The Latest Win 10 Build

With exactly one month to go before it begins rolling out Windows 10 for PCs, Microsoft made available to its Insider testers another preview build of the coming operating system.

Windows 10 Build 10158, which went to Fast Ring testers on June 29, now includes the "Edge" branding for the browser that was formerly known as "Project Spartan." The newest official preview build of Windows 10 Mobile for Windows Phones last week also now has the Edge browser branding.

With the change in branding from Spartan to Edge, Microsoft has introduced a new app ID that causes any favorites, cookies, history and Reading list items saved in Spartan to be lost, so testers who want to save these need to back up their favorites, as Microsoft officials warned a week ago.The Edge app in the new Windows 10 test build includes new customizations, a dark theme, password and form-fill options and other tweaks.

The 10158 build includes general UX improvements and bug fixes. There are several updates specifically for Continuum, Microsoft's feature to smooth transitions between Tablet mode and Desktop mode. The Photos app has been updated, as has the Snipping Tool. The build includes fixes for Windows 10 preview specifically for Surface 3 and Surface Pro 3. Also, as Microsoft execs said would be the case, the Insider Hub is no longer pre-installed with this build, but users can add it back.

Samsung and Windows Update

Samsung on Friday said it will stop disabling Windows Update on its PCs and tablets, bowing to a chorus of complaints -- including Microsoft's -- that it had interfered with the way users intended the patch service to work on their devices.

"We will be issuing a patch through the Samsung Software Update notification process to revert back to the recommended automatic Windows Update settings within a few days," a Samsung spokesperson said in an emailed statement Friday afternoon.

Samsung's pledge put an apparent end to the week's kerfuffle, which began when Patrick Barker, a crash-debugging and reverse-engineering expert, and a Microsoft MVP (Most Valuable Professional), charged the Korean company with silently changing how Windows Update delivers bug fixes and security patches to customers.

More on Office for Android

Microsoft today removed the preview label from its Office apps for Android, publishing the final versions of Excel, PowerPoint and Word to Google Play.

The three apps are free for consumers, who may use them only for non-commercial purposes; in other words, not for work- or business-related tasks.

Microsoft kicked off previews last month, wrapping up the release of the suite's apps for the OSes maintained by rivals Google (Android) and Apple (iOS). The gradual rollout began in March 2014 with the surprise debut of Office on the iPad less than two months after Satya Nadella replaced Steve Ballmer as CEO.

MSFT Office for Android Phones

Microsoft this morning announced the official launch of Office for Android phone, five weeks after the company rolled out the suite of applications as a preview. Today’s release, which includes Word, Excel and PowerPoint designed for the Android smartphone experience, follows earlier efforts at bringing Office to Android tablets, as well as support for Office on iOS devices, Windows and OS X.

The Office apps offer support for a variety of common tasks, including the ability to review and edit files while on the go, presenting PowerPoint presentations from your phone, and quickly pulling up documents even when they’re stored on competing services like Google Drive, Dropbox or Box. The apps, which will replace the older Office Mobile, require 1 GB of RAM and Android KitKat (4.4.x) or above. Android M is not yet supported.

The apps are free to use provided you have a free Microsoft account, but a number of extra features aimed at power users can be unlocked with an Office 365 subscription.

The apps will also be pre-installed on devices from over 30 OEMs, including Samsung, LG, Sony, and others, the company notes. Many of these devices will arrive in retail stores later in the year.

Samsung Wireless Charging

The Samsung Galaxy S6 Active recently launched as the more rugged version of the Galaxy S6 flagship, boasting powerful specs and dual-mode wireless charging support.

Wireless charging may not be expanding at the rate many consumers would like, but it's nonetheless growing at its own rate. While many devices still don't come with wireless charging capabilities, an increasing number of smartphones are joining the trend and offering this extra convenience, no longer requiring users to get tangled up with cables and stuck to a wall socket.

The Samsung Galaxy S6 Active is one of the devices that offers more convenience in that regard, as it supports wireless charging just like its Galaxy S6 and Galaxy S6 Edge siblings. The rugged handset supports both popular charging standards — Qi and PMA.

Fingerprint Technology

Fingerprint authentication will become more common on smartphones of all prices as sensors get cheaper, and Google's integration of the technology in the next version of Android will make it much easier for app developers and service providers to make use of them.

Today, fingerprint sensors are mainly available on high-end models from Apple and Samsung Electronics. But that is about to change, according to sensor manufacturers Synaptics and Fingerprint Cards.

Fingerprint Cards has seen a growing interest in its technology from smartphone manufacturers in recent months, as well as a strong increase in orders. As a result, the company has raised its revenue estimate for the year from about 1.5 billion Swedish kronor (US$185 million) to 2.2 billion Swedish kronor.

"This market is really starting to take off," said Jörgen Lantto, CEO at Fingerprint Cards, who anticipates that half of all smartphones sold next year will have the feature.

Fingerprint Cards sensors are already used in the Ascend Mate 7 from Huawei Technologies and Oppo's R7 Plus, which launched in May. Synaptics, which makes the sensor in the Galaxy S6 and S6 Edge, is equally sure that smartphones with fingerprint sensors will become more popular.

Taylor Swift vs. Apple

Apple picked Taylor Swift's 1989 as the best album on iTunes last year, but the admiration isn’t entirely mutual.

The pop star slammed Apple this weekend for its decision not to pay artists during the three month trial period for its upcoming Apple Music service, calling the move shocking and disappointing.

“We don’t ask you for free iPhones,” she wrote on her blog Sunday. “Please dont ask us to provide you with our music for no compensation.”

Apple has said will offer a free three-month trial for Apple Music when it starts to roll out on June 30, after which it will cost US$9.99 per month. During those three months, Swift says, Apple won’t pay artists anything for their music. In protest, she wont make 1989 available on the service.

Swift isn’t the first to protest Apple’s policy, but so far the complaints have come mostly from independent labels, which are on tighter budgets and less able to survive for three months without pay.

Apple has been “astronomically successful,” Swift wrote in her blog, and can afford to compensate artists even if it doesn’t charge consumers.

She says her protest isn’t all about her.

Happy Dragon Boat Festival

Dragon boat Festival is one of Chinese traditional festivals. The festival is celebrate  on the fifth day of May in Lunar month.

It also has been marked by boat races in the shape of dragons and people eat rice dumpling.

To celebrate this national festival ,our office will be closed from June 19-21, 2015, We will be back to service you on June 22 soon.

New Nest Camera

Remember when Nest bought Dropcam? That first fruits of that purchase are finally dropping today: Nest has just announced the Nest Cam, an oh-so-Dropcam like security solution.

At first glance, the Nest Cam looks like the Dropcam that we all already know. At second glance… it… still looks like a Dropcam. It’s a bit more slim and its curves are a bit curvier — but the base idea is the same: an ultra simple, plug-and-play WiFi security camera.

But what’s inside?

Here’s what we know so far:

• 1080p video (The last Dropcam was 720p)
• It has a built-in tripod mount
• Its base is magnetic, allowing it to be mounted to your fridge
• 8 built-in infrared LEDs for night vision.
• Like the Dropcam, the Nest Cam uses a cloud-based DVR to store video. Alas, also like the Dropcam, it sounds (so far) that that’s the only option for recording video— meaning if you want to record and store video (rather than just stream it) you’re looking at paying $100-$300 a year on top of the cost of the device. 10-days of video archiving will cost $10 a month; 30-days of archiving will cost $30 a month
• You can mix Nests Cams and older Dropcams in your home, if you so choose. They’ll both appear in the newly designed Nest app for iOS and Android.

The Nest Cam will ship next week, and cost $199.

Android Tablets Continue to Grow

The emergence of low-cost Android tablets is driving a dilution of Apple's dominant market share, according to research company Futuresource Consulting.

However, in spite of continued growth in shipment volume throughout the forecast period, Futuresource expects a slowing of retail value growth in the worldwide tablet market as consumer sales plateau in a saturated market and retail prices continue the steady decline that began in 2010.

B-to-B sales will become an increasingly significant driver of future demand, Futuresource said, particularly in developed markets. For emerging markets, any pent-up B-to-B demand will still be constrained by price.

Free Apps

Google now follows the lead of Apple and Amazon in giving out a paid app for free.

The initial giveaway is Daniel Tiger Grr-ific Feelings, usually $2.99. You can download it to your Android phone or tablet from the new Family section in the Play Store. The game prompts children to draw, take pictures, and interact with a happy, non-aggressive tiger.

It’s unclear if this new, regular handout will only be for kid-friendly apps or if we’ll see a wider variety of content.

The story behind the story: Apple has long offered a “free app of the week” from the App Store, while Amazon does a daily giveaway. They’re very popular features, so Google is wise to follow suit in order to encourage Android users to stop in to the Play Store more often. The first free game also highlights the new Family section, which has apps, games, and other content that is child-friendly.

Android Dominance

The emergence of low-cost Android tablets is driving a dilution of Apple's dominant market share, according to research company Futuresource Consulting.

However, in spite of continued growth in shipment volume throughout the forecast period, Futuresource expects a slowing of retail value growth in the worldwide tablet market as consumer sales plateau in a saturated market and retail prices continue the steady decline that began in 2010.

B-to-B sales will become an increasingly significant driver of future demand, Futuresource said, particularly in developed markets. For emerging markets, any pent-up B-to-B demand will still be constrained by price.

"Workplace tablet use has been driven principally by bring-your-own-device policies, and tablets are used in a more complementary role rather than as a replacement for the PC," said Simon Bryant, consumer electronics associate director at Futuresource. "Issues of security and untested apps on tablets have also previously suppressed B-to-B demand, although many of these fears have been allayed with many tablets now carrying the same security policies and enforcement as a laptop.”

Futuresource predicted that the engine behind B-to-B sales will be the availability of productivity apps, unifying software platforms, improved battery life, and technology comparable to today's PC. By 2019 B-to-B is expected to make up 30 percent of total worldwide tablet shipments.

The development of the B-to-B sector could be boosted further by the introduction of larger screened, fully featured tablets, specifically those from Apple and traditional PC vendors.

Smaller-screen tablets currently command significant market share, taking 71 percent of shipments in 2014. This category, however, is most at risk by the rise in demand for phablets as sales of large screen smartphones collide with those of smaller screen tablets. As a consequence, larger-screened tablets are expected to increase future share, with manufacturers also shifting production from 7-inch to 8-inch and larger devices by the end of 2015.

Android Dominance

The emergence of low-cost Android tablets is driving a dilution of Apple's dominant market share, according to research company Futuresource Consulting.

However, in spite of continued growth in shipment volume throughout the forecast period, Futuresource expects a slowing of retail value growth in the worldwide tablet market as consumer sales plateau in a saturated market and retail prices continue the steady decline that began in 2010.

B-to-B sales will become an increasingly significant driver of future demand, Futuresource said, particularly in developed markets. For emerging markets, any pent-up B-to-B demand will still be constrained by price.

"Workplace tablet use has been driven principally by bring-your-own-device policies, and tablets are used in a more complementary role rather than as a replacement for the PC," said Simon Bryant, consumer electronics associate director at Futuresource. "Issues of security and untested apps on tablets have also previously suppressed B-to-B demand, although many of these fears have been allayed with many tablets now carrying the same security policies and enforcement as a laptop.”

Futuresource predicted that the engine behind B-to-B sales will be the availability of productivity apps, unifying software platforms, improved battery life, and technology comparable to today's PC. By 2019 B-to-B is expected to make up 30 percent of total worldwide tablet shipments.

The development of the B-to-B sector could be boosted further by the introduction of larger screened, fully featured tablets, specifically those from Apple and traditional PC vendors.

Smaller-screen tablets currently command significant market share, taking 71 percent of shipments in 2014. This category, however, is most at risk by the rise in demand for phablets as sales of large screen smartphones collide with those of smaller screen tablets. As a consequence, larger-screened tablets are expected to increase future share, with manufacturers also shifting production from 7-inch to 8-inch and larger devices by the end of 2015.

CrackBerry to Use Android OS?

BlackBerry is considering equipping an upcoming smartphone with Google Android software for the first time, an acknowledgement that its revamped line of devices has failed to win mass appeal, according to four sources familiar with the matter.

The move would be an about-face for the Waterloo, Ontario-based company, which had shunned Android in a bet that its BlackBerry 10 line of phones would be able to claw back market share lost to Apple's iPhone and a slew of devices powered by Android.

The sources, who asked not to be named as they have not been authorized to discuss the matter publicly, said the move to use Android is part of BlackBerry's strategy to pivot to focus on software and device management. BlackBerry, which once dominated smartphone sales, now has a market share of less than 1 percent.

It is not clear whether a move to use Android would spell the end of the company's BlackBerry 10 line of devices that were initially launched to much fanfare in early 2013. After positive early reviews, the late-to-launch BlackBerry devices haven't competed well with Android or Apple, mainly due to a lack of big name apps.

Angry Birds Fight is Released

Rovio has announced the worldwide release of Angry Birds Fight on iOS and Android devices. The match-three puzzle game was created in collaboration with Kiteretsu, and features multiplayer battles with players challenged to clear islands and defeat the pigs.

In each battle of Angry Birds Fight, players are given a limited amount of time to create as many matches as they can, which impact their attack and defense stats in the upcoming battle. When time has expired, the opponents duke it out, and the character with the higher accumulated points wins.

Battles are separated into islands and levels, with some battles removing the multiplayer component, and instead challenging players to defeat pigs on the high seas. The game offers two separate energy systems, with one for head-to-head battles and one for ship battles. Energy recharges automatically over time, or can be purchased with premium currency.

Make Your Car a Smart Car

Vinli launched at TechCrunch Disrupt SF last September by promising to bring the car into the smartphone age. The company is making a small sensor that plugs into a vehicle’s OBD port and allow the driver to access a suite of apps on their smartphone, providing additional functions not currently built into the car. Think of it as the missing link between your smartphone and car. And today, some nine months after launching, the company is announcing a $6.5 million Series A financing round and several significant product updates, retail distribution news and the launch of its Indiegogo campaign.

Samsung Global Innovation Center led the round with participation from Cox Automotive, Continental ITS and the Westly Group, best known as an early investor in Tesla with the firm’s founder helping the automotive startup go public. Between these four investors, Vinli is gaining access to a vast array of resources, from Samsung’s consumer-oriented focus, to Cox Automotive’s deep reach into car dealers, to Continental’s knowledge as one of the world’s largest tier 1 automotive suppliers. Executives from Samsung Global Innovation Center and Cox Automotive are joining Vinli’s board of directors.

Apple is Still Playing Catch Up

The details are in on Apple's next version of its iOS mobile operating. Apple unveiled iOS 9 at its Worldwide Developer Conference in San Francisco on Monday. They say imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, and that appears to be true for Apple's so-called "new features," many of which have been available on Android for years.

It Isn't Required Already?

The U.S. government is mandating the use of the HTTPS security protocol on all of its public websites and web services by the end of 2016.

Deploying HTTPS will authenticate communications with government websites and encrypt the data sent back and forth, which will help protect against snooping and imposter websites.

The protocol, use of which is often signaled by a green lock icon in the address bar of a web browser, has been used for years by financial websites but has expanded significantly in recent years.

The expansion has been partly due to Edward Snowden's revelations about U.S. government spying and eavesdropping, so it's not without irony that the government itself is now deploying the technology.

The government's action should make it more difficult for third parties to intercept communications and make interacting with government sites more secure for all users.

Here Come the MILCs

When it comes to mirrorless cameras, there are plenty of players in the field. We have mirrorless cameras from the likes of Nikon, Canon, Fujifilm, Olympus, and Sony, just to name a few, and while all of them make perfectly good cameras in their own right, it would seem that Sony is currently leading the way.

This is according to recent numbers put out by the NPD Group in which it revealed that as far as the US market is concerned, mirrorless camera sales are up by 16.5% over the past year. Thanks to the surge in sales, Sony is looking at a 66% increase in income from those sales. It would also seem that there is a tradeoff and that is DSLR sales have actually suffered.

According to the NPD, they have estimated that sales of DSLRs have fallen by 15% in the same period. NPD’s executive director Ben Arnold was quoted as saying, “Growth in the mirrorless segment shows this new technology and form factor are resonating with consumers. Going forward, mirrorless will continue to command a greater share of the interchangeable lens camera category.”

Of course this isn’t to say that DSLR cameras are doomed to become extinct as many professionals in the field still rely heavily on such cameras for their works. However when it comes to the average consumer looking for a semi-pro camera, it seems that mirrorless cameras are what they are turning to these days.

National Donut Day

Don't forget to grab a free donut, or if you prefer, doughnut, with your coffee on Friday! In honor of National Donut Day 2015, several chains across the United States will be giving free donuts to customers. Ahead of the June 5 celebration, find out where and when to get your National Donut Day freebies.

Dunkin’ Donuts

Just like last year, you can get a free donut with your coffee at Dunkin' Donuts on National Donut Day. Customers who purchase any beverage get a free donut of their choice (excluding Croissant Donuts and Cheesecake Squares). The offer is valid Jue 5 at their locations worldwide while supplies last.

Krispy Kreme

We hope you’re hungry! Krispy Kreme is giving a free donut to Facebook friends. To get your sweet treat, just “like” Krispy Kreme’s official Facebook page. After you do so, the company will send you a coupon to get your free donut. Simply show the coupon at any participating Krispy Kreme location on June 5 to get your freebie.

Free Shipping from Amazon.com

Amazon announced, on its online forum for sellers, that customers will get no-cost shipping when they order small items weighing less than 8 ounces and priced less than $10.

The free shipping would be available for Prime and non-Prime customers, too. Amazon had previously allowed free delivery only for Prime members (who pay $99 a year) or for customers ordering at least $35 worth of product.

But Amazon has been also trying to sweeten the deal for Amazon Prime members, who were initially offered two-day shipping for free, but could now be getting free shipping within just a few hours. Amazon is also offering one-hour food delivery for certain neighborhoods with its Prime Now service.

The "small and light" service is meant to take on competition from rival online retailers like eBay (EBAY, Tech30), WalMart (WMT) and Target (TGT).

SanDisk 128GB Flash Drive

SanDisk has launched a new 128GB flash drive today which it claims to be the world’s smallest USB 3.0 flash drive. Without its cap on the drive comes in at just three-quarters of an inch in length and just 0.63 inch in width and 0.35 inch in height. Sandisk says these dimensions make it smaller than a dime, so users can leave it plugged into a USB port without ever having to worry about plugging it out because it might get in the way, so to speak.

According to SanDisk it designed this flash drive for media enthusiasts who want to expand the storage on their “notebook, tablet, TV, in-car audio system, gaming console and more.”

Win 10 Pricing

Microsoft has a grand plan to get its next operating system, Windows 10, running on 1 billion devices in three years -- by giving it away for free. Well, sort of.

The software, which Microsoft announced Monday will begin rolling out July 29, will be offered as a free upgrade for all Windows 7 and Windows 8.1 PC and tablet users. For the PC market, those two versions power 74.1 percent of all devices, according to NetMarketShare.

For everyone else, Windows 10 will cost the same as its predecessor, Windows 8, the company confirmed to CNET on Monday.

A copy of Windows 10 Home will run $119, while Windows 10 Pro will cost $199. For those who wish to upgrade from the Home edition to the Pro edition, a Windows 10 Pro Pack will cost $99.

Microsoft may have given the impression it was making a critical pricing change to its flagship operating system when it announced in January that, like competitor Apple, it would offer an upgrade free of charge. However, the company has been transparent from the beginning that the upgrade is only eligible for one year, until July 29, 2016, and has said at various points in the past few months that pricing for single licenses would stay on par with previous releases. Now, there is the possibility that future versions of Windows may follow this same path, meaning Microsoft may never go fully free with its OS.

July 29th

Microsoft promised to launch Windows 10 in the summer, and now the company is revealing an exact date: July 29th. The official date comes weeks after AMD CEO Lisa Su revealed that Microsoft would launch Windows 10 in late July. Microsoft’s aggressive timing means that the company will be looking to finalize its features for Windows 10 very soon. Recent preview builds of the operating system continue to include many changes to features, and a number of issues and bugs.

Microsoft now has less than two months to fix all these issues and bugs before it launches Windows 10 to the world. That’s slightly concerning given the state of the operating system right now, but recent preview builds have started to look and feel more final, indicating that Microsoft is making progress. A lot of Windows 10’s new features are part of universal Windows Apps, and the software company can easily update these even before many consumers buy new machines with Windows 10. Microsoft also has the option of releasing direct operating system patches up to and after general availability. Windows 8 launched with a big update available on the first day, and many separate app updates. Windows 10 looks set to continue that trend.