Software & Apps News - Page 74

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.

If you're a Windows Insider, starting with yesterday's Build 14371 you can link your Windows 10 license with your Microsoft account (MSA). The feature is already activated if you use your MSA to login to Windows 10. If you don't, simply do so and you should be on your way.

The change solves two issues: needing to keep your license key stored somewhere and being unable to activate Windows if you've lost your key. It also pushes the operating system even further into the digital realm for the better.

The bad news is licenses are still limited (how much exactly we don't know yet), but it's an understandable necessity given how easy it would be to share a license infinitely with your login details.

The latest version of GPU-Z is here, with v0.8.9 including support for AMD's upcoming Polaris-based video cards. It also supports the new NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1070, as well as support for reading the values on your overclocked GTX 1070/1080s.

Here's the full skinny on GPU-Z v0.8.9:

Amazon is planning to launch a standalone music streaming subscription service late this summer or early autumn, according to two sources familiar with the matter. The service will cost $9.99 per month and will offer a competitive catalogue.

The online shopping giant already offers a limited streaming music service to its Prime customers, and recently offered a monthly fee Prime option, so a full catalogue standalone service based on the subscription model would be a natural leap. With the success of Spotify and Apple Music (which collectively serve about 43 million subscribers and many more non-subscribers), it makes even more sense.

Although Amazon would enter the game a bit late, it has the clout and financial power to significantly alleviate that disadvantage.

The latest nightly build for popular catch-all media player VLC bakes in Chromecast support. A long anticipated feature, it enables users to view virtually any kind of video content, live or recorded, on their TV. While such functionality has been possible through other avenues, none are as convenient as what VLC offers.

Head here for the latest nightly builds. The Chromecast-enabled version (3.0) may not be ready until later tonight (June 10/11), so keep checking back if necessary. Or if you're not the early release type, take this as news that public Chromecast support is not far away.

Tinder has been available to 13 year-olds and up since the app launched four years ago, offering minors the opportunity to date and/or hook up with other minors. That's going to change next week though when it goes 18+ only.

"On a platform that has facilitated over 11 billion connections, we have the responsibility of constantly assessing our different user experiences," reads the company's statement. "Consistent with this responsibility, we have decided to discontinue service for under 18 users. We believe this is the best policy moving forward."

Tinder's underage users currently represent three percent of its userbase.

Facebook, Twitter, and Tinder, among other services have enabled GIF support in recent times, and now WhatsApp is joining the party too.

The changelog for the latest iOS 2.16.7.1 beta, as interpreted by @WABetaInfo, indicates GIF support is indeed on the way. Unfortunately direct importing of GIFs doesn't appear to be apart of the deal (at least not yet), but you can link to GIFs and they'll show up as intended. Other GIF-related features include GIF saving to your camera roll, autoplay, static image conversion, direct reply, encryption, and peek and pop actions.

Look out for the new goods when the beta hits. Or if you're not the beta type, sit tight and wait for the public release, which shouldn't take long.

Firefox will soon see what Mozilla developer Asa Dotzler calls "the largest [change] we've ever shipped": the public release of Electrolysis (aka E10S).

A fundamental design change, E10S splits Firefox into two separate processes: one for interface, and one for content. The benefit for the user is if there are any stability issues (slowdowns due to resource hogging, freezing, crashing, etc.), you'll still be able to use your tabs, buttons, and menus as normal.

E10S has been in beta for a long while now and Dotzler says it's finally nearing public release; the current plan is to launch it publicly on August 2. Only one percent of users will receive it immediately, but assuming all goes well, it will then gradually roll out to the other half in the weeks that follow.

Microsoft has changed the hardware requirements of Windows 10 in light of the looming Anniversary Update. On the whole, these are for the better, allowing a wider range of devices to use the operating system.

Once the update is live, Windows 10 Mobile devices up to 9'' will be able to run it (versus the previous 7.99''), whereas the desktop version can be installed on devices with screens as small as 7'' (down from 8'').

RAM requirements are now up for 32-bit versions of the OS: 2GB versus the previous 1GB. As for storage, that's now at 16GB and 20GB for 32-bit and 64-bit devices, respectively.

Apple Music has been growing thanks in part to its $14.99/mo family plan, and Spotify has taken notice. As of today, the Swedish streaming service offers the same plan except it does Apple one better and supports up to six people instead of five.

At last count, Apple Music sat at 13 million subscribers (up two million over the previous count), while Spotify sat at 30 million.

If Apple's service continues to pick up Steam, both services should improve all the more for the competition, which is great news for users.