HP to ship Windows 10 PCs on July 28
In the run-up to the launch of Windows 10, there has been some confusion about whether it will be possible to buy a system running the latest OS on the big day. Dell has already made its position clear, and now HP has done the same.
If you want to pick up an HP computer running Windows 10 from a store, you'll have to wait until the beginning of August. But if you order ahead of time, systems will be ready for customers on July 28.
Microsoft Edge gets a huge performance boost in Windows 10 Build 10240
So, a possible RTM build of Windows 10 has been unleashed on Windows Insiders, just two weeks before launch day, and just two days after the suspension of build availability. As we're so close to the actual release, it would have been foolish to expect any major new features or changes here, but there have been important tweaks made to Microsoft Edge.
The main reason for build 10240's release may well be to test the upgrade process that will be used by millions of people, but it's also a chance for Microsoft to show off the performance of its new operating system. One thing the company is particularly proud of is just how fast Microsoft Edge, the successor to Internet Explorer, is.
Wi-Fi Aware could be what the Internet of Things has been waiting for
The Internet of Things -- or IoT if you will -- is much more than just a buzzword. It's also much more than 'the next big thing'; it could be fundamental to the future of technology and how we interact with it. When we talk about the Internet of Things, we tend to do so in reference to the home and business -- but there is more to it than that.
There's a lot to consider when it comes to working with data gathered by various sensors built into smart devices, and the most recent game-changer has been unveiled by the Wi-Fi Alliance. Wi-Fi Aware certification has just been opened up with a view to enabling the creation of smart devices that can wirelessly exchange data directly, react to location, and discover other devices. This, rather than a connected fridge or oven, is what is exciting about the Internet of Things.
Prevent people printing, copying, and downloading your shared Google Drive files
The likes of Google Drive make it easy to collaborate on projects, harnessing the power of the cloud to provide people with access to files. While it's handy to be able to work on files with other people, there are times when you want to ensure that the documents you share are not misused.
With this in mind, Google has now added new permission options to shared files. With the added ability to prevent the copying, downloading, and printing of files, it's now safer to share confidential documents. As Google says, it's "perfect for when the file you're sharing contains sensitive information that you don't want shared broadly or leaked".
Google Cloud Platform gains Windows Server support
For a long time, Google Cloud Platform has been a Linux-only affair. Now that has changed. Recognizing that many of its customers work in mixed platform environments, Google has added Windows Server support into the mix.
Specifically, Windows Server 2008 R2 and Windows Server 2012 R2 are now supported, after seven months of beta support. During the beta period, Google made a number of Windows-specific tweaks to the Compute Engine virtualization stack.
Windows 10 is free because... Windows Phone
Windows 10 is free; that much we know. There was initially some confusion about the length of time for which this would be the case, but one of the biggest questions surrounding the giveaway has been 'why?'. Is Microsoft aping Apple? Does the company feel that the operating system was not good enough to warrant a price tag?
The actual reason is rather interesting, and was revealed in an interview between Satya Nadella and ZDNet's Mary Jo Foley. This is not (really) a bid to compete with Apple, nor is it (particularly) meant to encourage as many people as possible to move away from Windows XP, Windows 7, and Windows 8.1 (although this will almost certainly be a happy side-effect). Rather it is a move to boost the profile of Windows Phone.
Oops! Google accidentally reveals Right to Be Forgotten request details
The Guardian has discovered that Google mistakenly revealed more information about Right to Be Forgotten requests than it meant to. The search giant recently released a transparency report which provides scant detail about the number of requests it received in Europe and the sites they related to, but the new discovery goes further.
Critics said the report was not substantial enough, but it seems that a quick glance at the source code is all that's needed to reveal more. While before we knew little more than the fact that more than half of requests are declined, we now have a few extra snippets of information such as learning that over 95 percent of requests come from the general public rather than high-profile people.
It's your fault Google Photos continues to upload pictures after you uninstall it
Google's decision to break up Google+ into a number of separate apps and services led to the launch of Google Photos. Just like with Apple's iCloud, the app can automatically upload your images to the cloud ready for sharing, viewing, or just as a backup. You might decide that this automatic uploading isn't for you and opt to uninstall the Google Photos app... but your photos will probably continue to upload in the background.
This is the discovery that many Android users have made; what gives? Is Google being sneaky? The answer's not quite that simple. Before you start freaking out, proclaiming that Google is indeed evil, and wondering how on earth the company thinks it can get away with it, consider this: it's actually your fault.
Hacking Team to conjure up new surveillance software after security breach
Following a massive security breach, Italian security firm Hacking Team warned that its government-strength surveillance tools could have fallen into the hands of terrorists. The company advised its customers -- including governments and law agencies around the world -- to stop using its software, and is now launching something of a damage-limitation exercise.
Hacking Team has released a statement indicating that far from giving up and admitting defeat, a new, more powerful version of its software will be released soon. The replacement for Galileo, called Remote Control System 10, is described as a "complete revision" of the old system and "not simply an update". The security firm also stresses that not all of its source code was compromised, only code which is considered obsolete.
Microsoft suspends availability of Windows 10 builds
If you haven't already downloaded Windows 10 build 10162 or 10166, you're now too late. Microsoft has suspended the availability of these two builds -- previously available on the Slow and Fast rings respectively -- in the run up to the big launch day in a couple of weeks' time.
As we edge closer and closer to the RTM build of Windows 10, Microsoft is now asking Windows Insiders to stick with the build they currently have installed for the time being. Anyone who hasn’t upgraded to these latest preview builds is out of luck. As well as disabling upgrading through Windows Update, Microsoft is also suspending ISOs and activation.
Microsoft launches Cortana Analytics Suite to leverage big data
Today at its Worldwide Partner Conference, Microsoft unveiled Cortana Analytics Suite. This is a set of tools designed for business to harness big data and use it to perform relevant, automated tasks. The suite neatly ties together the cloud, big data, and the Internet of Things to create a system that can be put to countless uses.
There are two big clues in the name that help to explain why Microsoft is describing this as a tool that will help to bring about "intelligent enterprise". Automated analytics takes the legwork out of dealing with data from apps, devices, sensors, and more, while Cortana integration means that users can interact with data in a more natural way.
How to change Windows 10's title bar color
Windows 10 introduces a lot of changes. If you're upgrading from Windows 7 or Windows 8.1 (or even from XP or Vista), you're going to find a lot that's new. But in addition to new features, settings, and options, some things have also vanished.
One casualty of upgrading to Windows 10 is the ability to customize the color of title bars. This incredibly simple option has been around for as long as Windows itself, but now it has been sacrificed. That is, unless you are willing to jump through a few hoops. Here's how to change the color of title bars in Windows 10.
Here's how Windows Hello login works in Windows 10
One of the more intriguing new features of Windows 10 is Windows Hello. If you're sick of typing a password to log into your account, but don’t want to do away with security altogether, you can use this biometric feature to log in using your face or fingerprint.
Windows Hello works in conjunction with Microsoft Passport to lock down your system, but the facial recognition feature is only compatible with certain hardware. This fact means that it has been hard to try out Windows Hello, but over on SuperSite for Windows Richard Hay got his hands on an Intel RealSense 3D Camera (F200) and recorded a demo of how it works.
FTC could probe Apple Music over legality of 30 percent cut from streaming rivals
The launch of Apple Music has been one of the most controversial for some time. After complaints about the free trial period not generating income for record labels -- a problem seemingly sorted out by the intervention of Taylor Swift -- attention turned to how little the music streaming service paid artists the rest of the time.
Now Apple has a new problem, bringing Apple Music into the limelight for the wrong reasons once again. The Federal Trade Commission is currently considering whether to probe the company for antitrust violations. Reuters reports that the FTC could be on the verge of launching an investigation into the legality of the 30 percent cut Apple takes from other streaming music services such as Spotify.
Getting started with Windows 10 -- download the essential guide
The Windows 10 launch date is now little more than two and a half weeks away. While a lot of people have tried out the various preview builds that have been made available, the majority of people upgrading will be doing so with little to no knowledge of what to expect. Ahead of Microsoft's most important operating system launch for years, Lenovo has published a user guide that will help bring you up to speed.
Quite a lot has changed or been added since Windows 8.1, so there's much to learn. For those people who decided to stick with Windows 7 -- and there are many, many such people -- the jump is even bigger. Lenovo's guide serves as an excellent starting point for learning about what's new, how things work, and what's different. Think Windows 10 101: introducing the Start menu, Action Center, and more.
Sofia Elizabella's Bio
Sofia Wyciślik-Wilson is a queer, transgender journalist based in Poland. She has been writing about technology for more than two decades, and after years working for magazines, her writing moved online. She is fueled by literature, music, nature, and vegetables. You can find her on Bluesky and Mastodon. If you like what you read, you can Buy her a Coffee!
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