The future of game development

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Gaming has come a long way since the first arcade games were invented in the early 1900s. From the original pinball machine, to today’s gaming world of Virtual Reality, the gaming industry has advanced rapidly. We can look back on the gaming evolution over the decades but seeing into the future isn’t so easy.

However, based on current trends we can take some educated guesses into the future of gaming.

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Stop ransomware accessing your files with Privacy Fence

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Privacy Fence is a free tool which aims to prevent untrusted applications from accessing your data, blocking threats like ransomware before they can do any harm.

The program starts by building a list of protected file types. Common file types are included by default, and key user folders -- Desktop, Pictures, Videos, Music and so on -- are scanned for other types you might be using. Privacy Fence then starts to build a Trusted Applications list by adding programs currently associated with your file types.

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Google will soon let you share Android apps with family members

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While you can share a Google Play Music subscription with your family, the same cannot be currently said about apps that you purchase from the Play store. Unless everyone is on the same Gmail account, each member has to buy the same title separately to enjoy it on their devices. Considering that both Amazon and Apple offer this feature, Google needs to follow suit.

The good news is that Google will soon introduce Family Library. This new feature will be available to Play users in the coming months and will finally allow them to share paid apps with their family members.

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Brands fail to meet mobile communication expectations

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Brands aren't doing enough to meet their customers' expectations for mobile communication, according to a new survey.

The study, by web convergence company tyntec and technology research specialist Ovum, of 1000 people in the US and Germany finds that customers prefer to interact with customer service agents using different communication channels depending on where they are in the transaction process, and that they expect service providers to be effective using mobile.

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Stardock releases Fences 3.0, adds Windows 10 support, roll-up fences

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Stardock has released Fences 3.0, a major new version of its Windows desktop organization tool. The new release brings Fences bang up to date, with support for Windows 10 and high DPI monitors.

Fences 3.0 also introduces several new features, including the ability to roll up fences to their title bar as well as support for navigating through folder structures from within the fence itself.

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UDOO X86 is 10x more powerful than Raspberry Pi 3, and can run Windows, Android, and Linux

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If you’re looking for an uncased maker board for a project, then the Raspberry Pi is usually the first choice, not least because it’s inexpensive, and powerful enough for most purposes.

However, if you need something with a lot more muscle, then the UDOO X86 certainly fits the bill. Based around an Intel X86 64-bit Quad Core processor, coupled with an onboard Intel Curie Arduino 101-compatible micro-controller, it’s got enough oomph to drive three 4K screens at the same time.

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Compliance struggles to keep pace with new communications channels

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Compliance professionals need to supervise all types of business communications, but a new survey shows that they're struggling to keep pace with the volume and variety of electronic channels.

Hosted archiving specialist Smarsh has released its sixth annual Electronic Communications Compliance Survey Report. The survey, of compliance professionals in the financial services industry, highlights that supervision practices aren't sufficiently addressing the compliance implications of ongoing trends, like increased regulatory scrutiny and the challenge of adapting to channels like social media and text messaging.

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IT departments need to contribute more to digital transformation

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Everyone agrees IT departments need to play a bigger role in the process of digital transformation. Those are the results of a new and extensive survey by The Economist Intelligence Unit and SAP.

The survey asked more than 800 senior executives from various industries, with more than half being IT leaders, about the process of digital transformation. Key highlight of the report is that there’s a "distinct lack of strategic co-ordination around digital transformation".

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The challenge of securing smart buildings from cyber attack [Q&A]

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As more and more devices get added to the Internet of Things the risks they present get larger. A recent report from the BBC has highlighted the fact that buildings and their systems for heating, lighting and even security may be at risk.

We spoke to Péter Gyöngyösi, product manager of Blindspotter at contextual intelligence specialist Balabit, to find out more about the risks smart buildings present and how landlords and tenants can guard against them.

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Cortana update brings Android notifications to Windows 10 users

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The ability to view notifications for multiple devices in one place is something that has been tried in various forms before. Now fans of Cortana can take advantage of notifications about their phone on their computer.

The latest version of the Cortana Android app brings the previously hinted at app notification syncing that users have been asking for for so long. First noted by a Windows 10 user on Reddit, the feature is something that we can expect to see included in the Windows 10 Anniversary Update later this summer.

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ARM buys imaging company Apical

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British chip maker ARM has announced that it has acquired Apical, an imaging and embedded computer vision company. The deal, worth $350 million in cash, was closed on Tuesday, May 17, the company said.

Apical’s products are used in smartphones everywhere (1.5 billion, according to ARM), and in 300 million other devices, all over the world, including IP cameras, digital cameras and tablets.

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Google by the numbers: All the stats you need to know

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Google’s I/O event revealed some interesting new products yesterday, including Google Home, the search giant’s Amazon Echo rival, and communication apps Allo and Duo.

As is always the case at these kind of events, Google also revealed lots of impressive numbers during the keynote, showing just how hugely popular its products and services are. These stats include:

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Control your home using Sony Android TV, Logitech Harmony Hub, and exclusive beta app

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Home automation and control is all the rage nowadays. Doing things such as turning on lights or adjusting a thermostat with a smartphone -- or other connected device -- is not only convenient, but empowering for those with disabilities too. Think about it -- if someone is unable to get out of a bed, for instance, they can utilize this technology to be more independent.

Today, Logitech announces a really cool new way to interface with its Harmony Hub -- Sony Android TVs. By installing a special beta version of the Logitech Harmony app, you can control your home using an on-screen television interface.

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TeslaCrypt ransomware shuts up shop and releases free decryption key for everyone

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Ransomware is not exactly a new problem, but it's one that seems to be getting increasingly serious. Every week there's a new high profile attack out there including the likes of CryptXXX and PETYA. One of the biggest names, TeslaCrypt, has suddenly thrown in the towel and offered up a free decryption key for its victims.

The surprise move comes just a couple of months after version 4 of TeslaCrypt gained what was described as "unbreakable encryption". The closure is somewhat bittersweet. The shutdown comes as attackers switch to using CryptXXX instead, but perhaps the most surprising aspect is the fact that the site formerly used to accept Bitcoin ransom payments is now where you'll find the decryption key needed to gain access to your files.

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Apple and Google: Two developer conferences, one matters

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Depending on the day, Apple or Alphabet is the world's most valuable company as measured by market cap, and both manage the two dominant computing platforms used anywhere: iOS/OS X and Android/Chrome OS, respectively. As I write, Alphabet-subsidiary Google holds its annual developer conference. Apple's event starts June 13.

During the opening keynote, Google CEO Sundar Pichai frames the conference and the company's direction by rightly focusing on two fundamentally future-forward concepts: Voice and context. Google gets what Apple likely won't present to its developers, and we'll know next month. But based on product priority to date, the fruit-logo company is unlikely to match its rival's commitment to the next user interface.

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