On the one hand, we love the simplicity of the Nintendo Switch, and the fact that it acts as a dedicated games console and nothing more is a rather charming thing. On the other, it’s sometimes frustrating that we need to boot up another console or device to run things like Netflix, and we wouldn’t say no to a simple web browser, either.

As you may well be aware, the Switch, and particularly earlier models of the console, are vulnerable to hacking. This has caused a saddening amount of immoral behaviour and piracy in the past, but also allowed other owners to play around with the system in creative ways at their own risk. One example of this is this new ROM which turns the console into an Android device – Netflix, internet browser, and all.

You can see it all working in the video below from xdadevelopers – the Joy-Con appear to work with most applications natively, and you can even use the seamless docking feature of the console as normal. There are setbacks, too, thanks to the Switch not having a camera, microphone, or GPS (don’t expect your Switch to suddenly transform into a giant satnav), but it’s an interesting development nonetheless.

If it wasn’t clear already, running something like this on your Switch would be entirely at your own risk – this is not a Nintendo-approved action to take. On the plus side for those who do like this sort of thing, the entire ROM actually runs from an SD card rather than the console itself.

Are you still desperate for Netflix, a browser, or other apps? Or are you completely happy with the Switch how it is? We can already sense the ‘FOLDERS NOW’ comments down below.

Click Here!

After protecting data and thwarting digital wrongdoers for more than two decades, Diana Kelley bristles at suggestions that cybersecurity is a dry or dull career choice.

“I think it is the most interesting part of IT. It can be a fascinating puzzle to solve. It can be like a murder mystery on that show, ‘Law & Order,’ except that when they find a dead body, we find a network breach,” she says.

“As we investigate, we go back through all these twists and turns. And, sometimes we discover that the real culprit isn’t the one we had suspected at the beginning.”

As Microsoft’s global Cybersecurity Field Chief Technology Officer, she wants to erase misconceptions that might be stopping people from more walks of life from entering her profession – which, she argues,  needs new ways of thinking and innovating.

Successful companies know that by building diversity and inclusion within their ranks, they can better understand and serve their many and varied customers. Cybersecurity teams need to read from the same playbook so they can better anticipate and block attacks launched by all kinds of people from all sorts of places.

“Cybercriminals come from different backgrounds and geo-locations and have different mindsets,” Kelley says. “They collaborate and use very diverse attack techniques to come after individuals, companies, and countries. So, it helps us also to have a very diverse set of protection and controls to stop them.”

Knowing how attackers might think and act can be difficult for any cybersecurity team, particularly if it is made up of people from similar backgrounds with similar viewpoints. It is the kind of conformity that can even lead to a sort of “groupthink,” which results in blind spots and unintended bias.

The power of different viewpoints

“If people think in the same ways again and again, they are going to come up with the same answers. This only stops when different viewpoints are raised, and different questions are heard.”

Kelley says attackers come from, and operate in, many different environments, and cybersecurity teams need to match this diversity as much as they can. However, the make-up of today’s international cybersecurity community remains surprisingly homogenous.

“About 90 percent are men and, depending on where you are in the world, they are often white men,” she says. “In Asia, it tends to be a little worse. Only about nine percent are women.”

The need for change comes amid unprecedented demand for cybersecurity and a chronic shortage of skilled specialists across the world. Kelley sees this an opportunity.

“We’ve got this big gap in hiring, so why not create a more diverse and inclusive community of people working on the problem?” she said in an interview on her recent visit to Singapore, one of many global cities vying for talent in the sector.

One major concern is gender imbalance. Even though many well-paying jobs are up for grabs, relatively few women are taking up, and staying in, cybersecurity roles.

Fixing the gender imbalance

“When I got into the field almost 30 years ago, women had very low representation in computer science in general,” Kelley says. “Back then, I just assumed it would change over time. But it hasn’t.”

Studies show that girls often drop out of STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) subjects in middle or high school. Some women university graduates do enter the profession. But a lot end up leaving – many for cultural reasons in the workplace.

“There is a high attrition rate. We need to promote the value of studying STEM. And, we also need to work for the people who are in the field now by creating inclusive work environments.”

Kelley joined Microsoft about two years ago. Since then, she has been struck by its strong culture of respecting diverse viewpoints and encouraging inclusion – things she hasn’t seen stressed in some other companies.

“Not every idea is a great idea. But that doesn’t mean it should be mocked or dismissed. It should be respected as an idea. I have spoken to some women elsewhere who say because they didn’t feel heard or respected, they didn’t want to stay in IT.”

Bringing in all sorts of people

Kelley says more can be done to build up diversity and inclusion beyond fixing the gender mix. Again, she is impressed by Microsoft’s efforts. “Yes, we need to engage more women. But we also need to bring in all sorts of people from different social and career backgrounds.

“For instance, our team – the Cybersecurity Solution Group at Microsoft – is looking for people who may not have worked in cybersecurity in the past, but have a great interest (in technology) as well as other talents. So we are creating diversity that way too.”

Kelley recounts her own sideways entry into the field. She fell in love with computers and software during her teens when she discovered for herself how vulnerable networks at the time could be.

Later she graduated from university with a very non-techie qualification: a degree in English. Her first few jobs were editorial roles, but being tech-savvy soon meant she became the “go-to IT guy” in her office.

“Finally someone said to me, ‘Hey, you know what? IT is your calling, and we are hiring.’ So, what had been a hobby for me then became a career.”

She eventually moved into cybersecurity after an intruder broke into a network she had just built. “I pivoted from being a network and software person to someone very much focused on creating secure and resilient architectures and networks to thwart the bad guys.”

We need diverse thinkers

Looking to the future, she wants a broader pool of job seekers to consider careers in cybersecurity, even if they did not like STEM at school.

“We need diverse thinkers … people who understand psychology, for example, who can help understand the mindsets behind these attacks. We need great legal minds to help with ethics and privacy. And, political minds who understand lobbying.”

The cybersecurity world needs individuals who are altruistic and have a little more. “We go into this field because we want to do the right thing and protect people and protect data. That is a critical part. And, it also really helps to have a sort of a ‘tinkering mindset.’”

She explains that when cybersecurity professionals create systems, they also have to produce threat models. To do that, they need to think about, ‘What if I was a bad guy? What if I was trying to take this apart? How could it be taken apart?’ That is the point where they can start to work out how to make their system more attack resistant.

Meanwhile, she is eager to debunk a few myths swirling around the subject of cybercrime.

For starters, the days of the smart lone wolf kid in a hoodie hacking for fun from his bedroom are more or less over. Nowadays, only a tiny minority of perpetrators cause digital mischief and embarrassment just for the bragging rights or are “hacktivists” who want to advance social or environmental causes.

Ominously, there are sophisticated state-sponsored actors targeting the vulnerabilities of rival powers. Governments around the world are rightly worried about their citizens’ data. But they also fear for the security of vital infrastructure, like power grids and transport systems. Accordingly, military strategists now rate cyber as a field of warfare alongside land, sea, and air.

That said, most of the bad guys are simply in it for the money and do not deserve the glory and headlines they sometimes get.

“They are not glamorous. Many are in big criminal syndicates that just want to grab our data – hurting us and hurting our loved ones.”

The Activision blog has outlined the next update coming to Crash Team Racing Nitro-Fueled on 2nd August and one of the most notable additions is the inclusion of microtransactions.

As there’s now an excessive amount of cosmetic content in this nitro-fueled racer, Activision and Beenox will soon allow players to “fast-track” their Wumpa Coin collection. Essentially, you’ll be able to buy more coins with real cash from the Switch eShop. Activision says this will have no impact on the core mechanics. Here are the full details:

With all this content available, there will also now be a way for players to fast-track their Wumpa Coin collection if they like. Starting in early August, players will have the option to purchase Wumpa Coin bundles from their game console stores to supplement the Coins they earn by playing. This option won’t change the game’s core mechanics – players will still earn Wumpa Coins by playing the game in any mode, just as before. They will just able to purchase additional coins if they choose.

The rest of the update, due out on 2nd August, will send players back to prehistoric times with the Back N. Time Grand Prix. It starts this Friday, runs until 25th August and is available to players with an online connection.

This event will come with new characters, skins, karts, customisation items and a new track. The new track is titled ‘Prehistoric Playground’ and will immerse racers in a world filled with Jurassic-themed content. The new items include the Nostalginator and Mammoth Karts, the “Fake Crash” skin and cave painting stickers. Baby T will also make his debut as a Grand Prix reward character (provided you complete the Bronze Tier of the Nitro Gauge) and a “Fake” Baby T skin is the final item in the Gold Tier.

As part of this event, the Pit Stop will be restocked. Some higlights include “adorable” baby versions of Crash and Coco. There’ll also be some new skins like Mad Scientist Crash, Sabertooth Pura and Stone Age N. There are new challenges and refreshed leaderboards as well. For more information, check out the full blog post.

As for the future, even more characters (including Spyro) are on the way:

we’re also excited to let fans know that they can expect more of their favorite characters from the Crash Bandicoot universe to join in on the Nitro-Fueled fun in the seasons after. Get ready for characters like N. Brio, Nina Cortex, and Komodo Moe to start shredding up the racetrack soon!

Are you still playing CTR on the Switch? Leave a comment below.

If you’re hoping to grab a Nintendo Switch Lite all for yourself, you’ve certainly come to the right place. Pre-orders for Nintendo’s latest console are now popping up all over the place and we’re gathering them for you below.

At the time of writing, all three standard colours of Switch Lite are available for pre-order from numerous UK and US retailers. You’ll also find a couple of options available for the fancy Pokémon edition console (or the Switch Lite Zacian & Zamazenta Edition, to give it its full name) in the US.

We’ll make sure to add to this list with any more Switch Lite deals we find going forward, so feel free to bookmark this page and check back if you’re hoping for a particular price or retailer. In the meantime, let us know if you spot any more options by leaving a comment below. We’ve also added a Frequently Asked Questions section to clear up any queries you might have about this new version of Nintendo Switch, including the differences between this and the standard model.

Where to pre-order Nintendo Switch Lite – USA

Please note that some of the links on this page are affiliate links. If you click them and make a purchase we may receive a small percentage of the sale which helps support the site. Please read our FTC Disclosure for more information.

Where to pre-order Nintendo Switch Lite – UK

Nintendo Switch Lite FAQ

What are the features of the Switch Lite?

The standard model’s left-side buttons have been replaced with a traditional D-Pad, and the speakers have moved from the front of the console to the bottom. Here’s a look at the Switch Lite from all angles, including all of the buttons, ports and other fancy gizmos available.

What gameplay modes does Switch Lite support?

One of the key features of the standard Switch model is its three gameplay modes: TV mode, Tabletop mode, and Handheld mode. However, the Nintendo Switch Lite can only be played in handheld; it cannot connect to the TV and does not feature a kickstand to use in a Tabletop setup.

It’s also worth noting that the Nintendo Switch Lite does not feature HD Rumble or an IR Motion Camera, although the console will recognise other wireless Joy-Con.

Are all Switch games compatible with Switch Lite?

The Nintendo Switch Lite can play any Switch games which support handheld mode.

For games that do not support handheld mode, players can wirelessly connect compatible controllers to the Switch Lite and effectively create a makeshift tabletop setup. If you’re using original Joy-Con controllers, you’ll need to have a way of recharging them as they cannot be docked to the Switch Lite.

What comes in the box with Switch Lite?

The Nintendo Switch Lite does not include a dock, HDMI cable, or kickstand like the original model. Instead, the box will simply contain the console and an AC adaptor.

What are the Switch Lite specs?

Here are the Nintendo Switch Lite vital statistics along with a comparison to the standard model:

• Dimensions: Nintendo Switch Lite: 3.6″ high, 8.2″ long, 0.55″ deep | Nintendo Switch: 4″ high, 9.4″ long, 0.55″ deep with Joy-Con attached
• Weight: Nintendo Switch Lite: .61lbs | Nintendo Switch: 0.88lbs with the Joy-Con attached
• Screen: Nintendo Switch Lite: 5.5″ touchscreeen, 720p | Nintendo Switch: 6.2″ touchscreen, 720p
• Battery Life: Nintendo Switch Lite: approx. 3 – 7 hours | Nintendo Switch: approx. 2.5 – 6.5 hours
• Storage: Nintendo Switch Lite: 32GB | Nintendo Switch: 32GB

What Switch Lite colours or styles are available?

The Nintendo Switch Lite will be available in yellow, grey, or turquoise at launch.

A special Pokémon edition has also been revealed for a November release, which looks rather lovely:

How much does Switch Lite cost?

Missed all those pre-order links at the top of the page? Nintendo Switch Lite’s recommended retail price will be $199.99 / £199.99. The Nintendo Switch’s recommended retail price has been $299.99 / £299.99 since it launched in 2017, so the Lite variant will save you 100 notes if you’re happy to sacrifice a few of the features detailed above.

When does Switch Lite launch?

The Nintendo Switch Lite will be available from 20th September, while the snazzy Zacian & Zamazenta Edition (the Pokémon one) will arrive on 8th November, just a week before the launch of Pokémon Sword and Shield.

Are you thinking of securing a ‘Lite Switch’ ready for its release date of 20th September or will you be waiting for more colours to pop up (Spice Orange, perhaps…)? Tell us below.

Raiders of the North Sea is the second game in a series of board games, collectively known as the North Sea trilogy. Whilst the first game focuses on building ships and the third one revolves around exploration, the middle game has a more bloodthirsty raiding and pillaging theme. Players take on the role of Viking warriors competing to gain the recognition of their chieftain. Not from building fancy boats or sending postcards from far-off lands but from plundering settlements for gold, iron and livestock.

Raiders is a worker placement game, which has similar mechanics and complexity to Lords of Waterdeep. Turns are simple; players begin each round with a worker, which they place on any vacant village space. They then carry out the location’s action; a visit to the gatehouse, for example, allows the player to add two extra Viking cards to their hand. Next, the player removes a previously placed worker and also performs this action. Thus, each player will always have a worker in hand that can be brought into play during the following round.

The village houses eight different buildings and there are also three different colours of workers, which may influence the effect of each building. The workers that are coloured black for instance, will gather more silver when they visit the Silversmith. A Viking can be added to your crew by visiting the barracks and playing a crew card. Crew cards will have a military strength and a hire cost and two special actions. The forager, for example, may have zero military strength, but she only costs one silver to hire and she can provide you with extra provisions when you visit the mill. The avenger is a nasty piece of work, he has a strength of three and when killed or discarded, opponents are forced to lose crew members or silver. There is a nice variety of cards, all of which are strikingly illustrated using the same stunning artwork that featured in the original board game.

Working in the village is all well and good, but you cannot leave your newly recruited Viking crew just sitting around braiding their beards and admiring each other’s tattoos. Eventually, you will want to scroll the map northwards to see all of those nice juicy settlements that are just waiting to be pillaged. There are four progressively tougher types of settlement; harbours, outposts, monasteries and fortresses. To raid a settlement, you must have a large enough crew, adequate provisions, a worker of the required colour and sometimes you will also need some gold. In addition to plunder, most settlements will also allow players to earn some bonus victory points by overwhelming any opposition. The attacker rolls combat dice and adds the military strength of their crew and if the total is high enough then extra victory points will be awarded. Players can further enhance their military strength by using plundered iron to craft extra armour at the village armoury.

Raiding isn’t without its risks and attacking a settlement that contains black Valkyries will result in the death of some of your crewmembers. This isn’t all bad as an honourable one-way trip to the afterlife is looked upon favourably by the gods and so presents another way of earning victory points. Some unfortunate fellows must have victim tattooed on their foreheads; the gravedigger, for instance, is a useless fighter but does earn gold when he meets his inevitable demise. After a raid, Vikings can use their ill-gotten gains at the village’s Longhouse to fulfil the chieftain’s requests for specific sets of goods.

The digital version does a brilliant job of recreating the feel of the board game. The striking artwork has been stylishly reused, the illustrations of the different Vikings are especially brilliant. They are both imaginative and full of character, with more facial hair on display than at a craft beer festival. This version adds a few extra flourishes of its own, with some neat graphical animations, alongside incidental music and sound effects that are perfectly pitched to create atmosphere without ever becoming annoying.

For me, the biggest disappointment is that at the moment there isn’t a pass and play mode, which means that local games are limited to battles against AI opponents. There is, however, a captivating ten-level solo campaign to work through. It never gets that taxing but does add new Viking cards and twists to the rules for you to contend with. There are also plenty of well thought out achievements to aim for. Completing these will increase your level, something that has no impact on the actual game but it is a little extra to aim for. Online options include both asynchronous and live games, with the possibility of adding extra AI opponents to make up the numbers.

For such a ruthless theme, the gameplay is rather forgiving. The option to not just place but also to remove workers significantly cuts down on the blocking tactics that play such a large part in many worker placement games. The dice rolling may put some players off but the range of possible results is small and the gamble is only for a few more victory points rather than outright failure. The multiuse Viking cards also serve to reduce frustration; if a card doesn’t fit in with the rest of your crew then you can always exchange them for an immediate benefit.

Thankfully, all of this leniency doesn’t make the game any the less exciting or entertaining to play. It slips into a satisfying rhythm of building up your supplies and then raiding. The strict limit on the number of resources that a player can hold prevents stockpiling. The colour of the worker that you pick up may also impact on your raiding plans. The ever-present risk of death at the hands of a Valkyrie force some agonising decisions about when it is worth sacrificing a valuable crew member in return for plunder and Valkyrie points. All of these factors mean that whilst many worker placement games can begin to feel a little too linear and repetitive after a few games. Raiders manages to hold the feeling of monotony at bay by always presenting the player with interesting choices.