Microsoft updates Lync mobile client, no longer requires an account
Back in March of this year Microsoft released its mobile clients for Lync and Lync Server 2013 and, since that initial release, the company has twice updated the app. Today marks the third refresh for the enterprise communications tool, which is available across Windows Phone, iOS and Android (though the latter is not included in this update). This latest update brings two important new features to the platform.
First, is the ability to join and participate in a Lync Meeting without having to own a Lync account. "We’ve heard that many people want the ability to join Lync Meetings from their smartphones, even if they do not have a Lync sign-in. For example, contractors or partners may want to join your Lync Meeting while travelling or away from their PC", the team explains.
Forget Facebook, Amazon launches 'login and pay'
We've grown rather accustomed to logging into web sites through the use of other services, most notably Facebook and Twitter. Now retail giant Amazon is stepping into the ring, and adding a financial twist to the concept.
Today the online behemoth announces its new "Login and Pay with Amazon" service, aimed at allowing "participating companies to empower customers to go from browsing to buying in just a few clicks using their Amazon account information".
Fujitsu unveils new touch line of Lifebooks, Stylistics
An ever-increasing number of notebook and desktop computers are moving to a touch platform thanks to users becoming accustomed to the interface via smartphones and tablets, not to mention Microsoft's push of Windows 8 and its Start screen. Now Fujitsu is unveiling its new entries into the field.
In today's announcement the hardware maker unveiled a total of five new products -- three from its Lifebook line and another two for Stylistic customers. The lineup is considered business-class and Fujitsu hopes to have something that will appeal to most situations.
5 reasons Surface tablets blow away iPads for a mobile business workforce
My writing hand has been largely inactive for the past few weeks, but for very good reason. I've been using the time to wrap up a massive infrastructure overhaul for one of my larger commercial customers, including the rollout of Surface RT tablets to replace a fleet of aging netbooks for a mobile workforce. Tablets used to be relegated to the "PC-plus" category of companion gadgets (I'm looking at you, iPad), but my latest client project proves that with the right hardware, a mobile business team can truly ditch legacy computers in favor of a single, compact endpoint device.
While I'm not going to to get into the nuts and bolts of how we did it -- I'm saving that discussion for a second follow-up piece -- I do want to cover some of the reasons that my customer and I decided that Surface RT was the perfect platform for a mobile work team. Too much of the technology press is busy glossing over tech specs and fashion design scores for the latest tablets on the market, and not enough emphasis is being placed on the capabilities of one device over another.
HP Chromebook 11 is pretty on the outside but last year's model within
Nearly a year after unveiling an ARM-based Chromebook with Samsung, Google has a newer, costlier and not-so-updated model from HP. Like the older computer, screen dimensions, physical size and weight are comparable -- as is the stingy RAM, which as a long-time Chromebook user I must fault. But there's a sexy, new enclosure and four bright color accents that could make this tiny beauty the PC stocking stuffer of Holiday 2013.
HP's push into Chromebooks should disturb Microsoft. The manufacturer is the software giant's most-loyal OEM partner. If "traitor" isn't a word uttered in response throughout the hallowed halls of the Redmond, Wash. campus, it should be. Just as Microsoft moves Windows 8.1 to market, HP primes not one, but two, new Chromebooks -- the other with 14-inch display -- in the only segment of the PC market that is growing.
Nest Protect -- a Wi-Fi smoke and carbon monoxide detector
When it comes to fire, you can never be too safe. Sadly, I know all too well. You see, I once lived through a fire that destroyed my apartment and all of my belongings. While it was a devastating event, I came out of it uninjured and with a new respect for fire safety.
Today, Nest announces a new product that combines technology with not only fire safety but carbon monoxide protection too.
New Twitter Windows Phone 8 app adds dark theme, more interface options
The official Twitter app for Windows Phone 8 has received little attention from its maker this year, confirming the operating system's standing as a second-class citizen. Meanwhile, the popular social network released major updates for its Android and iOS counterparts, which continue to have a comfortable lead in the features department.
Today, Twitter tries to narrow that gap with a major update for the Windows Phone 8 app. The latest version reintroduces the dark theme, that was unavailable in the previous release, and adds new features for the user interface. AMOLED panels should benefit most from the dark theme, as the use of darker colors will drive power consumption down. It also seems to match Nokia's display trend, as the maker uses more AMOLED panels in its Lumia lineup (albeit only for the high-end models at the moment).
Raspberry Pi sales hit 1.75 million
You might have noticed that we're fans of the Raspberry Pi here at BetaNews. The company behind the Pi announced today that it had reached the milestone of 1.75 million units produced, with a million of those being built in the UK.
The first Raspberry Pi models were built in China but since September 2012 production of the tiny educational computer has been moving back to the UK. Using a plant owned by Sony in Pencoed, South Wales, the Pi's manufacturing partners RS Components and Premier Farnell have moved all production back onshore. For the past few months all Pis on sale have been made in the UK.
Monitor your Windows event logs with EventLog Inspector
The Windows event logs can be an excellent troubleshooting resource, as they record all kinds of system and application alerts which you just won’t find anywhere else. Windows doesn’t exactly make it easy to work with the logs, unfortunately, but that doesn’t have to be a problem: just installing the free (for non-commercial use) EventLog Inspector could give you everything you need.
The program is small, installs easily and without hassle. It’s also very unobtrusive, doesn’t add an icon to your system tray or anything similar. In fact, you have to fire it up manually by launching EventLog Inspector and clicking "Start Service".
Adblock Plus reveals details about how its whitelists work
Adblock Plus is in its seventh year of clearing out advertisements from web pages, and is now for the first time sharing details about how its whitelisting system works. Known as Acceptable Ads, Adblock Plus recognizes the fact that advertising exists for a reason and is a cornerstone that keeps the internet running.
For this reason, advertisements that meet certain criteria are whitelisted, and Adblock Plus' Ben Williams reveals details of how the process works.
Microsoft explains Surface 2's new built-in kickstand, Touch and Type Cover
Ahead of the Surface 2 and Surface Pro 2 launch later this month, Microsoft has released a new video that showcases some of the new hardware features and improvements that the company added to its new consumer tablet lineup and the compatible accessories.
Unquestionably, the highlight of the original Surface lineup has always been the hardware and, based on the information that Microsoft presented so far, this also seems to be the case with the new generation as well. The company appears to have listened to user feedback, as both the Surface 2 and Surface Pro 2 tout considerable improvements across the board.
AVG and Avira websites taken over by pro-Palestinian hackers [UPDATE]
There’s probably nothing worse for a major company than getting hacked. Just ask Adobe. But when the company in question is a provider of security software, well the embarrassment factor goes through the roof. And it’s definitely not good news for consumers who rely on the company’s software products to keep them safe online.
The website of AVG, makers of one of the world’s most popular free anti-virus products, was apparently hacked by a pro-Palestinian group earlier today, and fellow antivirus company Avira has also just suffered the exact same fate.
Downloadcrew Giveaway: $5,599 of Nitro Pro 9 codes, System Mechanic 12, MAGIX Music Maker 2013
Great news: Downloadcrew Giveaway is back! We’re providing a number of free serial codes for the latest software -- all you have to do is enter and you might win one! Winners are picked at random by the system after the giveaway promotion expires. Closer to Christmas we also hope to offer a number of full, unrestricted downloads too.
The current offer is Kaspersky Internet Security 2014, worth $59.95. We have 10 licenses to give away. Hurry as this offer ends midday (GMT) Wednesday.
Microsoft's YouTube Windows Phone app is terrible again -- here's what you can use instead
Yesterday, Microsoft did what many of us have expected -- the company removed the native YouTube app from Windows Phone Store and replaced it with the all-too-familiar version that links to the mobile site.
The latest update for the native YouTube app was released in mid-August, but it was blocked shortly after by Google on the grounds that the app "violates [YouTube's] Terms of Service". As a result, Microsoft had no other option but to remove the latest native version from Windows Phone Store because the app was practically rendered useless. I have reached out to Microsoft for a comment on the matter and here is the software giant's response.
Alliance for Affordable Internet wants to drive down the cost of web access around the world
We have a tendency to take access to the internet for granted, but for people in many countries it is a luxury that is prohibitively expensive. This is something that the Alliance for Affordable Internet (A4AI) wants to change, aiming to drive down the cost of web access worldwide so that it works out to less than 5 percent of monthly income. A4AI is a consortium of tech companies and other organizations which has the backing of Sir Tim Berners-Lee, the inventor of the web.
Membership includes such names as Google, Yahoo, Microsoft, Facebook and Intel, and the alliance wants to do something about the fact that around two thirds of the world's population is not online. The coalition cites figures from the International Telecommunication Union that shows that while internet access in developed countries can cost as little as 2 percent of household income, in other parts of the world this can spiral up to around a third.
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