Tests show laptop manufacturers dramatically exaggerate battery life -- but not Apple
Consumer group Which? has performed tests on laptops that show manufacturers are overstating the battery life consumers can expect from their devices. In some cases, real-world battery life is just half of what manufacturers claim.
Only Apple's MacBook Pro met -- and even exceeded -- battery life claims when put through tests that simulated scenarios users would put laptops through. In all, 67 laptops -- from big names including Acer, Dell and Lenovo -- were put through their paces, and all of the non-Apple devices were found to fall hours short of manufacturers' claims.
Next public safety networks will use 4G LTE
AT&T has been chosen for a very lucrative contract, to build and manage a nationwide public safety network for first responders in the US.
Ingo Flomer, Public Safety product manager at Cobham Wireless, says the network itself won't be operational this year but rather in 2018. "Although there will not be an operational LTE public safety network in place this year, it is likely that the standards and regulations will be implemented in advance of a possible 2018 deployment."
Ghost in the Shell: How much can it get right?
The new Hollywood sci-fi blockbuster Ghost in the Shell imagines 2029, a world where cyber terrorists hack into people’s digitally enhanced minds and where cyborgs have crises of identity. So, how much has it got right? Is this the future?
Should we be concerned that our cybernetic development, already constantly on-boarding new connected technology, will reach a point where our brains become both infected and controlled by rabid self-willed robots? Well, probably not just yet. But the question is there -- should we countenance such a dystopian scenario? Of course we should.
Trump signs resolution permitting ISPs to share your web history without consent
Donald Trump has forged ahead and done what privacy advocates hoped would not happen. The US president has signed a resolution rolling back FCC privacy rules, meaning that ISPs are now free to share and sell customers' browsing histories without express permission.
The signing of the bill into law comes after the Senate and then the House voted to allow ISPs to share customer data without consent. The White House has confirmed that Trump has reversed the Obama-era rules, so closely targeted advertising is now not far away.
Small and medium enterprises are underfunding IT security
While large enterprises have the resources to tackle security issues, smaller organizations can struggle. A new survey of more than 150 IT security professionals at small to medium-sized businesses shows a significant drop in respondents' confidence in the security technologies they've deployed.
The study by security as a service specialist EiQ Networks reveals that 86 percent of respondents say their organizations have underfunded IT security initiatives.
Microsoft releases two cumulative updates for Windows 10 Creators Update
Windows 10 Creators Update is mere days away from release, and ahead of the launch Microsoft has pushed out a couple of cumulative updates.
Build 15063.13 is being pushed out to Windows Insiders on the Slow Ring and Release Preview Ring, while those who have opted to participate in the Fast Ring can download build 15063.14. With the full rollout of Creators Update now just a week away, these updates see Microsoft address a handful of last minute issues.
Belkin launches Kevlar reinforced MIXIT DuraTek USB-C cable
USB-C is certainly the future, but there is one huge problem -- low-quality cables. Not only are these cheap cables prone to breakage, but they are often out of spec, meaning they can physically damage your computers and devices. Imagine frying your laptop or smartphone because you connected a cheap cable -- ugh, that would stink. You should always buy cables manufactured by well-known companies that you can trust.
One company that you can usually depend on for quality cables is Belkin. You pay a bit more compared to low-quality no-name offerings, but you get what you pay for, folks. Today, the well-respected manufacturer announces an all-new USB-C cable as part of its MIXIT DuraTek line.
Connected devices can easily do cyber attackers' bidding
Connected cameras, vending machines or light bulbs were the vectors of the latest cyber-attacks. It is just the beginning of a long list of Internet of Things that will be used by hackers to take down businesses or steal data. But who should be blamed for this new situation?
We heard about the promise of a better life when everything will be connected to it. We trusted it because we loved the idea of having an easier life and access to more services at the same time. Manufacturers also saw a huge opportunity in that trend for new business, so everybody was happy.
CPUMon is a lightweight performance gadget
CPUMon is a simple desktop gadget which can plot CPU usage and display free and used RAM in real time.
You can do this already -- and a lot more -- in the Windows 10 Task Manager, of course (check the Performance tab), but that’s a bulky dialog which grabs more screen real estate than you might want to spare.
Twitter enables direct message location sharing for businesses
Social media can be a fabulous tool to help businesses engage their customers. Nowadays it isn't enough to simply offer a quality product or service -- it is about creating memorable experiences. By offering outreach from services like Facebook and Twitter, a business can seem more friendly -- something that may have a positive impact on sales or brand opinion. Not to mention, young adults that grew up with text messaging may be turned off to making voice calls, making social media indispensable for millennials.
Today, Twitter is improving the customer interaction experience for businesses with a really cool new feature -- location sharing through direct messaging. A business can now more easily share its location with a customer, or request a location from them, using the direct message functionality.
Find, monitor and log your external IP with TrueIP
When you’re online you might occasionally want to know your external IP address, perhaps to confirm the internet connection you’re using or find out whether a VPN is working.
The easiest way to do this is via a browser window. A site like WhatIsMyIP.com will display your address immediately, or you could simply enter IP at Google, and your address will be top of the search results.
Citrix launches Receiver client for Samsung Galaxy S8 DeX
Citrix wants a part of that tasty Samsung Galaxy S8 DeX cake, and it just announced a new software client to make sure it gets it.
The newly announced Citrix Receiver is a free to download client which allows users fast access to XenDesktop and XenApp installations. The client allows users to access applications, desktops and data easily and securely, the company says.
AOC launches premium 32-inch 4K UHD display (U3277PWQU)
In 2017, it is definitely time to jump into the 4K waters. There is plenty of UHD content nowadays, and pricing for these displays are finally reasonable.
AOC is known for producing quality monitors at affordable prices, and the company has a new offering that reaffirms that. The all-new premium 32-inch (technically 31.5-inch) 4K UHD Display (U3277PWQU) is chock full of great features, such as an integrated USB hub, and it is available immediately.
Google 'Scheduled Pause' is potentially dangerous
Parenting can be hard -- I get it. It can be a real hassle to monitor what a child is doing 24 hours per day. Nowadays, with the internet and many connected devices, your child could be online when you aren't aware. Luckily, there are tools to help you track their activity -- up all night surfing the web? Busted!
Today, the Google Wifi router gets a new tool to help owners better manage internet access. Called "Scheduled Pause," it literally lets you pause the internet for selected devices. In other words, it could make a tablet or other device inoperable during a certain time frame -- like a bedtime. Here's the problem. What if there is an emergency, like say, a home invasion, and the child wants to use the tablet to get help? If the tragedy occurs while the internet is paused, it could be catastrophic.
Windows XP more popular than Windows 10 with businesses
If you are keeping track of Windows 10's adoption, you probably know that the operating system has hit a plateau. According to NetMarketShare, it has been hovering around the 25 percent usage share mark for a few months now. That said, it still remains the second most-popular version of Windows (and OS), coming after Windows 7.
However, if we look at the business space in particular, Windows 10 is actually nowhere near as popular with PC users. Microsoft's latest operating system lags far behind Windows 7 and Windows XP too. One might expect Windows 7 to come out ahead, the fact that Windows XP ranks higher may come as a surprise.
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