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As you’ve likely noticed, Microsoft recently unleashed the big Windows 10 April 2018 Update, but some Alienware notebooks are being blocked from installing the upgrade. Reports of this issue are popping up across the internet, and Microsoft has just responded confirming that the update is blocked for certain Alienware models. Namely the Alienware 13 R3, Alienware 15 R3, Alienware 15 R4, Alienware 17 R4 and Alienware 17 R5 laptops. Owners of these machines will get the following message when they attempt to install the update: “Some apps need to be uninstalled. These programs need to be uninstalled because they aren’t compatible with the upgrade: Hybrid laptops with discrete GPU connected to the display.” It’s a somewhat arcane and unhelpful message, but on Microsoft’s support forum, a moderator explained that Microsoft is blocking the installation on these laptops because of a “known incompatibility that may cause these devices to display a black screen after resuming from battery saver mode”. Microsoft is currently working on a fix which will be delivered via Windows Update, and once implemented will mean that these notebooks will be able to go ahead and install the April 2018 Update. As Windows Latest spotted, an Alienware ‘product specialist’ has posted on Reddit, and said that Microsoft’s fix is planned for deployment in the fourth week of May, so in around three weeks’ time. That product specialist also described an unofficial workaround, and several different solutions have been posted by others online, all of which apparently work, but we wouldn’t recommend proceeding down this avenue. Back in blackWhy not? Simply because Microsoft has put a block in place for a good reason, and if you do go ahead and swerve around it, installing the update anyway, you may end up hitting the described black screen problem. Microsoft clarifies that if you are getting this message, you needn’t do anything and there are no apps that need to be uninstalled – despite the message’s insistence that there are, which is the root of the problem and the misunderstanding here. The error message could be a lot more helpful, and simply inform you that the update can’t be installed right now because it could cause serious problems with your laptop. At any rate, folks who own these Alienware notebooks will have to either wait a few weeks for the update, or use one of the unofficial workarounds and take their chances with the ‘black screen of incompatibility’. If you’re having any other problems with the Windows 10 April 2018 Update, then check out our extensive guide on how to fix them. We’ve chosen the best laptops of 2018http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techradar/software-news/~4/oLhscBMTV58

You can now use Google Assistant to control over 5,000 smart home devices, from dishwashers, doorbells and dryers to security systems, switches and sensors. That's up from 1,500 supported devices back in January, and Google says the increase is down to the fact that it's now partnered "with all major manufacturers of connected devices for the home in the US." It's worth noting the "in the US" part of the quote, as the number of supported devices outside of the States is likely to be lower, but it's positive news for those investing in Google's smart voice assistant. Smart home devices which now fall under Google Assistant control include cameras, dishwashers, doorbells, dryers, lights, plugs, thermostats, security systems, switches, vacuums, washers, fans, locks, sensors, heaters, AC units, air purifiers, refrigerators and ovens. More brands on boardGoogle is rolling out its Assistant to more devices this year as well, including Dish’s Hopper family of set-top boxes in the US, as well as providing voice control for a variety of security devices from ADT, First Alert, Vivint Smart Home, Schlage and Panasonic. You can interact with Google Assistant on your smartphone, via Google's Home, Home Max and Home Mini smart speakers, or with a host of other Assistant-enabled smart speakers and devices. Google Assistant Easter eggs: 70 funny commands to try on Google Homehttp://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techradar/digital-home/~4/Moyoqm94eeI

Google Assistant is already a very capable voice assistant (with some studies even ranking it the smartest of all the voice assistants), but now Google is looking to make it even more useful – by investing in startups. That’s right, alongside its own internal workings, the search giant is funneling money and resources into a new scheme that helps to nourish the development of startups that are dedicated to working on Google Assistant. The lucky recipients get (currently undisclosed) investment capital from Google; advice from Google engineers, product managers and design experts; access to the Google Cloud Platform; and promotional support from Google. The first fourSo, how is this going to change your Google Assistant? Well, if the first recipients are anything to go by, it’ll soon be able to teach you English or be a hotel concierge. GoMoment is the creator of Ivy, “a 24/7 concierge for hotel guests, capable of providing instant answers to common questions” currently used by Caesars Palace in Vegas among others, and Edwin is a digital tutor that can train you for tests such as Test of English as a Foreign Language. There are two other recipients, BotSociety and Pulse Labs that focus on improving voice applications. Google already opened up the Assistant platform to third party developers in 2017, but it’s interesting to see it directly investing in third party companies in an effort to make Assistant better. As Google still lags behind Amazon in terms of adoption, it could be that Google’s attempt to overtake it is by making Assistant better than Alexa. Want to see what we think of Google's smart speaker? Check out: Google Home reviewVia Cnet http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techradar/digital-home/~4/4NHFsozBafo

Microsoft has updated its Translator app for Windows 10 to incorporate Cortana and bring Windows Ink support into the mix, among some other goodies. Microsoft Translator can translate spoken words or typed text into over 60 languages – and is capable of translating conversations in real-time between two (or more) connected devices – and with Cortana integration, it’s now possible to ask the digital assistant to start (or join) a conversation in the app. You can now also join a live translated conversation across multiple languages. So, for example, you can simply say: “Hey Cortana, start a conversation in Translator”, or ask the assistant to join an existing conversation (of course, you must provide the relevant conversation code, too). Note that Cortana is only supported for a small number of languages at the moment: Chinese Simplified, English, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Portuguese, and Spanish. http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/YTvtBobHChYs7pSjhTzQCk.jpg Inking chopsThe other big move is the introduction of Windows Ink support, which means you can scribble down text with your stylus (or mouse), and the app will translate that written content for you. A nifty addition, particularly for those who have adopted the pen and touchscreen combination. Other changes include a new phrasebook and dictionary, which covers more than 200 essential phrases and words (with the ability to highlight and save your favorites). And you can now download offline language packs, which as the name suggests, means that they can be used even when you aren’t connected to the internet. We’ve selected the best laptops of 2018Via MS Power User http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techradar/software-news/~4/USUnlfpSwto

Facebook has already pushed back the launch of its smart speaker, but now it looks like when it does launch it’ll avoid the US, at least to start with. According to a report from CNBC, Facebook was originally planning on using its F8 conference to launch a pair of smart speakers, but pushed the launch back due to the Cambridge Analytica scandal, and when they do launch, Facebook may start with an ‘international’ launch first. The speakers – one of which we’re expecting to be a smart display device akin to the Echo Show and the other a more traditional smart speaker in the vein of the Google Home – will be powered by a voice assistant borne out of the ‘M’ feature you may know from Facebook messenger. Always listening? M was a digital assistant that was able to take cues from your messages and prompt features like direct payment if you discussed money. M was shelved in January as a Messenger assistant but lives on in other forms, like a newly touted translation feature. One of the major concerns with M in Messenger was the fact that it was always ‘listening’, monitoring everything you said, feeding into a fear of constant observation. We were told in no uncertain terms by Facebook’s VP of Messaging David Marcus that M wasn’t harvesting your conversations in order to serve you adverts, but the fear is a difficult one to shake. What’s interesting is that this is the exact same fear that many people have about smart speakers (whether founded or not), and with the close scrutiny that Facebook is currently under in the US, it seems a fear the social media giant is keen to circumnavigate. If this rumor does hold to be true, we’ll be interested to see which markets Facebook does target, as the UK is currently as wrapped up in the data scandal as the States, and without those two major audiences, it’s difficult to imagine Facebook making waves in a field already dominated by Amazon and Google. Want to see what it did launch? Check out: 7 most important things Facebook announced at F8 2018Via The Ambient http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techradar/digital-home/~4/7PdYHPS9ywY

Amazon is on a bit of a kid-friendly push with its Alexa voice assistant at the moment. Last week it launched an Amazon Echo Dot Kids Edition for its US userbase, filled with child-safe skills, and now it's rolling out similar skills for all UK Echo devices. Bringing together recognisable brands and characters, the apps have been specifically built for kids, aiming to be both educational and fun. From Pac-Man to Lego to the Beano, your children will be able to enjoy everything from spoken puzzle games to stories, straight from your Echo speaker. Big names for big kidsPac-Man Stories is a spoken choose-you-own-adventure game starring the pill-chomping arcade gaming star and his ghostly friends, while a skill based on the Beano comic includes a true and false quiz and some classic Beano jokes. Lego Duplo Stories and Amazon Storytime both offer tales for kids, while Moshi Twilight adds some soothing sounds and songs into the mix too. There will also be a hide and seek game with Sesame Street's Elmo, set to launch in the near future. In order to activate kids' skills, you can simply say, "Alexa, what are your kid skills?". The main account holder will also need to activate kid skills for the first time through the Alexa app and, when it's time to get the little ones to bed, can also deactivate them from the mobile app too. Best Amazon Alexa Easter eggs: fun tricks for your Echo speakerhttp://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techradar/digital-home/~4/ZZTSkJdD_5E

Fedora 28 has been released, with three fresh variants of the Linux distro – Workstation, Server and Atomic Host – having emerged. Fedora is the free community-supported version of Red Hat Enterprise Linux, and as you’d expect, Fedora 28 brings a raft of bug fixes across the board, not to mention a boost on the performance front. Fedora 28 Workstation, the desktop-targeted spin of the distro, is graced with a number of new tools for the average user and developers alike, with Gnome 3.28 now incorporated, giving improved organizational abilities in terms of marking favorite files, folders or contacts. And Usage is a fresh app which is included in order to better diagnose and solve performance issues. Gnome Photos is also now on board as the default photo management app, for a more streamlined image organization workflow. Thunderbolt 3 connectors are now supported, and the new power saving features should provide extended longevity for your notebook’s battery. There’s also more wide-ranging emoji support to boot. Servers you rightAs for major new features with Fedora 28 Server, the main move is a new modular repository, designed to deliver software and updates with alternative versions other than those provided with the default release of the OS. Basically this means users can pick and choose what they want, and update specific elements at the speed they require. Fedora 28 Server has also gained support for 64-bit ARM as a primary architecture, expanding options on the hardware front. Finally, when it comes to Fedora 28 Atomic Host, the big introduction is the incorporation of Kubernetes 1.9, delivering fresh features for managing container-native workloads. You can grab all these flavors of Fedora 28 from the official website here. Run Linux on one of our best laptopshttp://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techradar/software-news/~4/MJMxnA31lFg

If you’re struggling to get your smart home set up exactly the way you’d like it, don’t worry, you’re not alone. In fact, arguably one of the greatest minds in smart home, Charlie Kindel – the mastermind behind Amazon’s voice assistant Alexa – is right there with you. Announcing that he was departing Amazon after five years overseeing the meteoric rise of Alexa, Kindel cited his “crusty” home automation system as one of the projects he’s now going to have some extra free time for. Apparently his system was installed in 2001 (back when Kindel still worked at Microsoft) and is in serious need of an update. He’s also planning on putting some time into “a car restoration project that is two years behind schedule”. Pro set-upIn a post titled ‘Friday was my last day at Amazon’ on his personal blog, Kindel said: “My home automation system needs a complete revamp (it’s gotten a bit crusty since it was installed in 2001).” Kindel isn’t planning on DIY-ing his system, rather he’s “hiring a CEDIA-level installer to completely refit my home automation system and [he] will project manage that.” Moving away from Amazon didn’t stop Kindel from promoting Alexa when talking to Cnet about what he’s planning in terms of his smart home overhaul. He’s apparently planning on installing the Savant universal remote (Steve Jobs’ last patent he filed while alive) that allows you to control everything in your home, using a combination of Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, and infrared. The device was designed by the team behind Beats headphones, and was a cool $500 at launch. Another major draw for Kindel is apparently the “solid Alexa skills” that it comes with. Mant some more Alexa-themed reading? Check out: Listen up: Alexa isn't spying on you, and this 'spying' skill only proves ithttp://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techradar/digital-home/~4/4CXQlkXZ-QA

From today, Windows 10 users will be able to download the free April 2018 update for the operating system, with an official rollout to PCs around the world scheduled to commence on May 8, 2018. Announced via a blog post by Microsoft's corporate vice president Yusuf Mehdi, the update promises a host of new features, many of which are said to streamline your Windows experience and save you time while working. The new Timeline feature allows users to send their PCs back in time up to 30 days in order to find missing files, documents or projects, meaning you'll be able to return to what you were doing weeks ago in an instant via automatic save states or by search. Best of all, the Timeline feature will work across your iOS or Android devices while using Microsoft Edge or Office 365. Also introduced with the update is the new Focus Assist feature, which will provide users with a detailed summary of what they missed while they were goofing off on social media, including emails, notifications or updates. Focus Assist can be switched on when necessary, or set up for specific times if you're looking to get some work done without any distractions. Microsoft Edge has also been updated, with the browser receiving a variety of new features, including the ability to mute (or unmute) individual tabs by simply clicking on the tab's audio icon. It also has the ability to view books, PDFs and reading pages in full-screen, autofill options on web payment forms, and even a built-in Grammar Tools button to aid in reading comprehension. If you've been meaning to take advantage of Windows 10's voice assistant Cortana, you're in luck – the update's new Dictation feature makes it easier to capture your thoughts in a quick and accurate manner. To start Dictation mode, set your cursor in a text field, then press Win+H and start talking, then watch your words appear on screen. Of course, these are just some of the new features set to arrive in the latest Windows 10 update, with simplified IT management tools for enterprise users, new creative features for Photos, 3D and Windows Mixed Reality and new security enhancements also on the agenda. How to configure Windows 10 to protect your privacyhttp://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techradar/software-news/~4/Wjz9uR10qJU

Taking notes has helped humans remember and convey information and ideas for millennia. Naturally, the process of note-taking has evolved considerably since the first jottings, and it’s now firmly in the domain of the digital. Usually, when someone writes notes, they’re attempting to capture information for future use. For instance, if you’re in a meeting or seminar, it’s crucial to take down notes so you can remember important facts and data for later usage. Viewed by some as a form of self-discipline, taking notes has a variety of benefits. For instance, it can help you improve your attention span, retention, organizational skills and learning ability. But most importantly, note-taking indirectly helps to relieve stress. There’s nothing worse than being unprepared for a business meeting because you’re missing some crucial pieces of information. And in the business world, note-taking forms an important part of daily life. During meetings, someone will usually take notes in the form of minutes. Whatever the case, technology makes this process a lot easier. You no longer need access to pen and paper to take down notes. There are a number of apps out there that allow you to record notes quickly and easily from your smartphone. Here are the best efforts for Android. Also take a look at the best productivity apps for mobilehttp://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/xgKpjgRRnHWLYcp6GfakrK.jpg OneNote For decades, Microsoft has dominated the software scene, and things haven’t changed today. Offered as part of the Office family of productivity apps, OneNote is one of the most popular and capable note-taking apps you can get. This app is capable of a great deal, whether you want to capture information from emails or embed Excel tables. This app is a multi-platform affair which is hooked up to the cloud, meaning that if you’ve written some notes on your laptop, you can pull these up in a meeting via your smartphone. OneNote works across Windows, Mac, iOS and Android devices. The Android app is easy to use and works as a flexible canvas, letting you type, handwrite, draw and clip things you find on the web. What’s more, you can even scan notes made on paper and make them searchable through OneNote. To organize your notes, you can create tags, labels, to-do lists and follow-up items. It’s also possible to categorize notes based on their importance. OneNote allows for collaboration, letting you share your virtual notebooks with anyone. People can leave comments and follow-up questions on your notes as well. The best thing about OneNote, though, is that it’s completely free to download while offering a plethora of premium capabilities. You can download OneNote herehttp://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/AbtSXLPxQx94siUfzUTBXY.jpg Evernote Evernote is a well-respected and powerful productivity app. It’s described as an organization and planning app that lets you take both typed and handwritten notes, create to-do lists, scan documents using your camera, and collaborate on content with others. The great thing about Evernote is that it makes use of a variety of media. For instance, you can create notes in text form, or as sketches, photos, audio, video, PDFs or web clippings. Just like Microsoft’s OneNote, this app is underpinned by cloud technology. That means you can sync content across all your devices from computers through to tablets and phones. In other words, if you start a task on one device, you can complete it on another. With Evernote, you can create, share and discuss content with your colleagues as well. The app is currently free to download, but the business package – which gives you most of the collaborative tools – costs £10.99 ($15.50) a month. You can download Evernote herehttp://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/Ri99ZE9x3X8BhLqrLj8RE5.jpg Material Notes Material Notes is a streamlined app that allows you to create notes, to-do lists and reminders. These are all color-coded and stored within a card-style interface to keep things better organised, and to make it easy to find relevant information. You also get the ability to mark important notes with stars, and these are saved within a category based on the urgency of projects. To ensure you never misplace an important note or list, you can easily locate anything by making use of the app’s search function. Plus you can create and place widgets on your home screen, which give you quick access to your notes. In terms of security, you can create a four-digit pin for all your notes, ensuring that sensitive information doesn’t get into the wrong hands. And the app allows you to easily and swiftly import content stored on other devices. Material Notes is free to download, with premium plans costing up to $9.29 (£6.70). You can access these as in-app purchases. You can download Material Notes herehttp://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/DHdQ3DHKADMgmvq7vXFPRL.jpg Google Keep Google offers a highly capable note-taking app in the form of Keep, which allows you to create as many notes and lists as you want. And you don’t need to stick to mere text – you can also add images and audio to your notes. In fact, there’s even the ability to record memos for the app to automatically transcribe. That’s particularly handy if you’ve had a light bulb moment and want to get it noted down somewhere quickly. Similarly to OneNote, you can scan handwritten notes, receipts, invoices and other documents through your camera. Google Keep is a pretty decent productivity app for teams, too. You can easily share notes and collaborate with others. Other features include color-coded labels, reminders and the benefit of multi-platform support. The app is free to download from the Play Store. You can download Google Keep herehttp://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/SzJsBz77auzvWSeB6AMCyX.jpg Simplenote It’s easy to feel overwhelmed when an app is weighed down with tons of features, many of which you might never use. Simplenote is designed for people who just want a quick, easy-to-use piece of software to jot down spontaneous ideas. Just open up the app, and right away you can create notes and lists. As you continue to use the software and amass more notes, you’re able to organize them with tags and pins. Every time you create a new note, it’s stored in the cloud and can be accessed through other devices. The app is completely free to download and use. You can download Simplenote herehttp://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techradar/software-news/~4/3GQXCOzC0SU

It’s fair to say there’s a certain amount of fear around smart speakers at the moment, as these tiny devices that we put on our coffee tables and bookshelves have the potential to listen in on our every conversation. It harks back to the fear at the center of George Orwell’s dystopian classic 1984. Perhaps even further back, to something more primal, to the monster under the bed, the unseen but seeing. It’s easy to draw the 1984 parallel because, like the ever-present screens in the sci-fi masterpiece, our smart speakers (and even more similar smart displays) are swiftly working their way into every corner of our lives. No matter the protestations from the companies that are making these speakers that claim they are only listening for ‘wake’ words, and only send information back to their servers when they’ve been decidedly activated, we still cling to the fear that Amazon (or Google, or Microsoft, or Apple) is spying on us. Follow the dataIt doesn’t help that there are freaky news stories like Echo devices laughing for no reason, the Echo being hacked, and even news that it's being manipulated to be a spying device by just using a normally-produced skill. But here’s the thing – and try to keep an open mind when reading this – it’s more likely that they’re not spying on you, than they are. The problem is that these companies will never be able to prove to you that they aren’t spying on you, because it is almost impossible prove a negative. That whole ‘can’t prove a negative’ thing is the exact reason that in most judicial systems around the world, the burden of proof lies always with the claimant. I could accuse you, dear reader, of dressing up as a giant tuna fish, and without providing footage of yourself at every moment of your life, you can’t prove that you don’t. That’s an unfair burden. As the claimant, the burden of proof lies with me to provide pictorial evidence of your fishy endeavors in order to make my accusation stand. And so far, no one has managed to prove that smart speakers are spying on you. The recent news that security firm Checkmarx created a skill that allowed it to turn Echo speakers into spy devices (below) actually does more to disprove than prove the theorem. In the skill, Checkmarx took advantage of a vulnerability (which has now been fixed) that used Alexa’s ‘I didn’t quite get that’ feature, where it can keep listening after a request. The team muted the line from Alexa, so the speaker continued recording without audibly telling you that it was. The team then adjusted the recording length so that this second ‘secret’ recording could last an indefinite amount of time (although it would automatically cut out after a couple of minutes). The first thing worth noting is that it wasn’t totally secret, as the Echo speaker would still have its ‘listening’ light on. The second is that this would only give you a couple of minutes of information after the interaction with a maliciously coded skill that the user would have to want to use. The third, is that the attacker would only be able to receive a written transcription of the conversation. Amazon does have the ability to receive recorded audio (stay calm), but the sheer amount of server space needed to process recorded audio from the millions of Echo speakers around the world would make constant spying an absolute technical impossibility. There was a patent filed by Amazon that would circumnavigate this issue by using emotive words as triggers, so every time you say you 'like', 'love', or 'hate' something, your Echo would be able to monitor what that was and tailor your ads based on those preferences. While worrying, this is only a patent not a statement of intent, and if you took every creepy patent (those are three separate links) at face value, you'd have some pretty big questions about all the companies you give your custom to. Put down the pitchforkNow, that’s not to say that the requests you make of Alexa don’t get logged and your data used by the company, but that’s your choice. It’s the same thing as you giving your data to Facebook every time you share a video, or Google every time you search for unicorn onesies. I want to make it clear that I'm not saying smart speaker spying definitely isn’t happening, or that it’s not possible for it to happen with the advancements in quantum computing and AI we're currently seeing, but just that if you’re currently working from the assumption that they are spying on you just because you’re afraid of it, then you should probably challenge that assumption. Want to see what Amazon is definitely working on? Check out: Amazon Fire TV Cube release date, news, and rumorsVia Wired http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techradar/digital-home/~4/kjZwvLA1LkI

Malware, adware, fake apps, scams - just some of the dangers your Android device might encounter every single time you install something new. The answer is simple, at least in theory. Independent testing shows that the best antivirus apps do a great job of keeping you safe, regularly blocking 100% of their test threats. The problem comes in deciding which app to use, because although there are hundreds out there, many are very inaccurate, and some may themselves be malicious. AV Comparatives 2018 Android Security report gives an idea of the scope of this issue. The company tested more than 200 apps, and although many performed well, 79 either detected less than 30% of the same malware, or regularly raised false alarms with popular clean files. That suggests around 4 in ten of the antivirus products you'll find in the Play Store are so poor that AV Comparatives considered them unsafe or even deceptive. It's important to choose your security apps with extreme care, then. To help out, this article will highlight five of the best and most reliable free Android antivirus apps, as assessed by our own experience and the results of assessments by AV Comparatives and AV Test. Also take a look at the best security apps and antivirus for Androidhttp://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/p4JRCcjBCcLUNCqptnJ7Ln.jpg Avast Mobile Security Avast Mobile Security is one of the most popular Android security solutions around with more than 100 million installs reported on Google Play, and an impressive app rating of 4.5. Avast has always had a good accuracy record, but it's got even better since the company acquired AVG back in 2016 and the apps have been updated to include the best of both product ranges. As a result, both AV Test and AV Comparatives now regularly show Avast Mobile Security as detecting 100% of their test threats. Avast Mobile Security has a solid set of features which more than covers the basics, with app and file scanning, a web shield to detect and block dangerous links, and wifi monitoring to check the security of a network as you connect. Bonus security and optimisation tools include a call blocker, a vault to protect access to personal photos, junk file cleaning to free up storage space and a power save feature which tweaks system settings to extend your battery life. The free app has ads, but you can upgrade to remove these and add premium extras like anti-theft, app locking and the ability to contact support directly from the app. You can download Avast Mobile Security herehttp://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/hLubnqg3w3CeCiJJRvfrTV.jpg Avira Antivirus Security 2018 Avira may be best known for its free PC antivirus software, but the company also delivers the goods on Android, with Avira Antivirus Security 2018 delivering excellent malware-hunting performance for millions of users worldwide. A comprehensive antivirus engine scans apps on installation, as well as their updates and your external storage units to look for threats. Independent testing shows Avira regularly detects 100% of malware samples. Avira also claims its specialist anti-ransomware protection blocks millions of ransomware attacks every month. An Identity Safeguard feature scans the web for signs that your email address has been leaked in a data breach, raising the alert if it spots any issues. That's a welcome extra which you won't normally see in other free antivirus apps. Bonus features include anti-theft tools and some handy reports on the privacy risks of your installed apps, while a web management console enables tweaking settings remotely or managing multiple Avira-equipped devices from one place. Put it all together and Avira Antivirus Security 2018 delivers capable all-round protection for a free app, although there are a couple of issues which might persuade you to upgrade. The free app doesn't block infected or phishing websites at the browser level, and updates aren't as frequent as with the commercial edition, leaving you fractionally more exposed to zero-day threats. You can download Avira Antivirus Security 2018 herehttp://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/dTvXuZQXYwR7Crjz5E3mtB.jpg Bitdefender Antivirus Free Bitdefender's antivirus engine is one of most accurate and reliable around, and regularly tops the detection rate lists from the independent testing labs. For example, the company managed a second place in AV Comparatives July-November 2017 Real-World Protection tests, just behind Panda, yet outperforming big names like Kaspersky, Avira and Avast. Normally you might expect to pay a price premium for this level of security, but Bitdefender Antivirus Free gives you no-strings free access to the same industrial-strength antivirus engine as its commercial cousins. Bitdefender's Autopilot technology ensures the app is extremely easy to use, as most security decisions are handled automatically. New apps are scanned as they're downloaded, for instance, catching any threats before they can harm your device, while storage is scanned when your device starts to reveal anything else. Detection is carried out in the cloud, a smart design decision which reduces CPU usage, avoids the need to download and store bulky antivirus definitions, and ensures the app will pick up the latest threats as soon as they appear. Bitdefender Antivirus Free has some limits, unsurprisingly. In particular, it doesn't include Bitdefender Mobile Security's real-time scanning of web pages to detect and block phishing and other malicious sites. You can always install another app to handle browsing protection, though, and as a pure antivirus app Bitdefender Antivirus Free is hard to beat. You can download Bitdefender Antivirus Free herehttp://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/9DgNo9cEJwFyTGXxBdLvR.jpg Norton Security and Antivirus Symantec's Norton is probably best known for its Windows security software, but the brand also has some quality mobile apps, and Norton Security and Antivirus for Android does a great job of keeping you malware-free. The heart of the app is based around Norton's Mobile Insight, a powerful service which has analysed millions of apps and adds thousands of new applications every day. Mobile Insight doesn't just scan for known malware, it uses multiple analysis techniques to detect brand new threats and potential privacy risks in legitimate apps, and Norton Security and Antivirus uses this information to warn you of dangerous applications before they can cause any problems. The results are often impressive, with Norton detecting 100% of sample threats in AV Comparatives' recent test of 200+ Android security apps. Norton Security and Antivirus also has what seems to be a strong set of anti-theft features, including the ability to remotely lock, wipe or locate a stolen device via SMS. Check the small print, though, and you'll find these don't work on Android 4.03 or later. The main limitation here is the lack of browsing protection. You can avoid dangerous websites to a degree by using Norton's Safe Search tool, but full-strength SafeWeb filtering - Norton's excellent website reputation technology - is only available in the paid Premium edition. You can download Norton Security and Antivirus herehttp://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/BpZTFmoEQQ5qQB9RodtCMS.jpg Sophos Mobile Security British-based Sophos is a veteran security company who has been developing antivirus solutions since 1985. It's spent most of its life working on products for business, but the company has also branched out into the consumer market, allowing you to try many of its technologies for free. Sophos Mobile Security is a very complete security app which gives you everything you need to keep your Android app safe, with no ads, annoying restrictions or constant demands to upgrade. Malware protection includes automatic scanning of apps as they're installed and an option to schedule scans of apps and storage. The results are as reliable as you'll get anywhere, with both AV Test and AV Comparatives reporting a 100% detection rate for Sophos in their latest Android security tests. The app also scores well for browsing protection, with intelligent blocking of malicious URLs and a Secure QR Code Scanner to prevent you being directed to dangerous sites. There are enough bonus extras to replace a library of security apps: anti-theft and remote control via SMS messages; password protection for sensitive apps; advisors to make smart privacy and security suggestions; spam protection to block unwanted calls; a KeePass-compatible password manager, and a Managed Mode which allows all Sophos-equipped devices to be monitored and managed from a central location. Sophos Mobile Security detects malware based on virus definitions which are updated once a day. That's not quite as effective as definition-free products such as Bitdefender Free Antivirus, as they detect threats in the cloud, ensuring you're protected against the latest dangers just as soon as they're discovered. Sophos' 100% malware detection rate in testing suggests you're not going to see much improvement elsewhere, though, especially when you factor in its extra layers of security. Well worth a try. You can download Sophos Mobile Security herehttp://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techradar/software-news/~4/JTwv--pZ180

Carl Richell the CEO of System76, the Linux computer manufacturer backing the new Linux operating system, discusses Pop!_OS' first major release. Before Pop!_OS all of our attention was focused on ensuring the computer hardware ran flawlessly with [ubuntu] Linux. And when Unity [ubuntu's desktop environment project] announced its end last year, it created a lot of unknowns amongst the team. But what started as an unknown quickly became an opportunity. For 11 years, we were outsourcing one of System76’s most important customer interactions, the desktop experience. And during this tenure, we collected tons of data: a list of customer requests for an improved desktop interface. Where Linux excels is in the fields of computer science, engineering, and DevOps – this is where our customers live. It’s important for us to make sure we create the most productive computer environment for them to be efficient, free, and creative. During the first Pop!_OS release, we addressed the most common pain points we heard from customers with the Linux desktop: The time it takes to set up a productive environment.Removing bloatware.Up-to-date drivers and software.A fast app center that works well.All of these items were fixed in the first Pop!_OS release. Additionally, it was also important that Pop!_OS provide a pleasant experience for non-System76 customers. For us this meant, ensuring Pop!_OS was more stable, lighter, and faster than the Ubuntu experience people were used to. If Pop!_OS could turn unusable machines into working units, this is a win for a Maker. It means wider accessibility, enabling anyone to create a project using a more powerful desktop interface. One of the things we’re most grateful for is having such an active Pop!_OS community providing feedback.Carl Richell, CEO of System76 While the first iteration of Pop!_OS was spent improving these areas, it’s the second launch, 18.04, where we really start to make an impact. What’s different in the Pop!_OS 18.04 launch?Heightened Security Pop!_OS encrypts your entire installation by default. Our new installer also enables full-disk encryption for pre-installs that ship from System76 or another OEM. System76’s laptops that use Pop!_OS also receive a feature that provides automatic rmware updates, ensuring the PC is always secure and reliable. Performance Management 18.04 includes an improved battery-level indication so users can stay on top of their remaining power. We’ve also added a CPU and GPU toggle to switch between power pro les from the system menu, such as NVIDIA Optimus, energy-saving, high-performance and others. New installer experience The new installer is designed with a story arc of artwork that carries you through the installation and permeates through the operating system. The installer does four things: enables us to ship computers with full-disk encryption; simpli es the installation process; installs extremely fast; and demonstrates the artwork and style that will begin to permeate other areas of the operating system, as seen in the new Pop!_Shop artwork. http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/JLq9rDy9FZLem7cPaS896g.jpg USB Flashing Utility Popsicle is a new utility that launches when you double-click an ISO in the le manager. It is a USB startup disk creator that can ash one or many hundreds of USB drives at once. Other New Features A Do Not Disturb switch to quiet notifications, easy HiDPI and standard DPI switching for mixed displays or legacy applications, curated applications in the Pop!_Shop with new artwork, and systemd-boot and kernelstub replace GRUB on new UEFI installs. A perfect 18.04 product was a result of maintaining inclusion and collaboration from the Pop!_OS community team, working with elementary OS on the new Linux installer and of course the massive amount of work that occurs upstream in GNOME, Ubuntu, Debian, kernel and countless other projects. There was a lot of testing required in order to ensure Pop!_OS was compatible across various types of hardware configurations. One of the things we’re most grateful for is having such an active Pop!_OS community who’ve been energetic in providing their feedback. We’d like to continue improving the OS and hope to grow community involvement even more. Pop!_OS enables your workflow productivity so that you can be more creative – we are here to listen and implement. Give Pop a try at system76.com/pop Tell System76 what you need: reddit.com/r/pop_os http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/MdbKYQ5WVeZhGAGzhfARf7.png This opinion piece was first published in the monthly Linux User and Developer magazine. For more industry insider content and the latest in GNU/Linux and the free and open source ecosystem you can subscribe today and get 5 issues for £5 (UK only. Offer ends 30 April 2018).http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techradar/software-news/~4/yZIhHEmdrfU

Years ago, many folks needed an accountant to do their taxes, with the daunting task of figuring out which tax forms to collect from the local public library, needing to calculate the tax burden on those dreaded tax tables, knowing on which line to enter all those numbers, not mention the difficulty of making an itemized list. With even a simple tax return requiring quite a bit of labor, it is no wonder accountants thrived. These days, the right accounting software can turn even a novice tax filer into a DIY accountant. These programs ask a series of questions as part of an interview process, and then do the heavy lifting to put all the correct numbers into the right boxes, and even transmit your return electronically. Here are five great choices to cater for your tax needs... Also take a look at the best free personal finance softwarehttp://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/F8ByLaNwXwMGsDBG3fhkZR.jpg TaxSlayer TaxSlayer positions itself as a bargain tax solution, offering prices that undercut the competition across multiple tiers. The base tier of TaxSlayer for basic returns, known as SimplyFree, offers a Federal and State return, including the eFile, all for free, but only for 1040EZ forms. The more popular Classic tier includes all major Federal tax forms, and includes a W-2 import for a dirt cheap $24, but the State forms are an additional $4.95 fee, which should be fine for most users. The offerings top out at $47, and cover the specific needs of the self-employed, including contractors and 1099’s, and also require the additional fee for a State return. There is an online guide to assist users in choosing the best version of the program for their needs. Even at these affordable prices, a notable feature is the included phone and email support (24 to 48 hour response) on the lower tiers, and live chat on the higher tiers. You can download TaxSlayer herehttp://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/zdGP2QEuk2zMuDzttXTCLP.jpg TaxAct Sporting a simplified interface, TaxAct takes a no-frills approach to the chore of doing the taxes in the cloud, while undercutting the prices of the bigger players. TaxAct starts with a free tier, which is fine for filing a Federal 1040EZ return, although the State is $17 additionally. There are five tiers in total, topping out at the Premium tier for $69.95 which covers all situations, although the State return at this level adds an additional $39.99. TaxAct has all the basics covered, including importing W-2’s, and importation of prior year returns. There is also mobile app support for calculating returns on the go, and you can even use your smartphone camera to capture your W-2 income form. TaxAct eschews email support, in favor of phone and chat support. It also offers a $100,000 Accuracy Guarantee. You can download TaxAct herehttp://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/7aiPFTpihvQi7o6TCFU259.jpg H&R Block TaxCut Formerly known as Kiplinger’s TaxCut, H&R Block TaxCut has been around for many years, and is a full featured tax solution. With four tiers, it can handle just about any return. Unlike some other offerings, TaxCut has no free tier, and the simpler returns start with the Basic one which retails at $29.95. While it includes a Federal eFile, adding a State return adds a hefty $39.95, and for a State eFile it's an additional $19.95. Unless you live in that few handful of states with no State income tax, such as Florida, most users are better served with the next tier up, Deluxe, which for $54.95 is better value as it includes both the Federal and State return, although the State eFile still adds an additional $19.95. The standout feature of TaxCut is that there are approximately 12,000 H&R outlets that are available to users of the program when some in-person hand-holding is needed to get the job done - for an additional cost. Online chat, like its competitors, is included for no extra outlay. You can download H&R Block TaxCut herehttp://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/4zscE4viS2quJrSTyktrje.jpg TurboTax Ask someone to name a program for tax prep, and chances are they will name TurboTax. That’s not by accident as this firm is an old pro in this area, having its origins in the mid-1980’s when TurboTax was first created by the software company Chipsoft. The online offerings start with a free tier for Federal taxes, and the State adds a reasonable $29.95; this is fine for a 1040EZ or 1040A return, but not a full 1040. The full 1040 requires a step up to the Deluxe tier, which goes for $59.99, and the State return adds $39.99 to the package. TurboTax includes the 'ItsDeductible' feature, which can assist in calculating the value of donated items. It can also store your documents online for safekeeping if they are needed later, such as for an audit. You can download TurboTax herehttp://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/LAaUyVUJn6yKT9KQB5Jz6C.jpg FreeTaxUSA While death and taxes may be the inevitabilities of life, getting your taxes done for free does sound like an attractive offer. Yes, the name does indicate the truth, and Federal taxes can indeed be done for free - for all returns including a full 1040, and even more complicated tax situations such as an Earned Income Credit, or a K-1. Adding a State return tacks on an affordable $12.95 fee. Compared to the competition, FreeTaxUSA does indeed represent the bargain here. There is a higher Deluxe tier offered, which adds Audit Assist, Priority Support and can handle amended returns, but true to the cheapskate origins, is only an additional $6.99. You can download FreeTaxUSA herehttp://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techradar/software-news/~4/T8vQvQeQNrw

Crowdfunding champion Reolink is at it again, this time with Reolink Go, a security camera that uses 4G LTE signal rather than Wi-Fi. At time of writing the camera is at over 150% of its funding goal, with a month left on the clock. This is the third successful crowdfunding effort by the company, following the Argus and Argus 2 security cameras. We can’t quite put our finger on why but this campaign feels a little more like a marketing stunt than the previous two outings. Perhaps it’s because the camera is so similar to the Arlo Go (even using the same name), but given the quality of the Argus, we’re hopeful that Reolink will be able to deliver a good product. Solid specsThe camera itself looks like it’s going to be a great piece of kit if Reolink can deliver on its promises. The camera can either subside on a constant stream of energy from a solar panel, or by topping up its rechargeable batteries every two months. Now, that’s no year-long claim like Eufy’s current crowdfunding security camera, but two months isn’t terrible. The camera is fairly feature packed, with 1080p footage, motion sensors, two-way audio, and night vision. The Reolink Go does offer a wider range of providers than Arlo’s offering at present, and is currently cheaper too, coming in at $250 (about £180, AU$330), with early bird discounts available if you get it from the Indiegogo page. One of the main problems that we had with the Arlo Go when we reviewed it was the dependency on good LTE signal. Allowing you to choose from a wider range of providers could help with this problem, as you can tailor your package to whichever provider has the best coverage in your area. Want to know what your best options are? Check out: Best security camera: keep an eye on your home from your smartphonehttp://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techradar/digital-home/~4/XzPwjZsJfik

Alexa is going to school for communication. Starting soon, you won’t have to constantly say Alexa’s name to get her attention during a conversation - Alexa will just keep listening and responding until you’re finished asking questions. The idea, according to Alexa Brain’s head, Ruhi Sarikaya, is to create a ‘friction-less’ interaction with the personal assistant. Sarikaya made the announcement at a keynote presentation at the World Wide Web Conference in Lyon, France. In the future, that will mean Alexa will be able to continue conversations more naturally - e.g. you can ask about the weather today, the weather tomorrow and the weather next week, all without pausing the conversation to say ‘Alexa’ in between in each query. In addition to that, Sarikaya detailed plans to add a reminder system to Alexa so that the personal assistant can keep track of long-range reminders like birthdays, and it will better integrate skills in your conversations. (If you ask about removing a stain on your shirt, for example, Alexa might mention the Tide Stain Remover skill that walks you through the process step-by-step.) Communication 101These improvements will roll out to US, UK and Germany first, Sarikaya says, but refrained to give an exact date as to when we could expect the update to hit. Despite the lack of an official launch date, these improvements should mildly excite owners of the Amazon Echo, Amazon Echo Dot and Amazon Echo Show - they will, in many ways, improve the naturalness of the conversations you have with Alexa going forward. This might also help Alexa catch up to Google Assistant as some of these features - like reminders - have been part of Google Assistant’s programming for some time. Via The Verge Amazon Echo vs Apple HomePod vs Google Home: the battle of the smart speakers http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techradar/digital-home/~4/d9tnNg-3Jn0

CyberLink has launched a new plugin for its PowerDirector 16 video editor that transform videos into moving works of art. The CyberLink AI Style Plugin uses artificial and deep learning to adapt videos to the style of world-renowned painters, frame by frame. Unlike other video editors, which just apply a filter on top of a clip, the AI Style Plugin determines where a human painter would place brushstrokes and which color tones they might use. The overall effect is similar to the recent film Loving Vincent – an animated biographical drama made up of 65,000 paintings by a team of 125 artists. The (almost) human touchThere are two style packs available: one dedicated to the works of Vincent van Gogh, and another that recreates the styles of impressionist artists Claude Monet and Édouard Manet. The software runs locally on your PC without the need for a fast internet connection, and you can export your moving paintings in resolutions up to 4K. "Through the power of artificial intelligence and deep learning, we have been able to train our AI engine to possess an almost human-like understanding of the artistic process," said Dr Jau Huang, CEO of CyberLink. "With the CyberLink AI Style Plugin we’ve leveraged this research to deliver a quality, cutting-edge product for our PowerDirector users, helping them expand their creative horizons to places that were once unimaginable." CyberLink plans to release one or two new packs each quarter, so keep an eye out for more styles based on other artists coming soon. Take a look at our guide to the best video editorshttp://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techradar/software-news/~4/AZcXwkq9T5k

A new leak suggests that the Windows 10 April Update, which was formerly known as both the Spring Creators Update and Red Stone 4, is set to land on May 8, which makes the recent name change a bit unfortunate. The update was previously delayed due to a critical bug being found, and now an internal memo from a Chinese retail vendor, which was posted on Twitter by a user named FaiKee who took it from a Chinese website, suggests that ‘Windows RS4’ will be released in China on May 9, which would be May 8 in the US and UK. May 8 coincides with Microsoft’s ‘Patch Tuesday’, which gives some credence to the rumor. A follow-up tweet states that “this is said to be an internal memo to dealers' shops”. May the update be with youOf course, nothing has been confirmed by Microsoft about the release date for the Windows 10 April Update, so until we hear from the software giant directly take this with a pinch of salt. The memo could also mean that the particular Chinese vendor is getting the update on May 9, but other vendors may get it earlier. To be honest, we were a little baffled when it was revealed that Microsoft had changed the name from the Spring Creators Update to Windows 10 April Update, as at the time of that announcement Microsoft only had around a week if it was to release the update in April – and it only has four days as we write this. If this latest leak is accurate, then we may witness the confusing spectacle of Microsoft releasing the April Update in May. Or, we may get yet another name change. However, all we want to do is safely update our PCs. Spring Creators Update is dead. Long live Windows 10 April Updatehttp://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techradar/software-news/~4/GWqsPj-bULQ

Eric Lundgren, a California man who made a living recycling electronic waste, has been given a US$50,000 (about £35,000, AU$66,000) fine and a 15-month prison sentence for burning thousands of Windows restore discs. Lundgren made 28,000 discs in total. He intended to sell for 25 cents each to PC refurbishers, but they were seized by US customs officers. Restore discs are usually provided free with new PCs sold with Windows already installed. The ISO image they contain can be downloaded free from Microsoft, but the operating system can only be activated with a valid license. Lundgren argued that the discs by themselves had no value, but at his trial the court ruled that the discs were worth US$25 (about £20, AU$30) each, and that the infringement cost Microsoft a total of US$700,000 (about £500,000, AU$900,000). Reduce, re-use, restoreLundgren made a name for himself in recycling e-waste, with a company that repairs and reuses over 41 million pounds of defunct electronics every year. “Microsoft actively supports efforts to address e-waste and has worked with responsible e-recyclers to recycle more than 11 million kilograms of e-waste since 2006," Microsoft said in a statement to The Verge. "Unlike most e-recyclers, Mr Lundgren sought out counterfeit software which he disguised as legitimate and sold to other refurbishers. This counterfeit software exposes people who purchase recycled PCs to malware and other forms of cybercrime, which puts their security at risk and ultimately hurts the market for recycled products." Via Windows Central Check out our list of the best PCs of 2018http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techradar/software-news/~4/uLdV3J4ynco

Those testing Windows 10 previews for Redstone 5, meaning the update coming later this year (after the supposed April Update which is imminent), have received a major boon in the latest build if they have a laptop with cellular connectivity. Build 17655 gives mobile broadband what Microsoft describes as a full ‘makeover’, with the introduction of a new network driver which should make for a more reliable cellular connection. In a blog post, Microsoft states: “This framework introduces a new, more reliable, network driver model that inherits the goodness of the Windows driver framework while bringing an accelerated data path.” Realization of reliabilityThat’s great news for those who have a laptop which can go online via a cellular network, although note that this is the first stage of testing the new driver. So, in other words, that better reliability may not be fully realized until more work is done. What's really good news is that this shows where Microsoft is headed, and that the firm is serious about improving cellular connectivity for those who work (or play) while out and about away from the office or home. Microsoft notes that your Windows computer must support SIM cards and USB modems (a USB dongle), as the fresh driver in this build is a USB-class driver. And, of course, you must also install build 17655 and then set up cellular connectivity. For full instructions on how to proceed, check out Microsoft’s blog post, which details all the steps. In a previous Redstone 5 build (17643) released a couple weeks ago, Microsoft embellished Data Usage settings with a new overview that shows how much data you’ve consumed while roaming on your cellular connection, which is another handy touch for those with mobile broadband on their notebook. We’ve highlighted the best laptops of 2018http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techradar/software-news/~4/cC017jjwvhk

As a free and open source operating system, Linux is the ideal candidate for setting up your own server. The community of developers behind each Linux distribution (distro) regularly review the source code of their chosen OS to make sure it's free of bugs. When it comes to servers, the emphasis should obviously be on stability. While upgrades are a good thing on the face of it, they have the potential to interfere with the smooth running of your server. We’ve highlighted some of our favourite Linux server distros in this article, including operating systems that offer long term support, stability, and ideally a fast setup process. These are the best Linux training providers and online courses in 201810 of the best Linux distros for privacy fiends and security buffs10 best Linux distros: which one is right for you?What's the best Linux distro for beginners?How to choose the best Linux distro for laptops10 of the most popular lightweight Linux distroshttp://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/PWmadPSVfkHMu9SdYFgGLV.jpg 1. DebianDebian is over 20-years-old and in part owes that longevity to the emphasis placed on producing a stable operating system. This is crucial if you want to set up a server as updates can sometimes clash badly with existing software. There are three branches of Debian, named 'Unstable', 'Testing' and 'Stable'. To become part of the Stable current release, packages must have been reviewed for several months as part of the Testing release. This results in a much more reliable system – but don't expect Debian to incorporate much 'bleeding edge' software as a result. You can get started with Debian using a minimal Network Boot image which is less than 30MB in size. For a faster setup, download the larger network installer which at just under 300MB contains more packages. You can download Debian herehttp://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/VCVZwWKTrqgtveHMNMcKp9.jpg 2. Ubuntu ServerWhile Ubuntu is best known for bringing desktop Linux to the masses, its Server variant is also extremely competitive. Canonical, the company behind Ubuntu, has developed LTS (Long Term Support) versions of Ubuntu Server, which like the desktop flavour can be updated up to five years after the date of release, saving you the trouble of upgrading your server repeatedly. Canonical also periodically releases versions of Ubuntu Server at the same time as the latest desktop distro (i.e. 18.04). If you're intent on building your own cloud platform, you can also download Ubuntu Cloud Server. Canonical claims that over 55% of OpenStack clouds already run on Ubuntu. For a fee, Canonical will even set up a managed cloud for you using BootStack. You can download Ubuntu Server herehttp://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/vhS629as3yUU2wMLkafZSH.jpg 3. OpenSUSEOpenSUSE (formerly SUSE Linux) is a Linux distro specifically designed for developers and system admins wishing to run their own server. The easy-to-use installer can be configured to use 'Text Mode' rather than install a desktop environment to get your server up and running. OpenSUSE will automatically download the minimum required packages for you, meaning only essential software is installed. The YaST Control Center allows you to configure network settings, such as setting up a static IP for your server. You can also use the built in Zypper package manager to download and install essential server software such as postfix. You can download OpenSUSE herehttp://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/fucGK7NsaK3yNxP4ddj7JK.jpg 4. Fedora ServerFedora is a community developed operating system based on the commercial Linux distro Red Hat. Fedora Server is a special implementation of the OS, allowing you to deploy and manage your server using the Rolekit tool. The operating system also includes a powerful PostgreSQL Database Server. Fedora Server also includes FreeIPA, enabling you to manage authentication credentials, access control information and perform auditing from one central location. You can download the full 2.3GB ISO image of Fedora Server using the link below. The same page contains a link to a minimal 511MB NetInstall Image from Fedora's Other Downloads section for a faster barebones setup. You can download Fedora Server herehttp://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/iKnFoNpydqUc3E6F68bzHm.jpg 5. CentOSLike Fedora, CentOS is a community developed distribution of Linux, originally based on the commercial OS Red Hat Enterprise Linux. In light of this, the developers behind CentOS 7 have promised to provide full updates for the OS until the end of 2020, with maintenance updates until the end of June 2024 – which should save the trouble of performing a full upgrade on your server in the near future. You can avoid unnecessary packages by installing the 'minimal' ISO from the CentOS website, which at 792MB can fit onto a 90 minute CD-R. If you're eager to get started, the site also offers preconfigured AWS instances and Docker images. You can download CentOS herehttp://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techradar/software-news/~4/TguylCvFP6A

Fire TV Cube is a new device soon to be released by retail giant Amazon. Now, nobody could accuse Amazon of not making enough Alexa devices. At time of writing there are seven devices (not including third-party units) dedicated to the voice assistant. But we could be about to see one more added into the fold. Unlike the other smart speakers, this one looks like it isn’t going to bear the Echo moniker, instead being called the Fire TV Cube. Official details are pretty thin on the ground at the moment, but given that Amazon has confirmed the name, we’re confident that it’s going to be a Fire TV device, and are fairly certain that we know what type of device it’s going to be thanks to a leak. Fire TV is Amazon’s video streaming device, that allows you to plug-and-play your way to Amazon’s vast depository of content. You can already use Alexa on certain Fire TV devices, but only by pressing a button, or using a separate Echo device. In this piece we’re going to be taking through everything we know for certain, the leaks, the rumors, and the things that we’re hoping to see from this new device. Cut to the chaseWhat is it? Currently unconfirmed - most likely a Fire TV / Echo hybrid deviceWhen is it out? No fixed date, but seeing as Amazon’s talking about it we think 2018What will it cost? Given how aggressively Amazon prices the Echo range, we’re thinking it’ll be around $100Fire TV Cube: official announcementsAt time of writing, the only official announcement comes from Amazon’s website; there is a single, cryptic page emblazoned with the words: ‘What is Fire TV Cube?’ The words are backlit by a blue line, an obvious homage to the blue ring of light that sits at the top of the Echo devices, hinting that this is going to be an Alexa-powered device. Under that, it teases that there are more ‘details coming soon’ and then there’s a button for signing up to a mailing list. That’s it. We told you it was thin pickings. But, you’ll be happy to hear we’re pretty confident we know more about the device thanks to a leak from 2017. http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/eAw3fdx38Nec8QfbXug6PA.jpg Fire TV Cube: leaks and rumorsWe have a fairly solid idea of what the Fire TV Cube is going to look like (yes it’s a cube) thanks to a leak from AFTVNews. In the leaked image (above) you can see a device that has the same buttons and blue rim of Amazon’s Echo speakers, but in a square box. We have faith that this leak is genuine thanks to the device that it’s sat next to. That’s the 2017 Amazon Fire TV, which at the time of the leak hadn’t been revealed yet. In the leak, AFTVNews confirmed that the device will have a far-field microphone array and speaker built in, as well as infrared emitter that will allow it to control televisions and A/V equipment. In terms of specs, we’ve not had a leak to the same extent of the other Fire TV devices (yet), but seeing as this is a flagship device we’re expecting 4K, with the ability to stream at 60fps like the 2017 Fire TV. Fire TV Cube: what we want to seeGood sound quality As a speaker specifically designed for television enthusiasts, we’re hoping that the sound quality is good enough that it can act as a television speaker, rather than a glorified television remote. As there have been a number of smart speakers hitting the market recently (notably the Sonos One and HomePod), it wouldn’t be completely outside the realm of possibility for Amazon to make the Fire TV Cube their hat in this particular ring. Stereo link-up On a similar subject, if the Fire TV Cube is going to be a TV speaker, we’re hoping that there’ll be some way of linking multiple devices together to make a tannoy (or even surround-sound) system. This is a feature that Apple has been touting for the HomePod, but is yet to deliver. Amazon already has the ability to create a network of Echo devices, so we’re hoping this technology can be used to solve the problem that is still taxing Apple. High frame rate The 2017 Fire TV dongle is capable of streaming at frame rates as high as 60fps, but considering some TV sets are coming out now that can handle 120fps, we're hoping that a flagship television device is going to be ready to handle this new format. Voice search and control With Alexa integration on current Fire TV devices you can search for shows by name, star, genre, and more. We're hoping that this device will have full functionality, including the ability to control playback. Smart home control Given the Cube is likely to have IR, we're holding out hope that it may also have Zigbee, the wireless protocol present in the Echo Plus, also making the Fire TV Cube a smart home hub. Want to know about what else Amazon's been working on? Check out: Amazon Echo Dot Kids Edition makes Alexa voice assistant child friendlyhttp://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techradar/digital-home/~4/ETd0WtSWMcU

YouTube is home to thousands of videos that would make perfect audio files for offline listening. You could use a standard downloader to save the videos and then use a separate tool to extract the audio, but why go to such lengths when a free YouTube to MP3 converter can perform both tasks with a single click? There are lots of websites that can strip the audio from YouTube videos and send you the audio file to download, but here we've chosen to focus mainly on desktop software. These programs have several advantages: they're faster than browser-based tools, they don't require you to submit your email address (and therefore leave yourself open to spam), and they often allows you to rip the audio from multiple videos at once. Here, we've rounded up the very best tools for extracting audio from YouTube videos and downloading it as an MP3 – or any other audio format you prefer. You should only download content when you have the copyright owner's permission. YouTube's terms of service explicitly prohibit unauthorized downloading. http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/9d8b11b635025b4f8ea1de3d26c578ec.jpg http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/qVC6Fkmd3pYSAvxCAxYr2A.jpg Any Video Converter Free can save videos from YouTube in any popular format, including MP3 You would be forgiven for judging Any Video Converter Free by its name and believing it to be a tool for converting from one video format to another. While this is part of what it can do, it can also be used to download videos from YouTube and save them as MP3s – exactly what we’re looking for! http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/bdUsuuYBKWwyVPfQ82BFbP.jpg As downloading as MP3s is not the sole purpose of the program, it is rather larger than you might expect, but this should not put you off (but take care not to install the optional adware during setup). It seems almost overkill to use what is a powerful and versatile piece of software for just one task, but downloading MP3s is as simple as pasting in the URL of a YouTube video and waiting for the download to complete. You can then select MP3 as the output format, and hit the Convert Now button. It's a shame there's no one-click option, but it's hardly a major hardship. Any Video Converter Free reviewDownload Any Video Converter Freehttp://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/9d8b11b635025b4f8ea1de3d26c578ec.jpg http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/MKvdYm6fvHoSSncSfUMt5R.jpg aTube Catcher is wonderfully simple to use – just paste in an URL, pick a format and go aTube Catcher is another superb tool for ripping the audio from YouTube videos and converting it to MP3 format. The first time you install the software you'll be presented with a Windows 8-style menu showing you all the options available. There's a video to MP3 converter icon on the left, but this only works with files already on your PC. To download and convert a video to MP3 format in one step, select the YouTube downloader and paste its URL into the box labelled 'URL del video'. Next, take your pick from the dozens of possible output profiles. There are three MP3 quality options, so you can choose the right balance of file size and fidelity. Your video will then be downloaded to your chosen folder and encoded, ready to watch on your desktop or mobile device, or burn to disc. aTube Catcher reviewDownload aTube Catcherhttp://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/XpjytZKadYHuY5Kqsnopd7.jpg http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/nXpRvU2i6sKPgfxY8Z47m6.jpg As its name suggests, Free YouTube to MP3 Converter is designed for just one task – and it performs it brilliantly Free YouTube to MP3 Converter does exactly what you'd expect, and it's perfectly safe to judge it by its name. Unfortunately, like Any Video Converter Free, there is bundled adware from ByteFence to avoid, so be watchful during the installation and uncheck any additional bits and pieces you don't want. Once installed, however, you're in for a treat. There's no need to fiddle about with options, you can just get on with downloading the music you're interested in immediately. Use a simple drop-down menu to choose the quality and format you would like to save your audio file, paste the URL, and click Download. Files are saved and converted in one fell swoop. The beauty of Free YouTube to MP3 Converter is that there's no messing about, nothing superfluous, and nothing confusing. It has one purpose in mind, and it has been designed to do it as efficiently as possible. Definitely worth a try – we're sure you'll love it! Free YouTube to MP3 Converter reviewDownload Free YouTube to MP3 Converterhttp://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/9d8b11b635025b4f8ea1de3d26c578ec.jpg http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/ZorHrhg8cuBNsrpmcwyDTG.jpg 4K Video Downloader might not look flashy, but it's extremely capable It might not be the most stylish software around, but 4K Video Downloader is brilliant. Just copy the URL of a video from your web browser (it supports YouTube, Vimeo, Facebook, Flickr and DailyMotion) or the address of a whole YouTube playlist and click 'Paste URL'. Select 'Extract audio' and pick MP3, OGG or M4A, then click 'Extract' and the audio will be converted and saved to the destination of your choice. The free version of 4K Video Downloader lets you download up to 24 videos in a playlists, which is particularly useful for grabbing several songs by a particular artist. You can download and convert longer playlists to MP3 format if you buy a license key, but the software's free features are very impressive. 4K Video Downloader reviewDownload 4K Video Downloaderhttp://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/9d8b11b635025b4f8ea1de3d26c578ec.jpg http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/nsii6UAqFZZStXW5esgN6M.jpg Converting YouTube videos with ClipGrab is effortless. Just copy the URL and the software will handle the rest An utter delight of a program, ClipGrab keeps things nice and simple – aside from the bundling of the Opera browser, which is easy to skip if you'd rather avoid it. The wonderfully simple interface gives you a pleasing hint of just how easy things are going to be, right from the word go. Copy a YouTube URL to the clipboard and ClipGrab will spring into action, offering to download the related video for you. Even if this doesn’t happen – you might not yet have the program running, for instance – a quick paste into the relevant field is all it takes. You can then indicate that you are interested in downloading the audio as an MP3 before you click the 'Grab this clip!' button to do just that. The MP3 you seek will be yours in next to no time. ClipGrab reviewDownload ClipGrabEnjoy your MP3s with the best free music apps for Windowshttp://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techradar/software-news/~4/ToZnm_ZBGKk

If you have kids and an Amazon Echo device, there's a good chance you've experienced the hilarity / horror of them accidentally finding some expletive-laden song just by their requesting goobledeegook. So a new Amazon Echo Dot Kids Edition will be music to the ears of tech-savvy parents. Launching in the US first (we'll have word on global availability as soon as it is announced), it costs $79.99 – considerably more expensive than a standard Echo Dot. However, it does come with some unique, child-friendly perks, including a two-year damage replacement warranty, a colorful rubber case in either red, blue or green and a year's subscription to the FreeTime Unlimited kid-focussed service. With Alexa, FreeTime Unlimited lets parents leave their children in the capable hands of a selection of expletive-free radio stations including IHeartRadio Family, 300 appropriate Audible audiobooks and tailored premium skills from Nickelodeon, National Geographic and Disney, including alarms that sound like characters from their favorite shows and movies. Staying safeFreeTime Unlimited costs $2.99 a month, but the device won't simply stop working when that free subscription runs its course. If you choose not to renew the FreeTime Unlimited service, you can roll back to the basic free service which, like FreeTime Unlimited, lets you block Alexa features such as shopping, news reports and access to third party skills and audio services. You just won't get all that curated kids content from Amazon's major partners. Other than that, it's your standard Echo Dot, with seven far-field microphones for directional voice capture, a built-in speaker and the option of hooking up to a more impressive playback device over Bluetooth or 3.5mm jack cable. Pre-order open today, with shipping starting on May 9. Amazon Alexa Easter Eggs: have some fun with your smart speakerhttp://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techradar/digital-home/~4/EqbcjLBB4Qw

We all know the importance of making regular backups, but that's of little comfort to anyone – even those with good backup regimens – who suddenly find themselves confronted by the stomach-churning feeling of data loss. That's why it's always a good idea to have a reliable free file recovery program on hand for emergencies. Whether it's a virus infection, a hardware failure, or just human error, it's all too easy to lose vital files. As soon as you've become aware of data loss, it's critical you stop using the drive affected immediately. Whether the drive itself is failing or you've simply deleted a file accidentally, this is the golden moment when you may be able to get your data back before it's gone for good. We've picked five of the best free file recovery tools in the business. Just pick the one closest to your requirements and with a bit of luck (and no small measure of help from the app involved), you could yet save your files. http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/XpjytZKadYHuY5Kqsnopd7.jpg http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/f5579b0659f8c9c2a979ca2fc9a50562.jpg Recuva makes recovering your lost files as simple as possiblePiriform Recuva makes things as easy and stress-free as possible. It opens by default to a file recovery wizard, which advanced users can subsequently skip. http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/bdUsuuYBKWwyVPfQ82BFbP.jpg From here, choose the type of file you're trying to recover (picture, documents, compressed, emails and all files are among those on offer) and it'll focus its search accordingly. You can target your search to a specific location or search all your drives, and you can opt to choose a quick or deep scan. The latter takes much longer, but flushes out more results. Then click 'Start' and wait for the scan to complete. Once done, your results are presented, with each recovered file given a rating depending on its condition. You can recover files direct from here or switch to Advanced Mode for a frankly better view, offering file preview, information and a peek at the file's header. Piriform Recuva reviewDownload Piriform Recuvahttp://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/9d8b11b635025b4f8ea1de3d26c578ec.jpg http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/gHnZyzEgzLsHwT8b9qnUf.jpg With IObit Undelete, file recovery takes just a couple of clicks If you’ve ever used IObit Uninstaller or Advanced SystemCare, it’ll be no surprise that IObit Undelete is refreshingly easy to use, with an intuitive interface that makes file recovery as painless as possible. Select either the types of file you’re looking for (including documents, videos. Music and pictures) and the drive where they were stored, then click ‘Scan’. There’s no ‘deep’ option, but scans are fast and turned up the files we were looking for. IObit Undelete gives you an estimate of recoverability (excellent or poor) to indicate whether restoration is likely to be successful. Hovering your mouse pointer over the eye icon on the right lets you preview the file if possible, and restoring it is as simple as checking the appropriate box, clicking ‘Recover’ and choosing where to save it. IObit Undelete might not offer as much granular control as Recuva, but it’s quick, effective and easy to use – ideal if you’ve lost something important and panic is setting in. Highly recommended. Download IObit Undeletehttp://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/XpjytZKadYHuY5Kqsnopd7.jpg http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/b2803a510fa684946cf6c5e28144bf84.jpg DMDE Free Edition can recover lost data from a huge number of drivesOur third favorite free file recovery tool is often overlooked. DMDE Free Edition scores major points because it's capable of recovering data from a wide array of drives, including 2TB+ drives rescued from a fried external drive enclosure with proprietary formatting (it's a long story). DMDE may not be the simplest tool to use, but it's one of the most effective, and our step-by-step file recovery guide will help you with the basics. DMDE works by letting you select a drive and then identifies all mountable partitions, with the most obvious choices highlighted. If successful, you're then shown a File Explorer-like view to browse the drive and recover what data you need from it. There are restrictions on the way you can recover data from the free version, but there's no limit to how much you recover. If you want a simpler and faster recovery process, just upgrade to the Express or Standard edition. DMDE Free Edition reviewDownload DMDE Free Editionhttp://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/9d8b11b635025b4f8ea1de3d26c578ec.jpg http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/f04a88de43ac37ed41c8208e53a6b0ce.jpg PhotoRec is a capable file recovery tool, as long as you don't mind the text-based interfaceTestDisk and PhotoRec are a handy pair of file recover tools that come as a set. Don't be fooled by the name – PhotoRec recovers far more than just photos. It works with a wide range of file systems and media, from hard drives to CD/DVD, USB flash drives and memory cards, and there are builds for Mac and Linux, giving you flexibility to recover data from a different computer if necessary. It also has deep knowledge of over 200 file formats, which helps with reconstructing lost files, and comes packaged with TestDisk, which can be used to recover partitions. The main complication is the user interface – it's a command line affair, with no mouse support. At first glance this appears complicated, but the program steps you through the process via a series of menu screens, and because it mounts the target drive in read-only mode, there's no danger of data being lost if you take a wrong turn – you can't write data to the drive you're recovering from, for example. TestDisk and PhotoRec reviewDownload TestDisk and PhotoRechttp://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/9d8b11b635025b4f8ea1de3d26c578ec.jpg http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/41fe8b47df8e9bee8041e396a079664d.jpg Restore a whole lost partition with MiniTool Partition Recovery FreeOne of the most frightening data loss experiences is when an entire drive or partition goes missing. Often this can be traced to an accidentally deleted partition or one where the partition header has corrupted. If the issue is this simple, getting the partition back can be done quickly and easily without leaving Windows using MiniTool Partition Recovery Free. Just fire it up, select the drive containing your lost partition, then choose whether to scan the entire disk or just a portion of it (say the part where your missing partition should be). Choose between full and quick scans, then sit back and let the program do its work. Don't panic if it appears to become non-responsive, just be patient and eventually it'll list all detected partitions on the drive. Select all of them – including your missing partition – and click 'Finish' to restore it. You can also double-click a partition to view its file contents – perfect for verifying it's the one you're after. Download MiniTool Partition Recovery Freehttp://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techradar/software-news/~4/Gqf5eC4mcqM