WHAT'S NEW?
Loading...
Microsoft’s Windows operating system have completed almost 30 years of successful run, with more and more features and user friendly user interface being added one after another
However Windows users still lack few of the features which they think should be enabled with their Windows OS. One of which is, feature which can enabled is to add “colors to folders” or to add different colors to different folders in Windows run PC.
You may think what is the use of “adding colors to Folder in Windows”, well colored folders looks more attractive and are easier to navigate.
While Microsoft does not provide any option to change colors of the folders in windows. few softwares available online may help you change colors of the folder as of your choice.
Here, in this article I will explain you a similar method which will help you to add different colors to folder in your Windows run PC.
How to Customize folders with different colors in Windows?
Tools Required : Folder Colorizer
Supported Operating System : Windows 8/7/Vista/XP
Download the Folder Colorizer software from the above provided link, the product provides options to add colors to folders and comes from a trusted vendor so it will not harm your PC.
Download and install Folder Colorizer, if it asks to install Microsoft Dot Net 3.0 Framework. install it too.
While installing the software be cautious as it may ask to install several other tools to, disable those installs
After complete installation you may proceed with adding color to folders on your pc.
Right click any folder to which you want to add color.
After Right click select Colorizer Option from the menu.
Next select the color which you want to add to the folder.
the Color of the Folder will instantly change to selected color.
In partnership with the Indian tech device maker iBall, Microsoft has released the Splendo- a fully-functional and PC stick running on Windows 8.1 that can convert your TV into a fully functional PC and thus makes it a Smart TV.
Microsoft-backed iBall’s Splendo is priced just at $140 (Rs. 8,999) and it includes a wireless deskset including a keyboard and a mouse. All you have to do is to plug this device in the HDMI port of your TV and get a full-fledged Windows PC experience.
At its launch, Microsoft said: “The iBall Splendo is for people who love devices and want to be connected all the time using multiple form factors. These users are tech enthusiasts who love gadgets, have access to multiple TVs at home, love the Smart TV experience and use Windows for browsing, social networking and multimedia consumption
The iBall Splendo runs on the Intel Atom Quad-core processor with 2GB RAM and 32GB storage space. Apart from these, the other features include multi-channel digital audio, a micro SDXC slot, USB port, micro-USB port, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 4.0 and HD graphics. This device runs on a fanless design and comes bundled with a one-year warranty.
“The new era of exciting, easy to use, miniaturized and affordable devices is becoming the trend. iBall Splendo PC-On-Stick is one such device which will be useful for every home and office conference room providing different dimensions to use the PC as well as get great multimedia and internet experience by attaching it to the TV. A true convergence of technology for every age group and for every need,” said Sandeep Parasrampuria, Director iBall.
Users prompted to install test Windows 10 version on exiting Windows system and have a say in its operations
Microsoft has recently started to prompt Windows 7 and Windows 8 users about the showing the capacity it has to upgrade to Windows 10, giving us an insight as to how the upgrade process may work.
The prompt which in sync with an earlier report points out that this free upgrade will be a limited time offer. It further asserts that if users don’t claim the free upgrade within a year, the offer will be cancelled and they will have to pay for the upgrade.
The soon-to-be-released Microsoft Windows 10, even though not yet completed is already pretty good; however, it still has bugs in it causing it to freeze up from time to time. It is expected to be released in late July, if it’s completed in a month or so from now and Windows 10 is almost undoubtedly going to be very good indeed.
Windows 10 is set to replace Microsoft Windows 8. As far as the Windows 8 goes, it hasn’t been able to set a very high bar for itself so much so that even an unfinished software that crashes and involves hours of work is preferable. Also, one should have paid attention to Microsoft’s advice and held onto launching Windows 8 a bit longer before it was made public.
If you have a touch-screen device, Windows 10 will have the charm bar gesture on the edge of the screen that will slide from right-to-left for notifications and settings bar, similar to what one would find on a mobile phone. Windows 10 has started to share these features with mobile phone operating systems, as Microsoft plans to operate more or less universally, irrespective of whether one is using a notebook PC, mobile phone or tablet.
Further, let’s take a look at “Settings”. With every new build, more and more are getting fashioned differently in the universal style, which is created to work just the same with your finger touch on the screen as well as with a keyboard and mouse.
With every build, the start menus and the task bar, too, are getting better where many features are work exactly the same way you expect them to when you click on them.
For example, when you click on the date and time on the task bar of Windows 10, a big friendly calendar pops up, exactly the way you always wanted that click to do. It seems like Microsoft has been listening to its customers and is allowing us take a decision as to how things should operate on its Windows 10.
However, it looks like Microsoft has been exactly doing this for some time. A major reason of these Windows 10 builds is to let Microsoft observe how people do things and make the final product to match, irrespective of how much damaged the Windows 10 maybe.
Microsoft is paying keen attention as to why a feature is not clicked and if it is clicked why people are coming out of that feature. It’s becoming increasingly obvious that Windows 10 is going to be an operating system for the people with every passing build.
Windows 10 Professional was recently priced at $150 on Newegg’s website. Once the users book their free copy, they will be notified later on when the update is ready for download. Once that’s done, the Windows 10 will be ready for use.
Finally Microsoft reveals the official Windows 10 system requirements. It has published the entire list of system requirements and they are similar to Windows 7 and 8.1.
We can even quietly upgrade Windows 7 and 8.1 to Windows 10 on your computer. You wouldn’t feel much difference on performance of the computer when upgrading to Window 10.
Here are the list of system requirements for Windows 10 on Desktop:
Processor: 1 GB or faster processor or SoC
Ram: 1 GB for 32-bit or 2GB for 64-bit
Storage Disk: 16GB for 32-bit OS or 20GB for 64-bit OS
Graphics: DirectX 9 or later with WDM 1.0 driver
Display: 800×600 pixels resolution or higher
According to Canadian carrier Rogers, the Samsung Galaxy S6 and the S6 edge should get their Android 5.1 Lollipop update as early as next month. The carrier's official website mentions June as the estimated release date for the update, although the website also says that the dates are subject to change.
Over this past month, we've heard that Samsung is already working on updating its latest flagships to Android 5.1 Lollipop, and we've also heard that the update should come with a new Guest Mode feature, as well as the ability to snap RAW photos. This is the first time we're hearing about a potential release date for the update.
Since we can think of no reason why Rogers should get any priority in updating its versions of the Galaxy S6 and S6 edge to the latest Android version, this date should be a good estimate for a lot of other carriers across the globe as well.
While Android 5.1 Lollipop is not a major update over 5.0 Lollipop, Google seems to have solved many of the bugs that got introduced with the original version of Lollipop.
Guest Mode is a feature that stock Android 5.0 has had since day one, but Samsung did not include it in the Lollipop versions that the S6 and the S6 edge currently use. The ability to capture RAW photos is also baked in the stock version of 5.0 Lollipop. Some were disappointed that the Galaxy S6 series lacked this feature, especially since the MWC 2015 demo units came this must-have feature for mobile photography enthuziasts.
Many customers will appreciate it if Samsung also optimizes the battery life of its two flagships, although this could well turn out to be just wishful thinking.
Windows 10 may very well be Microsoft's last operating system, if recent reports are true. A Microsoft employee made the surprising revelation during a recent conference hosted by Microsoft.
Jerry Nixon revealed during Microsoft's Ignite Conference in Chicago that the company is no longer planning to develop new versions of the operating system anytime in the future.
"Right now we're releasing Windows 10 and because Windows 10 is the last version of Windows, we're all still working on Windows 10," he said.
The latest version of the operating system is slated for release in summer and as Nixon said, the company is preparing for this release. Earlier reports about the upcoming OS version also revealed how Windows is shifting from providing service rather than coming up with new versions every so often.
According to Nixon, the new philosophy behind Windows 10 is "Windows as a service" means that it will be pushing out updates regularly for Windows 10, improving on its services rather than introducing new versions of the OS.
Nixon's statements were later validated through a statement from a Microsoft spokesperson: "Recent comments at Ignite about Windows 10 are reflective of the way Windows will be delivered as a service bringing new innovations and updates in an ongoing manner, with continuous value for our consumer and business customers."
The spokesperson also emphasized how Windows 10 and further innovations will benefit users across multiple devices: "We aren't speaking to future branding at this time, but customers can be confident Windows 10 will remain up-to-date and power a variety of devices from PCs to phones to Surface Hub to HoloLens and Xbox. We look forward to a long future of Windows innovations."
In addition, Microsoft will be also be implementing a 24/7 update sequence, allowing users to choose whether they will get updates via slow or fast rollouts, meaning they can get updates in bundles or as soon as the update is released. Currently, the company is reportedly testing Windows 10 preview builds with a select group of users
Almost exactly a year ago, Mozilla announced that it would (very reluctantly) implement the HTML5 DRM specs into Firefox. Today, the organization officially launched HTML5 DRM support with the release of Firefox 38. In addition, however, Mozilla also announced the launch of a separate Firefox download that won’t automatically install Adobe’s technology for playing back DRM-wrapped content in the browser.
With the launch of Firefox 38 today, the default version of the browser now supports the Encrypted Media Extensions API on Windows desktop (Vista+) and automatically downloads the Adobe Content Decryption Module (CDM).
FX3The argument here is that this will allow users to watch content from Netflix and similar services without having to deal with plug-ins like Microsoft’s Silverlight, which is on its way out, and Adobe’s Flash. Having a built-in DRM solution in the browser that plays nicely with the HTML5 standard means users can watch their videos without having to think about plug-ins and the security issues that come with them. Netflix is already testing Firefox’s DRM solution to stream content to its subscribers.
Mozilla was in a tough position when it decided to adopt DRM in its browser. It’s already having a hard time hanging on to its existing users and most of its users probably don’t care all that much about DRM, but they would care if Netflix suddenly stopped working. In the end, the organization made the pragmatic decision to support this technology, but it clearly didn’t enjoy doing so.
Windows Insiders get free upgrade path to Windows 10
Microsoft will give those who tested the next version of Windows through the Windows Insider program a free upgrade path to Windows 10 when the OS is released to manufacturing, meaning you will be able to upgrade to the final RTM version without the need of a clean install.
When this news was first revealed by Microsoft's Gabriel Aul through Twitter yesterday, there was a bit of confusion as to how the upgrade would work, with some people speculating that the free upgrade meant a free Windows 10 license, however that is not the case.
Current Windows 7 and Windows 8/8.1 license holders will be able to upgrade to Windows 10 free of charge for the first year, meaning you do get a free upgrade. Those already using Windows 10 previews, will be able to upgrade to the final release code, but that won't make it a valid license outright.
Microsoft has yet to reveal how much Windows 10 will cost as standalone software. At the time of Windows 8's launch, Microsoft offered a short-term deal that allowed those upgrading from as far back as Windows XP to get Windows 8 for just $39. Of course, free is even better.
This is not the first time users get mixed signals from Redmond. Earlier this year Microsoft stated that pirates upgrading to Windows 10 will be able to do so without an existing valid license, but the license will remain invalid after the upgrade is complete. What seems clear is that Microsoft doesn't plan on giving away free licenses to anyone, but users with valid Windows 7 and Windows 8 copies will get a free upgrade for a limited time.
Windows 10 will launch this summer, potentially around the end of July, with a large array of new features. Those interested in testing out the OS ahead of release can still join Microsoft's Insider Program and download the latest preview build right now.
Microsoft will give those who tested the next version of Windows through the Windows Insider program a free upgrade path to Windows 10 when the OS is released to manufacturing, meaning you will be able to upgrade to the final RTM version without the need of a clean install.
When this news was first revealed by Microsoft's Gabriel Aul through Twitter yesterday, there was a bit of confusion as to how the upgrade would work, with some people speculating that the free upgrade meant a free Windows 10 license, however that is not the case.
Current Windows 7 and Windows 8/8.1 license holders will be able to upgrade to Windows 10 free of charge for the first year, meaning you do get a free upgrade. Those already using Windows 10 previews, will be able to upgrade to the final release code, but that won't make it a valid license outright.
Microsoft has yet to reveal how much Windows 10 will cost as standalone software. At the time of Windows 8's launch, Microsoft offered a short-term deal that allowed those upgrading from as far back as Windows XP to get Windows 8 for just $39. Of course, free is even better.
This is not the first time users get mixed signals from Redmond. Earlier this year Microsoft stated that pirates upgrading to Windows 10 will be able to do so without an existing valid license, but the license will remain invalid after the upgrade is complete. What seems clear is that Microsoft doesn't plan on giving away free licenses to anyone, but users with valid Windows 7 and Windows 8 copies will get a free upgrade for a limited time.
Windows 10 will launch this summer, potentially around the end of July, with a large array of new features. Those interested in testing out the OS ahead of release can still join Microsoft's Insider Program and download the latest preview build right now.
Google Says Its Self-Driving Cars Drive Better Than You
Google has been testing self-driving cars for years. Six years in fact, with a fleet of 20+ self-driving cars, which have self-driven almost a million miles over that period — and are now averaging around 10,000 self-driven miles per week.
So how many accidents have Google’s autonomous rides got into over that period? Eleven “minor accidents”, according to Google’s Chris Urmson, writing in a blog post on Medium yesterday. However Urmson lays the blame for all 11 fender-benders at the feet of the other human drivers — rather than the self-driving machines.
Over the 6 years since we started the project, we’ve been involved in 11 minor accidents (light damage, no injuries) during those 1.7 million miles of autonomous and manual driving with our safety drivers behind the wheel, and not once was the self-driving car the cause of the accident.
Going into a little more detail, Urmson says Google’s driverless cars have been hit from behind seven times — “mainly at traffic lights but also on the freeway”. They’ve also been “side-swiped a couple of times and hit by a car rolling through a stop sign”. While the majority of the accidents apparently occurred on city streets, rather than freeways — with Google noting its vehicles were hit eight times “in many fewer miles of city driving”.
A lot of the discussion around the challenges posed by driverless cars has focused on concerns about safety — such as whether on-board computers would require programing to encourage taking evasion action that is designed to kill the least number of people, yet which might nonetheless result in a machine making deliberate choices to crash into a car with fewer occupants (and thus actively choosing to kill one set of humans to save another).
So Google flagging up the dangers of human drivers offers a counterweight to that — albeit, it’s in the company’s long-term interests to move humans from behind the wheel. After all, if your eyes are on the road they can’t (safely) be on an advert, which is of course how Mountain View fuels its business. So expect Google to keep emphasizing the fallibility of human drivers as it works to pave the way for a machine-driven future.
Urman even goes on to cite statistics about the number of U.S. drivers checking their mobile while driving — contrasting those fatally distracted humans with the lidless vigilance of Google’s four-wheeled machines…
Lots of people aren’t paying attention to the road. In any given daylight moment in America, there are 660,000 people behind the wheel who are checking their devices instead of watching the road. Our safety drivers routinely see people weaving in and out of their lanes; we’ve spotted people reading books, and even one playing a trumpet. A self-driving car has people beat on this dimension of road safety. With 360 degree visibility and 100% attention out in all directions at all times; our newest sensors can keep track of other vehicles, cyclists, and pedestrians out to a distance of nearly two football fields.
He also notes that Google is amassing a wealth of driving data which he suggests could be used to identify dangerous situations before an accident happens — such as identifying “patterns of driver behavior (lane-drifting, red-light running) that are leading indicators of significant collisions”.
The next step, presumably, would be for Google’s driverless algorithms to take pre-emptive evasive action to steer clear of future collisions, based on big data mining of these warning signs of impending collisions.
Google has been testing self-driving cars for years. Six years in fact, with a fleet of 20+ self-driving cars, which have self-driven almost a million miles over that period — and are now averaging around 10,000 self-driven miles per week.
So how many accidents have Google’s autonomous rides got into over that period? Eleven “minor accidents”, according to Google’s Chris Urmson, writing in a blog post on Medium yesterday. However Urmson lays the blame for all 11 fender-benders at the feet of the other human drivers — rather than the self-driving machines.
Over the 6 years since we started the project, we’ve been involved in 11 minor accidents (light damage, no injuries) during those 1.7 million miles of autonomous and manual driving with our safety drivers behind the wheel, and not once was the self-driving car the cause of the accident.
Going into a little more detail, Urmson says Google’s driverless cars have been hit from behind seven times — “mainly at traffic lights but also on the freeway”. They’ve also been “side-swiped a couple of times and hit by a car rolling through a stop sign”. While the majority of the accidents apparently occurred on city streets, rather than freeways — with Google noting its vehicles were hit eight times “in many fewer miles of city driving”.
A lot of the discussion around the challenges posed by driverless cars has focused on concerns about safety — such as whether on-board computers would require programing to encourage taking evasion action that is designed to kill the least number of people, yet which might nonetheless result in a machine making deliberate choices to crash into a car with fewer occupants (and thus actively choosing to kill one set of humans to save another).
So Google flagging up the dangers of human drivers offers a counterweight to that — albeit, it’s in the company’s long-term interests to move humans from behind the wheel. After all, if your eyes are on the road they can’t (safely) be on an advert, which is of course how Mountain View fuels its business. So expect Google to keep emphasizing the fallibility of human drivers as it works to pave the way for a machine-driven future.
Urman even goes on to cite statistics about the number of U.S. drivers checking their mobile while driving — contrasting those fatally distracted humans with the lidless vigilance of Google’s four-wheeled machines…
Lots of people aren’t paying attention to the road. In any given daylight moment in America, there are 660,000 people behind the wheel who are checking their devices instead of watching the road. Our safety drivers routinely see people weaving in and out of their lanes; we’ve spotted people reading books, and even one playing a trumpet. A self-driving car has people beat on this dimension of road safety. With 360 degree visibility and 100% attention out in all directions at all times; our newest sensors can keep track of other vehicles, cyclists, and pedestrians out to a distance of nearly two football fields.
He also notes that Google is amassing a wealth of driving data which he suggests could be used to identify dangerous situations before an accident happens — such as identifying “patterns of driver behavior (lane-drifting, red-light running) that are leading indicators of significant collisions”.
The next step, presumably, would be for Google’s driverless algorithms to take pre-emptive evasive action to steer clear of future collisions, based on big data mining of these warning signs of impending collisions.
Apple’s latest iOS 8.4 beta, the third for the next significant iOS software update, is now available. This most recent installment continues to offer a revamped Music app, bringing both function and UI changes to the music playback app, a move many suspect also prefaces the possible arrival of a new iTunes streaming music service at the Worldwide Developers Conference early next month.
Reports, including from our own sources, suggest that Apple is planning to debut its new streaming offering at WWDC, during a keynote most likely occurring on June 8, the same day the conference begins. The Apple streaming service will compete directly with the likes of Spotify and be based at least in part on Beats Music, which it acquired last year. Re/code recently shed some light on a few more details about the service, including how it’ll use free samples and a trial period ranging from between one and three months to promote its paid subscription model.
The new Music app appearing in the beta releases carries no overt mention of a streaming service, but instead offers a new look, a new persistent mini-player, new playlist features and easier access to iTunes Radio. The betas appear to be helping refine and zap bugs in this service, and there’s a presumption that in a release update, we’ll see the streaming services housed within the Music app alongside local libraries and iTunes Radio, as well.
Method 1 of 3: For Windows
-
1Find your computer's HOSTS file. For NT Based Windows, that'sC:\winnt\system32\drivers\etc. For others, that'sC:\windows\system32\drivers\etc.Ad
- 2If the file is missing simply create create a new one by going to File >> New >> Text File (Text Document). Name it "HOSTS" without the .txt (if you have any problems see Tips).
-
3Open the hosts file using Notepad. Right-click the host file, select Open >> Notepad and click OK.
-
4Add new entries to block at the bottom of the file. For example, if you wish to block evil-site.com, add this to the bottom of the hosts file (after 127.0.0.1 press TAB not Spaces):
-
5Save the file.
The Razer Blade has earned a solid reputation among those looking for a lightweight gaming notebook, but what if your mobile gaming rig also doubles as your productivity machine? Sure, a 14-inch system could technically get the job done but a working professional would greatly benefit from something a bit larger if you plan this to be your desktop replacement. The extra real estate for gaming wouldn't hurt either.
If it’s an all-in-one gaming and productivity machine you’re after, Razer would encourage you to check out the larger Blade Pro. The 2015 revision features a generous 17.3-inch display which affords the real estate necessary for the highlight of the notebook, Razer’s Switchblade UI.
Before we get ahead of ourselves, let’s start with the basics. The Blade Pro is powered by Intel’s Core i7-4720HQ, a quad-core chip clocked at 2.6GHz (Turbo Boost up to 3.6GHz), mated to 16GB of DDR3 RAM alongside a 512GB mSATA SSD and a 1TB hard drive for storage.
Razer Blade Pro (2015)
- 17.3” 1920 x 1080 IPS LCD (127 PPI)
- 2.6GHz - 3.6GHz Intel Core i7–4720HQ
- 16GB DDR3L 1,600MHz RAM
- Nvidia GeForce GTX 960M GPU 4GB GDDR5
- 512GB SSD + 1TB HDD
- Backlit anti-ghosting keyboard
- Razer Switchblade UI
- 3 x USB 3.0 , 1 x HDMI 1.4a
- 802.11a/b/g/n/ac + Bluetooth 4.0
- Windows 8.1 64-bit
- 6.76 lbs, 16.8" x 10.9" x 0.88" inches
Curiously enough, Razer has elected to equip the Blade Pro with an Nvidia GeForce GTX 960M (4GB GDDR5 VRAM) and a 1080p IPS display. Its smaller, more gaming oriented sibling ships with a GTX 970M and up to a QHD+ (3,200 x 1,800) panel.
Elsewhere, the system includes 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 4.0, a backlit anti-ghosting keyboard and a 74Wh lithium-ion battery. Our price as tested today is $2,799.99 due to the extra storage, but it’s worth mentioning that the Blade Pro can be had for as little as $2,299.99 if you opt for the 128GB SSD and a 500GB HDD.
The laptop measures approximately 16.8” x 0.88” x 10.9” for width, height and depth, respectively, while tipping the scales at a slim (for its size) 6.76 pounds.
The Hardware
Razer used a CNC aluminum chassis to build the Blade Pro rather than stamped aluminum for added rigidity. It’s black in color although under bright lighting, it takes on more of a grayish tint.
The lid features two subtle ledges at about a quarter and three-fourths across that provide a bit of depth. Razer’s iconic snake logo is positioned in the center between the ledges, emitting a green glow when the computer is in use.
The front edge of the system features a single LED indicator on the left side that lights up green and then pulses white when the system is on with the lid closed. There’s a beveled edge in the center that makes it easier to open the lid and happens to provide a place for your wrists (well, at least the right one) to rest comfortably during use.
The right side of the Blade Pro is also very minimalistic save for the Kensington security slot and cooling vents near the back. The rear of the system is devoid of any connections or cooling vents which leads us to the left side where you’ll find a headphone jack, three USB 3.0 ports with green internals to match Razer’s theme, an HDMI port, Ethernet jack and the power connector. It’s worth highlighting the fact that there’s no memory card slot or DisplayPort connection.
A second set of cooling vents is also located on the left edge near the back of the system. These vents and the others are aided by two bottom vents with fans that draw in cool air from the bottom and expel it out the sides of the system.
Post-purchase memory and storage upgrades appear to be possible as there are more than a dozen screw holes lining the perimeter on the bottom of the system. They’ve been covered with a small cap for aesthetic purposes but I suspect these could easily be popped off to remove the screws and gain access to the internals.
With 16GB of RAM on tap, up to 512GB of speedy solid state storage and 1TB of extra storage space, the only reason you’d ever really need to get inside would be to replace dead hardware.
A pair of large rubber feet at the rear and two smaller ones up front provides plenty of elevation for the cooling system and ensures the computer stays put during intense gaming sessions. And if it’s not obvious, the battery is non-removable (not easily, at least) as it’s built into the system.
Lifting the lid reveals a sizable bezel that frames the 1080p matte finish display. At the top is a 2-megapixel webcam flanked by microphones on either side. If you look closely at the top corners of the bezel, it appears as though there was once some padding installed for cushioning purposes when the lid is closed but they were nowhere to be found here (or in any press material).
Below the display, you’ll see that Razer has discreetly printed the “Blade” branding. If you’re not looking for it, it’s difficult to see, especially under standard indoor lighting.
The keyboard deck of the Blade Pro is unlike anything else I’ve seen. Just above the LED-laden power button are the system’s stereo speakers tucked neatly under a minimalistic grill. The keyboard itself and Switchblade UI are slightly inset, again, with a beveled edge.
There’s little to complain about with regard to the keyboard. The backlit keys feel great when typing and the overall layout is logical without feeling too cramped. The Switchblade UI is the name Razer has given its multi-touch LCD trackpad and 10 customizable tactile keys. Each key measures 15mm x 15mm with a 115 x 115 resolution and a 2mm travel distance.
The trackpad works double-duty both as a traditional pointing device with gesture control and a secondary display. The screen measures 4.05 inches with a resolution of 480 x 800 pixels and there are two traditional click buttons below it just as you’d find on most other notebooks.
Samsung's Galaxy Tab S series contained some of the more attractive Android tablets released to date, so it's good to see Samsung is working on a sequel, at least according to the latest rounds of rumors.
Press images of one tablet expected to be part of the Galaxy Tab S2 series have leaked thanks to OnLeaks, revealing a slim, attractive device with metal around the edges. This use of metal is reminiscent of Samsung's latest phones such as the Galaxy A5 and Galaxy S6, as well as the recently-released Galaxy Tab A line.
According to a variety of leaks, the Galaxy Tab S2 will come in 8-inch and 9.7-inch variants. Like with most of Samsung's products, the Galaxy Tab S2 will feature a Super AMOLED display, although interestingly the company will move away from a screen with a 16:9 aspect ratio, opting for a 4:3 2048 x 1536 display in both models, just like the iPad Air 2 and Nexus 9.
Processor-wise we can expect to see a 64-bit Exynos SoC, most likely Samsung's Exynos 7420 we saw in the Galaxy S6, alongside 3 GB of RAM, 32 GB of storage and a microSD card slot. The Galaxy Tab S2 is rumored to also include an 8-megapixel camera on the back, a 2.1-megapixel camera on the front, and LTE connectivity in some models.
Samsung is expected to launch the Galaxy Tab S2 sometime in June with Android 5.0 and TouchWiz on board. As this is Samsung's premium tablet offering, it should be priced accordingly.
Microsoft is moving to a different kind of software model with Windows 10. A developer evangelist noted that Windows 10 would be the “last version of Windows” during the company’s Ignite conference this week, and a follow-up confirmation from an official Microsoft spokesperson revealed (via the Telegraph) that, indeed, updates to Windows after that release would follow an incremental path that would lead to ongoing improvements, instead of splashy, more occasional numbered launches.
Arguably, it’s a change that has been progressively happening ever since the easy and affordable availability of Internet connectivity came to the personal computer. Software companies have been releasing continuous updates for their apps, operating systems and firmware via Internet connection gradually over time since it became practical to do so. But Microsoft’s decision to fully embrace this marks a big change in the way it conceives, markets and sells its desktop OS.
Other companies have already fully embraced this turn in the means and nature of software distribution; Adobe, for instance, is all-on on its Creative Cloud model, which sees subscribers pony up monthly fees for access to desktop programs like Photoshop and Illustrator in exchange for always having the most current version and features. Adobe makes this more attractive with a range of supporting services, including its Creative Cloud syncing file storage.
Microsoft has, especially under new CEO Satya Nadella, made the move to become much more of a services company. Putting Windows into that bundle of services would be a strong move toward upping the overall value proposition of the whole. And moving to a more gradually iterative model would probably have benefits in terms of engineering resource allocation and keeping pace with the increasingly rapid adoption curves of new tech.
It’ll be interesting to see how the sales model shifts with this change: Microsoft has announced that Windows 10 will be a free upgrade for eligible devices for the first year after 10’s official launch, but presumably if it’s capping that it’ll still be looking to drive revenue from sales of the OS. Perhaps it could become part of a larger services bundle that expands on what Office 365 currently provides.
Google has introduced an interesting new feature to the Google Play Store after it began allowing users to pre-register for upcoming Android apps.
Terminator Genisys: Revolution from Glu Mobile — the company that recently took investment from China’s Tencent — is the first title to take advantage of the feature, as the folks at Android Police noticed. Interested users simply tap the pre-register icon (which is where ‘download’ would usually be) to show their interest.
Pre-registration is free for Android customers, and there’s no obligation to download or buy the app once it is live. The process sets up an alert that prompts a user once the app is available. It is not a lock-in, since users can cancel their interest if they have a change of heart.
nexus2cee_2015-05-08_17h30_12_thumb
Pre-registration is n’t for your average developer, but it could be useful for games that are timed for release alongside films — i.e. Terminator — or sequels or big budget productions that want to drive up interest and hype pre-launch.
This is another example of differentiation between Apple’s App Store and Google Play. Google has long allowed a number of unique features, including allowing developers to respond to reviews. That said, the company is known to be more lax when it comes to vetting new apps and updates — that’s thought to be one reason why the risk of malware is higher for Android customers.