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Saturday, February 29, 2020
Friday, February 21, 2020
Tuesday, February 18, 2020
Civ 5 Totally Accurate History: Prelude To War
Totally Accurate History Civ 5 has entered into the year of 540BC as the nations grow tensions have started to rise. The increase of monster attacks and travel violations and trade failures have been starting to weight on the nations. War has not arrived yet It's alot of work editing and posting but I like it.
Saturday, February 15, 2020
Civ5: Totally Accurate History 890 BC to 540 BC
Next advancement of mutant civilizations and battles between the voice and the algorithm
Thursday, February 13, 2020
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Wednesday, February 12, 2020
Civ 5:Totally Accurate History 1890 BC To 1330 BC
My Connection is finally here my words can finally reach you. Here about the history don't let them silence the history
Making a new change to the videos adding an ongoing story for those who want to follow.
Tuesday, February 11, 2020
21 Super Interesting Valentine's Day Facts You Probably Didn't Know
a close up of food: If you've ever wondered about the history of Valentine's Day or how much people spend on it, these Valentine's Day facts will answer all of your questions.© MELISSA DEAKIN PHOTOGRAPHY/GETTY IMAGES If you've ever wondered about the history of Valentine's Day or how much people spend on it, these Valentine's Day facts will answer all of your questions.
Millions of Americans will be lining up to buy their lovers chocolate covered strawberries and bouquets of roses this Valentine's Day. But while you’re standing there trying to pick out the perfect present or greeting card for your loved one, have you ever wondered how this behemoth of a day dedicated to love came to be? The answer is extremely interesting and with the help of Kathleen Davis, deputy editor of Fact Company, we've uncovered not only the holiday’s history, but some other amazing Valentine’s Day facts.
Not only are these Valentine’s Day facts incredibly interesting to learn on your own, but you can share them with your loved one this February. These facts cover everything from the jaw-dropping amount of money Americans spend on the holiday — hint: it’s projected to hit a new multi-billion dollar high this year — to how the iconic conversation hearts came to be.
1. Valentine's Day started with the Romans.
There are two theories about the origin of Valentine's Day. According to History.com, one is that the day derives from Lupercalia, a raucous Roman festival on February 15th where men stripped naked and spanked young maidens in the hopes of upping their fertility.
The second theory is that while the Roman Emperor Claudius II was trying to bolster his army, he forbade young men to marry, because apparently single men make better soldiers. In the spirit of love, St. Valentine defied the ban and performed secret marriages, History.com reports. For his disobedience, Valentine was executed on February 14th.
a close up of a book: Saint Valentine.© Fototeca Storica Nazionale. - Getty Images Saint Valentine. 2. Passing out Valentines is a 600-year-old tradition.
Each year, kids in classrooms across America hand out Valentine's Day cards to their classmates. According to History.com, the oldest record of a valentine was a poem Charles Duke of Orleans wrote to his wife when he was imprisoned in the Tower of London in 1415.
3. Esther Howland is the first manufacturer of Valentines.
She became known as the "Mother of the American Valentine" for the artistry and sentiment of her designs, Time reports. Before Howland commercialized them, American valentines were less romantic and more comic. Her inspiration came from the thoughtful and sweet greeting cards that were circulating in England and she decided to sell similar designs in the U.S. They took off: During the 1850s she earned $100,000 annually, which is about $3 million today, according to Time.
4. Today, millions of greeting cards are purchased every year.
We're talking 144 million greeting cards being exchanged industry-wide every year for Valentine's Day in the U.S. alone, according to Hallmark.
a display in a store: Millions of greeting cards are purchased every year.© John Greim - Getty Images Millions of greeting cards are purchased every year. 5. Wearing your heart on your sleeve is more than just a phrase.
In the Middle Ages, young men and women drew names to see who their Valentine would be, the LA Times reports. According to Smithsonian, they would wear the name pinned to their sleeve for one week so that everyone would know their supposed true feelings.
6. People consider pink and red the colors of love.
According to the National Confectioners Association, around 65% of Americans believe that the packaging of Valentine's Day candies and chocolates should be red and pink.
7. Candy hearts were originally medical lozenges.
In 1847, Boston pharmacist Oliver Chase invented a machine that simplified the lozenge production process, resulting in the first candy-making machine, according to The Oxford Encyclopedia of Food and Drink in America. After identifying an opportunity to revolutionize the candy business, Chase shifted his focus to candy production with Necco wafers.
a group of plastic toys: The origins of conversation hearts date back to the 1800s.© patty_c - Getty Images The origins of conversation hearts date back to the 1800s. 8. The candies got their iconic shape much later.
It wasn't until 15 years after the creation of Necco wafers that Daniel Chase's brother, Oliver Chase, developed a way to press words onto the candy lozenges with a felt roller pad and vegetable food coloring. According to The Huffington Post, the conversation candies officially became heart-shaped in 1902, and today Necco says about 100,000 of them are sold each year.
9. The heart shape wasn't always a romantic symbol.
According to Time, the heart was once widely believed to be humans' center of memory, where feelings of love were recorded. However, we have French and Italian artists from the 14th century to thank for the symbol that we know and love today, as they were the first ones to start using this motif in their work.
10. Cupid's bow and arrow aren't just for show.
In Roman mythology, Cupid is the son of Venus, the goddess of love and beauty, Medium reports. According to CNN, he's often depicted with a bow and arrows to pierce hearts and cast a spell of love.
a person flying through the air: The statue of Eros of Londons’s Piccadilly Circus.© track5 - Getty Images The statue of Eros of Londons’s Piccadilly Circus. 11. Roses are the flowers of love.
Speaking of cupid and his roses, can you guess the favorite flower of Venus, the Roman goddess? The red rose, of course. The bud stands for strong romantic feelings, so it's no surprise they make up the most popular Valentine's Day bouquets.
12. Valentine's Day is a popular holiday to get engaged.
This seems fitting: A 2017 study by diamond retailer James Allen found that 43% of millennials chose Valentine's Day as their top choice of day to propose or be proposed to.
13. Americans spend a lot on love.
According to a survey by the National Retail Federation, Americans spent $20.7 billion for Valentine's Day in 2019 and were expected to spend $27.4 billion billion in 2020.
14. Men and women prefer the same of candy.
Both men and women prefer to receive chocolate over flowers, according to the National Confectioners Association. The survey also found that chocolate sales represent 75% or more of Valentine's Day candy purchases.
a person standing in front of a store: Men and women both prefer receiving chocolate.© NurPhoto - Getty Images Men and women both prefer receiving chocolate. 15. The chocolate box has been around for more than 140 years.
In addition to creating arguably the richest, creamiest, and sweetest chocolate on the market, Richard Cadbury also introduced the first box of Valentine's Day chocolates in 1868, History.com reports.
16. And there's a standout favorite in every box.
According to the National Confectioners Association, caramels are the most popular flavor in chocolate boxes, followed by chocolate-covered nuts, chocolate-filled, cream-filled, and coconut.
17. Experiential gifts are on the rise.
In 2017, 40% of consumers told the National Retail Federation they wanted an "experience gift"— a.k.a. tickets to a concert or other event, an outdoor activity, or an evening out — although only 24% planned to give one. This gift option is particularly popular with millennials: 45% of people ages 18-24 and 40 percent of people ages 25-34 said they planned to give experiences for Valentine's Day.
18. More Americans skip Valentine's Day than you realize.
Whether it's because they're single or think the holiday is beyond cheesy, about 3 in 10 adults reported in a survey by the National Retail Federation that they're not celebrating the day of love, though they may treat themselves to a small gift or a night out with friends and family. Oh well, more chocolate and roses for us!
19. It's not just for humans.
People really do love their pets, because according to the National Retail Federation, 27% of people celebrating Valentine's day in 2020 say they are also buying gifts for their pets. Spending on Valentine's Day gifts for pets has also grown significantly, going from $450 million in 2010 to more than $1.7 billion.
20. Galentine's Day has become a very real spinoff holiday.
Galentine's Day may have originally been a holiday made up by the hit TV show Parks and Recreation back in 2010, but according to the National Retail Federation, since 2010, spending on Valentine’s Day gifts for friends has nearly tripled, going from $737 million to a whopping $2.1 billion.
21. Roses really are king of Valentine's Day florals.
Roses are iconically linked to Valentine's Day, and it's not just a stereotype. According to The Spruce, roses account for more than half of all Valentine's Day flower sales.
Millions of Americans will be lining up to buy their lovers chocolate covered strawberries and bouquets of roses this Valentine's Day. But while you’re standing there trying to pick out the perfect present or greeting card for your loved one, have you ever wondered how this behemoth of a day dedicated to love came to be? The answer is extremely interesting and with the help of Kathleen Davis, deputy editor of Fact Company, we've uncovered not only the holiday’s history, but some other amazing Valentine’s Day facts.
Not only are these Valentine’s Day facts incredibly interesting to learn on your own, but you can share them with your loved one this February. These facts cover everything from the jaw-dropping amount of money Americans spend on the holiday — hint: it’s projected to hit a new multi-billion dollar high this year — to how the iconic conversation hearts came to be.
1. Valentine's Day started with the Romans.
There are two theories about the origin of Valentine's Day. According to History.com, one is that the day derives from Lupercalia, a raucous Roman festival on February 15th where men stripped naked and spanked young maidens in the hopes of upping their fertility.
The second theory is that while the Roman Emperor Claudius II was trying to bolster his army, he forbade young men to marry, because apparently single men make better soldiers. In the spirit of love, St. Valentine defied the ban and performed secret marriages, History.com reports. For his disobedience, Valentine was executed on February 14th.
a close up of a book: Saint Valentine.© Fototeca Storica Nazionale. - Getty Images Saint Valentine. 2. Passing out Valentines is a 600-year-old tradition.
Each year, kids in classrooms across America hand out Valentine's Day cards to their classmates. According to History.com, the oldest record of a valentine was a poem Charles Duke of Orleans wrote to his wife when he was imprisoned in the Tower of London in 1415.
3. Esther Howland is the first manufacturer of Valentines.
She became known as the "Mother of the American Valentine" for the artistry and sentiment of her designs, Time reports. Before Howland commercialized them, American valentines were less romantic and more comic. Her inspiration came from the thoughtful and sweet greeting cards that were circulating in England and she decided to sell similar designs in the U.S. They took off: During the 1850s she earned $100,000 annually, which is about $3 million today, according to Time.
4. Today, millions of greeting cards are purchased every year.
We're talking 144 million greeting cards being exchanged industry-wide every year for Valentine's Day in the U.S. alone, according to Hallmark.
a display in a store: Millions of greeting cards are purchased every year.© John Greim - Getty Images Millions of greeting cards are purchased every year. 5. Wearing your heart on your sleeve is more than just a phrase.
In the Middle Ages, young men and women drew names to see who their Valentine would be, the LA Times reports. According to Smithsonian, they would wear the name pinned to their sleeve for one week so that everyone would know their supposed true feelings.
6. People consider pink and red the colors of love.
According to the National Confectioners Association, around 65% of Americans believe that the packaging of Valentine's Day candies and chocolates should be red and pink.
7. Candy hearts were originally medical lozenges.
In 1847, Boston pharmacist Oliver Chase invented a machine that simplified the lozenge production process, resulting in the first candy-making machine, according to The Oxford Encyclopedia of Food and Drink in America. After identifying an opportunity to revolutionize the candy business, Chase shifted his focus to candy production with Necco wafers.
a group of plastic toys: The origins of conversation hearts date back to the 1800s.© patty_c - Getty Images The origins of conversation hearts date back to the 1800s. 8. The candies got their iconic shape much later.
It wasn't until 15 years after the creation of Necco wafers that Daniel Chase's brother, Oliver Chase, developed a way to press words onto the candy lozenges with a felt roller pad and vegetable food coloring. According to The Huffington Post, the conversation candies officially became heart-shaped in 1902, and today Necco says about 100,000 of them are sold each year.
9. The heart shape wasn't always a romantic symbol.
According to Time, the heart was once widely believed to be humans' center of memory, where feelings of love were recorded. However, we have French and Italian artists from the 14th century to thank for the symbol that we know and love today, as they were the first ones to start using this motif in their work.
10. Cupid's bow and arrow aren't just for show.
In Roman mythology, Cupid is the son of Venus, the goddess of love and beauty, Medium reports. According to CNN, he's often depicted with a bow and arrows to pierce hearts and cast a spell of love.
a person flying through the air: The statue of Eros of Londons’s Piccadilly Circus.© track5 - Getty Images The statue of Eros of Londons’s Piccadilly Circus. 11. Roses are the flowers of love.
Speaking of cupid and his roses, can you guess the favorite flower of Venus, the Roman goddess? The red rose, of course. The bud stands for strong romantic feelings, so it's no surprise they make up the most popular Valentine's Day bouquets.
12. Valentine's Day is a popular holiday to get engaged.
This seems fitting: A 2017 study by diamond retailer James Allen found that 43% of millennials chose Valentine's Day as their top choice of day to propose or be proposed to.
13. Americans spend a lot on love.
According to a survey by the National Retail Federation, Americans spent $20.7 billion for Valentine's Day in 2019 and were expected to spend $27.4 billion billion in 2020.
14. Men and women prefer the same of candy.
Both men and women prefer to receive chocolate over flowers, according to the National Confectioners Association. The survey also found that chocolate sales represent 75% or more of Valentine's Day candy purchases.
a person standing in front of a store: Men and women both prefer receiving chocolate.© NurPhoto - Getty Images Men and women both prefer receiving chocolate. 15. The chocolate box has been around for more than 140 years.
In addition to creating arguably the richest, creamiest, and sweetest chocolate on the market, Richard Cadbury also introduced the first box of Valentine's Day chocolates in 1868, History.com reports.
16. And there's a standout favorite in every box.
According to the National Confectioners Association, caramels are the most popular flavor in chocolate boxes, followed by chocolate-covered nuts, chocolate-filled, cream-filled, and coconut.
17. Experiential gifts are on the rise.
In 2017, 40% of consumers told the National Retail Federation they wanted an "experience gift"— a.k.a. tickets to a concert or other event, an outdoor activity, or an evening out — although only 24% planned to give one. This gift option is particularly popular with millennials: 45% of people ages 18-24 and 40 percent of people ages 25-34 said they planned to give experiences for Valentine's Day.
18. More Americans skip Valentine's Day than you realize.
Whether it's because they're single or think the holiday is beyond cheesy, about 3 in 10 adults reported in a survey by the National Retail Federation that they're not celebrating the day of love, though they may treat themselves to a small gift or a night out with friends and family. Oh well, more chocolate and roses for us!
19. It's not just for humans.
People really do love their pets, because according to the National Retail Federation, 27% of people celebrating Valentine's day in 2020 say they are also buying gifts for their pets. Spending on Valentine's Day gifts for pets has also grown significantly, going from $450 million in 2010 to more than $1.7 billion.
20. Galentine's Day has become a very real spinoff holiday.
Galentine's Day may have originally been a holiday made up by the hit TV show Parks and Recreation back in 2010, but according to the National Retail Federation, since 2010, spending on Valentine’s Day gifts for friends has nearly tripled, going from $737 million to a whopping $2.1 billion.
21. Roses really are king of Valentine's Day florals.
Roses are iconically linked to Valentine's Day, and it's not just a stereotype. According to The Spruce, roses account for more than half of all Valentine's Day flower sales.
Counting Down the Top 10 Biggest 'Love' Songs on the Hot 100 for Valentine's Day
Are you in the mood for "Love"? Well, Valentine's Day is fast approaching on Friday, so the Billboard Pop Shop Podcast team thought we would count down the top 10 biggest "Love" songs ever -- the tunes that have the word "Love" right there in the title -- on the Billboard Hot 100.
The results range from 1976 to 2011 and were all No. 1 hits on the chart. While you'll have to listen to the episode (below) to hear the full top 10 countdown, there's a hint right there in the photo of Rihanna and Calvin Harris at the top of this article. Of course, the duo has teamed up a few times -- but "This Is What You Came For" doesn't have "love" in the title, so...
If Valentine's Day isn't your thing, don't fret: We also recap the many music moments at Sunday's Academy Awards, from Janelle Monae's wild opening number to Billie Eilish and Finneas' Beatles cover to that surprise Eminem performance. Plus, what kind of sales bump did the artists who performed on Sunday night see after the show?
And finally, we have a very active top 10 on this week's Billboard 200 albums chart, from Lil Wayne's No. 1 debut with Funeral to Louis Tomlinson bringing the revamped Arista label back to the top tier with Walls.
The Billboard Pop Shop Podcast is your one-stop shop for all things pop on Billboard's weekly charts. You can always count on a lively discussion about the latest pop news, fun chart stats and stories, new music, and guest interviews with music stars and folks from the world of pop. Casual pop fans and chart junkies can hear Billboard's senior director of charts Keith Caulfield and deputy editor, digital Katie Atkinson every week on the podcast, which can be streamed on Billboard.com or downloaded in Apple Podcasts or your favorite podcast provider. (Click here to listen to the previous edition of the show on Billboard.com.)
The results range from 1976 to 2011 and were all No. 1 hits on the chart. While you'll have to listen to the episode (below) to hear the full top 10 countdown, there's a hint right there in the photo of Rihanna and Calvin Harris at the top of this article. Of course, the duo has teamed up a few times -- but "This Is What You Came For" doesn't have "love" in the title, so...
If Valentine's Day isn't your thing, don't fret: We also recap the many music moments at Sunday's Academy Awards, from Janelle Monae's wild opening number to Billie Eilish and Finneas' Beatles cover to that surprise Eminem performance. Plus, what kind of sales bump did the artists who performed on Sunday night see after the show?
And finally, we have a very active top 10 on this week's Billboard 200 albums chart, from Lil Wayne's No. 1 debut with Funeral to Louis Tomlinson bringing the revamped Arista label back to the top tier with Walls.
The Billboard Pop Shop Podcast is your one-stop shop for all things pop on Billboard's weekly charts. You can always count on a lively discussion about the latest pop news, fun chart stats and stories, new music, and guest interviews with music stars and folks from the world of pop. Casual pop fans and chart junkies can hear Billboard's senior director of charts Keith Caulfield and deputy editor, digital Katie Atkinson every week on the podcast, which can be streamed on Billboard.com or downloaded in Apple Podcasts or your favorite podcast provider. (Click here to listen to the previous edition of the show on Billboard.com.)
Last-minute Valentine's Day flower deals
Photo: 1800flowers.com, Fromyouflowers.com
Photo: 1800flowers.com, Fromyouflowers.com
Photo: 1800flowers.com, Fromyouflowers.com
Last-minute Valentine's Day flower deals
If you still haven't bought flowers for your boo for V-Day: Stop putting it off. We did everything we could to prepare you, and now you're looking for a bailout? Fine. Here are last-minute flower deals. Seriously, get it together. There won't be a third time.
And if you don’t have time to shop around and just need to pull the trigger right now, here you go. That’s two-dozen assorted roses with an included glass vase for $34.99. Turn the vase red for an extra dollar, and add chocolate and a teddy bear for an extra $10. It’s traditional, if not downright classic.
If your tastes are more specific, here’s what else is going on:
1800flowers.com
The “Deal of the Day” is 50% a variety of their most elaborate and romantic bouquets. We’re talking about a Romantic Rose Medley for $49.99. This ends after Feb. 11.
Bouqs.com
One day only, you can save $20 at checkout with the code HOT20, or 25% off with the code BOUQSDAY. Plus, you can get 30% off by sharing the deal with a friend. Those codes don’t all work together, so choose wisely.
Florists.com
Their sale on arrangements stands out, with 15% off both Endless Romance and and Purple Roses.
FromYouFlowers.com
Valentine’s Day delivery is guaranteed, prices are reduced across the board, and you can get an additional 20% off sitewide with the code 11G. Our favorite is this Ruby Rose Bouquet.
Teleflora.com
They’re offering next-day and same-day delivery on all bouquets. That’s not quite the same discount as these other spots, but they make up for it with sheer fanciness: Just look at this Thoughts of You Bouquet with Red Roses ($44.99) and try not to swoon. You can’t. You can’t not swoon.
ProFlowers.com
Nothing complicated here: Just a straight 25% off any purchase above $29. Here’s One Dozen Assorted Roses for $40.
Hearst Newspapers participates in various affiliate marketing programs, which means we may get paid commissions on editorially chosen products purchased through our links to retailer sites.
Joshua Sargent is an editor for Hearst Newspapers. Email him at josh.sargent@hearst.com.
Photo: 1800flowers.com, Fromyouflowers.com
Photo: 1800flowers.com, Fromyouflowers.com
Last-minute Valentine's Day flower deals
If you still haven't bought flowers for your boo for V-Day: Stop putting it off. We did everything we could to prepare you, and now you're looking for a bailout? Fine. Here are last-minute flower deals. Seriously, get it together. There won't be a third time.
And if you don’t have time to shop around and just need to pull the trigger right now, here you go. That’s two-dozen assorted roses with an included glass vase for $34.99. Turn the vase red for an extra dollar, and add chocolate and a teddy bear for an extra $10. It’s traditional, if not downright classic.
If your tastes are more specific, here’s what else is going on:
1800flowers.com
The “Deal of the Day” is 50% a variety of their most elaborate and romantic bouquets. We’re talking about a Romantic Rose Medley for $49.99. This ends after Feb. 11.
Bouqs.com
One day only, you can save $20 at checkout with the code HOT20, or 25% off with the code BOUQSDAY. Plus, you can get 30% off by sharing the deal with a friend. Those codes don’t all work together, so choose wisely.
Florists.com
Their sale on arrangements stands out, with 15% off both Endless Romance and and Purple Roses.
FromYouFlowers.com
Valentine’s Day delivery is guaranteed, prices are reduced across the board, and you can get an additional 20% off sitewide with the code 11G. Our favorite is this Ruby Rose Bouquet.
Teleflora.com
They’re offering next-day and same-day delivery on all bouquets. That’s not quite the same discount as these other spots, but they make up for it with sheer fanciness: Just look at this Thoughts of You Bouquet with Red Roses ($44.99) and try not to swoon. You can’t. You can’t not swoon.
ProFlowers.com
Nothing complicated here: Just a straight 25% off any purchase above $29. Here’s One Dozen Assorted Roses for $40.
Hearst Newspapers participates in various affiliate marketing programs, which means we may get paid commissions on editorially chosen products purchased through our links to retailer sites.
Joshua Sargent is an editor for Hearst Newspapers. Email him at josh.sargent@hearst.com.
Civ 5:Totally Accurate History 3160 BC to 2500
New release on history that is totally accurate just like you learn in school
Monday, February 10, 2020
Friday, February 7, 2020
Thursday, February 6, 2020
Do I Need A TV Licence? What You Can Legally Watch Without Paying The Fee – And The Rules For Netflix And Amazon Prime Video
CultureTV The cost of the TV licence will rise from £154.50 to £157.50 this year, more than double the price of basic Netflix and Amazon Prime options
Netflix
YouTube
Amazon Prime
DVDs/Blurays
Non-BBC catch-up including ITV Player, Channel 4 on-demand, as long as it's NOT live
Any live TV on any Channel including Sky channels
Any BBC iPlayer, live or streamed later
Any +1 Channels
Wednesday, 5th February 2020, 5:28 pm
Updated Wednesday, 5th February 2020, 5:33 pm
In an age of Netflix, iPlayer, smartphones and streaming, the situation with TV content has never been more complicated (Photo: Shutterstock)
The annual cost of the BBC licence fee is rising by £3 this year to £157.50, as part of the Government's increases in line with inflation.
By comparison, a year of Netflix costs £71.88 per year for a basic plan or £143.88 for 4K UHD, while Amazon Prime Video membership also costs £71.88 annually.
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i's TV newsletter: what you should watch next
In an age of Netflix, iPlayer, smartphones and streaming, the situation with TV content has never been more complicated. For several years, the TV licence only applied to live TV - meaning iPlayer was exempt - but this loophole has since been closed.
When do you need a TV licence?
So when do you need a TV licence? Well, the answer is you pretty much always do if you watch TV, unless you can watch only Netflix and Prime for a year and never even sneak a look at TV channels or iPlayer for the entire year.
If you watch any live TV - including ITV, Channel 4, or Sky channels, you need a licence. If you use BBC iPlayer, on a TV, phone, laptop or any other device, you need a licence.
What TV services do not require a TV licence?
Without a licence, you can legally watch:
But if it was suspected that you were watching live TV or BBC iPlayer, you would need to prove that you are not accessing live TV.
If you cancel your TV licence, you may get a visit from TV Licensing, and if they decide you actually do need a licence, you'll need to pay the full annual licence fee, plus a possible fine of up to £1,000 on top.
What you cannot watch or record if you don't have a TV licence
What the law says on the need for a TV licence - according to TVLicensing.Co.Uk
A TV Licence is a legal permission to install or use television receiving equipment to watch or record television programmes as they are being shown on TV or live on an online TV service, and to download or watch BBC programmes on demand, including catch up TV, on BBC iPlayer.
This could be on any device, including TVs, desktop computers, laptops, mobile phones, tablets, games consoles, digital boxes, DVD, Blu-ray and VHS recorders. This applies regardless of which television channels a person receives or how those channels are received.
You don’t need a TV licence just to own or possess a television set (Photo: Shutterstock)
The licence fee is not a payment for BBC services (or any other television service), although licence fee revenue is used to fund the BBC.
The requirement to hold a TV licence and to pay a fee for it is mandated by law under the Communications Act 2003 and Communications (Television Licensing) Regulations 2004 (as amended).
It is an offence to watch or record television programmes as they are being shown on any channel and on any broadcast platform (terrestrial, satellite, cable and the internet) or download or watch BBC programmes on demand, including catch up TV, on BBC iPlayer without a valid TV Licence.
Is it legal to watch TV programmes on a laptop or phone without a TV licence?
If you use a laptop (or any other device) to watch or record television programmes as they are being shown on TV or live on an online TV service, or to download or watch BBC programmes on demand, including catch up TV, on BBC iPlayer, then, by law, you need to be covered by a TV Licence. So yes, it would be illegal.
Do I need a TV licence if I don't watch BBC?
A TV licence is a legal permission to install or use television equipment to receive (i.E. Watch or record) TV programmes, as they are being shown on TV or live on an online TV service, and to download or watch BBC programmes on demand, including catch up TV, on BBC iPlayer.
This applies regardless of which channel you're watching, which device you are using (TV, desktop computer, laptop, mobile phone, tablet or any other), and how you receive them (terrestrial, satellite, cable, via the internet or in any other way).
The licence fee is not a subscription to watch BBC programmes but mandated by law. Under the Communications Act 2003, the BBC in its role as the licensing authority has a duty to issue TV licences and collect the licence fee.
Do +1 channels count as live TV?
Yes. So you still have to have a TV Licence.
Do you need a TV licence to own a TV?
You don’t need a TV licence to own or possess a television set. However, if you use it to watch or record programmes as they are being shown on TV or live on an online TV service, or to download or watch BBC programmes on demand, including catch up TV, on BBC iPlayer, then you need a TV licence in order to do so.
Do you need a TV licence to watch BBC iPlayer?
Yes, you need to be covered by a TV licence to download or watch BBC programmes on demand, including catch up TV, on BBC iPlayer.
This applies to all devices, including a smart TV, desktop computer or laptop, mobile phone, tablet, digital box or games console. Even if you access BBC iPlayer through another provider, such as Sky, Virgin, Freeview or BT, you must have a licence.
Wednesday, February 5, 2020
10 Parody Anime That Are Actually Better Than What They Were Satirizing
Anime is often relegated to be a significant innovator in animation, action, and romance. However, a sect of it that doesn't get too much love from the casual viewing world is its capacity for comedy. To be specific, in a world full of Western comedies like Space Balls, The Naked Gun, and even Scary Movie, anime hasn't been given enough credit for its own parodies. This is a shame considering that a lot of them are quite a hoot.
RELATED: Anime DIY: 10 Best Anime About Making Art
Parody anime have a strong tendency to not only mock their base material but also celebrate them with an organic sincerity. And while those tendencies are to mock, that doesn't mean the product itself can't be good at what it's satirizing, sometimes to an improved degree. This list will be running down a few of the best parody anime that were way better than what they were satirizing.
10 Cromartie High School
Hoodlums and gangs within anime often get a bad rap. Within a society that often values compromise, intelligence, and hard work beyond anything else, those with a more aggressive demeanor or even those who can't conform to the society's high standard of performance are often segregated to sects of their own, even in high school.
Cromartie High School, however, removes all that dingy paint and reveals a much sillier side to the bad apples of Japan. The comedy lets even the rowdiest of folks (including Freddie Mercury) take a step back and just be stupid, high school kids.
9 Hetalia Axis Powers
For readers still taking history classes, feel free to throw away any textbooks or notes concerned with world history and just watch Hetalia. This adorable, little comedy is about the world's nations personified as cute anime boys that just like to mess around and have fun.
By doing so, Hetalia personifies even some of the more controversial and brutal parts of history with some lighthearted yet accurate humor. Now, if only the real world powers could just settle their differences by calling each other "Baka!"
8 Carnival Phantasm
Type-Moon is a game studio that has become quite famous for the harrowing and religiously strident adventures of its Fate characters, among other series. However, all that gloom, doom, and religious commentary are stripped away in this fun crossover with Type-Moon's other series, Tsukihime, and various other characters of Fate.
Carnival Phantasm to an extent is meant to be a parody, a comedic extension of all the harsh, alternate worlds that Type-Moon has created. However, as a charming Comedy/Slice of Life series on its own, Carnival Phantasm has managed to break the zeitgeist as one of the most distinct and beloved installments of the company.
7 Osomatsu-san
One of the most influential series in Japanese media, Osomatsu-san is a comedy legend that has persisted across anime for several decades, having found rejuvenated incarnations across different eras. Being the comedy legend that it is, Osomatsu-san is famous for a variety of comedic gags that still resonate within Japan today.
RELATED: The 10 Best Comedy Anime Of The Decade, Ranked According To IMDb
However, what puts it on this list is the eccentric group's tendency to take a few jabs at other media, letting film, society, and even its anime contemporaries know that no one is safe from a good chuckle or two.
6 Ouran High School Host Club
Ouran High School Host Club is one of the most famous, shoujo anime out there, often acting as a nostalgic favorite and introduction to romance anime for a lot of fans. This is incredibly interesting considering that the series itself is a wide parody of all the eccentric tropes known among the shoujo genre.
As a host club within a high school, this series literally focuses on cute boys (and one girl) putting on a clinic of hysterical seduction to grab their girls and the audience. In doing so, the series not only provides one of the most accessible avenues to shoujo anime but also manages to bring some sincere attention to its own romances.
5 Monthly Girls' Nozaki-kun
Within the same vein as Ouran, Monthly Girls' Nozaki-kun is a parody of shoujo tropes. However, this series is not only immensely more direct about being a parody, it outright tries to educate the audience on the matter.
This series focuses on a girl trying to confess her love to one of the cutest boys in school, only to find herself accidentally volunteering to be his assistant for his secret life as a famous Shoujo mangaka. As the duo make a shoujo manga, they and the world around them immediately subvert their ideals and make cute, original romances of their own.
4 SKET Dance
Shonen Jump isn't exactly known for creating slice of life/romance series. Luckily, the publication doesn't always have to when comedy and shounen tropes are some of their best angles. SKET Dance is a high school, romance anime that doesn't exactly work like its lovelorn contemporaries.
RELATED: The 10 Best Anime About Student Life, Ranked
This one focuses on a trio of high schoolers as they aim to solve cases and help their fellow students across a variety of hilarious high school anime tropes, all while cultivating some shounen build and drama of its own.
3 One-Punch Man
Despite how awesome of a media giant it has become, let's not forget that One-Punch Man is kind of a parody of superhero and shounen action. If anything, major kudos to the series for turning what could've been a one-gag comedy into one of the most introspective and exciting action series out there.
Saitama's deadpan demeanor to his own abilities only serves to make him that much more of an OP character that is still incredibly likable.
2 KonoSuba
No matter how young and new, if something gets made enough and is popular enough, it is prone to parody. Isekai anime is no different. Once the success of these otherworldly anime really took off, it was about time that a series parodying all of the genre's tropes and ideals was released.
In comes KonoSuba, a wonderful isekai whose brave adventurers are not very brave or even that good at adventuring. Even with its potential to be a harem anime, KonoSuba subverts expectations by having its female characters be incredibly, incredibly flawed, making them more memorable and lovable in the process.
1 Gintama
Nothing else could really stand at the top of this list than the king of all comedy anime. The largest sliver of Gintama's parodies is dedicated to mocking shounen anime, addressing various tropes and characters that it not only outright references but also incorporates into some amazing action-packed stories of its own.
However, that's only scratching the surface. Gintama is responsible for an entire tsunami's worth of pop culture references across a variety of influences. The anime/manga often overwhelms its audience so much that a Google search might be required to grasp all the jokes. In some cases, Gintama might inspire fans to watch a few of the series it just practically promoted.
On top of that, Gintama does harems better than harem anime, hard-boiled stoicism just as well as any samurai flick, and galactic battles comparable to Star Wars. The series is also pretty funny, too.
NEXT: Konosuba: 10 Supporting Characters That Are Funnier Than The Main Cast
Next 10 Toxic Anime Couples We Wish Would Break Up Already
'Castlevania' animation returning to Netflix in March
Season 3 of vampire saga "Castlevania," based on the video game franchise of the same name, will debut March 5, 2020.
After a four-episode miniseries debut in 2017 and a fuller eight-episode second season in 2018, "Castlevania" will be unfurling another ten episodes this March.
Set in 15th century Romania, seasons one and two had followed the intertwining fates of castle-dwelling vampire lord Vlad Dracula Tepes, his half-vampire son Adrian (who sides with humanity) and monster hunter Trevor Belmont.
Political, religious, social and personal limitations came into play as the three leads and their companions struggle for the future of their country and, implicitly, the world.
Though not wholly perfect, the potential of "Castlevania"'s half-length first season was more gratifyingly explored in its second outing a year later, retaining its flair for stylish and dynamic battle sequences.
Both seasons were inspired by 1989 video game "Castlevania III," a prequel to the long-lasting franchise's first two core games, which featured Trevor's descendant Simon in a similar vampire-hunting role.
Predominantly taking the form of a two dimensional, side-scrolling action franchise, 1997 series entry "Castlevania: Symphony of the Night" had an outsized influence on video gaming, especially in conjunction with 1994's "Super Metroid," thanks in part to the twin concepts of player freedom and creator direction. Both built on the open world adventuring of the original "Legend of Zelda" and its sequels.
Though the "Castlevania" games adopted a 3D format for the 2010-14 "Lords of Shadow" subseries, the franchise's 2D approach was a potent inspiration for a tranche of more recent releases such as "Shovel Knight" (2014), "Hollow Knight" (2017), "Dead Cells" (2018) and, from "Castlevania" series producer Koji Igarashi, "Bloodstained: Ritual of the Night" (2019).
The franchise as a whole was itself, of course, inspired by Bram Stoker's classic of gothic horror literature, "Dracula."
Story continues
Netflix distributed a 2020 interpretation of the story, a live action three-parter developed by "Doctor Who" and "Sherlock" pairing Mark Gatiss and Steven Moffat, at the turn of the year.
Its "Castlevania" announcement came the same day that Disney+ outlined an October debut for its second season of "Star Wars" spin-off "The Mandalorian."
What is the best gaming mouse in 2020? Rodents for every gamer…
The best gaming mouse really depends on whether you’re right-handed or a sinister leftie, which kind of grip you prefer when clasping your gaming mouse, and of course how much cash you have to spend. Oh, and you also need to decide if you’re happy to go with a wired mouse or want to pay a little extra for a wireless rodent. Price is now the only factor in that space as, with modern advances in wireless technology, there’s now practically no difference between the best gaming mouse, whether it’s got a tail or not.
And we’ve tested the best to give you the definitive answer as to whether you should be spending your hard earned cash on the best Razer mouse, Logitech mouse, or Corsair mouse. But don’t forget, there are also some pretty darned tasty SteelSeries mice out there too.
The choices are manifold, but nailing down exactly what you want can be tricky. As ever it’s a delicate balancing act of finding the right mix of features and design. You have to juggle comfort, ergonomics, performance, reliability, specs, and always aesthetics.
What is the best gaming mouse in 2020?
For its simple elegance, versatility, and performance the Logitech G Pro wireless is hands-down the best gaming mouse you can buy right now. Sure, it is rather pricey considering its stripped-back aesthetic, but you would be hard-pressed to find one as reliable, consistent, and user-friendly.
However much you like your angular gamer aesthetic, you could have a mouse which looks like Vader’s own codpiece (we’re looking at you, Mr. Sidewinder) but if it can’t deliver the goods in-game then it’s about as effective a gaming mouse as jabbing a USB cable into a dead hamster. We’ve tested a wide variety of rodents and have finally narrowed down our favourite gaming mice in a selection of categories, as well as the overall best gaming mouse to buy right now.
Approx. $127 | £130
G Pro Wireless specs
With only the most worthwhile functionality for gamers, the Wireless Pro makes for esports mouse royalty.
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What we like…![Tick]( "Tick")
Wireless![Tick]( "Tick")
Great battery life![Tick]( "Tick")
Ambidextrous![Tick]( "Tick")
Lightweight
Wireless Great battery life Ambidextrous Lightweight
Bringing together featherweight ergonomics, a high-performance sensor, and flawless wireless connectivity, the Logitech G Wireless Pro has risen swiftly to the top of our best gaming mice charts. Plus, it’s ambidextrous too.
The Wireless Pro is equipped with interchangeable switches and a DPI switch hidden on the underside of the mouse to avoid accidental button presses getting in the way of the action. And when it comes to gaming prowess, the mouse offers the best performance we’ve experienced in-game. So long as you’re okay spending $150 on a mouse, the Logitech Wireless Pro can’t be beat.
Read our full Logitech G Pro Wireless review.
Great for lefties Logitech G903
Approx. $86 | £115
G903 specs
The G903 is identical to the excellent G900 but with one important addition - the PowerPlay technology.
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What we like…![Tick]( "Tick")
Wireless![Tick]( "Tick")
Supports Logitech G PowerPlay![Tick]( "Tick")
Ambidextrous
Wireless Supports Logitech G PowerPlay Ambidextrous
The G903 was the outright best gaming mouse to buy until Logitech stepped its game up with the Wireless Pro. Nevertheless, the G903 is a magnificently versatile gaming rodent that manages to be pretty much all things to all people. For all intents and purposes it is only the slightest of updates to the brilliant G900 Chaos Spectrum, but with compatibility for our favourite bit of wireless tech, the Logitech G PowerPlay.
For a start it’s rocking an ambidextrous design, with only a slight compromise in comfort for either left or right-handed camp, and its ergonomic layout is equally adept at catering for either claw or palm grip gamers. The G903 can also be used either as a wired or wireless gaming mouse, and we’ve detected no compromise in performance should you decide to game sans cable.
Read our full Logitech G903 review.
Great for RGB lighting Roccat Kone Aimo
Approx. $80 | £38
Kone Aimo specs
A chunky, robust gaming mouse, that also manages to make RGB LEDs look real good.
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What we like…![Tick]( "Tick")
Stunning lighting![Tick]( "Tick")
Well-built![Tick]( "Tick")
Good support
Stunning lighting Well-built Good support
Roccat has created a particularly stylish, well-built, and comfortable mouse with their Kone Aimo. The Owl-Eye optical sensor is responsive and will reach up to 12,000 DPI because… why not? The mouse will almost definitely be larger than you initially guessed. It’s surprisingly chunky, yet feels exceptionally well-built and offers plenty of support for your palm to lift off the mat.
The Aimo lighting breaks out through multiple zones of the exposed underbelly of the mouse, which displays a vibrant and glowing spectrum of complementary colours – something a little different from the usual fare. The non-Aimo two-tone illumination is, in itself, one of the most visually stunning RGB LED implementations we’ve seen, and without going over the top. We only had a compatible mouse at the time of testing, but the Aimo lighting will sync across any of Roccat’s supported devices.
Read our full Roccat Kone AIMO review.
Great for custom weight CORSAIR M65 RGB Elite
Approx. $50 | £50
M65 RGB Elite specs
The M65 Pro was one of our favourite mice, and with a new sensor and a great price it's still a great call.
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What we like…![Tick]( "Tick")
Solid optical sensor![Tick]( "Tick")
Sturdy construction![Tick]( "Tick")
Removable weights
Solid optical sensor Sturdy construction Removable weights
With a price tag equal to the great M65 Pro before it, there’s little reason not to pick up the new and improved Elite instead. The glide pads make sure it doesn’t feel sluggish, and removable weights on the underside mean you can bring the overall weight down to 97g if it’s bothering you. The sturdy construction and braided cable gives the M65 Elite a feeling of quality, even if it’s something of an acquired taste.
It’s not quite our pick for the top mouse of all time, but it’s cheaper than many of our other favourites. It’s functional, comfy, and has that quality stamp of approval we’ve come to expect from Corsair, and while it may not be revolutionary, there’s a lot to like about about the M65 Elite.
Read our full Corsair M65 Elite review.
Great for laser sensor fans Razer Mamba Tournament Edition
Approx. $78 | £90
Mamba TE specs
One of the best, most-comfortable Razer mouse designs in history, built around a reliable laser sensor.
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What we like…![Tick]( "Tick")
Light![Tick]( "Tick")
Versatile![Tick]( "Tick")
Comfortable
Light Versatile Comfortable
There are some people who prefer laser sensors in their mice and the Philips sensor in the Mamba is still an excellent option. With the hardware acceleration you might think they’re crazy, but laser sensors care not for the surface they skim across so can be a more versatile option if you’re travelling around sans mat.
The Mamba is also an incredibly comfortable gaming mouse, with a relatively light touch too. It doesn’t glide across your desktop quite as well as the Logitech options, but it’s still a great gaming mouse in its own right.
Approx. $63 | £80
Naga Trinity
Another fantastic mouse, updating its classic Naga design to cater for all-comers and not just the MMO crowd.
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What we like…![Tick]( "Tick")
Versatile![Tick]( "Tick")
Interchangeable layout![Tick]( "Tick")
Comfortable
Versatile Interchangeable layout Comfortable
Razer’s Naga has long been synonymous with many-buttoned MMO mice, but, if we’re being honest, they were incredibly annoying to use for any other game type. All those extra buttons, arrayed in a grid of 12 around your thumb, were constantly responsible for errant thumb strikes, either adding extra digits and modifiers into your essays, emails, or instant messages, or activating some weird feature you didn’t know existed in other games.
But the Naga Trinity has removed that problem, while still retaining the ability to use the classic 12-button grid for your favourite MMO or MOBA. The special sauce is a magnetic attachment mechanism that allows you to remove the whole side panel of the mouse without doing anything more than levering it off. It’s completely hot-swappable so you can add or remove any of the three interchangeable panels at will without having to dig into the settings or unplug it. There’s the 12-button panel, a seven-button version arranged in a wheel, and a simple two-button design for basic use.
Read our full Razer Naga Trinity review.
Great for versatility SteelSeries Rival 500
Approx. $80 | £80
Rival 500 specs
This smart mouse doesn't have the breadth of buttonry as the Naga, but it's smartly designed.
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What we like…![Tick]( "Tick")
Affordable![Tick]( "Tick")
15 buttons![Tick]( "Tick")
Ergonomic
Affordable 15 buttons Ergonomic
The SteelSeries Rival 500 is a mighty little mouse and once topped our list for the best MMO gaming rodent. It doesn’t have the vast number of thumb buttons as either the Nyth or the latest Razer Naga, but that doesn’t necessarily put it at a disadvantage. My thumb gets confused when there are too many button-y options waiting to be clicked on, which is why the versatility of the Naga Trinity works so well.
That also doesn’t mean the Rival 500 is lacking in those stakes – there are still 15 configurable buttons arrayed around the Rival 500, but they’re more evenly spaced out. As well as buttons around your thumb SteelSeries has also placed three extra buttons on the top for your index and second fingers to manage. I’m also a fan of the chunky design aesthetic and the fact that it doesn’t feel as lightweight as a lot of the recent gaming mice I’ve tested. It’s a great MMO mouse then, and it’s also not going to break the bank either.
Great for customisable buttons Roccat Nyth
Approx. $87 | £65
Nyth specs
Like the Razer Naga the Nyth allows you to customise the thumb buttons however you wish.
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What we like…![Tick]( "Tick")
Configurable layout![Tick]( "Tick")
Plenty of button options![Tick]( "Tick")
Well-built
Configurable layout Plenty of button options Well-built
The many-buttoned Roccat Nyth was our previous pick as the best MMO mouse around, and it still makes for a great configurable option. The Philips laser sensor is impressively accurate and the different optional grips make it a versatile gaming mouse, if a little too chunky.
The biggest tick in the pro column for the Nyth is the way it arranges its extra thumb buttons. You can have as few as three extra buttons or as many as 12 and any combination in between.
Approx. $30 | £17
Harpoon RGB specs
A solid optical sensor, a lightweight chassis, and RGB LEDs... what more could you want from a cheap mouse?
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What we like…![Tick]( "Tick")
Great value![Tick]( "Tick")
High quality![Tick]( "Tick")
Solid all-round sensor
Great value High quality Solid all-round sensor
The Corsair Harpoon RGB (gotta have RGB) is not necessarily a great gaming mouse. What it is, however, is a great-value one. The 6,000 DPI optical sensor at its heart is a Pixart 3320, offering the 1:1 tracking we’ve come to love their latest sensors for, but without the extreme sensitivity that makes them perfect for high-res displays. It’s also incredibly lightweight and will fly across your desktop.
Where it falls down slightly, for me, is in the ergonomics. I’m not a fan of the design purely from a comfort stance. As a dyed-in-the-wool claw grip gamer it doesn’t have the long-term comfort that I need, though for the palm grip it is feels a lot more well-designed. But for the money you can’t argue with the tech on offer.
Great for wireless connectivity CORSAIR HARPOON RGB WIRELESS
Approx. $50 | £55
Harpoon specs
Cut the cord and pick up lag-free performance for just $50.
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What we like…![Tick]( "Tick")
Wireless![Tick]( "Tick")
Lengthy battery life![Tick]( "Tick")
Cheap
Wireless Lengthy battery life Cheap
The Corsair Harpoon Wireless sure packs a punch for only 50 bucks. Few wireless devices offer such a balanced and impressive blend of performance and value, and the Corsair brand sure nets you a few added benefits, too – including some of the best software in the game and trusted quality assurance.
It’s hard to believe that for less than the price of some of the wired, mid-tier rodents on this list that you can net yourself wireless chops. Not only that but great wireless performance thanks to Corsair’s Slipstream tech. If you’re hoping to ditch wires and keep to a budget, the Harpoon RGB Wireless is the mouse for you.
Read our full Corsair Harpoon RGB Wireless review.
Approx. $127 | £130
G Pro Wireless specs
With only the most worthwhile functionality for gamers, the Wireless Pro makes for esports mouse royalty.
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What we like…![Tick]( "Tick")
Wireless![Tick]( "Tick")
Great battery life![Tick]( "Tick")
Ambidextrous![Tick]( "Tick")
Lightweight
Wireless Great battery life Ambidextrous Lightweight
Thanks to the battery-saving ability of the HERO sensor – somewhere in the range of 60 hours with the LEDs off – charge needn’t be an issue with the Wireless Pro. You can always double-down on a PowerPlay mat for totally hassle-free charging, anyways.
Logitech’s wireless connectivity is flawless, too. Both reliable and consistent, the days of wireless lagging behind their wired counterparts are long gone. And if you need convincing, just take a look at some of the best esports players on the planet and you’ll notice they prefer the fluid motion of a wireless mouse over a wired alternative. And if it’s good enough for the pros, then it’s probably just fine for the regular gamer.
Great for battery life Logitech G903
Approx. $86 | £115
G903 specs
It's practically impossible to detect any lag, and you don't have to ever plug in to charge. Totes wireless.
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What we like…![Tick]( "Tick")
Wireless![Tick]( "Tick")
Supports Logitech G PowerPlay![Tick]( "Tick")
Ambidextrous
Wireless Supports Logitech G PowerPlay Ambidextrous
I’ve not used a wireless gaming mouse that felt this reliable and accurate before, and definitely not one with the sort of lengthy battery life the G903 is sporting – even with those flashy RGB LEDs glowing along its spine. The tiny wireless receiver makes it a perfect fit for laptop gamers – the little nubbin barely sticks out at all – but can also attach via a bundled micro-USB adapter if you need a longer lead to snake up onto your desk. I’ve had the nubbin plugged in behind my monitor though and haven’t experienced any connection issues which would necessitate that.
The reason we’ve replaced the almost-identical G900 with this is that the upgraded gaming rodent comes with Logitech PowerPlay support. That means it can keep its battery charged wireless simply by using it on the PowerPlay gaming surface. That makes it the perfect wireless gaming mouse to my mind, and almost worth the exorbitant sticker price for the package. Obviously you have to pay a premium for the wireless connectivity, and the price of the G903 with PowerPlay is somewhat restrictive, but if you’re after one of the best wireless mice around then I’m afraid you’ve got to pay for it.
Great for bargain wireless Corsair Harpoon RGB Wireless
Approx. $50 | £55
Harpoon specs
Cut the cord and pick up lag-free performance for just $50.
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What we like…![Tick]( "Tick")
2.4GHz and Bluetooth![Tick]( "Tick")
Lengthy battery life![Tick]( "Tick")
Cheap
2.4GHz and Bluetooth Lengthy battery life Cheap
Not only is the Corsair Harpoon RGB Wireless one of our top budget mouse picks at only $50, it’s also one of the finest wireless rodents going.
With smooth, lag-free performance powered by Corsair’s Slipstream wireless technology, the Harpoon offers more than enough speed and responsiveness for most gamers. Not only that but it offers 2.4GHz and Bluetooth connectivity, great battery life for on-the-go gaming, and features a handy 2.4GHz dongle slot on its underbelly so you don’t misplace it on your travels.
Picking a gaming mouse is a similar experience to picking out a real-life rodent. You need one that fits your lifestyle, is suited to your space, and is laser or optical to best suit your needs. Okay, I admit, it’s actually nothing like picking a real-life mouse, but it can depend massively on what genre of games you play, whether you are right-handed or devil-handed, and how you hold your mouse.
So it’s hard to pick one to be all and end all mouse that’s unrivalled in every aspect. The Logitech Wireless Pro is our best all-rounder, and is as close to that ultimate mouse as we’ve found so far, but that doesn’t rule out any other mouse on the list.
With its hot-swappable design, the Razer Naga Trinity is unsurpassed for MMO gamers, and its thumb configuration is easily swapped out for gaming in just about any other genre, too. The Corsair Harpoon, too, is a fantastic all-terrain mouse that gives up some of the flash for simple and effective functionality on a budget.
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