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Techradar |
- 5 things you should know about Windows as a Service
- UPDATED: See 7 tech companies support today's same-sex marriage ruling
- Updated: Samsung is patching its Windows Update blunder
- Didn't order the Fallout 4 Pip-Boy? We've got bad news for you
- Mac Tips: How to delete podcasts in iTunes on Mac
- Hands-on review: CE Week 2015: Epson PowerLite Pro Cinema LS10000
- Not a magical wand: Disney bans selfie sticks at its theme parks
- In Depth: 5 ways YouTube Gaming can take down Twitch
- Office 365 Store saves time with single sign-on to web apps
- Review: Updated: Microsoft Surface Pro 3
- Interview: Cities: Skylines CEO: We're not changing traffic (but natural disasters would be cool)
- Review: Philips Moda 2
- You can buy yourself a personal jetpack next year
- Review: Bose SoundTrue
- Keitai: How to transfer SIM contacts to Google from your iPhone
- Wall-E: This robot can build a house in just two days
- Audi's next car will drive on the Moon
- Review: Updated: Lenovo LaVie Z
- Japanese startup wants to deliver shooting stars on demand
- How to get Windows 10 for free and keep it forever
| 5 things you should know about Windows as a Service Posted: 27 Jun 2015 12:53 AM PDT  Introduction
Windows 10 isn't really the last version of Windows. It might be the last version number though, because new features and improvements will come out as part of Windows 10 rather than as new releases you have to upgrade to. Some of those will be smaller fixes and updates; some will be larger upgrades, like the Redstone update expected in 2016. They'll be delivered through Windows Update and Windows Update for Business, something Microsoft refers to as Windows as a Service. But what does that actually mean? In this slideshow, we will answer that central question, and other queries you may have about Windows 10 along these lines… It's not really a service
The phrase 'as a Service' usually means that you're not getting software to run on your PC and instead use a cloud service (that may or may not have software for your devices to use with some of the features available). Windows as a Service is the full version of Windows, in whatever SKU you use, running on your PCs as usual. Microsoft is using the name because 'servicing' is the way it refers to what most people call updating and patching. When you see the phrase 'always up to date with the latest features and security updates', that's Windows as a Service. It's not called Windows 365
You might have heard that Microsoft registered a domain with the Windows 365 name – it's most likely they did that to stop anyone else using it and confusing users, because that's not what Microsoft calls Windows as a Service. And unlike Office 365, you don't pay a monthly fee to get new features (or even the right to keep using the software). The confusion arises because the free upgrade to Windows 10 (Home and Pro editions) is only available to Windows 7 Service Pack 1 and Windows 8.1 users for a year after Windows 10 comes out. If you wait longer than that and then you want to upgrade, Microsoft will charge you to get Windows 10 (that might be as much as the full Windows 10 licence, as previous upgrade prices have been available for limited periods of time). But once you get Windows 10, you'll get free security and feature updates, for "the supported lifetime of the device". The phrase supported lifetime refers to the fact that OEMs don't support PC models forever – after a certain point, they stop releasing drivers for older PCs. If a new feature comes along in Windows that needs an updated driver and the PC vendor is no longer supporting the device and doesn't release a new driver, then that new feature isn't going to work for you. Windows 10 Enterprise isn't a free upgrade at all, but if you have Software Assurance as part of your Windows Enterprise volume licence you'll have the right to upgrade. SA is a subscription, and that doesn't change. It's only for Windows 10
Windows 7 and Windows 8/8.1 will carry on getting security updates for as long as they're supported by Microsoft, but the continuing new features are only for Windows 10. That's also true for the Windows Update for Business service, where businesses can choose to deliver fixes through their own version of the Windows Update system. Consumers and businesses update differently
The Windows 10 Home edition comes with automatic system updates; you have to be using Windows 10 Pro or Enterprise to be able to delay or turn off feature updates. If you keep updates on, you'll always have the latest version of Windows, which Microsoft calls the 'current branch'. And if they want, Windows Insiders can stay in the Insider program (even if they're on Windows Pro or Enterprise as well as Home) and remain on what Microsoft calls the 'active branch' to get previews of new updates before everyone else. For businesses, there are two things to think about with updates. One is that the branches are slightly different. The Current Branch for Business (which is available for both Windows Pro and Enteprise) gets security updates straight away, and feature updates regularly – but not until the current branch for consumers has had those features for several months (long enough to show that there aren't any problems with them). Windows 10 Enterprise customers with Software Assurance who have PCs running critical systems where they can't risk changes and incompatibilities can also opt for the Long Term Servicing branch that gets security and critical updates (via Windows Update for Windows Server Update Services), but doesn't get feature updates for the five or ten years of mainstream and extended support. New Long Term Servicing branches with some new features will come out (probably at the same two to three year interval that service packs used to arrive at) and you'll be able to upgrade to the next Long Term Servicing branch when it comes out. You can also switch PCs between current and Long Term Service branches. The other option businesses have is the free Windows Update for Business option for Windows 10 Pro and Enterprise. This gives you the same updates, but with more control over exactly when they roll out. You can put different PCs into different distribution rings, so enthusiastic users get new features more quickly and critical teams like the finance department get them more slowly. You can also set maintenance windows – that could mean no PCs get rebooted for updates during business hours, or no-one in the finance department will have their PC rebooted for an update during the last week of the quarter when they're working on financial reports. Feature creep
There are some Windows 10 features that won't be available straight away, including extensions support in the Edge browser and whatever Microsoft comes up with to replace the 'placeholder' feature in OneDrive (in Windows 8.1 that lets you save files into OneDrive folders that you don't sync, even when you're offline, and have them sync to the cloud later, but it's not in Windows 10). Indeed, the unified OneDrive client that supports sync to both consumer OneDrive and OneDrive for Business probably won't come out until the autumn, along with Windows 10 Enterprise. If you're not allowing Windows Update to deliver features as well as security updates and you install Windows 10 before those features come along, you won't get them. And if you're on the Long Term Servicing branch, you won't get the Edge browser at all. That's because Edge will get its own frequent updates, and if you're not going to allow updates, there's no point having Edge installed.  |
| UPDATED: See 7 tech companies support today's same-sex marriage ruling Posted: 26 Jun 2015 08:57 PM PDT  This is how tech firms showed their Pride
As LGBT Pride Month comes to an end, a Supreme Court ruling today has legalized same-sex marriage across the US. That means it's time to break out the doodles. To celebrate, a large number of tech companies today have changed their logos or posted to social media. Our newsfeeds have never been so colorful. Here is a round-up of tech companies showing their support of marriage equality, featuring filters, hashtags and Easter eggs. Uber
Uber keeps us moving from destination to destination, but the company proved to be emotionally moving today by tweeting an equality-celebrating GIF. The ride hailing service is also adding little rainbows that trail its drivers within the app today. Maybe that'll brighten up the fact it's going to take 12 minutes for the driver to pick you up from the airport.
You can celebrate Pride on Facebook in your own colorful way, and it only takes a few clicks. The social network is allowing everyone to add colorful stripes to your profile pictures. This auto-generating red, orange, yellow, green, blue and purple rainbow overlay is joined by a Facebook Stories short film about an LGBT supporter who started Facebook group LGBTQ. "Today is a historic day recognizing marriage equality for same-sex couples across the US," the social media giant wrote today. "In celebration of this and LGBT Pride Month, we're sharing the story of Justin Kamimoto, one of many individuals making a difference for this community." The White House
Okay, it's not a tech company, but the state-of-the-art home of the first sitting US President to declare support for same-sex marriage is getting a Pride-supporting colorful makeover online and IRL. The White House is being decked out with rainbow-colored flood lights to celebrate the Supreme Court ruling. It could be seen through a live White House video feed for a bit, too.
No stranger to doodles and Easter eggs, Google is celebrating Pride Month in a number of ways. If you type "happy pride" Google Hangouts, you'll see one of three surprise animations (a rainbow, two emoji kissing and a parade of emojis with the Pride flag). Meanwhile, typing keywords similar to "marriage equality" or "same-sex marriage" into Google Search today will show you this a rainbow-colored people paper chain, that art project I could never do in middle school. Google also posted this video to YouTube: YouTube : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WSiehK2asbI
Twitter has a colorful new avatar. It's not on every page as part of the official masthead logo, but the tech company is using it for the @Twitter profile. Trending, you should see hashtags like #LoveWins and phrases like Supreme Court and White House. It's nice to see something not depressing trend for once this week/year/epoch. Apple The online-based store includes books, apps, music, TV shows and podcasts related to LGBT civil rights to commemorate the 1969 Stonewall riots. Spotify
Spotify has set up a new #LoveWins playlist. Created by the team at the streaming music service, it includes 43 songs spanning 2 hours and 48 minutes. Artists include Adele, Hozier, John Legend, Macklemore and Elton John. Mary Lambert kicks things off with the meaningful lyrics, "I can't try even if I wanted to" in the song She Keeps Me Warm.  |
| Updated: Samsung is patching its Windows Update blunder Posted: 26 Jun 2015 03:53 PM PDT  Update: Nearly three days after Samsung laptop bloatware was discovered to be deactivating the automatic Windows Update, the Korean firm says it plans to send a patch soon to stop the software from performing the sketchy practice. "Samsung has a commitment to security and we continue to value our partnership with Microsoft," a company spokesperson told VentureBeat. "We will be issuing a patch through the Samsung Software Update notification process to revert back to the recommended automatic Windows Update settings within a few days. Samsung remains committed to providing a trustworthy user experience and we encourage customers with product questions or concerns to contact us directly at 1-800-SAMSUNG." Samsung has never said clearly why its SW Update was set up to block Windows Update from doing its job, though VentureBeat noted the company had implied Microsoft's default drivers were to blame for component issues in Samsung laptops. Apparently, Samsung's fix was to disable all Windows updates, though it's now reversing course on that strategy. Original article below... An active debugger in the Microsoft community has made a startling discovery: a program in Samsung's SW Update software, which can be downloaded on Samsung laptops, blocks Windows' own updating software, leaving users with a potential security flaw. Windows Update is responsible for installing updates for the operating system, drivers and software, along with patches and security updates, so blocking it is obviously a bad idea. Patrick Barker, the Microsoft "MVP" who made the discovery and who is not a Microsoft employee, explained the program responsible for disabling Windows Update was 'Disable_Windowsupdate.exe,' and was found to be a part of Samsung's SW Update software. "SW Update is your typical OEM updating software that will update your Samsung drivers, the bloatware that came on your Samsung machine, etc," Barker wrote on his blog. "The only difference between other OEM updating software is, Samsung's disables [Windows Update]." Problems with bloatwareAfter discovering the issue, Barker got in touch with a Samsung customer support rep to ask why the program was disabling Windows Update. Barker posted the response on his blog: "When you enable Windows updates, it will install the Default Drivers for all the hardware no laptop which may or may not work. For example if there is USB 3.0 on laptop, the ports may not work with the installation of updates. So to prevent this, SW Update tool will prevent the Windows updates." Since the issue came to light, Microsoft said in a statement that it's now in contact with Samsung to address the issue. "Windows Update remains a critical component of our security commitment to our customers," Microsoft said. "We do not recommend disabling or modifying Windows Update in any way as this could expose a customer to increased security risks." Samsung has also said in a statement it's investigating the claim and will be "working with Microsoft to address this matter". Barker, on the other hand, recommends users uninstall the SW Update tool.
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| Didn't order the Fallout 4 Pip-Boy? We've got bad news for you Posted: 26 Jun 2015 03:31 PM PDT  Fallout 4 pre-orders for the special edition Pip-Boy sold out almost immediately, and it looks like they're gone again the second time around, forever. Specifically, Bethesda will no longer manufacture real life Pip-Boys for future retail. Bethesda's VP of Marketing and PR Pete Hines took to Twitter and briefly stated: "Each store is being given their final allotment. How and when they make the[sic] available is up to them. but no more are being made." If you missed out on the first and second rounds of pre-orders, it seems like you're out of luck. Whatever's left in stock during launch day on November 10, 2015 will likely be the last batch of $120 (£99, about AU$155) special edition Pip-Boy bundles. Don't care about the wearable and just want moar Fallout 4? That's still coming later this year on Xbox One, PS4 and PC.
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| Mac Tips: How to delete podcasts in iTunes on Mac Posted: 26 Jun 2015 02:58 PM PDT  Got an Apple, Mac or iOS tech question? We have the answer. This time we have a reader who wants to know how to delete podcasts from iTunes for Mac. It's usually easily dealt with, but we have both basic and advanced pointers for getting the job done. QuestionI have not been able to figure out how to erase podcasts from my iTunes library. I'm not referring to the individual podcasts themselves, but the original podcast reference in the library. For instance, I have stopped listening to this podcast "Book That Changed My Life" but I cannot remove it. I have several of them clogging up my list. Any ideas? AnswerWith podcasts inside of iTunes, even if you unsubscribe from a podcast, the podcast episodes and entry in the sidebar will remain until you take steps to delete the podcast from iTunes on your Mac. Fortunately, this should be a very easy process. To delete your podcasts, perform these steps: 1. Open the Podcasts view inside of iTunes. (Press Command + 4 for quick access.) 2. Right-click (or control-click) on the podcast that you wish to delete in the sidebar. 3. Select the Delete option from the contextual menu. 4. In the window that appears, select "Delete."
After you perform these steps, you will be unsubscribed from the podcast, and any downloaded episodes will be completely removed from your computer. In addition, the podcast's entry in the sidebar of iTunes will be removed. If this technique isn't working, however, it's likely you're experiencing some type of bug. In this case, there's no simple solution, but there are multiple things you can try, such as dragging the podcast from the sidebar directly into your trash can, deleting the podcast from the Episode List instead of the Podcasts list (switch between them in the upper-right corner), or checking your music library to see if the podcasts have been recategorized as music (in which case you'll have to manage them from the music section of iTunes). Also, don't be afraid to press that Refresh button in the lower-left - sometimes it can clean out podcasts or episodes that appear to be there but really aren't. Got an Apple tech question? Email ask@maclife.com.  |
| Hands-on review: CE Week 2015: Epson PowerLite Pro Cinema LS10000 Posted: 26 Jun 2015 02:45 PM PDT  4K TV will, without a doubt, be the next revolution in television technology. Entering its sophomore years, the Ultra HD fad is finally hitting its stride with affordable sets that are more accessible to the everyman. At the same time, options targeted for home theater enthusiasts are in large supply with massive and even curved televisions. Now, we have a kickass 4K projector to gawk at. At CE Week 2015 in New York CIty, Epson showcased its flagship 4K projector, the PowerLite Pro Cinema LS10000 (otherwise known as the EH-LS10000 in the UK). By far, the key takeaway from this projector is that it uses freaking lasers in place of traditional lamps to render an image. Aside from the coolness factor, going with concentrated light rays also means this projector starts up dramatically faster. Plus you won't have to worry about burnt out lamps or it being excessively loud. Now for the soul crusher – it'll run you $7,999 or £5,999 (about AU$10,458).
DesignThe Epson PowerLite Pro Cinema LS10000 is massive and bulbous in proportion. Measuring 22-inches square and weighing 40 pounds, this projector looks almost like looks like an alien drone straight out of a sci-fi movie with its single lens and two large air intakes on the sides. It doesn't help the rest of the projector looks as if it was streamlined with rounded curves all around for flight. Around back, you'll find a removable rear cover with a radial-pattern grill, which you can pull off to reveal the ports. The projector has on tap a set of component ports, RGB PC input, two slots for HDMI cables, Ethernet, two remote triggers, a RS-232 serial remote port and lastly, a microUSB port for software upgrades only.
The real 4K dealWhile 4K television is still a nascent media format that's barely hit homes worldwide, it's already set a new high bar for picture quality. Ultra HD TV sets have proven to not only look sharper, but also produce a more vivid and lifelike picture with improved color and contrast. To my pleasant surprise, the Pro Cinema LS10000 was able to produce an equally pleasing picture with perfect clarity despite having to beam the picture through the air for several feet. What's more, colors were bright and despite beaming light across the room. The contrast also looked great, with clearly defined grays fading into deep blacks. The demo unit was setup in a fairly ideal situation with a dark room and a 65-inch silvered screen standing approximately a yard and a half away. An Epson representative also explained that the projector could also be positioned further back and potentially produce a picture that's 200-inches in size. The projector is rated to produce 1,500 lumens of light, which should be plenty bright to play a movie even in a sunlit room. But in most cases you'll want to set it up in a theater room with blackout window curtains to get the best cinema experience.
Pew Pew!Let's talk more about the best feature of the Pro Cinema LS10000: frickin' lasers, as Doctor Evil would say. The laser engine is one of the most unique characteristics of this projector, whereas most units use lamps that burn out after roughly 3,000 hours of usage. The LS1000 laser engine uses two blue lasers – one of which is split into a green and red light – to produce a full picture. Epson claims the device will last well beyond the lifespan of a projector lamp, with between 17,000 and 30,000 hours of usage (depending on whether it's set to in High or ECO power consumption modes). Most lamp-powered projectors also have to heat up for up to two-minutes before you can start watching media. The Pro Cinema LS10000 will kick into gear in just 26 seconds. Early verdictThe Epson PowerLite Pro Cinema LS10000 produces a stunning 4K image that rivals some of the best televisions I've ever set my eyes on, including LG's OLED 4K TV. But with a price tag of $7,999 or £5,999 (about AU$10,458), this is a home entertainment device you'll only find in the most outlandish home theater setups.  |
| Not a magical wand: Disney bans selfie sticks at its theme parks Posted: 26 Jun 2015 02:34 PM PDT  Going to a Disney theme park this summer? Leave your selfie sticks at home, kids, because Disney is banning them at its parks around the globe. All Disney parks in the US won't welcome the wands beginning June 30, while the ban will roll out to Disney parks in Hong Kong and Paris on July 1. Disney will add the ban to the parks' rules post on its website, and visitors will be warned with announcements in public locations around the parks, such as parking lots and hotels. Anyone found with a selfie stick during routine bag checks at park entrances will be told to turn it in for pick-up later, or told to return it to their car or hotel. A danger stick?Selfie sticks have so far been prohibited on certain rides across Disneyland and Disney World for safety reasons, with signs and employees warning visitors and rule breakers. According to news reports, a few days ago a Disneyland roller coaster was stopped for an hour and riders evacuated when someone pulled out a selfie-stick mid coaster. The entertainment giant says the blanket ban is due to safety concerns, though it wasn't prompted by the recent Disneyland incident alone. "We strive to provide a great experience for the entire family and, unfortunately, selfie sticks have become a growing safety concern for both our guests and cast (employees)," Disney spokeswoman Suzi Brown told The OC Register. Disney joins a list of other companies, museums and organizations banning the selfie stick in public spaces and events. Earlier this year, Apple banned the selfie stick for its WWDC developer conference.  |
| In Depth: 5 ways YouTube Gaming can take down Twitch Posted: 26 Jun 2015 01:30 PM PDT  A new challenger emergesYouTube revealed earlier this month that it's jumping into the game-streaming arena with a new service called YouTube Gaming. Its opponent? The Amazon-owned Twitch, one of the most popular destinations on the internet. This 800-pound gorilla of the streaming world is where 100 million viewers go every month to catch their favorite personalities, watch live announcements and see the latest events from around the gaming industry streamed live. Though other competitors have risen to take on Twitch, the most notable of which was the upstart Hitbox, YouTube might be the strongest yet. After all, it's got tech giant Google in its corner. Even so, YouTube is still fighting an uphill battle. What can YouTube do that Twitch doesn't already? I have a few ideas, but I also wanted to get a sense of what streamers - from small hobbyists to well-known personalities, all of whom focus on different kinds of content - think about YouTube's move into the field. Specifically, I asked what they think YouTube could offer that would give it an edge against the well-entrenched Twitch. As some of them have Twitch partnerships, I opted to keep them anonymous. You'll find their thoughts below, along with my own take on how YouTube Gaming can take down Twitch. 1. Offer better archival and search toolsIn August 2014, Twitch rolled out several changes to the way it stored old broadcasts. Among them was a limit to the amount of time video of a past broadcast would be stored on its servers, unless it was designated as a "highlight." While users can export video streams from Twitch to YouTube, doing so remains a cumbersome process. But since YouTube Gaming is, well, YouTube, archival has the potential to be much easier, simpler and faster, if not instantaneous.
Another difficulty Twitch faces is finding pre-recorded streams of specific games. It's easy to find someone who's currently online, but finding past streams of someone playing New Super Mario Bros. 2 on 3DS, for example, remains a major problem. YouTube, with Google's search engine backing, could make finding streams of your favorite gaming obscurities a cinch, and could possibly even appear in basic Google searches if the company decides to go down that route. 2. Get exclusive broadcast rights to big eventsIt might seem like a dirty move, but it's the truth: the easiest way to get an audience is to secure exclusive broadcast rights to an event that people want to see. "I think Twitch doing that in 2012 or so helped fuel the migration of gaming streams to their service from Ustream's," one gaming marathon organizer told me. "So I could see it happening again if [YouTube] offered a better-enough service." However, YouTube doesn't necessarily have to snag big-time eSports like EGL or EVO to grow an audience. A lengthy event with multiple must-see sessions, like the week-long Games Done Quick charity showcases, draws a lot of viewers and participants over seven days. An event along those lines could bring in the viewers for the new service who would then hopefully stick around to watch other streams – and make their own.
To that point, YouTube Gaming had a major presence during the recent E3 2015 gaming expo in Los Angeles, complete with hosts who followed along with show happenings all day long. Twitch hosted several E3 press conferences, too, so the two may need to lay claim to other big gaming events - or duke it out over who owns E3. 3. More reliable servers and less stream delayAnyone who has streamed on Twitch has likely encountered outages or other server hiccups from time to time. While these outages can be a hassle, the big issue is stream delay, which affects when viewers can see what a player is doing and when the streamer can see what's being said in the chat. Stream delay was first introduced in August 2014 as a compromise to try to improve the service's general performance and reduce server strain, it's still a topic of much consternation. "[I'd like it] back to the levels it used to be at a 5-10 second delay," said a well-known stream personality.
Other streamers, however, didn't see the delay as too problematic. "Less stream delay isn't as big of a deal [for me]... It's nice, but frankly it's hard for me to read everything while playing," says a Twitch speedrunner. For those bothered by lag times, a shorter delay between streamers and viewers could put an easy point in YouTube Gaming's win column. Will game streamers make the switch?4. Harness the power of HTML5Twitch uses Adobe Flash, a program which can be volatile, to say the least. (I've lost track of how many times Twitch streams have crashed on my PC.) An up-and-coming streamer who uses Twitch to build an elaborate fictional universe for their viewers went into a bit more detail. "Flash is a resource hog and Twitch reps have said they're working on moving to HTML5, but time will tell when it comes out," the streamer said. YouTube Gaming already has a leg up in this regard. YouTube runs HTML5 by default in supported browsers, having dropped Flash in January this year. As we wrote at the time: "[HTML5] allows YouTube to dynamically alter video quality to suit the bandwidth available. And that means less time watching the buffering screen." It also means YouTube can "use the VP9 codec (which enables 4K video at 60fps), as well as [enable] faster video load times and WebRTV support for easy sharing of videos and video broadcasts." If YouTube Gaming can fully harness the power of HTML5 for its new streaming endeavor, Twitch will have a difficult time keeping up. 5. Spread the wealthA lot of people stream occasionally in their spare time, but there are very few folks who can make their hobby even slightly profitable. More money for streamers would mean more people streaming - and more viewers coming to watch. Many Twitch streamers offer paid channel subscriptions (the revenue of which is split with Twitch), and get a small take of ad revenue, but some feel the terms aren't the best. "Twitch and Hitbox are both 50% on [subscription revenue splits], and it'd be nice if they pushed it to 70/30," says a hobbyist streamer I surveyed. "[That way] more people could do this as a thing … since [the streaming services] provide 99% of the service free/just on ad revenue, it always felt greedy on their part, [but] no one has really tried to up-heave that."
So is Twitch just being greedy, or does it need the money to run its business? When asked to comment on whether it would ever consider changing its policy to better reward streamers and potentially attract even more on-screen talent, Twitch PR replied, "We don't share details about our revenue share with broadcasters. Since the success of Twitch is based on the success of our broadcasters, enabling them to generate more income is always top of mind." "This is why we partnered with Teespring earlier this year," they continued. "Now all of our Partnered broadcasters can sell merchandise directly through their Twitch dashboard in a very turnkey fashion while receiving the majority of the profit from the sales." If YouTube Gaming could negotiate a higher rate for its streamers and stick to that message over the next year, it's possible Twitch could start losing those streamers - and viewers - to the approaching challenger. But will it be enough?Despite the possibilities for the upstart YouTube Gaming, among almost everyone I surveyed, there was a general feeling that migrating from Twitch would be a major hassle. "Twitch already has a lot of services that you don't see on other sites/see others mimicking like subs, IRC chat, emotes, etc.," notes a major streaming personality. "It's tricky, because I already feel like Twitch has what I need to do what I enjoy, and YouTube's service has a lot of catching up to do." This apathy towards switching sides is understandable: When you're entrenched with thousands of followers and subscribers, you risk alienating your audience if you move. "It would take quite a bit for me to seriously consider switching away from Twitch, since I have a pretty good-sized personal following there," says the marathon planner. Ultimately, though, most feel that another player in the video game streaming arena is a good thing. "I'm planning to wait and see - if nothing else I'd like to see Twitch face some real competition, since usually the consumer wins in the end," says the marathon organizer. "Honestly, perhaps Google has something that I just don't know about," says the speedrunner. "If they have a surprise up their sleeves, [that's] awesome."  |
| Office 365 Store saves time with single sign-on to web apps Posted: 26 Jun 2015 12:32 PM PDT  The Office 365 Store makes it easy for Office users to manage, launch and sign into their third-party web apps. These third-party apps extend the function of Office and brings Microsoft closer to turning its software into a service. "Office 365 Store is accessible through an icon in the app launcher "waffle" in the top navigation bar," Microsoft said in a blog post. Initially, Microsoft is working with a few select partners for the Single Sign-On experience, but the company is committed to extending the simplicity of this experience to more third-party apps in the future. Microsoft says that any third-party app with the Azure Active Directory, Open ID Connect and OAuth 2.0 support can be published to the Office 365 Store. Adding Office 365 web apps to your launcherYou can add third-party apps from the Office 365 Store to your app launcher in just a few clicks. First, you'll need to access the Office 365 Store from your launcher. Once you're in, you can add the apps to your My Apps. In order to promote the apps to the launcher, you can click on the ellipses next to the app tile and pin the app. "From there, you can launch any of these apps with no further sign in – existing Office 365 credentials do the job! You can also unpin or even remove apps you no longer need," Microsoft said in a blog post. This feature is rolling out now to First Release customers and will be available to everyone in July. Admin configuration is not needed, so hopefully the company has a process for approving safe apps into the Office 365 Store. The Office 365 Store only hosts free web apps, and Microsoft said it is considering paid apps for the future. The Office 365 Store is separate from the Windows Store, which hosts full apps for Windows users. Office 365 appsOffice 365 apps extend the functionality of Microsoft's suite by integrating services from third-party developers. For example, Salesforce, LinkedIn and DocuSign offer apps that extend the functionality of Microsoft Outlook. Using the Outlook APIs that were announced in late April, the LinkedIn and Salesforce integration could scan your inbox and retrieve information about the sender's name, LinkedIn profile and company information. This helps you keep up to date with your contacts and retrieve information at a glance without having to search. Microsoft also demonstrated integration with Uber. With this integration, you can schedule your appointments inside Outlook as usual, and you can also add a reminder to call an Uber car. Once the reminder goes off on your phone, you'll swipe across, and you'll be taken into the Uber app. Inside the app, the relevant destination field for your appointment is automatically populated, saving you time.
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| Review: Updated: Microsoft Surface Pro 3 Posted: 26 Jun 2015 12:21 PM PDT  Introduction and designUpdate: One flavor of the Surface Pro 3 is enjoying a hefty price cut in the US, thanks to the Redmond camp. Down from its $1,299 price to $1,149 on the Microsoft Store, the Intel Core i5-equipped model with 256GB of solid state storage makes this an even more attractive device. With that savings, you could pick up the $130 Type Cover and still walk away with a few bucks. But if you want to get in on the ground level for as little as possible, you can grab the entry-level model for $50 off in the US. As of this writing, a retailer on eBay is offering the 64GB, Intel Core i3-equipped unit for $649. With those savings, you could pick up the Type Cover too without spending much more than what this model alone normally costs. Then again, that fabled Surface Pro 4, if it exists, would land any day now... Original review follows... Knock it for the Windows 8 launch. Lay into it for how it debuted the Xbox One. But, when it comes to its latest product, the Surface Pro 3, don't pull out the torches and pitchforks just yet – Microsoft is onto something here. Over the past few years, the Redmond, Wash. Windows maker has proved to be one of the bolder technology companies, for better or worse. Microsoft clearly isn't afraid to fall on its face in the hope of landing on what in the world tech users want next in this turbulent market, and the Surface Pro 3 is – well, it just might be an exception. The company has been hammering away at what it considers is a problem with tablets for years. Since the launch of the Surface Pro, Microsoft has sought after the ultimate mobile computing device, one that could replace the laptop with a tablet-first approach. All five versions of the Surface Pro are available now in the US, UK and Australia. They are: 64GB / Intel Core-i3 ($799), 128GB / Core-i5 ($999), 256GB / Core-i5 ($1,299), 256GB / Core-i7 ($1,549) and 512GB / Core-i7 ($1,949). It's also available in many more countries, including 25 new markets for the first time. According to Microsoft, the device has proved such a popular debutant in those markets that it's struggled to meet demand. "For those of you waiting for Surface Pro 3 (or for the specific version that is just right for you): hang tight, we are shipping in new products as fast as we can," Microsoft wrote in a blog post on September 12. "We should be in a much better position in the next week or two." YouTube : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zu8tvK4hCh4The Surface Pro 3 is closer than Microsoft has ever been to making good on its mobile computing vision. After over a week with the slate, I'd go so far as to say that the Pro 3 is closer than any laptop-tablet hybrid released yet. Microsoft was so sure of itself that not only did it directly compare the Pro 3 to Apple's iPad Air and 13-inch MacBook Air, it gave members of the press pre-release Surface Pro 3 units during an announcement event in New York. Sure, the units have bugs as of this review, but who cares? "I forced the giving away of the device, just so you're aware," Surface team lead Panos Panay told me just after the reveal. "I said, 'You know what? I want the product in people's hands.' 'But the bugs are still there. They're not all done until June 20, until it's on market.' I don't care. The purity of the device is still true, and on June 20 there will be more drops."
One look at the thing might explain Panay's eagerness to get the Surface Pro 3. It's no iPad Air, that's for sure, but the iPad Air isn't packing a 12-inch display. DesignYes, Microsoft bumped the Surface Pro touchscreen from a tiny 10.6 inches to a far roomier 12 inches. In the process, the pixel count has been upped from 1920 x 1080 to 2160 x 1440 The result is a modest boost in pixels per inch – 207 ppi to 216 ppi – given the increase in screen real estate. More important is Microsoft's interesting choice in aspect ratio. Rather than sticking with the Pro 2's 16:9 or glomming onto the iPad's 4:3, the firm went with a 3:2 aspect ratio. The company claims that, with this aspect ratio, this 12-inch screen can actually display more content than the MacBook Air's 13.3-inch panel at 16:10. The move was also made to make the tablet feel more like your average notepad when held in portrait orientation.
Wrapped in a bright, silver-colored magnesium shell that's cool and smooth to the touch, the Surface Pro 3 feels premium in every regard. The tablet keeps the trapezoidal shape of its predecessors, but manages to come in both thinner and lighter than before. Plus, the tablet's upper half is beset by vents on its edges to better dissipate heat pushed out by its fan. Microsoft also moved the Windows home button to the device's left side of its silky smooth – though, rather thick – glass bezel. This way, it appears on the bottom of the slate while held upright, calling out, 'Hey, hold it this way now.' While it's no doubt the lightest Surface Pro yet, I'm not sure whether I could hold onto it for an entire subway ride home. Adorning both sides of the Pro 3 are 5MP cameras capable of 1080p video recording. While stills on either shooter won't blow you away, the front-facing lens should do just fine for Skype and the weekly video meeting over VPN.
This Surface isn't without its sidekick(s)A tablet wouldn't be much of a laptop replacement without a keyboard, and the Surface Pro keyboard was in desperate need of a boost. Luckily, Microsoft sent the Type Cover back to the drawing board, and what came back is the best version yet. From keys with deeper travel and stronger feedback to a wider glass trackpad that actually clicks, nothing was off the table. But the most important improvement is the brand new double hinge. Equipped with a strong magnet that latches onto the Pro 3's lower bezel, the Type Cover can now rest with just a portion of it touching your lap or desk. This proved to make writing on my lap much more stable than with previous Surface devices. (Plus, the plush cover comes in five colors: red, blue, cyan, black and purple.) Tucked beside the Type Cover is also the newly improved Surface Pen. Microsoft made a point of calling its stylus that, because the firm wants it to be seen as and feel like the writing instrument we've all grown up with. With an aluminum finish and a useful clicker up top, the Surface Pen is weighted to better feel like a pen. Using Bluetooth and powered by N-trig, the stylus tracks closer to its physical position than ever before, thanks to some major improvements to the Surface screen.
The new Surface Pro 3 unarguably has the look and feel of a premium product, so it only deserves to be stacked up against the most luxuriously built tablet and laptop around. Adobe launched major updates to two of its classic design applications in March. Called Touch Workspace, the apps are available now free of charge to existing Creative Cloud subscribers and Surface Pro 3 owners with the latest versions of Adobe Illustrator CC 2014 and Adobe Photoshop CC 2014 installed. The apps feature a streamlined design user interface that makes it more responsive to fingertips, while optimizing a number of new or existing software tools with touch interaction in mind. SpecificationsThe Surface Pro 3 improves upon the previous model in just about every which way – Microsoft has checked all of its boxes. The company was even so brash as to compare this hybrid of sorts to both Apple's 13-inch MacBook Air and its tablet atop the mountain, the iPad Air. At least on the outside, the Surface Pro 3 falls somewhere smack in the middle. Measuring 7.93 x 11.5 x 0.36 inches (W x D x H), the 1.76-pound tablet isn't quite as thin and light as the iPad Air, but beats the MacBook Air in both respects easily. And that's pretty much the point: a device that offers enough of both to replace both. The Pro 3 is a light enough tablet – but not the absolute lightest – and arguably one of the thinnest and lightest laptops around. But dimensions aren't even half of it. Does the Pro 3 offer comparable power to both, not to mention for a competitive price?
Here is the Surface Pro 3 configuration given to TechRadar: Spec sheet
This is one of the mid-range Surface Pro 3 configurations, and it'll cost you a steep $1,299 (about £772, AU$1,403). The most affordable way into the latest Surface Pro 3 goes for just $799 (around £475, AU$863). However, you'll have to work with an Intel Core i3 chip, half as much RAM and just 64GB of storage. On the other hand, you can deck out this slate with a Core i7 CPU, 8GB of memory and a whopping 512GB solid-state drive for $1,949 (about £1,158, AU$2,106). It's worth noting that various deals to snag the Surface Pro 3 at a lower price are kicking about. In the US, for example, you can pick up the device with a $150 discount if you're a student. If you opt for the higher-end Core i7 model, you can get an even better 10% off the retail price, which amounts to $195.
Returning to the device at hand, Microsoft says that it's essentially two devices in one, and has priced it accordingly, not to mention with Apple squarely in mind. So, starting with the latest iPad, it would cost $799 -- the Pro 3's starting price -- to only reach half of this Microsoft tablet's storage. And this is Apple's most premium configuration. That price also gets you a 1.3GHz processor, a 9.7-inch display at 2048 x 1536 resolution, 802.11a/b/g/n dual-channel Wi-Fi with MIMO and Bluetooth 4.0. While it's tough to compare these displays given their difference in size, the iPad Air has a tough time competing with the Surface Pro 3 on paper. The MacBook Air comparison is, surprisingly, an easier one to make, spec for spec. For $1,299, Apple's 13-inch thin-and-light laptop meets the Pro 3 head on in terms of storage and memory. However, that 1440 x 900 screen looks just dull in comparison. And while this notebook sports Intel's far superior HD Graphics 5000, the Core i5 chip behind them is much slower at 1.4GHz.
At first glance, it looks like the Surface Pro 3 can dance around both of Apple's machines at the same time. However, that's assuming you purchased the optional Type Cover. That's right: the one tool that enables this tablet to truly replace the laptop does not come with the device. In fact, it costs a cool $130 (around £77, AU$140). Even so, this Surface Pro 3 configuration, with Type Cover included, still costs less than Apple's entry level tablet and laptop combined. Microsoft may have made good on its goal of replacing the laptop in terms of price, but what about performance? PerformanceWith a product designed to be two things at once, it's tough to quantify its performance with synthetic tests designed to typically test just one type of device. Regardless, the Surface Pro 3 performed just slightly better than the average Core i5-4200U-packing Ultrabook, which isn't terribly shocking. Benchmarks
Save for PCMark's battery life test, these results are generally in line with what I would expect from a slightly beefed up Core i5 machine. This processor and RAM combo will handle video chat, streaming and perhaps the average spreadsheet VLOOKUP with ease. Plus, your lunchtime gaming breaks should go over smoothly within reason.
For instance, I played a round of Hearthstone with just a bit a sluggishness before I turned down the graphics detail. However, the upper right portion of the tablet's magnesium frame reached scorching levels of heat during that single session. The same happened every time I went to watch an HD video over YouTube. Neither bode well for couch cruisers, though that redesigned hinge will come in mighty handy for this. Nothing will save this tablet from the sound its fan produces, however, which is noticeable but not disruptive or distracting. Beaten by the batteryBack to that battery result, it frankly isn't even close to the best I've seen from a tablet. In my own use of the Pro 3 – over 10 Google Chrome tabs, Spotify streaming high bitrate audio, TweetDeck running and HipChat active with the keyboard backlit – the slate lasted 3 hours and 55 minutes. Both tests were run at max brightness on the "Balanced" power setting.
Microsoft claims that the Surface Pro 3 can hold out for up to 9 hours of web browsing before kicking the can. Considering that both PCMark 8 and my own test are plenty more strenuous than that simple task, perhaps the device could last longer under lighter loads. Lowering the brightness will undoubtedly boost endurance, and I noticed that the tablet can last for days on standby. Regardless, this is a device meant to handle relatively heavy work loads. If it can't match the market-leading laptop in terms of longevity, then can it truly replace it?
It's true: both the 13-inch MacBook Air and iPad Air outlast the Surface Pro 3 in our tests. Under more intense loads, it wouldn't be surprising to see either maintain their lead over Microsoft's tablet. Perhaps it's Windows 8.1, or more likely that QHD screen – regardless, there's room for improvement here. The Surface Pen points aheadWhen Surface team lead Panos Panay showed off the new Surface Pen's Bluetooth feature that "magically" summoned OneNote with a click of its top button, it looked like a neat gimmick. As it turns out, that's exactly the case, but this kind of use of Bluetooth shows vast potential for the future. At any rate, what's important here is the actual writing experience. While I personally wouldn't use the Surface Pen for much in my day-to-day work, tracking proved to be super smooth. Not to mention that the digital lines of ink were as thin as the tip of the stylus as I jotted down notes in near-perfect cursive. (Well, near-perfect in replicating my chicken scratch.)
Part of this is thanks in part to that complete redesign of the N-trig powered pen, this time to better emulate the feeling of a traditional writing instrument. And while its two face buttons could be positioned lower toward the tip, they click with ease. The other half working toward an improved pen experience is what Microsoft claims is the thinnest optical stack in the industry. (The actual optics of the screen are closer to the glass face than ever.) This helps reduce the drag between your physical position with the stylus and its digital representation. Finally, some solid solid palm rejection only enhances that notepad-like feel. Following the Surface Pro 3's release, in July N-Trig released a list of compatible applications that have been tested with its latest drivers. They are:
According to reports, Microsoft is in talks to acquire N-Trig, signalling a bright future for those who enjoy doodling and note-taking on its Surface devices. Surface Hub only scratches the – you know...In early October, Microsoft released a new app exclusively for its latest tablet, dubbed the Surface Hub, on the Windows Store. Frankly, however, it's not much a hub just yet. As of this writing, the Surface Hub only serves to adjust the sensitivity of the Surface Pen and change the function of the Bluetooth-enabled purple button up top. Your options: either launch the touch-centric version of OneNote like before or the standard desktop variety, which is available for free to Windows 7 and Windows 8 users. The sensitivity adjustment tool works well enough, and allows you to test your adjustments in a tiny window before committing to the change. Finally, the app provides details about your Surface that will be needed for troubleshooting, as well as providing a quick feedback form. And ... that's basically it. Not really a "hub", if you ask me, but nevertheless a useful, nicely designed tool. Here's to hoping for more comprehensive updates to the app in the future. Type Cover rises up; kickstand leans backMicrosoft has upped its game in almost every way with the Surface Pro 3, but most crucial is the new and improved Type Cover. The upgrades to this accessory were essential to what Microsoft's mission to eliminate the laptop. (The improvements were so vital that keeping it an accessory was a clear misstep.)
For one, the typing on this cover has been massively improved, with deeper travel and speedier, more powerful pushback than ever from the keys. The larger clickpad – yes, "clickpad" – now clicks with the force you'd expect from a laptop. Though, I did have to be rather deliberate in scrolling through web pages. That the new Type Cover now snaps to the Pro 3's lower bezel might sound like a silly addition. But it makes for a far more sturdy and comfortable typing experience on your lap.
Lastly, the Redmond, Wash. company finally went and bent that kickstand nearly all the way back, allowing users to fully adjust its angle. This proved to be a boon while balancing the device on my lap for typing, as well as for just browsing my favorite websites while watching TV at the widest angle. The hinges are incredibly stiff, requiring considerable force before they begin to give way. You should want that kind of rigidity from a device you're to use essentially for any and every computing task.
Microsoft also has a docking station for the Surface Pro 3 in the works that replaces the current Surface Pro dock. It measures 12.9 x 3.8 x 4.4 inches and provides access to a multitude of peripherals - from your speakers and printer to a keyboard and mouse. It can also drive an external monitor too (4K, if you like your visuals crisp) from MiniDisplayPort, providing a dual display setup for apps such as Photoshop or Illustrator. With a larger shape to accommodate the device's dimensions, it manages to house three USB 3.0 ports and two USB 2.0 ports, bringing the total to six if you include the ones on the Surface Pro 3. That's in addition to a a Gigabit Ethernet port and a 3.5mm audio connection jack, and there's also a Kensington security lock for warding off thieves. Weighing 650g, it's plenty portable too. So, when can you get your hands on it? It's already available to you if you live in the US, where it retails for $199, and it's out now in the UK too, where it retails for £164.99. Writing in a post on its Surface blog, Microsoft announced plans to ship the docking station to 26 more markets around the world starting on Friday September 12, around one month after it first went on sale in the US and Canada. Bundled softwareIn addition to the standard Microsoft apps and free trials, the firm includes OneNote with every Surface Pro 3 in addition to Flipboard and Fresh Paint among a few light casual games. In short, Microsoft keeps it incredibly light on the bloatware, as it should being a first-party vendor. OneNote's inclusion makes for a particularly attractive package since Microsoft opted to make the note-taking app's previously paid-for features free for all. It means that you can now password protect sections of notebooks, track changes to notes using page history and better manage files by searching for words in video or audio recordings. The Windows Store has come a long way since its launch, but still trails behind Apple and Google's app marketplaces in terms of volume and quality. Windows 8 devices are still generally the last to receive major apps and app updates. This would be a more serious issue if the Pro 3 weren't packing Windows 8.1 Pro, but it's nevertheless a problem. Surface Pro 3 game controllerOK, we'll come clean, we haven't tested Microsoft's game controller in our Surface Pro 3 review - because it doesn't exist. But it's interesting to note a Microsoft patent that shows that the company may have been thinking about releasing a funky handheld gaming accessory in the style of Nvidia's Edge for the Surface Pro 3 at one point, which would've taken the device in a very different direction. Appearing to be cut down the middle, the controller would allow you to place each half to the left and right to use the tablet like an Xbox-style controller. Could something similar make an appearance in the future? Stranger things have happened - and we've seen a few of them. Surface Pro 3 updatesMicrosoft has released a steady flow of updates to the Surface Pro 3 since its release to improve stability and performance. The most recent was released in late January, bringing a slew of bug fixes and stability tweaks, in addition to a new graphics driver that promised to boost 4K video playback and playing videos using Google Chrome. Numbered Version 15.36.14.4080, it was the first driver to support Intel's fifth-generation Broadwell processors - including the Intel HD Graphics 5500, HD Graphics 6000 and Iris Graphics 6100 cores. According to Intel, it also brought hardware acceleration of the VP9 video format that's used in Chrome video playback and Google Hangouts. Inconsistent Wi-Fi, the most niggling issue reported by Surface Pro 3 owners for some time, was fixed in an patch in November called the Wireless Network Controller and Bluetooth driver update. It focused on improving performance when waking from sleep and connecting to a 802.11ac Wi-Fi network. That update also brought improvements around behaviour of the device when waking up from sleep mode using the Home Button or the Surface Pen. VerdictThe Surface Pro 3 is, without question, the most attractive and capable device that Microsoft has ever produced. As a result, it's not only the closest to realizing the company's vision for replacing the laptop, but closer than any hybrid device to date. This thing can honestly serve as both your tablet and laptop in nearly equal measure. Of course, the tablet isn't without compromise. Limited app creator support, subpar battery life and a dearth of hard connections are clear hurdles for the Pro 3. Plus, leaving the much-improved Type Cover as an accessory means that this is no laptop replacement out of the box. We likedEverything about the Surface Pro 3 design screams style and thoughtfulness. Microsoft took the entire Surface Pro 2 back to the drawing board with this revision. Between its bigger, sharper screen and thinner, lighter magnesium frame, nearly every box has been checked in crafting a superior product. The same goes for the Type Cover, kickstand and Surface Pen, all of which received marquee improvements and rethinks. The redesigned Type Cover has resulted in the best typing experience I've had on a tablet keyboard, while the new, wider-angle kickstand in tandem with the new stylus makes for more use cases that simply make sense. What resulted was a device that I was reliably able to use as both a laptop and a tablet. I jumped from writing this very review to flicking cards in Hearthstone on the couch and back to writing with just a flick of the kickstand and a snap of the keyboard cover. If that's not a measure of a all-in-one device, I don't know what is. We dislikedBut make no mistake, there is still room for improvement with the Surface Pro 3. For one, selling the Type Cover as an optional accessory not only inflates the price of this product, but only serves to diminish Microsoft's mission statement to replace the laptop. Another knock against the tablet is that it's quite quick to burn up. Whether it was an HD video over Netflix or YouTube, a casual game or even system updates, the upper right portion of the metallic shell would grow almost uncomfortable to hold. Thankfully for the kickstand, there are many situations in which you need to hold the slate while sitting. Finally, just under 4 hours of battery life might be suitable for the average Ultrabook, but not for your everyday tablet. And for Microsoft to position the Surface Pro 3 against the iPad Air and 13-inch MacBook Air, which both set the endurance standards in their categories, only makes this point look worse. Final verdictIt's worth reiterating the point that the Surface Pro 3 is not only Microsoft's most striking and versatile device to date, but the most convincing poster child for the hybrid category yet. And this ringing endorsement comes from a long-time skeptic of such devices. That said, the Pro 3 is hamstrung by flaws that cannot be ignored. Namely, the battery life might be in line with most Ultrabooks, but it doesn't come close to what Apple's leading laptop and top tablet have shown. And the Type Cover being billed as an accessory doesn't help Microsoft's cause in the slightest – it's quite pricey to boot. At any rate, this version of the tablet comes in cheaper than the most affordable iPad Air and 13-inch MacBook Air combined, even with the Type Cover, and that's the point. On paper, this slate is more powerful than either Apple device, not to mention most other comparably priced laptops and tablets. The Surface Pro 3 might not be perfect, but it's far and wide the brightest shining example of a potential tablet takeover.  |
| Interview: Cities: Skylines CEO: We're not changing traffic (but natural disasters would be cool) Posted: 26 Jun 2015 11:50 AM PDT  IntroductionEverybody knows that a good mayor never sleeps, especially if they're in charge of a sprawling Cities: Skylines metropolis (fires don't put themselves out, you know). With an ever expanding library of mods to play with (and DLC on the horizon) Colossal Order's city builder lets you sink more hours into it than ever before. Smashing the 1 million sales mark one month after its release, Skylines has seen the Finland-based studio behind it grow from nine to fourteen people while doubling the number of programmers working on it - to a dizzying two. After managing to pin down company CEO Mariina Hallikainen at Unity Unite 2015, TechRadar received some insight into the possibility of missions (including natural disasters and zombies), the future of its traffic system, and why those who torture their digital city dwellers are bad, bad people. TechRadar: One million sales after three months. Did you expect that? Mariina Hallikainen: To be honest I was very surprised because we're a very small company, and Paradox isn't a massive publisher. If you think about the budgets for marketing and the game itself, the ability we have is amazing. There's almost this blurred line between what is creating and what is playing - and people have been sharing their creations with the world. Steam Workshop has over 45,000 items, which is mind-blowing. It's definitely something we didn't see happening so fast. I was hoping that Cities: Skylines might be the game that sells over a million copies in three years or something, and it happened in just over a month. It's very exciting.
TR: People tend to pit Skylines against SimCity 2013 - did you do any research into what gamers might want that was missing in SimCity? MH: It's a funny story because we've been pitching a city builder for many years. It was impossible to make one at the beginning with only five people and no track record, so in 2009 we started to focus on creating a smaller-scope game which became Cities In Motion, followed by Cities In Motion 2 that came out in 2013. By the time we had the technology and a skilled team needed to create a city builder, SimCity 2013 was announced. We thought they were going to build this fantastic game and leave no room for competition! TR: Did SimCity change how you approached making Cities: Skylines? MH: We were quite devastated and wondered what type of sequel we were going to make to Cities In Motion 2, but that all changed after SimCity's launch. We began to notice that there might be room for another city builder, and our publisher was like "your idea's fantastic, let's do this!". We had the vision for the game before SimCity, so we stuck with it and didn't research what they were doing too much. We wanted big maps and to fully focus on single player because we didn't have the resources to make big fancy features, so it was driven by what we always wanted to do but could also pull off.
TR: You guys must have been huge Theme Park, Roller Coaster: Tycoon, and SimCity fans back in the day... MH: Yeah! It's funny because I personally have no industry background. I was a student who was asked to join the company to handle the business side, but I was really into simulation games. The first time I tried the Cities In Motion demo, I was like "thank God I like this game! It's going to be so much easier to sell because I enjoy it." I used to play Theme Park back in the '90s when I was a small girl, so Cities In Motion brought back so many memories. I'd completely stopped playing games during high school and uni - I'm not really a gamer. But simulation games provided such a familiar and lovely feeling. The team have been playing Transport Tycoon, Traffic Giant, SimCity games and older ones - Ceasar, for example. TR: What were the biggest lessons you learned creating the two Cities In Motion games that helped with Cities: Skylines? MH: One was how to figure out performance and memory issues when having big maps because we already had them in Cities In Motion 2. And then there was modding, which didn't work in Cities In Motion 1 because we had no idea what we were doing in terms of making mods meaningful, which was the same for the second game. We had to figure out how to make it so that people could mod Cities: Skylines, which was something people wanted to do from the beginning. Players are so skilled that they've actually disregarded the modding API to do super cool stuff we had no idea they could do. TR: Are there any mods that stand out for you? MH: The Borderlands one. A guy had plans to make the buildings graphics very specific with outlines, but Unity behaved in a weird way. He posted a screenshot that showed some pink glowing things where all the lines were electric and crazy! It looked super cool, and he eventually got it working the way he intended. Modders have also made helicopters that you can fly around the city.
TR: In what ways can somebody building a city in Skylines learn something about themselves? MH: If they drown everybody in pools then they are terrible people! TR: Traffic has been highlighted as one of the more problematic elements of the game, with cars getting stuck in single lanes and the whole thing really having a negative impact on cities. Are there any plans to change the way traffic works in the game? MH: There's no way we're going to change it because the traffic behaves in that way due to computing power. If a car is going somewhere and there's a jam we can't recalculate the path for it to go a different way because it would cause massive performance issues, and we still need to have the big maps, so it basically comes down to choices. It's something we're looking to improve and if we get the chance we'll try to give the player more control over it, but it's not going to be in the way that people have suggested where cars will change lanes. That wouldn't be difficult to program, but the effect of it would be devastating. I hope that people don't feel that traffic is so challenging that the game isn't fun anymore because that's the worst thing that could happen. TR: Are there any tips you can give people to alleviate traffic issues - such as how they approach designing roads? MH: You can create pretty cool systems that are likely to alleviate the traffic. First of all, don't place too many crossings down so that vehicles get stuck in traffic lights. Underpasses and overpasses are very clever ways of handling crossings, along with tunnels, which have now been implemented. Also think the placing of zones; for example, trucks will need to go industrial areas so don't make them start in residential areas where there's already traffic. It's just a case of figuring out how the city will grow, and doing it in a way so that it won't cause massive lots of traffic. TR: Missions and random events such as natural disasters would be a cool addition, are there any plans for that or will you leave it up to modders? MH: We want to make things that are really grand and big, and we're not sure how easy natural disasters would be for modders to do. To have developers working on big features like that would be beneficial for all Skylines players because we need to remember that the majority of players don't use mods. We don't have plans to work on natural disasters yet, but it would be cool to have because we already have the water system in place.
TR: Will you be releasing DLC for the game any time soon? MH: We'll have a big expansion and release both free and paid updates, all of which we'll be revealing at Gamescom. TR: Some good ideas for DLC have been suggested in Reddit's Cities: Skylines subreddit. Would you mind giving your opinion on a few of them? MH: Sure. TR: A transportation pack: bikes, bike lanes, skaters, trams and above-ground metros. MH: There are some very cool ideas in there! Above-ground metros is very unlikely to happen. I haven't been thinking about skate parks, but it sounds like fun. I wonder what our animator would come up with - probably something crazy. TR: Advanced tourism: zoos, theatres and casinos. MH: Excellent! TR: Boadwalks, seaside attractions, ferries and higher land value for beachside properties. MH: Also good ideas. TR: Amusement parks. MH: I'm a huge fan of Theme Park, but it would be difficult to make in the game. As a unique building then sure, but I think people would want to actually build them, so it's very unlikely to happen unfortunately. TR: Zombies. They're cool, right? MH: Yes! We need zombies. Yes to those. TR: How long do you plan to keep adding to Skylines before you make a sequel? MH: As long as we possibly and technically can while people enjoy playing the game. I think the point where we have to move on to a sequel is when the technology is in such a state that it doesn't make any sense to continue working on Cities: Skylines. I'm hoping that will be some years in the future because there's so many ideas we want to add to the game before going there. TR: Augmented reality could be a good fit for Cities: Skylines - beaming your city onto a table in your front room, for example. MH: We're super excited about future technologies so we'll be looking at what possibilities are there. It's difficult though - having a small team is always my excuse. In the future we're hoping to grow the company in such a way that we have Cities: Skylines track, with a team working on that, and then have a new team working on some new IPs or different kinds of games. TR: What's next for Cities: Skylines? MH: We're going to be focusing on some great expansions and getting free updates out to generally improve the game. We're also very focused on improving the modding tools to allow them to do even cooler stuff.  |
| Posted: 26 Jun 2015 11:40 AM PDT  Introduction and designThere are only so many ways to differentiate your product in the monitor space, and rather than compete on panel resolution, screen size or price, Philips opted to go a unique route and pair better audio quality to its display. The Moda 2 ($220, £140, AU$285), also known as the 245C5, integrates a Bluetooth speaker into the base of the monitor stand, giving users an upgraded display experience with a 24-inch screen and an enhanced sound experience for multimedia consumption. In the compact monitor space, the Moda 2 competes against displays in the 21- to 24-inch range. In this space, the 21.5-inch Acer UT220HQL ($199, £125, AU$255) differentiates itself by adding a touchscreen panel, the BenQ EW2440 ($220, £140, AU$285) brings a stylish design and integrates a smartphone dock to highlight its MHL connectivity and the 21.5-inch Samsung SD300 series ($149, £93, AU$191) offers a great panel at a significantly more affordable price. At the suggested retail cost of $300, users can even find higher resolution panels, such as QHD and UHD 4K screens. Dell's 28-inch P2815Q display bumps up the resolution to 4K for $299 (£188, AU$386). DesignConsidering that most PC users buy a good display and fail to purchase good speakers for their computer, the entertainment experience can be hampered by poor sound quality. Philips chose to target these users with its C245C5 Moda 2 display by bundling better quality speakers with a great monitor design.
Cloaked in glossy black plastic, the Philips C245C5 looks like a product with a premium price tag. If Philips had used aluminum instead of plastic for the construction, the Moda 2 could be mistaken for a Bang & Olufsen Beovision product, given its unique, minimalist design. One of the highlights of the Philips 245C5 is the base of the display, with a circular mesh pillow that houses the dual 7W speakers. The design is both functional and aesthetically pleasing, which should add to the Moda 2's desk appeal. The Moda 2 measures 21.3 x 1.5 x 13.1 inches (54.1 x 3.8 x 33.3cm) and weighs 9.94 pounds (4.5kg), making it sturdy enough on a desk, but light enough for business users to carry to trade show booths for use as a digital display.
The roomy 24-inch IPS screen on the front spans to the edges of the display with a bezel-less look. The monitor floats above the circular, upward-firing speakers on the bottom thanks to an angular stand. On the rear of the panel, Philips employs a textured wavy pattern to the glossy black finish, which keeps things interesting. I personally don't care for the pattern. The glossy black material attracts fingerprint and dust easily, which may be a problem if you're using the monitor in an open front office setting. The back also houses a thin cut out where the connectivity ports are located. The Moda 2 accommodates three HDMI, single VGA and audio input and output ports. Philips also included a small clip-on cable management ring in the box, which plugs into a small hole in the lower portion of the rear of the stand to keep wire clutter to a minimum.
Build quality for the display is solid, except for a small lip on the bottom center of the screen. Presumably, this lip is to aid users when adjusting the tilt angle of the display, but when pressure is applied to the lip, it feels like the bottom plastic strip of the display is about to come undone. Specifications and performanceEven though the Moda 2 has a matte panel, which helps to reduce glare and reflectivity under ambient office lighting, the matte surface is actually a thin film and not a sprayed on coating. Out of the box, there is a small sticker warning users to not rip off the panel film. At this point, it's unclear if this matte film will come off over time, and if it does come off, if there will be any perceivable performance degradation to the quality of the display. Specs
The 5ms grey-to-grey refresh rate makes the Moda 2 fast enough for most tasks. There shouldn't be any ghosting with videos thanks to the 60Hz support, but heavy gamers may want to look at other options, as there is occasional ghosting on high-frame rate titles. ErgonomicsUnfortunately, as this is a consumer-centric display, the display has limited capabilities for adjustments, which may affect its use in office settings given ergonomic constraints. For instance, even though the display can tilt, the Moda 2 cannot swivel horizontally or be lifted or lowered vertically. Additionally, as the speaker wires run through the display stand, the base and stand portions cannot be removed for wall mounting.
For users who are more concerned with eye fatigue than the positioning of their displays, the Moda 2 offers various viewing modes along with a flicker-free screen. The modes are accessible through the display's menus, and I found that they help to reduce eye strain when using the display for extended durations. PerformanceAccording to data obtained from the display analysis tool taken from the Spyder5 Elite colorimeter, the Moda 2 achieves 98% of the sRGB color space and 76% of the AdobeRGB range. This means that the display could display colors accurately when working with the web and internet applications, but users working with Adobe's suite of creative tools, including Creative Cloud, should probably look at pricier studio displays.
The display analysis results show that the Moda 2 has excellent color uniformity and accuracy, good luminance uniformity across the display, and mediocre contrast and tone response. For a consumer device, an average delta-E score of roughly 2 is generally considered excellent. The color gradient on the Moda 2 shifts from the bottom left corner to the upper right corner, according to the Datacolor test, but is generally imperceptible to the naked eye. Menu and navigationIncluding the power button, there are six capacitive buttons on the front of the display that lets users adjust various settings on the monitor. Tapping on the buttons brings additional commands, and you'll have to use the left and right arrows to navigate between menus and submenus.
Even though I appreciated that the buttons are clearly labeled and marked, navigating the menus can be a bit of a chore. The menus and the navigation aren't always intuitive, and sometimes there is a lag or delay so it feels like I haven't pressed a button. AudioPhilips included plenty of audio control so that you can tune the speakers to your liking. There are controls within the monitor's menu to toggle the treble and bass, enable SRS WOW HD tuning and gain surround sound 5.1 output with an option called Incredible Sound. Unfortunately, you can't have all the tuning going at the same time, so if you've enabled SRS WOW HD, for example, you cannot enable Incredible Surround nor treble and bass controls.
In my testing, audio quality sounds richer and louder than competing displays with built-in 1W or 2W speakers. However, given that there isn't much space in base of the display to house the speakers, the output lacks bass and audio fidelity, and isn't as clean as on portable Bluetooth speakers, like the Jambox, Bose SoundLink or Samsung Level Box. For audiophiles, the built-in Bluetooth connectivity of the Moda 2 will be great. Even though the display doesn't have picture-in-picture or picture-by-picture modes for multitasking, you can still be productive and entertained at the same time. You can work on spreadsheets and documents while streaming music on your phone to the monitor.
When working with multiple sources, the Moda 2 can only recognize one input source to play audio. When I had my phone paired over Bluetooth and my PC connected via HDMI, the Moda 2 could only play sound out from one source and not both. It'd be nice, for example, if I could have streamed music from my Samsung Galaxy S6 Edge while also hearing my system notifications and calendar alerts from my Dell Latitude 12 7000 notebook. Additionally, Bluetooth streaming will only work when the display is on. Given the multimedia focus of the Moda 2, Philips could have added a webcam and integrated microphones to the package to further set this display apart from the competition. This would allow the Moda 2 to be used for video conferencing, and the microphones could be used in conjunction with a smartphone for speakerphone calls. VerdictPhilips has created a balanced display for productivity and multimedia consumption with a great screen panel and loud audio. Bluetooth audio and MHL connectivity makes this a great display for businesses, as this setup allows road warriors the flexibility of connecting their laptops or smartphones to do work, stay entertained or give presentations. We likedThe design with the integration of good speakers means that the Moda 2 is capable of delivering a great audio and visual multimedia experience, even in tight spaces, such as small offices, cramped dorm rooms and even on trade shows to loop promotional videos or to give an impromptu presentation with a connected smartphone. There are also plenty of options to connect your devices with three HDMI ports, MHL support and Bluetooth connectivity for audio. For college students or business professionals working with both a laptop and a desktop, this means you won't run out of HDMI ports or have to disconnect one device in order to connect another. We dislikedEven though the Moda 2 comes with upgraded dual 7W stereo speakers and audio tuning enhancements, audio fidelity is still lacking. You'll get louder, amped up audio output, but you won't get smoky vocals or punchy bass in jazz performances. Additionally, some of the speaker's tuning, like the mode that emulates a surround sound 5.1 experience, seems gimmicky. Final verdictBy combining sophisticated styling and an upgraded audio experience, Philips is hoping that users won't mind paying the price premium for the Moda 2. If you like the compact package that Philips delivers, the Moda 2 will reward you with a great IPS panel, flicker-free screen and connectivity options to connect your smartphone. For the price, users would be wise in looking at options with a touchscreen, like the Acer UT220HQL, or a higher resolution display, like the 4K Dell P2815Q. After all, you can't upgrade your existing monitor to include touch or a 4K panel after the point of purchase, but you can always add better sounding speakers later.  |
| You can buy yourself a personal jetpack next year Posted: 26 Jun 2015 11:13 AM PDT  Do you have a spare $150,000 laying around? The first commercial jetpack is set to go on sale next year, and that's how much it'll cost. The Martin Jetpack, on show at the Paris Airshow this week where hoverbikes were also demoe, will be available for commercial purchase starting late 2016. The brain child of Glenn Martin, the Martin Jetpack has been in development for over 35 years. The New Zealand-based company already has a refundable deposit system set up for anyone (including individuals or organizations) wanting to get on a waiting list for a Martin Jetpack, but the release date has moved up from 2017 (according to the site) to late 2016. Aimed for emergenciesThe latest P12 model Martin Jetpack can carry up to 120 kilograms (264.5 pounds) and fly for more than 30 minutes at up to 74 kilometers per hour (almost 46 mph). It runs on a V4 200 horsepower petrol engine, which drives two ducted fans, with the ability to reach altitudes of up to 1000 meters (3,280 feet). Talking to Reuters, Martin Jetpack's Chief Executive Peter Coker said that the jetpack was built with safety in mind from the start, with a composite structure designed to protect the pilot and a ballistic parachute system that can be deployed at even very low altitudes. Coker also explained the jetpack is aimed towards emergency services like ambulances or the fire services. "So, for example, in the fire services going around to look at the situational awareness of what's going on, perhaps through water security or even search and rescue on beach patrol, something along those lines," he said. Though, that doesn't mean you can get yourself one because, well, jetpack!  |
| Posted: 26 Jun 2015 10:45 AM PDT  Having a set of over-ear headphones on your head should be a comfortable experience. It should also be a fun one, complete with the sound isolation and strong performance you expect to be put forward by a set of cans in 2015. For $179 (£149, AU$179), the Bose SoundTrue over-ear headphones hit nearly all the marks of what makes a set of headphones good. It's even got some extra goodies included that I'm smitten to see in a set of wired headphones. Even so, the sound quality just isn't quite up to par compared to what other headphones in its price range can handle. But boy, are these stylish. DesignThe design of the SoundTrue helps to round out the Bose headphone offering as a sleek, sporty look for on-the-go listeners. These over-ear cans borrow much in the way of looks from their bigger and more expensive sibling, the Bose QuietComfort 25. But the SoundTrue knows when to split off to forge its own path, rocking some moves of its own that I prefer to its noise-cancelling kin.
The thin, lightweight metal frame of the headband is padded to make the SoundTrue comfortable. On its top, a leatherette material makes for a stunning first impression and is smooth to the touch. A softer felt material coats its underside to make for a soft pillow against your head. Moving down toward the sidearms, the plushy touches make way for plastic, making it easier to grip – in case you want to increase or decrease the size adjusting mechanism. There are several notches built into the SoundTrue, so even those with heads on the larger side (much like myself) will still be comfy.
Arriving at the sidearms, Bose stamps a 'R' and a 'L' facing outward, which makes putting them on your head the right way easy – much easier to see here than on the QC25 headphones. The sidearms are comprised of a few pieces of matte-textured, curved plastic that stretch down to the ear cup hinge. Speaking of the hinge, mobility of the ear cups is one key area where design influence from the Bose QC25 was lost in translation. The cups on the SoundTrue can only twist 90 degrees, which unfortunately nixes laying them flat out on your chest. It's a minor gripe, but their stiffness made me opt to take them off completely when not in use instead of looping them around my neck. That said, the cups have enough flexibility to wiggle around, helping most to find the right fit.
The ear cups rock a look that is both flashy and minimalistic, with more of Bose's favorite material for the SoundTrue: matte-textured plastic. On the outermost section of each cup, Bose planted its logo front and center. And on their insides, the cups boast a hearty helping of leatherette-coated padding that yields that same comfort benefits of the headband. The cushions against your head also provide isolation, keeping your music in and sound out. If you take a look inside the cup, each color variation of the SoundTrue offered by Bose has a different design.
Lastly, stretching down from the left ear cup is the 5.5-foot 3.5mm cable. Most of the time, the more cable, the better. But I found myself routinely holding this one up while I walked upstairs so that it wouldn't catch on my knee. It's too long. On the plus side, it features a set of inline controls and microphone to make skipping songs, taking calls and adjusting volume easy without having to touch your phone. Also in the box is a carrying case for the SoundTrue. It's nothing too tough (just more of the leatherette material), but it's an appreciated perk. PerformanceIt's difficult not to mention the SoundTrue and Bose's QuietComfort 25 noise-cancelling headphones in the same sentence. They look very similar, but it goes deeper than that. The two sets of headphones sound just about the same, and that's both a good and a bad thing for listeners.
Regarding comfort, the SoundTrue takes the cake as probably the lightest over-ear headphones that I've ever worn. This makes wearing them for extended periods of time all too easy. And despite being closed-back cups, my ears weren't suffocated in heat. In terms of features, I was also pleased, as the SoundTrue are more capable than your average wired headphone. The inline controls and microphone work flawlessly for making on-the-fly adjustments to music or phone calls. But unfortunately, the volume functionality is limited to iOS devices exclusively. It's a darn shame.
The sound performance though, where it counts the most for some, is hit or miss. It feels strange typing those words regarding a Bose product, which I've had mostly positive experiences with. I'm the same person who said that Bose's QuietComfort 25 offered "unparalleled audio performance" when I reviewed them months ago. So what's my deal with the SoundTrue? Like the QC25, they offer a sweet spot of comfort, performance and features that can be hard to find. Yet, when you begin to hone in on sound performance, the SoundTrue gets outclassed by a few of its competitors. Opting to go wireless with the $199 (about £176, AU$256) Koss BT540i will get you a warmer, full-bodied sound. The $150 (£129) Sony MDR-ZX770BT are also wireless and give the SoundTrue a run for its money with a comfortable build and balanced audio presentation.
By no means do these Bose cans sound bad. They sound quite good, with accurate bass response backing music of any genre. Highs are crisp and well-defined. It's the mids that can't hold it together and sound muddled at times. When put against some competition in the price range, like the $229 (£179, about AU$299) Beyerdynamic Custom One Pro Plus, the Bose SoundTrue just can't play ball. VerdictBose has created a worthy addition to its line of well-constructed headphones, balancing comfort, features and performance well. My biggest problem with the SoundTrue isn't the sound performance, it's the price, which places it within a bracket of competition it simply can't hold its own against. However, if style is your biggest concern, there's a lot to enjoy here. You'll also be buying into a set of headphones that's ultra-light and knows a thing or two about pumping out some sufficient sound.  |
| Keitai: How to transfer SIM contacts to Google from your iPhone Posted: 26 Jun 2015 08:30 AM PDT  Your weekly smartphone funFollowing hot on the heels of last week, this week's instalment of Keitai continues the contact management theme, specifically look at those of you rocking iPhones. How to transfer contacts to Google on iOSLast week we showed you how to back up your Android contacts to your Google account, but what about if you use an iPhone? Perhaps unsurprisingly it's not quite as simple, but it's worth doing for a number of reasons. Firstly, it's never a bad idea to have your contacts backed up to the internet in case you lose your phone. It also means that if you make the jump from iPhone to Android (yes, it does happen), then you'll have all of your contacts ready and waiting for you on your new device. 1. Get a Gmail account
If you don't already have a Gmail account, you can quickly set one up before you begin. Even if you're drowning in email addresses you never use, having a Gmail account is handy if you use a lot of Google's services and apps, such as Chrome. It's also pretty essential if you are changing from iOS to Android. 2. Load up iTunes
Once you've sorted a Gmail account, plug in your iPhone and launch iTunes. With your iPhone plugged in, an iPhone icon will appear towards the top of the screen, just below the playback buttons. Click this, then click "Info". Under "Sync Contacts" it might say "Your contacts are being synced with your iPhone over the air from iCloud". If so, on your iPhone go to Settings then select "iCloud" and click the icon next to "Contacts" to stop it syncing. 3. Sync with Google
Now go back to iTunes and where it says "Sync Contacts with" you'll see a drop down box. Click this, select Google Contacts and use your Gmail log in details to sign in. Finally click "Apply" and your contacts will now be saved to Google. If you're switching to a new Android phone, turn it on and sign in to your Google account and your contacts will be downloaded onto your new handset. 4. Synchronise your contacts to Google on your iPhone or iPad
If you're not near your computer don't worry, as you don't need to use iTunes to sync your contacts to Google – instead you can just use your iPhone or iPad (if you're running iOS 7 or later). To do this tap on Settings then go to Mail, Contacts, Calendars. Tap "Add Account", then select Google. Enter in your Gmail account and password and make sure that the "Contacts" setting is turned on. You can now open your Contacts app on the iPhone or iPad and contacts will begin synching automatically. It's happened againWinston blinked again, vaguely aware that him waking up at the start of a scene was quickly becoming an overused narrative device. He jolted awake as he remembered what had happened to him: a large vacuum sucking him in the forest, his body falling apart, an operation, monochrome monitors, a slightly disconcerting encounter with an old school teacher… wait, no, that last part was probably a dream. But there was something very different, he could feel it. He felt more connected to the earth, like being transported from a bustling, steely metropolis to a peaceful forest cabin. His vision still blinked with information, but it was minimal. There was a freedom to his movement that felt oddly light and airy - and he gasped when he looked down. His body was back! The metallic legs and dangling wires were gone, and in their place were shiny white stallion's legs, rippling with muscle. He gingerly tried to clamber to his feet, and found instead of a wobbly mess they were instantly strong and firm. Winston began to canter around the room, but within a few seconds had crashed into a desk and knocked over a number of monitors. He skidded to a halt, hoping nobody would have noticed. But the door crashed open and the panther, giraffe and a studious-looking penguin came running in - staring open-mouthed at the carnage. "Yeah, sorry about that," said Winston. The panther waved a paw rather close to his face. "It matters not. It is just good to see you standing up. The operation was, clearly, a complete success." "What did you do to me?" said Winston, twisting his head around to look at his body to try and discern more clues. "Come, friend, it is better we sit and talk about that," said the panther, motioning for him to follow before slinking out the door. Winston trotted out behind, joining the powerful cat in what looked like a breakout room, complete with multi-coloured beanbags. The panther curled up on a blue spotty number, motioning Winston to sit. "Can I offer you a smoothie?" he purred. "Please," said Winston, gratefully accepting the green concoction instantly offered to him. The panther shifted in his seat, looking like he was trying to dredge up the courage to say something uncomfortable. "I know you must have many questions - not least about this story, which seems to be constantly shifting with no definite plot arc." He waved a paw airily. "There is no time to talk about that now. We must discuss what happened to you - and what we were forced to do to save your life." Now it was Winston's turn to shift uncomfortably. "That doesn't sound good...am I OK?" he asked, voice slightly quivering. "Well…" said the panther, the pause not putting Winston at ease. "The good news is you're actually more powerful, more strong and faster than you've ever been before. "The bad news is you're dying. Swings and roundabouts, eh?" Does my phone look big in this?YouTube : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=27aVPqpnL7YA little treat here for you all, and a trip down memory lane for UK readers, as the infamous Dom Joly takes his oversized mobile phone out and about, reminding us just what it's like to be stuck next to that person on the train. Simply put, this video is the definition of the worst people in the world. You know who you are. Scary press shot of the week
Rest easy America, the Moto X is assembled in your fair land - meaning that's it's as pure an American as you, your father, and your father's father. Trouble is, 'Made in America' may give you a boost of patriotic self confidence, but as this warning shot clearly depicts it'll be about as useful as a sinking car. Retro video of the weekYouTube : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U3LnEBmHG88There's nothing people love more than comedy ringtones, especially when they're in a confined space and said tone is mimicking fart noises. That is, if all those people are six years old. However, as full grown adults, anyone who laughs at this needs to be locked up. *Stifles giggle*. Proper stuff from the site
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| Wall-E: This robot can build a house in just two days Posted: 26 Jun 2015 08:06 AM PDT  Despite years of advances in automation of the production of bricks, turning them into a structure is still a tedious, manual process. That's why an Australian engineer's latest project could revolutionise the construction industry. Mark Pivac has built a fully-automated bricklaying robot, which he claims is a world first. "We're at a technological nexus where a few different technologies have got to the level where it's now possible to do it, and that's what we've done," he told PerthNow. The robot, whose name is Hadrian, can lay 1000 bricks an hour, 24 hours a day. From the schematics of the structure, it calculates the location of every brick and creates a custom program used to cut and lay each one in sequence. 'We have absolutely nothing against bricklayers'Then it uses a 28-metre articulated arm, complete with a tube that mortar is delivered through, to lay each brick - scanning afterwards to make sure each is correctly installed. It even leaves gaps for electrical wiring and other infrastructure. "We have absolutely nothing against bricklayers," said Pivac, whose company has now been acquired by an investment firm. "The problem is the average age of bricklayers is going up and it's difficult to attract new young people to the trade.  |
| Audi's next car will drive on the Moon Posted: 26 Jun 2015 06:22 AM PDT  A team of German engineers competing in Google's Lunar Xprize has struck a deal with Audi to design a rover that could one day drive on the Moon. The carmaker will offer the group, called Part-Time Scientists, its four-wheel drive technology, as well as expertise in lightweight construction, electric mobility and piloted driving. Google's competition will award $30 million to the first team that can get a rover to the Moon, drive 500 metres and beam HD video back to Earth. The goal is to challenge scientists and engineers to develop low-cost ways of getting off our planet. Fruitful partnership"The concept of a privately financed mission to the moon is fascinating," said Luca de Meo, Audi Board Member for Sales and Marketing. "And innovative ideas need supporters that promote them. We want to send a signal with our involvement with the Part-Time Scientists and also motivate other partners to contribute their know-how." "With Audi we have acquired a strong partner that will bring us a big step forward with its technological and mobility capabilities," added Robert Böhme, founder and head of the Part-Time Scientists. "We look forward to future interaction and a fruitful partnership." The team's lunar rover is set to launch in 2017, landing close to the site of Nasa's last manned mission to the Moon. It's competing with 15 other teams from around the world for the $30 million prize.  |
| Review: Updated: Lenovo LaVie Z Posted: 26 Jun 2015 06:15 AM PDT  Introduction and designWhen Lenovo unveiled the $1,499, NEC-made LaVie Z HZ550 (US-only, but about £952, AU$1,936) at CES 2015, it caused an uproar in the tech industry. This 1.87-pound (0.78kg) notebook had broken the record for the lightest laptop on the market. Its cousin, the $1,699 LaVie Z 360 (also US-only, but about £1,079, AU$2,195) – a 2.04-pound (0.92kg) hybrid device – would do the same for 2-in-1 laptops. Unfortunately for Lenovo, during the time between the laptop's January unveiling and its general release in May, several superb Ultrabooks made their way onto the scene. Not to be outdone by Lenovo's lightweight LaVie, Dell unveiled the XPS 13 (starting at $799, about £520, AU$980) – a laptop whose screen dazzled beyond compare. And Asus unveiled the Zenbook UX305 ($699, £649, about AU$902), an affordable lightweight with a top-flight spec sheet. Both Ultrabooks received five-star reviews from TechRadar, an honor seldom bestowed by our staff. Of course, no Ultrabook conversation is complete without mentioning the 13-inch MacBook Air (starting at $999, £949, AU$1,249), a problematic laptop that continues to wow the masses. Although the LaVie doesn't reach the same Olympian heights as the XPS 13 and the Zenbook, it's a notebook that demands a place near the top of the best Ultrabook conversation. YouTube : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Uw4xl6sLvQsDesignWhen you lift the LaVie, you'll think you're handling a prototype that features no internal hardware. That's how impressively light this avant garde device is. Compared to the entry-level XPS 13, which weighs 2.6 pounds (1.17kg) – and the Zenbook UX305, which weighs 2.65 pounds (1.18kg) – the LaVie is noticeably lighter and dramatically more comfortable to transport. The MacBook Air, which weighs 2.69 pounds (1.22kg), is no longer worthy of its Air status.
At just 0.7 inches (18mm) thin, the LaVie is slightly thicker than the 0.68-inch MacBook, and the 0.6-inch (15mm) XPS 13, and perceptibly thicker than the 0.5-inch (1.27mm) Zenbook. With that being said, you won't notice one- or two-tenths of an inch in your day-to-day use, so this head-to-head-to-head should be considered a wash. Unlike the XPS 13 and the Zenbook, the LaVie feels a bit flimsy. I didn't perform any drop tests on the device, but unlike its competitors, I felt the external shell give as I pressed along the magnesium-lithium chassis. This doesn't indicate any sort of flawed build quality, however it does make it aesthetically less pleasing than its competitors, both of which feature top-notch, sturdy and sexy build materials. Lenovo chose to go with an understated black chassis that is inoffensive in every way. The LaVie won't add any style points to your desk space, but by no means should it be a turn-off. After a few months of use, you'll likely detect smudges, fingerprints and scratches along the chassis and palm rest. But this isn't a big issue, especially compared to more inexpensive laptops on the market that are worthy of a paper bag after a few months' use. The LaVie's 13.3-inch WQHD (2,560 x 1,440), LED anti-glare screen is one of the best I've ever tested. It produces consistent, dynamic colors that are present from screen corner to screen corner.
Light glare is minimal. You can totally enjoy this device in the park or on the beach, just make sure the sun isn't directly over your shoulder. Of course, it can't compete with the XPS 13's full HD "Infinity Display," which features a bezel-less design … but it's pretty darn close. One design choice that Lenovo is going to have to reconsider for next year's model is the NEC-made Japanese keyboard, which is going to confuse the heck out of anyone who is used to traditional American keyboards. You'll likely be turned off by the miniature space bar, the superfluous Forward Space button, and the miniscule Alt, Insert, Delete, and Control keys that line the bottom row.
I've never been a proponent of Lenovo keyboards and trackpads, specifically those of the ThinkPad line. I had a different experience with the LaVie. Despite my lack of familiarity with Japanese keyboards, I enjoyed myself once I became accustomed to each key's positioning. I thoroughly enjoyed using the trackpad, which features a minimalist design, similar to the trackpad on a MacBook. There are no buttons, no dividing lines, no nothing. It's just a simple and accurate pad that enables you to scroll, click and highlight. Gorgeous. Specifications and valueAs I mentioned earlier, this laptop is one of the lightest and thinnest on the market. It's weight (or lack thereof) is revolutionary. Furthermore, Lenovo deserves to be commended for creating a lightweight device with a healthy amount of ports and connectivity Even better was Lenovo's decision against using the fanless Intel Core M processor, which would have further reduced the laptop's weight if only by a small margin. By choosing Intel's industry-leading, fifth-generation Core i7 processor, Lenovo created a super lightweight device that can also help you stay productive. SpecificationsHere is the Lenovo LaVie Z HZ550 configuration sent to TechRadar for review:
The Lenovo, Dell and Asus all come with a similar set of ports and connections, so you're not really gaining an advantage with one over the other. However, it is a design coup for Lenovo to have added a similar set of ports to a unit that weighs dramatically less than its rivals, and is similar in dimensions. For clutter-phobes, this spec sheet is a delight. Each laptop comes with 230-256GB of storage, so there really is no advantage in terms of how much data you'll cram into each notebook.
The major difference between the three laptops is weight and screen resolution. We've already discussed weight ad nauseum. However, the Lenovo display also warrants extra attention. Dell's entry level XPS, and Asus' Zenbook come with only a full HD screen, so you're actually getting a much more complex and dense screen with Lenovo's WQHD model. Given that all of the spec sheets are so similar, you've got to ask yourself if the price is worth the output. That's where performance becomes an incredibly important factor in how you determine whether it's better to spend or save the extra coin. Performance and featuresHow that industry-leading processor performs in day-to-day tasks is what allows the LaVie to stand among the best Ultrabooks in the world. This isn't just a lightweight laptop – this skinny kid can fight. That's due in large part to Intel's Core i7 chip, which the Dell XPS and Asus Zenbook don't have in their standard, entry-level models. The difference between Core i7, Core i5 and Core M is apparent. However, it should be noted that you can upgrade the XPS 13 to a Core i7 for double the cost of the laptop. The ZenBook, however, is Core M-only. BenchmarksHere's how the Lenovo LaVie Z HZ550 performed in our suite of benchmark tests:
The LaVie knocked its Ultrabook competitors out of the park with a terrific PCMark 8 Home score of 2,379 points, compared to the Dell XPS 13, which scored a 2,104, and the Zenbook's 2,107. Although we weren't able to perform a direct side-by-side comparison to the LaVie, the most recent version of the 13-inch MacBook Air has produced industry-wide scores in the 2,400-2,500 range, which is on par or slightly better than the LaVie. The UX305 features an Intel HD 5300 graphics chip. The XPS 13 and LaVie feature a newer, more powerful Intel HD 5500 GPU, which was released in early 2015. As a result, the XPS 13 and LaVie are your best bet among their direct competition for design work and light gaming. The XPS 13 scored a 739 on 3DMark's Fire Strike test, which measures graphics rendering. The LaVie scored a slightly superior 754 on the test. The lowly ZenBook only scored 594 points.
It also outperformed the competition during 3DMark's Cloud Gate test, which analyzes a computer's ability to process graphics and manage gameplay physics. The XPS 13 scored 4,935 points, the Zenbook scored a 4,210, all of which pale in comparison to the LaVie's 5,428. None of these laptops is going to satisfy hardcore gamers; however, the LaVie scored a 2,836 on 3DMark's Sky Diver test, while the XPS 13 scored a close-but-no-cigar 2,745 points, which outscored the Asus by 500 points. During Cinebench's frame rate test, the XPS 13 managed 29 frames per second (fps), just slightly more than the LaVie's 27 fps. The Asus only achieved 22 fps. The XPS scored 258 points during Cinebench's CPU test, which measures a CPU's multi-core and hyper threading performance. The LaVie came close to this score with an admirable 253 points. The Asus only scored 202 points, unsurprisingly. Battery lifeIf you're going to have an issue with the LaVie, it's its inferior battery life. Compared to the XPS 13, whose battery lasted 4 hours and 21 minutes during the PCMark 8 battery life test, and the Zenbook, which lasted for 5 hours and 21 minutes, the LaVie was only able to remain powered for 3 hours and 18 minutes. The test, which performs a wide range of tasks simultaneously, including video editing, web browsing and gaming, is an ideal way to measure how the laptop will withstand a modest working environment. With the entry-level XPS, third party sites were able to crank out about 12 to 13 hours of video playback by lowering the screen brightness and audio volume to 50%. The most recent MacBook Air played looped video for more than nine hours on several third-party tests. The ZenBook gave it a decent go at 5 hours and 26 minutes of more hardcore usage during TechRadar's own testing, and about 9 hours of looped video with third-party sites.
The LaVie was more in-line with the MacBook and the ZenBook. It was able to play looped video for around 9 hours with the screen brightness and audio dropped to 50%. When I played Netflix videos continuously, I was only able to reach the 6-hour mark. Running basic tasks, like data entry, web chatting and word processing, I was able to max out at about 7 hours. You're not getting shortchanged by using the LaVie, but if a full day's charge is required, then the entry level XPS 13 is probably a safer bet for you. VerdictI imagine the LaVie will be a lightning rod within the tech community. Its weight, performance and display are among the best available today. However, the laptop's somewhat questionable build, inferior battery life, and inflated price tag are going to turn many off of what is an otherwise splendid device. We likedHow can you complain about a record-breaking device? By creating the 1.87-pound LaVie HZ550, Lenovo has accomplished something no other laptop manufacturer has been able to thus far. This alone merits celebration. When you combine this achievement with a gorgeous screen, superior performance and a bevy of ports, there's very little not to love about the Lenovo LaVie HZ550. We dislikedUnfortunately, the LaVie's battery life, although in-line with some of the competition, is still not best-in-class. The laptop's build is also questionable, as it felt flimsy and malleable. And the device's Japanese-origin keyboard is going to leave American users scratching their heads. Neither of these complaints would knock the LaVie out of contention for best Ultrabook status. However, when combined with its hefty price tag, which is about $700 more expensive than its competitors, these minor quibbles become major flaws. Final verdictThe Lenovo LaVie HZ550 is one of the best laptops money can buy. It's the lightest device in its class. It's fast and powerful. It's easy to look at. Plus, you'll be dazzled by its pretty display. However, it's vastly more expensive than its direct competition – two of which are near-perfect laptops, and one of which is the most popular laptop on the planet. If money isn't an object, you're probably better off buying the Lenovo LaVie Z 360, which features a 360-degree hinge and a touchscreen, for only $200 more. Having taken all that into consideration, I enjoyed using the LaVie Z HZ550. Simply put, this laptop demands your consideration if you're in the market for something you'll be proud to own.  |
| Japanese startup wants to deliver shooting stars on demand Posted: 26 Jun 2015 06:12 AM PDT  Imagine pressing a button on your smartphone to conjure up a meteor shower. That's the vision of a Japanese entrepreneur preparing to launch a satellite that would make it possible to release man-made-meteors. "It is artificial but I want to make really beautiful ones that can impress viewers," Lena Okajima, who has a PhD in Astronomy, told AFP in an interview. "I'm thinking of streams of meteors that are rare in nature." She's collaborating with scientists and engineers at Japanese universities to build a 50cm-wide microsatellite that could eject dozens of custom-made balls at once from orbit. Once released, the balls would plunge back to Earth at a speed of up to 80 kilometres per hour. Terminal velocityThe chemical formula of the balls is a secret, but by adding different chemicals it would be possible to change the colour of the streaks they leave in the sky. They'd burn up in the process, meaning that nothing would reach the ground. What's more, the displays could allow scientists to gather information about the atmosphere at the same time. The altitude at which the artificial meteors would burn up is too high for balloons but too low for spacecraft, making it difficult to study. Analysing the light trails could provide important information about the state of our skies. "Making the sky a screen is this project's biggest attraction as entertainment. It's a space display," said Okajima. "We believe there are people who would be ready to put up money for supporting 'a world first' event that is also meaningful scientifically. Image credit: European Southern Observatory // CC BY 4.0  |
| How to get Windows 10 for free and keep it forever Posted: 26 Jun 2015 05:08 AM PDT -470-75.jpg) There has been a lot of confusion over how to get Windows 10 for free when it launches. For now, anyone can get what is technically the beta version gratis. You just need to enroll in the Windows Insider Programme (you will need a MSA or Microsoft account, Skype or Outlook or Hotmail) and download the Windows 10 preview. However, not only will this version, the insider preview, going to expire on 1 October 2015 but it will also be different from the final version, not least because Microsoft will get rid of all the telemetry tools, thereby improving performance and battery life. These anonymously monitor usage and send back reports about any issues encountered, ultimately helping Microsoft build a better product using data crowdsourced from more than four million Windows 10 users.
So if you want to keep Windows 10 come October, then you will HAVE to continue using a new build that will come out by then. This means being tethered to Microsoft's telemetry services forever (well almost) and acknowledging that your system might not work optimally. Therefore, computers that do not qualify for the free upgrade, either because they don't have an original OS or because they run Microsoft operating systems prior to Windows 10, will become beta testing machines for life. Microsoft confirmed it in writing "Since we're continuing the Windows Insider Program, you'll be able to continue receiving builds and those builds will continue to be activated under the terms of the Windows Insider Program". A free lunch?That said, given that the company had a change of mind just a few days ago, things might change again between now and the launch of Windows 10 on 29 July. Also, just to be clear, Windows 10 will be a free upgrade only for licenses that are not part of any business/volume licensing agreements like Software Assurance or Enterprise Agreement. If you want to install it on more than one computer, then make sure you have registered more than one MSA.
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