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Leaked Windows 10 Creators Update Build 14997 reveals new features

Windows 10 finger

Earlier in December, Microsoft warned Insiders that there would be no more new builds released this side of the New Year. Of course, this does not mean that a new build did not exist, and now build 14997 has leaked online.

Coming from the internal development branch (rs_onecoe_base, specifically), it's possible that build 14997 will never be officially released, but the leak does give a tantalizing glimpse of what we can expect. On the menu in this build of Windows 10 Creators Update is an updated version of Microsoft Edge, an improved OOBE and important tweaks to the Start menu.

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Unannounced ASUS C302CA-DHM4 Chromebook hits Newegg, and it looks great

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Chromebooks are very interesting laptops. They run neither Windows nor macOS, but instead, a Linux-based operating system called Chrome OS that puts a web browser on the front stage. It is not just any browser, but Google's Chrome. In other words, most apps are web-based and no other browser other than the search giant's own can be used. It makes for an easy-to use and secure platform, but it can be very limited. They definitely have their place, however.

If you have been looking for a new Chromebook with some modern specifications and features, I have some good news. An all-new convertible touchscreen ASUS Chromebook has hit Newegg. Apparently, the company has not yet announced the laptop, making it quite the surprise. Called "C302CA-DHM4", it has solid specifications, looks great, and best of all, it is reasonably priced.

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If Santa brought you a drone for Christmas, read this or you could face a massive fine

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Drones have become incredibly common in the last couple of years, and they have proved to be popular Christmas presents. But new drone owners are being warned that they are probably blissfully ignorant of the responsibilities of their new toys -- and this ignorance could prove costly.

There are very strict laws in place governing where, and how, drones can be flown. Failure to comply with these rules could lead to time in prison or an "unlimited fine" -- for people in the UK, at least. So what do you need to know before you take your drone for its maiden flight?

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Open source CyanogenMod is shutting down... but forked Lineage will rise from its ashes

cyanogen-mascot

For Android hackers and tweakers, CyanogenMod represents mobile OS nirvana -- an open source alternative to Google's official Android, complete with frequent updates. The bad news for fans is that Cyanogen, the company behind the operating system, is closing down operations: with virtually no warning.

Coming at a time of year when few people are paying much attention to what is going on in the world of tech, the announcement that nightly builds will be discontinued by the end of the year comes after staff layoffs earlier in the year, and premature rumors that the company was shutting up shop. While the news is, on the face of it, not great for CyanogenMod fans and OnePlus owners (whose handsets run the operating system), the cloud does have a silver lining.

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Santa Claus didn't bring you an Xbox One S? Don't worry -- Microsoft has an amazing deal

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Today is Christmas, and I hope you got all the gifts you desired. True, the holiday is not all about getting presents, but it is still a fun aspect nonetheless.

Understandably, not everyone will get the things they want -- that's a fact of life. If you wanted an Xbox One S, for example, and didn't get it, you may be sad. Luckily, Microsoft is offering an amazing deal that may make buying your own much better. If you buy the game console before the end of 2016, you will get a free gift!

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Santa brought you an iPhone 7? Here's what to do first

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Despite planning to stick with my iPhone 6s for another year, I ended up upgrading to the iPhone 7, and I’m pleased that I did. If you were lucky enough to get an iPhone 7 for Christmas, or an iPhone 7 Plus for that matter, you’re no doubt going to be as happy with the latest Apple smartphone as I am.

Getting started is straightforward, as once the phone is turned on you’ll be walked through the set up process, how to configure the Touch ID fingerprint scanner, and set up a PIN. Once you've set up the basics, it's time to explore what you can do with your new device.

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Santa brought you a Samsung Galaxy S7 or Galaxy S7 edge? Here's what to do first

Samsung Galaxy S7 edge Christmas tree

If Santa brought you a Galaxy S7 or Galaxy S7 edge, you are in for a treat. Samsung's flagships are, without question, two of the best high-end smartphones available right now, featuring an amazing camera, a gorgeous display, fantastic performance, impressive battery life, powerful software, a waterproof rating, and a premium design. Impressive, indeed.

To help you get comfortable with your new Galaxy S7 or Galaxy S7 edge, we have prepared this guide with tips on how to get started, set it up and what accessories to buy. So, without further ado, here is what you need to know.

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Santa brought you a OnePlus 3T? Here's what to do first

OnePlus 3T

Consider yourself extremely lucky: Santa just brought you one of the hottest smartphones of the year. The OnePlus 3T is the latest and greatest in OnePlus' line of flagship killers, packing really powerful hardware, a nice, big screen, solid camera, lovely software and a sleek design. It is also terrific value for money, but, hey, who cares about that right now?

If you are like me, all you can think about is taking it out of the box, setting it up and starting to use it right away. Here is what you need to know.

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Santa brought you an Apple Watch (first or second gen)? Here's what to do first

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If you were lucky enough to receive an Apple Watch as a present this year, you’ll no doubt be keen to see what it offers, and what you can do with it.

To start you’ll need to pair it with an iPhone 5 or later, running the latest version of iOS. To do this, go to Settings > Bluetooth on your phone and make sure the feature is enabled.

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Santa brought you an Amazon Fire TV with 4K Ultra HD? Here's what to do first

Fire TV

The Grand Tour, The Man in the High Castle, Transparent… just three good reasons why you might have opted for Amazon’s powerful, yet diminutive TV box. Plus of course, it’s also the gateway to loads more TV, movies, apps and games.

If you have a 4K TV, it’s great source of UHD content (Amazon’s original shows are available in that format) -- although you may want to skip paying $25.99 to watch a scaled-up Groundhog Day! Once you’ve excitedly opened the gift of a new Amazon Fire TV, here’s what to do next.

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Google's Santa Tracker is live -- follow Kris Kringle's journey from the North Pole now!

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Today is Christmas Eve, meaning Santa Claus aka Kris Kringle will be making his global journey from the North Pole. The jolly man will be boarding his magic sleigh and delivering gifts to good boys and girls all over the world. I hope for Santa's sake that none of the reindeer have flatulence issues this year -- that could make for a very long night for the man.

As is the case in the Internet age, you can once again follow Santa Claus' journey using Google's 'Santa Tracker'. If you have children, this can be a really fun and rewarding activity to do with them.

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What did people ask Quora about in 2016? Trump, Brexit and Pokémon for starters

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We've already learned what people have been using Google to search for in 2016, and now it's the turn of Quora. The Q&A site has just published details of what its users have been asking throughout 2016, and while there are some obvious entries, there are also a few surprises.

Quora's "Year in Questions" stats show that Brexit ("how does Brexit affect Europe?") and the US election ("How did Donald Trump win the 2016 US Presidential Election?") were both subjects that "captivated" the US. While topics such as Pokémon had hotspots of popularity through the year, Donald Trump sparked the most discussion. Interestingly, people also turned to Quora for relationship advice.

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Sling TV cloud DVR beta fills up, more openings promised

sling

Not long ago we told you that Sling TV was testing a cloud DVR, something that previously annoyed cable providers. At the time, and now, the service is in beta testing and you must sign up and be chosen to get in.

The good news is that you can still sign up, but the bad news is that it filled up pretty quickly and you may be waiting for a while.

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Can your company keep up with quickly-changing cyber security regulations?

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Compliance with requirements and regulations is an ongoing challenge for businesses. In the cyber security space, the threat environment is constantly changing, and organizations have to meet some 500-600 different regulations and laws, as Internet of Things (IoT) devices proliferate and new, massive Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS) attacks are seen on a near-daily basis. As technology continues to evolve with such innovations as cloud computing and Big Data, security professionals are on a never-ending quest to stay up to speed on security controls and best practices.

It’s no secret that cyber security issues have increased in prominence and seriousness over the past several years. Starting with the infamous Target data breach, organizations are becoming more and more aware of potential risks they face as well as becoming more quick to adapt to changing risks, regulations, laws and situations. As we’ve seen regulatory changes happen almost overnight, it has become essential for organizations to have a reliable process for ensuring their compliance management is up to speed, as well as a system of checks and balances to prove it. For companies, especially those operating in highly regulated industries such as finance and healthcare, the challenge to stay up to date is even more paramount.

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Dealing with a data breach: Handling the intruders

Hackers laptops

Security has never been a more pressing issue for businesses than it is now. Mobile working, the proliferation of increasingly sophisticated, connected devices, and the growing number of applications relied upon by the modern enterprise all represent potential risks that weren’t apparent in generations past.

There is a growing fear about the level of damage that cyberattacks could bring, so much so that the United Kingdom has launched a £1.9bn National Cyber Security Strategy to prevent such attacks.

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