Create fun animated videos with Plotagon
Animation is difficult. 3D animation is horribly difficult. But Plotagon offers an interesting shortcut, an easy way to build your own 3D animated movies, without requiring any technical knowledge or artistic ability at all.
There’s a catch, of course -- two, really -- but this free Windows, OS X and iOS app still has plenty of entertainment potential.
13 instances of adware detected in Google Play store
Despite the recent announcement by Google that it has introduced a vetting process on the Play store it seems that there are still rogue apps to be found.
Mobile security company Lookout has uncovered 13 apps with adware. Worse still these display malware-like characteristics that make them hard to remove. The company has alerted Google to the apps and they've already been removed from the store.
Windows 10 won't be the operating system I was hoping for
It could be argued that with Windows 10 still a work in progress it’s too early to express disappointment and dissatisfaction with Microsoft’s forthcoming operating system. But with a summer launch announced, the truth is we’re probably not likely to see too many major changes in the coming months. What’s on show in Build 10041 is probably quite close to what we’ll get in the finished thing, albeit with some spit and polish.
When Microsoft announced it would be listening to users and implementing changes based on feedback, I was excited. Sure, a camel is a horse created by a committee, too many cooks spoil the broth and all that, but at least it meant that the sort of blatant usability problems Microsoft managed to somehow miss in Windows 8 wouldn’t occur in Windows 10. However, as time has ticked past I've started to doubt that Microsoft is listening as closely to Windows Insiders as it claims to be.
Amazon increases the reach of Prime Now, adding more cities
Amazon Prime members benefit in many ways -- there's the Netflix-like video streaming service, complete with original content, the Kindle lending library, and music streaming. But perhaps the best of all dates back to the roots of the program. Amazon Prime was created to bring free two-day shipping to loyal customers. It's an incentive to buy from there and not stray to other sites.
Since then we've seen crazy things like drone delivery, but also more realistic options like Prime Now. A service that can deliver your package in just hours? Sign me up, right? Well, not so fast, as it's limited to certain areas of the US. That's expanding though, and does so again today.
Net Neutrality, Apple, and the future of TV
I’ve been hesitant to comment on the FCC’s proposed Net Neutrality rules until I could read them. You’ll recall the actual rules weren’t released at the time of the vote a couple weeks ago, just characterized this way and that for the press pending the eventual release of the actual order. Well it finally published the rules last week and I’ve since made my way through all 400+ pages (no executive summary commenting for me). And while there are no big surprises -- much less smoking guns -- in the FCC report, I think that taken along with this week’s Wall Street Journal story about an Apple over-the-top (OTT) video service the trend is clear that the days of traditional cable TV are numbered.
What booms through the FCC document is how much it’s written in response to the Commission’s loss last year in Verizon Communications Inc. v. FCC. Most of the more than 1,000 footnotes in the order refer to the legal defeat and place the FCC’s current position in that legal context. FCC lawyers have this time really done their homework, suggesting that it will be difficult for cable interests to win like they did last year.
Seagate Personal Cloud: Home media storage done right [Review]
The average family has multiple devices capable of taking photos and videos. Seagate Personal Cloud from Ebuyer provides a central repository for all of this media, and can automatically back up content from your computers, smartphones and tablets.
You can access movies, music, photos and files from any supported device on your network, and stream media directly to Chromecast, Roku, Apple TV, and some Smart TVs. You can also access your files remotely over the internet, and sync content with cloud storage services.
OnePlus One pricing goes up in Europe -- blame the weak Euro
Now is not a great time to be a technology enthusiast in Europe. As you may know, local prices of anything from smartphones to motherboards are set in accordance to the USD. And it has appreciated considerably in relation to the Euro, which is now in the proverbial toilet. Put two and two together and have inevitable price hikes -- vendors don't want to sell at a loss, after all.
The extent of the damage to the vendors' bottom line depends on how much they're willing or can afford to lose. For a smartphone maker like OnePlus, which doesn't have high margins, the answer is not a lot, as it just announced it will soon command higher prices for its One "flagship killer" on the old continent.
Google Maps for iOS adds full-screen maps, color-coded transit links
Google has released Google Maps for iOS 4.4, a new version of its map app for iPhone and iPad users.
The new build promises one-tap access to a full-screen map, the ability to view transit colors when viewing public transport directions and the ability to filter search results for Zagat-rated restaurants.
Opera acquires VPN firm SurfEasy to boost browsing security
Opera Software, the company behind the web browser of much the same name, has acquired SurfEasy, a provider of VPN security. SurfEasy's software bolsters the security of internet users by adding a layer of encryption that helps to protect privacy.
More than this, the software also makes it possible to bypass some online restrictions and to access sites that are region locked. Few details have been revealed yet, but it's possible we could see VPN features integrated into future versions of the desktop and mobile Opera browser.
Microsoft launches Lumia 430 for $70 -- the cheapest Windows smartphone yet
It’s been a while since Microsoft launched a flagship smartphone. The company is seemingly more focused towards making cheap smartphones and pushing these low-end devices to emerging markets. In the latest attempt, the company today launches the Lumia 430. Priced at $70 USD before taxes, the Lumia 430 is the "most affordable" Windows Phone smartphone to-date.
But surprisingly, the hardware offered by this dirt cheap smartphone isn’t as bad as one would expect. The Lumia 430 sports a 4-inch display with WVGA screen resolution. Inside the smartphone there's a 1.2GHz dual-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 200 processor coupled with 1GB of RAM and 8GB internal storage which could be expanded up to 128 gigs using a microSD card. The device is powered by a 1,500mAh battery, which is rather small, but the company promises up to 8.4 hours of talk time on a single charge or up to 19 days of life in standby mode.
Should you root your Android device? The case for and against
Most consumers are pretty happy with the Android experience that they receive, but for some the opportunity to customize and tweak their smartphone is too good to pass up. However, to experience a truly customizable device, Android users will need to root their phone -- which does come with some potential risks.
In order to decide whether or not it’s really worth rooting your phone, you’ll need to know the advantages and possible drawbacks.
Windows 10 IoT: How Microsoft plans to get it right for Internet of Things devices
Microsoft’s forthcoming Windows 10 operating system will, in addition to powering desktop computers and mobile devices, also provide a platform for Internet of Things (IoT) gadgets. The Redmond-based company -- which earlier this year announced that it will be providing its operating system for free for such devices -- is shedding more light on its plan.
Microsoft notes that Windows 10 IoT will power a range of IoT devices including small products like gateways, mobile point-of-sale, ATMs, powerful industry devices like robotics, and specialty medical devices such as ultrasound machines. Despite their miniature form factor, the company assures enterprise-grade security from the devices to cloud, while also providing them with native connectivity for machine-to-machine and machine-to-cloud with Azure services.
Surface Pro 3 and PayPal Here bundle available now from Microsoft Store
If you do not have a Surface Pro 3, you have my sympathies. Microsoft's Swiss Army Knife-like computer can be a desktop, laptop or tablet, making it an extraordinary value. Not only is it a great choice for home users, but business users too. In other words, the svelte tablet hybrid is good for both fun and work.
Back in January, we reported that Surface Pro 3 would eventually be learning a new skill -- being a point of sale with the help of PayPal Here. Well, the future is now, as you can buy the Surface Pro 3 and PayPal Here dongle in a special combo package from the Microsoft Store. Will your business jump on the Surface train?
Giving pirates free Windows 10 is a goddamn good idea
Meet the new Microsoft. Maybe the company really charts a new course under CEO Satya Nadella's leadership. Colleague Mark Wilson reports that even software pirates can upgrade free to Windows 10. Seriously? Reward the thieves who rob revenue from the platform's cradle? Hand robbers sacred possessions at the door? Give them the house keys and ask them to lock up after they take the tellie, silver, and jewelry?
Outstanding! I really am not being sarcastic, just pretending to be. The strategy is simply brilliant and too long coming, assuming nothing changes before Windows 10's summer release or Microsoft clarifies licensing rules to mean something different. Without even stressing a single synapse I can conjure up more good reasons for the upgrade plan than the fingers on my hands. But I'll keep the list a bit shorter for this post.
Microsoft releases Windows 10 Build 10041 -- download it NOW!
Microsoft is intending to release Windows 10 this summer -- which doesn’t give the tech giant long to finish and polish up its new operating system.
It’s been a rather long time since we saw a new Technical Preview build -- 9926 was released back in January -- but Microsoft has finally pushed out a new version -- 10041 -- to those Insiders enrolled in the Fast ring and if that includes you, you can grab it now via Windows Update.
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