sincity

http://cdn.mos.techradar.com/art/TRBC/Miscellaneous/Smart-home-Home-automation-Kensington-AV-470-75.jpgThe first Apple HomeKit-enabled devices will arrive in June, Apple said today. "HomeKit [hardware certification] has been available for just a few months and we already have dozens of partners who have committed to bringing HomeKit accessories to market and we're looking forward to the first ones coming next month," an Apple spokeswoman told the Wall Street Journal. The word from Cupertino contradicts an earlier report by Fortune which said HomeKit devices were delayed as Apple worked to fix problems with its connected home platform. Fortune updated its article to say "some devices" have been pushed from an anticipated spring/early summer release time frame to one closer to the fall. Apple has never said specifically when HomeKit-enabled products like light bulbs and garage door openers would become avaiable, though reports indicated they would release by May or June. HomeKit woesHomeKit, which will let users control products in their homes with iOS devices (iPhones and iPads), was announced alongside iOS 8 last year. Apple was big on fanfare but offered little on specifics as to how HomeKit would actually work. Apple has stayed quiet on HomeKit since it was announced, leading to speculation it may have bit off more than it could chew when deciding to use a common protocol to connect smart home and iOS devices with one another. According to Forbes, too much memory was needed for smaller, battery-powered devices, something Apple is working to rectify. In the wake of today's news, expect to more about HomeKit and the devices that support it during WWDC, which kicks off June 8. These are all the home appliances that work with Apple HomeKit

http://cdn.mos.techradar.com/art/software/Microsoft/Microsoft%20Hyperlapse-470-75.jpgLast year we reported on Microsoft's research into video stabilisation technology, and today the fruits of those labours have arrived in the form of apps for Windows Phone, Android and the desktop. Essentially, it adds a timelapse effect while steadying the footage at the same time. The software lets you turn your long, tedious, shaky clips into "easily consumable, enjoyable experiences" which could do wonders for your YouTube channel's viewing figures. You can head to the apps download page to get started with Microsoft Hyperlapse, and free apps are available for Windows Phone 8.1 and select Android phones - specifically the Samsung Galaxy S5, S6, S6 Edge and Note 4, the Google Nexus 5, 6 and 9 tablet, the HTC One M8 and M9, and the Sony Xperia Z3. The Pro editionThe Microsoft Hyperlapse Pro Preview is available for Windows 7, Windows 8 and Windows 8.1 and is aimed more at professional video makers who want to get serious with their filmmaking. A version is also available for Microsoft's Azure cloud platform. Quite why Microsoft is using the same name for its video stabilisation technology as Instagram does isn't clear. Instagram's Hyperlapse is iOS-only for now so perhaps that's why Microsoft is avoiding iOS with its own software. At first glance this looks like a more powerful beast: you can go way beyond the 6x speed limit in Instagram's Hyperlapse and access 3D modelling stabilisation in the Pro desktop software. If you want to turn your phone into a GoPro, it's worth checking out. What's Microsoft got in store for Windows 10 Mobile?http://rss.feedsportal.com/c/669/f/415085/s/46500a21/sc/15/mf.gif http://da.feedsportal.com/r/228765835651/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/46500a21/sc/15/rc/1/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/228765835651/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/46500a21/sc/15/rc/2/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/228765835651/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/46500a21/sc/15/rc/3/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/228765835651/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/46500a21/sc/15/a2.imghttp://pi.feedsportal.com/r/228765835651/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/46500a21/sc/15/a2t.imghttp://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techradar/software-news/~4/jIZJxOEESlA

http://cdn.mos.techradar.com/art/TRBC/Miscellaneous/Edge%20browser%20extensions%20feature/pinterest%20extension-470-75.jpgIntroduction and easy portingIf there are features you're hoping to see that aren't yet in Microsoft's new Edge browser, be prepared to wait until this autumn. The most important of those incoming features is extension support, which may also be how Microsoft addresses the question of Tracking Protection Lists and ad blocking – and it won't be in Edge at RTM. Autumn is also when we'll get more of the Cortana features we saw demoed in January, along with Object RTC (the upcoming version of WebRTC, which will make it easier for developers to build web apps for making voice and video calls) and pointer lock. The latter lets you lock the mouse pointer into your browser if you're playing a game, so you don't accidentally click somewhere else and lose the game. Evergreen EdgeThis strategy is part of what Microsoft means by calling Edge an evergreen browser – especially because it's what web apps in the Windows Store are based on – although the update schedule isn't yet set. So far, Edge has been getting new features about twice a month as part of the Insider program, and the Windows Insider program will continue after launch, but even users who aren't Insiders will get frequent updates. "Being locked to the next version of Windows and rolling releases are now the same thing," Sean Lyndersay of the browser team said at Build. "Windows 10 itself will be doing rolling releases and users will be brought along. The entire app platform on Windows 10 is going to be kept evergreen across the entire consumer base and Edge will move along with that. We haven't worked out the exact cadence of whether it's 45 days or 90 days or 73 days or whatever, though." The team is also looking at using release numbers to make it clearer for developers which features the Edge browser has in different flights. Edge will have PDF and Flash support built in, but other extensions will be based on what Lyndersay calls "the HTML5 and JavaScript extensions that are the standard on the web today," not binary add-ons like ActiveX, which IE 11 continues to support. Easy transitionThe demos the Edge team gave of extensions running in the browser at the recent Build conference used a version of the browser that isn't yet released, and used extensions that the Edge team adapted after getting the extension code from the original developers, like the Reddit and Pinterest extensions (the latter is pictured above). In both cases, he said, "we were able to bring it over to Microsoft Edge almost unchanged, we were able to bring it up with very few changes to the extension itself." http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/art/TRBC/Miscellaneous/Edge%20browser%20extensions%20feature/translation%20extension-420-90.jpg "We want to make it very easy for developers to bring extensions to Edge," he said, but also noted that "we would like to have extensions do unique things with features we have in the browser." The Skype team has written an extension that picks up phone numbers on the page and the Bing Translate team has written an extension that switches Edge into reading view and translates the site from another language at the same time (because if you can't read the language of a site, the links and navigation on the page aren't that useful). SecuritySwitching to HTML5 extensions in Edge improves security in more ways than just removing ActiveX. "We're 64-bit by default now," he pointed out, "that's something we've tried to do for the longest time but we've been held back because most extensions are 32-bit." The Edge browser has multiple sandboxes and multiple processes. The interface that you see when you use it, with the tabs and toolbar and other controls, is a Windows 10 app running in a very restricted app container, a Microsoft spokesperson explained to TechRadar. The browser interface runs in its own process, and each tab runs in its own process as well, so they don't interfere with each other, and there are other processes that broker communication between them. And the pages are rendered by the Edge rendering engine, with JavaScript run by the Chakra engine. Those are part of the Windows OS and there are two versions of both the rendering and JavaScript engine – one for Edge and one for IE (so the IE version of the JavaScript engine has support for VBScript, but the Edge JavaScript engine doesn't). For extensions, the script of the extension runs in the context of a tab, and the script host is a separate process, which you can think of as a separate hidden tab; again, that isolates things for security. So the parent process that's the browser frame can do things like opening the camera, but a child process wouldn't get access to that. That tab isolation is why you can see multiple tabs as thumbnails on the taskbar. And this also improves performance, we were told, because a JavaScript extension running in the background doesn't interfere with other tasks (which should avoid the problems some Chrome users see with extensions slowing down the browser). http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/art/TRBC/Miscellaneous/Edge%20browser%20extensions%20feature/reddit%20extension-420-90.jpg Extensions on phones?The Edge team is talking to the developers behind all the popular extensions, including the ad blockers. It's possible that those will replace functionality that's in IE, like Tracking Protection Lists. Those are built by third parties but distributed by Microsoft through the Internet Explorer Gallery site. Extensions will be distributed through the Windows Store, like apps, which means there is already a system for developers to submit and update them. That also means there's a mechanism for businesses to curate a list of extensions they want to make available to users through the company version of the Windows Store (or potentially even block extensions for certain users). Edge on Windows 10 for Phones handsets and tablets is the same engine as Edge on the PC (and on Xbox and HoloLens), and the interface adapts to your screen resolution. That doesn't mean that extensions will definitely be available on phones though – the team is still looking at the impact that would have on performance and battery life, especially on smaller handsets with less memory and less powerful processors (where smaller screens might make it awkward to use extensions inside a page). They plan to use telemetry that will show whether the performance on different phones is good enough for extensions like ad blocking that do make sense on smaller screens. Hands on: Microsoft Edge reviewhttp://rss.feedsportal.com/c/669/f/415085/s/464d9cf1/sc/15/mf.gif http://da.feedsportal.com/r/228765823117/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/464d9cf1/sc/15/rc/1/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/228765823117/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/464d9cf1/sc/15/rc/2/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/228765823117/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/464d9cf1/sc/15/rc/3/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/228765823117/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/464d9cf1/sc/15/a2.imghttp://pi.feedsportal.com/r/228765823117/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/464d9cf1/sc/15/a2t.imghttp://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techradar/software-news/~4/h7sbht1Ccug

http://cdn.mos.techradar.com/art/software/Apple/Apple%20Music/apple-music-streaming-service-470-75.jpgBeats Music is getting rebranded "Apple Music" and adding a music-driven social network, according to a new report today. No, this isn't a reboot of Ping, the ill-fated iTunes social network that closed in 2012. This is supposed to be a more exclusive social network not open to normal users. It'll reportedly allow musicians to connect with followers and post track samples, photos, videos and concert updates. Backed up by iOS 8.4 betaToday's Apple Music rumors are backed up by iOS 8.4 beta leaks. A new setting lets users turn off "Artist Activity" within the beta. Now it makes sense. The still unconfirmed Apple Music app is said to go beyond the confines of iOS 8.4. It's supposed to be made available for Androids and Mac too. A native Apple Watch app is also very likely. We should note that while Beats Music is expected to be absorbed by Apple's Music app, the Beats brand won't be going anywhere. They're two very different things. Apple is also reportedly still keeping iTunes Match and iTunes Radio despite the similarities with what Beats Music and, soon, Apple Music do. Expect to hear an official announcement on June 8 during Apple's WWDC 2015 keynote, when iOS 8.4 is expected to launch and iOS 9 hints may be thrown around. What is Apple up against? See our Tidal reviewhttp://rss.feedsportal.com/c/669/f/415085/s/464b84d9/sc/28/mf.gif http://da.feedsportal.com/r/228857346456/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/464b84d9/sc/28/rc/1/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/228857346456/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/464b84d9/sc/28/rc/2/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/228857346456/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/464b84d9/sc/28/rc/3/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/228857346456/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/464b84d9/sc/28/a2.imghttp://pi.feedsportal.com/r/228857346456/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/464b84d9/sc/28/a2t.imghttp://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techradar/software-news/~4/RJTT2ucPSoo

http://cdn.mos.techradar.com/art/Benioff%20and%20Nadella%202-470-75.jpgThe rumor-mill is in overdrive as speculation continues about Microsoft’s supposed intention to acquire Salesforce. To recap, last week Bloomberg reported that Salesforce, the most popular, fastest growing and perhaps most powerful CRM tool on the planet, has been approached with an acquisition offer that was serious enough to motivate the company to work with financial advisors to consider the option. You probably have heard that Microsoft, the world's largest software company, may make a bid to acquire the CRM giant. Assuming a Microsoft bid for Salesforce.com is on the table - Microsoft has firmly denied that one is - it would make a ton of sense as the software company’s CEO Satya Nadella would solidify Microsoft’s position in cloud and mobile computing, where he is already focusing much of the company’s attention and seeking to lessen the company’s focus on the declining personal computer industry. A year ago, Microsoft and Salesforce worked out a deal that allows customers to access Salesforce.com and run operations from Windows-based systems and devices. The marriage between the two companies would easily create the biggest acquisition in enterprise software history. It's like getting the best of both worlds. The cloudThe cloud is clearly where Microsoft is investing for the future of its business, so a union would grow its offerings and help plug a lot of holes by acquiring an army of cloud coders and give a clear advantage in the cloud battle. The battle in cloud is not as much about who can provide the cloud infrastructure - the Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS) - but who can build out their cloud offerings to more than just the virtual machines delivered through the Microsoft Azure platform. And this is where Salesforce comes into play. It's this thinking that has made Salesforce the more than $5 billion, cloud-based CRM company that it is. The Salesforce platform is one of the fastest growing enterprise IT platforms by all measures - number of transactions, number of customers, number of developers, and number of apps. Microsoft is good at building developer tools, and if the company marries those with Salesforce’s cloud platform it could be a way for Microsoft to transition the millions of .NET developers into the cloud world. A purchase of Salesforce would secure the future of this initiative almost entirely and allow Microsoft to focus their efforts on building Azure's reputation in the cloud market. What’s more, integrating Salesforce natively with Microsoft’s productivity tools, Outlook and Office, and its own CRM tool, Dynamics CRM, would provide Microsoft with a highly personalized CRM integrated with your emails and calendars. This intersection of tools would solidify Exchange’s position in the email world and guard against Gmail’s advancements while also improving Microsoft’s CRM positioning. With Apple giving away Mac OS and the productivity apps and Google selling Google Apps for next to nothing, the market is in a race to the bottom. Take Microsoft’s core strategy, Office 365 and Windows, and think about integrating it with Salesforce’s core strategy, CRM apps, and making a combined offering that offers more value to all users. Outlook is already an amazing platform for e-mail and correspondence, plus the power of Salesforce integration will mean keeping track of your tasks seamlessly. Imagine getting custom data, graphs, pivots, etc. in Excel sheets and then having that data funneling automatically back and forth between your CRM system. A Salesforce cloud integration with OneDrive can bring CRM in a snap of our fingers on all devices across all tools with one unified technology. Unifying the product offering by creating integration into various other Microsoft products, and offering bulk licensing discounts in conjunction with Azure, Windows Enterprise, and various other software-as-a-service products could give Microsoft added leverage to gain a significant market position in various software verticals. It would also play to Microsoft’s traditional strength as an enterprise technology provider, further distancing the company from rivals such as Apple and Google. They're both commodity providers of software, and only Microsoft and a few other companies are really proficient at direct software monetization. Microsoft needs to build out this moat even further by reducing the number of competitors with which it has to compete. Next phase of the mobile revolutionAdditionally, Salesforce has become the leading force in enterprise technology in the wearables and machine-to-machine space. There is plenty of room for exploration by Microsoft and opportunities for development as wearables in the enterprise are a large, untapped market segment in military, law enforcement, EMS, healthcare, maintenance, assembly, design, and transportation. The potential buyout will open up new opportunities for wearable app development, as the Salesforce Wear Developer Pack is already a frontrunner in open source starter apps, including reference applications, tools, and codes for developing wearable business processes that can connect to the cloud-based Salesforce1 Platform. For example, ShiftExpert by ClickSoftware, is a native Salesforce1 Mobile ready app that works with Android smartphones to allow employees to automatically clock in and out of work, and then the app incorporates that data into a digital timesheet. A union with Microsoft could give the two companies the leading device and reporting mechanism by integrating Microsoft Band and Hololens with Salesforce's data and analytics tools. Imagine how much easier training and collaboration could be if you are able to project a holographic image into your workspace through an augmented reality (AR) interface. Among the technology's potential applications is the ability for offsite trainers to show employees how to work through complex tasks by projecting instructions over the real life projects from their glasses. If Microsoft hammers out a deal, the company stands to gain an army of cloud experts, a major foothold in the San Francisco tech recruiting market, and some of the most popular tools businesses use to manage customer relationships in the cloud. Microsoft, valued at $385 billion, has already notched two major tech deals in recent years. In September 2013, Microsoft announced it would acquire Nokia's handset business for $7 billion. Last September, Microsoft scooped up the video game franchise Minecraft for $2.5 billion. With Salesforce's market value estimated at $50 billion, a potential acquisition would likely make history. http://rss.feedsportal.com/c/669/f/415085/s/46354715/sc/15/mf.gifhttp://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techradar/software-news/~4/yXrU10y7isM

http://cdn.mos.techradar.com/art/Wearables/Microsoft/HoloLens/microsoft-hololens-hero-470-75.jpgWelcome to the futurehttp://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/art/Wearables/Microsoft/HoloLens/microsoft-hololens-hero-420-90.jpg Imagine a world where impressive, immersive eye-candy doesn't stop as soon as you step away from your computer screen. A place where smartphones exist but they're actually considered low-tech compared to the augmented reality-powered goggles you wear from dawn until dusk. This is the world Avengers' Iron Man, aka Tony Stark, lives in, but more and more his world and our world are converging. The one technology getting us closer to Iron Man-status? Microsoft HoloLens. Of course, as exciting as it is, HoloLens can't quite help us live like Tony Stark yet. Microsoft has shown off some nifty use cases for HoloLens, but the reality of the AR viewer is that it's still a work in progress. So instead of taking this feature as a hard-and-fast "HoloLens is the future, right now!," treat it as a side-by-side comparison of all the eye-candy from the Iron Man and Avengers movies and the best HoloLens demos that left me drooling and buying a ticket on Microsoft's hype train. So, how is HoloLens going to make us into Iron Man? Here's five ways. By controlling a robot remotelyhttp://cdn2.mos.techradar.futurecdn.net//art/events/Microsoft%20Build%202015/screen%20grabs/robot-control-panel-hololens-420-100.jpg When Microsoft rolled out a two-bit robot as part of its developer conference keynote last week, I had my doubts. How was a rolling stick, encased in LEDs and seemingly useless sensors going to change engineering? Then, before I could ponder it any further, the robot sprouted a head and said, "Holo World." The head, of course, was a virtual one, only capable of being seen by the presenter wearing the HoloLens. Using only touch gestures to plot movement paths and adjust settings using a somewhat basic interface that, most likely, would make Tony cringe if he ever saw it, the presenter moved the animated robot around the stage to the audience's delight. Now, admittedly, a small, motorized stick with sensors isn't as cool as the Iron Man suit, but the idea of controlling a robot using Microsoft's new visor is actually pretty rad. What did it look like in Iron Man? http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/art/Features%202/HoloLens%20Tony%20Stark%20gallery/tony%20stark_robot%20control-420-90.jpg By diagnosing a problem with a human bodyhttp://cdn3.mos.techradar.futurecdn.net//art/events/Microsoft%20Build%202015/screen%20grabs/hololens-anatomy-breakdown-420-100.jpg Evolution has done wonders for the human body. From a highly specialized brain to the feedback mechanisms that dictate the release of hormones and start chemical reactions, the human body is no stranger to enhancements. That said, at the end of the day we're still bags of meat - systematically flawed and bound by an expiration date. It's good, then, that technology has come a long ways in the past few hundred years and now allows us to diagnose more diseases more readily than ever before. Microsoft may have shown us the future of the healthcare field at Build when presenters pulled up an anatomically detailed human figures they said could help medical students learn by seeing where organs are, how they function and visualizing broken bones. Again, not as cool as when Tony Stark pulled up a real-time version of the gold and crimson suit, but still very cool. What did it look like in Iron Man? http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/art/Features%202/HoloLens%20Tony%20Stark%20gallery/Iron%20Man%20Body-420-90.jpg By designing a vehiclehttp://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/art/Features%202/HoloLens%20Tony%20Stark%20gallery/Design%20a%20vehicle%20HoloLens%202-420-90.jpg Manufacturing is tricky. Parts need to come together in exactly the right way to produce a working, efficient and ultimately safe product. The HoloLens demonstrated its ability to help automotive engineers cobble together the motorcycles of the future using augmented reality. The finished result, a neon-green bike clearly inbound for Neo from The Matrix, may not be the pinnacle of eye-catching design, but it does make for a cool demo for engineers tired of seeing their designs on a computer screen. What did it look like in Iron Man? http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/art/Features%202/HoloLens%20Tony%20Stark%20gallery/Tony-Stark-garage-420-90.jpg By making international video calls http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/art/events/AAvents/Windows%2010/windows10-hololens-sink-420-90.jpg Even the best entrepreneur/playboy/engineer needs to make a phone call every once in a while to keep business afloat. Using the Windows 10 Universal Skype app, the HoloLens can connect you with friends, family and even potential business partners from around the world while beaming their faces onto any surface in your house. Whether you use the technology to talk face-to-face with an arch-nemesis hacker who's sworn vengeance against you and your entire corporation, or simply to wish Mom a happy Mother's Day, however, is up to you. What did it look like in Iron Man? http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/art/Features%202/HoloLens%20Tony%20Stark%20gallery/GH_CaseStudy_6-1-420-90.jpg By creating a three-dimensional map http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/art/events/AAvents/Windows%2010/windows10-hololens-minecraft2-420-90.jpg OK, so recreating a map in Minecraft may not have the same kind of impact that saving the city from a gang of auto-piloted kill-droids has, but it's still pretty nifty. Microsoft clearly set out to show how HoloLens can apply to nearly every field, from enterprise to entertainment. For gamers, we see this in the form of Mojang's loveable, moddable and all-around-brain-building open-world game, Minecraft. Using the HoloLens you'll be able to walk around the map, creating structures and terraforming the land however you see fit. Overall, it feels a bit rudimentary to use an insanely powerful machine to display a game as simplistic as Minecraft, but this is only a small window of what gaming could look like with a truly powerful AR device. What did it look like in Iron Man? http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/art/Features%202/HoloLens%20Tony%20Stark%20gallery/Tony%20Stark%203D%20map-420-90.jpg

http://cdn.mos.techradar.com/art/headphones/Beats/Studio%20Wireless/beats_headphones-4706-470-75.jpgApple may be catching some flack for putting the pressure on Spotify to abandon its free music streaming, but Re/code reports Apple's upcoming streaming service may offer a few gratis tunes of its own. While Apple will fund its streaming service (presumably the Beats Music relaunch) through paid subscriptions, it does plan on offering a free trial period of up to 3 months long, though it's reported Apple won't ever offer an unlimited free music tier like Spotify does. The report also says that Beats Music is taking a page from Soundcloud's book by adding a feature that lets users upload their own music, a unique tool that could separate it from the rest of the music streaming service pack. More iTunesWe may also see a new version of iTunes Radio that benefits from the addition of human DJs (including the popular BBC jockey Zane Lowe) as well as four producers from BBC Radio 1, according to Music Business Worldwide. An improved radio function could elevate Beats Music to better compete with Pandora. Although Spotify's free streaming was intended to eventually lead users to paid subscriptions, only a fourth of its users actually pay for the service - a fate Apple's trying to avoid. If the rumors prove true, we'll see the company credited for pushing the $0.99 DRM-free MP3 file also credited with putting a permanent price on streaming. Though Apple's reach may ensure that it has some level of success, Tidal's similarly ambitious efforts have thus far been fairly muted. We rank the best music streaming serviceshttp://rss.feedsportal.com/c/669/f/415085/s/46248ff1/sc/15/mf.gif http://da.feedsportal.com/r/228546617012/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/46248ff1/sc/15/rc/1/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/228546617012/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/46248ff1/sc/15/rc/2/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/228546617012/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/46248ff1/sc/15/rc/3/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/228546617012/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/46248ff1/sc/15/a2.imghttp://pi.feedsportal.com/r/228546617012/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/46248ff1/sc/15/a2t.imghttp://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techradar/software-news/~4/OcvNXXKXZnI

http://cdn.mos.techradar.com/art/events/Microsoft%20Build%202015/screen%20grabs/windows-10-laptop-470-75.jpgMicrosoft says that Windows 10 will be its final release of the iconic operating system that's installed on over 90% of computers. "Right now we're releasing Windows 10, and because Windows 10 is the last version of Windows, we're all still working on Windows 10," said Jerry Nixon, Microsoft's developer evangelist, at the Ignite tech conference. Instead of releasing an entirely new and different version of its desktop OS every few years, Microsoft is taking an Apple-like approach to subsequent Windows releases, standardizing on Windows 10 as its Cupertino-based rival has done with OS X. Under this new strategy, Microsoft will deliver regular improvements to Windows through software updates. Windows as a serviceIn the past, Windows users could go to a store, purchase a copy of Windows and install it on their PCs. With the release of Windows 10 this summer, Microsoft is radically changing the way users upgrade Windows. For the first time, Microsoft is making Windows 10 available as a free upgrade to all Windows 7, Windows 8 and Windows 8.1 users. Starting in July, for the first year of Windows 10's availability, owners of these prior releases can upgrade through Windows Update over-the-air at no cost. Microsoft will continue this strategy of delivering Windows as a service, delivering frequent updates to Windows 10. There are also new methods to download Windows, including downloading the updates through multiple sources to get them quicker. Users can download Windows updates through Microsoft's servers and from local and internet-connected PCs that have already obtained the updates. Taking a mobile-first approachUnder CEO Satya Nadella, Microsoft is taking a cloud-first, mobile-first approach to its business, and this also applies to Windows. Windows will employ a strategy similar to how mobile operating systems split up the core components to deliver faster updates . The Start menu and built-in apps are now unbundled from the main OS so users can get faster updates. Rather than waiting for a full Windows update, Microsoft is delivering smaller standalone app updates, a feature we're seeing in the Windows Insider Preview - formerly known as the Windows 10 Technical Preview build - with the Mail and Calendar apps. This unbundling effect has allowed smartphone manufacturers to update core apps - such as the camera, photo gallery, mail and others - without having to wait for mobile operators to push out a larger OS-wide update. Like Windows, Microsoft employs a similar strategy with Office. With Office 365, Microsoft's subscription service for Office already delivers the most up-to-date Office experience to users, regardless of the OS or device you're running. Office 365 subscribers will have access to Office 2016, which brings cloud-based collaboration, when that version hits retail. The next generationAfter the launch of Windows 10 this summer, Microsoft is rumored to have started work on its next update, codenamed Redstone. Redstone is expected to arrive in 2016, bringing Windows 10 support to more devices, like HoloLens. Read our Windows 10 reviewhttp://rss.feedsportal.com/c/669/f/415085/s/462418f0/sc/15/mf.gif http://da.feedsportal.com/r/228546658121/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/462418f0/sc/15/rc/1/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/228546658121/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/462418f0/sc/15/rc/2/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/228546658121/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/462418f0/sc/15/rc/3/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/228546658121/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/462418f0/sc/15/a2.imghttp://pi.feedsportal.com/r/228546658121/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/462418f0/sc/15/a2t.imghttp://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techradar/software-news/~4/g-Y_c1avJes

http://cdn.mos.techradar.com/art/events/google/Google%20IO%202012/GOOGLE%20I-O%20DAY%20ONE/P6271394-470-75.JPGGoogle's 'Android M' is answering the call for more privacy by giving its users more say in the information that applications can access. Bloomberg reports that the new operating system, set to debut at Google IO 2015, will help users pick and choose what information is shared with certain applications, including photos, contacts, and location. This is an evolution in Google's walk to bring more privacy and peace of mind to its users. iPhone users are sure to point out that Google is behind Apple's iOS on this matter. Google is feeling more pressure from Apple than ever, as Android's mobile market share is waning in certain parts of the world while Apple's is rising. The added pressure from its Cupertino competitor, and an ever-increasing outcry for transparency in the internet age, are both likely feeding into Google's privacy-centric changes. The specifics on the amount of control 'Android M' will offer are still unknown, but we expect to learn all about it at Google's aforementioned developer conference in San Francisco, Calif. later this month. While Google may be playing catch-up with its privacy controls, application access control will be music to Android users' ears. Google IO 2015 starts on May 28 at 9:30am PST and 12:30pm EST http://rss.feedsportal.com/c/669/f/415085/s/4622db6c/sc/15/mf.gif http://da.feedsportal.com/r/228674871097/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/4622db6c/sc/15/rc/1/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/228674871097/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/4622db6c/sc/15/rc/2/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/228674871097/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/4622db6c/sc/15/rc/3/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/228674871097/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/4622db6c/sc/15/a2.imghttp://pi.feedsportal.com/r/228674871097/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/4622db6c/sc/15/a2t.imghttp://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techradar/software-news/~4/yhz8NEbwcc4

http://cdn.mos.techradar.com/art/tablets/iPad/apps/Spotify%20for%20iPad/Lifestyle%201-470-75.jpgMusic streaming powerhouse Spotify may be making a move into the video world. The Wall Street Journal reports Spotify "has been reaching out to companies that specialize in making content for YouTube." It's possible that Spotify is attempting to outdo its pricier competitor, Tidal, which offers music videos and will eventually stream live events. According to the report, Spotify has been in talks with companies that create content for YouTube about acquiring existing material and possibly joining forces to test the waters of original video content. The specifics of Spotify's new venture into video could be divulged as early as this month. The WSJ reported last month that Spotify's worth is about to rise to $8.4 billion, making it a stronghold in the streaming industry. The addition of video, and possibly taking pointers from Google's Music Key and Tidal looks like it could help strengthen the company's foothold as the top-dog. We rank the best music streaming serviceshttp://rss.feedsportal.com/c/669/f/415085/s/461b4e3e/sc/15/mf.gif http://da.feedsportal.com/r/228546603247/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/461b4e3e/sc/15/rc/1/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/228546603247/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/461b4e3e/sc/15/rc/2/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/228546603247/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/461b4e3e/sc/15/rc/3/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/228546603247/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/461b4e3e/sc/15/a2.imghttp://pi.feedsportal.com/r/228546603247/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/461b4e3e/sc/15/a2t.imghttp://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techradar/software-news/~4/IWrcQrXs_yE

http://cdn.mos.techradar.com/art/TRBC/Miscellaneous/microsoft%20ignite-470-75.jpgIntroduction and partnershipsThe word 'ignite' means 'to begin burning' and it is no coincidence that Microsoft chose that name as the title for its newly minted conference, which is currently underway over in Chicago (it runs from May 4 to May 8). Following on from Convergence and Build, the Ignite conference runs for a working week, features a keynote from Satya Nadella, and is in Microsoft's words a "unified enterprise technology conference." At Ignite, Microsoft's intentions are clear: the company will light a flame under its latest ambition to underpin every piece of technology in the world, be it enterprise or consumer. Partnerships not protectionUnsurprisingly, the whole strategy starts, and ends, with Windows 10. Everything Microsoft is doing is based around the new operating system, making it easier to work with Redmond. Satya Nadella has moved Microsoft from a position of offence – which was largely down to Steve Ballmer's obsessive tendency to protect the core assets of Windows and Office – to a company willing to work with multiple partners, providing services they want and need. In a joint media briefing between Salesforce CEO Marc Benioff and Satya Nadella, Benioff commented that "it starts with Satya and I coming together, our companies coming together, but mostly it's for getting our customers together." This sentiment shows just how far Microsoft has come – not long ago, working with Salesforce would've been unthinkable – and it's telling that he mentions Nadella directly. He has his hand firmly on the wheel and is driving Microsoft in a new, interesting direction. It's clear that Microsoft is now a company that listens, allowing almost four million people access to Windows 10 prior to its public launch later on this year. From these beta testers, Microsoft can glean key information. An example Nadella gave on stage was related to Alt-Tab, a quick way to switch between apps. According to Microsoft, between 4% and 7% of people use, or are aware of, Alt-Tab, and so Microsoft has built a system of quick app switching into the taskbar. This may seem like a small example, but it speaks to Microsoft's strategy as a company going forward: they listen, take notes and implement a solution accessible to all. http://cdn1.mos.techradar.futurecdn.net//art/TRBC/Software/Microsoft/Office%202016%20Windows%20Touch%20and%20Mac/Excel%20forW%20lets%20create%20tables%20with%20touch%20easily-420-100.jpg Feedback frenzyA public preview of Office 2016 was announced on stage at Ignite, allowing users the ability to download the software ahead of time and send feedback to Microsoft, and the company encouraged everyone to do so. Many of the things that were demoed during the keynote – co-editing documents, Office Delve, SharePoint and Exchange Server updates in 2016 – relate to Office and its application across everything Microsoft does. Office 365, the subscription service, has over 12.4 million users according to Microsoft's filings with the SEC, highlighting just how influential it still is, despite speculation that a unilateral shift toward handheld devices has impeded the software. Some cried doom when Microsoft made Office available on iOS and Android (initially with very limited functionality if you weren't an Office 365 subscriber, but now they're free with editing limitations lifted), but it is clear now that this was simply part of Microsoft's larger plan of unity and coherence across all devices. The biggest announcements from Microsoft Build 2015HoloLens and new pathsMicrosoft also made a big deal out of HoloLens – its new holographic headset which overlays virtual environments onto real ones – at Build, and its persistent influence hovered over Ignite. The potential business applications, the company stressed, are enormous and, you guessed it, it's underpinned by Windows 10 meaning that every application or use case of the new operating system is available. http://cdn.mos.techradar.com/art/Wearables/Microsoft/HoloLens/Press/hololens-review-420-100.jpg The fact that Microsoft is even mentioning a device that would usually be seen as an early adopter plaything to a room of serious professionals, all managing large enterprise budgets, shows just how committed the company is to the programme. Nadella must believe that computing is going to move beyond the keyboard and screen, into a new dimension and, at present, that vision is driven by Microsoft. Threat analyticsMicrosoft is still sticking to the present, however. HoloLens and all of its initiatives are nice but sit firmly in the future, and are obviously not available to the enterprises of today. Several things were shown off on stage, one of them being Advanced Threat Analytics (ATA) which is based on the technology acquired in Redmond's recent purchase of Aorato, a deal which cost $200 million (around £130 million, AU$250 million). The software "identifies security breaches and threats [based on] behavioural analysis and machine learning" and flags them up to a system administrator. Things like "impossible distance jumps" (i.e. logging in from the USA and then, twenty minutes later, logging in from North Korea) and compromised accounts becoming available for purchase on the 'dark net'. There is also a new focus on security within Office 365, especially around access rights to various documents. If you don't want junior employees nosing around legally sensitive reports then simply lock them down so only a chosen few can view them, and it's that simple. Tucked away in its announcement of an extension to the capabilities of Microsoft's Azure Stack is a new management suite called Microsoft Operations Management Suite (OMS), which works with "any hybrid clouds" and that includes Azure, Amazon Web Services, Linux, VMware and more. Microsoft describes this as "next-generation hybrid cloud" and it's clear to see that it innovates heavily on what has come before it, providing solutions for IT departments that will make their lives easier. This announcement comes in tandem with a preview of Windows Server 2016 which enterprises can try and submit feedback on, just like Windows 10. http://cdn1.mos.techradar.futurecdn.net//art/people/Satya%20Nadella%20seated-420-100.jpg Forging a new pathIt is clear, from Convergence to Build to Ignite, that Microsoft is moving in a fresh direction away from a company solely focused on already strong businesses to new paths. A New York Times article entitled 'Microsoft (Yes, Microsoft) Has a Far-Out Vision' details the first time Nadella tried on HoloLens and immediately saw it as the future. According to Todd Holmdahl, a 'Microsoft hardware guru': "[Nadella] said right away, 'This is something that we're going to do. We are going to create a new product category, and this is the type of thing that Microsoft should be working on.'" This kind of forward thinking attitude is, in many ways, reminiscent of the late Apple CEO Steve Jobs who saw potential in contemporarily crazy technology and went on to define how we use mobile devices today. Could Microsoft be the company that does that going forward? From what we have seen at Ignite, the answer is starting to look like yes. How Microsoft is redefining itself with a new direction for Windowshttp://rss.feedsportal.com/c/669/f/415085/s/4614fd3e/sc/15/mf.gif http://da.feedsportal.com/r/228546566914/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/4614fd3e/sc/15/rc/1/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/228546566914/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/4614fd3e/sc/15/rc/2/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/228546566914/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/4614fd3e/sc/15/rc/3/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/228546566914/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/4614fd3e/sc/15/a2.imghttp://pi.feedsportal.com/r/228546566914/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/4614fd3e/sc/15/a2t.imghttp://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techradar/software-news/~4/wgro1yKJCy0

http://cdn.mos.techradar.com/art/events/Microsoft%20Build%202015/screen%20grabs/office-outlook-470-75.jpgMicrosoft is getting ready to absorb its Outlook.com into Office 365 by updating the technology behind the web-based email offering. First reported by The Verge, Microsoft will migrate all Outlook.com users over to Office 365 later on this year and the web-based email service will adopt a user interface and feature set that is identical to Office 365's Outlook Web Access. As far as branding is concerned, the Outlook.com name is on track to remain in place for consumers, however, the Office 365 technology will help power it as a separate free email service that lacks any of the other Office 365 benefits. Maintaining a uniformity across Outlook, Exchange and Office 365 platforms is the key driver behind the changes and Rob Lefferts, Microsoft's general manager of Office Apps, speculated last week that "there will be some visual enhancements" as part of the move. New add-ons coming soonOutlook.com remains a big part of Microsoft's plans and at last week's Build conference it announced a number of new partnerships with external companies to create addons. This includes Uber bookings, Boomerang email scheduling and the promise of many more partnerships using Outlook APIs. Office 365 will form a big part of Windows 10 and it currently costs just £5.99 ($6.99/AU$9.00) per month to gain access to full versions of Word, PowerPoint, Excel, OneNote and Outlook on one PC, one smartphone and one tablet with a small price hike to extend it to up to five of each device. Check it out: Microsoft Office 2016 release date, price, news and featureshttp://rss.feedsportal.com/c/669/f/415085/s/4618d93f/sc/15/mf.gif http://da.feedsportal.com/r/228546563340/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/4618d93f/sc/15/rc/1/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/228546563340/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/4618d93f/sc/15/rc/2/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/228546563340/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/4618d93f/sc/15/rc/3/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/228546563340/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/4618d93f/sc/15/a2.imghttp://pi.feedsportal.com/r/228546563340/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/4618d93f/sc/15/a2t.imghttp://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techradar/software-news/~4/R_-9SYCSerI

http://cdn.mos.techradar.com/art/TRBC/Software/Windows%2010%20Jan%202015%20Hands%20On/windows-10-jan-15-hero-470-75.jpgIntroduction and HoloLensMicrosoft's Build keynote addresses are one of the annual platforms that Redmond uses to unveil new products or show off ideas that the company is planning to unveil at a later date. Last week's 2015 keynote was, unsurprisingly, all about Windows 10, which is set to launch this summer, with a focus on what developers – who make up the majority of Build attendees – could do with the platform across multiple devices. The keynote started with a lengthy demo of various developer-specific apps, such as Visual Studio Code, but progressed onto some of the most exciting things that Microsoft has ever done as a company, redefining where Redmond sits relative to both the world and its peers. Defining momentWe already knew a lot about "universal apps," an idea that Microsoft has been peddling since the inception of Windows 10 (and also one which I was not a fan of in its pre-Build form), but the company has taken them in a totally different direction – a direction that could well be one of the most defining moments in the company's four decade history. Continuum, a feature that allows progress on one app to be shared to another app on a different device seamlessly, is the centrepiece of the show. The idea is beautifully simple: a Windows phone (i.e. a phone running Windows 10) can be plugged into a monitor (via HDMI), linked to a keyboard and mouse via Bluetooth and used like a full-on PC thanks to the horizontal integration of Windows 10 across mobile and desktop. Any app that is made to be "universal" – of which there will be more and more thanks to Microsoft's friendly attitude towards competitors and developers – will work on the bigger screen. And, from the looks of the demo, this is pretty transformative – plus, most importantly, it's something no other platform has achieved. It is as yet unclear what kind of hardware is needed to support Continuum, and I would guess no current device is capable of doing so, but once high-end Windows phones hit the market, this will turn into a killer feature. The almost sci-fi-esque dream of having one device for everything – computer, TV, remote, and so on – could become a reality with Continuum and it's going to happen in the next year. http://cdn.mos.techradar.com/art/Wearables/Microsoft/HoloLens/Press/hololens-review-420-100.jpg HoloLens revolutionOne of the main themes of the Build keynote was how Windows is used within industry, as much of the revenue generated by Microsoft comes from enterprise. HoloLens, which was unveiled in January, is a piece of AR headgear that allows the user access to a 'virtual world', and it is, as many pundits have claimed, the future of computing. Previously, HoloLens had very little practical application beyond simply being a novel way to interact with a computer chip. But at Build, HoloLens got an update and it was, as is becoming a theme, linked in to Windows 10. 'Windows Holographic' displays apps as 'real' intractable things that can be placed on the environment surrounding the user. The applications of this are vast, as Microsoft showed: doctors can show students lessons interactively, architects can plan buildings more effectively and so on. On a personal level, a video can be moved around via hand gestures and 'placed' onto a wall while Skype can be 'pinned' to the ceiling. Essentially, the possibilities for HoloLens are endless and, via Windows 10, Microsoft has created a virtual world that combines the current desktop experience with the future. Genius strategyThe strategy that Microsoft is employing with Windows 10 is, whether the firm intended it or not, genius. Soon, almost everything within the ecosystem will be compatible with everything else, a dream few technology companies can successfully realise. Windows phones will become useful just by virtue of the fact that software written for Windows 10 can work on them. Microsoft demoed Office 2016 on both a desktop and a phone and it was virtually identical. On iOS, the iWork suite look similar on mobile and desktop but do not share the same universal underpinnings. If the company realises its one billion device goal, Microsoft will be onto a winner. Many pundits, myself included, have decried Microsoft over the past few years as a company that is way behind its peers – Google, Amazon, Apple – but Build 2015 proves exactly the opposite: the strategy with Windows 10 will merge all facets of the company under one roof, increasing the desirability of Windows phones and potentially inventing the future with HoloLens. http://cdn.mos.techradar.com/art/events/Microsoft%20Build%202015/screen%20grabs/universal-apps-420-100.jpg Windows of the futureThere are, of course, barriers to this bright future. Having a great idea doesn't automatically make it successful, as Windows 8 proved with the operating system's way-before-its-time design and ideas that have subsequently been rolled back in Windows 10, as the world wasn't quite ready for an all-touchscreen computing experience. Fundamentally, even introducing an element of mobile into Windows is going to be a radical change. The two operating systems – Windows 8.1 and Windows Phone 8.1 – have shared a similar design and a code base but have never actually merged into one, despite the obvious benefits. That has changed and now Microsoft can reap those benefits and, wonderfully for users, the basic ways that they interact with Windows won't change – or, at least, not as radically as they did with Windows 8. So what will the Windows of the future look like? The short answer is that it will likely look more and more like one unified operating system, just as Microsoft increasingly looks more and more like a unified company that is happy to work more expansively both internally and externally. It's impossible to underplay the positive influence that Satya Nadella has had on the company and its set of values and ethos. There is no more marauding, cutthroat Microsoft of the 1990s and early 2000s, there is instead a company that is at peace with itself and, as a result, the quality of its products has improved exponentially. Windows will likely look the same visually but the applications and support will increase exponentially as Windows phones become a 'thing' and HoloLens reinvents how we use a computer. For once, Microsoft and Windows are changing for the better. The biggest announcements from Microsoft Build 2015http://rss.feedsportal.com/c/669/f/415085/s/460c8d87/sc/28/mf.gif http://da.feedsportal.com/r/225507655988/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/460c8d87/sc/28/rc/1/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/225507655988/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/460c8d87/sc/28/rc/2/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/225507655988/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/460c8d87/sc/28/rc/3/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/225507655988/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/460c8d87/sc/28/a2.imghttp://pi.feedsportal.com/r/225507655988/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/460c8d87/sc/28/a2t.imghttp://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techradar/software-news/~4/mh2aAgmXmNk

http://cdn.mos.techradar.com/art/TRBC/windows-10-continuum-470-75.jpgTwo independent analyst firms have started to track Windows 10, with some promising indications about its growth potential. 51degrees's data shows that Windows 10's market share grew seven fold to 0.07% of the total Windows OS while rival NetMarketShare pegs Microsoft's latest OS at a more 0.09% of the global desktop OS market share, up from 0.05% in February. That's ahead of Windows NT and Windows 2000 but far, far behind the likes of Windows Vista and Windows 8 (3.5% and 1.95% respectively). Expect that to change almost immediately as Windows 10 goes live, Microsoft having already announced that it will allow existing Windows 8.1 and Windows 7 users to upgrade to its new flagship OS for free in the first year. Older OSes still popularWindows 7 remains by far the most popular Microsoft OS with about 58% of the installed based, far ahead of Windows XP and Windows 8.1. More than 3.7 million users have signed up for Microsoft's Windows Insider Program which provides access to Windows 10 and Windows 10 for phones. The Washington-based company has also set itself an ambitious target at its BUILD developer conference, targeting one billion Windows 10 installations within three years. Read our hands-on reviews of Windows 10 for phones and Windows 10.http://rss.feedsportal.com/c/669/f/415085/s/460c8d90/sc/28/mf.gif http://da.feedsportal.com/r/225507655987/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/460c8d90/sc/28/rc/1/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/225507655987/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/460c8d90/sc/28/rc/2/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/225507655987/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/460c8d90/sc/28/rc/3/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/225507655987/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/460c8d90/sc/28/a2.imghttp://pi.feedsportal.com/r/225507655987/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/460c8d90/sc/28/a2t.imghttp://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techradar/software-news/~4/FlF7mSbizyI

http://cdn.mos.techradar.com/art/software/Business%20messaging/Zero%20Email%20Hero%201-470-75.jpgIntroductionhttp://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/art/software/Business%20messaging/Zero%20Email%20Hero%201-420-90.jpg Is email dead? For some younger, tech-savvy folk who exclusively use Twitter, SnapChat and WhatsApp, it probably is, but the 108.7 billion emails that are fired around offices are proof that email as a business tool is far from on its deathbed. However, new cloud-powered platforms are emerging that seek to combine instant messaging, VoIP, Google Hangouts-style conference calls and more into one joined-up, cross-business collaboration playground. Is this perpetual messaging or should we call it unified communications? Whatever the term, email-killing is big business – in April one of the leading platforms, Slack, raised a staggering $160 million (around £105 million, AU$205 million) as part of a deal that valued the company – a startup just two years ago – at a whopping $2.8 billion (around £1.85 billion, AU$3.6 billion). Investors clearly think that we'll all soon be ditching email for an all-encompassing platform. However, the winner will need to cover all eventualities and seamlessly integrate IM, workflow, discussion, collaboration, content, phone, video, presence awareness and – yup – external email, too. It's the future of corporate communication, and it's nearer than you realise, but which platform is for you? Head on into our slideshow to find out… Slackhttp://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/art/software/Business%20messaging/Slack%202-420-90.jpg Be less busy. That's the intoxicating sell for the most well-known of all social messaging platforms, Slack. The New York Times uses it. So do Adobe, Lonely Planet, SoundCloud and Walmart. In total, about 750,000 people use Slack to share documents and IM with colleagues, though only Mac users get a downloadable app for desktops – Windows users must enter via a browser. The brainchild of Stewart Butterfield, an ex-founder of Flickr, Slack is all about speed, collaboration and integration – users create a team, start a discussion or search an old one, share documents and generally centralise their communications from a private hub screen. Various channels are kept separate, so if you stray off-topic it's sensible to jump channels. Unlike other such platforms, Slack isn't really about workflow, and nor does it include video calling and suchlike, but it knows this and integrates well with other platforms and apps, including Google Drive and Google+ Hangouts, Dropbox, Twitter, IFTTT, MailChimp and many others, though most tellingly, also rival platforms with a different focus, such as Trello, Zendesk and Asana. Slack is available in various flavours, but Slack Lite is completely free. There's also an app for the Apple Watch that lets you know when you're messaged, mentioned or otherwise needed by Slack. Podiohttp://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/art/software/Business%20messaging/Podio%203-420-90.jpg An entirely web-based project management software tool, but with iOS and Android apps as well, Podio by Citrix is highly thought of in the business world. Podio creates a customisable workspace for teams to organise communications, projects and clients in one place. Projects can be tracked, responsibilities managed and deadlines flagged. Files can be shared and messages sent, with real-time one-to-one or group chat – the @mentions protocol works just like any social media platform, alerting someone if they're mentioned anywhere in a document or conversation on Podio. "What we are seeing is similar to what happened on the social web a few years ago, where email helped people transition to using Facebook," says Jon Froda, co-founder and director of Podio brand strategy at Citrix. "After a while email was then replaced by private messages for many Facebook users." As such, there's little room for email on platforms like Podio. "In business, this trend is driven by the growth of web-based and customisable project management tools such as Podio," says Froda. "Companies strip out communication inefficiencies and use tools that are bespoke to their businesses, reducing email to a notification system or a means to sign up in the first place." Though it has various pricing plans, access to the online Podio platform is free for 10 users. Convohttp://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/art/software/Business%20messaging/Convo%204-420-90.jpg Convo could be quite convincingly described as 'Facebook for the office'. The average employee checks their email 1,440 times a week, according to the makers of this project management software that has communications at its heart. Real-time messaging to colleagues and groups echoes all the niceties of social media, but Convo also includes private chat rooms and one-to-one IM, too. A great addition here is the ability to add clients from outside an organisation, and control exactly what they can see and do. There's document exchange, too, with visual annotations to documents built-in. Convo is available as desktop software for Mac and Windows, but also as a Chrome extension, and iOS and Android apps. Various price plans are offered, but Convo is free for 50 users. HipChathttp://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/art/software/Business%20messaging/Hipchat%205-420-90.jpg This internal chat tool for teams comes from Aussie company Atlassian, whose HipChat platform claims to be used by 43,000 companies including DropCam, Expedia, Netflix and Dropbox. An IM app that concentrates on custom chat rooms – including video chat and a minimum of 5GB file storage and sharing – HipChat offers Mac, Windows, iOS and Android apps. As with Slack, HipChat – which suffered a data breach earlier this year – doesn't claim to be anything else but a supercharged chat app, and so offers integration with dozens of specific apps (MailChimp, WordPress, Twitter) and other task management apps including Asana, Trello, ZenDesk, Wunderlist and product road-mapping app Aha. It's free for five users (though video calling and screen-sharing costs $2 per user, per month), and HipChat users who buy an Apple Watch can get notifications of chat and messages, and can tap back a quick acknowledgment. Trellohttp://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/art/software/Business%20messaging/Trello%206-420-90.jpg The only platform featured here without any kind of instant messaging – oh, the horror – Trello works as well for one person as it does for dozens of collaborators. Trello looks like Pinterest – it's a visual to-do list on a virtual pin-board where cards can be swapped, reordered, edited, tagged and assigned to someone else to deal with. In short, Trello is flexibility defined. The most visual of all task management platforms, Trello is constructed around cards that can be dynamically rearranged and prioritised, much like in the writing software Scrivener, which this article was written using. It integrates with other apps, though it's perhaps not far away enough from the myriad to-do apps (think Remember The Milk, Wunderlist, or Any.do) to justify being talked up as the future of the collaborative workplace. And, honestly, some IM might help it. Designed to take the hassle out of to-do lists, task management software Trello is less about teamwork and more about, well, work. Trello is also embracing the Apple Watch; its app will allow cards to be added in-wrist, and will funnel notifications, too. Asanahttp://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/art/software/Business%20messaging/Asana%207-420-90.jpg Managing tasks and workflow is what Asana is all about, but it also has an element of team communications. Projects and groups can be created, tasks assigned to various users, deadlines added, notes attached, and statuses logged. Tags are possible, and so are documents attachments. If everyone working on a project uses Asana, there's no need for email, though it is also possible to set up email notifications. Asana is an incredibly simple tool to use, but it's a bit of a standalone affair – there's no way to schedule meetings, make calls within it, or integrate it with other apps, which does make it a bit of an island. Asana is free for 15 members. The future of the workplace: enabling efficient communication and collaborationhttp://rss.feedsportal.com/c/669/f/415085/s/460bbf36/sc/15/mf.gif http://da.feedsportal.com/r/224852304156/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/460bbf36/sc/15/rc/1/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/224852304156/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/460bbf36/sc/15/rc/2/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/224852304156/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/460bbf36/sc/15/rc/3/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/224852304156/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/460bbf36/sc/15/a2.imghttp://pi.feedsportal.com/r/224852304156/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/460bbf36/sc/15/a2t.imghttp://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techradar/software-news/~4/dWya5xyF5-I

http://cdn.mos.techradar.com/art/TRBC/Miscellaneous/Microsoft%20machine%20learning%20services/project%20oxford%20thumbnail-470-75.jpgIntroduction and image analysisThe HowOld Robot doesn't always guess your age correctly when you show it your photograph, but it's certainly caught everyone's attention. And that's just one of the four REST APIs Microsoft Research is making available through Project Oxford. Ryan Gaglon from Microsoft Research (MSR) explained to TechRadar Pro what the services can actually do – and where developers might recognise them from. "The speech APIs are about [your apps] being able to hear and to speak back. This is the same backend that powers Cortana," he told us. The service can turn speech into text or synthesise speech from text in a variety of synthetic voices; they cover 17 languages in the initial beta. The recognition works over a Web Socket connection and as you watch, you can see the API figuring out individual words and then going back to turn that into phrases and sentences, complete with punctuation and capital letters. If what it's trying to recognise is a short phrase that the API isn't certain about – it's very easy to mix up 450 6th Street and 456th Street, for example – it will send back up to five alternatives (and it's up to the developer to decide if it's useful to show those). Face recognitionThe face service is what HowOld Robot is using. "It's about being able to detect, describe and recognise a human face," says Gaglon, "and it does both detection and verification. Detection tells you how many faces there are in a photo and where they are, plus it can give you landmarks on the face – like the tip of the nose or the left and right side of the mouth. "Then there are the experimental features, like predicting the age and gender. Verification says if you have two photos and there's a face in both photos, what is the likelihood it belongs to the same individual? Then there's grouping – given a collection of photos, which sets have the same people in." Some of the face recognition services are the same as the ones used by Kinect. The vision APIs include a wide mix of tools "to help describe the content within an image," Gaglon explains. "You can manipulate and work with images, recognise words in a photo. It can scale and crop photos more intelligently, so you can have it crop a photo in different dimensions but keep the most important content of the photo in the frame." That would come in handy for automatically resizing images so they work on a phone or tablet screen as well as on a larger desktop screen – in action, it looks very like the way Microsoft's Sway authoring service picks which part of a photo to show. Image analysis"The image analysing service helps you describe an image; whether it's clipart or not, whether it's a colour photo or not, whether it's adult content or not." The vision services can also categorise images, stating whether you're looking at a building or a flower or someone swimming – if a picture shows buildings or streets, the service will say the most likely category is a cityscape. "That's some of the same technology that's used in the OneDrive photo tagging," says Gaglon, noting that many of the vision APIs are services Bing uses for image search. Getting that to work involves some ground-breaking machine learning research. "One of the things the vision APIs make use of is whole image categorisation, and MSR recently published some results where the team was the first to surpass human image recognition performance on the Imagenet benchmark," he mentions. LUISYou can sign up for and start using those three aforementioned services today, but the fourth, LUIS – Language Understanding Intelligent Services – is in private preview. LUIS takes short phrases, like things people type into a search engine, and tells you what they're really asking – so it's not just matching words, it's trying to actually understand them. "If the text snippet is 'tell me news about flight delays', LUIS comes back and says 'the topic is flight delays and the intent is find news'," Gaglon explains. The breakthrough here is that instead of being an expert in natural language processing and building a model of all the phrases people could use to ask for news on specific topics, developers can use LUIS as a model building service. "Building a model is easy if you only need to label a bunch of instances by hand, but what about when you start getting hundreds, thousands or tens of thousands of utterances?" http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/art/TRBC/Miscellaneous/Microsoft%20machine%20learning%20services/LUIS%20active%20learning-420-90.jpg LUIS has some readymade models for date and time, numbers, temperatures, distances and an encyclopaedia of common places and things; those come from Bing. It also does 'active learning', creating a list of the phrases that you can most improve the service with via labelling. Generally it's less automatic than the other APIs – what LUIS gives you is an interactive labelling environment where you can quickly label short snippets of text, to create a system that can learn from a few phrases that you've labelled to handle a lot more commands. It only takes a few examples to create a system that can understand the intent behind questions users are typing in, which could be a way to create much smarter search tools and personal assistants. Why free?Why is Microsoft making its machine learning services available for free like this? What you're getting here is a beta (or a private preview) of services Microsoft will probably offer in pay-for products later on (perhaps as part of its existing Azure Machine Learning service). http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/art/TRBC/Miscellaneous/Microsoft%20machine%20learning%20services/LUIS%20perf%20analysis%203-420-90.jpg Getting developers to use Microsoft machine learning will help raise the profile of Redmond's other machine learning tools. "A lot of these services are machine learning models from research and investments we've made that have been used in Microsoft apps," explains Gaglon. "Now we're interested in exposing them to the developer community, to build on top of what the community comes up with." It's also useful for Microsoft to collect more samples to try out its machine learning on (although unless there's a way to indicate which results were right and which were off target, it won't improve the algorithms much). The Cortana team is particularly keen to get voice samples for a much wider range of queries than the most common searches, and in a wider range of accents At this point, Gaglon says, Microsoft is mostly talking to developers on the MSDN forums. "We're evaluating how to have a feedback loop from developers. We want to know what's working and what's not." How machine learning and image recognition could revolutionise searchhttp://rss.feedsportal.com/c/669/f/415085/s/4602ec9e/sc/15/mf.gif http://da.feedsportal.com/r/224852354313/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/4602ec9e/sc/15/rc/1/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/224852354313/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/4602ec9e/sc/15/rc/2/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/224852354313/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/4602ec9e/sc/15/rc/3/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/224852354313/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/4602ec9e/sc/15/a2.imghttp://pi.feedsportal.com/r/224852354313/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/4602ec9e/sc/15/a2t.imghttp://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techradar/software-news/~4/_MttyGZF32Q

http://cdn.mos.techradar.com/art/software/Timeful/timeful-google-android-app-470-75.jpgPretty soon we'll need a list to keep track of all of Google's to-do list apps now that added Timeful, Inc. to its already bursting ranks. Timeful is supposed understand your schedule, habits and needs, according to search engine company, and work across Inbox, Calendar and other Google software. "You can tell Timeful you want to exercise three times a week or that you need to call the bank by next Tuesday," said the search engine company. "Their system will make sure you get it done based on an understanding of both your schedule and your priorities." The Timeful app will remain available for Android and iOS as the team works to integrate its time management technology more broadly into Google's app suite. http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/art/software/Timeful/timeful-android-app-200-100.jpg What's different with TimefulTimeful is the fourth to-do list platform being pushed by Google, but it's supposed to be different in that it wants to understand your day. Everything else from Google is rather static. Google Tasks is still part of Gmail and, stealthy, one of the best to-do list organizers out there. Google Reminders can be added via Search, Calendar of Inbox, but has no central hub. Google Keep launched two years ago as a notetaking app with to-do list functionality. It's a more colorful Evernote clone with limited functionality. Will this new app tie them altogether with machine learning or will it become just another option within Google's increasingly splintered ecosystem? Timeful will tell. http://rss.feedsportal.com/c/669/f/415085/s/46002935/sc/15/mf.gif http://da.feedsportal.com/r/224852358843/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/46002935/sc/15/rc/1/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/224852358843/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/46002935/sc/15/rc/2/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/224852358843/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/46002935/sc/15/rc/3/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/224852358843/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/46002935/sc/15/a2.imghttp://pi.feedsportal.com/r/224852358843/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/46002935/sc/15/a2t.imghttp://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techradar/software-news/~4/DCwGP0yJeaE

http://cdn.mos.techradar.com/art/logos/Beats%20Music-470-75.jpg Apple is using its weight in the music industry to push major record labels into pressuring streaming services like Spotify to abandon their free streaming deals, The Verge reports. This move would slim the competition for Apple's anticipated relaunch of the Beats Music service, but has reportedly garnered the scrutiny of the United States Department of Justice. The DOJ has already begun interviewing several important music officials, the report said. Spotify is the largest subscription music streaming service, with over 60 million subscribers. However, only 15 million of those pay up each month, making Apple's upcoming competitive streaming service even more to dangerous to Spotify. That is, if the record labels don't renew their licenses for free music. Apple has also, according to the report, offered to pay YouTube's music licensing fee to Universal Music Group if the label stops putting its songs on the site. Because of Apple's slow entry into the arena of music streaming, it appears to be trying to clear the field before its grand entrance. One unnamed music industry source said, "All the way up to Tim Cook, these guys are cutthroat." With download numbers consistently falling because of companies like Spotify, it makes sense that Apple would want to throw its hat in the ring. While Cupertino has been behind the times on subscription-based music, it may succeed in choking off Spotify's free music, which was meant to be a gateway to paid subscription. Instead, free streaming has been a thorn in the sides of labels and Taylor Swift alike. Via CNET http://rss.feedsportal.com/c/669/f/415085/s/460006b8/sc/28/mf.gif http://da.feedsportal.com/r/224852245363/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/460006b8/sc/28/rc/1/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/224852245363/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/460006b8/sc/28/rc/2/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/224852245363/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/460006b8/sc/28/rc/3/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/224852245363/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/460006b8/sc/28/a2.imghttp://pi.feedsportal.com/r/224852245363/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/460006b8/sc/28/a2t.imghttp://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techradar/software-news/~4/0OxZcZg98Zw

http://cdn.mos.techradar.com/art/software/Microsoft/Windows%20Phone%2081%20hands%20on/Review/wp81-1-470-75.jpgAt Microsoft's Ignite conference in Chicago, Terry Myerson, EVP of Operating Systems at Microsoft, tossed the gloves aside and threw a haymaker toward Google's security standards. Branching off of the discussion surrounding Microsoft's new plans for security in Windows 10, Myerson accused Google of providing inconsistent support via security updates to Android phones, which might be putting you or your business at risk of being compromised. "Google takes no responsibility to update customer devices and refuses to take responsibility to update their devices, leaving end users and businesses increasingly exposed every day they use an Android device," Myerson said. According to the Windows Blog, Microsoft looks to distance itself from the business practices of its competition by designing Windows 10 with security features that act to blanket over vulnerabilities "at all layers of the stack" with continuous updates. That might sound obtuse, but here's a simple breakdown of Microsoft's goal: to provide security top to bottom, inside and out, from the software to the network and hardware level. Microsoft plans to push ongoing updates to consumers through Windows Update on Windows 10, as it does today with Windows 8.1. But for businesses, Windows Update for Business will offer up a new method to roll out updates, uniquely placing this control in the hands of IT professionals. The service "will reduce management costs, provide controls over update deployment, offer quicker access to security updates." Devices used for business in the future will be more secure than ever thanks to Long Term Servicing Branches, a new type of update from Microsoft, which serves continuous security support to devices long after release. We got our hands on the incredible Microsoft HoloLensVia: The Verge http://rss.feedsportal.com/c/669/f/415085/s/45ff51e3/sc/15/mf.gif http://da.feedsportal.com/r/224852244499/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/45ff51e3/sc/15/rc/1/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/224852244499/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/45ff51e3/sc/15/rc/2/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/224852244499/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/45ff51e3/sc/15/rc/3/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/224852244499/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/45ff51e3/sc/15/a2.imghttp://pi.feedsportal.com/r/224852244499/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/45ff51e3/sc/15/a2t.imghttp://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techradar/software-news/~4/D_pfBbcdwhc

http://cdn.mos.techradar.com/art/TRBC/Software/Microsoft/Office%202016%20Windows%20Touch%20and%20Mac/Office-2016-Public-Preview-now-available-3-470-75.jpgIf you wanted to try out Office 2016 before buying it, now is your chance. Office 2016 on the PC has been locked away from the public as a Consumer Technical Preview since February, but now Microsoft has finally released a Public Preview version of its productivity suite. The new version Microsoft's productivity suite is available as a free download for anyone who visits the Office 2016 Preview site. Unlike the previous Technical Preview, you won't have to sign any long, complicated non-disclosure agreements to use the software either. Built for the cloudThe Office 2016 suite brings new and more colorful versions of Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint and Outlook. Along with the new looks, these applications have been built from the ground up to work with Microsoft's cloud data service, OneDrive. On top of this, these smart application will learn more about the user as they are working to be even more productive. Outlook for instance has a new "Clutter" feature, which uses machine learning to analyze your email patterns to sort out your unimportant and spam emails into a separate folder. Microsoft has also introduced the "Tell Me" search tool that allows users to quickly look up commands in Word, PowerPoint and Excel. Lastly, users can expect the Bing-powered Insights feature to help them find information from the web without having to leave the file or switch to a web browser. Is Windows 10 a return to form for Microsoft? http://rss.feedsportal.com/c/669/f/415085/s/45febe00/sc/15/mf.gif http://da.feedsportal.com/r/224852351041/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/45febe00/sc/15/rc/1/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/224852351041/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/45febe00/sc/15/rc/2/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/224852351041/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/45febe00/sc/15/rc/3/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/224852351041/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/45febe00/sc/15/a2.imghttp://pi.feedsportal.com/r/224852351041/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/45febe00/sc/15/a2t.imghttp://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techradar/software-news/~4/bABR_pYww7M

http://cdn.mos.techradar.com/art/TRBC/Software/Windows%2010%20Jan%202015%20Hands%20On/windows-10-jan-15-hero-470-75.jpgAt its inaugural Ignite Conference in Chicago, Microsoft gave business users a preview of Windows 10's enterprise-specific features and toolsets. The operating system, which is rumored to go live this summer, will feature enhanced management, security and productivity options specifically designed for the business user. Windows Update for Business is a new tool that will provide IT teams with streamlined access to recently launched security updates and features. The management application will enable IT to remotely (and quickly) install services and features on devices running Windows 10. Microsoft also made available in technical preview System Center Configuration Manager for Windows 10, which will be integrated with Windows Update for Business. Like previous versions of this tool, the Windows 10 update gives IT teams the ability to deploy, update, manage and secure the operating system on all organizational devices. ProductivityDelve users will be pleased to learn that in addition to aggregating and curating content from Microsoft applications like OneDrive and SharePoint, you will now be able to run analytics within the tool. Now, you will be able to measure, track and identify trends across your interactions with colleagues and external partners and clients. Microsoft also gave a deeper preview of SharePoint Server 2016 and Exchange Server 2016, both of which will be available for testing later in the year. The updated SharePoint Server will give companies that deploy the service in-house, but also run a cloud-based version of Office 365, access to cloud-based features. Exchange Server 2016 will feature a revamped collaboration experience, intelligent search, and a look and feel that is more in-line with Office 365. Microsoft also announced that Office 2016 and Skype for Business are now available in broad public preview. Previously, only IT professionals and developers were given access to the still-in-development productivity tools. StorageMicrosoft introduced the Azure Stack, which is designed to give organizations the option to run cloud-based Azure tools in on-premise datacenters. The new platform, which will be in preview later this summer, lets users run private, cloud-based applications that are integrated with an on-premise storage environment. SQL Server 2016 will be available to preview this summer. Microsoft has updated its database engine to include in-memory computing, new security and encryption technologies, built-in advanced analytics with the R language, and mobile BI for on-premises data, according to a Microsoft statement. Windows Server 2016 is available today for an updated preview. Read our Windows 10 reviewhttp://rss.feedsportal.com/c/669/f/415085/s/45fdd609/sc/15/mf.gif http://da.feedsportal.com/r/224852236950/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/45fdd609/sc/15/rc/1/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/224852236950/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/45fdd609/sc/15/rc/2/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/224852236950/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/45fdd609/sc/15/rc/3/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/224852236950/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/45fdd609/sc/15/a2.imghttp://pi.feedsportal.com/r/224852236950/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/45fdd609/sc/15/a2t.imghttp://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techradar/software-news/~4/O885ABlpwRo

http://cdn.mos.techradar.com/art/TRBC/Abstract/Cyber%20lock/iStock_000020317880Small-Henrik5000-470-75.jpgEncrypting data provides a critical, last stand for protecting information that becomes compromised. However, improperly implemented strategies can actually create additional vulnerabilities. To ensure adequate protection, we recommend following these seven criteria for encrypting data: 1. Know your encryption options The basic options for encrypting data are FTPS, SFTP and HTTPS. FTPS is the fastest, however, it is more complex with both implicit and explicit modes and high requirements for data port availability. On the other hand, SFTP only requires one port for encryption. HTTPS is often used to secure interactive, human transfers from web interfaces. While all three methods are routinely deployed to encrypt data and protect it from being snipped as it traverses the Internet, it is important to choose the method that best suits your specific needs. 2. Always encrypt data at rest Most people focus on securing data during a transfer, however, it is critical that data at rest also be encrypted. Data exchange files are especially vulnerable as they are stored in an easily parsable, consumable format. And, web-based file transfer servers are attacked more than their securer, on premise counterparts. 3. …especially with data that may be accessed by or shared with third parties When a company shares a file with another company, they are typically channeling a storage vendor that automatically encrypts it and authenticates the receiver prior to granting access. However, there will be times when a non-authenticated party needs a file. Companies need a strategy for managing these "exceptions" while data is in motion and at rest. 4. Pretty Good Privacy (PGP) alone is not good enough to manage file security Most organizations have a PGP policy in place to ensure that uploaded files are encrypted in such a way that the receiver does not need an advanced degree to open it. At the first sign of trouble, these people tend to share their login information in order to get help from a more tech-savvy "friend." There is also the possibility that the system will break and leave files unencrypted and exposed. PGP policies are a start, but not an all-encompassing solution. 5. It's less about the type of encryption and more about how it's executed Regardless of encryption methodology, companies need to ensure that encryption and security protocols are seamlessly implemented across the board. If they are too difficult and leave too many exceptions, there is a greater chance that an unencrypted file will somehow become available in a public or less secure domain. Clearly defined workflows and tight key management– along with tools for simplifying the process – will go a long way to ensuring that all employees, customers, partners and vendors comply on a daily basis. 6. Establish and protect data integrity Validating an unbroken chain of command for any and all transfers will further protect important data. There are a variety of methods – manual checksums, PGP signature review, SHA-1 hash functions – and tools for determining if the data has be accessed or corrupted in the process. Maintaining comprehensive user activity logs will help administrators accurately audit systems if there is any uncertainty. 7. Fortify access control In most FTP implementations, once someone gets past the first layer of security they then have access to all the files on that server. Therefore, administrators must go beyond rudimentary access control and authentication to regulate who can access what. Validating that the authentication process itself is robust is the first step. Implementing a strong password management and lock-out protocols is critical as well. Adhering to these best-practice recommendations will help ensure that confidential data stands a chance of remaining confidential even if it ends up in the wrong hands. Aaron Kelly is VP of Product Management at Ipswitch. Randy Franklin Smith runs Ultimate WindowsSecurity, a website dedicated to IT audit and compliance.http://rss.feedsportal.com/c/669/f/415085/s/45fd0a69/sc/28/mf.gif http://da.feedsportal.com/r/224852326013/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/45fd0a69/sc/28/rc/1/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/224852326013/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/45fd0a69/sc/28/rc/2/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/224852326013/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/45fd0a69/sc/28/rc/3/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/224852326013/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/45fd0a69/sc/28/a2.imghttp://pi.feedsportal.com/r/224852326013/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/45fd0a69/sc/28/a2t.imghttp://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techradar/software-news/~4/MuJrGBnar4s

http://cdn.mos.techradar.com/art/software/Windows/Windows%2010/Windows%2010%20Mobile%20Miui.com%20%20WindowsBlogItalia-470-75.jpgIt goes without saying that Microsoft has revolutionized It goes without saying that Microsoft has revolutionized the world of computing, even though its former business partner, Apple, is the more talked about player these days. Thanks to documentaries and movies, like Pirates of Silicon Valley, it's common knowledge that both Bill Gates and Steve Jobs were similarly inspired by what Xerox was working on at PARC, the photocopying company's research and development lab. For years leading up to the innovation of the GUI or graphical user interface, all interaction was done through a command prompt. Primitive by today's standards, it helped shape and mold a future generation of programmers and engineers who are now leading the development of some of the world's biggest projects. The GUI opened up a new window to the world, making the PC as common of a fixture in every home as the television. With hardware getting smaller, more powerful, and cheaper, it'd only be a matter of time before the next wave of innovation hit. In 2007, hit it did with the iPhone, the first touchscreen smartphone of its kind. Simple and intuitive, the OS was changed yet again. However, in the last decade since, mobile has become one of the fastest-growing sectors in human history, and giants have staked their claim at the top of the beanstalk. Microsoft, in the mobile world, hasn't been one of those giants. It's had a difficult time even getting a firm grip. Its biggest problem was that, like BlackBerry, the company seemingly took a back seat while the competition built bigger and better software. In 2010, Microsoft finally shuttered Windows Mobile, which didn't have the same good looks or expansive app-filled ecosystem as iOS and Android. The Introduction Of TilesWindows Phone, more than just a rebranding, would make better use of the touchscreen with a new tiled interface. Tiles are a collection of apps from email to your calendar, and they update in real time. Nokia phones would exclusively feature the OS, and as we'd later learn with Microsoft's acquisition of Nokia's devices and services business in April 2014, the company would shift its focus to developing more affordable smartphones than competing with the major flagships that dominate the market. http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/art/software/Windows/Windows%2010/phones/windows-tiles-420-90.jpg Windows 8 introduced the tiled "Metro" UI to the desktop in 2012, but there was just one big problem: as demonstrated by Windows Phone, it's best on a touchscreen. Still to this day, Windows 8 is on just 14% of desktop computers, according to the most recent data from NetMarketShare. However, with Windows 10 just right around the corner, that's probably a good thing. The Vision Of UnityMicrosoft has learned from its Windows 8 mistakes, so much so in fact it felt the need to skip a number. While Windows 9 isn't coming back, the start menu is now front and center again, and the "Metro" tiles are now incorporated inside this menu. These are the same tiles which are featured on your Windows Phone device. However, the changes go beyond design, and stretch into mobile. For the first time ever, apps from the Windows Store will work across multiple devices. http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/art/software/Windows/Windows%2010/phones/windows-10-unity-420-90.jpg "Mobile experiences have largely meant app and web experiences built for mobile devices – most often defined by the phone you carry with you," said Kevin Gallo, Director of Windows Developer Platform. "But this is increasingly too narrow a definition for a growing number of customers who want their experiences to be mobile across ALL their devices and to use whatever device is most convenient or productive for the task at hand." For developers, it's a big undertaking. For the average user, it's a welcome simplicity. Of course, the app has to perform well everywhere, and we'll have to see just how well that pans out. There's also the issue of scaling properly across multiple screen sizes, which Microsoft claims to have worked out with its Adaptive UX. On the Android marchApple has shown that better streamlining and integrating the mobile experience with the desktop experience has a tremendous impact in keeping users loyal to its products. Then again, iOS currently commands around 42% of smartphones and tablets. Windows Phone, on the other hand, has just a fraction of that at just under 3%, so it begs the question, how is Microsoft going to pull off this new vision? At Build 2015, the company announced support of developer-retooled Android and iOS apps on Windows 10 phones in order to scale the Windows 10 Store. That's a good first step. However, eventually, its OS may work on native Android devices too. http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/art/software/Windows/Windows%2010/phones/windows-10-android-phone-200-100.jpg In March, Microsoft revealed it had developed a way to get Windows 10 working on Android devices. Partnering with Chinese giant Xiaomi, select users of the company's latest flagship smartphone, the Mi 4, could install the latest OS, "and provide feedback to Xiaomi and Microsoft on their experience." Over a month later, it appears Microsoft isn't stopping there. According to information and images obtained exclusively by Neowin, Chinese manufacturer Elephone is expected to launch a new high-end smartphone in June that dual boots Android and Windows 10. This opens up an interesting new opportunity for Microsoft, one that is no longer limited to its select line of Nokia devices. Over the years, CyanogenMod has shown great promise for custom ROMs. According to the company, it has over 55 million registered users, and to date, has received $110 million (about £77m, AU$140m) in funding. In the most recent funding round, who just so happened to be among the investors? Microsoft. Clearly, the Washington-based tech giant believes there's something here. Since the beginning, Microsoft has worked on making its software available to any manufacturer who wanted it. Google has done much of the same with Android, albeit going the open source route. Now, Microsoft wants to shake up mobile in the same way it shook up the personal computer. It believes Windows 10 is the culmination of years of trial and error, and it all focuses back on a familiar experience on every device you own. This includes the syncing of all content from from photos to apps, something Apple and Google have done very well. http://cdn3.mos.techradar.futurecdn.net//art/events/Microsoft%20Build%202015/screen%20grabs/Continuum%20Phone%203-420-100.jpg However, it'd be foolhardy to think that major Android device manufacturers would get onboard with a dual boot option. That's one more area they'd have to help support. Instead, this will likely be something users have to do on their own, and to make it easy, a simple guided installation will be absolutely necessary. Here's are the rumored Lumia flagships specs for 2015 There are still some unanswered questions, like whether Windows 10 will install alongside Android, or install over Android entirely? If it's the latter, I have a hard time seeing people willing to go all in. Microsoft still has a lot of convincing to do, but if it was to release its own dual booting phone, that might expedite the process. But it has loaded its software into the devices of eventual chief rivals to get its start. There's no reason that it can't to the same to make its comeback in phones. See our Microsoft Surface 3 reviewhttp://rss.feedsportal.com/c/669/f/415085/s/45f5511a/sc/15/mf.gif http://da.feedsportal.com/r/224852284100/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/45f5511a/sc/15/rc/1/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/224852284100/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/45f5511a/sc/15/rc/2/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/224852284100/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/45f5511a/sc/15/rc/3/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/224852284100/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/45f5511a/sc/15/a2.imghttp://pi.feedsportal.com/r/224852284100/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/45f5511a/sc/15/a2t.imghttp://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techradar/software-news/~4/41N4ymJytj0

http://cdn.mos.techradar.com/art/people/IBM%20and%20Apple%20CEO-470-75.jpgApple and IBM are working together on a piece of software that has the potential to revolutionise the lives of elderly people worldwide. First reported by the Wall Street Journal, the two companies are working with Japan Post to develop Post Office Watch service software for the iPad that will assist in the care of elderly people. Post Office Watch was launched at the end of 2013 and allows Japanese Post employees to check on elderly clients, offer consultations and report back to family members. The hope is that eventually the technology will be used by IBM and Apple to bring a similar experience to other countries around the world. "Where Japan is maybe first, many others will follow," said Apple CEO Tim Cook. "I think this shows the enormous potential of the partnership between IBM and Apple that was announced last year." The elderly watch service is currently used by just 100 elderly people, who pay a charge of ¥1,000 (around £5.50, $8.33, or AU$10.60) per month. A pilot program that gets underway later this year will give free iPads to 1,000 elderly people and there's currently no word on how much will be charged when it becomes a regular business in April 2016. Five million users by 2020By 2020, IBM hopes the software will reach between four and five million Japanese citizens and it success will be gauged against the number of other countries with similar systems. The new system is just the latest release to come from the partnership signed by Apple and IBM in July 2014, in which IBM has promised to develop enterprise software and apps for Apple's iOS devices including iPhones and iPads. Check it out: Apple and IBM join forces to take over the workplacehttp://rss.feedsportal.com/c/669/f/415085/s/45eb9a82/sc/28/mf.gif http://da.feedsportal.com/r/225507491533/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/45eb9a82/sc/28/rc/1/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/225507491533/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/45eb9a82/sc/28/rc/2/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/225507491533/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/45eb9a82/sc/28/rc/3/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/225507491533/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/45eb9a82/sc/28/a2.imghttp://pi.feedsportal.com/r/225507491533/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/45eb9a82/sc/28/a2t.imghttp://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techradar/software-news/~4/-BAW7hw_bEU

http://cdn.mos.techradar.com/art/events/Microsoft%20Build%202015/screen%20grabs/Continuum%20Phone%203-470-75.jpgForget Microsoft's "mobile first, cloud first" strategy. It appears that the company is going against that vision by launching Windows 10 first for PCs this summer, with the operating system available to other devices in the months following. Microsoft Corporate VP Joe Belfiore of the Operating Systems Group described the rollout of Windows 10 as a "wave of benefit that starts in the summer and increases throughout the fall," noting that PCs will have access to the new operating system first, with staggered launches in the following months for phones, Xbox One, Arduino, and HoloLens. Additionally, after it was leaked that Windows 10 would arrive in July, the launch timeframe is now confirmed by Gizmodo. Some features will have to waitAccording to Belfiore, users may not get all the features of Windows 10 immediately at launch. It appears that Microsoft will launch the core operating system first and add features after the launch. Belfiore did not give specifics on the features that may not make the July launch window for Windows 10. This isn't surprising given all the changes that Windows 10 will bring, including an updated user interface and Start menu experience, Universal apps, support for Continuum to switch between different screens and form factors, support for IoT and wearables, the addition of Cortana and a new Microsoft Edge browser. Insider Preview available nowFor those eager to get their hands on Windows 10, Microsoft is making the OS available in rough form in a Technical Preview. The Windows 10 Technical preview program has recently been renamed to Insider Preview to match the Windows Insider program. As this is preview software, bugs and glitches are likely part of the experience at this time for early adopters. Read our coverage of Windows 10http://rss.feedsportal.com/c/669/f/415085/s/45e8c659/sc/15/mf.gif http://da.feedsportal.com/r/224852222009/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/45e8c659/sc/15/rc/1/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/224852222009/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/45e8c659/sc/15/rc/2/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/224852222009/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/45e8c659/sc/15/rc/3/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/224852222009/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/45e8c659/sc/15/a2.imghttp://pi.feedsportal.com/r/224852222009/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/45e8c659/sc/15/a2t.imghttp://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techradar/software-news/~4/RC2aCf3jmWA