Phone and communications

LogMeIn has announced a number of new updates to GoToMeeting which include new integrations, updates to the desktop and mobile experience, audio enhancements, security improvements and more.

The new updates bring additional partnerships and integrations to the company's recently launched GoToMarketplace with the first of which being a new integration with Microsoft Teams. Through this integration, users can now quickly and easily launch GoToMeeting and GoToConnect from within the Teams environment.

LogMeIn also revealed that GoToMeeting now offers plug-ins for Office 365 and Google Calendar to ensure that its customers can have a continuous workflow within the platforms they're already using. Through these plug-ins, users can easily schedule meetings directly from within their email applications.

• LogMeIn offers free “Emergency Remote Work Kits" following coronavirus
• Video conferencing apps saw record downloads in just one week
• These are the best webcams for working from home

To improve the quality of its meetings, GoToMeeting has rolled out several new features including noise suppression, better audio even with poor network conditions and a new toll-free and “Call Me” option.

Security improvements

Due to the recent surge in remote working, LogMeIn is working to ensure the experience of its video, voice, remote access and remote IT support products are as secure and reliable as possible.

As meetings are now generating more artifacts such as transcriptions and audio recordings, GoToMeeting has increased the security capabilities for sharing these assets. Users can now choose what content to share, with whom they'll share it with and how long to make it available for viewing from within the software's content sharing and security preferences.

GoToMeeting has also added a new meeting lock feature which gives users the ability to keep uninvited guests out of a meeting. With password protected meetings, only those with the code will be able to gain entry which helps keep meetings secure from others.

Additionally, all tiers of GoToMeeting include security features such as Secure Socket Layer Encryption, AES-256 Bit Encryption, a SOC2 Certified Data Center, Rich Based Authentication and HIPAA readiness to help protect users while working remotely.

• We've also highlighted the best video conferencing software

It was a VPN offer that was supposed to end the second that the calendar turned from March to April, but we're delighted that IPVanish has extended its fabulous VPN deal for another 30 days.

If you sign up to IPVanish before the end of April, you'll get a whole year of VPN protection and secure cloud storage from SugarSync for just $39.

When it comes to VPN goodness, we rank IPVanish extremely highly – the provider has 24/7 customer support, zero traffic logs, unlimited bandwidth and an excellent Windows kill switch. It really is one of the very best around.

And then throw in that freebie and discount, and you're laughing. The SugarSync addition gets you a full 250GB of secure data storage. This means that all your photos, videos and personal documents (whatever you choose to store) will remain safeguarded from outsiders. That means that for the next 12 months your VPN and storage needs are completely covered for the equivalent of just $3.25 a month.

Still unsure if this is the deal for you? Scroll down to see this deal in full, or why not also check out our best VPN deals guide for all of the very best offers on cyber privacy.

This amazing VPN deal in full:

How good is IPVanish?

As well as unblocking Netflix, (hello streaming!) and being one of the best value for money VPNs, it also has a 7-day money-back guarantee and servers in over 75 countries. 

Plus, it boasts incredible download speeds so you don't need to worry about the VPN slowing down your device and it's got plenty of powerful, configurable apps. So whether privacy, streaming or cost is your reason for getting a VPN, IPVanish ticks all the boxes. 

Still undecided? Check out our IPVanish review.

• Not sure this provider is the one for you? Check out our best VPN guide
• Want to try before you buy? See your choice of VPNs with free trials
• Or pay nothing at all! These are the best free VPNs

As we all know, Easter is about one thing and one thing only…phone sales. And with this in mind, Very has well and truly stuck to this ethos, taking a number of top handsets and bringing the prices crashing down.

Amongst these offers is a few big hitters. The iPhone XS, for example, is now down by £370 and Samsung's big and powerful Note 10 is now down to £699. Looking past that, there are a few budget iPhones, Huawei devices and Samsung phones thrown in.

However, included in this long list of discounts is also a few dud deals, offering handsets at their normal price or just a tiny chunk cut off the price. So to help out, we've picked out the winning offers and listed them below.

• Rather see what's available on contract? Check out our guide to the best mobile phone deals

The standout offers from this Very Easter sale:

• iPhone XS | £1149 £779
• Huawei P30 Pro | £899.99 £629.99
• Huawei P30 Lite | £299.99 £279.99
• Huawei P Smart | £199.99 £149.99
• iPhone 7 | £409 £299
• Samsung Galaxy S10 Lite | £579 £499
• Samsung Galaxy Note 10 Lite | £869 £699

Why get your mobile phone deal from Very?

Looking past the obvious factor of the price cuts above, Very offers a few benefits when making a purchase. The first, and probably most important, is the buy now, pay later scheme.

With this, Very allows you to spread out your payments. Just keep in mind that if not paid back in a certain amount of time, you will pay interest.

Past that, Very offers free returns and fast deliveries.

On March 17, 2020 the Government announced the delay (not cancelation) of the introduction of changes to IR35. This gives IT contractors some breathing space. By planning ahead, you can ensure that you’re compliant, save tax, and be ready for the changes.

Let’s review some important aspects of IR35 and the tax implications: 

• Check out our list of the best billing and invoicing software on the market
• Here's our list of the best UK tax software for 2020
• We've curated the best budgeting software available

Basics

Before assuming you’re caught by IR35, test your working arrangements against three key principles:

- Can I send in another person to work on my behalf? (Substitution)

- Can I refuse to work and is my end client obliged to offer me work? (Mutuality of Obligations)

- What degree of control is exerted on how I do my work?  (Control)

Enhanced CEST

HMRC has released an enhanced version of the CEST (Check Employment Status for Tax) tool. It is understood that this tool has been rigorously tested against case law and settled cases by the taxman. HMRC promise to stand by the results produced by the tool, provided the information entered is accurate.  So, if you’re not sure, simply take the test or engage a specialist tax adviser to provide you with formal tax advice on your situation.

Tax implications

If you’ve been properly advised that you’re caught by IR35 or the CEST tool suggests so, then the general tax implication is that you’re responsible for paying income tax and NI contributions on an amount called deemed payment.

To calculate this deemed payment on your limited company income for the year, deduct your PAYE salary, a 5% expenses allowance, plus any pension contributions.

What’s left is then treated as if it were the gross cost to the employer (deemed payment). Let’s say if you have £100,000 income, you pay £10,000 as salaries and pay £10,000 into pensions. And let’s say you’re eligible for the 5% expenses deduction. So, the deemed payment which you’ll need to apply income tax and NI on will be £75,000. 

If your contract is caught by IR35, the simplest solution is to pay all of your limited company’s income less legitimate expenses and pension contributions as a PAYE salary.

Public Sector IR35

Originally, the responsibility for determining IR35 status was placed on the contractor and not the end client. But in 2017, the rules changed for those working with public sector clients (HMRC, NHS, the MOD and the like). Here the responsibility to prove self-employment status shifted from the contractors to the public sector client. Under this rule, where a contractor is caught by IR35, they will be taxed and pay NI as an employee. There is no 5% deduction for expenses under the general IR35 deemed payment tax calculation.

Private Sector IR35

One of the delayed IR35 changes is called the off-payroll working tax rules. These rules are aimed at big private organisations (see exemptions and options below). Again, it shifts the burden of determining the employment status of contractors or workers from the contractor to the private organisation. So, in effect similar to the public sector rule but with some differences, including the need for the private sector client to carry out an assessment of the employment status of the worker and provide a “Status Determination Statement” (SDS).

Under the new rules, the fees paid to the contractor, called the "direct deemed payment" are to be treated as employment income. This means PAYE and employee National Insurance is deducted from that direct deemed payment. The entity paying the contractor, which could be the agency or hirer, has to pay their employment taxes on top.

Exemptions

It is important to note that the new rules do not apply to all private sector end clients. Those clients qualifying as “small” will fall outside the scope of the new rules. The companies act definition of small company will be used for this purpose. Therefore where the private sector client does not have a turnover of more than £10.2m, balance sheet value of more than £5.1m and employees of more than 50 (remember any two of the three tests will suffice) then it does not have to assess the employment status of its workers.

Options under the private sector IR35

As stated above, some companies are exempt from the new rules, so there is always the option of working with these companies and not with the big banks and PLCs. A second option would be simply to accept employment contract(s) with your end client(s). Alternatively, you could choose to work under an umbrella company where they deduct your taxes and pay over to HMRC.

What if HMRC suspects fraud?

With the private sector IR35, HMRC has recently announced that it will only use the information it gathers from the new rules to open an enquiry into earlier years if there is reason to suspect fraud or criminal activity. This will be welcome news for contractors who are worried that a change in their status stipulated by their private sector client will lead to costly investigation. But bear in mind that the offence of fraud (or cheating the public revenue) is wide ranging and can catch behaviours including withholding PAYE/NI and failing to disclose income.

In the context of IR35, it is not yet clear how HMRC will view a situation where PAYE/NI is not accounted for and where deemed payment income is not disclosed. With the complex rules around IR35, it is envisaged that HMRC will adopt a pragmatic approach.

Closing your limited company

Unfortunately, it may turn out to be the case that many contractors find the new rules lead them to close their limited companies.

If you have cash in your company you need think about the tax efficient way of closing the company. It may well be that you can pay only 10% tax on the funds left in the company rather than high income tax rates. Seek tax advice in this scenario, as HMRC may argue the point.

Jonathan Amponsah is Founder and CEO of The Tax Guys

• Here's our list of the best free accounting software around

Xiaomi sub-brand Redmi unveiled its first-ever fitness band in China today at the ongoing Mi Fan Festival 2020. It’s dubbed as the Redmi Band, and it comes at a super affordable price of only 99 Yuan ($14). However, Redmi will be holding a crowdfunding campaign on April 9, where the band will be priced at 95 Yuan ($13). The Mi Fan Festival also saw several other Xiaomi products unveiled today in the IoT category, such as smart TVs, washing machines, and smart air conditioners. 

Redmi’s first fitness tracker comes with a 1.08-inch color display, and the module is fitted in an edgy rectangular dial, unlike Xiaomi’s fitness bands, which are rather pill-shaped and round. Now, a lot of specifics about the hardware are still unavailable; hence we don’t know the exact resolution of the display. However, we do know that the company promises 14-day battery life from a single charge. The Redmi Band charges via a USB-A port at the end of the chassis itself, which means you won’t have to go looking for chargers.

Being a fitness tracker, Redmi has loaded the band with an optical heart rate sensor. It’s a given that the wearable will be able to track your myriad daily activities such as running, swimming, and more. In comparison to the Mi Band 4, the Redmi Band lacks NFC. The strap is available in four colors, black, blue, red, and brown.

Other noteworthy launches today include two new Xiaomi smart TVs – the Xiaomi 75 inch Full-Screen TV Pro, a 60 inch model for the Mi TV 4A, and Mi Air 2S wireless earbuds. The Mi TV 4A will cost 1,999 Yuan ( ~$281) while the 75-inch model costs 5,999 Yuan (~$845).

• Report: India sees no bump in Wifi consumption on mobile during lockdown

Looking for where to buy Ring Fit Adventure? You may have found that Nintendo's exercise game is hard to come by right now, as most retailers are out of stock. Nintendo has even noted on its official store that "availability is extremely limited".

Finding Ring Fit Adventure in the US or Australia, without paying an extortionate price, is pretty much impossible. However, there's still some stock in the UK.

This is made more difficult by the fact you can't simply buy the Ring Fit Adventure game as a digital download, you need to purchase the physical edition as it comes bundled with the Ring Fit peripheral that you require to actually play the game. 

We've scoured the web to find where you can still buy Ring Fit Adventure. While we've currently found no stock in the US, we will update you as soon as they return. Plus, we'll also let you know where to buy Ring Fit Adventure once that stock does return. It's worth noting that while you can find people selling the game on the likes of eBay, we want to make sure to offer you legitimate retailers – that won't charge you much more than the game's $79 / £64.99 / AU$125 RRP.

• The best Ring Fit Adventure prices and deals in April 2020

Where to buy Ring Fit Adventure: the last remaining Ring Fit Adventure stock

From what we've seen, all Ring Fit Adventure is out of stock completely in the US and Australia. However you can still buy the game from Argos in the UK – if you act fast.

Ring Fit Adventure alternatives

Ring Fit Adventure may be sold out but you can still pick up Nintendo Fitness Boxing right now, which offers rhythm-based boxing exercises that are loads of fun – and will definitely have you breaking a sweat. We had a personal trainer test it out and they found it provided a great workout.

Here are the best deals on Nintendo Fitness Boxing in your region:

What is Ring Fit Adventure and why is it selling out?

Ring Fit Adventure is a fitness game from Nintendo for the Switch- although it is marketed as a game first and exercise second.

The action-RPG game sees you real-life squatting, crunching and downward-dogging your way to success, as you set out on a quest to defeat a hench, bodybuilding dragon called Dragaux. And that's just the story mode, there are also plenty of mini-games and individual workouts to focus on specific parts of your body. 

The game comes with a Ring Fit (imagine a pilates ring) that lets you slide one Joy-Con controller into the ring and another into a strap that you fasten to your leg. This allows the game to track how hard you're working – and you'll work hard.

Ring Fit Adventure is great fun for the whole family, but most importantly helps you get your daily dose of exercise. It's likely that the game is like gold-dust to find due to the number of people stuck at home due to the Covid-19 pandemic, who want to make their workouts a bit more exciting.

TechRadar has contacted Nintendo for comment on when Ring Fit Adventure stock will return. We will update you with the official response as soon as we get it.

• Where to buy a Nintendo Switch: where you can still get a Switch Lite right now

The Grand National is the biggest event on the UK horse racing calendar, but sadly Aintree will be empty in this year due to the coronavirus pandemic. However, as has been the case since 2017, a simulated virtual race is scheduled to run alongside the real-life contest – and not even Covid-19 can cancel a CGI-powered steeplechase! Here's how to live stream the Virtual Grand National 2020 online or on TV from anywhere in the world.

In last year's Virtual Grand National, Rathvinden triumphed, while eventual 2019 winner Tiger Roll came in second. The CGI-powered race was right on the money in 2018, though, when the Michael O'Leary-owned horse won both races in nearly identical circumstances.

And while Tiger Roll won't get a chance to seal a historic third consecutive Grand National this year – a feat not even Red Rum managed – he is the bookies favourite in the virtual race at 5/1. Any Second Now is also fancied with odds of 10/1, as are Burrows Saint (12/1) and Definitely Red (14/1). Still, with a 40-strong field of runners as usual, it's safe to say that the Virtual Grand National stands to be every bit as unpredictable as the real thing.

• Place a Grand National bet at Betway
• Place a Grand National bet at Paddy Power
• Place a Grand National bet at Betfair

Those looking to enjoy their annual flutter and bet on the Virtual Grand National 2020 should know that all profits from this year's event are being donated to NHS Charities Together – and as a result bookmakers are limiting bets to £10, either to win or each-way. 

In addition to the main race, ITV's coverage – which is led by Nick Luck and features Alice Plunkett and Richard Pitman – will also include a special race of champions pitting some of the greatest National winners of all-time against each other. Now, let's look at how to watch the Virtual Grand National this weekend.

• Discover our pick of the very best sports streaming sites

How to watch the Grand National for free: UK stream

Watch the Virtual Grand National online from outside your country

This scenario is less likely than it used to be, for sure, but if you do happen to be away from the UK for whatever reason, don’t worry. You can still tune in to ITV's coverage of the 2020 Virtual Grand National live from anywhere in the world.  

The secret is to download and install a VPN , which will let you change your IP address to one in the UK and head over to ITV’s website or a streaming site like TVPlayer.com. Here's how to watch a Virtual Grand National live stream using a VPN in three simple steps.

Virtual Grand National odds 2020 – runners and latest betting guide

As we've said, Tiger Roll is the current favourite to win the Virtual Grand National at 5/1.  Victory on a computer screen would be scant consolation for such a legendary horse, though – one who has been denied his chance at a record third consecutive Grand National victory. Times are more than complicated at the moment, but you have to feel for the 10-year-old Irish Thoroughbred and his trainer, Gordon Elliott. 

Any Second Now is also heavily fancied and looks decent value for an each-way bet at 10/1.

There's a full list of Virtual Grand National odds below to help you spend your £10 wisely in 2020, with each of the below bookies taking bets online:

• Betway
• Paddy Power
• Betfair

Please gamble responsibly. For help, support and advice about problem gambling contact the National Gambling Helpline free on 0808 8020 133 or via the Live Chat.

1 Tiger Roll, 5-1

2 Bristol De Mai, 20-1

3 Aso, 66-1

4 Elegant Escape, 20-1

5 Anibale Fly, 20-1

6 Top Ville Ben, 45-1

7 Beware The Bear, 33-1

8 Peregrine Run, 66-1

9 Jett, 50-1

10 Alpha Des Obeaux, 25-1

11 Total Recall, 40-1

12 The Storyteller, 40-1

13 Magic Of Light, 18-1

14 Talkischeap, 25-1

15 Yala Enki, 28-1

16 Ballyoptic, 25-1

17 Burrows Saint, 12-1

18 Definitly Red, 14-1

19 Sub Lieutenant, 33-1

20 Ok Corral, 25-1

21 Tout Est Permis, 80-1

22 Vintage Clouds, 33/1

23 Crievehill, 66-1

24 Lake View Lad, 50-1

25 Jury Duty, 40-1

26 Pleasant Company, 28-1

27 Acapella Bourgeois, 33-1

28 Shattered Love, 66-1

29 Any Second Now, 10-1

30 Potters Corner, 18-1

31 Dounikos, 50-1

32 Kildisart, 50-1

33 Death Duty, 50-1

34 Ramses De Teillee, 66-1

35 Valtor, 66-1

36 Saint Xavier, 66-1

37 Warriors Tale, 80-1

38 Double Shuffle, 100-1

39 Kimberlite Candy, 16-1

40 Walk In The Mill, 16-1

We’ve all started realizing the value of artists and creators in this lockdown period in keeping us entertained and occupied. However, not all of them may have the necessary equipment to continue producing content. Dolby On aims to solve that for musicians.

Dolby On, which is now available for Android users in India, is designed for artists to easily record and share audio content with superior Dolby sound quality. The created tracks can not only be shared on social media but also live-streamed on Facebook as well as Twitch. This functionality will soon be rolled out to Android. Snippets can also be shared as Instagram Stories along with a visualizer.

Dolby On is supposed to provide a simple user experience, where the user can focus on the creation and the app will take care of the editing to make it sound better. After analyzing the audio, effects such as compression, EQ, limiting, noise reduction, stereo widening, de-essing and more are applied. Moreover, users can also choose to apply “Styles” to tune the song according to their preference and the genre of music. There is no option to mix tracks or combine vocals and the music separately, but those can be individually exported onto other apps for a proper mixing experience 

We reached out to Ashim Mathur, Senior Regional Director Marketing, Emerging Markets, Dolby Laboratories, to get a deeper understanding of how Dolby On works and how to get the most out of it. 

The app can also record videos and record the music at the same time. He suggests following the best practices such as focussing on composition, having adequate light, and having an object (such as a tripod) to stabilize your shots. While recording, the app also shows the level meter, so you know to control your output when it turns red, to avoid distortion. It can be done by actually reducing the output or moving farther away from the phone. While live-streaming, it is recommended to have a secondary device nearby to check if the stream is fine and to interact with the viewers. While the app is designed to get the most out of your phone’s microphones, external mics can also be added.

He also explained why the audio is output in MPEG4 format and not MP3. “While MP3 focuses on audio compression only, MP4 files are containers which can deliver multimedia content including video, audio, stills, and subtitles.” Audio is stored as AAC files that support higher frequencies and higher coding efficiencies, even at the same bitrate. 

Dolby On is entirely free on both platforms and has no ads or branding when shared externally. Our inquiry on why there was no apparent business model was met with “the app is to support musicians and content creators today who don’t have an easy way to capture great sound. We are not looking at monetizing the app.”

We’ve seen numerous artists try to create more content from their homes during this period for their audience. Using apps like these can help them improve their output quality with minimal effort.

• What is Dolby Vision? Netflix's chosen HDR format for TV and films explained
• Best soundbars for TV, movies and music in India in 2020

As the Nintendo Switch receives more and more hit games from other home consoles – whether that’s the demanding Doom Eternal, the massive The Witcher 3 RPG, or indie platformer Cuphead – many gamers may be asking what other PS4 games or Xbox One games could make their way to the humble hybrid console.

Xbox boss Phil Spencer has attempted to temper those expectations, though, saying in an IGN podcast that he wanted to bring the conversation back to games on Xbox, rather than what other platform they might end up on.

• Here are the best Xbox One games
• Xbox Series X release date: when will the next-gen Xbox launch?
• Halo Infinite: what we know about the next Halo game

”I think more and more about what does a full Xbox experience mean on different platforms,” said Spencer. “Right now, it seems like when any game comes out, there's that, ‘is this one going here, is this one going there’. I'd rather be able to set more of an Xbox-level expectation for our fans on where things are going to go.”

Spencer added: “I thought we did that with our first party when we talked about games shipping on Xbox and PC, and I got some blow-back from certain people in certain groups on that, but at least we set an expectation on that. 

”I'd rather see us get to that point on the different pieces of hardware we're on, so I guess I'll kind of leave it there.”

A second life on Switch

A big part of the appeal of cross-platform releases, whether they happen on launch day or take a few years, is that the audience of a game gets much larger. It’s usually a lot better for the reach of a game not to be tied to one platform – and the bestselling Nintendo Switch console has certainly got the interest of developers who may not have seen themselves publishing on a Nintendo machine before.

The Switch has upended expectations about what kinds of ports are possible, too, with a host of Bethesda games such as Doom and Wolfenstein: The New Order coming to the platform despite being quite technically-demanding AAA shooters. Running The Witcher 3 on a Switch’s processor is no mean feat, either, even if the port arrived a good four years after the gamer’s initial release.

It makes sense that Spencer wants the hype around an Xbox game to be about Xbox, rather than Nintendo; however, especially when the architecture of competing consoles is getting more similar with each generation, and exclusivity to specific platforms or time frames is largely arbitrary, fans are going to be expecting more collaboration between the likes of Xbox and Nintendo going forward, not less.

Don't have a Nintendo Switch? Check out the latest Nintendo Switch Lite prices below:

• Here are the best Nintendo Switch games

Businesses have been forced to quickly adapt in order to keep operating during the global coronavirus outbreak. For instance companies that were reluctant to implement remote working policies in the past have now been forced to do so quickly as governments around the world have ordered their citizens to stay at home.

To learn more about how businesses have been disrupted by the outbreak and the complications that could arise while working from home, TechRadar Pro spoke with the president of TeamViewer Americas, Finn Faldi.

• Could remote working be the future of work?
• How to work from home: the mouse, monitor, keyboard and router you need
• Also check out the best remote desktop software

• We've also highlighted the best online collaboration tools