flickr

Flickr 4.0 update brings new upload tool and image recognition magic

It has been a while since Flickr (remember that site?) received an update, but today this changes. Flickr 4.0 is rolling out, and it's a massive update. Headlined by Flickr Camera Roll and Uploadr, the update can be enjoyed not only by Android and iOS users, but also those who stick to the website.

There's a tool that makes it easier to get photos up online but, more importantly, tools that make it easier to browse and edit them. Flickr Camera Roll is mouse and touch-friendly browser, there's a greater focus on sharing, and there's a dusting of magic. Magic View is Flickr's new killer feature that can automatically organize your photo collection for you.

digital shopping

Just one percent of retail payments is made with a smartphone, and iPhone users buy more and spend more

Do you pay for goods in stores with your smartphone? If so, you’re in the minority. According to Javelin Strategy & Research’s new Mobile Proximity Payments Forecast 2015 report, while 9 percent of online transactions are currently made on a smartphone, mobile proximity payments -- that is using your smartphone to buy something in a brick and mortar store -- account for just 1 percent of all retail transactions.

Apple users lead the way when it comes to mobile proximity payments, with almost 16 percent having made at least one purchase in a month. That’s nearly double the rate of Android smartphone owners.

By Wayne Williams -
router

Linksys releases EA8500 Max-Stream AC2600 -- world's first 802.11ac MU-MIMO router

Quality routers are worth their weight in gold as far as I'm concerned. A shoddy Wi-Fi connection is enough to drive you insane. I've bought budget routers that have been absolute nightmares; many dropped connections and needed reboots. Do yourself a favor and buy something from a reputable manufacturer.

Linksys is one of those reputable manufacturers, offering many wonderful networking products. Today, the company begins shipping the EA8500 Max-Stream AC2600 router. What makes this notable? It is the world's first MU-MIMO router to ship to consumers. In other words, this thing is likely to be awesome. Will you buy it?

By Brian Fagioli -
nsa_gchq

Yes, the NSA did act illegally

It has been hard to avoid talk of the NSA over the past year or so -- Edward Snowden's revelations blew the lid off convert surveillance that has been carried out by the US government. It has been a hugely divisive issue, many heralding Snowden as a hero, others as a traitor and has led people to question whether everyday software might include secret backdoors.

Included in the NSA's activities was the mass collection of metadata about phone calls made and receive by American citizens. Today the US court of appeals ruled that this data collection is illegal. With other countries adopting NSA-style surveillance tactics, the ruling opens up the possibility that the NSA could face further legal proceedings and probes.

google_search

More people now searching Google on mobile than desktop in some countries

Google has revealed it has more traffic on mobile in 10 countries for search, showing the large amount of growth in the past few years.

Even though desktop revenue still trumps mobile, Google is surging towards a mobile future. The most recent change to the search engine focused on pushing mobile friendly websites higher up the search rankings.

By David Curry -
SimpleWMIView200-175

NirSoft announces SimpleWMIView

NirSoft has announced the release of SimpleWMIView 1.0, a compact portable tool which uses Windows Management Instrumentation to uncover a vast amount of information about your PC.

If you’re familiar with WMI query generators then you’ll have no problems here. Choose your target computer, namespace, query and query type (synchronous/ asynchronous) and the results are displayed in the usual NirSoft table.

By Mike Williams -
red key security

Twistlock adds security to container-based applications

The move towards containerized technologies such as Docker for creating and scaling applications is great for development times but presents challenges for enterprises when it comes too keeping apps secure.

Unveiling a security suite designed to give enterprises the visibility and control they need over their container-based applications and data, Twistlock aims to maintain security and maximize efficiency and portability.

By Ian Barker -
momcam

HTC RE Camera bundle gets limited-time Mother's Day discount

Your mom's womb was once your home. For about 9 months, you lived inside of the woman rent free, while also siphoning free food from what she ate. Then, you were born, causing great pain and huge hospital bills. Ultimately, you grew up and were probably a pain in the ass for about 20 or so years (probably longer), before moving out. Some of you still live in her basement.

In other words, your mom got a pretty crappy deal. Once a year, however, Mother's Day arrives as a way to thank her for all the hard work. Many of you cheapskates will get her a lousy foot bath from Walmart or a basket of lotion that she will never use. This year, why not buy her something she might actually like? HTC is offering a sweet deal on the RE Camera, including a free bundle of accessories.

By Brian Fagioli -
Man in a self-driving car, no hands on the steering wheel

Even young drivers want parental controls in self-driving cars

Self-driving cars open up a world of possibilities, and people want parental controls to be one of them. And it is not just parents who are for it, even though they make up the demographic that this feature is meant for, as young people are also favoring it -- where have all the rebels gone?

The ability to control the speed limit, curfew time and the number of passengers was chosen as the leading parental control by 84 percent of consumers. Limiting the geographic range came in second, with only 61 percent choosing it, while communicating with the driver using a displayed text came in third, chosen by 60 percent of consumers.

By Mihăiță Bamburic -
Wearables

The future of wearables and monitoring in business

Although they are currently getting the most consumer attention, smart watches are but one of many devices in wearable tech. The integration of sensors and accessories, ranging from wristbands to garments, will provide self-tracking enthusiasts consistent monitoring with little to no conscious effort on their part. Monitoring personal health and wellness will be as effortless as buttoning your shirt or tying your shoes.

The technology is growing and maturing while the sensors are getting smaller, which is creating freedom to build smart consumer electronics straight out of sci-fi fantasies. There is already a promising future for wearables in business, and as monitoring becomes increasingly seamless, it opens the door for innovative integration in a variety of industries.

By Stephanie Trunzo -
SmarTTY200-175

SSH client SmarTTY 2.0 adds in-place file editing

Sysprog’s free SSH client SmarTTY has been updated to version 2.0 with in-place file editing for your remote files. There’s no need to try to find your way around a Linux tool, just hit File > Open and work on your files in a Windows-style editor.

The program now supports accessing multiple sessions from the same window, each with its own set of tabs and file transfers.

By Mike Williams -
ebuyer-HP-ubuntu-laptop-900x506

Ebuyer to sell HP laptops running Ubuntu

Canonical has partnered up with online retailer Ebuyer to sell a range of AMD-powered HP laptops that run Ubuntu.

There are three different 15.6in laptops available, the HP 255, 355 and ProBook 455, which are priced at £200, £250 and £300 respectively.

By Darren Allan -
new dropbox logo

Dropbox arrives in your Gmail with improved features

Dropbox is one of the most popular services for storing and sharing files online. Combine that with Google's Gmail, a widely used email service, and you serve up a recipe for success. Or at least the storage service thinks and hopes so.

Dropbox is now arriving with improvements for that Gmail account you have, bringing easy storage sharing right to your desktop. This isn't entirely new -- an extension for Chrome has been available for a while now, but this update improves on things.

By Alan Buckingham -
Android M to be revealed May 28 at Google I/O?

Android M to be revealed May 28 at Google I/O?

Countless Android users are still waiting for Lollipop to roll out to their handsets, but already there is talk of the successor -- Android M. Coming up at the end of this month, Google I/O is a developer conference hosted by the search giant in San Francisco and today the full schedule for the event appeared online.

An event on May 28 with the title Android for Work update is of particular interest as there is a strong hint that details of Android M will be revealed. Although it seems that Google may have let something slip a little early -- the session that refers to the next version of Android has since vanished from the schedule, but the description is interesting nonetheless.

OnePlus One vs LG G3 vs Apple iPhone 6 Plus vs Samsung Galaxy Note 4

U.S. smartphone market is phabulous

Alongside Euro-zone cell phone data, U.S. first-quarter 2015 phablet shipments are out from Kantar Worldpanel ComTech. Depending on how the numbers are cut, fanboys can rally for their platform.

Spurred by iPhone 6 Plus, iOS showed strong performance, representing 44 percent of phablet sales. However, the number of iOS smartphone switchers from Android fell -- to 11.4 percent from 14.6 percent year over year -- supporting early anecdotal evidence that existing Apple customers are the most-likely 6 Plus buyers. Also confirming: Android smartphone conversions from iOS fell from 9.8 percent to 5.9 percent.

By Joe Wilcox -
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