Items tagged with OS
Smart devices are necessary and ubiquitous in 2019, but it can be difficult to find a operating system or service that fully respects your privacy. Many users are concerned that major tech companies like Google are stealing and sharing your data. Now you do not need to choose between security and convenience. The e Foundation or /e/ will soon offer refurbished smartphones with its own /e/ operating system. The e Foundation, or /e/, is a non-profit organization that was incorporated in 2018. Their mission is to provide an open-source OS and other mobile services that respect user privacy and are easy to use. They launched their own OS beta this past September and many people enjoyed it. The non-profit...
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Microsoft is now talking up a new feature called "Cortana Show Me”, which the company says is the perfect feature for people who have ever wanted to change a setting but didn’t know how to do it. Cortana Show Me is the guide to Windows 10 settings and can be downloaded via the Microsoft Store using this link. This is a preview app and Cortana will show you step-by-step how to change certain settings. Microsoft wrote, "In this release, you can launch guides directly from the app homepage, but check back soon for voice entry points. For Insiders, the app is available in English (US and UK) and in German. We’ve created guides for 15 settings so far but stay tuned for further improvements...
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Microsoft has announced the launch of the Windows Server 2019 Preview. The preview build is available right now through the Insiders Program, while the full Server 2019 OS will be available in the second half of 2018 according to Erin Chapple, Director of Program Management, Windows Server. Chapple gives some idea of what will be new in Server 2019 noting that it is built on the "strong foundation" of Windows Server 2016. Chapple also points out that Windows Server 2016 was the fastest adopted version of Windows Server ever. Chapple wrote, "We also spent a lot of time with customers to understand the future challenges and where the industry is going. Four themes were consistent –...
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Microsoft is set to launch a new version of Windows 10 that will ditch all legacy features and components that can be eliminated. The modernized version of Windows 10 will be built on Windows Core OS (WCOS) and is code-named Polaris. The new OS will be aimed specifically at traditional form factor devices like notebooks, desktops, and 2-in-1 computers. The goal of the new flavor of Windows 10 is to leave behind legacy components that are in the current form of Windows 10, to create an operating system that is lighter weight with improved performance and battery life for mobile device. The OS will feature CShell, the coming universal shell that is shared across all devices, but the...
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When it comes to operating systems for smartphones, tablets, and notebooks we all know what Google has to offer. We have Android for tablets and smartphones and then you have Chrome OS for notebooks and desktops. We also know that Google is working on another operating system that might be the replacement for both Chrome OS and Android called Fuchsia. When we last visited Fuchsia, a PixelBook was serving as the testbed for the next generation operating system. Fast forward a couple weeks and more details of the Fuchsia operating system have surfaced along with videos of it in action. The video show an operating system with a home screen that is very different from what you are used to if...
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Back in June, a leak hinted that there would be new flavors of Windows 10 aimed specifically at workstation PCs. Fast forward a couple months and Microsoft has now officially announced Windows 10 Pro for Workstations and it is designed specifically to support server-grade PC hardware. Microsoft's Klaus Diaconu, Partner Group Program manager, Windows & Devices Group, wrote, "Today we are very excited to announce a new edition of Windows 10 Pro designed to meet the needs of our advanced users deploying their Workstation PCs in demanding and mission-critical scenarios. Windows 10 Pro for Workstations will be delivered as part of our Fall Creators Update, available this fall." The OS will...
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The upgrade cycle begins, with Microsoft’s latest operating system--the highly anticipated Windows 10--rolling out over Windows Update for free, for users of Windows 7, 8 and 8.1. For those that are ready to take the plunge over the weekend, there are some things to note. While this guide is by no means exhaustive, there are some useful reminders here as well as some potential pitfalls that may rear their ugly head during the upgrade process. So far, Microsoft has been rolling out the upgrade in waves and stages. If you are not one of the ‘lucky’ ones to be in the first wave, you can take matters into your own hands and begin the upgrade process manually. While the process is mostly simple,...
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It has been a few weeks since Microsoft released its Technical Preview of Windows 10 -- which means we've had enough time to walk around the vehicle, kick the tires, and investigate the product in its current form. After the drubbing that Windows 8 took in the tech press and from angry users, Microsoft badly needs this new operating system to be a success, but simply cramming the Start menu back into the OS isn't going to cut it. Windows 10 Hands-On: Beyond The Start Menu, What You Need To Know Don't mistake us here. It's still important to evaluate Windows 10 as a work-in-progress but we're going to be more critical of the little things this time around. The good news is, there are significantly...
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It has been a few weeks since Microsoft released its Technical Preview of Windows 10 -- which means we've had enough time to walk around the vehicle, kick the tires, and investigate the product in its current form. After the drubbing that Windows 8 took in the tech press and from angry users, Microsoft badly needs this new operating system to be a success, but simply cramming the Start menu back into the OS isn't going to cut it. So what has Microsoft been up to all this time beyond the Start menu's triumphant return? Let's take a look. The Road To Windows 10 We want to kick off this preview by briefly discussing something that's been percolating in the back of our heads for quite...
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Buried in the details of Microsoft's technical preview for Windows 10 (look for our own discussion in short order), is a bit of a footnote concerning the operating system's requirements. I say footnote because this news -- that Windows 10 will have exactly the same requirements as Windows 8.1, which had the same requirements as Windows 8, which stuck to Windows 7, which was the same as Windows Vista -- is something we take for granted these days. As the years roll by, I can't help wondering what we're actually giving up in exchange for holding the minimum system spec at a single-core 1GHz, 32-bit chip with just 1GB of RAM. Back when Windows Vista was in development, those specifications made...
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There’s more than one way to skin a cat, and there’s more than one way to monetize your company’s products, especially when your product portfolio is as vast as Microsoft’s. To that end, Microsoft is reportedly experimenting with different ways to make money from its products and services that include offering its flagship operating system for free. This would be a stark departure from the norm for Microsoft, which has always charged for OS licenses, whether the cost is boxed software or wrapped up in a PC purchase. Of course, nothing is really free, so the tradeoff would ostensibly be some sort of Bing-related incentivisation. ZDNet and The Verge both reported that a...
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Whatever you think about Windows 8.1, good or bad or what have you, we can all agree that the launch of Microsoft’s latest operating system has not gone at all how the company hoped. Microsoft appears ready to move beyond it, in any case, with its “Threshold” initiative designed to further unify Microsoft’s OS ecosystem. There’s an update to Windows 8.1 coming this year, and Microsoft will surely let the world in on its plans for the next generation of Windows at the BUILD conference in April, but the current scuttlebutt is that Threshold will launch in April 2015, and it will be called “Windows 9”. Windows 8.1 Perhaps all that seems obvious, but it’s...
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Linus Torvalds is a man of many emotions. At times, he's got a great sense of humor - he did just name the 3.11 Linux kernel 'Linux for Workgroups', after all. Other times, and especially if you're a developer making his life harder, he can be less-than-pleasant, as has been evidenced time and time again. As much as I respect Linus, I've long believed that it wouldn't hurt to tone down his aggressiveness just a wee bit, and now, it's become clear that I'm not alone. On the official Linux kernel mailing list yesterday, Linus (perhaps jokingly) suggested that another developer should learn to become a "real threat", and "sometimes swear a bit". He continues, "That will cut your mailqueue in half,...
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Microsoft has put a huge amount of effort, money, time, and resources into pumping up the Windows Phone Store. And there's no question as to why. Apple and Google both enjoy remarkably robust app marketplaces, and in the war of ecosystems, having an enviable app store goes a long way to attracting new users. Now, Windows Phone has yet another flagship app in its pocket: Spotify. What has become the most talked-about music streaming app in the U.S. now has a home on Windows Phone 8, and we'd guess that it'll surpass Microsoft's own music app in a short period of time. The initial release is just a beta, but it'll still let users create their own playlists, discover new artists, and enjoy offline...
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For the most part, users waiting patiently to upgrade to Windows 8 when it becomes available are expecting a smooth upgrade path, particularly those running Windows 7. Those with Vista or XP may be more concerned that a straight upgrade will be impossible. Details have emerged about the specifics of the Windows 8 upgrade possibilities. Here’s the scuttlebutt: If you’re upgrading from Windows XP (SP3) to Windows 8, you can do so, but you’ll only get to keep your personal files--no applications or system settings will come along for the ride. The same applies to those upgrading from a service pack-less Vista installation. If you have Vista (SP1), though, you can have your system...
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After a few leaks and premature teases, the Windows 8 Release Preview is here. Microsoft had previously hinted that it would be available the first week of June, but the final pre-release is out and ready for you to download and try out. According to a blog post announcing the Release Preview, this release is the last one before the Release to Manufacturing (aka “RTM”) phase, and the Windows 8 team will continue to solicit feedback from users and tweaking the new OS before the final version is available. From here on out, Microsoft says that it’s focusing on reliability, security, peripheral compatibility, resource utilization, and fine tuning the user experience. The Release...
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Great news if you're a Windows fan. Microsoft has just made available the Windows 8 Consumer Preview, which you can download right this very second. Included in the Consumer Preview is the much ballyhooed Metro UI along with scores of changes -- over 100,000 -- Microsoft made to the OS since releasing the Developer Preview. The download is available in English, Chinese (Simplified), French, German, and Japanese, each of which comes in 32-bit and 64-bit flavors. System requirements are as follows: Processor: 1GHz or faster RAM: 1GB (32-bit) or 2GB (64-bit) Hard disk space: 16GB (32-bit) or 20GB (64-bit) Graphics card: Microsoft DirectX 9 capable or or higher 1024x768 minimum screen resolution...
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In addition to new device announcements and technology reveals, some interesting revelations are coming out of the Mobile World Congress (MWC) in Barcelona this week. One of those is the number of Android activations that occur on a daily basis. According to Andy Rubin, Senior Vice President of Mobile at Google who oversees the development of Android, fans of the open-source platform are activating more than 850,000 devices every day. "There are over 450,000 applications in Android Market. Some of the developers who built these apps are showing their latest and greatest in the Android stand. But the ecosystem doesn't sleep. Our partners have activated a total of 300 million Android phones! Currently...
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With a few exceptions, most Android users are still patiently waiting for their device manufacturer and/or wireless carrier to unwrap Ice Cream Sandwich (Android 4.0). Be that as it may, technology marches on and the sweet toothed engineers at Google are hard at work cooking up code for Android 5.0, which will be known as Jelly Bean. According to reports, Jelly Bean could launch as early as the second quarter of 2012. Word on the Web is that Google has taken a fancy to the idea of dual-booting tablets shipping with both Windows 8 and Android 5.0. With Microsoft prepping its Metro-friendly Windows 8 OS for a third quarter release, Google wants to be sure its next major build of Android is already...
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Get ready to see Firefox like you've never seen it before. Mozilla is working on an all new version of its popular browser for Windows 8, which will include a new Firefox front end and system integration points that will better integrate with the Metro UI environment. It will be a full-screen browser focused on touch interactions, and it will connect to the rest of the Metro environment through Windows 8 contracts, Mozilla says. The rebuilt browser will support three so-called 'snap' states, including full screen, 1/6th screen, and 5/6th screen, which will all depend on how the user docks two full screen apps. Firefox's UI will automatically adjust to present the most relevant content for each...
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The second Patch Tuesday of 2012 falls on February 14, otherwise known as Valentine's Day, and instead of a box of chocolates or flowers, Microsoft is giving its users the gift of security via nine security bulletins. Four of the updates are rated Critical and other five are labeled Important by the Redmond software giant. All but one of the Critical bulletins apply to Windows, while the fourth relates to Microsoft's .NET framework and Silverlight platforms. Four of the Important bulletins also apply to Windows, and one plugs up a security hole in Office and Server software. Seven of the nine updates require a restart, and other two might require one, so IT admins will be kept busy at the workplace...
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Remember the 'Vista Capable' lawsuit from a few years back? Microsoft appeared to have learned its lesson and enjoyed a much smoother roll out with Windows 7, and looking ahead, the Redmond software giant has already determined what will be required on the hardware side to run Windows 8. Microsoft actually released its "Windows 8 Hardware Certification Requirements" documents last month, but for the most part, it went largely unnoticed, by us included. In any event, there are quite a few interesting tidbits included in the documents that have nothing do with the recent happenings with ARM. For example, Microsoft requires that Windows 8 PCs joined to a domain and without keyboards implement a...
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