Windows 10 S is not for you, that's why you hate it
Many people don't seem to understand who Windows 10 S is for. That's why you'll read many comments and stories, including here at BetaNews, saying that Microsoft has introduced a crippled version of Windows 10 that will not appeal to anyone or that the operating system is only here to get people to pay an upgrade fee to the "proper" Windows 10. They're missing the point... by a mile.
If you look at the context in which Microsoft unveiled Windows 10 S, which is its #MicrosoftEDU event, you'll understand that this operating system has a specific scope. It's here so that educators and students who have complained of the complexity of using Windows and migrated to Chromebooks can fall in love with Windows again. That's it. There is no conspiracy, and there's nothing more to it.
Assembly line robots vulnerable to hacking
Industrial robots make many of the things that we use in our everyday lives, from cars to domestic appliances.
If the world isn't to descend into chaos therefore, it's imperative that robots follow their programming. But a new report from the TrendLabs research arm of cyber security company Trend Micro reveals just how easily industrial robots can be hacked.
Chrome extension Who Targets Me? reveals how Facebook is used for election propaganda
Social media is powerful, so it's really little wonder that the likes of Facebook are used for propaganda. We already know that advertising can be very carefully targeted for maximum impact, and this can prove important when it comes to getting across a political message.
With the UK on the verge of an early general election -- one that will be fought with Brexit and Scottish Independence looming large -- political campaigns are getting underway, including on Facebook. To help educate voters about how they are being besieged by political parties, a free Chrome extension called Who Targets Me? has been launched. It reveals just how personal information made available on the social network is used.
The Banana Phone is a phone with very limited appeal
The Banana Phone is a device that was clearly conceived during an evening in which far too many alcoholic beverages were consumed.
It is, essentially, a phone shaped like a banana. So you can call friends and family members on what appears to be a piece of yellow fruit. It’s an amusing idea made real. But it’s also a device with a big problem.
Is Windows 10 S Microsoft's ticket to unashamedly squeeze more money out of users?
Yesterday, to a somewhat unexpectant world, Microsoft unleashed a new operating system: Windows 10 S. The company would of course prefer that you didn’t think of this as it having a second stab at Windows RT, but it's hard to ignore the fact that that's basically what's happening.
This is, after all, a copy of Windows that is only capable of running apps downloaded from the Windows Store. Microsoft is placing a good deal of emphasis on the performance and security the operating system offers, but with the option of unlocking Windows 10 Pro (for a fee, of course), is this just a sneaky way for Microsoft to take advantage of unsuspecting laptop-buyers on a budget?
Raspberry Pi Zero W ships 250,000 units, announces new distributors
It seems that the Raspberry Pi Foundation can do no wrong. Every new Pi it announces goes on to be a huge hit. The most recent model, the Wi-Fi enabled Pi Zero W, is a great example of this.
Launched just nine weeks ago, the Foundation announces that it has now shipped the 250,000th unit, and it is making the tiny board easier to buy by adding 13 additional distributors.
iPhone sales continue to fall ahead of iPhone 8 launch
Yesterday we debated whether interest in the Apple Watch is falling, but Tim Cook says that sales have doubled over the last year. This is an easy claim to make when you don’t reveal the actual sales figures, but the story is definitely less rosy when we look at the iPhone. For the second quarter ever, sales of Apple's smartphone fell.
This was not only a drop in sales, but an unexpected one. While analysts had been predicting sales in the region of 52.27 million, the reality is that the company shipped just 50.2 million in the quarter ending April 1, 2017. It might not seem like a big difference, but the sustained fall in sales saw Apple's stock to follow suit to the tune of 1.5 percent.
Microsoft is forcing Edge and Bing on Windows 10 S users
Windows 10 S is a very intriguing operating system for education, but it has potential in other areas too. True, being limited to apps from the Windows Store could be frustrating, but in theory, it can create a much safer experience. Of course, for the concept to be a success, developers will need to embrace the app store -- something that largely isn't happening now. Heck, the failure of Windows RT can be largely attributed to the deficiencies of the Windows Store, such as lack of apps (and lots of junk).
If developers do start leveraging the Windows Store, the Windows 10 S experiment could take off, as users won't find a need to install legacy programs. This will largely depend on web browsers being available there, as many users dislike Edge. Thankfully, Microsoft is allowing third-party browser installs from the Windows Store. Unfortunately, there is a big catch -- you cannot change the default.
The gig economy has flipped the job market on its head
Today, CISOs are facing a much different set of challenges than they were 20 years ago. From a marked increase in the risk of breach to the growing difficulty in filling security jobs these security leaders are facing an uphill battle. Add to that the pressure to provide security assurance to the board and it’s easy to see why more organizations are harnessing the power of the gig economy.
In the last few years the gig economy has flipped the job market on its head. From ordering groceries to renting a house for a week, the gig economy has opened up new revenue channels for businesses and income opportunities for individuals. But while the issues that have driven this market -- difficulty hiring, a distributed workforce, and people spending less time at companies -- are nothing new, it was the maturity of software that enabled the gig economy to really take off.
Toshiba launches Portégé X30 Windows 10 ultra-portable laptop with 18-hour battery life
When you need a laptop for your business, you can't go wrong with Toshiba's enterprise-grade Portégé Windows machines. These notebooks are extremely premium, offering durability and high performance. They often feature a pointing stick too -- a must for many business users. Quite frankly, I find these laptops to be superior to Lenovo's ThinkPad line nowadays.
Today, Toshiba makes its newest such model available. The Portégé X30, as it is called, has a magnesium alloy body and it is Mil-SPEC-810G certified. You can even get a battery that lasts up to 18 hours! The X30 is a bit pricey, but the old adage of "you get what you pay for" rings true -- the $1,449 starting price should be well worth it.
Acer unveils 11.6-inch TravelMate Spin B1 Windows 10 S convertible laptop for education
The big news of the day is the newest version of Microsoft's desktop operating system -- Windows 10 S. In fact, the company even announced a new computer to showcase the education-focused OS -- the $1,000 Surface Laptop. While Microsoft's newest notebook is drop-dead gorgeous and super premium, the "S" variant of Windows is probably more appropriate for less expensive laptops. Luckily, many manufacturers will be leveraging the new OS for more affordable machines.
Today, Acer unveils its first-ever Windows 10 S notebook, and it is less than a third of the cost of a Surface Laptop ($299) -- wow! The 11.6-inch TravelMate Spin B1 Windows 10 S convertible laptop is touch-friendly and offers an arguably better experience than a similarly priced Chromebook. You see, unlike Chrome OS which seems to use touch as an afterthought, Window 10 S was designed with it in mind.
Microsoft reveals the hidden story behind Bing's Image of the Day
Let’s be honest, the best thing about Bing isn’t its search results, but rather the gorgeous images that appear on the homepage every day.
If you enjoy these photos, but would like to know more about them -- such as where a picture was taken, and what it actually is -- the good news is Microsoft is now providing a full story for each new image, and you just need to scroll down to see it.
Logitech SLIM FOLIO turns your 5th generation Apple iPad 2017 into a laptop for productivity
When you want a tablet for consumption, there is no better product than the iPad. For creation, however, it can be lacking. For typists in particular -- including students needing to take notes -- the lack of a keyboard makes it a tough sell. While the Pro iPads can be used with an official keyboard from Apple, those tablets are very expensive. Luckily, there are third-party offerings for the more affordable traditional variants too.
Today, Logitech announces a new keyboard case for the 5th generation iPad 2017. Called the "SLIM FOLIO," it transforms Apple's inexpensive 9.7-inch tablet into a laptop. It also protects the iPad from drops, bumps, and scratches. Logitech says the keys are quite durable too, as they are rated for 5 million strokes. Its scissor keys offer an impressive 1.5 mm key travel for a quality typing experience.
How to activate YouTube's new Dark Theme and more
Three weeks ago, we explained how you could enable YouTube’s hidden Dark Mode. The process then only worked in Chrome and required a little tinkering.
Google has now made it possible for anyone to easily switch to the dark side, and that’s not all. There’s now a whole new Material Design look for the site which Google says will make YouTube "easier and more fun to use."
It will cost $49 to upgrade a Window 10 S device to Windows 10 Pro, but not everyone will need to pay [Update]
If you decide to buy Microsoft’s new Surface Laptop for $999, but would prefer to have Windows 10 Pro on it, rather than the slightly crippled Windows 10 S, the good news is you can upgrade to that version.
The not so good news is it will cost you $49 to do so. Well, it will cost some buyers anyway, others will get the upgrade for free, if they act quickly.
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