Software & Apps - Page 72

With passwords entered in your phone, simply walk near your computer and everything will automatically log in - apparently. Excalibur has just seen an Android release and in an email to us they explained exactly how this interesting application works.

With browser support limited to Firefox and Chrome, this app allows you to store multiple passwords in its secure memory. When paired with your computer, this app will automatically log you in or out of your computer and websites depending on range. As you can see in the video above, simply placing your phone next to the PC will see it log in, walking away will see everything log out.

This free app requires a specific authentication process to make sure people can't steal your precious data - if you're looking for a more in depth explanation as to how this is achieved, head to this blog post.

In a recent email by Futuremark's director of engineering, Jani Joki, we were all given a little clarification as to how Futuremark software will operate with Windows 10.

As it stands, all current Futuremark benchmark programs are compatible with this recent operating system release, however, users are reminded that the latest version of SystemInfo should be installed to make sure. This means that 3DMark, 3dMark 11, 3DMark Vantage and Powermark will work as per usual.

There are a few programs which currently stand on shaky ground compatibility wise. If you're worried about your software, head here to see a comprehensive list and information on compatibility.

Have you been patiently waiting for your PC to tell you that your reserved copy of Windows 10 was ready? So have I, until I stumbled across this link to the Microsoft website where you can download Windows 10.

If you've already got a Windows 7, Windows 8 or Windows 8.1 serial key, you can download Windows 10 to a USB flash drive or ISO file. The download link includes the Download Tool, available in both 32- and 64-bit, where you can download and install Windows 10 easily. Mine has just finished downloading, so the servers are full steam ahead right now thanks to Microsoft reserving a huge 40Tbps of bandwidth for the launch of Windows 10.

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).

With the release of Windows 10 right around the corner, people are finding that the automatic installation of Windows 10 updates are annoying, and there are problems associated with some of the updates.

Microsoft has been listening to these complaints, releasing a new troubleshooting package, KB3073930, something that allows you to hide or block Windows driver updates. NVIDIA's driver updates were causing GeForce owners headaches with crashes with the latest updates included with Windows 10 build 10240.

This tool was developed for Windows 10 Insiders, but it will now work with normal users when Windows 10 launches on July 29. You can download the package from Microsoft Support.

Just how popular is YouTube for Android and iOS? Very popular, with over half of all YouTube views originating from mobile devices. Google has recently been revamping its mobile apps to provide a better experience, not just for viewers, but for content creators, too.

The latest update to YouTube includes a new 'Home' landing page, where you can take a look around and discover videos with recommendations and personal playlists based on your history. 'Subscriptions' is the new home for updates from the channels that you're subscribed to, as well as a new option being made available which lets you receive notifications once your favorite YouTuber uploads a new video.

'Account' is the last part of the new YouTube, where all of the videos you've uploaded are found, as well as your watch history and your playlists. All of these small changes to YouTube culminate in a much better application for video playback, especially with the latest update which allows for full-screen portrait videos.

In a move that will have most people asking "why haven't we had it sooner", Windows 10 might have a built-in screen recording feature. The latest pre-release build has some new tips throughout the OS, teasing that when you press the Windows Key + G together, it will open up a brand spankin' new recording option.

TechAU reports that when pressing WinKey + G, it "brings up a toolbar that allows you to take an image (you already had the snipping tool for the that), as well as the ability to record video. The intention, or promoted functionality for this is to capture Windows games in much the same way you can command Cortana by saying 'Xbox record that'".

The recorded videos find themselves in Videos/Capture, but the screen recording feature seems to be locked to the Xbox app, which is weird. An OS-wide recording application would be awesome, I don't see why it has to be associated with Xbox, or gaming in general. Especially considering the wide use of screen recorders for YouTubers. But, this is exciting news for Windows 10, a built-in screen recorder would be a great new feature for Microsoft's soon-to-be here operating system.

Microsoft has reached the release to manufacturing (RTM) build of Windows 10, with its official release on July 29 right around the corner, but how will you be buying the new operating system? On a disc? Upgrading from your old installation, or on a USB flash drive?

Windows 10 can be pre-ordered on a USB flash drive on Amazon, but these drives won't be shipping until August 16. This date can change at anytime, so you could receive it earlier than that. Windows 10 Home is $119.99, while Windows 10 Professional will set you back an additional $80, for a total of $199.99.

The day is here... Windows 10 has reached build 10240, which Microsoft has selected to be the final release to manufacturing (RTM) copy of Windows. The RTM version of Windows 10 will now be sent out to PC makers to bake into their new machines, as well as manufacturing the physical copies of Windows 10.

Microsoft internally signed off on the RTM release of Windows 10, but will most likely announce the RTM publicly later this week. With the official release of Windows 10 set for July 29, we're only two weeks away from Microsoft's next-generation operating system.

Among the funny cat photos, former-CEO Ellen Pao hate and some interesting life tips, Reddit has become a way for those without a voice to speak up with concerns. In comes Reddit member BAM5, letting /r/Music know that Streamus, a Google Chrome web stream application, has been allegedly bullied by YouTube in the recent past due to a failed acquisition.

The story is quite long winded and consists of a summary section, numerous emails between the sole developer and a YouTube employee, alongside notes in various sections touching back on previous points. If you wish to read the whole email chain, you can check it out here.

The summary states that after failing to contact YouTube personally, the team got in touch with Sean Anderson (the developer) after an article on TechCrunch saw Streamus rise of 70,000 users. YouTube voiced its concerns that video playback on Streamus would not halt whenever the tab is minimized, advertisements weren't functioning correctly (turned out to be YouTube's issue) and there were also some video display issues ensuring that the video was not prominent enough when being played.

Looking forward to upgrading to Windows 10 on July 29? Don't hold your breath, as there will be some of us required to wait until a later date before being able to download our upgrade.

At least 5 million people involved in the Windows Insider program will receive Windows 10 first, and next in line will be users who registered for a copy. There is no timeframe as to when Windows 7, Windows 8/8.1 users will be able to begin downloading the OS.

"If you reserved your copy of Windows 10, we will notify you once our compatibility work confirms you will have a great experience, and Windows 10 has been downloaded on your system," a Microsoft blog reads.

Google has updated Hangouts for iOS, with a new-look user interface, increased performance and more. Google has even included a refreshed dialer, which is a nice touch.

The new Hangouts for iOS app includes a new quick compose button that lets you get to new messages even quicker than before, as well as providing access to images from your iPhone gallery, camera or emoji library. This lets Hangouts for iOS users send all sorts of pictures to their friends through Hangouts.

Google has also baked in some performance improvements, the usual bug fixes, and more. The new Hangouts for iOS is available on the iTunes Store, and will be made available for Android in the very near future.

HBO's decision to launch a standalone streaming service to desktop and mobile users seems like it was a brilliant move, as HBO Now was the top grossing app for Apple iOS in May, the App Annie research firm found.

App Annie hasn't finalized June app figures yet, but expect HBO Now to remain near the top once again.

HBO Now, which is $14.99 per month, was able to top Spotify, Hulu, and other subscription-based streaming services. Using your iPhone, iPad, or other Apple device is the easiest way to watch premium content not attached to a cable or subscription plan.

Valve has finally updated the Steam for Android app, which has leaped from v1.1 right up to v2.0. The new Steam for Android app includes a totally revamped UI, something that Valve is calling "material".

The navigation drawer, according to Android Police, has "been completely rearranged in this update, and now includes links to your intentory, library, and additional app settings like disconnecting from the chat". Valve adds that it has fixed up background battery drain and the weird spontaneous login issues that many gamers were used to. The changelog for the app includes:

You can grab Steam for Android from the Google Play store, or grab it from APK Mirror.

It looks like we could see Microsoft offer up Windows 10 on USB flash drives, compared to the usual DVDs that we've seen the company do with previous versions of its operating system. Intel has also teased its new Skylake-based Core i7-6700K for the week after Windows 10, if you were waiting on a new CPU upgrade.

German site WinFuture has the rumor, stating that Microsoft will sell USB flash drive versions of Windows 10, alongside the DVD copies of the OS. The report states that both Home and Professional versions will come in 32-bit and 64-bit versions, with a USB flash drive allowing Windows 10 to be installed and licensed for use on a single PC.

Microsoft will reportedly have a more expensive price tag attached to the USB flash drive versions of Windows 10, with a $25 increase on the $199 price of Windows 10 Home, while a $38 price increase on the $199 price for Professional. Not too bad, especially given the super convenience and increased speed of installing the OS from a USB flash drive provides.

With Microsoft all systems go for the release of Windows 10 on July 29, just a month from now, we're hearing about Intel's next generation processors. Intel is set to release both a new processor lined based on its Skylake family, as well as a new 100 series chipset, which will have the likes of GIGABYTE, ASUS, MSI and the rest with new motherboards on the Intel 100 series, lead by the Z170 chipset for enthusiasts and gamers.

Intel will be releasing the new Skylake processors in two stages, where during the "Intel Extreme Masters Cologne" in Germany on August 7, Intel will unveil the new Core i7-6700K alongside the Core i5-6600K. The rest of the next-gen Skylake offerings will be announced at IFA 2015 in Berlin, Germany between September 4 and 9.

We are to expect the new desktop-class Skylake-S processors in the form of the Core i7-6700 / 6700T, Core i5-6600 / 6500/6400 / 6600T / 6500T / 6400T. The high-performance mobile Skylake-H offerings will include the Core i7-6820HK / 6700HQ, Core i5-6300HQ, Core i3-6100H. Next, we have the low-power mobile Skylake-U series with the following processors: Core i7-6500U, Core i5-6200U, Core i3-6100U. Finally, the ultra low-power mobile Skylake-Y will include the Core M-6Y75 / 6Y54 / 6Y30.

The US Navy was unable to upgrade from Windows XP before Microsoft pulled the plug on support, and will pay at least $9 million for additional help. Specifically, the Navy will receive critical hotfixes and additional software patches for Windows XP and other software.

The deal is expected to run until July 2016, though both sides agreed to the possibility of support until June 2017 - and would cost over $30 million. Without going into details, the Navy has "legacy applications" that must run on Windows XP - and it is taking longer than expected to make upgrades and improvements.

"Nearly all the networks and workstations afloat and ashore will benefit from the Microsoft Premier Support services and Microsoft Custom Support services for Windows XP, Office 2003, Exchange 2003 and Server 2003,"said Steven Davis, spokesman for Space and Naval Warfare Systems Command, in a statement published by ZDNET.

If you're a Google Chrome user, on the 17th of June your browser will have downloaded and installed an audio listener onto your computer as reported by We Are Change.

This was discovered by a user noticing that microphone and audio capture were now switched automatically to "Yes" on their PC, allowing Google to listen in to what's going on through the help of your beloved internet browser without consent.

Said to be added in order to ensure "Ok, Google" working quickly and efficiently, many users are upset about this claimed breach of their privacy as it basically means Google can listen in at any time without asking you to install this update.

Google has recently done the world some good, by detecting and shutting down any unnecessary Flash content in Chrome, which improves battery life on mobile devices and notebooks.

But the company isn't just stopping there, as it's just the first change in Chrome in order to reduce the battery consumption foorprint of its popular browser. Senior Chrome Engineer, Peter Kasting, recently took to Google+ to talk about some of the changes the Mountain View-based search giant is going, which has them starting with how Chrome renders background tabs.

Up until now, Google has rendered all tabs with the same priority, but as you can imagine this isn't great on battery life. From now on, Chrome will be prioritizing foreground tabs over background tabs, which is sure to save some battery life. The team is also working on reducing the CPU usage that is used during Google searchers, by shifting the number of wakes down from around 390, to just 120, cutting CPU usage from 0.3% to 0.1%.

Apple has unveiled iOS 9 at its developer conference in San Francisco, but the Cupertino-based giant has also unveiled WatchOS 2 for the Apple Watch, and OS X El Capitan for Macs.

First up, iOS 9 is set to deliver some big improvements to features found in iOS like Siri and Spotlight, as well as the usual performance improvements, and revamping the experience of iOS for iPad users. Apple has completely revamped Spotlight Search, with some Google Now-like features. A new screen will show users relevant information based on external factors such as your location or the time of your day, just how Google Now works.

One of the areas that iOS users should be happy with improvements is Apple Maps, where maps of transit routes and public transportation maps now available on a city-by-city basis. This will expand as time goes on. Apple Maps in iOS 9 is lso capable of showing you information on nearby stores, where you can then search by category, as well as look at detailed information on businesses like their phone number, opening hours, and whether or not they support Apple Pay.