Latest Technology News

Fans of Plex will very soon be able to access their music through Android Auto. Whether you have Android Auto built into your car, or you're going to rely on the app on your phone instead, Plex can now sit alongside your travel directions.

Plex for Android Auto allows for voice-control of music playback, and the interface has been enlarged and simplified for ease of use when in your car.

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Arianna Huffington has teamed up with Samsung to create an app called Thrive. The aim of the app is to encourage users to: "Unplug & recharge. Take a break from your phone. Reconnect with yourself."

When it is released in December, the app will be a Samsung exclusive and it will force you to disconnect from your phone and make sure no one can get in touch with you. To help you feel smug and superior about what you're doing, anyone who tries to contact you will be informed that you are taking enforced time out.

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The Windows 10 Fall Creators Update is rolling out to users. If you install it and encounter major problems, as some users have (especially owners of Razer laptops), you might want to go back to your previous version, and wait until the update is a bit less buggy.

If you been using Windows 10 for a while, you’ll probably know how to do this, although the process may be slightly different to what you're used to.

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Just a few days ago, Microsoft revealed details of the Surface Book 2 which is due to launch in November. But before the device is even available, it has been dealt a blow by Consumer Reports.

Earlier in the year, the review group said that problems with reliability meant that it was impossible for it to recommend any Microsoft laptop or tablet. Now Consumer Reports says that this extends to the Surface Book 2, meaning that the device will not be recommended.

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Two-hundred-and-fifty-three in a series. Welcome to this week's overview of the best apps, games and extensions released for Windows 10 on the Windows Store in the past seven days.

Microsoft released the Fall Creators Update for Windows 10 this week. Read Wayne's guide on delaying the update if you don't want to install it right away.

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Businesses are reporting strong success in transitioning to DevOps, provided there is careful upfront planning and an honest assessment of resources, according to a new study.

The survey, by development and testing services firm KMS Technology, finds that among the 200+ IT professionals questioned, 43 percent report having a 'very positive' impression of DevOps prior to their transitions.

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As well as unveiling a new bug bounty program for select Android apps, Google has also announced a number of changes to its Play Store. The first is the introduction of Instant Apps to Google Play, giving users the chance to try out apps without even having to install them.

The idea is to give people the opportunity to test out apps almost immediately without having to wait for them to download -- ideal for anyone with limited data or a slow connection. Instant Apps are essentially streamed to devices meaning they can be running in seconds.

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Google has announced that it is teaming up with HackerOne to bring a bug bounty program to the Play Store. Seeking to weed out problems with Android apps, the Google Play Security Reward Program pays out $1,000 for reported issues that meet certain criteria.

The program is a little different to other bug bounty programs as Google will pay out for problems that are found in third party apps, not just its own. At the moment there are a very small number of apps that are taking part, but Google is inviting developers to opt their apps into the program.

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Last year’s framework which organized how Washington uses and protects data from EU citizens gets the nod of approval of the European Union this week.

The EU-US Privacy Shield, a data pact which replaced the old Safe Harbor agreement, went through its first annual review. The general conclusion is that the United States has lived up to its promise to better protect data from EU citizens when they are transferred over the Atlantic.

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Regardless of your opinion of Bluetooth speakers, you can't deny that they usually sound better than the integrated speakers found on smartphones and tablets. Sure, many audiophiles will decry the use of wireless for speaker connectivity, but if you simply want convenience and improved audio, a Bluetooth speaker will make you very happy -- if you buy one from a reputable company that is, such as Bose, JBL, or Ultimate Ears.

Speaking of Ultimate Ears, the company's products never disappoint -- you really can't go wrong with its Bluetooth speakers. Not only do they sound great, but they are built well and look attractive. Today, the company unveils its latest such offerings -- the BLAST and MEGABLAST. They are very similar, but as you can expect, the "MEGA" variant is larger and louder. Not only do they feature Bluetooth connectivity, but they can connect to Wi-Fi too. What's particularly neat about these models, is that they also have Amazon Alexa support!

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Many businesses across the world are struggling to deal with digital transformation in spite of the benefits it can bring, new research has claimed.

A worldwide survey by BlackBerry has found that only 37 percent of companies actually have formal digital transformation plans in place today - a little over a third, meaning many companies could be missing out on the benefits of using the latest workplace technology - what it calls the 'Enterprise of Things' (EoT).

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Cisco has just announced a new set of services that aims to predict potential troubles in a company’s IT department.

Powered by artificial intelligence, the Business Critical Services and High-value Services offerings will anticipate IT failures, mitigate risks, reduce maintenance costs and assist organizations in keeping necessary skills to keep digital transformation going.

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UK companies are unprepared for potential cyber-attacks against their business, with major shortcomings in many areas of security, new research has said.

A report released today by PwC found that a worrying amount of British firms only have adequate security protection in place, or are unaware of how best to prepare against attacks.

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Six months after introducing Ubuntu 17.04 "Zesty Zapus," Canonical has released a new version of its popular Linux-based distribution. Ubuntu 17.10, also known as "Artful Aardvark," arrives with a host of major changes, including the highly-anticipated switch to a new desktop environment and display server.

Canonical has shipped the alpha and beta versions of Ubuntu 17.10 with Unity, but the first official release now comes with GNOME 3.26 as the desktop environment of choice. Wayland is the default display server, replacing Mir. And that is not all that is new.

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Nowadays, it isn't uncommon for young children to have parents that are into playing video games. Since many kids like to imitate their parents, they will undoubtedly want to get it on the action. Unfortunately, modern controllers are quite large and complicated. For instance, back in the 1980s, an NES controller was quite small, and just had a directional pad, 2 action buttons, plus "select" and "start." In comparison, a Microsoft Xbox One controller or Sony DualShock 4 can be intimidating.

Thankfully, there is a new officially licensed PlayStation 4 controller -- made by a company called "Hori" -- that aims to simplify the controller experience for young kids. The "Mini Wired Gamepad," as it is called, ditches the trackpad and some other features of the expensive DualShock 4 making it more approachable. It is even significantly smaller than the official controller -- perfect for the small hands of children. Best of all, since it has a cable, there is no need to worry about charging it.

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