sincity

http://cdn.mos.techradar.com/art/broadcast/Sky/SkyQ/For%20hands%20on/sky%20q%20fluid%20viewing-470-75.jpgFull 4K or hobbled Ultra HD?Update: Sky has confirmed to us the new Sky Q Silver set top box does in fact have HDMI 2.0 hardware hidden inside it. Sky has limited the output, via software, to the HDMI 1.4b standard at launch and will be releasing a firmware unlock when the 4K service launches later in the year. Original article below... http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/art/techradar/LINE2-420-90.jpg Sky is soon to launch its premium TV service, Sky Q. It's a high-end connected platform which has the potential to deliver almost everything we could want in a modern TV experience. We recently got our hands on the Sky Q system, and you can colour us very impressed indeed. The combination of the latest set-top box technology, seamlessly accessible content – whether recorded, on-demand or live – and the ability to watch on practically any of your screens in or outside of the home makes Sky Q a really powerful setup. The best TV shows to stream right nowHowever, while our time with the new system has gotten us very excited about the future of Sky's premium platform, it's not without its potential problems, the biggest of which is whether the top-end Sky Q Silver box is actually going to be capable of flinging the full force of 4K video into our faces. Does Sky Q have the technical chops to give us the Ultra HD experience we want, or is it more important for it to have all the content? http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/art/broadcast/Sky/SkyQ/For%20hands%20on/sky%20q%20silver%20with%20remote%20on%20white-420-90.jpg 4K stuntsSky Q's 4K Ultra HD service isn't going to be available at launch; it's set to be introduced later in the year, when the volume of 4K content is in place, and when there are more compatible TVs out there to actually watch it on. "What we wanted to do is to make sure when we launched it it wasn't a stunt. That we really had a breadth of content across not just a couple of sports matches," explained Andrew Olson when I went to play with Sky Q. Olson is the Director of Product and Planning at Sky, and very much the daddy of Sky Q. And his comments really highlight both where Sky sees 4K content at the moment, and how it regards its closest 4K competition. The first actual 4K broadcast channel went live last August, when BT Sport launched its BT Sport Ultra HD channel with the Charity Shield football match at Wembley Stadium. But the channel isn't exactly awash with 4K content – there are just five live Ultra HD football matches showing in February. I reckon even BT Sport would admit it got onboard the 4K broadcast train pretty damned early, and that it was more about getting there first – and beating Sky to the punch – than about creating a constant 24/7 stream of 4K sport. http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/art/broadcast/BT%20Sport/BT%20Sport%20Ultra%20HD/BTSport_Cam1-420-90.jpg "When everyone moved from SD to HD it was very much sport that lead that," BT Sport MD Delia Bushell told me as I stuffed lavish bite-sized deserts into my face at the Charity Shield last August. "So I think again it will be the same for Ultra HD. "Live sport is always where it crystallises the step-change in the viewing experience. So, for BT Sport to come first launching Ultra HD, for us, is a real milestone." However, at the moment BT Sport Ultra HD is an almost dormant channel, which only sparks into life when it has a live event to broadcast in 4K. The rest of the time people stick with the standard HD channels. Sky is looking for its Sky Q Ultra HD package to be something that becomes a complete replacement for some of its HD channels. "We have movies, we've got entertainment and we're really trying to launch the broadest service we can," said Olson. "So that it's something customers will use all the time, not just a stunt." Tech over contentSo Sky reckons it's going to have the content edge over BT when it does finally get around to launching a proper broadcast 4K service – but will it have the technological edge? http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/art/broadcast/Sky/SkyQ/For%20hands%20on/sky%20q%20silver%20back%20inputs%20on%20white-420-90.jpg Our main concern is around the fact that the premium set-top box of the service, the Sky Q Silver, only has an HDMI 1.4b output at the rear. That's the connection which is set to be jammed into your 4K TV to flood the screen with lovely Ultra HD visuals. Unfortunately, HDMI 1.4b is only rated to carry 4K video at 30Hz, which essentially translates to a 30fps speed limit on moving images. Sky does say it's going to be updating the Sky Q Silver for Ultra HD playback, but won't go into specifics as to what that means. If there is HDMI 2.0 silicon sleeping inside the Silver which just needs a little firmware loving to wake it up later in the year then we're all good; but if not then Sky Q, especially on the 4K sport side, will suffer. HDMI 2.0 is the current de facto standard for premium 4K playback from Ultra HD Blu-ray drives and, more importantly, the Humax UHD box that comes with the BT Sport Ultra HD subscription. And it's the connection which will allow for the full 4K experience running at 60Hz. http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/art/digital_tv_boxes/BT%20Ultra%20HD/BT_Box_3_4-420-90.jpg BT Sport's 4K channel plays its Ultra HD content back at 50fps, and for live sport that makes a real difference. With a combination of the extra visual fidelity afforded by 4K pictures and the doubling of the traditional TV frame rate, live sport feels far more like you're watching through a window rather than on a screen. If Sky Q can't match that experience, then its advanced premium platform is going to look rather last-gen by comparison. We've reached out to Sky for confirmation on what the Sky Q Silver box is going to be capable of outputting, but it's remaining tight-lipped on the technical details of its upcoming 4K service. Off the pitchIf Sky wants to be the king of 4K sport then it not only needs to have the content nailed – it needs to have technical parity with its main rival for live sport licensing. Outside the realm of sports, though, does it really matter if Sky Q is only able to keep on treading the same 24fps tracks we've grown used to over years of watching movies and TV shows? http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/art/broadcast/Sky/SkyQ/For%20hands%20on/tv%20sky%20q%20silver%20sky%20q%20mini%20tablet%20ui%20and%20content-420-90.jpg Sky is aiming to have both movies and standard TV running in 4K when it launches the Ultra HD service later in the year, and my experience using the 4K Amazon Fire TV box with its 30fps limit makes me think it's not going to matter a whole heap. Watching the latest Amazon content, running in both 4K and HDR from Prime Instant Video, I'm not at all worried about the frame rate. After all, most video is shot at the lower end of the frame rate spectrum anyways. The general backlash against The Hobbit and its high frame rate (HFR) showing has probably fed into a distrust or disinterest in moving the game forward any time soon. In the end it all comes down to how Sky goes about selling its upcoming Sky Q 4K service. If, as we kind of expect, it looks to launch just before the new football season in August, touting itself as the home of 4K footie, then it could suffer from not matching BT Sport's more high-end offering. But if its main aim is to offer a total Ultra HD entertainment package, then that 30fps speed limit isn't going to amount to much more than a marketing duel with BT. Hands on: Sky Q review.

http://cdn.mos.techradar.com/art/other/AU%20News/fetch-tv-stan-470-75.jpgGood news for owners of the Fetch TV DVR – After partnering for the launch of Netflix last year, the digital streaming/DVR box has today launched a dedicated Stan app on the platform. Located within the Apps section of the Fetch TV's menu system, the new Stan app offers integrated access to the thousands of hours of movies and TV shows. Just like with Netflix, Fetch TV customers will still need a Stan subscription in order to access the content, although new Optus broadband customers signing up to the $90 Entertainment Starter Bundle with Fetch TV will get three months of Stan for free. Stan-ding on its own two feetStan usage won't be unmetered though, so customers on plans with data limits will need to monitor their usage to ensure no excess data charges. The expansion to Fetch TV comes just weeks after Stan expanded to the Xbox One, and means that accessing the service on a big screen is available to a large number of people. While the number of compatible devices is still a long way off Netflix's near ubiquitous accessibility, Stan's expansion is still much greater than that of Presto, thanks to apps on devices like the Apple TV and Telstra TV. Check out the best shows on Stan

http://cdn.mos.techradar.com/art/other/AU%20News/fetch-tv-stan-470-75.jpgGood news for owners of the Fetch TV DVR – After partnering for the launch of Netflix last year, the digital streaming/DVR box has today launched a dedicated Stan app on the platform. Located within the Apps section of the Fetch TV's menu system, the new Stan app offers integrated access to the thousands of hours of movies and TV shows. Just like with Netflix, Fetch TV customers will still need a Stan subscription in order to access the content, although new Optus broadband customers signing up to the $90 Entertainment Starter Bundle with Fetch TV will get three months of Stan for free. Stan-ding on its own two feetStan usage won't be unmetered though, so customers on plans with data limits will need to monitor their usage to ensure no excess data charges. The expansion to Fetch TV comes just weeks after Stan expanded to the Xbox One, and means that accessing the service on a big screen is available to a large number of people. While the number of compatible devices is still a long way off Netflix's near ubiquitous accessibility, Stan's expansion is still much greater than that of Presto, thanks to apps on devices like the Apple TV and Telstra TV. Check out the best shows on Stan http://rc.feedsportal.com/r/247390017663/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/4d43cc23/sc/28/rc/1/rc.img http://rc.feedsportal.com/r/247390017663/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/4d43cc23/sc/28/rc/2/rc.img http://rc.feedsportal.com/r/247390017663/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/4d43cc23/sc/28/rc/3/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/247390017663/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/4d43cc23/sc/28/a2.imghttp://pi.feedsportal.com/r/247390017663/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/4d43cc23/sc/28/a2t.imghttp://rss.feedsportal.com/c/669/f/415085/s/4d43cc23/sc/28/mf.gifhttp://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techradar/software-news/~4/Q2tgQECyESE

http://cdn.mos.techradar.com/art/other/AU%20News/vodafone%20roaming-470-75.jpgDid you know that New Zealand is the number one international destination for Australians traveling overseas? Me either. But apparently it's true, and Vodafone is using that statistic to entice customers with a pair of announcements today. The more interesting bit of news is the fact that Vodafone is running a 12 month trial, starting today, which will see Vodafone waive the $5 a day roaming fee for post-paid customers traveling to New Zealand. That means that any Australian Vodafone customer heading to the Shaky Isles will be able to use their phone exactly like they do at home, without fearing exorbitant roaming charges, and without having to pay a cent more than usual. When they arrive, they'll be able to enjoy Vodafone New Zealand's 4G network, while using their own data allowance and phone inclusions, including unlimited calls. Since 2013, Vodafone customers on Vodafone Red plans have been able to enjoy their phone inclusions for $5 a day while overseas. While customers will still have to pay the $5 daily fee in any of the other supported countries, the move to waive the fee for New Zealand visitors is going to benefit a huge number of international travelers. Would you like points with that?The second announcement Vodafone made today is a strategic partnership with Qantas, that will see new (or renewing) customers given the option of claiming up to 15,000 Frequent Flyer points by signing up to an eligible post-paid plan. You need to sign on to a $80 phone plan or a $45 SIM-only plan or higher in order to receive the points, which are delivered as a lump sum up front. The $80 plan (or $45 SIM-only plan) nets 4,000 Qantas points, the $100 plan ($60 SIM-only) will give 5,000 points and the $130 plan ($85 SIM-only) gives 7,500 points. However, if you sign up online Vodafone will double the points to 8,000, 10,000 and 15,000 respectively. Compare Vodafone plans here http://rc.feedsportal.com/r/247390002062/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/4d43546d/sc/28/rc/1/rc.img http://rc.feedsportal.com/r/247390002062/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/4d43546d/sc/28/rc/2/rc.img http://rc.feedsportal.com/r/247390002062/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/4d43546d/sc/28/rc/3/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/247390002062/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/4d43546d/sc/28/a2.imghttp://pi.feedsportal.com/r/247390002062/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/4d43546d/sc/28/a2t.imghttp://rss.feedsportal.com/c/669/f/415085/s/4d43546d/sc/28/mf.gifhttp://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techradar/software-news/~4/T1neTrdUkUQ

http://cdn.mos.techradar.com/art/broadcast/Sky/nowtv/newNowtvbox-470-75.jpgA brand new Now TV Smart Box will launch later this year, with Sky confirming that current box owners can look forward to a major new user interface overhaul as well. The box, developed with Roku, has yet to be given a price or release date but further details will be released in the coming months. Existing owners of Now TV boxes will benefit as well, with a new UI that is built around a new homepage. "The launch of our new homepage on the Now TV Box will make it easier than ever for our customers to quickly find and watch their favourite shows," said Gidon Katz, Director of Now TV. "And when the new Now TV Smart Box arrives later this year, it will be the perfect one-stop box to get a contract-free, flexible way of watching the best of pay TV and free-to-air content all in one place."

http://cdn.mos.techradar.com/art/mobile_phones/iPhone/Apple%20Pay/Hands%20on/Apple%20Pay%20Review%20(9)-470-75.JPGApple Pay's Australian rollout has been slow going. After months of waiting and little movement from Australian banks, the the iPhone 6S maker ended up just partnering with American Express to speed up the international rollout. Now, with Google's confirmation that Android Pay is heading to Australia in the first half of this year, and Samsung Pay also on the way, we're hearing that Apple's negotiations with the banks haven't stopped, they're just being kept quiet. According to a report in the SMH today, Apple's non-disclosure agreement with the banks requires the banks to keep quiet, or be liable for tens of millions of dollars. Of course, these types of contracts are far from uncommon, especially when companies are looking to get their hands on a share of the $2.5 billion annual market for credit card fees. The best part of this story is that there's still hope Aussie Apple users will get to use Apple Pay without having to get an American Express Card. Via: SMH http://rc.feedsportal.com/r/247389650566/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/4d3049f6/sc/28/rc/1/rc.img http://rc.feedsportal.com/r/247389650566/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/4d3049f6/sc/28/rc/2/rc.img http://rc.feedsportal.com/r/247389650566/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/4d3049f6/sc/28/rc/3/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/247389650566/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/4d3049f6/sc/28/a2.imghttp://pi.feedsportal.com/r/247389650566/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/4d3049f6/sc/28/a2t.imghttp://rss.feedsportal.com/c/669/f/415085/s/4d3049f6/sc/28/mf.gifhttp://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techradar/software-news/~4/Y77HtXf1Vt4

http://cdn.mos.techradar.com/art/tablets/iPad/iPadAir2/Hands%20on%202/iPad%20Air%202%20review%20(3)-470-75.JPGOne downside to being the most successful company in the world is that speculation about your activities never, ever ends. And so it is that today we're hearing that Apple is planning on revealing its next iPad model – likely the iPad Air 3 – at a keynote event in mid-March. The mid-March timeframe also lines up with rumors that Apple was planning to announce new Apple Watch bands in that timeframe, although this latest rumor from 9To5Mac suggests we'll also see new Apple Watch models take the stage. Also rumoured for an official reveal is the iPhone 5se – the 4-inch version of the iPhone 6C that we always wanted but never got, but that will have an updated A9/M9 chip combo for always-on Siri and NFC chip for Apple Pay. Pencil it inOne factor lending credence to the rumor is that the iPad Air is in dire need of a refresh – last year's iPad upgrade saw the iPad mini 4 and the iPad Pro get announced, while the traditional 9.7-inch model was neglected. The rumors suggest that this new version of the Air will feature not only updated iPad Pro-like speakers, but also support for the Apple Pencil accessory. With Apple launching its innovative Classroom app for iPad use in education with iOS 9.3, it's also a ripe time to upgrade its flagship iPad model in order to sell more hardware to schools around the world. The event is rumored to happen some time during the week of March 14, although exact time and dates haven't been locked down yet. Hey Apple! Here's our wishlist for the new iPad Air 3 http://rc.feedsportal.com/r/247389617990/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/4d2e755e/sc/28/rc/1/rc.img http://rc.feedsportal.com/r/247389617990/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/4d2e755e/sc/28/rc/2/rc.img http://rc.feedsportal.com/r/247389617990/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/4d2e755e/sc/28/rc/3/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/247389617990/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/4d2e755e/sc/28/a2.imghttp://pi.feedsportal.com/r/247389617990/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/4d2e755e/sc/28/a2t.imghttp://rss.feedsportal.com/c/669/f/415085/s/4d2e755e/sc/28/mf.gifhttp://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techradar/software-news/~4/5W7842CDypI

http://cdn.mos.techradar.com/art/cloud_services/Perzo/perzo-safelock-470-75.JPGWindows Defender (or Microsoft Security Essentials for those on earlier versions of the OS, in other words pre-Windows 8) is going up in the world, at least according to the latest test results from a well-respected organisation that ranks security software. There was a time, way back when, that the general consensus was that Microsoft Security Essentials (commonly known as MSE) was a good free (albeit basic) antivirus solution for Windows, but in more recent times, that reputation has fallen into serious disrepute. However, Microsoft is making good progress in turning its security suite around according to the latest results from AV-Test. AV-Test's latest roundup of the best antivirus products for Windows was carried out in November and December of last year, and incorporated 20 different pieces of software, one of which was Windows Defender. Under Windows 8/8.1, Defender scored a full 6/6 when it came to usability, and 5/6 for performance, plus it also hit 4.5/6 for its protection rating. That's a total score of 15.5/18 – an impressive mark indeed, although this was the OS in which the software performed the best. Windows Defender didn't manage to score quite as well under Windows 10, but it wasn't far off with a total of 14/18. Again, it achieved 6/6 for usability, and 4.5/6 when it came to performance, but it slipped a bit more in the protection stakes hitting 3.5/6. As for Windows 7, of course that has Microsoft Security Essentials as mentioned, and also managed a full 6/6 for usability, with an excellent 5/6 in terms of performance, albeit an average 3/6 for protection (again for a total of 14/18). False positivesUnder Windows 8, Windows Defender detected 99.6% of the malware thrown at it – which is 0.1% below the industry average – but also did very well in terms of false positives (files wrongly identified as malware), only hitting one of these over the two-month test period compared to the industry average of five. It also produced no false warnings when visiting websites, and this lack of interrupting the user for no reason is why Microsoft's software is now scoring so well for usability. In total, as Neowin reports, when it comes to the overall score of all three measurements, Microsoft ranked tenth out of 20 software vendors, a solid enough result. Microsoft noted late last year that it was using machine learning (which is a big thing over at Redmond) along with Azure and the cloud to help reduce false positives for Windows Defender, and it seems this tactic is certainly paying off. With just a little bit more work on protection, Windows Defender will be a more than viable option, which is good news for less tech-savvy users who might simply stick with the default protection that comes with the OS. How Microsoft is building a machine learning future http://rc.feedsportal.com/r/247389542463/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/4d29e9bb/sc/15/rc/1/rc.img http://rc.feedsportal.com/r/247389542463/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/4d29e9bb/sc/15/rc/2/rc.img http://rc.feedsportal.com/r/247389542463/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/4d29e9bb/sc/15/rc/3/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/247389542463/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/4d29e9bb/sc/15/a2.imghttp://pi.feedsportal.com/r/247389542463/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/4d29e9bb/sc/15/a2t.imghttp://rss.feedsportal.com/c/669/f/415085/s/4d29e9bb/sc/15/mf.gifhttp://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techradar/software-news/~4/GqKGngezlBM

http://cdn.mos.techradar.com/art/Features%202/Best%20connected%20home%20gadgets/Jibo%20hero-470-75.jpgWhat's next in connected gadgets?http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/art/Features%202/Best%20connected%20home%20gadgets/Jibo%20hero-420-90.jpg The connected home is the next real frontier in tech. Now that we have computers in our pockets and on our wrists it's only logical that the rest of the things we use become smart and web-connected. Already it's possible to get smarter lights, speakers and even kitchen scales, all of which feature in our guide to the ultimate connected home. But these are just the tip of the iceberg. Throughout 2016 we're going to see far more connected devices and far better ones, as once dumb appliances overcome their teething problems and fulfil their potential. The world in which your smartwatch or phone will automatically turn on your lights or heating when you enter a room is incoming – as long as you remember to keep your phone or watch charged, that is. Samsung Family Hub refrigeratorhttp://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/art/Features%202/Best%20connected%20home%20gadgets/Samsung%20Family%20Hub-420-90.jpg Smart fridges sometimes get a bad rap, becoming the punchline in the connected home joke. But connected homes aren't a joke any more, and smart fridges are slowly but surely becoming more than just gimmicks. The Samsung Family Hub Refrigerator has a 21.5-inch 1080p screen, which can be used to display recipes, a calendar, notes and more. The screen can also be used to stream TV and music – and screw sticking your shopping list on the door, you can out and out order your groceries on it. And the Family Hub has another trick up its sleeve, in the shape of built-in cameras that show you what's in the fridge. You can view the contents from your smartphone wherever you are – so if you get to the shop and aren't sure if you need to buy milk you can just take a look on your phone. It's set to launch in the early part of 2016 for $5,000 (around £3,400 or AU$7140). Sony Multifunctional Lighthttp://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/art/Features%202/Best%20connected%20home%20gadgets/Sony%20Smart%20Light-420-90.jpg When is a smart light not just a light? When it's Sony's Multifunctional Light. Not only is it app-controlled and capable of shining in a myriad of colours, it can also sense motion – so it can turn itself (or other connected devices) on when it senses your presence – as well as temperature and humidity. It can also be voice-controlled, and can play music through a built-in speaker – there's even a microSD card slot. Sadly, the Multifunctional Light isn't out yet and is initially only headed for Japan, but if this is the future of smart lighting it should be well worth the wait. Amazon Echohttp://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/art/Features%202/Best%20connected%20home%20gadgets/Amazon%20Echo-420-90.jpg $179.99 (roughly £126 / AU$261) The Amazon Echo could one day be at the heart of smart homes everywhere, especially if the company ever sees fit to release it outside America. It's a voice-controlled device that talks back, and can be used a lot like Google Now or Siri. You can ask it questions which it will answer by searching the net, or have it check your calendar and set alarms. It can also play music and read ebooks at your command. But the best thing about the Amazon Echo is that it can connect to an ever-growing number of other smart devices, enabling you to control them – you can turn off your lights, adjust your thermostat, and (coming soon) start your Ford car remotely with voice commands rather than using an app. Netatmo Presencehttp://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/art/Features%202/Best%20connected%20home%20gadgets/Netatmo%20Presense-420-90.jpg The Netatmo Presence is smarter than your average security camera, as it can tell the difference between people, animals and cars – so when it sends you a real-time alert it won't just be warning you of movement, but the type of movement. Beyond that, this outdoor camera has many of the same features as its connected rivals. You can view live video feeds on your phone, save footage and customise the notifications you get. At night you can choose to use an infra-red mode to keep on monitoring your home, or switch on a floodlight to deter burglars and light your way if you're coming home after dark. The Netatmo Presence is not out yet, but it's coming soon and we're jolly excited. Philips Connected Multicookerhttp://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/art/Features%202/Best%20connected%20home%20gadgets/Philips%20Connected%20Multicooker-420-90.jpg Cooking is an art – unless you have the Philips Connected Multicooker, in which case it's barely even an activity. This clever device, due to hit the stores this year, links up to the Philips ChefConnect app, which is home to a library of recipes. When you find one you like the look of, just tap on it and simply add ingredients to the oven as and when it prompts you. It's like your mother's supervising you, but without the disapproving tutting. With 21 cooking programmes the Connected Multicooker does the rest, so you can sit back and relax, knowing your food will be cooked to perfection and that you'll get an alert on your phone when it's done or when you – sigh – need to actually do something. We're still desperately awaiting the release date and price of this one - not least because the diet of cereals that we try to live on is starting to wear thin. Neato Botvac Connectedhttp://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/art/Features%202/Best%20connected%20home%20gadgets/Neato%20Botvac%20Connected-420-90.jpg Price: £549.97 / $699.99 / AU$1,150 Robot vacuum cleaners are nothing new, but they've come a long way since the futuristic visions of the 1960s – and certainly a lot further than jet packs and cities on the moon. The Neato Botvac Connected is available right now, and it's one of the most high-tech yet, with app control enabling you to instruct it to clean your house even when you're not in. The Botvac Connected will also send notifications through the app, and cleaning can be paused and scheduled. Or, if you're on the same Wi-Fi network as your robo vacuum, you can manually control it from the app for optimal cat-scaring fun. Jibohttp://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/art/Features%202/Best%20connected%20home%20gadgets/Jibo%202-420-90.jpg If you like the look of the Amazon Echo, but wish it was slightly more scary, Jibo might be for you. Like the Echo, this 'cute' robot is voice-controlled and talks back. It can look things up, interact with other connected devices, take photos and shoot videos, and play video and display information on its built-in screen. The scary bit is that it can track motion, with the screen turning to face whoever it's speaking to. This makes it a little more lifelike than the Echo, although it's still planted to one spot – which is probably for the best if you don't want to be one of the first victims of the connected gadget uprising. It's still awaiting a release date, but will go on sale later this year for $749 (£529, around AU$1075). Samsung SleepSensehttp://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/art/Features%202/Best%20connected%20home%20gadgets/Samsung%20SleepSense-420-90.jpg There are quite a few sleep-tracking apps out there, but if you want a deeper insight into your nightly habits you'll need something built from the ground up for the purpose – something like the Samsung SleepSense. Slip this under your mattress and link it to the accompanying app and you'll be able to get insight into your movements, heart rate and respiratory rate. The SleepSense will also use this information to tell how long you spend in REM sleep and deep (restorative, nice-feeling) sleep, and give you a score based on the average data for your age. But the Samsung SleepSense doesn't just tell you how you're sleeping – it also gives you advice on how to improve your sleep, and can link to other smart appliances, such as thermostats and light bulbs, to ensure that your sleeping conditions are optimal. Best of all, in the morning it will gently wake you up at the optimal time, based on the data it's collected - although sadly we're still waiting to see when it'll launch and how much it will cost. Google Brillo could unify smart homes

http://cdn.mos.techradar.com/art/software/Microsoft/Windows%2010%20background-470-75.jpgThe latest Windows 10 Insider build does a bit of fixing up Microsoft's Edge browser, but gamers be warned, it also breaks some stuff and contains, in Gabe Aul's (corporate VP of engineering systems) words, "issues that will impact your PC gaming experience". This is build 11102 of Windows 10 which has just been deployed to the Fast Ring, and the only new feature (aside from tweaking under the bonnet, which Microsoft has been doing a lot of lately) is a new history menu in Edge. This allows you to right click on either the back or forward buttons, whereupon a menu pops up containing your most recently visited sites, allowing you to choose a specific website from that list and quickly return there. Apparently this was a much requested feature, and in our opinion, it's a neat enough little trick to add to Microsoft's new browser. Crash happyIn the blog post announcing the new build, Aul also noted there are a number of known issues, the most serious of which will affect PC gamers. Essentially, some games will now crash when switching from a window to full screen, when changing resolution in the game, or indeed some titles may crash when launching the game. Affected games include The Witcher 3, Fallout 4, Tomb Raider, Assassin's Creed and Metal Gear Solid V, although these problems could potentially hit any title. The mentioned games are just the ones Microsoft has witnessed this behaviour with. So if you're a big fan of any of the above, it might be an idea to give this build a miss for now. Users of build 11102 may also experience issues with screen readers (apps such as Narrator or Magnifier), and the Connect button has disappeared from the Action Centre. Furthermore, when updating to this build, some folks may get an error saying that their wireless card isn't compatible with Windows 10 – if this is the case, you need to install the latest driver for your card, Microsoft advises. Redmond is going to be pushing out builds to the Fast Ring at a quicker pace now, and so testers can expect to encounter more issues. Such is the price you pay for swifter deployment and getting to see new features sooner, but you can always switch away from the Fast Ring if you don't want to go this route. Via: PC World How to control updates on Windows 10 http://rc.feedsportal.com/r/247389016035/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/4d0d82b8/sc/15/rc/1/rc.img http://rc.feedsportal.com/r/247389016035/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/4d0d82b8/sc/15/rc/2/rc.img http://rc.feedsportal.com/r/247389016035/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/4d0d82b8/sc/15/rc/3/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/247389016035/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/4d0d82b8/sc/15/a2.imghttp://pi.feedsportal.com/r/247389016035/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/4d0d82b8/sc/15/a2t.imghttp://rss.feedsportal.com/c/669/f/415085/s/4d0d82b8/sc/15/mf.gifhttp://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techradar/software-news/~4/_uwae56TRiw

http://cdn.mos.techradar.com/art/deals/amazon%20bigthanks%20save%2010%20pounds%20on%20orders%20over%2050%20pounds-470-75.jpgAmazon is offering all UK customers the chance to save £10 on any order worth £50 or more from now until the end of the day. Using the code BIGTHANKS at the checkout, you can use the code once per person and it applies to all of Amazon's own retail items, which rules out Amazon Marketplace stuff and things like Amazon Prime sign-ups. Still though, if you've been stalling on that New Year purchase, today could be a good day to treat yourself, and most major items are available from Amazon direct anyway. Use code BIGTHANKS to save £10 at AmazonWhy is Amazon being so generous? It wants to drum up a bit of publicity for the fact that it's just been ranked top in a Customer Satisfaction survey run by the thrillingly-named Institute of Customer Service. If there's a little bell ringing in the back of your mind, it's probably because Amazon ran this exact offer with the same voucher code for a very similar reason back in August. "We are grateful to customers for ranking Amazon #1 in customer satisfaction in the UK," said Amazon UK's managing director, Christopher North. "We are constantly working to improve the overall experience we provide for our customers and set ever higher standards." The offer also excludes: baby formula (obviously), digital products (Audible audiobooks, videogame downloads etc), gift cards, delivery charges and small furry creatures from the Crab Nebula. Save £10 at Amazon using the code BIGTHANKS

http://cdn.mos.techradar.com/art/events/wwdc/2013/color%20banner%20logo-470-75.jpgBad news for iPhone 6S and iPad Air 2 users in Canada, Singapore, Russia, South Africa, New Zealand, Israel and Mexico. The tech giant is making adjustments to their App Store pricing in those seven regions to account for some volatile shifts in exchange rates. The change comes a few months after Apple made the same adjustment for customers in Australia, Sweden and Indonesia. 72 hours to savePrices are going up across the board within the next 72 hours for both apps and in-app purchases. For users with ongoing in-app subscriptions, Apple will notify customers before the next subscription amount is charged. Users in Canada and New Zealand will also benefit from new special price options, that will introduce a new 99 cent tier for those stores. Avoid the price hike with these free iPhone games http://rc.feedsportal.com/r/247388601071/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/4cf677d2/sc/28/rc/1/rc.img http://rc.feedsportal.com/r/247388601071/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/4cf677d2/sc/28/rc/2/rc.img http://rc.feedsportal.com/r/247388601071/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/4cf677d2/sc/28/rc/3/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/247388601071/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/4cf677d2/sc/28/a2.imghttp://pi.feedsportal.com/r/247388601071/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/4cf677d2/sc/28/a2t.imghttp://rss.feedsportal.com/c/669/f/415085/s/4cf677d2/sc/28/mf.gifhttp://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techradar/software-news/~4/wvoGvYDynEI

http://cdn.mos.techradar.com/art/software/Google/Google_Now_product_reminders-470-75.jpgSearch giant Google is committed to making your Android experience as seamless as possible, and the latest development seems to take away the need for the Play store altogether. First spotted by Android Police, Google is rolling out the ability to download apps directly from Google search results, without needing to open up the Play Store at all. While Google has separated app results from traditional web results for a while now, previously selecting these apps from the search results page launched the Play Store app on the phone. Now, for those lucky enough to enjoy the update, selecting the app will automatically launch the Installation permissions popup window. It appears that the development is only for search results using the Google App, not the Chrome browser. Using Android? Why not check out our list of the best Android apps? http://rc.feedsportal.com/r/247388581910/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/4cf5c645/sc/28/rc/1/rc.img http://rc.feedsportal.com/r/247388581910/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/4cf5c645/sc/28/rc/2/rc.img http://rc.feedsportal.com/r/247388581910/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/4cf5c645/sc/28/rc/3/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/247388581910/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/4cf5c645/sc/28/a2.imghttp://pi.feedsportal.com/r/247388581910/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/4cf5c645/sc/28/a2t.imghttp://rss.feedsportal.com/c/669/f/415085/s/4cf5c645/sc/28/mf.gifhttp://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techradar/software-news/~4/OB726rT0vc4

http://cdn.mos.techradar.com/art/software/Microsoft/Windows%2010%20on%20Dell/Start-470-75.JPGWindows 10 is a hit, at least with consumers over in the US, if a new survey from IDC is anything to go by. Computerworld spotted the IDC poll (conducted by Survata back in September, taking in the opinions of 1000 US adults who owned a PC) which showed that 30% of those questioned said they had Windows 10 on their machine. That was actually more than the percentage running Windows 7, which was 28%, and Windows 8 was being used by 27% of respondents. Naturally, 30% on Windows 10 seems a very high figure compared to estimates from bean counters like StatCounter and NetMarketShare, who have adoption of the OS at around the 10% mark (via web usage stats). The reason for this is likely that Survata's poll was an online one, and early adopters were more likely to be keen and respond. (Windows 8 almost equalling Windows 7 is also a more than dubious point, obviously). User satisfactionHowever, perhaps more importantly, the survey also explored user satisfaction level, and Windows 10 came off with over 60% saying their impressions of the new OS were either favourable or very favourable. Only around 10% said Windows 10 had made an unfavourable or very unfavourable impact on them. Early adopters or not, that's still an impressive statistic. We recently heard from Microsoft that Windows 10 is now on over 200 million devices worldwide, and other stats provided by the US government also show that the operating system is forging ahead with home users. Should you upgrade to Windows 10? http://rc.feedsportal.com/r/247388508356/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/4cf1850f/sc/28/rc/1/rc.img http://rc.feedsportal.com/r/247388508356/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/4cf1850f/sc/28/rc/2/rc.img http://rc.feedsportal.com/r/247388508356/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/4cf1850f/sc/28/rc/3/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/247388508356/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/4cf1850f/sc/28/a2.imghttp://pi.feedsportal.com/r/247388508356/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/4cf1850f/sc/28/a2t.imghttp://rss.feedsportal.com/c/669/f/415085/s/4cf1850f/sc/28/mf.gifhttp://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techradar/software-news/~4/A4QUKwBdjFM

http://cdn.mos.techradar.com/art/Features%202/10%20gadgets%20for%20the%20ultimate%20connected%20home/Piper-470-75.jpgSmart but simplehttp://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/art/Features%202/10%20gadgets%20for%20the%20ultimate%20connected%20home/Piper-420-90.jpg The dream of having the ultimate connected home can sometimes turn into a nightmare. A complicated set-up process, iffy apps and a disconnected infrastructure can mean you spending hours just trying to get a light switch connected to your router. As with many tech advancements, the true innovations are often 'one-offs' that can also work as part of a wider setup, and we've selected 10 of the best such devices. These gadgets are powerful, yet generally easy to use and easy to connect to your phone or computer. Lights, appliances, and even plant care are just a tap away… 1. Parrot Flower Power Wireless Plant Monitorhttp://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/art/Features%202/10%20gadgets%20for%20the%20ultimate%20connected%20home/Parrot-420-90.jpg Around £35.50 / $46 / AU$89.95 When we think of the connected home plants aren't typically the first things that come to mind, but they too can go smart with the help of a monitoring device like the Parrot Flower Power. Stick this in a pot or in the ground next to your plant and it can monitor sunlight, temperature, fertiliser and moisture, and send alerts to an app on your smartphone when one of these things needs attention – for example when the plant needs watering – to ensure you have healthier, happier, and altogether smarter plants. 2. Sonoshttp://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/art/Features%202/10%20gadgets%20for%20the%20ultimate%20connected%20home/Sonos-420-90.jpg £169 / $199 / AU$299+ Sonos probably needs no introduction, as it's long dominated the world of multi-room music streaming, enabling you to wirelessly control your music with an app and send it to anywhere and everywhere in your house. It's pricey, but as is so often the case you get what you pay for, with easy set-up and a range of high-quality speakers suitable for different-sized rooms. So you can pump out big sounds in the living room with a Sonos Play:5, and background music in the kitchen with a Sonos Play:1. The cost can be mitigated somewhat by building up your system over time, but once you've added one or two smart speakers you might be loath to go back to dumb drivers. 3. Samsung SmartThingshttp://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/art/Features%202/10%20gadgets%20for%20the%20ultimate%20connected%20home/SmartThings-420-90.jpg £99 / $99 / AU$171.99+ With so many different companies making connected-home devices you can end up using about 16 different apps to control them all – and given that these things are supposed to make your life easier, that's not ideal. Thankfully there are ways to harmonise your system, and Samsung SmartThings is one option. You can link many different smart devices to the SmartThings hub, enabling you to control of all of them via a single hub. While the system works with devices from other manufacturers, Samsung has of course created a range of SmartThings devices too, including sensors. Among other things, these can tell when you've entered or left a room, enabling you to automate lights to turn on and off. 4. Drop Kitchen Scalehttp://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/art/Features%202/10%20gadgets%20for%20the%20ultimate%20connected%20home/Drop%20Kitchen%20Scale-420-90.jpg £79.99 / $99.95 / AU$149.95 Looking to make your kitchen fit for 2016? You're probably thinking about smart fridges and connected coffee makers, but the Drop Kitchen Scale is just as worthy of your attention. It's much more than just a scale – which is a good thing given the price tag. The Drop Scale also has a beautiful app with a huge recipe book, which connects to the scales and guides you through recipes, even adjusting the ingredient amounts if you find you don't have enough of something. It makes baking far less daunting for newbies, and even if you're an old hand it can save you time and help you get your quantities exactly right. 5. Kohler Moxie Showerhead + Wireless Speakerhttp://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/art/Features%202/10%20gadgets%20for%20the%20ultimate%20connected%20home/Kohler%20Moxie-420-90.jpg £23.45 / $88.61 / AU$298 We've covered the kitchen, the living room and even the garden. But what about the bathroom? This Bluetooth shower head connects to your smartphone or tablet to stream music. The speaker snaps into the shower head using a magnet, so it's easy to install and remove for charging. You can also remove the speaker to use it in other rooms. 6. LIFXhttp://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/art/Features%202/10%20gadgets%20for%20the%20ultimate%20connected%20home/LifX-420-90.jpg £39.95 / $39.99 / AU$89.57+ Smart lights are many people's first foray into the world of the connected home, and while Philips Hue is the biggest name in this space, LIFX is a worthy rival with some advantages. For one thing it doesn't need a bridge, so you can start with just an individual bulb and build the system from there. It can also output brighter light than Hue. With the ability to light a room up in millions of different colours, an ever-improving app, and compatibility with a range of third-party apps and services, including Nest and SmartThings, LIFX is a strong smart lighting option. 7. Ambient Weather WS-1001-WiFi Observerhttp://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/art/Features%202/10%20gadgets%20for%20the%20ultimate%20connected%20home/Ambient%20Weather%20Station-420-90.jpg £281.80 / $289.95 / AU$1,012.99 If it's crucial for your work or travel plans that you have precise weather information for a particular area you're not going to want to rely on a general forecast – and with the Ambient Weather WS-1001-WiFi Observer you don't have to. With the ability to track temperature, humidity, wind speed, wind direction, rainfall, UV, solar radiation, barometric pressure, dew point and rainfall rate, there's not much the WS-1001 can't tell you. There's a built-in screen, or you can pair it with the Weather Underground app and view all its readings there. Cleverly, it also adds your Ambient Weather Observer's readings to the app's network of weather stations, so others in the area can get accurate localised weather reports. 8. Piper Classic Smart Home Security Camerahttp://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/art/Features%202/10%20gadgets%20for%20the%20ultimate%20connected%20home/Piper-420-90.jpg £152.42 / $195.70 / AU$327.49 There's a lot more to home security than alarms and 'Beware of The Dog' signs. You can now get a fairly high-tech setup without spending a great deal, and the Piper Classic Camera is a good start. A 180-degree HD camera gives you access to live video at any time from an app. It can also send you alerts when rooms are entered or doors are opened, offers two-way audio, and can be linked to other home automation products, such as smart lights and alarms. Keep it somewhere visible and it will act as a deterrent to would-be burglars – and if the worst happens and someone does break in to your home, at least you'll have high-quality video of them. 9. Nest Learning Thermostathttp://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/art/Features%202/10%20gadgets%20for%20the%20ultimate%20connected%20home/Nest%20thermostat-420-90.jpg £249 / $247.99 / AU$275 Building a smart home can be expensive, but in the long run it can save you money. Take the Nest Learning Thermostat for example. Sure, it's pricey, but it turns the heating down when there's no-one home, and pushes you towards maintaining energy-saving temperatures. It's convenient and it's largely automated, learning what temperatures you like and programming itself, but if you want to take control yourself a simple app gives you all the management tools you need. 10. Chromecasthttp://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/art/Features%202/10%20gadgets%20for%20the%20ultimate%20connected%20home/Chromecast-420-90.jpg £30 / $35 / AU$38.30 Sonos has your music needs covered, but for video the incredibly affordable Chromecast is one of the best, and certainly best-value, options. Once it's plugged into your TV you can cast almost anything from your phone or tablet to it in just a couple of taps, turning a dumb screen into a smart one. Even if you already have a smart TV Chromecast is worth considering, given that it works with a huge range of content, enables you to cast your phone screen, and works without a remote. And it's now better than ever – version two of the device recently launched, with faster streaming and a stylish new design. Need more connected home inspiration? We've got you covered.

http://cdn.mos.techradar.com/art/webcams/smarthome_vid-470-75.jpgWe've been talking about smart homes for years, but has the technology finally caught up to the dream of a techno-home? Our experts comb through the big reveals of CES 2016 - the biggest tech show of the year - to pluck out the tech that we might see crossing the threshold this year, and ask: is this the year that we see truly smart homes? Controlling your entire house with your phone or tablet might still be an expensive ask, but there's no doubt that the internet of things is putting chips in thousands of everyday objects and that we're moving ever closer to a home that technophiles have previously only dreamed of. " width="420">YouTube :

http://cdn.mos.techradar.com/art/Home%20Tech/Sony%20Multifunctional%20Light-470-75.jpgSony has launched it's latest smart appliance, and it's a smart light bulb that can do a lot more than you'd imagine a light source to do. As with most other smart light bulbs, the Multifunctional Light, which was developed using Toshiba's LED lighting tech, can connect with your smartphone, allowing you to control timers and remotely turn it off and on. But Sony has filled it with a whole bunch of sensors, including sensors for motion, humidity, luminance and temperature, as well as an infrared controller, speakers, a microphone and even a slot for a microSD card It can turn on when you enter room, as well as play music or playback your home phone's answering machine. It can also work as an intercom between rooms, help control your thermostat and even be connected to your home alarm system, all of which can be controlled via a smartphone whether you're at home or out and about. Unfortunately, the Multifunctional Light will currently only see a release in Japan during the first half of this year, but we're holding out hope that it will eventually make it's way across to the rest of the world. You can check it out in action below. " width="420">YouTube : Via Engadget

http://cdn.mos.techradar.com/art/TRBC/windows8rtm-470-75.jpgYou might be aware that older versions of Internet Explorer will no longer be supported as of today – meaning you should upgrade to Internet Explorer 11, a drum we've been banging for a while now – but Microsoft is also ending updates for Windows 8 as of today. What now, you say? Shouldn't Windows 8 be kept updated for a long time yet? After all, it only emerged a few years back. The thing is, as ZDNet reports, Microsoft considers Windows 8.1 as a service pack for Windows 8 – and while it wasn't mandatory to install it, and make the leap to Windows 8.1, it has service pack rules applied. Namely that support lapses after two years for those who haven't installed the service pack – and that two-year period is now up for Windows 8. The long and short of it is that if you're still on Windows 8, as of today you need to upgrade to Windows 8.1 (or indeed Windows 10) or you'll get no further security updates (or updates full-stop). Windows 8.1, on the other hand, will be supported until 2023 (or at least that's the deadline for extended support). If you're still on Windows 8, you really should have upgraded to Windows 8.1 anyway, of course. Indeed, you wouldn't think many people were still languishing on Windows 8, but according to Netmarketshare, as of December 2015, 2.76% of desktop users were running the OS. That's quite a number of PCs… Those users obviously need to take action pretty sharpish. The same is true for those still running Internet Explorer 8, 9 or 10, which as we mentioned has also hit its end-of-life today. Those who haven't upgraded to IE should be seeing a nag screen as of this week. Via: IGN Should you upgrade to Windows 10? http://rc.feedsportal.com/r/247387856235/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/4cce74a2/sc/15/rc/1/rc.img http://rc.feedsportal.com/r/247387856235/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/4cce74a2/sc/15/rc/2/rc.img http://rc.feedsportal.com/r/247387856235/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/4cce74a2/sc/15/rc/3/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/247387856235/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/4cce74a2/sc/15/a2.imghttp://pi.feedsportal.com/r/247387856235/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/4cce74a2/sc/15/a2t.imghttp://rss.feedsportal.com/c/669/f/415085/s/4cce74a2/sc/15/mf.gifhttp://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techradar/software-news/~4/jaFazO4X2Pk

http://cdn.mos.techradar.com/art/portable_speakers/Amazon/Echo/review/amazon-echo-body-470-75.jpgAmazon Echo might be getting little brother soon, according to a new report. A recent article on The Wall Street Journal reports that Amazon is making a beer can-sized version of the A.I.-equipped Bluetooth speaker and, more interestingly, that it would be revealed in a few weeks' time. The new speaker, codenamed "Fox," will likely come in at half the size of the current model and will cost less than $180 (about 120/AU$260), the current cost of the Amazon Echo. But all that cost cutting and space saving will come at a price. According to the report, the miniature Echo will use a push-to-talk button that activates Alexa, Amazon's A.I. assistant, instead of always listening for a keyword. This is done to conserve battery life, however, will require you to get up anytime you want to get Alexa's attention. Another new addition to the package, according to WSJ, will be a docking station that will be used to charge the Echo 2 when it's not in use. (The current model requires a constant power source.) A refined, portable Amazon Echo would make a lot of sense, as the original became somewhat of an overnight success for the company. The only thing Amazon's updated speaker is missing now is a release date. Want more Amazon in your living room? Check out the Amazon Fire TV!

http://cdn.mos.techradar.com/art/software/Microsoft/Windows%2010%20background-470-75.jpgThe latest figures to emerge concerning Windows 10 adoption show that Microsoft's latest OS is building up a good head of steam with consumers, but not faring so well in the workplace. Certainly, we know Windows 10 is doing well overall, and far, far better than Windows 8 as Microsoft hoped. Indeed, Redmond recently announced the OS had reached 200 million installs, which is twice as many devices as Windows 8 managed in the same time period (namely the first six months). However, some bean counters have pointed to a slowdown in the pace of Windows 10 adoption in recent times – though that's to be expected to an extent, after the initial rush – and the new figures published by the Register are also quite illuminating in terms of telling the full story. The Reg gets its figures on Windows usage from the US government's analytics service that shows which operating systems are visiting government websites. Looking at the three months running up to yesterday, a picture of peaks and troughs is painted which clearly points to Windows 7 usage being high during the five days of the working week – reaching up to the 70% mark – and then dipping down to below the 50% mark at the weekend, bottoming at around 45%. Windows 10, on the other hand, shows the exact opposite trend – it's down during the working week at around the 15% mark in recent times, spiking up and closing on 30% at the weekend. Windows 8 fares better at the weekend too, although it doesn't record nearly such a pronounced jump as Windows 10. Work and playIn other words, Windows 7 is being used far more in the work environment, and Windows 10 is making great strides with home users – as you'd expect, really. It's one thing for the average home user to click through and get their free Windows 10 upgrade, and entirely another for a business to have to upgrade its whole workforce and all their devices. Obviously enough, Microsoft is continuing to push the success angle with Windows 10 as much as it can, noting that not only has the OS reached 200 million devices, but it's also seeing high engagement rates with users spending in excess of 11 billion hours working with Windows 10 in December alone. Redmond also reckons there's been an increase in traffic and profits with the Windows Store since the launch of Windows 10, although the company didn't mention any specific figures, and neither did it give any numbers for the amount of universal apps now available in the store. 3 months with Windows 10 http://rc.feedsportal.com/r/247387717892/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/4cc7ebbc/sc/15/rc/1/rc.img http://rc.feedsportal.com/r/247387717892/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/4cc7ebbc/sc/15/rc/2/rc.img http://rc.feedsportal.com/r/247387717892/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/4cc7ebbc/sc/15/rc/3/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/247387717892/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/4cc7ebbc/sc/15/a2.imghttp://pi.feedsportal.com/r/247387717892/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/4cc7ebbc/sc/15/a2t.imghttp://rss.feedsportal.com/c/669/f/415085/s/4cc7ebbc/sc/15/mf.gifhttp://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techradar/software-news/~4/v-VHuqvvjSA

http://cdn.mos.techradar.com/art/software/Apple/Apple%20Music/Trial%20feature/apple_trial_HERO-470-75.jpgAccording to a report by the Financial Times, Apple Music has a reached 10 million paid subscribers since the service’s launch six months ago. Though the Cupertino company has declined to comment on the report, the report seems more than reasonable – Apple CEO Tim Cook revealed that the service had reached 6.5 million paid subscribers back in October, and Apple Music has since become available on Android devices. This milestone is particularly encouraging for the service, as it took streaming rival Spotify almost six years to reach that number. Spotify currently has 20 million paid subscribers and a further 75 million users that listen to the free version of the service. Music industry analyst Mark Mulligan told Financial Times that Apple Music has “the potential to be the leading music subscription service sometime in 2017.” Apple Music vs Spotify, Tidal and the rest http://rc.feedsportal.com/r/247387689197/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/4cc556d2/sc/28/rc/1/rc.img http://rc.feedsportal.com/r/247387689197/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/4cc556d2/sc/28/rc/2/rc.img http://rc.feedsportal.com/r/247387689197/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/4cc556d2/sc/28/rc/3/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/247387689197/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/4cc556d2/sc/28/a2.imghttp://pi.feedsportal.com/r/247387689197/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/4cc556d2/sc/28/a2t.imghttp://rss.feedsportal.com/c/669/f/415085/s/4cc556d2/sc/28/mf.gifhttp://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techradar/software-news/~4/esFTud-QqWU

http://cdn.mos.techradar.com/art/mobile_phones/Microsoft/Lumia%20950/review/lumia-950-review-microsoft-470-75.jpgA new year, a new build, at least that's what it seems like for Windows Insiders in the Fast ring. Microsoft has just pushed out the Windows 10 Mobile Build 10586.63, but the company has not detailed any changes with this latest update. Windows Central reported that the build is showing up for some Insiders, but not everyone, while WinBeta speculated that there may not be any new features in this cumulative update. In response to user inquiry on Twitter, Gabriel Aul, Vice President, Windows Devices Group Engineering Systems Team at Microsoft, said that he'll share more information about the latest update soon, but the change log was not available at the time of publication. More frequent builds in 2016Aul again reaffirmed his promise to deliver more frequent test builds to Insiders for Windows 10 Mobile this year. "Once we actually *start* flighting in 2016, then we expect to see more frequent builds than last year," he said on Twitter. The reason we haven't seen any builds since the New Year, Aul explained, is because the team is still getting settled. Microsoft generally tests new builds through a flight process internally, before making them available to Insiders. After the bugs have been reported by Insiders and ironed out, then Microsoft will make the build available publicly. Microsoft is also taking control of Windows updates for phones, which is new for the platform. In the past, updates are delivered by carriers, but with the launch of Windows 10 Mobile, Microsoft is taking a more Apple-like approach. Windows 10 Mobile updates will be pushed out directly from Microsoft. Even after several test builds, Windows 10 Mobile still has not officially launched yet. The OS debuted on Microsoft's newest Lumia 950 and 950XL smartphone hardware, but Microsoft has not given a date as to when older hardware will be officially updated. We've reached out to Microsoft for additional details about Build 10586.63, and we'll update this post once we hear more information. Update: It looks like there was a problem with Microsoft's servers affecting the update. Microsoft is addressing the glitch, and the update will resume for all Insiders in the Fast ring today. "Sorry #WindowsInsiders for confusion on the new update for W10 Mobile today," Aul said on Twitter. "During publishing of the .63 update, we detected a potential issue with staging on deployment servers. Since we were partially staged, some people were able to detect the update.We paused the update to investigate, and ensure that everything was 100% ready. We're now resuming the update and it will roll out to #WindowsInsiders in the Fast ring today." Read our Windows 10 Mobile review http://rc.feedsportal.com/r/247387542898/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/4cbd2e4c/sc/28/rc/1/rc.img http://rc.feedsportal.com/r/247387542898/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/4cbd2e4c/sc/28/rc/2/rc.img http://rc.feedsportal.com/r/247387542898/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/4cbd2e4c/sc/28/rc/3/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/247387542898/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/4cbd2e4c/sc/28/a2.imghttp://pi.feedsportal.com/r/247387542898/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/4cbd2e4c/sc/28/a2t.imghttp://rss.feedsportal.com/c/669/f/415085/s/4cbd2e4c/sc/28/mf.gifhttp://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techradar/software-news/~4/EH_57XEbkTk

http://cdn.mos.techradar.com/art/AAevents/Apple%20WWDC%202015/PR%20images/OS%20X%20El%20Capitan-470-75.jpgJust three weeks after Apple launched the first beta of OS X 10.11.3 El Capitan, it announced that the second beta is ready for download. OS X 10.11.3 beta 2 is available to developers and public beta testers in Apple's Beta Software Program. Like the first beta, Apple didn't announce any user-facing changes, and a changelog was not provided. It's unclear if Apple introduced any new features in the second beta, but likely the company is focusing its efforts on under the hood improvements, meaning performance and stability fixes as well as security patches. The build number for OS X 10.11.3 beta 2 is 15D9c. OS X 10.11.3 El CapitanThere were multiple glitches in the early release of OS X 10.11.3 El Capitan, and Apple has addressed many of those complaints. Early versions of the operating system contained issues that affected Apple's Mail app, Wi-Fi performance and Bluetooth stability. The operating system was initially unveiled in September, and Apple made a number of user-facing changes. The company has added new emoji, and OS X El Capitan debuted new Spotlight interactions, a new Mission Control interface and new split-screen multitasking. If you're a beta tester, you can grab the update from Apple's Mac Store. Developers can log into Apple's portal. If you've installed OS X 10.11.3 beta 2 and notice any changes, please let us know. Read our review of OS X El Capitan http://rc.feedsportal.com/r/247387278563/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/4cafcdd2/sc/28/rc/1/rc.img http://rc.feedsportal.com/r/247387278563/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/4cafcdd2/sc/28/rc/2/rc.img http://rc.feedsportal.com/r/247387278563/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/4cafcdd2/sc/28/rc/3/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/247387278563/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/4cafcdd2/sc/28/a2.imghttp://pi.feedsportal.com/r/247387278563/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/4cafcdd2/sc/28/a2t.imghttp://rss.feedsportal.com/c/669/f/415085/s/4cafcdd2/sc/28/mf.gifhttp://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techradar/software-news/~4/gR0IehECz7M

http://cdn.mos.techradar.com/art/software/Windows/Windows%2010%20notifications/action%20centre-470-75.jpgMore issues are being raised over Windows 10 and how Microsoft is treating the privacy of users who have purchased or taken the free upgrade to its new OS. And this latest controversy stems from comments made by Yusuf Mehdi, Corporate Vice President, Windows and Devices Group at Microsoft, in the recent statement concerning Windows 10 reaching the 200 million device milestone. As well as boasting about Windows 10 witnessing the fastest growth ever seen in the history of the desktop OS – outpacing even Windows 7 by 140% – Mehdi highlighted some statistics revealing what users of the operating system have been doing. As we reported back at the start of the week, these include the fact that: "Windows 10 users have spent over 44.5 billion minutes using the Microsoft Edge browser that debuted with the new operating system, asked 2.5 billion questions using Cortana, viewed 82 billion photos in the Windows 10 Photo app, spent over 4 billion hours playing PC games on Windows 10 and streamed more than 6.6 million hours of Xbox One games to Windows 10 PCs." Microsoft also observed that almost a third more Bing search queries have been made from Windows devices compared to previous versions of the OS. Lack of transparencyReleasing this data is clearly meant to reinforce just how popular Windows 10 is becoming, but as Martin Brinkmann of Ghacks.net observes, these stats indicate that Redmond may be hoovering up more data from users of the OS than was initially thought. And the trouble is there's no transparency as to exactly what data Microsoft is collecting – although it is clear that statistics on the use of applications are being pulled from user machines. Neither is it clear how much detail Redmond is going into with its data mining – as Brinkmann notes, when it comes to the questions asked of Cortana, is Microsoft recording the actual queries themselves? The real issue here is the uncertainty over what data is being recorded, and the fact that the user has no control or real say in the process. Microsoft certainly needs to address these points, particularly given the fact that it has run into trouble on privacy issues before with Windows 10. The Windows 10 installation process leaves some pretty intrusive options on by default, unless you opt to customise the install and know what you're doing with these settings. And of course Microsoft ran into hot water over a bug in the major November update for the OS which reset privacy options to their dubious defaults, even if you had turned them off initially. How to fix Windows 10 privacy issues http://rc.feedsportal.com/r/247387243032/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/4cacec49/rc/1/rc.img http://rc.feedsportal.com/r/247387243032/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/4cacec49/rc/2/rc.img http://rc.feedsportal.com/r/247387243032/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/4cacec49/rc/3/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/247387243032/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/4cacec49/a2.imghttp://pi.feedsportal.com/r/247387243032/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/4cacec49/a2t.imghttp://rss.feedsportal.com/c/669/f/415085/s/4cacec49/sc/3/mf.gifhttp://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techradar/software-news/~4/NYu2Tu1k5EY

http://cdn.mos.techradar.com/art/Home%20Tech/Ring%20Stick%20Up%20Cam-470-75.jpgRing is chasing after Google's Nest Cam and Dropcam, but the new Ring Stick Up Cam offers a few features that are not found on its popular competitor. The device is designed for outdoor use, so it comes in a water-sealed case and can be used completely wireless without any cords required for cable. This makes it easy for you to secure and monitor the outside of your home or small office, and Ring says you can add multiple Stick Up Cams to create a Ring perimeter. Ring claims that the internal battery can be recharged with a micro USB cable, and the battery can last for up to a year on a single charge. When the Stick Up Cam detects motion, it will activate the camera and send a clear picture day or night to the Ring app on iOS, Android and Windows 10. How it worksOnce motion or activity is detected, you'll get a push notification. Opening the Ring app will let you see the video feed, and you can interact with whoever is snooping on you with the intercom feature. The camera has an embedded speaker and microphone, so you can talk to whomever is outside through your phone. Unfortunately, though the field of view for the Stick Up Cam is rather limited at just 80 degrees. Ring's Video Doorbell, a similar video surveillance device with an integrated doorbell, comes with a wider 180-degree field of view. Where the Stick Up Cam edges ahead of the Video Doorbell is that it offers more flexible mounting options, allowing you to hang the doorbell from a higher vantage point. Like Dropcam, Ring offers a subscription cloud recording plan so you can store, download and view recorded clips that are stored on Ring's servers. Fortunately video recording is only activated when the motion sensor is tripped, so you don't need to weed through endless hours of recording to find a particular clip. You'll be able to set up the sensitivity level of the motion detector, but once motion is detected, Ring will begin recording and the video is uploaded through your home or office Wi-Fi connection to Ring's servers. Ring claims that this design allows the Video Doorbell and Stick Up Cam to last for up to a year with the internal rechargeable battery. View our report on smart homes