Windows 10 in S Mode rubs me the wrong way
Microsoft’s Windows 10 in S Mode is supposed to be faster, more efficient, and more secure. In my opinion, however, it’s just way too limited to fit my workflow. Too many of my apps aren’t in the Windows Store, and too many of my devices require special software to work their magic.
Unknown computer virus halts factories that make iPhone chips
On Friday, a virus forced several factories owned by Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co, to shut down for the day, and possibly for longer, which could affect production of Apple's upcoming line of iPhones. The news came as TSMC was ramping up production for the launch of APple's latest smartphones.
Surface Go has one of the lowest manual repair scores on the planet
If you purchase Microsoft’s Surface Go thinking you’ll be able to manually repair it, think again. The iFixit website, which thrives on tearing apart devices, gives the Surface Go an extremely low score. Simply put, you’re not going to repair this device without going postal.
Intel backs the U.S. government’s new bill for advancing quantum science
Intel backs the National Quantum Initiative Act, a bipartisan bill to create a federal plan to advance quantum science research and ensure leadership in the United States. This bill aims to expand the number of researchers, educators, students, additional facilities, and more.
Microsoft’s latest patent application hints to ‘page flipping’ on Andromeda
A patent application describes a two-screen pocket-sized device that's likely tied to Microsoft's Andromeda project. Labeled “Navigational Aid for a Hinged Device via Semantic Abstraction,” it describes how the hinge can be used to locate specific sections of content displayed on the screens.
Tesla gives its self-driving cars a performance boost with custom chips
Tesla is moving away from Nvidia's chips for autonomous vehicles in favor of its own custom processors next year. The new Tesla car computer, called Hardware 3, is described to be an order of magnitude more powerful than the hardware it replaces, and existing owners will also be able to upgrade to the new chips.
Apple patents a trio of ideas to fix its MacBook keyboard
Apple is dipping its toes in the dual-screen laptop category with a new keyboard patent that essentially replaces the keyboard with a giant second touchscreen offering configurable software keys, haptics feedback, and sliders and dials. Other ideas include a physical keyboard overlay and a membrane cover.
Google will warn businesses if state-sponsored hackers target G Suite users
If you've received a phishing email in your company's G Suite inbox that could be the work of a state-sponsored hack, Google will notify your employers. The new warning and alert system will help give organizations that use G Suite more insight into state-sponsored attacks on their users.
Pictures of a blank GeForce GTX 1180 card reveal connectors and memory slots
Pictures of the upcoming GeForce GTX 1180 graphics card have supposedly surfaced on Baidu showcasing only the card’s printed circuit board. Based on the certification logos, it’s a final design and likely a reference board used by Nvidia’s hardware partners to create their own GTX 1180 cards.
Chromebook users may soon get the Pixel phone’s best feature: Its camera app
Google may be giving Chrome OS users the best feature from its Pixel phones. Long heralded for its computational photography capabilities, the Google Camera app from the Pixel phone may be making its way to Chrome OS devices, but there's a catch: Your Chromebook must be able to run Android apps.
Microsoft’s two-screen Andromeda may arrive in 2019 with Productivity Mode
A clue regarding Microsoft’s Andromeda device was recently discovered inside a Windows 10 driver, indicating that the device will have a productivity mode. It’s used in a class -- a set of attributes that Windows 10 uses to make a window -- called MultiTaskMode. The driver handles display settings.
Attacker stole user data from Reddit through employee accounts
An official update posted by Reddit reveals that an attacker broke into a few systems on the company’s network and stole user data. The theft consisted of a 2007 database backup containing salted hashed passwords along with “some” current email addresses. Reddit is currently working with law enforcement.
Windows 10 update adds support for continuity functions via Your Phone app
Microsoft is rolling out the Your Phone app with its latest Windows Insider Preview build, making it easy for PC users to view photos captured on their smartphones from their desktops. This update doesn't come with all the features Microsoft promised when the app initially debuted earlier this year.
New DHS cybersecurity command aims to protect U.S. from cyberattacks
The Department of Homeland Security announced the National Risk Management Center designed to help protect the nation's critical infrastructure from cyberattacks and hacks. Envisioned as a central emergency response team, the center could prevent another NotPetya or WannaCry attack.
Google may reverse course and launch a restricted Google Search in China
Reversing a 2010 decision to stop censoring Google Search, the company has submitted a new, filtered search app to China, The Intercept reports. The censored version would cut access to websites blacklisted by the Chinese government and show no results for queries with restricted terms.
AMD B450 chipset offers Crossfire, better overclocking to mainstream Ryzen users
Motherboards sporting the AMD B450 chipset are now available to consumers and that means exciting things for Ryzen owners. The new motherboards offer features previously exclusive to the more expensive X470 platform, including StoreMi and advanced overclocking with XFR2 and Precision Boost Overdrive.
Earn up to $10,000 by squashing printer-based bugs in HP’s bounty program
HP is calling an “industry first” in launching a print security bug bounty program providing rewards up to $10,000. It’s backed by Bugcrowd, a crowdsourced security platform that manages bug bounties, vulnerability disclosures, and more. The program will focus on bugs related to printers.
SamSam ransomware has generated $5.9 million from victims since 2015
Sophos reports that the SamSam ransomware has done more financial damage than previously believed, generating $5.9 million from its victims since it appeared in December 2015. Hackers use SamSam in attacks about once per day, but the typical web surfer will likely never experience its devastation.
Nvidia confirms its preshow Gamescom event, promises ‘spectacular surprises’
Nvidia now confirms previous rumors that the company will host a special event just before the Gamescom gaming convention in Germany. Called the GeForce Gaming Celebration, the event will be held off-site at a now-secret location. Anyone in the Cologne area can attend by registering.
Leaked Android app shows message scheduling is coming to Google’s Gmail
A recent build of Google’s Gmail Android app reveals the service will eventually support email scheduling. Evidence appears within a line of the app’s code, assigning the “menu_schedule_send” command to a “Schedule send” menu entry. An excerpt from an XML file also refers to this specific command.
Use your face or finger to log into accounts using Microsoft Edge
Microsoft Edge now supports the Web Authentication specification for password-free logins. Support actually appeared in Build 17723 for Windows Insider Fast Ring participants and Build 18204 in the Skip Ahead program last week, but Microsoft didn’t mention the feature until this week’s report.
Apple’s new MacBook Air with Intel’s 8th-gen processors expected this year
Apple is expected to launch its most powerful MacBook Air ever created with Intel's eighth-generation Kaby Lake Refresh processors. This means that the new MacBook Air, which is expected in the second half of this year, could top out with quad-core processors and come with a new Retina display.
Microsoft patent points to a 2-screen device for 3-way video calls
Although Microsoft’s two-screen pocket-sized Andromeda device appears to be dead in the water for now, the company apparently still has multi-screen devices on its radar. A patent application published earlier this month describes a hinged multi-screen device that supports three-way video calling.
Intel i9-9900K storms ahead of competition in potential early benchmark
A benchmark result for a system that may well have been running an engineering sample of Intel's upcoming ninth-generation Core i9-9900K shows huge potential for the new generation CPU. If the test turns out to be accurate, it is more than capable of beating an AMD Ryzen 2700X and the last-generation 8700K.
Microsoft will take charge of your Windows 10 device in a monthly lease
Microsoft is supposedly gearing up to launch a subscription service for Windows 10 that will see customers paying a monthly fee for leasing the entire PC, not just the operating system. Dubbed as Microsoft Managed Desktop, the company would manage the device on an operating system level.
Magic Leap’s augmented reality interface floats wherever you want it
The user interface for Magic Leap's augmented reality operating system will be heavily customizable and come in two specific guises: 2D and 3D. Each will let you choose how they're displayed, but where one will float, the other will conform to the environment around it, allowing for much more intuitive interaction.
Daydream VR users can browse with Google Chrome in virtual space
Tired of browsing the internet in your boring regular reality? If you're a Daydream VR user, you no longer have to, as Google has announced the ability to use Google Chrome from within your Daydream VR headset. It comes with the usual features you'd expect from Chrome, with a few just for Daydream.
AMD’s 32-core Threadripper 2990X could cost a whopping $1,800
AMD's top-tier Zen+ CPU, the Ryzen Threadripper 2990X could cost consumers far more than its predecessor, the 1950X. Where that chip launched at just under $1,000, the new one has a suggested price tag on one retail website of as much as $1,840, spurring questions about how competitive it will be with new Intel chips.
N.Y. state withdraws approval of Charter and Time Warner merger, boots Spectrum
Citing Spectrum's failure to deliver on commitments and noncompliance with conditions, the New York State Public Service Commission rescinded approval of the Charter and Time Warner merger. In addition to penalties assessed for not meeting deadlines, Charter has 60 days to present a transition plan to successors.
Intel’s 10nm ‘Cannon Lake’ processors won’t arrive until the 2019 holiday season
Intel chief engineering officer Venkata Renduchintala said the company’s 10mn processors won’t appear in products until the 2019 holiday season. He revealed the new launch window during Intel’s second quarter 2018 financial results conference call, reporting that the yields are improving.
New Spectre attack lets hackers steal data without having to run local code on PCs
A new white paper by researchers at the Graz University of Technology reveals a new attack called NetSpectre. Unlike the internet-based Spectre attack that requires a hacker to run code locally on the target PC, this version can steal data from the target PC’s memory without running any local code.
Unlock Google’s cool new Material Design interface hidden inside Chrome 68
Although Google’s Material Design user interface recently popped in the Chrome Canary channel, you can actually enable part of this interface in Chrome 68 for the desktop and Apple iOS devices. This is done by enabling the setting using the “flags” command in the address bar.
Updated Apple patent suggests MacBook Pro will eventually sport touchscreens
A patent application indicates that the MacBook Pro may eventually include a touchscreen. The hint stems from a patent describing wireless charging between two or more devices. Illustrations show a mobile phone and smartwatch physically resting in a laptop’s touchpad area, receiving a charge.
Reality shines into your ‘Minecraft’ escape via Windows Mixed Reality Flashlight
What’s great about VR is that you can get the full building experience in Minecraft given the blocky world consumes your entire view. The drawback is that you don’t have visual access to the real world without lifting the headset or completely removing the device altogether. Microsoft has a fix.