Nintendo Switch Joy-Con controllers support Windows, Mac and Android; Pro models hide a secret
If you were one of the many gamers who unwrapped a Nintendo Switch this weekend, there are a few little tidbits that you might be interested in. Whether you've opted for a standard Joy-Con controller, or the Switch Pro Controller there are secrets waiting to be discovered.
In the US, UK and Japan, sales of Nintendo's latest console have been impressive, so there are lot of gamers out there ready to explore the likes of The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild. But before you devote hours to whatever games you bought, take a look at the controller in your hand because it has more to offer than you might first think.
Here are all the features Microsoft removed or deprecated in Windows 10 Creators Update
Windows 10 Creators Update is scheduled to arrive in April, and Microsoft is putting the finishing touches to things now, with not one, but two new builds arriving last week. The desktop watermark found on previous Windows Insider builds has been removed now, indicating just how close we’re getting to release.
While the Creators Update introduces a lot of new features, including 3D content, Game Mode, Game Broadcasting, Edge improvements, more Cortana functionality, and improved control over privacy and updates, Microsoft has also removed or deprecated some features from the OS. Here’s what’s missing.
Amazon brings down lots of websites with a typo
When a large portion of the Internet went offline earlier last week, no one could have guessed that the reason for it would be a simple typo. Yet, that’s exactly what happened, as Amazon gave an explanation to the incident.
A number of big websites (and an even greater number of smaller ones) went offline for five hours -- Trello, Lonely Planet, Medium, IFTTT, Quora, and pretty much every site built on Wix.
Bear 1.0.6 gives Mac and iOS users a simpler, friendlier alternative to Evernote
When it comes to taking notes on your computer or mobile, what platform do you choose? The bells, whistles and expense of Evernote or the pared back simplicity (and no subscription fee) of Simplenote?
If you’re a Mac or iOS user, the answer may lie somewhere in the middle. With that in mind, take a look at Bear 1.0.6, the self-titled "writing app for crafting notes and prose." It shares Simplenote’s "less is more" approach, but still manages to provide a richer array of tools than simple plain text notes.
Facebook rolls out a Disputed label to help weed out fake news -- albeit weakly
Donald Trump may have turned the idea of fake news into something of a joke, but there is a serious problem with fabricated stories on Facebook. Conscious of the potential for not only ad revenue through clicks, but also the ability to mould the news narrative, money-seekers and those with a (usually political) agenda have become skilled in flooding the social network with sensational, scary stories that are simply not true.
Mark Zuckerberg has already talked about his desire to drive the scourge of fake news from his site, and now we can see this plan in action. It's not quite on the scale of Google's fact checking regime, but the social network will now flag up potential fake news with a Disputed label, and also provide links to sites that question the veracity of the stories in question.
Three ways to inspect Google Chrome history
Viewing Google Chrome’s history is easy -- just press Ctrl+H -- but the standard window is basic, and doesn’t give you much information or control.
Using a third-party portable tool provides extra details on your recent browsing past, and may be a more convenient and stealthy choice if you’re hoping to check what someone else is doing in Chrome.
Logitech BRIO 4K Pro Webcam is the new gold standard [Review]
If you need a webcam, there is one company that you should look to first -- Logitech. No, they aren't the only maker of these cameras, but the company has a long track record of producing quality offerings. Best of all, Logitech webcams usually work brilliantly regardless of operating system -- Windows, Mac, and Linux-based.
The problem with buying webcams, however, is that they are already integrated into most laptops nowadays, making them seem like an unnecessary purchase. Yeah, I get that -- why buy a webcam when your computer already has one? The answer is simple -- quality. Many computers come with webcams that aren't even 720p. Apple infamously put a 480p webcam on its svelte MacBook... including the refreshed model in 2016! With that said, Logitech has created a webcam with an amazing 4K capability. Called the BRIO 4K Pro Webcam, I have been using it for a few weeks on both Windows 10 and macOS and I am absolutely in love.
Facebook is finally getting a Dislike button... in Messenger
Facebook is famous for its Like button, but there have been calls for the exact opposite for many years. People have been clamoring for a Dislike button for a long time, but the closest we've got so far is Reactions -- which at least give the option of responding negatively to something... even if it doesn't make any difference in the long run.
Now Reactions are expanding beyond the main Facebook site and appearing within Messenger. This gives users the opportunity to respond to messages -- just as they can to posts -- with a quick emoji from a pre-populated list. Best of all? There's a Dislike option!
Windows Mixed Reality arrives in Windows 10 build 15048 with a demo you can try!
From the look of the changelog for Windows 10 build 15048 that was released a few days ago to Insiders, it looked to be little more than a bug fixing release. But in fact Microsoft has already started to include references to -- and even a portal for -- Windows Mixed Reality.
We have seen reference to Windows Holographic in Windows 10 before, but this is the first time there has been anything to play with. It coincides nicely with Microsoft revealing that Windows Mixed Reality is the new name for Windows Holographic, and it gives Insiders the chance to not only see if their computer meets the recommended specs, but also to try out a Windows Mixed reality simulation.
Amazon announces new pilot season for Prime video
If you happen to have an Amazon Prime account then you're aware of the benefits that come along with your annual fee. There's the free two-day shipping, the streaming video service, the music, and more.
Amazon is also producing its own original shows, several becoming big hits, like The Man in the High Castle and Transparent.
Officials say it's time for the Great Firewall of China to ease up on censorship
The Great Firewall of China is famed for the restrictions it places on what Chinese citizens can access online. If a site provides access to news from the west, conflicts with state propaganda, or criticizes China or its ruling Communist party in any way, it is blocked. But some officials are now suggesting that it's time things changed.
The impetus is not a sudden softening of the political agenda, but a suggestion from the leading advisory body the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference that censorship is damaging China's progress in terms of the economy and science.
Small businesses aren't sold on SaaS
Three quarters (75 percent) of large businesses now consider SaaS tools an essential part of their business. This is according to a new report by GoCardless, based on a poll of more than 1,000 senior decision makers.
Small businesses aren’t that convinced though, with every second company sharing the same thoughts on SaaS.
G.SKILL unveils Flare X and FORTIS DDR4 memory kits for AMD Ryzen AM4 gaming PCs
AMD recently released its all-new Ryzen 7 desktop processors, and many folks are excited. Well, I am sure Intel isn't too happy, actually. Why? AMD's new chips are comparable from a performance standpoint, but at lower prices. Believe it or not, with this new AM4 platform, this is AMD's fist time embracing DDR4 memory.
If you want powerful and compatible RAM for a new Ryzen build, there are many choices. With that said, there is one popular brand of memory that many gamers enjoy nowadays -- G.SKILL. Today, the company announces two new RAM kits -- Flare X and FORTIS. They can be had in various speeds and capacities, with the Flare X being offered with frequencies up to 3,466MHz!
Surprise! Windows 10 Creators Update Build 15048 for PC and Build 15047 for Mobile arrive on the Fast ring
Windows 10 Insider Preview builds have been coming thick and fast as Microsoft gears up to release the Creators Update next month.
Three days ago, Microsoft rolled out Build 15046 for PC, and today -- in time for the weekend -- the software giant releases Build 15048 for PC and Build 15047 for Mobile.
Nearly 3 million UK businesses experienced a cyber-security incident in 2017
More than half of businesses in the UK were victims of cybercrime last year, according to a new report by Beaming. The report says that 2.9 million UK firms, or 52 percent, experienced some form of cyber-security incidents, costing them £29.1 billion.
Most common incidents included virus infections and phishing attacks. Both of them have an equal share of attacks -- 23 percent. Less than a fifth (18 percent) went on hacks and data breaches.
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