The launch of Windows 10 is here, with Microsoft blasting out the Windows 10 update to some PCs who had 'reserved' a copy of the new desktop operating system.

Users are reporting that they're seeing a "'$Windows.~BT' folder onto the C:/ of their system, with Plaffo.com reporting: "Several users have noticed a new folder in the main memory of your PC called '$Windows.~ BT' that contains the files for the installation of Windows 10". The folder sitting in C:/ is only visible if you enabled hidden files and folders in your Windows settings.

But the more interesting news is coming from the fact that Windows 10 is going to chew up a considerable amount of the Internet for the coming days, with Dan Rayburn, an analyst at Frost & Sullivan saying that Microsoft had wanted to start blasting out Windows 10 to users on July 25, but had to wait for the delivery and distribution partners to free up capacity up to an insane 40Tbps (over 4TB/sec).

Xbox boss Phil Spencer believes it's a great time for the gaming console market, and years ago shot down talk of the console business dying. Instead, the Microsoft Xbox One and Sony PlayStation 4 have both garnered major attention by gamers:

"I have a lot of respect for the team at Sony and the success they've had with PS4, and it's a great time for the console industry," Spencer said in an interview with Edge. "I've said this a few times, but four years ago when I was sitting doing these interviews it was, 'do people need consoles any more?' and, 'isn't this just dead? Everybody's playing on their phone.' And now you're looking at the PS4 having sold over - I don't remember their last number - but over 20 million."

Game studios still must work hard to develop AAA games for consoles that are successful - and some wonder if game console units are actually profitable for Microsoft or Sony. In the end, manufacturers will continue pushing forward with consoles, as gamers are still interested in buying them.

Minnesota dentist Walter Palmer isn't having a good day, as the Internet is flooding his business with angry phone calls, emails, and Yelp reviews.

Palmer, an avid hunter, was hunting in Zimbabwe when he shot 13-year-old Cecil the Lion. The lion, which lived on protected national parkland, was lured out of its sanctuary - and was shot by the bow hunter. After being wounded, Palmer and his paid guides tracked the animal for about 40 hours before finally killing him.

The lion was extremely popular among tourists at the park, and had six lioness mates and more than a dozen cubs. Palmer paid more than $50,000 to go lion hunting while in Zimbabwe, and killed an animal that wore a GPS collar while being tracked by Oxford University researchers, according to The Zimbabwe Conservation Task Force.

There was some surprise when Square Enix announced Rise of the Tomb Raider would be exclusive for the Microsoft Xbox platform for one year.

"I hope fans know that it wasn't an easy decision. I think any sort of partnership at this level is a decision that took a long time for us to get to," said Phil Rogers, CEO of the Americas and Europe at Square Enix, in a statement to The Examiner. "The decision at a studio level, we took very, very seriously. We knew it would, in the short-term, disappoint fans."

Square Enix apparently made the decision after noting Microsoft's continued passion for the Tomb Raider series: "Having been working with us on previous games in a lesser sense, they've been supportive. [However], for Rise of the Tomb Raider, they've just brought this passion and belief that has really enabled us to blow people away. People should feel that about Microsoft. Their commitment to Tomb Raider is just amazing for us."

Alaska Airlines has teamed up with the airport security firm CLEAR to test a biometrics platform that could one day replace traditional boarding passes. The biometrics system should make it even easier to check-in, and save passengers a bit of time before boarding a flight.

A kiosk machine at the Mineta San Jose International Airport scans a traveler's eye, or checks fingerprints, before hopping on a plane. It's a groundbreaking effort that costs members $179 per year, and is currently being tested in 12 US airports.

"We have no specific timeline, but we look forward to working with Alaska Airlines to expand our relationship to other cities in their network," said Ken Cornick, president and CFO of CLEAR, in a statement published by the San Jose Mercury News. "Having direct access to a boarding pass and not needing to print it or download it into their phone is both a significant customer advantage and security advantage."

US military officials are increasingly concerned about small drones being used as flying improvised explosive devices (IEDs) that can be used against civilians and military personnel.

To help defend against future threats, the Counter Rocket, Artillery and Mortar (C-RAM) system is being developed, a gun-based solution that could be used to down drones. However, it is extremely difficult to quickly identify and engage drones:

"In addition, due to their size, construction material, and flight altitude, hobbyist drones are difficult to defend against if their presence in a particular area is unknown or expected," said Kelley Sayler, associate fellow at the Center for a New American Security, in a recent paper.

The White House has responded to an online petition to pardon Edward Snowden, which generated more than 167,000 signatures since going live in June 2013.

The petition had the following description: "Edward Snowden is a national hero and should be immediately issued a full, free, and absolute pardon for any crimes he has committed or may have committed related to blowing the whistle on secret NSA surveillance programs."

"Instead of constructively addressing these issues, Mr. Snowden's dangerous decision to steal and disclose classified information had severe consequences for the security of our country and the people who work day in and day out to protect it," said Lisa Monaco, President Obama's Advisor on Homeland Security and Counterterrorism.

Acer is excited for the launch of Microsoft Windows 10, and consumers can purchase the Aspire E Series notebook powered by Windows 10 starting tomorrow.

The Aspire E Series will launch during the first week of August, Acer said in a press statement. The notebooks support either 15.6-inch or 17.3-inch displays, powered by Intel CPUs.

The cheapest model, the E5-573-58FN, has the following specifications: 15.6-inch display, 5th Generation Intel Core i5-5200U CPU, 8GB RAM, 500GB HDD, DVD-Super Multi Double-Layer Drive, and will be available for $499.99.

Intel and Micron have began production of 3D XPoint flash memory, a new class of inexpensive high-density, high-performance flash memory that heralds a new age of performance for high-end data management.

Intel's new 3D Xpoint class has been in development for over a decade and represents a breakthrough in next-generation storage solutions. 3D XPoint tech is 10 times more dense than standard memory, and Intel boasts that the new tech allows users to access data at "speeds previously impossible for non-volatile storage".

"For decades, the industry has searched for ways to reduce the lag time between the processor and data to allow much faster analysis," said Rob Crooke, exec Intel's Non-Volatile Memory Solutions Group. "This new class of non-volatile memory achieves this goal and brings game-changing performance to memory and storage solutions."

A startup company from Germany wants you to forget about your regular house keys, and use a hands-free fob that has been named the Kiwi Ki.

The system operates using radio-frequency identification (RFID) and unlocks a house door as the resident approaches. The mechanism is available for less than $450, and each key fob requires a monthly fee.

"It is much more secure than a normal key. A normal key can be copied easily, sometimes just from a photograph," said Henryk Ploetz, a security analyst, in a statement to Euronews. "With this one you can't do that. That is the case for all contactless keys, but this one is as secure or more secure than all other contactless systems."