Wayne Williams

There's a fix for the Windows 10 file association problem coming -- slowly

Having a problem with Windows 10? Did it delete your files? No? Perhaps it downgraded your Windows 10 Pro installation to Windows 10 Home, or maybe it introduced display audio issues, installed bad audio drivers, failed to handle zip files correctly, or display all unicode characters, or maybe you had problems with Edge and Store apps? No? Maybe it broke Windows file associations for you, so you can’t open files in the default programs you choose.

If your problem is the latter, the good news is Microsoft is working on a fix. The bad news is it doesn’t seem to be in a huge hurry to solve the problem.

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Windows 10 Pro suddenly downgrading to Windows 10 Home for a growing number of users [Update]

The Windows 10 shit show continues with yet more problems with Microsoft’s newest operating system rearing their ugly heads. Some users -- including a friend of my colleague Brian Fagioli -- have suffered from a problem whereby file associations are broken, so you can’t open files in the default programs you choose.

Now a growing number of users are complaining on Reddit that their Windows 10 Pro installations are suddenly reverting to Windows 10 Home.

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Samsung unveils its foldable smartphone -- behold the Infinity Flex Display

The concept of a foldable phone has been around for a while now. Indeed, Microsoft’s oft-rumored Surface Phone was expected to offer a foldable display that looked like a tablet when opened up.

Samsung has been teasing us with its own plans for a foldable phone for weeks now, and today at the Samsung Developer Conference 2018 it showed off a prototype which folds out to form a tablet, and back again to become a slightly fat phone.

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Microsoft releases Windows 10 19H1 Build 18277 with fewer annoying notifications, additional emoji, improved high DPI settings

While there’s still no sign of a re-release for the botched Windows 10 October 2018 Update, Microsoft is rolling out new builds for the feature update that follows it, codenamed 19H1.

Today’s new release, Build 18277, gains a new focus assist option that will spring into life whenever you’re doing anything full screen on your PC so you’re not bothered by notifications.

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Apricorn Aegis Secure Key 3NX: An ultra-secure 256-bit AES XTS hardware-encrypted USB flash drive [Review]

Storing files in the cloud means they are easily accessible from anywhere, but if you have private data that you can’t afford to fall into the wrong hands, this might not be the best option for you, especially given the number of data breaches we see on a regular basis.

An alternative option is to carry those files with you on a USB flash drive, protecting them with encryption. While software encryption methods are better than nothing, a hardware encrypted solution, like the Aegis Secure Key 3NX, is a much more advisable choice.

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New Kodi 18 'Leia' Beta 5 arrives -- download it now!

The recent roadmap for Kodi 18 'Leia' planned for four beta versions, followed by two release candidates, and then the finished thing.

That plan has gone slightly out of the window, however, as today the Kodi Foundation releases a fifth beta. This is the final beta release and fixes a number of issues.

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Windows 10 set to finally overtake Windows 7

StatCounter claims that Windows 10 overtook Windows 7 back in February, and its latest figures have the new operating system well ahead now. Rival monitoring service NetMarketShare disagrees however, and last month even had Windows 7 gaining share and Windows 10 falling back.

October’s figures show the new operating system back on track though, this despite the negativity surrounding the botched October 2018 Update.

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Microsoft releases Windows 10 19H1 Build 18272 with improved sign-in options

Things might have gone badly wrong for Microsoft with the Windows 10 October 2018 Update, but the company is working hard on the next big feature release out next spring.

Build 18272 (19H1) pushed out to Insiders on the Fast ring today (and also available in ISO form) includes some input improvements and new sign-in options for Windows Hello.

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Get ready for Windows 10 'Vanadium'

Microsoft’s first Windows 10 feature updates used the "Threshold" codename, but the software giant switched to using "Redstone" for the Anniversary, Creators, Fall Creators, April 2018, and October 2018 updates.

The software giant went with "19H1" for the update due out next spring (the April 2019 Update possibly), but it plans to change its naming convention once again for the update that's scheduled to be released in October 2019.

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Apple's Mac mini gains a massive performance boost

At its special event at the Brooklyn Academy of Music, Apple today revealed a new MacBook Air with Retina Display, new iPad Pros with USB-C, and also updated its Mac mini.

The new Mac mini comes with quad- and 6-core 8th-generation Intel Core processors, up to 64GB of faster memory and all-flash storage (up to 2TB). It also comes with four Thunderbolt 3 ports, an Apple T2 Security Chip and a 10Gb Ethernet option.

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How to watch Apple's new iPad and Mac event

In just a few hours, Apple will be taking the wraps off its latest iPads and Macs. The launch event will be held in Brooklyn this time around, which means it will be a lot earlier than usual.

We’re expecting to see a new Home button-less iPad Pro with a thinner bezels and a Face ID sensor, updated iMacs, a new MacBook Air and maybe a new Mac Mini. iOS 12.1 is also out today, so expect some references to that too, as well as the usual surprises.

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Get a 1-year subscription to Innovation & Tech Today magazine ($40 value) FREE for a limited time

Innovation & Tech Today magazine brings you the latest news, products, and commentary from leaders in the tech industry.

I&T Today was named Best BtoC magazine from the recent Niche Media Conference -- amongst over 400 titles. This cutting edge publication features fascinating content, interviews, and product reviews from across a variety of sectors including: STEM, Home Automation, Wearables, Energy and Transportation, Medical Tech, Business Innovations, Gaming and Entertainment, and Sustainability. Each quarterly issue 160 pages, perfectly bound, with rich and enticing photography. Exclusive interviews and stories with names like, Scarlett Johansson, Kevin Hart, Akon, Dr. Michio Kaku, Bill Nye, Neil deGrasse Tyson, Mark Cuban, and more. Go behind the scenes of innovation, must have gifts, and much more.

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How to access your iPhone's secret emoticon keyboard

Before emojis took over the world, people who wanted to add some tone or feelings to text messages or emails would use emoticons (or smileys) -- faces made up of punctuation characters.

They’re still in use today, but people prefer to send emojis, or -- if you’re an iPhone user -- you might enjoy using Apple’s new face-tracking Animoji instead. But if you want to go old school, there’s a special emoticon keyboard hidden inside iOS.

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Windows 10 -- 1990s edition is the retro operating system we want

Windows 10 is a great operating system, but it’s not without its problems from time to time. That said, it’s still a huge leap forward from past Microsoft offerings, like Windows 95 and 98.

If you’ve ever wondered what Windows 10 would be like if it had been released at the end of the last century, then take a look at Windows 10 -- 1990s Edition. Who needs Cortana when you can have Clippy helping you out?

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Microsoft releases Windows 10 19H1 Build 18267 with expanded search indexing

Microsoft is still busy fixing the many problems that have blighted the Windows 10 October 2018 Update, but that hasn’t stopped development on the follow up, due out next spring.

Build 18267 for Insiders on the Fast ring, introduces -- among other things -- the ability for the OS to index all of your folders and drives, to make finding files on your PC much easier.

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