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http://cdn.mos.techradar.com/art/events/wwdc/2014/Inside-PressConf-470-75.JPGIt seems a bit obvious to say that the Worldwide Developers Conference should be primarily about developers, but today Apple gave the thousands of expectant attendees more than they bargained for. The theme at WWDC might have seemed fragmented as it unfolded - lots of different new services on offer, and many different paths being walked down - but when you step back and put it all together you realize: Apple wants your iPhone to be the absolute center of your home and family life. Imagine Apple's ideal house next year: a home that's got digital locks, garage doors and thermostat all connected into the iOS system using HomeKit. An iPhone 6 for either parent with the TouchID sensor that's now been opened up to a range of new applications. Kids with their iPads, iPods and iPhones all linked to one central Family Share account. Suddenly you've got not just one, but six people locked into the Apple ecosystem. Want to get into your house? Better have an iPhone, or you're going to be throwing a Galaxy phone through the window to break in. Fewer broken piecesOf course, the trick here is getting enough people to fork out the cash needed to create this kind of house, and it's not going to be cheap. Apple doesn't quite have the market share it needs to achieve this kind of dominance easily (although it's not far off) which helps explain why Tim Cook was so keen to play up the fragmented nature of Apple's competitors. He highlighted how many more users had upgraded to the new version of iOS or OS X, with 40 million upgrades to Mavericks and 90% of iOS users on the new version of the platform. In comparison, Microsoft has only 14% of users on Windows 8, and Android 9% on KitKat. It's telling that numbers weren't involved in the presentation - it's reported that 200 million copies of Windows 8 have been sold already, so Apple was really highlighting the potential Microsoft needs to exploit. Perhaps it's a different story with Android, and that's why Google is working so hard to unify the variety of operators using its platform. You'll see 'Powered by Android' on start up screens for new devices from now on, and if Android Silver comes to pass, we'll have a range of high-end phones which will be as next-gen ready as Apple's iPhone range is. But Apple did have one little extra treat that might help its cause in persuading whole families to switch to its new integrated home vision, and it came towards the end of the conference. The biggest cheer of the keynote was reserved for the announcement of Swift, Apple's own programming language, to make it easier and quicker to create high-quality apps for its platform. This means fewer mistakes, more creativity and a greater number of developers sticking around who might have been swayed by the larger number of Android devices to cater for. And the addition of Metal, Apple's new layer between games and iPhone/iPad hardware that will allow near-console quality gaming on these portable devices, also got a massive whoop as it was announced - developers were genuinely enthusiastic about having these new tools to play with. A couple of guys behind me were seemingly dazed by what they'd seen, claiming this was a big (and useful) to the process … admittedly, they were in a room full of Apple fans, but there was a sense that Cook's team had created something that would again push mobile device performance forward. The Apple home of the future might not be something that appears in many houses for the foreseeable future, as it will require a lot of investment in a new ecosystem. But if you're a developer, suddenly the locked-down iOS system seems wide open: cameras, TouchID, gaming, health and keyboards have suddenly become fair game, and in doing so Apple has done enough to mirror the popular features of Android and gives it a great platform to launch the iPhone 6 on. What are iOS 8's top features? Read here to find out!http://rss.feedsportal.com/c/669/f/415085/s/3b179b25/sc/15/mf.gif http://da.feedsportal.com/r/199119047766/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/3b179b25/sc/15/rc/1/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/199119047766/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/3b179b25/sc/15/rc/2/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/199119047766/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/3b179b25/sc/15/rc/3/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/199119047766/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/3b179b25/sc/15/a2.imghttp://pi.feedsportal.com/r/199119047766/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/3b179b25/sc/15/a2t.imghttp://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techradar/software-news/~4/RZ6Tb4yYWM4

http://cdn.mos.techradar.com/art/software/Windows/Windows_8_Start_menu_concept-470-75.jpgIf you've been kept up restless nights waiting in anticipation for the return of something resembling the classic Start menu for the more modern version of Windows, it may be time to dampen that enthusiasm, at least for this year. ZDNet today reported that Microsoft may not introduce a more functional Start menu with the forthcoming Windows 8.1 Update 2, which is widely expected to arrive in August or September. According to reliable insider sources close to the mothership in Redmond, the team charting a course for the future of Windows have decided to hold off for now in favor of resurrecting the Start menu in the next major version of the operating system. Codenamed "Threshold," that big update is expected to see an April 2015 release and is commonly being referred to as Windows 9, although Microsoft apparently has yet to commit firmly to that name. Same as it ever was?The Microsoft insiders were unclear as to the reason for the delay, which could be because the revamped Start menu simply isn't ready for primetime or some other internal rationale. Either way, the longtime Windows faithful may wind up being disappointed when the feature does arrive, given that it apparently won't be a faithful copy of what Windows XP, Windows Vista and Windows 7 users were accustomed to. Microsoft guru Mary Jo Foley describes the Windows 8.1 Start menu as offering "some familiarity," but claims it will also "integrate Windows 8's Metro-style Start screen concept" in some as-yet unknown way. Microsoft Executive Vice-President Terry Myerson showed off an early version of the new and improved Start menu during the company's Build developer conference in April, where he announced it would arrive as part of "next iteration" of Windows 8. Speaking of Microsoft, check out our full review of the Xbox One!http://rss.feedsportal.com/c/669/f/415085/s/3b16dec2/sc/4/mf.gif http://da.feedsportal.com/r/199119046436/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/3b16dec2/sc/4/rc/1/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/199119046436/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/3b16dec2/sc/4/rc/2/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/199119046436/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/3b16dec2/sc/4/rc/3/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/199119046436/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/3b16dec2/sc/4/a2.imghttp://pi.feedsportal.com/r/199119046436/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/3b16dec2/sc/4/a2t.imghttp://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techradar/software-news/~4/eQrEm8-KRCA

http://cdn.mos.techradar.com/art/events/wwdc/2014/screengrabs/icloud-drive-470-75.jpgApple kicked off its 2014 Worldwide Developers Conference with a confusing video in which app developers wondered what they looked like, followed by the announcement of Mac OS X Yosemite. Apple Senior Vice President of Software Engineering Craig Federighi then took the stage from Apple CEO Tim Cook to describe some of the new additions in the OS X update, including important new Mail and iCloud features. These features are known as iCloud Drive and Mail Drop, and they're Apple's answers to services like Dropbox and Google Drive. iCloud breaks down barriers"We all know that documents in the cloud provide a really convenient way for working with an app that works across all platforms," Federighi said. But iCloud has some limitations in that area, right? Not anymore, it seems. With iCloud Drive users can work right in Finder with files and documents from OS X, iOS apps and even Windows. Users can organize files in iCloud Drive using folders and tags that will be synchronized across all their devices. Drop it like it's MailFederighi said Apple "focused on the basics" for the Yosemite Mail app, including "reliable syncing, fast switching between mailboxes, [and] quick fetches of your new mail." But they also "wanted to address a fundamental problem with email;" that is, limits on attachment size. So Mail Drop lets users choose to send large attachments through iCloud instead of through their recipients' email servers. The feature apparently strips the attachment from the message and sends it through iCloud, while the message goes through the email servers as usual, and they're joined up again as they hit the recipient's inbox. Developing… Check in with our WWDC 2014 liveblog!http://rss.feedsportal.com/c/669/f/415085/s/3b15a395/sc/5/mf.gif http://da.feedsportal.com/r/199118825988/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/3b15a395/sc/5/rc/1/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/199118825988/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/3b15a395/sc/5/rc/2/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/199118825988/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/3b15a395/sc/5/rc/3/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/199118825988/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/3b15a395/sc/5/a2.imghttp://pi.feedsportal.com/r/199118825988/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/3b15a395/sc/5/a2t.imghttp://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techradar/software-news/~4/XgQuO-Ovef0

http://cdn.mos.techradar.com/art/events/wwdc/2014/screengrabs/yosemite-full-470-75.jpgCraig Federighi, Senior Vice President of Software Engineering at Apple, unveiled the new version of Mac OS X v10.10 at WWDC 2014. The new operating system has been named "Yosemite" and is available for developers and will be available generally for free this fall. The Yosemite operating system upgrade will enable users to deliver files on AirDrop from Apple mobile devices to Mac desktop and laptops and vice versa. A new feature called Handoff will allow users to send files between devices via a swipe. For example: as users working on an Apple device approach a second Apple device, they will be asked if they would like to transition files to the second device. Yosemite's display will feature "translucency" that enables live windows to take on the personality of the user's desktop, including adaption to the user's desktop color scheme. The translucent display will also appear on the application dock, including an updated translucent trashcan. Today viewThe Notification Center will now feature a "Today View" that provides an at-a-glance look at apps like iCalendar, Weather, and apps downloaded from the App Store along the right rail of a user's desktop. Yosemite will also feature a new "Dark Mode," which is designed to provide a more organic visual transition between apps and windows. Dark Mode allows users to turn Apple's bright gray menu bars to a darker gray. The feature extends through to apps like iCalendar and Apple Maps. Yosemite's desktop will now feature "Spotlight" functionality that enables users to active a large search bar display in the middle of the computer's screen. The functionality is similar to swipe-down search on iOS. Spotlight will include an internet search feed that can retrieve search results from the Web. MailDrop and MarkUpApple's Mail tool has been updated with a feature called "MailDrop" that enables users to independently host up to 5 gigabytes of data that can be remotely accessed by all mail users. Yosemite's "MarkUp" update gives users the ability to draw notes and make edits to all attachments included in emails. Apple CEO Tim Cook said 40 million Mavericks operating systems have been installed on roughly 80 million Macs. He also said Windows 8 adoption is only at 14% on PCs. http://rss.feedsportal.com/c/669/f/415085/s/3b15a397/sc/15/mf.gif http://da.feedsportal.com/r/199118825987/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/3b15a397/sc/15/rc/1/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/199118825987/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/3b15a397/sc/15/rc/2/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/199118825987/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/3b15a397/sc/15/rc/3/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/199118825987/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/3b15a397/sc/15/a2.imghttp://pi.feedsportal.com/r/199118825987/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/3b15a397/sc/15/a2t.imghttp://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techradar/software-news/~4/ipVYorhWL48

http://cdn.mos.techradar.com/art/TRBC/CRMSMB/CRMimagedone-470-75.jpg CRM systems SMBs should knowCustomer relationship management isn't something that only large enterprises can afford to do. No matter how many workers you employ, leveraging data to ensure your customers are happy - and that your workers are productive – is essential. We've put together a list of CRM systems for small and mid-size businesses in order to help you be more informed during the implementation process. BatchbookPrice: Starts at $20 per month for unlimited users. A free 30-day trial is available. As a cloud-based CRM social platform, Batchbook keeps track of important customers and deals. Batchbook Social CRM features contact details management, social integration, a to-do list, advanced searching, list building and reporting tools. http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/art/TRBC/CRMSMB/CRM/CRMbatchbook-420-90.jpg Batchbook provides users with multiple ways to learn about customers, how they relate to each other and what additional steps must be completed in order to close the deal. Batchbook's Task System assigns tasks to team members, identifies contacts that haven't corresponded in awhile and notifies the team about who's reaching out to contacts to avoid redundant communication. Perhaps Batchbook's most useful feature is its easy access to communication history with customers. Users can automatically record emails, attach notes to a conversation and chat with colleagues about contacts. Capsule CRMhttp://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/art/TRBC/CRMSMB/CRM/CRMcapsule-420-90.jpg Price: Most basic plan is free. Professional plan is $12 per user per month. Capsule CRM's straightforward, clean and user-friendly interface is a great option for the new CRM customer. With just five icons, users can view upcoming tasks, new contacts, the sales pipeline, open cases and calendars. Capsule CRM's integration with Google Apps is flawless. When a user adds a contact to Capsule CRM, their details will automatically get added to the Google address book. Additionally, Capsule CRM keeps a record of communications between the user and a lead or existing customer. With Google Apps, users can either utilize the Gmail gadget provided by Capsule to save communications, or send the email within Capsule. ContactMehttp://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/art/TRBC/CRMSMB/CRM/crmcontactme-420-90.jpg Price: BizPro for small business starts at $7.42 per month. A free 14-day trial is available. Web-based ContactMe is an intuitive, easy-to use CRM solution. It offers a variety of useful features including notes and email forwarding, calendars, reminders, and reporting tools such as graphs and data charts. With many small business owners juggling emails, spreadsheets and other documents in order to manage contacts, ContactMe allows users to easily consolidate and sort contacts. Users can update their contact lists from one location and organize contacts into categories such as lead, potential and existing customer. Infusionsofthttp://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/art/TRBC/CRMSMB/CRM/CRMinfusion-420-90.jpg Price: Starts at $199 per month for up to three users. Infusionsoft offers a long list of perks for small businesses. Infusionsoft combines management, CRM, marketing automation and e-commerce into a single online system, making it an easy way to grow sales. Need to get organized? Infusionsoft allows users to keep track of contacts, appointments and tasks and in one place. Users can also access Infusionsoft from any computer with an Internet connection and work from anywhere. Infusionsoft also streamlines processes by automating lead capture and email follow-up, helping users attract more leads and turn them into customers. Ecommerce tools also manage online stores, inventory, fulfillment and billing from a single system, ensuring customers are satisfied with their transactions. Insightlyhttp://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/art/TRBC/CRMSMB/CRM/crminsightly-420-90.jpg Price: Most basic plan is free. Standard plan is $7 per user per month. A 14-day trial is available. Insightly is a powerful tool that helps users manage contacts, organizations, partners, vendors and suppliers. Users have access to contacts' background, email history and event calendars. Insightly's integration with social media also allows users to identify all social media profiles related to a contact's email address. Mobile Insightly apps allow users to add tasks, view contact details, log calls, or check a project status of a project. Android and iOS apps are available in addition to native mobile applications that do not require a download. #6-10Netsuite CRM+Price: $129 per user per month. Free trials are available. As the only cloud solution that delivers a real-time 360-degree view of the customer, Netsuite CRM+ offers a seamless flow of information across the customer lifecycle – from lead to opportunity, sales order, fulfillment, renewal, upsell, cross-sell and support. NetSuite CRM+ powerful dashboard provides quotes, order management, sales forecasting and integrated Ecommerce capabilities. Plus, it's versatile. Android, BlackBerry and iPhone users can access the latest business reports and calendars. On social media, NetSuite CRM+ integrates with solutions such as Yammer and Qontext using its Suite Social Platform. Microsoft Outlook and Google Apps are also supported within NetSuite CRM+. NimblePrice: Business plans start at $15 per user per month. A free 14-day trial is available. As the social butterfly of small business CRM, Nimble aims to help users manage social, team and customer contacts on one screen. All online conversations, including email, Twitter, Skype and Facebook, are easily visible with Nimble's lightweight platform. Nimble's team collaboration feature allows users to see pending tasks and who is working with each contact. Users can also view all conversations that have occurred with a contact and team member, making it easy to delegate and schedule tasks and meetings. Having trouble juggling important dates and deadlines? Nimble's Daily Digest helps keep your days on track, informing users of new social engagement opportunities related to birthdays, job changes and upcoming meetings. Sage CRMhttp://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/art/TRBC/CRMSMB/CRM/crmsage-420-90.jpg Price: Starts at $39 per user per month. A free 30-day trial is available. Specifically designed for small- to medium-sized businesses, Sage CRM is easy to install, manage, learn and maintain. With more than 12,000 organizations users in 70 countries, Sage CRM is a popular solution for businesses. The interactive dashboard helps sales teams monitor their opportunities, manage calendars and tasks, and identify networking opportunities from LinkedIn. In addition, Sage CRM's analytical tools help users identify the sales opportunities that exist within the customer database. Sage CRM's native apps for iPhone and Windows 8 devices provide real-time data to help users manage business and customer relationships from anywhere. Salesforce http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/art/TRBC/CRMSMB/CRM/crmsalesforce-420-90.jpg Price: Packages start at $25 per user per month. A free 30-day trial is available. Popular CRM provider Salesforce offers the same high quality solution for small business as it does for the large enterprise. Salesforce Small Business CRM provides an easy-to-use interface to manage leads, prospects and existing customers. The fully customizable Salesforce Dashboard gives users a comprehensive view of their sales processes and activities. The Salesforce Contacts feature allows users to organize contacts and keep a detailed history of all interactions. From the moment a contact is added to the system, users can simply click on an individual's name to bring up contact details and histories. The pipeline section helps sales teams visualize where contacts are in the sales process. Zoho CRMhttp://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/art/TRBC/CRMSMB/CRM/crmzoho-420-90.jpg Price: Free for entrepreneurs. Starts at $12 per user per month for other small businesses. Zoho CRM is a flexible solution for small business owners focused on identifying and winning new customers with features such as sales tracking and social profiles. For users on the go, Zoho CRM is available in a mobile edition for iOS, Android and Blackberry operating systems. The Opportunity Tracking Tool provides a detailed explanation of where a customer is in a sales cycle, past deal sizes and contact histories. Competitor information is also available and can provide vital insight on how to retain customers. Google service synchronization is also available with Zoho CRM. Small businesses using Google Apps and Google Drive can easily synchronize Google Mail in addition to accessing other information within the Zoho CRM system. Global CRM market shows strong growth in 2013.http://rss.feedsportal.com/c/669/f/415085/s/3afd6bd4/sc/4/mf.gif http://da.feedsportal.com/r/195506518206/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/3afd6bd4/sc/4/rc/1/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/195506518206/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/3afd6bd4/sc/4/rc/2/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/195506518206/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/3afd6bd4/sc/4/rc/3/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/195506518206/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/3afd6bd4/sc/4/a2.imghttp://pi.feedsportal.com/r/195506518206/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/3afd6bd4/sc/4/a2t.imghttp://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techradar/software-news/~4/07rzS8YTM3E

http://cdn.mos.techradar.com/art/software/Skype/Skype_Translator-470-75.jpgSince the dawn humanity our propensity to speak in different tongues has limited our ability to fully communicate with everyone we encounter, but Microsoft reckons it might have sorted all that. At the Code conference on Tuesday, the firm demonstrated 'near real-time' language translation for voice calls for Skype, which works just like having a real interpreter as part of the conversation. Amazingly, the English-to-German Skype Translator demo from CEO Satya Nadella wasn't just your average proof of concept envisioning the tech of tomorrow either. A beta app expected to land for Windows 8 users before the end of 2014, with a commercial roll out possible within a couple of years. Microsoft is also working on adding more languages and says the feature may come at a cost for users. Resolving the mismatchMicrosoft said the project required a number of breakthroughs from its Machine Translation Team and researchers and engineers across the company in speech recognition and translation. "The interesting thing about this project," project leader Arul Menezes says, "is we've got these two fairly complex technologies coming together for the first time to provide this end-to-end user experience." The key breakthrough came in 2010 when the team developed a system for real-time speech-to-text and speech-to-speech translation of voice calls. Since then the firm has been analysing conversational data, the way people speak on social media and the differences between how people write and talk in order to fine tune the technology. "That's one of the things over the last year that my team's been doing, resolving the mismatch between the way people talk and the way they write," Menezes added on the Microsoft Research blog. "If your translation system is focused on written text, it works very poorly with spoken language." The firm says its efforts over the last few years have come close to solving what it had previously considered "an impossible task." It's certainly an example of how Microsoft, with its vast resources and knowledge can take an established property like Skype and take it to unheard of levels. We're excited to give this a try. Find out how Skype is matching Google Hangoutshttp://rss.feedsportal.com/c/669/f/415085/s/3ae43d76/sc/4/mf.gif http://da.feedsportal.com/r/195506524397/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/3ae43d76/sc/4/rc/1/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/195506524397/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/3ae43d76/sc/4/rc/2/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/195506524397/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/3ae43d76/sc/4/rc/3/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/195506524397/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/3ae43d76/sc/4/a2.imghttp://pi.feedsportal.com/r/195506524397/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/3ae43d76/sc/4/a2t.imghttp://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techradar/software-news/~4/9hpEn9MwdYU

http://cdn.mos.techradar.com/art/people/barnaby-jack-470-75.JPGTraffic stoppers and cash printersUntil Ubisoft's Watch Dogs came along, we hadn't been this excited about a game involving hacking since Deus Ex had us honing our security terminal-cracking skills back in 2000. Playing as protagonist Aiden Pearce, your main weapon is a smartphone that can be used to hack into (and control) surveillance cameras, traffic lights and other electronic devices connected to Chicago's central network in a bid to thwart enemies and evade the police. While Watch Dogs' content director Thomas Geffroy claims that everything in the game is based on reality, some of Aiden's abilities are more far-fetched than others (speeding up hacked trains, for example, is still perhaps wishful thinking for many commuters). Others, however, are certainly being exploited today, and we're not going to argue with the game's creative director Jonathon Morin when he says that technology is a "wake up call". The question is: who are you gonna call when society slips into an inevitable dystopian hackerfest ruled by offbeat vigilantes dressed in more layers than a GAP mannequin? We've picked out five security researchers who would be among the first on our list. If there's a real-life Watch Dogs exploit out there, the chances are that one of these guys has patched it. 1. Cesar CerrudoOccupation: Professional hacker and CTO of IOACtive Labs Watch Dogs skill: Hacking traffic light control systems http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/art/people/cesar-cerrudo-93-100.JPG Image credit: Martin Lescano / In Watch Dogs, Aiden can use his smartphone to hack traffic lights to turn them all green at the same time. As you might expect, this causes road rage levels to go through the roof as vehicles come together in a head-on scrum, allowing him to escape from pursuers. Cesar Cerrudo, an Argentinan security researcher, claims that such a feat is relatively simple (worryingly so for those in control of traffic lights). In a blog post, he writes that all you need to hack into the traffic control systems of some of the world's biggest cities is $100 (to buy a cheap drone), a bit of hacking know-how and a few hours to kill. After attaching a Sensys Networks Wireless transmitter (a type of embedded roadside sensor that sends traffic data to a data centre) to the drone, he was able to intercept and manipulate traffic light signals from a certain distance. He could then trick the lights to cause a pile-up or even re-route traffic. Cerrudo says he was inspired by the Bruce Willis movie Live Free or Die Hard (which features a terrorist who controls traffic lights, no less), but don't worry: he reported his findings at a security conference after directly contacting Sensys about the vulnerability. 2. Barnaby JackOccupation: Hacker, programmer and security expert Watch Dogs skill: Hacking ATMs http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/art/people/barnaby-jack-87-100.JPG Barnaby Jack was a computer expert and "white hat" (non-malicious) hacker famous for achieving what most people dream of one day: making ATMs gush cash like Niagara Falls (a process that became known as "jackpotting"). Before his untimely death in 2013 (an autopsy recorded a verdict of accidental drug overdose), Jack appeared at the Black Hat Security Conference in July 2010 where he hacked an ATM live on stage using a master key downloaded off the internet, the machine's IP number and a telephone, draining it of its cash reserves in the process. The elite hacker from New Zealand spent years analysing ATM flaws, honing his skills to carry out attacks either at the terminals themselves or remotely. He began working with vendors to help them patch security holes and prevent malicious attacks, in addition to exposing flaws in peacemakers and other medical devices. In Watch Dogs, ATMs show Microsoft's infamous 'blue screen of death' to indicate that Aiden has successfully withdrawn money from other people's bank accounts. We reckon they're probably still running Windows XP. Vehicle hackers and city spies3. Zoz BrooksOccupation: Robotics interface designer and rapid prototyping specialist. Co-founder of Cannytrophic Design in Boston and CTO of BlueSky in San Francisco Watch Dogs skill: Hacking vehicles http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/art/people/zos-defcon-75-100.JPG Image credit: DEFCONConference / The idea of hacking cars and other vehicles has gained considerable ground in recent years as the number of lines of software code they run on has spiraled into the hundreds of millions. However, unlike in Watch Dogs where regular cars and trains can be easily hacked and controlled to help Aiden make his escape, a more immediate real-life threat stems from another concept to have gained traction in recent years: autonomous vehicles. Google has voiced its support for self-driving car technology and wants to get fully-autonomous cars on the road by 2018. In the UK, plans to roll out two seater 'pods' that ferry people around the city centre are planned to be operational in Milton Keynes by 2015. According to Australian robotics interface designer Zoz, we could be driving around in circles in our attempts to make autonomous vehicles secure - for a number of reasons. Most revolve around the unpredictable nature of the sensors that help such vehicles navigate - from GPS that can be can be jammed, causing vehicles to veer off course - to compasses that can be rendered inaccurate using strong electromagnetic currents. 4. Craig HefnerOccupation: Security specialist, professional hacker Watch Dogs skill: Hacking surveillance cameras http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/art/people/craig-heffner-84-100.JPG Image credit: Security Weekly / YouTube Along with hacking and privacy, surveillance is one of the main themes in Watch Dogs. By tapping into the city's network, you can spy on certain areas of the city, and personal data can be dug up on its citizens allowing you to decide how to approach different missions. It's no huge surprise to find out that this is already going on in the real world. Earlier this year, ex-National Security Agency employee Craig Hefner uncovered a security vulnerability found in cameras made by D-Link, TrendNet, Cisco and other manufactures that allows attackers to hack into and control them. By changing a user string (a line in the camera's settings URL code used to access its settings), Hefner was able to gain access without a password. Like something out of a Hollywood-style plot, the "zero day" vulnerabilities applied to cameras found in banks, businesses, hotels and casinos. Hefner revealed his findings at the Black Hat Security Conference in Las Vegas, inspiring several Oceans Eleven-style heists in the process (probably). 5. Ralph LangerOccupation: Security expert Watch Dogs skill: Hacking public infrastructure http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/art/people/ralph-langer-88-100.jpg Stuxnet was a deadly cyber attack that has been described by some as the "blockbuster of malware". Launched in 2011, it targeted Windows machines running a certain type of Siemens software found in Iranian nuclear power centres. Because the attack exploited four separate zero-day vulnerabilities (ones with no known fix), it was able to cause centrifuges used to enrich uranium to spin rapidly to the point of destruction. In Watch Dogs, Aiden doesn't quite possess such devastating abilities to disrupt nuclear operations, but he can rupture steam pipes connected to the city's network by overloading them with pressure, causing them to squirt hot water at his enemies. Ouch. Concerns around hacking public infrastructure are growing every day, and it's down to security researchers such as Ralph Langer to make sure the world's biggest water systems and other public infrastructure are safe from hackers. Langer has written the most in-depth analysis of Stuxnet that's available today, delving into the attack in incredible detail. If we ever needed a go-to guy to stop Aiden Pearce hacking our water pipes, Langer would be it. Before Watch Dogs: the best and worst hacking gameshttp://rss.feedsportal.com/c/669/f/415085/s/3adfb6a2/sc/21/mf.gif http://da.feedsportal.com/r/195506399413/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/3adfb6a2/sc/21/rc/1/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/195506399413/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/3adfb6a2/sc/21/rc/2/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/195506399413/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/3adfb6a2/sc/21/rc/3/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/195506399413/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/3adfb6a2/sc/21/a2.imghttp://pi.feedsportal.com/r/195506399413/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/3adfb6a2/sc/21/a2t.imghttp://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techradar/software-news/~4/wJgVV9XzqMQ

http://cdn.mos.techradar.com/art/tablets/Lenovo/ThinkPad8/Hands%20on/thinkpad8-13-470-75.jpgThe days when there was just one version of Windows are long gone. With a phone and RT version already out, Microsoft is adding yet another variant made specifically for hardware manufacturers. First teased at Build 2014, Microsoft announced a Windows 8.1 with Bing - yes that's really its name – designed for low-cost hardware platforms. In a blog post the Richmond company detailed that these affordable devices could be equipped with as little as 1GB of memory and 16GB of storage. Microsoft is also offering this new version of Windows for free to all hardware developers for phones and tablets with a screen smaller than 9-inches. While regular consumers might not be able to take advantage of this free version of Windows, we could see a many more Windows devices in the near future. Microsoft also went on to hint that we could see new Windows devices in the coming weeks at Computex in Taipei. I love free stuffAlthough the vanilla version of Windows 8.1 comes with Bing integration baked in, this new variant will come with Internet Explorer using Microsoft's search engine by default. It's not clear if this is a setting users will be able to change on their own, but there's always the option to install another browser like Chrome or Firefox. As an extra perk devices, and especially tablets, also may come with Office preloaded or an included one-year subscription to Office 365. Otherwise the Windows 8.1 with Bing seems to be largely the same operating system and Microsoft promises it will run just as fluidly on the lightly specced platforms. It may be even more interesting to see how many new phones and tablets, decide take advantage of this free Windows offer. Stay tuned as we bring you more Windows-powered hardware news from Computex in the coming weeks. Windows 8.1 with Bing may have just gotten here but we want Windows 9http://rss.feedsportal.com/c/669/f/415085/s/3ac37e4d/sc/5/mf.gif http://da.feedsportal.com/r/195506350400/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/3ac37e4d/sc/5/rc/1/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/195506350400/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/3ac37e4d/sc/5/rc/2/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/195506350400/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/3ac37e4d/sc/5/rc/3/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/195506350400/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/3ac37e4d/sc/5/a2.imghttp://pi.feedsportal.com/r/195506350400/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/3ac37e4d/sc/5/a2t.imghttp://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techradar/software-news/~4/KytHK3Dx9Kc

http://cdn.mos.techradar.com/art/tablets/HP/HP%207%20Plus/HP-7-Plus-470-75.jpgHow low can you go? That seems to be the question on Hewlett-Packard's mind this week as the beleaguered hardware maker debuts a new seven-inch Android tablet for the budget-minded consumer. While not the cheapest slate the company has produced, HP today announced availability for the HP 7 Plus, a modest seven-inch Android tablet that boldly proclaims to be "big on performance." That would seem to be a dubious bit of marketing considering the $99.99 price tag, especially for a silver tablet capable of mustering up a 1024 x 600 display resolution and Android 4.2.2 Jelly Bean, which is certainly no longer the freshest flavor of Google's mobile platform. The 7 Plus is powered by a quad-core ARM Cortex A7 processor clocked at 1GHz, but the 2800 mAh battery is only capable of eking out a mere five and a half hours, according to HP's own specs. Fair to middlingWhile HP may have skimped on some of the core details, the 7 Plus does offer a micro-SD expansion slot, and you'll likely need it, given the meager 8GB of onboard storage; the tablet also comes with a generous 25GB of Box cloud storage. Aside from the expansive bezel surrounding the display, the overall design of the HP 7 Plus certainly lives up the company's claims of looking "sharp with a suit and dynamite with denim," thanks to the silver-hued casing. The most obvious compromises made to get the price just shy of $100 come into play with the cameras - the good news is there are indeed two of them, but buyers are only receiving 2MP around the back and a woefully inadequate 0.3MP fixed focus lens up front. Still, for many consumers, it's what they can afford that counts, and the HP 7 Plus delivers the goods for a modest price that won't ding the wallet too badly, and comes with free standard US shipping to boot. What's the latest on Windows 9? Find out in our up-to-the-minute report!http://rss.feedsportal.com/c/669/f/415085/s/3ac3aaad/sc/28/mf.gifhttp://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techradar/software-news/~4/VKsa2wCSq_s

http://cdn.mos.techradar.com/art/TRBC/windows8rtm-470-75.jpgChinese government offices won't be allowed to use Windows 8 after the country's Central Government Procurement Center issued a nationwide ban. A laconic post said that all new computers (desktops, laptops and tablets) will need to carry an operating system other than Windows 8. The ban doesn't affect sales to businesses or individuals or, apparently, upgrades to older systems. The post mentions a move to "energy saving" products but China's Xinhua News agency cites "safety concerns", adding that the move would improve the level of security after Microsoft ended critical support for Windows XP in April. The operating system remains by far the most popular in China with an estimated seven out of 10 PCs still running it. Yan Xiaohong, deputy director at China's National Copyright Administration, is quoted by the Economic times, mentioning that costs may well have been an important factor as well as. "Windows 8 is fairly expensive and will increase government procurement costs," he said. The country's Public sector is Microsoft's biggest single client in China. An opportunity for Chinese tech companiesHe also added that "relevant authorities are negotiating with Microsoft over the issue". Others like Qi Xiangdong, president of Qihoo 360 Technology, a Chinese security software outfit reckon that it might provide home grown IT companies with a unique opportunity to develop their own OS. Several Linux-based operating systems, such as StartOS and KylinOS, developed locally haven't fared as well as expected, in stark comparison to the surging popularity of other computer brands like Lenovo or Mediatek. That opportune ban on Windows 8 could well be an indication that the China's government is ready to adopt to Chinese-sourced platforms. Others might point out that the move comes only hours after the US department of Justice indicted five Chinese military officers for allegedly hacking into US-based company and stealing vital commercial data. Maybe the Chinese government should read our "End of support for Windows XP: what are the options?" article.http://rss.feedsportal.com/c/669/f/415085/s/3aaac449/sc/15/mf.gif http://da.feedsportal.com/r/195506186434/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/3aaac449/sc/15/rc/1/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/195506186434/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/3aaac449/sc/15/rc/2/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/195506186434/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/3aaac449/sc/15/rc/3/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/195506186434/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/3aaac449/sc/15/a2.imghttp://pi.feedsportal.com/r/195506186434/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/3aaac449/sc/15/a2t.imghttp://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techradar/software-news/~4/u6I1QlQLN0Y

http://cdn.mos.techradar.com/art/tablets/Microsoft/Surface%20Pro%203/Surface_Pro_showdown-470-75.jpgMicrosoft marketed the Surface Pro 2 as "the tablet that's got it all," but apparently that wasn't quite true, given the big leap forward the Windows maker has made with the announcement of the Surface Pro 3. Although everyone anticipated Microsoft would unveil a smaller Surface (and the event invitations seemingly confirmed such a device), the folks in Redmond went in the other direction, bypassing a new model of its ARM-based Surface tablet in favor of a larger Surface Pro instead. Available for pre-order starting Wednesday, May 21, the Surface Pro 3 certainly looks like it lives up to Microsoft claims that it's "the tablet that can replace your laptop," but is it marketing hype or truly a significant upgrade to the Surface Pro 2? http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/art/tablets/Microsoft/Surface%20Pro%203/Surface-Pro-3-hero-420-90.jpg ScreenThe Surface Pro 3 is certainly larger than its predecessor, with a 12-inch diagonal ClearType Full HD screen that abandons the previous 16:9 aspect ratio of earlier models for a unique 3:2 aspect ratio. That makes for a nice 38% increase in screen estate compared to the Surface Pro 2's 10.6-inch display. But it's not just about the size of the screen: Surface Pro 3 also packs in 2160 x 1440 pixels compared to the Pro 2's 1920 x 1080 (a 50% increase) for what Microsoft calls a "pixel-free" display with the highest contrast ratio in the industry. Windows 8.1 also includes optimized scaling specific to the Surface Pro 3. http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/art/tablets/Microsoft/Surface%20Pro%203/Surface-Pro-3-Type-Case-Kickstand-420-90.jpg DesignThere's no mistaking the Pro 3 is a Microsoft Surface product, although the 0.36-inch (9.1mm) thin build certainly makes the 0.53 inches (13.462mm) Surface Pro 2 look downright pudgy by comparison. For further comparison, Microsoft claims Surface Pro 3 is half as thick as one of Apple's MacBook Pro notebooks, and even 30% thinner than its slimmest 11-inch MacBook Air model. Surface Pro 3 is also made from a silver-hued magnesium, which Microsoft claims has been custom machined and "designed to fit" compared to the Pro 2, which was made from dark titanium. Perhaps Microsoft's most impressive feat with the Pro 3 is how they were able to slim down an even larger device, which weighs in at only 800g (1.76 lbs.) compared to the Pro 2's heavier two pounds (just a hair over 907g). http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/art/events/Microsoft%20Surface%20May%202014/Surface_Pro_3_processor-420-90.jpg ProcessorFor all the effort Microsoft engineers put into slimming down Surface Pro 3, it might be easy to forgive the company for sacrificing on what's inside, if that was the case. Judging from the amount of time Redmond spent detailing the guts of its latest tablet, the Surface Pro 3 seems like it can handle whatever is thrown its way. For starters, Microsoft claims Surface Pro 3 is the "thinnest Intel Core product ever made" - a bold claim that applies even with a Type Cover attached. And for the first time ever, Microsoft has found a way to cram a more powerful Intel Core i7 processor into such a diminutive frame. By comparison, last year's Surface Pro 2 topped out with a fourth-generation Intel Core i5 processor, although the Pro 3 will be available in i3, i5 and i7 flavors to suit most any budget. Last but not least, Surface Pro 3 takes the "fanless" concept to new heights, with what Microsoft claims is a 30% more efficient cooling system than any other product on the market. http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/art/events/Microsoft%20Surface%20May%202014/surfacetomacbookairscale-stage-420-90.JPG BatteryFaster processor equals less battery life, right? Not so fast, says Microsoft, which claims the Surface Pro 3 manages to squeeze out more than 20% battery life compared to previous models. This is in keeping with the company's new "no compromises" mantra. In the case of Surface Pro 2, Microsoft proclaimed seven to 12 days of idle life, although their official specs fell short on how many hours it might last while in use. Our own tests of the Pro 2 managed just short of seven hours on average use - not quite MacBook Air numbers, but still improved from the original Surface Pro. By comparison, Microsoft claims the Surface Pro 3 can be used for up to nine hours, which winds up somewhere in the neighborhood of 10% better than the previous Surface Pro 2. http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/art/tablets/Microsoft/Surface%20Pro%203/SurfacePro3kickstandp_comp-420-90.jpg FeaturesSurface Pro 3 includes all of the features that made Surface Pro 2 great, including a full-sized USB 3.0 port, microSD card reader, headphone and Mini DisplayPort jacks, but those accustomed to using their Surface Pro on a lap will find one major change. That change is what Microsoft calls a "continuous kickstand" designed specifically for the Surface Pro 3. The kickstand includes an adjustable friction hinge capable of taking an angle from zero to 150 degrees for what company executives call better "lapability." Needless to say, that's a huge improvement over the dual-position kickstand on the Surface Pro 2. Audio is another area the Surface maker managed to improve upon with Pro 3. It now includes front-facing speakers with Dolby sound that are up to 48% louder than the Surface Pro 2. http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/art/tablets/Microsoft/Surface%20Pro%203/Surface-Pro-3-stylus-OneNote-420-90.jpg Microsoft is also beefing up the included stylus pen, which promises a more natural, organic ink-to-pixel experience than the previous model. Corporate Vice President of Microsoft Surface Panos Panay demonstrated clicking the pen to wake up the Surface Pro 3 directly in note-taking mode with OneNote, for example. Last but not least, longtime partner Adobe demonstrated a forthcoming touch-optimized version of Adobe Photoshop CC, featuring a user interface with buttons and icons that have been enlarged by 200% to make them more finger-friendly. http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/art/tablets/Microsoft/Surface%20Pro%203/SurfaceProTypeCover_comp-420-90.jpg AccessoriesMicrosoft has rightfully received plenty of accolades in the past for its Type Covers, but the latest generation promises to improve on that legacy. Available in five colors, the new "click-in" keyboards feature 63 percent larger trackpads, while offering greater stability than the previous generation. The Type Covers now magnetically seal themselves against the edge of the Surface Pro 3 for improved lap use in conjunction with the new kickstand. http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/art/tablets/Microsoft/Surface%20Pro%203/Surface_Docking_Station-420-90.jpg For users who spent an equal amount of time at their desk and on the go, Microsoft is introducing a new Surface Docking Station. Judging from the company's demo, the dock is as easy as sliding the Surface Pro 3 into place, with support for external 4K Ultra HD displays. Redmond played coy on exactly when the Surface Docking Station would be available beyond sometime "in the next few months." http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/art/tablets/Microsoft/Surface%20Pro%203/Surface-Pro-3-lapability-420-90.jpg VerdictLast but not least, Surface Pro 3 manages to best its predecessor in one final key area: Price. The latest and greatest model will start at only $799, although it's important to note that's for a Core i3 model. Microsoft will begin accepting preorders at 12:01 AM EST tonight on its website, expanding to Microsoft retail stores and Best Buy locations on May 21; Surface Pro 3 will be available for purchase in stores or from authorized resellers starting June 20 in the US and Canada, expanding to 26 international markets by the end of August. http://rss.feedsportal.com/c/669/f/415085/s/3aa36d89/sc/15/mf.gif http://da.feedsportal.com/r/195506155871/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/3aa36d89/sc/15/rc/1/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/195506155871/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/3aa36d89/sc/15/rc/2/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/195506155871/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/3aa36d89/sc/15/rc/3/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/195506155871/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/3aa36d89/sc/15/a2.imghttp://pi.feedsportal.com/r/195506155871/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/3aa36d89/sc/15/a2t.imghttp://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techradar/software-news/~4/q-3QcYPDzDQ

http://cdn.mos.techradar.com/art/software/Windows/windows_81_rtm/win81%20startscreen-470-75.jpgAn image shared by an infamous Chinese Windows leaker has revealed what Microsoft has on its Satya Nadalla-influenced roadmap in 2014. Posting on the Neowin forum, FaiKee has shown that Microsoft is working on Windows 9, Windows 365, Windows 8.1 Update 2, Office 2015 and more. The image also provides a list of products Microsoft plans to update, including existing ones like Windows 8.1, Windows Phone 8.1, and Office 2013. It also lists Windows 9, "& Server & mobile edition," all but confirming that there will be a separate Windows Phone 9 release. Windows 365 is given a mention, and its status is listed as "Alpha based on Windows Core." This is expected to be a cloud-based platform that ties in with Office 365. The road aheadThe listing of Office 2015, which is currently being built, suggests a possible release date of 2015 for all of these products, Windows 9 included. Before we get the next Windows, however, there is Windows 8.1 Update 2 on the horizon, which is widely expected to include the restoration of the much-missed Start Menu, albeit with the twist of tacking on some Modern tiles as well. Another interesting rumour is that Windows 9 will be given free to all Windows 8.1 users, which should greatly increase adoption of the newer platform. Via BGR Could Windows 9 launch Microsoft back in business?http://rss.feedsportal.com/c/669/f/415085/s/3a76c9bd/sc/5/mf.gif http://da.feedsportal.com/r/195506039802/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/3a76c9bd/sc/5/rc/1/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/195506039802/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/3a76c9bd/sc/5/rc/2/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/195506039802/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/3a76c9bd/sc/5/rc/3/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/195506039802/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/3a76c9bd/sc/5/a2.imghttp://pi.feedsportal.com/r/195506039802/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/3a76c9bd/sc/5/a2t.imghttp://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techradar/software-news/~4/Ue4TUVe_dp0

http://cdn.mos.techradar.com/art/software/Microsoft/Windows81/Update%201/DSC_0120-470-75.jpgStop freaking out that you HAVE to install Windows 8.1 Update 1 before tomorrow; Microsoft has extended the deadline to update by 30 days. Consumers who haven't installed the Windows 8.1 update now have until June 10 to do so. Microsoft previously set the deadline as May 13, but out of concern for customer safety and enjoyment, decided it didn't need to push for this month's Patch Tuesday after all. Why the need to update? It all comes down to safety updates. Those with devices running Windows 8.1 sans Update 1 would have no longer receive updates after the deadline passed. Since it sounds like enough Windows 8.1 adopters have yet to one-up their OS, Microsoft is giving them an extension without any fallout. As pointed out by Mary Jo Foley at ZDNet, if you're running Windows 8, you're not subject to the update requirement. This is only for those who've hopped on the Windows 8.1 train. Other detailsUsers with Automatic Update activated in Windows Update will have received the newest version of Windows 8.1 already, so there's no need to worry about updating before June 10. Business running Windows 8.1 and Windows Server 2012 R2 have until August 12 to install their comparable upgrades. The date is actually an extension of a previous deadline Microsoft had set for companies utilizing Windows Server Update Services, Windows Intune and System Center Configuration. When the outrage came through there wasn't enough time for businesses to upgrade their systems, Microsoft backed off and set the August date. Will we see the Surface Mini on May 20? http://rss.feedsportal.com/c/669/f/415085/s/3a586cb1/sc/15/mf.gif http://da.feedsportal.com/r/195505903163/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/3a586cb1/sc/15/rc/1/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/195505903163/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/3a586cb1/sc/15/rc/2/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/195505903163/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/3a586cb1/sc/15/rc/3/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/195505903163/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/3a586cb1/sc/15/a2.imghttp://pi.feedsportal.com/r/195505903163/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/3a586cb1/sc/15/a2t.imghttp://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techradar/software-news/~4/zGIEbu1gozU

http://cdn.mos.techradar.com/art/internet/Yahoo/yahoo_privacy_center_photo-470-75.jpgYahoo has announced it's abandoning Do Not Track in favor of forcing users to choose a more personalized experience. Users can still manage individual privacy settings within Yahoo's Privacy Center, but the company's sites and services will from now on ignore web browsers' Do Not Track preferences. This is the inherent problem with Do Not Track: you can check the little box in your browser, but it's websites themselves, not browsers, that have power to choose whether or not your activities are recorded. And companies like Facebook, Google and Yahoo have already been ignoring the setting for years. Well that's not very niceYahoo was moaning about Do Not Track all the way back in 2012, when Microsoft turned it on by default in Internet Explorer 10. The company said at the time that since users didn't choose to turn it on, the request wouldn't be honored. That's the sort of thing that has ruined the whole Do Not Track initiative - what good is it if the biggest companies refuse to honor it? Now Yahoo is trotting out essentially the same argument, about how "the best web is a personalized one," to justify ignoring Do Not Track settings across the board. Just take our word for it"Here at Yahoo, we work hard to provide our users with a highly personalized experience," the Yahoo Privacy Team wrote on the company's policies Tumblr. "We fundamentally believe the best web is a personalized one." "As the first major tech company to implement Do Not Track, we've been at the heart of conversations surrounding how to develop the most user-friendly standard," it continued. "However, we have yet to see a single standard emerge that is effective, easy to use and has been adopted by the broader tech industry. "Users can still manage their privacy on Yahoo while benefiting from a personalized web experience." If you say so, Yahoo. Facebook does care about privacy, looks out for you 80 trillion times a dayhttp://rss.feedsportal.com/c/669/f/415085/s/39f8794d/sc/4/mf.gif http://da.feedsportal.com/r/195505466607/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/39f8794d/sc/4/rc/1/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/195505466607/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/39f8794d/sc/4/rc/2/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/195505466607/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/39f8794d/sc/4/rc/3/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/195505466607/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/39f8794d/sc/4/a2.imghttp://pi.feedsportal.com/r/195505466607/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/39f8794d/sc/4/a2t.imghttp://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techradar/software-news/~4/LljPLl5IOrg

http://cdn.mos.techradar.com/art/other/Onetimers/OS%20X%2010.10-470-75.jpgLast year was the banner year for iOS 7's major redesign and soon at WWDC 2014 we could see a whole new face for Apple's Mac OS X. 9 to 5 Mac reports that version 10.10 of OS X will take the main stage at Apple's yearly developer conference with a larger presence than iOS 8. Supposedly Apple is putting so much emphasis into OS X that it is pulling iOS user interface resources to work on its desktop operating system. Apple is purportedly putting its desktop operating system through an end-to-end redesign in a similar scope to complete interface refresh iPads and iPhones saw last year. OS X will reportedly adopt iOS 7's toggle design to clearly define highlighted icons and windows. Rather than applications having rounded window panels we could also see sharper shapes and even more white space to make the operating system look a bit less crowded. Distinct operating systemsThat's not to say 10.10 will simply fall into line with Apple's mobile design aesthetic. Finder, multi-window multi-tasking, Mission Control, and OS X's other desktop elements won't be disappearing. Supposedly Apple is keen on keeping iOS and OS X as very separate entities. We could see the new operating system launch this fall with a new line of hardware to go with it as Apple typically does. Thus far, we've heard rumors of a 12-inch MacBook without any extra designations like Air or Pro attached. The last bit of mystery behind version 10.10 is what the OS' final name will be. Internally the new version of OS X has been passed around as "Syrah" and Apple has been picking up new trademarks including Mammoth and Diablo. Given that Apple named the last version of its desktop operating system after the Mavericks, a famous Californian surfing location, we wouldn't put it past the Cupertino company to christen version 10.10 as "Yosemite." Another thing we could see at WWDC 2014 is a larger iPad Prohttp://rss.feedsportal.com/c/669/f/415085/s/39f80f34/sc/21/mf.gif http://da.feedsportal.com/r/195505477915/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/39f80f34/sc/21/rc/1/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/195505477915/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/39f80f34/sc/21/rc/2/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/195505477915/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/39f80f34/sc/21/rc/3/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/195505477915/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/39f80f34/sc/21/a2.imghttp://pi.feedsportal.com/r/195505477915/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/39f80f34/sc/21/a2t.imghttp://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techradar/software-news/~4/u_zLKsZm8O0

http://cdn.mos.techradar.com/art/internet/Microsoft/IE10/ie_browsers-470-75.jpgLast month, Microsoft waved goodbye to the most popular version of Windows ever, but a nasty security flaw lurking inside the company's web browser is forcing a quick fix, even for those too stubborn to upgrade to the latest OS. Microsoft announced the release of a new security update Thursday morning, which addresses a newly uncovered flaw with the Internet Explorer web browser first disclosed by Redmond last weekend. The exploit made headlines earlier this week because it affected not only newer operating system versions, but also Windows XP, which Microsoft officially put out to pasture on April 8. Microsoft Group Manager of Response Communications Dustin Childs claims security updates will be automatically installed for "the majority of customers," but a manual download is also available for users who haven't yet enabled Automatic Update. Just this once?Released at 10AM PDT today, the so-called "out-of-band" update also applies to Windows XP, despite Microsoft having now disowned the version of the operating system launched nearly 13 years ago. "We have made the decision to issue a security update for Windows XP users. Windows XP is no longer supported by Microsoft, and we continue to encourage customers to migrate to a modern operating system, such as Windows 7 or 8.1," Microsoft's Childs elaborated. Childs also encourages Windows customers to upgrade to the latest version of the popular web browser, currently Internet Explorer 11. Microsoft will host a live webcast Friday, May 2 at 11AM PDT to discuss today's security bulletin, which presumably will include yet another reminder for Windows XP holdouts to let go of the past; registration for that event is now open to everyone. Microsoft gets its game on in our expansive Xbox One review!http://rss.feedsportal.com/c/669/f/415085/s/39f79610/sc/21/mf.gif http://da.feedsportal.com/r/195505480200/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/39f79610/sc/21/rc/1/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/195505480200/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/39f79610/sc/21/rc/2/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/195505480200/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/39f79610/sc/21/rc/3/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/195505480200/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/39f79610/sc/21/a2.imghttp://pi.feedsportal.com/r/195505480200/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/39f79610/sc/21/a2t.imghttp://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techradar/software-news/~4/lvMxwvElt3o

http://cdn.mos.techradar.com/art/people/Kemeny-Kurtz-470-75.JPGThe History of BASICBack in 1964, computers were enormous, expensive, and hidden away in air-conditioned rooms. And that was just fine, because they were also horribly complex: only scientists, mathematicians and highly trained technicians had any idea how to use them. But then John Kemeny and Thomas Kurtz, two professors at Dartmouth College, New Hampshire, realised that it didn't have to be this way. That being able to write software could have real value for all kinds of people, if only there was a way to do it. So they designed a new programming language, BASIC (Beginners All-purpose Symbolic Instruction Code), with general users in mind. It was small, simple, interactive and easy for just about anyone to learn. Their students worked on the project, guided by Kemeny and Kurtz. It all went well, and the first ever BASIC language program was successfully executed at Dartmouth College on May 1st, 1964. http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/art/features/BASIC-50/BBC-Basic-420-90.jpg That could have been it. BASIC might have stayed at Dartmouth, become outdated, shelved and forgotten. But instead, it would go on to become the most widespread and popular programming language in the world. The Early DaysKemeny and Kurtz were years ahead of their time in realising the value of bringing programming to the masses. Their really smart move came next, though, when they just gave it away. Computer manufacturers were already looking for ways to make their systems more usable, and bundling BASIC proved a quick, easy and cheap way to do it. Top manufacturers like Hewlett-Packard, DEC and Data General were soon offering BASIC. This early success soon began to snowball. More computers with BASIC meant more programmers becoming familiar with the language, driving demand for more computers to support BASIC. http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/art/features/BASIC-50/pdp-420-90.jpg Even better, there was increased use of these computers by students. A whole generation was beginning to realise that programming wasn't just work: it could be fun. Most famously, Bill Gates, whose computing life began when he devised a BASIC program to play noughts and crosses. The hardware was still primitive, of course. In particular, users interacted with BASIC via teletypes, rather than screens. Everything had to be printed out, and this had some unexpected results. Check a 1964 BASIC manual for the maximum program length, for instance, and you'd be told "about two feet of teletype paper filled with BASIC statements is about it". This technology wasn't very accessible, either. BASIC had quickly become popular, but was still only available on expensive mini and mainframe computers, so if you weren't a student - or employed by a big business - you would probably never even know it existed. But then, in 1974, the Intel 8080 arrived. While earlier hobbyist CPUs were best described as "feeble", the 8080 was a real leap forward, around ten times faster than its predecessors, and enough to power a genuinely useful home computer. http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/art/features/BASIC-50/Spectrum-420-90.jpg Finally, this all came together in the Altair 8800. This early computer was powerful, for its time. It had all kinds of hardware options. And it came with an Altair BASIC interpreter, developed by Bill Gates, Paul Allen and Monte Davidoff of Microsoft. The world was about to change. BASIC everywhereHome computers were soon selling in huge numbers. There would be many different models and variations, but there was one very common feature: almost all of them had BASIC as the programming language of choice. The TRS-80 (Tandy/Radio Shack, Z-80 CPU) arrived in 1977, with its own custom BASIC in a ROM. Commodore used Microsoft-sourced BASIC in the Pet, the Commodore 64, even the early Amigas. Then there was the Amstrad CPC, the Acorn Atom, various Atari models, the Oric, and everything Sinclair ever produced (ZX80, ZX81, ZX Spectrum, Sinclair QL). Even Apple joined in with its own Applesoft BASIC, supplied by Microsoft and included with the Apple II computers. BASIC began to be used in schools everywhere. Computers like the Research Machines 380Z and BBC Micro meant that students could start learning a few programming basics, without any need for access to some massive mainframe. And the emphasis on education made it much easier to persuade their parents to buy a computer for home use (even if was mostly used to play Frogger, Football Manager and Space Invaders). http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/art/features/BASIC-50/Donkey-420-90.jpg BASIC's popularity soared. Early computer magazines would publish tips, tutorials, even the source code to entire programs. Later they would have cassette tapes attached to the front with even more freebies. But the real tipping point came in 1981, with the release of the IBM PC. It came with BASIC both on ROM (BASICA) and disk (GW_BASIC). Massively popular, it lead to MS-DOS becoming the standard operating system for businesses (and many home users) just about everywhere. And with Microsoft including a version of BASIC with DOS, and Windows, right up to Windows Me, the language would be accessible to everyone for the next 20 years. Standards? What standards?BASIC was clearly a massive success, spreading much further than creators Kemeny and Kurtz could ever have believed. But this also lead to problems, which began to undermine the whole language. The original decision to effectively give BASIC away, for instance, was certainly a marketing masterstroke. But it also meant that the language no longer had a clear direction. Instead, a host of different companies produced their own custom versions, often very cut down due to the hardware limitations of the time. Some were very poor, and if you wrote a program for one BASIC, there was no guarantee it would run on another. Expectations were changing, too. Early BASIC games were horribly limited; "Star Trek" was played in text mode, with stars represented by a *, Klingon ships with +K+ and star bases with <*>. But people accepted this because they only had a teletype to work with, and in those early they were amazed the program worked at all. http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/art/features/BASIC-50/StarTrek-420-90.jpg Fast-forward 10-15 years and it was very different. Computer games now had graphics (if blocky), sounds and music. There was no chance that the average person could produce anything to compete. And so people became more interested in finding and using third-party software than writing entire programs themselves. BASIC wasn't always popular in the academic and professional world, either. Edsger W. Dijkstra, Professor of Computer Science at University of Virginia famously wrote: "It is practically impossible to teach good programming to students that have had a prior exposure to BASIC: as potential programmers they are mentally mutilated beyond hope of regeneration. But while this was a little harsh - to put it mildly - even Kemeny and Kurtz weren't happy with the situation. They felt that the some of the cut-down interpreted versions had strayed far from their original vision. In 1983 they decided to fight back by founding their own company, True BASIC, to show the world how the language should be developed. It was a little too late, but the company is still around today. Updating BASICWith its attention focused on MS-DOS, Microsoft were slow to see the problems with BASIC, and that a core language devised in 1964 just wasn't up to the challenges of 80's computing. This started to change in 1985, with the first release of QuickBASIC. The new product extended GW-BASIC with more graphics support, better structuring, and - at last - a compiler. Developers could now produce EXE files, greatly improving performance. The real breakthrough came in 1991, though, with the first release of Visual BASIC (VB). The old text-based approach had finally disappeared, and users could instead create Windows GUIs just by dragging and dropping objects onto a "form", setting their properties, and writing code for them. http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/art/features/BASIC-50/VisualBasic-420-90.jpg This was a revolution for most BASIC programmers. They didn't have to create their own custom GUI any more, as VB would do it for them. Extensions to the language, access to the Windows API and a range of custom add-ons and extensions made the language more powerful than ever before. VB was a massive success, even in the professional programming world (Visual Basic experience became a genuinely marketable skill), but it still had issues. In particular, the language made it difficult to use more advanced Windows features (multi-threading, for instance), and a lack of support for object-oriented programming meant that many still didn't take it seriously. Microsoft hadn't yet finished, however, and its final move came in 2001, with the release of Visual Basic.NET. This caused some resentment by changing many language constructs, dropping others entirely, and overall becoming much more difficult to learn. But a new object-oriented approach and easy access to .NET libraries meant that Visual Basic was finally competitive with other languages, and it's still available today as a part of Microsoft's Visual Studio. Where next?BASIC had an amazing influence in its early years, and played a key part in bringing easy, affordable home computing to the masses. It couldn't maintain that level of success, of course, and that's really no surprise. The problem that BASIC was designed to solve - the need to bring simpler programming tools to the masses - just doesn't exist any more. http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/art/features/BASIC-50/SmallBasic-420-90.jpg This isn't the end of the story, though. BASIC is still a great language for developing all kinds of software. Malwarebytes Anti-Malware, HiJackThis, PDFCreator, photo editor PhotoDemon and business CRM Vtiger are all popular and very capable programs - but they were all created in VB6. It may be 16 years old, but it's still influential, even today. You're just a beginner Microsoft has tried to recapture the original spirit of the language with Small Basic. Aimed at children, it's very simple - with only 14 keywords - yet can still be used to, say, build a Tetris game, or download and display an up-to-date weather map. If you're nostalgic for some early flavour of BASIC, there's a good chance it's available somewhere. There are multiple BBC BASIC versions, a GW-BASIC emulator, an extended Sinclair BASIC, a 64-bit QBasic, the QuickBASIC-like FreeBASIC, even a TinyBASIC for the Raspberry Pi. Or, if you need something more professional, the free Visual Studio Express provides all the tools you need to build everything from a simple desktop program to a shiny new Windows Store App for Windows 8.1. BASIC has had more than its share of criticism. But even after 50 years it's still here, with something to offer everyone - and it's not going away any time soon. http://rss.feedsportal.com/c/669/f/415085/s/39f27978/sc/4/mf.gif http://da.feedsportal.com/r/195505458747/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/39f27978/sc/4/rc/1/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/195505458747/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/39f27978/sc/4/rc/2/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/195505458747/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/39f27978/sc/4/rc/3/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/195505458747/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/39f27978/sc/4/a2.imghttp://pi.feedsportal.com/r/195505458747/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/39f27978/sc/4/a2t.imghttp://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techradar/software-news/~4/iRVvAEzjBpg

http://cdn.mos.techradar.com/art/software/Windows/windows_81_rtm/win81%20startscreen-470-75.jpgMicrosoft has announced an update to the Bing-powered Smart Search feature in Window's 8.1 that aims to make it easier for users to find hard to reach settings on their PCs. The update, which will roll out in the next couple of weeks, will enable users to type instructions like, 'My screen is too bright' rather than dig around for the display settings. Likewise, if users want to delete an app or add a printer, for example, they can type in those commands to be taken directly to the requisite settings menu. The company hopes the inclusion of 'natural language understanding' will save users time and effort needed to delve deep into menus before finding what they want. Smarter searchIn a post on the Bing blog, the company explains: "Based on the most common tasks people perform on Windows 8, we are taking steps to allow Smart Search to showcase results based on natural language understanding. "Now when I search for 'install a printer', Smart Search will show me that the function resides within 'Device Settings' so I can take action with a simple click." Bing Smart Search was introduced alongside Windows 8.1 in October as a universal search tool for documents, apps, photo albums, cloud files and favourite websites. How to solve these nagging Windows 8 problemshttp://rss.feedsportal.com/c/669/f/415085/s/39f0034b/sc/4/mf.gif http://da.feedsportal.com/r/195505427491/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/39f0034b/sc/4/rc/1/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/195505427491/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/39f0034b/sc/4/rc/2/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/195505427491/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/39f0034b/sc/4/rc/3/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/195505427491/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/39f0034b/sc/4/a2.imghttp://pi.feedsportal.com/r/195505427491/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/39f0034b/sc/4/a2t.imghttp://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techradar/software-news/~4/b75C1nq7HcY

http://cdn.mos.techradar.com/art/features/Windows%20XP%20tips%20and%20tricks%20062013/laptop%20with%20XP-470-75.jpgSince Microsoft's announcement in 2011 that support for Windows XP will cease in 2014, speculation has been ripe over just how this move will impact users. Ahead of the 8th April cut-off date, it was estimated that 40 per cent of corporate desktops/laptops were still running Windows XP. A lucky few, like the NHS, are likely to receive extended support from Windows past the deadline. For most others still running XP their businesses will be exposed to an onslaught of vulnerabilities, as technical support and security updates will no longer be provided. Tough ChoiceThese organisations are left with a tough choice to deal with the inevitable: continue as usual with XP, or upgrade to Windows 7 or 8. The fundamental choice hangs on the question of whether an organisation consistently patches their operating systems and software. For some systems, like those used within SCADA environments, the answer may well be no, in which case they will likely notice no change to their security posture when the Microsoft support drops. However, for those which rely on patches and updates to keep business and customer information safe, the answer has to be 'upgrade'. As these organisations are pondering the risks vs. rewards of upgrading, they all too often overlook that cyber security is a business risk issue routinely discussed at board level, gone are the days where this is an IT issue. In fact, those who have not already realised this are already on the back foot. Sure, upgrading is costly and can be disruptive – yet the consequences of cyber-attacks are now so severe that cyber defence has become a (for some organisations) the main risk they face and therefore needs to be approached proactively and holistically. Microsoft itself predicted that after the 8th April, the chance of malware infecting PC's running XP could jump by two-thirds. The ugly truth is that businesses should only continue using Windows XP if they are prepared to accept that a breach could compromise any data, information or IP on their networks – and are therefore, happy to face the consequences. Vulnerability rocketsWindows XP will be vulnerable after support ceases – no amount of alternative measures will be able to change that. We exercise caution when we subject ourselves to risk – and whether businesses like to accept it or not, the same has to apply for the 'health' of businesses. If a car is failing its MOT due to faulty brakes it would be highly risky to continue driving it – especially if there are no new breaks available. In most cases people would resort to getting a new car as the risk is simply too great. For businesses that are risk averse, value their privacy and want their property to remain theirs – without theft or tampering – upgrading to a more secure OS is essential. Security has to be holistic rather than a patchwork of disparate tools designed to fire fight, security is about being proactive and being ready to be reactive. Only if businesses ensure the security foundations are in place across their entire supply chain can they rest assured that their people, places and information are protected. Jason Kalwa is a cyber security consultant.http://rss.feedsportal.com/c/669/f/415085/s/39cd7eea/sc/36/mf.gif http://da.feedsportal.com/r/195505282195/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/39cd7eea/sc/36/rc/1/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/195505282195/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/39cd7eea/sc/36/rc/2/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/195505282195/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/39cd7eea/sc/36/rc/3/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/195505282195/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/39cd7eea/sc/36/a2.imghttp://pi.feedsportal.com/r/195505282195/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/39cd7eea/sc/36/a2t.imghttp://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techradar/software-news/~4/AtE1XNtaIkI

http://cdn.mos.techradar.com/art/other/Onetimers/Ubuntu%2014.04%20Trusty%20Tahr%20-%20Nahue%20Fox-470-75.jpgUbuntu 14.04 Long Term Support (LTS) edition has finally arrived bringing new support for high-resolution displays and touchscreens. Codenamed "Trusty Tafr," this release named after a reliable wild goat finally makes Ubuntu scale properly on high-resolution displays. A very important feature in our advancing 2K and 4K world. What's more, the 14.04 update is also the first stable version of Ubuntu made for tablets. It specifically adds some much needed improvements to its touchscreen support for everything from multi-touch trackpads on laptops to commercial tablets. In for the long haulAs a LTS release, Canonical has designed this upgrade for enterprises, adding more stability on top of a few notable features. This release of Ubuntu will also be continuously updated for the next five years. With Windows XP being phased out last week, Canonical is taking the opportunity to push 14.04 to businesses as an affordable replacement for Windows XP. "The 14.04 LTS release offers a solid, intuitive experience which is easy to manage," Jane Silber, Canonical CEO said in a release. "It is a viable and affordable alternative for those organizations considering a switch from Microsoft, and specifically those replacing XP or Windows 7 as they come to the end of life." As such Canonical promises Ubuntu 14.04 LTS provides a seamless migration path from Windows to its platform. The operating system includes compatibility with Windows file formats, browser-based cloud solutions such as Maxthon, and the Microsoft Office-compatible LibreOffice suite. If you're still on Windows XP, it's time to get out nowhttp://rss.feedsportal.com/c/669/f/415085/s/39854eb2/sc/4/mf.gif http://da.feedsportal.com/r/195296678306/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/39854eb2/sc/4/rc/1/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/195296678306/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/39854eb2/sc/4/rc/2/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/195296678306/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/39854eb2/sc/4/rc/3/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/195296678306/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/39854eb2/sc/4/a2.imghttp://pi.feedsportal.com/r/195296678306/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/39854eb2/sc/4/a2t.imghttp://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techradar/software-news/~4/fmvQb_KF0Hs

http://cdn.mos.techradar.com/art/mobile_phones/Nokia/Lumia930/HandsOn/Lumia930-HandsOn-01-470-75.JPGMicrosoft might be in the process of unleashing Windows Phone 8.1, but it seems the Redmond company isn't going to stop at Cortana. Nokia Power User has picked up on the scent of a new General Distribution Release 2 version of Windows Phone 8.1 on its way to hardware manufacturers. Supposedly the new software release is adding some oomph to Microsoft's mobile platform with support for 2K display resolutions and Qualcomm's latest Snapdragon 805 processor. Prior to this stealthy update, we've seen Windows Phone 8.1 support a maximum display resolution of 1080p and up to a Snapdragon 800 processor as seen on the Lumia 930. High-octane specsWith this new software build, we could newer phones equipped with these bleeding edge specs. In fact, leaks are already starting to drip. According to a GFX benchmark we spotted on April 2, a new Windows Phone handset christened the Qualcomm LiQUID boasts a 1440 x 2560 resolution and is equipped with a Snapdragon 805 processor. And on January 20, there were rumors a Nokia Lumia 1520 Mini would feature a pixel rich 4.3-inch, 513ppi Full HD AMOLED screen. With all the big phone shows and Microsoft Build out of the way, it's anyone's guess when these monster handsets will make it to the real world. We've got our fingers crossed it's soon, but stay tuned as we're sure to hear more before too long. 2K, 4K, what the heck is all this Ultra-HD business about?http://rss.feedsportal.com/c/669/f/415085/s/39677488/sc/5/mf.gif http://da.feedsportal.com/r/195168373433/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/39677488/sc/5/rc/1/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/195168373433/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/39677488/sc/5/rc/2/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/195168373433/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/39677488/sc/5/rc/3/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/195168373433/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/39677488/sc/5/a2.imghttp://pi.feedsportal.com/r/195168373433/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/39677488/sc/5/a2t.imghttp://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techradar/software-news/~4/S5M7K0j3oSo

http://cdn.mos.techradar.com/art/other/Generics/laptop_outside-470-75.jpgMany businesses are realising the benefits of open source. According to a recent report, up to a third of IT professionals are already using the technology and this figure will grow. Open source is often cheaper, more flexible and easier to manage than its licensed counterparts. If you've got some technical ability, the basics are easy to implement yourself, with a multitude of 'DIY' guides available online. So where is the best place to start? The most well known form of open source is Linux: this could suit SMBs new to the technology, experts agree. And it is possible for SMBs to open source their entire IT environment. Back up, firewall, and security information and event management are ideal areas to open source, according to Dominique Karg, Chief Hacking Officer and Co Founder of AlienVault. "Those are the areas where the cost difference between 'closed' and open source is biggest, and where open source has matured the most," he says. Expert helpIf you have some expertise, implementing open source can be done in house. According to Karg, a skilled SMB CEO could put in basic open source without much technical knowledge. "If you're skilled, set two or three machines aside, along with some backup disks," Karg advises. "Read the manuals, apply the suggested guidelines and learn as much as possible." This approach won't cost anything, Karg says. "What's great about open source is that you can take a peek at the source code to truly understand what it really does; how it works; how it was designed and whether its design matches its intention," he says. But if you don't have the software expertise, you will need a software vendor or consultant to help implement the technology. In this case, Karg advises firms to hire a skilled 'geek' to implement open source tools, "rather than to pay licenses and rely on the commercial support teams". Less confident SMBs should start by getting a consultant, advises CEO of Omnis Systems Paolo Vecchi. This kind of expertise is required because open source software is managed differently to Windows. For example, Vecchi says: "You would never connect a Windows server to the internet - but you would with Linux". Even so, once they are up and running, keeping Linux systems secure is comparatively easier than with Windows. According to Steve Nice, CTO of open source software specialist Reconnix: "While Linux malware does exist, it's only a tiny fraction of what currently affects Windows, so there is much less risk on a day-to-day basis of a system suffering an exploit." Open source products When moving to open source, it's best to start with the basics. To kick off, SMBS could cut costs by switching to one of the free alternatives to Microsoft Office like LibreOffice - which is compatible with both Linux and Microsoft - for example. "If businesses were to change only one software product to an Open Source alternative, LibreOffice would perhaps be the easiest move to make, and one that would see the most obvious savings," Nice says. Vecchi recommends replacing a Windows server with a Linux one; something that staff won't notice in terms of usability. For example, firms can download the all-in-one Linux Collax business server for free. Among its benefits, the server provides security functions such as firewalling and virus and spam filtering. "With a couple of clicks you can use it and it's free for up to five users," says Vecchi. But, Vecchi warns, open source technology still comes with maintenance costs, so it's not entirely free. "For example, [Linux-based operating system] Debian is free but complicated to manage, so you would need someone to help you," says Vecchi. "You have to remember Linux and open source doesn't mean free in terms of not spending money: you need to set it up and maintain it." Vecchi says the standard price for this is around £14 per user per year - which is "less than Google". "You have full control of the data as well," he adds. Meanwhile, another company, ForgeRock offers solutions which support open standards and are designed to be modular and accessible to developers. "Some of the most useful tools include Apache OpenOffice; GIMP - a powerful photo editing tool; and OpenAM - one of ForgeRock's identity relationship management software products, says the firm's VP of Product Management, John Barco. If you're looking to cut costs and increase functionality, open source is the ideal tool. You don't have to move all your applications over; those with some technical knowledge can experiment with 'how to' guides online. It's not a fix-all solution, but it could be the first step towards freeing yourself from the licensing costs that often weigh down smaller firms. How open source changed Google - and how Google changed open sourcehttp://rss.feedsportal.com/c/669/f/415085/s/39482579/sc/4/mf.gif http://da.feedsportal.com/r/194480062113/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/39482579/sc/4/rc/1/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/194480062113/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/39482579/sc/4/rc/2/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/194480062113/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/39482579/sc/4/rc/3/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/194480062113/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/39482579/sc/4/a2.imghttp://pi.feedsportal.com/r/194480062113/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/39482579/sc/4/a2t.imghttp://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techradar/software-news/~4/7BWupBq0DEg

http://cdn.mos.techradar.com/art/mobile_phones/firefox%20os/Firefox%20OS-470-75.jpgFirefox handsets aren't as widely popular as its iOS and Android counterparts but perhaps a redesign is what Mozilla needs to really make a splash. Ahmed Nefzaoui and Sören Hentzschel, Mozilla representatives have leaked screenshots of Firefox 2.0 on their Twitter accounts. From the looks of it, 2.0 is much flatter yet more vibrant. The translucency, two-tone app colors and lock screen notifications are also immediately comparable to iOS 7 showing that Mozilla is probably looking to woo Apple lovers, but Mozilla may have other features up its sleeves. Show us more?Though there's a definite copycat vibe, Firefox phones still aren't like your normal smartphone. With Firefox OS, you get an open ecosystem, one where all apps can run on other operating systems and on almost any hardware. Instead of apps made specifically for a certain OS, Firefox apps can be made with HTML5 and JavaScript like a web page - so essentially, they can be opened on Android devices and PCs. http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/art/mobile_phones/firefox%20os/firefox%20leak-420-90.jpg It sounds nice but so far, all has been quiet on the Firefox front with people snapping up the more popular iOS, Android and even Windows phones. http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/art/mobile_phones/firefox%20os/firefox%20screen%20leak-420-90.jpg Though numerous companies, like Sony, are still interested in Firefox phones and with the updated 2.0 version coming out in a couple of months, we'll see then just how well its redesigned interfaces does. Learn more about Firefox OSVia MyDrivers http://rss.feedsportal.com/c/669/f/415085/s/392ee85a/sc/15/mf.gif http://da.feedsportal.com/r/194479947878/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/392ee85a/sc/15/rc/1/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/194479947878/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/392ee85a/sc/15/rc/2/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/194479947878/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/392ee85a/sc/15/rc/3/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/194479947878/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/392ee85a/sc/15/a2.imghttp://pi.feedsportal.com/r/194479947878/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/392ee85a/sc/15/a2t.imghttp://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techradar/software-news/~4/60AFS47Pgv0

http://cdn.mos.techradar.com/art/software/Windows/xp-blue-gradient-470-75.jpgIt's hard to believe that Microsoft originally conceived Windows XP as the replacement of Windows 2000, squarely aiming at a business audience rather than a consumer market. "Whistler", as it was known prior to entering beta, was meant to improve the perception of Windows after what had been two mildly successful iterations on Windows 95. Windows 98 and Windows Me had been plagued by bugs, a resurgence of the blue screen of death and compatibility issues. Windows XP, which was launched in October 2001, was to change all that. Big spendingMicrosoft spent north of $1 billion on marketing to get Windows XP off the ground and the general public loved it. More than 400 million copies of Windows XP were sold globally in the first five years of exploitation with total number of licenses shipped likely to hover well above 500 million mark. It worked so well that the operating system is still popular with a bigger desktop market share than all the other versions of Windows put together, bar Windows 7. The latter had to wait till the end of 2011 to finally overtake Windows XP. The fact that Windows Vista was not well received by reviewers and the market at large allowed Windows XP to capture an even bigger market share, beyond its traditional US and European markets after Microsoft ceased to sell Windows XP licenses. Netbook dominanceWindows XP, not its successor, was the OS of choice for Intel's popular Netbook platform, one which sold tens of millions and asserted Windows XP's dominance over an entire decade. Even as Windows XP was retired and replaced, businesses demanded that Microsoft continued to ship it. For the first time ever, the software company offered two licenses for the price of one on selected devices in a bid to please its customers and allowing them to downgrade if they wished. Windows XP was also the first consumer operating system from Microsoft to ship in 32-bit and 64-bit versions. It allowed personal computers to support more than 4GB of RAM which allowed XP to move to workstations, essentially making Windows 2000 (workstation) obsolete. Moving onSome might argue that the global recession of 2007-2008 was what caused businesses to freeze their upgrade cycles and stick with what they had. Even as the recession receded, companies found themselves unwilling to upgrade, opting instead for a "don't break, don't change" approach, verging on procrastination. Still, Windows XP should have been laid to rest a long time ago, possibly as it reached its 10th anniversary. Trying to extend its lifespan has been a subject of controversy with companies like Panda Security pledging to provide security support for the geriatric OS for as long as it was needs, while Opera and Mozilla promised to support the legacy platform. Microsoft, on the other hand, has been courting companies to move away from it, even resorting to financial incentives to accelerate the transition. Otherwise, organisations will have to fork some serious money just to keep Windows XP running safely or face the consequences. Lest not forget that others are already luring prospective Windows XP transfers away from Microsoft Windows 7 or 8. Some have been considering Chrome OS, Google's operating system, or Linux as serious candidates to replace Microsoft's antiquated alternative. http://rss.feedsportal.com/c/669/f/415085/s/39211a8e/sc/15/mf.gif http://da.feedsportal.com/r/194479873583/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/39211a8e/sc/15/rc/1/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/194479873583/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/39211a8e/sc/15/rc/2/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/194479873583/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/39211a8e/sc/15/rc/3/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/194479873583/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/39211a8e/sc/15/a2.imghttp://pi.feedsportal.com/r/194479873583/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/39211a8e/sc/15/a2t.imghttp://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techradar/software-news/~4/EKgqIuK_dKY

http://cdn.mos.techradar.com/art/software/What%20to%20do%20with%20an%20XP%20PC/feat_xp.eraser-470-75.jpgTime is fast running out for Windows XP. Microsoft is ceasing all official support for it from 8th April. What happens next? You can, of course, continue to use your PC and XP as before, but at increased risk to your security and privacy. Over time, support for your favourite apps will end too, so perhaps an alternative approach is called for. That approach obviously means moving on from Windows XP, either to a new version of Windows or even a completely different platform. But what does the future hold for your trusty old PC? Read on to find out what to do with it should you decide to finally part ways with XP. 1. Upgrade it to Windows 7 or 8If you're still attached to your old PC – perhaps for financial reasons – then ask if you might be able to upgrade it to a later version of Windows. The obvious candidates are Windows 7 and 8, because both will be familiar to you, and don't have demanding system requirements. If your PC has a 1GHz or faster processor, 1GB RAM, 20GB free hard drive space and a DirectX 9-compatible graphics card or chip, it'll work with the newer version of Windows. Performance won't be as fast as in XP, but it should be acceptable, particularly if you don't run too many programs at once. Before taking the plunge however, download and run either the Windows 7 Upgrade Advisor or Windows 8.1 Upgrade Assistant to get a more detailed compatibility report – you may find the cost of upgrading or replacing different parts of your PC is more expensive than simply replacing it. 2. Replace itA new desktop PC with Windows 8 pre-installed can be purchased for under £265 (US$300, A$500). If you decide the end has come for your old Windows XP PC, make sure you dispose of it carefully and responsibly. Once your new PC is up and running, wait until you're happy you've transferred over all the documents, files and other data you need from your old PC before taking steps to securely shred all personal data from the drive. If you're planning to pass the computer on to someone else, use a free tool like Eraser to wipe sensitive files from the drive, then restore it to its factory settings before using Eraser to securely wipe any free space for added security. http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/art/software/What%20to%20do%20with%20an%20XP%20PC/feat_xp.eraser-420-90.jpg If you plan to dispose of the computer, use Darik's Boot and Nuke tool to create a bootable CD that will completely wipe the drive of all data, allowing you to then either take it to your local recycling centre or pass it on to a charity such as Computers 4 Africa. 3. Switch to LinuxIf you're looking for a modern OS to replace XP that will run smoothly on your old PC, then Linux is the answer. We'd recommend that you choose Ubuntu as your Linux distribution of choice, and downloadthe latest LTS version, currently 12.04, which will be supported until 2017. It's relatively straightforward to install and you'll find our 25 Ubuntu tips for beginners piece a handy starting point. Look out for a switcher's guide in a future issue of Linux Format. 4. Your personal cloudOne way to keep your old PC working for a while longer is to convert it for use as a dedicated server of some kind. If it's a low-powered laptop, then a great use for it would be as your personal cloud device, allowing you to back up, archive and store documents and other files away from your new computer. Check out our guide to building a low-powered Linux-based file server, or take a look at ClearOS. 5. Build a media serverAnother possible use for your old PC could be as the focal hub for your videos, photos and music, collecting them together in one convenient central location and then piping them over the network (and wider internet) to other devices, including computers, tablets, phones and even smart TVs and set-top boxes. Check out our guide to building a Raspberry Pi server, substituting your old PC for the Pi. http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/art/software/What%20to%20do%20with%20an%20XP%20PC/feat_xp.media-420-90.jpg 6. Convert it into a home security hubIf you've got a big hard drive installed and are willing to shell out £40-50 for a wireless security camera, you could convert your old PC into a dedicated CCTV system using Ubuntu Server and the free Zoneminder CCTV software following our guide. It's designed to run headless, which means you won't need to connect a monitor or keyboard/mouse to use it; instead you'll access the system through a web browser on another device to remotely administer it as well as take a peek at what the cameras have recorded. 7. Install a cloud-based OSThese days you'll find most of the apps and services you need for your day-to-day computing life can be found on the internet, so why not transform your ageing laptop, desktop or netbook into a cloud-based terminal using Joli OS? You can install it alongside Windows, but if you're ditching XP you may want to go the whole hog and download the ISO file for burning to CD. http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/art/software/What%20to%20do%20with%20an%20XP%20PC/feat_xp.jolios-420-90.jpg Installation is simple, and you'll soon have access to all the services and apps you need through a lightweight, user-friendly alternative to Windows or Linux. 8. Host websites yourselfIf you're happy to leave your old PC on 24-7, you could turn it into a web server, letting you avoid the expense of paying for a web host and serving your website directly over your home internet connection. A tool like Turnkey Linux would allow you to do this without any software cost, but bear in mind you'll need a fast, unmetered broadband connection. You should also check your Internet Provider's T&Cs to make sure they allow this kind of use. 9. Gaming serverIf you're into your network gaming, pressing your old PC into service as a dedicated gaming server will take the load off your main PC and let it concentrate on delivering the best possible performance. A gaming server doesn't require any meaty graphics or much RAM, but a fast processor will be helpful if you plan to play against lots of other users. http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/art/software/What%20to%20do%20with%20an%20XP%20PC/feat_xp.gaming-420-90.jpg Depending on the age of your PC, you may find it's not capable of handling large numbers of players, while the speed of your broadband connection (as well as your ISP's T&Cs) may hobble any plans you have to play over the internet. But for small-scale gaming parties where three or four of you fancy shooting the heck out of each other using a classic game like Counter-Strike or Unreal Tournament, your old PC may be just the ticket, particularly if the game in question runs on Linux, allowing you to ditch XP at the same time. 94 Windows 7 tips, tricks and secretshttp://rss.feedsportal.com/c/669/f/415085/s/39043a54/sc/4/mf.gifhttp://res3.feedsportal.com/social/twitter.png http://res3.feedsportal.com/social/facebook.png http://res3.feedsportal.com/social/linkedin.png http://res3.feedsportal.com/social/googleplus.png http://res3.feedsportal.com/social/email.png http://da.feedsportal.com/r/193360648983/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/39043a54/sc/4/rc/1/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/193360648983/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/39043a54/sc/4/rc/2/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/193360648983/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/39043a54/sc/4/rc/3/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/193360648983/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/39043a54/sc/4/a2.imghttp://pi.feedsportal.com/r/193360648983/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/39043a54/sc/4/a2t.imghttp://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techradar/software-news/~4/vSBkjAU33D0