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BetaNews.Com (24 non lus)

The Surface Book hinge is not a good look

Publié: octobre 6, 2015, 11:33pm CEST par Mark Wilson

surface_book_hinge

The newly-announced Surface Book feels like it's something I should love. I'm a big Surface Pro fan and I still use my first gen Pro as my daily driver. But there's just something about the Surface Book that grates. The price is not in any way attractive, but there's something else that's rather ugly: the hinge.

The Surface Book's hinge is something that Microsoft seems quite pleased with. Proud of, even. Microsoft calls it a 'dynamic fulcrum hinge', but it looks like a cross between a caterpillar track and a rubberized bendy drinking straw. For what is described as a 'meticulously crafted' device and 'the ultimate laptop', it's not a good look -- and it could be a serious problem.

In many ways, it completely ruins the look of an otherwise very attractive piece of hardware. The pleasing, MacBook Pro-like lines are spoiled by the 'innovative' hinge -- pictured above. Take a look at the opening shot of Microsoft's promotional video introducing the Surface Book and you'll be able to see what I mean:

The design of the hinge presents a few problems. Firstly, unlike a more traditional hinge, it does not fold a full 180 degrees. This in turn means that the screen of the laptop does not make full contact with the keyboard when closed. There is a gap between the two layers at the hinge end. A gap into which all manner of crap can slip. Dirt, dust, pieces of paper, things that could scratch the screen. You get the idea. And that's on top of the fact that it just looks... weird.

Flip the screen around and reconnect to the keyboard to use in Clipboard mode. With the keyboard folded up against the back of the display, the gap that the hinge creates will make the Surface Book awkward to use on a flat surface. Put it on a table and it's going to tilt to the left or right.

I have no doubt that the design is very clever -- but that doesn’t mean that it's fit for purpose. The zipper-teeth/concertina mechanism means that there are a number of narrow channels on the top and bottom of the hinge that expand and contract as the hinge opens and closes. It's hard to imagine that these grooves won't attract unknown quantities of muck and grime, further ruining the look of the Surface Book.

It's something of a shame. Surface Book is a nice idea, a great extension of the Surface Pro, but the price and puzzling hinge are likely to work against it.

Microsoft's insane Surface Book price means it will be left on the shelf

Publié: octobre 6, 2015, 10:38pm CEST par Mark Wilson

surface_book_folded

At today's event in New York, Microsoft put on an impressive show. We were -- ironically -- expecting some surprises, and the announcement of the Surface Book meant we weren't disappointed; this is, after all, "the ultimate laptop". The looks are striking. The specs are impressive. The price tag is... eye-watering.

In a way, we should have expected some expensive hardware to be revealed today. With its Surface Pro range, Microsoft showed that it is not afraid to push up the price, but the Surface Book takes things a step further. $1,499 is the starting price. Make a few tweaks to the specs and you could find yourself relieved of a buttock-clenching $2,699. Is there any way to justify this price?

What does $1,499 get you? The base model Surface Book packs a 6th Gen Intel Core i5 and integrated graphics. There's just 128GB of storage and 8GB of RAM. Moving up the scale, you can change the processor, memory, hard drive, and opt for dedicated graphics. The largest hard drive available is 512GB, and you'll only bag yourself a Core i7 processor if you're happy to part with at least $2,000. If you need 16GB of RAM to work with, this is only available in the top of the range $2,699 model. That's a lot to spend on a notebook.

There's no denying that Surface Book is a good-looking piece of kit (well, some might disagree. Attractiveness is, after all, quite subjective) -- although there is the matter of that hinge... of which more in another post. But these are looks and specs delivered at a seriously premium price. These are the sorts of prices that even Apple might be slightly embarrassed to attach to what is essentially a tablet with a keyboard.

Is it a good computer? Almost certainly. Would it be a delight to use? Without a doubt. It is innovative enough or highly specced enough to justify those price tags? Not a chance. Why is the hard drive limited to 512GB? The Surface Pro 4 maxes out at 1TB -- why the difference? Microsoft is pitching this as the ultimate laptop. While it's nice, I think 'ultimate' is stretching things a little -- perhaps in a weak attempt to justify the absurd price. (As an aside, it is interesting to note that while Microsoft refers to the Surface Book as the 'ultimate laptop', in its Surface comparison table it is described as being able to 'Run desktop software just like a laptop'. So is it a laptop, or like a laptop?)

It's possible that Surface Book is such a joy to use that the notion of coughing up the fat end of three grand for a jumped up tablet makes perfect sense... but I'll need to be convinced, and I don't think I'm alone.

Twitter launches Moments to help bring tweets to the masses

Publié: octobre 6, 2015, 8:55pm CEST par Mark Wilson

twitter_moments

If you're a Twitter user, you undoubtedly love it. If you're not, you probably either hate it, or find it confusing. Today Twitter launches Moments in a bid to make itself more appealing to beginners by helping to provide a gentle step up into the crazy world of tweets, and by bringing context to timelines.

Times they are a-changing at Twitter with Jack Dorsey now the fulltime CEO, and the prospect of curated content from reputable sources could be what is needed to take things to the next level. Part of the problem with Twitter is the sheer volume of content that is out there -- and it is generated very quickly; for newbies, it can be completely overwhelming. Moments is an attempt to cut through the crap and present news and stories in a meaningful and accessible way.

Moments might sound familiar, and that's because this is the official launch of what was previously known as Project Lightning. In offering curated content, the hope is that those who have been put off by the perceived complexity of the service will be lured back. Initially only launching in the US, Moments is available on Android, iPhone, and the desktop site.

The real aim of Moments is given away by its name -- the idea is to provide at-a-glance information. After tapping on a Moment of interest (it could be about a breaking news story, a sporting event, or just about anything else) an introduction brings the reader up to speed straight away. Then it is possible to swipe through curated tweets, images, and videos without the need to hunt through your timeline or scan for hashtags.

Introducing the new feature, Twitter says:

Moments are often updated as new information or great Tweets become available. You’ll know a story has been updated since your last view when you see a blue dot in the upper righthand corner of the image associated with the Moment. For stories that update very frequently -- like live sporting events or awards shows where it’s critical to know what’s happening minute by minute -- you’ll see an option to follow the Moment, which blends the Tweets directly into your timeline.

There are a number of partners working with Twitter at the moment -- including Buzzfeed, Entertainment Weekly, Fox News, Getty Images, Mashable, NASA, New York Times, Vogue, and the Washington Post -- and this will grow over time. While this is a US launch for the time being, Moments can be shared just like any other Twitter content. This means that people in other parts of the world will be able to experience the feature before it officially launches in their country.

Microsoft is back!

Publié: octobre 6, 2015, 8:50pm CEST par Joe Wilcox

Microsoft Panos Panay Surface Book

That grinding against wood and dirt you hear is the sound of Steve Jobs rolling over in his grave. Microsoft is back! And badass! Today's Surface event in New York City outclasses Apple by every measure that matters: Aspiration, innovation, presentation, and promotional marketing. Microsoft proves that it can build end-to-end solutions—hardware, software, and services—as good as, and better than, the company cofounded by Jobs. Even more importantly: Present the new wares well. Today's event was exceptional.

But there is a shadow looming in the brightness that will matter to some Microsoft customers and not to others: Cost. Surface Book, for all its seeming greatness, is a budget-busting laptop for the majority of potential buyers. The low-cost config, at $1,499, comes with 6th-gen Intel Core i5 processor, 8GB RAM, and 128GB storage. To get the discreet graphics demoed today, with i7 chip, 8GB memory, and 256 SSD, you will spend $2,099. Doubling RAM and storage raises the price to $2,699.

But every product is a measure of its benefits, and how well that they balance. Detachable 13.5-inch touchscreen, 3000 x 2000 resolution, 3:2 display ratio, pen stylus, and conceptually above-average keyboard are standard fare for all models. Surface veep Panos Panay calls Microsoft's laptop the "ultimate computer". I can't confirm without testing, but he presents Surface Book as a believable MacBook Pro Retina Display-killer and the kind of real innovation that Apple delivered when Jobs walked this Earth.

Better Than Steve Jobs

I will go further, and be damned for saying so: Panay gave a better-than-Jobs introduction to Surface Pro 4 and Surface Book. When he walked out into the audience to pass around the new laptops, I was stunned. He easily swamped the disgustingly over-marketing hyped launch of iPad Pro. Where Apple presenters over-used words like "amazing", Panay repeatedly used "you"; that is much more aspirational and demonstrates attention to design that is more about the user than the product itself.

You. You. You. That is the over-arching theme from the entire event today. If you missed it live, watch the replay. Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella expanded on the theme, too, when rightly observing that devices come and go. "You are the hub", he says. That's a concept lost on Apple, which innovation focuses more on selling more devices for the so-called post-PC era.

That concept is an underlying development philosophy permeating Microsoft. "You" isn't just marketing. In an August 2015 analysis that you really should, I highlighted how the company is in process of meaningful reinvention. The strategy of releasing apps and services for multiple platforms—hehe, including Apple Watch—are part of a broader platform strategy where you are the center. You are the hub.

Contextual Computing

We do not live in the post-PC era. That's an Apple illusion to sell more iPhones. This is the contextual cloud computing era, which Alphabet (formerly Google) gets and surprisingly so does Microsoft. You are the hub. The device is your extension. Your stuff is available anytime, anywhere, and on anything. Along that path: Microsoft's Continuum concept isn't newfangled, but I saw it meaningfully move forward during the Surface event—and the development philosophy far better fits the era of context than anything Apple sells.

A Microsoft Surface device commercial shown near the end of Panay's presentation begins: "There is a rhythm. You have to listen to hear it. It beats inside each and everyone of us. It beats like a drum. It says: 'Get out there. Create. Do something special'. It is the rhythm of inspiration". The theme, like everything else: "You".

In a January 2004 critique, I faulted Microsoft for focusing on new features in Plus! Digital Media Edition, while Apple promoted iMovie with the aspirational: "You are the editor". "You are the director". "You" was once a development philosophy for Apple. Microsoft's adopts it but better, by providing a vast suite of applications, cloud services, and server software that spans across platforms. Anytime. Anywhere. Anything.

Imitative Innovation

You can accuse Microsoft for copying Apple. The company that Jobs cofounded is the perennial imitator, doing better what already was done before. Microsoft gets it, too. By the way, for years the company had some of the worst nomenclature in techdom. Following Apple, in this decade, Microsoft gives names to some features, like Surface's PixelSense. The tactic makes the specific innovation easier to identify, more likely for people to remember, and easier to market.

Circling back to the beginning: For anyone wondering if Microsoft risks channel conflict with Surface Book, I conclude that Surface tablets already demonstrate there is little concern. The laptop's pricing eliminates even the "little". The Redmond, Wash.-based company isn't competing with its OEM partners but Apple. Wherever creatives or executives run Microsoft applications on MacBook Airs or Pros, these users now have alternatives to buy for about the same price but with more capabilities. No Mac offers touchscreen and stylus or moves forward with improved hardware, software, and services benefits like the Surface line.

If anything, Microsoft does good for OEMs by offering to image-conscious CEOs and other corporate execs, lust-worthy Windows alternatives to pricey Macs. PC manufacturers can only benefit if top decision-makers who otherwise would want Mac laptops ask for either new Surface instead. There is trickle-down benefit from re-untying the IT infrastructure around Windows and the influence on purchasing lower-costing Windows notebooks elsewhere in the organization. Microsoft doesn't create conflict with partners but generates more with Apple and potentially reduces conflict within enterprises that are the core market.

My question: Will the Apple-loving blogosphere give Microsoft the credit it deserves for the new Surface hardware, the underlying "you" philosophy behind them, or the magnificent presentation introducing them (and also new Lumias)?

YouTube for iOS unveils major redesign, new in-app editing tools

Publié: octobre 6, 2015, 8:50pm CEST par Nick Peers

YouTube

Google has rolled out YouTube for iOS 10.38 for iPhone and iPad. Despite the minor version number revision, the new app sports a major facelift, plus new in-app editing controls.

The new look sports a minimalist interface with just three major navigation buttons: Home, Subscriptions, and Account. Users can tap or swipe to move between the various sections.

The Home tab is where recommended videos as well as the most popular uploads from a user’s subscribed channels can be viewed. Subscriptions provides a chronological view of the most recent videos posted to the user’s channels, with a series of thumbnail icons at the top of the display providing access to individual channels.

Finally, the Account page provides access to the user’s account options, including watch history, uploaded videos, purchases and 'watch later' list. Users can also switch accounts from here if required.

Feedback to the new design has been mixed, with some users complaining that the new release removes the sidebar from the previous build that provided convenient access to all the app’s functionality.

Others have bemoaned the new design’s inefficient use of screen real estate, with lots of empty space.

The new app also makes it possible for users to create videos on the fly -- first tap the red upload button on the Account page and grant YouTube access to the device’s videos. Select the video to upload and use the provided Trim, Filters and Music tools to polish the video prior to uploading it.

Users can use their own music or choose from a selection of provided background tracks, divided into categories such as 'Alternative & Punk', 'Cinematic' and 'Happy'.

YouTube for iOS 10.38 is available now as a free download for iPhone, iPad and iPod touch running iOS 7 or later.

The new Microsoft Band is (much) better-looking and has two-day battery life

Publié: octobre 6, 2015, 8:33pm CEST par Mark Wilson

new_microsoft_band

Microsoft appears to have learned from its mistakes. Its first wearable, the Microsoft Band was a cheap and cheerful affair -- although there wasn’t really all that much to be cheerful about in all honesty. Today the company unveiled the second edition of the Band, and the look is in line with the leaked images from a couple of weeks ago.

With the latest version of the Band, Microsoft has gone back to the drawing board and come up with a design that is sleek and stylish, and features a curved screen. The health and fitness tracker is nicely rounded, and the curved display is strengthened with Gorilla Glass 3. There are now no fewer than 11 built in sensors, including a new barometer for measuring altitude.

Battery life in the wearable has been boosted, and Microsoft now claims that you can expect 48 hours of use between charges. Speaking of charging, a full charge takes under 90 minutes and the Microsoft Band is compatible with a wide range of mobile devices ("Windows Phone 8.1 update, iPhone 4S, 5, 5C, 5S, 6, 6 Plus, iOS 8.1.2, and many Android 4.3-5.0 phones, with Bluetooth" according to the product website).

microsoft_band_display

Once paired with a phone, the Band can display email, text, and calendar alerts, and Cortana is on hand for Windows Phone users to dictate replies to texts. Microsoft has partnered with a number of other companies to bring additional functionality to the Band, including Starbucks, Runkeeper, and Uber. Golfers will be pleased to see support for a couple of golf apps, as well as a swing-monitor by the wearable.

The new Band is available from 30 October, priced at $249.99 -- pre-orders are open right now.

DDoS attacks increase in frequency, use less bandwidth

Publié: octobre 6, 2015, 8:33pm CEST par Barclay Ballard

GitHub hit by biggest DDoS attack ever

The recently released mid-year report by Corero Network Security has identified some worrying trends in the cyberthreat landscape.

In particular, the research revealed that attackers are changing the way that they use DDoS attacks in an attempt to make them more effective.

According to the mid-year report, DDoS attacks are becoming shorter, but more frequent, with lower-bandwidth attempts (many were found to be less than 1Gbps) and those that have a reduced timespan being generally more difficult to detect. Ninety-five percent of all attacks tackled by Corero lasted 30 minutes or less, but the frequency increased from three attacks per day in the first quarter of 2015 to 4.5 attacks in Q2. The ease of purchasing and using DDoS tools is likely to be behind the growing numbers.

"Attackers are continuing to leverage DDoS attacks as part of their cyber threat arsenal to either disrupt business operations or access sensitive corporate information, and they’re doing it in increasingly creative ways that circumvent traditional security solutions or nullify the previous effectiveness of scrubbing centres", said Dave Larson, CTO and vice president of product at Corero Network Security.

Mr Larson added that in order to protect against disruption, businesses need to employ real-time visibility and mitigation of all DDoS attack traffic, no matter how minor the threat.

Internet service providers (ISPs) can also play a greater role in the defence against DDoS attacks. In fact, the report found that 75 percent of respondents would be willing to pay a premium for their ISP to take a more proactive approach to thwarting DDoS attempts. Rather than simply relying on firewalls and traditional solutions, network carriers could "surgically" remove the attack traffic before it became disruptive.

Corero’s 2015 Trends and Analysis Report also includes a number of additional insights regarding DDoS attacks, including further recommendations for how to prevent your businesses from being targeted in the future.

Photo credit: sibgat / Shutterstock

Yes, there's malware that infects your router to keep you safe

Publié: octobre 6, 2015, 7:38pm CEST par Darren Allan

Router closeup

Well, this is a new one -- a piece of malware has been discovered which infects routers, but bolsters their protection against other viruses and nastiness, rather than doing anything bad.

Linux.Wifatch apparently improves the security of routers, many of which are poorly configured and are increasingly targets for malware authors.

Symantec spotted the virus, and wrote a detailed blog post on exactly what it gets up to in terms of strengthening routers and also IoT devices (the Internet of Things is set to become the next security nightmare as it explodes going forward).

According to the security firm, Wifatch is a fairly sophisticated virus which connects to a peer-to-peer network, except instead of doing anything malicious, it’s used to distribute updates to block other threats.

Symantec said it has been observing Wifatch for months now, and has "yet to observe any malicious actions being carried out through it".

As well as trying to clean up common malware infections, Wifatch also contains messages to device owners urging them that they need to update firmware or change default passwords.

However, despite the fact that this particular virus is apparently a good guy, it’s still code that infects a router (or IoT device) without permission, and has a number of built-in backdoors which could be used to carry out malicious actions, Symantec observes.

There’s also the possibility that future versions could be changed and warped to do bad things…

At any rate, you can remove the Wifatch malware simply by resetting the infected device. Symantec notes: "However, devices may become infected again over time. If possible, users are advised to keep their device’s software and firmware up to date and to change any default passwords that may be in use"

And if users do so, Wifatch will have again done them a big favor...

Image Credit: Georgii Shipin / Shutterstock

Microsoft unveils Surface Pro 4, but will you want it?

Publié: octobre 6, 2015, 6:50pm CEST par Wayne Williams

Surface Pro 4

Today, at Microsoft's New York City event, the software giant announced the Surface Pro 4. It features Skylake processors, a slightly larger screen, plus options for 16GB of RAM and 1TB of storage. It’s a great follow up to Surface Pro 3, and offers everything you could possibly want, including Windows 10 Pro, naturally.

The new device is just 8.4 mm thin, and features an impressive looking 12.3-inch PixelSense display. It’s powered by 6th Generation Intel Core m, Core i5, and Core i7 processors. There’s better battery life and more powerful graphics processing. It should finally be able to output 4K at 60 Hz. But… don’t get too excited. There’s one very, very good reason why you probably won’t want to buy it.

The problem with the new "tablet that can replace your laptop" is at the same event Microsoft also released a laptop that can replace the Surface Pro 4. The Surface Book is a powerful, very stylish laptop, but it also has a detachable screen, so it can be used like a tablet. Ouch. It’s more expensive true -- prices for the Surface Book start at $1,499, and the cheapest Surface Pro 4 is $899 -- but if you can afford the extra, you really should.

Surface Pro 4 is still excellent, don’t get me wrong. It’s 30 percent more powerful than Surface Pro 3, quieter, and runs much cooler. It’s more efficient too. Microsoft says you can expect up to nine hours of battery life.

There’s a new Surface Pro 4 Type Cover that takes Surface Pro 4 from "tablet to laptop in an instant" and features a redesigned mechanical keyboard with optimal key spacing for better typing (good news for Surface Pro 3 users is this new cover is backwards compatible with the older device). It comes with an optional fingerprint reader as well, which you’ll be able to use with Windows Hello.

The Surface Pen has been improved and packs 1,024 levels of pressure sensitivity.

Surface-Pro-4-image-1

The full specs are as follows:

Operating System -- Windows 10 Pro
Dimensions -- 11.50 x 7.93 x 0.33 in (292.10 x 201.42 x 8.4 mm)
Weight -- 1.69 lbs. (766 g) Intel Core m, or 1.73 lbs. (786 g) Intel Core i5 and Core i7.
Mechanical features -- Magnesium body, kickstand with full-friction multiposition hinge, magnetic attach for keyboard fold stability
Color -- Silver
Physical buttons -- volume, power
Display -- Screen: 12.3-inch PixelSense Display, 2736x1824 (267 ppi), contrast ratio: 1300:1, aspect ratio: 3:2, 100 percent sRGB color, individually calibrated
Touch -- 10-point multitouch with GPU-based processing
Processor -- 6th Generation Intel Core m3, Core i5 or Core i7
Graphics -- Intel HD graphics 515 (Intel Core m3), Intel HD graphics 520 (Intel Core i5), Intel Iris graphics 540 (Intel Core i7)
Memory -- 4 GB, 8 GB or 16 GB RAM
Storage -- Solid-state drive (SSD) PCIe 3.0: 128 GB, 256 GB, 512 GB or 1 TB
Security -- TPM 2.0 chip for enterprise security
Pen -- Surface Pen, 1,024 levels of pressure sensitivity, magnetic storage
Network -- 802.11ac 2x2 MIMO Wi-Fi wireless networking; IEEE 802.11a/b/g/n compatible, Bluetooth 4.0 LE wireless technology
Battery -- Up to 9 hours of battery life for video playback2
Cameras -- Windows Hello face-authentication camera (front-facing), 8.0 megapixel rear-facing auto-focus camera, with 1080p HD camera, 5.0 megapixel front-facing 1080p HD camera
Audio -- Stereo microphones, stereo speakers with Dolby audio
Ports -- Full-size USB 3.0, Mini DisplayPort, microSD card reader (UHS-I performance), Stereo headphones/microphone jack, Type Cover, Surface Connect for power and docking
Sensors -- Ambient light sensor, Accelerometer, Gyroscope, Magnetometer
Power supply -- 24W power supply (Intel Core m3), 36W power supply with USB charging port (Intel Core i5 and Core i7)
In the box -- Surface Pro 4, Surface Pen, power supply quick start guide, safety and warranty documents
Warranty -- One-year limited hardware warranty

Surface-Pro-4-image-2

Surface Pro 4 and new accessories will be available for preorder in select markets from October 7, then for purchase in Canada and the United States on October 26, with additional markets to follow.

As for pricing, the 128 GB Core M3 with 4 GB of RAM costs $899, the 128 GB Core i5 with 4 GB of RAM is $999, the 256 GB Core i5 with 8 GB of RAM will set you back $1,299 , and the 256 GB Core i7 versions with 8 GB and 16GB of RAM are $1,599 and $1,799 respectively. The top of the range 512 GB Core i7 with 16 GB of RAM costs $2,199.

With Surface Book, Microsoft reinvents the PC -- again

Publié: octobre 6, 2015, 6:45pm CEST par Brian Fagioli

surfacebookfeat

The Surface computer line has revolutionized portable computing -- it reinvented the PC. Want proof? Both Apple and Google have arguably copied Microsoft's now-iconic hybrid PC with the iPad Pro and Pixel-C, respectively. This mimicry, plus solid sales of the Surface Pro 3, solidifies Panos Panay's vision as both worthwhile and successful.

Today, Microsoft unveils the newest member of its hybrid family, the Surface Book. While competitors thought they were catching up, Microsoft has suddenly left them in the dust. Yes, the company has reinvented the PC once again, but this time, with a laptop -- you can finally use a Surface on your lap. It is twice as fast as the MacBook Pro!

"Ultrathin, Surface Book combines the impressive power of 6th Generation Intel Core i5 and Core i7 processors with up to 12 hours of battery life. The 13.5-inch optically bonded PixelSense Display delivers a high-contrast 267 dpi display with improved latency and parallax, making it not just beautiful to look at but natural and fluid to write on", says Microsoft.

The manufacturer further says, "the screen also detaches, so it can be used like a clipboard to sketch, take notes and benefit from Windows programs like Microsoft Edge. An optional discrete GPU allows Surface Book to harness the full power of hardware-accelerated graphics for seamless video editing, fast rendering or immersive gaming. Surface Book starts at $1,499".

Microsoft calls it the "ultimate laptop" and it is easy to see why. I consider 13 inch displays to be the sweet spot and the 13.5 inch display found here with 267ppi looks like nirvana.

surfacebiookk

The display is, of course, touch-enabled, as it doubles as a detachable tablet, using Microsoft's "muscle wire" technology. Much like a traditional Surface, it can be used with the pen for drawing, writing, and OneNote too.

The trackpad is glass, and features five points of touch. This means Windows 10 gestures will be easy to conduct. Your fingers should glide well and you will have a great pointing experience.

surfacebook

The star of the show, however, is the Nvidia GeForce GPU with GDDR5. The GPU resides in the keyboard, so you get extra power while docked. This means you can do serious gaming or video editing.

The dock also features dual USB 3.0 ports and DisplayPort out. The aforementioned Nvidia graphics will push 4K video with ease.

The magic is found in the dynamic fulcrum hinge, which allows the screen to be set in multiple positions, while remaining steady.

Microsoft is promising 12 hours of battery life, but of course, your mileage may vary. With that said, the Surface Pro line has historically been pretty true to listed battery life, so I expect no difference here.

So, how much do you expect to pay for a laptop Microsoft says is "the fastest 13 inch laptop ever made"? It starts at $1499 and goes on sale October 26.

Will you buy it? Check out the specs and pricing below and tell me in the comments.

Operating System

Windows 10 Pro

Exterior

Dimensions:
Laptop: 9.14 x 12.3 x 0.51-0.90 inches (232.1 x 312.3 x 13.0-22.8 mm)
Tablet only: 8.67 x 12.3 x 0.30 inches (220.2 x 312.3 x 7.7 mm)

Weight:
Laptop: Non-GPU: 3.34 lbs. (1515 g), GPU: 3.48 lbs. (1579 g)
Tablet only: 1.6 lbs. (726 g)

Mechanical features: Magnesium body, Dynamic Fulcrum Hinge, One-button Muscle Wire detach mechanism
Color: Silver
Physical clipboard buttons: power, volume

Storage Solid-state drive (SSD)

PCIe 3.0: 128 GB, 256 GB, 512 GB or 1 TB

Display

Screen: 13.5-inch PixelSense Display
Resolution: 3000x2000 (267 ppi)
Contrast ratio: 1800:1
Aspect ratio: 3:2
100 percent sRGB color, individually calibrated
Touch: 10-point multitouch

CPU

6th Gene6ation Intel Core i5 or Core i7

Graphics

Intel HD graphics 520 and optional NVIDIA GeForce Graphics Processor with dedicated 1GB GDDR5 high-speed memory
Memory 8 GB or 16 GB RAM

Keyboard & Trackpad

Full-size, integrated backlit keyboard with 1.6mm key travel

Precision trackpad with glass laminated trackpad (7,350 sq. mm)
Five-finger contact recognition with full Windows 10 support
Subpixel resolution

Security

TPM 2.0 chip for enterprise security
Pen

Surface Pen
1,024 levels of pressure sensitivity
Magnetic storage

Network

802.11ac 2x2 MIMO Wi-Fi wireless networking; IEEE 802.11a/b/g/n compatible
Bluetooth 4.0 LE wireless technology

Battery

Up to 12 hours battery life for video playback

Cameras

Windows Hello face-authentication camera (front-facing)
8.0MP rear-facing auto-focus camera, with 1080p HD camera
5.0MP front-facing 1080p HD camera

Audio

Dual microphones, front- and rear-facing
Front-facing stereo speakers with Dolby audio

Ports

Two full-size USB 3.0
Full-size SD card reader (UHS-II performance)
Surface Connect for power and docking (base and clipboard)
Stereo headphones/microphone jack
Mini DisplayPort

Sensors

Ambient light sensor
Accelerometer
Gyroscope
Magnetometer

Power supply

36W power supply with USB charging port
65W power supply with USB charging port (discrete GPU SKU)

In the box

Surface Book
Surface Pen
Power supply
Quick Start Guide
Safety and warranty documents
Warranty One-year limited hardware warranty6

Pricing

128 GB 6th Generation Intel Core i5 with 8 GB of RAM $1,499 ERP
256 GB 6th Generation Intel Core i5 with 8 GB of RAM $1,699 ERP
256 GB 6th Generation Intel Core i5 with 8 GB of RAM and NVIDIA GeForce Graphics Processor $1,899 ERP
256 GB 6th Generation Intel Core i7 with 8 GB of RAM and NVIDIA GeForce Graphics Processor $2,099 ERP
512 GB 6th Generation Intel Core i7 with 16 GB of RAM and NVIDIA GeForce Graphics Processor $2,699 ERP

iPhone 6s not selling well in Japan

Publié: octobre 6, 2015, 5:57pm CEST par Barclay Ballard

iPhone 6s and 6s plus edited

Recent sales figures are suggesting that the iPhone 6s launch is not the unqualified success that many thought it would be.

Although global sales of 13 million units across the first weekend of availability are likely to temper any disappointments at Apple HQ, it seems not every country was overly keen to get their hands on the new smartphone.

In Japan, where Apple has traditionally proved hugely popular, sales of the iPhone 6s and iPhone 6s Plus were down 10 to 15 percent when compared to the same period following the iPhone 6 and 6 Plus launch window. Although Apple will want to ensure that one of its iPhone strongholds does not become dominated by its competitors, there is perhaps an explanation for the downturn in sales.

According to Japanese network operator NTT DoCoMo, the number of people queuing outside stores before launch was significantly lower than seen previously. However, the operator had informed customers of the precise dates when it would be receiving additional stock, which could account for the lukewarm initial response.

Launched late last month, the iPhone 6s and 6s Plus offer a number of slight improvements when compared to the previous iteration of Apple’s flagship handset. The handsets’ A9 processor is 70 percent faster and 90 percent more powerful when it comes to graphical prowess compared to last year’s A8 and both devices also boast a number of camera improvements.

Sales of the iPhone 6s in Japan may well pick up in the weeks to come, or maybe consumers are content to wait until next year and the expected launch of the iPhone 7.

Windows 10 now on 110 million devices

Publié: octobre 6, 2015, 5:07pm CEST par Wayne Williams

110 million

Microsoft has been releasing regular updates concerning Windows 10 adoption. At the end of August, Yusuf Mehdi, Corporate Vice President of Marketing for Windows and Devices, shared the news on Twitter that Windows 10 was on 75 million devices. At the end of last month, Microsoft By The Numbers said that number had increased to over 100 million.

Today, at its new Microsoft devices event in New York City, Terry Myerson, Microsoft's EVP of Windows and Devices Group, provided the newest update, announcing that the new OS is now on over 110 million devices.

That’s a decent increase, but does show the adoption rate slowing slightly, as is to be expected.

The vast majority of devices updated to run the new OS are consumer ones. Business PCs currently only account for just over 8 million devices, but we all know how slowly upgrades happen in the business world.

Myerson also revealed that there have been over a billion visits to the Windows Store, and that new, big name apps were coming soon, including releases from Facebook -- one of the big absentees -- and Uber.

Transforming how enterprises handle unstructured IoT data

Publié: octobre 6, 2015, 4:54pm CEST par Ian Barker

Unstructured data

The Internet of Things is growing fast and as more and more enterprise applications collect IoT data, specifically time series data from sensors, they need fast, reliable and scalable read and write performance.

To best accomplish this, the data must be stored, queried and analyzed together. To enable this Basho Technologies is launching Riak TS, a distributed NoSQL database designed to aggregate and analyze massive amounts of sequenced, unstructured data generated from the IoT and other time series data sources.

"The rise of unstructured data presents a significant opportunity for innovation. As a result, companies are demanding database solutions that are operationally easy and specifically optimized to handle this type of data," says Adam Wray, CEO of Basho. "Built on the same core Riak foundation, we now provide a solution specifically optimized for storing and retrieving unstructured data, making us the only NoSQL player that has specialized offerings for key value, large object and time series data. With Riak TS, customers can more easily scale and execute on Internet-of-Thing uses cases and more".

Riak TS provides high availability combined with massive scalability. It can be made operational at lower costs than traditional relational databases and is easy to manage at scale. Unlike other NoSQL databases, Riak TS enables customers to take advantage of time series applications and ensure they're always available for both read and write operations, with the ability to easily scale as devices or users increase.

If nodes are added Riak TS automatically and uniformly distributes data across the cluster to prevent sharding. Data co-location ensures that time series data is located on the same node based on time, geohash or both to prevent hot spots in clusters.

Data can be validated on input to ensure accuracy and it can be interrogated with SQL-like queries. It can seamlessly integrate with Apache Spark to ensure easier and faster operational analysis of time series data, and of course it integrates with the Basho Data Platform to support multiple database models taking the complexity out of building and deploying active workloads in Big Data, IoT and hybrid cloud applications.

You can find out more about Riak TS on the Basho website and it will be demonstrated at AWS re:Invent this week.

Image Credit: Profit_Image / Shutterstock

Microsoft reveals new Windows 10 Mobile flagships: Lumia 950 and Lumia 950 XL

Publié: octobre 6, 2015, 4:41pm CEST par Mihaita Bamburic

Lumia-550

Microsoft's new Windows 10 Mobile flagships are not the best-kept secrets in the world, as the software giant itself has accidentally revealed the official presentation photos and some of the more-important specifications on its UK online store before the big launch. Today we get to see the big picture, however, as Microsoft officially announces Lumia 950 and Lumia 950 XL.

Lumia 950 is Microsoft's answer to popular flagships like Apple iPhone 6s and Samsung Galaxy S6, while Lumia 950 XL serves as the company's flagship phablet, taking the fight to Apple's iPhone 6s Plus, LG's G4 and Samsung's Galaxy S6 edge Plus and Galaxy Note 5, just to name a few of the most-important players in this segment. Here is what you need to know about the new Windows 10 Mobile ambassadors.

Lumia 950 is designed to keep up with all the latest Android flagships, packing a 5.2-inch OLED display with a resolution of 1,440 by 2,560. That is on par with Galaxy S6 as far as the resolution is concerned, but the display is slightly larger. Obviously, it dwarfs iPhone 6s on both counts.

Inside, there is a hexa-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 808 processor, backed by 3 GB of RAM and a 3,000 mAh battery. The same processor is used by LG in its G4, but, for instance, Sony employs the more powerful Snapdragon 810 in its new Xperia Z5.

Lumia 950 features a 20 MP camera on the back, with Zeiss optics. There is a dual LED flash next to it, as well as optical image stabilization and 4K video recording support. On the front the smartphone features a selfie-friendly 5 MP shooter.

With regards to storage, Microsoft has equipped Lumia 950 with 32 GB of internal space and a microSD card slot. Galaxy S6 offers as this kind of storage space in its base version, but does not offer a microSD card slot; that said, it can be ordered in a 62 GB configuration. Meanwhile, iPhone 6s continues to start at the 16 GB level, but is also offered in 64 GB and 128 GB models.

Another noteworthy feature is the reversible USB-C connector, which lets you plug the cable in both ways. Needless to say, Lumia 950 supports 4G LTE networks.

Microsoft says it will cost $549, and go on sale in November.

Moving on to its bigger brother, Lumia 950 XL, Microsoft's new phablet features a 5.7-inch OLED display with the same resolution as found on Lumia 950. This matches Galaxy Note 5 and Galaxy S6 edge Plus, but exceeds iPhone 6s Plus' specifications in this department.

Power in Lumia 950 XL's case comes from an octa-core Snapdragon 810 processor with 3 GB of RAM, and a 3,300 mAh battery. The chip of choice represents the best that Qualcomm has to offer at the moment, and it now should avoid the overheating issues that were connected to the first iterations of the processor.

In the imaging department, Microsoft has used the same hardware as found in Lumia 950 for Lumia 950 XL, so it offers the same 20 MP camera with Zeiss optics in the back and 5 MP front-facing shooter as its smaller brother. But, Lumia 950 packs a triple LED flash instead of the dual LED flash found on Lumia 950.

Like Lumia 950, Lumia 950 XL has a USB-C connector and 4G LTE support. It will cost $649 when it goes on sale in November.

Both smartphones support Continuum, a mode which basically allows users to hook up their devices to a monitor and use it like they would a PC. Microsoft will sell a display dock to enable this connection.

LookingGlass helps to close the DNS security gap

Publié: octobre 6, 2015, 3:52pm CEST par Ian Barker

DNS

One of the biggest areas of vulnerability for corporate networks is DNS, with companies having to contend with DDoS attacks and attempts to steal data.

In an effort to help customers close the gap in DNS security, threat intelligence specialist LookingGlass Cyber Solutions has developed an intelligence-driven network security solution that identifies and stops DNS-based cyber threats.

LookingGlass Dynamic Threat Defense focuses on using threat intelligence to identify threats, then addresses and mitigates them during DNS resolution, which is one of the biggest vulnerability areas of corporate networks today. Organizations are increasingly suffering attacks against their DNS infrastructure and many companies are simply not looking for covert communications where attackers use DNS as an avenue to communicate and exfiltrate data. This trend, along with years of research and monitoring networks, suggests protecting DNS infrastructure is essential to achieving improvements in overall cyber security for the enterprise.

It stops the communication between malware on the organization’s network and its command and control server or known bad destination. By stopping the beaconing out or the reception of control information, Dynamic Threat Defense prevents threats and prevents data breaches from occurring. This buys organizations valuable time to address the malware infection without fear of further infiltration or damage.

Chris Coleman, CEO of LookingGlass, says, "Dynamic Threat Defense 1.0 delivers on the LookingGlass strategy of integrating threat intelligence and network mitigation to help customers solve security challenges more efficiently and effectively by giving them the operational capability to actively defeat malware command and control while providing critical protection of DNS resources."

Dynamic Threat Defense integrates LookingGlass DNS Defender, a protocol-specific firewall for DNS, with LookingGlass ScoutVision, a threat intelligence and management system, and LookingGlass Virus Tracker, the world's largest botnet and malicious domain monitoring system.

By combining threat intelligence and network security at the DNS infrastructure level, LookingGlass Dynamic Threat Defense is able to fend off cyber attacks efficiently and effectively. You can find out more on the LookingGlass website.

Image Credit: Tashatuvango / Shutterstock

Threat Stack launches security monitoring for Docker containers

Publié: octobre 6, 2015, 3:20pm CEST par Ian Barker

files folders magnifying glass security scanning antivirus

The popularity of Docker to run software in containers has increased enormously, but it does raise issues surrounding keeping those applications secure.

To help Docker users stay on top of security issues Threat Stack, a specialist in security monitoring for AWS systems, has extended its product range to provide monitoring of Docker containers for security threats.

Threat Stack Pro Edition provides companies with flexibility in workload security. The product includes access to the fully-featured Threat Stack API, plus new reporting features and new integrations with Docker and AWS CloudTrail.

"It's important to companies that their security products allow them to scale with confidence, achieve compliance and operate efficiently," says Threat Stack Chairman and CEO Brian Ahern. "Our Pro Edition moves customers closer to a single pane of glass with the ability to share Threat Stack's powerful insights with the other tools and processes that keep them moving fast".

Support for Docker events in Threat Stack means that users gain complete visibility into key events within their environment. The integration includes out-of-the-box default rules -- the Docker Base Rule Set -- as well as the ability for users to easily apply custom rule sets to their environment. Container activity flows through and integrates seamlessly into the security, operations and compliance feature sets of Threat Stack, allowing companies to operate quickly and with confidence.

Threat Stack also provides the real-time visibility and historical records companies need to prevent data loss and meet compliance regulations. Threat Stack Pro Edition features key file tracking and reporting to ensure their important files stay protected, user and alert reporting to understand how a user escalated or changed their privileges to root, and compliance reporting for regulations including HIPAA.

"Docker use is exploding and the correlation of a host-based intrusion detection system (HIDS) with Docker and AWS CloudTrail is what gives Docker users the vital context they need to act swiftly on a security incident," says Venkat Pothamsetty, Threat Stack's vice president of products. "This integration is what makes the Threat Stack Pro Edition solution unique and gives customers operating on AWS with Docker additional information to evaluate their security strategy, to ensure all activity within their application environment is secure and compliant".

The product will be showcased at this week's AWS re:Invent 2015 or you can find out more on the Threat Stack website.

Image Credit: megainarmy/Shutterstock

Sony reveals which Xperia devices will get Android 6.0 Marshmallow

Publié: octobre 6, 2015, 2:32pm CEST par Mihaita Bamburic

Sony Android 6.0 Marshmallow Xperia

Now that Google has officially introduced Android 6.0 Marshmallow, major manufacturers are starting to announce their upgrade plans. Motorola did it yesterday, and today Sony follows suit, revealing which of its Xperia devices will get the new operating system.

Seeing as Google just released the Android 6.0 Marshmallow code, it is too early to tell with exact certainty when every one of those smartphones and tablets will get its turn at receiving the software upgrade. But, Sony has to be commended for being so transparent this early in the game, something which other Android vendors should be doing as well.

"We will make Android 6.0, Marshmallow available for: Xperia Z5, Xperia Z5 Compact, Xperia Z5 Premium, Xperia Z4 Tablet, Xperia Z3+, Xperia Z3, Xperia Z3 Compact, Xperia Z3 Tablet Compact, Xperia Z2, Xperia Z2 Tablet, Xperia M5, Xperia C5 Ultra, Xperia M4 Aqua and Xperia C4", says Sony in a blog post.

As you can see, the list of supported devices is quite extensive, covering three generations of global flagships launched since January 2014 and some more affordable handsets. Sony does not say whether this list is final, so we will have to wait a while to see if more devices will be added.

Sony notes that when the software upgrades will be made available will vary depending on the market and carrier approvals, where needed. There is also apparently no guarantee that every version of a supported device will get Android 6.0 Marshmallow: "Most models supported but some operator/market exceptions will apply", Sony explains.

The Japanese maker promises to reveal more information about what the software upgrade will bring to the table for Xperia owners sometime "soon", but in the meantime you can check what improvements Google has baked into its new operating system by checking out our coverage.

Roku 4 set to bring new OS, 4K support, and much more

Publié: octobre 6, 2015, 2:27pm CEST par Alan Buckingham

Roku-4

Roku has long been the darling of the set-top box market with its tiny devices that bring internet TV to your big screen. Want to watch Netflix, Hulu or Amazon Prime? Roku will let you do that from the comfort of your sofa. But what about the next wave of devices? We just saw Amazon reveal its new offerings, and now Roku is following suit.

The company announces version 4 of its device, bringing with it lots of goodies like 4K, which is considered the wave of the next generation TV. It also comes along with version 7 of the operating system, a more powerful quad-core processor and a remote control with voice search. There's also still a headphone jack, just as the Roku 3 remote control had.

As for version 7 of the operating system, there is a 4K category in the channel store, curated 4K content and 1080p home screen and user interface.

"As with all of our current-generation devices, the Roku 4 offers access to one of the biggest streaming channel lineups -- including 300,000 movies and TV episodes -- and the industry’s most comprehensive and only unbiased universal voice search", Roku states. The last part may be a dig at Amazon whose Fire TV had voice search upon launch.

Customers can pre-order the Roku 4 now. It will set you back $129.99, which is a bit more than the previous version of the device.

Top court rules European-US Safe Harbor data sharing agreement invalid

Publié: octobre 6, 2015, 1:39pm CEST par Mark Wilson

us_eu_flag_jigsaw_puzzle_pieces

The European Court of Justice has ruled that the Safe Harbor agreement that is in place between technology companies is invalid. The agreement covers the sharing of data between the EU and the US but the court said there are insufficient privacy and data protection checks in place.

European law dictates that data should only be shared with and transferred to countries that offer a comparable level of data protection to the EU. The Safe Harbor agreement has been in operation for around 15 years, but after concerns that European data could be shared with the likes of the NSA it means that companies such as Facebook, Google, and Apple could be sharing data illegally.

Edward Snowden's revelations raised concerns that US companies could not be trusted to ensure that adequate privacy and data protection measures were in place. The case stemmed from a request from a privacy campaigner to the Irish Data Protection Commission to find out what data Facebook was sharing about European users. The aim was to discover what sort of user data might be exposed to levels of surveillance that would be illegal in Europe.

The repercussions of the ruling are likely to be far-reaching. Matthew Fell, CBI Director for Competitive Markets, said:

The ability to transfer data easily and securely between Europe and the US is critical for businesses in our modern. Businesses will want to see clarity on the immediate implications of the ECJ's decision, together with fast action from the Commission to agree a new framework. Getting this right will be important to the future of Europe's digital agenda, as well as doing business with our largest trading partner.

At the moment, there has been no reaction from companies likes Facebook. Moving forward, it is likely that new data sharing contracts will have to be drawn up, and this is going to take time and money. But it is not just the big players that will be affected by the ruling. Many smaller companies outsource data storage to other services that may operate in the US -- as soon as data is transferred from Europe to the US, data protection becomes an issue.

With thousands of companies currently relying on Safe Harbor, getting everything sorted out is likely to be a long and messy process. Max Schrems -- who instigated the initial case against Facebook in Ireland -- said:

I very much welcome the judgment of the Court, which will hopefully be a milestone when it comes to online privacy. This judgment draws a clear line. It clarifies that mass surveillance violates our fundamental rights. Reasonable legal redress must be possible. This decision is a major blow for US global surveillance that heavily relies on private partners. The judgment makes it clear that US businesses cannot simply aid US espionage efforts in violation of European fundamental rights.

Photo credit: Ton Snoei / Shutterstock

Watch Microsoft's new Windows 10 devices launch live here

Publié: octobre 6, 2015, 1:20pm CEST par Wayne Williams

Windows 10 devices

With Windows 10’s momentum slowing, Microsoft needs to reignite interest in its new operating system, and what better way to do that than by introducing new devices designed to showcase the OS. Today at a special event in New York City the software giant will be taking the wraps off its latest hardware ventures.

We’re expecting to see a refreshed Surface Pro at the event, possibly with a borderless display, new Lumia smartphones -- including the 950 and 950 XL flagships -- and maybe other devices too. A closer look at Surface Hub, HoloLens, and Windows 10 Mobile are all possibilities as well. It definitely promises to be an exciting event.

BetaNews’ Brian Fagioli will be there to bring you hands on reports following the event, but Microsoft will be streaming proceedings, and you’ll be able to tune in live here.

The event kicks off at 10AM EDT/3PM BST, and the stream is already live.

What are you hoping to see revealed today?

Image Credit: Brian Fagioli

Here are the Motorola devices that will get Android 6.0 Marshmallow

Publié: octobre 6, 2015, 12:08pm CEST par David Curry

Motorola-Marshmallow-Moto-G

Motorola has released a list of devices set to receive Android 6.0 Marshmallow, the latest update for Google’s mobile operating system, available today for manufacturers and carriers.

Android 6.0 Marshmallow brings a range of new features to smartphones, including Now on Tap, an intuitive addition to Google Now that understands the context of a search within an app; Android Pay, an NFC-based mobile payments service; and Doze Mode, a deep sleep mode for the phone that extends battery life significantly.

Motorola is removing a few of its own programs on Android Marshmallow. Moto Assist will be retired, as Android Marshmallow comes with ‘Do Not Disturb’ under the sound and notifications settings. Moto Migrate will be retired, as Marshmallow offers enhanced support for backing up user data. Moto Connect is the final program dropped from the Marshmallow upgrade, with Motorola claiming many over-the-top messaging services have cropped up since the last major Android update.

The Moto devices receiving the update include:

2015 Moto X Pure Edition (3rd gen)
2015 Moto X Play
2015 Moto G (3rd gen)
2014 Moto X Pure Edition (2nd gen -- US)
2014 Moto X (2nd gen -- Latin America, Europe, Asia)
DROID Turbo
2014 Moto MAXX
2014 Moto Turbo
Nexus 6

No word on what devices will receive the update first, though the Nexus 6 is most likely since it runs stock Android and is sold off contract. The DROID Turbo, Moto MAXX and Moto Turbo will most likely take the longest, since it requires Verizon’s approval.

Noticeable absences include the Moto E, the Moto X (1st gen), and the Moto G (2nd gen). The first edition of the Moto X might be a bit old for the update, but it would still be able to run Android Marshmallow without too many issues.

Motorola has not released specific dates when the update will hit devices, but most should be updated by the end of the year, considering Motorola’s fast paced update in the past. Carrier oversight might slow down the process in the United States.

Android 6.0 Marshmallow: How to enable battery percentage and hide Quick Settings toggles

Publié: octobre 6, 2015, 11:46am CEST par Mihaita Bamburic

marshmallow

After upgrading to Android 6.0 Marshmallow on your Nexus device you have likely noticed that there is still no way to change how the battery information is displayed in the status bar or choose which Quick Settings toggles are shown in the notifications panel. Google continues to be quite limiting in this regard, which is a bit puzzling considering others like Samsung allow this kind of customization. (After all, who wouldn't like to see a battery percentage instead of a bar that is hard to interpret?)

Fortunately, both of those things can be easily customized without relying on third-party apps or rooting. All you need to do is enable System UI Tuner, a control panel that is included, but hidden by default, in the latest version of Android. Here is how you can do that.

All you need is your Nexus device running Android 6.0 Marshmallow. Unlock it, pull down the notifications panel so that Quick Settings is displayed, long press on the Settings (gear) icon and then lift your finger after a good few seconds.

You will receive a message on the screen that says that System UI Tuner has been enabled, and then you will be taken to the Settings menu. At the bottom of the screen you will find the control panel. You will also notice that there's now a wrench next to the Settings icon in the notifications panel.

Android 6.0 Marshmallow notifications panel Quick Settings System UI Tuner enabled

From System UI Tuner you can choose which Quick Settings toggles are displayed in the notifications panel, which status bar icons can be displayed, enable a battery percentage in the status bar battery icon and turn on Demo mode. The last feature changes the status bar icons to show full signal strength and battery and displays 6:00 as the time (thanks to PC_Tool for pointing this out).

As far as customizing Quick Settings goes, at least on my Nexus device there is only a single tile that is not shown by default and that is the Broadcast tile. Based on how I use my tablet I have decided to keep just a couple of toggles, to unclutter the notifications panel.

Android 6.0 Marshmallow Quick Settings hide show choose

As far as which status bar icons show up, you can basically hide (all are enabled by default) things like the Wi-Fi icon, Airplane mode icon, Bluetooth icon and so on. If you make use of this feature you will have a less-cluttered status bar as a result.

The battery percentage is very easy to enable. Just tap on the option to enable it under System UI Tuner and it will be immediately displayed in the battery icon in the status bar. It may be a tad difficult to read compared to having the percentage next to the battery bar, like on a Samsung device, but it is miles better than stock.

Android 6.0 Marshmallow System UI Tuner options battery percentage enabled

What if Google announces Play Store and Android apps support for Windows 10 Mobile devices?

Publié: octobre 6, 2015, 1:39am CEST par Max Nottingham

Chatter on Twitter suggests that Google will be present at Microsoft's grand "Windows 10 Devices" event tomorrow, and it would announce Android apps support for Windows 10 Mobile devices. Bolstering the theory is the two company's seemingly improving relationship, the biggest testament of which was up on display when the two recently agreed to drop 20 patent lawsuits they had filed against each other. If it indeed true, what does it mean for Microsoft's mobile operating system? Revival.

It's no secret that Android and iOS are the two dominant mobile operating systems out there -- whether you like it or not. Windows Phone has been playing catch up ever since its inception -- quite literally as Microsoft was late to arrive in the mobile operating system party. Perhaps it didn't get the memo. This race left the company's mobile operating system non-beneficial for mobile developers to make apps for it. And how can you blame them? Windows Phone had less than 5 percent of market share. So a majority of these developers never made apps for Windows Phone.

The company, on its part, did plenty of things to get these apps. We also saw developers like Rudy Huyn who took it upon themselves to make Windows Phone versions of several popular apps. This too, to a large extent, didn't yield any positive result.

But Microsoft was long from quitting. The company announced several ways for developers to port their Android and iOS apps to Windows Phone. The company also announced universal apps to make it easier for developers to quickly make mobile app versions of their desktop applications. But that too largely seems like a missed opportunity.

Act 2: Run Android apps on Windows 10 Mobile.

It's not a new idea, per se. The possibility of running Android apps on Windows Phone handsets has been talked about for years. We also saw developers forcibly run port of Android apps on Windows Phone handsets and manage to do it on several occasions. But Microsoft never hinted its interest to announce support for Android apps on its handsets, and Google's terse relationship with Microsoft -- just one Google app on Windows Phone Store (also remember the Google-Microsoft-YouTube fiasco?), made it pretty clear that Google wasn't going to help Microsoft in saving Windows Phone.

But things are changing. "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", Google had said after the two companies recently decided to resolve several of their patents issues.

But that hasn't stopped the rumor mill from offering yet another claim of such a possibility. If Google does step on the stage at Microsoft's event tomorrow, the company will be able to tap on more devices, whereas Windows Phone handset users will be able to use many of the apps they need to stick to the platform. We will know for sure tomorrow.

EFF joins Nameless Coalition and demands that Facebook kills its real names policy

Publié: octobre 6, 2015, 1:16am CEST par Mark Wilson

facebook_magnifying_glass

Facebook has come under heavy criticism for its real names (or 'authentic identities' as they are known to the social network) policy. Over the last year, all manner of rights groups and advocates have tried to convince Facebook to allow users to drop their real name in favor of a pseudonym if they want.

Now the Electronic Frontier Foundation is part of the 74-member strong Nameless Coalition and has written to Facebook demanding a rethink on the ground of safety, privacy, and equality. This is far from being the first time Facebook has been called on to allow the use of 'fake names', and the latest letter is signed by LGBT groups, freedom advocates, privacy supporters, and feminist organizations.

The coalition has sent a letter to the social network calling on Facebook to "fix its broken 'authentic identity' (commonly known as 'real name') policy" and to "provide equal treatment and protection for all who use and depend on Facebook as a central platform for online expression and communication".

The letter makes reference to several groups of people who might have entirely legitimate reasons for wanting to use something other than their legal name. This includes transgender Facebook users, people avoiding harassment, and people from cultures where naming conventions are different to what Facebook perceives as the norm. The coalition goes further, accusing Facebook of placing users in danger by forcing them to use their real names online.

Despite commitments to reform these policies, Facebook maintains a system that disregards the circumstances of users in countries with low levels of internet penetration, exposes its users to danger, disrespects the identities of its users, and curtails free speech.

It also points out that Facebook's reporting mechanism is open to abuse. Those reporting others for not using a real name are not required to provide supporting evidence, effectively giving people the power to silence others. The Nameless Coalition says that Facebook is violating European data protection laws and calls for the social network to respond to a list of demands by the end of the month:

Commit to allowing pseudonyms and non-legal names on its site in appropriate circumstances, including but not limited to situations where using an every day name would put a user in danger, or situations where local law requires the ability to use pseudonyms.
Require users filing real name policy abuse reports to support their claims with evidence. This could come in written form, multiple-choice questions, or some alternative documentation.
Create a compliance process through which users can confirm their identities without submitting government ID. This could include allowing users to submit written evidence, answer multiple-choice questions, or provide alternative documentation such as links to blog posts or other online platforms where they use the same identity.
Give users technical details and documentation on the process of submitting identity information such as where and how it is stored, for how long, and who can access it. Provide users with the ability to submit this information using PGP or another common form of encrypted communication, so they may protect their identity information during the submission process.
Provide a robust appeals process for users locked out of their accounts. This could include the ability to request a second review, to submit different types of evidence, and to speak to a real Facebook employee, especially in cases involving safety.

If you agree with EFF and the other members of the coalition, you can sign the petition to show your support.

Photo credit: dolphfyn / Shutterstock