Software & Apps News - Page 70
Last day for Windows 10 free upgrade is today
Today is your absolute last chance to upgrade to Windows 10 free of charge. Starting tomorrow, you'll have to shell out $119 for a copy.
The occasion marks not just the end of an offer, but also the end of Microsoft nagging you to upgrade, and the imminent launch of the Windows 10 Anniversary update (set for Tuesday, August 2).
Windows 10 has received a lot of criticism over Microsoft aggressive tactics surrounding the upgrade process as well as the Windows Store. Conversely, it's garnered a lot of praise for being more desktop friendly than Windows 8, as well as its performance benefits (particularly in games), among other perks.
Continue reading: Last day for Windows 10 free upgrade is today (full post)
WTF: Microsoft Edge is the only browser to playback Netflix at 1080p
Microsoft has claimed that its Edge browser is the only one out of the four big browsers on the market that can handle 1080p playback of Netflix content, and according to PCWorld, the claims are true.
The three other browsers - Chrome, Firefox, and Opera - are all capped at 720p. Using the "secret Netflix menus" (press Ctrl+Alt+Shift+D) will display the resolution and bitrate of the Netflix content on your PC, and Microsoft is right - the others are capped at 720p while Edge ramps up to 1080p. The Windows 10 Netflix app renders Netflix at 1080p as well.
Considering that the PC is one of the most powerful platforms in the world, it's a strange thing to see that the PC doesn't support 1080p playback of Netflix, let alone 4K playback. Le sigh.
Continue reading: WTF: Microsoft Edge is the only browser to playback Netflix at 1080p (full post)
NVIDIA's new GeForce 368.81 WHQL drivers released, supports Raw Data
NVIDIA has just released its new GeForce 368.81 WHQL drivers, which are Game Ready for a bunch of new VR titles that NVIDIA has just released - including VR Funhouse. You can download the new GeForce 368.81 WHQL drivers here.
There's also support for Everest VR, Obduction (from the makers of Myst), Raw Data, and The Assembly. As for the changelog on NVIDIA's new GeForce 368.81 WHQL drivers, here's what you'll need to know:
Game Ready
Continue reading: NVIDIA's new GeForce 368.81 WHQL drivers released, supports Raw Data (full post)
Hangouts for Android updated, now supports video messages, and more
Google has finally updated Hangouts for Android, bringing its own Android version of Hangouts up to the same level of Hangouts for iOS - you know, Google's main competitor's mobile operating system.
Hangouts for iOS has supported video messaging since its February 2014 update, and now Hangouts for Android will allow users to record or upload up to 60 seconds of footage to their friends and family through Hangouts. Hangouts for Android supports 1080p videos, while Hangouts for iOS is limited to 360p.
While Android users win with 1080p video support, the iOS version of Hangouts supports up to two minutes of video, up from the one minute allowed on Hangouts for Android. Google has also ditched the SMS/Hangouts merged conversations, with Google explaining that low usage and confusion being the main driver behind dropping the merged SMS/conversations.
Continue reading: Hangouts for Android updated, now supports video messages, and more (full post)
Want to know what iOS 10 will offer? Check out this detailed video
Apple has unleashed the second developer beta of iOS 10, which includes a slew of tweaks and improvements to Apple's mobile operating system.
MacRumors has put together an informative video that highlights a bunch of the new features and improvements in iOS 10 beta 2, which includes the new Messages app, sticker packs from Apple, changes to the Control Center 3D Touch actions, Apple's new organ donor signup, and more.
Apple will officially launch iOS 10 in September, so begin preparing your iPhones and iPads now. Personally, I've been using an iPhone 6S for over a month now and iOS severely lags behind Android, so I'm hoping there's some big improvements in iOS 10.
Continue reading: Want to know what iOS 10 will offer? Check out this detailed video (full post)
Windows 10 upgrade notification goes fullscreen
True to its word last week, Microsoft has altered the Windows 10 upgrade notification for Windows 7 and 8 users to be more clear and actually stop nagging you when you tell it to (at least it appears that way). However, as part of the alterations, the notification now goes fullscreen.
Your options upon seeing the message include upgrading, delaying the notification for another three days, setting the notification to go off three more times, or permanently dismissing the notification.
Microsoft notes the notification will not appear if any of these things are true:
Continue reading: Windows 10 upgrade notification goes fullscreen (full post)
Windows 10 is now the most used OS with gamers on Steam
It's always an interesting time when the Steam survey rolls around, with Valve using its extensive network of gamers to provide it with data to display how many gamers are using NVIDIA or AMD video cards, or what operating system the majority of gamers are using.
Windows 10 is now the most used operating system on Steam, where 40.53% of gamers are using Windows 10 with a DX12-capable GPU. Another 29% of gamers are using a DX12-capable GPU but with a version of Windows that's before Windows 10, such as Windows 7, 8 or 8.1 - or even Vista.
It's an interesting statistic to see, as Windows 10 seems to be quite popular with nearly half of the gamers on Steam using Microsoft's latest DX12-powered operating system.
Continue reading: Windows 10 is now the most used OS with gamers on Steam (full post)
GeForce Experience beta features new interface, ShadowPlay upgrades
NVIDIA users can test drive a new version of GeForce Experience today, which brings a brand new interface, ShadowPlay improvements, and more.
The new look takes inspiration from digital distribution platforms like Netflix and Origin and is said to be much faster. It also features gaming tech news from NVIDIA itself.
As for ShadowPlay, features new and old include 60FPS and 4K recording, fullscreen and windowed mode recording, YouTube uploading, livestreaming support, and game joining via Chrome.
Continue reading: GeForce Experience beta features new interface, ShadowPlay upgrades (full post)
Starting this week, declining Windows 10 upgrade will actually work
To say Microsoft has been aggressive with encouraging users to upgrade to Windows 10 would be an understatement. Finally though, it says it will tweak the prompts to be more straightforward. By the sounds and looks of it, declining the offer will actually decline the offer now, instead of scheduling it without you knowing.
"Since we introduced a new upgrade experience for Windows 10, we've received feedback that some of our valued customers found it confusing," says Windows chief Terry Myerson. "We've been working hard to incorporate their feedback and this week, we'll roll out a new upgrade experience with clear options to upgrade now, schedule a time, or decline the free offer."
The cynic in me says this is Microsoft's calculated attempt at buying back some of the goodwill it's lost in recent months over this issue just before they were about to stop the prompts anyway, but hopefully it's a genuine move. In any case, be sure to keep an eye out this week for the change.
Continue reading: Starting this week, declining Windows 10 upgrade will actually work (full post)
Microsoft's new tool fixes Start Menu issues in Windows 10
If you've ever experienced issues with the Start menu in Windows 10 (won't open, tiles disappearing, etc.), Microsoft has a cure for what ails you. The newly released Start menu troubleshooter will automagically check for and repair any issues it finds.
To download it, click here for the direct link or here for the indirect link if you're the cautious type. And if you're having trouble with the Store or your printer, official troubleshooters exist for that too and can be found with a simple search on the Microsoft support website.
Continue reading: Microsoft's new tool fixes Start Menu issues in Windows 10 (full post)