Run fuzzy content-aware searches on your PC with AIKIN Desktop Search
The average desktop search tool doesn’t exactly have much initiative. Run a search for "Stephen" and it doesn’t matter how many Steves or Stevens you’ve got, records with the original spelling is all that you’ll see.
AIKIN Desktop Search ($99) uses fuzzy searching to take this further. Search for Stephen here and you might get hits for Steven, Steve, Stevie, Stephanie, right down to Staten Island any anything similar, all neatly organized with the best results (usually) at the top.
Predictions #2 (and 3?): Microsoft and Apple hit walls
It isn’t easy being huge as both Apple and Microsoft are starting to realize. Both companies are incredibly successful and I’m not here to say either is in real danger, but both are suffering major structural challenges that will hurt them in 2016. What’s key for these predictions is how they respond.
I’ll deal with Microsoft first because there the challenges and solutions are both clearer than they are with Apple. I’ve been very impressed with Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella who I think hasn’t saved the company, because it didn’t need saving, but he’s a real improvement over Steve Ballmer. Nadella has done the best he can to get Microsoft in order and reinvigorated, not an easy job. His major remaining challenges involve Windows Phone and Windows 10.
Microsoft explains how it uses Windows 10 Insider feedback with 'Made by you' articles
The Windows Insider program was designed to help anyone test driving preview builds of Windows 10 to provide feedback and help shape the future direction of the operating system. But what happens with all of the feedback that's submitted?
Microsoft is starting to publish a new series of articles to the Insider Hub that seek to assure people that their feedback is not just disappearing into a black hole. The 'Made by you' sees Microsoft providing feedback on feedback, and helps to give Insiders some reassurance that their input is valued. The first article is about how Windows 10 handles display scaling.
Intel Curie arrives this quarter, costs under $10
Intel CEO Brian Krzanich announced new details today at CES 2016 in Las Vegas regarding the button-sized wearable hardware module, Curie. The Intel Curie module features 32-bit Intel Quark SE SoC, (system on a Chip) and runs for extended periods on a coin-sized battery.
Intel unveiled the Curie SoC module a year ago, and demonstrated it through a partnership with BMX to develop the first smart BMX bike. Curie was able to measure through sensors on the seat and handlebars of the bike the speed and movement metrics. However, now the button sized SoC module is being used on athletic sports clothing to bring the same analytical capabilities to all athletes. "We believe it will change how athletes are judged, how they train", Krzanich said.
Nexia brings voice control through Amazon Echo, adds upgraded Windows 10 app
Amazon Echo continues to add features of all sorts. There's now integration with IFTTT, sports news and a growing number of home automation capabilities. The latest company to announce its plans with the Amazon device is Nexia.
The company is unveiling its latest products and integrations this week at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas.
Samsung unveils curved 1080p gaming monitors with AMD FreeSync over HDMI
In 2015, AMD owned the PC gaming world. Its brilliant cards were not only powerful, but reasonably priced too. Hell, they were downright beautiful; the Fury X and R9 Nano specifically, were engineering marvels and works of art.
My favorite trend of the year, however, was the acceptance of AMD's FreeSync technology -- which reduces lag and tearing -- by monitor manufacturers. Unlike Nvidia's G-SYNC, it is an open technology, and better for both consumers and the gaming industry alike. Today, Samsung announces three curved gaming monitors that all feature AMD FreeSync over HDMI.
Intel Compute Stick gets refresh -- pricey Skylake Core M or less expensive Atom
The economy may be better for some, but for many, it is still bad, leading to downsized homes or moving in with relatives. Of course, this means smaller work spaces; the idea of having a dedicated computer room with large desk and PC is slowly disappearing. While consumers' bank accounts continue to shrink, luckily, so too do computers.
The Intel Compute Stick, for instance, takes up very little space, while historically being affordable too. Unfortunately, even though the tiny stick could run full Windows, it was a bit under-powered. Today, however, this changes. The Compute Stick receives a Skylake Core M processor refresh, making it a much more powerful -- and expensive -- affair. For more conservative budgets, however, Intel announces an upgraded Atom model too.
Enterprise Crowdfunding will help big companies pilot and launch products
Crowdfunding has become a popular way for smaller businesses and independent designers to gain backing for their projects. Now though funding platform Indiegogo is turning its sights on bigger business.
It's launching a new Enterprise Crowdfunding service to provide large corporations with specific services for engaging with Indiegogo's audience of early adopters, entrepreneurs and makers. This will allow enterprises to validate and optimize product concepts, as well as source new innovations.
You won't find me at CES 2016
This morning I asked someone stomping around the Consumer Electronics Show: "Will your team survive CES? Will anyone?" She answered: "Survival rates still TBD". True that. Today is officially Day 1, but that's a meaningless designation. Major announcements started Day -1, and there were even more on what I call Day 0 because the opening keynote is that evening. Acer shot its wad on January 4th, for example. The 5th brought major announcements from Casio, HP, Lenovo, Samsung, Sony, and, among many, many, many, many more vendors.
CES is such a cacophony of product announcements early is the only way to assure news coverage. Hehe, if any. With so many of vendor mini-events already completed, one could contend that the Consumer Electronics Show is over before the first day ends.
How to fix error 0xc0000017 when installing Windows 10
While I've been running Windows 10 for what seems like forever now, a desktop computer sitting in my office running Windows 8.1 has been crying out for an upgrade for some time. Having had a problem-free upgrade on three other machines, I expected nothing out of the ordinary with this computer. I was wrong.
Initially I left Windows Update to do its thing, but this failed on countless occasions. The error message suggested that a problem with my internet connection had interrupted the download, but this seemed unlikely. After numerous attempts, I decided to opt for a USB-driven installation. This also failed, this time with error 0xc0000017: "There isn't enough memory available to create a ramdisk device". Thankfully, the problem can be fixed -- here's what you need to do.
Netflix announces worldwide availability, more than 190 countries covered
Netflix, which began life as a DVD by mail service that took off, has been slowly expanding to countries not named the US. The growth speaks well for the business model and the company has long since left DVDs behind in favor of online streaming. That makes for easier expansion into new markets.
Today the company is announcing it is expanding to pretty much all markets. We'd list them here, but with more than 190 countries it would be tedious for you and us. That's 130 nations that previously did not have Netflix.
Nvidia unveils Drive PX2 solution for autonomous vehicles
At CES 2016, NVIDIA has announced the release of its Drive PX2 which is the company’s latest offering in the autonomous vehicle hardware market. NVIDIA hopes that the Drive PX2 will provide the ability to train, optimize and develop the neural networks which will be the foundation of self-driving cars in the future.
Several earlier NVIDIA components combine to form the Drive PX2 such as DIGITS and DriveWorks. However, Drive PX 2 hardware is also the successor to the Tegra-powered Drive PX released last year with the new Drive PX 2 representing a major computational power jump with 12 CPU cores and two discrete "Pascal"-based GPUs.
Tesla meets Q4 2015 sales goal, but only just
Elon Musk’s car company Tesla just managed to meet its low end production target during the final quarter of 2015. The company was only able to manufacture 17,400 of its luxury electric cars despite having previously projected that it would produce 17,000 to 19,000. Tesla did however reach its target for 2015 by delivering a total of 50,580 cars.
Tesla currently produces two models of electric cars: the Model S sedan and the Model X SUV. The Model S was introduced in 2012 and it has been well-received by both critics and consumers. The Model X SUV however, just began being delivered to consumers in September of 2015. Its production was delayed quite heavily due to various problems regarding how difficult it is to manufacture.
Attach an iPhone to a hunting rifle, crossbow, or tree with the Bracketron Xventure series
Here's the deal, folks; I eat meat. Cows, fish, chickens, lamb -- I do not discriminate. With that said, me having to kill these poor creatures would break my heart. Does it make me a hypocrite that I can eat something, while simultaneously caring for it? Probably. Unless my life depended on it, however, I could never hunt. That is not an attack on hunters -- if you eat what you kill, more power to you.
While I understand the need to hunt for food, I do frown on enjoying the kill. So I am a bit upset by the Bracketron Xventure hunting mounts. These products let you mount an iPhone or other camera on your rifle or bow so you can record video of your kill. Why does this upset me? Well, I struggle to understand someone actually wanting to replay and relive the memory of taking an animal's life. Am I off-base here?
Xiaomi's new ultrabook goes up against Apple's MacBook Air
Xiaomi is entering the laptop market with a device that looks to carry on the company tradition of delivering high specs at low cost.
The model has not yet been named, but is available for pre-order via Chinese retailer Banggood for £490.50.
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