Latest Technology News

Minecraft arrives on Apple TV

MineCraftBoss

We knew that Mojang would bring Minecraft to Apple TV before the year's end, as the seriously popular game was previewed by Tim Cook during the MacBook Pro event earlier this year. And now, days before Christmas, it's finally here.

Minecraft launches on Apple TV with nearly all of its features intact. The game lacks support for Realms and Xbox Live, but includes seven DLCs "for a limited time".

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Fix update errors in Windows 10 with this new tool from Microsoft

Repair

If you’re having problems installing updates in Windows 7 onwards, there’s a troubleshooting page you can try.

The guided walkthrough lets you fix problems in Windows 7, 8.1 or 10. Just choose your operating system, and follow the on-screen instructions. If you’re running Windows 10, you’ll be prompted to download a new Windows Update Troubleshooter.

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Tools to help businesses prepare for GDPR compliance

Data protection

The data processing landscape has seen huge changes since 1995, in May 2018 the EU is replacing the Directive with a new regulation, the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). Enforceable from May 2018, organizations have had to take account of their responsibilities under the DPA for many years now.

Many have mature and well-considered data management policies in place that already address elements of the GDPR. Nonetheless, with the threat of significant penalties for data breaches under the GDPR it would be prudent to reexamine procedures and to consider how these can be enhanced to ensure compliance when GDPR comes into effect in May 2018.

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VoIP vs SIP: Which one is winning the telecoms war?

Runners two race runner up

Back in 2008 the death knell of the PBX was being forecast -- albeit mainly by VoIP suppliers. Whilst sales have dropped and there was some amalgamation of suppliers there is still a strong market. The number of PBX extensions still outnumbers VoIP by around seven or eight to one.

So, to misquote Mark Twain -- reports of the PBX’s death have been grossly exaggerated. It is the rise of a parallel technology SIP that has blunted many of the arguments put forward by VoIP suppliers suggesting we should throw away that box on the wall.

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Facebook introduces Group Video Chat in Messenger

groupv ideo messenger thumb

Facebook has been adding all sorts of features to its chat app recently, including classic arcade games, and a new camera with art and 3D effects.

Today, the social networking giant introduces the ability to video chat in groups, which it describes as the most requested Messenger feature ever.

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Install and run WordPress on a local desktop

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WordPress is a fabulous website builder, and it’s very easy to learn the basics. Just sign up for a free blog at WordPress.com and start to play.

If you’re a serious developer, though, you might prefer to run WordPress locally. There’s no data transfer delays, no waiting for connections, and you can be sure that no-one else will ever be able to see your work-in-progress. This can take a little preparation. WordPress needs a server, for instance. PHP. MySQL. Setting these up on a PC or Mac usually requires a lot of web experience -- but it doesn’t have to be that way.

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The three secrets to successfully monetizing IoT data

IOT Internet of Things

The global business landscape is being transformed by the Internet of Things. Soon, every business will be an IoT business simply because those that don’t adapt, innovate, and transform their models will risk falling behind in the Connected Economy. But even as business leaders scramble headlong to get in on the IoT gold rush, many are faced with the same harsh realization: that actually monetizing IoT data is difficult.

I’ve written about the challenges of IoT monetization before, and I agree with Gartner’s assessment that 80 percent of IoT implementations will squander their transformational opportunities. This statistic isn’t due to a lack of opportunity, as I believe that for any company that has customers, suppliers, employees or assets, IoT monetization can be transformational. Here are my top three strategies for ensuring that your IoT initiative is part of the 20 percent that actually succeed.

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Lack of talent and compliance worries among cloud predictions for 2017

Cloud access

This is the time of year when industry experts like to come up with predictions for the coming 12 months. Last week we looked at some of their security forecasts, today it's the turn of the cloud to get the crystal ball gazing treatment.

So, what do experts think are going to be the cloud trends of 2017?

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The pros and cons of VoWiFi

Talking on the smartphone phone iPhone

There’s no doubt that Voice over Wi-Fi (VoWiFi) has captured a lot of attention lately. Indeed, AT&T has announced that it is handling four million VoWiFi calls per day and T-Mobile boasts some 22 million calls per day using the technology.

Today, many enterprises and mobile operators consider VoWiFi an easy and cost-effective way to provide indoor mobile coverage in buildings that block macro mobile signals. However, VoWiFi isn’t suitable for every application and neither do mobile operators want it to be.

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Ellp automates PC tasks with a click

ellp logo

Ellp is a free tool which delivers very simple, script-free automation of common PC and other tasks. There are no menus, no complex dialog boxes, no command-line arguments, nothing to learn at all. You can get started in seconds and leave Ellp to do all the real work.

The program opens by displaying these ten cards, each representing a task you’d like to automate.

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Ways technology is continuing to transform the retail industry

Shopping cart key

From smartphones to the cloud and automation, technology is dramatically changing nearly everything about how we live and work. Technology’s impact can be felt in every industry, but it is especially strong in retail. It used to be that you had to have massive resources and connections to operate in the retail space. These days, thanks to more accessible technology, anyone with an idea and a product can sell via it the Internet and social media. Traditional retail business plans have been thrown by the wayside to make way for the disruptive new ideas of rapid transformation and increased competition, and it’s all thanks to new technology.

The latest technology is rapidly transforming the retail landscape -- here are a few examples:

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How to test anti-keylogger software

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Installing any good antivirus program will protect you from known keyloggers, but you’ll still be vulnerable to the very latest threats.

Specialist anti-keyloggers such as SpyShelter take a very different approach. Instead of trying to detect and remove malware, they focus on preventing anything intercepting your keypresses.

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Microsoft offering last-minute holiday shopping deals on Surface, Xbox, and more!

HolidayDeals

Christmas is almost here, and I am so excited! My tree is decorated, and there are wrapped gifts underneath it. Soon, Santa Claus will come and add to the number of presents -- I'll have to leave some cookies and milk to thank the man.

If you haven't completed your holiday shopping, you should probably start panicking. All hope is not lost, however, as you do have some time left. Thankfully, Microsoft is offering some last-minute deals for procrastinators. The Windows-maker is offering special discounts on things like Surface Book, Surface Pro 4, and Xbox games.

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iPhone should replace Chromebook in the classroom

Students and iPhpnes

Many educators won't agree, but perhaps students will: The PC, whether desktop or notebook, is obsolete in the classroom. This reality, if accepted for what it is, presents Apple opportunity to retake the K-12 market from Alphabet-subsidiary Google's incursion and sudden success with Chromebook among U.S. schools. If the fruit-logo company doesn't seize the moment, a competitor will—and almost certainly selling devices running Android.

Chromebook's educational appeal is three-fold: low cost, manageability, and easy access to Google informational services. For buy-in price, and TCO, no Apple laptop or tablet running macOS or iOS, respectively, can compete. Think differently! Providing students any kind of computer is shortsighted, by narrowly presuming that schools, or their parents, must buy something. I suggest, in this time of budgetary constraints, that educators instead use what the kids already possess (or want to) and what they use easily and quickly: The smartphone.

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Logitech MX Master and MX Anywhere 2 wireless mice now available in two new colors

mx-master-stone

Logitech is probably my favorite accessory maker ever and for good reason -- it makes great products. Not only does the company have forward-thinking designs, but its products often have excellent build quality too. From mice and keyboards to speakers and webcams, you can never go wrong with Logitech.

On a daily basis, I use Logitech's MX Anywhere 2 with my computers, running both Windows and Linux. It is a wonderful portable Bluetooth mouse, and now it gets two new color options -- navy blue and stone (gray). Those colors are not only limited to that portable pointing device, however, as the larger wireless desktop mouse -- Logitech's MX Master -- gets them too.

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