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BetaNews.Com (19 non lus)

Apple releases iOS 8.3, OS X 10.10.3 Yosemite -- here's what's new

Publié: avril 8, 2015, 11:01pm CEST par Mihaita Bamburic

Apple today released the third round of major updates for iOS 8 and OS X 10.10 Yosemite. As expected, there are lots and lots of bug fixes in iOS 8.3 and OS X 10.10.3 Yosemite, as well as new features, performance improvements and many other changes.

With regards to performance, iOS 8.3 claims to improve app launch times, responsiveness, messages, Wi-Fi, Control Center, tabs in Safari, and keyboards -- both built-in and third-party. OS X 10.10.3 Yosemite, on the other hand, touts improved Wi-Fi performance. As seen in beta builds, iOS 8.3 also features a refreshed Emoji keyboard with more than 300 new characters, and OS X 10.10.3 Yosemite adds the much-awaited Photos app.

The biggest change that you'll see regarding the iOS 8.3 Emoji keyboard is the racially-diverse emoji. In practice, as you can see below, you'll be able to attach select emoji (ones that Apple deemed relevant to offer this option for) in a varied number of skin tones. The classical emoji are still only available in yellow.

I won't list all the other changes included in iOS 8.3 -- you can take a look at everything that's new by going through all the screenshots taken on my iPhone 6 Plus at the end of the article -- but it should also be said that the bug fixes target Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, orientation and rotation, Messages, Family Sharing, CarPlay, enterprise use and Accessibility, as the main areas of focus.

Apple also says that iOS 8.3 adds new Siri languages and country support, as well as new dictation languages, and improves stability, among other changes. As I said, you're going to need a moment or two to check them all out.

On my iPhone 6 Plus, there is also an update to the carrier settings that comes alongside iOS 8.3. In my case, it allows me to toggle between 4G, 3G and 2G cellular connectivity; prior to the update the 2G option was not available.

The new Photos app in OS X 10.10.3 Yosemite finally gives iOS 8 users the ability to see their iCloud Photo Library photos show up on Macs. The new app offers similar viewing modes to iOS 8, namely Moments, Collections and Years, lets you navigate your library, store photos at their full-resolution and original format, tweak photos, create photo books, and even purchase prints in new sizes, namely square and panoramic.

On the OS X 10.10.3 Yosemite side, Apple also touts improvements to Safari stability and security as well as screen sharing, a Bluetooth bug fix, enhanced security, and a number of enterprise-oriented changes. You can check out the complete changelog here. On my 2013 MacBook Air, there's also an update for OS X Yosemite Recovery.

At this time in writing the article, I am still waiting for OS X 10.10.3 Yosemite to finish downloading, which is why there is no included screenshot of the new Photos app. Meanwhile, iOS 8.3 is already up and running on my iPhone 6 Plus.

Photo Credit: Joe Wilcox
Facebook Messenger breaks away into a brand new dedicated website

Publié: avril 8, 2015, 10:56pm CEST par Mark Wilson

Today Facebook launches a new standalone website for its Messenger service. The separate interface means that it is now possible to chat with your Facebook contacts without having to visit the main Facebook website where you might run the risk of whiling away too much time reading through your timeline as well.

On mobile devices, Facebook has moved users to a dedicated Messenger app rather than allowing them to chat within the main app. By bringing the web-based version of the social network's chat tool in line with the iOS, Windows Phone and Android versions, Facebook has made chatting a distinct feature that can now be conducted completely separately in its own tab.

What is immediately noticeable about the new web interface is how much more room there is than in the old Facebook.com pop-up messaging system. Rather than forcing you to cast your eyes to the lower right hand corner of the screen to see messages as they arrive, Messenger.com offers a full-screen chat experience, and makes it easier to switch between multiple conversations.

Photo and video sharing is included, but there's a killer feature -- one which is likely to convince many people to move their conversations: desktop notifications. One of the problems with conducting chats on Facebook's main website is that there is no visible notification if you browse to another tab or application. They’re not enabled by default, but if you head to Settings in web you can turn them on.

Starting right now, Messenger.com is available to all English speaking Facebook users, and it will roll out in other languages very soon.
Google needs to streamline its TV product line

Publié: avril 8, 2015, 9:57pm CEST par Barclay Ballard

Initially, Google’s new Chromebit add-on appears hugely impressive. The HDMI dongle simply plugs into the back of your TV and provides you with a fully-fledged Chrome OS computer for less than $100.

However, when you line up Chromebit next to the search engine giant’s other products, it looks like another piece in an increasingly confused jigsaw puzzle. Google’s product line-up includes Android TV, Chromecast, the Nexus Player and now Chromebit.

Of course, all of the aforementioned products possess their own unique selling points, but customers may still be left wondering if they are distinct enough and which one is right for them.

Android TV, which replaced Google TV, can be built into television sets or bespoke digital media players and allows users to access the Google Play store to download apps and access streaming services such as Netflix and Amazon Prime Instant. Chromecast is a HDMI dongle that supports the streaming of audio and visual content from mobile and web apps to a TV, while Chromebit appears similar but offers more functionality. The Nexus Player, meanwhile, will be a standalone set top box offering Android TV.

Confusing matters further, the Nexus Player, Chromecast and Android TV all support Google Cast technology, emphasizing the overlap between the products. Also, while the Nexus Player is primarily based on Android TV, it carries no Android branding, giving consumers little indication that they provide essentially the same service.

Google’s attempt to dominate the living room and the TV, in particular, makes perfect sense. After all, Apple TV and a host of set-top boxes have also made a grab for this potentially lucrative space, but a single must-have product would surely be more effective than several gadgets targeting a similar audience.

Part of the problem is that Google’s assault on the home TV space is fragmented across its two different operating systems and brands. Both Android TV and the Nexus Player are Android products, while Chromecast and Chromebit are, unsurprisingly, Chrome devices.

Back in 2011 when Google launched its Chrome OS for the first time, the company had good reason for offering a platform distinct from Android. Chrome was targeted at larger screen devices, such as Google’s Chromebook range, while Android targeted lower-power mobile devices. Over time, however, this distinction has become less clear cut.

Late last year, Google announced that it was possible to run Android apps natively in Chrome, without any modification required on the part of developers. Another factor that now makes Google’s decision to run two operating systems less wise, is that it contradicts current market trends.

With consumers demanding flexibility between the vast numbers of connected devices at their disposal, cross-platform operating systems are gaining momentum. Windows 10 will look to unify the Windows PC, Windows Phone, Windows Embedded and Xbox One product families and it remains to be seen if Google will ultimately merge Android and Chrome.

Google may well point to the individual successes of each platform as a reason for keeping them separate, for the time being at least, but its TV offering could still benefit from some streamlining.

In the past Google has shown a willingness to abandon products when they do not work out, including the Nexus Q and Google TV, so perhaps the tech giant is simply offering consumers several TV options in the hope that one of them achieves the desired level of success, regardless of whether this comes from Chrome or Android. The problem with that approach is that it doesn’t inspire consumer confidence and developers may also need convincing to work on a platform that may not be around for long.

Ultimately, if Google does want all of Android TV, the Nexus Player, Chromecast and Chromebit to be a success, it needs to more effectively market each product, emphasizing the differences to the everyday consumer. Chromebit certainly offers something different to the rest of Google’s TV-interfacing products, so it would be a shame for it to be forgotten amongst the firm’s growing hardware catalog.

Published under license from ITProPortal.com, a Net Communities Ltd Publication. All rights reserved.
To store or not to store, that is the cloud question

Publié: avril 8, 2015, 8:59pm CEST par Tunio Zafer
Eighty feet below street level, the Federal Reserve Bank of New York holds one the world’s most secure vaults. With a comprehensive multichannel security system, tons of steel, concrete and a 24-hour monitoring service, the gold housed within is virtually theft-proof.

With such stringent security measures, it would be foolish to store items less precious than gold inside. However, when it comes to storing personal items on the cloud, 'precious' is a highly subjective notion. Although the items stored within a safe and on the cloud are often similar, there is no universal code for what users should be storing and digitally encrypting. What’s important to one user may not be so important to the next, and, with such unpredictable tendencies, cloud storage providers should allow users to decide what needs the most protection.

To Store

Home safes are often filled with a person’s most important and confidential documents. Users should treat cloud storage the same way, and, when choosing which files to store and encrypt, they should mimic the thought process of filling any safe. Not only are the following types of documents great options for cloud storage, but they also highlight the best features of any cloud storage platform:
- Loans: When taking out a loan, cosignatories complicate positive outcomes. It’s best when one person is solely responsible for payments and safekeeping, and the same is true when storing important documents on the cloud. Minimize the number of people with access to your storage. Sharing the combination to your safe multiplies risk, and the more people that know your cloud storage password, the more opportunities there are for data loss and hacking.The most secure cloud storage providers are those that let users create their own passwords, and also do not store user passwords and information across digital servers.
- Wills: Just as individuals decide what gets inherited and by whom, cloud storage users should have complete control over which of their files gets stored and encrypted. When choosing a cloud storage provider, look for a platform that offers client-side encryption, which, unlike the more popular end-to-end alternative, allows users to encrypt files as they see fit. Not all items belong in a safe, and personalized encryption practices ensure that not all files end up encrypted on the cloud.
- Medical Records: Health is often a highly private concern, with individual privacy even reinforced by national HIPAA regulations. People do not want their medical records available as public information, and the same high-security standards should apply to files encrypted on the cloud. Users should pick providers that guarantee zero-knowledge privacy standards, meaning that the provider never learns the name, type, or content of any encrypted file. A safe company never knows the content stored inside of its products, and neither should cloud storage providers.
Not to Store

When deciding what not to store, think of the things that you might stash in the kitchen counter, or tuck into a bedroom closest: receipts, recipes, photos and manuals. Although valuable, these items are too regularly utilized and shared to be stored in a safe.

For the sensitive documents that you’d keep in a safe, an added encryption step is warranted. But for vacation photos or family recipes that are frequently shared with family and friends, this step can be unnecessarily cumbersome.

With the massive amount of existing data, and the equally massive potential for more data to come, users should treat their cloud storage providers like a personal safe. Every cloud storage user has unique needs, and they need the ability to self-determine which of their files are stored and encrypted. Whether it’s in a metal safe or a digital cloud, storage should always leave users feeling well-protected.

Too often though, cloud storage providers are apt to view user data like it’s all the same-pictures, personal files and important documents clumped together as a single, digital 'you'. Although certain types of documents are more likely to be encrypted than others, a blanket solution to cloud storage encryption is insufficient.

In this Shakespearean dilemma, it’s cloud storage users, not cloud storage providers, who should be answering the question of to store, or not to store.

Image Credit: Bedrin / Shutterstock

Tunio Zafer is the CEO of cloud storage platform pCloud. As a leader and manager in the cloud storage space, Tunio promotes innovation in areas such as security measures and cost to end users. Tunio encourages forward-thinking throughout his team, working toward making a significant impact on the rapidly growing IT market, for individuals and business alike.
Space Combat is a fun TIE FIGHTER-style space game

Publié: avril 8, 2015, 8:50pm CEST par Mike Williams

Hobbyist programmers have been producing their own games since the very first computers appeared, but the professional products are now so hugely impressive that it’s almost impossible for a single developer to compete.

Still, if you can live without photo-realistic graphics and a soundtrack by Hans Zimmer then there are still plenty of smaller projects worth exploring, and Space Combat is a great place to start.

The basic scenario doesn’t exactly sound revolutionary: it’s an open source single-player TIE FIGHTER-like space game, where you patrol the galaxy and destroy enemies wherever you find them.

Still, there’s some depth in a back story based on Asimov’s "Robot" series, and although you can just spend a few minutes blowing things up, it’s not just a mindless shooter. You can choose various ships to fly, work your way through various missions and a whole campaign, navigate many different environments, watch in-game movies, earn medals, achievements and more.

If that’s not enough then you can edit individual missions, even use a scripting language to create your own custom campaigns.

Getting started is very straightforward. There’s no need to install intrusive system components, extra graphics or audio libraries -- just download and unzip the core program and it’ll take care of everything else.

Although beware, while the initial download is small, that’s because all the graphics, music, maps and everything else must be downloaded separately (around half a gigabyte of data). But once again there’s no manual hassles involved as the program can do all this itself.

If there’s an issue here is that the keyboard and mouse experience isn’t the best. You can play the game that way, but the developer strongly recommends using a joystick for the best results.

Still, Space Combat is a fun game with plenty to offer, whether you just need a five minute diversion or you’re looking for more depth. Go take a look.
New aluminum-ion battery can be fully charged in a minute

Publié: avril 8, 2015, 8:45pm CEST par Darren Allan

A new fast charging battery tech could mean the end of inconvenient waits when it comes to juicing smartphones up.

It’s always a major pain when you realize you forgot to charge your handset, and haven’t much time before you leave the house -- meaning you will likely run out of battery well before the day is out. And while there are quick-charge technologies out there, the new battery -- an aluminum-ion affair rather than lithium-ion power pack -- can be charged in just a minute flat, as opposed to a matter of hours.

The battery has been prototyped by scientists at Stanford University, and is also safer than the traditional lithium-ion efforts. Hongjie Dai, a professor of chemistry at Stanford, said: "Our new battery won’t catch fire, even if you drill through it". So no more exploding smartphones and bad burns to the thighs…

The battery is also more durable, and the researchers reckon it can go 7,500 charge cycles without losing any capacity, compared to 1,000 charge cycles for today’s typical lithium-ion power pack.

The battery could also be very handy considering we’re looking at the emergence of flexible phones now. Dai notes: "Another feature of the aluminum battery is flexibility. You can bend it and fold it, so it has the potential for use in flexible electronic devices. Aluminum is also a cheaper metal than lithium".

So yes, there are cost saving benefits too.

Previous attempts at aluminum batteries have failed -- they generally died after around 100 charge cycles -- but the Stanford invention seems like a strong bet, and is featured in the online edition of the journal Nature.

Let’s hope it moves on from the prototype stage to become a reality, because a super-safe and superfast charging battery is one thing any smartphone could use.

Photo credit: Shmizla / Shutterstock

Published under license from ITProPortal.com, a Net Communities Ltd Publication. All rights reserved.
HDMI Forum releases finalized 2.0a specification

Publié: avril 8, 2015, 6:33pm CEST par Brian Fagioli

Video connections are constantly changing, which can be frustrating for consumers. While some will interpret it as a money grab, the evolution is necessary to push boundaries. One of the most significant changes was the move to digital, with HDMI ultimately becoming a huge success.

With DisplayPort starting to grow in popularity, the HDMI Forum is still looking forward and constantly improving the standard. Today, the HDMI Forum releases the finalized 2.0a specification.

"The specification has been updated to enable transmission of HDR formats, which provide enhanced picture quality by simultaneously enabling greater detail for both the dark and bright parts of an image. The HDR-related updates include references to CEA-861.3, CEA's recently published update of HDR Static Metadata Extensions", says the HDMI Forum.

Robert Blanchard, President of the HDMI Forum explains, "we recognized that HDR would be a critical feature as the industry evolves. Our support for HDR enables our 800+ HDMI 2.0 Adopters to develop market-leading products that include HDR and will maintain interoperability across the entire HDMI ecosystem. Along with the publication of the CEA extensions, the HDMI Forum continues to update the HDMI Specification and remain closely aligned with leading CE standards organizations".

While the addition of HDR support is welcomed, it is hardly something consumers are clamoring for. In other words, it will not drive upgrades of cables or devices. For the time being, 2.0a will only be an exciting thing for bleeding edge enthusiasts.
Intel's RealSense 3D camera could be in your next smartphone

Publié: avril 8, 2015, 5:49pm CEST par Mark Wilson

Intel has managed to shrink its depth-sensitive RealSense 3D Camera to the extent that it could be used in the next generation of cell phones. This is about more than just 3D photography, this is about taking photographs and changing the focus afterwards, as well as bringing Kinect-like gesture support to mobile devices.

Talking at an event in Shenzhen, China, Intel CEO Brian Krzanich demonstrated a much smaller version of its existing technology. So far we have only seen the RealSense 3D camera in laptops such as the Acer Aspire V 17 Nitro, but the miniaturization means that it could be a feature of your next phone or tablet.

Intel has teamed up with an unnamed Chinese company to create the smaller version of the camera, but it is not yet known when it will come to the market. As well as the photographic and gesture control possibilities, the mobile version of the RealSense 3D camera opens up other opportunities currently only found on certain laptops -- touchless interfaces, 3D scanning, and much more. One use Intel highlights is taking photos of a room and converting this into a three dimensional plan that can be used in a CAD or home décor application.

Talking about the device that was shown off, an Intel spokesperson said:

The device which was shown on stage at the Intel Developer Forum was a prototype [...]The device is meant to show the different types of apps, usage models and form factors that RealSense tech can be integrated into and to encourage innovation.

In many ways the idea is similar to those found in Amazon's Fire Phone, although the technology is rather different. While Amazon relies on the presence of multiple cameras, Intel's solution makes use of a single sensor.

Photo credit: Intel
Logitech brings Keys-To-Go Ultra-Portable Keyboard to Android and Windows

Publié: avril 8, 2015, 5:46pm CEST par Brian Fagioli

Typing on a glass screen is OK for Twitter and short text messages, but if you want to write longer pieces, a physical keyboard is ideal. Not only does it offer a more comfortable experience, but potentially more accurate too.

Unfortunately, many keyboards for tablets and phones are clunky affairs, leading to a poor overall experience. Logitech is known for its great mobile keyboards, so when its svelte Keys-To-Go was released, I was excited, but also dismayed as it was an iOS focused product. While I do use an iPad, I use Android and Windows far more often. Today, the company brings the awesome typing solution to Android and Windows too.

"Last fall we introduced the Logitech Keys-To-Go for iOS, and we've been thrilled with the excitement it has caused. We're now happy to share today that this popular go-anywhere, spill-resistant keyboard is also available for Android and Windows mobile devices. Whether you're using a tablet, phablet or smartphone, the Logitech Keys-To-Go for Android and Windows is the perfect partner for on-the-go typing", says Logitech.

The company further explains, "this keyboard is packed with a rechargeable 3-month battery and wireless pairing that can be used with any Bluetooth device, not just your tablet. This version for Android and Windows also includes a portable stand, which allows for easy typing on your smartphone".

I do a lot of typing in coffee shops, so the spill-proof nature of the Keys-To-Go would be perfect. Remember, even if you aren't careless or clumsy, someone sharing a table with you at Starbucks may be.

I can see myself propping up my Dell Venue 8 Pro in its stand/case and typing with this Logitech offering. It will allow me to travel very light and without worry. Both the tablet and keyboard share the same micro USB charger too, meaning there is one less thing to pack. With 3-month battery life, charging should be very infrequent.

You can pre-order the Keys-To-Go for Android and Windows here for $69.99.
Microsoft announces OTA TV Tuner for Xbox One-owning cord-cutters

Publié: avril 8, 2015, 4:04pm CEST par Mark Wilson

These days Xbox is about much more than just gaming and it's a platform that is increasingly appealing to cord-cutters. Microsoft and its partners have gradually increased the number and variety of apps that are available for a diverse viewing experience, but now things have taken a new twist. If the likes of Netflix and HBO are not enough, there's now an over-the-air TV tuner available.

Live TV is something that Xbox One users have been asking for for some time, and Microsoft has teamed up with Hauppauge to come up with the goods. Anyone who is a member of the Xbox One Preview is able to buy the Hauppauge WinTV-955Q and gain access to a wealth of free networks such as NBC and CBS.

The TV tuner -- available from Amazon, Best Buy, GameStop and Micro Center -- will set you back $79.99 (and you'll need to make sure you have an HD compatible antenna), but there are plans to release a cheaper version later in the year. There's no word about a release date just yet, but the Hauppauge TV Tuner for Xbox One will retail for $59.99. Used in conjunction with Kinect, it will be possible to use your voice to control TV, as well as taking advantage of snapping to allow for simultaneously TV viewing and gaming.

The tuner also allows for the pausing of live TV, access TV listing with your Xbox One controller or remote, and stream to Xbox One SmartGlass. If you want to find out what channels you are able to receive, Microsoft recommends visiting the page set up by antenna manufacturer Mohu.

Xbox Wire made the revelation about the new tuner on Twitter where it was met with some enthusiasm:

TV on Xbox Gets More Versatile with Over-the-Air Tuner for the U.S. and Canada [t.co]

— Xbox Wire (@XboxWire) April 8, 2015

While the OTA TV Tuner is only available to residents of the USA and Canada, there is another announcement for people in other parts of the world. The existing Xbox One Digital TV Tuner is spreading to more countries in Europe -- Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, Ireland, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Sweden, and Switzerland -- where it will be available at retail later in the year.

Check out the video below where Major Nelson chats about the device and demonstrates how easy it is to use:

Photo credit: Concept Photo / Shutterstock
Windows RT: Did it really die? Absolutely not and here's why

Publié: avril 8, 2015, 1:50pm CEST par Derrick Wlodarz
There's no need to ask for a show of hands. To get a sense of how long the Windows RT hate-train is, you can just spend a few minutes Googling. A few weeks ago when Microsoft let loose that official Windows RT devices, like the Surface 2, were not getting Windows 10 in any proper shape, the anti-RT chorus cheered that they have been finally vindicated.

Stories like this one which adorned The Verge planted their flags pretty clearly: "Windows RT is officially dead".

Admittedly, I've been one of the few lone champions of the intriguing slimmed-down OS this side of the interwebs. I outlined my favorable position on Windows RT in a lengthy op/ed about one year ago, hitting on numerous aspects of why RT (and Windows on ARM, in general) is a fantastic idea that has been sputtering due to execution, not capability.

The false-start that just recently came to fruition, now called Universal Apps (formerly Modern UI apps), is something Windows 8 as a whole could have used during launch season back in 2012.

But even so, we've got customer deployments out in the wild built upon Windows RT-based Surface tablets which replaced x86 laptops, and believe it or not, these clients are still raving about these devices to colleagues. Their extreme portability, full featured access into native Windows RDP, very good peripheral compatibility, and splendid battery life makes them much more desirable than a traditional laptop -- in many, but not all -- cases.

Windows RT: Dead in Name Only

It's well known that sensational news is great news, especially for today's tech media. But while most of them were busy jumping on the "RT is dead" bandwagon, many of them failed to do the proper due diligence to actually figure out what Microsoft really meant when they discussed the end of Windows RT a few weeks back.

So for the sake of setting the record straight for the majority of the copy-paste tech media, here's a breakdown on how they got the news wrong, and what actually is the case for the future of RT.

What The Tech Media Reported

Microsoft Kills Off Windows RT (Geeky Gadgets)

RIP Windows RT: Microsoft murders ARM Surface, Nokia tablets (The Register)

What Microsoft Actually Said

No Windows 10 Update for Surface RT (ZDNet)

Microsoft reiterates support for ARM amid reports of Windows RT’s death (GeekWire)

That's it? That's what all the hubbub was actually about? Sadly, yes. The tech media had a fun time playing with semantics to toss more gas onto the Windows RT firestorm it loved to stoke.

The long and short of what is happening with Windows RT is pretty darn simple:
- Microsoft (Surface and Surface 2) and Nokia (Lumia) branded ARM-based tablets will NOT be getting a formal update to Windows 10. They will be entitled to limited subset upgrades of Windows 10 functionality, but will not be given Windows 10 as we know it.
- Windows RT as its own SKU, or brand, of Windows will be going away (naturally).
- Windows RT's combined direct spiritual successors are the Windows 10 Mobile and Windows 10 IoT SKU lines, which work on devices under 8" in size and DO feature ARM processors.
- Windows 10 Mobile devices will not have access to "desktop" mode, and as such, lack of any proper x86 app support.
Nowhere did Microsoft say that all ARM devices will not be getting Windows 10. Nowhere did Microsoft say that the strides made in the "Modern UI" approach to eradicating the x86 desktop were going away.

In fact, just as recently as the revived WinHEC 2015 conference, Microsoft confirmed that Windows 10 SKUs will be fully supported for gadgets/gidgets as well as phones and small tablets:

(Image Source: AnandTech)

And for those doubtful about Microsoft's commitment to ARM-based devices, one of the cheapest small PCs around, the Raspberry Pi 2, has already been confirmed to be getting full Windows 10 treatment for free, too.

For the uninitiated, the Raspberry Pi 2 is a mini PC featuring a lowly 900MHZ ARM CPU with only 1GB of RAM. For Microsoft to dedicate an official blog post of its own to the news, this whole "ARM thing" must be less of an experiment and more of a long term vision that is just warming up.

On top of Microsoft's Raspberry Pi 2 boasting, some news sites have unveiled mention of benchmarks culled from a graphics testing website which highlight specs of a yet-unknown big screen Windows (10?) tablet that runs on a quad core ARM, supports DirectX 11, and has a 2560 x 1440 display at 10.1".

Is it a prototype Surface 4 ARM device? Or perhaps a new Lumia ARM tablet? Or even another OEM's unnamed tablet? We can't say. But for me, it's hard not to connect the dots and come to some limited conclusions about Windows on ARM keeping pace or picking up with Windows 10.

How Windows RT Gave Windows 10 Mobile Its Mojo

For all the commentary out there claiming that Windows 10 is going to be exactly that which Windows RT wasn't, it's quite interesting in how much common ground the two operating systems share from a structural and UI perspective. In fact, I'm fully convinced that Windows RT's most important guts and aspects are direct inspirations for much of what Windows 10 Mobile/ IoT is shaping up to be.

The commonalities are numerous, with Windows RT and Windows 10 Mobile/IoT sharing all of these overlapping aspects:
- Both have full support for ARM processors.
- Both have zero support for x86 legacy applications.
- Both rely on Modern UI apps (now changing to Universal Apps) from the Windows Store.
- Both offer high levels of native security due to the tight restrictions on Windows Store apps, and a lack of x86 execution.
- Both offer superior battery life due to ARM CPU support.
- Both have very good, and growing, external device compatibility due to the inclusion of native full sized USB connectivity.
- Windows 10 Mobile is a direct result of consolidation of the Windows Phone and Windows RT code bases, creating the common core of "One Windows" that Microsoft is pushing.
So, once again, I have to ask: what's so different about Windows 10 from Windows RT? They are descendants of one very common lineage, separated merely by time and generation. The most innate defining features of what made Windows RT, well, Windows RT, are present and kicking in Windows 10 Mobile and IoT.

Some claim that Microsoft kicking Surface and Surface 2 to the wayside are evidence of no future for larger Windows on ARM devices. But as Paul Thurrott insinuates, and I agree with, there is nothing even short of confirming this is the case.

Per a recent article going into some post-RT commentary, Paul put it plainly:

What if you wish to get a Windows 10 Mobile device with a screen bigger than 7.9 inches? Again, a guess: I think Microsoft will let PC makers sell such a device. I just don’t think they’re going to sell that version of Windows at retail.

Could this lead further credence to an upcoming scene of new large Windows 10 ARM tablets or convertibles? Who knows. It's too early to say, honestly.

The clear takeaway here is without debate: Windows 10 Mobile shares far, far more in common with Windows RT than many in the media wish to admit to.

And that, in my opinion, is a great win for the former RT, even if its namesake is heading to the coffers and it never gained much steam in its own right.
HTC One M9+: Bigger and uglier, but with a fingerprint sensor

Publié: avril 8, 2015, 1:22pm CEST par Mihaita Bamburic

HTC today revealed a new interpretation of its One M9 flagship. Dubbed One M9+, it is slightly bigger, powered by a different processor, offered with a proper fingerprint sensor on the front and fitted with a Duo Camera setup on the back. Oh, and it's also hideous.

There's no sensible way to describe how One M9+ looks. HTC has taken One M9, enlarged it so it fits a marginally bigger display and that fingerprint sensor, and called it a day. The ugly HTC bar above the BoomSound speakers is still there, and so are all the soft navigation buttons. Clearly, the company's designers haven't put much thought into One M9+.

The only logical reasons why HTC has introduced One M9+ are market demand for smartphones with larger displays and to keep up with Samsung. And it hasn't gone far enough to hit the sweet spot on either count.

The 5.2-inch display on One M9+ is 0.2-inches larger than the 5-inch panel on One M9. The former is superior with regards to resolution, as its 1,440 by 2,560 resolution easily tops One M9's 1,080 by 1,920 resolution, but does it really make a difference to justify the extra toll on the battery?

Also, considering the small difference between the two smartphones, wouldn't it have made much more sense for HTC to go for an even bigger display with One M9+? It already has One M9 in the 5-inch segment, after all. Meanwhile, it has no fresh competitor in the phablet market.

One M9+ seems to have virtually the same fingerprint sensor as Samsung's Galaxy S6 and Galaxy S6 edge. But while Samsung went about adding the fingerprint sensor in a clever way, by making it an integral part of the navigation buttons, HTC didn't bother. The fingerprint sensor looks like an afterthought, isolated at the bottom of One M9+ between the two bottom speaker grills. It's like bad photoshopping, only real.

One M9+ could have looked better, but to make that happen HTC would have first had to come up with a new design, one that takes the fingerprint sensor into account from the start, which is something HTC seems unable to do. Even One M9 is not that far different from One M8, that preceded it, after all.

There are some interesting things about One M9+ though. Its BoomSound speakers offer 5.1 channel Dolby Audio surround sound, which should be great in real-life. The Duo Camera setup is comprised of a module for depth-of-field effect and a 20 MP sensor, which makes it a superior setup to One M9 and, likely, One M8 as well. And the fingerprint sensor should work as expected for a change.

Inside, there is a MediaTek Helio X10 processor, which is of a 64-bit design, and not a typical Qualcomm-made chip like most high-end smartphones these days come with. It's an interesting choice, but we're likely not going to see it in markets other than China anytime soon, which I'm sure many HTC fans will be fine with. There's no word on pricing yet, but it's likely to cost similarly to One M9.
Dell diagnostic software getting flagged as malware due to security problems

Publié: avril 8, 2015, 1:18pm CEST par Alan Buckingham

Computers come with a lot of pre-installed software these days -- it's a trade-off for low pricing that forces OEMs to make deals with companies like McAfee, Norton and others. However, some of what comes with that new desktop or laptop is actually there to help you. Dell pre-installs diagnostic software to aid in a problematic situation.

Apparently Malwarebytes doesn't see it that way. The security software is recognizing this as a problem for your system -- and it is, or was. The problem is that older versions had a vulnerability that could allow malicious code execution. Dell has since updated its software to close the hole, which was recently discovered by a security researcher.

"The application known as Dell System Detect failed to validate code before downloading and running it, according to a report published last month by researcher Tom Forbes. Because the program starts itself automatically, a malicious hacker could use it to infect vulnerable machines by luring users to a booby-trapped website. According to researchers with AV provider F-Secure, the malicious website need only have contained the string 'dell' somewhere in its domain name to exploit the weakness", Dell states.

That wasn't the end of the problems, though. A hole still existed that allowed for the code execution. A second update was issued by Dell, hopefully sealing things up for good. At least, for those who bothered to install the updates. The company laments that "The problem is that few people are running the patched version of Dell System Detect. As of Thursday, less than one percent of F-Secure customers had it installed. As a result, Malwarebytes software that detects a vulnerable version of the software will display a warning along with a link".

Computer security is an ongoing battle, but folks should certainly install updates, though perhaps wait a few days and check that others haven't had problems with the new version. It's a double-edged sword -- install right away and wait a bit at the same time.

Image Credit: lolloj/Shutterstock
Twitter rolls out 'retweet with comment' feature

Publié: avril 8, 2015, 12:49pm CEST par Sead Fadilpašić

Twitter has rolled out a revamped retweet feature, allowing users to post comments on other people’s tweets without having to shorten the original post.

If the above statement is a bit confusing, that’s because I tried, and most likely failed, to explain a somewhat complex feature with a single sentence.

So let’s break it down: Twitter only allows 140 characters per post. If someone wanted to retweet another person’s post and leave their own comment or opinion of it, they had to shorten the original post as much as possible to make room for their own words.

Or they could post a link to the original comment, but even that wasn’t a quality solution.

For Twitter, that was obviously the problem, because shortening someone’s original statement means risking changing its entire context, and people were struggling, going out of their way to do something as simple as posting a comment on someone’s tweet. It simply wasn’t seamless enough.

That’s why the company started testing a "retweet with comment" feature last summer, which would help solve this problem, without abandoning the 140 character limit.

Now it’s live, and it works very simple: the original comment gets embedded and isn’t even recognized as text, leaving the commenter the full 140 characters to say whatever he or she wants to say.

The feature is now available on Twitter’s site and iPhone app and will be available on its Android app soon.

Some people think the feature is great, others that it’s ugly, but nevertheless, it will most definitely be useful.

Published under license from ITProPortal.com, a Net Communities Ltd Publication. All rights reserved.
Google is too slow at clearing crap from the Chrome extension store

Publié: avril 8, 2015, 12:40pm CEST par Mark Wilson

Malware is something computer users -- and even mobile and tablet owners -- are now more aware of than ever. That said, many people do not give a second thought to installing a browser extension to add new features to their most frequently used application. Despite the increased awareness, malware is not something a lot of web users think of in relation to extensions; but they should.

Since the beginning of 2015 -- just over three months -- Google has already received over 100,000 complaints from Chrome users about "ad injectors" hidden in extensions. Security researchers have also discovered that a popular extension -- Webpage Screenshot -- includes code that could be used to send browsing history back to a remote server. Google is taking steps to clean up the extension store to try to prevent things like this happening, but security still needs to be tightened up.

The effects of ad injectors can be varied. It might mean that you see more ads as you browse the web, or it could be that you see ads with a particular origin. But, as in the case of Webpage Screenshot, the payload could be more serious. Security researchers at ScrapeSentry detected a strange pattern in traffic, investigated Webpage Screenshot and detected the malicious code. Google recently announced that it had killed 192 malicious extensions, but it’s clear that not enough is being done to stop malicious code getting there in the first place.

Cristian Mariolini, a security analyst at ScrapeSentry, says:

The repercussions of this could be quite major for the individuals who have downloaded the extension. What happens to the personal data and the motives for wanting it sent it to the US server is anyone’s guess, but ScrapeSentry would take an educated guess it’s not going to be good news. And of course, if it’s not stopped, the plugin may, at any given time, be updated with new malicious functionality as well. We would hope Google will look into this security breach with some urgency.

ScrapSentry's research shows that the extension could be used to send any information that can be seen in a browser tab back to an IP address located in the US.

Google is quick to point out that malicious ad injectors are not specific to Chrome -- they can also be found in Firefox and Internet Explorer. The company says: "We don’t ban injectors altogether -- if they want to, people can still choose to install injectors that clearly disclose what they do -- but injectors that sneak ads into a user’s browser would certainly violate our policies".

On May 1, Google will publish a report based on research carried out with the University of California Berkeley which goes into more detail and aims to "to increase awareness about ad injectors". ScrapeSentry's findings, however, show that there is a need for greater awareness right now, not in a month's time. It's great that Google is taking steps to clear out the crap, but more needs to be done, and faster.

Photo credit: Africa Studio / Shutterstock
Emsisoft Anti-Malware and Internet Security 10 betas now available

Publié: avril 8, 2015, 11:52am CEST par Mike Williams

Emsisoft has announced that beta versions of Emsisoft Anti-Malware and Emsisoft Internet Security 10 are now available for testing.

The headline improvement is in scan speed, with Emsisoft claiming a typical malware scan fell from 5 minutes 42 seconds to 57 seconds, an 83 percent drop.

A new ability to set up multiple scheduled scans gives you far more flexibility. You can run quick scans every two hours between 9-5pm on weekdays, a full scan overnight at the weekend. a custom scan whenever you like: it’s all very straightforward.

The behavior blocker is more transparent, thanks to a new panel which displays all the processes it’s monitoring.

Version 10 also provides more fine-tuning of its privacy settings. If you’ve signed up for Emsisoft’s Anti-Malware Network then you can now tell the program not to submit details of applications and host rules, detected malware and more.

Our very first scan with this build didn’t show anything like a 6x speed increase, but it does seem a little faster, and the extra scanning flexibility is worth having.

There is no separate beta download, so if you want to check out the new engine for yourself then you must update from an existing Emsisoft Anti-Malware or Emsisoft Internet Security installation. Click Settings > Updates, check "Enable beta updates" and click "Update now". Wait for the update to complete, reboot and you’ll be ready to go.
Microsoft confirms the Windows 10 Start menu will be resizable

Publié: avril 8, 2015, 11:15am CEST par Wayne Williams

The thing I dislike most about the Windows 10 Technical Preview -- and there are a few design points I’m really not a fan of, including those ridiculous icons -- is the current Start menu. In the latest builds this is a fixed size (with a full screen option), that takes up too much space, and is very tile heavy. If you don’t like, or simply don’t require, the Modern UI, it’s awful.

The Start menu in the first official build was far superior, and could be resized in different ways. It would automatically grow or shrink depending on how many (or how few) tiles you had. If you don’t like tiles, all you had to do was remove them, and it would turn into a traditional Windows 7-style menu. When Microsoft removed this feature, Windows 10 became much poorer for it. Well, the good news is the resizable menu is definitely coming back.

We don’t have any real details regarding the return of this Start menu, only that it will happen before the OS hits the RTM milestone.

Asked on Twitter if the Start menu will be resizable, the head of the Windows Insider program, Gabriel Aul, replied with an emphatic "Yes", accompanied by a smiley face, suggesting this is something that Microsoft is aware that people really want.

@Vlad2989 Yes :-)

— Gabriel Aul (@GabeAul) April 7, 2015

Windows 10 is set to launch in the summer which really doesn’t give the tech giant long to finalize things, but it’s great to hear that it may actually become the OS that I, and many others, are hoping for. Now we just have to trust Microsoft can manage to make Windows 10 a lot less gray before launch.
Facebook usage linked to depression

Publié: avril 8, 2015, 9:27am CEST par Sead Fadilpašić

If you’re feeling a bit depressed lately, try logging off Facebook. No, seriously, get off Facebook.

According to a recent study, there is a link between people becoming depressed, and them scrolling through Facebook all day. It’s not the social media itself which causes depression though, it’s a bit more complicated than that.

It is in everyone’s subconscious to compare themselves to others, and having a pretty good insight into other people’s lives, Facebook offers a good platform for people to compare themselves to their friends.

However, people only post the good and interesting things from their lives, filtering out the boring parts (obviously, no one wants to see you calculating your bills, even though it might sound interesting to some), and when others only see the fun stuff, they start believing their lives are boring and -- ta da! Depression!

A research called 'Seeing Everyone Else’s Highlight Reels: How Facebook Usage is Linked to Depressive Symptoms' published in the Journal of Social and Clinical Psychology, University of Houston researcher Mai-Ly Steers expands on previous studies about the detrimental effects of Facebook, particularly with regards to the unrealistic expectations of quality of life it creates, The Independent reports.

"Although social comparison processes have been examined at length in traditional contexts, the literature is only beginning to explore social comparisons in online social networking settings", Steers said.

"It doesn’t mean Facebook causes depression, but that depressed feelings and lots of time on Facebook and comparing oneself to others tend to go hand in hand", Steers explained.

"One danger is that Facebook often gives us information about our friends that we are not normally privy to, which gives us even more opportunities to socially compare".

There you have it, folks. Stop comparing yourselves to other people, and if you can’t help it -- log off.

Published under license from ITProPortal.com, a Net Communities Ltd Publication. All rights reserved.
Google makes Santa Tracker open source on GitHub -- will you fork Santa Claus?

Publié: avril 8, 2015, 1:50am CEST par Brian Fagioli

April Fool's Day is well behind us, so all the pranks should be over, right? I ask because today, Google announces that it is making its Santa Tracker project open source on GitHub. The fact that it is open source is great, but the timing is odd. The last thing I expected to read about in April is friggin' Santa Claus, but here we are.

While many will be quick to dismiss the Santa Tracker as a novelty, developers may actually find value in the code. Not only is the web version hitting GitHub, but the Android version too. There is no reason why the code can't be used in non-Christmas related projects.

"The holiday spirit is about giving and though we're early into April, we’re still in that spirit. Today, we're announcing that Google's Santa Tracker is now open source on GitHub at google/santa-tracker-web and google/santa-tracker-android. Now you can see how we've used many of our developer products to build a fun and engaging experience that runs across the web and Android", says Ankur Kotwal, Software Engineer, Google.

Kotwal further explains, "Santa Tracker on the web was built using Polymer, a powerful new library from the Chrome team based on Web Components. Santa Tracker's use of Polymer demonstrates how easy it is to package code into reusable components. Every scene in Santa's village (games, videos, and interactive pages) is a custom element, only loaded when needed, minimizing the startup cost of Santa Tracker.".

The code can be used for pretty much anything; in fact, I can predict parody trackers seeing the light of day -- maybe even raunchy ones. Hell, that's part of the beauty of open source. There is a lot available too, such as Android Wear watch faces, games and more.

The most valuable aspect of an open source Santa Tracker, however, is the learning possibilities. If someone is just getting started with coding, or even an expert, investigating and experimenting with the technologies that make the tracker work can be a great education. Not only do you get to read the code, but experience how Google successfully used it. Very cool.