Episode 421 – Aussie Tech Heads Shownotes

posted in: Show Notes

How Windows 10 will merge the tablet and PC

“universal” Office apps running on a phone and the ability to select different modes for tablet or notebook.

designed to display a consistent interface whether being used on a phone, tablet or PC.

The ability to switch modes is a feature Microsoft is calling Continuum Mode. Windows 10 can detect when users detach a screen from a two-in-one device, switching to a touch-friendly tablet mode.

the Outlook app will use the full Word engine when editing an email.

The push to align the code running across the phone and PC will see a family of new universal apps including Office, Photos, Videos, Music, Maps, People & Messaging and Calendar.


Microsoft offers free upgrade to Windows 10 for one year

Microsoft has revealed Windows 10 will be a free upgrade for Windows 7, Windows 8.1 and Windows Phone 8.1 users for customers who upgrade in the first year.

Few details were announced about any limitations on the offer, although Microsoft noted some editions are excluded.

Microsoft pointedly described its new approach to Windows updates as “Windows-as-a-service”. The US vendor stated Windows 10 will be delivered as a service to offer “safer, innovative and updated experience for the supported lifetime of the device”.

A spokesperson said that in the next couple of years users could think of Windows as “one of the largest internet services on the planet. The question which version are you running will cease to make sense.”

Cortana, Microsoft’s cloud-powered personal assistant, will also feature prominently in Windows 10 across all devices. Belfiore said Cortana will also be integrated into the new Project Spartan web browser that will replace Internet Explorer in Windows 10.


Microsoft HoloLens

a wearable visor-style headset that allows users to interact with “holograms” using their hands and voice.

For example, wearing the headset, users could see and select from a menu system appearing on any wall or surface in their office or home. Wireframes could be shown overlayed on a real-life object like a piece of machinery in the design stage, or arrows giving instructions could be overlaid over pipes showing users which way to turn when fixing plumbing.  Users could also create their own holograms and then 3D-print them.

While computing headsets like the Oculus are already on the market, Microsoft is claiming its product to be the first fully untethered holographic computer that doesn’t require a PC.


After fine Marriott says it won’t block guests’ wi-fi networks

After paying a US$600,000 fine to the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), hotel chain Marriott said it will no longer block guests from using personal Wi-Fi networks.

This week, Marriott posted an announcement on its website, saying that it “listens to its customers,” and, in doing so, will stop the blocking practice

requiring Marriott to stop using unlawful Wi-Fi blocking technology last October, which effectively forced guests to connect to (and pay for) the hotel chain’s Wi-Fi

Federal Communications Commission for using “containment features of a Wi-Fi monitoring system at the Gaylord Opryland to prevent individuals from connecting to the Internet via their own personal Wi-Fi networks, while at the same time charging consumers, small businesses and exhibitors as much as $1,000 per device to access Marriott’s Wi-Fi network.” The complaint dated back to 2013.


Facebook clamps down on fake news stories

Facebook said on Tuesday US time it has taken steps to clamp down on “hoaxes” and fake news stories that can spread like wildfire on its 1.35-billion member online social network.

The company said it had introduced an option to allow Facebook users to flag a story as “purposefully fake or deceitful news” to reduce the distribution of news stories reported as hoaxes.

Facebook has become an increasingly important source of news, with 30 percent of adults in the US consuming news on the world’s largest social network

Facebook cited stories about dinosaur sightings and research supposedly proving the existence of Santa Claus as examples of fake news stories.

Facebook said “satirical” content, such as news stories “intended to be humorous, or content that is clearly labeled as satire,” should not be affected.


Only 10pc use latest IE version: Cisco study

A security report by networking giant Cisco revealed a startling figure: only one in 10 computers on the web were running the current version — IE11.


Microsoft denies Minecraft server breach

Microsoft has denied that the disclosure of nearly two thousand account credentials for its Mojang.net service, which is responsible for the hit block-’em-up Minecraft, is indicative of a breach of its network.

a batch of over 1,800 user accounts had their details posted publicly – including passwords in plain-text, ready to use

‘We can confirm that no Mojang.net service was compromised,…Microsoft

Microsoft has not indicated how it thinks the usernames and passwords were obtained if not through a breach of its network, but the most likely explanation would be a phishing attack on the victims carried out via email.

Leave a Reply