sincity

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/45e6d336/sc/15/mf.gif http://da.feedsportal.com/r/224852127488/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/45e6d336/sc/15/rc/1/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/224852127488/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/45e6d336/sc/15/rc/2/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/224852127488/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/45e6d336/sc/15/rc/3/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/224852127488/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/45e6d336/sc/15/a2.imghttp://pi.feedsportal.com/r/224852127488/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/45e6d336/sc/15/a2t.imghttp://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techradar/software-news/~4/WWPAtB3Bxr4

http://cdn.mos.techradar.com/art/desktop_pcs_and_macs/Alienware%20Area%2051/DSCN2203-470-75.JPGIntroductionhttp://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/art/TRBC/Miscellaneous/kodi%20intro%20slide-420-90.jpg Premium PCs are far from all about gaming and given the performance on offer it's no surprise that a high-end rig takes on just about any task with consummate ease. Think of the 4K screens and other elements as a springboard that helps apps shine and deliver an experience that will have you asking yourself why you didn't buy a premium PC before. The Windows Store makes it easier than ever to get hold of the very best applications for your machine, not to mention the best gaming titles your new powerhouse can show off. Even with all that power, when you strip it down to the bare bones it's still the same old PC that can perform the same old tasks that were possible in the early days of Windows. PCs today can be used by the whole family and the wider adoption of the cloud makes it easier than ever to produce documents, edit videos, tweak photos and so forth. What follows is the very best 10 applications and programs you can get for a premium PC, and the reasons why you need to get them now! In partnership with Microsoft, powered by the HP Spectre 360Overclocking apphttp://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/art/TRBC/Miscellaneous/amd-overdrive-420-90.jpg The chips inside a premium PC have a high level of potential power and downloading an overclocking app such as one of AMD or Intel's own offerings (like AMD OverDrive) is by far the best way to take advantage of the boosts that are on offer. Overclocking apps do come with a caveat, however, and really shouldn't be played around with on a whim. Read through the instructions thoroughly to make sure you know exactly what you're doing as melting the insides of your new rig is far from the best way to extract more power. An overclocking app is best used to get the settings to a level that's completely right for your individual machine, making for an improved and more fluid gaming experience all round. Steamhttp://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/art/games_consoles/steam_machine_aw_logo-420-90.jpg One of the major reasons many people splash out a couple of thousand pounds on a premium PC is to get an unparalleled gaming experience that puts consoles to shame, and much of that is down to one service: Steam. Launched by Valve in 2003, the app offers an absurdly large number of titles that cover everything from Football Manager 2015 to Grand Theft Auto V and a whole lot more besides. A huge advantage of the app is that your purchases will always be available to you regardless of the PC, Mac or Steam Machine you are using, and the best part – so will those saved games you've toiled away for hours on. We're almost certain that if you're buying a premium PC you'll have heard of Steam, but if you haven't, download the free app and grab a few games. You won't regret it. Netflixhttp://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/art/av_accessories/Netflix%20review%202013/netflixorange-420-90.jpg Streaming has truly revolutionised the TV industry as a binge-watcher's paradise and any premium PC worth its salt needs to have Netflix installed for one major reason – it offers 4K streaming. There's no need to buy that expensive Sky TV subscription to get hold of 4K content. Hell, you don't even need to buy a 4K TV if your monitor supports the resolution as the Netflix app is here to take care of things. Right now the selection available to subscribers that contribute a couple of quid extra for the 4K service isn't large, and currently the likes of House of Cards, Breaking Bad, Marco Polo and a handful of others are all you can watch. This will change over time as more films become available in the new standard, though, and you can just imagine the envious looks on your friends' faces when you explain you've watched the latest season in 4K. Microsoft Office 365http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/art/TRBC/office_365-420-90.jpg All PCs need some kind of productivity software beyond plain old Notepad and Microsoft's Office suite, the subscription version of which is Office 365, is still top dog in this department. It's a suite that offers a very different experience to what anyone still using Office 2003 is used to, and the cloud has changed it for the better. For just £5.99 ($6.99, AU$9.00) per month users can have the Office 365 suite that contains Word, Excel, PowerPoint, OneNote and Outlook for a seamless productivity experience across all their devices, from premium PC through to tablet or smartphone. Google Docs and Evernote may well be free but the level of productivity they boast is sadly lacking when compared to Office 365, and neither offers a desktop experience that comes close to Microsoft. For premium PC users that's enough in itself to splash out the money for Office 365. Adobe Creative Cloudhttp://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/art/software/Adobe/Adobe%20MAX%202014/adobe-max-420-90.jpg Putting your creativity to good use with all the new tools at your disposal inside a premium PC is a given, and the best way to do that is to download the big daddy of them all: Adobe Creative Cloud. Rebranded as a software-as-a-service product, the programs are the same set that were a part of the Adobe Creative Suite meaning that it includes Photoshop, Premiere Pro, Dreamweaver, After Effects and InDesign to name just a few. It's true that Adobe's suite will make a huge dent in your wallet, but if you've spent big on that new PC and want to get the best out of all your photos and videos then it's definitely worth shelling out for this suite. Best of all is the fact that Adobe will constantly be releasing updates for the offering so that it's completely up-to-date at all times. Serato DJhttp://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/art/TRBCfeatures/Premium%20PC/serato-dj-420-90.jpg DJs and sound engineers are another group that get a great deal from the power produced by premium PCs, and to truly harness that they should seriously consider getting a copy of Serato DJ. Given the honour of 2014's best DJ software at the DJ Tech Awards, the program has support for four decks from the outset and benefits from Serato's trademark Virtual Decks that allow you to see all the key information on a track inside a slick interface. It's true that you'll need to grab a pair of modern decks and various other pieces of kit to get the very best from this program, but wannabe mega-club DJs will already have the controllers, mixers and accessories they need. Granted, this program might not be completely essential for all premium PC users, but for budding DJs it's quite simply a no-brainer. VLC Media Playerhttp://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/art/software/msplayers/mplayer_vlc-420-90.jpg Downloading films and TV shows online or buying DVDs can often mean attempting to find a media player that brings all the various video formats under one roof whilst working seamlessly. VLC Media Player does that in spades and is an app that every premium PC user needs to download right now. The beauty of VLC Player is that it can quite literally play every video file on the planet with little fuss. There's slightly more to this software than just an impressive array of formats, though, and it can also play DVDs, CDs, MP3 and FLV files. Another problem with some videos is the volume not being high enough on the original copy and thus rendering your premium PC's impressive new speakers useless. VLC handles this by boosting playback volume by up to 200% and blasting any sound problems out of the water. All things considered this powerful program, which just so happens to be free, is an excellent way to play media on any premium PC. Kodihttp://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/art/DOWNLOADS/video/Kodi/Kodi-1-420-90.jpg Premium PCs at the top of the market all come with a monitor that allows you to bring out the very best in what the PC can achieve visually. Even though watching TV shows and any other content is already second nature to any PC user, there is still one stumbling block that comes with watching media from different locations – it's a hassle having to flit between programs to view everything. What if there was something that brought everything together into a polished framework that gets the very best out of the pictures, music, videos and streaming sites you use with your PC? Step forward Kodi. Loved by legions of online TV viewers, Kodi can be a challenge to set up but the payoff at the end is more than worth it. The console takes over your screen and allows you to add streams from anywhere online and place them alongside the local content stored on your PC. This means you can switch from looking at the photos you took at the weekend to BBC iPlayer for tonight's episode of EastEnders, and there are even plugins to include your Freeview TV as part of the package. This app also has the added advantage of PVR plugins so you can record content to view later on. Google Chromehttp://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/art/DOWNLOADS/internet/Google_Chrome/Dotd-006-Google-Chrome-420-90.jpg Google has been building itself as the total web company from the outset and the jewel in its crown is the Chrome browser that delivers the best browsing experience on Windows or Mac – and by some way. Chrome truly comes into its own in the amount of add-ons and extensions that come for free to embellish the experience. Everything popular on the web comes with an add-on that functions in Chrome, and the added syncing with other devices running Chrome is a little bundle of extra joy that just adds to it all. Other browsers can also deliver the goods in the syncing and browsing departments, yet none of them feel anywhere near as polished as Chrome, and as such it's a must-have app for your premium PC. 360 Total Securityhttp://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/art/TRBC/Software/Antivirus%20Software%202015%20roundup/360TotalSecurity-420-90.jpg The last thing you want to happen to your brand new premium PC is for malware or viruses to wreak havoc. With its four antivirus engines and lack of any adware, 360 Total Security is the best option for all users seeking quality protection for their machine. From the outset it offers anti-phishing support, online shopping protection, network threat blocking, hard drive clean-up tools, a Windows update checker and everything else you've come to expect from an antivirus program. It's true that the four antivirus engines (there's one from BitDefender and Avira, plus a pair of Qihoo's own) can take a long time to complete scans of your PC, but considering the level of protection offered it's worth the longer wait. Especially if it saves your shiny new PC from a disastrous meltdown. http://rss.feedsportal.com/c/669/f/415085/s/45e4b96f/sc/15/mf.gif http://da.feedsportal.com/r/224852187136/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/45e4b96f/sc/15/rc/1/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/224852187136/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/45e4b96f/sc/15/rc/2/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/224852187136/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/45e4b96f/sc/15/rc/3/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/224852187136/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/45e4b96f/sc/15/a2.imghttp://pi.feedsportal.com/r/224852187136/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/45e4b96f/sc/15/a2t.imghttp://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techradar/software-news/~4/fq4kASm36g4

http://cdn.mos.techradar.com/art/events/Microsoft%20Build%202015/screen%20grabs/windows-store-for-business-470-75.jpgTo encourage businesses to use applications from the Windows Store, Microsoft will launch an enterprise-specific app store when Windows 10 goes live this summer. Windows Store for Business will support business payment methods and enable schools and companies to customize the Windows Store to highlight and browse products in a more streamlined fashion. Originally mentioned by Microsoft in September, Windows Store for Business is designed to be more manageable for IT departments and business decision-makers. The web-based Store portal allows organizations to browse the Windows Store app to catalog and acquire apps in bulk. How it will workOrganizations will be able to create own private sections of the Windows Store that houses pre-selected custom apps. IT administrators can assign apps to people in the organization, who will be directed to the downloads via an emailed link. Additionally, within this private section of the Store, employees can scroll through to download apps that have been pre-approved by the IT department and management teams. Users will sign in via the Azure Active Directory. http://rss.feedsportal.com/c/669/f/415085/s/45dc418b/sc/28/mf.gif http://da.feedsportal.com/r/224852077530/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/45dc418b/sc/28/rc/1/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/224852077530/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/45dc418b/sc/28/rc/2/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/224852077530/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/45dc418b/sc/28/rc/3/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/224852077530/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/45dc418b/sc/28/a2.imghttp://pi.feedsportal.com/r/224852077530/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/45dc418b/sc/28/a2t.imghttp://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techradar/software-news/~4/p_YLp5ilupQ

http://cdn.mos.techradar.com/art/events/Microsoft%20Build%202015/screen%20grabs/terry-myerson-470-75.jpgDuring the Microsoft Build 2015 developer conference, EVP of Operating Systems Terry Myerson said Microsoft wants Windows 10 on 1 billion devices in two to three years. That sounds almost ambitious until you realize Windows is a widely used platform already. Developing ... http://rss.feedsportal.com/c/669/f/415085/s/45dc4190/sc/15/mf.gif http://da.feedsportal.com/r/224852077528/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/45dc4190/sc/15/rc/1/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/224852077528/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/45dc4190/sc/15/rc/2/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/224852077528/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/45dc4190/sc/15/rc/3/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/224852077528/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/45dc4190/sc/15/a2.imghttp://pi.feedsportal.com/r/224852077528/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/45dc4190/sc/15/a2t.imghttp://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techradar/software-news/~4/R2DkcSbINNM

http://cdn.mos.techradar.com/art/events/Microsoft%20Build%202015/screen%20grabs/satya-onstage-470-75.jpgMicrosoft will open its .NET platform to Linux and Mac users, the company said at its annual Build developer conference. Additionally, Windows users can now access the .NET framework release candidate. Traditionally opposed to open-sourcing platforms, Microsoft has released .NET Core runtime for Linux and Mac users in a move designed to expand its developer network to coders who are more comfortable using other platforms. Now, developers can create cloud-based applications that can run across multiple platforms rather than requiring developers to choose between Linux, Mac and Windows. Developers are encouraged to begin testing the new .NET framework so that Microsoft can start to weed out bugs and security holes. AzureMicrosoft has updated its cloud solution include the Azure SQL Data Warehouse tool, which enables companies to isolate cloud-based relational data, and unstructured data. It has also added the Azure Data Lake, which is designed to let clients store what Microsoft is saying is an infinite amount of data in its original form. This lets companies analyze and process data from all sources (including machine-to-machine data) for analysis. Microsoft also said Azure is available in 19 regions, on more than one million servers. Azure is onboarding more than 90,000 subscribers every month. This all adds up to 50 trillion objects stored on the Microsoft cloud for more than 425 million users. Forty percent of Microsoft's Azure revenue comes from startups and ISPs. DockerAs part of its open-source initiative, Microsoft has expanded its partnership with Docker to enable developers to open-source any Windows document and run it on the Docker platform. Docker is an open platform for developers and system administrators to build applications. By furthering its partnership with Docker, Microsoft can now enable developers to mix and match Windows containers with Linux containers http://rss.feedsportal.com/c/669/f/415085/s/45db7190/sc/28/mf.gif http://da.feedsportal.com/r/224852075487/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/45db7190/sc/28/rc/1/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/224852075487/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/45db7190/sc/28/rc/2/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/224852075487/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/45db7190/sc/28/rc/3/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/224852075487/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/45db7190/sc/28/a2.imghttp://pi.feedsportal.com/r/224852075487/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/45db7190/sc/28/a2t.imghttp://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techradar/software-news/~4/Gr1Gz6_wCfA

http://cdn.mos.techradar.com/art/laptops/Google/Chromebook%20Pixel%202015/Chromebook%20Pixel%202015%20review-1-470-75.jpgMicrosoft is ramping up its patent money making machine through a deal with Qisda that will keep it extremely relevant on Android smartphones and Chromebooks. Thanks to a worldwide patent licensing agreement signed late last week, a range of Qisda and BenQ devices running Android and Chrome now falls under the terms of Microsoft's burgeoning patent portfolio. "Today's agreement demonstrates the power of licensing to accelerate innovation, because it will provide Qisda with greater patent protection as it brings new devices to market," said Nick Psyhogeos, vice president and executive director of Microsoft Technology Licensing. Microsoft has been playing a big part in Google's successful mobile OS for some time and it even proclaimed that over 50% of Android OEMs had deals in place with the Redmond-based firm in 2013. That translated into an extra $2 billion (around £1.31 billion, or AU$2.51 billion) for Microsoft's bean counters and, ultimately, Microsoft is profiting from Linux given that both Android and the Chrome OS are based on the kernel. Samsung controversyThis strategy hasn't been without controversy and a court dispute against Samsung finally came to a conclusion in February after a six-month long quarrel over a seven-year patent licensing agreement signed in 2011. The years-long legal quarrel was worth some $1 billion (around £650 million, or AU$1.25 billion) per year to Microsoft. Psyhogeos went on to explain the latest agreement with Qisda and BenQ means it has patent licensing agreements with almost every single top Taiwanese OEM out there. So whilst their own Windows Phone OS (soon to be Windows 10) is languishing behind Android and iOS, Microsoft will be more than happy to pick up as much cash as possible courtesy of the two Google operating systems. Check it out: Windows 10 release date, price, news and featureshttp://rss.feedsportal.com/c/669/f/415085/s/45d27da8/sc/15/mf.gif http://da.feedsportal.com/r/225507367732/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/45d27da8/sc/15/rc/1/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/225507367732/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/45d27da8/sc/15/rc/2/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/225507367732/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/45d27da8/sc/15/rc/3/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/225507367732/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/45d27da8/sc/15/a2.imghttp://pi.feedsportal.com/r/225507367732/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/45d27da8/sc/15/a2t.imghttp://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techradar/software-news/~4/Uz_vYvdoZPM

http://cdn.mos.techradar.com/art/software/Windows/Windows%2010/windows%20tech%20preview%20demo-470-75.jpgMicrosoft is delivering an update to the way developers handle apps destined for Windows Phone, Windows 8.1 and eventually Windows 10. The new Developer Dashboard will be unveiled at Build 2015 later on this week and the new service will eventually allow developers to submit and manage apps across Windows devices in one location, according to Microsoft News. Microsoft uploaded the new dashboard to new a subdomain of windows.com that is hosted at devx.windows.com. Once users login to the site the next page pops up with a "Coming Soon.." banner. When the Dashboard Preview finally launches at this location it will be open to all registered Windows developers but at first it will only let you view your account and published apps. Microsoft's grand plan for unityBringing all app developers working on Windows under one roof complements the plan it has already carried out to implement its own universal apps, known as Windows apps. Those applications will look exactly the same regardless of whether they are running on a laptop, tablet, desktop, smartphone, Xbox or Internet of Things device. Microsoft plans to fully release the new Developer Dashboard later on this year and we can expect to hear a lot more about its plans for that and the whole of Windows 10 later this week at Build 2015. Check it out: Windows 10 release date, price, news and featureshttp://rss.feedsportal.com/c/669/f/415085/s/45c8923c/sc/15/mf.gif http://da.feedsportal.com/r/224852064092/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/45c8923c/sc/15/rc/1/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/224852064092/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/45c8923c/sc/15/rc/2/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/224852064092/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/45c8923c/sc/15/rc/3/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/224852064092/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/45c8923c/sc/15/a2.imghttp://pi.feedsportal.com/r/224852064092/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/45c8923c/sc/15/a2t.imghttp://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techradar/software-news/~4/iLjDmaQBwAc

http://cdn.mos.techradar.com/art/TRBC/Software/Boot%20Camp/MacBook%20Windows%20hero-470-75.JPGIntroductionChanging operating systems is a painful process: leaving what you know behind for a new and potentially fruitful land, sacrificing some things for others. The grass is, as they say, always greener on the other side; the fruits of Mac OS X look appealing on Windows and vice versa. Each major operating system has its own quirks, flaws and plus points aplenty, whether they be broad application support (Windows) or, in my opinion, design (OS X). The majority of the PC-using world – of which the population is hundreds of millions – still use Windows, especially at work or educational institutions. Microsoft is still doing incredibly well financially in large part because people use Windows. Because of this, many Mac users have to install Windows onto their laptop or desktop in order to be compatible with the outside world but retain the Mac hardware. Boot CampWhen looking to install Windows on your Mac there are several options, only one of which – Boot Camp – I will explore in detail here. Software such as Parallels and VMware Fusion enable a Mac to "run" Windows simultaneously, on top of OS X and, in Parallels' case, integrate the two seamlessly. With the dual-system mode in Parallels enabled, Windows programs, right down to Solitaire, appear to run natively inside OS X. Unfortunately, both of these products are expensive – £64.99 ($100) for Parallels, £52 ($75) for Fusion – and there are massive trade-offs for performance, especially on lower-end MacBooks or older machines. I personally use a MacBook Air (mid-2013) with 4GB of RAM and an Intel Core i5 CPU – a fairly powerful machine – but you can forget gaming using the Windows version of Steam if Parallels is being used. Luckily, Apple has thought of this and includes Boot Camp in OS X. Boot Camp essentially lets the user create a partition on the hard drive upon which a new operating system can be installed. All the user needs is a copy of Windows, either on a disk or as an ISO file, and more than 30GB free on their hard drive. Set up is simple with the only issue I encountered being the formatting of the partitioned drive, requiring a download from Seagate that allowed it to be formatted in the NTFS format. http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/art/TRBC/Software/Boot%20Camp/MacBook%20Windows%201-420-90.JPG Speedy WindowsOnce I had this sussed, I restarted my Mac, held down the 'alt' key (from where I assumed the Mac had switched off, although I'm not sure how accurate you need to be within the Restart), selected the drive entitled "Windows" and my copy of Windows 8.1 booted up perfectly, even speedily. When booted, the Mac behaves like a Windows PC – it becomes, in effect, a Windows PC. There can be a few oddities – the trackpad functions far less well in Windows and Wi-Fi failed to work until I found the relevant drivers on Apple's Help site – but for all intents and purposes my MacBook is now a dual-booting PC, running the best of Microsoft and Apple. I could install Steam and get to work in Grand Theft Auto or Battlefield, or run Office or any Windows-only application that I like. Windows 8.1 could benefit from touchscreen input now and then – as many column inches have been spilt explaining – but Windows 10 looks as though it is bringing back the focus to those PCs with a keyboard and mouse, or trackpad in this case, which should solve some of these issues. The bottom line is that the experience, by and large, is the same as it would be on a PC solely running Windows. Windows 10: release date, price, news and featuresReasons for Windows on a MacBut why would you want to run Windows on a Mac? The first reason, as previously mentioned, is simply because Windows still has such a prominent user base within the working world, and there are times when a piece of Windows-only software is needed – but as soon as you get home you want to flick back over to OS X. The second is that, in my opinion and the opinions of many others, Apple hardware is simply superior. In every review for any Mac, be it laptop or desktop, hardware is always praised as a plus point. From the design to the trackpad – a feature that many other manufacturers are yet to nail, leading Microsoft to make alternations to the way "precision touch" devices work on Windows – Apple laptops and desktops seem to rank the highest in all reviews and measurements. It would seem that pairing Apple's hardware with Microsoft's operating system is ideal. System Preference even allows changing of the default startup disk so your Mac can boot straight to Windows every time, if you so desire. There are downsides to this. If you have a smaller hard drive – the two lower-end MacBook Airs come with just a 128GB SSD, for example – then allocating a precious 30GB to another OS is going to be painful, especially as that leaves very little room to actually install programs on Windows so usability could be impaired. http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/art/TRBC/Software/Boot%20Camp/MacBook%20Windows%202-420-90.JPG Performance and battery issuesThere are also performance and battery life issues with Windows that are not there in OS X. When Ars Technica reviewed the new Retina MacBook running Windows in Boot Camp, they found that "battery life is usually worse in Windows, something generally attributed to Apple's tighter integration between hardware and software," and this is reflected in my own tests. The dual-booting can also be seen as a nice supplement. There is no way to load OS X onto a Windows machine – legally, at least – and so in order to get Apple's operating system you have to buy a Mac. But, when Windows is installed, you really have two PCs in one. Pound-for-pound, high-end Windows hardware is often as expensive, or even more expensive, than the equivalent MacBook – but there's only one you can run both Windows and OS X on. There is very little downside to grabbing a copy of Windows and simply following the instructions supplied by Apple to set up a Windows PC within your Mac. If you need to run Windows-only apps, or you're attracted to OS X or the design of a Mac, then fear not: Apple has you covered. Why Windows 10 is luring me back from OS Xhttp://rss.feedsportal.com/c/669/f/415085/s/45ba410c/sc/15/mf.gif http://da.feedsportal.com/r/224851994375/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/45ba410c/sc/15/rc/1/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/224851994375/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/45ba410c/sc/15/rc/2/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/224851994375/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/45ba410c/sc/15/rc/3/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/224851994375/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/45ba410c/sc/15/a2.imghttp://pi.feedsportal.com/r/224851994375/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/45ba410c/sc/15/a2t.imghttp://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techradar/software-news/~4/fJZMFmD7BTg

http://cdn.mos.techradar.com/art/internet/Dropbox%20Notes/Dropbox%20Notes%201-470-75.jpgAfter testing a collaborative note-taking service early this month, it appears that Dropbox is now ready to have users sign up for Dropbox Notes. According to TechCrunch, Dropbox Notes is the latest form of Project Composer, a service that was part of the HackPad acquisition. Under the Dropbox branding, the company is now inviting teams to sign up for the private beta. As part of the beta, Dropbox is asking companies for their name, email address and company name. Currently, Dropbox isn't providing much information on its DropBox Notes site, but the service appears to be targeted towards enterprises, businesses and teams. The introductory text reads, "we're working on a new way for teams to write together." CollaborationEntering the collaborative online note-taking space, Dropbox will be competing with heavyweights such as Google with its Google Docs service and Microsoft with Office 365. Another challenger in this space is Evernote. Unlike Google Docs and Office 365, the Dropbox service is geared towards quick note-taking rather than full document creation. Dropbox Notes is designed for taking meeting notes, rather than creating documents and files for the office. Still, the collaborative aspect, such as having multiple collaborators working on the same document simultaneously, is similar to other online office titles. http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/art/internet/Dropbox%20Notes/Dropbox%20Notes%202-420-90.jpg TechCrunch says that the simple interface may be an advantage as it could make Dropbox Notes more usable on mobile devices, where there is not a lot of screen real estate to pack in menu bars and ribbons. Dropbox integrationWith Dropbox integration, users of Dropbox Notes may be able to integrate files already stored on the Dropbox cloud service. This integration would be similar to what Microsoft offers on its OneNote application, allowing users to create a rich digital notebook with links to text, images, videos, and other files for later referencing. This could make Dropbox Notes a valuable service for those who need to plan events and projects, as it serves as a digital notebook where you can reference and link other files and documents. Read our Office 2016 reviewhttp://rss.feedsportal.com/c/669/f/415085/s/45b85fed/sc/15/mf.gif http://da.feedsportal.com/r/224851972586/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/45b85fed/sc/15/rc/1/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/224851972586/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/45b85fed/sc/15/rc/2/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/224851972586/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/45b85fed/sc/15/rc/3/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/224851972586/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/45b85fed/sc/15/a2.imghttp://pi.feedsportal.com/r/224851972586/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/45b85fed/sc/15/a2t.imghttp://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techradar/software-news/~4/8qWF_zCruYU

http://cdn.mos.techradar.com/art/TRBC/microsoft_windows_server_2003-470-75.jpgWhen it comes to Windows Server 2003's end of life the doom mongers are out in full force and another report has been released showing the unpreparedness of UK enterprises. Cloud firm Exponential-e found that 35% of UK companies are not suitably prepared for Windows Server 2003's fast approaching end of life date on July 14 and it has put together a four point plan for enterprises to cope with the transition. The survey of UK IT professionals also found that 63% don't know what Windows Server 2003's demise means for their business and this pushed Exponential-e to lay out its plan for companies looking to move on. To kick things off enterprises should catalogue software and workloads by noting down exactly what is running in their organisation. Once this is clear, apps and workloads have to be categorised by type and then how critical each one is plus the level of risk or complexity attached to each. Big security worryBy finding all this out it will point enterprises in the direction of the best "target destination" that will comprise an on-premise solution or cloud deployments across Infrastructure-as-a-Service (IaaS), Platform-as-a-Service (PaaS) and Software-as-a-Service (SaaS). Once all that is done, the migration will kick off using tools and resources that are at the right level to handle it effectively and efficiently. Estimates on the amount of enterprises still running Windows Server 2003 vary hugely depending on where you look from a relatively low 2.6 million to a whopping 11 million. For this reason it has been called the "biggest security threat of 2015" and right now it's not clear whether firms will cough up to extend support in the same way the UK government did with Windows XP. Check it out: How to fight the end of life http://rss.feedsportal.com/c/669/f/415085/s/45ba94ff/sc/15/mf.gifhttp://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techradar/software-news/~4/TGQTxQWn_m4

http://cdn.mos.techradar.com/art/games/Minecraft/Minecraft%20sheep-470-75.jpgThe South Australian government is employing the world-creating, sandbox video game Minecraft to design changes to the state's national parks, and it's asking primary school children to make their perfect location. Students in years four, five, six and seven located in Adelaide and the Adelaide Hills area can use Minecraft to design changes to an existing park, or create a brand new one from scratch. Using only the regular tools found in the game – that means no mods or texture packs – students are asked to compliment the natural landscape with bushwalking trails, orienteering courses, campgrounds and more, taking into account the plants and animals in the area. "The parks they design as part of this competition might include trails for bushwalking, mountain biking or horse riding, barbecue and picnic areas, public toilets, wheelchair accessible areas, campgrounds, scenic lookouts, adventure playgrounds, interpretive trails, places to launch canoes – or something completely different," said Sustainability, Environment and Conservation Minister Ian Hunter, speaking to InDaily. "Whatever they create on the screen needs to be able to be translated into the real world." Building the futureThe winning design will be brought to life using $8.9 million of funding, while the overall winner will score a free trip for to Belair national park for their classmates. Judges are looking for entries that factor in sustainability, usability and overall skill, but it also wants their park design to be fun in the real world. Entries must include five screenshots of the design, as well as a narrated flythrough video lasting three minutes or under. Minecraft is becoming a tool as much as it is a game, with one community college in England using the Microsoft-owned title to teach its students how to code, while the British Museum is recruiting volunteers to replicate its building in-game. The competition to design South Australia's next national park closes on 12 June, and entry forms can be found on the Natural Resources site. Like Minecraft? Here are 10 games that shook PC Gaminghttp://rss.feedsportal.com/c/669/f/415085/s/45aa12f1/sc/28/mf.gif http://da.feedsportal.com/r/224851932345/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/45aa12f1/sc/28/rc/1/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/224851932345/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/45aa12f1/sc/28/rc/2/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/224851932345/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/45aa12f1/sc/28/rc/3/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/224851932345/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/45aa12f1/sc/28/a2.imghttp://pi.feedsportal.com/r/224851932345/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/45aa12f1/sc/28/a2t.imghttp://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techradar/software-news/~4/1jdf-E6lyJg

http://cdn.mos.techradar.com/art/TRBC/Software/Windows%2010%20Jan%202015%20Hands%20On/windows-10-jan-15-hero-470-75.jpgMicrosoft rolled out a new build of its Windows 10 Technical Preview late Wednesday afternoon. The update brings Windows 10 Technical Preview to build 10061, and comes with new versions of the Mail and Calendar apps. At this time, the release is only available to Windows Insider customers who are in the fast ring and not the slow ring. In Microsoft's two-stage preview approach, fast ring customers get releases earlier than customers in the slow ring, but may encounter more bugs or issues. New Mail and Calendar appsIn this release, customers will now have access to the new Mail and Calendar apps. These apps were also delivered recently to mobile customers in the Windows 10 for phones technical preview. Microsoft says that both apps support Office 365, Exchange, Outlook, Gmail, IMAP, POP, and other protocols. There is a three-pane UI for quick navigation, an easy toggle to switch between the two apps and also gesture support to perform quick tasks like on the mobile version. "Mail includes customizable Swipe Gestures, letting you swipe right or left to take actions like delete, flag, move or mark as read/unread," Microsoft said in a blog post. "Also check out the new email authoring experience. Mail leverages the familiar and rich capability of Word to that allows you to easily insert tables, add pictures and use bullets and color to your text." Users who upgrade to the latest build are advised to visit the Store Beta, which is the grey Store tile, to update both apps. "The version of the Mail and Calendar apps included in this build have a known issue that causes every typed letter to appear twice," Microsoft said, but the update from the store should fix the problem. Other improvementsThere are also other improvements as well. Tablets owners will have a better experience with the new 10061 build as the taskbar now grows in size to support better touch. "Entering Tablet Mode causes the Start button, Cortana, and the Task View buttons to all grow in size and space out to be more touchable," Microsoft said of the experience. "Items in the Notification area also widen to improve touchability. Also, pinned and running apps are removed by default to reduce clutter and simplify the experience." There are also new improvements to the task view and a new black theme. For multitasking customers who need more desktop space, Windows 10 now also supports unlimited virtual desktops. Read our Windows 10 reviewhttp://rss.feedsportal.com/c/669/f/415085/s/45a68d27/sc/15/mf.gif http://da.feedsportal.com/r/224851913294/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/45a68d27/sc/15/rc/1/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/224851913294/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/45a68d27/sc/15/rc/2/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/224851913294/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/45a68d27/sc/15/rc/3/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/224851913294/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/45a68d27/sc/15/a2.imghttp://pi.feedsportal.com/r/224851913294/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/45a68d27/sc/15/a2t.imghttp://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techradar/software-news/~4/YyIlX_9LlFk

http://cdn.mos.techradar.com/art/internet/security/Good%20Technology-470-75.jpgContinuing the RSA 2015 theme that hardware-based security delivers better threat protection than software approaches, Good Technology is rolling out what it is calling the industry's first Trusted Execution Environment for enterprise mobility management. Available initially for Android smartphones and tablets, Good's solution protects your log-in credentials in a secure container, separate from Google's operating system. By isolating credentials into a separate container, Good says that even if Android gets compromised, malicious software won't be able to intercept your passwords or PINs. Chief technology officer Nicko van Someren says that Good was able to deliver this feature based on the TrustZone architecture on ARM-based processors. ARM processor cores can run the Android OS and have a secure component to house the separate trusted operating system to handle PINs. Hardware-based approachBy migrating security to the hardware - in this case, a component of the ARM chip - Someren says that this approach is equivalent to having an enterprise-grade smart card for your phone or tablet. To use TrustZone, devices must have a ROM that supports this feature. Most high-end Android devices already ship with a TrustZone support today. As part of its vision to expand secure mobility, Someren says that Good's Trusted Execution Environment solution will help change the perception of Android. Current enterprise activation number is about three to one between iOS and Android, with businesses favoring Apple's operating system because of security. However, that may change as Trusted Execution Environment (TEE) will be able to protect login credentials even if Android is fully attacked. As the credentials and the authentication lives outside of the rich operating system - Android - and inside the trusted operating system, malware would not be able to penetrate. User's credentials cannot be accessed even if the device is rooted, and malicious attacks cannot intercept the user's PIN or log keystrokes. Simple PINsSomeren says that the TEE requires a trusted code, which is signed, to authenticate. This makes it secure and reduces friction as users no longer need complicated passcodes with hardware-based security. In addition to achieving greater security in the event of a malicious code attack on Android, TEE also provides the benefit of simple PINs. Organizations and IT managers could ease requirements to allow shorter PIN codes without compromising security. TEE will be able to authenticate itself with the back-end server using a PIN and the device's hardware. Single sign-onLike Microsoft's Device Guard for Windows 10, Good's TEE will also allow horizontal single sign-on. Once a user authenticates with the system, the user will automatically be signed on to other apps that are part of Good's suite. This suite includes over 1,600 partner and customer applications developed on the Good Dynamics Secure Mobility Platform. Someren and his team demonstrated horizontal single sign-on on an Android Kyocera smartphone. With Good's suite installed, a user would log into Good, and a user would also be logged on to connected apps, like Microsoft's Lync communication tool. In the past single sign-on across different third-party apps was not possible because it would expose the log-in credentials. This is no longer the case with TEE. TEE will be available to customers starting May. Read our coverage of the RSA 2015 keynotehttp://rss.feedsportal.com/c/669/f/415085/s/45a6163a/sc/23/mf.gif http://da.feedsportal.com/r/224851828075/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/45a6163a/sc/23/rc/1/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/224851828075/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/45a6163a/sc/23/rc/2/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/224851828075/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/45a6163a/sc/23/rc/3/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/224851828075/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/45a6163a/sc/23/a2.imghttp://pi.feedsportal.com/r/224851828075/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/45a6163a/sc/23/a2t.imghttp://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techradar/software-news/~4/PIFtXviq0a4

http://cdn.mos.techradar.com/art/internet/Microsoft/MSRSA2015-470-75.jpgContinuing the theme of Microsoft's RSA keynote that hardware-based security is superior to a software approach, I sat down with Microsoft's Windows Security and Identity Group program manager Dustin Ingalls and senior product marketing manager Chris Hallum to discuss Device Guard, a feature that will launch with Windows 10. Device Guard will join Windows 10's three-pronged approach to security this summer, alongside Microsoft Passport and Windows Hello. Our current version of security is that we trust everything until antivirus programs - like McAffee, Norton and Windows Defender - tells us otherwise, says Hallum. However, there are unknown threats out there that remain undetected until the threats are known. At that point, there will already be victims and data would have been compromised. Moving away from this model, Microsoft Trustworthy Computing corporate vice president Scott Charney proposes that companies should whitelist apps and migrate to hardware-based authentication. Windows securityWith each version of Windows, Microsoft has evolved the way it approaches security for its desktop operating system. On Windows 7, Microsoft uses a software approach. However, that changed to a hardware-based strategy starting with Windows 8, which uses a platform secure boot through a feature called Unified Extensible Firmware Interface, or UEFI, to prevent BIOS-based firmware attacks. On Windows 10, Microsoft is continuing its focus on hardware security with a hypervisor-based solution to create a trusted secure mode with Device Guard. Device GuardDevice Guard offers better malware protection by blocking any apps other than trusted apps. This essentially creates a whitelist of apps for your organization to use, and locks the system from new or unknown malware attacks. Ingalls says this begins with the Local Security Authority (LSA) to create a virtual secure mode that prevents hash attacks. The virtual secure mode runs outside of the main operating system to keep things safe, even if the operating system is compromised. Then, we move to kernel mode integrity component. This moves the Code Integrity outside of the kernel, and Windows checks to see if a software package has been officially signed by Microsoft or a trusted publisher. This prevents rogue or malicious software from running in what Microsoft terms as user mode code integrity. Ingalls says that the hypervisor-based approach keeps things safe by moving the security feature outside of the main OS and is hardware-dependent. When an app is run, Windows determines if the app is trustworthy. By using hardware and virtualization to isolate this decision-making process outside of Windows, Device Guard remains secure and safe, even if a malicious code gains access to full system privileges. Roots in Windows PhoneIn effect, by requiring applications to be signed through the Code Integrity program along with the hardware-based hypervisor feature, Device Guard creates a whitelist of applications that can run on a system. "This is an architectural change to the system, not just another [antivirus] solution, and it contains elements from Windows Phone," said Hallum. Microsoft says that Device Guard is a newly coined name, but the feature has been around and is in use on Windows Phone. By vetting apps in the Store and requiring apps to be digitally signed, Microsoft says that its approach, compared to the competing Android operating system, significantly reduces the risk of malicious attacks. RequirementsIngalls says that apps can be signed in two ways. Publishers can submit their apps to Microsoft for a digital signature as the easy and quick approach. For enterprises with proprietary code and data, and publishers who may not want to expose their apps to Microsoft, the company will provide tools for them to sign their own apps to run on their systems. In order to use Device Guard, Ingalls says that any device that's certified for Windows 8 will be compatible. Essentially, you'll need a device that supports hypervisor, including any device that supports Intel's VT-D. To support the complete features of Device Guard, Microsoft says that it will work with hardware partners to roll out systems that are Device Guard certified. Reducing friction and maximizing securitySo while Device Guard addresses the problem of malicious code on a system, data still needs to be protected. Short passcodes are not secure, but requiring strong passwords increases friction. Another problem is that enterprises may only issue secure log-ins - like RSA's keyfob - for a subset of users or only for certain apps, like logging into VPNs. Additionally, there is no good version for consumers currently, and there isn't a system-wide log-in that delivers the enterprise-grade security. To combat this, Microsoft introduced Passport and Windows Hello. Hi, Windows HelloWith Windows Hello, Microsoft is relying on enterprise-level biometric authentication. Depending on the machine, users can log in with a fingerprint, face scan with advanced cameras like Intel's RealSense 3D Camera, and iris scan. This eliminates the need for a PIN or complex passcode requirements, and makes securing a system easy. Microsoft hopes that security will come without friction for Windows users. Beyond WindowsAfter logging into Windows with Hello, Passport allows users to also log into trusted apps. In a demonstration at RSA 2015, Hallum showed me that it took less than a second for the Intel RealSense 3D Camera, which was attached to a Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon Ultrabook via USB, to recognize his face. After he logged into Windows with hello, Hallum was also instantly logged into other apps - like the Azure service - that would normally require a password. As Microsoft is part of the FIDO Alliance for security authentication, it will allow third-party apps to support Passport login. For consumers, this means that in the future, once you log onto Windows, you can also log onto your Bank of America or Wells Fargo banking account, access your eBay auction and payments on PayPal, and check the status of your Amazon order without having to log into these individual services, provided they support Passport. Enterprise applicationsFor enterprises who may want to keep things even more secure, Microsoft could also deliver multi-device authentication with Windows Hello. In a demonstration, Hallum showed that business customers can use their phones to log into Windows Hello on their PCs. This means that if a computer was stolen, the user cannot log into the system unless they have the phone and PIN. With a Windows Phone-powered Lumia connected to the Lenovo ThinkPad over Wi-Fi or Bluetooth, Hallum typed his PIN into the phone, rather than onto the computer, to log into his PC. Passport, Ingalls says, is a hardware-bound solution that's similar to a smart card. The Windows 10 familyEven though Microsoft executives remain tight-lipped about their plans for Passport on other devices and screens inside the Windows 10 family, Ingalls admitted that Xbox, Windows 10 for phones, and Windows 10 all share the same code, meaning that it's just as easy to run Passport on those devices. The possibility for Passport is endless, and the technology makes computing even more personal and secure. One potential use could be unlocking parental controls on an Xbox for gaming or TV watching with a face scan, or securely logging into mobile apps on a Windows 10 phone with a new 3D camera on a future Lumia phone. Read our report on the Microsoft keynote at RSA 2015http://rss.feedsportal.com/c/669/f/415085/s/45a4ca15/sc/15/mf.gif http://da.feedsportal.com/r/224851891293/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/45a4ca15/sc/15/rc/1/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/224851891293/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/45a4ca15/sc/15/rc/2/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/224851891293/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/45a4ca15/sc/15/rc/3/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/224851891293/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/45a4ca15/sc/15/a2.imghttp://pi.feedsportal.com/r/224851891293/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/45a4ca15/sc/15/a2t.imghttp://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techradar/software-news/~4/mjiEsg-wE3w

http://cdn.mos.techradar.com/art/internet/Netflix/Best%20Netflix%20TV%20gallery/Daredevil-470-75.jpgNetflix has announced that its huge new Marvel superhero show Daredevil has been given a second season. The lavishly produced and really rather wonderful Daredevil has captivated the TechRadar office, and is another big landmark series in the ever-changing nature of television. Daredevil is the story of a hero left blind by an accident with nuclear goop, starring Charlie Cox as Matt Murdoch. It's so good we've already added it to our '25 best Netflix TV shows' and now we can look forward to Daredevil's next set of adventures. Former Buffy alum Doug Petrie will be dishing up (sorry) the new series as showrunner, along with Marco Ramirez, with Steve DeKnight stepping away due to prior commitments. Netflix will be bringing even more superhero shows from Marvel in the coming months, with AKA Jessica Jones, Luke Cage, Iron Fist and Defenders all slated for this year and next. And now that's been joined by a second series of Daredevil. Via Marvel

http://cdn.mos.techradar.com/art/TRBC/Abstract/Magnifying%20glass%20on%20danger/Magnifying%20glass%20on%20danger-470-75.jpgFireEye has uncovered new zero-day exploits in both Adobe Flash and Microsoft Windows that are likely to have been used by a widespread Russian cyber espionage campaign. Both exploits were outlined by FireEye over the weekend in a report that accuses the advanced persistent threat group (APT) known as APT28 that operates out of Russia of exploiting the two vulnerabilities. Attackers can take advantage of the Flash exploit (CVE-2015-3043) when a victim clicks on a link to a malicious website controlled by attackers. Once on a site an HTML.JS launcher page serves the Flash exploit and this then triggers CVE-2015-3043 that executes shellcode and runs an executable payload on a Windows system. That payload then triggers the previously unreported Windows flaw, CVE-2015-1701, which is able to steal system tokens. That very Windows flaw is a local privilege escalation vulnerability that executes a callback using the flaw to steal data from the System process before executing code using escalated privileges. Attackers can then modify their stolen system tokens to have the exact same privileges as the System process. Is there a fix?FireEye first reported on APT28 back in October and it has linked the current campaign to them by explaining that the exploit brings malware variants similar to APT28 backdoors from malware families it has employed in the past. Microsoft is currently working on a fix for the vulnerability that doesn't affect Windows 8 or later and Adobe Flash users should update to the newest version of the software to prevent any problems arising. Check it out: The best antivirus software of 2015 http://rss.feedsportal.com/c/669/f/415085/s/459b9f41/sc/15/mf.gif http://da.feedsportal.com/r/224851783103/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/459b9f41/sc/15/rc/1/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/224851783103/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/459b9f41/sc/15/rc/2/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/224851783103/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/459b9f41/sc/15/rc/3/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/224851783103/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/459b9f41/sc/15/a2.imghttp://pi.feedsportal.com/r/224851783103/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/459b9f41/sc/15/a2t.imghttp://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techradar/software-news/~4/-x-PlhKpI1k

http://cdn.mos.techradar.com/art/software/Microsoft/Windows%2010/hands%20on/windows10-closeup-470-75.jpgThe path to Windows 10's eventual arrival on PCs has been meticulously pieced together just days after we found out the OS will be released in July. ZDNet pulled together all of the details that come as part of the optional KB3035583 update and managed to work out the way Microsoft will handle the rollout. Windows 8.1 and 7 users have to choose to download the latest update and when they do it will bring a number of different capabilities tagged with the GWX (Get Windows 10) acronym first mentioned by Myce earlier this month, which will lead their PC closer to Windows 10. Four scheduled tasks are at the centre of it all, one of which kicks off an "appraiser" app that is run to check for prerequisites for the download and upgrade that are about to follow. Inside the GWX folder itself is where things get even more interesting. The XML file in there opens up with the "Anticipation UX" that will bring a pop-up advertisement that informs the user of the update. Following that there is a "ReservationPage" that will presumably allow users to opt-in to Windows. Following this is the upgrading, download in progress, download complete, ready for setup, setup in progress, and setup complete phases that will get underway by themselves. The whole process is almost identical to the one that Windows Insiders currently go through for new Windows 10 Technical Preview releases right now. AMD let it slipMicrosoft is doing a fine job of making sure that more people than ever will be able to use the new version of Windows and to that end it introduced peer-to-peer integration in a recent Windows 10 build to ensure updating is as painless as possible. The Windows 10 roadmap release comes only a day after AMD accidentally informed everyone that Windows 10 will arrive on PCs at the end of July and kick off a new era for the Redmond-based firm. Check it out: Windows 10 release date, price, news and featureshttp://rss.feedsportal.com/c/669/f/415085/s/459b5db5/sc/15/mf.gif http://da.feedsportal.com/r/225507102989/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/459b5db5/sc/15/rc/1/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/225507102989/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/459b5db5/sc/15/rc/2/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/225507102989/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/459b5db5/sc/15/rc/3/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/225507102989/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/459b5db5/sc/15/a2.imghttp://pi.feedsportal.com/r/225507102989/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/459b5db5/sc/15/a2t.imghttp://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techradar/software-news/~4/rbKKrIbEwFM

http://cdn.mos.techradar.com/art/laptops/Google/Chromebook%20Pixel%202015/Chromebook%20Pixel%202015%20review-1-470-75.jpgGoogle is rolling out an update to Chrome OS to bring the Google Now experience to Chrome OS. The feature was previously available in a beta of the Chrome operating system, and now all Chromebooks have access to Google's anticipatory search computing engine in the public release. Along with porting Google Now from Android to Chrome OS, there are a few other notable changes as part of the Chrome OS version 42.0.2311.87 update. Now, Chrome OS supports password-protected zip files and the Files app received a Material Design makeover. There is also an updated calculator and an improved Chrome OS Launcher that brings better search and voice search. Better searchGoogle isn't the only one porting its Google Now engine to Chrome OS. Similarly, Microsoft is bringing its Cortana search on Windows Phone to Windows 10, which is currently available in technical preview. Like Cortana, Google Now allows users to search the web - it integrates with Google search being a Google product - and it also anticipates when you need information to deliver relevant results without user intervention. Google Now will update you on the weather at home and at work, traffic conditions, travel times and delays, and news snippets based on your search history. Google presents the information that it anticipates will be relevant to you in a card-like UI. More of Android on ChromeIn addition to Google Now, Google is also porting its popular Android experience, which is reserved primarily for smartphones and tablets, to the Chrome OS. Google is making its Android Runtime for Chrome engine available to allow developers and users to run Android apps on Chrome systems. This gives Chrome users access to the 1.3 million Android apps available on the market today. In this sense, Chrome is growing up to be a platform for apps, and not just a gateway for web apps. Read our picks for the top Chromebookshttp://rss.feedsportal.com/c/669/f/415085/s/4580ec38/sc/15/mf.gif http://da.feedsportal.com/r/224851715166/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/4580ec38/sc/15/rc/1/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/224851715166/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/4580ec38/sc/15/rc/2/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/224851715166/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/4580ec38/sc/15/rc/3/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/224851715166/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/4580ec38/sc/15/a2.imghttp://pi.feedsportal.com/r/224851715166/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/4580ec38/sc/15/a2t.imghttp://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techradar/software-news/~4/wkDH6ULVDf8

http://cdn.mos.techradar.com/art/DOWNLOADS/features/Best-software-2014/Chrome-470-75.jpgGoogle has extended support for its Chrome browser on Windows XP until at least the end of 2015 after reneging on a plan to shut down updates in April. Any systems still running the lumbering zombie that is XP, which Microsoft ended support for in April 2014, will continue to snag regular security patches and updates to prevent their systems falling prey to malware or browser-based attacks. "Millions of people are still working on XP computers every day. We want those people to have the option to use a browser that's up-to-date and as safe as possible on an unsupported operating system," explained Mark Larson, director of engineering for Google Chrome, in a company blog post. Google originally planed to turn off the update tap at some point in April, but could even extend support for Chrome on Windows XP beyond 2015 should it have another change of heart. Firefox and Opera like XP tooIf Google makes good on its plan to end support by 2016, XP stalwarts will still be able to get their secure online fix through the latest versions of both Firefox and Opera, which continue to list XP as a supported OS. Microsoft is hoping that many Windows XP users (which accounted fo 16.4% of PC owners in March according to NetMarketShare), will transition to Windows 10 when it's released later this year. Check it out: Windows XP release date, price, news and featureshttp://rss.feedsportal.com/c/669/f/415085/s/457d83ac/sc/15/mf.gif http://da.feedsportal.com/r/224851715581/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/457d83ac/sc/15/rc/1/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/224851715581/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/457d83ac/sc/15/rc/2/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/224851715581/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/457d83ac/sc/15/rc/3/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/224851715581/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/457d83ac/sc/15/a2.imghttp://pi.feedsportal.com/r/224851715581/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/457d83ac/sc/15/a2t.imghttp://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techradar/software-news/~4/7Og5Sxi-kNw

http://cdn.mos.techradar.com/art/appliances/Apple%20HomeKit/Homekit_Hero-470-75.jpg What is Apple HomeKit?http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/art/appliances/Apple%20HomeKit/Homekit_Hero-420-90.jpg Announced alongside iOS 8 at last year's Worldwide Developer Conference, Apple's HomeKit software aims to put its own spin on home automation. Using HomeKit as a framework, developers can link up iOS products to communicate with home appliances, such as thermostats, light bulbs and garage openers. While the initial framework of HomeKit was unveiled alongside the release of iOS in September 2014, manufacturers have been waiting to bring out HomeKit-enabled products to consumers over the course of this spring. Not sure what home appliances will be compatible with your iPhone, iPad or, one day, the Apple Watch? Fear not, as we've rounded up a list of upcoming (and a few already-released) products expected - or are already confirmed - to bring Apple connectivity to a home near you. Schlage Sense Door Lockhttp://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/art/appliances/Apple%20HomeKit/schlage-420-90.jpg The Schlage Sense lock system, designed with Apple HomeKit in mind, hopes to do away with keys by allowing you to access your home with your iPhone, iPad, or iPod using Bluetooth technology. The Schlage Sense allows cutting-edge home owners to set and change entry codes using a dedicated app as well as use an illuminated touchscreen keypad for those of us who are still prone to locking ourselves out of the house at 1 o'clock in the morning. How much does it cost? TBA Where can I get it? Schlage has stated that select stores will begin selling the Sense later this year (US only). Honeywell Lyric Thermostathttp://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/art/appliances/Apple%20HomeKit/lyric-420-90.jpg The Honeywell Lyric has been out for nearly a year, but is expected to receive an update in 2015 that will allow you to turn your iDevice into a smart remote via HomeKit. The Lyric's smart technology allows it to adjust temperatures to household activity, controlling energy usage without occupants ever having to leave their beds or set complicated schedules for when they leave the house. How much does it cost? $279.99. Though, at the time of writing, Honeywell is selling the Lyric for a discounted $249.99 through their website. Where can I get it? You can order the Lyric online through Honeywell's webpage, or through various home improvement retailers (US and Canada only). Hue Automated Lighting Systemhttp://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/art/appliances/Apple%20HomeKit/hue-420-90.jpg While the Hue lighting system has yet to confirm HomeKit support, manufacturer Philips' past support of iOS devices would suggest that an upcoming crossover is likely. Philips' Hue high-tech lightbulbs can be controlled with a dedicated app and an electronic hub that can manage up to 50 individual light sources at a time. You can customize color, timing and brightness for each bulb, and by setting and saving various "scenes" smartphone users can simulate a sunrise in the morning or a turquoise-and-hot-pink '80s themed party in the evening. How much does it cost? Starter Kit is $199.95 (£174.99), with additional standard bulbs starting at $60 (£50). Where can I get it? Hue products can be found on Amazon and most electronics retailers, though Apple features the product in its own store. MyQ Garage Openerhttp://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/art/appliances/Apple%20HomeKit/myq-420-90.jpg The MyQ is an sensor for your garage that includes a Wi-Fi hub and door sensor which can transform a smartphone into a functional garage door opener as well as sync up any pre-existing remotes, should you wish to avoid swapping out your entire garage-opener setup. In addition to being using a smartphone as a key, the MyQ application, in conjunction with HomeKit, can also send notifications that detail when the garage has been in use, thereby foiling teenagers nationwide hoping to "borrow" Dad's Mustang. How much does it cost? $129.99 Where can I get it? Chamberlain sells the MyQ through their store, as well as offers a free companion app via the App Store (US and Canada only). Insteon Hub Prohttp://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/art/appliances/Apple%20HomeKit/insteon-420-90.jpg Insteon is no stranger to the home automation game, with over 200 different products ranging from thermostats to light switches available to outfit your walls with smart tech. Several of Insteon's products already talk with each other over Wi-Fi and Bluetooth, but with the HomeKit-compatible Hub Pro, the company's long list of products can be consolidated and controlled with a single iPhone or iPad, synchronizing lights, temperature, smoke detectors and more in one place when it launches later this year. How much does it cost? $149.99 Where can I get it? Preorder online through SmartHome (US, UK and AU included) Incipio Power Strips, Outlets, and Adaptershttp://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/art/appliances/Apple%20HomeKit/incipio-420-90.jpg Incipio's series of 'smart plugs' give you complete control over your outlets using Siri commands (i.e., "Siri, turn off the lights") as well as offer proximity detection for when you want certain electronics to turn on when a person enters the room. Insteon's 2015 lineup of smart plugs is comprised of The Direct Smart Outlet, which plugs directly into a wall socket, a Direct Wireless Smart Lamp Adapter, for attaching to lightbulbs, and a 4-Port Direct Powerstrip, for control over multiple devices. How much does it cost? $24.99 for Direct Wireless Smart Outlet (pictured left), $24.99 for Direct Wireless Smart Lamp Adapter (pictured bottom-center), and $59.99 for 4-Port Direct Powerstrip (pictured top-right) Where can I get it? All three products are displayed and priced on Incipio's webpage but have yet to go on sale (US, UK and AU included). Eve Home Monitoring by Elgatohttp://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/art/appliances/Apple%20HomeKit/eve-420-90.jpg The Eve home monitoring system by Elgato isn't really a single product. Rather, it's more along the lines of an entire monitoring ecosystem, with a full arsenal of various remote sensors that can detect a range of statistics, from air quality to water use. While this isn't the first line of home quality products, what makes Eve unique is that the various sensors will be able to connect to an iPhone or iPad using the HomeKit framework to give you a status report of your home, which can be a boon for the environmentally conscientious looking to reduce resource consumption or improve their quality of life. How much does it cost? TBA Where can I get it? Elgato still lists the Eve as "coming soon" on its website (US, UK and AU included). The Withings Homehttp://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/art/appliances/Apple%20HomeKit/withings-420-90.jpg The Home by Withings is a stationary camera that toes the line between security monitor and user-friendly webcam. It features a high-quality camera that works during the night with time-lapse video recording, a motion sensor, two microphones and even air quality tracking. Utilizing HomeKit support, the Home can send data based on what it picks up to the user's iPhone, making it as useful for home security as much as monitoring your toddler or pet. How much does it cost? $200 (£169.95) Where can I get it? Order online through Withings iHome SmartPlughttp://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/art/appliances/Apple%20HomeKit/smartplug-420-90.jpg Much like the previous Incipio line, iHome's upcoming SmartPlug intends to put Siri to work by giving HomeKit users voice control over their outlets. In order to achieve that, the SmartPlug utilizes an application called iHome Control (a new addition to iHome's suite of apps designed for use in concert with their list of audio products) that will lets users group multiple plugs together and control electronics en masse. How much does it cost? $39.99 Where can I get it? iHome reportedly plans to release the SmartPlug later this Spring. (US and Canada only) Tempo Environment Monitorhttp://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/art/appliances/Apple%20HomeKit/tempo-420-90.jpg The Tempo by Blue Maestro is a versatile, lightweight device designed to track environmental conditions in a number of personal and commercial situations. Utilizing either HomeKit or a Bluetooth connection via a dedicated app, Tempo allows you to track the humidity, barometric pressure, temperature and other metrics for a wide range of environments, from your pet lizard habitat to your humidor for questionably-obtained cigars. How much does it cost? $72.00 (£45.00) Where can I get it? Order online through Blue Maestro iDevices Switchhttp://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/art/appliances/Apple%20HomeKit/switch-420-90.jpg Another contender in the brewing smart plug battle, the Switch by iDevices features similar HomeKit-enabled connectivity between your home and iPhone, utilizing Siri support and a dedicated app that can control multiple electronics remotely without the need for a central hub. The Switch changes up the formula by featuring a stackable design, customizable light strip, and planned integration with other products that have been featured on this list, such as the Chamberlain MyQ and Schlage door lock. How much does it cost? $49.99 Where can I get it? iDevices has yet to announce when it will release the Switch (US, UK and AU included). ConnectSense Smart Outlethttp://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/art/appliances/Apple%20HomeKit/connectsense-420-90.jpg While there are a handful of other uses, it seems most developers are really hooked on the idea of using Homekit as a smart outlet, with ConnectSense bringing its own rendition to the table. Much like its competitors, the Smart Outlet claims that it will have Siri connectivity, multiple device control, and easy setup. The Smart Outlet also boasts features such as alerts for energy usage, USB ports for simplified charging and ZigBee technology that gives it the ability to communicate freely with other smart devices in the home. How much does it cost? $79.95 Where can I get it? Pre-order online through ConnectSense (US only) Velvetwire PowerSlayer Bluhttp://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/art/appliances/Apple%20HomeKit/velvetwire-420-90.jpg Having your home hooked up to your phone is only convenient if your battery doesn't die before lunchtime. The Powerslayer Blu, while sounding like a late-'70s heavy metal band, is actually a quite contemporary charger from Velvetwire that connects to your device in more ways than one. The device alerts you when your iPhone battery is fully charged, offers power surge protection and sends reminders if the phone is due for a charge or gets separated from the device, the latter being a godsend for travelers prone to leaving their cables at home before a long trip. How much does it cost? $59.95 Where can I get it? The PowerSlayer is listed as 'coming out soon' on Velvetwire's site, though its current iteration is built to work only in the US, Japan, Taiwan, Canada, Mexico, and other countries with similar 110v outlets.

http://cdn.mos.techradar.com/art/av_accessories/Amazon%20Fire%20TV%20Stick/Amazon%20Fire%20TV%20Stick%20UK%201-470-75.jpgAmazon is finally giving the UK a bit of stick - as its £35 media streamer starts to ship to customers, following a blockbuster pre-order phase. After the success of the more expensive but more powerful Fire TV, the low cost Amazon Fire TV Stick was always likely to be popular - especially with those who have a Prime account already. But the sales have apparently surprised even Amazon, with the stick outperforming Kindles to become the UK's fastest selling device on the online store. Check out the Amazon Fire Stick reviewThe stick plugs directly into an HDMI port and uses WiFi to bring you a host of films, familiar TV Series and several original Amazon Prime Instant shows that have won both critical and popular acclaim. It will compete with the likes of the Now TV box from Sky and Google's Chromecast - and has an app to allow the playback of Netflix's services. Best Amazon Prime Instant TV Shows: 25 to choose fromBest Netflix TV Shows: 25 of the best

http://cdn.mos.techradar.com/art/software/Windows/Windows%2010/Start-470-75.jpgWe're finally seeing Microsoft's vision for how Windows 10 will look on phablets. A new leak of Windows 10 for tablets shows how Microsoft is combining its mobile DNA from Windows 10 for phones with its full Windows 10 operating system for laptops and desktops. After having announced that tablets with a display size smaller than eight inches will see a different version of Windows 10 at launch, we're starting to see how that version will look. Leaked screenshots obtained by WinBeta show an early build of Windows 10 for small tablets with a tiled home screen. Unlike the traditional Windows 10 preview builds we're seeing, this version won't have a desktop mode and will not be able to run Win32 apps. This makes Windows 10 for smaller touchscreen devices similar to Windows for phones and Windows RT. Likely, this variant of the Windows 10 OS will be suitable for large phones, phablets, and smaller tablets. Scaling Universal appsThis build for small tablets will be able to run Universal apps, which will scale across different screen sizes for Windows 10. The build was compiled in March, and it's unclear if it will be ready in time for Microsoft's upcoming Build conference at the end of the month. Similar to how the iPad is able to scale up universal iOS apps to deliver extra value to users, the Universal apps for small tablets can show information with multiple panes. http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/art/software/Windows/Windows%2010/VRA-420-90.jpg "Apps like Calculator and Voice Recorder take advantage of the extra real estate, displaying the apps as if they were desktop apps instead of phone apps," WinBeta said. http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/art/software/Windows/Windows%2010/FileExplorer-420-90.jpg In one screenshot, the new File Explorer app shows a tree displaying a hierarchy of your folders on the left pane, and tapping on a selection on the left pane would display the content on the folder in the right pane. Enterprise usersBusinesses that rely on Win32 apps or specialized desktop programs likely won't welcome the change that Microsoft is ushering in with Windows 10. Prior to the change, 7- and 8-inch tablets that ship with Windows 8 or Windows 8.1 aren't restricted solely to Universal apps and could run legacy Win32 apps. This means that remote workers or system administrators in the field can have the full power of the Windows ecosystem in a more compact form factor similar to the Apple iPad mini 3. With the change, those who desire the full power of the Windows OS will have to purchase a larger slate with a screen size closer to 10 inches. However, given that legacy apps aren't optimized for touch, the experience of using Win32 programs on a small screen is compromised. While users will have access to full legacy programs, it will be hard to interact with these apps given the smaller buttons that aren't designed for a touch-based user experience. A new era for Windows phabletsThe move, however, makes Windows 10 more practical for phablet owners. Currently, apps on mobile phones like the 6-inch Nokia Lumia 1520 appear exactly as they do on smaller phones. However, the change will allow Universal apps to scale and potentially, when the Lumia 1520 is rotated, Windows 10 could potentially display a two-pane view to take advantage of the larger screen real estate and higher screen resolution on that device. This is similar to how apps appear on the larger iPhone 6 Plus. In landscape mode, apps optimized for this phone will display more information. On the smaller iPhone 6, apps will not display a two-pane view as the device lacks the screen real estate. Read our continuing coverage of Windows 10http://rss.feedsportal.com/c/669/f/415085/s/45652a8d/sc/15/mf.gif http://da.feedsportal.com/r/224851583589/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/45652a8d/sc/15/rc/1/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/224851583589/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/45652a8d/sc/15/rc/2/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/224851583589/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/45652a8d/sc/15/rc/3/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/224851583589/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/45652a8d/sc/15/a2.imghttp://pi.feedsportal.com/r/224851583589/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/45652a8d/sc/15/a2t.imghttp://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techradar/software-news/~4/vUBH3ZI3pSs

http://cdn.mos.techradar.com/art/logos/microsoft-1-bett-470-75.JPGYet another outdated Microsoft product will come to the end of its lifecycle next year when SQL Server 2005 breathes its final safe moment on planet earth. Support for all editions of SQL Server 2005 will cease on April 12, 2016 and Microsoft is nudging companies in the direction of either SQL Server 2014 or Azure AQL Database in advance of support running out. Microsoft reminds SQL Server 2005 customers that even though instances of the popular platform will continue to run beyond the end of life date, there will be no more hot fixes or updates to any problems that may arise. In terms of a replacement, it's pointed out that SQL Server 2014 has been benchmarked to be 13 times faster than SQL Server 2005. That's even before the additional performance gains from in-memory OLTP are taken into account. There are also a range of other improvements that can be drawn from upgrading. Here's a helping handMicrosoft has laid on a trio of tools to help companies to make the transition that assist them in discovering apps and workloads that need upgrading, targeting destinations for them to be moved to, and planning how to carry out the upgrade. SQL Server 2005's end will come almost exactly 12 months after Windows Server 2003's death knell that takes place this summer and, as with Windows XP before them, it's almost certain that a significant number will hang on beyond the end-of-life date. Check it out: Microsoft confirms 2016 launch for Windows Serverhttp://rss.feedsportal.com/c/669/f/415085/s/4562970e/sc/15/mf.gif http://da.feedsportal.com/r/224851521544/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/4562970e/sc/15/rc/1/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/224851521544/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/4562970e/sc/15/rc/2/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/224851521544/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/4562970e/sc/15/rc/3/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/224851521544/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/4562970e/sc/15/a2.imghttp://pi.feedsportal.com/r/224851521544/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/4562970e/sc/15/a2t.imghttp://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techradar/software-news/~4/iBMLpaQN-O8

http://cdn.mos.techradar.com/art/TRBC/Software/Linux/Linux%20penguin-470-75.jpgLinux 4.0 is here. Linux head honcho Linus Torvalds sent out an update to the Linux Kernel Mailing List on Sunday that explained the "pretty small" release fits in with an earlier agreed schedule as opposed to there being any big changes to the Linux Kernel. "Feature-wise, 4.0 doesn't have all that much special. Much has been made of the new kernel patching infrastructure, but realistically that wasn't the only reason for the version number change. We've had much bigger changes in other versions. So this is very much a 'solid code progress' release," explained Linus Torvalds in the update. What's been improved?Even so, there are still upwards of 10,000 non-merge commits included, yet this number pales compared to past "bigger releases," according to Torvalds and linux-next v4.1 is expected to be the next whopper to come out of the Linux camp. Among the improvements in Linux 4.0 is the addition of support for Intel's Quark SoCs, increased support for the Z13 that powers IBM mainframes, non-disruptive patching, various ARM chips are now supported and the usual tweaks to graphics and sounds are along for the ride. Check it out: Which Linux distro is right for you?http://rss.feedsportal.com/c/669/f/415085/s/455ba4e0/sc/15/mf.gif http://da.feedsportal.com/r/224851538249/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/455ba4e0/sc/15/rc/1/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/224851538249/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/455ba4e0/sc/15/rc/2/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/224851538249/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/455ba4e0/sc/15/rc/3/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/224851538249/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/455ba4e0/sc/15/a2.imghttp://pi.feedsportal.com/r/224851538249/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/455ba4e0/sc/15/a2t.imghttp://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techradar/software-news/~4/BJzK8BXj9EM

http://cdn.mos.techradar.com/art/internet/ethernetcable_fangs-470-75.jpgKaspersky Lab and a group of IT companies including Microsoft and Trend Micro have worked together to reduce the scope of the Simda botnet. The action taken by the group, which was formed by INTERPOL's Global Complex for Innovation in Singapore, saw law enforcement agencies seize 10 command and control servers in the Netherlands and take down other servers in the US, Russia, Luxembourg and Poland. Law enforcement agencies including the Dutch National High Tech Crime Unit, Police Grand-Ducale Section Nouvelles Technologies in Luxembourg, the FBI and Russian Ministry of the Interior's Cybercrime Department "K" took part in the operation on April 9. Simda is a pay-per-install malware that can easily issue illicit software and other malware that can pilfer sensitive financial information. Distributors generate money by selling access to infected PCs to other criminals who can then install additional programs. Attackers distribute the malware by breaking in to legitimate websites or servers and then inserting malicious code into those sites. This means that users visiting the pages are served up the illicit content, it infects their PC and information can then be stolen. 770,000 machines in 190 countries have been infected with most of the instances taking place in the US. Kaspersky added that the UK, Canada, Russia and Turkey were also hit hard. Is my PC infected?Simda has been active for years and exploit artists have worked hard to refine it to exploit literally any vulnerability present in a targeted site. This has meant that new versions have continually shown up and Kaspersky Lab's virus collection has caught over 260,000 executable files belonging to different versions of Simda. Even though Kaspersky Lab has taken down a significant part of the Simda botnet network, it is still out there and to that end Kaspersky has provided a CheckIP site where you can find out if your PC is affected. If your address does show up Kaspersky points out that, even though it could be another machine on your network, you should make sure your anti-malware software is up to date. Check it out: The best free anti-virus software of 2015http://rss.feedsportal.com/c/669/f/415085/s/455b30dc/sc/28/mf.gif http://da.feedsportal.com/r/224851521552/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/455b30dc/sc/28/rc/1/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/224851521552/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/455b30dc/sc/28/rc/2/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/224851521552/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/455b30dc/sc/28/rc/3/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/224851521552/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/455b30dc/sc/28/a2.imghttp://pi.feedsportal.com/r/224851521552/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/455b30dc/sc/28/a2t.imghttp://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techradar/software-news/~4/El_w8uRZARE