Windows 10: Microsoft warns users to stop using THIS hugely-popular app

MICROSOFT is cautioning Windows 10 users against using Google's hugely-successful Chrome web browser.

Microsoft is very keen for Windows 10 users to ditch Google Chrome

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Microsoft is very keen for Windows 10 users to ditch Google Chrome.

The US technology firm has started to use pop-up dialogue boxes within Windows 10 to warn users about the battery drain caused by Google's hugely-successful web browser.

Windows developer Rudy Huyn posted a screenshot of the Microsoft warning.

It states "Chrome is draining your battery faster. Switch to Microsoft Edge for up to 36 per cent more browsing time."

This is not the first time Microsoft has sung the praises of the battery life saving technology built into its Edge web browser.

Earlier this year, the Redmond technology firm published a video showing the power consumption of different web browsers on Windows 10 devices, pitting its own Edge against Google Chrome, Opera and Firefox.

In the lab-controlled test, which saw the Microsoft devices churn through an automated cycle of opening sites, scrolling online articles, watching videos and launching new tabs, Microsoft Edge easily managed to outlast all of its rivals, with Google Chrome lasting just four hours and 19 minutes, compared to seven hours and 22 minutes for Edge.

Developer Rudy Huyn noticed the Windows 10 warning about Google Chrome

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Microsoft Edge is the default browser that ships with Windows 10 – and is even actively promoted during the upgrade process.

Unless you are actively reading, checking and carefully choosing your options during the installation, the operating system will swap any rival browsers you'd set as the default on Windows 7 or 8.1 to Microsoft Edge.

But despite that, Microsoft Edge is not a popular option among Windows 10 users.

Google Chrome (and its hidden game) was first released seven years ago. Since then, its popularity has skyrocketed.

In fact, StatCounter estimates that a jaw-dropping 60% of desktop web traffic comes from the Google-owned browser.

Chrome now accounts for a staggering 70 per cent of all browser activity originating from Windows 10.

Microsoft has pitted some of the most popular web browsers against one another

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Software Engineer Jackson Newhouse, of Quantcast said: "The wide release of Windows 10 did initially bump Edge’s market share from 12 per cent to 16 per cent.

"However, this increase was temporary, with Chrome recovering from temporary losses and reaching over 70 per cent market share of Windows 10, higher than the 63 per cent it pulls in on Windows 7 and 8.

"More and more users are using Windows 10 every day, and most have shifted off of the old Internet Explorer.

"However, that movement hasn’t entirely been towards Edge, with a number of users choosing Chrome instead.

"Microsoft may be able to make further inroads into the browser market with Edge, but it’ll take more than a new operating system to unseat Chrome’s dominance."

Microsoft is making further improvements to battery life in Anniversary Update

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Microsoft Edge recently added support for browser extensions – a must-have feature that was missing for its first year on the market.

Windows 10 Anniversary Update, which is set to hit machines next month, will boast more battery-life enhancements for Edge, thanks to fewer CPU cycles, less memory consumption and a tighter hold on background activity.

The news comes as renown Microsoft author and pundit Paul Thurrott said the popularity and new capabilities built into iOS and Android could spell the end for Microsoft and Windows 10.

Mr Thurrott said Microsoft was currently facing "a potential EXTINCTION moment."

Those who upgrade now will get the latest updates for free, including the upcoming Anniversary Update.

This blockbuster update is scheduled for release this summer and will include a redesigned Start Menu (with twice as many adverts) and new handwriting recognition software.

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We ain't in 1996 anymore, Dorothy: SQL Server 2016 proves it

Enterprise engine? Check. Cloud database? TBC

Microsoft has had a database since 1989, initially working with Ashton-Tate and Sybase to create a variant of Sybase SQL Server for IBM’s OS/2.

But it wasn’t until 1995 that Microsoft really got serious with SQL Server 6 for Microsoft’s rock-solid server operating system Windows NT.

Back then, however, engines like SQL Server - along with IBM’s DB2, Oracle - were being billed as relational when they weren’t.

And so it was that the follow-on SQL Server 6.5 in 1996 struggled to provide basic relational features such as Declarative Referential Integrity (DRI arrived in 6.5 but didn’t include Cascade Delete and Update).

In those days, each shiny new version was examined to see how well it matched the basic feature set that Ted Codd had outlined for relational engines.

Two decades on and all of the basics have long since been covered, so the new features are often unique to each engine. This makes differentiation much easier and it also explains the slightly rag-bag nature of the features listed below.

So here, in no particular order, are what I think are the best new features in SQL Server 2016, released at the start of June.

Stretch database

Microsoft has gone large on the cloud, so it is not surprising that Stretch DB has appeared as part of SQL Server 2016. You can now create a function on table that will move rows meeting a given condition into the cloud.

Why would you want to do that? Well, imagine that you have a large table, maybe a terabyte or so - given that I am on a nostalgia trip, SQL Server 6.5 proudly boasted that databases of up to 100GB could be supported. Suppose that most of it is historical data that you rarely need to query but it has to be there for the times that you do.

You simply set up a function that moves rows older than a certain date into our nebulous friend and a 1TB table becomes 200GB on site and 800GB on cirrus. Any queries that run are simply written to run against the local table. If they request recent rows the local data is used to service the query; if not, a call is transparently made to the cloud. There is no need to backup the cloud part of the table, Microsoft will do that for you so, essentially, this feature can be used to create an online archive.

Of course, there is some bad news to balance the good. The function has to use an absolute date so you can’t set up, for example, “current date - I month.”

BI edition goes

SQL Server 2012 introduced the BI edition, and 2016 kills it. That edition always was a slightly strange mix of features so it comes as no surprise that it was never popular. It is unlikely to be much lamented and Microsoft says that it is dealing individually with the customers who did adopt it.

Security

SQL Server 6.5 saw the introduction of row-level locking; 20 years on we get row-level security which is a fair indication of how feature-rich the modern database engines have become. So, for example, we might set up security so that when a user runs a query, their username is used to look up the department to which they belong and then their query returns only the rows in the table that appertain to their department. Another user runs exactly the same query and they see only the rows for their department.

Data masking

Continuing with the security theme, we can store, for example, a customer’s credit card number in a table. If I - with my low security clearance - query the table I see, I receive not the full number, but a series of XXXX and the last 4 digits. You - ruler of the security world - run the same query and see the entire number.

Datazen

Last year Microsoft bought Datazen Software, a mobile BI provider. Essentially, Datazen offered the ability to sync with live data sources but also the ability to cache up to 100,000 records on the mobile device being used.

Given the data coverage in some parts of the country, this is a huge boon as it allows the user to continue working with the data when the connection fails. Datazen always did offer very good integration with SQL Server Analysis Services and the SQL Server platform in general. So it doesn’t come as a huge shock that its software is now integrated into Reporting Services.

Overall, Microsoft is trying to ensure reporting becomes more unified. A hint of that may be found on the SQL Server blog:

“To achieve these requirements, we are aligning our cloud and on-premises solutions. It is our intent that your reporting technology investments and expertise will transfer across these deployment modalities.”

Translated, I take that to mean that our expensive reporting technologies and hard-won expertise will work on both cloud and on-site deployments. Which is good. I’m pleased.

R Server

As an avid R fan, I am delighted to report that it is now possible to call R from within stored procedures. One might begin to wonder what other languages are in the pipeline.

The long and the short of it

Since those early steps of the mid 1990s, SQL Server has become firmly established in the league of extraordinary database engines.

What is apparent now, however, is that SQL Server is becoming more and more cloud-aware and this in turn may well be indicative of Microsoft’s changing attitude.

Twenty years ago, Microsoft desperately wanted to possess an enterprise level database engine and was very keen to sell you the product that it actually had. Now it has an enterprise level database engine and is very keen to sell you a service in the cloud, that cloud being its own - Azure.

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Microsoft just paid out £7,500 compensation to a Windows 10 user – could you be next?

WOMAN wins mega payout after Windows 10 was installed without her permission.

PAYOUT: Woman wins $10,000 after Windows 10 was installed on her PC

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Microsoft is desperate for all its users to upgrade to Windows 10.

The new operating system launched last year and the US tech firm has been pushing it on Windows fans ever since.

Microsoft recently confirmed that it has now changed its update policy for Windows 10 from "optional" to "recommended".

With Windows 10 now a recommended update, users of Windows 7 or 8 may find their PCs have downloaded the new OS without them knowing.

But this aggressive strategy appears to have landed Microsoft in a bit of trouble, with a California woman winning $10,000 (£7,500) from the firm.

The woman alleged that her work computer became slow and unreliable after automatically upgrading itself to Windows 10.

Speaking about her landmark case, Teri Goldstein told the Seattle Times: “I had never heard of Windows 10,

“Nobody ever asked me if I wanted to update.”

The case was won in May and although Microsoft sought an appeal the firm has now decided to back down.

In a statement to the Seattle Times, Microsoft denied any wrongdoing and said it dropped the case to avoid further legal costs.

It's currently unclear if more Windows users will now be able to claim compensation from Microsoft but it could open the floodgates.

Microsoft has said that the operating system will not actually install itself unattended and it says that users will be able to reject the upgrade or reschedule it for a time that's more convenient.

In a statement the firm said "We are committed to making it easy for our Windows 7 and Windows 8.1 customers to upgrade to Windows 10,

"We updated the upgrade experience today to help our customers, who previously reserved their upgrade, schedule a time for their upgrade to take place."

Source: Daily Star UK

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Microsoft announces surprise deal to buy LinkedIn for £18.4 billion

The technology giant announced in a blog post it is going to acquire the professional network in an all-cash deal

Microsoft has announced a deal to purchase the business-focused social network LinkedIn for £18.4 billion ($26.2 billion).

The announcement was made by Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella who described LinkedIn as a "fantastic business" and an "impressive network".

LinkedIn shares have rocketed nearly 50% to £$131 since the announcement was made earlier this morning.

"This deal brings together the world’s leading professional cloud with the world’s leading professional network," Nadella said in a memo to staff.

"I have been learning about LinkedIn for some time while also reflecting on how networks can truly differentiate cloud services.

Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella

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"It’s clear to me that the LinkedIn team has grown a fantastic business and an impressive network of more than 433 million professionals."

Microsoft said that LinkedIn boss Jeff Weiner would stay in charge of the business - sometimes known as the "Facebook for professionals" but he will now report to Nadella.

"Today is a re-founding moment for LinkedIn," Reid Hoffman, chairman of LinkedIn's board, said in a statement.

The professional social network was founded in Mountain View, California in 2002.

Source: Mirror UK

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The three big reasons Windows 10 tablets don't cut it

Microsoft needs to fix battery life, screen and app issues if Windows 10 tablets are to successfully compete on the same footing as Android or the iPad

Tablets like the Samsung TabPro S have the potential to be solid iPad rivals, but Windows 10’s lack of apps, control and poor handling of great screens are holding them back

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If you’re after a tablet in 2016 you broadly speaking have three choices: Android, Apple’s iPad or Microsoft’s Windows 10 tablets.

While the first two are mobile born and bred, spawned from smartphone operating systems, Windows 10 comes from the other side of computing - the traditional desktop.

So-called two-in-one PCs, which are half tablet, half laptop, with the ability to transform in some fashion between the two, are about the only sector of PCs and tablets that’s growing. They seem like the perfect combination between a tablet and a computer without having to buy two devices.

Manufacturers such as Microsoft, Samsung and Huawei have are starting to make hardware that’s up to scratch with the best of Google and Apple. The Samsung TabPro S , which triggered this article, is a well built, snappy and attractive tablet. As a PC it is a great thin and light laptop replacement, but while Microsoft has made huge leaps with Windows 10’s look and feel there are still some big things holding its tablets back.

Some problems Microsoft can and should do something about, others aren’t that easy to fix.

The app gap

The Windows Store appears to be a second-class citizen in the eyes of developers. What third-party apps are there aren’t updated.

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People talk about the “app gap” between Android and iOS – there are more tablet-specific apps for Apple’s iPad than there are for Android tablets – but Windows 10 is miles behind both of them.

I’m not talking about the sheer number of apps. Having the right apps available is much better than having many shoddy ones. I’m also not talking about the availability of Windows desktop apps, which is Microsoft’s ace in the hole compared to machines running Android or iOS.

It is the third-party apps that make using a tablet fun and enjoyable that Windows 10 lacks. The classic example is video consumption apps. Netflix is available in the Windows Store, as is All 4 and Demand 5, which is good, but the BBC iPlayer, ITV Hub and Amazon Prime video are not. To access those services you’re forced back into the browser and a desktop-like experience.

The same hit-and-miss selection extends to almost all other app areas. There’s a Facebook app, but no Instagram one, a Kindle app, but no ComiXology or Marvel Unlimited. When it comes to music apps you’re forced to use Windows desktop apps from Spotify, iTunes and others in the browser.

When there are apps they aren’t updated in line with apps on other platforms - for example the Twitter app still hasn’t gotten built-in Giphy support.

And while desktop apps are great when using a Windows device as a laptop, they’re just not a good experience on a touchscreen tablet.

Blurry mess

The desktop app situation is made worse by Microsoft’s poor handling of high-resolution screens. Five years ago a high resolution display provided increased screen real estate by making everything tiny. Today the density of screens has increased so that text, images and icons look pin-sharp, not microscopic in size.

Windows Store apps scale fine with crisp text on the good-looking screens tablets such as the Samsung TabPro S have. But Windows desktop apps often look like blurry mess, simply magnified without increasing the pixel density. It’s a very poor experience, particularly on a tablet. It makes me actively avoid using desktop Windows apps, but it’s almost impossible to exclude them all in favour of Windows Store apps because of the app gap.

Battery death

A day’s working battery from the TabPro S is great, but standby battery life can be woeful. You end up seeing this screen a lot, even with Windows 10’s ‘battery saver’ feature enabled.

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Apps and resolutions aside, the real big flaw for Windows 10 tablets is battery life. I’m not talking about active use battery life - I got a full day of work without plugging in the TabPro S - but standby time.

When you hit the power button to put an iPad or Android tablet running Marshmallow to sleep you can be sure when you come back a day later that it’ll still have charge. Time and time again I’ve put Windows 10 tablets to sleep over night only to find them dead by the morning.

Microsoft’s built-in battery saver mode helps, but Windows 10 needs much tighter control over the power state of the device when asleep, particularly when users expect an instant-on response when coming back to their tablets.

Both Android and iOS excel here. The iPad Pro lasts a week on standby, as does Google’s Pixel C. I’m lucky if I managed to get a day of standby out of the TabPro S , which has one of the longest battery lives of any Windows 10 tablet I have tested.

The tablet market is waning, 2-in-1s are rising and with them the use of Windows 10 on tablets. Microsoft has an excellent opportunity to claim back some share of the mobile market, but it needs to work hard to crush the problems and narrow the app gap. Windows 10 tablets could be amazing, and while the hardware is getting there, the software isn’t right now.

SourcE: The Guardian UK

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Facebook and Microsoft to build 4,000-mile underwater internet cable from US to Europe

A massive data cable is to be built across the Atlantic running from Virginia Beach in the United States to Bilbao in Spain.

Facebook working with Microsoft to lay transatlantic cable

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The project, announced by Microsoft and Facebook, is the latest in a series of major cable projects which have become necessary because of the growing demand for internet bandwidth.

Known as MAREA, it will be the fastest cable ever to cross the Atlantic. Construction is due to begin in August, with the work being completed in October next year.

It will be operated by Telxius, a subsidiary of the Spanish telecommunications and broadband giant, Telefónica.

About the width of a garden hose, it will significantly increase the amount of data which can be carried across the Atlantic.

Around a dozen high capacity cables are being laid across the oceans by high-tech companies.

"We want to do more of these projects in this manner — allowing us to move fast with more collaboration," said Najam Ahmad, Facebook’s vice president of network engineering.

Microsoft joining Facebook in cable project

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Google, which in 2010 laid the first of these cables – Unity linking the US and Japan – is continuing to expand. Apart from Facebook and Microsoft, Amazon is also a major player in this industry.

Alan Mauldin, research director with telecommunications research firm TeleGeography, told USA Today, part of the cable’s function will be to guarantee a dependable link.

It would be unwise to rely on a single cable, he explained – “because if it breaks you are in trouble”.

Source: Telegraph UK

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How to stop Windows 10 from using YOUR computer for file-sharing

WINDOWS 10 has an in-built feature, dubbed Delivery Optimisation, that turns your PC into a file-sharing hub for other Microsoft users. Here is how to switch it off.

Microsoft has created a new optimised update delivery system for Windows 10

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Microsoft has created a new optimised update delivery system for Windows 10.

<>The nifty new feature means Windows 10 users can pull operating system updates and Windows Store apps from your machine, when Microsoft's own servers are busy.

These updates can be sent over your local network, or over the internet.

Delivery Optimisation can be incredibly useful. For example, if you have an unstable internet connection, or want to update your computer at peak times when Microsoft's servers are clogged up, this will let Windows 10 still update correctly.

Delivery Optimisation is on by default when you install Windows 10 on your computer, turning your home machine into an update-sharing hub that feeds updates to other devices.

The feature leverages peer-to-peer file-sharing, which could trigger some security concerns amongst users.

According to Microsoft, Delivery Optimisation employs the same security measures as Windows Update and the Windows Store to avoid any privacy beaches.

Your operating system will verify the authenticity of each portion of the OS update or app.

Microsoft hopes to have billions of devices running Windows 10 in the next few years

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Delivery Optimisation will never access your personal files, or make any changes to the content on your machine.

However the feature could still impact on your data limit. If your PC is busy feeding updates to other computers, it could tie-up your bandwidth.

If you want to switch the feature off – navigate to Settings > Update & Security.

In the Windows Update menu, listed under the Update Settings. tab, click Advanced Options.

This will load the Advanced Options menu, click Choose How Updates Are Delivered. Then click the toggle next to the option marked Updates From More Than One Place.

Once this toggle is turned off, you will no longer be able to send or receive updates to other PCs

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Once this toggle is turned off, you will no longer be able to send or receive Windows updates to other computers.

The news comes as Microsoft announced plans to ban terrible, insecure passwords.

Windows 10 is available for free to any customers running genuine copies of Windows 7 or Windows 8 – although this offer is set to end soon.

Microsoft previously revealed it is quietly working on a new tool to help users perform a clean install of Windows 10 on their computers, smartphones and tablets.

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Microsoft bans most common passwords in attempt to keep its users safe

The site calls the feature ‘dynamic banning’ and it is supposed to solve the biggest problem with passwords

The National Cyber Crime Unit (NCCU) has revealed that some hackers are offering “cybercrime as a service”, and have created a marketplace where gangs can bid for targets to be attacked

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Microsoft is going to ban its customers' most-used passwords.

The company is going to start “dynamically banning” the passwords that people use to try and break into accounts, in an attempt to keep its users safe.

A huge and worrying proportion of people tend to use passwords from a relatively limited list – things like 123456, or the word password. Doing so makes it far easier for people to break into people’s accounts, and so Microsoft is going to stop people from using them.

The company made the announcement after the revelation that 117 million LinkedIn accounts had been made available for sale on the internet. It said that information can prove useful to those looking to protect accounts as well as for cyber criminals, since it provides a way of getting to know the passwords that are most used.

“When it comes to big breach lists, cybercriminals and the Azure AD Identity Protection team have something in common – we both analyze the passwords that are being used most commonly,” wrote Microsoft’s Alex Weinert. “Bad guys use this data to inform their attacks – whether building a rainbow table or trying to brute force accounts by trying popular passwords against them.

“What we do with the data is prevent you from having a password anywhere near the current attack list, so those attacks won’t work.”

Microsoft sees 10 million attacks on people’s accounts every day. That means that it can build a list of the passwords that people are trying on those accounts, and it can be “dynamically updated” so that it always has the most recently used passwords.

“We then use that list to prevent you from selecting a commonly used password or one that is similar,” writes Mr Weinert.

That should make it far harder for hackers and cybercriminals to break into accounts by simply guessing the password a person has used.

The proportion of people using easy to guess passwords has been repeatedly highlighted in reports showing the most-commonly used logins. Because of that and other security problems, some companies such as Google want to get rid of passwords entirely and use other, more secure options like biometric data.

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Windows 10: Microsoft will stop sharing your wifi passwords with your Facebook friends

MICROSOFT is ditching its controversial Wi-Fi Sense feature from Windows 10.

Your Facebook friends will no longer be able to connect to your home wifi automatically

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Microsoft has confirmed it will drop support for its controversial Wi-Fi Sense feature in Windows 10.

The infamous feature, which on Windows Phone 8.1 smartphones, will sync passwords with your contacts on Outlook, Skype and – with an additional setting enabled – your contacts' Facebook friends, too.

Wi-Fi Sense does not share the plain text password needed to access your home broadband, but will instead connect your contacts using a password stored central on Microsoft's servers.

The convenient useful could be used to quickly distribute a new wifi password through the entire office in a matter of seconds.

But the feature will be dropped in a future update to Windows 10, the Redmond software company has confirmed.

Microsoft Vice President of WDG Engineering Systems team, Gabe Aul said: "We have removed the Wi-Fi Sense feature that allows you to share Wi-Fi networks with your contacts and to be automatically connected to networks shared by your contacts.

"The cost of updating the code to keep this feature working combined with low usage and low demand made this not worth further investment."

Wi-Fi Sense will not appear in the final version of Microsoft's upcoming blockbuster update, Anniversary Update, due this summer.

Anniversary Update will also boast a redesigned Start Menu and new handwriting recognition software.

The news comes as renown Microsoft author and pundit Paul Thurrott said the popularity and new capabilities built into iOS and Android could spell the end for Microsoft and Windows 10.

Thurrott said Microsoft was currently facing "a potential extinction moment."

Source: Express UK

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Millions of Gmail, Hotmail and Yahoo email account details stolen in huge cyber attack, says security expert

Tens of millions of usernames and passwords for Gmail, Hotmail and Yahoo email accounts have been hacked and details traded online, according to a security expert.

Almost 100 million accounts have been compromised

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Data from around 97 million accounts have been stolen as part of a huge cyber attack that is thought to affect around 272.3 million users worldwide, said Alex Holden, founder and chief information security officer of Hold Security.

In one of the biggest data breaches in years, the information is being traded in Russia’s criminal underworld for next to nothing, it has been claimed.

It is thought that credentials from around 40 million Yahoo Mail accounts, 33 million Hotmail accounts and 24 million Gmail accounts have been accessed.

But the majority of the usernames stolen are from Russia’s most popular email service Mail.ru

Holden, who was speaking to Reuters, has previously uncovered huge data breaches affecting millions of users at at Adobe Systems, JPMorgan and Target.

The details are being actively in the cyber underworld, says the security expert

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His latest discovery is said to come after researchers found a young Russian hacker bragging in an online forum that he had collected and was ready to give away a far larger number of stolen credentials.

Mysteriously, the hacker asked just 50 roubles – just over 50p – for the entire trove, but gave up the dataset after Hold researchers agreed to post favourable comments about him in hacker forums, Holden said.

He said his company’s policy is to refuse to pay for stolen data.

‘This information is potent. It is floating around in the underground and this person has shown he’s willing to give the data away to people who are nice to him,’ said Holden.

‘These credentials can be abused multiple times.’

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A Microsoft spokesman said stolen online credentials was an unfortunate reality. ‘Microsoft has security measures in place to detect account compromise and requires additional information to verify the account owner and help them regain sole access.’

Yahoo and Google did not respond to requests for comment.

A Mail.ru spokeswoman said it was checking whether the email combinations match those still actively in use.

Source: Metro UK

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WhatsApp might be building a Windows 10 and Apple OS X version of its chat app

WhatsApp is believed to be working on native desktop clients for your Apple OS X or Windows laptop

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Facebook-owned chat app WhatsApp is believed to be developing a native app for Microsoft and Apple desktop operating systems.

The hugely-successful messenger last year launched a web interface that mirrors the messages on your smartphone to allow users could continue messaging through the app on a desktop computer.

WhatsApp users scan a QR code within the app (Settings > WhatsApp Web) to connect their home or work computer to the smartphone-based messenger.

Launching a truly native desktop client would remove this hassle, and would also allow WhatsApp to compete with rival desktop messengers like Slack.

A series of screenshots posted on Twitter by WABetaInfo include details that hint at an imminent release date for the apps.

You can see these screenshots. #WhatsApp #Mac #Windows #NativeClient #iOS #Android #WP #Blackberry #Symbian #Nokia pic.twitter.com/AKja58zf5C

— WABetaInfo (@WABetaInfo) April 29, 2016

The screenshots show translation requests from the WhatsApp team and include phrases including "Download for Mac OS X", "Download for Windows" and "OS Versions Supported By WhatsApp Native client".

Unfortunately there is no way to verify whether the screenshots are genuine. And even if they are, there's no guarantee that WhatsApp will roll-out the desktop apps.

There are a number of unofficial desktop apps for WhatsApp on OS X and Windows 10.

These desktop clients are just wrappers for WhatsApp Web, but let you run the cross-platform messenger as a windowed application, without having to keep a browser window or tab open.

WhatsApp is believed to be working on native desktop clients for your Apple OS X or Windows laptop

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Some also support native notifications on the desktop.

The news comes as more leaked translation screenshots pointed to WhatsApp rolling-out a new voicemail service across its Android and iOS apps.

The Facebook-owned messenger already allows Voice Over IP (or VOIP) phone calls, so the inclusion of an in-built voicemail system seems like an obvious addition.

Alongside the voicemail, WhatsApp could also be planning to add an instant call back.

This could make WhatsApp a viable replacement for your favourite Android dialler and text message app.

Those who've seen early versions of the update claim the call-back feature appears as a notification. Tapping the notification at the top of the screen immediately returns the call.

Unlike traditional voicemail, WhatsApp will reportedly let you record a message and listen back before sending it.

Source: Express UK

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Uninstall Quicktime, US Government urges PC users

A man shows Microsoft's Windows 10 operating system at the CeBIT technology fair in Hanover

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Apple is ending support for Quicktime for Windows, putting users at risk

The US government is urging PC users to uninstall Quicktime from their computers, over fears that weaknesses in the software could leave them vulnerable to cyber-criminals.

As discovered by security firm Trend Micro, Apple, which develops Quicktime, is ending its support for the Windows version of the software.

This means it will no longer be issuing security updates, making it easier for hackers to use the software as a way into their targets' computers. The firm's experts also identified two "critical vulnerabilities" affecting the software, which could provide a window for hackers to launch cyberattacks against users.

Trend Micro's warning was echoed by the US Department of Homeland Security's Computer Emergency Readiness Team (US-CERT), which said users who still have Quicktime for Windows running on their machines could now be vulnerable to "loss of confidentiality, integrity or availability of data," as well as facing increased risks from viruses and other security threats.

US-CERT also warned exploitations of these weaknesses "could allow remote attackers to take control of affected systems."

The only solution to the problem, it says, is to uninstall Quicktime for Windows from the Control Panel.

This kind of 'deprecation' happens fairly frequently, as software companies introduce new products and decide to stop spending time working on outdated progrms. Microsoft officially ended support for versions 8, 9 and 10 of Internet Explorer in January, leaving people still using them open to the same kinds of cyberattacks.

However, Microsoft told users in advance that support for these versions would cease - there appears to have been no similar warnings from Apple, although the company has been slowly winding up their support for Quicktime for Windows for a few years.

Trend Micro said there was no evidence that any hackers had exploited the Quicktime vulnerabilities so far, but since Apple won't be issuing any more security updates or keeping up with hacker activity against the software, it's now a prime target.

It's important to note that this issue does not apply to versions of Quicktime for Apple computers. Apple did not provide a comment on the matter when contacted by Reuters.

Source: Independent UK

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Bing introduces live code editor to make programming easier

Participants at the annual Chaos Computer Club (CCC) computer hackers' congress in Hamburg, Germany

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Bing, Microsoft's unfairly-derided search engine, has a new feature which will make life much easier for programmers.

Typically, when they forget an important piece of code, programmers will just Google their problem, finding the solution in a pile of links and re-writing or copy/pasting it into their code editor.

Bing has made things much easier by teaming up with HackerRank to build a live code editor right into the results page

When searching for any code problem relating to a major programming language, the solution will appear in the code editor window. You can then edit and run it within the page, making the whole problem-solving process a bit quicker and easier.

It's not a revolutionary new technology, but like all great internet tools, it gets rid of an annoyance you didn't even know existed.

It's theoretically up and running from today, but some users outside the US are claiming it isn't working yet. It should be rolled out worldwide within the next few days.

Maybe if Bing introduces a few more tools like this one, people will finally stop making fun of it.

Source: Independent UK

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Microsoft Lumia 650 - Unrivalled Sophistication

At first glance, we mistook Lumia 650 for a premium smartphone. Surely no one would spend so much effort on a budget phone we thought, but we couldn’t be more wrong. Even though Microsoft didn’t seem to care about designing its flagships, here we ended up with a totally different situation. While most budget devices are wrapped in some kind of inexpensive polycarbonate, this smartphone sports an aluminium frame combined with extremely tough polycarbonate. It’s very unusual to see aluminium in this price bracket, but Microsoft has somehow managed to implement it without raising the price. The decision to do that has propelled Lumia 650 straight to the top of our “design on a budget” list. Sporting dimensions of 142 x 70.9 x 6.9 mm and weighing 122 grams, it fits nicely in the palm of any sized hand and doesn’t feel strenuous in the long run.

Another welcome surprise came in the shape of a 5-inch OLED display producing 720 x 1280 pixels for a total density of 297ppi. As many of you know, OLED screens have excellent properties such as great contrast, vivid colours, and deep blacks. Thanks to these properties, Lumia 650 manages to bring all content types to life, especially Windows 10. Browsing the web alongside other similar content didn’t reveal any flaws, as all the text parts were perfectly legible with any amount of zoom. Outdoor performance was respectable and it allowed us to enjoy the device without excessive eye strain.

Powering Lumia 650 is Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 212 with four cores clocked at 1.3 GHz. Supported by 1GB of RAM and Adreno 304 GPU, it’s a reliable source of power for basic tasks but not much more. Truth be told we yearned for just a smidge more performance, but asking for more would push us into another price bracket. Microsoft did the best it could for the price and we respect their decision to stick with this hardware. Even though it’s not a powerhouse for playing games and multitasking, actions such as browsing the web, checking emails, and scrolling through social networks are handled sans compromise. Windows 10 is continually receiving updates so performance might improve over time. Those using their smartphone for multimedia will be glad to know that there is 16GB of on-board storage with the possibility to further expand it via a microSD card. Imaging is taken care of by an 8-megapixel main camera alongside a 5-megapixel front camera. Like most cameras in this class, both sensors struggle in low-light conditions but perform much better in well-lit areas. Images taken in favourable conditions deliver plenty of detail and accurate colours.

While many have nearly forgotten about Nokia, this phone reminded us of how things were done in the past. Smartphones weren’t cheap a decade ago, but it seems you couldn’t even buy a budget device without getting the feeling it’s indestructible. Like the immortal Nokias we now make fun of, Lumia 650 seems to follow the same ethos delivering an experience seldom found in its class.

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Your iPhone just got a new keyboard and Windows fans will love it

NEW: Microsoft has just launched its new Hub keyboard

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It's official, Microsoft wants to take over your iPhone.

The US tech firm has just launched its new Hub keyboard which aims to bring information from different services to your fingertips and help you complete tasks much faster.

The Hub Keyboard features a simple design and includes some powerful attachment and search buttons.

For example, you can route through your OneDrive files and drop links into chat messages, or copy and paste contact info by linking your address book.

You can also copy and paste recent items, easily search and share documents, share contact information, and instantly translate parts of messages.

All of these tasks are integrated into the keyboard, and you can choose which ones you want to use in any app that requires a keyboard.

Hub launched on Android in February, but this is the first time Apple fans have been able to get their fingers on it.

Speaking about the new keyboard Steve Won, senior designer on the Office team said: “Personally I don’t like switching between apps to do different things on my smartphone,

“But all these different apps on a smartphone, they have to conform to rules of a keyboard and that got me thinking about the project as an interesting idea I wanted to explore more.

“I was thinking about how we can help users be more productive in the mobile space,

"We’re giving users a wider gamut of tools.”

The Hub Keyboard is available now via the Apple App Store.

Source: DailyStar UK

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Internet Explorer still the most used browser, but will soon lose to Google’s Chrome

Google Chrome is fast gaining on Microsoft's Internet Explorer for the top browser slot Google's Chrome is fast racing to become the most popular browser

Google’s Chrome is fast racing to become the most popular browser and could overtake Microsoft’s old Internet Explorer browser by this year end. For years, Internet Explorer has been the most popular browser in the world. However things changed when Microsoft decided to dump IE in favour of a all new browser called Edge which is bundled with Windows 10.

The net result of Microsoft’s Edge push is that Internet Explorer’s market share is spiralling downwards and Google Chrome is the only browser to benefit from the slide.

As can be seen from the new report by NetMarketShare, Internet Explorer fell from 44.79% to 43.40% while Chrome went from 36.56% to 39.09%, which is quite a substantial jump. Surprisingly, only Chrome seemed to be gaining in market share as Firefox, Safari, and Opera, all lost substantial user base, the biggest loser was Firefox which went from 11.68% to just 10.54% market share.

Microsoft’s Edge browser has seen an increase in users but not enough to explain Internet Explorer’s 1.39% decrease, which must mean users decided to ditch Internet Explorer, for Chrome. During the same period, Edge rose to 3.55% up from February when it was at 3.02% market share, an increase of 0.53%.

The rate at which Chrome is piling up users, it will not be long before it becomes the numero uno browser in the world.

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Microsoft Surface Book review: Why this is NOT the ultimate laptop…yet

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Microsoft is no longer just a boring software company.

The US tech giant been producing its own hardware for a while and has had great success with its Surface range of tablets.

Now the firm is adding to its range of hardware with the launch of its very first laptop.

The all-new Surface Book is Microsoft’s first attempt at a dedicated portable computer and with a super fast processor, long battery life and detachable screen it’s certainly got plenty going for it.

Sadly, like many of Microsoft’s early products the Surface Book has its problems and they might be enough to put you off buying one.

Here’s our full review.

Surface Book review

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SCREEN

Hit the on button and the one thing that instantly stands out is the Surface Book's display.

This 13.5 inch PixelSense beauty is one of the best screens we’ve seen on a laptop and is truly sensational.

Microsoft has packed a stunning 3000 x 2000 pixels into the display – that works out at an unbelievable 267pixels-per-inch.

Surface Book Review

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For comparison, Apple’s 13 inch MacBook Pro with Retina Display packs 227pixels per inch, and Google’s new ChromeBook Pixel has 239pixels per inch.

The Surface Book’s display looks phenomenal and is bright, pin-sharp with great viewing angles.

It also has a very neat trick up its sleeve which will leave Apple fans weeping into their keyboards.

The Surface Book’s screen detaches at a tap of button turning laptop into a high powered tablet.

It’s a massive bonus and this feature gives the Surface Book an edge of most of its rivals.

Although we love the concept it's worth noting that the tablet only has a three hour battery life once removed from the keyboard.

MIGHTY: Microsoft has packed a stunning 3000 x 2000 pixels into the display

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DESIGN

On first impressions the design of the Surface Book is impressive.

Its industrial style oozes class and the laptop feels solid and very well made.

However, there are some niggles with the design and this is where the Surface Book gets irritating.

Unfortunately, the ability to swap between a tablet and a fully-featured laptop does result in a device with a few compromises.

To make this party trick work, the Surface Book includes what the firm calls a Dynamic Fulcrum hinge – and it's not pretty.

Perhaps the worst part of this eye-catching hinge is small gap it leaves between the display and the keyboard when the laptop lid is shut.

This means the Surface Book never completely seals and, although it's not a deal breaker it just looks odd.

Surface Book Review

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MIND THE GAP: The Dynamic Fulcrum hinge leaves a little to be desired

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The hinge also doesn’t hold the display with quite enough strength and tapping the touchscreen returns a frustrating wobble and bounce from Microsoft’s stellar screen.

There's also another issue with the design and it's all down to what's been packed inside the screen.

Because the display has to function as tablet, it has all sorts of gadgetry inside and that makes it heavy.

Unfortunately this means the device has a habit of toppling over when it’s resting on your lap. And that’s not great for a laptop.

The weight distribution also means you’ll struggle to open the Surface Book one handed and, if you're used to using an Apple MacBook, you'll instantly realise how often you fling open the screen with one finger.

Finally at 1.57kg this thing is heavy and you'll certainly notice it when it's popped inside your bag.

Surface Book review

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PERFORMANCE

The Surface Book comes in numerous styles and Daily Star Online was lucky enough to test the top-end machine.

This ships with an Intel Core i7 processor and it will easily cope with everything you throw at it.

Sadly, during our tests the Surface Book crashed on a number occasions with the screen instantly turning darker than a winters night.

Microsoft are fixing these bugs with regular updates but it did make us lose trust in this very expensive machine.

On a more positive note Microsoft has done a stellar job on the chiclet keyboard

The keyboard is quiet when you type, phenomenally accurate and is an absoulte joy to use.

STUNNING:The 13.5 inch PixelSense beauty is one of the best screens we’ve seen on a laptop

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TABLET: With the screen removed you've got the ultimate tablet

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BATTERY

Microsoft boasts a 13-hour battery life and we certainly found no issues with running low on juice.

This laptop will easily see you through a long-haul flight and still have power left in the tank.

It’s a shame that the screen only has three hours of battery once removed from the keyboard but it’s not a deal breaker.

In all, the Surface Book has impressed us with what it can achieve on a single charge and its battery life is as good as its premium rivals.

EXTRAS: The Surface Book features Microsoft's Pen

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EXTRAS

For your cash you not only get a laptop that transforms into a tablet but also a screen that turns into a notepad.

Like the Surface Pro, Microsoft's new tablet comes with a Surface Pen which allows you doodle on the display.

It’s a nice bonus and the pen now sticks firmly to the side of the screen with some very strong magnets.

Other features include a two full-size USB 3.0 ports and there's a 5 megapixel front-facing camera and 8 megapixel rear-facing camera with autofocus and 1080p HD video recording.

As well as taking pictures these cameras are used to recognise your face and log you in, so there’s no need for passwords.

This facial recognition feature is excellent and even works when the lights are low.

Finally, the Surface Book includes front-facing stereo speakers with Dolby audio.

PRICE

If you were hoping to treat yourself to a Surface Book be prepared for an almighty shock.

The starting price for this new laptop is £1,299 and this rises to a staggering £2,249 for the top of the range model.

Even Apple’s MacBook Pro starts at a lower price and we can’t help thinking this is simply too much for a laptop.

VERDICT

Microsoft's new laptop is a mixed bag.

There's plenty to like about this computer and, with its fast processor, long battery life and stunning detachable screen, it should be must-have gadget.

But sadly there's just too many niggles to make this the ultimate laptop.

The Surface Book is too heavy, too unstable on your lap and just way too expensive.

The fact it crashed so many times during our test is also a major worry, although Microsoft says it is sorting the software issues.

However, this is Microsoft’s first attempt at a laptop and it's certain to get better.

And when it does this computer will have the competition very afraid.

If you're desperate to own the Surface Book you will enjoy using it, but we've got a feeling the Surface Book 2 will definitley be worth waiting for.

Source:Daily Star UK

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5 tips for launching your mobile game on Windows 10

#1: Optimizing game UX for Windows 10 environment


The majority of Windows 10 users will be PC users and the PC environment is totally different from the mobile space.

Therefore a straight port is out of the question, especially in terms of game UX.

As PCs have various screen resolutions, larger screen size and keyboard/mouse options, developers should preplan flexible HUD layout and size.

Also, they should bear in mind that a PC screen enables players to manipulate window size and layout during gameplay.

Windows 10 version of Hero Sky running in split screen on PC

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Players will expect to switch windows, minimise them and move them, and the Windows 10 version of the game needs to accommodate this playing style.

PC players often use split screens which mobile interfaces will not facilitate. To counteract this, we rigorously tested the UI size and ratio adjustments so that it would run smoothly even in split screen mode on PC.


#2: Legacy code and porting resources

If the game is built with C++ or C# code and has resources developed for previous Windows versions (Windows 8 and under) it is not too difficult to launch a Windows 10 version of the game apart from modifying it to call in the Windows API.

However, the new asynchronized API introduced since Windows 8 operates in a different manner than the API for other platforms, and so might require some major changes in OS to call in API.

If the game has been developed with a Unity3D game engine, adjusting a few settings will make it compatible on Windows 10.

As mentioned later, however, Windows 10 Store requires complex app store resources such as icons and live tiles, as well as .NET native precompilation technology, which can create some issues for Unity3D and Visual Studio.

Unity3D and Visual Studio are not really designed to support the Windows 10 environment, and developers might have to resort to some 'dirty hacks' in order to resolve issues in the development tools.

On a positive note, Windows 10 support of Unity3D engine is quickly improving and as our own launches demonstrate Windows 10 games can be created using these two development tools.


#3: Testing different form factors

One of Windows 10’s prominent features is that it operates on a variety of devices including desktops, laptops, tablets and smart phones.

As a consequence of this functionality across a wide range of devices, games for Windows 10 require meticulous device testing.

Developers should also be aware that the Window 10 operating system for desktop/tablets differs in many ways from the Windows 10 operating system for mobile devices.

For smaller indie developers, we recommend testing Windows 10 games on desktop PCs first and then try it on as many other available devices as possible.

#4: App market resources

Windows 10 Store requires some special app markets resources which include various types of app icons - some of which are mandatory and some which are not. Make sure you read the guidelines carefully.

Windows 10 Store also has Live Tiles. These are a great way to get your game noticed by users and can play a key role in a games visibility and success in the Store.

Dragon Friends featured through Live Tile in Windows 10 Store

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Live Tile resources must be prepared in advance.

Bear in mind that meta data such as game description and screen shots cannot be changed after the market review is complete, just like the Google Play Store.

However, the market review process is relatively quick and if changes need to be made you can simply change the relevant meta data and submit for review without any other client updates.

We found the reviews process took just a few days.


#5: App certification before actual game launch

App Certification for Window 10 Store is slightly different than other app stores.

In the case of IAP certification, games need to support Microsoft’s own certification system. It is worth conducting a few compatibility tests with Microsoft’s transaction approval server as the XML data for transactions receipts may be received in a random form out of many.

In Windows 10 Store, the age rating process used to have region specific guidelines and regulations, but the age rating process has been recently streamlined – if the game has been approved through the IARC in Google Play Store, entering the same code in Windows 10 Store will automatically approve the game’s age rating.

However, Korea has a distinct age rating process and requires a GRB approval.

When the game is almost final it should be submitted as a closed app to test the app certification process before submitting the actual game for certification.


#6: Conclusion

Because the Windows 10 store is relatively new, it is a less competitive and crowded market than the mobile app stores and so offers greater opportunity and potential for developers.

It is not entirely straight forward to develop a Windows 10 version of a mobile title, but it is possible so long as the differences between the two platforms are recognised and games are optimised accordingly. Planning ahead is also strongly recommended.

Our own experience of developing for Windows 10 has been a positive one and we hope our insights will be relevant and useful for any developer thinking of working on Windows 10.


Source: Innospark Korea

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You can now get Windows 10 on your smartphone – here's how

UPDATE: Windows 10 is now available on smartphones

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MICROSOFT announces major update bringing its Windows 10 operating system to more smartphones.



Since its launch last year, Windows 10 has become hugely popular with millions of downloads across the globe.

Now Microsoft has announced its new operating system is being made available on a host of new mobile devices.

The US tech firm has begun rolling out Windows 10 on many Windows 8.1 powered smartphones.

In a post on Microsoft's blog, the company said: "Consistent with our approach to the Windows 10 PC upgrade, we are focused on delivering a high quality experience for our customers.

"The Windows 10 Upgrade Advisor app can be downloaded from the Windows Store to see if the upgrade is available for your device."


Sadly, not all Windows-powered phones can be upgraded with Microsoft saying that "as Windows 10 delivers significant new innovations, many older devices are not able to successfully upgrade without an impact on the customer experience."

The firm's goal is to only offer the Windows 10 upgrade to devices that they are confident can continue to deliver a good customer experience.

Here's a full list of devices that can now run Windows 10

Lumia 1520, 930, 640, 640XL, 730, 735, 830, 532, 535, 540, 635 1GB, 636 1GB, 638 1GB, 430, 435, BLU Win HD w510u, BLU Win HD LTE x150q, MCJ Madosma Q501

If you own one of the devices listed above you'll need to get the Windows 10 Upgrade Advisor app which is available free in the Windows Store.

This allows you to easily check for upgrade availability and prepare your phone to install the upgrade.

This update comes as Microsoft is set to fix one of Windows 10's most annoying features.

Currently, users can't add third party extensions, such as ad-blockers, to the Edge internet browser.

Now it seems Microsoft is about to sort this problem and is close to previewing its new Edge browser extensions.

The functionality will finally let users to install third-party add-ons when using Microsoft's web browser.

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