The Fossil Sport is one of the most impressive Wear OS watches yet, as well as being one of the few that use the speedy Snapdragon Wear 3100 chipset. But it’s also approaching a year old, and there are hints that a new model is on the way.

We haven’t heard much so far, but you’ll find what we have heard – and what we suspect – below. We’ll also add any additional news and leaks to this page as and when we hear them.

Scroll further down and you’ll also find a list of the things we most want from the Fossil Sport 2. Impressive as the Fossil Sport is, there are some key areas that could use an upgrade.

Cut to the chase

• What is it? The next sporty watch from Fossil
• When is it out? Possibly November
• What will it cost? Likely around $275 / £219 / AU$469

Fossil Sport 2 release date and price

There’s no news yet on when the Fossil Sport 2 will release, but the original Fossil Sport landed in November 2018, so the Fossil Sport 2 could arrive in November of this year.

If anything though there’s a chance it will launch even sooner, as a watch believed to be the Fossil Sport 2 has both passed through the FCC (Federal Communications Commission) and received Bluetooth certification – two things that usually happen within a few months of release.

As for the price, we can only guess there, but the original Fossil Sport launched at $275 / £219 / AU$469, so we’d expect the Fossil Sport 2 will cost a similar amount.

Fossil Sport 2 news and leaks

There isn’t much in the way of Fossil Sport 2 news and leaks so far, but a watch with the model number DW10F1 did pass through the FCC back in June. Given that the original Fossil Sport has the model number DW9F1, it’s likely that this is the successor.

However, other than the fact that it exists and is likely coming fairly soon, the only things this listing revealed was the presence of 2.4GHz Wi-Fi and Bluetooth. And speaking of Bluetooth, the same model has also been certified by Bluetooth SIG (Special Interest Group), which further suggests it’s coming soon.

We can only really guess at the specs and features for now, but the Fossil Sport 2 is likely to use the Snapdragon Wear 3100 chipset. That’s the latest Snapdragon chip built for wearable devices and it’s already used by the original Fossil Sport.

You might be disappointed that there probably won’t be an upgrade here, but this is still the top-end Wear OS chipset, and it’s one that few watches yet use.

The Sport 2 is also likely to have all the same key features as the original Fossil Sport, including GPS, a heart rate monitor, NFC, and a swim-proof build. Of course, we’d expect there will be new features and improvements too, in order to justify its existence. Speaking of which, you’ll find a list of the features and improvements we’d like to see below.

What we want to see

The Fossil Sport is a 4-star watch. Here’s a list of what could push the Fossil Sport 2 up to 5 stars.

1. Faster GPS

One of our biggest complaints about the original Fossil Sport regarded its GPS, because while it has GPS, it would often take a while to pick up a signal. In fact, on one occasion in our tests it took almost five minutes, which is way longer than is reasonable.

So we’d like to see this significantly improved for the Fossil Sport 2 and we’re optimistic that it will be – after all, most other wearables don’t have this problem.

2. A lower price

The Fossil Sport is priced at the upper end of the mid-range, but with its sporty focus that puts it in a tough position, as some similarly adept competitors are cheaper, and it doesn’t have the high-end features and build of more expensive watches.

The price doesn’t need to drop much, and if enough is added to this model then we would be okay with the current price, but we certainly don’t want to see it get much more expensive.

3. A brighter screen

The Fossil Sport has a reasonable screen. It’s colorful, fairly crisp, and uses OLED, but it’s not particularly bright, which – coupled with the small size – can leave you squinting.

No one wants to be doing that, especially mid-jog, so we’d like to see Fossil pump up the brightness for the Fossil Sport 2, so the screen is clearly readable even in bright sunlight.

4. A classier build

With its aluminum body the Fossil Sport doesn’t look bad, but it has fairly large bezels, it feels very light, and it has a silicone strap.

Those last two points are handy for workouts, but we’d like the Fossil Sport 2 to be something that we feel comfortable wearing all the time, so a more premium design would help. Smaller bezels would be a start.

5. More strap options

Speaking of that silicone strap, a simple but useful change that Fossil could make for the next model is offering other strap materials, such as leather or metal.

We don’t want Fossil to ditch silicone altogether – it’s great for working out in, but having the choice, or being able to get multiple different straps for different situations, would be good.

6. An extra day of life

We were fairly happy with the two-day life of the Fossil Sport, but there’s always room for improvement, especially as two days is a fairly standard smartwatch lifespan currently, so for the Fossil Sport 2 to stand out a boost would be helpful. We’re not greedy though, we’d be happy with just a single extra day, for three in total.

7. An ECG

One of the big features on the Apple Watch 4 is its ECG (electrocardiogram). This measures the electrical activity of your heart and can detect atrial fibrillation, making it a potentially life-saving feature.

But it’s not just Apple doing it, other companies are looking into it too, with Samsung notably rumored to be including the feature on its upcoming Galaxy Watch Active 2, so it’s a feature the Fossil Sport 2 could really use if it wants to be competitive.

• Check out the best smartwatches you can buy today

The Document Foundation has released a major security update for free office software LibreOffice, which helps protect against macro viruses. If you're running a version of LibreOffice older than 6.2.5, you should upgrade to the latest version now.

Macro viruses are commonly spread in office documents, and begin a series of actions when the document is opened. As The Register reports, unpatched versions of LibreOffice, three vulnerabilities meant is was possible for certain macros to run silently when you opened a document without giving you the opportunity to stop anything suspicious.

• Check out our ultimate guide to the best free office software
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• Microsoft Office vs LibreOffice: everything you need to know

The vulnerabilities involved a feature called LibreLogo, which is designed for teaching programming. By typing commands using the simple Logo programming language, you can control a 'turtle' graphic and move it around the document. It's a fun introduction to coding, but led to a chain of problems.

The first issue was that the Logo commands were converted to the Python language without proper safety checks to make sure nothing malicious got through. The second was that all of LibreOffice's built-in macros were flagged as 'fully trusted' regardless of your chosen security settings – including LibreLogo, which is optional but installed by default). The third and final problem was that LibreLogo sent arbitrary Python code in the document to be interpreted – not just explicitly typed commands.

Keep your PC secure

Together, these three vulnerabilities meant that if you received a document containing malicious Python code, it would run automatically when you opened it without asking for confirmation.

Files carrying a macro virus are often sent as email attachments, so always be skeptical of any attachments you aren't expecting, even if they look benign and are a file type you recognize.

LibreOffice should be set to check for updates automatically by default, but you can check your settings by clicking Tools > Options > LibreOffice > Online Update. Here, you can also select whether the software should check for updates daily, weekly, monthly, or whenever you're connected to the internet.

When an update is available, an icon will appear in the menu bar. The update will begin downloading straight away if automatic updates are enabled; if not, you'll need to click it to start the process.

• Check out our guide to the best free anti-malware software

During a launch event that saw Apple unveil to the world a new news and magazine subscription service (Apple News Plus), a new offering of original content (Apple TV Plus) and a gaming subscription platform (Apple Arcade), a new, surprising announcement came: a credit card.

The Apple Card release date has now been confirmed for August in the US – although we're still waiting on a firm date and there's no word on a global rollout just yet.

Apple Card offers a new form of Mastercard credit card to users, and it's partnered with Goldman Sachs to bring out a new suite of functionality.

It can do things other credit cards can't do. You can sign up on your iPhone, and within minutes start using it right away - anywhere worldwide.

It'll be available across your devices, and will be found in your Wallet App, with clear spending tracking  - with store names clearly listed - and details on when your next payment is due and how much you've spent this month.

You can also message Apple to update your Apple Card details. There are no late, annual, international or over-balance fees and Apple says it's committed to giving you a low interest rate with Card.

How much does it cost?

Here's the thing: the Apple Card will come with no fees. No international fees, late fees or even a higher rate of interest if you miss a payment - you can choose to make payments more regularly, or to change your schedule if you so wish.

However, there was no mention of a typical APR here, so while it's rather easy to sign up, we're not sure how competitive it'll be 'in the wild'.

Apple is all about shaking up this market though, and offering a truly attractive card could be an instant revenue stream for the brand.

Much like the many cashback credit cards out there, Apple is offering ultimate flexibility with your finances.

Daily Cash

Apple Card also offers rewards, with Daily Cash giving you 2% cashback every time you spend, and it's paid every day. If you use your Apple Card to pay for a product direct from Apple, you'll get 3% cashback.

Cash is added to your Apple Cash Card, which is also found in the Wallet app, and it can be used like any other cash. 

Every purchase is verified with either Touch or Face ID, and all details of the card are stored on a secure area of your iPhone. Apple also can't see what you've spent your money on, with all processing taking place on your device and not on Apple's servers.

Apple also promises not to sell your information to third parties.

An actual Apple Card

Apple Card is widely accepted around the world, but not everywhere accepts it, and for places which don't Apple will also offer you a physical card. It's made of titanium, and has Apple's logo and your name laser etched on it.

There's no card number, CVV or signature on the card, which Apple says makes it more secure. If you need that information, you'll find it in the Wallet app.

Apple Card will arrive in the Wallet app in the US in August, with no word on when the service may roll out to other countries.

Apple Card launch: as it happened

We spent hours typing away at everything that happened during the Apple event tonight - so here's the inside scoop on what happened when the Apple Card was unveiled on stage.

All times in US Pacific (PDT):

10.36 - What about if you're somewhere that there isn't an Apple Pay vendor? Well, let's watch a video to find out.

Apple has made an actual bank card, apparently. It's made of titanium and has your name laser etched onto it. With no card number, signature or anything on it - so how can it be used if you want to sign?

You only get 1% Daily Cash with this card though.

Apple Card will be coming to the Wallet app 'this summer' for the US.

10.34 - It'll be powered by Mastercard, so you'll be able to use it world over.

Now we're talking about privacy - so each purchase is authenticated by Face ID or Touch ID, and every purchase needs a random ID so your credit card number can't be used without your say-so.

Bailey is making a big deal about the data never being sold to third parties - that privacy message is strong here.

10.32 - You can make more frequent payments if you fancy it, to help people take better control of your money.

Actually, this will help: no fees at all with this card. No late fees, international fees... any fees at all.

The interest rate won't change even if you're late, so no penalty interest charges.

Apple needed a bank to help with this: Goldman Sachs, as it's a new player in the consumer space.

Isn't Apple Bank going to be a bit of a clash here?

10.30 - Apple's Daily Cash comes in every day - it just depends on which merchants are using it. Wait, it's 2% of Daily Cash on everything you spend. That's pretty good.

If you're using Apple services, you get 3% cashback. Honestly thought it would be more...

The amount of cash you receive every day is also unlimited. Apple is trying to say it's giving away free money here...

10.29 - Now we're talking about Apple Card rewards too - you get cashback every day with Apple Card - it's called Daily Cash.

10.28 - Apple is now saying that it's trying to make things better, to improve financial info. Using Apple maps, random retailers and addresses will be translated in the app. That's pretty helpful.

Like so many online cards, you can collate your spending by category and show you how your spending is trending week by week, or month by month.

10.27 - You get the Card on your phone in minutes when you apply - is that definitely a good thing?

The Card lives in the wallet and shows you how much you've spent and how much you need to pay back. 

You can also message the Apple Card team through messages and they'll offer help where possible.

10.25 - 'Today is introducing a brand new service - and we call it Apple Card'.

Jennifer Bailey, VP of Apple Pay, is coming on to explain that.

'We've rethought the credit card'. Here we go.

• Apple has also launched News+ offering you access to 300 magazines

The AMD Ryzen 3000 series of processors have been getting a lot of good press recently (we were particularly impressed by the AMD Ryzen 9 3900X), however some particularly tech-savvy users have discovered that not all the cores on the processors hit their advertised boost frequencies.

Pretty much all modern processors come with two advertised clock speeds: a base clock, which is the minimum frequency the processor will run at, and a boost clock, which is the fastest speed the processor will run at depending on tasks and certain conditions, such as heat.

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• AMD Ryzen processors are now outselling Intel in Asia
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This gives us a decent idea of the kind of performance we can expect from a processor, but if the Ryzen 3000 series of multi-core processors only reach those boost speeds on some of the cores, the picture becomes more complicated.

What’s going on?

Tom’s Hardware has taken an in-depth look at these claims, and found that on its Ryzen 5 3600X chip, only one core hit the advertised 4.4GHz boost clock.

The website contacted AMD, which confirmed that some Ryzen 3000 cores are faster than others – with the faster ones known as ‘Ryzen Master’ – resulting in a mix of fast and slow cores.

Tom’s Hardware’s tests backed this up, and the website found that there was around a 75MHz – 100MHz difference between the fastest and slowest cores. In the grand scheme of things this isn’t huge, but it does show a potential change in AMD’s binning process for the processors – which is a way of making sure the best-performing components get to market.

Previous generations of AMD Ryzen processors reached boost frequencies on all cores, while Intel also claims its processors reach their turbo frequencies on all its cores.

PCs running the latest version of Windows 10 appear better at using the fast and slow cores thanks to the improved Windows 10 scheduler and latest drivers, but people using older versions of Windows may see worse performance.

Tom’s Hardware also thinks that these slower cores could be why the Ryzen 3000 processors aren’t particularly good at overclocking – as slower cores could struggle to maintain higher frequencies, lowering the overall overclocking potential of the chip.

So, what does this mean? It could be a result of AMD changing its binning process to be better optimized. AMD has beaten Intel, its chief competitor, to the punch by releasing 7 nanometer chips – Intel has admitted it won’t reach 7nm until 2021 – but could this rush to release 7nm before Intel have resulted in compromises being made?

It certainly gives weight to Intel’s argument that its 10nm process – which is out later this year – will be comparable to AMD’s 7nm process due to Intel holding itself “to a stricter standard than others.”

However, while on paper this sounds disappointing from AMD, most day-to-day users won’t see an impact. However, when Intel does release its new chips, AMD’s Ryzen 3000 processors could once again be on the back foot.

• Best processors 2019: the best CPUs for your PC

Apple CEO, Tim Cook has confirmed that Apple Card, the company's first ever credit card, will become available in the US from August.

The announcement came as part of Apple's latest earnings call, however, Cook didn't offer a specific release date for the credit card, which was created in collaboration with Goldman Sachs. 

• Apple Card release date, news, and rumors
• Read our iPhone X review
• New iPhone 11 release date, price,  news, and leaks

There was also no word on whether Apple Card will be rolling out to other countries. According to Engadget, Goldman Sachs has previously spoken about expanding to to other countries following the US launch, but nothing has been confirmed.

What is Apple Card?

Apple Card is essentially a new form of Mastercard credit card, that's completely integrated into the Apple ecosystem.

This means that you'll be able to find it in your Wallet App, as well as your spending details and information on when your next payment is due.

What sets it apart from traditional credit cards is that you can sign up for Apple Card on your iPhone, and start using it right away, with no restrictions on using it abroad. 

There are also no late, annual, international or over-balance fees, and it will "offer an APR between 13.24 percent and 24.24 percent based on your credit score", according to Mac Rumors.

Apple Card also offers 2% cashback every time you spend, paid every day. If you use your Apple Card to pay for a product direct from Apple, you'll get 3% cashback.

While that sounds good in theory, we can imagine the temptation to use your credit card would be much greater if it's conveniently housed on your phone and comes with rewards – and that temptation could easily lead to debt.

Security in mind

It's supposed to be very secure, with every purchase verified with Touch or Face ID, and all details of the card are stored on a secure area of your iPhone.

It's not only on your phone though; you also get a physical card, made of flashy titanium with your name laser etched onto its surface. For the sake of security, you won't find you CVV or card number on the physical card – instead, those details can only be found in the Wallet app.  

The physical Apple Card also doesn't have a magnetic strip, which could be an issue if you're trying to pay somewhere that doesn't accept contactless or is required to check your signature against the one that would normally be on the back of a traditional credit card. 

Whether the combination of enhanced security and convenience will win iPhone users over remains to be seen – but if Apple does succeed, it's likely that Apple Card will rollout across the rest of the world.

• The big questions that need answering about Apple Card

Via Engadget

The 2019 range of Samsung Galaxy A smartphones has proven pretty popular with phone fans, and we're already looking forward to what affordable smartphones we'll see in 2020. We've now heard word of what they may be called – but the names aren't as glamorous-sounding as we might have expected.

According to trademarks filed by Samsung with the European Union Intellectual Property Office and spotted by Dutch site LetsGoDigital, the names of the new series of Galaxy A smartphones will simply add a '1'  to the corresponding models in the current series – so they'll be the A11, A21, A31, A41, A51, A61, A71, and A81.

• These are the best Samsung phones
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• This is what we want to see in the Galaxy S11

If you were expecting to see the Samsung Galaxy A100, and then the A1000 in 2021 (because, let's face it, things with 'thousand' at the end always sound cool), then you're going to be disappointed if those trademarked names are indeed used.

Samsung wisely gave its 2019 A phones, including the affordable Galaxy A30, extremely popular Galaxy A50 and bizarre yet novel Galaxy A80, more distinct names than the 2018-and-prior phones, which were rather confusingly labelled – and they proved to be an impressive set of mid-range devices, so it makes sense for Samsung not to tinker with the naming too much for the 2020 models.

We don't really know anything about the 2020 Galaxy A series phones just yet, although news of possible spin-offs like the Samsung Galaxy A70S, and an enigmatic Samsung Galaxy A90, has muddied the water slightly.

We'll likely get more news of these phones in early 2020, after the launch of the Samsung Galaxy S11, as this would echo the launch of the 2019 Galaxy A phones after the Galaxy S10 reveal.

There will likely be lots more rumors and leaks surrounding the devices before then, though, so stay tuned to TechRadar to keep up to date.

• The Samsung Galaxy A90 probably won't have a pop-up panel

Commitment-phobes and bargain hunters, boy have we found the SIM only deal for you. Coming from EE - the UK's fastest 4G network - a new range of flexible contracts promising plenty of data and affordable pricing.

Competing with the commitment-free SIM providers cropping up across the market, EE is now offering a range of 'Flex Plans'. These EE SIM only deals allow you to sign up and quit whenever you want, meaning your plan can last from one month to as long as you like - forever even!

The really tempting feature of these plans is the fact that up until September 30, EE is tripling the data on its two cheapest plans for the first three months. That means 6GB for the price of 2GB or 15GB for the price of 5GB.

That combined with features including your unused data rolling over each month, EE boosting your data plan by 500Mb every three months and those impressively fast speeds make these offers really stand out.

We've listed the two triple data plans down below so you can see which price point you prefer. Or, if you prefer the comfort of a full 12 month contract or something entirely different, read our guide to the best SIM only deals.

• Check out the best SIM-free phones to pair with your new SIMO

EE's flexible SIM only deals + triple data:

What other flexible SIM only deals are there?

If you're feeling tempted by the promise of ultimate 1 month flexibility, there is one other brand that stands out - Smarty.

It's a name with far less recognition than EE but what it does well is flexibility. With Smarty you can grab everything from a 1GB data plan up to unlimited, all with 1 month rolling contracts.

Right now, Smarty is also offering a reduced price on its 2GB data plan, offering one of the cheapest options around. 

• Compare the market's best unlimited data SIM only deals

The in-car version of Android Auto has a new dark mode and more streamlined interface rolling out now, but Google is planning to kill off the companion smartphone app.

According to Android Police, Android Auto for phones will be replaced by the existing Google Assistant app, which will receive a new interface (called Google Assistant Driving Mode).

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You'll be able to launch the new mode by simply telling your phone 'Let's drive' – a command that currently either opens Google Maps or performs a search.

It's not clear exactly when the old app will be deprecated, but California-based Google has said it will happen in the summer, so we're expecting it to happen in the next month or so.

Behind the wheel

Meanwhile, the in-car version of Android Assistant is getting a makeover, with a new dark mode rolling out worldwide. Google teased the slick design back in May, and it's now arriving on dashboards.

The update isn't just a different color-scheme, though. Google has also made several more practical changes, such as updating the navigation bar to reflect what you're currently doing. For example, if you're playing music while navigating, the bar will show your next instruction along with controls for the media player.

There's also a new Auto-launch feature, which launches your preferred navigation app and fires up your music the moment you plug in your phone. It might seem like a small change, but anything that shaves a few moments off the morning commute is always welcome.

• The best free Android games 2019

There goes any chance of you leaving your desk this lunchtime – Blizzard's original Diablo game from 1996 can now be played in a web browser.

Hosted by the Blizzard-loving developers at Rivsoft, visiting https://diablo.rivsoft.net gives you access to the shareware version of the game, "based on source code reconstructed by GalaXyHaXz and devilution team."

That gives you access to the first two areas of the game's giant dungeon, and makes one of Diablo's three character classes available. However, if you own the game from a site like GOG, you can go one better. According to the site, "if you own the original game, you can drop the original DIABDAT.MPQ" file onto the loaded browser page, and access the full game from within your browser.

• Diablo 3 (Nintendo Switch) review: battling demons, while on the toilet
• Diablo Immortal: everything there is to know about Blizzard's mobile RPG
• Diablo 4: everything this is to know so far

Hellish beginnings

If you're a latecomer to the franchise, or just can't wait until Diablo 4 and Diablo Immortal release, going back to the original game is a fascinating experience.

Lots of what makes the series so addictive remains, from the ghoulish monsters to the isometric viewpoint and moreish loot cycle. It's far simpler than the Diablo series would eventually become (and more than a little buggy), but it's also hugely ahead of its time – you wouldn't have World of Warcraft Classic or even the likes of Borderlands 3 without it.

And, it works surprisingly well as a browser game too. There's no lengthy conversations or start-up cut scenes – just a quick sojourn to the moody town of Tristram and then hours of imp-smashing, skeleton-whacking adventure.

Head here to give it a play. Just make sure your boss or teacher doesn't catch you when you should be working.

• Best free PC games 2019: the top free games to download on PC

• Via PC Gamer

As much as 15 years ago – possibly even more – countries, in the Middle East, for example, began buying up farmland to secure food supply. If the same capital had flowed into plant-based foods or clean agriculture, the world would be a very different place than it is today.

In any case, the current skyrocketing interest in the future of food is great for the world in general.

KBW Ventures, one of the first movers in the food-tech space, provided backing to startup Memphis Meats, and joined a whole huge A-list of forward-thinking investors and futurists.

 “When we first went into Memphis Meats, that was a great moment for the future of food; investors lined up and supported a startup that was using technology to provide the world with the future of protein,” Prince Khaled bin Alwaleed bin Talal Al Saud, Founder and Chief Executive Officer of KBW Ventures,  told TechRadar Middle East.

Tackling food security

Speaking ahead of his participation at Bloomberg Live’s event dedicated to venture capital on August 1, in San Francisco, California, Prince Khaled said that he is endorsing companies like Memphis Meats for the future of humanity in terms of the environment and the obvious cruelty-free aspects.

“It makes me even prouder to see the biggest sceptics want to join the ever-growing number of VCs backing food tech. The future of food is about technology alleviating the harm that conventional methods, like factory farming, have on the environment, but it is also about food security. All of this is within our reach with modern-day research and technology,” Prince Khaled said.

Prince Khaled thinks that bio-science is the most exciting thing to happen in venture capital in a long time, that along with carbon capturing and neuroscience. “Three years ago, if I said the words ‘food tech’, I would have had a blank look as a response. Now, people are waking up to this massive market,” he said.

From a venture capital perspective, he said it was great getting in early obviously, but there are still tons of companies raising and lots of chances to invest. “I encourage everyone to jump in early but be picky with whom you invest your money with; this is the just the beginning,” he said.

Plant-based meat substitutes

A number of challenges were raised when Prince Khaled participated in a discussion around plant-based investing and venture capital in San Francisco recently. “Something else that wasn’t discussed but should have been in the politics around language; there are lobbyists trying to limit the use of the words ‘meat’ and ‘milk’ – mostly because they are intimidated by the market potential of plant-based products,” he said.

Moreover, he said that they [lobbyists] want to prevent people from buying alternative proteins despite the taste and texture is just as good and they’re better for the people. “Many traditional industries in history have fought waves of innovative technologies; it’s an old formula that doesn’t work. They can fight, but the advancements speak for themselves,” he said.

“Tim Hortons, a franchise in Canada, announced that they will be serving the ‘Beyond Burger ‘patties. This follows the announcement that US-based Carl’s Jr. will serve the ‘Beyond Famous Star’ burger in partnership with Beyond Meat, a Los Angeles-based producer of plant-based meat substitutes founded in 2009. Burger King also announced the ‘Impossible Whopper ‘in partnership with Impossible Foods. These are powerhouse partnerships that no one would have believed could happen even two years ago. Beyond’s super successful IPO has catapulted plant-based products into the spotlight, and subsequently into the wheelhouse of investors who were previously were skeptical,” he said.

Folia, a conceptual menu developed by Chef Matthew Kenney and KBW Ventures, was recently  piloted in Beverly Hills at the Four Seasons, and is now made available at all the hotel’s outlets and also in-room dining. Folia then launched in the GCC at the Four Seasons Bahrain Bay in Manama as KBW Ventures’ first Middle East instalment.

“We want to give everyone the opportunity to enjoy a true ‘health food’ section of hotel menus developed by a master chef, presented at a superior venue with great service. We are now cementing our newest two venues in a very important Middle East city and it should happen around mid-August or early September,” Prince Khaled said.

A diverse portfolio

KBW Ventures’ main investment areas are in varying technology segments like innovative logistics, deep tech, bio-sciences and food science. “Some of our investments are business-to-business (B2B), so not consumer-facing but highly original and groundbreaking research and technology. I think one of the biggest missed opportunities by investors in the MENA region is skipping over B2B tech, mostly because it is probably not something they have an interest in understanding - some of these companies have complex products and services, so a lot of research and market knowledge is required before committing to a round,”  he said.

For Prince Khaled, bio-sciences still tops the list in terms of inspiration and the future of food from cellular agriculture to fermentation to plant-based protein. He believes that products like clean meats can be brought to market sooner than most people think.

“I find more naysayers than supporters about this actually, but the technology is advancing quickly. I’m always talking about putting your money behind your beliefs, but in this case, you don’t even need to believe in the sustainability arguments or the ecological benefits,” he said.

The truth is when bio-science companies perfect the clean meat formula, in terms of its cost, he said it will be a market that explodes overnight. “The gross inefficiencies in the traditional meat industry will cause it to implode on its own.  A lot of people love meat and are oblivious to where it comes from or what the process is to get it on his or her plate; clean meat allows them to eat a completely cruelty-free and antibiotic-free, hormone-free steak or chicken or duck without any of the other stuff so pervasive in the conventional meat marketplace,”  he said.

Prince Khaled is betting big on the potential of technology that can find solutions to sustainable development, food security, and the application of that technology to various problems like financial inclusion. “We do like companies that have a social good element as part of the business model, but we’re not married to that idea. It does still have to have the potential to scale and turn a profit; because that is where the future of solving these pressing issues lies.

“We want to see companies that are bold and studied. Big ideas are excellent, but there has to be logic and real-world interest and need for any idea to be considered by KBW Ventures,” he said.

Using drones to save lives

Prince Khaled said that solving the ‘last mile’ for delivery issues in the Middle East has been one of the biggest discussions in tech over the past few years.

“The focus - with startups especially - is primarily B2C though. Businesses recognize the consumer element: ‘How do we get access to the really under-served demographic of potential customers? How can we convert these people into buyers?” he said. 

KBW Ventures recently invested in US-based drone delivery company Zipline, and Prince Khaled said that the company has huge potential to use its drones for important healthcare applications.

“For Zipline, the thinking is that we can help save lives by facilitating access to lifesaving medical supplies – including biomaterial. I do believe there’s potential in MENA for Zipline, especially in North Africa.

“I can confirm that we have initiated early conversations about Zipline’s application. Zipline is an example of tech for good, and we’re proud of their significant progress,” he said.

Treating companies like Zipline as a logistics company, and not just as a medical supply company will lead to even more opportunities, he added.

“As soon as regions like North Africa or the EU open their skies up to drone delivery, Zipline will have hundreds of thousands (if not millions) of hours of flights under their belt with a very successful end result,” Prince Khaled said.

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It's time to crown the finest performers in the mobile world with the TechRadar Mobile Choice Consumer Awards 2019, and we need your help to pick the winners from our stellar shortlists - but you'll need to act fast!

Voting is now closed. Thank you to everyone who had their say.

To say thanks, everyone who votes (in the UK) will be in with a chance of winning a prize pack stuffed full of top tech worth over a whopping £1,500!*

You've already helped our judges narrow down our fantastic longlists to the star-studded shortlists you can see at the bottom of this article, and we're calling on you again to help our judges pick the winners from these exclusive shortlists.

Voting for the winners of the TechRadar Mobile Choice Consumer Awards 2019 closed at 3pm BST on August 28.

Once we've counted all the votes, and consulted with our expert judges, we'll announce the winners at the TechRadar Mobile Choice Consumer Awards, on October 10 2019 in London.

• For more information on the awards please visit the TechRadar Mobile Choice Consumer Awards website

The 2019 Awards Shortlists

Congratulations to all our shortlisted nominees for the 2019 TechRadar Mobile Choice Consumer Awards.

Best Repair Service

• Apple Care
• CeX
• i-Fix
• iSmash
• O2 Repair
• Team KnowHow
• Timpson

Best Recycling Service

• CeX
• Envirofone
• Mazuma Mobile
• Music Magpie
• O2 Recycle
• Samsung Recycle
• Vodafone

Best Wearable

• Apple Watch 4
• Fitbit Inspire
• Fitbit Inspire HR
• Fitbit Versa Lite
• Garmin Forerunner 945
• Samsung Galaxy Watch
• Samsung Galaxy Watch Active

Best Value Phone

• Honor 10 Lite
• Huawei P Smart 2019
• Moto G7 Power
• Nokia 4.2
• Samsung Galaxy A20e
• Sony Xperia L3
• Xiaomi Redmi Note 7

Best Mid-Range Phone

• Google Pixel 3a XL
• Huawei P30 Lite
• OnePlus 7
• Samsung Galaxy A50
• Samsung Galaxy A70
• Sony Xperia 10/10 Plus
• Xiaomi Mi 9

Best Camera Phone

• Google Pixel 3/3 XL
• Huawei Mate 20 Pro
• Huawei P30 Pro
• iPhone XS/XS Max
• Samsung Galaxy Note 9
• Samsung Galaxy S10 Plus
• Sony Xperia 1

Best Gaming Phone

• Asus ROG Phone
• Huawei P30 Pro
• iPhone XS Max
• OnePlus 7 Pro
• Razer Phone 2
• Samsung Galaxy S10 Plus
• Sony Xperia 1

Phone of the Year

• Google Pixel 3 XL
• Huawei Mate 20 Pro
• Huawei P30 Pro
• iPhone XR
• iPhone XS/XS Max
• OnePlus 7 Pro
• Samsung Galaxy S10 Plus

Best Value Network

• EE
• giffgaff
• O2
• Sky Mobile
• Tesco Mobile
• Three
• Vodafone

Best Networking for Roaming

• EE
• giffgaff
• O2
• Sky Mobile
• Three
• Virgin Mobile
• Vodafone

Best Network for Data

• EE
• giffgaff
• O2
• Sky Mobile
• Three
• Virgin Mobile
• Vodafone

Best Customer Care

• EE
• giffgaff
• O2
• Sky Mobile
• Tesco Mobile
• Three
• Vodafone

Best Network

• EE
• giffgaff
• O2
• Sky Mobile
• Three
• Virgin Mobile
• Vodafone

Best Smart Home Device

• Amazon Echo Dot (3rd Gen)
• Amazon Echo Plus (2nd Gen)
• Amazon Echo Show (2nd Gen)
• Amazon Echo Show 5
• Google Home Hub
• Google Nest Hub Max
• Ring Stick-Up Cam

Best Online Retailer

• Amazon
• Carphone Warehouse
• ebay.co.uk
• EE
• Mobiles.co.uk
• O2
• Vodafone

Best High-Street Retailer

• Argos
• Carphone Warehouse
• EE
• John Lewis
• O2
• Three
• Vodafone

Best In-Store Customer Experience 

• Argos
• Carphone Warehouse
• EE
• John Lewis
• O2
• Three
• Vodafone

Best Quad-Play Provider

• BT
• EE
• Sky
• Virgin

*Terms and Conditions: Voting is open to everyone, however to take part in the prize draw you must be a UK resident. Under 18s must obtain parental consent to enter this competition and be able to demonstrate this to TechRadar's reasonable satisfaction. Nominations must be received by 15:00 (BST) 28/08/2019. The winner will be selected at random from all correct entries received and will be sent the prize free of charge. By taking part in the voting and the competition, you agree to be bound by the full terms and conditions which can be found here http://www.futureplc.com/competition-rules/.

We've been hearing for a while that iPhone sales are slowing - but that might not be as much of a concern for Apple as you might think.

In the latest report, Apple confirmed that - for the last three months - the iPhone has made up less than half of the net sales from its product portfolio. The last nine months paint a slightly different picture, with the iPhone the most prominent product, but the overall trend suggests that it's slowly being caught by other devices and services.

Services is actually the big winner here, bringing in over 20% of the total net sales for Apple in the last quarter, showing that Apple Music, Apple Pay and other platforms its offering are really becoming cash generators for the brand.

The Apple Watch is also flying - as part of the 'wearables, home and accessories' sector, the whole lot together has grown nearly 50% in the last year, likely due to the successful Watch 3 and the upgraded Watch 4 now on the market. 

Given the Apple Watch is clearly the underlying success story in that category, you have to wonder when Apple will break it out into its own segment - perhaps if and when the HomePod becomes a bigger seller?

Isn't Apple worried about the iPhone?

Of course, the dropping sales of the iPhone are a worrying trend for the Cupertino brand - it's still by far the biggest-selling part of its business, over double the net sales of Services.

But while by an incredibly modest amount, overall net sales are up year on year, and the mix is becoming a little more balanced - any business owner will tell you that a diverse success story in the product portfolio is more appealing and hardy.

In fact, with the iPad and Mac both selling well this year and improving from the same point in 2018, the picture isn't as bad as the headline stat of the slowing iPhone might be showing. That's even before any revenue increases the new Apple Card, Apple News Plus and Apple TV Plus bring.

“This was our biggest June quarter ever — driven by all-time record revenue from Services, accelerating growth from Wearables, strong performance from iPad and Mac and significant improvement in iPhone trends,” said Apple CEO Tim Cook, before going on to hint at an (expected) range of new launches later this year. 

“These results are promising across all our geographic segments, and we’re confident about what’s ahead. The balance of calendar 2019 will be an exciting period, with major launches on all of our platforms, new services and several new products.”

Those 'geographic segments' paint an interesting picture: while all territories show pretty level net sales year on year, the overall net sales for the last nine months offer a different story.

In the last three quarters, net sales in China slumped the hardest, falling nearly 20% in a market that's becoming saturated by many low-cost, high-power devices. European net sales fell slightly, where the Americas slightly rose.

Will it get better?

This financial report really sets up an interesting tail of the year. While a more diverse mix of product revenue is good for Apple, for the short term it still needs a thriving iPhone ecosystem to help cement growth for the brand.

With the overall smartphone market slowing, according to Gartner, Apple could do with a big-hitting iPhone this year to attract new users. However, the signs are pointing to a fairly modest update with the iPhone 11, and no 5G on board yet, which could lead to another year of tough sales before 2020's iPhone brings the expected big changes to the design.

Does that mean Apple has a surprise up its sleeve for the new iPhone launch this year? Something that pushes the iPhone 11R into new territory? A hint at the flexible iPhone? Or will it just be a slight upgrade to the camera? We'll know more in September - but it could be a real turning point in Apple's history.

• Is this the best look yet at the forthcoming iPhone range?

Audio brand Jaybird has released a brand new entry for their 2019 range of fitness and running headphones – the Jaybird Vista earbuds – and they're now available to buy.

These true wireless earbuds follow on from the company's previous Jaybird Run True and Run XT models, ditching the head cable of the Jaybird X4 and Jaybird Tarah Pro for a lighter, untethered experience. 

The Jaybird Vista earbuds are $179 / £159 (around AU$299) at the Jaybird online store and other online retailers. They're currently available in Black, but additional color options (Mineral Blue, Nimbus Gray) will land in the coming months too. 

• Check out the best true wireless earbuds out there
• Or just the best running headphones for those jogs and workouts
• Can't face the music? Get one of these fitness trackers instead

Intended for all-weather exercise, the Jaybird Vista earbuds come with IPX7 water resistance, meaning they'll be more than happy out in the rain – though you won't want to take them more than a meter underwater. You're getting the latest Bluetooth 5.0 connection standard too.

You only get around 6h charge, given their small form factor, but the additional charging case can bring that up to a total 16 hours – in case you're working out for that long. The Vista earbuds also have Jaybird's helpful quick-charge feature, allowing you to give yourself up to an hour's use with just a few minutes of charge – as well as an easy-to-use EQ app.

You won't get the fancy ambient sound features of some of the competition, but the straightforward utility has managed to keep the Vista earbuds incredibly compact – with the charging case actually being a size we could imagine stowing in a pocket during a run (measuring 74 x 36.5 x 24mm).

We'll be testing them thoroughly for our review in the coming days: keep an eye out on TechRadar to see what we make of it.

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