Microsoft sets Guinness World Record for being quiet
Setting a world record is one of the coolest things you can achieve. It means you stand alone with a claim no one else can make. For instance, being the world's strongest, fastest or smartest would be awesome. Other records would not be so cool, however, such as world's fattest or smelliest.
A congratulations is due to Microsoft as it has been awarded a Guinness World Record. However, the record itself is kind of weird. You see, a room on its Redmond campus is now officially the quietest place on Earth.
Microsoft says Start menu app suggestions in Windows 10 are not ads
Earlier today I wrote about my surprise at the sudden appearance of what I referred to as an 'ad' in my Start menu. The comments the article gathered made for interesting reading, and it was clear that there was more than a little confusion and disgust at the prospect of the Start menu being used as advertising space. I mentioned in the article that I had contacted Microsoft for comment, and I've now heard back with some clarification.
First off, Microsoft insists that the promotion of apps in the Start menu is not advertising, merely the App Suggestions feature. The company stresses that no payments are made by software publishers to be highlighted in this way and explains that this personalized suggestion service is now rolling out to Windows 10 Pro and Enterprise users on the Insider program. Microsoft has more to say, but is it enough to allay the concerns of Windows 10 users?
Microsoft has forcibly upgraded some computers to Windows 10
The other day I wrote about problems my father had after an inadvertent upgrade to Windows 10. In the comments there were numerous mocking remarks suggesting that he had been provided with plenty of opportunity to avoid the upgrade -- but it seems that may not have been the case. Microsoft has admitted that the upgrade has been automatically installed on some computers.
This has been described as "a mistake" after the optional update was marked for download and installation by default. Microsoft has already raised the ire of some users who were unhappy to discover that Windows 10 setup files had been downloaded without their permission, but the unwanted installation take things to the next level. So what’s the deal?
Microsoft releases ISOs of Windows 10 Insider Preview Build 10565
Microsoft pushed out Build 10565 to Windows Insiders on the Fast ring three days ago. This preview includes Skype integration, Microsoft Edge improvements, Cortana enhancements, some new icons, and support for nested virtualization. It also introduces a change to the way the activation process works -- you can now activate Windows 10 using a Windows 7, Windows 8 or Windows 8.1 product key.
New Fast ring preview builds can usually only be obtained through Windows Update, but Microsoft has today taken the unusual step of making Build 10565 available to download as an ISO to allow Windows Insiders to try out the new activation paths.
Ubuntu Phone hit with serious security vulnerability
Ubuntu and other Linux-based operating systems are extremely secure, but nothing is infallible. While you are arguably safer than on Windows or OS X, the argument can also be made that a little common sense goes a long way. In other words, all modern operating systems can be rather secure, as long as the user is not lackadaisical in their behavior.
You may be surprised to hear that Ubuntu Phone has a rather nasty security vulnerability. Don't worry, the desktop operating system is not impacted; it is a phone-only affair. Still, it is scary to see something like this fall through the cracks.
Microsoft makes starting a Skype chat much easier -- no account needed!
As someone who uses many different operating systems, I prefer software that is cross-platform. Skype is one of the best in this regard, as it is available for Windows, iOS, Android, the Web, OS X, Ubuntu and more. While Microsoft's execution has not always been the best, the communication solution is getting better all the time.
The problem with Skype, you see, is that other people must have an account in order to chat with you. Well, this is no longer an issue. Today, Microsoft makes stating a conversation insanely easy. By simply sharing a link, you can chat with someone on Skype without them needing an account or the app. Awesome.
Microsoft partners with YouTube to launch Halo 5: Guardians for Xbox
While it isn't always reciprocated, Microsoft does its best to support other platforms, putting its apps on rival mobile operating systems and releasing its videos via Google's YouTube. Now the software giant is planning a big release celebration for the much-anticipated Xbox title Halo 5: Guardians, and will be bringing the festivities directly into the homes of fans.
Today Xbox Live chief Larry Hryb, AKA Major Nelson, announces that Microsoft will utilize YouTube to show "Halo 5: Live,” a six-hour live broadcast featuring exclusive gameplay reveals, celebrity appearances, live interviews with the 343 Industries development team and much more.
India wants to regulate ride-sharing apps
India has proposed a set of rules aimed at regulating ridesharing apps such as Uber. The rules will see the tech companies operate more like traditional taxi fleets, a move which will probably please other taxi companies in the country.
India’s Ministry of Road Transport and Highways released the guidelines proposal, which suggests all cars run by these companies should have an emergency button and an in-app feature to call the police.
When should you expect Office 2016 for your Office 365 subscription?
While Office 2016 is out, not everyone has it. Starting with the 2013 version of the software, Microsoft offered subscription plans called Office 365 -- customers could pay monthly or annualy, with the latter providing a discount. You can also install 365 on up up to five systems. The differences stop there as both provide a full Office suite on your computer.
So when will Office 365 subscribers see the new version of the suite? Like seemingly all things Microsoft, it's complicated. In a blog post, Microsoft's Todd Sweetser laid out the time frame for upgrades.
Platform enhancements seek to unlock the power of big data
Businesses today have access to more data about their operations and their customers than ever before, but often that data is an underused resource.
Business intelligence company GoodData today announces new platform enhancements aimed at unlocking the value of data and widely distributing analytics to the people who are making business decisions on a daily basis.
Oracle plans to offer IT-staff-as-a-service
Oracle is set to offer its customers an entirely new service that lies somewhere between contracting IT staff and cloud computing, according to Business Insider.
Reports suggest that Oracle will allow customers to rent its IT staff alongside its cloud services -- essentially offering an entire IT department as a service.
The eight critical issues holding back IT
The challenges of front line IT have become increasingly complex in recent years thanks to changes in technology, cyber threats and the sheer volume of work.
But what are the biggest challenges that IT teams face? A new survey by network monitoring company Ipswitch set out to find out and reveals the eight most critical issues that are holding IT teams back from achieving their innovation and operational goals.
US government to invest $20 million to drive fuel cell development
The U.S. Energy Department has announced it will invest more than $20 million (£12.9m) in the fuel cell and hydrogen technologies industries, following the revelation that the industry is basically exploding.
A total of 10 projects will be funded, aiming to advance fuel cell and hydrogen technologies and to enable early adoption of fuel cell applications such as light-duty fuel cell electric vehicles (FCEV).
Microsoft offers $300 / £100 trade-ins when you buy a new Windows 10 computer
If you've been thinking of investing in a new computer, Microsoft has an incentive that might just help to convince you that the time is right. You've probably got an old computer laying around that you need to get rid of, and Microsoft will happily take it off your hands and give you cash into the bargain.
The Trade Up program offers a minimum of $200 for a laptop trade-in, up to $300 for a MacBook. The caveat? The Windows 10 computer you buy must cost at least $599. The deal is running in the US and UK -- but people in the UK have a different, and somewhat less impressive, deal available to them.
Mobile vs. web: 3 ways available resources and platform fragmentation might be driving the debate
For almost a decade, our industry -- and consumers -- have been struggling with a seemingly simple question: What’s the difference between mobile and web? One would assume the answer to that question would have become clear sometime in the seven years since the AppStore launch changed the game. But in some ways, we’re still trying to even properly frame the question to consumers. For example, should we be arguing the merits of "native vs. web" or "native vs. HTML5?" (And don’t forget about hybrids, which are some combination of the two, just to add to the confusion.)
The good news? Some of the best and brightest have already weighed in on the topic of web vs. native: Mark Zuckerberg talked about the mobile vs. web quandary back in 2012, famously confessing that betting on HTML5 was a mistake for Facebook. On the other hand, Steve Jobs told developers to build for the web along with the launch of iPhone 1, only to launch the AppStore with native apps a year later. As you can imagine, this is a broad topic with many issues worth debating. But the availability of resources is a major sticking point, and often a key part of the conversation.
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