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• 

  Amazon to cease sale of Apple TV and Chromecast

  Publié: octobre 1, 2015, 8:38pm CEST par Mark Wilson

  

  As of 29 October, shoppers will no longer be able to buy Apple TV or Chromecast devices from Amazon. Citing compatibility issues with Prime Video, Amazon emailed marketplace sellers to inform them it is not accepting new listings for the two media devices, and any existing listings will be removed at the end of October.

  The move indicates not only the importance Amazon places on its streaming Prime Video service, but also that it views Apple and Google as serious rivals. The two companies have yet to respond to the news, but it is unlikely to be well-received.

  Questions are already being raised about why Amazon has not gone to the trouble of producing dedicated Prime Video apps for Apple TV and Chromecast. The cynical assumption would be that this is a move to push its own Fire TV, and to show support for other players on the market.

  The email says:

  Over the last three years, Prime Video has become an important part of Prime. It's important that the streaming media players we sell interact well with Prime Video in order to avoid customer confusion. Roku, Xbox, PlayStation and Fire TV are excellent choices.

  The announcement comes just days after Google announced a second generation Chromecast as well as a new Chromecast Audio device.

  Photo credit: Yeamake / Shutterstock

  
• 

  NETGEAR unveils hardcore Nighthawk X8 AC5300 Smart 802.11ac WiFi Router (R8500)

  Publié: octobre 1, 2015, 8:13pm CEST par Brian Fagioli

  

  Routers are a dime a dozen nowadays, so it can be hard to get excited about them. Even budget routers can offer great speeds, although I recommend sticking with quality brands to ensure reliability.

  One such quality brand is NETGEAR, and today, the company has announced a router that has me genuinely excited. The Nighthawk X8 AC5300 Smart WiFi Router (R8500) is chock full of hardcore hardware specs and industry firsts. While the price tag is high, it looks totally worth it. Seriously folks, this looks incredible.

  "Engineered from the ground up with a stylish modern design, the Nighthawk X8 is performance perfected with the new Wave 2 AC Wi-Fi. It is powered by an extremely powerful 1.4GHz dual core processor for faster connections; the industry's first, patent-pending Active Antennas to boost range; and three Wi-Fi bands with quad-streams, 1024 QAM, and MU-MIMO capable for the fastest Wi-Fi speeds. It also supports more wired connections with six Gigabit Ethernet ports including two that can be aggregated for faster file transfers. All told, the Nighthawk X8 pushes wireless performance and range to an extreme that is required for enabling your increasingly always-on networked life", says NETGEAR.

  

  The popular networking company further explains, "Nighthawk X8 boasts a total of eight antennas, four internal and four patent-pending external Active Antennas -- the industry's first -- that boost the wireless range of the Nighthawk X8. Unlike typical antennas that simply relay the Wi-Fi signal received from your devices to the router, Active Antennas amplify the Wi-Fi signal within the external antenna itself. They eliminate loss in signal strength and avoid any additional noise during transmission. Active Antennas effectively compensate for the low power of Wi-Fi devices to provide a more symmetrical connection for both receiving and sending wireless signals, which contributes to improving overall range and speed at long range".

  Be still, my heart. This is the type of hardware that makes tech geeks like me giddy. Sure, it is overkill for many, but NETGEAR deserves major kudos for pushing the envelope and improving home networking technology overall. Active Antennas are super cool, and should prove useful for very spacious homes or small businesses. Hardware specs aside, it looks attractive too, so you will have no problem putting this in your living room or office.

  

  Six wired gigabit Ethernet ports are impressive, making Google's OnHub router, with its single port, look downright pathetic. The router also features two USB ports -- one is 2.0 and the other 3.0 -- for connecting storage drives and printers.

  If you want to buy it, you can get it now from many major retailers. The price, however, may shock you. The MSRP is $399, making it more expensive than some consumers' home PCs. With that said, if you have a large family that saturates your network with devices, you cannot put a price on a fast and reliable connection. NETGEAR makes quality routers, and this should last you many years.

  
• 

  Stagefright 2.0 vulnerability is here -- your Android device is probably at risk

  Publié: octobre 1, 2015, 7:26pm CEST par Brian Fagioli

  

  Holy cow, Google, what the heck is going on here? Android should have been a Utopian-like Linux-based operating system that was secure and available to all. Unfortunately, the only things being made available to the masses are vulnerabilities. Quite frankly, the search giant is giving Linux a bad name.

  When the Stagefright vulnerabilities were made public, it really underscored how broken the Android update problem is. Hell, people like me -- longtime Android users -- switched to iOS as a result. A lack of operating system updates from both manufacturers and cell providers means many users are forced to live with vulnerable devices -- not acceptable. Today, new vulnerabilities dubbed Stagefright 2.0 are revealed, and most Android devices -- since 1.0 of the operating system -- are now at risk.

  "Meet Stagefright 2.0, a set of two vulnerabilities that manifest when processing specially crafted MP3 audio or MP4 video files. The first vulnerability (in libutils) impacts almost every Android device since version 1.0 released in 2008. We found methods to trigger that vulnerability in devices running version 5.0 and up using the second vulnerability (in libstagefright). Google assigned CVE-2015-6602 to vulnerability in libutils. We plan to share CVE information for the second vulnerability as soon as it is available", says Zimperium Mobile Labs.

  The company further shares, "the vulnerability lies in the processing of metadata within the files, so merely previewing the song or video would trigger the issue. Since the primary attack vector of MMS has been removed in newer versions of Google's Hangouts and Messenger apps, the likely attack vector would be via the Web browser".

  Oh dear, so Android users are at risk when using the web browser -- that is just about everyone. It is not just web browsers, however, but any third party app that uses the at-risk libraries. Pretty much all Android devices are at risk, folks.

  Zimperium Mobile Labs reported this to Google in August, but it is still not fixed in October. The sad fact is, even if the search giant does fix the vulnerability, most devices will never get patched anyway. Why? Manufacturers have long abandoned many devices, leaving only Nexus and very-new hardware from popular manufacturers with a possibility of salvation.

  Android users, are you comfortable using your device knowing it has vulnerabilities that may never be fixed? Tell me in the comments.

  Photo Credit: Mr. Douzo/Shutterstock

  
• 

  New London transport rules could spell trouble for Uber

  Publié: octobre 1, 2015, 6:38pm CEST par Sead Fadilpašić

  

  Transport for London will propose a new set of rules which are designed to address the cabs vs Uber struggle. The way rules are set, it seems as Uber is in for a bumpy ride.

  Documents seen by the Telegraph reveal that London’s transport body is due to consult on new proposals for private hire companies that would ban some of Uber’s key features.

  The proposals include a minimal five minute wait between ordering a ride and it actually getting there, as well as a ban for operators on showing cars for hire within a smartphone app – a key Uber feature.

  TfL also proposes a limitation on ride-sharing, which is a direct hit against Uber’s UberPool service.

  “These bureaucratic new rules will not improve your ride,” said Jo Bertram, Uber’s general manager for the UK, Ireland and Nordics. “They’re designed to address the concerns of black cab drivers, who feel under pressure from increased competition.”

  “But the answer is to reduce the onerous regulations cabbies face today – not increase them for everyone else.”

  According to a report by The Telegraph, Transport for London is planning to launch a September consultation on the matter “in the interests of public safety and an effective and up to date regulatory system”.

  TfL is consulting on the following proposals that could affect Uber:

  • Operators "must provide booking confirmation details to the passenger at least five minutes prior to the journey commencing". Uber matches potential passengers with the nearest riders, meaning they are picked up in, on average, three minutes after requesting a car.
  • Companies "must not show vehicles being available for immediate hire either visibly or virtually via an app". One of Uber’s key features is a map of available drivers in the area around the passenger.
  • Operators "must offer a facility to pre-book up to seven days in advance", an option that would create major headaches for Uber, since it does not allow passengers to pre-book rides.
  • Drivers may only work for one operator at a time. Uber says many of its drivers are part-time workers whose main employer is a traditional minicab firm.
  • There should be "controls on ridesharing in public vehicles". Uber’s chief executive Travis Kalanick has said he wants to bring the UberPool service, which allows several customers to share a car, to London.

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

  
• 

  You're watching NFL Football wrong -- here's the gear you need [Buyer's Guide]

  Publié: octobre 1, 2015, 5:24pm CEST par Brian Fagioli

  

  Even though the 2015 NFL season is entering week 4, it feels like it is just beginning. Why? Many people, myself included, associate football with the fall season. The cool crisp air conjures pigskin memories.

  As wonderful as watching NFL football is, many people are doing it wrong. If you are just casually spectating on an old television set, you are missing out. Here is some tech you should own to properly watch the games.

  First things first, you should have a good TV. Prices have dropped dramatically over the years, and a huge 1080p set can be had for a steal. Check out this 50 inch Vizio model for $528. This thing has great specs and features at a really affordable price.

  

  Do shop around though, as there are plenty of great deals. One of my favorite deal sites is Techbargains, and it has a dedicated section for televisions here. Stick with well-known retailers and quality name-brands and you should be fine.

  Some will suggest buying a 4K set, but I think that is wasted money at this time. Future-proofing isn't always a wise financial move, so I would save money and stick with 1080p for now.

  Where should you spend that saved money? On audio. Many people neglect the sound of football games, and that is sad. For true immersion, you should ditch your television's speaker and add a secondary option instead.

  

  Understandably, buying a receiver and 5.1 setup can take up a lot of room and look messy, so a soundbar is a wise alternative. I have been testing the all-new JBL SB250 (which will be available to buy shortly), and I am in love. The soundbar connects to your TV using an included optical cable. The soundbar then transmits audio wirelessly to the included subwoofer, making for a clean and simple installation.

  When watching football, sitcoms or movies, the audio -- especially voices, are loud and clear. The subwoofer offers thumping bass, which enhances the overall experience of what you are watching. When watching football, it can sound like you are in the stadium.

  The $299 SB250 includes Bluetooth too, so you can connect your devices to play music. This works wonderfully for when friends or family stop by, as it fills the room with great sound. It comes with a tiny remote to control everything too.

  

  If you want to control multiple devices, say your TV and audio equipment, using only one remote, you cannot go wrong with a Logitech Harmony. The company's top-of-the line Elite model is insanely good, but it is expensive and may offer more than you need.

  The beautiful thing about the Harmony line is that they have different price points to meet many budgets. You can check out more here. All of Logitech's remotes are awesome, and my colleagues Alan Buckingham and Mark Wilson swear by them.

  Fantasy Football has exploded in popularity lately, so many people, myself included, watch games while also monitoring fantasy team performance. If you are a hardcore fantasy football addict, the Xbox One is awesome.

  When coupled with the NFL app, and connected to your TV service using HDMI pass-through, the console will allow you to see stats on your TV as you watch the game. Check out the video below. It is amazing.

  Connecting your cable box and/or Xbox One to your television will require HDMI cables. Buying expensive cables is foolish, as there are plenty of quality low cost models all over Amazon. My pick for best HDMI cables, however, is the VisionTek HDMI Pivot Cable.

  

  VisionTek's offering has solid construction and an affordable price, but more importantly, the ends pivot so they are easier to plug in at tight angles. You can buy them here.

  What gear do you use to watch the NFL? Tell me in the comments.

  Photo Credit: El Nariz / Shutterstock

  
• 

  YouTube will show more relevant ads in videos

  Publié: octobre 1, 2015, 5:03pm CEST par Sead Fadilpašić

  

  YouTube has announced it’s adding new capabilities to the advertising on the site. Yay, more ads on our YouTube videos, who wouldn’t be happy?

  Anyway, long story short -- marketers will be able to buy ads which will be displayed during product-focused videos, such as game reviews, unboxings, product reviews and how-to videos.

  Google explained how the new system will work in a blog post published on the AdWords blog:

  "These will let you show a click-to-buy ad within partner videos on YouTube, going beyond your own videos to transform any relevant video into your digital storefront. Similar to Shopping ads on Google, you only pay when a user clicks on your ad", it says in the blog post.

  It seems as users are increasingly turning to YouTube for instructional and informational videos, especially when they’re researching something they’re planning on buying. Google has noticed this trend and is investing in new ways in order to increase shopping-related activities on YouTube.

  According to a report by IOL, the new YouTube offering is being announced as part of Advertising Week, an annual event in New York focused on the latest trends and products in the advertising industry.

  "YouTube will roll out the click-to-buy service in the coming months, following similar moves by parent Google and social networks such as Facebook Inc.’s Instagram and Pinterest Inc. to make it easier to shop via their sites", it says.

  "YouTube has become the place the world comes to watch, share and engage with video", the company said in the post. "And we want to keep creating even better experiences for the viewers, advertisers and creators who turn to YouTube every day".

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

  
• 

  IBM and Box collaboration delivers new data management tools

  Publié: octobre 1, 2015, 3:38pm CEST par Ian Barker

  

  Cloud applications, mobile use and the changes they bring to working methods make managing data in the enterprise a more complicated process.

  We reported a few months ago on IBM and Box beginning a collaboration on cloud projects and the two companies have now announced new solutions that can help enable advanced collaboration, data classification, enterprise search and enhanced analytics.

  "Organizations in every industry have an unprecedented opportunity to transform the way they connect with customers, collaborate with partners and engage with their colleagues and employees by gaining control over their data," says Rich Howarth, Vice President, Enterprise Content Management Products and Strategy at IBM. "Together IBM and Box are bringing the best cloud collaboration and content management solutions to bear to help our clients turn their data into a resource that they can call on to drive growth".

  There are four new offerings, IBM Content Navigator with Box helps customers search, access and share content across both on-premise and Box environments, with a single integrated view. IBM Content Navigator provides an interface and development platform that clients can use to shape the user experience of content within desktop and mobile ECM solutions.

  IBM StoredIQ with Box helps companies make more informed business decisions by providing them with an in-depth assessment of unstructured data across Box and on-premise environments, including where it resides. Using IBM StoredIQ with Box, customers will be able to search on-premise and Box-based data, classify it and migrate it to the Box Platform.

  IBM Case Manager with Box helps seamlessly enable sharing content on the Box platform with external participants as part of the business process. It’s designed to optimize results by applying context to content and enabling flexibility across business processes.

  Finally, IBM Datacap with Box helps businesses capture documents across multiple sources, extract key information from them, and store them to Box. This can help businesses reduce costs and increase accuracy and speed in powering workflows, regardless of device.

  "The Box and IBM partnership reimagines enterprise content management and collaboration for the digital enterprise, meeting the deepest of security and control requirements while unlocking content experiences and digital business processes that were not previously possible," says Whitney Bouck, Senior Vice President and General Manager of Enterprise at Box. "As you can see with today's news, Box and IBM are committed to a rapid pace of joint innovation, and there’s much more to come".

  You can find out more about the partnership on the IBM website.

  
• 

  Android 6.0 Marshmallow rolling out October 5

  Publié: octobre 1, 2015, 3:36pm CEST par Darren Allan

  

  Google has said that the new version of its mobile operating system, Android Marshmallow, will begin rolling out next week.

  In fact the rollout of Android 6.0 will begin on Monday October 5, the Inquirer reports, when Nexus device owners will be able to snag the new OS.

  Specifically, Marshmallow will be available to Nexus 5 and Nexus 6 owners, as well as those with a Nexus 7 (2013) or Nexus 9 tablet, and also the Nexus Player.

  The previous year’s version of the Nexus 7 and the old larger Nexus 10 slate are unlikely to be graced with Marshmallow, unfortunately, and will have to remain sullenly sucking on their Lollipops.

  Of course, those on other devices will have to wait for their phone manufacturer to sort out the Marshmallow upgrade, which often takes a great deal of time (and is definitely one of the weak points of Android compared to iOS).

  So what does Marshmallow bring to the table? Better power saving measures to make that battery last longer (including a new Doze mode -- a sleep state for when your phone hasn’t been used for a bit) have been implemented for starters.

  Google has also made tweaks to app permissions to give users more choice, and to be able to refuse certain elements, so they’re not simply forced to accept a bucketful of (sometimes unnecessary) permissions upon installation.

  Support for fingerprint sensors has been brought on board for better security, and a new Now on Tap feature promises to bring more information to your immediate attention -- so, for example, if you’re talking about going to a certain restaurant in a messaging conversation, it’ll pop up the details and reviews of that establishment.

  It’s not as important an update as Lollipop was, but there are certainly many features here which are worth having.

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

  
• 

  Free software suite helps users get started with big data

  Publié: octobre 1, 2015, 3:02pm CEST par Ian Barker

  

  Many businesses are put off making use of big data by the costs and complexity of the software and infrastructure involved.

  Enterprise data management specialist Solix Technologies is aiming to break down this barrier by making the Standard Edition of its Solix Big Data Suite available free of charge.

  Built on a single node cluster and packaged in a virtual environment, Solix Big Data Suite Standard Edition is based on the company’s full suite. It features reports archiving, file achiving and Solix Secure Search Analytics to allow users to prove their enterprise archiving on Hadoop use cases.

  "Eighty percent of the data generated by enterprises is unstructured, be it files, reports, videos, images, logs, or clicks," says Sai Gundavelli, CEO of Solix. "Archiving all of that in a secure central repository, built on commodity storage, compute and open source Hadoop, should equate to huge infrastructure cost savings for enterprises".

  The Standard Edition software includes file share archiving which gives users the ability to archive files from network file shares into Apache Hadoop, supporting NAS devices, Windows shares and Unix shares.

  It has a Solix Virtual Printer to capture print streams directly into Apache Hadoop in a compliant and searchable PDF/A format. Applications can print data directly to the Solix Virtual Printer to preserve documents and reports, and access them through a user-friendly search interface.

  There's also a unified archive for storage optimization, built-in full text search and reporting capabilities, and integrated information lifecycle management to deal with retention management and legal hold requirements.

  You can find more information and download the Solix Big Data Suite Standard Edition on the company's website.

  Image Credit: Maksim Kabakou/Shutterstock

  
• 

  Windows 10's growth slows dramatically

  Publié: octobre 1, 2015, 2:36pm CEST par Wayne Williams

  

  The previous set of usage figures released by analysis firm NetMarketShare showed users were upgrading to Windows 10 at an impressive rate. In August -- the first full month of availability for the new OS -- Windows 10 went from 0.39 percent to 5.21 percent share, leapfrogging Windows 8 (but not Windows 8.1) in the process.

  Given how easy it is for Windows 7 and Windows 8.1 users to upgrade to the new OS (the files get downloaded onto your hard drive in preparation), and the fact it’s free to those users too, you would no doubt have expected this pace to continue in September, maybe even accelerate a little. Unfortunately for Microsoft, interest in Windows 10 appears to have actually waned considerably in that month.

  Eager upgraders were obviously behind the spike we saw in August, but the drop off in September is slightly surprising. While Windows 10 still grew its share, it only managed a gain of 1.42 percentage points which puts it on 6.63 percent.

  Elsewhere, Windows 8 actually rallied fractionally in September, going from 2.56 percent to 2.60 percent, a minor increase of 0.04 percentage points. Windows 8.1 fell 0.67 percentage points, going from 11.39 percent to 10.72 percent. Combined, Windows 8.x currently has 13.32 percent of the market.

  Based on the current growth/decline rates we can expect to see Windows 10 overtake Windows 8.x by January now.

  As to the top dog, Windows 7’s share is declining, but at a gentle pace. Users are in no great hurry to abandon it for Windows 10 it seems. In August Windows 7 had a 57.67 percent share. In September it was on 56.53 percent. A drop of 1.14 percentage points.

  Windows XP shows no signs of disappearing anytime soon either, and actually grew share last month, going from 12.14 percent to 12.21 percent.

  If you’re wondering how Windows 10’s current rate of growth compares with that of past operating systems, I can tell you. When Windows 7 launched it took just one month to take 6.21 percent of the market, and it was at 8.30 percent by the following month. Windows 8 on the other hand was a disaster at launch, managing just 1.76 percent in its first full month, and hitting 2.53 percent in its second month.

  Both of those operating systems launched at the end of October though, so had the holiday buying season helping them (which makes the scale of Windows 8’s failure to perform look even worse).

  It will be interesting to see how Windows 10 does in October. Will upgrades pick up as the winter draws nearer, or will interest tail off further still? Place your bets...

  Photo credit: Igor Kovalchuk/Shutterstock

  
• 

  Spotify for Chromecast is music to your ears

  Publié: octobre 1, 2015, 2:34pm CEST par Alan Buckingham

  

  Music streaming services seem to be a dime a dozen these days, with plenty of choices and new ones cropping up all the time. But how do you pipe that sound through your home entertainment system? There are a number of options, but the latest is Spotify for Chromecast.

  The streaming service is arriving on Google's tiny HDMI dongle, which was just recently updated. Spotify claims this was highly requested and now users can have it.

  "Simply plug in and cast music directly from your phone or tablet. Play, skip, browse and search using the Spotify app. Oh, and feel free to make calls, watch a video or play games -- the music will keep playing. Even if your battery runs out", Spotify states.

  The improvements don't stop with Chromecast. The service also improving connectivity to other devices such as PlayStation 3, Smart TVs, Bluetooth speakers and more. The device choices now run into the hundreds.

  "Spotify will be available on the new Chromecast, with existing devices receiving a firmware update over the next few weeks", the company says.

  
• 

  Samsung hits back at claims that its TVs perform better in tests than in homes

  Publié: octobre 1, 2015, 2:16pm CEST par Mark Wilson

  

  Samsung has denied claims made by The Guardian that its TVs have a special power saving mode which is only used in laboratory testing to give the impression of better energy efficiency. The Guardian reports that independent labs have found Samsung televisions use less power in official testing than in real-world scenarios.

  This prompted suspicions -- that echo the allegations levelled at car manufacturer VW -- that TVs have been rigged to perform better in energy efficiency tests. The European commission has promised to investigate any claims of cheating the system, but Samsung is adamant it has done nothing wrong, saying "we firmly reject this suggestion".

  The "motion lighting" feature of Samsung TVs is at the heart of the controversy. The feature allows for the automatic adjustment of screen brightness depending on the type of content being displayed. Research group ComplianTV found that in real-world situations, the power-reducing features seen in the labs were not activated. The Guardian says, guardedly:

  There is no suggestion that Samsung, the world’s biggest TV manufacturer, behaved illegally, although energy efficiency campaigners claim that EU testing procedures are overly generous.

  Samsung has issued a strongly-worded statement that denies any suggestion of wrong-doing or playing the system:

  Motion lighting is not a test-cheat

  Motion lighting is not a setting that only activates during compliance testing. On the contrary, it is a default setting which works both in the lab and at home; delivering energy savings and helping us to reduce our environmental impact.

  Motion lighting was introduced in 2011 across all our TVs as part of a range of features we have developed to help reduce the environmental impact of our TV technology. We are immensely proud of these technologies and look forward to innovating further in this area.

  If the customer chooses to alter their display settings or switch to a different mode then the feature switches off, which gives our customers a simple choice of whether they choose to prioritize power efficiency or performance in their TV. The setting is explained in all of our instruction manuals, and also features on our website.

  Photo credit: Sorbis / Shutterstock

  
• 

  Sony Xperia Z5 has the best smartphone camera, Google Nexus 6P comes close

  Publié: octobre 1, 2015, 1:23pm CEST par Mihaita Bamburic

  

  Sony may not have the most popular devices around, but it is not for a lack of quality. Its latest flagship, Xperia Z5, has the best smartphone camera according to DxOMark, outclassing rivals like Samsung's Galaxy S6 edge and LG G4.

  Even the lesser Xperia Z3+ is well positioned in DxOMark's mobile chart, coming ahead of the hugely popular iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus. Xperia Z5 has also outclassed the newly-announced Google Nexus 6P, which has to settle for third place. Not too shabby for a Nexus device.

  Xperia Z5 received solid marks across the board from DxOMark, in both photo and video testing. The only weak area appears to be artifacts, which have affected its overall scores in both of the aforementioned categories.

  DxOMark says Xperia Z5 has the best photo autofocus, impressive image stabilization in videos "that's far ahead of the competition", and very good color reproduction and white balance, among other things.

  Sony is one of the very few players in the smartphone industry with a vast experience in making dedicated cameras, so it stands to reason that some of its imaging know-how has been trickling down to its premium handsets.

  But, for a Nexus smartphone to have such a great camera is unheard of. Traditionally, Google's devices have not been designed to shine in this area, which is one of the reasons why I switched brands a few years back (alongside the pathetic battery life).

  DxOMark praises the low-light performance of Nexus 6P, touting its detail preservation as "the best tested to date". Nexus 6P also does well when it comes to autofocus performance, detail preservation outdoor, and white balance, among other things.

  We have no idea yet how Nexus 5X fares against its competitors, but hopefully DxOMark will test it/publish the results soon.

  
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  Don't expect a major increase in IT budgets for 2016

  Publié: octobre 1, 2015, 12:50pm CEST par Sead Fadilpašić

  

  Bad news for IT experts in the West. According to a survey, IT budgets are expected to increase by only one percent in 2016. On top of that, the IT headcount is expected to stay pretty much the same.

  All of that, despite the fact that the demand for IT experts has exploded, and that Europe will need 800,000 IT security experts by 2020.

  The 2016 State of IT report done by Spiceworks says 67 percent of the IT professionals surveyed cite technology end-of-life (EOL) as a driving force behind new hardware, software and services investments in 2016.

  For example, some 66 percent of companies are still running Windows XP and 60 percent are running Windows Server 2003, both operating systems which have reached EOL.

  "Among those planning operating system refreshes in 2016, 47 percent said they planned to invest in Windows 10 and 32 percent said they planned a Windows Server 2003 migration", it says in the follow-up press release. "Additionally, 12 percent said they’re planning a Microsoft SQL Server 2005 migration, a database application that reaches end-of-life on April 12, 2016".

  The spending on security hardware, software and services will also remain pretty much the same, but companies do plan on allocating six percent of their total IT budget to security.

  However, 59 percent of respondents don’t feel their organization is adequately investing in security and 48 percent don’t feel their company data is adequately protected. Additionally, only 26 percent of respondents said recent high-profile security incidents have led their organization to change its security practices.

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

  credit: Gunnar Pippel/Shutterstock

  
• 

  Access Google Maps on your Apple Watch with latest iOS update

  Publié: octobre 1, 2015, 12:06pm CEST par Nick Peers

  

  Google has unveiled updates to its Google Maps for iOS and Google Maps for Android apps. The big news in this latest release is the addition of support for the Apple Watch on the iOS platform.

  Both Android and iOS users also gain additional new features including support for comparing ETAs across a range of transit options, plus the ability to generate directions and call businesses directly from a list of places.

  Google Maps for iOS introduces support for the Apple Watch, providing users with an alternative to Apple’s own Maps solution. At the current time, users are restricted to getting directions only: two buttons provide easy access to directions to the user’s home or work place, while a "Recent routes" option provides access to directions to places browsed in Google Maps on other platforms.

  Users can switch between walking, transit and driving directions by a force press on-screen, and the watch segues in with the user’s phone, allowing them to launch directions on that before switching the watch to provide turn-by-turn instructions.

  The iOS (4.11.0) and Android (9.15.0) versions also gain additional improvements for mobile users. The biggest improvement is to the app’s directions capabilities. Users are now able to quickly switch between each travel options using the tabs displayed beneath the departure and destination locations. Each tab not only displays the transport type (driving, cycling, walking or public transport), but also shows estimated travel times, to provide a quick and easy way to compare different modes.

  The other notable change occurs when users perform a search -- when reviewing the list of results, users can tap the directions icon next to an entry to quickly get directions to it. Phone users can tap to call any businesses directly from here too.

  Both updates are rounded off with the usual unspecified bug fixes. Google Maps for iOS 4.11.0 is available now for iPhone, iPad and iPod touch running iOS 7.0 or later, plus the Apple Watch. Google Maps for Android 9.15.0 is available for Android devices running Android 2.3 or later.

  
• 

  I was right: Your next PC will look like a Microsoft Surface

  Publié: octobre 1, 2015, 11:49am CEST par Randall C. Kennedy

  

  It’s fun being a thought leader. You get to watch as others supposedly "discover" an idea or truth that you originated weeks or even months before. In this case it’s the notion that Microsoft’s Surface tablet has become a form factor trend setter for PC designs.

  The above linked SuperSite for Windows article is a great read, but far from original. I postulated much the same thing when I declared that your next PC will look like a Microsoft Surface. The difference is that I published my take on the matter over three weeks ago, long before any of us knew what the Google Pixel C tablet would look like. But now that the search giant has jumped on the "kickstand-and-keyboard" bandwagon, my prescient musings have been set in stone.

  Not that this is particularly surprising. As I stated in my previous article, there are only so many ways you can configure a convertible, 2-in-1 device. And after a few years of OEM designs that click, twist or slide into place, the only vendor to gain any significant traction has been Microsoft.

  So now everyone is jumping on the PC-with-a-kickstand bandwagon. Dell has one, as does HP. Even Apple has joined the parade by introducing its own "Smart Keyboard" for the iPad Pro (cue Steve Jobs rolling in his grave). Clearly, Microsoft’s Surface line is now shaping the underlying design language for new PCs.

  Still, this is a strange position for the company to occupy. When Microsoft first announced the Surface, its stated goal was to inspire OEMs to be more creative with their PC designs. In Microsoft’s eyes, Surface was more thought experiment than real product.

  But that didn’t stop Windows OEMs from grumbling about the unwanted competition. In fact, many of the more esoteric early OEM designs came in direct response to Microsoft’s blatant audacity. After all, who the hell did those "Microsofties" think they were telling hardware vendors how to design a PC?

  The ensuing years of botched product launches and lukewarm responses to their efforts tempered OEM sentiments a bit. Meanwhile, Microsoft stepped-in to fill the leadership gap and, in the process, turned Surface into yet another billion-dollar business.

  Needless to say, the OEM channel is no longer scoffing at Microsoft’s design cues. If anything, some vendors seem to be hewing a little too close to the Surface form factor. Lenovo’s new device, in particular, looks like a Xerox copy of the Surface Pro 3, so much so that it would be easy to mistake it for the real deal (which was likely Lenovo’s intent all along).

  Bottom Line: They say that imitation is the sincerest form of flattery. And as my "thought leader minions" over at SuperSite so deftly pointed out, the man behind the Surface design, Microsoft’s Panos Panay, must be thoroughly enjoying his "Jony Ive" moment in the sun.

  Photo Credit: Creativa/Shutterstock

  
• 

  LG V10 flagship boasts two screens and three cameras

  Publié: octobre 1, 2015, 11:17am CEST par Mark Wilson

  

  In addition to the LG Watch Urbane 2nd Edition, today LG also announces its V10 Android phone with a secondary display. This is the device we got a sneak peek at a few days ago and, like the Huawei-made Nexus 6P, this is a premium level handset with a full metal body which builds on the specifications of the G4.

  But the LG V10's standout feature is its secondary screen. In addition to the main 5.7-inch display, there is a second, narrow screen at the top of the handset that can be used not only to display notifications, but also to house shortcuts. This is not the only surprise on the front of the phone -- there are also two cameras.

  With a removable battery and expandable memory, the LG V10 gets off to a great start, but it is the Galaxy Note Edge-aping extra screen that is the real attention-grabber. This smaller display is always on. When the main display is asleep, it is used to display notifications; when it is awake, it is used for shortcuts and notifications.

  Described as offering a new multimedia experience, the V10's three camera make for a unique experience. LG says that the wide angle lens makes it easy to take group selfies, while "multi-view Recording can capture different angles utilizing all three cameras". The handset is also touted at the first to offer a manual mode for video; it is possible to record in HD, FHD, or UHD and 16:9 standard or 21:9 cinematic aspect ratios.

  It's not clear when the phone will launch, but it is destined for South Korea later this month, and is due for release in the US, China, and other countries after this.

  The LG V10 will be available in Space Black, Luxe White, Modern Beige, Ocean Blue, Opal Blue, and boasts the following specs:

  Chipset: Qualcomm Snapdragon 808 Processor

  Display: Main -- 5.7-inch QHD IPS Quantum Display (2560 x 1440 / 513ppi),  Secondary -- 2.1-inch IPS Quantum Display (160 x 1040 / 513ppi)

  Memory: 4GB LPDDR3 RAM / 64GB eMMC ROM / microSD (up to 2TB)

  Camera: Rear -- 16MP with F1.8 Aperture / OIS 2.0  Front -- 5MP Dual Lens (80 degree Standard Angle / 120 degree Wide Angle)

  Battery: 3,000mAh (removable)

  OS: Android 5.1.1 Lollipop

  Size: 159.6 x 79.3 x 8.6mm

  Weight: 192g

  Network: LTE-A Cat. 6

  Connectivity: Wi-Fi 802.11 a, b, g, n, ac / Bluetooth 4.1 / NFC / USB 2.0

  LG has also published a product video showcasing the V10:

  
• 

  LG Watch Urbane 2nd Edition is the first Android Wear smartwatch with cellular connectivity

  Publié: octobre 1, 2015, 10:34am CEST par Mark Wilson

  

  The smartwatch wars are heating up, and LG is sending out new troops. Today the company announces the LG Watch Urbane 2nd Edition -- the first Android Wear smartwatch that offers LTE/3G connectivity.

  LG describes the latest wearable as 'breaking the limits of a watch', and with the prospect of making phone-free calls with the Watch Urbane 2nd Edition, this would seem to be a fair description. The watch is compatible with iOS and Android, but it is the fact that it can be used on its own that is its real selling point.

  The Watch Urbane 2nd Edition has a look that will appeal to anyone who yearns for a smartwatch with the appearance of a traditional timepiece. A larger than average battery should allow for all day usage. There's no word on pricing yet, but LG says that the watch will initially launch in the United States and Korea, before spreading to Europe, CIS, Asia, and the Middle East.

  Available in Space Black, Opal Blue, Luxe White, and Signature Brown, the LG Watch Urbane 2nd Edition offers IP67 dust and water resistance, and boasts the following specs:

  Chipset: 1.2GHz Qualcomm SnapdragonTM 400

  Operating System: Android WearTM (Cell-connected Version)

  Display: 1.38-inch P-OLED Display (480 x 480 / 348ppi)

  Size: 44.5 x 14.2mm

  Memory: 4GB eMMC / 768MB LPDDR3

  Battery: 570mAh

  Network: Bluetooth 4.1 / Wi-Fi / LTE / 3G

  Sensors: Accelerometer / Gyro / Compass / Barometer / PPG / GPS

   

  Check out the official product video:

  
• 

  Microsoft and Google drop patent battles and agree to work together

  Publié: octobre 1, 2015, 10:17am CEST par Mark Wilson

  

  These days, patent lawsuits are ten a penny and big players like Google, Apple, and Microsoft are frequently involved in litigation. Out of the blue, Microsoft and Google have announced that they are burying the hatchet and will no longer pursue patent issues between themselves in the courtroom.

  But more than just kissing and making up, the two companies have announced that they will "collaborate on certain patent matters". Quite what this mean moving forward remains to be seen, but it could mean that there are some interesting joint ventures on the horizon.

  There have been some bitter fights between Microsoft and Google over the years, but while the newly announced truce brings to an end any current lawsuits, there are no guarantees that the two companies won't do battle again at some point in the future.

  In a joint statement, the two companies said:

  Microsoft and Google are pleased to announce an agreement on patent issues. As part of the agreement, the companies will dismiss all pending patent infringement litigation between them, including cases related to Motorola Mobility. Separately, Google and Microsoft have agreed to collaborate on certain patent matters and anticipate working together in other areas in the future to benefit our customers.

  Photo credit: Tashatuvango / Shutterstock

  
• 

  AOC announces 16 inch 1080p USB 3.0 monitor (E1659FWUX-PRO)

  Publié: octobre 1, 2015, 1:47am CEST par Brian Fagioli

  

  While some people have the luxury of a beautiful office, not everyone is so lucky. Many people, myself included, work wherever they can -- Starbucks, in a parked car, or a kitchen table to name a few. This is actually freeing, and can be conducive to creativity, but I digress. The downside, of course, is having to work with a single laptop display -- a multiple monitor setup can be a godsend for productivity.

  Believe it or not, there are portable secondary monitors, which you can attach with USB to a laptop, tablet, or desktop if need be. Today, AOC announces a 16 inch USB 3.0 variant, featuring 1080p. It supports both Windows and OS X, but Linux distros may work too. Best of all? Not only is video transmitted by USB, but so is the power -- a single cable! Plus, the price is very affordable.

  "Its 300cd/m2 brightness makes it the brightest in its class. The widescreen monitor receives both power and signal via a single USB cable for plug-and-play connection. This means it does not require a power cord or VGA cable, so you have one less cord to worry about. It is ultra-lightweight and slim for maximum portability, making it perfect for displaying visuals such as business presentations or adding a second monitor to your desktop for increased productivity. The Mac and PC Compatible HD Pro USB Monitor is the perfect solution for the frequent traveler who needs to pack multiple displays, as it easily fits into a suitcase and comes with a carrying case. The monitor also comes with a foldable stand that goes from landscape to portrait view mode with auto-pivot. It is available for today on Amazon.com for $199", says AOC.

  The value-focused monitor manufacturer further says, "the HD Pro USB Monitor with its foldable flexi-stand is ideal for viewing in landscape or portrait mode. Landscape mode is ideal for presentations and Excel sheets, while the Portrait mode conveniently gives you an easy vertical view of your instant messaging programs, infographics, or search results. This monitor has a unique auto-pivot feature that automatically adjusts the image according to the display’s orientation, so you will never have to change settings as you switch between landscape and portrait mode. The AOC HD Pro USB Monitor is also VESA 75 x 75 mm compliant, allowing you to easily mount the USB monitor to any wall. Multiple USB monitors can also be simultaneously connected to a single laptop or desktop computer to function as a multi-monitor PC or Mac, thanks to the built-in Display Link USB graphics".

  

  AOC shares the full specs below.

  E1659FWUX-PRO
  Pixel Pitch	0.252 (H) mm x 0.252 (v) mm
  Display Area	344.2 mm x 193.5 mm
  Brightness	300 cd/m2 (typ)
  Contrast Ratio	500:1 (static)
  Response Time	11ms (GtG)
  Viewing Angle	Horizontal: 90 Degrees (CR>10)Vertical: 65 Degrees (CR>10)
  Scanning Frequency	Horizontal: 48KHzVertical: 60 Hz
  Optimal Resolution Recommended	1920x1080@60hz1920x1080@60Hz
  Supported Resolutions	640x480@60Hz for extended mode800x600@60Hz for extended mode1024x768@60Hz for extended mode1366x768@60Hz for extended mode
  Color Depth	262K
  Connectors	1 x Micro USB 3.0
  User Control	None
  Adjustability	Tilt: 15° ~ 30°, Auto Pivot
  Power Source	PC USB 5V

  

  Imagine sitting in Starbucks, and working on your laptop. Something comes up that requires intense multitasking, so you pull out this USB display (E1659FWUX-PRO), connect one cable and you are off to the races. How cool is it to have a svelte additional monitor in your bag? The $200 investment could pay for itself quickly when your increased productivity is factored in.

  It is not yet in stock at Amazon, but you can order it here now for when stock comes in.