A top iOS executive has moved on from Apple.
On his LinkedIn profile, Henri Lamiraux has set his status to "retired (iOS
Engineering Vice President - Apple)." The departure was first reported by
9to5Mac, which cited the LinkedIn page and an unspecified source but also said
that it had received confirmation from Lamiraux via e-mail.
Lamiraux told 9to5Mac that he retired from Apple within the last "couple of
weeks," having decided that iOS 7 would be his final release. Apple made iOS 7
available to users in mid-September.
As a top overseer of iOS operations at Apple, Lamiraux had a hand in many
areas. According to 9to5 Mac:
Sources within Apple's iOS division say Lamiraux is respected and he was in
charge of developing the applications that come with iOS. The executive also led
feature-implementation across the operating system, and he managed both
bug-fixing processes and feature distribution to consumers. He also managed the
frameworks within the operating system that power features and allow developers
to build applications.
Lamiraux had been at Apple for 23 years, according to 9to5Mac.
We've reached out to Apple for comment and will update this story with any
response.
Sunday, 3 November 2013
Every small business is distinctive and has unique desires
The percentage of Computer users running Windows eight.1 doubled in a
month’s time, according to the latest October information compiled by metrics
firm Net Applications.
Not surprisingly, that is nevertheless just a tiny fraction from the all round Computer market: 1.72 percent, as measured by the firm. But combined using the quantity of users running Windows eight, the combined industry share from the Windows eight.x OS topped 9.25 percent. At its current pace, that share should prime ten percent by the finish with the year. (In September, Windows eight commanded eight.02 percent, and Windows 8.1 0.87 percent, for any combined share of eight.89 %.)
And sorry, Linux: Windows eight.1 now tops you, too. Linux commanded 1.61 percent of all PCs measured by Net Applications for the month of October. Mac OS X 10.eight was utilised by 3.31 percent of users, Net Applications discovered.
Of course, the terrible news for Microsoft is that its two older operating systems continue to dominate the Computer landscape. In line with Net Applications’s figures, greater than 46 % of users run Windows 7, and 31.24 % of customers continue to run Windows XP. Each numbers dropped much less than a percent from a month ago.
XP’s marketshare is undoubtedly by far the most troubling, considering that Microsoft will discontinue support for Windows XP by subsequent April, leaving the 13-year-old operating system with out any way of being patched. The “XPocalypse” will leave PCs within a “zero day forever” mode, exposing them to any and all future vulnerabilities. Businesses beginning to panic have selected Windows 7 as a stopgap, even so.
“Since Windows 8 launched, our guidance to company shoppers has been to continue Windows 7 migrations that are currently in approach,” a Microsoft representative told PCWorld within a statement last month. “We suggest our consumers continue these deployments and take into consideration Windows eight in targeted scenarios where it cheap windows 8 professional pack makes essentially the most sense, such as hugely mobile workers. As Windows 8 launched significantly less than a year ago, we are nonetheless seeing plenty of corporations completing those planned Windows 7 migrations now.
“Every small business is distinctive and has unique desires,” the Microsoft representative added. “The most significant factor is that organizations move off XP before April eight, 2014, and onto a modern operating system, and moving to Windows 7 won't only make sure that prospects remain on a supported version of Windows, however they are going to be on a path to Windows 8 and may make the most of innovations in the Windows 7 platform, like enhanced safety and control, enhanced user productivity, and streamlined Pc management.”
However, there’s about five months just before the XPocalypse draws nigh. Although Microsoft stands to benefit in the shift-31 percent in the Computer user base stands to upgrade to anything, no matter whether it be Windows eight or Windows 7-there’s a true threat to users who remain on the older OS. It is worth remembering-again-that if you are one of these impacted, think about making an upgrade to a newer OS a priority.
Not surprisingly, that is nevertheless just a tiny fraction from the all round Computer market: 1.72 percent, as measured by the firm. But combined using the quantity of users running Windows eight, the combined industry share from the Windows eight.x OS topped 9.25 percent. At its current pace, that share should prime ten percent by the finish with the year. (In September, Windows eight commanded eight.02 percent, and Windows 8.1 0.87 percent, for any combined share of eight.89 %.)
And sorry, Linux: Windows eight.1 now tops you, too. Linux commanded 1.61 percent of all PCs measured by Net Applications for the month of October. Mac OS X 10.eight was utilised by 3.31 percent of users, Net Applications discovered.
Of course, the terrible news for Microsoft is that its two older operating systems continue to dominate the Computer landscape. In line with Net Applications’s figures, greater than 46 % of users run Windows 7, and 31.24 % of customers continue to run Windows XP. Each numbers dropped much less than a percent from a month ago.
XP’s marketshare is undoubtedly by far the most troubling, considering that Microsoft will discontinue support for Windows XP by subsequent April, leaving the 13-year-old operating system with out any way of being patched. The “XPocalypse” will leave PCs within a “zero day forever” mode, exposing them to any and all future vulnerabilities. Businesses beginning to panic have selected Windows 7 as a stopgap, even so.
“Since Windows 8 launched, our guidance to company shoppers has been to continue Windows 7 migrations that are currently in approach,” a Microsoft representative told PCWorld within a statement last month. “We suggest our consumers continue these deployments and take into consideration Windows eight in targeted scenarios where it cheap windows 8 professional pack makes essentially the most sense, such as hugely mobile workers. As Windows 8 launched significantly less than a year ago, we are nonetheless seeing plenty of corporations completing those planned Windows 7 migrations now.
“Every small business is distinctive and has unique desires,” the Microsoft representative added. “The most significant factor is that organizations move off XP before April eight, 2014, and onto a modern operating system, and moving to Windows 7 won't only make sure that prospects remain on a supported version of Windows, however they are going to be on a path to Windows 8 and may make the most of innovations in the Windows 7 platform, like enhanced safety and control, enhanced user productivity, and streamlined Pc management.”
However, there’s about five months just before the XPocalypse draws nigh. Although Microsoft stands to benefit in the shift-31 percent in the Computer user base stands to upgrade to anything, no matter whether it be Windows eight or Windows 7-there’s a true threat to users who remain on the older OS. It is worth remembering-again-that if you are one of these impacted, think about making an upgrade to a newer OS a priority.
Monday, 14 October 2013
Telstra: Microsoft's Windows Live email is not as good as we thought
Telstra CEO David Thodey said in the company's annual general meeting on
Tuesday that the decision to move the company's BigPond customers to Microsoft's
Windows Live email service is not performing as well as anticipated.
Responding to a shareholder's question, the CEO said that the move had been straightforward for new users of the service, but issues had been seen in existing customers that had been on the service when it moved to the Microsoft platform in February last year.
"It's caused us to go back and relook at what we're doing now," Thodey said.
"The background to the decision was that we had built our own email platform ... and we were challenged to keep it up to date with the sort of functionality we thought we'd need to have in an integrated messaging world."
"So we took the decision to white-label, in effect, the Microsoft platform."
"It's been OK, but not as good as we thought it was going to be."
Thodey said that due to the issues encountered with the switch, the company will be reviewing any future plans.
"The decision when we made it seemed right, and we are going to review where we go to in the future."
NBN contracts
Earlier in the AGM, Telstra reiterated its previous statements that it would be focused on maintaining shareholder value should any renegotiation of its AU$11 billion National Broadband Network (NBN) agreement occur following NBN Co's 60-day review, which is expected to report in early December.
"A move to predominantly use fibre to the node in the rollout of the NBN could result in the renegotiation of some aspects of our Definitive Agreements," said Telstra chairperson Catherine Livingstone.
"In the meantime, Telstra will continue to fulfil the obligations set out for us in the existing agreements, and continue to work constructively with the government and NBN Co in the best interests of our shareholders."
Last month, Thodey called for a quick resolution to any renegotiation between Telstra and NBN Co.
The existing arrangement between Telstra and NBN Co gives NBN Co access to Telstra's pit and ducts infrastructure for the NBN rollout, and pays Telstra each time a customer is transferred over from the copper network onto the NBN.
For NBN Co to switch from a fibre-to-the-premises network to a fibre-to-the-node network, the deal would have to be restructured to give NBN Co access to the last section of Telstra's cooper line from the node to the premises.
Remediation work for the NBN was suspended earlier this year, with the discovery of poor asbestos handling practices.
Addressing the issue today, Thodey said that asbestos was not a new issue.
"We have known about asbestos, carefully tracked its management, and extensively trained staff, with well-established safety procedures in place for employees and contractors," he said.
"Remediation work on our pits stopped as soon as we identified concerns with the work practices used by some of our contractors. We have taken steps to absolutely minimise the risk of such incidents occurring again."
"Our priority has been — and remains — the safety of our employees, contractors, and the general public."
The CEO said that the asbestos issues have made no impact on the company's financials.
The company forecast "low single-digit" growth in revenue and profit, with capital expenditure to be maintained at 15 percent of sales due to the build out of the company's 4G network and completing the NBN transit network.
Telstra reported that its cloud services had grown by 33 percent last financial year, and the company would be looking to continue that growth by making acquisitions and investments in datacentres.
Responding to a shareholder's question, the CEO said that the move had been straightforward for new users of the service, but issues had been seen in existing customers that had been on the service when it moved to the Microsoft platform in February last year.
"It's caused us to go back and relook at what we're doing now," Thodey said.
"The background to the decision was that we had built our own email platform ... and we were challenged to keep it up to date with the sort of functionality we thought we'd need to have in an integrated messaging world."
"So we took the decision to white-label, in effect, the Microsoft platform."
"It's been OK, but not as good as we thought it was going to be."
Thodey said that due to the issues encountered with the switch, the company will be reviewing any future plans.
"The decision when we made it seemed right, and we are going to review where we go to in the future."
NBN contracts
Earlier in the AGM, Telstra reiterated its previous statements that it would be focused on maintaining shareholder value should any renegotiation of its AU$11 billion National Broadband Network (NBN) agreement occur following NBN Co's 60-day review, which is expected to report in early December.
"A move to predominantly use fibre to the node in the rollout of the NBN could result in the renegotiation of some aspects of our Definitive Agreements," said Telstra chairperson Catherine Livingstone.
"In the meantime, Telstra will continue to fulfil the obligations set out for us in the existing agreements, and continue to work constructively with the government and NBN Co in the best interests of our shareholders."
Last month, Thodey called for a quick resolution to any renegotiation between Telstra and NBN Co.
The existing arrangement between Telstra and NBN Co gives NBN Co access to Telstra's pit and ducts infrastructure for the NBN rollout, and pays Telstra each time a customer is transferred over from the copper network onto the NBN.
For NBN Co to switch from a fibre-to-the-premises network to a fibre-to-the-node network, the deal would have to be restructured to give NBN Co access to the last section of Telstra's cooper line from the node to the premises.
Remediation work for the NBN was suspended earlier this year, with the discovery of poor asbestos handling practices.
Addressing the issue today, Thodey said that asbestos was not a new issue.
"We have known about asbestos, carefully tracked its management, and extensively trained staff, with well-established safety procedures in place for employees and contractors," he said.
"Remediation work on our pits stopped as soon as we identified concerns with the work practices used by some of our contractors. We have taken steps to absolutely minimise the risk of such incidents occurring again."
"Our priority has been — and remains — the safety of our employees, contractors, and the general public."
The CEO said that the asbestos issues have made no impact on the company's financials.
The company forecast "low single-digit" growth in revenue and profit, with capital expenditure to be maintained at 15 percent of sales due to the build out of the company's 4G network and completing the NBN transit network.
Telstra reported that its cloud services had grown by 33 percent last financial year, and the company would be looking to continue that growth by making acquisitions and investments in datacentres.
Microsoft pleaded for patience in getting its Windows Phone
The optimist would say that Windows Phone's prospects have under no
circumstances been brighter. The pessimist would disagree.
On the vibrant side, Microsoft just announced Windows Telephone eight Update 3, which incorporates new support for quad-core CPUs and phablets that aids retain its spec lists searching fresh. In addition, the buyout of Nokia's smartphone arm will bring Redmond's largest hardware ally totally into the fold, all although BlackBerry's apparent demise topples the competition for third-largest ecosystem. All this offers the software giant a likelihood to no less than double Windows Phone growth by 2017.
On the other hand, Windows Phone adoption has been slow, using the OS fighting for much less than ten % of mobile's worldwide market share, while Android and iOS gobble up the overwhelming majority.
Also, Microsoft has a challenge with partners. Right now it really is attempting to woo back HTC to when again expand the Windows Phone ecosystem. If that fails office 2010 professional plus key, Microsoft might be the only outfit making Windows phones. That single-source method may well operate for Apple, but even the iPhone is getting a difficult time standing as much as Android's diverse and seemingly inexhaustible players.
Back in 2010, and once again in 2011, Microsoft pleaded for patience in getting its Windows Phone off the ground. But this year, the latest update's most visible enhancements are a modified interface for extra-large phones as well as the capability to close apps in multitasking mode. You also can customize text tones by make contact with.
That is hardly hearty fare, but Microsoft points out that they are the most-wanted additions requested by fans.
Even so, Windows Telephone buyers also clamor to get a notification center, a file manager, a private assistant, far better storage help for microSD cards, and indicator lights that signal missed calls and alerts. Numerous of these have been requested because the OS debuted and have lengthy existed on Android and iOS.
Then there is Skype, the other company that Microsoft purchased in 2011 (and for 1.three billion greater than Nokia), but the corporation has however to integrate it into Windows smartphones by default to counter Apple's FaceTime as well as Google Plus Hangouts. Yes, Windows Telephone eight Skype customers can place calls in the Men and women hub, soon after initially downloading the app. What I am talking about is producing this an out-of-the-box function.
We do know, a minimum of, that Microsoft is really hard at function on a individual assistant of its personal called Cortana, which understands natural language and will replace the legacy TellMe voice input currently in use.
Microsoft's subsequent update really should be a significant a single that involves this private assistant, notification center, and Skype integration in the really least. After the Nokia acquisition is full (assuming it gets shareholder and regulatory approval), Windows Phone ought to quickly incorporate Nokia-designed software tools, like its camera add-ons, in to the native OS knowledge.
From exactly where I sit, Microsoft's largest asset -- and challenge -- is usually to take the significant dangers that make a corporation stand out as a player worth paying consideration to. After the transition, the Windows Phone team should not only use, but push Nokia's venerable style philosophy into edgier territory.
Microsoft really should waste no time funding projects that explore and apply new finishes and components (like continuing its work on graphene), publish a handful of wacky proofs of concept (like this one from 2011, also under), and possibly make a high-end luxury telephone of its own.
Why? Microsoft's Windows Phone project has spent its lifetime being reactionary, wanting to catch as much as Apple and Google devoid of truly managing to help keep pace. This is not the time for you to be conservative with cookie-cutter style and functions that happen to be just fantastic sufficient.
On the vibrant side, Microsoft just announced Windows Telephone eight Update 3, which incorporates new support for quad-core CPUs and phablets that aids retain its spec lists searching fresh. In addition, the buyout of Nokia's smartphone arm will bring Redmond's largest hardware ally totally into the fold, all although BlackBerry's apparent demise topples the competition for third-largest ecosystem. All this offers the software giant a likelihood to no less than double Windows Phone growth by 2017.
On the other hand, Windows Phone adoption has been slow, using the OS fighting for much less than ten % of mobile's worldwide market share, while Android and iOS gobble up the overwhelming majority.
Also, Microsoft has a challenge with partners. Right now it really is attempting to woo back HTC to when again expand the Windows Phone ecosystem. If that fails office 2010 professional plus key, Microsoft might be the only outfit making Windows phones. That single-source method may well operate for Apple, but even the iPhone is getting a difficult time standing as much as Android's diverse and seemingly inexhaustible players.
Back in 2010, and once again in 2011, Microsoft pleaded for patience in getting its Windows Phone off the ground. But this year, the latest update's most visible enhancements are a modified interface for extra-large phones as well as the capability to close apps in multitasking mode. You also can customize text tones by make contact with.
That is hardly hearty fare, but Microsoft points out that they are the most-wanted additions requested by fans.
Even so, Windows Telephone buyers also clamor to get a notification center, a file manager, a private assistant, far better storage help for microSD cards, and indicator lights that signal missed calls and alerts. Numerous of these have been requested because the OS debuted and have lengthy existed on Android and iOS.
Then there is Skype, the other company that Microsoft purchased in 2011 (and for 1.three billion greater than Nokia), but the corporation has however to integrate it into Windows smartphones by default to counter Apple's FaceTime as well as Google Plus Hangouts. Yes, Windows Telephone eight Skype customers can place calls in the Men and women hub, soon after initially downloading the app. What I am talking about is producing this an out-of-the-box function.
We do know, a minimum of, that Microsoft is really hard at function on a individual assistant of its personal called Cortana, which understands natural language and will replace the legacy TellMe voice input currently in use.
Microsoft's subsequent update really should be a significant a single that involves this private assistant, notification center, and Skype integration in the really least. After the Nokia acquisition is full (assuming it gets shareholder and regulatory approval), Windows Phone ought to quickly incorporate Nokia-designed software tools, like its camera add-ons, in to the native OS knowledge.
From exactly where I sit, Microsoft's largest asset -- and challenge -- is usually to take the significant dangers that make a corporation stand out as a player worth paying consideration to. After the transition, the Windows Phone team should not only use, but push Nokia's venerable style philosophy into edgier territory.
Microsoft really should waste no time funding projects that explore and apply new finishes and components (like continuing its work on graphene), publish a handful of wacky proofs of concept (like this one from 2011, also under), and possibly make a high-end luxury telephone of its own.
Why? Microsoft's Windows Phone project has spent its lifetime being reactionary, wanting to catch as much as Apple and Google devoid of truly managing to help keep pace. This is not the time for you to be conservative with cookie-cutter style and functions that happen to be just fantastic sufficient.
Saturday, 28 September 2013
Microsoft's Surface 2 launch: What to expect
On Monday, September 23, Microsoft will be launching (but not shipping) its
next-generation Surface tablets at an invitation-only event in New York
City.
In the past few weeks, lots of leaks have revealed much of what's expected to debut at the launch. Although Microsoft officials haven't commented on or confirmed these specs, I've heard and seen information that leads me to believe they are correct.
The new Surfaces are going to look almost identical to the current Surfaces, as they are going to use the same 10.6-inch screens and VaporMg casing and be compatible with the same snap-on keyboard/covers that the current Surfaces use.
They will have the same number of USB ports and they won't support LTE, just WiFi. The Surface 2, the successor to Surface RT, will be an ARM-based (Tegra 4) tablet with an estimated eight hours of battery life. It will feature a new ClearType full HD display, the one that debuted on the Surface Pro earlier this year. The Surface Pro 2, the successor to the Surface Pro, will run an Intel Core i5-based Haswell processor, and allegedly get seven hours of battery life instead of just four to five hours.
Windows SuperSite editor Paul Thurrott has the full list of expected Surface 2 and Surface Pro 2 specs, including weight, thickness, ports, etc.
The more interesting part of Monday's Surface launch, in my view, are the new Surface peripherals. In spite of Microsoft's claims last year that the company had no intentions of making a Surface Pro docking station, they built one. The new Surface docking station is expected to work with Surface Pro and Surface Pro 2 models only. It is expected to include one USB 3 and three USB 2 ports, according to leaks.
And the expected Surface Power Cover -- a thicker version of the Surface Type cover/keyboard, is coming, too. This cover will include a built-in battery that will extend the battery life of Surface Pro and Surface Pro 2 devices by some (still unknown) amount. I'm expecting new Touch and Type covers in a variety of colors at Monday's launch, too.
What about pricing and availability?
There are two big questions going into Microsoft's Surface 2 launch: Device availability and pricing. Obviously, Microsoft execs aren't commenting on either.
I've heard from one of my sources who has been in the loop on Surface information (and asked to remain anonymous) that both the Surface 2 and Surface Pro 2 may be generally available on or around October 22 -- right around the time Window 8.1 is generally available, which is October 18.
I don't know if Microsoft will take preorders. I also don't have any information as to what the international and/or reseller distribution strategies look like. Microsoft was slow to make the first-generation Surfaces available outside the U.S. I am not sure what's changed in the company's distribution plans or capabilities on that front.
According to my source, it sounds like there are no huge price cuts in the works, which will surely disappoint those who've been expecting the so-so reception of first-generation Surfaces to have made Microsoft rethink its Surface pricing.
The aforementioned source told me that Microsoft is planning to continue to sell its first-generation Surfaces alongside its new Surfaces. The supposed plan is to keep Surface RT pricing at its current level ($349.99 for the 32GB model with no cover included) and introduce the 32GB Surface 2 at $499. A 64 GB Surface 2 will start at $599, the source said.
The Surface Pro will continue to start at $799. Surface Pro 2 will start at $899 for a 64GB version, according to the aforementioned source. There will be 128 GB, 256 GB and 512 GB models available at $999, $1,299 and $1,699, respectively, according to this source.
Touch and Type covers are still going to be priced separately, from what I've heard, as will the docking station.
I initially shared some of this pricing information as my"Rumor of the Week" on yesterday's recording of Windows Weekly (as some eagle-eared live listeners heard).
Keep in mind, this pricing and availability information is fromone source only. The actual pricing/availability -- if Microsoft announces that information on Monday -- may be different.
Monday's Surface 2 event won't be streamed live, according to Microsoft. But I'll be filing and blogging from it, starting around 10:30 a.m. ET on September 23. Also: The Surface team will be doing a Reddit Ask Me Anything (AMA) on September 23 at 3 p.m. EST, as well, where anyone can submit questions.
In the past few weeks, lots of leaks have revealed much of what's expected to debut at the launch. Although Microsoft officials haven't commented on or confirmed these specs, I've heard and seen information that leads me to believe they are correct.
The new Surfaces are going to look almost identical to the current Surfaces, as they are going to use the same 10.6-inch screens and VaporMg casing and be compatible with the same snap-on keyboard/covers that the current Surfaces use.
They will have the same number of USB ports and they won't support LTE, just WiFi. The Surface 2, the successor to Surface RT, will be an ARM-based (Tegra 4) tablet with an estimated eight hours of battery life. It will feature a new ClearType full HD display, the one that debuted on the Surface Pro earlier this year. The Surface Pro 2, the successor to the Surface Pro, will run an Intel Core i5-based Haswell processor, and allegedly get seven hours of battery life instead of just four to five hours.
Windows SuperSite editor Paul Thurrott has the full list of expected Surface 2 and Surface Pro 2 specs, including weight, thickness, ports, etc.
The more interesting part of Monday's Surface launch, in my view, are the new Surface peripherals. In spite of Microsoft's claims last year that the company had no intentions of making a Surface Pro docking station, they built one. The new Surface docking station is expected to work with Surface Pro and Surface Pro 2 models only. It is expected to include one USB 3 and three USB 2 ports, according to leaks.
And the expected Surface Power Cover -- a thicker version of the Surface Type cover/keyboard, is coming, too. This cover will include a built-in battery that will extend the battery life of Surface Pro and Surface Pro 2 devices by some (still unknown) amount. I'm expecting new Touch and Type covers in a variety of colors at Monday's launch, too.
What about pricing and availability?
There are two big questions going into Microsoft's Surface 2 launch: Device availability and pricing. Obviously, Microsoft execs aren't commenting on either.
I've heard from one of my sources who has been in the loop on Surface information (and asked to remain anonymous) that both the Surface 2 and Surface Pro 2 may be generally available on or around October 22 -- right around the time Window 8.1 is generally available, which is October 18.
I don't know if Microsoft will take preorders. I also don't have any information as to what the international and/or reseller distribution strategies look like. Microsoft was slow to make the first-generation Surfaces available outside the U.S. I am not sure what's changed in the company's distribution plans or capabilities on that front.
According to my source, it sounds like there are no huge price cuts in the works, which will surely disappoint those who've been expecting the so-so reception of first-generation Surfaces to have made Microsoft rethink its Surface pricing.
The aforementioned source told me that Microsoft is planning to continue to sell its first-generation Surfaces alongside its new Surfaces. The supposed plan is to keep Surface RT pricing at its current level ($349.99 for the 32GB model with no cover included) and introduce the 32GB Surface 2 at $499. A 64 GB Surface 2 will start at $599, the source said.
The Surface Pro will continue to start at $799. Surface Pro 2 will start at $899 for a 64GB version, according to the aforementioned source. There will be 128 GB, 256 GB and 512 GB models available at $999, $1,299 and $1,699, respectively, according to this source.
Touch and Type covers are still going to be priced separately, from what I've heard, as will the docking station.
I initially shared some of this pricing information as my"Rumor of the Week" on yesterday's recording of Windows Weekly (as some eagle-eared live listeners heard).
Keep in mind, this pricing and availability information is fromone source only. The actual pricing/availability -- if Microsoft announces that information on Monday -- may be different.
Monday's Surface 2 event won't be streamed live, according to Microsoft. But I'll be filing and blogging from it, starting around 10:30 a.m. ET on September 23. Also: The Surface team will be doing a Reddit Ask Me Anything (AMA) on September 23 at 3 p.m. EST, as well, where anyone can submit questions.
Windows eight and Windows Phone eight
In an work to save both of its ailing platforms, Microsoft is arranging to
combine each the Windows eight and Windows Telephone eight app stores into a
single, all-encompassing app retailer. It is not entirely clear irrespective of
whether this can result in full cross-platform compatibility for each Windows
eight and WP8 apps - like Apple’s iPhone and iPad App Shop - or if it’s a lot
more a case of designing a actually kick-ass app shop that both platforms will
then use independently of each other. In either case, the new combined app shop
will seek to rectify two enormous complaints: That Windows eight and Windows
Phone eight have poor app ecosystems, and, specifically within the case of
Windows eight, the utterly atrocious app store encounter that ordinarily leaves
you asking yourself why on earth you decided to purchase a Windows tablet rather
than an iPad.
This news comes from the usual “sources acquainted with the company’s plans,” who spoke to the Verge. In accordance with the supply, the head of Microsoft’s newly formed Operating Systems group, Terry Myerson, held a meeting exactly where he told a large number of Microsoft workers regarding the new strategy to combine the app retailers. There didn’t seem to become significantly in the way of particulars, only that the new retailer - which we’ll bet excellent funds on it being called A single Store - would come with the “next release” of Windows and Windows Telephone. This need to mean Windows Phone eight.1 and an update for Windows eight.1, both of that are due in spring 2014.
As for how the One Store will really perform, we are able to only guess. In a perfect globe, it would work like the iOS App Store: apps developed for Windows Phone 8 would be scaled up for use on Windows eight tablets, and apps especially designed for tablet interfaces would show up if you are browsing the shop on your Windows eight tablet. Apple can get away with this because its smartphones and tablets run the exact same operating program, and therefore developers can target the precise similar APIs. Windows eight and Windows Telephone eight share lots of comparable attributes, and even some low-level code, but it’s nowhere close to exactly the same degree of similarity as an iPhone and iPad.
Microsoft, for its component, has previously taken for the stage and promised a unified ecosystem - but the specifics on how such unification could possibly basically happen haven’t been forthcoming. Because it stands, in the event you create a Metro app very carefully, porting it to Windows Phone 8 might be as quick as changing a handful of lines of code. In reality, although, resulting from wildly distinctive screen sizes, UI and UX paradigms, plus a substantial range of hardware targets (from Tegra 3 and integrated GPUs, by means of to Haswell and discrete GPUs), cross-platform compatibility has remained elusive.
Unless Microsoft has a magic trick up its sleeve to enable developers to conveniently build apps that run on each platforms - a compatibility layer (emulator) of some sort, maybe - then it’s much more probably that the 1 Store will just be a brand new app shop design that may be utilised by both Windows eight and Windows Phone eight. Windows 8 sorely requirements a brand new app retailer, and if a really unified app ecosystem is coming for Windows 9 and Windows Telephone 9, then it wouldn’t hurt to have people applied towards the new app shop right now. (Read: The Windows eight Shop is broken: Here’s how you can fix it.)
Yet another possibility, as I’ve hinted at just before, is that one particular of Microsoft’s OSes may actually consume the other. As recently as last week, Microsoft’s Myerson told some analysts that we should anticipate to view Windows RT on bigger phones - and it goes the other way, also, with all the Lumia 1520 phablet operating Windows Phone. I would not be surprised if Windows/RT ultimately consumes Windows Phone, which would very neatly solve the situation of cross-platform compatibility by removing the pesky “cross” bit.
http://www.windows7prokeys.com/windows-7-ultimate-product-key-p-3528.html
This news comes from the usual “sources acquainted with the company’s plans,” who spoke to the Verge. In accordance with the supply, the head of Microsoft’s newly formed Operating Systems group, Terry Myerson, held a meeting exactly where he told a large number of Microsoft workers regarding the new strategy to combine the app retailers. There didn’t seem to become significantly in the way of particulars, only that the new retailer - which we’ll bet excellent funds on it being called A single Store - would come with the “next release” of Windows and Windows Telephone. This need to mean Windows Phone eight.1 and an update for Windows eight.1, both of that are due in spring 2014.
As for how the One Store will really perform, we are able to only guess. In a perfect globe, it would work like the iOS App Store: apps developed for Windows Phone 8 would be scaled up for use on Windows eight tablets, and apps especially designed for tablet interfaces would show up if you are browsing the shop on your Windows eight tablet. Apple can get away with this because its smartphones and tablets run the exact same operating program, and therefore developers can target the precise similar APIs. Windows eight and Windows Telephone eight share lots of comparable attributes, and even some low-level code, but it’s nowhere close to exactly the same degree of similarity as an iPhone and iPad.
Microsoft, for its component, has previously taken for the stage and promised a unified ecosystem - but the specifics on how such unification could possibly basically happen haven’t been forthcoming. Because it stands, in the event you create a Metro app very carefully, porting it to Windows Phone 8 might be as quick as changing a handful of lines of code. In reality, although, resulting from wildly distinctive screen sizes, UI and UX paradigms, plus a substantial range of hardware targets (from Tegra 3 and integrated GPUs, by means of to Haswell and discrete GPUs), cross-platform compatibility has remained elusive.
Unless Microsoft has a magic trick up its sleeve to enable developers to conveniently build apps that run on each platforms - a compatibility layer (emulator) of some sort, maybe - then it’s much more probably that the 1 Store will just be a brand new app shop design that may be utilised by both Windows eight and Windows Phone eight. Windows 8 sorely requirements a brand new app retailer, and if a really unified app ecosystem is coming for Windows 9 and Windows Telephone 9, then it wouldn’t hurt to have people applied towards the new app shop right now. (Read: The Windows eight Shop is broken: Here’s how you can fix it.)
Yet another possibility, as I’ve hinted at just before, is that one particular of Microsoft’s OSes may actually consume the other. As recently as last week, Microsoft’s Myerson told some analysts that we should anticipate to view Windows RT on bigger phones - and it goes the other way, also, with all the Lumia 1520 phablet operating Windows Phone. I would not be surprised if Windows/RT ultimately consumes Windows Phone, which would very neatly solve the situation of cross-platform compatibility by removing the pesky “cross” bit.
http://www.windows7prokeys.com/windows-7-ultimate-product-key-p-3528.html
Sunday, 18 August 2013
Church sings to members: Get off Facebook
It's Sunday, a time for you to contemplate your mortality, your maker, or
your what's left of your spirit.
If your first step is to go on Facebook to share your thoughts, please hold on.
For the members of an as-yet unnamed church choir would like to sing to you.
They'd like to sing of the perils of displaying your every minute and splaying your every bikini-clad image all over modern society's version of the parish notice board.
In a YouTube video that must be seen, heard and believed, this church choir wants you to share this one thought: "Keep Yo' Business Off Of Facebook."
The video is of imperfect quality.
However, the sentiment has a transparent holiness to it.
The lead chorister sings of life not being about posting more pictures, so that you feel like you're somehow winning.
He intones: "Those pictures that you post, you need to quit it because you're doing the most."
The fight against self-obsession might never be won. There are too many special interests involved.
There are people in this world who post their every image to Facebook.
There are people who, before they take their latest lover (about whom they know far less than they should) to dinner, post: "Date Night! With Polly McLiar @Herman Munster's Austrian restaurant."
To help you along the way, they even offer a map so that, perhaps, you can wander in and admire them having a lovely time.
The poster of this gospel-based cry from the heart -- first uploaded a month ago but now gaining some viral grip -- is conscious of the problem. He explains that this is "a new Christian classic about the pitfalls of hubris and lack of discretion in today's social media world."
Can I get an amen?
If your first step is to go on Facebook to share your thoughts, please hold on.
For the members of an as-yet unnamed church choir would like to sing to you.
They'd like to sing of the perils of displaying your every minute and splaying your every bikini-clad image all over modern society's version of the parish notice board.
In a YouTube video that must be seen, heard and believed, this church choir wants you to share this one thought: "Keep Yo' Business Off Of Facebook."
The video is of imperfect quality.
However, the sentiment has a transparent holiness to it.
The lead chorister sings of life not being about posting more pictures, so that you feel like you're somehow winning.
He intones: "Those pictures that you post, you need to quit it because you're doing the most."
The fight against self-obsession might never be won. There are too many special interests involved.
There are people in this world who post their every image to Facebook.
There are people who, before they take their latest lover (about whom they know far less than they should) to dinner, post: "Date Night! With Polly McLiar @Herman Munster's Austrian restaurant."
To help you along the way, they even offer a map so that, perhaps, you can wander in and admire them having a lovely time.
The poster of this gospel-based cry from the heart -- first uploaded a month ago but now gaining some viral grip -- is conscious of the problem. He explains that this is "a new Christian classic about the pitfalls of hubris and lack of discretion in today's social media world."
Can I get an amen?
The issue that some XP customers have is that they’re so in appreciate
Microsoft has reminded, cajoled, and pleaded with users to move off of
Windows XP just before assistance for its old OS expires next year. Now
Microsoft warns users that they might be subject to “zero-day” threats for the
rest of their lives if they do not migrate.
“The extremely very first month that Microsoft releases security updates for supported versions of Windows, attackers will reverse engineer these updates, locate the vulnerabilities, and test Windows XP to find out if it shares these vulnerabilities,” he wrote. “If it does, attackers will attempt to create exploit code that can take advantage of those vulnerabilities on Windows XP. Due to the fact a safety update will by no means grow to be available for Windows XP to address these vulnerabilities, Windows XP will essentially possess a ‘zero-day’ vulnerability forever.”
Zero-day vulnerabilities refer towards the way in which hackers can attack an operating program or other code ahead of a patch is released, fixing the vulnerability. Given that Microsoft will by no means patch Windows XP once more just after April 2014, at some point some windows 7 professional product key vulneability that affects XP will probably be discovered.
In between July 2012 and July 2013, Windows XP was an impacted solution in 45 Microsoft security bulletins. Thirty of these also affected Windows 7 and Windows eight, Rains wrote.
Rains acknowledges that some protections in XP will assist mitigate attacks, and third-party antimalware software program could possibly offer some protection.
“The challenge right here is the fact that you will in no way know, with any confidence, if the trusted computing base of your technique can basically be trusted due to the fact attackers might be armed with public expertise of zero day exploits in Windows XP that could allow them to compromise the method and possibly run the code of their selection,” Rains wrote.
That is the same argument that some have not too long ago utilised, claiming that hackers will “bank” their zero-day XP attacks until following subsequent April, then unleash them around the unprotected herds of XP machines. As Rains notes, the sophistication of malware has only improved, which means that your XP machine is a lot more vulnerable, not significantly less. PCWorld’s Answer Line columnist, Lincoln Spector, agrees.
The issue that some XP customers have is that they’re so in appreciate with the way that Windows XP does items that they’re reluctant to migrate, specifically to Windows 8. Properly, Windows 7 machines do exist, that offer functionality equivalent to XP: here’s the best way to discover them.
The bottom line is this: while Microsoft stands to acquire from arguing that consumers need to upgrade, the truth is: they do. So when you are nonetheless on Windows XP, start out contemplating a migration tactic.
http://www.windows7prokeys.com/windows-7-professional-product-key-p-3527.html
“The extremely very first month that Microsoft releases security updates for supported versions of Windows, attackers will reverse engineer these updates, locate the vulnerabilities, and test Windows XP to find out if it shares these vulnerabilities,” he wrote. “If it does, attackers will attempt to create exploit code that can take advantage of those vulnerabilities on Windows XP. Due to the fact a safety update will by no means grow to be available for Windows XP to address these vulnerabilities, Windows XP will essentially possess a ‘zero-day’ vulnerability forever.”
Zero-day vulnerabilities refer towards the way in which hackers can attack an operating program or other code ahead of a patch is released, fixing the vulnerability. Given that Microsoft will by no means patch Windows XP once more just after April 2014, at some point some windows 7 professional product key vulneability that affects XP will probably be discovered.
In between July 2012 and July 2013, Windows XP was an impacted solution in 45 Microsoft security bulletins. Thirty of these also affected Windows 7 and Windows eight, Rains wrote.
Rains acknowledges that some protections in XP will assist mitigate attacks, and third-party antimalware software program could possibly offer some protection.
“The challenge right here is the fact that you will in no way know, with any confidence, if the trusted computing base of your technique can basically be trusted due to the fact attackers might be armed with public expertise of zero day exploits in Windows XP that could allow them to compromise the method and possibly run the code of their selection,” Rains wrote.
That is the same argument that some have not too long ago utilised, claiming that hackers will “bank” their zero-day XP attacks until following subsequent April, then unleash them around the unprotected herds of XP machines. As Rains notes, the sophistication of malware has only improved, which means that your XP machine is a lot more vulnerable, not significantly less. PCWorld’s Answer Line columnist, Lincoln Spector, agrees.
The issue that some XP customers have is that they’re so in appreciate with the way that Windows XP does items that they’re reluctant to migrate, specifically to Windows 8. Properly, Windows 7 machines do exist, that offer functionality equivalent to XP: here’s the best way to discover them.
The bottom line is this: while Microsoft stands to acquire from arguing that consumers need to upgrade, the truth is: they do. So when you are nonetheless on Windows XP, start out contemplating a migration tactic.
http://www.windows7prokeys.com/windows-7-professional-product-key-p-3527.html
Friday, 2 August 2013
Why the Moto X is a Google moon shot
For the most part, the Moto X is just another smartphone. In fact, it's
been dubbed a midrange phone that won't excite hardcore Android fans. But it's
not meant to appeal to the minority. It's designed to attract the masses like an
Apple device, with fit and finish (such as customizing the look with custom hues
and patterns) and a few features that may convince Android users loyal to
Samsung, and perhaps a few disgruntled iPhone users, to switch.
While the Moto X isn't as groundbreaking as Google's moon shots, such as self-driving cars or Wi-Fi balloons, it's the equivalent of a moon landing for the Google brain, an artificial intelligence (AI) that will know and understand everything about you and the world. For perspective, the compute power of Apollo 11, which landed on the moon in 1969, was the equivalent of a digital calculator. Google's brain still has a long way to go to match the human mind.
Speaking at Stanford University, his alma matter, in May 2002, Google co-founder and CEO Larry Page said that Google would fulfill its mission only when its search engine was "AI-complete." The Moto X phone, combined with Google Now and Google Glass, and possibly a Moto X watch, forms the advance guard of Google's AI brain.
The Moto X is an ambient device that Google wants to become more of a sentient device. It features "Touchless Control," an always-on, low-power microphone trained to distinguish the user's voice and tap into Google Now, a digital personal assistant that attempts to anticipate your needs.
Google Now understands the context of queries, extracted from Google's Knowledge Graph that includes billions of objects and the relationships among them. If users grant permission, Google Now can mine data from Google services and apps to proactively alert users with information on traffic, weather, sports, stocks, public transit, flights, events, shipments, and appointments.
If the Moto X and its successors succeed, more people will be pouring more "live" data into Google's increasingly more powerful brain, as well as hundreds of billions of dollars into the company's bank.
"The more sensors it can turn on, or put on you, the more it can learn about your intent and your context. Today your phone doesn't really know that you're walking, running, skiing, shopping, driving, or biking, but in the future, Google will know that and will be able to build wild new kinds of systems that can serve you when doing each of those things," wrote tech pundit Robert Scoble.
While the Moto X isn't as groundbreaking as Google's moon shots, such as self-driving cars or Wi-Fi balloons, it's the equivalent of a moon landing for the Google brain, an artificial intelligence (AI) that will know and understand everything about you and the world. For perspective, the compute power of Apollo 11, which landed on the moon in 1969, was the equivalent of a digital calculator. Google's brain still has a long way to go to match the human mind.
Speaking at Stanford University, his alma matter, in May 2002, Google co-founder and CEO Larry Page said that Google would fulfill its mission only when its search engine was "AI-complete." The Moto X phone, combined with Google Now and Google Glass, and possibly a Moto X watch, forms the advance guard of Google's AI brain.
The Moto X is an ambient device that Google wants to become more of a sentient device. It features "Touchless Control," an always-on, low-power microphone trained to distinguish the user's voice and tap into Google Now, a digital personal assistant that attempts to anticipate your needs.
Google Now understands the context of queries, extracted from Google's Knowledge Graph that includes billions of objects and the relationships among them. If users grant permission, Google Now can mine data from Google services and apps to proactively alert users with information on traffic, weather, sports, stocks, public transit, flights, events, shipments, and appointments.
If the Moto X and its successors succeed, more people will be pouring more "live" data into Google's increasingly more powerful brain, as well as hundreds of billions of dollars into the company's bank.
"The more sensors it can turn on, or put on you, the more it can learn about your intent and your context. Today your phone doesn't really know that you're walking, running, skiing, shopping, driving, or biking, but in the future, Google will know that and will be able to build wild new kinds of systems that can serve you when doing each of those things," wrote tech pundit Robert Scoble.
Windows eight gained last month seems to become in the expense
Windows 8 keeps clawing its way up the market place share charts, but not
in the expense of Windows 7 or Windows XP.
In accordance with Netmarketshare, Windows 8’s marketplace share now stands at five.four percent, up 0.3 percent from a month ago when it ultimately surpassed Windows Vista. Once once more, Vista’s marketplace share declined last month, this time by about 0.38 percent, to a total of 4.24 %.
Meanwhile, Windows 7 and Windows XP are holding sturdy. In actual fact, Windows 7’s industry share elevated final month by 0.12 %, and Windows XP saw a 0.02 % bump in market share regardless of the looming finish of XP support by Microsoft. Both Windows 7 and XP remain by far the most widely-used operating systems by far, with 44.49 % and 37.19 percent from the market place, respectively, according to Netmarketshare.
In other words, any industry share that Windows eight gained last month seems to become in the expense of Windows Vista.
While it’s not surprising that customers are eager to upgrade from the widely-panned operating system, obtaining folks to switch from XP or Windows 7 may well be tougher for Microsoft, specifically amongst users who would like to stick with a conventional desktop interface.
Windows eight.1 will make some concessions for all those customers, together with the return in the Start button, a boot-to-desktop choice, quicker access to advanced desktop functions, plus a way to avoid modern-style menus from popping up for the duration of desktop use.
But eventually, Microsoft and Pc makers should convince the masses that they have to have to upgrade their hardware to touch-enabled laptops, hybrids, or desktops. Less expensive touchscreen devices could help on that front, but it’ll likely be a although just before the market place share needle moves significantly for Windows XP and Windows 7.
In accordance with Netmarketshare, Windows 8’s marketplace share now stands at five.four percent, up 0.3 percent from a month ago when it ultimately surpassed Windows Vista. Once once more, Vista’s marketplace share declined last month, this time by about 0.38 percent, to a total of 4.24 %.
Meanwhile, Windows 7 and Windows XP are holding sturdy. In actual fact, Windows 7’s industry share elevated final month by 0.12 %, and Windows XP saw a 0.02 % bump in market share regardless of the looming finish of XP support by Microsoft. Both Windows 7 and XP remain by far the most widely-used operating systems by far, with 44.49 % and 37.19 percent from the market place, respectively, according to Netmarketshare.
In other words, any industry share that Windows eight gained last month seems to become in the expense of Windows Vista.
While it’s not surprising that customers are eager to upgrade from the widely-panned operating system, obtaining folks to switch from XP or Windows 7 may well be tougher for Microsoft, specifically amongst users who would like to stick with a conventional desktop interface.
Windows eight.1 will make some concessions for all those customers, together with the return in the Start button, a boot-to-desktop choice, quicker access to advanced desktop functions, plus a way to avoid modern-style menus from popping up for the duration of desktop use.
But eventually, Microsoft and Pc makers should convince the masses that they have to have to upgrade their hardware to touch-enabled laptops, hybrids, or desktops. Less expensive touchscreen devices could help on that front, but it’ll likely be a although just before the market place share needle moves significantly for Windows XP and Windows 7.
Tuesday, 23 July 2013
Motorola's Droid Ultra is the thinnest Droid
Motorola's new Droid Maxx is the top dog of today's Verizon Wireless
announcement, but close behind is the Motorola Droid Ultra. Though it lacks the
promised 48 hours of battery life of its sibling, or the compact size of the
Droid Mini, the midrange Ultra is supposed to deliver a very respectable 28
hours of battery life in a trim design.
In fact, its 7.18-millimeter (0.28-inch) profile makes it the thinnest Droid ever. Indeed it's even thinner than the Samsung Galaxy S4(0.3 inch), HTC One (0.37), and Motorola's previous Droid Razr HD. Oddly enough, you don't really notice the difference in girth between it and the Maxx, but the Ultra does feel lighter. The Ultra has a 5-inch AMOLED 720p display as well, and a 2,130mAh battery. It will come in both black and red.
The back of the Ultra has a glossy coating that feels slippery to the touch. Frankly, we prefer the backing seen on the Maxx. Its soft-touch matte coating doesn't attract grease or fingerprints like the Ultra's, and it feels easier to grip.
Like the new Droid Mini, which Verizon also announced today, the Ultra will have only 16GB of storage. All Droids, however, have a 1.7GHz dual-core processor with the same X8 system, Android 4.2.2 Jelly Bean, 2GB of RAM, a 10-megapixel rear-facing camera with 1080p HD recording, and a 2-megapixel front-facing camera.
Also standard on the three new devices are a few touchless controls that will make it possible to make phone calls and search for directions without touching the screen -- a useful function when driving. Furthermore, they'll have a "Quick Capture" camera launch feature, wireless charging, and "Droid Zap." With Zap you can send images within 300 feet of you, and you can swipe with your fingers to share media files.
Additional software functions include an Active Display that will light up certain parts of your screen for important notifications, and a Droid Command Center, where you can launch Miracast TV for wireless media streaming.
Both the Droid Ultra and Droid Maxx will go on sale August 20 (preorders begin today). The Droid Ultra is $199.99 with a contract.
In fact, its 7.18-millimeter (0.28-inch) profile makes it the thinnest Droid ever. Indeed it's even thinner than the Samsung Galaxy S4(0.3 inch), HTC One (0.37), and Motorola's previous Droid Razr HD. Oddly enough, you don't really notice the difference in girth between it and the Maxx, but the Ultra does feel lighter. The Ultra has a 5-inch AMOLED 720p display as well, and a 2,130mAh battery. It will come in both black and red.
The back of the Ultra has a glossy coating that feels slippery to the touch. Frankly, we prefer the backing seen on the Maxx. Its soft-touch matte coating doesn't attract grease or fingerprints like the Ultra's, and it feels easier to grip.
Like the new Droid Mini, which Verizon also announced today, the Ultra will have only 16GB of storage. All Droids, however, have a 1.7GHz dual-core processor with the same X8 system, Android 4.2.2 Jelly Bean, 2GB of RAM, a 10-megapixel rear-facing camera with 1080p HD recording, and a 2-megapixel front-facing camera.
Also standard on the three new devices are a few touchless controls that will make it possible to make phone calls and search for directions without touching the screen -- a useful function when driving. Furthermore, they'll have a "Quick Capture" camera launch feature, wireless charging, and "Droid Zap." With Zap you can send images within 300 feet of you, and you can swipe with your fingers to share media files.
Additional software functions include an Active Display that will light up certain parts of your screen for important notifications, and a Droid Command Center, where you can launch Miracast TV for wireless media streaming.
Both the Droid Ultra and Droid Maxx will go on sale August 20 (preorders begin today). The Droid Ultra is $199.99 with a contract.
For many buyers Windows represents perform
The iPad garnered the reputation as a brand new type of device designed for
undertaking enjoyable things at property. People have been promptly taken with
all the truth that the iPad could do numerous enjoyable factors, endearing it
for the masses. Then developers began writing a huge number of apps for the iPad
that started to bridge entertaining stuff with activities usually performed on a
Pc, even Windows PCs. Shoppers noticed that the Windows Pc (desktop or laptop)
that they kept at home was becoming employed significantly less and much less.
In the end they had been only applying Windows at operate.
A familiar sight in public is someone with an iPad in hand, or one getting utilized using a keyboard case. Where it utilized to be much more frequent to see persons making use of Windows laptops of varying sizes in public venues several of them happen to be replaced with all the iPad windows 7 professional retail. A lot more considerably, iPad customers aren't just doing entertaining stuff that tablets are believed to become developed for, they're performing every thing they made use of to accomplish with the forgotten Windows laptop back at house.
Microsoft saw this coming and radically changed the design and style of Windows to function on tablets, desktops, and laptops. The folks in Redmond saw the writing around the wall and knew they had to modify the OS into a tablet OS to keep Windows inside the house. They currently had the enterprise locked up so bringing Windows towards the tablet was an work to maintain folks employing the OS at property.
Make no mistake, the Surface RT was firmly aimed at finding customers to visualize Windows on home tablets, and that effort has failed. Those wanting to make use of a straightforward tablet at house have fairly significantly already adopted the iPad. It sports a mobile form issue that runs a uncomplicated OS created particularly for the tablet. Certain iOS is also a phone platform but Apple has adapted it to deal with the iPad nicely. It was also in a position to get app developers to adapt or generate iPad-specific versions of apps to operate properly around the slate.
I like my ThinkPad Tablet 2, a good Windows tablet. It takes benefit of Windows eight, especially all the tablet attributes Microsoft implemented for that goal. But when I show it (or any Windows tablet) to folks I get quite much the exact same reaction.
The discussion proceeds with me explaining how you may run Windows apps and
how new apps are being written for the Windows eight app retailer. This can be
followed by a conversation that tends to make it clear the other celebration not
simply has no want to run Windows and its apps on a tablet, they genuinely can
not see why any one would desire to do that. The iPad does anything they want a
tablet to complete and more so why would they wish to use a tablet with
Windows?
For many buyers Windows represents perform. It is around the computer system in the office and they "have" to work with it there. They keep in mind all of the times they had to get the IT folks to come repair the Computer that stopped doing a thing. They consider of how they can not visit all the cool websites simply because they're blocked at work, which they come to assume of as a Windows thing. They believe of how trouble-free their property computing has develop into given that they just naturally began undertaking it all on the iPad at household.
The majority of the people I interact with about Windows on tablets who like it, and are excited about Windows eight, are people that either make a living within the Windows ecosystem or have a special want for utilizing Windows outdoors the scope of standard home computing. Getting full Windows within a tablet type is just what they have to do what they want each for function and at house.
Sadly for Microsoft, there are not enough of those enthusiasts to make a difference, as proven by both the Surface RT debacle, and low Surface Pro sales (in comparison to the iPad). The vast majority have currently been shown that their beloved iPad is all they require outside of perform. The iPad has entirely replaced Computer usage within the home for many owners and kicked Windows back for the workplace.
A familiar sight in public is someone with an iPad in hand, or one getting utilized using a keyboard case. Where it utilized to be much more frequent to see persons making use of Windows laptops of varying sizes in public venues several of them happen to be replaced with all the iPad windows 7 professional retail. A lot more considerably, iPad customers aren't just doing entertaining stuff that tablets are believed to become developed for, they're performing every thing they made use of to accomplish with the forgotten Windows laptop back at house.
Microsoft saw this coming and radically changed the design and style of Windows to function on tablets, desktops, and laptops. The folks in Redmond saw the writing around the wall and knew they had to modify the OS into a tablet OS to keep Windows inside the house. They currently had the enterprise locked up so bringing Windows towards the tablet was an work to maintain folks employing the OS at property.
Make no mistake, the Surface RT was firmly aimed at finding customers to visualize Windows on home tablets, and that effort has failed. Those wanting to make use of a straightforward tablet at house have fairly significantly already adopted the iPad. It sports a mobile form issue that runs a uncomplicated OS created particularly for the tablet. Certain iOS is also a phone platform but Apple has adapted it to deal with the iPad nicely. It was also in a position to get app developers to adapt or generate iPad-specific versions of apps to operate properly around the slate.
I like my ThinkPad Tablet 2, a good Windows tablet. It takes benefit of Windows eight, especially all the tablet attributes Microsoft implemented for that goal. But when I show it (or any Windows tablet) to folks I get quite much the exact same reaction.
For many buyers Windows represents perform. It is around the computer system in the office and they "have" to work with it there. They keep in mind all of the times they had to get the IT folks to come repair the Computer that stopped doing a thing. They consider of how they can not visit all the cool websites simply because they're blocked at work, which they come to assume of as a Windows thing. They believe of how trouble-free their property computing has develop into given that they just naturally began undertaking it all on the iPad at household.
The majority of the people I interact with about Windows on tablets who like it, and are excited about Windows eight, are people that either make a living within the Windows ecosystem or have a special want for utilizing Windows outdoors the scope of standard home computing. Getting full Windows within a tablet type is just what they have to do what they want each for function and at house.
Sadly for Microsoft, there are not enough of those enthusiasts to make a difference, as proven by both the Surface RT debacle, and low Surface Pro sales (in comparison to the iPad). The vast majority have currently been shown that their beloved iPad is all they require outside of perform. The iPad has entirely replaced Computer usage within the home for many owners and kicked Windows back for the workplace.
Sunday, 14 July 2013
Leaked promo shows off the Moto X’s always-on voice commands, new camera gesture, and more
The Moto X leaks just keep on coming.
Days after Google’s Eric Schmidt was spotted using Google’s still-secret new smartphone, a leak from Canadian carrier Rogers Wireless gives us our best look yet at some of the device’s new and enticing software features.
One of the big changes comes from how the Moto X will handle voice commands. Similar to Google Glass, the Moto X will have an always-on voice command system, which users can initiate by saying “OK, Google Now.” The video below gives you a sense of how it works, but basically its Google’s touch-free answer to Siri.
“Your Moto X is ready to listen and respond. Talk to it and it learns your voice. With the power of Google Now, it tells you what you need to know even when you’re not touching the screen,” Rogers says in the video.
With the Moto X, Google is also doing some interesting things with notifications. Unlike with the unspecific LED notification light on your current phone, notifications on the Moto X are meant to be instantly useful and more easily dismissed as they popup on the device’s screen. Google calls the more discreet system “Active Updates.”
Last, and perhaps, most notably, Google is changing the way users open up the camera app on the Moto X. Rather than poke the app’s icon, Moto X owners can start the camera app by twisting their wrist twice in succession. Photos can then be taken by pressing anywhere on the touchscreen.
The video also confirms that the Moto X will hit Rogers in August in two colors — black and white.
Google and Motorola can’t possibly be happy about this leak, so expect the video below to disappear (and reappear) very soon.
Days after Google’s Eric Schmidt was spotted using Google’s still-secret new smartphone, a leak from Canadian carrier Rogers Wireless gives us our best look yet at some of the device’s new and enticing software features.
One of the big changes comes from how the Moto X will handle voice commands. Similar to Google Glass, the Moto X will have an always-on voice command system, which users can initiate by saying “OK, Google Now.” The video below gives you a sense of how it works, but basically its Google’s touch-free answer to Siri.
“Your Moto X is ready to listen and respond. Talk to it and it learns your voice. With the power of Google Now, it tells you what you need to know even when you’re not touching the screen,” Rogers says in the video.
With the Moto X, Google is also doing some interesting things with notifications. Unlike with the unspecific LED notification light on your current phone, notifications on the Moto X are meant to be instantly useful and more easily dismissed as they popup on the device’s screen. Google calls the more discreet system “Active Updates.”
Last, and perhaps, most notably, Google is changing the way users open up the camera app on the Moto X. Rather than poke the app’s icon, Moto X owners can start the camera app by twisting their wrist twice in succession. Photos can then be taken by pressing anywhere on the touchscreen.
The video also confirms that the Moto X will hit Rogers in August in two colors — black and white.
Google and Motorola can’t possibly be happy about this leak, so expect the video below to disappear (and reappear) very soon.
The future update expected in early 2014
Microsoft published details of its upcoming Windows Telephone 8 update on
Thursday, revealing the minor changes that happen to be on account of roll out
shortly. Identified as General Distribution Release 2 (GDR2), the update
incorporates fixes to Xbox Music to supply precise metadata, the restoration of
the FM radio feature, a Data Sense app that is not exclusive to specific
carriers, in addition to a new option to set windows 7 professional activation key a Lens app as the default camera.
You'll find some HTML5 updates in Net Explorer, improved Skype and Lync
stability, and Gmail CardDAV / CalDAV assistance, but overall the changes are
very minor for an update eight months after the original Windows Phone eight
release.
In line with sources acquainted with Microsoft's Windows Telephone plans, the business is within a "shut up and ship" mode. We're told that the lack of significant modifications is as a consequence of the focus on Windows Phone's "Blue" update. The future update, expected in early 2014, appears set to contain a notification center, enhanced multitasking, and alterations to built-in apps. We realize that Microsoft is contemplating back porting some of the "Blue" features, such as a rotation lock selection, to a GDR3 update due later this year. Any ported capabilities are said to assistance future hardware arriving later this year, and in some cases in the request of certain phone makers like Nokia. In comparison, Windows 8.1 incorporates a complete host of adjustments and feature additions designed for tablets and PCs that is anticipated to become delivered in late August ?a just ten months immediately after the original Windows eight release.
We've learned that Microsoft had planned to roll out a variety of Windows Telephone updates a lot more regularly, but delays in testing new chipsets and bugs in some of the GDR updates have slowed down feature additions. A single unique bug with unbranded devices not sold by carriers is said to possess affected the way a handset is identified on a network. We're told that Microsoft had a tough time fixing this particular challenge, resulting in delays to other planned work.
We're told that a lot of the concentrate for Windows Phone software program improvements is related to hardware release and refreshes. The future GDR3 update will contain assistance for 5- and 6-inch Windows Phones with 1080p resolutions, and quad-core chipsets. These devices will debut later this year, and Microsoft has been functioning closely with OEMs to ensure Windows Telephone contains the hardware assistance required. Microsoft revealed on Thursday that collectively with Nokia it "shared early builds of software program and hardware" to ready the Lumia 1020. "I wrote greater than ten pages of feedback myself around the Nokia Pro Camera app since it was being created," says Microsoft's Joe Belfiore.
The message from Microsoft on Windows Telephone updates is mixed. Although the company promised a year ago that it was producing an enthusiasts plan to provide early access to updates, Microsoft has yet to detail when it plans to provide it. The plan was stated to "keep your telephone fresher than ever prior to." For now though, all update signs point to early 2014. Microsoft confirmed it is planning a "feature pack" update within the 1st half of subsequent year that should incorporate some enterprise improvements and VPN assistance. Regrettably, it isn't sharing additional information and facts about any other additions. It leaves Nokia and also other telephone makers possessing to depend on hardware promoting points, figuring out full nicely that the Windows Telephone software and ecosystem nonetheless lags the competitors.
http://www.windows7retailbox.com/microsoft-windows-7-professional-3264-bit-full-retail-pack-p-3527.html
In line with sources acquainted with Microsoft's Windows Telephone plans, the business is within a "shut up and ship" mode. We're told that the lack of significant modifications is as a consequence of the focus on Windows Phone's "Blue" update. The future update, expected in early 2014, appears set to contain a notification center, enhanced multitasking, and alterations to built-in apps. We realize that Microsoft is contemplating back porting some of the "Blue" features, such as a rotation lock selection, to a GDR3 update due later this year. Any ported capabilities are said to assistance future hardware arriving later this year, and in some cases in the request of certain phone makers like Nokia. In comparison, Windows 8.1 incorporates a complete host of adjustments and feature additions designed for tablets and PCs that is anticipated to become delivered in late August ?a just ten months immediately after the original Windows eight release.
We've learned that Microsoft had planned to roll out a variety of Windows Telephone updates a lot more regularly, but delays in testing new chipsets and bugs in some of the GDR updates have slowed down feature additions. A single unique bug with unbranded devices not sold by carriers is said to possess affected the way a handset is identified on a network. We're told that Microsoft had a tough time fixing this particular challenge, resulting in delays to other planned work.
We're told that a lot of the concentrate for Windows Phone software program improvements is related to hardware release and refreshes. The future GDR3 update will contain assistance for 5- and 6-inch Windows Phones with 1080p resolutions, and quad-core chipsets. These devices will debut later this year, and Microsoft has been functioning closely with OEMs to ensure Windows Telephone contains the hardware assistance required. Microsoft revealed on Thursday that collectively with Nokia it "shared early builds of software program and hardware" to ready the Lumia 1020. "I wrote greater than ten pages of feedback myself around the Nokia Pro Camera app since it was being created," says Microsoft's Joe Belfiore.
The message from Microsoft on Windows Telephone updates is mixed. Although the company promised a year ago that it was producing an enthusiasts plan to provide early access to updates, Microsoft has yet to detail when it plans to provide it. The plan was stated to "keep your telephone fresher than ever prior to." For now though, all update signs point to early 2014. Microsoft confirmed it is planning a "feature pack" update within the 1st half of subsequent year that should incorporate some enterprise improvements and VPN assistance. Regrettably, it isn't sharing additional information and facts about any other additions. It leaves Nokia and also other telephone makers possessing to depend on hardware promoting points, figuring out full nicely that the Windows Telephone software and ecosystem nonetheless lags the competitors.
http://www.windows7retailbox.com/microsoft-windows-7-professional-3264-bit-full-retail-pack-p-3527.html
Tuesday, 25 June 2013
EU court lawyer backs Google in 'right to be forgotten' case
Google cannot be forced to remove "damaging" material from its search
engine that was legally posted elsewhere, according to an adviser to the top
court in Europe.
The senior adviser to the European Court of Justice (ECJ), whose job it is to present a public and impartial opinion on cases the court receives, also said there is no general "right to be forgotten" under existing EU data and privacy laws.
In an opinion published on Tuesday, advocate-general Niilo Jaaskinen said that Google cannot be considered the "controller" of personal data from other Web sites and therefore should not be responsible for what appears on sites it links to. Under existing laws, established nearly two decades ago, member state data protection authorities "cannot require" a search engine like Google to remove specific sites from its search results.
"A national data protection authority cannot require an internet search engine service provider to withdraw information from its index," said Jaaskinen in the three-page opinion [PDF].
Tuesday's opinion follows the case of a Spanish man, whose property was to be auctioned off because of failed payments to his social security contributions. He discovered that the information was online when he searched for his own name a decade later.
The citizen in question filed a complaint with Spain's data protection authority, Agencia Espanola de Proteccion de Datos (AEPD), which upheld the claim. Google appealed the decision to one of Spain's highest court. The case was later referred to the ECJ.
Close to 200 complaints in Spain await the decision of the top European court.
The opinion also stated that companies with a presence in the EU remain under the laws of the member state they are based in -- even if the data is handled outside the EU. Jaaskinen said a company could still be forced to block access to illegal content, such pages with copyright-infringing or libelous material.
Bill Echikson, Google's "head of free expression," said on Tuesday: "This is a good opinion for free expression. We're glad to see it supports our long-held view that requiring search engines to suppress 'legitimate and legal information' would amount to censorship."
The opinion of the advocate-general is not legally binding, but often gives a good indication of how the ECJ will sway in its final decision.
The case is expected to set clearer boundaries between the data protection responsibilities of companies while balancing free speech in the region.
'Right to be forgotten'
However, it could be a blow to the European Commission, which for years has been in charge of data protection and privacy rules in the 27 member state bloc of Europe. The opinion comes at a time when new laws have been tabled by the Commission in order to bring existing rules into a modern age.
One of the proposals outlined by EU Justice Commissioner Viviane Reding is a specific "right to be forgotten," which would allow EU citizens to compel a company to delete all data it has on them. The "right to be forgotten" would force Facebook and Twitter to remove any data it had on you, as well as force Google to remove results from its search engine. It would also extraterritorially affect users worldwide outside the European Union who would be unable to search for those removed search terms.
However, the Commission has not outlined in what circumstances such rights could be invoked, or logistically how the process would work. The U.K. has expressed its concern about such proposals and seeks to opt out of them.
Web companies such as Google have said -- and lobbied to that effect -- that the "right to be forgotten" should not allow data to be removed or manipulated at the expense of freedom of speech.
The advocate-general confirmed a right to be forgotten does not exist in current legislation.
"The Directive does not establish a general 'right to be forgotten.' Such a right cannot therefore be invoked against search engine service providers on the basis of the Directive, even when it is interpreted in accordance with the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union," said Jaaskinen.
Under the existing 1995 EU Data Protection Directive, a person has to the right to "object at any time...the processing of data relating to him." The directive allows the correction of data held by a company as well as the ability to request a copy of their data. But it "does not entitle a person to restrict or terminate dissemination of personal data that he considers to be harmful or contrary to his interests," says the opinion.
The new EU Data Protection Regulation, proposed by the European Commission and currently being debated in the European Parliament, will likely be voted on in the coming months after a series of delays.
The senior adviser to the European Court of Justice (ECJ), whose job it is to present a public and impartial opinion on cases the court receives, also said there is no general "right to be forgotten" under existing EU data and privacy laws.
In an opinion published on Tuesday, advocate-general Niilo Jaaskinen said that Google cannot be considered the "controller" of personal data from other Web sites and therefore should not be responsible for what appears on sites it links to. Under existing laws, established nearly two decades ago, member state data protection authorities "cannot require" a search engine like Google to remove specific sites from its search results.
"A national data protection authority cannot require an internet search engine service provider to withdraw information from its index," said Jaaskinen in the three-page opinion [PDF].
Tuesday's opinion follows the case of a Spanish man, whose property was to be auctioned off because of failed payments to his social security contributions. He discovered that the information was online when he searched for his own name a decade later.
The citizen in question filed a complaint with Spain's data protection authority, Agencia Espanola de Proteccion de Datos (AEPD), which upheld the claim. Google appealed the decision to one of Spain's highest court. The case was later referred to the ECJ.
Close to 200 complaints in Spain await the decision of the top European court.
The opinion also stated that companies with a presence in the EU remain under the laws of the member state they are based in -- even if the data is handled outside the EU. Jaaskinen said a company could still be forced to block access to illegal content, such pages with copyright-infringing or libelous material.
Bill Echikson, Google's "head of free expression," said on Tuesday: "This is a good opinion for free expression. We're glad to see it supports our long-held view that requiring search engines to suppress 'legitimate and legal information' would amount to censorship."
The opinion of the advocate-general is not legally binding, but often gives a good indication of how the ECJ will sway in its final decision.
The case is expected to set clearer boundaries between the data protection responsibilities of companies while balancing free speech in the region.
'Right to be forgotten'
However, it could be a blow to the European Commission, which for years has been in charge of data protection and privacy rules in the 27 member state bloc of Europe. The opinion comes at a time when new laws have been tabled by the Commission in order to bring existing rules into a modern age.
One of the proposals outlined by EU Justice Commissioner Viviane Reding is a specific "right to be forgotten," which would allow EU citizens to compel a company to delete all data it has on them. The "right to be forgotten" would force Facebook and Twitter to remove any data it had on you, as well as force Google to remove results from its search engine. It would also extraterritorially affect users worldwide outside the European Union who would be unable to search for those removed search terms.
However, the Commission has not outlined in what circumstances such rights could be invoked, or logistically how the process would work. The U.K. has expressed its concern about such proposals and seeks to opt out of them.
Web companies such as Google have said -- and lobbied to that effect -- that the "right to be forgotten" should not allow data to be removed or manipulated at the expense of freedom of speech.
The advocate-general confirmed a right to be forgotten does not exist in current legislation.
"The Directive does not establish a general 'right to be forgotten.' Such a right cannot therefore be invoked against search engine service providers on the basis of the Directive, even when it is interpreted in accordance with the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union," said Jaaskinen.
Under the existing 1995 EU Data Protection Directive, a person has to the right to "object at any time...the processing of data relating to him." The directive allows the correction of data held by a company as well as the ability to request a copy of their data. But it "does not entitle a person to restrict or terminate dissemination of personal data that he considers to be harmful or contrary to his interests," says the opinion.
The new EU Data Protection Regulation, proposed by the European Commission and currently being debated in the European Parliament, will likely be voted on in the coming months after a series of delays.
Other new functions of Home windows 8.one
Microsoft will use its annual builders meeting to release a preview of
Windows 8.1, a free of charge update that claims to handle many of the gripes
men and women have using the most current version on the firm's flagship
operating program.
Several on the new attributes are already demonstrated off now. The Establish conference, which starts Wednesday in San Francisco, will give Microsoft's companions and various technological know-how developers an opportunity to study more details on the brand new method and try it out. Furthermore, it will give the organization a chance to describe a lot of the reasoning driving the update and market builders on Microsoft's ambitions to get back relevance dropped to Apple's iPad and numerous equipment managing Google's Android computer software.
You can find also speculation that Microsoft could demonstrate off a fresh, scaled-down edition of its Area pill desktops. One of several new options in Windows eight.one is the capacity to perform nicely on smaller-screen equipment.
Windows eight.one is going to be offered as a preview beginning Wednesday for any person to obtain. It will be launched for the general general public later on inside the calendar year, though a particular day has not been declared.
Home windows eight, which was launched in Oct, was meant to get Microsoft's response to shifting customer behaviors and also the rise of tablet computer systems. The operating process emphasizes touch controls about the mouse and also the keyboard, which experienced been the principle way persons have interacted with their private personal computers considering that the nineteen eighties.
Although Microsoft has explained it has sold a lot more than a hundred million Windows 8 licenses to this point, some analysts have blamed the lackluster response to your functioning program for any steep drop in Computer system gross sales during the 1st a few months in the calendar year, the worst drop since monitoring by outdoors investigation firms commenced in 1994.
Among the the grievances: the dearth of the Start off button over the reduced left corner with the screen. In former versions of Windows, that button gave people brief usage of systems, options and also other tasks. Microsoft replaced that that has a tablet-style, full-screen start out webpage, but that protected up whichever courses men and women ended up doing the job on, and it experienced only favorite programs. Further methods were being necessary to access less-used courses. Configurations, a research box and various features ended up concealed away in a menu that needed to be pulled out from your right. The best way to try this adjusted relying on whether a mouse or contact was applied.
And whilst Microsoft has inspired people today to use the brand new tablet-style structure, quite a few courses ?a like Microsoft's hottest Business office application package ?a are suitable for the more mature, desktop manner. Individuals were compelled in the pill format when they start off up the equipment and had to manually change the desktop manner each individual time.
Windows eight.one will allow people today to begin within the desktop method instantly. In that method, it is restoring a button that resembles the previous Begin button. Even though the Begin button will now choose folks again towards the new tablet-style start monitor, rather compared to the outdated Commence menu, the re-introduction in the acquainted button might allow it to be a lot easier for longtime Windows people to obtain accustomed into the alterations.
Other new functions of Home windows 8.one consist of a lot more selections to implement numerous applications. Individuals can get much more options to determine simply how much of the monitor every single app usually takes even though displaying approximately four different programs, relatively than simply two. The update will likely provide a lot more integrated lookup results, exhibiting buyers previews of internet sites, applications and paperwork which are on the product, suddenly.
Although Microsoft is addressing a great deal of your criticisms with Home windows, it really is positioning the update as more than just a fix-up position. From its perspective, the tuneup underscores Microsoft's evolution right into a extra nimble organization capable of relocating speedily to reply to buyer responses though also rolling out much more improvements for the myriad of Home windows units ?a smartphones, tablets or PCs.
It really is essential that Microsoft sets things correct with Windows 8.1 as the outlook for your Computer current market retains receiving gloomier. IDC now expects Computer system shipments to fall by almost 8 % this yr, even worse than its former forecast of a one p.c dip. IDC also anticipates tablets will outsell notebook desktops for that 1st time this calendar year.
In an indication that Microsoft Corp. is clearing out stock of the Surface area tablet operating the light-weight Windows RT working program, the corporate is efficiently reducing the price of that by including a keyboard deal with for free. The cover sells for $120 or $130 by itself.
Microsoft also claimed this month that it might give prospective buyers of the RT edition of Surface area the Outlook electronic mail and calendar method at no additional demand ?a signing up for other Office freebies Excel, Term and Electrical power Point ?a and sweetening the offer you for the system that's priced starting at $499. That may appear as part with the Windows eight.one update.
Several on the new attributes are already demonstrated off now. The Establish conference, which starts Wednesday in San Francisco, will give Microsoft's companions and various technological know-how developers an opportunity to study more details on the brand new method and try it out. Furthermore, it will give the organization a chance to describe a lot of the reasoning driving the update and market builders on Microsoft's ambitions to get back relevance dropped to Apple's iPad and numerous equipment managing Google's Android computer software.
You can find also speculation that Microsoft could demonstrate off a fresh, scaled-down edition of its Area pill desktops. One of several new options in Windows eight.one is the capacity to perform nicely on smaller-screen equipment.
Windows eight.one is going to be offered as a preview beginning Wednesday for any person to obtain. It will be launched for the general general public later on inside the calendar year, though a particular day has not been declared.
Home windows eight, which was launched in Oct, was meant to get Microsoft's response to shifting customer behaviors and also the rise of tablet computer systems. The operating process emphasizes touch controls about the mouse and also the keyboard, which experienced been the principle way persons have interacted with their private personal computers considering that the nineteen eighties.
Although Microsoft has explained it has sold a lot more than a hundred million Windows 8 licenses to this point, some analysts have blamed the lackluster response to your functioning program for any steep drop in Computer system gross sales during the 1st a few months in the calendar year, the worst drop since monitoring by outdoors investigation firms commenced in 1994.
Among the the grievances: the dearth of the Start off button over the reduced left corner with the screen. In former versions of Windows, that button gave people brief usage of systems, options and also other tasks. Microsoft replaced that that has a tablet-style, full-screen start out webpage, but that protected up whichever courses men and women ended up doing the job on, and it experienced only favorite programs. Further methods were being necessary to access less-used courses. Configurations, a research box and various features ended up concealed away in a menu that needed to be pulled out from your right. The best way to try this adjusted relying on whether a mouse or contact was applied.
And whilst Microsoft has inspired people today to use the brand new tablet-style structure, quite a few courses ?a like Microsoft's hottest Business office application package ?a are suitable for the more mature, desktop manner. Individuals were compelled in the pill format when they start off up the equipment and had to manually change the desktop manner each individual time.
Windows eight.one will allow people today to begin within the desktop method instantly. In that method, it is restoring a button that resembles the previous Begin button. Even though the Begin button will now choose folks again towards the new tablet-style start monitor, rather compared to the outdated Commence menu, the re-introduction in the acquainted button might allow it to be a lot easier for longtime Windows people to obtain accustomed into the alterations.
Other new functions of Home windows 8.one consist of a lot more selections to implement numerous applications. Individuals can get much more options to determine simply how much of the monitor every single app usually takes even though displaying approximately four different programs, relatively than simply two. The update will likely provide a lot more integrated lookup results, exhibiting buyers previews of internet sites, applications and paperwork which are on the product, suddenly.
Although Microsoft is addressing a great deal of your criticisms with Home windows, it really is positioning the update as more than just a fix-up position. From its perspective, the tuneup underscores Microsoft's evolution right into a extra nimble organization capable of relocating speedily to reply to buyer responses though also rolling out much more improvements for the myriad of Home windows units ?a smartphones, tablets or PCs.
It really is essential that Microsoft sets things correct with Windows 8.1 as the outlook for your Computer current market retains receiving gloomier. IDC now expects Computer system shipments to fall by almost 8 % this yr, even worse than its former forecast of a one p.c dip. IDC also anticipates tablets will outsell notebook desktops for that 1st time this calendar year.
In an indication that Microsoft Corp. is clearing out stock of the Surface area tablet operating the light-weight Windows RT working program, the corporate is efficiently reducing the price of that by including a keyboard deal with for free. The cover sells for $120 or $130 by itself.
Microsoft also claimed this month that it might give prospective buyers of the RT edition of Surface area the Outlook electronic mail and calendar method at no additional demand ?a signing up for other Office freebies Excel, Term and Electrical power Point ?a and sweetening the offer you for the system that's priced starting at $499. That may appear as part with the Windows eight.one update.
Friday, 7 June 2013
Facebook aims to simplify advertising for marketers
Facebook is gearing up for a new project to simplify its advertising
platform, making it easier for marketers to decide how to place ads across the
site.
One of the plan’s major goals is to reduce redundancies in the 27 different types of ads that Facebook currently offers to marketers, by either getting rid of some options altogether or merging some tools into one product. Many of the types of ads that Facebook currently offers do a lot of the same things, such as encouraging online sales, in-store sales, or in-app downloads, the company said.
For example, Facebook provides an online Offers product to advertisers to let them drive traffic to their website or product page, but many companies just insert a link into a Facebook Page post to drive traffic, so the option to create a dedicated online offer will disappear under the changes, Facebook said.
Details forthcoming
Because the program is still in its very early stages, many of the changes either were not disclosed or are still being worked out. The company announced the project during a briefing with reporters on Thursday at Facebook’s headquarters in Menlo Park, California. Most of the new advertising tools will not roll out until late summer or early fall.
For Facebook users, the project is designed to provide a more unified set of ad formats, so advertisements appearing in the News Feed, in the right-hand rail on the desktop, and on mobile devices will look more consistent.
The new program is based on what Facebook has learned over the last year or so from marketers as more of them have opted to advertise on new areas of the site, such as the News Feed.
“A couple of years ago, the question was, ‘Do Facebook ads work?’” said Brian Boland, director of product marketing at the company. “We now know that they do,” he said.
When Facebook sells advertising today, it presents marketers with a long list of options for how to advertise on the site. The marketers then choose which ones to use to target their audience.
What's coming
In the future, Facebook will present a more streamlined set of options based on specific marketing objectives, such as getting users to go to a company’s physical store or encouraging them to buy an app.
So, instead of choosing among various ad products, companies will be able to tell Facebook they want to create an ad that, say, drives awareness of a message, or gets consumers to look at a video. Facebook will then put together a type of ad that will accomplish that.
“Facebook is starting to realize it needs to really simplify what it offers to marketers and make what it offers actually social as opposed to traditional display advertising,” said Zachary Reiss-Davis, an analyst with Forrester Research.
The project is aimed at reducing complexity, not control, for advertisers, according to the company. Companies will still be able to target and personalize their ads to certain audiences, but it will be easier to align those ads with their objectives, Facebook said.
Finding new ways to target ads to the right users is a perennial goal for Facebook. The company last year rolled out its Custom Audiences tool as a way for marketers to target people they’ve previously done business with by using their phone number or email address.
The program was expanded in February to third-party marketing firms to give advertisers even more data for targeting their ads.
Earlier this year, Facebook also announced its acquisition of Microsoft’s Atlas Advertiser Suite, an ad analysis platform. The acquisition was intended to increase Facebook’s ad revenue and give marketers better information about their campaigns on both desktop and mobile.
Facebook’s ad revenue for the quarter ended March 31 was $1.25 billion, representing 85 percent of the company’s total sales and a 43 percent increase from 2012’s first quarter. Mobile advertising revenue accounted for 30 percent of total ad revenue.
One of the plan’s major goals is to reduce redundancies in the 27 different types of ads that Facebook currently offers to marketers, by either getting rid of some options altogether or merging some tools into one product. Many of the types of ads that Facebook currently offers do a lot of the same things, such as encouraging online sales, in-store sales, or in-app downloads, the company said.
For example, Facebook provides an online Offers product to advertisers to let them drive traffic to their website or product page, but many companies just insert a link into a Facebook Page post to drive traffic, so the option to create a dedicated online offer will disappear under the changes, Facebook said.
Details forthcoming
Because the program is still in its very early stages, many of the changes either were not disclosed or are still being worked out. The company announced the project during a briefing with reporters on Thursday at Facebook’s headquarters in Menlo Park, California. Most of the new advertising tools will not roll out until late summer or early fall.
For Facebook users, the project is designed to provide a more unified set of ad formats, so advertisements appearing in the News Feed, in the right-hand rail on the desktop, and on mobile devices will look more consistent.
The new program is based on what Facebook has learned over the last year or so from marketers as more of them have opted to advertise on new areas of the site, such as the News Feed.
“A couple of years ago, the question was, ‘Do Facebook ads work?’” said Brian Boland, director of product marketing at the company. “We now know that they do,” he said.
When Facebook sells advertising today, it presents marketers with a long list of options for how to advertise on the site. The marketers then choose which ones to use to target their audience.
What's coming
In the future, Facebook will present a more streamlined set of options based on specific marketing objectives, such as getting users to go to a company’s physical store or encouraging them to buy an app.
So, instead of choosing among various ad products, companies will be able to tell Facebook they want to create an ad that, say, drives awareness of a message, or gets consumers to look at a video. Facebook will then put together a type of ad that will accomplish that.
“Facebook is starting to realize it needs to really simplify what it offers to marketers and make what it offers actually social as opposed to traditional display advertising,” said Zachary Reiss-Davis, an analyst with Forrester Research.
The project is aimed at reducing complexity, not control, for advertisers, according to the company. Companies will still be able to target and personalize their ads to certain audiences, but it will be easier to align those ads with their objectives, Facebook said.
Finding new ways to target ads to the right users is a perennial goal for Facebook. The company last year rolled out its Custom Audiences tool as a way for marketers to target people they’ve previously done business with by using their phone number or email address.
The program was expanded in February to third-party marketing firms to give advertisers even more data for targeting their ads.
Earlier this year, Facebook also announced its acquisition of Microsoft’s Atlas Advertiser Suite, an ad analysis platform. The acquisition was intended to increase Facebook’s ad revenue and give marketers better information about their campaigns on both desktop and mobile.
Facebook’s ad revenue for the quarter ended March 31 was $1.25 billion, representing 85 percent of the company’s total sales and a 43 percent increase from 2012’s first quarter. Mobile advertising revenue accounted for 30 percent of total ad revenue.
There was a bit perform in receiving it the way
It has been in excess of a yr given that I to start with put in a make of
Windows eight with a test equipment. Since then, I've operate it on a big
selection of hardware, together with slate-format tablets, hybrid
touch/pen/keyboard tablet PCs, regular laptops and multi-monitor desktop PCs ¨C
components that mixes the aged (with Vista and XP-era devices) and also the new
(a not long ago upgraded Main i5 desktop program). It has been on Intel
processors, on AMD, on physical, on virtual: on rather a great deal each and
every equipment I could find from the office.
Testing and benchmarking is all very properly, however , you only really reach know an OS by living with it, utilizing it every day to perform every day duties on your day to day Computer. For me, that means the nice old-fashioned desktop Laptop.
Most of my time is put in before a multi-monitor desktop machine, precisely the configuration a large number of individuals have worried about in comments to numerous Windows 8 posts. Whilst desktop people may well shortly be from the minority, you will find even now loads of us around. I rely on tools like Business and Adobe Lightroom plus they rely within the desktop ¨C and that?ˉs unlikely to vary until the tools modify. So for my desktop Computer, there?ˉs little improve in between 7 and eight while in the way I do the job.
Another thing I?ˉve seen inside the months given that Home windows 8 achieved RTM, its evolution hasn?ˉt ended ¨C and it?ˉs however getting better. When i upgraded my desktop from Home windows seven to 8 just just after RTM it had been to all extents and functions merely a a little bit speedier Home windows 7 equipment having a new UI. But while using the the latest 160MB post-RTM update, and with all the arrival of some new system motorists along with a few of recent pieces of components, it?ˉs starting to be one thing fairly diverse.
The a person massive change, certainly, is the Commence Screen. As improvements go, it?ˉs a big just one, but it?ˉs not the showstopper that some have built it out being. I?ˉve wound up dealing with it to be a whole monitor variation on the previous Get started menu, and utilize it in significantly exactly the same way. Much like the commence menu, the start Monitor ends up brimming with apps I?ˉve mounted, and i often tidy it up. There was a bit perform in receiving it the way I wished to begin with, but yet again, starting having a fresh new put in of Windows XP or 7 I?ˉd be accomplishing a great deal the exact same point ¨C grouping purposes and eliminating references to functions or resources I don?ˉt plan to use.
Launching applications is simple ample. Faucet the Home windows essential and begin typing, once the word wheel filter displays your application, just select and click on ¨C or strike return. You?ˉre instantaneously back on the desktop and in the appliance you should use. That?ˉs all there exists to it, and if you utilised Vista or 7?ˉs look for box as your major technique of navigation you?ˉll locate the Start out Monitor a bit additional efficient while you don?ˉt must click while in the look for box to get started on obtaining apps or information.
The arrival of the new Microsoft Sculpt Comfort keyboard designed some functions even less difficult. Although Home windows 8?ˉs Charms are just a mouse gesture away, possessing them on the keyboard is far simpler. 4 separate Allure keys indicate you can obtain to go looking, Share, Equipment and Options while not having to transfer your fingers absent from your keyboard. If you?ˉre working with a Windows eight Store-style app, the keyboard also comes with 4 keys that replicate the key Home windows 8 touch gestures. One particular handles a remaining swipe software change, though one more toggles the Snap watch for your working application. Another two start the start Display job switcher and open up the app bar.
http://www.windows7retailbox.com/microsoft-office-professional-plus-2010-full-retail-pack-p-3547.html
Testing and benchmarking is all very properly, however , you only really reach know an OS by living with it, utilizing it every day to perform every day duties on your day to day Computer. For me, that means the nice old-fashioned desktop Laptop.
Most of my time is put in before a multi-monitor desktop machine, precisely the configuration a large number of individuals have worried about in comments to numerous Windows 8 posts. Whilst desktop people may well shortly be from the minority, you will find even now loads of us around. I rely on tools like Business and Adobe Lightroom plus they rely within the desktop ¨C and that?ˉs unlikely to vary until the tools modify. So for my desktop Computer, there?ˉs little improve in between 7 and eight while in the way I do the job.
Another thing I?ˉve seen inside the months given that Home windows 8 achieved RTM, its evolution hasn?ˉt ended ¨C and it?ˉs however getting better. When i upgraded my desktop from Home windows seven to 8 just just after RTM it had been to all extents and functions merely a a little bit speedier Home windows 7 equipment having a new UI. But while using the the latest 160MB post-RTM update, and with all the arrival of some new system motorists along with a few of recent pieces of components, it?ˉs starting to be one thing fairly diverse.
The a person massive change, certainly, is the Commence Screen. As improvements go, it?ˉs a big just one, but it?ˉs not the showstopper that some have built it out being. I?ˉve wound up dealing with it to be a whole monitor variation on the previous Get started menu, and utilize it in significantly exactly the same way. Much like the commence menu, the start Monitor ends up brimming with apps I?ˉve mounted, and i often tidy it up. There was a bit perform in receiving it the way I wished to begin with, but yet again, starting having a fresh new put in of Windows XP or 7 I?ˉd be accomplishing a great deal the exact same point ¨C grouping purposes and eliminating references to functions or resources I don?ˉt plan to use.
Launching applications is simple ample. Faucet the Home windows essential and begin typing, once the word wheel filter displays your application, just select and click on ¨C or strike return. You?ˉre instantaneously back on the desktop and in the appliance you should use. That?ˉs all there exists to it, and if you utilised Vista or 7?ˉs look for box as your major technique of navigation you?ˉll locate the Start out Monitor a bit additional efficient while you don?ˉt must click while in the look for box to get started on obtaining apps or information.
The arrival of the new Microsoft Sculpt Comfort keyboard designed some functions even less difficult. Although Home windows 8?ˉs Charms are just a mouse gesture away, possessing them on the keyboard is far simpler. 4 separate Allure keys indicate you can obtain to go looking, Share, Equipment and Options while not having to transfer your fingers absent from your keyboard. If you?ˉre working with a Windows eight Store-style app, the keyboard also comes with 4 keys that replicate the key Home windows 8 touch gestures. One particular handles a remaining swipe software change, though one more toggles the Snap watch for your working application. Another two start the start Display job switcher and open up the app bar.
http://www.windows7retailbox.com/microsoft-office-professional-plus-2010-full-retail-pack-p-3547.html
Monday, 27 May 2013
How used games work on Xbox One according to UK retailers
Welcome back to Jetsetter, Digital Trends’ weekly column that spelunks its
way down into the vast world of import gaming and international game
development. The United States may represent the biggest video game market on
the planet by sheer dollars spent, besting even the $8 billion per year online
gaming market of China (take that, China!), but it also represents a fairly
limited window into the full world of gaming.
This week more than most proved just how specific US gaming really is. Stop me if you’ve heard this one before: Microsoft announced a new Xbox this week. The Xbox One (we’re still working on an abbreviation, but XB1 sounds like dentistry equipment and Xbone sounds like a failed 1992 rap star) is real, and its plan is to conquer the living room. Based on Microsoft’s press conference, however, it’s primary focus is the American living room, at least so far. Cable television integration and the NFL aren’t exactly big sells in Italy, India, or Australia. The US has always been the Xbox’s stronghold, but it was strange to see Microsoft so willfully dismiss the world at large, especially when the whole planet was watching.
Jetsetter does what Microsoft don’t! Let’s see what’s happening around the world.
UK retailers shine a light on just how Xbox One used game sales will work.
Microsoft was, at best, cagey about how used games will work on the new console. Since game discs have to be installed on the console, inexorably linking that game to an Xbox Live profile, reselling those discs seems like a moot point. The disc is worthless, right? Microsoft insisted it isn’t, though it’s been silent on specifically what value a disc will have. According to retailers in the U.K., all used games will have a hefty activation fee built into the price, meaning the cost of used games will rise, while the profits of used game retailers will plummet.
After buying a game you can take it to a store and trade it in, just like you have over the past three decades. Once the game is registered as having been sold as used, it will be deactivated off the hard drive of the original owner. The store then pays a fee and connects to Microsoft’s cloud network to reactivate the disc, with pieces of the fee going to both the game publisher and Microsoft. Then the store resells the game for £35, or about $53. That may be the very same fee you’d pay if a friend handed you the disc and you just tried to install it on Xbox One anyway. The costs may change, though. Microsoft apparently hasn’t decided on reactivation fees for any region, U.K. or otherwise.
So what’s the difference between a used game and a new game in this scenario? Good question.
South Korea loves video games. A lot. And not just StarCraft, which has its own TV channel, professional leagues, and even match fixing scandals. Half of the population of the country “play games regularly.” But apparently video games are too popular in Korea now.
Conservative Saenuri political party member Representative Shin Eui-jin introduced a bill this month that would regulate the sale of video games in the same way as controlled substances. That is to say, games would have the same restrictions placed on them as hard drugs, alcohol, cigarettes in order for South Korea to have a “happy and healthy society,” as Rep. Eui-jin puts it. The South Korean National Assembly will vote on the bill soon.
Capcom brings you the very best limited editions, unless you live in the US.
If you’re a collector who likes to see games all lined up on a shelf, and you happen to be a Capcom fan, it’s time to move out of the U.S. Digital-only is the drum Capcom’s beating in America these days. Take Ace Attorney 5: in America, it’s a 3DS eShop only release called Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney – Dual Destinies. In Japan, it’s a boxed game called Gyakuten Saiban 5 that comes with stickers, a sweet 3DS carrying case and a freaking statue. We are, as they say, chopped liver.
Ace Attorney 5 isn’t the biggest import treasure coming from Capcom. Dungeons & Dragons: Shadow Over Mystara, otherwise known as “THE GREATEST ARCADE BRAWLER EVER,” is getting its first home release since a terribly rare Sega Saturn edition hit Japan in 1998, but only on PSN, XBLA, Steam and eShop. Not in Japan, though. In Japan, you can actually buy a PS3 disc of the game that also comes with the full soundtrack on CD, the fifteen years out of print Capcom Secret File: Dungeons & Dragons making of book, the also way out of print arcade book guide Capcom released back in 1996, some stickers, an arcade-style instruction card, and drink coasters. Coasters! All for the wholly low price of 12,000 yen. Or about $116. So worth it
This week more than most proved just how specific US gaming really is. Stop me if you’ve heard this one before: Microsoft announced a new Xbox this week. The Xbox One (we’re still working on an abbreviation, but XB1 sounds like dentistry equipment and Xbone sounds like a failed 1992 rap star) is real, and its plan is to conquer the living room. Based on Microsoft’s press conference, however, it’s primary focus is the American living room, at least so far. Cable television integration and the NFL aren’t exactly big sells in Italy, India, or Australia. The US has always been the Xbox’s stronghold, but it was strange to see Microsoft so willfully dismiss the world at large, especially when the whole planet was watching.
Jetsetter does what Microsoft don’t! Let’s see what’s happening around the world.
UK retailers shine a light on just how Xbox One used game sales will work.
Microsoft was, at best, cagey about how used games will work on the new console. Since game discs have to be installed on the console, inexorably linking that game to an Xbox Live profile, reselling those discs seems like a moot point. The disc is worthless, right? Microsoft insisted it isn’t, though it’s been silent on specifically what value a disc will have. According to retailers in the U.K., all used games will have a hefty activation fee built into the price, meaning the cost of used games will rise, while the profits of used game retailers will plummet.
After buying a game you can take it to a store and trade it in, just like you have over the past three decades. Once the game is registered as having been sold as used, it will be deactivated off the hard drive of the original owner. The store then pays a fee and connects to Microsoft’s cloud network to reactivate the disc, with pieces of the fee going to both the game publisher and Microsoft. Then the store resells the game for £35, or about $53. That may be the very same fee you’d pay if a friend handed you the disc and you just tried to install it on Xbox One anyway. The costs may change, though. Microsoft apparently hasn’t decided on reactivation fees for any region, U.K. or otherwise.
So what’s the difference between a used game and a new game in this scenario? Good question.
South Korea loves video games. A lot. And not just StarCraft, which has its own TV channel, professional leagues, and even match fixing scandals. Half of the population of the country “play games regularly.” But apparently video games are too popular in Korea now.
Conservative Saenuri political party member Representative Shin Eui-jin introduced a bill this month that would regulate the sale of video games in the same way as controlled substances. That is to say, games would have the same restrictions placed on them as hard drugs, alcohol, cigarettes in order for South Korea to have a “happy and healthy society,” as Rep. Eui-jin puts it. The South Korean National Assembly will vote on the bill soon.
Capcom brings you the very best limited editions, unless you live in the US.
If you’re a collector who likes to see games all lined up on a shelf, and you happen to be a Capcom fan, it’s time to move out of the U.S. Digital-only is the drum Capcom’s beating in America these days. Take Ace Attorney 5: in America, it’s a 3DS eShop only release called Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney – Dual Destinies. In Japan, it’s a boxed game called Gyakuten Saiban 5 that comes with stickers, a sweet 3DS carrying case and a freaking statue. We are, as they say, chopped liver.
Ace Attorney 5 isn’t the biggest import treasure coming from Capcom. Dungeons & Dragons: Shadow Over Mystara, otherwise known as “THE GREATEST ARCADE BRAWLER EVER,” is getting its first home release since a terribly rare Sega Saturn edition hit Japan in 1998, but only on PSN, XBLA, Steam and eShop. Not in Japan, though. In Japan, you can actually buy a PS3 disc of the game that also comes with the full soundtrack on CD, the fifteen years out of print Capcom Secret File: Dungeons & Dragons making of book, the also way out of print arcade book guide Capcom released back in 1996, some stickers, an arcade-style instruction card, and drink coasters. Coasters! All for the wholly low price of 12,000 yen. Or about $116. So worth it
The Sculpt Ease and comfort model adds guidance
On May perhaps 23, Microsoft introduced the Sculpt Consolation Mouse and
Sculpt Cell Mouse, both equally of which contain buttons that will help end
users to find their way promptly to the Begin monitor.
The Sculpt Comfort mouse includes a touch-sensitive blue strip working along the aspect, which Microsoft calls the "Windows touch tab." The Sculpt Mobile Mouse features the same Windows button.
The Sculpt Ease and comfort model adds guidance for many added gestures which Microsoft officials imagine may support end users far better navigate Windows 8.
As explained in a new write-up over the Microsoft Windows Encounter site: "If you swipe up about the blue strip, it cycles via your open Home windows Retail store apps in Windows eight. And if you swipe down, it's going to reveal each of the open apps (around the left side of one's display) for yourself to choose the 1 you need."
The Sculpt Ease and comfort Mouse is due out in June for $39.95 (approximated retail selling price). The Sculpt Design model will be available this thirty day period for $29.ninety five (ERP).
The Sculpt Comfort and ease mouse and also the Sculpt Cellular mouse both of those do the job with Window 7, Home windows eight and Mac OS ten.four and higher. Neither seems to work with Windows RT, determined by the spec information and facts provided by Microsoft.
While about the matter of enhancing Windows 8, Microsoft before this week built accessible for obtain an extremely awesome Windows eight training brochure. It is a multi-page, colourful PDF that features numerous navigational strategies and tips. I want this were in my box with my Surface RT
The Sculpt Comfort mouse includes a touch-sensitive blue strip working along the aspect, which Microsoft calls the "Windows touch tab." The Sculpt Mobile Mouse features the same Windows button.
The Sculpt Ease and comfort model adds guidance for many added gestures which Microsoft officials imagine may support end users far better navigate Windows 8.
As explained in a new write-up over the Microsoft Windows Encounter site: "If you swipe up about the blue strip, it cycles via your open Home windows Retail store apps in Windows eight. And if you swipe down, it's going to reveal each of the open apps (around the left side of one's display) for yourself to choose the 1 you need."
The Sculpt Ease and comfort Mouse is due out in June for $39.95 (approximated retail selling price). The Sculpt Design model will be available this thirty day period for $29.ninety five (ERP).
The Sculpt Comfort and ease mouse and also the Sculpt Cellular mouse both of those do the job with Window 7, Home windows eight and Mac OS ten.four and higher. Neither seems to work with Windows RT, determined by the spec information and facts provided by Microsoft.
While about the matter of enhancing Windows 8, Microsoft before this week built accessible for obtain an extremely awesome Windows eight training brochure. It is a multi-page, colourful PDF that features numerous navigational strategies and tips. I want this were in my box with my Surface RT
Friday, 10 May 2013
The Onion explains how it got hacked by the Syrian Electronic Army
Remember how we all thought it was weird that the rebel organization Syrian
Electronic Army targeted satirical news outlet The Onion after successfully
hacking actual, usually reliable news sources on Twitter? No matter how odd the
choice was, here’s the truth according to The Onion: The hack attack penetrated
the publication with at least three methods of phishing attacks, also known as
sending links that gain control of one’s email account under the guise of
receiving really important information – a trick a lot of people still fall
for.
In a write-up detailing how the hacking happened, The Onion explained that the Syrian Electronic Army first sent out emails to a few Onion employees containing links disguised as a Washington Post story about their organization. Of course, any self-respecting journalist would jump at a chance to check out a tip … only it wasn’t a tip, but rather a malicious link that lead to another malicious link until it finally landed on a page that asked for login details. The last link bore the word Google in its extra-lengthy URL – which would probably raise flags for Internet savvy users – making it easy for anyone to quickly make the assumption of its legitimacy and right for asking one’s password to Google Apps before redirecting to Gmail.
All it took was for one Onion employee to fall for this trickery. Once the hackers got into the account, they used it to send out more of the same email to other Onion employees, who by nature wouldn’t question the act since it came from a source they trusted.
A lot of staff members clicked the link and stopped as soon as they were asked to enter log in details, but just like the first phase of the phishing attack, all it took was two more employees to fall for the trap, and one of them happened to have social media account access.
The Onion became aware of this breach quickly and sent out alerts to everyone to change their email passwords. The Syrian Electronic Army, however, became unstoppable at that point – they successfully avoided being thwarted right away by modifying their original phishing email to look like a password-reset link and sending it out to a few more people, excluding staff members who worked in the IT department. This third and final phase of the phishing attack affected two more accounts, and one of those accounts happened to be the back-up email for regaining Twitter access, just in case hackers took control of it.
Instead of feeling duped and defeated, The Onion took this opportunity to publish an article relating to the incident. They also forced a company-wide password reset for every Google Apps account owned by staffers to ensure that potential security breaches caused by the Syrian Electronic Army are nipped at the bud. “In total, the attacker compromised at least five accounts. The attacker logged in to compromised accounts from 46.17.103.125 which is also where the SEA hosts a website,” revealed The Onion in a blog post.
“Don’t let this happen to you,” The Onion warned in big, bold print. They ended their report by providing tips on how to prevent this sort of attack from happening. While most of them pertain to people who work for a company or organization, some of them are pretty obvious: Analyze the links you receive and be extra wary of ones that ask for login details, and anyone can be a victim of a phisher – your boyfriend, your best friend, your boss, even your mom (especially your mom). Make sure to tell them to be extra careful as well.
We recently were able to talk with the Syrian Electronic Army about its rash of Twitter hacks and the motives behind them.
In a write-up detailing how the hacking happened, The Onion explained that the Syrian Electronic Army first sent out emails to a few Onion employees containing links disguised as a Washington Post story about their organization. Of course, any self-respecting journalist would jump at a chance to check out a tip … only it wasn’t a tip, but rather a malicious link that lead to another malicious link until it finally landed on a page that asked for login details. The last link bore the word Google in its extra-lengthy URL – which would probably raise flags for Internet savvy users – making it easy for anyone to quickly make the assumption of its legitimacy and right for asking one’s password to Google Apps before redirecting to Gmail.
All it took was for one Onion employee to fall for this trickery. Once the hackers got into the account, they used it to send out more of the same email to other Onion employees, who by nature wouldn’t question the act since it came from a source they trusted.
A lot of staff members clicked the link and stopped as soon as they were asked to enter log in details, but just like the first phase of the phishing attack, all it took was two more employees to fall for the trap, and one of them happened to have social media account access.
The Onion became aware of this breach quickly and sent out alerts to everyone to change their email passwords. The Syrian Electronic Army, however, became unstoppable at that point – they successfully avoided being thwarted right away by modifying their original phishing email to look like a password-reset link and sending it out to a few more people, excluding staff members who worked in the IT department. This third and final phase of the phishing attack affected two more accounts, and one of those accounts happened to be the back-up email for regaining Twitter access, just in case hackers took control of it.
Instead of feeling duped and defeated, The Onion took this opportunity to publish an article relating to the incident. They also forced a company-wide password reset for every Google Apps account owned by staffers to ensure that potential security breaches caused by the Syrian Electronic Army are nipped at the bud. “In total, the attacker compromised at least five accounts. The attacker logged in to compromised accounts from 46.17.103.125 which is also where the SEA hosts a website,” revealed The Onion in a blog post.
“Don’t let this happen to you,” The Onion warned in big, bold print. They ended their report by providing tips on how to prevent this sort of attack from happening. While most of them pertain to people who work for a company or organization, some of them are pretty obvious: Analyze the links you receive and be extra wary of ones that ask for login details, and anyone can be a victim of a phisher – your boyfriend, your best friend, your boss, even your mom (especially your mom). Make sure to tell them to be extra careful as well.
We recently were able to talk with the Syrian Electronic Army about its rash of Twitter hacks and the motives behind them.
They're an insignificant percentage of modern
Home windows Notepad has become around considering that Home windows
initially appeared in 1985, as well as NT model has not altered much for your
ten years. What has changed is it truly is no longer the specified viewer any
time you notify World-wide-web Explorer to indicate the supply code of the
online page. With IE8, that occupation was handed about on the far more advanced
viewer built into IE's Developer Resources, to really make it competitive with
Netscape and Google Chrome.
You may modify the default. Start out IE8 and push F12 to open up the Developer Tools, open up the File menu, click Customise Internet Explorer View Supply, and select Notepad in place of Default Viewer. In the event you run Notepad, you may be able to load, edit and preserve .html documents. (Obviously, when you just double-click them, they may load while in the default browser.)
A different workaround is to adjust the file extension that tells Home windows which program to employ to open up a file. Push F2, improve the title on the local copy within your file from, for example, NewsPage.html to NewsPage.txt, double click the file and it'll open in Notepad in editable type. Once you have completed enhancing it, help save the file and change the title again to NewsPage.html before uploading it on your server.
Or else, I do not anticipate Microsoft was far too concerned about individuals even now utilizing Notepad to edit HTML documents. They're an insignificant percentage of modern 1.4 billion or so Home windows consumers, and there are numerous free of charge alternate options.
By way of example, Microsoft presents a strong totally free online page design program Visual Studio Express 2012 for World wide web, plus a totally free version of Microsoft Expression World-wide-web 4, which was an expensive professional system till it absolutely was discontinued. There are several cost-free third-party alternatives like KompoZer. This really is relatively similar to the long-dead Microsoft FrontPage. Yet another totally free or low cost option is Serif's WebPlus.
http://www.windows7mart.com/windows-7-ultimate-product-key-p-3528.html
You may modify the default. Start out IE8 and push F12 to open up the Developer Tools, open up the File menu, click Customise Internet Explorer View Supply, and select Notepad in place of Default Viewer. In the event you run Notepad, you may be able to load, edit and preserve .html documents. (Obviously, when you just double-click them, they may load while in the default browser.)
A different workaround is to adjust the file extension that tells Home windows which program to employ to open up a file. Push F2, improve the title on the local copy within your file from, for example, NewsPage.html to NewsPage.txt, double click the file and it'll open in Notepad in editable type. Once you have completed enhancing it, help save the file and change the title again to NewsPage.html before uploading it on your server.
Or else, I do not anticipate Microsoft was far too concerned about individuals even now utilizing Notepad to edit HTML documents. They're an insignificant percentage of modern 1.4 billion or so Home windows consumers, and there are numerous free of charge alternate options.
By way of example, Microsoft presents a strong totally free online page design program Visual Studio Express 2012 for World wide web, plus a totally free version of Microsoft Expression World-wide-web 4, which was an expensive professional system till it absolutely was discontinued. There are several cost-free third-party alternatives like KompoZer. This really is relatively similar to the long-dead Microsoft FrontPage. Yet another totally free or low cost option is Serif's WebPlus.
http://www.windows7mart.com/windows-7-ultimate-product-key-p-3528.html
Tuesday, 30 April 2013
Intel Readies New Silvermont Atom Architecture
Silvermont will be the first new architecture for the low-power Atom chip
platform, which is aimed at everything from smartphones to microservers.
Intel, as it prepares to unveil its next-generation Core “Haswell” chip for tablets and notebooks in early June, is reportedly preparing to outline the new architecture that will be the underpinning of upcoming of low-power Atom chips that will begin appearing in devices later this year.
Intel officials are expected to talk about the “Silvermont” architecture at an event at the company’s Santa Clara, Calif., headquarters May 6. Silvermont represents the first new architecture for the Atom platform since it was introduced in 2008 and targeted at the now passé netbook.
Since that time, Intel executives have rapidly expanded Atom’s reach, making it the platform for not only many of its tablet plans and smartphones, but also for embedded devices and even low-power microservers. Silvermont will be the next-generation architecture for upcoming chips like the 22-nanometer “Bay Trail” for tablets and other devices running both Microsoft’s Windows 8 and Google’s Android operating systems, and for “Merrifield,” which will go into smartphones.
It also will be the architecture for “Avoton,” which will succeed “Centerton” in microservers such as Hewlett-Packard’s Project Moonshot systems.
Silvermont is expected to bring greater performance and lower power to the Bay Trail chips, which Intel officials are hoping will help the vendor make inroads into a tablet market where most of the devices currently run on ARM-designed chips made by the likes of Qualcomm, Samsung and Nvidia. The chips, which will include higher end Intel graphics capabilities, also could be a boon for Windows 8 tablets, which still lag far behind those devices running Android and Apple’s iOS.
Analysts have been critical of the performance of ARM-based tablets running Microsoft’s Windows RT OS.
Intel officials have said tablets, hybrids and convertible devices powered by the quad-core Bay Trail system-on-a-chips (SoCs) will appear in before the holiday shopping season and help drive down tablet prices to as low as $200.
Smartphones powered by Merrifield are expected to hit the market early next year.
Analysts at Strategy Analytics said in an April 25 report that of the 40.6 million tablets shipped in the first quarter, 48 ran iOS, while 43 percent ran Android. Windows held a 7.5 percent market share. The 40.6 million tablets shipped represented a 117 percent increase over the 18.7 million shipped during the same period in 2012.
Though Microsoft saw a 7.5 percent market share, it was hindered by limited distribution, a shortage of top-tier apps and confusion in the market, according to Strategy Analytics.
Not all analysts saw that number as a bad sign for either Microsoft or Intel. Ross Seymore, research analyst with Deutsche Bank, said in a research note April 26 that Windows 8 “did surprisingly well” considering it had no market share a year earlier.
Seymore also noted that Intel powered more than 90 percent of all the Windows-based tablets, and that its chip strategy has the company poised to grow its market share against ARM. He said that Intel’s current “Cover Trail” SoCs are helping drive tablet prices to as low as $449, and that Bay Trail will help lower prices even more. The chips “offer comparable performance and power efficiency” as the ARM chips and give OEMs a solid alternative to ARM SoCs, Seymore said.
Intel, as it prepares to unveil its next-generation Core “Haswell” chip for tablets and notebooks in early June, is reportedly preparing to outline the new architecture that will be the underpinning of upcoming of low-power Atom chips that will begin appearing in devices later this year.
Intel officials are expected to talk about the “Silvermont” architecture at an event at the company’s Santa Clara, Calif., headquarters May 6. Silvermont represents the first new architecture for the Atom platform since it was introduced in 2008 and targeted at the now passé netbook.
Since that time, Intel executives have rapidly expanded Atom’s reach, making it the platform for not only many of its tablet plans and smartphones, but also for embedded devices and even low-power microservers. Silvermont will be the next-generation architecture for upcoming chips like the 22-nanometer “Bay Trail” for tablets and other devices running both Microsoft’s Windows 8 and Google’s Android operating systems, and for “Merrifield,” which will go into smartphones.
It also will be the architecture for “Avoton,” which will succeed “Centerton” in microservers such as Hewlett-Packard’s Project Moonshot systems.
Silvermont is expected to bring greater performance and lower power to the Bay Trail chips, which Intel officials are hoping will help the vendor make inroads into a tablet market where most of the devices currently run on ARM-designed chips made by the likes of Qualcomm, Samsung and Nvidia. The chips, which will include higher end Intel graphics capabilities, also could be a boon for Windows 8 tablets, which still lag far behind those devices running Android and Apple’s iOS.
Analysts have been critical of the performance of ARM-based tablets running Microsoft’s Windows RT OS.
Intel officials have said tablets, hybrids and convertible devices powered by the quad-core Bay Trail system-on-a-chips (SoCs) will appear in before the holiday shopping season and help drive down tablet prices to as low as $200.
Smartphones powered by Merrifield are expected to hit the market early next year.
Analysts at Strategy Analytics said in an April 25 report that of the 40.6 million tablets shipped in the first quarter, 48 ran iOS, while 43 percent ran Android. Windows held a 7.5 percent market share. The 40.6 million tablets shipped represented a 117 percent increase over the 18.7 million shipped during the same period in 2012.
Though Microsoft saw a 7.5 percent market share, it was hindered by limited distribution, a shortage of top-tier apps and confusion in the market, according to Strategy Analytics.
Not all analysts saw that number as a bad sign for either Microsoft or Intel. Ross Seymore, research analyst with Deutsche Bank, said in a research note April 26 that Windows 8 “did surprisingly well” considering it had no market share a year earlier.
Seymore also noted that Intel powered more than 90 percent of all the Windows-based tablets, and that its chip strategy has the company poised to grow its market share against ARM. He said that Intel’s current “Cover Trail” SoCs are helping drive tablet prices to as low as $449, and that Bay Trail will help lower prices even more. The chips “offer comparable performance and power efficiency” as the ARM chips and give OEMs a solid alternative to ARM SoCs, Seymore said.
Home windows Cellular phone end users begun
Microsoft has introduced an application in the Google Enjoy retail outlet
created to get people today to halt making use of said keep and the Android
phones that hook up to it. Just identified as "Switch to Home windows Cellular
phone," it scans your Android cellular phone for all of your current put in
applications and afterwards will save the outcome using your Microsoft ID. Then,
making use of a companion app on Home windows Phone alone, you can indication in
and find out most of the equal applications in Microsoft's possess retail
outlet, tapping via to set up them each and every one-by-one. It isn't going to
show current Android buyers what all those matched applications are, but it may
very well be practical to modern switchers.
It truly is a intelligent idea, receiving people over the considerations
that applications will not be obtainable on Home windows Cellular phone,
although the execution isn't very there still. Scanning was somewhat fast and
pain-free on Android ?a the applications says it matched 87 p.c of my installed
Android applications. Nonetheless, once I logged in the companion app on Home
windows Telephone (and experienced it crash two or three periods), I identified
that a few of the "matched" applications weren't rather correct. Alternatively
of Mint, for example, Swap to Home windows Telephone presented me having a
hyperlink to Pageonce. Though Pageonce performs largely the same functions as
Mint, for many end users "close on the identical app" is just not near
sufficient. It could have been nicer if several of individuals non-exact matches
would current various alternatives, although the Quixey-powered app did not do
that. Users preferring a far more common strategy can try out Mark/Space's
desktop switcher app.
Inspite of Microsoft's ideal endeavours, it continue to does not have every significant identify application that end users on other platforms may take with no consideration ?a much to Nokia's chagrin ?a however the predicament has become having constantly superior with the system. Whether or not it doesn't get rid of each of the hassles linked to applying the third-place smartphone OS, Microsoft's app should support get new Home windows Cellular phone end users begun after they swap.
Microsoft introduced its new Skype Online video Messages feature for iOS, Android, and Mac back again in February, though the business failed to allow it to be offered originally for its individual Windows platform. Right now, Microsoft is releasing a preview of Skype Movie Messaging for Home windows desktop end users. The standard desktop app that operates on Windows 7 and Windows 8 will include the new function, letting users to trade quick online video messages (as many as 3 minutes long) with other Skype users.
The attribute is still not offered on Microsoft's Home windows 8 Skype app, however the organization is promising to help make this readily available "shortly." Skype says it is really however tests the function, and in the instant you get twenty absolutely free messages prior to you have to subscribe to Skype Top quality for $4.ninety nine a month to carry on employing Video clip Messages.
Inspite of Microsoft's ideal endeavours, it continue to does not have every significant identify application that end users on other platforms may take with no consideration ?a much to Nokia's chagrin ?a however the predicament has become having constantly superior with the system. Whether or not it doesn't get rid of each of the hassles linked to applying the third-place smartphone OS, Microsoft's app should support get new Home windows Cellular phone end users begun after they swap.
Microsoft introduced its new Skype Online video Messages feature for iOS, Android, and Mac back again in February, though the business failed to allow it to be offered originally for its individual Windows platform. Right now, Microsoft is releasing a preview of Skype Movie Messaging for Home windows desktop end users. The standard desktop app that operates on Windows 7 and Windows 8 will include the new function, letting users to trade quick online video messages (as many as 3 minutes long) with other Skype users.
The attribute is still not offered on Microsoft's Home windows 8 Skype app, however the organization is promising to help make this readily available "shortly." Skype says it is really however tests the function, and in the instant you get twenty absolutely free messages prior to you have to subscribe to Skype Top quality for $4.ninety nine a month to carry on employing Video clip Messages.
Sunday, 21 April 2013
New iPad To Be Thinner, Lighter: Report
Apple surprised most people when it introduced the fourth-generation iPad
last fall. No one expected to see a refresh of Apple's iconic tablet until March
or April of this year, which would have fallen in line with Apple's previous,
yearly upgrade cycle. Instead, Apple introduced a fourth-gen iPad alongside the
iPad Mini that was mostly identical to the third-gen iPad. Only the processor
and the Lightning connector -- and size, of course -- make it stand out from the
previous model.
Fast forward to today, and there's no word from Apple about a fifth-generation iPad. Some had hoped Apple would stick to its yearly refresh cycle and debut a brand new device in March or April. It looks as though that's not happening.
KGI Securities analyst Ming-Chi Kuo doesn't think we'll see the next-gen iPad until the fall. He believes production for the new product won't ramp up until August or September for a fall debut, roughly one year after Apple introduced the fourth-gen iPad. Considering Apple's silence about any new products this year, Kuo's forecast makes sense, on the surface.
If Apple is going to make people wait a full year between new iPads, the next one had better be pretty good, right? Kuo has some insight there, as well.
"We think the tablet will, at 7.5-8.0mm, be 15% thinner than iPad 4," wrote Kuo in a report to investors. The iPad 4 measures 9.4mm thick. It is hardly chubby, but making it thinner will certainly boost the tablet's appeal.
"The new device will likely be about 500 grams, or some 25% lighter than iPad 4," said Kuo. The iPad 4 weighs in at 652 grams, or about 1.44 pounds. A drop to 500 grams would put the iPad 5's weight at 1.10 pounds. The iPad 4 isn't overly heavy, but it's more than twice as heavy as the iPad Mini, which weighs a mere 0.68 pounds, about 308 grams.
Kuo said the iPad 5 will "run on an A7X processor, and sport cameras with similar specs to the iPad 4's (front HD, rear 5MP). The casing shape and color (silver and black) and narrow bezel design will be similar to the iPad Mini's." At this point, a redesign of the full-size iPad is expected, and Kuo's predictions fall in line with those expectations.
What's interesting is how Kuo thinks Apple will be able to reduce the size and weight. First, Apple will use new screen technology that is thinner. Second, it's going to give the iPad 5 a smaller battery. Before you worry that the iPad 5 will have poor battery life, Kuo suggests that the new screen will be more power efficient. Further, the A7X processor, which uses Samsung's 28-nm processes, will be much more power efficient. Together, these will allow Apple to decrease the size of the battery without hurting battery life.
"We therefore think that iPad 5's battery capacity will be 25-30% smaller, at 8,500-9,000mAh, than iPad 4's, and the battery's thickness will be 15-20% smaller, and the number of cells will be reduced to two from three," said Kuo.
Apple has not announced any new products this year, but it will report its first quarter earnings on April 23. Perhaps some clues will emerge then.
Fast forward to today, and there's no word from Apple about a fifth-generation iPad. Some had hoped Apple would stick to its yearly refresh cycle and debut a brand new device in March or April. It looks as though that's not happening.
KGI Securities analyst Ming-Chi Kuo doesn't think we'll see the next-gen iPad until the fall. He believes production for the new product won't ramp up until August or September for a fall debut, roughly one year after Apple introduced the fourth-gen iPad. Considering Apple's silence about any new products this year, Kuo's forecast makes sense, on the surface.
If Apple is going to make people wait a full year between new iPads, the next one had better be pretty good, right? Kuo has some insight there, as well.
"We think the tablet will, at 7.5-8.0mm, be 15% thinner than iPad 4," wrote Kuo in a report to investors. The iPad 4 measures 9.4mm thick. It is hardly chubby, but making it thinner will certainly boost the tablet's appeal.
"The new device will likely be about 500 grams, or some 25% lighter than iPad 4," said Kuo. The iPad 4 weighs in at 652 grams, or about 1.44 pounds. A drop to 500 grams would put the iPad 5's weight at 1.10 pounds. The iPad 4 isn't overly heavy, but it's more than twice as heavy as the iPad Mini, which weighs a mere 0.68 pounds, about 308 grams.
Kuo said the iPad 5 will "run on an A7X processor, and sport cameras with similar specs to the iPad 4's (front HD, rear 5MP). The casing shape and color (silver and black) and narrow bezel design will be similar to the iPad Mini's." At this point, a redesign of the full-size iPad is expected, and Kuo's predictions fall in line with those expectations.
What's interesting is how Kuo thinks Apple will be able to reduce the size and weight. First, Apple will use new screen technology that is thinner. Second, it's going to give the iPad 5 a smaller battery. Before you worry that the iPad 5 will have poor battery life, Kuo suggests that the new screen will be more power efficient. Further, the A7X processor, which uses Samsung's 28-nm processes, will be much more power efficient. Together, these will allow Apple to decrease the size of the battery without hurting battery life.
"We therefore think that iPad 5's battery capacity will be 25-30% smaller, at 8,500-9,000mAh, than iPad 4's, and the battery's thickness will be 15-20% smaller, and the number of cells will be reduced to two from three," said Kuo.
Apple has not announced any new products this year, but it will report its first quarter earnings on April 23. Perhaps some clues will emerge then.
Much more critical however, it’s an e-mail shopper
Viewpoint on Home windows eight may very well be throughout the map, but
here’s one thing most of us ought to find a way to agree on: the greater
applications that get total benefit of the Home windows 8 interface, the higher
shape the working technique might be in. What it requirements, and hasn’t
experienced, is often a profusion of killer apps.
At yesterday’s DEMO Cell conference in San Francisco, I saw one of several first third-party Home windows 8 applications that bought me enthusiastic: TouchMail. As its title signifies, it is an e-mail customer created for contact enter.
Much more critical, however, it’s an e-mail shopper that feels like it absolutely was born to operate perfectly on Windows 8. For illustration, alternatively of the typical inbox, you get tiles which clearly show incoming messages and supply a longer-than typical snippet of text. (They are often color-coded, in order to spot messages from your boss or your husband or wife.) You'll be able to zoom out to find out far more and even more messages; should you go far more than enough, the tiles become icons representing the messages’ senders, and you also can immediately slide again to some distinct working day, 7 days or thirty day period.
TouchMail seems like it may be a super-efficient method to blast by means of extensive quantities of mail; its creators say it’s designed for folks who get at least a hundred messages daily. It’s a little bit untimely to guage it, though: the version which happens to be live to tell the tale the Home windows Keep can be a teaser relatively thank a doing the job e-mail method. The truth is, you cannot use it to acquire your own personal mail however, only to perspective some sample messages.
At DEMO, TouchMail’s creators received questioned by a doubtful decide about why they selected to launch on Windows alternatively than other platforms. (I understood his reasoning, but I was still startled - even five years ago, I just cannot consider any person believing that Home windows was not the definitely the obvious functioning method to start a completely new product or service on.) It seems they do plan to deliver their development to other devices, starting along with the one I exploit most, the iPad.
I’m pleased to hear that - but I’ll even be tickled if TouchMail seems good ample that it can help offer a still-skeptical world within the price of Windows 8.
At yesterday’s DEMO Cell conference in San Francisco, I saw one of several first third-party Home windows 8 applications that bought me enthusiastic: TouchMail. As its title signifies, it is an e-mail customer created for contact enter.
Much more critical, however, it’s an e-mail shopper that feels like it absolutely was born to operate perfectly on Windows 8. For illustration, alternatively of the typical inbox, you get tiles which clearly show incoming messages and supply a longer-than typical snippet of text. (They are often color-coded, in order to spot messages from your boss or your husband or wife.) You'll be able to zoom out to find out far more and even more messages; should you go far more than enough, the tiles become icons representing the messages’ senders, and you also can immediately slide again to some distinct working day, 7 days or thirty day period.
TouchMail seems like it may be a super-efficient method to blast by means of extensive quantities of mail; its creators say it’s designed for folks who get at least a hundred messages daily. It’s a little bit untimely to guage it, though: the version which happens to be live to tell the tale the Home windows Keep can be a teaser relatively thank a doing the job e-mail method. The truth is, you cannot use it to acquire your own personal mail however, only to perspective some sample messages.
At DEMO, TouchMail’s creators received questioned by a doubtful decide about why they selected to launch on Windows alternatively than other platforms. (I understood his reasoning, but I was still startled - even five years ago, I just cannot consider any person believing that Home windows was not the definitely the obvious functioning method to start a completely new product or service on.) It seems they do plan to deliver their development to other devices, starting along with the one I exploit most, the iPad.
I’m pleased to hear that - but I’ll even be tickled if TouchMail seems good ample that it can help offer a still-skeptical world within the price of Windows 8.
Tuesday, 16 April 2013
Samsung probed for allegedly bashing rival HTC online
The Taiwanese Fair Trade Commission has reportedly launched an
investigation into Samsung on allegations that the phone-maker was paying
students to post negative online comments about HTC devices, according to AFP.
HTC is one of Samsung's most staunch rivals.
Supposedly, the South Korean tech giant hired students to both write the inflammatory comments about HTC products and also recommend Samsung cell phones. The commission says that this type of behavior is akin to false advertising. According to AFP, the Fair Trade Commission spokesman Sun Lih-chyun said, "The case was set up last week after we received complaints."
For its part, Samsung has said that what happened was "unfortunate" and it occurred because there was "insufficient understanding" of the "fundamental principles" of the company's online procedures. The company also said that it has stopped all marketing that "involves the posting of anonymous comments."
Here is Samsung's official statement on the matter that was sent to CNET by a company spokesperson:
Samsung Electronics remains committed to engaging in transparent and honest communications with consumers as outlined in the company's Online Communications Credo. We have encouraged all Samsung Electronics employees worldwide to remain faithful to our Credo. The recent incident was unfortunate, and occurred due to insufficient understanding of these fundamental principles.
Samsung Electronics Taiwan (SET) has ceased all marketing activities that involve the posting of anonymous comments, and will ensure that all SET online marketing activities will be fully compliant with the company's Online Communications Credo.
We regret any inconvenience this incident may have caused. We will continue to reinforce education and training for our employees to prevent any future recurrence.
According to AFP, the alleged campaign happened via a local advertising agency hired by Samsung. If Samsung and the agency are found to have practiced false advertising, they face a fine of up to $835,000.
This won't be the first time Samsung would be fined by Taiwan's Fair Trade Commission. According to AFP, the company was fined around $10,000 earlier this year for allegedly engaging in misleading advertising about its Galaxy Y Duos. Samsung was also fined $16.2 million in January by China's National Development and Reform Commission over charges that it colluded with LG and four Taiwanese firms to fix the prices of LCD panels.
Supposedly, the South Korean tech giant hired students to both write the inflammatory comments about HTC products and also recommend Samsung cell phones. The commission says that this type of behavior is akin to false advertising. According to AFP, the Fair Trade Commission spokesman Sun Lih-chyun said, "The case was set up last week after we received complaints."
For its part, Samsung has said that what happened was "unfortunate" and it occurred because there was "insufficient understanding" of the "fundamental principles" of the company's online procedures. The company also said that it has stopped all marketing that "involves the posting of anonymous comments."
Here is Samsung's official statement on the matter that was sent to CNET by a company spokesperson:
Samsung Electronics remains committed to engaging in transparent and honest communications with consumers as outlined in the company's Online Communications Credo. We have encouraged all Samsung Electronics employees worldwide to remain faithful to our Credo. The recent incident was unfortunate, and occurred due to insufficient understanding of these fundamental principles.
Samsung Electronics Taiwan (SET) has ceased all marketing activities that involve the posting of anonymous comments, and will ensure that all SET online marketing activities will be fully compliant with the company's Online Communications Credo.
We regret any inconvenience this incident may have caused. We will continue to reinforce education and training for our employees to prevent any future recurrence.
According to AFP, the alleged campaign happened via a local advertising agency hired by Samsung. If Samsung and the agency are found to have practiced false advertising, they face a fine of up to $835,000.
This won't be the first time Samsung would be fined by Taiwan's Fair Trade Commission. According to AFP, the company was fined around $10,000 earlier this year for allegedly engaging in misleading advertising about its Galaxy Y Duos. Samsung was also fined $16.2 million in January by China's National Development and Reform Commission over charges that it colluded with LG and four Taiwanese firms to fix the prices of LCD panels.
Not one of the updates will rock your environment
Microsoft nowadays launched updates for 5 out of its 6 Bing Apps
for Home windows 8. Using this type of update, the Information, Finance,
Athletics, Travel and Maps apps - all of which are put in by default on
Home windows eight programs - now all sport a variety of new
capabilities and improvements that, as Microsoft places it, “make it
less difficult to customise and personalize them to best match your
desires.” The organization also announced an update into the Bing
Temperature Application, but this new edition will not be offered
however.
Not one of the updates will rock your environment, but all of these are welcome additions, especially since they usually felt considerably constrained inside their early iterations.
Those of you who are even now coming to grips with the forthcoming demise of Google Reader, for instance, will respect the fact that the Bing Information app now supports RSS feeds and offline reading through. On top of that, the application now also options extra customization solutions so that you can “keep tabs on unique story types, topics, or information resources that matter for you.”
The Maps app now involves visitors incident notifications and enhanced driving, transit and strolling directions. Buyers may now bookmark areas they check out routinely to their start display.
The Finance app now involves an updates check out listing and real-time U.S. stock updates, as well as Sports application provides 29 new leagues. The Travel application now consists of content material from Lonely Planet and Frodor’s, also as Frommer’s, which the first proprietors just purchased again from Google.
The Climate application also acquired several appealing new tools, together with the power to acquire weather conditions at ski resorts in 24 countries throughout the earth (just in time with the close of the ski time), also as superior going weather conditions maps.
Not one of the updates will rock your environment, but all of these are welcome additions, especially since they usually felt considerably constrained inside their early iterations.
Those of you who are even now coming to grips with the forthcoming demise of Google Reader, for instance, will respect the fact that the Bing Information app now supports RSS feeds and offline reading through. On top of that, the application now also options extra customization solutions so that you can “keep tabs on unique story types, topics, or information resources that matter for you.”
The Maps app now involves visitors incident notifications and enhanced driving, transit and strolling directions. Buyers may now bookmark areas they check out routinely to their start display.
The Finance app now involves an updates check out listing and real-time U.S. stock updates, as well as Sports application provides 29 new leagues. The Travel application now consists of content material from Lonely Planet and Frodor’s, also as Frommer’s, which the first proprietors just purchased again from Google.
The Climate application also acquired several appealing new tools, together with the power to acquire weather conditions at ski resorts in 24 countries throughout the earth (just in time with the close of the ski time), also as superior going weather conditions maps.
Friday, 12 April 2013
Twitter's music site goes live, kinda
Twitter's new music site went live this morning.
Well, almost. Users can currently log in with their usual Twitter credentials, but there are no features as of yet.
According to AllThingsD, only a select few will get access to the service over the coming days, with Twitter planning a more extensive rollout after that.
Reports that the service was set to go live began circulating last night, and were fueled earlier in the week by celebrity Ryan Seacrest, who bragged about having access to it in a series of tweets.
Twitter yesterday confirmed that it had purchased music discovery service We Are Hunted. CNET first reported the buy of the service, which tracks what music is trending on blogs, message boards, and other social media.
Twitter declined to comment on when it would be available to the unwashed masses. In the meantime, you can just listen to this in eager anticipation.
Update at 11:15 a.m. PT: And the virtual velvet rope goes up. The Twitter Music page now notes that its "invite only."
Update at 3 p.m. PT: Okay, how about something interesting? Designer Youssef Sarhan dug through the CSS file on the Twitter Music login page and came up with a handful of tidbits (via The Next Web). That includes the fact that the service will plug into iTunes, Spotify, Rdio, Soundcloud, Vevo and Youtube. It will also have this snappy looking playback interface:
Well, almost. Users can currently log in with their usual Twitter credentials, but there are no features as of yet.
According to AllThingsD, only a select few will get access to the service over the coming days, with Twitter planning a more extensive rollout after that.
Reports that the service was set to go live began circulating last night, and were fueled earlier in the week by celebrity Ryan Seacrest, who bragged about having access to it in a series of tweets.
Twitter yesterday confirmed that it had purchased music discovery service We Are Hunted. CNET first reported the buy of the service, which tracks what music is trending on blogs, message boards, and other social media.
Twitter declined to comment on when it would be available to the unwashed masses. In the meantime, you can just listen to this in eager anticipation.
Update at 11:15 a.m. PT: And the virtual velvet rope goes up. The Twitter Music page now notes that its "invite only."
Update at 3 p.m. PT: Okay, how about something interesting? Designer Youssef Sarhan dug through the CSS file on the Twitter Music login page and came up with a handful of tidbits (via The Next Web). That includes the fact that the service will plug into iTunes, Spotify, Rdio, Soundcloud, Vevo and Youtube. It will also have this snappy looking playback interface:
O'Donnell is correct. Microsoft designed a giant
Laptop income are plummeting since people are puzzled and disappointed with
Windows eight, and there is no end in sight. So concludes an IDC report, which
claims the sinking profits are the worst it really is ever witnessed.
The IDC report uncovered that around the globe Pc shipments had been seventy six.3 million units in 2013's very first quarter, down 13.9% from a calendar year prior, and in some cases even worse in comparison to the seven.7% decrease that IDC had forecast. The drop could be the worst that IDC has at any time observed since it started tracking the Laptop sector every single quarter in 1995. It is really also the fourth straight quarter that Personal windows 7 home premium product key computer profits have declined year-on-year.
That is just the get started of the negative news for Microsoft. IDC concludes that that decrease has become fueled via the very poor design and failure of Windows 8, not merely by the rising popularity of tablets. Bob O'Donnell, IDC System Vice president, Customers and Shows experienced these harsh phrases for Home windows eight and Microsoft:
"At this level, regrettably, it seems apparent the Windows 8 launch not only unsuccessful to deliver a optimistic enhance towards the Laptop industry, but seems to get slowed the market. Whilst some individuals take pleasure in the new variety aspects and touch capabilities of Windows eight, the radical alterations to the UI, elimination on the common Start button, as well as the costs related with touch have designed PCs a a lot less eye-catching alternate to devoted tablets and other aggressive units. Microsoft must make some extremely tough choices relocating ahead if it wants to enable reinvigorate the Computer system current market."
"While people like the general look and come to feel of the tiles, they?ˉre also extremely bewildered and frustrated via the lack of get started menu and invest a lot of their time in (traditional) desktop mode. So the bottom line is I believe they've established a predicament where it?ˉs quite challenging for people and folks which have a Computer that works just great are saying it?ˉs baffling, it expenses more funds and that i don?ˉt seriously want it."
O'Donnell and other folks at IDC imagine that unless of course Microsoft makes serious changes to Windows 8 to create it additional common and consumer-friendly, factors will only worsen. Jay Chou, senior investigate analyst on IDC?ˉs quarterly Personal computer monitoring support, mentioned:
"Although IDC experienced not predicted Windows 8 being an important driver to aid stem the tide of Pc quantity drop, it now seems that without a study course correction from Microsoft, the Computer marketplace is headed toward an excellent worse contraction for 2013 than formerly believed."
O'Donnell is correct. Microsoft designed a giant gamble in building Home windows eight as an working procedure developed extra for tablets and touch than for traditional PCs, and in offering it dueling and confusing interfaces. Microsoft hoped that familiarizing individuals with the contact interface would spur folks to acquire Home windows eight and Windows Rt tablets, but that hasn't took place. Now it appears that Windows eight is helping to significantly depress product sales of regular PCs also.
The IDC report uncovered that around the globe Pc shipments had been seventy six.3 million units in 2013's very first quarter, down 13.9% from a calendar year prior, and in some cases even worse in comparison to the seven.7% decrease that IDC had forecast. The drop could be the worst that IDC has at any time observed since it started tracking the Laptop sector every single quarter in 1995. It is really also the fourth straight quarter that Personal windows 7 home premium product key computer profits have declined year-on-year.
That is just the get started of the negative news for Microsoft. IDC concludes that that decrease has become fueled via the very poor design and failure of Windows 8, not merely by the rising popularity of tablets. Bob O'Donnell, IDC System Vice president, Customers and Shows experienced these harsh phrases for Home windows eight and Microsoft:
"At this level, regrettably, it seems apparent the Windows 8 launch not only unsuccessful to deliver a optimistic enhance towards the Laptop industry, but seems to get slowed the market. Whilst some individuals take pleasure in the new variety aspects and touch capabilities of Windows eight, the radical alterations to the UI, elimination on the common Start button, as well as the costs related with touch have designed PCs a a lot less eye-catching alternate to devoted tablets and other aggressive units. Microsoft must make some extremely tough choices relocating ahead if it wants to enable reinvigorate the Computer system current market."
"While people like the general look and come to feel of the tiles, they?ˉre also extremely bewildered and frustrated via the lack of get started menu and invest a lot of their time in (traditional) desktop mode. So the bottom line is I believe they've established a predicament where it?ˉs quite challenging for people and folks which have a Computer that works just great are saying it?ˉs baffling, it expenses more funds and that i don?ˉt seriously want it."
O'Donnell and other folks at IDC imagine that unless of course Microsoft makes serious changes to Windows 8 to create it additional common and consumer-friendly, factors will only worsen. Jay Chou, senior investigate analyst on IDC?ˉs quarterly Personal computer monitoring support, mentioned:
"Although IDC experienced not predicted Windows 8 being an important driver to aid stem the tide of Pc quantity drop, it now seems that without a study course correction from Microsoft, the Computer marketplace is headed toward an excellent worse contraction for 2013 than formerly believed."
O'Donnell is correct. Microsoft designed a giant gamble in building Home windows eight as an working procedure developed extra for tablets and touch than for traditional PCs, and in offering it dueling and confusing interfaces. Microsoft hoped that familiarizing individuals with the contact interface would spur folks to acquire Home windows eight and Windows Rt tablets, but that hasn't took place. Now it appears that Windows eight is helping to significantly depress product sales of regular PCs also.
Monday, 8 April 2013
From strip clubs to theaters, Google Glass won't be welcome everywhere
Google's futuristic Glass headgear will be available before year's end. The device may well be the final step before human-machine interaction moves under our skin
— but its wearers may trigger some undesired social reactions from
friends and family members, and it may not go over too well at your local watering hole, either. In fact, judging from our early look, Google Glass won't be welcome in lots of places.
Google Glass consists of a small display situated on a frame that resembles eyeglasses. It is connected to a camera, microphone and bone-conducting speaker. Glass pairs with your smartphone wirelessly using Bluetooth, but also can use Wi-Fi to access the Internet. You can use your voice or your finger to get it to take photos, record video, initiate video or voice chats, send messages, search Google and translate words or phrases. Google's being a bit coy about the ship date for this groundbreaking wearable computer. However, while qualifying early adopters are paying $1,500 a pop for the privilege of owning it first, we're told that it will become more widely available by year's end — with a slightly more affordable price tag.
One of the reasons Glass will find itself unwelcome in places is because its camera lives at the wearer's eye level. It takes photos or record videos without a red blinking light telling others it's happening. Anywhere cameras and other recording devices are unwelcome, the same would most certainly go for Google Glass.
For starters, you can forget about taking Glass to Las Vegas.
"We've been dealing with the cellphone videoing and the picture taking over the years and we are quick to make sure that that doesn't happen in the club," Peter Feinstein, managing partner of Sapphire Gentlemen's Club in Las Vegas, told NBC News, explaining that hosts check in any electronics a patron brings that could be used for filming.
"As the sale of [Google Glass] spreads, there'll be more people using them and wanting to use them at places such as a gentlemen's club," Feinstein explained. "If we see those in the club, we would do the same thing that we do to people who bring cameras into the club."
And if somebody refuses to doff his or her headset? "If they don't want to check it, we'd be happy to give them a limo ride back to their hotel," Feinstein says.
Casinos are another place where surreptitious recording equipment won't be welcome.
"Picture-taking is frowned upon, and security officers on duty ask individuals not to take pictures for the privacy of others in the casino," a spokesperson for MGM Resorts said. "This new product is nothing new in terms of a challenge for us, because for so many years, the very tiniest of portable lipstick and pinpoint cameras have been around."
She added that "resort security officers are trained to monitor for, and detect, anything that they suspect might be a filming device, and will ask the patron to discontinue shooting photos or filming."
We spoke to several other casinos and adult entertainment establishments — in and out of Las Vegas — and found a general consensus: You are welcome, but your Google Glass must stay outside.
How about movie theaters?
"No recording devices (cameras, video recorders, sound recorders, etc.) are permitted to be used within any Regal Entertainment Group facility," the admittance procedures for the Regal Entertainment Group plainly state.
While a spokesperson for the group — as well as one for AMC Theaters — looked into the particular methods that may be used for dealing with Glass, no definitive answer was available.
We encountered a lot of that as we made calls for this piece: From the TSA to Bank of America, spokespeople were not yet ready to speak to the particulars of Google Glass, but reiterated general statements about protecting the privacy and personal information of staff and customers alike.
And while businesses and agencies have an interest in controlling what goes on within their boundaries, a whole other area of Google Glass concern has to do with what happens in public places, where people of all ages congregate.
"My immediate concern for [Google Glass] was from a sexual predator view point," Drew Donofrio, a private investigator who previously ran a computer crimes unit for 12 years at the Bergen County, N.J., police department, told NBC News. "Locker rooms, bathrooms, playgrounds ... all [Glass] requires is a line of sight."
"You can look innocent enough in line of sight, when you're not holding up a camcorder," Donofrio explained. "When you have this type of technology, it looks innocuous."
We reached out to parks and recreation departments across the country to see if they would treat Glass any differently than existing recording devices. Like others, park management was not ready to make any official calls. Many did say that they will monitor the gadget's development and adjust policies if necessary in the future.
Google Glass consists of a small display situated on a frame that resembles eyeglasses. It is connected to a camera, microphone and bone-conducting speaker. Glass pairs with your smartphone wirelessly using Bluetooth, but also can use Wi-Fi to access the Internet. You can use your voice or your finger to get it to take photos, record video, initiate video or voice chats, send messages, search Google and translate words or phrases. Google's being a bit coy about the ship date for this groundbreaking wearable computer. However, while qualifying early adopters are paying $1,500 a pop for the privilege of owning it first, we're told that it will become more widely available by year's end — with a slightly more affordable price tag.
One of the reasons Glass will find itself unwelcome in places is because its camera lives at the wearer's eye level. It takes photos or record videos without a red blinking light telling others it's happening. Anywhere cameras and other recording devices are unwelcome, the same would most certainly go for Google Glass.
For starters, you can forget about taking Glass to Las Vegas.
"We've been dealing with the cellphone videoing and the picture taking over the years and we are quick to make sure that that doesn't happen in the club," Peter Feinstein, managing partner of Sapphire Gentlemen's Club in Las Vegas, told NBC News, explaining that hosts check in any electronics a patron brings that could be used for filming.
"As the sale of [Google Glass] spreads, there'll be more people using them and wanting to use them at places such as a gentlemen's club," Feinstein explained. "If we see those in the club, we would do the same thing that we do to people who bring cameras into the club."
And if somebody refuses to doff his or her headset? "If they don't want to check it, we'd be happy to give them a limo ride back to their hotel," Feinstein says.
Casinos are another place where surreptitious recording equipment won't be welcome.
"Picture-taking is frowned upon, and security officers on duty ask individuals not to take pictures for the privacy of others in the casino," a spokesperson for MGM Resorts said. "This new product is nothing new in terms of a challenge for us, because for so many years, the very tiniest of portable lipstick and pinpoint cameras have been around."
She added that "resort security officers are trained to monitor for, and detect, anything that they suspect might be a filming device, and will ask the patron to discontinue shooting photos or filming."
We spoke to several other casinos and adult entertainment establishments — in and out of Las Vegas — and found a general consensus: You are welcome, but your Google Glass must stay outside.
How about movie theaters?
"No recording devices (cameras, video recorders, sound recorders, etc.) are permitted to be used within any Regal Entertainment Group facility," the admittance procedures for the Regal Entertainment Group plainly state.
While a spokesperson for the group — as well as one for AMC Theaters — looked into the particular methods that may be used for dealing with Glass, no definitive answer was available.
We encountered a lot of that as we made calls for this piece: From the TSA to Bank of America, spokespeople were not yet ready to speak to the particulars of Google Glass, but reiterated general statements about protecting the privacy and personal information of staff and customers alike.
And while businesses and agencies have an interest in controlling what goes on within their boundaries, a whole other area of Google Glass concern has to do with what happens in public places, where people of all ages congregate.
"My immediate concern for [Google Glass] was from a sexual predator view point," Drew Donofrio, a private investigator who previously ran a computer crimes unit for 12 years at the Bergen County, N.J., police department, told NBC News. "Locker rooms, bathrooms, playgrounds ... all [Glass] requires is a line of sight."
"You can look innocent enough in line of sight, when you're not holding up a camcorder," Donofrio explained. "When you have this type of technology, it looks innocuous."
We reached out to parks and recreation departments across the country to see if they would treat Glass any differently than existing recording devices. Like others, park management was not ready to make any official calls. Many did say that they will monitor the gadget's development and adjust policies if necessary in the future.
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