Monday, December 31, 2018

Microsoft is working on these features for To-Do app

With the year coming to a close, we've been looking back at all we accomplished. What was your favorite new feature in 2018? We wish you all a happy new year, and we look forward to bringing you many new features in the coming year. ? pic.twitter.com/zk2Y0F6BGB — Microsoft To-Do (@MicrosoftToDo) December 31, 2018 Microsoft […]

Read More: Microsoft is working on these features for To-Do app



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Happy New Year to all MSPoweruser.com readers

We wish all our readers a happy New Year, filled with health, wealth and happiness! From the MSPoweruser.com team

Read More: Happy New Year to all MSPoweruser.com readers



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Latest Windows 10 Zero-day Privilege Escalation bug would allow attacker to overwrite arbitrary files with data

A hacker has found another way to break the Windows 10 app security system.  SandboxEscaper, who has posted 3 other zero-day bugs in Windows in the last 4 months, have published another which uses the Windows Error Reporting system to overwrite arbitrary Windows 10 files, including essential files which would not normally accessible. SandboxEscaper posted […]

Read More: Latest Windows 10 Zero-day Privilege Escalation bug would allow attacker to overwrite arbitrary files with data



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Confirmed! Google Chrome for Windows 10 to go Dark soon

We reported 3 weeks ago that Google has started working on a Dark Theme for the Google Chrome browser for Mac OS Mojave. At the time we hoped this would signal the same effort for Windows 10, given that, unlike MacOS, it sported a Dark Mode since 2016. Now we have some confirmation of this, as […]

Read More: Confirmed! Google Chrome for Windows 10 to go Dark soon



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Google prevails in privacy lawsuit over Google Photos

Google has successfully filed a motion for dismissal regarding a lawsuit alleging various privacy violations originating from Google's Photos app and its facial recognition software. The suit alleged that this violated Illinois state law, and sued for more than $5 million, arguing that it affected hundreds of thousands of residents. The issue here seems to […]

Read More: Google prevails in privacy lawsuit over Google Photos



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This was the very first Surface tablet!

Through numerous struggles and billion-dollar write-downs, the Surface team has managed to gain the admiration and respect of the industry, something which is belied by the image above – a Surface prototype literally held together with duct tape. Shared by Panos Panay on Instagram, he writes: This is the first Surface model the team envisioned […]

Read More: This was the very first Surface tablet!



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iPhone XS and XS Max sales forecasts slashed by Citi Research

How well do analysts expect the 2018 iPhones to do? Good, but not as good as previously expected. Citi Research slashed halved first quarters estimates or Apple's iPhones, most notably the iPhone XS Max. "The material cut in our forecasts is driven by our view that 2018 iPhone is entering a destocking phase, which does […]

Read More: iPhone XS and XS Max sales forecasts slashed by Citi Research



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Google’s Duo gets ready to take on Skype and Facetime with Group Video calls

Google's video calling app, Duo, is about to receive one of its most useful updates in the coming months. According to Android Police, Google is planning to implement Group Video calls in Duo, with up to 7 people allowed to participate. Google's implementation doesn't allow for ad hoc groups though, according to Android Police, users […]

Read More: Google's Duo gets ready to take on Skype and Facetime with Group Video calls



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Google won’t let you set up your Chromecast with a PC anymore

Google won't let Chromcast users set up their devices with a PC anymore. Instead, users would have to use the Google Home app (Available on Android-enabled devices and iOS) to set up their devices. A Google Chomecast set up help page now reads: We no longer support Chromecast setup on a computer. To set up your […]

Read More: Google won't let you set up your Chromecast with a PC anymore



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Microsoft ends the year the most valuable publicly traded company in the world

In what may become known as a pretty great comeback story, Microsoft is set to end 2018 the most valuable publicly traded company in the world, well ahead of old rivals Apple and Google. At the time of writing the standing is: Company Market Cap ($ billion) Microsoft $779 Apple $746.5 Amazon $728 Alphabet (Google) […]

Read More: Microsoft ends the year the most valuable publicly traded company in the world



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RetroArch emulators coming to Xbox One in early 2019

Microsoft's Xbox One console may end up being the new king of emulation following the announcement that RetroArch will grace the system in 2019. The console will be one of the few consoles that won't require jailbreaking or soft-modding your console to execute the program. Those who own an Xbox One can turn their device into […]

Read More: RetroArch emulators coming to Xbox One in early 2019



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Steam games will stop running on Windows XP and Vista tomorrow

As 2018 ends, so does Steam's support for Windows Vista and Windows XP. Announced back in June 2018, Steam will stop supporting the older Windows operating systems starting tomorrow. Those who currently use Steam on their older computers will either have to upgrade to Windows 7 or above or give up on Steam altogether. Valve's […]

Read More: Steam games will stop running on Windows XP and Vista tomorrow



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This was Microsoft’s 2009 vision of computing in 2019

Way back in 2009 Microsoft posted their vision of productivity in the future.  It featured elements such as collaboration through large screens, voice-activated digital assistants, smart mobile and IoT devices, instant translation and drag and drop from phones to PCs and tablets and back. In some aspects, Microsoft's prediction of the future has been pretty […]

Read More: This was Microsoft's 2009 vision of computing in 2019



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Surface Go now available for order in India

As reported before, Flipkart has now started selling Microsoft Surface Go in India. Weighing at just 522g, the 10-inch Surface Go offers laptop performance and tablet portability for people seeking a versatile form factor. You can order it from Flipkart using the links below. Microsoft Surface Go – (4 GB/64 GB) Microsoft Surface Go – (8 […]

Read More: Surface Go now available for order in India



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Firefox is turning into adware with new Snippets-based hotel ads

While Mozilla is holding themselves as the only independent browser and a champion of privacy, recent trends suggest the Firefox browser is increasingly just an ad-serving machine. We reported previously on a Firefox pop-up serving ads for a VPN service, and today users have noticed Firefox is using the Snippets section on their New Page tab […]

Read More: Firefox is turning into adware with new Snippets-based hotel ads



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Sunday, December 30, 2018

The phone which started the notch trend is dead

Essential PH-1 is the phone that started the notch display trend in the market. Even though the PH-1 had a great industrial design and pure Android experience, it was never able to attract significant number of customers due to poor camera performance and lack of availability on leading carriers. To clear out the unsold inventory, […]

Read More: The phone which started the notch trend is dead



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Nokia 9 PureView press render leaked, reveals penta-lens camera setup

Press render of the Nokia's highly anticipated Nokia 9 flagship device got leaked today by @evleaks. The main highlight of the device will be its camera. As you can see from the press render above, the Nokia 9 will sport a penta-lens camera setup powered by Zeiss. This unique camera setup with lenses that have different […]

Read More: Nokia 9 PureView press render leaked, reveals penta-lens camera setup



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Some popular Android apps are sharing your data with Facebook without user consent

Facebook and Privacy scandals. Name a better duo. No seriously, for what seems like the umpteenth time this year, Facebook has been found engaging in behaviour that skirts the creepy line and teeters on kind of illegal — in the EU at least. Privacy International did some research on Facebook's data sharing arrangements with developers […]

Read More: Some popular Android apps are sharing your data with Facebook without user consent



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Google is working on a fix for the Pixel Slate lag

Google this year released its first flagship Chrome OS tablet, the Pixel Slate. This device was meant to usher in a new period of Chrome OS being used on tablets and highlight the capabilities of Google's new tablet ecosystem. Instead, much attention and digital ink was spilt on the performance of the tablet – the […]

Read More: Google is working on a fix for the Pixel Slate lag



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Samsung appears set to announce Smart Shoes at CES 2019

Samsung has been dabbling with various fitness sensors in clothing and shoes for some years now, and it appears the company may be ready to release a set of trainers with built-in sensors to help elite athletes stay on top of their game. In August of this year, Samsung C & T Corporation applied for […]

Read More: Samsung appears set to announce Smart Shoes at CES 2019



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P5R teaser posted by Atlus, more details due March 2019

Atlus posted a very short teaser trailer on their YouTube channel (atlustube) today, titled "P5R Notice" in English. Despite being only 30 seconds long, the trailer opens with a PlayStation 4 logo, promises "new projects", and teases the date of "2019.3". People have taken this to mean that more information on P5R, or Persona 5 […]

Read More: P5R teaser posted by Atlus, more details due March 2019



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Microsoft drops brain teasers from employee interview process

The interview process for Silicon Valley developer jobs has always had a reputation of being an arcane trail by fire exercise designed to weed down thousands of applicants to just the selected few antisocial geniuses. Microsoft has however been making an effort to improve their hiring process to make it more useful and inclusive, an in […]

Read More: Microsoft drops brain teasers from employee interview process



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Microsoft may be planning to release more audio hardware

While not universally acclaimed, Microsoft's first audio hardware, the Surface Headphones, have been generally well received. The $349 premium noise-cancelling devices may however just be the start of Microsoft's sound ambitions, going by the recently published trademark associated with the headphones. Microsoft is using the trademark phrase "THE SMARTER WAY TO LISTEN" with the Surface Headphones, […]

Read More: Microsoft may be planning to release more audio hardware



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Windows Phone Internals updated with Iris Scanner, Autopatcher support

Windows Phone Unlock tool WPInternals has hit version 2.7 and unlike Windows Phone, has continued to improve with each release. The Windows Phone unlock tool now preserves Windows Hello functionality, meaning the Iris Scanner continues to work, despite the device being unlocked. Despite not adding new features Microsoft continues to update Windows 10 Mobile with security […]

Read More: Windows Phone Internals updated with Iris Scanner, Autopatcher support



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Windows 10 Upgrade Assistant may be making a comeback soon

There are a variety of reasons some PCs are not on the latest version of Windows 10. In general, it is often due to them being used in an enterprise setting where a stable configuration is desired, or less likely a domestic user may have used one of the various techniques to frustrate the automatic […]

Read More: Windows 10 Upgrade Assistant may be making a comeback soon



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Saturday, December 29, 2018

Netflix’s new Black Mirror movie isn’t compatible with Windows 10

Netflix has a new Black Mirror episode-cum-movie, and you can't watch it on Windows 10 if you're using Netflix's app. The Black Mirror movie, Bandersnatch, allows Netflix users to choose their adventure effectively, altering the outcome of the movie as they make their decisions. It is an innovative way of storytelling, especially when it comes to […]

Read More: Netflix's new Black Mirror movie isn't compatible with Windows 10



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Samsung doubles down on unreleased Galaxy Home speaker

Way back in August Samsung officially announced the new Galaxy Home smart speaker powered by Samsung's own Bixby smart assistant. That device, which is still to be released, is a high-end device that offers many smart features along with powerful sound experience. Thanks to AKG sound tuning, 8 speakers and subwoofer, the Galaxy Home will […]

Read More: Samsung doubles down on unreleased Galaxy Home speaker



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Samsung Galaxy A50 specs leak online

Samsung is rumoured to be working on a new device, the Samsung Galaxy A50. Where this device fits is unclear, but it could be debut as the replacement of the Galaxy A8 family of devices. The Galaxy A50 will join the trend of powerful mid-range phones with large batteries and good cameras like the Nokia […]

Read More: Samsung Galaxy A50 specs leak online



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Google rolls out text message spam protection features

If you use Android Messages on your phone or Windows desktop via the progressive web app, Google is rolling out a new message to protect users from spam messages with spam protection. Google will likely be using similar techniques as it does with Gmail and will need to scan the content of the messages – […]

Read More: Google rolls out text message spam protection features



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Dell is once again a public company

Dell Computers returned to the public after going private in 2013. In the meantime, Dell improved its standing I both cloud storage and pc making. The company released the critically well-received Dell XPS 13 family of laptops and has now delved back into the public sphere. "Our world is undergoing a digital transformation that will […]

Read More: Dell is once again a public company



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Facebook challenges story about its opaque moderation policies

Facebook has come under fire for its opaque moderation procedures this past year, with the New York Times posting a piece about its disorganised content strategy this week. The firm responded in an unattributed post, claiming that its moderation policies were not only clear, but clearly communicated. In its blog post, the firm claimed: We […]

Read More: Facebook challenges story about its opaque moderation policies



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Microsoft Edge for iOS preview updated with picture in picture support for videos

Microsoft today released a new preview update build for its Edge for iOS users. This new update version 42.9.9 comes with a new feature that will allow you to watch a video in "picture in picture" mode while browsing. This update will allow parents to select kids-friendly news contents and recommendable websites curated by MSN […]

Read More: Microsoft Edge for iOS preview updated with picture in picture support for videos



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Microsoft patents a clever magnetic USB-C Surface connector

Microsoft has so far resisted attempts to move to USB-C on their Surface tablets, possible due to the real safety and durability advantages of the magnetic Surface connector and possible also the additional revenue generated by having proprietary accessories. There is however significant pressure to support the increasingly prevalent standard, which may explain Microsoft's latest […]

Read More: Microsoft patents a clever magnetic USB-C Surface connector



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Twitch streamers are furious as ads for Ninja populate their livestreams

Twitch streamers are far from happy this holiday season as ads for Ninja's streams are appearing on their content. Fortnite streamer Ninja is currently getting ready for a New Year's Eve Fortnite stream. It's a twelve-hour stream with special guests that will probably dominate the streaming service for the night. However, rival streamers are seeing […]

Read More: Twitch streamers are furious as ads for Ninja populate their livestreams



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Black Mirror Bandersnatch allegedly takes pictures through your Xbox Kinect

Black Mirror's interactive choose-your-own-adventure Bandersnatch allegedly takes photos of its viewers through Xbox Kinect. While many don't have their Kinect set up anymore, especially since newer consoles require an expensive adapter for it, some have kept theirs connected to their Xbox One. While mostly useless at this point in time, some users have noted that […]

Read More: Black Mirror Bandersnatch allegedly takes pictures through your Xbox Kinect



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Deal Alert: Get a new Acer Windows Mixed Reality headset for only $169.99

Microsoft's official eBay outlet is selling new Acer Mixed Reality headsets for an amazing price. They are offering the  Acer Windows Mixed Reality headset with the controller for only $169.99. The item is brand new and unopened and has the following specs: 2.89" diagonal display size (x2) Two high-resolution liquid crystal displays at 1440 x […]

Read More: Deal Alert: Get a new Acer Windows Mixed Reality headset for only $169.99



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Friday, December 28, 2018

Netflix is no longer letting new users use iTunes billing

Netflix will no longer let iPhone and iPad users sign up to its service using iTunes billing. The firm rolled out the change this month after testing it out with a limited number of users earlier in the year. "We no longer support iTunes as a method of payment for new members," VentureBeat was told […]

Read More: Netflix is no longer letting new users use iTunes billing



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Samsung goes in a different direction with their own roll-up TV

LG has promised to commercialize their roll-up flexible screen TV in 2019, but arch-rival Samsung was not going to leave that move unchallenged. Letsgodigital has uncovered a design patent for a flexible screen TV which just like LG's device rolls up into a compact package. Unlike LG's TV, however, this device rolls vertically rather than horizontally […]

Read More: Samsung goes in a different direction with their own roll-up TV



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Microsoft release Chinese Year of the Pig Windows 10 wallpaper pack

To celebrate the Chinese New Year, Microsoft has released a new pack of free wallpapers with a Chinese Year of the Pig theme. Titled Year of the Pig, the description of the high-quality wallpaper selection reads as follows: Celebrate the beauty of China and the Year of the Pig festivities in this 20-image wallpaper set, free […]

Read More: Microsoft release Chinese Year of the Pig Windows 10 wallpaper pack



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Microsoft’s Windows Mixed Reality PC Check app will now try and sell you a new PC

Microsoft's Windows Mixed Reality check app is intended to let you know if your PC meets the minimum criteria for running Windows Mixed Reality before you shell out several hundred dollars for a WMR headset. Now the app has been updated to 1.0.47. It appears largely the same but now instead of leaving you stranded […]

Read More: Microsoft's Windows Mixed Reality PC Check app will now try and sell you a new PC



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Microsoft partners with Taiwan AI Labs to work on genetic analysis

Microsoft has partnered with Taiwan based company to work on genetic analysis and promote the precision medicine industry in the country. Dubbed as TaiGenomics, the platform is developed by Microsoft and Taiwan AI Labs and uses AI techniques to process, analyze, and draw inferences from vast amounts of medical and genetic data provided by patients and hospitals. Microsoft noted […]

Read More: Microsoft partners with Taiwan AI Labs to work on genetic analysis



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Samsung Galaxy S10 screen protectors compared to S9 (video)

Online retailer MobileFun has received some screen protectors for the upcoming Samsung Galaxy S10 and S10 Plus and have posted a video comparing these to screen protectors intended for the Samsung Galaxy S9. The most striking feature is how thin the bezels are, with the reviewer noting what was once the top bezel of the […]

Read More: Samsung Galaxy S10 screen protectors compared to S9 (video)



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Deal: Adobe Photoshop Elements 2019 $30 off!

In November Adobe brought their Photoshop Elements 2019 app to the Microsoft Store. The updated app has the following new features: NEW Home screen to get you started NEW Auto Creations, made just for you NEW Redesigned photo collages ENHANCED Guided Edits for fantastic results Ready to try more creative techniques and effects? Get step-by-step […]

Read More: Deal: Adobe Photoshop Elements 2019 $30 off!



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Microsoft reveals order date for Surface Headphones and Surface Studio 2 in China

Earlier this year, Microsoft announced the upgrade to Surface Studio as well as their first Surface-branded Headphones. The company launched both the products in several markets immediately after the launch and China will be the latest country to be added to the list. Microsoft has updated the listing of both Surface Studio and Surface Headphones stating […]

Read More: Microsoft reveals order date for Surface Headphones and Surface Studio 2 in China



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AdDuplex: Surface Go a massive hit while Windows 10 October Update continues to fizzle

AdDuplex has released the numbers of their UWP app ad network for December 2018, which gives us a rare look into the Windows 10 OS market. The numbers show the Windows 10 October 2018 Update has continued to struggle, rising from 2.8% in November 2018 to 6.6% in December 2018, despite Microsoft opening the floodgates […]

Read More: AdDuplex: Surface Go a massive hit while Windows 10 October Update continues to fizzle



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They see me rolling…. LG’s flexible smartphone patent points to the past and the future

LG has filed a new patent for a smartphone display which can be rolled up like a scroll from the olden (pre-smartphone) days. The new patent coincides with the rumours about LG's rollable TV that is supposed to hit the markets next year. The new patent was filed by LG earlier this year and was […]

Read More: They see me rolling…. LG's flexible smartphone patent points to the past and the future



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Proof of Concept code for a Remote Code Execution via Microsoft Edge gets published online

A new Proof of Concept code of a Remote Code Execution has been published online. The POC demonstrates a memory corruption bug in Microsoft's Edge web browser. The code was published today by a researcher who discovered the bug a while back. The bug which has now be fixed by Microsoft affects Chakra which is the […]

Read More: Proof of Concept code for a Remote Code Execution via Microsoft Edge gets published online



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Microsoft updates the Windows 10 Camera User Interface

Taking pictures with your tablet is generally frowned upon, but this has not stopped people from doing it. For those poor lost souls, Microsoft has posted an update to the Camera app for Windows 10 which makes it somewhat easier to use the app. Noted by aggiornamentilumia.it, the update brings the following changes: UI changes: […]

Read More: Microsoft updates the Windows 10 Camera User Interface



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Case manufacturer gives us our first look at the Samsung Galaxy S10 Lite

A case manufacturer has given us our first look at the Samsung Galaxy S10 Lite, Samsung's lower-end flagship for 2019. The render, via Ice Universe, which shows the device in a case, confirms features such as the flat screen, Infinity-O camera, headphone jack and near but not quite symmetrical bezel. The specs of the device, from […]

Read More: Case manufacturer gives us our first look at the Samsung Galaxy S10 Lite



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Thursday, December 27, 2018

Apparently stealing a laptop from a Microsoft Store is as easy as picking one up and walking away

Apple Stores are well-known targets for smash and grab robbers, but it seems those thieves may be missing a trick, as it seems to be even easier to rip off a Microsoft Store. Broadcast network KOIN is reporting that the Portland Microsoft Store has been robbed of $50,000 of merchandise (laptops, tablets and other items) […]

Read More: Apparently stealing a laptop from a Microsoft Store is as easy as picking one up and walking away



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Samsung to make it easier to connect your PC to your Smart TV

Samsung has announced a new initiative to make it easier to use your smart TV as a giant monitor called Remote Access. The initiative will make it possible to connect a keyboard and mouse to your 2019 Samsung Smart TV and then wirelessly remotely access your PC, tablets, smartphones and even a virtual machine provided […]

Read More: Samsung to make it easier to connect your PC to your Smart TV



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OneNote for Android now offers better support for RTL languages

In the beginning of the month, Microsoft introduced RTL support for OneNote for Android beta. Now Microsoft has brought the feature to their mainstream users, updating the app to version 16.0.11126.20059. Users who use Right-to-Left languages such as Hebrew, Arabic and Urdu will now find support for RTL layouts in the app, as long as they are […]

Read More: OneNote for Android now offers better support for RTL languages



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This year Microsoft is strangely quiet about their Edge vs Chrome vs Firefox battery test

With every new release of Windows 10 (and therefore Edge) Microsoft releases an update to their Edge browser battery life test, comparing the performance of their browser vs Google Chrome and Mozilla Firefox for HTML5 video streaming. Microsoft's advantage in this area has been steadily shrinking, from 47%  better than Chrome in June 2016, 35% […]

Read More: This year Microsoft is strangely quiet about their Edge vs Chrome vs Firefox battery test



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How to customize your mouse pointer and cursor in Windows 10

For people with visual impairments, Microsoft recognises that it may be a little harder to use the default Windows mouse pointer. It scales with your screen resolution, and while some may be fine with relatively small text, the pointer may be where they draw the line. In an upcoming update to Windows 10, currently known […]

Read More: How to customize your mouse pointer and cursor in Windows 10



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Sticky Notes on the Web now supports pictures

Microsoft has been teasing picture support in Sticky Notes for some time now, and now the first signs of support are starting to show up in the apps. As noticed by Ajith on Twitter, at present visiting the Sticky Notes section on OneNote will let you add an image to the note.  The notes generated are […]

Read More: Sticky Notes on the Web now supports pictures



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Apple to start making high-end iPhones in India next year

Apple already has a manufacturing unit in India through Wistron in Bengaluru, but it only makes low-cost iPhone SE and 6S models. Reuters today reported that Apple's main manufacturing partner Foxconn will start assembling high-end iPhones in India from 2019. Foxconn will be doing this job in Sriperumbudur, Tamilnadu, where it already has a huge […]

Read More: Apple to start making high-end iPhones in India next year



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Unity now supports DirectX 12 on Xbox One

Unity yesterday announced support for DirectX 12 on Xbox One. This DirectX 12 support is available with Unity 2018.3 and it will bring performance improvements by reducing driver overhead, better use of multi-core systems and more. DirectX 12 on Xbox One brings with it Unity's new Native Graphics Jobs, which also contributes a significant CPU […]

Read More: Unity now supports DirectX 12 on Xbox One



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Windows File Explorer and Microsoft Paint will soon support AVIF images

Microsoft is scheduled to release Windows 10 19H1 in the spring of 2019. While the company has been working on some big changes, they have not overlooked the small features that have been missing. One such feature was the lack of support for AVIF images. AVIF is a new image file format which is based on […]

Read More: Windows File Explorer and Microsoft Paint will soon support AVIF images



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Deal: Microsoft Office 365 Home 1-year subscription and $50 Amazon.com Gift Card for just $99.99

Amazon is now offering Office 365 Home 1-year subscription along with $50 Amazon.com Gift Card for just $99.99 (down from $149.99). Office 365 comes fully loaded with the latest and greatest versions of Word, Excel, PowerPoint, OneNote, Outlook and more. Office 365 features: 1-year subscription for 5 PCs or Macs, 5 tablets including iPad, Android, or […]

Read More: Deal: Microsoft Office 365 Home 1-year subscription and $50 Amazon.com Gift Card for just $99.99



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Microsoft patents magnetic body suit for VR

Microsoft has applied for a patent for a novel type of body suit to improve immersion in VR sessions. Described as a Flexible Magnetic Actuator, the device would use two layers of flexible magnets (for example magnets woven into cloth) where the attraction can be changed dynamically between the layers (e.g. via an electromagnet) allowing a […]

Read More: Microsoft patents magnetic body suit for VR



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Evidence of Hololens v2 support shows up in Windows 10 19H1

Rumour has it that the next version of Microsoft's Augmented Reality headset, the Hololens 2, is arriving in Q1 2019. Its been 2 years since the launch of the first HoloLens in 2016, with real competition with the arrival of the Magic Leap headset now available in the market. Earlier reports have revealed the headset is […]

Read More: Evidence of Hololens v2 support shows up in Windows 10 19H1



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Wednesday, December 26, 2018

Samsung Display to kill off the smartphone earpiece at CES 2019

Samsung's battle on the smartphone notch is still in full effect, and after finding a way to move the selfie camera into the display, their Display subsidiary is set to demonstrate their technology to move the earpiece to the same location. The Economic Times of Korea reports that Samsung Display will show off their Sound […]

Read More: Samsung Display to kill off the smartphone earpiece at CES 2019



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Cheap Photoshop alternative Paint.NET 50% off for a limited time

The version of Paint.NET available in the Microsoft Store is currently on sale at more than 50% off the usual $6.99 price. The app is almost exactly like the classic Win32 version of the app, meaning that all the features you can get on the classic version of the app are available from the Microsoft Store […]

Read More: Cheap Photoshop alternative Paint.NET 50% off for a limited time



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Samsung gives a sneak-peek at some weird and wonderful technologies heading for CES 2019

Samsung Electronics announced today that it will showcase eight interesting new projects related to Artificial Intelligence, developed from its C-Lab, at CES 2019. The eight new C-Lab projects include: an in-video virtual ad service 'Tisplay', an ASMR sound recording solution 'aiMo', an instant video making service 'MEDEO', an AI news  analysis service 'PRISMIT', a custom […]

Read More: Samsung gives a sneak-peek at some weird and wonderful technologies heading for CES 2019



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Boxing Day deal: Microsoft’s Surface Headphones gets big discount in USA and UK

It's Boxing Day and Microsoft's well-received Surface Headphones are now on sale at Amazon with a big discount. The headphones, which are appealing especially to developers and other office workers who want to maintain their productivity in distraction-prone environments, utilize 4 beam-forming microphones, 4 active noise-cancelling microphones, and 13 levels of noise reduction for up to […]

Read More: Boxing Day deal: Microsoft's Surface Headphones gets big discount in USA and UK



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Huawei announces HONOR View20 flagship smartphone with a 48MP rear camera

Huawei today announced its latest flagship device from its HONOR series. The new HONOR View20 comes with a 6.4-inch punch hole IPS LCD display. The hole on the front measures only 4.5mm in diameter, but it contains 25-megapixel camera with f/2.0 aperture. On the back, View20 packs a 48-megapixel camera and a 3D ToF (Time […]

Read More: Huawei announces HONOR View20 flagship smartphone with a 48MP rear camera



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A new Google Chrome attack can freeze your Windows 10 device

A new exploit has been discovered in Google Chrome that can potentially freeze Windows 10 devices completely. The new bug is being used in a tech support scam that freezes Windows 10 and then tells the user that their device is infected by a virus. The newly discovered bug uses Javascript code to create a loop […]

Read More: A new Google Chrome attack can freeze your Windows 10 device



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DOOMBA mod allows your Roomba to create DOOM maps

DOOM has been played on everything from a toaster to a Porsche, but both of those were only used for playing. DOOM's legacy isn't just through playing, but also through creating and now you can create DOOM maps using your Roomba. That's right, your electric vacuum can now be used to create maps for a […]

Read More: DOOMBA mod allows your Roomba to create DOOM maps



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Boxing Day: Save up to £200 / $200 on the powerful Surface Book 2

Microsoft Store is offering up to £200 discount on select Surface Book 2 models in the UK and up to $200 in the US. Surface Book 2 comes with 8th gen Intel Core processors allowing you to run professional-grade software, apps, and PC games with ease. The dedicated NVIDIA GeForce graphics ensure fluid immersive experiences when […]

Read More: Boxing Day: Save up to £200 / $200 on the powerful Surface Book 2



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Deal Alert: Samsung DeX Pad for Galaxy S9 and Note 9 hits its lowest price yet at only $58.88

If you loved the promise of Continuum for Phones and want a taste of that with your Android phone, you may be happy to hear that Samsung's new Dex Pad has hit its lowers price yet. The Samsung DeX Pad is compatible with the Samsung Galaxy S8, S8+, S9, S9+ and Note 8 and Note […]

Read More: Deal Alert: Samsung DeX Pad for Galaxy S9 and Note 9 hits its lowest price yet at only $58.88



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Firefox 66 will bring a solution for pages lost to tab overload

Tab overload is a real phenomenon, and sometimes it is quicker to search your history and re-open a tab than to find where you left the one you were already working on. Mozilla is set to tackle the problem head-on with the ability to search your open tabs using a new menu command. It is […]

Read More: Firefox 66 will bring a solution for pages lost to tab overload



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Tuesday, December 25, 2018

This is when your Samsung phone will be getting Android Pie

Android Pie is currently making its slow roll-out to handsets from a variety of Android OEMs, and AllAboutSamsung has just discovered when the OS update will be making its way to your particular Samsung device. Android Pie is bringing a variety of improvements including new gesture navigation, new material design, new screenshot tools, new settings, […]

Read More: This is when your Samsung phone will be getting Android Pie



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Disappointed by your pressies? Treat yourself to an Apple Watch, up to $50 off

If half the gifts you opened this Christmas were socks and ties, it might just be time to spend some of your own cash on a present to yourself, and there is none easier to justify than an Apple Watch, especially when discounted. The last few generations of Apple Watch really focussed down on health […]

Read More: Disappointed by your pressies? Treat yourself to an Apple Watch, up to $50 off



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Case leak reveals new details of the upcoming iPad 5 Mini

A few days ago we reported that Apple may be working on a new iPad Mini, according to Mac Otakara. The device was said to be a new edition of the smaller and cheaper iPad which Apple eventually abandoned. Now Slashleaks have posted a case for the purported device which gives us some detail of the features of […]

Read More: Case leak reveals new details of the upcoming iPad 5 Mini



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Microsoft HoloLens is out of stock in the US, new version imminent?

HoloLens Development Edition went out of stock at Microsoft Store several weeks back. When we asked Microsoft whether they have any plans to bring it back in stock, Microsoft offered the following statement: The HoloLens Commercial Suite remains available and is a great option for HoloLens industry solutions including the recently released Microsoft Dynamics 365 […]

Read More: Microsoft HoloLens is out of stock in the US, new version imminent?



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Samsung adds cool animations to Samsung Galaxy S10 Infinity-O camera

In a case of turning a curse into a blessing, Samsung has found a way to make the in-display Infinity O camera in the Samsung Galaxy S10 and S10 Plus somewhat more interesting and useful. As demonstrated on the Samsung Galaxy A8s, Samsung has used the live pixels around the camera to add some animations, […]

Read More: Samsung adds cool animations to Samsung Galaxy S10 Infinity-O camera



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Microsoft increases price of Office 365 Home in India

Microsoft today sent out an email to Office 365 Home subscribers in India about the upcoming price change. From Jan 8th 2019, Office 365 Home annual subscription will cost Rs.5,299, a 15% increase from its old price of Rs.4619. Microsoft mentioned the following as the reason for this price change. Microsoft periodically assesses its pricing […]

Read More: Microsoft increases price of Office 365 Home in India



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Screen cover leak confirms Samsung Galaxy S10 Plus has a small, cute chin

Despite adopting Apple's iPhone X notch many Android OEMs managed to spoil the look of their smartphones by having a large, unsymmetric and unsightly chin. With their first bezel-less device Samsung clearly does not want to take a back seat to Apple, and a leaked screen cover for the Samsung Galaxy S10 Plus (confirmed by […]

Read More: Screen cover leak confirms Samsung Galaxy S10 Plus has a small, cute chin



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Huawei’s annual smartphone shipments crosses 200 million units

Huawei recently said that it will beat Samsung in total annual smartphone shipments in 2020. Today, Huawei announced today that its smartphone shipments for the 2018 year have exceeded 200 million units. Huawei's shipments have increased from 3 million units in 2010 to 200 million units in 2018. If the growth rate continues, Huawei will […]

Read More: Huawei's annual smartphone shipments crosses 200 million units



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Merry Christmas to all MSPoweruser.com readers!

All of the editors at MSPoweruser.com wish to convey our season greetings to all our readers and their families. May your Christmas be filled with love, peace and many great gadgets 🙂 From the MSPoweruser.com team.

Read More: Merry Christmas to all MSPoweruser.com readers!



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Monday, December 24, 2018

More than 100 Blizzard employees have accepted money in exchange for leaving

Over 100 customer support staff at a Blizzard office in Cork, Ireland have accepted contract buyouts in order to leave the company, Eurogamer has reported. Sources from inside the company who have requested to remain anonymous reportedly told Eurogamer that "over 100 people" have voluntarily accepted money in exchange for leaving the company at the […]

Read More: More than 100 Blizzard employees have accepted money in exchange for leaving



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Samsung’s Infinity-O punch-hole camera called inferior

A punch-hole in-display camera is clearly better than a notch, being smaller, less obtrusive and interfering less with the design of the device. Samsung was the first to show of the technology, but Honor with their View20 claims that their technology is a lot better. Honor claims Samsung's Infinity-O camera hole cuts through all the layers […]

Read More: Samsung's Infinity-O punch-hole camera called inferior



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Google reportedly making billions of dollars from Google Home

Smart speakers and digital assistants have risen rapidly from a curiosity to a staple, and Google has embraced the rising tide better than most, delivering a competitive product to Amazon's dominant Alexa speakers despite being years late to the market. Now RBC Analyst has estimated that Google has not only managed to effectively take market […]

Read More: Google reportedly making billions of dollars from Google Home



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Telegram desktop app updated Private Polls support

Popular privacy-focused messaging app Telegram has been updated in the Microsoft Store to version 1.54. According to the changelog the update brings only one new feature – support for Polls, allowing users to create polls in groups and channels – right from the chat menu. At present, polls are anonymous, meaning that no one can […]

Read More: Telegram desktop app updated Private Polls support



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Facebook executives shot down plan to reduce toxicity on the platform

Facebook has been criticised for taking part of the political polarisation of society. This had not gone unnoticed by engineers in the firm, who has considered different ways of tackling this. Facebook had thought about working on a tool to bridge users with political views before P of Global Public Policy – Joel Kaplan – shut them […]

Read More: Facebook executives shot down plan to reduce toxicity on the platform



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New phishing attack pretends to be an Office 365 non-delivery message

A new phishing attack has recently been discovered that pretends to be an Office 365 non-delivery message in order to steal your credentials. The attack was first discovered by ISC Handler Xavier Mertens and states that "Microsoft found Several Undelivered Messages". It then prompts you to click on the "Send Again" link in order to try sending the […]

Read More: New phishing attack pretends to be an Office 365 non-delivery message



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Samsung Galaxy A8s goes on pre-order in China, will go on sale from December 31

A couple of weeks back, Samsung launched its first phone with the infinity-O display. The company didn't reveal the prices at the launch which happened in China. Today, Chinese biggest e-commerce website JD listed the phone for pre-order which revealed the prices as well as the availability of the device. The price of Galaxy A8s […]

Read More: Samsung Galaxy A8s goes on pre-order in China, will go on sale from December 31



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Google will let you track Santa with Maps and Assistant this Christmas

Google's Santa tracker is back again. With Google Maps and Assistant, interested users will be able to track Santa Claus as he begins his journey across the earth with gifts and coal aplenty. Google's Sant Tracker can be accessed on the web or with Google Maps,  and users with Google Home speakers can simply ask the […]

Read More: Google will let you track Santa with Maps and Assistant this Christmas



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5 Good Party Games Guaranteed To Liven Up Even The Worst Christmas Party

Is your Christmas running a little dry? And, no, we're not just talking about that turkey your mom's cooking. (Make sure there's foil on it, you fool!) If your family, extended family and other loved ones don't completely despise you, you'll probably want to play something fun on Christmas Day. After all, Christmas Crackers don't […]

Read More: 5 Good Party Games Guaranteed To Liven Up Even The Worst Christmas Party



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The best last minute Christmas tech gift ideas

Perhaps you've missed the last minute deals for Christmas day and just want to go out and pretend you had these tech gifts all along, or maybe you went out and plan to take advantage of boxing day sales the day after Christmas – because you're frugal like that. Either way, here are the best […]

Read More: The best last minute Christmas tech gift ideas



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Apple’s iOS 12.1.2 reportedly breaks little used features like data, calls, texting

Apple's iOS 12.1.2. update was a bug fixing update issued to fix some problems with the iOS 12.1.1 update for users in Turkey, as well as solve eSim issues for users on the latest iPhone generation. The update brought along its own baggage, restricting some users in Europe, Asia and the Americas from accessing LTE data, sending […]

Read More: Apple's iOS 12.1.2 reportedly breaks little used features like data, calls, texting



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Christmas comes early as Samsung officially serves Android Pie with One UI for the Galaxy S9 and S9 Plus

Samsung's One UI is already making its way out to Android users as the firm is rolling out Android Pie for the Samsung Galaxy S9 and S9 Plus in Europe this Christmas Eve. Android Pie is the current version k Android which officially launched two months ago with the Pixel and Pixel 3 XL. OEMs […]

Read More: Christmas comes early as Samsung officially serves Android Pie with One UI for the Galaxy S9 and S9 Plus



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Snapchat like Stories spread to China’s WeChat

WeChat — China's premier messaging app — has joined the ephemeral video messaging chat popularised by Snapchat and later adopted by Facebook's Instagram platform. Known as Time Capsule, users can record short clips of up to 15 seconds which can be shared and viewed for a maximum of 24 hours. WeChat's Time Capsule clips are designed […]

Read More: Snapchat like Stories spread to China's WeChat



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Hidden Ark: Survival Evolved menu found in Atlas game, fans are unhappy

Studio Wildcard isn't a stranger to controversy. Their previous game, Ark: Survival Evolved, was reviled for releasing a paid expansion pack before launching out of Early Access. The game's Nintendo Switch port was also a mess. Wildcard is now under fire for their newest game Atlas, which players are claiming is a reskinned version of […]

Read More: Hidden Ark: Survival Evolved menu found in Atlas game, fans are unhappy



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Buy two Google Home Hubs and get a Google Mini bundled from Best Buy!

The Google Home Hub is one of the coolest tech Christmas Gifts you can get, and it's been subject to many deals as of late. Target recently offered a Google Home deal bundled with two minis, but that's all sold out for now (link here in case it comes back again.) In the meantime, Best […]

Read More: Buy two Google Home Hubs and get a Google Mini bundled from Best Buy!



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Subscription service Xbox All Access will end on December 31st, rebooted version coming in 2019

Microsoft's recent introduction of Xbox All Access allowed US gamers to utilize a month-by-month payment plan for an Xbox One and its services. At just $21.99 a month, it was a great deal. On December 31st, Xbox will be closing the current form of Xbox All Access. It will return sometime during 2019 but in […]

Read More: Subscription service Xbox All Access will end on December 31st, rebooted version coming in 2019



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How to download your email data from Gmail and Outlook

Many of us have decades of our digital lives stored away on Microsoft's and Google's servers via Gmail and Outlook. Both firms offer you an easy, user-friendly way to download all of them – granted it may take a while if you have a massive batch of email. How to export your email data from […]

Read More: How to download your email data from Gmail and Outlook



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Microsoft announces new program in India to skill students in AI and cloud technologies

Microsoft recently announced a new program in India that will enable research and higher education institutions to better teach AI and cloud technologies to their students. Microsoft is planning to set up core AI infrastructure and an IoT Hub for all selected institutions. Microsoft will provide AI developmental tools and Azure AI Services including Microsoft […]

Read More: Microsoft announces new program in India to skill students in AI and cloud technologies



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Screen size leak reveals Samsung Galaxy S10 Lite will bring back the “small” phone, and that the Note10 will be a monster

As the years have progressed, phones have become larger and larger, with the charge usually led by Samsung's flagships, even resulting in Samsung redesigning their phone user interface to accommodate phones too large to reach the top left corner. It is therefore good to hear that this year Samsung will be catering for those with normal-sized […]

Read More: Screen size leak reveals Samsung Galaxy S10 Lite will bring back the "small" phone, and that the Note10 will be a monster



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Sunday, December 23, 2018

Microsoft SMS Organizer for Android updated with new Offers section

Microsoft recently released a new update for SMS Organizer app for Android. This latest update bumps the app to v1.1.115 and brings the new Offers section. SMS Organizer will now display all the offers you receive via SMS in a more organized way. You can also opt-in to get more offers from the web. Find the […]

Read More: Microsoft SMS Organizer for Android updated with new Offers section



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Asus set to join the full-faced screen parade with new set of design patents

Asus is best known for their ROG series of gaming smartphones which feature a rather rugged design, but this does not mean the company is immune to the full-faced all-screen design trend. The company has filed a series of design patents with the EUIPO for a full-screen smartphone without a notch which features a variety of […]

Read More: Asus set to join the full-faced screen parade with new set of design patents



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Slack apologises for banning Iranian and Syrian users

Slack ran into some hot water this week over appearing to ban users in a discriminatory fashion. The firm banned users who had travelled to Syria, Iran and other sanctioned users with no warning or communication leading to suspicions of discrimination due to the information gap. In response, Slack posted a clarifying blog post, noting they […]

Read More: Slack apologises for banning Iranian and Syrian users



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Change is constant – some features of Cortana retiring on Windows Phone

Windows Phone 8.1 is no longer supported, and that means even Microsoft is dropping services for the platform, including updates and even Store support. It seems one of those features being dropped is some elements of Cortana, with the app currently showing the above screen saying: Change is constant My clever engineers are making some […]

Read More: Change is constant – some features of Cortana retiring on Windows Phone



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Face-Off: Dusk, Project Warlock and Ion Maiden compete in a battle between retro-inspired FPS’

As far as genres go, retro FPS has to be my all-time favorite. While they may not always have the same cinematic style of bombastic, balls-to-the-wall action as the modern AAA shooter's clusterfuck of set-pieces and grenade spams on extreme difficulties, they manage to be intense in their own unique way. If you've ever played […]

Read More: Face-Off: Dusk, Project Warlock and Ion Maiden compete in a battle between retro-inspired FPS'



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Microsoft employee hilariously recreates Google Home Alone ad with Cortana

Google's Home Alone Google Assistant ad featuring Macaulay Culkin has gone somewhat viral. The ad recreates the Home Alone movies, but this time with Google's Assistant keeping the hero company. The success of the ad prompted Katie Anderson, Business Strategy Manager at Microsoft, to recreate the ad using Cortana, and given Microsoft's productivity focus, appropriately […]

Read More: Microsoft employee hilariously recreates Google Home Alone ad with Cortana



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Smart Speaker IQ test of Cortana, Alexa, Siri and Google Assistant shows most are smarter than ever

Loup Ventures have published the results of their semi-annual IQ test of digital assistants/ smart speakers, using a battery of 800 typical questions, and have found the speakers continue to get smarter and smarter. The analysts chose to test smart speakers only, as they are less bound to the features of phones, giving the Amazon Echo […]

Read More: Smart Speaker IQ test of Cortana, Alexa, Siri and Google Assistant shows most are smarter than ever



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Surprise! Emergency IE patch preventing some PCs from booting

Three days ago Microsoft released an emergency patch for Windows 10 to address a remotely exploitable vulnerability in Internet Explorer. On release, the patch came with some known issues on some older versions of Windows 10 (though none on 1809) which are listed below: Symptom Workaround After you install the August Preview of Quality Rollup or September 11, 2018 […]

Read More: Surprise! Emergency IE patch preventing some PCs from booting



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Full collection of Wallpaper Hub Surface-themed wallpapers now available zipped

Due to the persistent efforts of Microsoft MVP Michael Gillett, the WallpaperHub now a pretty cool collection of official wallpapers for each of the cool Surface devices Microsoft Microsoft has announced over the years, available at different resolutions. If you, however, prefer to browse your hard drive rather than a website, Wallpaper Hub have now […]

Read More: Full collection of Wallpaper Hub Surface-themed wallpapers now available zipped



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Saturday, December 22, 2018

Microsoft Launcher updated with all the beta goodies (changelog)

Microsoft has today brought all the significant new features in Microsoft Launcher 5.1 beta to the mainstream version of the app. This 5.1.0.47682 release comes with several new features like Sticky Notes integration in Notes card, Microsoft To-Do integration in Tasks card and more. Also, you can now track your Screen Time, app usage and […]

Read More: Microsoft Launcher updated with all the beta goodies (changelog)



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Bethesda are giving three free Fallout games to anyone who played Fallout 76 this year

Today on Twitter, Bethesda announced that anyone who logged into Fallout 76 after its full release in 2018 will receive an entitlement to Fallout Classic Collection on PC. The deal also extends to Xbox One and PlayStation 4 players, although Fallout Classic Collection is only available and redeemable on PC. #HappyHolidays! ANYONE who logged into […]

Read More: Bethesda are giving three free Fallout games to anyone who played Fallout 76 this year



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PSOne games run better on SNES Classic than on PlayStation Classic

Sony's PlayStation Classic should have been a remarkably Christmas gift this year, but instead, it's only brought disappointment. With poor emulation, PAL versions of games instead of NTSC and a lacking selection of games, it's just as well that the console is easily exploitable. While that isn't exactly the greatest, how does releasing a console […]

Read More: PSOne games run better on SNES Classic than on PlayStation Classic



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Microsoft’s first European Flagship Store’s floor plan revealed

A recent planning application on the City of Westminster Council planning portal for the long-awaited Microsoft Store in Oxford Circus in London has revealed the floor-plan of the structure and a look at some of the design details of the retail location. The design shows an open-plan layout with the second floor featuring a lounge, […]

Read More: Microsoft's first European Flagship Store's floor plan revealed



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Deal Alert: Save up to $330 on the Surface Pro 6 + Type Cover Bundle

Just in time for Christmas, Microsoft is offering deep discounts on the Surface Pro 6 and Type Cover Bundle at the Microsoft Store. You can pick up the Platinum Type Cover bundle with the Intel Core i5 Surface Pro 6 with a 256GB SSD and 8GB RAM for only $999 instead of $1,329, saving a massive $330. […]

Read More: Deal Alert: Save up to $330 on the Surface Pro 6 + Type Cover Bundle



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G2A is charging customers to log into their accounts

Controversial game marketplace G2A has begun charging people to sign into their accounts. After not signing into their account for 180, Reddit user ninth_revolution received an email from the website saying that they were being charged a €1 "inactivity fee". The email continues saying that the user would be charged another euro for each additional month […]

Read More: G2A is charging customers to log into their accounts



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ZTE patents Axon M follow-up with flexible screen

ZTE led the resurgence of folding smartphones with the ZTE Axon M, but in the end, the device will be remembered as being released too early, featuring a dual-pane design rather than a proper flexible folding screen. Now ZTE has applied for a design patent at the Chinese CNIPA for a proper flexible screen version […]

Read More: ZTE patents Axon M follow-up with flexible screen



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LG’s new patented gaming PC case is designed to take a beating

LG has patented a design for a new PC case that will allow it to take a bit of a beating. The patent depicts a 3D trapezoid design surrounded by a thick plastic-metal combination. It manages to keep a sleek look, especially with the upside-down triangle symbol on its sides, while also maintaining a practical […]

Read More: LG's new patented gaming PC case is designed to take a beating



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LG may release a cool tablet with edge to edge screen and wireless keyboard

LG has applied for a design patent in Korea for a cool new tablet with a detachable wireless keyboard. The tablet features a near bezel-less design with rounded corners and a fabric cover similar to the Surface Pro touch cover. The detachable wireless keyboard also features a rounded design and full mouse pad. Together the […]

Read More: LG may release a cool tablet with edge to edge screen and wireless keyboard



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Friday, December 21, 2018

Microsoft is using dark patterns to pressure Outlook.com users into using the Outlook mobile apps

The Outlook app for iOS and Android are extremely popular, with more than 100 million users, and this is largely based on the merit of the apps, which are quite well rated. It seems for Microsoft this is not enough, however, with the company seemingly determined that every Outlook.com user also be an Outlook app […]

Read More: Microsoft is using dark patterns to pressure Outlook.com users into using the Outlook mobile apps



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Samsung reportedly working on even more powerful smartphone fast charger

The state of the art for Samsung fast charging is their 15-watt USB-C fast charger, but according to reliable leaker Ice Universe, Samsung is set to soon supercede this. Samsung smartphone 15w charging will become history. — Ice universe (@UniverseIce) December 21, 2018 Yes — Ice universe (@UniverseIce) December 21, 2018 While Samsung's best is 15 […]

Read More: Samsung reportedly working on even more powerful smartphone fast charger



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Most popular Xbox Kinect feature coming back next year

We have heard that hardware is now a core part of Microsoft's strategy, and according to Brad Sams from Thurrott.com, one of the new pieces of hardware we can expect next year will be compatible with both Windows 10 and the Xbox One. Brad has revealed that Microsoft is working on a 4K webcam with […]

Read More: Most popular Xbox Kinect feature coming back next year



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You can start tracking Santa today!

Santa Claus will be coming to your town soon, but if you want to be sure to meet him in time with milk and cookies you need to know when he's getting closer. To that end, you need a Santa Tracker, and Bing is ready to keep you informed now. Simply search Where is Santa […]

Read More: You can start tracking Santa today!



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Apple is reportedly working on a new iPad Mini

Apple is working on a new iPad Mini version, according to a report from Mac Otakara. The firm is planning to unveil the 5th iteration of its abandoned iPad Mini next year, a smaller and cheaper iPad which is more cost-effective for Apple to produce. Apple is also said to be working on a new 10-inch iPad […]

Read More: Apple is reportedly working on a new iPad Mini



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Foldable phones are pretty cool, they’re still convertibles

First phones were small. Then big and wide. Then thin and tall. Then they were notched. From next year, they will bend and flex into all sorts of shapes and sizes. Flexible displays are a new technology to enable a new form factor of foldable phones. FlexPai introduced the first working prototype, Microsoft has been […]

Read More: Foldable phones are pretty cool, they're still convertibles



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Review: Choetech T250 Wireless Charger Stand

A wireless charger is a must-have accessory for every smartphone that supports wireless charging. Choetech is a growing accessories company that manufactures wireless Qi-compatible chargers and the compatibility list includes all famous Samsung Galaxy S9 that supports fast charging and some Apple devices like iPhone X, but a downside with Apple devices is that they […]

Read More: Review: Choetech T250 Wireless Charger Stand



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15 websites that allowed people to purchase DDoS attacks taken down by FBI

15 websites have been taken down by the FBI that allowed users to purchase DDoS attacks. As every gamer knows, Christmas is an awful period for DDOS attacks. As the FBI says, "[Christmas] is a period historically plagued by prolific DDOS attacks in the gaming world." (via Kotaku) Xbox Live, PlayStation Plus, Steam and many MMOs […]

Read More: 15 websites that allowed people to purchase DDoS attacks taken down by FBI



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Darksiders 3 patch reworks combat to make it feel more like classic games

The latest patch for THQ Nordic's Darksiders 3 aims to make the combat more like the last two games in the series. Available on all systems, this second patch will give you the option to choose between Default and Classic modes. Default mode is described as a, "more methodical combat system than Darksiders 1 and […]

Read More: Darksiders 3 patch reworks combat to make it feel more like classic games



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Fallout 76 will get a new mode that removes PvP restrictions

Fallout 76 will be slightly improved soon with a new mode that lifts the game's restrictions on PvP combat. Announced in an official blog post, the as-of-yet unnamed mode should launch sometime in Q1 2019. Hopefully, Fallout 76's PvP will end up working similarly to that of other survival games with the introduction of this […]

Read More: Fallout 76 will get a new mode that removes PvP restrictions



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Star Citizen’s Squadron 42 single-player portion set to enter beta in 2020

Star Citizen's multiplayer component will not be completed anytime soon, but it's single-player portion is now targeting a mid-2020 release date. Developer Cloud Imperium Games frequently releases updated development roadmaps for fans and backers of Star Citizen to stay updated with its development. Released yesterday, the new roadmap for Squadron 42 revealed a steady and […]

Read More: Star Citizen's Squadron 42 single-player portion set to enter beta in 2020



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Sticky Notes to get its biggest transformation yet in coming update

Sticky Notes has been leading a massive effort to make Microsoft's productivity applications more accessible to the masses.  Professionals normally manage their schedules using monolithic applications such as Outlook, but this has not suited the app generation well, leading to Microsoft breaking out the functionality of this application into multiple, single-purpose applications such as Sticky Notes […]

Read More: Sticky Notes to get its biggest transformation yet in coming update



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The digital wellbeing movement proves Microsoft’s Windows Phone had one thing right

You've noticed it by now. It's not just phones anymore. Every computer you have from the lowly Chromebook, the do-it-all Windows PC all the way up to the expensive MacBook ships with a notification centre to help you manage your life. As 2018 rolls to a close, every computer you have will ship with a […]

Read More: The digital wellbeing movement proves Microsoft's Windows Phone had one thing right



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Titanfall 3 is in development according to new Respawn job listing

According to a new listing by Respawn Entertainment, Titanfall 3 is now in development. Posted on the official EA Careers website, the mega-publisher has listed numerous job roles for working on both Respawn's upcoming Star Wars game and an upcoming Titanfall game. It's clear that the game is still a ways off. Titanfall's job listings […]

Read More: Titanfall 3 is in development according to new Respawn job listing



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Three variants of Samsung Galaxy S10 confirmed as Edge brand makes a return

We've had many Samsung Galaxy S10 leaks so far, but few have been from as reputable source as phone retailer Mobile Fun, who runs a major smartphone store in the UK. This makes their leak, that three versions of the Samsung Galaxy S10 will be released in March 2019, quite credible. The leaks are related […]

Read More: Three variants of Samsung Galaxy S10 confirmed as Edge brand makes a return



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Thursday, December 20, 2018

Draw on the web with Google’s Chrome Canvas PWA

Google has launched a new progressive web app for artists. Appearing first on Chromebooks in the developer channel, its available on the web on canvas.apps.chrome and can be accessed on any browser. It is a PWA for drawing and inking which provides a number of tools like chalk, pen, pencil etc. Your creations are automatically […]

Read More: Draw on the web with Google's Chrome Canvas PWA



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Apple’s iPhone 7 and 8 are now banned from sale in Germany

After losing a battle in China, Apple has now lost in another court in its ongoing feud with Qualcomm. The firm has now been found to be infringing on Qualcomm's power-saving patents in a court in Munich. The patent revolves around Qualcomm's 'envelope tracking' technology which was allegedly infringed by Qorvo, one of Apple's chip suppliers. A […]

Read More: Apple's iPhone 7 and 8 are now banned from sale in Germany



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Panos Panay promise Surface is here to stay

A year ago analysts were predicting that Microsoft would be dropping their Surface line, calling it a low margin and unprofitable business. Fast forward a year, and these analysts appear to have faded into the woodwork, and Microsoft is celebrating record Surface sales, with reports that in some regions they are outselling the iPad. Speaking […]

Read More: Panos Panay promise Surface is here to stay



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Microsoft brings emergency IE patch to latest Windows 10 Insider Build

Two days ago Microsoft released a final Windows 10 Insider Preview Build 18305 (19H1) for 2018 to Windows Insiders in the Fast ring. At the time Microsoft says it was the last major Insider build for the year, but that they may send out further Cumulative Updates as needed. It seems those words were prophetic, as the […]

Read More: Microsoft brings emergency IE patch to latest Windows 10 Insider Build



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Latest WhatsApp Desktop update brings Picture in Picture support

WhatsApp has updated their desktop web extension to 0.3.1846, bringing a feature which has been available for some months on iOS and Android. The app now has limited support for Picture in Picture mode for shared videos. This allows users to view a shared video and still continue chatting, including switching to other chatrooms. The feature […]

Read More: Latest WhatsApp Desktop update brings Picture in Picture support



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PC version of The Walking Dead: The Final Season now exclusive to the Epic Games Store

The last few episodes of The Walking Dead: The Final season will be published by Epic and released exclusively on the Epic Games Store, Game Informer are reporting. As we previously reported, The Walking Dead: The Final Season was halted mid-production after Telltale Games was forced to shut down earlier in the year. However, the series […]

Read More: PC version of The Walking Dead: The Final Season now exclusive to the Epic Games Store



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Facebook strikes down multiple fake news Bangladeshi pages

Facebook has been systemically taking down inauthentic activity in places like the US, UK and Myanmar. In coordination with Grpahika, the firm identified a new threat in Bangladesh, a number of pages and accounts designed to mislead readers. "We discovered that these Pages were designed to look like independent news outlets and posted pro-government and anti-opposition content," explained […]

Read More: Facebook strikes down multiple fake news Bangladeshi pages



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Microsoft signing up beta testers for Chromium Edge

Microsoft is changing the rendering engine of their Edge browser from EdgeHTML to Google's Chromium, which is expected to bring a variety of benefits, including improved compatibility with websites, easier support for developers and support for Google's Chrome plugins. Swapping the engine is going to require a lot of testing, however, and Microsoft is now signing […]

Read More: Microsoft signing up beta testers for Chromium Edge



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Microsoft’s 2015 “Windows Mobile” dumb phone leaks for the first time

In 2015 a Microsoft Mobile handset code-named the RM-1182 was certified in Indonesia. That device was assumed to be a low-end Windows Phone, but it turns out it was even less intelligent, being, in fact, a dumb phone but with a twist – a UI styled on Windows Mobile. Now the handset, which can be […]

Read More: Microsoft's 2015 "Windows Mobile" dumb phone leaks for the first time



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Chrome adds Back to video button its PiP mode

Google recently rolled out a new update for Chrome browser that added Picture-in-Picture mode to allow users to play videos while browsing the internet. While the public version of Chrome is running on v71, Google has already rolled out v73 to its Canary app. In the new v73 update, Canary users now have an option […]

Read More: Chrome adds Back to video button its PiP mode



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Microsoft announces Project Mu, an open-source UEFI core

Microsoft has announced a new initiative called Project Mu which is an open-source release of Unified Extensible Firmware Interface (UEFI) core currently used by Surface devices and Hyper-V. Microsoft is currently using TianoCore? which is not optimized for rapid servicing. With Project Mu, Microsoft hopes to make it easier to build scalable firmware and it embraces the […]

Read More: Microsoft announces Project Mu, an open-source UEFI core



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Xbox’s January 2019 Games with Gold is starting the year off strong

Microsoft's Games with Gold for January 2019 have been announced. On January 1st, Xbox Live Gold subscribers will be able to pick up two fantastic games: Celeste and Lara Croft and the Guardian of Light. Celeste is one of 2018's best platformers and one that's been critically acclaimed since its release. "Help Madeline survive her […]

Read More: Xbox's January 2019 Games with Gold is starting the year off strong



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Microsoft Garage’s Ear Hockey game uses 3D audio so you can play without sight

Microsoft's in-house Microsoft Garage program has released a new video game. Titled Ear Hockey, this free release recreates the classic game of air hockey but with a twist. Instead of relying on the game's visuals to play, Ear Hockey demands players to use their hearing instead. Using Microsoft's HRTF spatial audio engine for Unity, Ear […]

Read More: Microsoft Garage's Ear Hockey game uses 3D audio so you can play without sight



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Apple doesn’t consider bent iPad Pro as a defect, says it’s a side effect of the manufacturing process

In a bizarre turn of events, Apple has claimed that the slight bends in iPad Pro are not a defect but a side effect of the manufacturing process. The company also said that they are reviewing the claims of users that have gotten the bent iPad Pro but there's nothing they can do as it's […]

Read More: Apple doesn't consider bent iPad Pro as a defect, says it's a side effect of the manufacturing process



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Sam Raimi Spider-Man suit comes to PS4 game in free update

A week ago, fans were unhappy with the suit choices Insomniac chose for the final Spider-Man PS4 DLC. Now, those complaining fans have been proven wrong. After claims of Insomniac not listening to fan requests to put the 2004 Sam Raimi Spider-Man suit into the PS4 game, Insomniac has done just that. It's real, it's […]

Read More: Sam Raimi Spider-Man suit comes to PS4 game in free update



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Pour one out, Minecraft on Xbox 360, PS3, PSVita and Wii U are no longer supported

Minecraft updates are no more on last-generation systems. With the release of The Nightmare Before Christmas Mash-Up pack, Mojang has said goodbye to last-gen versions of Minecraft. The Swedish developer has given Minecraft players more than most gamers would ever hope for. Since the game's release in 2009, Minecraft has seen countless patches and additions. […]

Read More: Pour one out, Minecraft on Xbox 360, PS3, PSVita and Wii U are no longer supported



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Samsung’s latest trademark filing confirms another camera feature coming to Galaxy S10

Samsung is scheduled to launch the Galaxy S10 some time near the Mobile World Congress but we already know almost everything about the device. Last week we reported that Samsung has filed trademarks for a couple of sensors that will be used in Galaxy S10. All the trademarks were related to the camera of Galaxy […]

Read More: Samsung's latest trademark filing confirms another camera feature coming to Galaxy S10



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Microsoft is about to give you a great reason to use Cortana on your smartphone

When it comes to voice assistants on smartphones, the best one is usually the one built into your smartphone, but a recently leaked feature of Cortana may make her your new favourite. The WC reports that Cortana integration with the popular Outlook Mail app will soon mean she will be able to read your emails to you. The […]

Read More: Microsoft is about to give you a great reason to use Cortana on your smartphone



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