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• 

  Apple withholds smartwatch sales data

  Publié: juillet 21, 2015, 10:57pm CEST par Joe Wilcox

  

  All eyes turned to Apple this afternoon as the world's most profitable tech company announced the first full quarterly results that include its smartwatch. You could hear a collective pin drop across the Internet as U.S. stock markets closed and everyone waited wondering: Flop or Not?

  We don't know. In the press release, CEO Tim Cook refers to the "great start for Apple Watch", but there's no data in the PR or in the 8-K filing with the SEC. The device fits into the "Other" category. During Cook's earnings conference call opening remarks hard data also is lacking.

  Feedback from Apple Watch customers is very positive, Cook tells financial analysts today. Ninety-four percent wear their timepieces regularly, if not every day, he asserts. The potential for Apple Watch is "enormous", and he calls launching the product a "privilege", praising its use for cancer research, and touting the promise of Apple Pay and Siri.

  Responding to an analyst asking for clarification that might quell investors' concerns following a series of recent speculative news stories about weak sales, the CEO reiterates: "We made a decision not to disclose shipments on the watch".

  Cook roundabout refers to "Other", saying it wouldn't be unreasonable to assume that all the growth came from Apple Watch. The category generated $2.64 billion in revenue, up 49 percent annually and 56 percent sequentially in fiscal Q3. During the previous quarter, "Other" generated $1.7 billion, down 10 percent year over year and 37 percent month on month.

  "Sales of the watch did exceed our expectations", and sell-through exceeded launch of the original iPhone and iPad, Cook says. "We feel really great about what we did". He emphasizes that sales are not Apple's primary objective but positioning the platform, particularly for later in 2015. "We're convinced the watch is going to be one of the top gifts for the holidays".

  In response to another analyst question: "June sales were the highest" compared to April and May, Cook emphasizes. Such trend suggests accelerating demand as supplies strengthen and sales channels expand.

  Answers from Elsewhere

  Nevertheless lack of quantifiable data is disconcerting. Apple Watch is the first truly new category device to arrive during Cook's tenure. The gadget's measure of failure, or success, reflects upon his ability to lead Apple, as an innovation disruptor, during the post-Steve Jobs era. In business, perception is everything. How investors perceive Cook and Apple's future matters, particularly with more than two-thirds of revenues coming from iPhone, which sells into a rapidly saturating market.

  The company's previously-stated excuse, withholding smartwatch sales data to keep others from gaining competitive intelligence, applies. But it could be used for any Apple product. So why not one "Other" category for all? But the approach makes sense if the company is concerned about how Apple Watch sales numbers might be perceived. Some critics will say Apple hides a weak launch, but, if you accept Cook's statement about positioning the platform, withholding numbers makes sense another way: Allow the company to build out the platform without distracting criticism. There is great difference between outside interference in the absence of data versus that which is the record. Which will be fiercely debated in the days ahead by analysts, bloggers, investors, and journalists.

  Ahead of the earning's announcement, Canalys released its estimate: 4.2 million shipped, which aligned with Wall Street analyst consensus.

  The road to ruin, or success, depending on how you interpret the lack of sales data, is a long one. Apple announced the smartwatch in early September 2014, preorders opened April 10, 2015, and sales started two weeks later.

  Between the unveiling and the selling, much punditry filled in the gaps. For example, some of ours:

  • "5 key reasons why you shouldn't buy an Apple Watch", Manish Singh (3/4/15)
  • "Apple carves itself a niche at the top of the market with Apple Watch", Mark Wilson (3/9/15)
  • "Apple Pay is the reason Apple Watch won't fail", Matt Trevathan (3/12/15)
  • "Apple Watch's potential profits are scary", Joe Wilcox (3/16/15)
  • "What could you buy for the price of Apple Watch?", Joe Wilcox (3/25/15)
  • "The Apple Watch launch is a brand-damaging botch job", Wayne Williams (4/16/15)
  • "Tim Cook's Apple is all about fashion", David Molofsky (4/20/15)
  • "The reasons why Apple Watch will succeed", Sam Pudwell (5/11/15)
  • "Apple Watch sales are a disaster", Mark Wilson (7/08/15)
  • "5 things I like about Apple Watch", Joe Wilcox (7/18/15)

  In the absence of hard data, expect lots of speculation about sales, particularly as smartwatch competition increases.

  Of note, and it may not be related to Apple Watch: The company's shares are down about 7 percent in after-hours trading as I complete this news analysis' final update around 6:25 p.m. EDT.

  Photo Credit: Shinya Suzuki

  
• 

  Apple Q3 2015 by the numbers: $49.6B revenue, $1.85 EPS

  Publié: juillet 21, 2015, 10:47pm CEST par Joe Wilcox

  

  After the closing bell today, Apple announced results for fiscal third quarter, which largely is congruent with calendar Q2 (End date, April 27). Broadly: $49.6 billion in sales, $10.7 billion net income, and $1.85 earnings per share. Year over year, revenue rose 33 percent and EPS by 45 percent. Apple guidance before the big reveal: Between $46 billion and $48 billion revenue. Wall Street consensus was $49.31 billion sales and $1.81 EPS. The Street's estimates ranged from $46.9 billion to $53.64 billion.

  Gross margin reached 39.7 percent compared to 39.4 percent annually and 40.8 percent sequentially. Company guidance: 38.5 percent to 39.5 percent. Once again, international sales accounted for most of the quarter's sales: 64 percent, which is up from 59 percent the previous year but down from 69 percent three months earlier.

  Official guidance for fiscal Q4: Between $49 billion and $51 billion revenue and 38.5 percent to 39.5 percent gross margin.

  Device shipments for fiscal third quarter: iPad, 10.9 million; iPhone, 47.5 million; Mac, 4.78 million.

  Apple ended the quarter with $202 billon in cash and securities. with 89 percent kept offshore.

  The iPhone Dilemma

  While Apple Watch distracts many, ah, Apple watchers, iPhone demands greater attention. The smartphone sells into a rapidly saturating category and accounts for the vast majority of company revenues. After years of double-digit sales growth, largely spurred by smartphones, the breaks are on. Gartner predicts sales growth slowing to 3.3 percent this year. The big problem is the world's largest smartphone market.

  "The global market has been affected by a weaker performance in China", Annette Zimmermann, Gartner research director, says in a statement. "We have witnessed fewer and fewer first-time buyers in China, a sign that the mobile phone market in there is reaching saturation". Key to continued success: replacement buyers looking for premium-quality upgrades. That's Apple's category.

  The company already is cashing in. During first calendar quarter 2015, smartphone growth slowed into the single digits in China, according to Canalys. However, Apple's position strengthened against local rivals Huawei and Xiaomi, while shipment volumes hit two-year lows for Lenovo, Yulong, and ZTE. “Consumers are losing their appetite for ultra-low-cost devices, as expectations increase in line with spending power and, combined with rising market saturation, this is resulting in a major shift to devices that provide better user experience", Jingwen Wang, Canlys analyst, says in a statement.

  However, new sales growth will come in countries where low-cost and flexible terms, such as unlocked, non-contract devices supporting multiple SIM cards, matter. That's a category where Apple shuts itself out. Many device makers "will be challenged to quickly enhance their expansion into emerging markets outside of China", Zimmermann says.

  Despite, analyst doomsaying, during fiscal Q3, iPhone "gained share in all of our geographic segments", Cook tells financial analysts today. Android switcher-rate is the highest ever measured by Apple. In China, iPhone sales soared by 87 percent.

  

  Segment Breakdown

  iPhone. Apple would be no juggernaut without iPhone, which accounted for stunning 63 percent of revenues—that's up from 52.7 percent 12 months earlier. The company shipped 47.5 million iPhones. Wall Street consensus: 49 million. The smartphone generated $31.37 billion in sales. Year over year, revenue rose by 59 percent and unit shipments by 35 percent. However, sequentially, both declined by 22 percent.

  Average selling price was $660, up $99 year over year, offset by $24 in foreign-exchange rates. Meaning: ASP growth could have been much higher. Sequentially, the number is up by just $1.

  iPad. By contrast, Apple's tablet business stumbled again—and by quick examination trails the path of iPod following iPhone's release. Ironically, the mobile handset undermines the slate, too. Apple shipped 10.9 million iPads, down 18 percent year over year and 13 percent quarter on quarter. Revenue reached $4.54 billion, down 23 percent annually and 16 percent sequentially. Wall Street consensus: 11 million.

  Despite apparent category weakness, "I am still bullish on iPad", Cook says, referring to new features coming in iOS 9, enterprise adoption, and consumer upgrades. "I see a lot of runway".

  Apple Watch. The company's wearable has no comparison, in its first full quarter of sales, which data was withheld. There are no immediate plans to do otherwise, Cook tells a financial analyst asking for something that might quell investors made jittery by recent news reports claiming weak sales.

  "We made a decision not to disclose shipments on the watch", Cook reiterates, claiming that's not lack of transparency. But he throws out a bone to a gnaw. It wouldn't be unreasonable to look at the "Other" category and assume that all the growth came from Apple Watch, the CEO says.

  During fiscal Q3, the category generated $2.64 billion, up 49 percent annually and 56 percent sequentially. Three months earlier, "Other" generated $1.7 billion, down 10 percent year over year and 37 percent month on month. From that perspective, it could be argued that the smartwatch contributed about $1 billion in additional revenue. If that's failure, lots of companies would like it.

  "Sales of the watch did exceed our expectations", Cook affirms, with sell-through exceeding launch of the original iPhone and iPad. "We feel really great about what we did". He emphasizes that sales are not Apple's primary objective but positioning the platform, particularly for the future. "We're convinced the watch is going to be one of top gifts for the holidays".

  Feedback from Apple Watch customers is very positive, Cook emphasizes. Ninety-four percent wear their timepieces regularly, if not every day. The potential for Apple Watch is "enormous", and he calls launching the product a "privilege".

  Mac. The PC business, while declining, remains remarkably robust. Apple shipped 4.8 million Macs, generating $6.03 billion revenue. Both rose by 9 percent year over year and 5 percent and 7 percent, respectively, month on month. Wall Street analysts expected 4.8 million.

  Services. The category is among Apple's rising stars, as music and other cloud services revenues increase. For the quarter: $5.03 billion, up 12 percent annually and 1 percent sequentially. Among the standouts: App Store had its best quarter ever, with revenue up 24 percent.

  Note: As I complete the final update this news analysis, around 7:25 p.m. EDT, Apple shares are down nearly 7 percent in after-hours trading.

  Photo credit: Andrey Bayda / Shutterstock.com

  
• 

  Google does not like it when employees know each other's salaries

  Publié: juillet 21, 2015, 8:27pm CEST par Sead Fadilpašić

  

  An ex Google employee says her bonuses were blocked by management because she created a crowd-sourced spreadsheet which revealed inequality in pays.

  Erica Baker worked at Google for nine years before switching to Slack. She recently took to Twitter to explain what she did. On a boring Sunday afternoon at work, Baker and a couple of colleagues created a spreadsheet that would list everybody’s salaries as an experiment in radical transparency.

  It was shared on Google’s internal social network and soon "took off like wildfire" and "got re-shared all over the place".

  "I was invited to talk to my manager", Baker says. "Higher up people weren’t happy. [My manager] wasn’t happy. Why did I do it?".

  Google has $150 (£96) bonuses which the staff can give each other for good work, and she found out hers were not getting through.

  She was getting the bonuses from employees that managed to get salary increases thanks to the spreadsheet.

  "Peer bonuses are rewarded at managers' discretion. My manager was rejecting all of them... once a PB is rejected, that can’t be undone", she tweeted, claiming a male colleague who worked on the spreadsheet was still receiving his bonuses.

  Baker concluded her Twitter monologue: "Fighting for justice and fairness inside Google doesn’t go over well. Salary sharing is only one example... guaranteed that if Ida Wells were alive and working at Google today, there’s be many private calendar meetings focused on 'her future' there... the sharing of one doodle does not a bastion of support for justice and civil disobedience make".

  Google has been contacted for comment.

  Published under license from ITProPortal.com, a Net Communities Ltd Publication. All rights reserved.

  Photo credit: albund / Shutterstock

  
• 

  Anonymous destroying Islamic State propaganda with images of Anime girls

  Publié: juillet 21, 2015, 7:21pm CEST par Wayne Williams

  

  It’s fair to say Anonymous is no fan of Islamic State. The hacktivist collective has been waging an online war against the terrorist organization for a while now as part of #OpISIS. Five months ago it described Islamic State as a virus, and itself as the cure.

  Now Anonymous has a new weapon which it’s using to reduce the impact of Islamic State’s presence on Twitter -- female Japanese Anime characters.

  Anonymous has published a list of Twitter accounts on Pastebin that it says are sympathetic to Islamic State, and many of those have been flooded with images of Anime characters in a bid to alter how IS results appear on search engines.

  Anonymous says it has taken action against more than 750 Twitter accounts, including some that had in excess of 10,000 followers. The hacktivists have also asked users to report accounts that support IS to Twitter for "being abusive or harmful", "engaging in harassment", and "threatening violence or physical harm". This is done through the standard Twitter Report feature.

  Twitter isn’t the only battleground though. Anonymous has also been targeting Facebook groups, websites and IS sympathizer email addresses in an effort to disrupt communications.

  
• 

  Check your computer for Hacking Team malware with these essential security tools

  Publié: juillet 21, 2015, 7:20pm CEST par Mark Wilson

  

  When Hacking Team was hacked, a massive cache of data was leaked, including the source code for government-strength surveillance tools. Hacking Team warned that the code could have fallen into terrorist hands, but then backtracked slightly to say that any code that had been obtained was incomplete and out of date.

  We already know that the company managed to sneak malicious apps into Google Play, and you might be concerned that some of its malware has made its way onto your computer. To help put minds at rest -- hopefully -- Rook Software has released a tool to seek out Hacking Tool malware.

  Called Milano, the software is available to download free of charge from the Rook Software website. The company says that its detection utility "contains hashes for 40 Windows executable and library files [which] have been analyzed by Rook Security, and have been deemed to have the highest likelihood of malicious use".

  As noted by Slashdot, this is something that is only of use to Windows users. To help Mac owners, Facebook has come to the rescue. It’s open-sourced osquery can be used to scan for backdoors from a variety of sources, and has been updated to include Hacking Team vulnerabilities. Find out more at Facebook’s engineering pages.

  
• 

  Dell Latitude 12 Rugged Tablet is hardcore and ready for dirty jobs

  Publié: juillet 21, 2015, 7:19pm CEST par Brian Fagioli

  

  Many consumers buy iPads or other tablets and then run out to buy super-rugged cases. Buying a case is a good idea, as it protects the tablet from drops. With that said, many of these cases are overkill. Doubling or tripling the weight of your tablet when you don't even take it out of the house is silly -- a lesser case will probably be enough to survive a spill from the couch.

  With all of that said, there are people that truly need rugged tablets. These are men and women working in harsh conditions -- hot temperatures, mud, snow, etc. Today, Dell announces a tablet for these people, the Latitude 12 Rugged Tablet. It is hardcore to the max!

  "Designed specifically for users requiring a tough yet flexible device to take with them on-the-go, the Latitude 12 Rugged Tablet features a crisp 11.6 inch Direct-View outdoor-readable HD display with gloved-enabled multi-touch capabilities. For peak performance in the most severe temperatures, the Rugged Tablet comes pre-packaged with Fourth Generation QuadCool thermal management and powerful, efficient Fifth Generation Intel Core M processors. The Rugged Tablet has up to 12 hours of battery life with two 2-cell batteries", says Dell.

  

  The manufacturer further explains, "for reliability and manageability, the Rugged Tablet also features solid state storage up to 512GB and connectivity anywhere with 802.11ac Wi-Fi as well as an optional mobile broadband and dedicated GPS. The tablet delivers the confidence of overall data and device security with Dell Data Protection and available Intel vPro and Intel TPM 1.2".

  As you can see in the above video, this is a seriously rugged tablet designed for people that do business in nasty conditions. You would not buy this for the average executive that never leaves his or her comfy office. With that said, it can be used in that setting too. Dell is also selling a dock for when the employee doing the dirty job also does work in a clean office.

  

  If you are interested in this for your company, you should have your IT department contact Dell. Consumer pricing is not available, and will vary based on configurations, existing contracts and number of units purchased.

  
• 

  Microsoft Surface 3 4G LTE comes to AT&T on July 24th -- free upgrade to Windows 10

  Publié: juillet 21, 2015, 6:31pm CEST par Brian Fagioli

  

  The Surface line of computers are amazing machines. Whether you choose the less-powerful (yet more compact) Surface 3 or more powerful and larger Surface Pro 3, you are sure to be happy with your decision. They are truly the best way to experience Windows on the go.

  Unfortunately, they require Wi-Fi for internet connectivity. While some people can share their smartphone's connection with the Surface, not everyone has that ability. Plus, tethering can quickly drain the phone's battery too. An LTE- enabled model would be ideal. Well, that is soon to become a reality. The long-promised Surface 3 LTE is coming to AT&T on July 24th. In just a few days you can buy the portable machine of your dreams.

  "Beginning on Friday, July 24, you can purchase the Surface 3 for $0 down and $30 per month with an AT&T Tablet Installment plan.3 In addition, for a limited time, you can purchase a Surface 3 for $399.99 with any Lumia smartphone purchased on AT&T Next. Additionally, a commercial version of the Surface 3 will be available to business customers in the coming weeks", says AT&T.

  The cellular provider further explains, "the Surface 3 is light and thin, so you can easily take it with you on-the-go and stay connected on the nation’s most reliable 4G LTE network. With the integrated, three-position Kickstand, the ability to run desktop software and touch apps side-by-side, and a full-size USB 3.0 port, Surface 3 is a balanced mix of innovation and practicality. You'll also be able to upgrade to Windows 10 once the new operating system is available".

  Before committing to AT&T, you should make sure you truly need LTE. In other words, Wi-Fi is available in many places nowadays, such as Starbucks, McDonalds and other stores. You may be able to get by without a cellular connection.

  If you do need LTE, make sure that AT&T offers good service in your area. If you already use the carrier for your smartphone, you know the answer to that. If you don't, I would ask local friends, family and co-workers about their experiences with AT&T.

  Of course, you can upgrade the computer to Windows 10 for free, as all Windows 7 and 8.x machines are eligible for a no-cost update. Windows 10 will make the great Surface 3 computer even better.

  Will you buy the Microsoft Surface 3 LTE on AT&T? Tell me in the comments.

  

  
• 

  Are you ready to monitor the Internet of Things?

  Publié: juillet 21, 2015, 3:22pm CEST par Christian Twardawa

  

  The Internet of Things (IoT) is stealing a lot of headlines today, and much of it is due to its truly impressive growth numbers. For example, according to Cisco Systems, in 2008, there were already more "things" connected to the Internet than people, and by 2020, the number of Internet-connected things is projected to reach 50 billion.

  What does this rising growth in IoT-connected devices mean for your network? Because there could be many additional devices that need to be monitored in the future, this could make network monitoring more time consuming and complex. For some, this may seem like an incredible challenge, but by planning and taking action now you can get ready to face this challenge of the future. So what can you do today to get ready for the future rush of IoT devices?

  These seven tips will help you to get "IoT ready" in network monitoring:

  1. Envision what IoT will mean for your business -- The Internet of Things will change some businesses more than others. A professional services firm might focus on integrating a smart thermostat, while a manufacturer will face the challenge of unifying a number of disparate systems, machinery and devices on the factory floor. Can you envision what your business, and your company’s network, will need the most?
  2. Prepare to integrate -- Some connected devices will be designed to fit neatly into networks, but others will be homegrown and rely heavily on customization. With all these different device types, integration becomes a challenge. Be ready to bring all connected devices under one roof so they can be accurately monitored.
  3. Understand the protocols -- There are three main protocols that are used to connect the Internet of Things: Simple Network Management Protocol (SNMP), REST APIs, and XML. With a stronger understanding of how devices interact, you’ll be able to design better network architectures, which makes monitoring that much easier.
  4. Be ready for old and new devices -- Not every connected device is the latest and greatest hardware from industry-leading companies. Many devices are outdated, especially in industrial settings, or are connected by small computers like Raspberry Pi. You need to understand the many different hardware requirements and identify how to connect each device, even if they’re from the last century.
  5. Recognize that anything with an IP address can be hacked -- Today’s hackers are both fearless and creative, a dangerous combination for IT departments. Anything with an IP address can be hacked, and the Internet of Things widens the threat vector. Before you connect any device to the network, have a security plan in place.
  6. Customize -- One exciting aspect of the IoT is that there is almost no limit to what can be connected. For network monitoring, that creates challenges that can be solved by creating new sensors and custom reports. This is especially true in industrial settings, where data extracted from devices can be used to make business processes smarter and more efficient. Be ready to build custom solutions that can solve these monitoring problems.
  7. Be flexible -- The IoT could be the biggest challenge network administrators have faced since cloud services and BYOD. There will be pressure from leadership to tackle this "next big thing" in IT. You will have to be both patient and flexible to handle the complex challenges of monitoring a network of connected devices and deal with the pressure to “get it done.”

  Overall, network administrators will play a key role in making the IoT a reality by getting their networks in position to support the rapid rise of connected devices. They will be at the forefront of the integration process and play a key role in making connected devices functional and useful.

  Photo credit: Odua Images / Shutterstock

  Christian Twardawa is Chief Operating Officer at Paessler AG, a provider of network monitoring software based in Nuremberg, Germany.

  
• 

  This War of Mine: A grueling, depressing iPad game you really need to play

  Publié: juillet 21, 2015, 2:36pm CEST par Wayne Williams

  

  You know what to expect when it comes to war games, right? Lots of shooting, action, and bravery. This War of Mine isn’t like that. At all.

  For starters, you don’t play as a soldier, or a band of fighters. Instead you’re in charge of a small group of ordinary Eastern Europeans trapped in a war zone, just trying to survive on a day-to-day basis by whatever means possible. This includes scavenging, bartering, and stealing. While there are moments of positivity, the chief feelings you’ll experience as you play the game are hopelessness and despair. But that’s what makes it so great. This War of Mine stays with you long after you’ve turned off the iPad.

  When you start the game for the first time you find yourself in charge of the lives of three people -- Marko, Pavle, and Bruno -- who are holed up in a crumbling old building. Much of the space is inaccessible, due to piles of rubble and locked and broken doors. Unlike the tooled-up battle hardened heroes you’d normally control in war games, these three are just regular guys who are injured, sick, tired, and completely ill equipped to handle the war raging around them.

  You can switch between the characters, and gameplay involves tapping on the icons around the building to search for items that might help improve the team’s lot -- food, medicine, bandages, wood, electrical items and so on. Get together enough of the right items, and you can build objects like beds, or chairs. Digging away rubble and repairing or unlocking doors opens up additional spaces to explore. The problem is, you never find much, and the fragile state of the people you’re controlling means they can’t work as hard as you’d wish.

  Each person has a defining ability -- Bruno is a good cook (before the war he was a restaurant owner and TV chef), Pavle is a fast runner (who used to be a soccer star), and Marko is a skilled scavenger (who worked as a firefighter). Taking into account their skills might help keep the group alive, although you’ll have to use each person for lots of different tasks.

  Night falling brings new challenges as you have to decide what each person will do. If they’re sick, or tired, sleeping might be the best action. But you’ll probably want to set a guard too, as you’re not alone in the war-zone and there’s the very real chance someone will break into your building and take the resources you’ve spent all day gathering. You’ll also want to send someone off scavenging.

  There are various buildings nearby -- hospitals, schools, construction sites, cottages and the like -- and you can choose one to explore and scavenge. As the game progresses more destinations appear, although some existing ones will become inaccessible due to fighting, and it’s important to select your target for the night mission wisely. A description will tell you what sort of items are to be found there, and give you an idea of the type of people you’ll encounter. Some survivors will barter with you, others will defend their properties, while quite a few will shoot first and ask questions later.

  It’s during the scavenging that you encounter the real drama. The first time I played through, I found myself stealing from an elderly couple. To me, I was just collecting resources in a game for some ill and hungry characters I was charged with keeping alive. But to the old man who watched me root through his person possessions, I was an utterly despicable human being, an example of how war can bring out of the worst in some people. "Please don’t take our things!" he pleaded repeatedly, as he followed me around. He had next to nothing, and I was taking it all from him, including his frail wife’s medicine. I felt bad, but it didn’t stop me.

  On another night, quite far into the game, Bruno was shot and killed while rooting through a pile of rubbish. He’d found some wood and tobacco. To lose someone you’ve gotten to know, and even care about, so suddenly -- and for something so trivial -- was shocking. The impact on the survivors back at the crumbling building that was our home was even worse, sending them further into despair. There’s no saving the game before you do something potentially risky and then reloading it if things go wrong. If things go wrong in the game, they stay wrong forever.

  Continuing to steal from other survivors, which was my main tactic in the first play through, had an impact on my group's morale too, leaving them to question their/my choices and wonder if, surely, there wasn’t a better way to survive.

  There is, of course. You don’t just have steal from others. You can grow food, set traps for animals (rats!), filter rainwater, brew alcohol, roll cigarettes, and barter things you find or make for items you need. You can upgrade your workshop to create more advanced items, and then upgrade some of the items, like the stove for example.

  This involves collecting all the right items you need for the upgrade, and then all the right items you need to produce the objects. You’ll often send a scavenger out to try and find something you desperately need only for them to come back tired, possibly injured, and missing the vital supplies.

  There’s lots of grinding here but, unlike other games, there’s thankfully no option to make life easier with an in-app purchase. Something like that really would have cheapened the experience.

  Having learned some big lessons in my first play through I stole much less the second time around, and treated people how I wanted my group to be treated, and things were much more positive as a result.

  You can, with perseverance, do well, but your worldly goods -- such as they are -- can be taken away in a single night when raiders come in and help themselves. At night you follow the character who is scavenging and you only discovered what happened back at base when he (or she) returns there.

  Fortunately, you can patch up the building to make it less vulnerable to attacks, and tool up whoever you have guarding the place to reduce your losses.

  Life can be made more bearable by adding entertainment, cigarettes and alcohol to the lives of the group, but you have to decide if you want to cheer up a depressed survivor with a drink, or trade the alcohol for food. And how useful will a drunk be if raiders arrive in the night?

  Occasionally people will come to your door, and you can choose whether to help them or not. There are lots of moral choices to be made in TWoM and you have to weigh up helping where possible with what’s best for the group. Bringing in another person will mean another pair of hands to build items, defend the building, and scavenge, but they’ll also be another mouth to feed, and food is scarce. But if you don't provide them with somewhere to stay, will they die? It's a very real possibility.

  There’s plenty of variety in the game, with loads of different places to visit at night. When all of your characters die, or the hopelessness is too much for you to continue, you can quit and restart. This will give you a choice of groups to care for, each with their own characters and stories, so you can experience surviving the war from a different angle.

  I play a lot of games on iOS. Many are fun, some are involving, but few are as vital as This War of Mine. It’s beautifully presented with pencil drawn graphics, and a mournful tune that plays over the sounds of gunfire and falling bombs. The game can, at times, get a little tedious, but then so can real life. It makes the moments of drama all the more thrilling, and all the more affecting.

  This War of Mine haunts you, and makes you consider of the plight of people in real war zones in a way that you might otherwise not do. At $9.99 it’s one of the more expensive games you’ll find on iOS, but it’s well worth it.

  You can buy it here.

  
• 

  Apple might ditch the 16 GB option from upcoming iPhone lineup

  Publié: juillet 21, 2015, 2:30pm CEST par David Curry

  

  When Apple announced the new storage sizes for the iPhone 6 and 6 Plus, a lot of customers were bummed that the 32GB option did not replace the 16GB option. It essentially forced anyone who used a fair share of apps to buy the 64GB model.

  Thankfully, Apple might be planning to change this with the iPhone 6s and 6s Plus. According to MIC Gadget, Apple will make the 32GB model the standard, with 64GB and 128GB for those that want to use all of the storage of music, movie and photo files.

  Speaking to sources inside Foxconn, the 16GB sticker does not exist. It has been replaced with 32, 64 and 128GB stickers, which will be slapped on the models before getting shipped to Apple stores all around the world.

  The news is contradictory to what Apple vice president of Worldwide Marketing, Phil Schiller, said a few months earlier. The VP claimed that due to cloud storage and music streaming, 16GB wasn’t that bad of an option for the iPhone.

  That doesn’t mean Apple isn’t thinking of new ways to settle the differences. Perhaps we will see the 16GB model on the iPhone 6c, while the iPhone 6s and 6s Plus changes to 32GB minimum. Apple could add a price increase to the 6s and 6s Plus to compensate for the removal of the 16GB model.

  The "s" model is normally where Apple experiments on the inside, while the iPhone 7 is likely to see major changes on the design and hardware. We expect an increase in performance and perhaps an increase in display resolution for the iPhone 6s may be the two big changes this year.

  Published under license from ITProPortal.com, a Net Communities Ltd Publication. All rights reserved.

  Photo credit: Bloomua / Shutterstock

  
• 

  Microsoft ships stand-alone Android Emulator

  Publié: juillet 21, 2015, 1:40pm CEST par Mike Williams

  

  Microsoft has released the final build of Visual Studio Emulator for Android, which despite its name, doesn’t install or require Visual Studio: just Windows 8+ with Hyper-V.

  The big disadvantage of the package is still the lack of the Play Store. You can only install new apps from their APK files. If you can live with that, the Emulator’s benefits start with its range of environments. The package comes with a virtual KitKat phone and tablet, and various other Android versions and form factors are available for download.

  Mouse control is excellent. You don’t just get left-click for tap, and drag for swipe: there’s also a clever right-click/ drag system to simulate multi-touch gestures, even if you don’t have a touch screen.

  Strong sensor support means you’re able to choose your location by clicking on a Bing-sourced map; your front and rear camera feeds may be set to an image, animation or your actual webcam; and you can define the device orientation, whether its standing or flat, its battery charge level and status, even simulate a device shake.

  There’s real depth here, too. You don’t have to set a single location, for instance: it’s possible to configure several, and have the package simulate traveling an actual route between them at your preferred speed.

  Elsewhere, convenient integration options include setting the SD card location to a folder on the host PC, while a Screenshot button grabs a device image on demand.

  Additions from the previous build include more platforms, a command line interface, and the ability to restore a complete set of apps, settings and data to a device by dragging and dropping a zip file.

  Overall Visual Studio Emulator for Android is technically excellent, powerful yet also very easy to use. But if you need Google Play, you’ll be better off elsewhere.

  
• 

  Apple Watch leads the smartwatch market

  Publié: juillet 21, 2015, 1:34pm CEST par Mihaita Bamburic

  

  Apple will release its Q3 FY2015 earnings report later today, revealing just how well its products have performed in the second quarter of the year. The star of the show will likely continue to be the iPhone line, while iPads are expected to disappoint once again. But what about its most-recent endeavor, Apple Watch?

  Apple has been relatively quiet so far. There are no official figures of any kind yet, and there is no guarantee that the company will reveal any concrete information surrounding its smartwatch today. There is, however, an estimate from analyst company Canalys, which places Apple at the top of the wearable vendors list.

  Canalys estimates that Apple has shipped 4.2 million Watches to date, overtaking all of its rivals, including Fitbit, Xiaomi and other vendors. If the figure is accurate, and the rankings are also accurate, this would mean that Apple Watch is far from the sales disaster some folks believe it is.

  "The Apple Watch is the most sophisticated smart watch to date, and it has proved popular with Apple fans worldwide", says Chris Jones, VP and Principal Analyst at Canalys. "But Apple and other vendors still face important challenges to make the smart watch a breakout hit".

  Smartwatches have been compared to smartphones, and, by that measure, the former category has yet to really take off. Smartphone shipments have exceeded the one billion mark a year, while smartwatch sales are likely well below 10 percent of that figure.

  Consumers see the benefits in owning a smartphone, while the same cannot (yet) be said about smartwatches. Smartwatches are still a first-generation type of product, and, in the case of Apple Watch and other such offerings, their capabilities can only be unlocked by also toting a compatible smartphone, which is a disadvantage to consider.

  The cost of owning Apple Watch, for instance, is raised by also having to own a compatible iPhone. To most consumers, that is something that is out of the question. While other smartwatches are generally less expensive, the overall cost is still quite high. It is, dare I say, too high to warrant having the extra, few, benefits, given by adding a smartwatch into the mix, over just using a plain old smartphone, if it can be called that.

  So it is no surprise that smartwatch vendors "face important challenges", as Jones says, to make this category truly successful. But, there are other problems too.

  "Improvements in performance, battery life and sensor integration are needed to make future models more attractive, but it is the quality of third-party apps that will determine whether the Apple Watch will be a long-term success", adds Jones.

  This is an area where, luckily for Apple, improvements can be seen relatively quickly. Developers have shown support for Apple Watch, with plenty releasing compatible apps shortly after its release. And since apps are the killer feature, this smartwatch is well positioned to conquer the hearts of consumers.

  Photo Credit: Wayne Williams

  
• 

  Samsung's Galaxy S6 is secure-enough for UK government

  Publié: juillet 21, 2015, 11:26am CEST par Sead Fadilpašić

  

  If you’re a government employee in the UK, looking for a device secure enough for you to use, you can go for the Samsung Galaxy S6 and the Galaxy S6 Edge.

  The Communications and Electronics Security Group (CESG) has said that the duo of handsets meet the compliance standards for its Commercial Product Assurance requirements.

  This has made the two devices the first two smartphones to get such approval in the country.

  Samsung can credit its onboard software Knox for this, as the firm said it allows employees to securely connect to work files and email "with just a few taps".

  Graham Long, vice president of Samsung’s Enterprise Business Team, said: "Mobile security and data confidentiality is of paramount importance to Samsung, and we are delighted that the Galaxy S6 and S6 Edge have been recognized as the most secure devices for use by the UK government".

  "CESG’s acknowledgment of Samsung Knox is testament to the high standard of security offered by the Samsung Android platform, and once again reinforces our leading position in area, helping to provide secure mobile technology to government organizations and businesses throughout the UK", adds Long.

  This information could help Samsung boost its market share in the government sector, and in the smartphone business in general.

  Security has become the number one priorty around the world, especially after the Snowden revelations.

  Apple currently dominates the business world, with 72 percent share in the first quarter of this year. It owes most of its popularity to the newest iPhone 6.

  Published under license from ITProPortal.com, a Net Communities Ltd Publication. All rights reserved.

  
• 

  Pebble Time hits stores

  Publié: juillet 21, 2015, 10:41am CEST par Alan Buckingham

  

  People have been waiting for Pebble Time, the latest device in the Pebble line of smartwatches. The company once again utilized Kickstarter for this project, and did so with great results. Pebble Time shipped early to its backers, but now it hits stores for everyone to buy.

  Unlike the previous Pebble, this one has a color screen and looks much more vibrant -- keeping up with Android Wear. It also has more features for users to enjoy.

  "From the pool to the picnic table, it’s a great watch that fits you perfectly. With an always-on color screen, mic for voice replies, water resistance to 30 meters, up to a week-long battery life, and thousands of apps and watchfaces, Pebble Time will be with you for every awesome moment", the company says.

  You can do all sorts of things, like screening calls, tracking workouts, playing games, or even track your day with a new feature called Timeline.

  The watch comes in three different colors -- black, white and red. It retails for $199 and you can grab one from the company website or from Best Buy or Target.

  The wristwear maker concludes "Pebble Time is ready for the world, and your wrist. Help spread the good news on Twitter,Facebook, Reddit, or wherever you like to post".

  
• 

  Huh? Twitter just removed the option to use a background image

  Publié: juillet 21, 2015, 10:24am CEST par Mark Wilson

  

  Part of using any social website is customizing the appearance of your account to your liking; now Twitter has bucked the trend and removed that option. As noted by TechCrunch, Twitter users are no longer able to adorn their profile with a custom background image.

  It seems like something of a strange move, made all the more odd by the fact that Twitter has not made an announcement about the change. Firing up Twitter, users around the world will today find that their accounts look rather different. It's bright, white backgrounds all the way. So what on earth is going on?

  Twitter has not made it remotely clear what the reason behind the decision is, but it is causing a lot of upset today. Speculation is rife that Twitter did not like the fact that colorful, busy, distracting background images would take people's eyes away from advertisements, but it's not clear if this is a contributing factor. Twitter has updated its help pages to indicate that background images will no longer be visible everywhere:

  You can customize your design theme so that users who click to view your Tweet detail pages will see it. Other than your theme color, your design theme will not be visible on your profile or Home timeline.

  It seems that the change is still taking time to roll out. As noted by TechCrunch, if you change your background image it will initially appear everywhere you would expect it to, but will gradually become limited to key pages.

  In a statement Twitter said:

  We’re removing background images from the home and notifications timelines on web for all users. Now, background images are only available where logged-in users will see them publicly (Tweet pages, list pages and collections pages). You can find help center content about customizing your design and where it’s visible on Twitter here.

  Have you noticed the change in your account?

  Photo credit: Deniseus / Shutterstock

  
• 

  MobaXterm 8.0 adds PuTTY engine, credentials, PowerShell support

  Publié: juillet 21, 2015, 8:44am CEST par Mike Williams

  

  All-in-one remote networking toolkit MobaXterm 8.0 has shipped with the ability to create credentials for multiple sessions.

  The latest build is packed with technology derived from the open source PuTTY, including the SSH/ telnet/ rlogin/ serial engines, the embedded terminal, a new "MobaKeyGen" graphical SSH keys generator -- even a new Games menu with simple puzzles and games from the PuTTY developer. (No, really.)

  Other bundling tweaks include an improved X Server (a native Windows port of Xorg), while support for Unix commands in your terminal session (bash, grep, awk, sed, rsync…). is provided by an updated version of Cygwin.

  There’s welcome support for setting PowerShell as a "Local terminal" session type. This worked just fine for us, but it’s highlighted as "experimental" in the changelog, so look out for possible issues.

  Regular CMD sessions are better, too, with a new Tools command to run Cmd as an administrator, and an under-the-hood tweak which should mean Ctrl+C and TAB completion work everywhere.

  If you’re interested in the fine detail, developer Mobatek’s official blog post on the release tells you more.

  MobaXterm Home 8.0 is a free-for-personal use networking toolkit for Windows XP and later.

  
• 

  AMD launches super-affordable Windows 10-ready A8-7670K APU

  Publié: juillet 21, 2015, 1:24am CEST par Brian Fagioli

  

  Windows 10 will be available on July 29th, meaning it is just a bit more than a week until the world can start buying computers running the operating system. While Windows 10 will run fine on older hardware, a new version of Microsoft's OS can be a great time to upgrade your computer. System builders in particular may want to improve their build.

  Understandably, you may be hesitant to spend money on new hardware; the economy is still bad for many. Don't worry, AMD has you covered. Today, the company launches the A8-7670K APU. Not only is it Windows 10-ready with DirectX 12 support, but it is insanely affordable too at a shockingly low $117.99. In other words, you may pay less than that at retailers.

  "An APU is the combination of a processor (CPU) and a graphics card (GPU) all rolled into one convenient, albeit less delicious, chip. It provides excellent processing power for your everyday tasks, great graphics capability for eSports online gaming and a superb experience in Windows 10. All at an affordable price. The A8-7670K APU offers 10 compute cores: 4 CPU cores running at up to 3.9GHz, 6 GPU cores running at 757MHz, and 4MB of L2 cache. In addition, it supports Heterogeneous System Architecture for high levels of performance and efficiency", says AMD.

  AMD further explains, "the A8-7670K APU also performs well in popular eSports gaming titles like Counter Strike: Global Offensive, DOTA 2, and League of Legends. We take gaming seriously at AMD which is why we put so many features into our APUs that make your gaming experience awesome, and that starts with improved gaming efficiency with support for DirectX 12. AMD FreeSync technology puts an end to choppy gameplay and broken frames. Eyefinity, multi-display technology, adds more realism and greater fields of view4. Virtual Super Resolution (VSR) improves image quality when gaming at lower resolutions. And native H.264 video encoding empowers AMD's Gaming Evolved application to effortlessly record your gameplay".

  

  AMD shares the following ways this APU is a smart choice for Windows 10.

  • Be prepared for the future; the AMD A8-7670K is designed to deliver a premium Windows 10 experience with ten compute cores (4 CPU + 6 GPU)
  • Smooth video playback of movies and TV with hardware-based acceleration
  • Boost performance in the new Microsoft Edge web browser with full graphics acceleration for HTML5 and WebGL
  • Help protect sensitive data with hardware accelerated encryption and decryption when using Microsoft Bitlocker
  • Easily stream Xbox One games to your PC
  • Experience content streams without bumps and hiccups for smoother performance with AMD Quick Stream technology which allots more bandwidth to your highest priority applications

  While this is not a top-of-the-line processor, it is more than fast enough for the average user. Heck, the on-chip R7 graphics are a legit casual gaming option. While you won't be able to play modern games at max settings, it should be adequate for a fun experience. To get a powerful CPU and a solid GPU for $117.99 -- or potentially less -- is a crazy value.

  If you are looking to build a new computer, or just upgrade an existing machine, this would be a very smart way to do so. Of course, you will need to check compatibility with your existing FM2+ compatible motherboard. You may need to update your BIOS to add support. If your board is not FM2+, you could buy an inexpensive replacement -- your existing DDR3 RAM and other components should work just fine.

  
• 

  Twitter launches new Safety Center to educate and protect users

  Publié: juillet 21, 2015, 12:22am CEST par Mark Wilson

  

  Over the years Twitter has taken various steps to help users avoid spam, trolls, abuse, and other online problems. Today the social site takes the wraps off the Twitter Safety Center. This is home to advice about staying safe on Twitter and online in general, as well as including links to the various tools that Twitter has to offer.

  The Safety Center is divided into three sections -- Tools, Policies, and Enforcement -- and the idea is that users are given the information they need to keep themselves safe. Each of the sections includes advice and guides about improving security, maintaining privacy, and avoiding unwanted content.

  As well as help and support for people wanting to protect themselves on Twitter, there are also sections for parents and teachers who will be able to help keep younger users safe. But the Safety Center is not just about staying safe, it's also about making sure you stick to Twitter's rules. To this end, the center includes guides to key policies so you know what you can and can't do -- and what to do if you spot any violations.

  Twitter says:

  The Safety Center is a resource for anyone to learn about online safety, on Twitter and beyond. This resource is a result of our work with online safety experts who continuously help us to promote good digital citizenship. We’re excited to make this knowledge easily accessible to you via this new site. The Safety Center is organized around Twitter’s tools and policies to address your safety, with sections created especially for teens, parents and educators.

  These resources should help you quickly understand how to manage your experience on Twitter and also understand how the community and Twitter take action together when our policies are violated.

  Check out the Safety Center and see what it has to offer you.