Windows 10 Preview to Launch for Users Tomorrow

Microsoft confirmed at the Windows event in San Francisco that consumers would want to give the new Windows 10 a try would be able to do so starting tomorrow thanks to a free Technical Preview as part of its new Windows Insider Program. This new program will kick off tomorrow and will bring a downloadable version of Windows 10 preview for desktops and tablets, while servers will get their very own flavor at a later time. Other devices could also get an early build of the operating system, but no other specifics have been provided. The preview version will include many of the features that we heard about in the latest few months, including a Start menu, multiple desktops, a revamped command prompt and other features that are supposed...

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Microsoft’s New Windows Will Be Called Windows 10

Microsoft has just announced at a press conference in San Francisco that its new operating system would be called Windows 10, contrary to all rumors that have reached the web in the past few months. Surprisingly, Microsoft isn’t calling its new OS version Windows 9, as everyone believed, or Windows Threshold, as some people close to the matter hinted, but Windows 10 in what’s pretty much the most surprising decision for the “new Microsoft.” Terry Myerson, head of the OS division at Microsoft, said that Windows 10 would run on as many devices as possible and will even span new categories, hinting that it could even power small devices such as smartwatches. “Windows 10 will be familiar to enterprise end users whether coming from windows...

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AMD Strategy to Set Off to Free Itself from Intel and It Has Succeeded

Advanced Micro Devices had some management problems back in 2009-2010, and it didn't get out of them even after it hired Rory P. Read as CEO in August 2011. But the Chief Executive Officer immediately set about cleaning house, and changed the company's direction too, for good measure. In a nutshell, the man's idea was that Advanced Micro Devices would be better off if its products stopped being compared to Intel's all the time. Understandably enough, everyone was skeptical about AMD's chances of freeing its brand from automatic association with Intel's products. Especially after the fiasco of the 8-Core Bulldozer CPUs that didn't live up to their hype (to say the least). Fast forward to 2014, though, and the company has pretty much...

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Nexus 6 Confirmed to Pack 5.9-Inch QHD Display, 13MP Camera and 3200 mAh Battery

Google upcoming flagship smartphone, the Nexus 6 made headlines in the last couple of weeks, as rumors about the handset’s specs continue to leak online. According to previous reports, Google’s Nexus 6 will boast a huge 5.9-inch capacitive touchscreen display, which is supposed to support QHD (2560 x 1440 pixels) resolution. The information has just been confirmed through another source, so Android fans expecting to upgrade their older Nexus smartphone should start thinking whether or not they want a device with such a large display. Even though Nexus 6 originally leaked as a 5.2-inch smartphone, it looks like Google decided that’s not enough of an upgrade over the previous model. We do think that Google might launch two versions...

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Best Anti-Virus Solutions for Windows 7 SP1 Revealed [av-test.org]

Windows 8 already comes with Windows Defender turned on by default, but as far as Windows 7 users are concerned, turning to a third-party software solution to protect their PCs is the only solution. A new round of tests performed by German institute AV-TEST reveals that Windows 7 Service Pack 1 (SP1) customers have a wide array of anti-virus solutions to choose from, some of which can provide maximum protection in most of the cases. The July/August round of tests put Bitdefender’s anti-virus products on the first place, with a maximum score of 6 points out of 6 in all three main categories, namely protection, performance, and usability. The same top score was also achieved by Kaspersky Lab, McAfee, Norton, and Bullguard, all of which...

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Watch Windows 10’s Top New Features in Action [Video]

Windows 10 is the surprising name of Microsoft’s new operating system, but apart from the designation, there’s nothing new except from the features we’ve been reporting about for the last couple of months. The Start menu will finally be brought back and together with it, Microsoft is also introducing a new search option that allows users to look for information not only locally, but also online. Of course, Bing powers the search option, just like it was the case with the similar feature on the Start screen. At the same time, Microsoft is introducing multiple desktops, which are great for those working with multiple apps at the same time and want to keep things organized on their screen. Windows 10 Preview will be available for download tomorrow, but the company warns that since it’s...

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Google's Project Ara Modular Phone Will Let You Hot-Swap Everything Except the CPU and Display

Project Ara started as a bold project inside Motorola Mobility a few years ago, but after the company has been acquired by Google, the program went under the search giant’s umbrella. Even after Motorola has been sold to Lenovo early this year, Project Ara remained a Google program and the company does seem to invest quite a lot of resources in order to bring it to consumers. The end result should be some sort of starter kit that contains various modules that can be inserted inside a frame to form a smartphone. The $50 (€35) worth of components represents certain parts of the smartphone like display, CPU, Wi-Fi and battery. Each of these modules can be swapped for a better one when an upgrade is available, which means you won’t need...

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Samsung Explains Galaxy Note Edge Display, Highlights Major Features via Infographic

Introduced along with the Galaxy Note 4 early this month, Samsung Galaxy Note Edge could outsell the many flagship smartphones already available on the market, if only the South Korean company didn’t see this device as “limited edition concept.” That means Samsung plans to launch the Galaxy Note Edge in limited quantities, so you will only be able to get it in some countries and for a much higher price. Although info coming from sources familiar with the matter claimed there would only be around 1 million Galaxy Note Edge units available for purchase this year and that the phablet will not be launched in the UK and most of other European countries, Samsung introduces the phablet in more territories than it was original speculated....

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MSI Releases Fanless System with Support for Up to Core i7 CPUs

It's one thing to say a computer is really efficient and silent compared to the competition, and another to put together a PC that makes absolutely no noise at all (which, by extension, means low TDPs across the board). As it happens, Micro-Star International has created a system that makes do without any sort of active cooling, while still supporting Celeron, Pentium and Core i7/i5/i3 central processing units from Intel. Admittedly, you need to limit yourself to a TDP of no more than 35W in order for everything to work properly, and to not suffer a burnout or crash due to heat. If you do want a stronger performance though, you can pay extra for a system fan module. But that would defeat the purpose of the KingBOX MS-9A66 being made...

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Microsoft Officially Teases New Name for Windows 9

Windows 9 preview will officially see daylight next week, and more sources claim that a completely new name for the operating system is very likely, as Microsoft is reportedly trying to create a new brand and capitalize on the popularity of its desktop platform. Until now, there have been several signs that Microsoft could launch Windows 9 as just “Windows,” while a page that Redmond “accidentally” published this morning hinted that Windows TH was also possible, although it’s not clear if this could be used for the preview or the final product. Terry Myerson, head of the OS group at the software giant, teased the new Windows 9 name in a photo he emailed to Microsoft watchers Tom Warren and Mary Jo Foley, confirming that the company...

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Windows 9 Will Launch as Windows TH

While Microsoft continues to remain tightlipped on the next Windows version, a new page presumably prepared for the debut of the preview version and most likely scheduled to be published on Tuesday went live today revealing a few unknown details. Windows 9 might in the end launch as Windows TH, which probably stands for Threshold, the codename that Microsoft has been using since it started work on the new operating system. The page is called “Windows Technical Preview for Enterprise” and holds information about the preview build that Microsoft is expected to launch in early October, as well as links to find more information on the new features implemented in the operating system. Of course, it’s hard to believe that Microsoft accidentally...

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Samsung Galaxy Note Edge Is “a Limited Edition Concept,” Only 1 Million to Be Shipped

Unveiled earlier this month along with the Galaxy Note 4, Samsung Galaxy Note Edge is not going to be a smartphone for everyone. Just like in Galaxy Round’s case, Samsung seems to have pulled another marketing stunt with the Galaxy Note Edge. According to Samsung’s DJ Lee cited by ZDNet Korea, the Galaxy Note Edge is seen by the South Korean company as a “limited edition concept.” This information was not shared with the public back in early September when the phablet was revealed, which is why we think it was a simple marketing stunt. Samsung Galaxy Note 4 is only a few days away from its market release, but those who are waiting for the Galaxy Note Edge will have to exercise their patience a little longer as the device is expected...

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HTC RECamera: 16MP Sensor, Super Wide Angle Lens, Slow-Motion Video Recording

The first images of the upcoming HTC GoPro competitor have been leaked online yesterday. In them we got to take a preview look at a device that looks reminiscent of a PVC pipe. Apart from the first visual cues, there wasn’t much info about it in terms of camera specs. Thankfully, this has all changed today thanks to a report via Taiwanese website EPrice (as seen on G for Games). Apparently, the new HTC camera will take advantage of a 16MP sensor, will come equipped with slow-motion video recording, underwater recording capabilities and a 170-degree Super Wide Angle Lens. The rumor mill claims the product will be called the RECamera and should be similar to the GoPro HERO3+. However, the 12MP sensor will be replaced by a 16MP one in...

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Samsung Galaxy TabPRO 10.1 Gains Official CyanogenMod 11 Support, Say Goodbye to Magazine UX

Before the super-hyped Samsung Galaxy Tab S AMOLED tablet doe, Samsung put most of its hopes and dreams of becoming top slate vendor on the Galaxy TabPRO and NotePRO lineup. The lineup was unveiled back at CES 2014 and was marketed towards business users, as a worthy laptop replacement. After all, the tablets were powerful and fast and came with useful features such as multi-tasking and being able to set up separate profiles. The Magazine UX interface annoyed a lot of people However, one thing that users complained about was the inability of getting rid of the Samsung’s latest TouchWiz interface version, called Magazine UX. Soon after the slates launched, it became apparent that there was no way users could opt the UI out of...

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5.9-Inch Nexus 6 Without a Mini Version Is a Bad Idea

Since word about Google’s next Nexus smartphone surfaced, people have been wondering whether or not the information coming through various channels may be accurate.  For those unfamiliar with the matter, the Nexus 6, which is supposed to be officially introduced next month, is likely to boast a large display. In fact, the Nexus 6 is said to sport a huge 5.9-inch display. The fact that it supports QHD (2560 x 1440 pixels) resolution is not what makes me question Google’s plans, but I think 5.9-inch for a Nexus smartphone is way too big. Nexus smartphones have always been popular among Android fans, especially due to their lower price if acquired through Google Play Store, but also because they run clean versions of the operating...

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HERE Maps Is Pressuring Microsoft for a Better Deal on Windows Phone Development

HERE Maps has been around for more than 10 years, as part of Nokia. The good news for the company is that, even after the Microsoft / Nokia deal, HERE Maps still belongs to the Finnish company and has more freedom than ever. The bad news for Microsoft is that after developing the Windows Phone version of HERE Maps, the company behind the navigation services announced it would launch similar apps on Android and iOS platforms. Why is this bad news? Because when Microsoft decided to buy Nokia’s mobile division, the deal did not include the acquisition of HERE as well. HERE is still part of Nokia, and it has recently made a surprising announcement that it is far from what Microsoft would have expected. During a recent interview, Sean...

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Microsoft: Windows 9 Will Be Free for Windows 8 Users

Windows 9 preview is almost here, as Microsoft will unveil the first public build of the upcoming operating system in just a few days, but we have already heard quite a lot of details about this product thanks to people who are more or less familiar with the development plans. The software giant has remained completely tight-lipped on the Windows 9 work until now, with the exception of Microsoft’s France President, who confirmed that the preview would be unveiled next week, but someone else from within the company now comes with a few more exciting tidbits of information. Windows 9 would be free for Windows 8 users, Microsoft Indonesia President Andreas Diantoro reportedly said during a recent event, which comes as a confirmation...

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Apple Still Uses the 13-Year-Old Windows XP

If you’ve been living under a rock for the past seven days or so, you might not know that Apple’s recently released iPhones are affected by a weird problem that causes the phones to bend after normal use, which makes it really clear that this is a bug and not a feature as the microwave charging support. Jokes aside, the bendgate is causing really serious trouble to Apple, so the fruity-named company has decided to provide users with an in-depth look at its very own testing labs to show that it’s indeed putting all iPhones to serious tests before they are released to the market. While we won’t talk more about the bending problem because our resident Apple expert Filip Truta has already covered the bendgate, there’s one really unexpected...

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New Gigabyte H81M-WW Motherboard Is Actually More of a Sound Card with PC Hardware Support

Gigabyte has just released a new entry-level motherboard, except that, the with the way it goes on and on about its audio quality, you'd think that it's actually a sound card disguised as a mainboard for whatever reason. Sure, the product page has a lot of information on every little detail, but it says a lot when a product whose main role is to act as support platform for a CPU has a description that starts off by praising its audio technology. Then again, it's not like motherboard makers have much else to go on when trying to reel in customers. Not when every other facet of a PC's prowess is determined by the CPU, GPU and storage/memory devices. As ironic as it sounds, audio technology is the only means that companies like Gigabyte...

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Apple Staffer in Charge of iOS 8.0.1 Was Also Behind Botched Up Maps

Apple’s messy iOS 8.0.1 release was partially coordinated by a mid-level manager who also happened to oversee the glitchy Apple Maps in 2012. It isn’t clear if he is personally to blame for the new bugs, but it’s quite a coincidence. Bloomberg has it on file from people familiar with Apple’s management structure that “Josh Williams, the mid-level manager overseeing quality assurance for Apple’s iOS mobile-software group, was also in charge of quality control for maps,” the report states. Williams wasn’t laid off during the Maps fiasco Although Apple fired not one, but two key staffers when the Maps fiasco emerged, the company decided to keep Williams on board and he was put in charge of testing iOS. The manager has a team of...

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iOS 8.0.2 Available for Download, Still Glitchy for Some

Apple has started sending out notices that iOS 8.0.2 is out and ready to be downloaded and installed. The primary target is the iPhone 6 user base, however the incremental update is also available for iPhone 4S, iPhone 5, iPhone 5s, and iPad customers. The company has issued a brief and apologetic statement, saying, “iOS 8.0.2 is now available for users, it fixes an issue that affected iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus users who downloaded iOS 8.0.1, and includes improvements and bug fixes originally in iOS 8.0.1. We apologize for inconveniencing the iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus users who were impacted by the bug in iOS 8.0.1.” Fixes old and new iOS 8.0.1 was deployed earlier this week to address some problems with HealthKit, keyboards,...

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“iPad Plus” to Get Custom A8X Silicon from Taiwan with Love

In about a month from now Apple will feature a new showcase to announce (and possibly even release) its biggest iPad yet: a jumbo-sized 13-inch tablet which, by the looks of things, could well end up being called iPad Plus. Confirming rumors that we were hard pressed to believe, Apple this month indeed rolled out not one, but two all-new iPhone models, the iPhone 6 and the iPhone 6 Plus. Both smartphones rely on the same A8 processor that could well power even a laptop. Apple has “big” plans And when we say big, we mean really big. A 13-inch, uber-iPad that’s said to sport an even faster chip called the "A8X." The move wouldn’t be a surprise. Apple has used the “X” designation for tablet chips in the past, and if the planned...

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