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BetaNews.Com (19 non lus)

Virtual reality comes to Lollapalooza's 25th anniversary courtesy of Samsung Gear VR

Publié: juillet 25, 2016, 11:38pm CEST par Brian Fagioli

Back in 1996, I attended the greatest concert of my life. I was only a teenager -- not yet old enough to drive -- so I got a ride from Long Island to Randall's Island in NYC. The show was Lollapalooza, and the lineup was epic -- Metallica, The Ramones, Soundgarden, Wu-Tang Clan, and more. Back then, concertgoers didn't have smartphones and other such modern technologies -- we stared at the stage, not a screen. In 2016, however, things are very different. The upcoming Lollapalooza concert -- the 25th anniversary of the festival which is being held in Chicago -- will have a more… [Continue Reading]
The KickassTorrents forums are alive and kicking

Publié: juillet 25, 2016, 11:33pm CEST par Mark Wilson

Just a few days ago, KickassTorrents was dealt a blow when Artem Vaulin was arrested and the site seized by feds. Of course, it didn’t take long for mirrors to spring up, keeping KAT online in new locations. But the original team has also taken steps to ensure that the community lives on. The KAT team has set up Katcr.co, home to a forum complete with many familiar old faces. This time around, there are no torrents -- this is strictly a forum -- although the KAT mirrors are still to be found online. Katcr.co is all about keeping the… [Continue Reading]
Polymail for Mac wants to provide a cross-platform email experience to die for

Publié: juillet 25, 2016, 9:13pm CEST par Nick Peers

If you’re still looking for the perfect email experience on Mac and iOS, then Polymail, Inc may have something to fill the gap left by Mailbox’s unceremonious exit back in February. It’s just officially released Polymail for Mac 1.01 after around six months in beta. Polymail for Mac joins existing iPad and iPhone client, Polymail for iOS 1.21, to provide a cross-platform email client for Apple fans. Polymail provides an Apple-centric experience across mobile and desktop through the use of an associated Polymail account. The account not only ensures a consistent experience across multiple devices, but it also powers some… [Continue Reading]
Here are the tools ISIS relies on to stay online

Publié: juillet 25, 2016, 8:48pm CEST par Sead Fadilpašić

Ever wonder how groups such as ISIS remain active online, no matter how hard people, or groups like Anonymous, try to kick them out? Data and intelligence firm Flashpoint asked the same question, and came up with six tools they use in their digital operations. The answers were published in a new research report titled Tech for Jihad: Dissecting Jihadists’ Digital Toolbox. "Jihadists’ reliance on technology for survival is a proven, powerfully motivating force, pushing the community to constantly learn, adapt, and advance through various technological tools", says Laith Alkhouri, a co-author of the report and the director of Middle… [Continue Reading]
Syncwire rugged microUSB cable review

Publié: juillet 25, 2016, 7:22pm CEST par Mihăiță Bamburic

USB cables may look durable, but it does not take much to bend a connector or damage the rubber jacket. These things happen, as you may have learned by now, and when they do they can easily ruin your day. Unless you have a spare, which is not always the case, you may be unable to charge your smartphone or power an important device. Enter rugged USB cables. With tougher connectors and a more durable jacket, they can withstand a great deal of abuse -- even from curious pets. I've been testing Syncwire's "durable" microUSB offering for the past couple of weeks, and… [Continue Reading]
What you need to know about two factor authentication

Publié: juillet 25, 2016, 6:34pm CEST par Justin Moreira

Picture this: you open your laptop to begin checking online sales for your business. You log in with your email address, only to receive an uncharacteristic error message: "Your Password is Invalid". You type in the password again. "Your Password is Invalid". You try again. "Your account has been temporarily locked. Please contact support". You quickly grab the phone and begin to dial. As you wait on hold, you decide to check your business’ website and are stunned to see a "Web Page Not Found" error. A technical support specialist answers your call and begins to explain that the website and linked… [Continue Reading]
Create stylish coding snapshots with Marmoset

Publié: juillet 25, 2016, 5:54pm CEST par Mike Williams

You’re building a website, presentation, maybe a CV listing your many coding skills, and would like some kind of graphic to illustrate that section. But what should it be? Forget the usual clipart, install the Chrome app Marmoset instead, and it’ll help you create a stylish presentation-ready code snapshot in seconds. We weren’t sure what that meant, either, but essentially what you get is an image of a syntax-highlighted chunk of code with a custom theme, 3D and other effects (check the thumbnail for one example). The app launches with some sample code in a left-hand pane, various settings and… [Continue Reading]
Email is still king despite the threats it poses

Publié: juillet 25, 2016, 5:49pm CEST par Ian Barker

Email is often cited as the technology that made the internet essential for businesses. You would have thought by now that something else would have come along to replace it in our affections, but the popularity of email shows no sign of waning. A new infographic from email authentication company ValiMail shows that 98.5 percent of people check their email daily and spend as much as six hours doing so. What's more 74 percent prefer email for business communication, and 82 percent of consumers sign up for emails from websites. It's no surprise then that 66 percent of consumers buy… [Continue Reading]
What's the point of Twitter? Twitter explains...

Publié: juillet 25, 2016, 5:45pm CEST par Mark Wilson

Twitter is worried. It's worried that while it is a well-recognized brand, a disturbingly large number of people have no idea what Twitter is actually for. What is the point? Getting slightly meta, the company today explains its raison d'être and tries to clear up some common misconceptions. 'What misconceptions are there about Twitter?', you may well ask. That it is a social network. (It ain't.) That you have to use it every day. (Seriously?) As Twitter says, 'We realized we had some explaining and clarifying to do!' In a blog post, Twitter CMO Leslie Berland explains that today is… [Continue Reading]
Dashlane streamlines password management for BYOD

Publié: juillet 25, 2016, 3:14pm CEST par Ian Barker

Weak passwords can put business data at risk, but if employees are using their own devices, poor security practices from their home life can spill over into the workplace. Password manager app Dashlane has a solution to this issue in the form of a new Spaces feature for its Business version, which allows employees to manage both their business and personal passwords on mobile devices. Users can toggle between dedicated work and personal Spaces so making employees more secure and empowering businesses to improve password security and access management. "Password management blurs the line between home and work. If an employee… [Continue Reading]
There's only a few days left to get Windows 10 for free -- this is why you should upgrade

Publié: juillet 25, 2016, 2:53pm CEST par Wayne Williams

I’ve been very critical of the sneaky tricks Microsoft has been pulling to try to get users to upgrade to Windows 10. In my opinion, all that’s done is annoy a lot of customers, and tarnish the name of what is actually a very good operating system. If you haven’t yet upgraded to Windows 10, and you’re on Windows 7 or 8.1, don’t let Microsoft’s stupid tactics turn you away from the new OS. There’s only a few days remaining to get Windows 10 for free, and you really should seize the opportunity -- even if you intend to stick… [Continue Reading]
US government could save billions by modernizing its technology

Publié: juillet 25, 2016, 2:27pm CEST par Sead Fadilpašić

The US government could save $5.8 billion in technology cost, and at the same time modernize and improve the efficiency of its systems. This is according to the Information Services Group, a technology insights, market intelligence and advisory services company. Today, at the headquarters of the General Services Administration, it released a report, together with the Commission on IT Cost, Opportunity, Strategy and Transparency (IT COST). The report says that $55.9 billion, from the total $81.6 billion FY2017 budget for IT spending (approximately 75 per cent) goes to Operations and Maintenance. At the same time, $18.7 billion goes to development,… [Continue Reading]
Verizon acquires Yahoo for $4.83 billion

Publié: juillet 25, 2016, 1:55pm CEST par Mark Wilson

After speculation and rumors, the deal has been done. Verizon has stumped up $4.83 billion in cash for Yahoo's operating business, including search, advertising and content. The acquisition adds an extra one billion monthly active users to Verizon's customer base, and the deal comes just over a year after the company acquired AOL. Verizon's CEO says the company is in a 'highly competitive position' and the deal will 'help accelerate our revenue stream in digital advertising'. Verizon now has a huge portfolio of brands, spanning everything from publishing and advertising, to search and news. The deal is expected to complete… [Continue Reading]
Launch programs, websites, or type text with Clavier+

Publié: juillet 25, 2016, 11:48am CEST par Mike Williams

Clavier+ is a simple macro manager which enables launching programs, opening websites or inserting text with your chosen hotkey. The program has been around for years, but still works well on even the very latest PCs. Installation is quick and easy, no real surprise as the entire program folder used only 1.24MB of our hard drive (and 1.13MB of that was the uninstaller). On launch a simple console lists some example shortcuts. Pressing Win+P opens the Program Files folder, Win+N launches Notepad, Win+Shift+E inserts the Euro symbol € into the current document, and so on. One minor annoyance is you… [Continue Reading]
Ford adds SYNC 3 with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto to its entire 2017 range

Publié: juillet 25, 2016, 10:32am CEST par Mark Wilson

All of Ford's 2017 SUVs, light trucks, cars and electric vehicles will be kitted out with SYNC 3. The addition of Ford's voice-activated communications and entertainment system means that every single vehicle from its 2017 lineup will feature support for Apple CarPlay and Android Auto -- in the US, at least. SYNC 3 allows for the use of iPhones and Android smartphones to get directions, make calls, listen to music and make use of third party apps while driving. Ford promises that a "platform-focused approach to SYNC 3 means a fast rollout across all vehicles". The company has made something… [Continue Reading]
One in ten UK computer science graduates don't have a job

Publié: juillet 25, 2016, 9:50am CEST par Anthony Spadafora

According to the latest figures compiled by the Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA), computer science graduates are still at the top of the UK’s higher education unemployment rankings. During the academic year of 2014/2015, 10 percent of computer science graduates were unable to find a job six months after graduation. This figure is even higher than the 7.7 percent for students, who studied Mass Communications and documentation, Physical sciences, or Engineering and technology, that had difficulty finding work after graduation. However, the percentage is slowly improving as last year the HESA’s statistics showed that 11.3 percent of computer science graduates… [Continue Reading]
Take full control of your default browser with Browser Chooser

Publié: juillet 25, 2016, 9:15am CEST par Mike Williams

Set up a new PC and one of the first things you’ll do is install and choose a default browser, which then handles all your website-viewing needs. This mostly works fine, but you might want to open some links in different browsers: intranet in IE, YouTube in Chrome to use an extension you’ve found, your bank in a secure browser, whatever it might be. Browser Chooser 2 is an open-source tool which helps you control the browser that’s launched in any given situation. The program is a single executable, no installation required, and in its basic form is very simple.… [Continue Reading]
Forget the beta... Prisma arrives on Android

Publié: juillet 25, 2016, 3:04am CEST par Mark Wilson

Like Pokémon Go, Prisma has taken the app world by storm in recent weeks. Previously only available for iOS users, the photo app that creates works of art from your snaps has finally made its way to Android. Just a few days ago there was talk of a beta program that keen users could take part in, but now we've jumped straight to the full release. If you're (somehow) unfamiliar with the app, it uses machine learning to transform your photos into the style of any one of a number of famous artists and styles. This is an app that… [Continue Reading]
Prior to Windows 10 Anniversary Update, Microsoft slashes Surface Pro 4 and Xbox One prices

Publié: juillet 25, 2016, 12:05am CEST par Brian Fagioli

The Windows 10 Anniversary Update is on the horizon, and many fans of Microsoft's desktop operating system are excited. It's not hard to see why -- this is the best version of Windows ever, and it's about to get better at no extra charge. Prior to the much-anticipated update, however, Microsoft is slashing prices on two of its most popular Windows 10 devices -- the Surface Pro 4 and Xbox One. While not all models are getting the discount, budget hunters should be excited. First off, the 500GB Xbox One is being discounted to $250. True, a newer model -- the Xbox… [Continue Reading]