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Samsung tweet suggests scanning your smart TV for malware every few weeks
This morning a Samsung customer support account tweeted an odd warning that, to prevent malicious software attacks on your smart TV, you should scan it for viruses every few weeks. It even included an instructional video to help you do so. The tweet, first spotted by The Verge, was short lived. Samsung has since removed it, but it existed long enough to raise a few red flags.
IKEA is working on robotic furniture for small apartments
IKEA wants to "empower people to have big dreams for small homes." To do so, it's creating a line of robotic furniture. Today, the company announced that it's partnering with Ori, an American startup that develops robotic furniture meant to address the challenges of small apartment living. IKEA and Ori will introduce their new line, dubbed ROGNAN, in 2020.
Google Assistant will finally work with business G Suite accounts
Google has been steadily rolling out G Suite updates like AI grammar suggestions in Google Docs, streamlined two-step verification, new Tasks features and shortcuts to make Google Doc and Sheet creation faster. Today, at the Cloud Next '19 event, Google announced its newest batch of G Suite changes.
Google: Android Pie will hit more devices in 2018 than Oreo did in 2017
Google has long been criticised for the long delays between Android upgrades. While iPhone users are merrily chowing down on regular OS updates, Android users have to wait for long intervals, with lower cost handsets never seeing an update at all during their lifespans. Google's update framework, Project Treble, seeks to rectify this, and the company has just announced that all devices launching with Android 9 Pie or later will be Treble-compliant. The picture above shows off a range of Trebled-equipped devices displaying the same Generic System Image.
iOS 11.4.1 update improves Find My AirPods feature
It has been almost three months since Apple's last incremental update for various devices like Apple Watch, iPhones and Apple TV. While the upcoming iterations of the company's operating systems (iOS 12, watchOS 5 and macOS Mojave are still in beta, you can now update your Apple gear to the latest current release of each.
ACLU urges devs to safeguard users with anti-snooping measures
Apple recently announced that it was closing the loophole that allows authorities into iPhones via the charging and data port. The company said it wasn't trying to defy police, but rather deter criminals and spies who aren't bound by privacy laws. However, the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) believes that government requests for personal data still represents a significant security risk to users, and is launching a guide for software developers to help them make more informed decisions about protecting the integrity of software update channels.
Microsoft is using AI to make Windows 10 updates smoother
AI is becoming so common that it's almost boring. While we're seeing some surprising new projects using AI, including detecting movement through walls and predicting that Brazil will be the winner of this year's World Cup, other companies are using the tech for more pedestrian applications, like improving translation and photo retouching. Now, Microsoft has an AI-powered system that decides which Windows 10 devices should get an Update first.
LG opens 'Software Upgrade Center' to accelerate Android updates
Despite repeated promises of change by Google and its various hardware partners, slow and spotty rollouts are still the rule rather than the exception when it comes to new versions of the Android operating system. LG's latest plan to turn that around is a new facility at its R&D campus in South Korea called the Software Upgrade Center, which it said is dedicated to "providing customers worldwide with faster, timelier, smartphone operating system and software updates." Its first task is to handle a rollout of Android Oreo for the current flagship G6 phone (current until the G7 launches in May) that will start in Korea later this month. LG Electronics CEO Mr. Jo Seong-jin said in a statement that "Stable and consistent upgrades will demonstrate to our customers that LG smartphones have long and reliable lifespans." Beyond initiatives like Project Treble, if LG can consistently keep its devices supported faster and through more iterations of the operating system, that might help raise its profile compared to the competition. But it has to deliver the goods first -- and hopefully before Android P emerges from beta testing.
Microsoft's 'Meltdown' updates are reportedly bricking AMD PCs
Following reports of unbootable machines, Microsoft has halted updates of its Meltdown and Spectre security patches for AMD computers, according to a support note spotted by the Verge. It made the move after numerous complaints from users who installed the patch and then couldn't get past the Windows 10 splash screen. "To prevent AMD customers from getting into an unbootable state, Microsoft will temporarily pause sending the following Windows operating system updates to devices with impacted AMD processors," it wrote.
LG's enhanced G6+ has more storage and premium sound
LG's G6 is a nice smartphone that has sold pretty well so far, but with the arrival of Samsung's stellar Galaxy S8, it's trying to keep consumers interested with a few changes and a new model. First off, it has launched the G6+, an identical model to the original but with more onboard memory (128GB) and "premium sound." It gets the latter option via a new 32-bit HiFi quad DAC that has been available in South Korea since launch, but oddly, never came to North America.
Google plans faster updates for all Android phones in 2017
If you didn't get a timely update on your Moto, Samsung or HTC device, but your friend over there with the Google Pixel did, it's not necessarily the manufacturer's fault. The complexity of Android, especially when it comes to security, is also a big part of the problem. In fact, Google revealed that around half of the 1.4 billion Android devices out there didn't get important security patches in 2016. This year, however, it plans to work more closely with smartphone makers to improve that stat.
Windows 10 fix will prevent updates from wrecking your day
Horror stories abound on the internet about forced Windows 10 updates screwing up presentations and other crucial work, so Microsoft is finally doing something about it. Rather than just installing updates whenever it wants, the next big Windows 10 release, the Creators Update, will let you "snooze" the update for three days or pick your own restart date.
Next PS4 update won't interrupt your gameplay with UI
If Monday's are a struggle for you, console yourself with the fact that Sony's teasing a few of tomorrow's big PS4 firmware beta update features, which includes a significant UI refresh. Pop-up notifications, new system icons and backgrounds, and a few other tweaks promise to bring the dashboard up to date, and the Quick Menu system has also been overhauled to, well, actually be of use. It also won't cover the whole screen any more, which was never very convenient.
Apple's Store app knows what you want and when it's in stock
Apple's Store app (not to be confused with Apple's App Store) that provides info about its bricks-and-mortar retail locations adds a few decent features today, including knowing when your order is ready to pick up, for less in-store loitering time.
Samsung won me with VR but is losing me with updates
I want to get a Samsung Galaxy S7 Edge, I really do. I like my Galaxy S6 Edge, with its striking curved screen, and the new model improves on it in nearly every way. Most importantly, I like to dabble in virtual reality -- I'm not ready to commit $700+ to a PC-based headset yet -- and I can still get a new Gear VR headset free with the S7 Edge. Shamefully, though, my S6 Edge hasn't received an update to Android 6.01 Marshmallow, leaving me high and dry with Lollipop. I certainly didn't expect that with a $800 flagship phone, and I refuse to let it happen again.
Google Photos lets you tell it when your pictures were taken
Google just announced that it has pushed live a host of user-requested features for its Photos service. These include the ability to edit an image's timestamp, rearrange the image order in albums, change an album's cover photo and remove inaccurate results from searches. What's more, the company is also launching an improved community product forum, staffed in part by members of Google's Top Contributors program, that will help confused Photos users better navigate the site.
Snapchat's new update goes easy on your data, heavy on emoji
Snapchat rolled out a pair of new features for the photo and video sharing app (for both iOS and Android) designed to reduce the amount of data it uses while increasing the number of ways users can employ emoji. Travel Mode will disable the app from automatically preloading data-intensive Stories while the device is on a cellular connection. Once enabled, you'll need to tap on each Story for it to load (though you won't have to keep pressing). Access this feature through the Manage screen (just click the gear icon in the top right of the screen).
Windows 10 Features You Should Know About
At last! Windows 10 has finally arrived and the upgrade is still rolling out to users around the globe. For those of you who are not familiar with Microsoft's latest flagship, there is a few hidden features that can help you get the maximum out of the system. Here are some to get you started:Have fun with the start menuWhen you open the start button for the first time, you'll notice that it's a hybrid of the original menu and Windows 8 apps. The great thing is that you can customise this by dragging programmes and apps from your menu to the side. You can resize the apps and the section by right-clicking on one and changing it to small, medium or large. This is great for those who have bigger screens to work with as most Microsoft apps incorporate large tiles.When you right-click any app in the Start menu, you can pin it to the taskbar or uninstall it directly from your computer. Very handy indeed .Snapping WindowsResizing a window can be done in two ways. The first is drag it to the top of screen and make it full screen, the other is to drag it to the side to take up only half the screen. When a window is snapped to the side, Windows will show you a quick view of the other app that were opened. Click on one and it will fill up whats left of the remaining space.Download offline MapsThis is a useful feature especially for laptops and tablets with it's ability to download maps or update them. From the maps app, click into settings and select 'Download or update, apps'. Here you will be asked which continent and which country you want before downloading it. It will show you the size of the file in advance so that there won't be any surprises.Create virtual desktopsAnother useful feature to Windows 10 is virtual desktops, handy if your primary desktop gets too cluttered and you want to do a bit of spring cleaning thus allowing you to orgainise your windows better.Press the TaskView button at the bottom or press Windows key + Tab to get the same action. This will allow you to make a new desktop or drag an open app to another one.Record video footage Game DVR permits you to record any open app footage, not just games. Click on Windows Key + G to turn it on and bring up a small, floating dashboard. Press and record any footage you want. Your saved videos can be accessed in the Game DVR section of the Xbox app or inside Video > Captures.Take control of notificationsBy going into Settings > Systems > Notifications and actions. Similar to your phone or tablet, you can control notifications for all apps and services. You can also prioritize specific updates by accessing settings found inside the apps themselves.
Even Sony thinks that day one game patches are getting out of hand
Being forced to wait for several hours for a day one update to download takes the shine off buying a new game. What began as a way for developers to make some last-minute fixes has now enabled them to ship half-finished products and fix them long after purchase. It's become such a problem that even Sony's Jim Ryan agrees that the trend of massive, time-consuming patches has gotten out of hand, and is pledging that the company will "tighten up" its practices in the future.
The Repopulation drops its first patch for the new build
It's more possible to play The Repopulation now than it has ever been, and that means the design team is shaking up how it handles updates. Instead of the monthly recaps of the past, the team is putting forth notes for each individual patch, such as the first major one to hit the current testing build. It's focused on improving several areas of the game, starting with a polishing of textures and performance in Plymouth City and a few other smaller points. Several combat improvements have also been rolled out, although the next patch will hit most of the major combat issues players have brought up. Skill gain rates have also been adjusted, as have the Auction and Work Order systems in hopes of keeping the economy lively. If a few lingering issues had kept you from fully enjoying The Repopulation or you just want a picture of all the changes that have come down the pipe, check out the full walkthrough of the latest patch.
