a weatherproof version of the Blink Indoor, which is unsurprisingly called the Blink Outdoor. Priced at $99.99 / £99.99, this home security camera supports 1080p HD live video, infrared night vision, motion detection, and two-way audio. It comes with two AA lithium batteries, a mounting kit, a USB cable, and a power adapter to help set it up and keep it running for up to two years. The camera also comes with a Sync Module 2, which allows the device to plug into an electrical outlet and communicate with other compatible devices.

Finally, Blink doesn’t have a bunch of video doorbells like Ring – there’s just one. Blink’s Video Doorbell runs on two AA batteries, so you don’t have to find a way to plug it into the mains, although you can if you wish. There’s two-way audio so anyone at the door can communicate with you via the Blink app, and you can save and share your clips in the cloud with a Blink Subscription Plan. Buying this doorbell gets you a 30-day trial of the Plus Plan, priced at $49.99 / £49.99.

What about Ring?

(Image credit: Future)

Ring is most well-known for producing some of the best video doorbells, so its range is understandably wider and more defined than its line of home security cameras. 

When it comes to its security cameras, Ring offers the entry-level Indoor Cam, which is mains-powered and costs $59.99 / £49.99 / AU$99. You can also pick up an outdoor camera, the Ring Stick-Up Cam, which can be bought in mains, battery, or solar versions for $99.99 / £89.99 / AU$179. 

Ring’s Spotlight Cam Plus is another outdoor security camera that comes in both battery- and mains-powered variants. It features a spotlight that illuminates when motion is detected and is priced at $199.99 / £179.99 / AU$289.99. The Ring Floodlight Cam Pro has two 1,000-lumen floodlights instead of a single spotlight and will set you back $249.99 / £219.99 / AU$379. It can also be bought in mains, battery, or solar versions.

(Image credit: Ring / Amazon)

All of Ring’s battery-powered security cameras last between three and six months before they need recharging. However, this will depend upon how often motion is detected, how many times the camera’s feed is viewed in real-time, and for those with lights, how frequently the LEDs are illuminated. The batteries can be swapped out, meaning the cameras won’t be out of action if you replace the batteries in time.

Ring offers eight video doorbells in total ranging from its most affordable option; the Ring Video Doorbell Wired, which is priced at $59.99 / £49.99 / AU$119, through to the battery-powered Ring Battery Doorbell Pro for $229.99 / £199.99. There’s also the top-of-the-range Ring Video Doorbell Pro Elite in the U.S., which will set you back $349.99. For the UK, the Ring Wired Video Doorbell Pro 2 is $199.99.

Something else Ring offers that Blink doesn’t is a smart alarm system that includes door/window sensors, motion-detection PIRs, and even an optional outdoor siren and assisted monitoring that will automatically call three emergency contacts if the alarm is triggered. The Ring Alarm kit costs $199.99 / £219.99 but isn’t available in Australia.

Subscription costs

When it comes to storing video so it can be reviewed after it’s been captured, Blink is the more cost-effective option as it offers the ability to store footage locally, so there’s no ongoing cost to use the security cameras. 

To do this, you’ll need the Blink Sync Module 2, which comes bundled with the Blink Indoor and Blink Outdoor. Unfortunately, it’s not included with the Blink Mini, but it is available to purchase on its own for $34.99 / £34.99. You’ll also need a 256 GB USB flash drive, which you can pick up for around $25 / £25 if you don’t have a spare knocking around.

This method has downsides though. If you ever use live view (where you view the camera’s feed through the app in real-time) then there won’t be a stored recording unless you have an active Blink Subscription plan.

The Blink Subscription Plan, which is priced at $3 / £2.50 per month for a single camera, and $10 / £8 for unlimited cameras, is also available. All Blink devices come with a free trial of the service.  

Ring, however, doesn’t have an option for local storage. Instead, you’ll need to subscribe to one of two tiers. Ring Basic costs $4 / £4 /AU$4 per month per device, or $10 / £8 / AU$15 for an unlimited number of cameras in one household – both of which ensure video clips are saved for 30 days after they’ve been recorded. Most new Ring devices come with a 30-day free trial of Ring Protect.

Video and audio

(Image credit: Blink)

Blink and Ring’s security cameras are generally evenly matched when it comes to video and audio quality. 

We’ve reviewed the majority of the products offered by both brands, and in our tests, the video has always been clear and detailed, and the audio has always been extremely coherent. 

All of Blink and Ring’s cameras record Full HD footage when motion is detected, which is in color during the day. Some Ring home security cameras – namely those with built-in lights – are also able to record color video at night, provided the light has been set to illuminate when motion is detected. Unfortunately, this isn’t available on any of Blink’s current offerings. 

Despite the similarities, there are a couple of other areas where Ring’s cameras trump Blink’s devices. The first is the field of view. All of Blink’s cameras have a narrow 110-degree field of view, and while Ring’s indoor cameras are identical in this regard its outdoor cameras offer a wider 140-degree field of view. This means a wider area is covered by the cameras, ensuring you don’t suffer from blind spots. 

Secondly, Ring’s cameras have a People Only mode, designed to reduce unwanted alerts by only notifying you when the motion it detects is caused by a person. This isn’t something Blink’s security cameras can do, offering only more basic sensitivity settings.

(Image credit: Ring / Amazon)

 App and smart integrations

Both the Ring and Blink apps are easy to use and offer a way to view the camera’s feed in real time as well as watch previously captured footage (assuming you have subscribed to Ring Protect in Ring’s case). 

Both platforms also provide detailed notifications to your smartphone too – so you can quickly see if it’s an alert you need to worry about or not. You can download Ring from Apple’s App Store and Google Play Store, while Blink’s Home Monitor app can also be downloaded from the App Store and Google Play Store.

The two brands are owned by Amazon so it’s no surprise they offer Alexa integration. Alexa-enabled smart speakers can be set to play a sound when either of the cameras detect motion or used to converse with anyone in the camera’s field of view, while if you have one of Amazon’s smart displays, such as the Amazon Echo Show 5, in your home – the feed from both cameras can be viewed on the device’s screen. However, unsurprisingly, there’s no support for Google Assistant or HomeKit.

Verdict

Throughout our testing, both Blink and Ring have been proven to be easy-to-use home security camera systems. Blink is more affordable and offers more compact devices, and the addition of local storage will bring music (or a chime) to the ears of anyone looking for a security camera without needing to pay for a subscription.

Meanwhile, Ring’s cameras are more feature-heavy. You can fine-tune alerts so you aren’t as frequently disturbed thanks to the motion features, and the cameras with built-in LEDs provide better image clarity at night. Because of these traits, they’re more expensive and bulkier than what Blink offers, plus there’s an ongoing cost via subscription if you want to record and store footage in the cloud.

However, they’re ultimately similar in what they offer. If you already have Ring or Blink cameras in your home then we’d recommend you stay with that brand. But if you’re beginning your home security adventure then you’ll need to decide if you value cheaper options like Blink, or those with more vast and improved utilities like  Ring offers.

Blink vs Ring FAQs

Is Blink owned by Ring?

Not quite. Blink and Ring are both Amazon brands, which means they have their own brand identities but benefit from Amazon’s huge resources for product development, marketing and distribution.

Which is better, Ring or Blink?

That depends on what you want your security system to do. Blink is generally cheaper and more straightforward; Ring is the more premium option and the only brand of the two to offer a 24/7 professional monitoring option. Ring cameras are more feature-packed than the Blink devices and with a wider range of products to choose from.

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Your POS system can make inventory management immensely easier. Here’s how to use your point of sale software to keep your stock in check.

Can a POS system with inventory management help your business? Most definitely. 

Given that retail is largely about selling physical goods, the products that you carry in your store serve as your business’ bread and butter. A major part of being a retailer means keeping your merchandise offerings in top shape and ensuring that you have the right products at the right time. 

This is where inventory management comes in. 

Sometimes referred to as “stock control,” it’s the process of ordering, tracking, and managing the physical goods that go in and out of your store or warehouse. In this article, you’ll learn the importance of inventory management and how POS systems work to support your stock control efforts. 

Let’s get started.

The best POS systems

How does a POS system work?
How to choose the right POS system for your business

Why a POS system with inventory management is important 

Staying on top of stock control keeps your business healthy in several ways, including:

When you manage your inventory well, you’re able to stock up on products that sell. You can ensure that your store carries items that your customers want and need, which leads to more sales and revenue. 

Monitoring your inventory movements and trends enables you to quickly figure out what’s selling and what isn’t. These insights can inform your decisions around pricing and markdowns, so you can protect your profit margins.

Out-of-stocks are a major pet peeve for consumers and they are costing you valuable sales. Research shows that 66.3% of consumers leave stores empty-handed because the retailer didn’t have the items they needed.

With modern POS inventory management, hand written records can be a task of the past. (Image credit: Denny Müller on Unsplash)

Proper inventory management can prevent stockouts, so you can keep customers happy whenever they shop at your store. Consumers tend to favor retailers that consistently carry the products they need, so having a catalog filled with merch that your shoppers want is a surefire way to keep them coming back. 

Shrinkage — which is a reduction in inventory due to theft or admin errors — is costing retailers billions of dollars a year. According to the National Retail Federation, shrink reduced retailers’ bottom line by $46.8 billion in 2018. 

Inventory management helps you combat shrink. When you have the right stock control systems and processes in place, you’re able to catch inventory discrepancies early and prevent losses.

The benefits of using a POS with inventory management

There are several methods and practices to manage inventory, especially through different POS systems. Some retailers go the old school route and keep track of inventory by hand using paper records, receipts, and clipboards. Others use spreadsheets. 

But the most forward-thinking retailers implement stock control using a modern point of sale system. To be successful with inventory management you need to understand how to use your POS system’s stock control features. 

The businesses that fall in that third group tend to find the most success, and here’s why:

✔ Streamline sales processes

Using a POS system with strong inventory capabilities streamlines your processes by keeping your sales and stock data in sync. Whenever you make a sale using your POS, the system automatically updates your catalog so the product quantities you have in your system reflects what you have in-store. 

✔ No need for manual updates = reduced errors

Modern and digital inventory processes eliminate the need to manually update your records and inventory reconciliation becomes much easier. 

It also reduces human errors. Since there’s no need to write or type anything by hand, you can minimize the likelihood of discrepancies and mistakes. 

✔ Get stock reports quickly

Modern POS and stock management systems can produce dashboards and reports quickly. You can get an at-a-glance view of metrics like profit margins and inventory turnover, which means you’ll have a more accurate view of your business performance.

✔ Access inventory information anywhere

And if your system runs in the cloud (like with most point of sale solutions today), you can access that information from anywhere.

POS inventory management tools 

Now that you know why stock control is important and why you should use your POS to track it, let’s look at the specific tools you can use when managing your inventory. 

Your catalog or database houses all the information about your merchandise, including but not limited to:

Product name
Description
Category
Supply price
Retail price
SKU number
Barcode number 
Quantity
Supplier 

This tool will serve as your main reference when you and your team need to look up information about specific products. To that end, your POS inventory management system should make it easy to add and update your catalog. 

A good stock control system streamlines your product ordering and receiving processes. Most modern POS solutions come with features like purchase order generators, which enable you to create P.O.s to send to your vendors. Then when the items arrive in your store or warehouse, you can simply mark the purchase order as “Received” and update your stock levels accordingly.

Choose a POS or inventory management system that has strong reporting and analytics capabilities. To effectively manage your stock, it’s handy to have information on:

Your bestsellers
Your slow-movers
Your most profitable products
Items that are running low 

The information above can be invaluable when making decisions around what products to order, when to hold a sale, or which items to discontinue. 

Physically counting your merchandise is a crucial inventory management practice. It’s important to regularly check your physical inventory against your records to catch discrepancies and other issues. 

Ideally, your inventory system has stock-taking capabilities to make this process easier. Some solutions, for example, offer inventory scanning apps or built-in tools that let you conduct full or partial inventory counts. 

You need to connect your inventory management system to the other tools that you’re using. If you run an ecommerce site, for instance, your POS system should integrate with your online shopping cart so that your physical and digital catalogs are kept in sync. 

And depending on your business, it may also make sense to integrate your inventory software with your shipping platform, accounting system, or helpdesk software. 

POS inventory management best practices  

Having the right inventory management technology is just the beginning. To truly get the most out of your POS inventory solution, make sure you’re following the best practices below.

As mentioned above, modern solutions give you access to sales and inventory reports with a wealth of information — be sure to put those insights to good use. Regularly monitor your sales and stock reports and use them to make data-backed decisions. 

Having a system that automatically updates your stock levels is wonderful, but that doesn’t mean you can do away with physically monitoring your merchandise. Despite your best efforts, it’s difficult to maintain 100% inventory accuracy at all times.

Items can get misplaced, admin errors could arise, and in some cases, issues like theft can come up. 

These things can wreak havoc on your inventory, and the best way to mitigate this is to physically count your products on a regular basis. Ideally, you should count your entire catalog at least once every season, so schedule time to either do a full inventory count or partially count your merchandise throughout the quarter. 

Timing plays a big role in successful POS inventory management. Ordering products at the right time, for instance, prevents out-of-stocks, while knowing when to markdown merchandise can have a material impact on sales and profits. 

Stay on top of these things by setting alerts and reminders for when to implement tasks. Most inventory systems, for instance, automatically alert you when an item’s quantity dips below a certain threshold, prompting you to re-order the product before it runs out. 

POS inventory management opens up opportunities for more business 

Stock control isn’t just about keeping your products in check. Tight inventory management practices help you stay competitive and meet the needs of modern shoppers. Consider the following. 

Buy online, pickup in-store (BOPIS) has been growing in popularity for a while now, but the demand for the service has surged because of COVID-19. Consumers are increasingly purchasing products through a retailer’s ecommerce site or by calling the store, then choosing to physically head to the shop to pick up their items. 

BOPIS / curbside pickup simply isn’t possible without a robust POS and inventory management system. And if you think that BOPIS is just a big box retailer’s game, think again. Small to medium retailers can also implement it, as long as they have the right tools.

The independent retailer Vroman’s Bookstore, for instance, allows shoppers to purchase items online and gives them the option to do curbside pickup.

(Image credit: Vroman’s Bookstore)

Showcase your inventory on other channels

Aside from allowing you to seamlessly sell in-store and via your ecommerce site, modern stock management solutions can also open up other sales and marketing channels for your business. 

Some solutions, for example, enable you to link your catalog to Instagram, so your fans and followers can browse and purchase from your shop without leaving the app.

Meanwhile, Google now lets brick and mortar retailers showcase their in-store inventory on their Google My Business profile. The search giant acquired Pointy, a solution that integrates with your POS system, and automatically displays your real-time inventory on Google. This allows customers to browse your in-store catalog online, so they can check whether you have what they need before heading to the store. 

We can see this in action in Dingo’s, a pet suppliers store in Colorado. Dingo’s Google business profile has a section called “See what’s in store” which lets customers browse and search the store’s catalog. 

(Image credit: Google)

Final thoughts 

Consumers have higher expectations and the retail landscape is incredibly competitive, so getting your inventory right is more important than ever. Fortunately, there are several tools in the market that can keep your stock in check. We highly recommend exploring the solutions out there and figuring out which POS and inventory system works best for your biz. 

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Here’s all you need to know about Sweet Tooth season 2 before it lands on Netflix.

If Sweet Tooth season 2 feels like it’s been a long time coming, that’s because it has. Netflix’s big-budget adaptation of Jeff Lemire’s post-apocalyptic Vertigo comic was an unexpected hit when it landed in June 2021, and the streaming platform has now confirmed that the wait will end this April.

Sweet Tooth‘s second season could be the perfect way to fill that Armageddon-shaped hole in your life – albeit in a slightly cuter, less gory way. The Netflix show’s set in a dangerous world still reeling from the aftermath of the so-called “Great Crumbl”” – the fall of civilization brought about by a global pandemic known simply as “the Sick”. There are also lots of half human, half animal hybrid kids running around, who may or may not be connected to the fall of humanity.

Gus, a young Hybrid with the antlers and ears of a deer, becomes a target for General Abbot and his Last Men militia. Luckily, former football player Tommy ‘Big Man’ Jepperd has become the kid’s protector. But, with the duo kept apart by events in the season 1 finale, it looks like Sweet Tooth season 2 is going to be anything but plain sailing for Gus and the other Hybrids. From its confirmed release date to its official trailer, and its cast to its plot, here’s what you need to know about the return of one of the best Netflix shows.

Sweet Tooth season 2 release date

The Abbot brothers will continue to make life tough for Gus and the other Hybrids in Sweet Tooth season 2. (Image credit: Courtesy of Netflix © 2023 )

Netflix has confirmed Sweet Tooth season 2 will be released on April 27. 

The show’s renewal wasn’t a massive surprise. Not only did Sweet Tooth shoot straight to the top of the Netflix charts upon its initial June 2021 launch, the streamer also confirmed (via Deadline) that the show was watched by more than 60 million member households during its first seven weeks.

Subsequently, the world’s best streaming service took less than two months to confirm Sweet Tooth season 2 was happening, making the announcement via a video that played on its lead character’s love of candy:

Sweet Tooth season 2 trailer

Netflix released the first Sweet Tooth season 2 trailer on March 21. It’s a surprisingly creepy affair and suggests we might be in store for a darker second act in the tradition of The Empire Strikes Back. There are scenes of Gus being subjected to experimentation, lots of other Hybrid kids in captivity (including newcomers like Earl Elephant), and hints that Jepperd and Aimee Eden might be about to mount a rescue. 

However, as the General reminds Gus about his importance in finding a potential cure for “the Sick”, the kid makes it clear that he’s ready to fight back. “My Pubba taught me, if I saw a human I should hide,” he says. “But I am done hiding!”

Sweet Tooth season 2 story

Jepperd and Aimee Eden will form an alliance in Sweet Tooth season 2. (Image credit: Courtesy of Netflix © 2023 )

Going on the trailer, we expect Sweet Tooth season 2’s story to pick up exactly where its predecessor left off – especially as the show has started to bring its key players together. That’s seemingly echoed by the surprisingly comprehensive Sweet Tooth season 2 synopsis released by Netflix:

“As a deadly new wave of ‘the Sick’ bears down, Gus and a band of fellow Hybrids are held prisoner by General Abbot and the Last Men. Looking to consolidate power by finding a cure, Abbot uses the children as fodder for the experiments of captive Dr Aditya Singh, who’s racing to save his infected wife Rani. To protect his friends, Gus agrees to help Dr Singh, beginning a dark journey into his origins and his mother Birdie’s role in the events leading up to The Great Crumble. 

“Outside the Preserve, Tommy Jepperd and Aimee Eden team up to break the Hybrids free, a partnership that will be tested as Jepperd’s secrets come to light. As the revelations of the past threaten the possibility of redemption in the present, Gus and his found family find themselves on a collision course with Abbot and the evil forces that look to wipe them out once and for all.”

Gus will reluctantly agree to assist in Dr Singh’s experiments to save his wife from “the Sick”. (Image credit: Courtesy of Netflix © 2023)

Although the show is based on Jeff Lemire’s comic book series, the source material might not offer that many further clues about what to expect from Sweet Tooth season 2. Lemire’s story is much darker and more violent than the more family-oriented TV series, which makes some major changes from the page.

“The ambition was to create it for a family audience,” producer Susan Downey told Variety. “We want the whole family to be able to watch together. We talked to Jeff Lemire about how Gus is our true north and how his journey and his relationship to Jep and this interesting cast of characters and challenges they meet along the way are what’s important. 

“That’s when we brought [co-showrunner/director] Jim Mickle on and we talked about creating this storybook or fairytale dystopia – this idea that if there was a drastic reduction in population, nature would take over again and it would be green and lush. We all felt confident, and Jeff gave us the blessing that we were keeping what was important to the storytelling and putting it in a more palatable environment.”

Aimee is on a mission to save her adoptive daughter, Wendy, from the General and the Last Men. (Image credit: Courtesy of Netflix © 2023 )

Beyond the shift in tone – “You can do different things with comics and with drawings that, if you were to do on screen, it would be beyond shocking,” Lemire pointed out to the Daily Express – changes range from the minor (Jepperd was an ice hockey player in the comic, rather than a football star) to the fundamental (the characters of Bear and Aimee didn’t exist before the TV show). Other differences in Lemire’s comic include Jepperd handing Gus over to the Last Men, and the Animal Army being a group of adult fanatics, rather than the teen freedom fighters seen on TV.

And even though the Covid-19 pandemic didn’t manage to significantly disrupt the show – season 1 was filmed in New Zealand while much of the world was living through lockdowns – Schwartz says real-life has been an inspiration on Sweet Tooth in some ways.

“In a way, [the pandemic] helped us,” she admitted to RadioTimes.com. “We didn’t have to go too deep into explaining to our audience, ‘This is the pandemic. This is what happened.’ We could do it with simple nods, like the hand sanitizer, or the ‘6-feet apart’ sign that everyone kind of understood.”

Sweet Tooth season 2 cast

Sweet Tooth season 2 sees the return of many of the first season’s cast. (Image credit: Netflix)

Here’s the Sweet Tooth season 2 cast list, as confirmed by Netflix:

Nonso Anozie as Tommy Jepperd/Big Man
Christian Convery as Gus/Sweet Tooth
Adeel Akhtar as Dr Aditya Singh
Aliza Vellani as Rani Singh
Stefania LaVie Owen as Bear/Rebecca Walker
Dania Ramirez as Aimee Eden
Neil Sandilands as General Douglas Abbot
Marlon Williams as Johnny Abbot
Naledi Murray as Wendy
James Brolin as the Narrator

There’ll also be plenty more Hybrid kids joining Gus in Sweet Tooth season 2 – some new, some returning from season 1. They’ll include Yonas Kibreab as Finn Fox, Harvey Gui as Max Skunk, Aeon Scott as Anna Rabbit, Cyan Scott as Hanna Rabbit, Ruby Hall as Haley Mockingbird, Erin Minchin as Jo Jo Raccoon, Ravi Narayan as Earl Elephant, and Christopher Cooper Jr as Teddy Turtle. Amie Donald, who plays Maya Monkey, had another notable role recently as the titular child robot in smash-hit horror M3GAN.

While it’s yet to be officially confirmed, we’d be very surprised if we don’t see more from Amy Seimetz, after the season 1 finale hinted she still has a big part to play as Gus’ mom – or, more accurately, creator – Birdie. There could also be a return for Will Forte as Gus’s late ‘Pubba’ if flashback sequences are required.

Sweet Tooth season 2 will add many more Hybrid children to the mix. (Image credit: Courtesy of Netflix © 2023)

There’s also been plenty of speculation about whether the show’s most famous producer, Robert Downey Jr, might join the Sweet Tooth season 2 cast – and who he could play if he ever decides to step in front of the camera. 

“I think if our trio in the film became kind of a foursome and he just joined our band along the way and kind of helped us, and maybe helped us along the way in some way…” Anozie told ComicBook.com when asked who Downey could play. “I think a character that maybe didn’t appear in the comic book, that he could actually come along and play. I actually think he would have made an interesting General Abbot as well, but I feel like Neil Sandilands has done such a great job in that. But if he was to come on, I think he’d have to join our gang, for sure.”

What questions will Sweet Tooth season 2 answer?

Burning question: what is Birdie doing in Alaska? (Image credit: Netflix)

There are so many questions that need answering in Sweet Tooth season 2.

Most importantly, we need to find out why Birdie created human/deer Hybrid Gus (short for Genetic Unit Series 1), if/how his existence led to the birth of all of the other Hybrids, and if they’re connected to “the Sick” that has killed millions of people around the world.

With a cure for the disease also likely to be a key storyline, it would be helpful to know how close Dr Gladys Bell got to finding a cure – and how far Dr Aditya Singh is prepared to go to save his infected wife, Rani. Will he sacrifice Hybrid lives, or will his meeting with Gus change his outlook on the endeavor – even if it means attracting the wrath of the General?

Other questions on the need-to-know list include the reasons for Birdie’s trip to Alaska (is she working on a cure for “the Sick” of her own?), why those hallucinogenic purple flowers appear where people are infected, and whether Bear/Rebecca will be reunited with her Hybrid sister, Wendy.

We’re also expecting flashbacks to show us more about Gus’s early days, and to fill in the gaps between the birth of Jepperd’s Hybrid child and his first encounter with Gus – presumably explaining his decisions to join, and subsequently leave, the Last Men.

“I spoke to Jim Mickle, the director, about the character arc and where Tommy’s going to go in relation to some of [the flashbacks],” star Nonso Anozie teased in an interview with the Daily Express. “Some of it is going to be directly from the comic and some of it is going to be stuff that suits our audiences and suits the characters of the Sweet Tooth retelling.”

And who knows, maybe Big Man will even get to try out the ‘pass the ball’ game Gus used to play with his Pubba.

For more Netflix TV-based coverage, read our guides on Arcane season 2, The Witcher season 3, and Stranger Things season 5.

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Find which carrier is the right pick for you and save some hard-earned cash with our Mint Mobile vs AT&T comparison guide.

Mint Mobile vs AT&T is a really interesting match-up. On one hand, we have Mint Mobile, easily hands down one of the best cheap cell phone plans available on the market currently due to its outstanding value prepaid plans. On the other, we have AT&T, a leader in 5G network rollout and a superb option if you’re looking for one of the best unlimited data plans around.

Both fine carriers are pretty great choices in their own regard, but which one is best for you? We’ve got a no-nonsense comparison just below laying out the pricing, features, and main selling points of each carrier with tons of unbiased info along the way. As you’ll see, both these carriers operate in completely different ways and subsequently will appeal to a very different type of cell phone user.

Mint Mobile vs AT&T: at a glance

One glance at the above features comparison should give you a basic idea of how these two carriers differ at a glance. In short, you’ll definitely get a more feature-laden plan if you go with one of the AT&T unlimited plans, although at a much higher premium cost. Mint Mobile, on the other hand, is the more cheap and cheerful option.

The case for Mint Mobile

By far and away the biggest selling point of Mint Mobile is its incredibly low monthly prices. On average per month you’re going to be paying at least half of what you’d normally pay at a major carrier like AT&T. The downside here is you’ll get a fairly stripped-down cell phone plan should you go with Mint – even on its unlimited data plan. For most, however, that’s going to be a more than acceptable trade-off to secure those low bills.

Being a prepaid carrier means that Mint Mobile customers also have the distinct advantage of not being tied into a lengthy service plan. You will, however, have to commit to buying a whole year’s worth of data upfront at Mint Mobile if you want to secure the lowest monthly average rate. That can mean a significant chunk of cash leaving your account at once, so definitely bear that in mind. On the bright side though, that’s nothing compared to the 24 to 36-month contracts you find at the big carriers – and you can also upgrade your plan mid-term.

Being a prepaid plan does mean that Mint Mobile customers may have to contend with the industry-wide ‘deprioritization’ that all prepaid plans are subjected to. While your mileage is going to vary drastically depending on your local area, Mint Mobile customers may have their network speeds lowered if the nearby T-Mobile parent network is super busy. 

It’s also worth noting that Mint’s unlimited data plan has a soft 5G / 4G data speed cap of 45GB – with speeds being slowed to just 128Kb/s should you exceed that. That’s still enough to check messages, but not much else so definitely factor that in before you go crazy with your downloads.

The case for AT&T

AT&T has the distinct advantage of running its own network. For its customers that means tons of prioritized data, uncapped speeds where applicable, and no caps on your streaming resolution (on certain plans anyway). If speed and streaming is your priority, then it’s a great choice – just be aware it comes at a price, however.

AT&T plans, for example, run anywhere from around $30 per month to $85 per month depending on how many lines and which tier you go for. That is pricey indeed, although AT&T does ensure you’re first in line for good speeds on its network and offers a healthy amount of mobile hotspot allowance on its premium plans.

Perhaps the biggest selling point of AT&T, and all major carriers for that matter, is the exclusive customer-only handset promotions that are offered alongside plans. AT&T deals for example can score you free devices, early upgrades, and big trade-in rebates on a number of leading flagship devices from Apple and Samsung, among others. While the plans themselves are indeed pricey, these deals can actually help offset your overall bills if you’re looking for one of the latest devices. By comparison, you can’t get these same types of deals at prepaid carriers like Mint Mobile, where customers often port over an unlocked device. 

(Image credit: AT&T)

What about AT&T prepaid?

So, unlike many of the ‘traditional’ big carriers, AT&T does in fact offer some pretty good prepaid plans – at least in comparison to Verizon and T-Mobile, where prepaid plans tend to be very much in the background. 

AT&T prepaid plans range from $30 per month for an 5GB plan to $50 per month for an unlimited plan – the former of which is definitely the best value offering in our eyes. AT&T does also offer a Mint-like prepaid three-month plan that offers 8GB of data for $33 per month on average. Again, the catch with this one is that you’ll need to pay for those three months upfront – it’s also pretty damn expensive compared to the equivalent plans at Mint. If you get good T-Mobile coverage in your area, Mint Mobile is definitely the stronger prepaid choice. 

Checking your 5G coverage is key

Unsurprisingly for two carriers with two different networks, your mileage may vary drastically when it comes to cellular service, depending on your area. In short, you could find that you’re not covered under Mint Mobiles’s 5G network in your area but AT&T’s coverage is top-notch. Conversely, the other scenario might be true, so it’s definitely worth checking your local area coverage at the carrier sites by entering your local zip codes (check AT&T here, and Mint here).

This is especially the case with 5G network coverage, which isn’t as widely available as 4G or lower nationwide thanks to the technology being much newer. If you have a 5G compatible device that’s all ready to go then we’d definitely rule out a carrier that doesn’t give you great 5G coverage in your area – it’s no good paying for those speeds if you can’t use them after all!

(Image credit: AT&T)

Verdict

Both AT&T and Mint Mobile are great choices. However, as you’ve probably already surmised from this article, they both cater to very different audiences indeed. For those strictly on a budget then the best choice has to inevitably be Mint Mobile. In short, Mint Mobile’s cheap prepaid plans starting at $15 a month and its unlimited plan starting at $30 a month are incredibly good value – especially if you can forgo a few creature comforts like free streaming services. As we’ve stated before, this is at least half of what you’d expect to pay for a post-paid plan at AT&T and other major carriers, and it also edges out AT&T’s prepaid plans in regards to value too.

On the other hand, if you’re really looking for that rock-solid premium 5G experience then you’re definitely going to get overall better service with AT&T’s more premium plans. Not only will you get a completely unlimited plan (Mint’s speeds cap put at 35GB), but you’ll also get 4K UHD streaming on your device plus more mobile hotspot allowance. AT&T also offers a more robust range of family plans and handset deals, plus, it’s also likely to have better customer service should you require help with your plan (via physical stores). 

What other plans should I check out?

If you’re interested in saving some cash by going for a prepaid carrier like Mint Mobile but need to stay on the AT&T network for coverage reasons, we’d recommend Pure Talk. With plans starting at just $10 a month (currently new customers get 50% off), it’s a great choice if you’re simply looking for just the basics with your cell phone plan.

Cricket Wireless is another fantastic prepaid carrier that offers particularly good cheap family cell phone plan options for as little as $30 per month per line. This carrier is in fact operated as a subsidiary of AT&T and sort of straddles the middle ground between super-cheap prepaid plans and the more expensive post-paid options.

For alternatives to Mint Mobile, you could consider Boost Mobile – a service that offers a three-line unlimited plan for just $30 per month. That one’s particularly good if you want to go prepaid but need a flexible family option. For more excellent alternatives, head over to our main best cell phone plans article.

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It’s hard to decide a winner here: the only way to determine it is to consider exactly what you need and want from your device of choice.

Deciding between tablets vs 2-in-1 laptops is not going to be based on which device is better. Each has its own advantages over the other while also lugging its fair share of drawbacks, and choosing one over the other really boils down to your preference and needs. 

Tablets are extremely portable and easy to handle, even more so if you go for one of the best tablets. Meanwhile, one of the best 2-in-1 laptops are essentially two devices – a laptop and a tablet – in one, allowing you access to run full-featured applications as well as better port selection and multiple modes.

However, if you aren’t as tech-savvy or just don’t have much experience with either, you might have a tougher time making that choice. But since we’ve tested our share of both of these types of devices, we’re here to break all that down for you. In the battle of tablets vs 2-in-1 laptops, there might not be an ultimate winner, but one is definitely more ideal for you than the other, and we’re here to help you figure that out.

Tablet vs 2-in-1 laptop: price and availability 

It’s a common misconception that tablets are cheaper than laptops, though it might seem like a fair one – tablets, after all, are generally smaller and have more limited functionality. Unfortunately, that couldn’t be further from the truth, which means that when it comes to tablets vs 2-in-1 laptops, you can’t just base your decision solely around price and budget. There are tablets that will set you back much more than many hybrid notebooks, and there are a handful of hybrids that are cheaper than some of the mid-range tablets.

If you’re willing to splurge, there’s the Samsung Galaxy Tab S7 Plus that starts at $849.99 (£799, AU$1,549) and the iPad Pro 2021, which starts at $1,099 (£999, AU$1,649). Those are about on par with the Dell XPS 2-in-1 (2020) that will set you back $1,099 (around £900,  AU$1,400) for its base model and the Acer Spin 5 that starts at $999 (£899, about AU$1,400).

On the other end, if you’re looking to economize, something like the Lenovo Tab P11 Pro ($499.99 / £449.99) or the Samsung Galaxy Tab S6 Lite ($349 / £349 / AU$649) should suit you nicely in the tablet department, or the much-lauded Lenovo IdeaPad Duet Chromebook ($279.00 / about £225 / AU$405) if you want a notebook.

Finally, for those with a bit more mid-range budget, tablet options include the iPad Air 4 ($599 / £579 / AU$899) and the Samsung Galaxy Tab S ($649.99 / £619 / AU$1,149) while convertible laptop options include the HP Envy x360 13 (2021) ($699 / about £500 / AU$950).

The great thing about this, however, is that no matter what your budget is, you’ll find a great hybrid laptop or tablet that will be in your price range. 

Tablet vs 2-in-1 laptop: design and features

(Image credit: Future)

Where your decision starts to matter in the tablets vs 2-in-1 laptops debate is in design and features. Although convertible laptops have a tablet mode and tablets are able to offer that traditional laptop form factor with just an additional keyboard-and-trackpad accessory, the experience is never going to be the same.

2-in-1 laptops are easily expandable and more versatile due to their wider selection of ports, having other modes available besides laptop and tablet, and bigger screen options. So, they might serve you better if you want a bigger display to spread out or the flexibility of connecting any necessary peripheral – whether that to you means a mechanical keyboard and a mouse or a portable SSD and a dedicated webcam.

Still, with the exception of those with detachable keyboards, most of these hybrid laptops are much thicker and heavier in tablet mode – and are therefore bulkier to use. That’s especially true with the 15-inch and 17-inch ones. It makes for a less comfortable experience if you want to sink into your couch at the end of the day and play a game or scroll through websites and social media platforms.

(Image credit: Aakash Jhaveri)

The beauty of tablets is that they’re thin and lightweight enough that you can use them just as easily in bed as it is at your desk. They’re also better travel companions because of that portability. And, although they often only have one or two ports on offer, they also have a couple of other ways via which you can connect accessories. There’s, of course, Bluetooth connectivity, but also the Smart Connector and even possibly MagSafe in the very near future (for iPads).

Just bear in mind that even the most premium tablets are still limited in peripheral functionality. For example, while both iPads and Samsung Galaxy Tabs have mouse or trackpad support, it still isn’t as seamless as on a traditional Windows laptop. If such limitations are something you can live with, then you might benefit more from a tablet’s compact form factor.

Tablet vs 2-in-1 laptop: performance

(Image credit: Future)

For right now at least, tablets cannot beat 2-in-1 laptops in terms of power. That isn’t to say that tablets aren’t extremely capable in their own right. The latest iPad Pros, for one, are powerful enough to see you through your video editing needs on the go – thanks in large part to that M1 processor they’re fitted with. Meanwhile, the Samsung Galaxy Tab S7 Plus, equipped with the fastest processor currently available for Android, is a delight to play games on.

However, hybrid laptops, particularly those touting a full operating system like Windows 10, generally have beefier CPUs and GPUs under the hood, making them capable of running full-featured software and apps that make a world of difference in terms of workflow. You may be able to easily edit your images on Lightroom Mobile, write up documents on the Google Docs mobile app, or even surf the internet on your tablet. But, your experience wouldn’t be as seamless and is going to be a tad limited.

On the upside, not everybody needs full-featured applications to meet their daily computing needs. If you’re a creative or business professional, then yes, you’ll need the more potent innards and operating system of a 2-in-1 laptop. But, if all you need is a device to see you through your email, entertainment, and social networking demands, then you might be better off with a tablet.

Whichever you choose, you’ll be happy to know that both are on par when it comes to battery life. These days, both the best tablets and the best 2-in-1 laptops offer anywhere from 10 to 12 hours of longevity on average, which means that you can leave the charger at home if you want to commute or travel light.

Tablet vs 2-in-1 laptop: verdict 

(Image credit: TechRadar)

In the tablet vs 2-in-1 laptop arena, don’t expect a true champion. Each portable has its share of advantages and disadvantages, so your decision ultimately falls on what you need.

If you don’t require a whole lot of power and are happy to put up with the limitations of mobile apps, either because you won’t use them for any task that requires a smoother, more seamless workflow or because portability is much more important to you, then an excellent tablet might be a better fit. You can always expand its functionality by purchasing peripherals like Apple’s Magic Keyboard or the Samsung S Action Mouse, granted if you’re willing to pay more for them.

If, on the other hand, you do require a portable with enough power and versatility to see you through your daily productivity and creative tasks in a much more immersive way, 2-in-1 laptops come with exactly the right tools for that, from their selection of ports and modes to their full OS and more robust engine. And, even though they might not be as light and thin as tablets, they are portable in their own right – so much so you’d be happy to bring them along in your commutes.

Check out the best laptops you can buy right now

You might also want to check out the best tablet with keyboard.

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If you own a restaurant, bar, or retail business, this is how a modern point of sale system can help maximize sales.

Take it from us – the importance of the POS system in business cannot be understated. The development and evolution of point of sale systems (or ePOS) has increased rapidly over the past 20 years, benefiting the retail, leisure, and hospitality sectors by integrating cloud services, mobile and a multitude of other handy features designed to improve your bottom line.

Ultimately, POS systems are about maximizing sales – something that they do in a multitude of different ways. There are plenty of game-changing features we could mention, but we’ve stuck to the five main reasons why your business needs a POS system. 

Hopefully this will help you determine if a modern POS system is the right investment for your business.

1. POS systems save time and money

If the old adage of ‘time is money’ is to be believed, your company’s profitability can shoot up after getting a POS system. 

That’s because you can become more efficient in multiple areas of the business – not just sales (though it plays a large part). Even becoming 10 per cent more efficient in your operations processes as a result of using a POS system can have a huge impact on your bottom line. 

Using an efficient POS in your business will make you more cost-focused and can be a powerful motivator in helping your employees (and managers, for that matter) achieve individual sales targets and objectives, in addition to identifying where sales can be improved.

For example, through means such as improving customer service. Companies that don’t bother with a POS system (or implement one effectively) will often suffer from long queues at the checkout; they also find it more difficult for cashiers to retrieve information for customers who want to find out more about items. By being intuitive, today’s cloud-based POS systems reduce risk by preventing frustration and minimizing the loss of time and productivity, all for the benefit of the customer.

2. Increase functionality and ease of use

POS system touchscreen terminals are much easier to use than traditional cash registers (Image credit: Shutterstock)

You can greatly improve the functionality of your business through a POS. 

One of the main ways this is possible is by selecting a system that is cloud-based, which allows you to run the business and retrieve reports and useful data from any location and on any device. 

That said, employees can only make the most of a POS system’s useful functionality if it’s easy to use. Unlike traditional cash registers, which were not designed with ease of use in mind, POS systems are designed to be as useful as possible to companies within certain sectors. 

For that reason, it’s worth doing as in-depth research up front as possible to determine whether a POS system has been designed for the sector that your company is based in. 

Ones designed for retail, for example, will offer inventory management functionality, while ones designed for restaurants will sport large interfaces that make it easier to book tables in darkened environments.

3. Reduce (or eliminate) employee error and theft

POS systems do a lot of the hard work for employees and their managers. Not only will they calculate all manner of sales-related activity, they can also hold employees to account and figure out which are performing best (and, conversely, which aren’t pulling their weight). 

They can also reduce errors: if you are calculating stock takes or orders manually, then it means that your business is being exposed to unnecessary errors caused by your human workers. 

This wouldn’t be a problem if it happened once a day, but when multiple errors go undetected it can add up. 

Additionally, POS systems can detect employee theft, which is the original reason that inventor James Ritty invented the very first POS system back in the late 19th century. Any decent small business POS has the data needed to understand the source of losses and determine where weaknesses are, and where action needs to be taken.

4. Get real-time actionable reports and data

A POS system opens up your business to the world of customer data and all the benefits that brings. Over time data can be collected and utilized in many ways, to reap rewards. After all, you cannot run a business based on insight and intuition alone. Through accurate data collection you can create successful strategies and make informed business decisions. 

When you have sufficient data, for example, you can order in exactly the amount of actionable stock that a certain store needs (and has proved popular with customers). You will be then able to introduce price reductions and special offers on goods according to that data.

A POS system will also offer analytics features that provide specific information, such as low stock count; best selling items; worse selling items; off-peak hours; and peak hours.

5. Improve the customer experience

A POS system tracks all customer interactions so you can provide a better service (Image credit: Blake Wisz / Unsplash)

Using a POS system can greatly improve the customer experience. This is achieved using features such as customer ordering and inventory tracking, which enables product look-up and ordering to a store from other franchise locations (for example). 

Additionally, a cloud-based POS system frees up your employees to provide customer service and sell items directly from the shop floor on a mobile device – such as an iPhone or iPad – which then feeds back to all other areas of your system. 

The best POS systems will record thousands of existing customer enquiries, meaning that other customers who have the same problems or queries can be served more efficiently faster, when compared to stores that would have to look up answers without that context each and every time.

Further reading

If you’re looking for more information about POS systems, then try our features: How to choose a POS system for your business, How much does a POS system cost, and How does a POS system work?.

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Our list of the best open world games on PC will help you experience unmissable adventures

There’s something special about the best open world games on PC today. They’re immersive to the point where you might not even think about the story for hours at a time, following side quests and uncovering secret locations. After all, these games are all about being transported to a new world to explore, not just winning. It’s all about the journey, which might take days, weeks or months, not the destination.

The best open world games on PC today have come a long way from where the best PC games and gaming PCs were 10 years ago. They have become so widespread that it’s not just the biggest studios making these huge sandbox adventures. You’ll find that some of the best indie games are getting in on the action, with smaller studios taking advantage of the concept to tell their stories.

Take a look at our pick for the best open world games on PC today. There are some obvious inclusions such as The Witcher 3, Grand Theft Auto V, and Red Dead Redemption 2, as well as co-op games like Ghost Recon Wildlands. Read on to see which of these games will take over your free time for the next couple weeks or months.

Hideo Kojima’s post-Konami return to the digital stage has come with the surreal Death Stranding. Not only is it a fever dream in the form of a game, but it also does something new with the open world format.

You control Sam Porter Bridges, portrayed by Norman Reedus, as he delivers cargo across a stark, beautiful and unsettling landscape. In this post-apocalyptic world, you have to deal with an assortment of strange enemies, most notably BTs, which ghost-like creatures only visible to Sam thanks to a fetus strapped to his chest. That’s the tip of the iceberg on what makes this game so strange and fascinating. When you die, you have to find your strand of life in an ocean to come back to life. And, your initial weapon of choice is a rope coated with your blood.

This game is not for everyone. However, if you like genre-bending and thought-provoking games, you’re in for a treat. 

The first two Witcher games were compelling, complex and challenging, even though it only relished minor success. All the word of mouth about the first two games led to the Witcher 3 getting big when it was released. It was a huge step up in quality as well, which makes it undoubtedly one of the best RPGs of all time. 

You step in the shoes of Geralt, a mutated monster hunter or witcher, and you’re tasked to scour the world for your adopted daughter in a medieval period ravaged by war. Geralt can walk, ride or sail across the war-ravaged lands (and seas) of Novigrad, Velen and Skellige. You can even forage for herbs, explore under the seas or the city back alleys, and encounter all kinds of folk and creatures. The other elements of the game are spectacularly polished as well – limber, agile combat, a deep levelling system and a storyline with some unusually-smart storylines. Plus, with the Blood and Wine expansion, you’ll be able to take on a clan of Vampires in the colorful land of Toussaint, too.

The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt is now four years old, but it definitely stands the test of time and is still one of the best open world games on the market right now. This well-realized world blows the likes of Skyrim out of the water.

One of the reasons open-world games are so popular is because of how immersive they can be, and Red Dead Redemption 2 draws you in like almost no other. Explore a fictionalized Wild West where you can spend hours just hunting, robbing trains or coaches, or just riding and bonding with your favorite horse. Or just spend hours just gambling, if you want.

It’s not just the world-building that makes RDR2 such a fantastic game, however. The tale of Arthur Morgan and his gang, and their exploits as they try to stay a step ahead of the law is about as epic and operatic a story as they come. On top of that, this game is gorgeous. Let’s just say there’s a reason this game features a cinematic mode camera view.

Like the Assassin’s Creed games before it, Assassin’s Creed: Valhalla continues the tradition of dropping you into the middle of a vast, somewhat historically-correct open world that will probably take you the better part of a month to fully explore. In the case of Valhalla, as the name suggests, you play as a Viking exploring dark ages England. This game also introduces the ability to raid villages in true Viking style as well as build and expand your own settlement.

Like most Assassin’s Creed games, and AAA open-world games, it’s easy to get lost in the gorgeous and immersive setting. But there’s plenty of action here too. Not only can you climb over everything, stealth-kill just about anyone, and stealthily skulk about, but you can lead assaults on whole fortresses. The game still ties its story into the overarching Assassins vs Templar conflict that permeates all the titles in the series. But, even if you don’t care about that and just want to play as a Viking, this game has plenty to offer.

Grand Theft Auto V has been out for quite a while now, but because we’re still waiting for Red Dead Redemption 2 on PC, it remains to be the best open world game on PC from Rockstar. It’s a massive pastiche of L.A. through which you can fly, run or drive across. It’s an incredible achievement, and the fact that it works in multiplayer is amazing.

What makes it such a success, however, is the freedom it gives you. When you’re not running around and robbing banks during the campaign, GTA V basically lets you do whatever you want – even if it breaks the game. You can go anywhere, do anything and commit however many brutalities as your wicked heart desires.

There are also a number of activities on hand for you on the side. This means that when you’re not busy initiating all sorts of mayhem, you can alternately take up tennis, do yoga or even kick your feet up and watch some TV. There’s a reason this game is so beloved.

The plot may not have made much sense, but Hideo Kojima’s last addition to the Metal Gear franchise was a legend of layered open world mechanics, which is why we’re so psyched about Death Stranding.

In the twin deserts of Afghanistan and Angola, Big Boss – or Venom Snake – has a range of objectives to tick off. As him, you wander the areas on foot, horseback or in an assortment of ground vehicles. You can arm yourself with either lethal or non-lethal weapons, as well as take a variety of AI companions. 

The world of Metal Gear Solid V is extremely bleak, weather-torn and heavily guarded. Uniquely, it learns from your behavior – abuse of a particular tactic, and your enemies will adapt. For instance, rely too much on headshots, and they’ll start wearing metal helmets.

Away from the frontline, you can develop Mother Base by building new facilities and airlifting enemy soldiers, prisoners, resources, vehicles, animals and anything else you want to from the battlefield to beef up your armory.

Bethesda has made a name for itself over the last couple of decades by producing some of the best open world games, and Fallout 4 is an excellent example of why. You’ll be dropped in post-apocalyptic Boston, where you’ll explore the ruins of the city in all its retro-futuristic glory.

While the plot ultimately revolves around saving your kid from their kidnappers, you might momentarily forget all about that with all those side missions, as well as pillage loot from super mutants and bandits.

Once you get everything done (if you ever do), Bethesda’s games have a tendency to be immensely re-playable because of the way different character builds can interact with the world around you.

Get even closer to the action by playing through Fallout 4 in VR, with the HTC Vive.

When Middle Earth: Shadow of Mordor was released almost five years ago, it was acclaimed for its portrayal of Tolkien’s Mordor as well as its distinctive nemesis system. The sequel, Middle Earth: Shadow of War, takes this concept and turns it up to 11, allowing you to roam in the last human stronghold in Mordor. 

This is one of the best open world games you can immerse yourself in during 2020. Especially after the removal of the microtransactions that plagued the game at launch, the Nemesis system still feels fresh. In addition, the combat is just as good as ever, with a wealth of new skills you can unlock during its extensive campaign.

Later in the game, it will start introducing some RTS elements as you command an army of dominated orcs to retake different strongholds. The Middle Earth series has shown some real innovation, and we can’t wait to see what else Monolith Studios has in store in the near future.

Last year, Ubisoft took one of the most highly acclaimed squad-based shooter series in its lineup, Ghost Recon, and honed it into an open-world paradise. You’re set loose in Bolivia, tasked with taking down a drug cartel that has taken power over the region – by set loose, we mean you’re free to pursue this goal however you feel like.

Ghost Recon Wildlands may be one of the best open world games when you’re playing by yourself, but where it really excels is when you’re playing with friends. This is because Ghost Recon, at its very core, has always been a tactical shooter that’s built around working with a team of AI companions. Inherently, when you team up with your friends, this gameplay is elevated to a whole new level completely. 

Just keep in mind that this game is an absolute stunner, which means it requires a pretty beefy setup to run properly, so make sure to pay close attention to those system requirements before you start.

When the first Crackdown was released in 2007, it kind of changed the game, with you taking the role of a superpowered cop out to catch a cast of zany criminals. While Crackdown 3 hasn’t changed much in the 12 years since, it still boasts its own identity.

Crackdown 3 takes the super-powered hijinks of the original and scales it to modern graphics without changing too much of what made the original game so great. This might make it feel a little antiquated to some folks. However, if you were into the first one, there’s much love here. 

What really stands out here, however, is the new Wrecking Zone multiplayer game mode. It uses the power of Microsoft Azure cloud computing to make the whole city destructible.

Far Cry 5 might just be the archetype of what the best open world games on PC should be in 2020. This game is distinctive in the fact that it lets you to truly go anywhere on the map – not to mention, do anything. As it doesn’t water this freedom down by limiting the amount of space you have open to you, it’s also perhaps one of the biggest game maps we’ve ever roamed in. 

Far Cry 5 takes place in the middle of the Montana wilderness, and while it does boast a plot that involves cultists or something, that all falls into the background as you wander around and get lost in the massive world. We haven’t finished Far Cry 5, and we don’t think ‘finished’ exists in this game. 

We’re not the only ones that love Far Cry 5, either. At the Game Awards 2018, Ubisoft announced Far Cry: New Dawn, a direct follow-up – a first for the classic shooter series.

For years, the Yakuza franchise has been somewhat of a best kept secret. Lately, however, these incredible games have gotten some well-deserved mainstream success. And, thanks to this success, these classic titles are finally, albeit slowly, making their way to PC with Yakuza Kiwami leading the charge. 

It’s a remake of the first Yakuza title, which was rolled out nearly 13 years ago in the US. With it, PC gamers can finally see how the franchise got its start, putting players in the shoes of Kazuma Kiryu as he battles his way through the Yakuza’s ranks. More than that, it’s a gripping mix of serious storytelling and silly moments – something that the Yakuza series would become famous for over the years.

Horizon Zero Dawn may have started life as a Playstation exclusive when it came out in 2017. But, luckily for PC gamers and ray tracing enthusiasts, the AAA game from Guerilla Studios has been available on PC since August 2020.

The game shares some basic features with other great open-world entries. You traverse through multiple different gorgeous environments over a large map with increasingly powerful enemies – though luckily, also with increasingly powerful weapons to take them down. And, as you do, you uncover an engrossing tale that takes tens of hours to complete.  

You play as Aloy, a hunter trying to uncover her own mysterious past in a post-apocalyptic world. While humanity struggles to survive as warring tribes and dangerous robot animals roam the countryside. And, as captivating as the story and environment is, a lot of the fun of the game comes from hunting these creatures. Each type of robot has different strengths and weaknesses, and you’ll have to adjust accordingly. Hacking and slashing won’t get you very far.

If you enjoy stealth gameplay, planning a hunt, or a unique story and setting, you owe it to yourself to play Horizon Zero Dawn.

You might not quite get why Forza Horizon 4 is even on a list of the best open world games. After all, Forza is a racing series, not an open world game. However, you’d only be half right. Yes, it’s indeed a racing game, but the Forza Horizon series has always sat among the best open world games to date. And, Forza Horizon 4 takes that winning formula even further.

Not only are all of the systems that were in place in 2016’s Forza Horizon 3 present here, but they’ve also been polished to craft one of the smoothest open world racing games we’ve ever had the pleasure of playing.

The map is slightly smaller than the previous offering, but Forza Horizon 4’s world changes seasons every week, which changes how each track plays every time you play it (or, at least until you’ve played it on 4 separate weeks). Simply put, Forza Horizon 4 is one of the most fun racing games on the market. With all the added open world content – like collectible cars and randomly placed ramps – it’s also one of the best open world games on the market.

In addition, there are new expansions getting added, like Forza Horizon 4: Fortune Island, for even more content.

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Employees are the lifeblood of your business, and when used effectively, POS systems can help expedite staff management. Here’s how.

Long gone are the days when POS systems were only used for making sales. Today’s cloud POS systems are management tools that can be used to do everything from managing your inventory and suppliers to tracking the activity of employees – whether it’s hours worked or sales made. 

Today, POS systems can even manage employee schedules and streamline HR and training, putting all of your essential business data and reports when and where you need them.

If they’re used effectively, POS systems save time and money and have the potential to improve the entire staff management system. Let’s take a look at the most common ways your POS system can help manage staff.

1. POS systems offer easier time tracking

POS systems can help accurately track when employees are working. Naturally, this is a critical part of properly managing your employees. That’s why outdated clocking in and out systems can be a slow, frustrating and time-consuming experience for employees themselves.

Some POS systems offer an efficient and quick time tracking solution, for both you and your employees. In a lot of cases, POS software enables employees to use a secure PIN when clocking in or out and can even create personal profiles for workers. 

This lets both them and you see how many hours they’ve worked in a day, week, or month, thereby minimizing time fraud. Seeing as it’s estimated that time theft costs U.S. employers more than $400 billion per year in lost productivity, this is crucial. 

POS systems can track employee working hours to the minute (Image credit: Photo by Ketut Subiyanto from Pexels)

For businesses that involve tipping, there are systems that won’t let an employee clock out without declaring their tips and/or performing a till count, which can aid in cash management purposes. 

While different POS time clocks will come with different capabilities, it’s a feature that can greatly benefit your business, as this is an efficient way to streamline and consolidate multiple records into a single system. 

For example, some time clocks can also integrate with payroll and this automation can simplify calculations of who is owed what when they work different roles – such as a hostess versus a waiter in a restaurant setting. And, finally, a POS with a good timekeeping system can also simplify payroll when employees work overtime at a different rate of pay.

2. Streamlined scheduling 

One of the most tedious parts of managing employees is making out the schedule – that is, if you’re still doing it on paper or a whiteboard. With a modern POS system, you can not only track employee hours, but you can make on-the-fly updates and changes in the system in a way that completely streamlines the process. 

And, while it’s convenient to set up the times your employees are scheduled to work for the next week, most POS systems also allow managers to accept or reject time off requests and shift trades. Some even have integrations that let you set up a task list and goals for your staff. Better still, because it’s cloud-based software, you can access it from anywhere at any time, meaning you can quickly and easily make last-minute changes.

It’s also important to determine how many people you’ll need on the clock at any given time and, with the right data at your fingertips, this task becomes much easier. Most modern POS solutions provide data and reports on your peak sales and busiest hours and you can use that information to figure out how many employees to bring on at any given time.

3. Improved customer skills and interaction 

One of the biggest benefits of today’s modern POS systems is the introduction of mobile capabilities. Instead of having to wait in line at the checkout, a mobile POS system paves the way for mobile checkout, which also gives employees more opportunities to interact with the customers. Employees can answer inventory questions for a customer and even complete a transaction, thus streamlining the retail experience.

mPOS transaction values are “predicted to exceed $1.9 trillion by 2024, up from $850 billion in 2019”

Juniper Research

If you don’t currently offer mobile POS in your store, you’re going to soon be in the minority. Retailers are quickly realizing how it improves employee efficiency and effectiveness, which improves the bottom line.

Indeed, mPOS transaction values are “predicted to exceed $1.9 trillion by 2024, up from $850 billion in 2019,” and according to one survey, “90% of respondents agree or strongly agree that mPOS is cost effective,” with 72% of retailers surveyed accepting mobile payments, compared to 51% in 2017.

4. Detailed employee activity reporting 

POS data can reveal critical insights about your business – both the good and the bad. While you would like to be able to trust your staff 100% of the time, the fact of the matter is that employee theft costs U.S. businesses $50 billion annually. The first line of defence in preventing this expensive incident is a POS system with comprehensive case management reporting. 

More than just inputting a start and an end cash count, modern POS systems can provide comprehensive reports for till count before and after shift changes and carefully document cash-ins and cash-outs, among other things involving security. 

On the flip side, POS systems with detailed employee reports are also the easiest way to track performance so you can identify – and reward – top employees. And, as many businesses know, employee rewards and recognition can truly pay off both for employers and their staff.  A recent study found that 63% of employees who are recognized are very unlikely to look for a new job, and 40% of employed Americans would put additional energy into their work if they were recognized more often.

It’s also possible to run reports to find out who your top and poorest performing employees are, which employees process the most sales, who is working overtime and so on. You can then use all of this information, both to make strategic scheduling decisions, reward high performers and provide extra training to boost productivity for employees who aren’t performing as well. 

5. Smoother employee training  

Invest the time and ensure that staff are fully trained on your POS system (Image credit: Photo by Blake Wisz on Unsplash)

Last, but certainly not least is employee training. You can have the greatest employee in the world filled with high morale and ambition, but without proper POS training, they won’t be able to reach their full potential. When introducing a POS system into your store, it’s crucial that you properly train them on how the system works – and how it benefits them and will make their job that much easier.

The majority of cloud-based POS software is specifically designed to be as easy to use as possible. However, every system is different and will require a specific set of skills that may take some time to acquire. That’s why, when selecting a POS system, it’s important to think about the onboarding process for both new and current employees. 

For example, how difficult will it be to train employees on this system? Does the interface include a training mode built right into it? Are you provided with comprehensive training materials? Will the vendor offer on-site training and support?

The more time you invest in training your staff to use a new POS, the greater the likelihood that the transition will be smooth and you’ll reap all the beneficial rewards. 

Your POS system and employee management  

From training employees to use the POS system itself to using the POS system to manage your employees, it’s safe to say that this technology is the backbone of your business. 

Along with tracking inventory and suppliers, it helps you manage your staffing levels, employee hours and overall sales performance. What’s more, by optimizing your employee management, you’re better able to streamline your business – boosting not only the customer experience, but also your bottom line. 

Further reading

If you’re looking for more information about POS systems and the benefits they bring, then check out our expert guides to understanding the cost of a POS system, how to choose the best POS system for your business.

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Need guidance on how to choose a POS system for a restaurant, retail or small business? This quick guide will help you understand the costs involved

The best POS systems are much more advanced than those bygone days dominated by the humble cash register. They can quickly and easily process customer orders as a matter of course, but some have evolved to the point that they’ve become multi-functional hubs for businesses across myriad types of industries. 

The quickly-evolving POS platforms available today can offer a wide range of features and functionality covering everything from employee management and CRM through to menu creation and inventory management. 

That’s why the POS market had already exploded to the tune of $16 billion back in 2020 and it’s now expected to reach $29.09 billion by the year 2025.

Choosing the right POS system for your business is a major decision though and one crucial thing that factors into selecting the one to buy is price. However, there is no “one-size-fits-all” answer as to how much you’ll pay for your POS, mainly because every business has different needs.

When deciding on which system to purchase, consider making a list that divides features into categories like “essential,” “nice to have,” and “unnecessary.” 

That’s why the POS market had already exploded to the tune of $16 billion back in 2020 and it’s now expected to reach $29.09 billion by the year 2025.

To get you started, we’ll explore the types of POS systems, the factors you need to consider and estimated costs that will help you make a more informed decision.

Types of POS systems 

A good place to start is by looking at the two types of POS systems, their components, and how those components can affect the price.  

A portable POS terminal, like the one pictured above, is ideal for a restaurant (Image credit: Photo by Blake Wisz on Unsplash)

On-premise POS

As the name suggests, on-premise POS systems are a network of terminals or computers that are located and connected at your actual place of business. It operates within your company’s internal network and stores data like inventory levels and sales performance on a local database – usually your computer’s hard drive.

For a visual, picture something like a desktop computer complete with monitor and keyboard, usually found on top of a cash drawer. While this can be a great solution for retail operations, there are additional, smaller pieces of hardware that are compatible and necessary to run the system that need to be purchased for each POS terminal. 

Because of this, it’s often more expensive to implement and can broadly run from $3,000-$50,000 annually. What’s more, you often have to rebuy the software if there’s an available update.

Cloud-based POS

Unlike on-premise POS systems, a cloud-based POS runs in “the cloud,” or a remote online server that only requires an internet connection. 

Whereas on-premise requires proprietary hardware or a desktop computer as a terminal, cloud-based POS software usually runs on a tablet, like an iPad or Android device. This allows you to be more mobile and complete transactions throughout the store. 

And, because it requires less set-up, it often costs less to implement the hardware and software, ranging anywhere from $50 to $100 per month and a one-time set-up fee ranging from $1,000-$1,500. 

This is the choice of many small businesses because, in addition to the lower cost, it allows you to access information from any remote location, which is ideal if you have multiple stores. 

In addition, all of your data is automatically backed up online, which helps to keep it safe and secure. Unlike on-premise point of sale systems, cloud-based POS solutions are automatically updated and maintained for you too.

Factors that can affect the pricing of POS systems

Costs of software  

When using a cloud-based POS, there are three ways that software can be sold: 

Other software factors to consider

A lot goes into deciding what kind of software you can afford and what you need, and the following data points should be considered:

Size – How many products do you sell? How large is your store?

Terminals – How many checkout terminals does your store need?

Locations – Do you run a single location or do you have multiple locations? 

Users – Depending on your provider, you may be charged based on the number of users or “seats” in your POS system.

Hardware compatibility – While the majority of POS software will be compatible with most point of sale hardware, there are instances when a POS vendors’ software includes proprietary hardware.

Customer support – Some providers may charge more for “premium support”. And, if you’re using on-premise systems, things like customer support have to be purchased separately, which can run up to hundreds of dollars each month, depending on your package. 

Costs of hardware 

Whether you’re using on-premise or cloud-based, you will need to buy hardware and the costs will vary greatly between the two systems. With on-premise POS systems, things add up quickly when you consider you need additional accessories, like keyboards and monitors for each terminal. 

And, because some hardware may be proprietary – meaning it’s licensed from the same software company – you have to buy it from them, which is more expensive and could cost you between $3,000-$5,000 when you also factor in yearly maintenance fees.  

If you’re using a cloud-based system, it’s relatively inexpensive seeing as you’re using commodity hardware such as tablets and stands that can be bought on Amazon or Best Buy for a few hundred dollars.

Other hardware considerations

In order to keep your business running smoothly from the cloud, there are additional items you may have to purchase along with the tablets and stands: 

Add-ons like barcode scanners for your POS system cost extra but can pay off in speeding up customer service over time.  (Image credit: Caspar Benson via Getty Images)

Payment processing fees

Each time a customer makes a purchase, you’ll pay a small processing fee (Image credit: Shutterstock)

Along with paying for the software, hardware, customer support and the system itself, you might also be subject to set-up fees that will depend on your vendor. However, one thing you can count on is payment processing fees, which is usually a third-party service.

Every time a customer uses a credit card to make a purchase, you have to pay to process the payment. This is usually a flat fee and/or percentage for every sale made, often in the ballpark of 2%-3%.

The bottom line

As you can see, the cost of a POS system depends on a variety of factors that make it impossible to arrive at one single answer. 

Some businesses will pay $3,000 a year, while others will have to pay more than $10,000 depending on the size of the business, the industry, revenue stream, hardware requirements and more. 

However, there’s a lot of flexibility and options available, which makes it possible to find a solution that works for you, your business and your bottom line.

Further reading

If you’re looking to learn more about POS systems, read our articles about How to choose the right POS system for your business, 9 inspiring ideas on how to use POS system customer data, or our guide to the best POS systems for restaurants, small businesses, and retail.

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Back to school time is in the air, which is when many families and students decide to purchase a new MacBook. Before making a purchase, there are a few things to keep in mind and consider.

This article originally appeared on iMore and has been inducted into our Back to School guide

With back to school 2023 in full swing, a lot of parents and college kids are considering investing in a MacBook for school. But, unless you have a big budget, that can be costly since these Apple devices, which are among the best laptops right now, sit on the premium side of the market. However, that doesn’t mean that you can’t find one within reach that meets your or your kid’s needs.

If you’re on a tight budget, the best MacBook to go for is the one that’s already on sale. Luckily, with all the back to school sales going on, you’ll have options, especially if an older model is not out of the question. If you have a little more flexibility in your budget, then it’s all about choosing the right model that meets your demands and also taking advantage of Apple’s Student Discount, which could save you up to $150/£130 plus freebies.

To narrow down your options, there are also some things you need to know before hitting that buy button. This way, you’re getting the best value for your money. MacBooks can be very expensive, but there are ways to get a quality Apple machine without breaking the bank. 

Read on to figure out the best machine for you or your student and how to take advantage of things like student discounts to get the best value. Here are the 10 things you should know before you buy a MacBook for students.

Decide on a screen size first and portability

(Image credit: Future)

Apple has two laptop lines, MacBook Air and MacBook Pro. Each product line is somewhat distinct for offering different screen sizes. Your first decision should be to decide on the screen size you want. 

If you want a 13.3-inch model, you’ll have to decide whether to get a MacBook Air, 13-inch MacBook Pro or a 14-inch MacBook Pro based on other specifications. Need one with a bigger display? The Air line has a new 15-inch MacBook Air that released this year while the Pro line has a 16-inch display on offer. 

Along with screen size, be aware of the weight of the machine and how that could affect portability. All of today’s MacBook models are lighter than past models. However, some remain heavier than the others. Especially for those on a large campus, there’s a big difference in carrying a 2.8 pound MacBook Air 13-inch and 3.5 pound 14-inch MacBook Pro.

Buy as much processor speed as you can afford

Apple doesn’t allow you to swap out parts on any of the current MacBook models. The good news is that Apple’s M1 and M2 SoC are incredibly capable. Even the M1 chips will see most students through their schoolwork and projects without breaking a sweat, despite being older. 

With this in mind, zero in on what you can afford and go with it, starting with the processor speed. Expect to pay around $200 more as you move up to a better processor. However, don’t go overboard.

If you’re only purchasing a new laptop to take notes and write reports, save yourself some money and purchase less. Conversely, if you’re planning on doing creative work using an Adobe product or something like Final Cut Pro, go with a more powerful processor.

Same goes for RAM

(Image credit: Future)

Deciding how much computer memory to buy is also crucial. Random access memory, or RAM, is your system’s short-term data storage. The larger the RAM, the quicker your computer can access data. Additionally, the more programs your system is running, the more memory you’ll need.

Again, Apple doesn’t let you change RAM on MacBooks after purchase, so you’ll want to choose wisely.

How about storage?

With the advent of cloud-based computing, the amount of onboard storage on computers isn’t nearly as significant as it was just a few years ago. With this in mind, I recommend not purchasing the minimum storage that’s available on any given MacBook. That number, which currently stands at 256GB for the MacBook Air, probably isn’t enough for most people over the long-term. Conversely, having over 1TB of storage on a laptop is perhaps too much for most folks.

Consider a portable hard drive

You should back up your MacBook regularly using the built-in Time Machine feature. For this, you should invest in an external storage. These come in various sizes and price points with many of the best portable SSDs often being on sale.

Get a case

MacBooks are beautiful devices. Unfortunately, they are also fragile. To protect your investment, be sure to purchase a case or bag.

Do buy AppleCare+

Buying a MacBook isn’t cheap; replacing parts without a warranty is also expensive. Each Apple laptop comes with one year of hardware repair coverage. I recommend purchasing AppleCare+ to extend that coverage to three years. You can buy your coverage at the time of purchase or at any time during the first year.

Yes, education pricing is available

Year-round Apple provides discounts to qualifying higher-education students, parents purchasing on behalf of higher-education students, and faculty and staff at higher-education and K-12 institutions. In the lead-up to new school years throughout the world, Cupertino typically adds extra incentives to convince you to buy through them.

Promotions are available through Apple’s online store, retail stores, and authorized campus stores.

Apple’s education site

But check Amazon, too

After years of bickering, Amazon and Apple began playing nice with one another at the end of 2018. Since then, Amazon has fast become one of the most popular places online to purchase Apple products, including a full line-up of current and past MacBook models.

Amazon has been aggressive when it comes to discounting Apple products. However, don’t expect to see huge discounts on current models. Instead, the largest deals can be found on new past models, which are always marked as previous model.

At the time of this writing, for example, you should expect to pay hundreds of dollars less on an older MacBook than its original retail price. Ultimately, it’s up to you to decide whether the older model has the specs that you need. Typically, however, Apple only offers minor hardware changes between products year-to-year.

A word of caution: Be on the lookout from Apple products on Amazon marked Renewed. These products are not new.

According to Amazon:

“Renewed products work and look like new. These pre-owned products are not Apple certified but have been inspected and tested by Amazon-qualified suppliers. Box and accessories may be generic. All Renewed products come with the 90-day Amazon Renewed Guarantee.”

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