That Outlook.com Premium email address? Gone, unless you get an Office 365 subscription
Microsoft launched a limited test of Outlook.com Premium back in 2016. This was a subscription-based service that anyone could sign-up for after the test period ended to gain access to a number of benefits including up to five personalized (custom) email addresses and an ad-free environment.
Outlook.com Premium became available to users from the United States in the same year for an introductory price of $19.99 instead of the regular price of $49.99.
My first prediction for 2020 -- IBM
For 20+ years I’ve been writing predictions every January and I guess I’m doing another set now. But this time will be different for several reasons. For one, January is over, so it has sloughed over into February. For another, I always start by going back to the year before and grading my previous year’s predictions. I’m the only guy in this business who does that. But this year I am going to bury the score a bit because I need to start with a prediction simply because it's immediate and really can’t wait. So I’ll do the scoring later, but today I have my first 2020 prediction to get out of the way.
And, finally, there is one more difference between this year and every other: this year I’ll not just say what I think is going to happen, I’ll also say what I think should happen. I’m old and cranky and there are only a couple of these so just bear with me.
OpenMandriva Lx 4.1 Linux distro now available for download
It was just a few days ago that we shared with you a release candidate was released for OpenMandriva Lx 4.1. Well, things apparently went very well, as today, you can download the final release! Today is Super Bowl Sunday though -- surely people should be relaxing and watching the big game instead of messing around with Linux, right? Sure, if you enjoy football. If you don't like the sport, don't torture yourself. Instead, turn off the TV and install this new version of OpenMandriva!
Hell, if you are invited to a Super Bowl party today, you should not only bring with you snacks or beverages, but a flash drive containing OpenMandriva Lx 4.1 too -- you can then install it on your host's PC. If they are running the unsupported Windows 7 in particular, you would be doing them a huge favor.
Microsoft Edge has a new 'unwanted apps' download-blocker -- here's how to enable it
Microsoft has introduced a new feature to its Edge browser that blocks "potentially unwanted apps" from being downloaded.
At the moment, the security feature is available in the beta version of Microsoft Edge, but it will also be making its way to the stable version of Chromium-based Edge later this month. Strangely, Microsoft has chosen not to switch on the feature by default.
Download a free Windows 10 virtual machine to keep using Microsoft Edge Legacy and Internet Explorer 11
Having now embraced the same engine as Chrome, the Chromium-based Edge is now Microsoft's default browser. If you want to keep using Microsoft Edge Legacy and Internet Explorer 11 for some reason, Microsoft has opened up a way to do so -- and to do so safely.
The company has released virtual machine images that include both web browser. Available free of charge, the images are available for a range of virtualization platforms.
Microsoft offers up to $20,000 in Xbox bug bounty
Microsoft is no stranger to using bug bounty programs to track down security problems and other issues with its software and services. Now the company has launched an Xbox bug bounty program, offering payouts of up to $20,000 to anyone finding vulnerabilities.
The particular aim of this bounty program is to find issues with the Xbox Live network and services. Microsoft says the amounts it will pay gamers and security researchers who report problems will depend on the severity and impact of the vulnerability, as well as the quality of the submission.
UK SMEs see their future in the cloud
Cloud computing features strongly in the plans of SMEs for the coming year, with 57 percent planning increased adoption, according to a new report.
The study from UK IT services provider OGL Computer shows that 59 percent plan on increasing the use of applications such as Microsoft Office 365, Teams and SharePoint.
Best Windows 10 apps this week
Three-hundred-and-seventy-one in a series. Welcome to this week's overview of the best apps, games and extensions released for Windows 10 on the Microsoft Store in the past seven days.
Mark discovered an interesting tool this week called Hidden Windows 10 Features that Windows 10 administrators may use to make modifications to the system to enable or disable certain features.
Microsoft celebrates Super Bowl LIV with limited-edition Madden NFL 20 Air Max 90 Xbox One X giveaway
Friday is finally here, signaling the unofficial start to "Super Bowl Weekend." The big game isn't until Sunday, but there will be plenty of coverage of Super Bowl LIV leading up to the actual game. As a New York Jets fan, I am used to not having a horse in the race, but I will still enjoy watching the Kansas City Chiefs and San Francisco 49ers battle it out for the championship.
To celebrate Super Bowl LIV, Microsoft has teamed up with EA (developer of Madden 20) and sneaker-maker Nike for a very cool limited-edition Xbox One X console. It is so limited, in fact, that there is only one being made. The "Madden NFL 20 Air Max 90 Xbox One X," as it is called, cannot be bought either -- it can only be won.
Satechi launches USB-C Slim Multi-Port with Ethernet Adapter
Does it stink that many new laptops are only coming with USB-C ports? Well, maybe -- it depends on the consumer, I suppose. Look, some people have no need for any ports (beyond charging). I mean, think about it -- between cloud storage and wireless internet, a modern laptop user may never need to plug in any accessories. And so, why litter the computer's design with things like HDMI, USB-A, and Ethernet if it won't be used? Of course, there are still those that want to plug in old-school hardwired network cables, external storage devices, and displays. Thankfully, having at least one USB-C port will allow you to leverage dongles to regain those ports.
With that said, buying single-purpose dongles can be foolish. It typically makes more financial sense to buy a multi-port adapter (aka mobile dock) that can do many things. Today, Satechi launches its latest such product, and it is a beauty. Called "USB-C Slim Multi-Port with Ethernet Adapter," it is not only stylish and svelte, but chock-full of useful ports. Interestingly, the adapter is so thin that the company had to utilize a jaw-style Ethernet port that is usually found on some very slim notebooks.
Microsoft releases Windows 10 Build 19555 with some important fixes
Another week, another new future Windows 10 build for Insiders to test.
Build 19555.1001 isn’t the most exciting of new releases, but if does offer a number of important fixes, including one that could result in the Start menu and apps not opening.
Avast apologizes for selling user data and shuts down its marketing analytics subsidiary Jumpshot with immediate effect
Avast has been facing growing criticism following an investigation by Motherboard and PCMag that revealed the company’s free antivirus software was harvesting user data and selling it onto marketers.
In a bid to appease users, Avast published a blog post explaining why it was collecting user data, and announced that going forward this collection would be opt-in, but that the company would continue to sell the data via its analytics subsidiary Jumpshot. Throughout the post the security firm insisted that collected data was fully "de-identified", despite the fact that Motherboard and PCMag’s investigation showed how it could be linked back to an individual.
IBM launches new open source tool to label images using AI
Images for use in development projects need to be correctly labeled to be of use. But adding labels is a task that can involve many hours of work by human analysts painstakingly applying manual labels to images, time that could be better spent on other, more creative, tasks.
In order to streamline the labelling process IBM has created a new automated labeling tool for the open source Cloud Annotations project that uses AI to 'auto-label' images and thus speed up the process.
117 new emojis coming in 2020, including mustached brides, a gender-neutral Santa Claus, and blueberries
Emojis are the greatest thing to happen to written communication since the invention of the printing press. Not only does it help people to better express their emotions when sending text messages and emails, but it allows them to properly represent their identities. Nowadays, people can proudly choose their gender, for instance, and emojis reflect humanity's evolution on this subject through diversity.
For example, later this year, we will get 117 new emojis, many of which support evolved thinking towards gender. For instance, we will get images of mustached men in wedding veils, showing that women aren't the only ones that can wear a dress on their wedding day. The world will also get a more "woke" Santa Claus -- a gender-neutral person named "Mx. Claus." After all, why does male Santa Claus get to be the hero of Christmas while his female wife Mrs. Claus has to stay home? Mx. Claus will teach the youth that any gender can deliver gifts!
New application delivers easier data access for business analysts
Businesses are collecting more data than ever, but ensuring that employees have easy and reliable access to information they need for their jobs can prove difficult.
Now though Kloud.io has raised $4 million in seed funding for its spreadsheet-based application that enables financial analysts to directly access data from multiple sources, such as Salesforce, Oracle, Netsuite, and hundreds more.
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