Media Player Classic will never be updated again... Probably

Media Player Classic -- the codec-packed, open source media player much loved by video downloaders and encoders around the world -- has reached the end of the line. The latest release -- Media Player Classic Home Cinema v1.7.13, to give it its full title -- is likely to be the last one ever.

The developers say that the number of people working on the project has gradually reduced over the years, and the situation is becoming untenable. The words "the project is officially dead" are not any that users will want to hear, but they have been uttered.

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TfL's new app lets you top up your Oyster card with your mobile

Dragging itself kicking and screaming into 2017, Transport for London's (TfL) Oyster card is finally set to benefit from a mobile app that allows for top-ups from a smartphone.

A new Oyster app is scheduled for release for iOS and Android in August. It will supplement changes to the Oyster system that mean online credit purchases can be collected from any station rather than a nominated one, and will be available in 30 minutes rather than 24 hours. The sped-up processing will be welcomed, but the Oyster card app is likely to generate more interest.

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Microsoft: Full Windows 10 is not coming to smartphones

Since Microsoft is working on making Windows 10 available on ARM devices, it was only a matter of time before questions arose on the possibility of the full-blown Windows 10 also making its way to smartphones.

After all, the ARM hardware that underpins the upcoming PCs is also available on smartphones. The first processor to power these devices is Qualcomm's Snapdragon 835, which is found on Android flagships like Samsung's Galaxy S8 and HTC's U11. Previous chips in this line can be seen in Lumia handsets as well.

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Online courses train the next generation of credit card criminals

card crime

E-learning courses costing under $1,000 are giving aspiring cyber criminals the potential to make $12k a month, based on a standard 40-hour working week according to new research.

The study from digital risk management company Digital Shadows finds the courses, available to Russian speakers only, last for six weeks and comprise 20 lectures with five expert instructors. The course includes webinars, detailed notes and course material at a cost of RUB 45,000 ($745), plus $200 for course fees.

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How healthcare providers are getting IoT security wrong

Healthcare data

More than 90 percent of healthcare IT networks have IoT devices connected to them, but those devices may not be properly protected according to a new study.

The survey by IoT security solutions company ZingBox shows that over 70 percent believe that the traditional security solutions used to secure laptops and servers are sufficient to secure IoT connected medical devices.

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Avast now owns CCleaner after acquiring Piriform

cash handshake

If you have been visiting BetaNews for a while, you surely have discovered some wonderful Windows freeware from the great FileForum. Over the years, I have downloaded countless pieces of quality software there, including Avast Antivirus and Piriform CCleaner -- two essential programs.

Today, those two programs are joined together in a financial matrimony. You see, Avast announces that it has acquired Piriform. Not only does the acquired company make CCleaner, but many other solid programs too. In fact, the rest of Piriform's library -- Recuva, Speccy, and Defraggler -- are staples of the Windows freeware community.

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Google brings algorithm-powered feed to its iOS and Android apps

Google has announced a significant update to its iOS and Android apps, introducing a new algorithm-driven feed that pushes personalized content at users. The company says that the update makes "it easier than ever to discover, explore and stay connected to what matters to you -- even when you don't have a query in mind."

The feature, known simply as "the feed", has been around since December, but this is an important update that sees Google further leaning on the algorithms it has come to love. The feed draws on machine learning to create a personalized stream of content made up not only of news, but also videos, music and other content Google thinks may be of interest.

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Most Americans reuse passwords, with millennials the worst culprits

password reminders

A new survey of over 1,000 US adults reveals that 81 percent of people surveyed admit to using the same password for more than one account.

Among millennials where 92 percent say they use the same password across multiple accounts. More worrying still, more than a third (36 percent) report that they use the same password for 25 percent or more of their online accounts.

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Raspberry Pi founder Eben Upton talks sales numbers, proudest moments, community projects, and Raspberry Pi 4 [Q&A]

Here at BetaNews, we’re big fans and supporters of the Raspberry Pi. The super-affordable ARM GNU/Linux computer has brought programming back into schools (and beyond) and enjoyed staggering success, becoming the most successful British computer of all time, in just a few short years.

I chatted with Eben Upton, creator of the Raspberry Pi, about his success, most memorable highlights, and plans for the future.

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Google wants to get devs to embrace quantum computing

Google wants developers and scientists to build tools and write code for its quantum computer, and is making its high-powered platform available online.

According to a Bloomberg news report, Google is aiming to commercialize quantum computers, and turn them into an extremely powerful cloud-computing service.

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Samsung finally launches its voice assistant Bixby in the US

The day has, at long last, arrived for Samsung Galaxy S8 and S8+ owners: Bixby voice capabilities for US English is now available in the United States and South Korea.

A quick software update is all it takes to bring the long-awaited voice assistant to Samsung flagship smartphones. The update means that the hitherto useless hardware Bixby button now has a purpose, and Galaxy S8 and S8+ users can start to enjoy the benefits of taking control of their phones with their voices.

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Is your software-defined storage truly software-defined? [Q&A]

It's no secret that today's technology sector is interested in software-defined storage (SDS) -- you'll often hear talk of its ability to reduce costs and increase simplicity. But while many companies are pointing to their technology as SDS, most only have a portion of what’s necessary to be considered truly software-defined.

In order to fix this confusion, we need to agree on a concrete definition of SDS in order to get the best use of the technology and understand how organizations can use it as a cost effective data management solution. We spoke to Ashok Rajagopalan, head of products at elastic block storage provider Datera, to understand this hype and find out how vendors in today’s cluttered market can stand out as true SDS solutions.

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The cost of recovery from a security breach? Over £1 million for UK businesses

Security breach lock

A business in the UK would need to spend over £1 million to recover from a security breach, new research has claimed.

According to the 2017 Risk:Value report from NTT Group, UK companies have to pay more than the global average of £1 million, which has gone up from the previous report’s estimate of $907,000.

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Twitch and Crunchyroll to stream five-day anime marathon

Anime is quite popular nowadays, not only with children, but adults too. Actually, some of the cartoons can have grown-up themes, making them inappropriate for kids. The Japanese animation is not just seen in TV shows and movies, but the characters are featured on merchandise and in video games too. The wildly popular Pokémon, for instance, is anime. Fans of this genre buy items such as figurines, clothing, and, sometimes, creepy body pillows too. Microsoft has even designated July to be "Anime Month" in its online store.

To celebrate the art of anime, popular Amazon-owned steaming service Twitch has partnered with American content-distributor Crunchyroll for a special viewing marathon. For five straight days, users will be able to watch anime content while chatting with others about what they are viewing. In other words, Twitch is making the act of watching anime communal, rather than private.

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How technology helps an F1 team stay connected

The recent British Grand Prix may not have been Red Bull Racing’s most successful race, with Max Verstappen and Daniel Ricciardo failing to make the podium, but the the team has built up a number of innovative technology partnerships in recent years.

Citrix and Red Bull Racing, which is headquartered in Milton Keynes, UK, have worked together for ten years now, with the software giant providing a number of key services to one of the sport’s top teams.

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