Gregarius » BetaNews.Com » août 21, 2015

BetaNews.Com (18 non lus)

Chrome finally becomes memory and power efficient -- you can try it out now

Publié: août 21, 2015, 11:49pm CEST par Manish Singh

It's no secret that Chrome for Mac (OS X) is a mess. It eats a ridiculously high amount of memory, energy and shortens the battery life. Google announced earlier this year that it was working on a fix. And now it is delivering on that promise. The latest Chrome build -- available via Canary channel -- is significantly less resource hogging, and surprisingly faster at the same time.

The company has been hard at work improving the memory consumption in its Web browser while also making the tabs snappier. You can read about the development process and feedback at Chromium's developer website. The build dubbed 45.0.2454.46 is also significantly lighter on the battery and is no longer making the laptop crazy hot. In a recent build, the company was testing interesting internal processes like tab discarding in the background. The idea behind it is simple: make the tabs you haven't used in awhile idle automatically. This would, under the typical condition, free up a significant amount of memory.

The company also made some changes in the stable version of Chrome earlier this month to increase the responsiveness of Web applications. “Starting in Chrome 41, V8 takes advantage of a new technique to increase the responsiveness of web applications by hiding expensive memory management operations inside of small, otherwise unused chunks of idle time. As a result, web developers should expect smoother scrolling and buttery animations with much reduced jank due to garbage collection”, it noted in a blog post.

The stable version of Chrome, however, doesn't offer these features just yet. But since it is already on version 44, we expect the version 45 to release on Windows and Mac soon. Till then, you can try out the beta build, though do note that due to its nature, it might have many rough edges, and could crash and trigger unanticipated actions.
Google integrates Twitter into search results on the desktop

Publié: août 21, 2015, 11:25pm CEST par Mark Wilson

It's a little while since Google and Twitter announced a partnership that saw the integration of tweets into search results. When this feature started to roll out back in May, Twitter integration only applied to iOS and Android devices. Today it rolls out to desktop search results as well.

The new desktop integration means that it is now possible to search for hashtags, trending topics, and Twitter accounts with a regular Google search. Including real time events in search results is not new for Google, but Twitter integration adds a new dimension.

While Twitter does have its own search facility, many people feel more at home using Google. It's something that makes it possible to judge Twitter reaction to breaking news while searching for articles about a particular event, eliminating the need to perform multiple searches.

Desktop integration has been launched with little fanfare. Rather than making an announcement about the new feature, Google instead chose to simply update its blog post from three months ago when the mobile launch was announced:

Update, 8/21/2015: We’ve extended this to desktop now too, and in English everywhere.

Perform a search related to Twitter and you'll notice that relevant account, hashtags, and tweets appear first in search results, followed by interactive Twitter cards; regular search results then follow. Twitter has not indicated whether or not Twitter results will be given their own section along the lines of Images and Videos in search results in the future.

Photo credit: ChameleonsEye / Shutterstock
Greece plans to roll out Bitcoin ATMs across the country

Publié: août 21, 2015, 10:04pm CEST par David Curry

Greece might be settling for a deal with the European Union, but inside of the country big changes are happening to the economy to deal with sanctions and lack of funds.

The most expensive and popular cryptocurrency Bitcoin has shot up in popularity. The popularity has risen to the point BTC Greece is planning a 1,000 Bitcoin ATM rollout, available in stores, banks and tourist locations.

Bitcoin is not affected by the current trends in Greece, meaning it is a relatively safe option to invest savings into. Like gold or a solid public company, in times of uncertainty, Bitcoin seems like the solution for a lot of citizens.

The current sanctions imposed on Greek citizens include a £42 per day withdrawal limit, no payments outside of Greece and no swaps to foreign banks. The capital controls are designed to keep as much money in Greece as possible.

Rumors of plans to change the currency led to the surge in Bitcoin adoption, as citizens contemplated life outside of the Euro. Most leading economists see a move away from the Euro as a bad move, likely to hurt Greece’s economy in the short and long term.

Bitcoin is still not approved by most countries, with the European Union and America not accepting it as a form of currency. It is still valuable in the same way gold or stocks are, but we doubt the rise in popularity will create a rise in commercial adoption.

Most retailers, both inside and outside of Greece, do not accept Bitcoin transactions. Even if BTC Greece were to win over a few retailers, we doubt employees would ever be paid in Bitcoin.

This will no doubt have an affect on the price of Bitcoin, as the currency continues to fluctuate rapidly compared to most modern currencies.

Published under license from ITProPortal.com, a Net Communities Ltd Publication. All rights reserved.
Amazon brings new tricks to Echo, rebrands app name

Publié: août 21, 2015, 7:42pm CEST par Alan Buckingham

If you haven't yet tried out Amazon Echo then you're in for an... ah... experience. It works quite well most of the time. Response speed is amazing. It can become temperamental when you branch out into other aspects like home automation, although to be fair I think that's the fault of the hub more so than Echo.

You'll also need to get past the fact that Amazon is listening to what you say, not to mention that you look a bit like a crazy person talking to an imaginary friend.

Today the retailer has, rather quietly, rebranded Echo's app. The device is still Echo, but the app is now called Amazon Alexa. It takes a moment to find it, as it has suddenly jumped to the A section of your apps. Honestly, it's a better name, as that's the actual name you use to address the device.

The company has also added some new tricks. You can interact with the Crystal Ball which is exactly what it sounds like -- it's a fortune teller. There are Math Puzzles now, and you can even check out events from StubHub.

All three are available now, right from the app. You'll just have to look for the app again after the rebranding.
Sony unveils SmartBand 2 fitness tracker

Publié: août 21, 2015, 6:43pm CEST par Sead Fadilpašić

Sony has unveiled a new fitness wearable called SmartBand 2. The device is a successor to the first SmartBand, and its key feature is an advanced heart rate sensor.

Even though it is a common feature on most fitness wearables today, the heart sensor was absent from the first SmartBand. This time around, Sony has upped the game. It also features a smart notification system, which works through a set of vibrations and colored LEDs.

That means you can use the band to keep track of calls, messages, e-mails, and general social notifications. The device is paired with Sony’s Lifelog app, where you can track all the usual stuff like calories burned and distance covered.

Trusted Reviews quoted Sony Mobile’s senior VP of creative design, who said the device is there to bring meaningful data.

"We set out to create the most advanced wearable at this section of the market -- SmartBand 2 has the capability to deliver, and make biometric data meaningful for users within Lifelog", he said.

Tajima adds: "Not only does it represent a powerful vision of how consumers can learn more about themselves -- it allows us to explore exciting new opportunities with development partners".

Its biggest minus will most likely be the battery, which can last approximately two days on a charge. That is fairly low, considering that the device doesn’t have a display.

Its retail price in Europe is €119 (£85), but the official price for UK is yet to be confirmed. It is safe to assume it won’t differ much from the European price.

Published under license from ITProPortal.com, a Net Communities Ltd Publication. All rights reserved.
Chrome extensions coming to Firefox as Mozilla unveils major changes

Publié: août 21, 2015, 6:14pm CEST par Mark Wilson

Mozilla today announces a series of important changes that affect Firefox add-ons. The good news? Add-ons should be reviewed faster, they will be more secure, and a new API means that Chrome extensions can be more easily ported across. But, of course, there is also bad news.

The bad news for developers is that Mozilla is switching to new technologies -- Electrolysis and Servo -- and this means that work will have to be done on existing extensions to ensure compatibility. In the switchover, it is likely that a large number of older add-ons will simply not be updated, but with a 12 to 18 month timescale for phasing out XPCOM and XUL means there is plenty of time for other developers to come up with alternatives to projects that have been abandoned and will no longer work.

It is the deprecation of XPCOM and XUL that's the really big news today. This is a fundamental change to the basis of Firefox and its ramifications are huge. While the current structure of Firefox makes it highly customizable, it also lacks modularity, and can be slow to develop. Mozilla recognizes that switching to Electrolysis and Servo is a massive change that could cause problems in the short terms.

Writing on the Mozilla Add-ons Blog, Kev Needham says:

A major challenge we face is that many Firefox add-ons cannot possibly be built using either WebExtensions or the SDK as they currently exist. Over the coming year, we will seek feedback from the development community, and will continue to develop and extend the WebExtension API to support as much of the functionality needed by the most popular Firefox extensions as possible.

It is the adoption of the WebExtensions API that should see extensions coming across from other browsers to Firefox. While not identical, it is "largely compatible with the model used by Chrome and Opera".

Starting with Firefox 41 -- due for release on 22 September -- developers will have to get their extensions signed and validated by Mozilla. For developers currently producing add-ons just for Firefox, the move to WenExtensions will involve quite a lot of work, but it will be easier for those already coding for Chrome.

This is just the start of a period of intense upheaval. Mozilla says:

The strategy announced here necessarily involves a lot of trade-offs. Developers who already support Chrome extensions will benefit since they will have one codebase to support instead of two. Developers of Firefox-only add-ons will have to make changes. Those changes may require considerable development effort up-front, but we feel the end result will be worth that effort for both Firefox’s users and developers.

Photo credit: Evan Lorne / Shutterstock
Your Uber driver might be a convicted felon

Publié: août 21, 2015, 5:31pm CEST par Sead Fadilpašić

Even though Uber prides itself on the extensive background-checking of its drivers, it is now being accused that some of its drivers are convicted felons.

According to a report by Sky News, a complaint was filed by the San Francisco district attorney’s office, in which it was said that one of the drivers is a convicted murderer who spent 26 years in prison before being released on parole in 2008.

He allegedly joined Uber in 2014 under a fake name and gave 1,168 rides before being discovered.

Another driver had a conviction for "committing lewd or lascivious acts against a child under 14" which did not appear in a background check. According to the filing, he gave close to 6,000 rides, unaccompanied children included.

One driver was convicted of kidnapping for ransom with a firearm, cocaine selling and drunk driving.

San Francisco district attorney wants Uber to use a fingerprint-based system called Livescan to identify its drivers, but Uber is rejecting it, saying Livescan is no better than their own background-checking system.

In a statement Uber said: "While we agree with the district attorneys that safety is a priority, we disagree that the Livescan process used by taxi companies is an inherently better system for screening drivers than our background checks".

"The reality is that neither is 100 percent foolproof -- as we discovered last year when putting hundreds of people through our checks who identified themselves as taxi drivers", added Uber. "That process uncovered convictions for DUI, rape, attempted murder, child abuse and violence".

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

Photo credit: 360b / Shutterstock.com
Spotify says sorry for confusion over its privacy policy

Publié: août 21, 2015, 4:42pm CEST par Ian Barker

We reported earlier today that streaming music service Spotify had upset a lot of users with changes to its privacy policy. In particular sections concerning what information the company is allowed to collect have sent some users into a spin.

Evidently stung by the reaction, Spotify has been quick to respond. In a blog post by CEO Daniel Ek it says sorry and explains more about what the changes actually mean.

"We are in the middle of rolling out new terms and conditions and privacy policy and they've caused a lot of confusion about what kind of information we access and what we do with it," writes Ek. "We apologize for that. We should have done a better job in communicating what these policies mean and how any information you choose to share will -- and will not -- be used".

He points out that although the policy asks for permission to use information including photos, mobile device location, voice controls, and contacts, Spotify will seek express permission before accessing any data and will only use it to improve the Spotify experience.

Ek gives specific examples of how data might be used, for example on location information, "We will never gather or use the location of your mobile device without your explicit permission. We would use it to help personalize recommendations or to keep you up to date about music trending in your area. And if you choose to share location information but later change your mind, you will always have the ability to stop sharing."

There are similar clarifications for other areas which you can read in full on the blog. Ek says that the privacy policy will be updated in the next few weeks to better reflect how data will actually be used. In the meantime users with concerns or questions can email privacy@spotify.com.

Does this reassure you about what Spotify is up to? Do let us know.
Microsoft will only provide information about Windows 10 updates when it wants to

Publié: août 21, 2015, 4:37pm CEST par Mark Wilson

It's less than a month since the launch of Windows 10, and there have already been three cumulative updates released. There has been far greater interest in these updates than for previous versions of Windows, but there has been frustration about the lack of detail provided about the changes the third brought.

Users were told that the update includes "improvements to enhance the functionality of Windows 10", but no specific details were given. Microsoft has now made it clear that extra detail will only be provided for some updates depending on their significance. Considering Windows 10's forced installation of updates, this is something that is unlikely to go down well with users.

While it is possible to use software to postpone the installation of individual updates, this is not something that the average user is going to do. In fact, it's entirely reasonable to assume that most people won’t bother to do this -- but whether they do or not, it's also entirely reasonable to expect to be kept informed about what is being installed. Microsoft doesn't completely agree.

In a statement to The Register, a Microsoft spokesperson said:

As we have done in the past, we post KB articles relevant to most updates which we’ll deliver with Windows as a service. Depending on the significance of the update and if it is bringing new functionality to Windows customers, we may choose to do additional promotion of new features as we deploy them.

So you might get told what an update does, you might not. When pressed for more details about what the last cumulative update included, Microsoft would not expand on its previous description of "improvements to enhance the functionality of Windows 10". Next time there is an update released, we don’t know if we'll be told what it does, or if it will be kept a secret; that's up to Microsoft.

Photo credit: India Picture / Shutterstock
How today's work gets done in the cloud

Publié: août 21, 2015, 4:04pm CEST par Ian Barker

In recent years cloud technology has allowed organizations of all sizes and across all industries to become more flexible and more productive.

Identity and mobile management specialist Okta has produced a report based on usage data across more than 2,500 customers and 4,000 apps that sheds light on how organizations and people get work done today, and on what security measures companies use to keep data safe.

"We're seeing companies of all sizes, industries and regions depend on cloud and mobile to propel their businesses forward," says Todd McKinnon, CEO of Okta. "Business leaders are making big investments in cloud and mobile, and Okta's dataset offers some insightful trends into the apps, services and security measures businesses are choosing to leverage".

Among its findings are that company size is no longer a strong indicator of how many cloud or mobile apps a company licenses with a median of between 11 and 16 off-the-shelf cloud apps. There has also been a 40 percent increase year-on-year in companies protecting their sensitive data with multi-factor authentication for at least one app.

Some enterprise apps have maintained their early leadership positions, for example Salesforce.com in CRM, AWS in infrastructure and Box in content storage -- but others have lost ground to the competition, these include Google Apps which is now trailing Microsoft Office 365 in almost every category. Media darling Slack has also done well, increasing its user base by 50 percent in the second quarter of 2015.

The report also finds that businesses are making aggressive efforts to enable their partners, customers and contractors through new cloud-based applications, websites or portals. The number of the external identities in Okta grew by 284 percent from July 2014 to July 2015, while internal identities grew 192 percent in the same timescale.

Companies are also looking at more sophisticated authentication methods. Usage of traditional security questions has dropped 14 percent since April 2014. Businesses increasingly prefer SMS authentication, with usage increasing by eight percent in the same period.

With companies putting a premium on security, developers are increasingly creating apps using the Security Assertion Markup Language (SAML) authentication system from the start. 19 percent of applications that are in the Okta Application Network (OAN) today are SAML-enabled, a six-fold increase over the past two years.

You can get the full Businesses @ Work report from the Okta website.

Photo Credit: R Peshkova/Shutterstock
New Spotify privacy policy angers users and drives some away

Publié: août 21, 2015, 2:58pm CEST par Mark Wilson

Spotify has updated its privacy policy, and a lot of users are now very unhappy. The change was prefaced a few days ago on the Spotify blog and the new policy started to roll out on 19 August. As it starts to hit accounts around the world, users are sitting up and paying attention; many are not happy with what they see.

What are people so upset about? Spotify might now access your Facebook likes and posts, photos and contacts you have stored on your phone, and even the speed at which you are traveling. The company says that the changes have been made as part of a move to "be as open and transparent as possible", but it has left large number of users questioning motives, and many have been pushed to quitting the music service completely.

As reported by the BBC the policy changes have led to a number of high-profile users quitting -- or threatening to quit -- Spotify, including Minecraft creator Markus Persson. The company was probably not expecting quite the backlash it is currently receiving, but the updated privacy policy has led to a vocal uproar of disgruntled users who feel that some of the changes amount to an infringement of privacy.

There is one new section that is giving users particular cause for concern:

3.3 Information Stored on Your Mobile Device

With your permission, we may collect information stored on your mobile device, such as contacts, photos, or media files. Local law may require that you seek the consent of your contacts to provide their personal information to Spotify, which may use that information for the purposes specified in this Privacy Policy.

The next section has a similar tone:

3.4 Location and sensor information

Depending on the type of device that you use to interact with the Service and your settings, we may also collect information about your location based on, for example, your phone’s GPS location or other forms of locating mobile devices (e.g., Bluetooth). We may also collect sensor data (e.g., data about the speed of your movements, such as whether you are running, walking, or in transit).

You might well wonder why Spotify needs to know how quickly you are traveling. This particular clause relates to Spotify's creation of automatic playlists, and this permission makes it possible to create playlists.

The changes apply to both free and paid-for packages, and Spotify says: "If you don't agree with the terms of this Privacy Policy, then please don't use the Service".

How do you feel about the changes? Are you happy to accept them for what they are, or does it make you question whether you'll continue to use Spotify?

Photo credit: 360b / Shutterstock
Samsung Galaxy S6 edge+ goes on sale today

Publié: août 21, 2015, 2:29pm CEST par Mihaita Bamburic

We usually have to wait until the IFA trade show for Samsung to announce the next Galaxy Note flagship phablet, but this year the company moved up the second Unpacked event to mid-August. And not only has it unveiled Galaxy Note 5, but also Galaxy S6 edge+, the latter of which goes on sale today.

For those who are not familiar with it, Galaxy S6 edge+ is basically a Galaxy Note 5 with a curved display that forgoes the traditional S Pen. Or, put differently, it is the successor to last year's Galaxy Note Edge, but, again, without the stylus in tow. International availability also differs between the two models.

Whereas Galaxy Note 5 will only be available in a limited number of markets (it will not go on sale in Europe, for instance, which is a huge letdown to the phablet's fans) compared to both its predecessor and Galaxy S6 edge, Galaxy S6 edge+ will be available across the globe. Available colors include gold and black.

The markets where Galaxy S6 edge+ can be had today include US, Canada, Hong Kong and South Korea. Samsung does not say whether it is available in all markets where the phablet is planned to be sold in, or when it will be offered in markets not part of the first wave of availability. Galaxy Note 5 actually went on sale earlier this month.

Over in US, Galaxy S6 edge+ is available at all four major carriers. Verizon sells the 32 GB and 64 GB models for $768 and $864 unlocked, respectively, or for $32 per month and $36 per month, respectively. AT&T has the 32 GB and 64 GB models available for $814.99 and $914.99, respectively, or, on AT&T Next 24 on a 30-month plan, $27.17 per month and $30.50 per month, respectively.

T-Mobile sells the 32 GB and 64 GB models for $779.99 and $859.99 unlocked, respectively, or $32.50 per month for two years, and $99.99 down coupled with 24 monthly payments of $31.67 each, respectively. Sprint offers the 32 GB and 64 GB models for $792 and $888, respectively, or $30 per month on a two-year lease and $35 per month for two years, respectively; there is also the option of two-year contracts, at which point the models can be had for $349.99 and $449.99, respectively.
Best Windows apps this week

Publié: août 21, 2015, 1:40pm CEST par Martin Brinkmann
One-hundred and forty-two in a series. Welcome to this week's overview of the best apps and games released for Windows 8.x/10 in the past seven days.

Microsoft pushed out a new Insider build to Fast Ring systems this week which caused several issues. Probably the biggest of them all was that 64-bit versions of Chrome did not work properly anymore.

The app of the week title goes to the old school roleplaying game The Darksong Chronicles. If you are interested in apps, you may want to check out the new Wunderlist Beta application instead.

As always, if I missed an app or game that has been released this week that you believe is particularly good, let me know in the comments below or notify me via email instead.

Discounts This Week

Red Stripe Deals are back. Microsoft added them to the new Windows 10 Store. You find them listed under Collections when you open the store.
1. Reckless Racing Ultimate, a racing game for $2.49
2. Wolfram Alpha, compute answers and generate reports for $1.49
3. Kids Learn About Music, a music learning app for $0.99
4. Lightbot, a programming puzzle game for $2.49
5. LiveATC, listen in on conversations between pilots and air traffic controllers for $0.99
6. Mind Games Pro, a puzzle application for $2.49
Best app of the week

The Darksong Chronicles

The Darksong Chronicles is a classic role playing game with turn-based combat mechanics.

It reminds me a lot of RPGs of the 16-bit era thanks to its isometric view and overall look and feel.

Your party of four explores the world, fights monsters and villains in turn-based battles, finds treasures, equips powerful weapons and learns new spells.

One issue that you may run into is that you cannot double-click on people you want to interact with if they are not adjacent. This is a problem at the inn and the main shop where you buy magic and other supplies.

You need to tap on the F-key on the keyboard while facing people to interact with them.

The game is well designed and if you like classic roleplaying games you should take it for a spin.

Other apps

Crafty File Viewer

Crafty File Viewer is a free system application for Windows 10 that lets you peek inside files without opening them directly.

When you load a file in the application, detailed information about it is displayed in the interface. This includes general information, like the file's name, type and size, but also checksums and either a hex dump or a preview if it is a media file.

Crafty File Viewer supports archives and can extract those, but does not display a list of files included in archives or options to extract individual files only.

Fairy Tale Mysteries 2: The Beanstalk

The adventure game puts you in the shoes of a boy who embarks on an epic journey inspired by Grimm's Fairy Tales.

The game itself is a point and click adventure game in which you move from screen to screen and save puzzles in each.

Puzzles range from "find item" quests to small games that you need to solve before you proceed to the next stage of the game.

The free version is limited and acts as a demo of the full version. The game itself ships with three difficulty levels, and a tutorial system to help out new players.

Wunderlist Beta

Wunderlist Beta is a preview version of the to-do list application that has been designed specifically for Windows 10.

The overall interface has not changed but the developers have improved the quality of the background images and text in the application.

In addition, it is now possible to collapse the side bar to increase the width of the application's main area.

All existing tasks are synced automatically when you sign in to the beta application.

Alien Hive

Alien Hive takes the match-3 puzzle game concept and moves it to the next level. Instead of swapping adjacent items automatically, you may only move items in a row or column if space permits it.

Items of three or more are joined automatically once they are adjacent to each other. They are not removed from the board though but evolve instead so that the item count in each level increases constantly.

9 Clues 2: The Ward

The adventure game plays similar to Fairy Tale Mysteries 2 even though it is more of a classic adventure game than one in which you find and match objects on a screen.

Two detectives respond to a distress call from a psychiatric hospital and witness a murder shortly thereafter. Their investigation uncovers darker things happening in the hospital.
HP Spectre x360 is the best Windows 10 laptop for back-to-school and beyond [Review]

Publié: août 21, 2015, 1:37pm CEST par Brian Fagioli
Buying a Windows laptop can be an extremely stressful ordeal. Unlike Apple, whose OS X is limited to just a few models, Windows notebooks are manufactured by many companies, in countless designs. If you shop online or go to a local store, like Best Buy, your head could easily explode from all of the options.

It is for this reason, that you should do your homework -- read reviews, educate yourself on specs and find out which brands are most reliable. If you don't have time for all of that, I can save you the trouble. The HP Spectre x360 is the laptop you want for back-to-school and beyond. OK, now go buy it. Oh, you want to know why I am saying it is the laptop you want? Well then read on to find out more.

Specs (as reviewed)
- Operating system: Windows 10 Home 64
- Processor: Intel Core i7-5500U with Intel HD Graphics 5500 (2.4 GHz, 4 MB cache, 2 cores)
- Graphics: Intel HD Graphics 5500
- Display: 13.3 inch diagonal FHD Radiance Infinity LED-backlit touch screen (1920 x 1080)
- Memory: 8 GB DDR3L SDRAM (1 x 8 GB)
- Hard drive: 256 GB mSATA SSD
- Wireless: Intel 802.11ac (2x2) and Bluetooth 4.0 Combo
- Power supply: 45 W AC power adapter
- Battery: 3-cell, 56 Wh Li-ion polymer
- Ports: 3 USB 3.0; 1 HDMI; 1 Mini DisplayPort; 1 headphone/microphone combo
- Expansion slots: 1 multi-format SD media card reader
- Webcam: HP TrueVision Full HD WVA Webcam (front-facing) with integrated dual digital microphone
- Audio: Bang & Olufsen with 2 speakers
- Color: Natural silver
- Pointing devices: HP Imagepad with multi-touch gesture support
- Keyboard: Full-size island-style backlit
- Dimensions: 12.79 x 8.6 x 0.63 in
- Weight: 3.17 lb
Video Overview

Impressions

Many Windows laptops are plasticky and creaky, lending to a less than premium experience. The HP Spectre x360 is the opposite -- upon taking it out of the box, you immediately see that it oozes quality and class. The matte aluminum top and bottom are cold to the touch -- appreciated on a hot summer day. The glossy mirrored sides are home to a ton of ports and buttons.

On the right side, there is a dedicated Windows home button, which is rather unusual -- most laptops do not offer this on the body. Next to that is a volume rocker, which comes in handy while using the HP Spectre x360 in tablet mode. There is also a mini DisplayPort, a full-sized HDMI port, two USB 3.0 ports and a 3.5 mm headset jack.

The left side is home to the all-important power button, useful for -- you guessed it -- booting up the laptop. There is also an SD slot, which is very handy for photographers. There is yet another USB 3.0 port on this side -- appreciated, as sometimes you may have a need to plug something in that is located on either side of the computer. Next to that there is a vent and the power port.

Opening up the laptop, you are presented with a beautiful back-lit keyboard and one of the largest trackpads I've ever seen. The keys match the matte silver color found on the majority of the Spectre x360, and luckily, HP has provided a properly laid out keyboard. All of the keys are where they should be -- there is no learning curve. The back-lighting can be turned on and off with the touch of the button.

The trackpad height is about normal, but it is the width that makes it stand apart. You have plenty of room for your fingers to wander, so you rarely need to worry about reaching the edge. There are no buttons, as the entire trackpad is one large clickable button. I was worried about how the wide nature would affect clicking performance, but I am happy to say it works like a dream; it is consistent. Multi-touch works well too, such as three fingers down to hide all and go to desktop, or three fingers to the right or left to switch between apps.

The HP Spectre x360 comes in two display options -- 1080p and 2560 x 1440. Only the most expensive ($1349) model comes with the latter. My model ($1149) features 1080p, which to me, is perfect for the 13.3 inch screen. Images and videos look amazing, while text is crisp and clear. Of course, you can connect to a 4K monitor if you need using the mini DisplayPort. The HD 5500 graphics can push 4K no problem.

You can configure the Spectre x360 with either an Intel Core i5-5200U or i7-5500U. While my unit has the i7, most consumers should probably opt for the i5. With that said, the i7-5500U really screams -- apps and programs open lightning fast and Windows 10 runs like a champ.

All but the least-expensive models of Spectre x360 come with 8GB of RAM -- do not make the mistake of buying the cheaper 4GB model ($899). There is only one accessible DIMM slot, so you might as well opt for 8GB -- the $100 additional cost not only doubles the RAM, but doubles the 128GB SSD to 256 ($999). It is a no-brainer. HP should probably get rid of the $899 option altogether.

The HP Spectre x360 is beautiful, has great specs, a genius design and a gorgeous screen. While all that should be reason to buy this laptop, none of them are the stars of the show. Actually, what really makes HP's work of art so amazing is the killer battery life. The company promises 12.5 hours, and this is not far off -- I can easily achieve between 10 and 11 hours depending on use. For road-warrior business users or students, this puts it into a special category.

My Wi-Fi signal has been very strong with the Spectre x360, which is very much appreciated. However, this is not by accident. HP thought to embed the antennas in the top of the display. This makes quite the difference compared to other models. Many manufacturers just haphazardly shove antennas into all sorts of places. It is clear that the engineers at HP and Microsoft (who helped with the design) really cared about the final product.

Of course, the HP Spectre x360 is not only a laptop, but a convertible too. This means it can also be a tablet, or positioned in other ways. The computer works great as a tablet -- the physical Windows home button on the side really adds to the experience. While it is a bit too heavy to be used comfortably with one hand, it is a dream when using both hands or resting it on your lap. It is perfect for lounging on the couch and watching TV.

If you are a cord cutter or just an occasional online video consumer, you can position the laptop as seen above to hide the keyboard and become immersed in a TV show or movie on Netflix, Hulu, or other services. You can also position it in a tent mode as seen below. How you choose to do it is really just a personal preference.

Audio can get loud and fairly clear, but the speakers produce fairly lifeless music. Unfortunately, the speaker are positioned on the bottom of the laptop, which is not ideal -- I would prefer to see them to the right and left of the keyboard facing towards the user. It is totally passable for casually listening to music or watching PewDiePie on YouTube, but a nice Bluetooth speaker, such as the UE Roll would be a good investment if you are listening to a lot of music with friends.

Conclusion

The HP Spectre x360 hits all the marks for a great laptop -- great build quality and materials, touch screen, amazing keyboard and touchpad, and best of all, class-leading battery life. Whether you need a notebook for school, work or home use, the Spectre x360 will make you very happy. Hewlett-Packard has done what many other manufacturers couldn't -- it built a Windows laptop that rivals and exceeds Apple's designs.

Yes, there are laptops with more RAM, or hardcore gaming graphics, and depending on your needs, those other machines could be better for you. However, for the majority of users with normal needs, you really can't do better than the HP Spectre x360. It is Windows 10 nirvana. This is the computer you should be taking to school in September. Highly recommended.

Related Article: The essential back to school 2015 shopping guide

Photo Credit: Brian Fagioli
Samsung offers iPhone owners 30-day Galaxy Note 5, S6 Edge, or S6 Edge+ rental for $1

Publié: août 21, 2015, 1:00pm CEST par Mark Wilson

Samsung is trying to woo iPhone owners with a new promotion that gives Apple fans the chance to rent one of its latest flagships for a single dollar. For one paltry buck, curious iPhone users can test drive a Galaxy Note 5, Galaxy S6 Edge, or Galaxy S6 Edge+ with no obligation.

It's a unique scheme and one that might appeal to those who are scared of commitment... but only those with an iPhone. If you're interested you can sign up to test the Samsung handset of your choice with your current carrier, on your current tariff.

To take advantage of the offer, you'll need to visit the promo page from your iPhone -- visit from any other device and you'll just be able to read about what's on offer. Hand over your dollar, and the handset of your choice will be shipped out to you, complete with pre-paid return packaging. When you reach the end of the trial period, you can either buy the handset, or send it back; if you fail to return it, you'll be charged the full cost. Any damage beyond "reasonable wear and tear" will cost you $100.

The offer is only open to people in the US, and it runs until the end of the year. Oddly -- although perhaps understandably -- Samsung does not permit you to try out one handset, return it and then try a different one. You are limited to a single test drive, so make your choice carefully.
Give your screen a custom tint with ColorVeil

Publié: août 21, 2015, 12:52pm CEST par Mike Williams

ColorVeil is a free Windows app with a single purpose: to place a color filter over your screen, reducing brightness and cutting eye strain.

The program is a tiny download -- 21.8KB, really? -- and immediately applies a default filter on launch. Right-click its system tray icon and a settings dialog appears when you can choose your preferred shade and opacity.

Once it’s running, the filter will affect the desktop, videos and most regular applications (though maybe not games).

If ColorVeil gets in the way at some point -- you’re editing images, perhaps, and need to see colors as they really are -- then left-clicking its system tray icon toggles the effect off, and on again.

You also get a "Stealth" option to hide the program from the taskbar. Run it on someone else’s system when they’re not looking, go stealth, and you can leave them wondering why their screen is so much greener than it was yesterday.

There’s scope for further improvements, maybe with a customizable hotkey to apply the effect, or a command line interface where you could set colors from a script.

ColorVeil carries out its core task well, though, allowing you to apply a custom color tint with a click, and if that sounds appealing then you should definitely give it a try.
Android devices and iPhones make up 96.8 percent of the smartphone market

Publié: août 21, 2015, 11:39am CEST par David Curry

When we think of smartphones, two platforms come to mind: Android and iOS. For some, Windows Phone is there as the third, but as Gartner’s second quarter smartphone sales results show, Microsoft is losing even more ground.

Combined, Android and iOS own 96.8 per cent of the smartphone market. Android actually dropped market share from 83.8 last year to 82.2 percent this year. Apple managed an increase from 12.2 to 14.6 percent in the same time period.

Microsoft increased its unit sales over the year, but dropped 0.3 percent market share. BlackBerry also dropped 0.4 percent market share, now managing an incremental 0.3 percent of the total smartphone sales.

Android’s lost market share can be chalked up to Samsung, HTC, Sony and LG all having a bad 2015. Xiaomi, Lenovo and Huawei are all showing growth. China isn’t enough to surpass Apple’s global dominance over the last four quarters with the iPhone 6 and 6 Plus.

These numbers are only going to go more in favor of Apple in the months to come, as it prepares to launch the iPhone 6s, 6s Plus and 6c. Once those are available on the market, we expect Apple to jump another one percent.

The total smartphone sales continue to grow worldwide, from 290 million in the second quarter of 2014 to 329 million in the same quarter 2015.

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

Photo Credit: Pieter Beens / Shutterstock.com
Microsoft teaches Justin Bieber's ex-girlfriend Selena Gomez to code on a Surface Pro 3

Publié: août 21, 2015, 3:51am CEST par Brian Fagioli

The most important skill that any young person should learn nowadays is coding, or programming. By learning to code, you can create anything -- your mind becomes your only limitation.

Unfortunately, many girls shy away from computers and science, for various reasons. Some people blame a male-dominated culture, and yeah, there is probably something to that. Don't forget, American women couldn't vote until 1920! Many companies and organizations are trying to encourage girls to code, one of which is Microsoft. Today, the company announces that it taught Justin Bieber's ex-girlfriend, singer Selena Gomez, to code using a Surface Pro 3! This will be broadcast on TV and will hopefully inspire both boys and girls.

"I'm extremely grateful and excited to be a part of the first We Day in Illinois and the first national broadcast of We Day. My onstage moment at the event was unlike anything I’ve ever experienced. Not only did I get to talk to thousands of students about how anyone can learn to code and the work that I’ve done to help young women in my community get involved with technology, but I also got to interact with Selena Gomez on stage and even teach her how to code", says Abril Vela, of Microsoft YouthSpark.

Vela further explains, "We Day is an event for students to help inspire them to make a difference in the world through volunteering and becoming active in our local and global communities. The movement is sweeping across the nation and my goal at the event was to help students understand how technology can help them achieve more with their projects. I think it is important for every young person to get involved with coding, whether learning a new skill or thinking about career opportunities".

If you have a son or daughter that has an interest in coding, you should have them watch Abril Vela of Microsoft YouthSpark teach Selena Gomez to code on national TV tomorrow. Yes, tune your television to ABC, August 21 at 8pm ET. As you can see in the top image, Ms. Vela is using a Surface Pro 3 on her lap. This should be a very cool television moment!

Will you watch Selena Gomez learn to code tomorrow? Tell me in the comments.