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http://cdn.mos.techradar.com/art/TRBC/Software/windows-9-new-start-menu-470-75.jpgFor my first TechRadar Pro article, I thought it would be appropriate to look forward, towards the future and a piece of tech that's soon to be coming down the line. Over the years I've spent a lot of time focusing on helping people with productivity. Whether it's at talks and events, in videos or through other mediums, such as this article, productivity is at the core of what we all need to get out of our PCs, and it's for this reason that the next version of Windows (codenamed Threshold) is getting me very excited. I've written a lot about Windows over the last few years: how to get started with it, how to customise it and exploit its hidden functionality, and how to repair problems if everything goes horribly wrong. I'm in contact almost every day with people who have used Windows for work, study or play for years now, but still I encounter many who struggle to make the most productive use of their time. Part of the problem is the complexity of an operating system the size of Windows, and more problems arise because of Windows' need to be something for everyone. Windows 8 was an interesting step in a new direction (though it didn't go without a few hiccups) and Windows 8.1 has refined the idea further. Focusing on productivityHowever, with Threshold – bearing in mind we don't know the full story concerning this OS yet, by any means – it looks like Microsoft has put the entire focus on productivity, and Redmond's engineering teams are working on nothing but. There also looks to be something for everybody, from programmers able to save valuable time by having a unified code base for Windows Phone, Modern apps, Xbox and, perhaps, even the desktop, with apps that can scale and change dynamically to fit the device you're using, to talk of major productivity enhancements for desktop Windows users (who felt a little left out last time around). When I give talks I regularly extol the virtues of features such as Workplace Join, Work Folders and Windows To Go, just a few of the plethora of productivity features that Windows 8 and Windows Phone 8 introduced. Not to mention enhanced multi-screen desktop support, Miracast, mobile tethering, Powershell 4, Wi-Fi direct and NFC pairing, InstantGo, gesture control and everything else that makes up the productivity enhancement package. Much awaited OSWith a renewed focus on the desktop, and how we use it day to day, it's looking like Threshold will be the Windows release that I personally have been expecting for many years now. So what do I know that's got me all excited? In truth, not a huge amount, but there are nuggets in all the right places. It's long frustrated me that so many aspects of the Windows UI date back to early versions of NT, especially the Control and Management functions. The introduction of Windows Server 2012 with its "live tile" interface shows the way forward, and what can be done with the expected overhaul of all these systems. Without a doubt, I am very excited about the features that Threshold can deliver in terms of helping everybody from developers, through system administrators, to end users get done what they need to do in less time than it's taken before. After all, this is what progress is all about, right? http://rss.feedsportal.com/c/669/f/415085/s/3de6800d/sc/4/mf.gif http://da.feedsportal.com/r/204367012094/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/3de6800d/sc/4/rc/1/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/204367012094/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/3de6800d/sc/4/rc/2/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/204367012094/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/3de6800d/sc/4/rc/3/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/204367012094/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/3de6800d/sc/4/a2.imghttp://pi.feedsportal.com/r/204367012094/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/3de6800d/sc/4/a2t.imghttp://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techradar/software-news/~4/WIfu1jj2UU0

http://cdn.mos.techradar.com/art/tablets/Archos/80Titanium/Page%201%20Overview/Archos%2080%20Titanium_1-470-75.jpgArchos will unveil a new Windows 8.1 tablet at IFA called the 80 Cesium and will be launched alongside the company's first Windows Phone, the 40 Cesium. The 80 Cesium will cost £129 (about $200, AU$ 220) making it the cheapest Windows tablet ever launched (although we don't expect that to last for long). Perhaps even more significant is that it is the cheapest Windows computer on the market and it even comes with a display. Simply plug in a keyboard and mouse and you have a fully functional computer. Not only does it come with Windows 8.1 (with Bing) but it will also almost certainly come with a 1-year license for Microsoft Office 365. Deja VuNot much is known about the specs. Archos only confirmed that it will be running a quad-core Intel processor (probably the popular Baytrail-based Atom Z3735D) with an 8-inch 1,280 x 800 pixel resolution. The rest of the specification, I believe, will be made up of a front and a rear camera, a microSD card slot, 2GB of RAM, 32GB onboard storage, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, a micro-HDMI and a micro-USB port. In other words, the same components that power many other - more expensive - Windows tablets on market. Expect many similar-priced tablets sharing almost the same configuration to hit the market pretty soon. A number of little-known Chinese brands are already selling Windows 8.1 tablets for around £100 (about $160, AU$ 180). · IFA 2014: what to expecthttp://rss.feedsportal.com/c/669/f/415085/s/3de627c0/sc/5/mf.gif http://da.feedsportal.com/r/204366954077/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/3de627c0/sc/5/rc/1/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/204366954077/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/3de627c0/sc/5/rc/2/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/204366954077/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/3de627c0/sc/5/rc/3/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/204366954077/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/3de627c0/sc/5/a2.imghttp://pi.feedsportal.com/r/204366954077/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/3de627c0/sc/5/a2t.imghttp://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techradar/software-news/~4/s5TXqdOsNIY

http://cdn.mos.techradar.com/art/software/Windows/windows_81_rtm/customise%20start%20screen-470-75.jpgWindows 9 news is coming at a faster clip now that we're drawing closer to its likely September 30 debut, and the latest concerns the new OS's price. According to Russian leaker WZOR (via Myce) Microsoft is planning some nice incentives to get folks to upgrade to Windows 9. For Windows 8.1 users who want to make the jump, WZOR reports Windows 9 will either come free or be available through a special offer. We'd put our money on it going the free route since Windows 8.1 arrived at no charge for Windows 8 users. If you bought a retail or OEM flavor of the Windows 8, Microsoft will apparently throw you a Windows 9 upgrade for around $20 (about £12, AU$21). Finally, since Windows XP holdouts are still numbering more than Microsoft would like, despite the company ending support earlier this year, the firm is said to be planning an "awesome" incentive to get XP users to cave in to Windows 9. Starship enterpriseWZOR's leak didn't stop at pricing details. According to the Russian crew the enterprise version of Windows 9 will leave the Metro interface at the door. Microsoft won't release a test version of Windows 9 Pro OEM, though there is a Windows 9 Enterprise technical preview out in the wild, apparently. Despite many calling the death of Windows RT all but complete, Microsoft apparently isn't ready to give up on its much-maligned OS. Instead, the firm is prepping Windows 9 RT and in fact already has a test build made. As you might expect, Windows 9 RT will arrive on the unannounced Surface 3. There were also a few rumored Windows 9 features to be had as well. WZOR maintains the system will support 3D-mode Ultra HD TVs and allow for cloud data back-up and restoration. Last but not least, Microsoft is said to be creating a feature for virtualizing physical system backups in the cloud. Sounds pretty nifty. http://rss.feedsportal.com/c/669/f/415085/s/3de1c099/sc/15/mf.gif http://da.feedsportal.com/r/204366962885/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/3de1c099/sc/15/rc/1/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/204366962885/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/3de1c099/sc/15/rc/2/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/204366962885/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/3de1c099/sc/15/rc/3/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/204366962885/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/3de1c099/sc/15/a2.imghttp://pi.feedsportal.com/r/204366962885/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/3de1c099/sc/15/a2t.imghttp://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techradar/software-news/~4/Ya1Fc9uAORA

http://cdn.mos.techradar.com/art/other/Onetimers/Windows%209%20Live%20Tile%20Start%20Screen-470-75.jpgAn interactive user interface looks to be a major part of Windows 9 along with reviving the desktop. Winbeta reports Microsoft's next operating system, codenamed Treshold, will include Live Tiles and a notification center. While we've already seen Live Tiles incorporated into the returning mini-Start menu, Winbeta suggests this functionality could extend to the Start Screen as well. Supposedly these interactive Live Tiles will let users view information such as email without actually having to open the application itself. The feature was previously seen this April at Microsoft Research's TechFest 2014 event but now it seems the feature could become an experimental reality. Live Tiles will also be purportedly incorporated into some, but not all, of Windows 9's main apps. Third-party application could also get support for the interactive functionality but developers will have to update their software accordingly. A notification center could also be another new feature coming to Windows 9. Much like the notification center Windows Phone 8.1 introduced, this panel could give users a quick overview of new messages, app updates and the like. In or outSources in the know of Microsoft's Windows 9 plans also are unsure whether these two features will appear in the technical preview rumored for a September 30 unveiling. All the news we've heard about Windows 9 suggests Microsoft is taking a hardline stance on bringing back an OS designed for desktops. This includes doing away with the Charms bar on PCs and laptops, as well as the Start Menu coming back. It's becoming clear Microsoft wants to separate the Modern UI from the desktop version of Threshold. With this mind users may not see these new features or even the Start Screen in the preview build of Windows 9. Will Windows 9 include Cortana as rumored?http://rss.feedsportal.com/c/669/f/415085/s/3de05e40/sc/4/mf.gif http://da.feedsportal.com/r/206157133493/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/3de05e40/sc/4/rc/1/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/206157133493/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/3de05e40/sc/4/rc/2/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/206157133493/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/3de05e40/sc/4/rc/3/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/206157133493/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/3de05e40/sc/4/a2.imghttp://pi.feedsportal.com/r/206157133493/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/3de05e40/sc/4/a2t.imghttp://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techradar/software-news/~4/RswdF7ajY0g

http://cdn.mos.techradar.com/art/TRBC/Abstract/CRM/iStock_000013899741Small-MacXever-470-75.jpgA long time ago enterprise use of technology was clearly defined – accounting software for the finance team, and security software for the IT team. Now CRM applications are blurring those boundaries, and with Salesforce.com revenue predicted to reach $10bn in just a few years, along with an IPO buzz surrounding SugarCRM, Zendesk, and Atento, CRM is evidently just getting started. We spoke to Marcin Malinowski, Director of International Services at leading European CRM Consultancy Outbox, to discuss how developments in social, mobile and cloud are continuing to transform enterprise interaction with technology, which will inevitably open up massive opportunities for a raft of startups. TechRadar Pro: How does the CRM market look to you at the moment? Marcin Malinowski: The CRM market is very interesting at the moment, there are a few big players all hungry for the top spot – including Salesforce, Microsoft, SAP and Oracle. But we're also seeing a lot of room for competition for the newcomers and challengers that are taking advantage of the market created by the bigger companies. For example SugarCRM is starting to get quite a lot of traction, and I'm sure they won't be the last to make a splash in the market. TRP: How is technology affecting CRM? MM: The last ten years in CRM has sped up significantly thanks to technology. The narrowing gap between IT and the rest of the business means CRM is easier to use, and can easily be adjusted to fit the needs of those using it. One of the biggest leaps in CRM has been in terms of the UI, as people find it much easier to use software effectively when it isn't just an ugly lump of text on a blue screen. The smartphone revolution has also been a huge factor in user adoption and expanding the value of CRM. Being able to work effectively or update opportunities from anywhere is a big selling point for a lot of vendors at the moment. TRP: How are the big players defining the space, and what challenges do you think they face at the moment, and in the future? MM: Right now it's all about delivering CRM via the cloud, and the big players are really trying to get that right – we're seeing a lot of changes due to the cloud delivery model and the consumerisation of IT. Business expectations of technology, and what IT departments can deliver are now closer than ever. This also means the big CRM providers are having to work closely together as well as compete fiercely. For example, Salesforce requires signed agreements with Microsoft to ensure SF1 is accessible on Windows Phone handsets. There are also a lot of heads turning towards marketing automation and social tools, so we're seeing a lot of CRM providers focusing on extending their offering to include these capabilities too – this is pushing the drive from simply 'CRM' into 'Customer Experience'. In terms of challenges, some are trying to maintain their impressive growth and others will be trying to optimise their cloud delivery model to cater for enterprises. TRP: You mentioned Customer Experience. We're seeing a lot of new categories within CRM emerge, which are going to stick and why? MM: Everyone involved in CRM is pushing for tighter integration with the relatively new marketing and social tools that are so hot at the moment. This behaviour is broadening the scope of CRM into wider categories like Customer Experience and Customer Excellence – this customer-centric approach to investing in technology will pay off heavily for those who adopt it. TRP: Who do you think will be successful newcomers? MM: As I mentioned before, SugarCRM seems to be increasingly popular with the medium-size companies and is delivering a lot of value for its customers, so we could see it continue to grow. I also see a lot of attention on Hybris at the moment, it will definitely help SAP widen its footprint in the market. TRP: How can businesses get the most out of a CRM solution? MM: Without a doubt, user adoption is the most important facet of CRM. If no one is interacting with the software, no one is getting any value out the other end. To tackle this, businesses should make sure their solution is totally customised and integrated to suit the needs of their business. Every relevant part of the business, and its processes, should touch CRM to completely maximise value. TRP: What can we expect to see from CRM in the next ten years? MM: I think we can expect an explosion of customer data to occur, and more importantly the ability of CRM to capture all that data effectively. CRM databases will hold all information about customers, based on online and offline activity – this will be accelerated massively by technology like wearables. Using this information, CRM solutions will be able to create personal bundles of offers depending on the specific customer's precise needs. Most importantly, all of these capabilities will be completely automated. It's plain to see that the next decade in CRM is set to be a very exciting one. About Marcin Malinowski Marcin is Director of International Services at leading European CRM Consultancy Outbox, a company which combines world-class technical skills with a high-integrity work ethic to capture the real value of the latest applications fast. http://rss.feedsportal.com/c/669/f/415085/s/3ddea1ab/sc/4/mf.gif http://da.feedsportal.com/r/204366949733/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/3ddea1ab/sc/4/rc/1/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/204366949733/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/3ddea1ab/sc/4/rc/2/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/204366949733/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/3ddea1ab/sc/4/rc/3/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/204366949733/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/3ddea1ab/sc/4/a2.imghttp://pi.feedsportal.com/r/204366949733/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/3ddea1ab/sc/4/a2t.imghttp://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techradar/software-news/~4/VSpMzK4SUK0

http://cdn.mos.techradar.com/art/TRBC/microsoft_chinese_office-470-75.jpgThe Chinese government is zeroing in on Microsoft as its State Administration for Industry and Commerce (SAIC), headed by Zhang Mao, confirmed that it is probing the company over its web browser, Internet Explorer, and Windows Media Player. Both applications are tightly integrated with the operating system and were also the target of antitrust cases in the US and Europe in the 1990s and early 2000s. Microsoft was ordered to pay billions of dollars worth of fines as a result and required to offer a choice of browsers on its Windows operating system. The chequered relationship between Microsoft and the Chinese stateA few weeks ago, the SAIC raided Microsoft's offices in China as part of the antitrust investigation but didn't provide any further details; at the time, it was posited that the move was to find out about any illegal tie-in between Office and Windows. Earlier this year, the Chinese government banned Windows 8 on public sector computers and some wondered back then whether that was linked to the Windows XP end-of-life deadline. But it looks like it might have something to do with China's decision to develop its own OS instead. http://rss.feedsportal.com/c/669/f/415085/s/3ddd5bfb/sc/2/mf.gif http://da.feedsportal.com/r/204366967467/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/3ddd5bfb/sc/2/rc/1/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/204366967467/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/3ddd5bfb/sc/2/rc/2/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/204366967467/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/3ddd5bfb/sc/2/rc/3/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/204366967467/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/3ddd5bfb/sc/2/a2.imghttp://pi.feedsportal.com/r/204366967467/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/3ddd5bfb/sc/2/a2t.imghttp://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techradar/software-news/~4/aa31F83YHW8

http://cdn.mos.techradar.com/art/laptops/HP/hp-elitebook-folio-1040-g1_6-470-75.jpgHP is continuing to push Windows 7 in its business portfolio with a whopping 40 out of 54 laptops on its UK website sold with Microsoft's popular operating system. A number of websites highlighted the trend in the US and we can confirm that the same is happening in the UK with businesses apparently driving the decision. Seven out of the top 10 most popular laptops at HP come preloaded with Windows 7 Professional (available through downgrade rights from Windows 8.1 Pro). Windows 7 still alive and kickingAnd to sweeten the deal, HP is also offering a number of cashback deals ranging from £50 to £200, depending on whether businesses are purchasing other accessories (docking stations, monitors) or not. It's worth noting that the push in the US appears to be geared towards consumers, which is not the case in the UK where HP doesn't sell laptops running Windows 7. The operating system is still the most popular on the market with more than half of the Windows OS market. Windows 8 and its variants account for about one-eighth of that market, even less than the unsupported Windows XP. Top 10 Windows 8 business desktop PCshttp://rss.feedsportal.com/c/669/f/415085/s/3ddc1ff0/sc/28/mf.gif http://da.feedsportal.com/r/204366909726/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/3ddc1ff0/sc/28/rc/1/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/204366909726/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/3ddc1ff0/sc/28/rc/2/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/204366909726/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/3ddc1ff0/sc/28/rc/3/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/204366909726/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/3ddc1ff0/sc/28/a2.imghttp://pi.feedsportal.com/r/204366909726/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/3ddc1ff0/sc/28/a2t.imghttp://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techradar/software-news/~4/4e1NPjw9TdU

http://cdn.mos.techradar.com/art/mobile_phones/Samsung/TizenHandset/TizenHandset-01-470-75.jpgSamsung's self-made Tizen operating system for smartphones isn't looking too hot with repeated delays and now Huawei is saying no to the indie platform Richard Yu, CEO of Huawei's consumer business group, called Tizen a hopeless platform with "no chance to be successful" in an interview with the Wall Street Journal. Yu went on to explain that it's difficult even for the Chinese smartphone maker to turn a profit with Windows Phone devices. The Huawei executive cited it's hard to market Windows Phone devices and the company already lost money trying to push these handsets for two years. Huawei, once one of Tizen's original supporters, now joins the slowly growing group of phone manufacturers and networks turning away the independent platform including the Japanese telecomm network, NTT Docomo. Meanwhile, it there are still a healthy number of other companies – including Intel, LG and Vodafone - still holding on to the hope that the Android-alternative will release one day. Android armadaThe biggest problem Tizen faces is the fact that there aren't enough apps on the platform compared to the extensive software libraries developed for Android and iOS. Previously, Yu has also explained why Firefox's mobile OS may not be everything it's cracked up to be. It's for these same reasons Yu said Huawei is not developing its own OS. With this in mind it seems the mobile world will always be split between these two titans while Microsoft also sits by the sidelines. "We have worries about Android being the only option, but we have no choice." Yu remarked. If this is truly the sentiment in the smartphone world it's no wonder Samsung and its many Tizen supporter want to a break out platform of their own. According to Yu, Huawei has supposedly fully invested itself into building an interface over Android with a software team of roughly 2,000 people that's growing by a significant percentage every year. The Chinese device manufacturer also claims to have sold 52 million smartphones worldwide last year and expects to exceed a projected 80 million handsets this year. It does not run Tizen but the Samsung Galaxy S5 is one heck of an Android phonehttp://rss.feedsportal.com/c/669/f/415085/s/3dd7b8ae/sc/28/mf.gif http://da.feedsportal.com/r/206157093998/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/3dd7b8ae/sc/28/rc/1/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/206157093998/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/3dd7b8ae/sc/28/rc/2/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/206157093998/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/3dd7b8ae/sc/28/rc/3/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/206157093998/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/3dd7b8ae/sc/28/a2.imghttp://pi.feedsportal.com/r/206157093998/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/3dd7b8ae/sc/28/a2t.imghttp://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techradar/software-news/~4/NL0h2mNNvDI

http://cdn.mos.techradar.com/art/TRBC/Apps/Downloads/iTunes%20alternatives/spotify-470-75.JPGIntroductionIf you've ever used one of Apple's smartphones, tablets or Macs, you'll likely have come across iTunes, its software for playing music, videos and transferring media onto devices. Many people have a love/hate relationship with iTunes as it used to be the only program that could sync music to iPhones, iPads and other Apple devices. It's also been criticised for its slow loading times (especially in Windows), lack of features and non-existent support for a number of popular file formats, leading many to seek out an alternative. Apple's rivals caught on, and it's now possible to perform many of the actions previously tied to the program - such as synching media to iOS devices - using other media players. We've picked out five of the best to tickle your music fancy. It should be noted that while the following Windows programs are free, they will attempt to install third-party add-ons that aren't necessary for the programs to run. As such, you might want to manually opt out during the installation process. 1. Spotifyhttp://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/art/techradar/Software%20download%20buttons/download_button_1-180-100.jpg Spotify has quickly risen to become one of, if not the most popular music player around. It has a huge library of songs stored in the cloud that you can stream over the internet from your computer, smartphone or other mobile device. With new music being added all the time, Spotify has put an end to the days of ripping your CD collection to store in programs like Windows Media Player. The company has struck numerous deals with many large and "indie" record labels alike, meaning it has one of the most eclectic online song libraries around. http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/art/TRBC/Apps/Downloads/iTunes%20alternatives/spotify-420-100.JPG You can also add your own computer's music to a Local Library to sit alongside music in the cloud. In addition to creating and sharing playlists, Spotify allows you to "follow" artists and other users, queue up songs (handy for parties) and listen to tons of internet radio stations. Better yet, you can sync music from your library Apple devices, making it a potential iTunes replacement even for die-hard Apple enthusiasts. 2. MediaMonkeyhttp://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/art/techradar/Software%20download%20buttons/download_button_1-180-100.jpg MediaMonkey is the music player of choice for the discerning music organiser. If you've previously filed hundreds of vinyls and CDs in cardboard boxes by genre, alphabetically or some other way, it will allow you to tame your collation obsession. The first time you load it up it will speedily scan your computer to find audio and video files, allowing you to then tag and sort them into columns - including by artist name, album, genre, composer, year, publisher, rating and so on. http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/art/TRBC/Apps/Downloads/iTunes%20alternatives/mediamonkey-420-100.JPG Where other media managers top out after a certain limit, MediaMonkey lets you add a massive 100,000 tracks. It's compatible with a wide range of formats - including MP3, WMA, W4A and M4P - and like iTunes, you can sync your library with iPhones, iPads and other Apple devices. Visually, the program isn't a million miles away from iTunes, and if you don't like it you can change its appearance by downloading "skins". 3. Google Chrome (MP3 Player add-on)http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/art/techradar/Software%20download%20buttons/download_button_1-180-100.jpg Through extensions, Google's Chrome browser can perform many tasks usually undertaken on the desktop - and that includes sorting and playing media files. Through one particularly nifty extension imaginatively called MP3 Player, you can listen to music stored on your computer within Chrome, saving you from having to duck out to your music player. http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/art/TRBC/Apps/Downloads/iTunes%20alternatives/chrome-mp3-420-100.JPG It comes with a few other features, including the retrieval of song lyrics, YouTube clips, relevant information about the artist playing and links to their Wikipedia page. On the negative side, it only supports MP3 and OGG formats, and it's not much of a looker. If you value convenience over aesthetics, MP3 Player could be for you. 4. Winamphttp://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/art/techradar/Software%20download%20buttons/download_button_1-180-100.jpg Venerable media player Winamp has been through some tough times since launching 18 years ago (including being killed off before being resurrected in 2014), but it's held its own against newer, fresher rivals surprisingly well. In a similar vein to MediaMonkey, it allows masses of music to be loaded into a central library, tagged and sorted to your heart's content. Additional functionality is provided through a rich database of plug-ins that let you do anything from installing jazzy visualisations to burning DVDs. http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/art/TRBC/Apps/Downloads/iTunes%20alternatives/winamp-420-100.JPG Winamp is unashamedly retro and may be a better fit in its original form for anyone still on Windows XP or Vista. That said, a chance to blend the old with the new came when the makers of Spotify released Spotiamp, a lightweight media player that streams Spotify's extensive database of music in Winamp's original skin. If you're feeling nostalgic for Winamp's original look but don't want to leave your vast cloud-based music collection behind, Spotiamp is the answer to your prayers. 5. RealPlayerhttp://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/art/techradar/Software%20download%20buttons/download_button_1-180-100.jpg Launched back in 1995, RealPlayer is a golden oldie. The program has matured into a slick multimedia tool that supports of a wide range of video formats - including proprietary RealAudio and RealVideo (RA, RM, RV and RMVB), in addition to MP3, MPEG, Windows Media Player and Flash Video (FLV). http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/art/TRBC/Apps/Downloads/iTunes%20alternatives/realplayer-420-100.JPG By acting as a central repository for all of your media files, RealPlayer lets you make playlists, bookmark videos on webpages, burn CDs, DVDs, stream videos and more. Recent versions have improved mobile support, and you can now transfer music from your smartphone to your PC, and visa versa. There's also support for Google's Chromecast streaming dongle, which means you can now plug one into your HDMI-equipped TV and download the RealPlayer app (on iOS or Android) to take advantage of a myriad of services - from Netflix and YouTube to BBC iPlayer. http://rss.feedsportal.com/c/669/f/415085/s/3dd625a1/sc/4/mf.gif http://da.feedsportal.com/r/204366884792/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/3dd625a1/sc/4/rc/1/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/204366884792/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/3dd625a1/sc/4/rc/2/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/204366884792/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/3dd625a1/sc/4/rc/3/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/204366884792/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/3dd625a1/sc/4/a2.imghttp://pi.feedsportal.com/r/204366884792/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/3dd625a1/sc/4/a2t.imghttp://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techradar/software-news/~4/heImkIqbLV8

http://cdn.mos.techradar.com/art/TRBC/Apps/Downloads/winRAR%20alternatives/chrome-470-75.JPGThe ability to compress (or "zip") files has become a necessity over the years due to the growing volumes of data stored on computers and devices. Whether you need to archive a set of holiday photos or backup your music collection, the need for a stable, reliable and most of all fast compression tool is a must. A good compression tool makes it possible to reduce the size of both individual and groups of files, making it easier to transfer them onto removable storage or over the internet. Some go further by adding features such as encryption and use faster compression techniques. Windows 8.1 has built-in compression support, but it offers little functionality beyond the basic unzipping and compressing of files. If you're on an older operating system, or you're looking for more functionality, there are a number of third-party options out there. One of the most well-known file compression tools is WinRAR, by RARLab, which can self-extract files, split archives into multiple volumes and even repair damaged files. WinRAR is a popular choice, but it's far from the only one out there. We've served up five alternatives to save you looking, and it's worth nothing that while the following Windows programs are free, they will attempt to install third-party add-ons that aren't necessary for them to function properly. As such, we recommend that you opt out of installing them when asked. If you have any suggestions for alternatives to WinRAR that aren't in our list, make your suggestion in the comments below. 1. 7-Ziphttp://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/art/techradar/Software%20download%20buttons/download_button_1-180-100.jpg 7-Zip is an open-source compression program that that sports a minimal user interface and makes use of space-saving file compression algorithms. It's easy to use and supports a wide range of archive formats - including ZIP, GZ and TAR. Where it really shines, however, it when it's used to compress or unzip files in its own official format, .7z. http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/art/TRBC/Apps/Downloads/winRAR%20alternatives/7-zip-420-90.JPG Though it isn't as widely used as ZIP, using its .7z format, 7-Zip can pack files even tighter to save even more space, shrinking batches of files more than 30% compared to WinZip in our tests. The program also comes with a command line module, making it as useful to experts as it is novices. If you're looking for a minimal yet fast and free alternative to WinRAR and WinZIP, 7-Zip is no slouch. 2. TrueCrypthttp://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/art/techradar/Software%20download%20buttons/download_button_1-180-100.jpg TrueCrypt isn't a direct replacement for WinRAR as it's not a straightforward zip and compression tool. However, if you're looking for an alternative program to encrypt files with a high level of security (in a similar manner to making an encrypted .zip file), TrueCrypt is one of the best. http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/art/TRBC/Apps/Downloads/winRAR%20alternatives/truecrypt-420-90.JPG Instead of creating an ordinary .zip file and encrypting it, TrueCrypt turns them into virtual drives, meaning that each time you open a file inside a .zip archive, it's decompressed and decrypted into a temporary folder on your hard drive. Where a program like 7-Zip would simply delete the file after you've closed it (which can be recovered by those with the right tools), using TrueCrypt prevents it from being traced as the program temporarily stores the .zip's files in RAM, rather than on your hard drive. 3. Winziphttp://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/art/techradar/Software%20download%20buttons/download_button_1-180-100.jpg WinZIP is a true classic and the program that most people associate with when talking about file compression. It's been around since the early days of Windows and has recently been refreshed with a slicker interface and support for social media websites - including Facebook and Twitter. http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/art/TRBC/Apps/Downloads/winRAR%20alternatives/winzip-420-90.JPG Recentl releases have also added the ability to manage ZIP archives on cloud storage services like Dropbox, OneDrive and Google Drive. You can also shrink images, convert files into PDFs and apply watermarks to them. Many basic functions - such as compressing files into archives and unzipping them - are free, but you'll have to buy a license to unlock some of its more complicated functions. 4. Chrome (Zip Extractor add-on)http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/art/techradar/Software%20download%20buttons/download_button_1-180-100.jpg ZIP Extractor is a useful tool that lets you decompress .zip files to Google Drive, Google's cloud storage service, directly within the Chrome browser. This is especially useful if you have a large amount of ZIP files on your desktop that need unzipping and uploading to the Google Drive Cloud, saving you from clicking on each one to extract and upload the contents manually, which can become a slow and laborious process. http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/art/TRBC/Apps/Downloads/winRAR%20alternatives/chrome-420-90.JPG Because it's a Chrome extension, there are no files to download as everything is integrated into the browser. It also has the handy ability of allowing you to unzip individual files to extract them from archives, whereas many compression tools make you unzip the whole lot in one go. 5. Daemon Tools Litehttp://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/art/techradar/Software%20download%20buttons/download_button_1-180-100.jpg As with TrueCrypt, Daemon Tools Lite isn't a direct replacement for WinRAR but instead provides an alterantive way of archiving files that you may have stored in encrypted zip files. Daemon Tools Lite lets you add virtual drives to your machine, meaning that instead of archiving files on physical discs - such as CDs or DVD ROMs - you can compress them and keep them stored in an ISO image format on your hard drive until you want to retrieve them. http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/art/TRBC/Apps/Downloads/winRAR%20alternatives/daemon-tools-lite-420-90.JPG Daemon Tools Lite works with most ISO image formats and comes with a simple graphical user interface that makes creating virual drives and mounting images on them a breeze. If you don't like the idea of archiving data in .zip files or intend to eventually burn it to physical media then backing it up to an ISO image using Daemon Tools Lite would be a quick, simple and effective option. http://rss.feedsportal.com/c/669/f/415085/s/3dcf2611/sc/4/mf.gif http://da.feedsportal.com/r/204366903773/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/3dcf2611/sc/4/rc/1/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/204366903773/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/3dcf2611/sc/4/rc/2/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/204366903773/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/3dcf2611/sc/4/rc/3/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/204366903773/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/3dcf2611/sc/4/a2.imghttp://pi.feedsportal.com/r/204366903773/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/3dcf2611/sc/4/a2t.imghttp://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techradar/software-news/~4/KmWgbcPZvaQ

http://cdn.mos.techradar.com/art/TRBC/Apps/Downloads/VLC%20alternatives/realplayer-470-75.JPGThe growing popularity of YouTube, DailyMotion and other video streaming websites over the years has led to the rise of the VLC player - a program that can play videos and audio files encoded in a wide range of formats. VideoLAN's VLC Media Player is one of the most popular of its kind having been downloaded more than 1.1 billion times (add 134 million to that number if you want to include OS X and other platforms). It's a functional suite, featuring impressive codec support, but you may find it too complicated (or simplified) for your needs. If you're looking for a similar alternative with a slightly different feature set - whether it's support for cloud storage, the ability to convert files or play jazzy visualisations - there's a ton of alternatives at your disposal. We've picked out five of the best so that you don't have to. It's important to note that the following programs will try to install third-party add-ons onto your machine that aren't necessary for the programs to function properly. As such, we advise that you read the instructions carefully and manually opt out of installing anything that you don't need. If you have any suggestions for alternative VLC players that haven't made it into our list, let us know in the comments section below. 1. RealPlayerhttp://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/art/techradar/Software%20download%20buttons/download_button_1-180-100.jpg Launched back in 1995, RealPlayer is a golden oldie. The program has matured into a slick multimedia tool that supports of a wide range of video formats - including proprietary RealAudio and RealVideo (RA, RM, RV and RMVB), in addition to MP3, MPEG, Windows Media Player and Flash Video (FLV). By acting as a central repository for all of your media files, RealPlayer lets you make playlists, bookmark videos on webpages, burn CDs, DVDs, stream videos and more. http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/art/TRBC/Apps/Downloads/VLC%20alternatives/realplayer-420-90.JPG Recent versions have improved mobile support, and you can now transfer music from your smartphone to your PC, and visa versa. There's also support for Google's Chromecast streaming dongle, which means you can now plug one into your HDMI-equipped TV and download the RealPlayer app (on iOS or Android) to take advantage of a myriad of services - from Netflix and YouTube to BBC iPlayer. 2. Free FLV Converterhttp://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/art/techradar/Software%20download%20buttons/download_button_1-180-100.jpg Though HTML5 has been growing in popularity for some time when it coms to streaming video, many videos on the internet are still encoded in the flash format (.FLV). While the availability of browser plug-ins means that computers can easily play such files, smartphones and tablets often can't, so they have to be converted before they can be played. Free FLV Converter can convert .FLV files into more formats than you can shake a stick at, including AVI, 3GP and MP4, allowing them to be viewed on anything from an iPod to an iPhone or smartphone. http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/art/TRBC/Apps/Downloads/VLC%20alternatives/flv-converter-420-90.JPG Free FLV Converter is also handy in that it lets you search video portals within the application itself to find what you're looking for, which is a much quicker and convenient way of finding (and watching) videos on certain topics than manually typing search queries into video portals. You can choose to search all supported websites or individual ones, and multiple videos can be downloaded and converted in batches. 3. Winamphttp://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/art/techradar/Software%20download%20buttons/download_button_1-180-100.jpg Winamp is another venerable video player having established itself in the mid 90s. The fully-featured media player stands out for being highly customisable - whether that's in terms of installing visualisations or changing its appearance through its hundreds of skins. It supports a huge range of video and audio formats, including MPG, MPEG (ES, MP3, MP4, PS, PVA, TS), MP1, MP2, MP3, MP4, MTM, M2V, M3U, M4A, NSA, NST, NSV and OGG. http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/art/TRBC/Apps/Downloads/VLC%20alternatives/winamp-420-90.JPG Winamp's killer feature is its extensive plug-in library, which can bolster functionality in a similar way to how browsers such as Firefox and Chrome can (through add-ons and extensions respectively). These range from installing dcodec packs for playing different file formats to adding extra functionality - such as the ability to rip DVDs. 4. iTuneshttp://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/art/techradar/Software%20download%20buttons/download_button_1-180-100.jpg iTunes receives a lot of bad press from frustrated Apple gadget owners who run into trouble with the program (usually when trying to upload or download content onto their i-Devices). However, despite not offering support for as many formats as other FLV Media Players, it still stands as a solid multimedia player - particularly if you own an iPod, iPhone or iPad. iTunes supports all video content purchased from the iTunes store, in addition to QuickTime and MPEG-4 movie files that end in .MOV, .MP4 and .MV4. You can also play video podcasts, iTunes Digital Copies and iTunes Store Movie Rentals. http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/art/TRBC/Apps/Downloads/VLC%20alternatives/itunes-420-90.JPG Being Apple software, one of the major boons of opting for iTunes as your video player is that you can wirelessly stream what's on your iOS device onto a big TV. AirPlay-enabled output devices such as AirPort Express and Apple TV work with iTunes to let you access your content around the home, which is something that other players can't offer. 5. FLV Playerhttp://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/art/techradar/Software%20download%20buttons/download_button_1-180-100.jpg Whereas RealPlayer and Winamp strive for customisation and deep functionaltity, FLV Player prefers to keep things simple. In addition to playing .FLV files, you can zoom videos to full screen, create and save playlists and play videos in slow motion. http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/art/TRBC/Apps/Downloads/VLC%20alternatives/flv-player-420-90.JPG If you're low on hard disk drive space or simply need a minimalist program that takes a no-nonsense approach to playing flash files, FLV Player is about as straightforward as you can get. http://rss.feedsportal.com/c/669/f/415085/s/3dcaecc1/sc/28/mf.gifhttp://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techradar/software-news/~4/laja_yge_eM

http://cdn.mos.techradar.com/art/mobile_phones/HTC/HTC%20One%20M8%20for%20Windows%20Phone/htc-windows-4-470-75.jpgIt's official: HTC is releasing a new version of its flagship HTC One (M8) with Windows Phone 8 onboard instead of Android. That news has been rumored for a long time, but the bigger scoop is that the WP8 version reportedly has better battery life. That wouldn't necessarily be so unusual, if not for the fact that the two versions of the HTC One (M8) have completely identical hardware. That's a pretty good indication that Windows Phone 8 inherently drains less battery power than current versions of Android. Surprising numbersThe HTC One (M8)'s 2,600mAh battery is said to last for 22 hours of talk time and 528 hours in standby with Windows Phone 8, whereas the older Android version - with otherwise identical specs - gets 20 and 496 hours respectively. These numbers come straight from HTC's official specifications for these two devices. And the times cited by Verizon - the Windows Phone 8 HTC One (M8)'s sole carrier at the moment - show an even more drastic difference: just 12 hours of usage time and 12.2 days on standby for the Android version, and 21 hours/15.5 days for the WP8 version. It appears Verizon and HTC used different criteria to evaluate the phones' batteries, which helps explain the discrepancy between what the carrier and the phone's maker claim. But regardless, they agree that the WP8 version has superior battery life. We asked both HTC and Verizon about these numbers, and spokespeople for both companies said they're looking into them. We'll update here if they're able to find anything out. Will the iPhone 6 be announced next?http://rss.feedsportal.com/c/669/f/415085/s/3db2665d/sc/28/mf.gif http://da.feedsportal.com/r/204366735785/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/3db2665d/sc/28/rc/1/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/204366735785/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/3db2665d/sc/28/rc/2/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/204366735785/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/3db2665d/sc/28/rc/3/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/204366735785/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/3db2665d/sc/28/a2.imghttp://pi.feedsportal.com/r/204366735785/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/3db2665d/sc/28/a2t.imghttp://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techradar/software-news/~4/JZEJW6SaZl0

http://cdn.mos.techradar.com/art/desktop_pcs_and_macs/Intel/Intel_Galileo1-470-75.jpgMicrosoft has developed a "non-commercial version of Windows based on Windows 8.1" for developers who buy Intel Galileo boards. According to PC World, it is a "pared-down, proof-of-concept" version of the operating system that is designed to work specifically with that hardware. Given that the Galileo board runs a Quark X1000 processor, that is essentially an enhanced Pentium 400MHz CPU, it's interesting to see that Microsoft did not go down the route of Windows Embedded 8, but instead opted to customise "full-fat" Windows 8.1. You want to read our Raspberry Pi review now, don't you?That is despite both being targeted at the same embedded, connected market commonly known as the Internet of Things (IoT). A spokesperson for Microsoft commented: "The preview Windows image is another opportunity for makers and developers to create, generate new ideas and provide feedback to help Microsoft continue making Windows even better on this class of device". A number of retailers are now selling the soon-to-be-retired first generation of Intel's Galileo for under £40, which is less than twice the retail price of its arch-rival, the Raspberry Pi. Galileo was launched earlier this year as part of Intel's Arduino-certified development boards based on its ubiquitous x86 architecture. The Windows preview runs only on the Intel Galileo Gen 1 with v1.0.2 firmware and can be downloaded here. http://rss.feedsportal.com/c/669/f/415085/s/3daf2a94/sc/28/mf.gif http://da.feedsportal.com/r/204366766756/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/3daf2a94/sc/28/rc/1/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/204366766756/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/3daf2a94/sc/28/rc/2/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/204366766756/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/3daf2a94/sc/28/rc/3/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/204366766756/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/3daf2a94/sc/28/a2.imghttp://pi.feedsportal.com/r/204366766756/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/3daf2a94/sc/28/a2t.imghttp://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techradar/software-news/~4/69PW6DfQqXw

http://cdn.mos.techradar.com/art/TRBC/emdoor-470-75.jpgMicrosoft originally mentioned three features that were to be rolled out in the latest update to Windows 8.1 last Tuesday but more have been found by prominent Microsoft expert, Paul Thurott. Lumped with the rest of the dozens of other compulsory and optional downloads issued was one called KB2975719, which turns out to be a 171MB update formerly known as Windows 8.1 Update 2. Other than the three confirmed ones (Precision touchpad improvements, Miracast Receive APIs and fewer login prompts for Sharepoint Online), Microsoft detailed four other minor ones (settings changes for "Update and recovery", the addition of the Russian currency, Ruble, blocking out-of-date Active X and video capture metadata for MP4 APIs). All that you need to know about Windows 9Last Tuesday saw a deluge of update with a number of security related ones for Internet Explorer, Windows and .Net as well plus updates to Microsoft Office 2013 and Lync 2013. Windows 8.1 Update 2 was supposed to be the last big update to Windows 8.1 (and Windows 8) before Microsoft's next flagship OS, Windows 9 (or Threshold) launched in roughly next year. Latest rumours mention that Microsoft may kill the controversial Charms bar while adding a "virtual desktop" feature. Via: WinSupersite http://rss.feedsportal.com/c/669/f/415085/s/3d8820cf/sc/28/mf.gif http://da.feedsportal.com/r/204366575503/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/3d8820cf/sc/28/rc/1/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/204366575503/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/3d8820cf/sc/28/rc/2/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/204366575503/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/3d8820cf/sc/28/rc/3/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/204366575503/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/3d8820cf/sc/28/a2.imghttp://pi.feedsportal.com/r/204366575503/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/3d8820cf/sc/28/a2t.imghttp://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techradar/software-news/~4/nVu9Uh3ysWg

http://cdn.mos.techradar.com/art/TRBC/Buildings/Microsoft/microsoft-hq-redmond-470-75.JPGMicrosoft will patch two critical vulnerabilities in today's Patch Tuesday (or Update Tuesday as it has been recently renamed), one of which concerns all current versions of Internet Explorer, from v8 to v11. Nine bugs will be targeted in the update with three allowing remote code execution on Microsoft's web browser and Windows. The rest either provide the attacker with an elevation of privilege or allows him to bypass security features. Applications affected include Microsoft Office and Microsoft Server. Windows 8.1 update 1 will be mandatory for these updates which means that existing Windows 8 and Windows 8.1 users will have to install several patches prior to the latest update. Get the low down on Windows 9Today's update will also bring a number of non-security related features like touchpad improvements and better Miracast support. Bundling together feature and security updates and rolling them out gradually means that Microsoft will not release a Windows 8.1 Update 2 this year. Instead, the software giant will focus on the next iteration of its operating system, Threshold or Windows 9. Arch-rivals Apple and Google prefer to launch new versions of their desktop and mobile operating systems roughly every year (rather than every 3 or 4 years for Microsoft). http://rss.feedsportal.com/c/669/f/415085/s/3d6b468d/sc/28/mf.gif http://da.feedsportal.com/r/204366444672/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/3d6b468d/sc/28/rc/1/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/204366444672/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/3d6b468d/sc/28/rc/2/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/204366444672/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/3d6b468d/sc/28/rc/3/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/204366444672/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/3d6b468d/sc/28/a2.imghttp://pi.feedsportal.com/r/204366444672/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/3d6b468d/sc/28/a2t.imghttp://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techradar/software-news/~4/BBXgi5T6Rw8

http://cdn.mos.techradar.com/art/software/Microsoft/Windows%20Phone%2081%20hands%20on/Review/wp81-1-470-75.jpgThe number of apps in the Windows Phone store has nearly doubled in the past year, Microsoft has confirmed. The firm announced the app catalogue had swelled to 300,000 as per the end of June 2014, up 94 per cent on a year ago. That's an increase of 100,000 in the six months following December 2013, when the tally stood at 200,000. In even better news for fans of the Live Tile-powered operating system, the number of active developers has also grown by 50 per cent. High profile launchesWhile the numbers will be a boon for Microsoft and it's userbase, it's perhaps the type of apps arriving in the last few months that shows the greater promise for the third-placed OS. FitBit launched on the platform last month making its wristbands, such as the FitBit Flex, the first popular fitness trackers to be compatible with Windows Phone. BlackBerry's BBM app also arrived in Beta form, while the popular ride-sharing app Uber also launched on the platform. Most users would prefer quality over quantity, but it seems Microsoft could be on the way to having both. http://rss.feedsportal.com/c/669/f/415085/s/3d5cda93/sc/28/mf.gif http://da.feedsportal.com/r/204366389759/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/3d5cda93/sc/28/rc/1/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/204366389759/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/3d5cda93/sc/28/rc/2/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/204366389759/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/3d5cda93/sc/28/rc/3/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/204366389759/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/3d5cda93/sc/28/a2.imghttp://pi.feedsportal.com/r/204366389759/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/3d5cda93/sc/28/a2t.imghttp://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techradar/software-news/~4/pInPQ1dSl_Q

http://cdn.mos.techradar.com/art/software/Windows/Windows8_releasepreview/releasepreview-review-images/Screenshot%20%2821%29-580-75-470-75.jpgMicrosoft may be removing the touchscreen-centric Charms Bar in Windows 9. A new report out of Winbeta says Microsoft will pull out the Charms tray completely as part of the user interface overhaul coming to the next version of Windows. The change will purportedly remove the Charms Bar completely on the desktop version of Windows 9 for computers and laptops. It's still questionable whether the pull out tray will be removed on tablets. ZDNet's Mary Jo Foley says her sources have confirmed the Charms Bar will wave good-bye on slates as well. As a replacement Threshold, Window 9's current codename, will supposedly feature a revamp title bar for Windows apps that includes menus to list the charms components. Sharing options once found in the Charms Bars could also be repositioned to a dedicated share button on the app itself. The main reason behind the UI shake up seems to further improve the next version of Windows for mouse and keyboard users. While users can simply hover their cursor over to a corner of the desktop screen in Windows 8.1, it can become bothersome over time. Microsoft Giveth, Microsoft TakethSo far, the news surrounding Windows 9 has been a lot about making it look and work like a proper desktop operating system. Now Windows enthusiast site Neowin reports that version nine might also sport all new virtual desktops. As the name might suggests, Virtual desktops will allow users to create separate operating spaces within Windows. It's a useful feature for running multiple apps or groups of apps without clogging up the main window with too much multitasking. Virtual machines have been long supported on other operating systems like OSX and Ubuntu, as well as third party apps for Window. However, this will be a first time Windows will support the feature natively. A preview version of Windows 9 is expected to drop in just a few months autumn after which we could see the full retail version roll out by spring time next year. Until then stay tuned to this space for the latest on Windows 9. Windows Phone 8.1 is looking to be a big improvement thanks to Cortanahttp://rss.feedsportal.com/c/669/f/415085/s/3d4a6a26/sc/28/mf.gif http://da.feedsportal.com/r/204366331075/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/3d4a6a26/sc/28/rc/1/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/204366331075/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/3d4a6a26/sc/28/rc/2/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/204366331075/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/3d4a6a26/sc/28/rc/3/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/204366331075/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/3d4a6a26/sc/28/a2.imghttp://pi.feedsportal.com/r/204366331075/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/3d4a6a26/sc/28/a2t.imghttp://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techradar/software-news/~4/5N8xSYMk3c8

http://cdn.mos.techradar.com/art/software/nfl_now_9to5mac-470-75.jpgThe National Football League's NFL Now app is still scheduled to launch this summer, but it seems the app's full list of platforms may have not been revealed yet. That's according to 9to5Mac, an Apple-focused blog that claims NFL Now will be released on Apple TV alongside its other debut platforms in August. NFL Now will deliver users original content, game highlights, extensive archive video, and live events. It's being touted as the football fan's ultimate tool. The app is currently announced officially for Xbox One, Roku, iOS, Android, Windows, and Amazon platforms like Kindle Fire and Fire TV. Too many coaches in the kitchenWhen the football league revealed its NFL Now plans in January Microsoft helped out with an announcement published on the Xbox Wire blog. It's interesting that Microsoft essentially claimed partial ownership over the NFL Now experience in that blog post, considering how many other platforms have been announced in the interim - or may yet emerge from the woodwork, in the case of Apple TV. The post was titled "Microsoft Partners with the NFL to Create NFL Now," for crying out loud, and only Microsoft platforms including the Xbox One and Surface tablets were mentioned in this initial announcement. The app currently has no concrete release date, but the source of this current rumor said that NFL Now might debut as soon as this week. NFL teams receiving a tech upgrade courtesy of Microsoft's Surface Pro 2http://rss.feedsportal.com/c/669/f/415085/s/3d2dfb71/sc/5/mf.gif http://da.feedsportal.com/r/204366237974/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/3d2dfb71/sc/5/rc/1/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/204366237974/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/3d2dfb71/sc/5/rc/2/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/204366237974/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/3d2dfb71/sc/5/rc/3/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/204366237974/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/3d2dfb71/sc/5/a2.imghttp://pi.feedsportal.com/r/204366237974/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/3d2dfb71/sc/5/a2t.imghttp://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techradar/software-news/~4/l3C_Ul_UEBg

http://cdn.mos.techradar.com/art/mobile_phones/Nokia/Lumia%20635/Lumias-470-75.jpgWindows 8.1 update 2 release might be rumored for next week but users with Windows Phone 8.1 devices can get the software patch that adds live folder today. The Windows Phone Update 1 is still slated for an official release in the coming months, but everyone can nab the developer preview for free through Microsoft's Developer Preview program. The update brings a host of new features and most notably for all users Live Folder to hold more multiple app Live Tiles. Cortana calledAnother keystone improvement of update 1 is the voice-controlled Cortana is finally making it over to other countries including UK and China as beta. Microsoft's virtual assistant will also be available as an opt-in alpha to users Australia, Canada, and India. US Windows Phone 8.1 users, meanwhile, will be able to preview Cortana's new acting skill by asking her to do an impersonation of celebrities. Small tweaksThe Windows Phone 8.1 update 1 brings a host of other smaller improvements such as users getting the new found ability to delete or forward multiple selected SMS messages at a time. Also on the docket are user-customizable snooze alarm settings and a better performing Xbox Music application with a flashier Live Tile. Enhanced security will improve the new Apps Corner for businesses and the Store Live Tile will have the added functionality of displaying updates for the latest apps. Here's our look at one of the latest Windows Phone 8.1 devices, the Nokia Lumia 930Via The Verge http://rss.feedsportal.com/c/669/f/415085/s/3d2d4c4c/sc/28/mf.gif http://da.feedsportal.com/r/204366198853/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/3d2d4c4c/sc/28/rc/1/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/204366198853/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/3d2d4c4c/sc/28/rc/2/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/204366198853/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/3d2d4c4c/sc/28/rc/3/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/204366198853/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/3d2d4c4c/sc/28/a2.imghttp://pi.feedsportal.com/r/204366198853/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/3d2d4c4c/sc/28/a2t.imghttp://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techradar/software-news/~4/bA3Dl17PDug

http://cdn.mos.techradar.com/art/mobile_phones/HTC/HTC_One_M8_Windows_Phone_Verizon-470-75.jpgThe rumours appear to be true. HTC will apparently launched a version of its flagship HTC One M8 smartphone running the Windows Phone operating system. Following reports earlier this week claiming the device would be on the way, a press render of it has been spotted on the server's of U.S. mobile network Verizon, who will presumably be stocking it. The photo discovered by PCMag sources comes a little over two weeks before HTC holds a press event in New York on August 19. Previous reports which dubbed the phone the 'One M8 for Windows' had suggested it will go on sale shortly after the reveal on August 21. No commentSpeculation had suggested the device would come in silver and would be identical to the Android version, aside from the obvious OS differences. The Windows Phone 8.1 device will also support smart cases like the innovative Dot View cover and would offer voice over LTE in the United States. Should the device launch, it'll be HTC's first Windows Phone in over a year. Both Microsoft and HTC have declined to comment. HTC One E8 reviewhttp://rss.feedsportal.com/c/669/f/415085/s/3d19cdd5/sc/28/mf.gif http://da.feedsportal.com/r/204366124779/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/3d19cdd5/sc/28/rc/1/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/204366124779/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/3d19cdd5/sc/28/rc/2/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/204366124779/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/3d19cdd5/sc/28/rc/3/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/204366124779/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/3d19cdd5/sc/28/a2.imghttp://pi.feedsportal.com/r/204366124779/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/3d19cdd5/sc/28/a2t.imghttp://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techradar/software-news/~4/T5vSjLqyMX0

http://cdn.mos.techradar.com/art/features/CES%202014%20Home%20Automation/_DSC3831-470-75.jpgAs technology advances and us consumers get lazier, the concept of the smart home is becoming more of an everyday reality, with automated devices beginning to proliferate through our households. The trend is creating an exciting marketplace but with multiple devices launching on multiple operating systems, the smart home is in danger of becoming fragmented, nullifying the convenience smart devices are supposed to bring. That's why ComfortClick has created an operating system designed to control all our different devices from one app and simplify the situation. We spoke to the company's CEO Luka Persic to find out more. TechRadar Pro: What is the current state of home automation? Luka Persic: The number of home devices is increasing almost exponentially. Lately we were able to see a lot of successful projects such as Nest and Philips Hue. However these devices are all operating independently. You have to get a separate app for each device, meaning different user experience each time. Now imagine the future, if this trend continues – you'll have to switch between 20 or even 50 different apps in order to control your home . TRP: What is ComfortClick bOS? LP: ComfortClick bOS is the first building operating system, it's a universal software platform that enables the integration of different home devices and their control via a single app on users mobile device which can be iOS, Android or Windows based. ComfortClick bOS features also plugins market – ComfortClick Bridge, where users will be able to get plugins for their home devices. The library already features an array of supported devices and protocols such as KNX, Modbus, S BUS, XBMC, DSC, IP cameras, Global Caché, IRTrans,…We just launched Indiegogo campaign - ComfortClick bOS the first building operating system. TRP: What is different about bOS in comparison to other home automation solutions? LP: We would like to give our users the possibility to connect, monitor and control any device, from any manufacturer via a single app. Users will be able to control just one device e.g. room thermostat or all devices at home. So, the basic solutions will be affordable for everybody and you'll be able to upgrade whenever you want. TRP: What are some practical usage examples? LP: One universal platform where all devices are working together offers practically limitless number of different features. Some of the more interesting ones are logical operations - for instance, when you leave home ComfortClick bOS will turn off the lights, lower the shades, reduce the heating, turn off electrical sockets and activate presence simulation. Another interesting feature is electricity consumption monitoring and automatic alerts if your electricity consumptions exceeds preset thresholds. With logical operations and energy consumption monitoring you can cut your energy bills by around 30%. TRP: Will third party developers be able to participate? LP: We are aware one single company can never cover all the devices that are out there. We'll offer a playground for 3rd party developer community and give the developers a chance to earn money for their work by selling their plugins in ComfortClick Bridge. Anyone who knows a little bit about programming will be able to start developing plugins for ComfortClick bOS using the bOS software development kit (SDK). TRP: Is ComfortClick bOS intended only for residential buildings? LP: We don't want to limit only to residential buildings. Automation system offers numerous benefits also for commercial buildings such as office buildings, hotels and hospitals. Imagine coming into a hotel, you already have ComfortClick bOS on your phone, by entering hotel's ComfortClick bOS username and password you'll be able to control your room. TRP: How far along are you with your software platform? LP: We have a fully functional software platform. Together with our partners we have successfully used our software in projects all over the globe. ComfortClick is present in EU, Russia, Qatar, Kazakhstan, India, Thailand, Malaysia, USA and Latin America. With ComfortClick bOS we want to take a step forward. TRP: Apple has announced its smart home solution. What does this mean for other players? LP: Home automation is already struggling with too many communication protocols. Apple just announced another one. It's going to take a really, really long time - if ever - before we'll have a standard communication protocol for all home devices and systems. The solution is universal software platform and that's exactly what bOS aims to be. http://rss.feedsportal.com/c/669/f/415085/s/3d16e222/sc/28/mf.gif http://da.feedsportal.com/r/204366098372/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/3d16e222/sc/28/rc/1/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/204366098372/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/3d16e222/sc/28/rc/2/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/204366098372/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/3d16e222/sc/28/rc/3/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/204366098372/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/3d16e222/sc/28/a2.imghttp://pi.feedsportal.com/r/204366098372/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/3d16e222/sc/28/a2t.imghttp://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techradar/software-news/~4/inXfRWxtLxg

http://cdn.mos.techradar.com/art/internet/Chrome/chromewebstore-470-75.jpgGoogle announced early in June that it had upgraded its Chrome browser for Windows 7 and Windows 8 to 64 bits, and now that version of the browser is available to the public in beta. Upgrading the browser's bit count has made it faster and more secure, according to Google. The 64-bit Chrome for Windows build first arrived in preview builds for developers in June, and this is the first time the general public has had access to a steady build. The beta is available now from Google's official Chrome releases page. Max beta"The new version replaces the existing version while preserving all your settings and bookmarks, so there's no need to uninstall a current installation of Chrome," Google's release blog promises. However it's important to remember that as a beta version of Chrome, this 64-bit release is likely far from stable. If you do encounter any bugs you can let Google know on this Chromium code page. In the meantime the less adventurous out there might want to wait for a full, official release of Google's 64-bit Chrome for Windows, which is more than likely right around the corner. Explorers unite: read TechRadar's latest review of Google Glasshttp://rss.feedsportal.com/c/669/f/415085/s/3d072dd3/sc/21/mf.gif http://da.feedsportal.com/r/204366046167/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/3d072dd3/sc/21/rc/1/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/204366046167/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/3d072dd3/sc/21/rc/2/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/204366046167/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/3d072dd3/sc/21/rc/3/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/204366046167/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/3d072dd3/sc/21/a2.imghttp://pi.feedsportal.com/r/204366046167/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/3d072dd3/sc/21/a2t.imghttp://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techradar/software-news/~4/alfB5ZtFu9Y

http://cdn.mos.techradar.com/art/desktop_pcs_and_macs/Apple/Modbook-Pro-X-470-75.jpgApple's latest MacBook Pro models are truly things of beauty, but if you've ever wished one of them could be converted into a powerful tablet, there's now a Kickstarter campaign just for you. Modbook today announced the Kickstarter exclusive launch of Modbook Pro X, the company's most ambitious hardware project to date, which converts a 15-inch MacBook Pro with Retina Display into a pixel-rich tablet computer. Billed as a "content creation powerhouse" for creative professionals, Modbook Pro X can be built from an existing MacBook Pro for as little as $1999 (about UK£1181, AU$2138), although early backers won't actually receive the modified hardware until early next year. Paired with a pen input device capable of 2,048 pressure levels and powered by the forthcoming OS X Yosemite 10.10, Modbook Pro X can be configured with up to a quad-core 2.8GHz Intel Core i7 processor, 32GB RAM and maxed out with 2TB of flash storage, double what Apple currently offers. Take that, iPad!Those kind of specs would make even reigning tablet champion iPad Air run for cover, especially when Modbook claims the resulting device "functions like a regular MacBook Pro in the Mac ecosystem," even after being converted into a tablet. Modbook Pro X does include a few tantalizing customization options, including Keybars, an eyes-free method for entering shortcuts, and a Keyboard Stand that serves triple duty as an easel mount, keyboard and screen protector. The folks at Modbook have been converting Mac computers into award-winning tablets for years, seamlessly integrating with existing Mac OS X technologies, including Boot Camp support for dual-booting into Windows 8.1 and beyond. We've reached out to Apple for comment on how Modbook's Kickstarter campaign might ultimately affect the warranty status of a MacBook Pro (don't hold your breath), and whether or not Cupertino frowns on such modifications (we're guessing they might). Speaking of powerhouses, check out our review of Apple's new Mac Pro!http://rss.feedsportal.com/c/669/f/415085/s/3d06fbf4/sc/28/mf.gif http://da.feedsportal.com/r/204366028953/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/3d06fbf4/sc/28/rc/1/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/204366028953/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/3d06fbf4/sc/28/rc/2/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/204366028953/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/3d06fbf4/sc/28/rc/3/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/204366028953/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/3d06fbf4/sc/28/a2.imghttp://pi.feedsportal.com/r/204366028953/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/3d06fbf4/sc/28/a2t.imghttp://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techradar/software-news/~4/DfUi3Ta-4JQ

http://cdn.mos.techradar.com/art/mobile_phones/Nokia/Lumia1520/Lumia%201520%20hands%20on/Nokia_Lumia_1520_review%20(10)-470-75.JPGExciting updates for Windows Phone 8.1 are just around the corner as Microsoft inadvertently spill the beans on some of the most prominent updates coming to its mobile OS soon. Microsoft accidentally revealed its release notes for Windows Phone 8.1 GDR1, otherwise known as Update 1, on its Developer Center. One of the biggest changes is folders are finally being added. It's a little sad this long held iOS and Android feature has taken so long to implement, but it's finally here to let users better organize their app tiles. The update also adds a Cortana entry into the phonebook, allowing users to trigger speech controls through the car's navigation system. This could be useful for activating speech on phones with cars that don't support the feature via Bluetooth. One of the last big updates users will be able to take advantage of immediately is the added support for voice over a Wi-Fi connection in case customers have mobile plans with a tiny allotment of minutes. Big screens, interactive coversThe premature release also reveals Microsoft is preparing Windows 8.1 for some of it's biggest devices yet. The update also adds support for screens 6.01-inches to 7-inches in size with a 1280 x 768 WXGA resolution. Once the update takes, Windows Phone 8.1 devices with 1280 x 800 WXGA resolution screens will also become a possibility. Windows Phone 8.1 GDR1 introduces the possibility of interactive case accessories. Like the covers made for the HTC One M8 and LG G3, these will allow Microsoft's mobile device's to display information on a phone screen even when a case is in use. While aren't any interactive covers nor 7-inch Windows Phone devices, yet – new products could appear very soon. Touchy touchyAlthough the Windows Phone 8.1 update is not upon us yet Microsoft has released some new interactive lock screens to the current version of Windows Phone 8.1 with its Live Lock Screen beta. These new fangled lock screens were first debuted at the Build 2014 and they replace boring swipeable pictures with rotating image locks and text that slips off the edge of the screen as users unlock their device. Currently there are six themes all Windows Phone 8.1 users can access upon installing the app. However users might be better off sticking with the lock screens they already have as PC World reports many of them are still very buggy. Supposedly the experience lags quite often while other users have reported the Live Lock screens cause their devices to crash repeatedly. Microsoft is going in a different direction under Satya NadellaVia WP Central http://rss.feedsportal.com/c/669/f/415085/s/3cf31ff3/sc/28/mf.gif http://da.feedsportal.com/r/199109986165/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/3cf31ff3/sc/28/rc/1/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/199109986165/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/3cf31ff3/sc/28/rc/2/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/199109986165/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/3cf31ff3/sc/28/rc/3/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/199109986165/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/3cf31ff3/sc/28/a2.imghttp://pi.feedsportal.com/r/199109986165/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/3cf31ff3/sc/28/a2t.imghttp://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techradar/software-news/~4/UcggWBJQx_Q

http://cdn.mos.techradar.com/art/mobile_phone_accessories/Fitbit%20Flex/flex%20new-470-75.jpgWindows Phone users hoping to accessorise their activities with a trendy fitness wristband can now do so thanks to the launch of the FitBit app for Microsoft's mobile operating system. As promised last month, FitBit launched its companion app for Windows Phone on Monday, finally allowing users to wirelessly sync data with wearables like the FitBit Flex and FitBit One. The FitBit app, already available on iOS and Android, allows users to view real time and historical activity data, while also logging their food intake from a possible 350,000 items. As great as this sounds for Windows Phone users, it's not entirely universal. Smartphone owners will need Windows Phone 8.1 as well as the new Lumia Cyan update to make use of the FitBit app. Ending the wearable duopolyThe launch is the first time a major fitness tracker manufacturer has embraced Windows Phone. The likes of Jawbone, Nike, LG, Samsung and Garmin have all eschewed the third-placed platform to date, making FitBit the de facto choice for fitness focused Windows Phone users. In depth: How Big Data is keeping us fit and entertainedhttp://rss.feedsportal.com/c/669/f/415085/s/3cf31ff7/sc/28/mf.gif http://da.feedsportal.com/r/199109986163/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/3cf31ff7/sc/28/rc/1/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/199109986163/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/3cf31ff7/sc/28/rc/2/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/199109986163/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/3cf31ff7/sc/28/rc/3/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/199109986163/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/3cf31ff7/sc/28/a2.imghttp://pi.feedsportal.com/r/199109986163/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/3cf31ff7/sc/28/a2t.imghttp://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techradar/software-news/~4/1RdzddzRrRY