The Latest in Computer News

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Microsoft is pulling the plug on Internet Explorer 8, 9, and 10 next Tuesday
I like the new Edge Browser.

http://www.theverge.com/2016/1/6/10722426/internet-explorer-8-9-10-dying


Microsoft is ending support for Internet Explorer 8, 9, and 10 next week on January 12th, releasing a final patch encouraging users to upgrade to one of the company's more recent browsers. The end of support means that these older versions of Internet Explorer will no longer receive security updates or technical support, making anyone who uses them much more vulnerable to hackers. A recently-announced patch will deliver the last few bug fixes, as well as an "End of Life" notification telling users to upgrade to IE 11 or Microsoft Edge — the company's successor to Internet Explorer, built for Windows 10.

INTERNET EXPLORER IS DYING — LONG LIVE MICROSOFT EDGE


This move has a been a long time coming, with Microsoft announcing the end of support for IE 8, 9, and 10 back in August 2014. And in March last year, the company relegated IE to "legacy" status, meaning that the browser will be kept around mostly for the sake of enterprise compatibility. Despite this, though, there are still thought to be several hundred million users using soon-to-be-obsolete versions of Internet Explorer. Those users are about to become a security risk, so Microsoft must be hoping that its "End of Life" warning encourages at least few million to upgrade. Then again, they might just switch to another browser altogether.

 

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Samsung's Galaxy TabPro S is like an Android tablet running Windows 10

These look like nice devices..

http://www.theverge.com/2016/1/5/10...dows-10-tablet-announced-ces-2016/in/10483423

After an extended absence, Samsung is getting back into the world of Windows tablets. Today it announced the Galaxy TabPro S, a Windows 10 tablet that bears more than a passing resemblance to Samsung's line of Android tablets. It's also the first Windows product from the company to bear the Galaxy name, which is usually reserved for products running Google's platform.

The TabPro S is similar to Microsoft's own Surface line, with its detachable keyboard case and stylus input. It's thinner and lighter than the Surface Pro 4, thanks to its fanless design, but it doesn't provide much in the way of ports or expansion compared to Microsoft's tablet. Samsung will be offering an optional port hub with HDMI and USB Type-A and Type-C ports to expand the lone USB Type-C port on the TabPro S, but the design here is closer to what we're accustomed to with Android tablets instead of full Windows PCs.

Like the tablet, the keyboard case is remarkably slim and light and makes the whole package very portable. The keys are flat, but still fairly comfortable to type on and the trackpad is smooth and roomy. The case, which is included with the tablet and not an additional purchase (though the stylus is not included), also offers two angles for either work on a table or on your lap. We'll have to put it through more rigorous testing to see how well it works on our laps in the real world, however.

But the star of the show is unsurprisingly Samsung's Super AMOLED display, which measures 12 inches diagonally and has a 2160 x 1440 pixel resolution. It's bright, colorful, and has great viewing angles, which will come as no surprise anyone that's used a recent Samsung smartphone. Samsung says the power-efficient display contributes to the TabPro S' claimed 10.5 hours of battery life.

THE DISPLAY IS THE STAR OF THE SHOW
Speaking of smartphones, Samsung has developed software to let TabPro S owners link their Galaxy phones to the tablet and use them for fingerprint authentication. The tablet doesn't have a fingerprint or iris scanner, but it can use the phone's scanner to authenticate and log you in. Aside from that, the software is standard Windows 10, without any interface customizations.

Under the hood, the TabPro S has an Intel Core M processor, 4GB of RAM, and 128GB of storage. It also comes equipped with GPS and NFC chips.

The TabPro S will be available in Wi-Fi and LTE versions in February, though Samsung has not yet announced pricing.

 

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Dell made a gold version of the best Windows laptop

http://www.theverge.com/2016/1/6/10725824/dell-xps-13-gold-edition-ces-2016

Dell only just tweaked its XPS 13 formularecently, but it’s ready to go a step further. Like Apple, LG, and many others, the XPS 13 is about to get a gold version. I got a chance to take an early look at it at CES this week, and it looks great. I’m not usually a fan of gold, but the entire aluminum finish has a relatively mild shade of gold that doesn’t look too gaudy in reality.



Dell hasn’t extended the gold finish to anything other than the aluminum, so the keyboard and trackpad are still surrounded by the soft-touch finish without any gold trim. That might be a missed opportunity for some, but it keeps the gold look subtle rather than tacky. Everything else inside is exactly the same.

While this is a new color option, Dell is reserving it for the high-end version of XPS 13. It will run for $1699 for an Core i7 with 8GB of RAM, 256GB of storage, and a QHD+ display. Dell is planning to release the gold edition on February 2nd in the US.

THE XPS 13 IS ALSO GETTING IRIS GRAPHICS

Aside from the color option, there’s more good news for the XPS 13. A new Intel Iris graphics option is arriving in February for the Core i7 model. Dell claims that will boost graphics performance by around 40 percent, and it’ll be interesting to see how the battery life is affected. Dell is also launching a new XPS 15 configuration on February 2nd for those with serious memory requirements. The new configuration will include an Intel Core i7 processor, 32GB of RAM, 1GB of storage, Nvidia graphics, and the UHD display. That’s the ultimate XPS 15 config so far, and Dell plans to launch it for $2,699.

 

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Amazon is selling its own processors now, too

http://www.engadget.com/2016/01/07/amazon-alpine-chips/

Amazon's come a long way since its humble beginnings as an online book store. It sells everything from groceries to its own Kindle and tablet hardware, runs streaming services complete with original shows, and has ahuge cloud-computing business among other interests. And now Amazon's started pushing its own line of processors, plunging its finger into yet another pie. You won't find its ARM-based "Alpine" chips among the T-shirts and homeware on Amazon's online store, of course. They are being sold directly to manufacturers and service providers through subsidiaryAnnapurna Labs, a chip designer Amazon acquired early last year.

The Alpine chip range is intended for products like WiFi routers, storage devices and connected home products (internet of things things), with companies including ASUS, Netgear and Synology already counted as customers. As Bloomberg notes, the chips are also a good fit for data centers, but are more suited to storage and networking tasks, not high-performance servers where Intel reigns king. Apart from being an interesting milestone in Amazon's campaign for world domination, it getting into the processor business will resonate little with us everyday consumers. But, when you finally commit to buying a smart home hub after comparing numerous Amazon reviews, that hardware may well turn up with an Amazon brain inside, too.

 

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Microsoft is launching its own data SIM for Windows devices

http://www.engadget.com/2016/01/08/microsoft-cellular-data-service/

Microsoft appears to building its own contract-free cellular data service for getting Windows 10 devices online, if a curious app store listing is any indication. According to the app's description, it "allows you to connect to a trusted nationwide mobile data network" and pay for a one-off plan with no subsequent commitment using only your Microsoft account details. The catches are you'll need a Microsoft SIM card, which doesn't exist yet, and that the service is only available to select devices (things you don't make phone calls on). The service will be reserved for certain markets and offer domestic data initially, with international roaming plans coming later. For something we're hearing about for the first time, it would seem Microsoft's got some pretty concrete plans in place.

The concept itself is all about convenience -- a way to get online in several countries without contracts and SIM swapping -- but how has Microsoft got into a position to offer this data service? Well, a company called Transatel left us a big flat clue earlier this week when it announced it had been chosen by Microsoft to facilitate it. Transatel is something of an international mobile virtual network operator that piggybacks on the cellular infrastructure of provider partners around the world. The company's "SIM 901 solution" plays nice with 3G/4G networks regardless of geography, and it's undoubtedly this that'll be rebranded as the Microsoft SIM. Currently, Transatel has agreements in 38 countries, but come January 15th it'll operate in a total of 50, including the US, UK, Mexico, India, a few Asian markets and much of Europe. Giving the timing of the expansion, perhaps it's an indication of when Microsoft intends to launch its data service in earnest.

Microsoft isn't the only tech giant to take on the role of middleman, of course. Apple bundles its own carrier-agnostic SIM with cellular iPad models, allowing users to pick data plans from a few mobile network partners. It's unclear whether Microsoft's deal with Transatel will give users a choice of regional providers or a single rate they have to like or lump. Either way, it's an interesting move from a company that primarily concerns itself with software and hardware. Microsoft told us it has nothing more to share beyond the information that's publicly available right now, but no doubt we'll hear the ins and outs soon enough.

 

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Dell's sleek new Latitude devices debuted

http://www.neowin.net/news/dells-sleek-new-latitude-devices-debuted

Dell had already revealed its impressive high-end Ultrasharp displays, as well as the budget-friendlyInspiron devices at this year's CES. The new device news from Dell doesn't appear to be slowing down any time soon as the company has now unveiled a trio of new Latitude devices that aspire to be your go-to for mobile needs.

First up is the Latitude 13 7370, a $1,299 13" ultrabook designed for professional on-the-go computing. Dell claims that this will be the smallest ultrabook in the world and uses carbon fiber for the body to improve durability without adding weight. The 7370 also uses Thunderbolt 3, which is said to be up to 8x faster than USB 3.0, allowing the device to power two 4K displays. The 7370 also claims "extended battery life", though Dell does not go into detail over what that means. The 7370 is set to release on March 8, 2016 in the United States.

Next on the list, Dell's 2-in-1 Latitude 7275 comes in at $1,049. This portable PC takes some obvious cues from Microsoft's Surface by incorporating a kickstand, pen and a backlit keyboard that doubles as a cover for the screen. The 7275 also sports an impressive 8mm 12.5" screen with Dell's 4k Ultrasharp display technology. The 7275 is reinforced by a magnesium body to shed weight, not durability. The 7275 is expected to debut sometime this February in the United States.

Finally, there's the Dell Latitude 11 5175, another capable 2-in-1 for the traveling professional. Though the 5175 doesn't carry several of the high-end features of the 7275, the 5175 offers a nice 10.8" hardened glass display wrapped in a magnesium body. Weighing in at 1.56 lbs., the 5175 is also designed for use with a stylus tailored for precision. The 5175 comes in at $749, making it the cheapest of the announced Latitude devices thus-far and will also be making its debut in the U.S. in February of this year.

All in all these devices are impressive in certain aspects. Without having access to more details on what's powering these machines we'll have to reserve judgment on whether the premium pricing is justified. Still, with some of the tech that has been made known, Dell could see a lot of renewed interest from businesses with these Latitude portables.

 

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You can now 'Toast' your Surface Book and Surface Pro 4

http://www.neowin.net/news/you-can-now-toast-your-surface-book-and-surface-pro-4

Although the Surface Pro 4 and Surface Book have apparently been popular, the availability of protective options is still fairly limited, with only a handful of manufacturers creating products specifically for the units. Luckily, Toast happens to be one of those companies, offering its distinctive wood line for both the Pro 4 and Surface Book.

The covers are available in four different wood options: walnut, bamboo, ebony and ash. While the attractiveness of wood is subjective, the covers seems to offer a nice layer of protection, that can prevent scratches on the delicate surface. As for application, the process is simple - line up the pieces with your product, remove the protective backing and apply the cover to the surface of your product. As you can see from the images, Toast has done an excellent job of paying attention to the details, including covers for the edges of the device and even the ribbed hinge of the Surface Book.

Prices for the covers will depend on the product, with the Surface Pro 4 starting at $49 USD (currently not listed) and the Surface Book starting at $69. Those who would like a bit more wood (e.g. some extra trim around the screen) can purchase extra panels. Naturally, since this is wood, custom engraving is also available for a small fee.

While the designs many not be to everyone's tastes, it is undeniable that Toast has created something rather attention-grabbing, with covers that will undoubtedly become a conversation starter.

 

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Amazon reportedly working on a smaller, battery-powered version of their Echo connected speaker

http://www.androidcentral.com/amazon-reportedly-will-release-beer-can-sized-version-echo-speaker

Amazon is reportedly getting ready to launch a smaller version of its Amazon Echo portable speaker. A new report claims the device could go on sale "in the coming weeks".

The new report comes from The Wall Street Journal, using unnamed sources. It states:

The new device, code named "Fox," is designed to fit comfortably in the palm of a user's hand, like a beer can, the people said. It calls to mind Apple's popular Beats Pill portable speaker, though Amazon's version rests vertically on a tabletop, these people said.

Unlike the Echo, which must always be plugged in to listen for voice commands, the new version can be charged on a docking station and responds to voice command only by push-button, a necessary compromise to preserve battery life.

The report did not mention a specific price for the new speaker, but it is expected to cost less than the Amazon Echo's current $179.99 price tag.

 

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Trend Micro anti-virus software leaves users open to attack

http://www.engadget.com/2016/01/13/trend-micro-security-password-risk/

When they're not working on their own projects, Google engineers often focus on highlighting potential issues with software delivered by others. We've already seen bug hunter Tavis Ormandy expose a vulnerability in AVG's Chrome security add-on, but he's now also found an exploit in another popular virus scanner: Trend Micro.

According to Ormandy's security disclosure, a weakness in Trend Micro's Password Manager, which is automatically installed alongside the main scanner on Windows machines, let attackers execute commands and launch programs on unsuspecting users' PCs. He also pointed out that all saved passwords on the machine could be read as a result.

The company is said to have used an old API that invoked an "ancient" build of Chromium (the engine that powers Google's Chrome browser). We're currently up to version 49, but the security company utilized version 41, which dates back to January 2015. Using this, the program would break out of its sandbox, an environment designed to stop attackers from being able to access areas they shouldn't, in order to offer a "secure browser" to users. In the example below, the Google engineer was able to run a local program, Windows Calculator in this case, but it could also be used to execute a remote attack.
"I don't even know what to say - how could you enable this thing *by default* on all your customer machines without getting an audit from a competent security consultant?," says Ormandy.

The disclosure also highlights a worrying trend (I know, I know): security companies that provide additional tools to protect people from malicious attacks are actually putting them more at risk. Plus, users may never know that their computer has been attacked.

Trend Micro says it moved quickly to patch the vulnerabilities and "worked with Tavis throughout the process" to resolve them. "Thanks to his responsible work with us, we were able to address the most critical issues he brought us in less than one week."

 

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Samsung is building chips for next-gen gaming graphics

http://www.engadget.com/2016/01/19/samsung-next-gen-hbm2-dram/

Samsung likes being the first kid on the block with new memory products, and has done it again with a type of DRAM. The so-called HBM2 modulescan power through data at the rate of 256GBps (with a capital "B"), making them a whopping seven times faster than the best DDR5 chips on the market. The company said the 20-nanometer chips are mainly aimed at server manufacturers who are willing to spend for the latest toys. However, they will also allow NVIDIA and AMD to accelerate performance (and reduce power consumption) significantly on upcoming graphics cards.

Samsung is building 4GB modules with four layers of 8-gigabit cores, but plans on introducing 8GB products with eight stacks by the end of the year. The company said that "by specifying [the chips] in graphics cards, designers will be able to enjoy a space savings of more than 95 percent compared to GDDR5 DRAM." That means NVIDIA and AMD can build more size-efficient cards that run cooler and faster -- and therefore play Crysismore smoothly. The 4GB chips Samsung is building now could end up in next-gen consumer cards, while 8GB models are more likely to end up in high-end NVIDIA Kepler and AMD FIrePro workstations.

 

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PBS Video launches on Windows 10 PCs and tablets

http://www.neowin.net/news/pbs-video-launches-on-windows-10-pcs-and-tablets

America's Public Broadcasting Service (PBS) is the latest organization to launch an app on the Windows Store, with its release of PBS Video for Windows 10 PCs and tablets.

The app allows users to enjoy on-demand access to the network's programming, including popular PBS content such as NOVA, Mercy Street, Frontline, Secrets of the Dead and Antiques Roadshow, along with other much-loved shows, like Downton Abbey, Mr Selfridge and Poldark.

The Store description for the new app notes some of its key features:

• Quick access to TV times and channels for your favorite PBS programs (coming soon)
• Live tiles display new episodes
• Customize your lock screen picture with PBS themed backgrounds
• See what’s on your local PBS station
• Learn more about PBS show and specific episodes
• Bookmark favorite shows and episodes for easy retrieval

As Microsoft points out, users can also launch the app on Windows 10 using Cortana voice commands. The app is free and available to download now from the Windows Store.

Source: Microsoft Fire Hose

 

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Dropbox just released a native Windows 10 app for tablets

http://www.engadget.com/2016/01/21/dropbox-native-windows-10-tablet-app/

Dropbox teamed up with Microsoft back in 2014, and since then many of the new features the company has introduced have focused around that partnership. You can now access files stored in Dropbox through Office apps, create Office documents right in the Dropbox iOS app and you canedit your Office docs right through the Dropbox web interface. Most of these features benefitted users regardless of what platform they used, but today's announcement is specifically for Windows users: Dropbox is releasing a native Windows 10 app.

To be clear, you could already use Dropbox with Windows 10 -- the standard utility that keeps a particular folder and its files in sync across all your devices already existed. Dropbox is targeting this new app towards tablet users who might not necessarily keep every single file in their Dropbox synced to their device.

By default, the app gives you a look at everything stored in your Dropbox, regardless of whether or not it's actually stored locally on your Windows 10 device or not. In that way, it's not dissimilar to the Dropbox apps for iOS and Android. What is notable here is how well the Universal Dropbox app integrates with the Windows 10 explorer -- you can drag and drop files from Explorer into this app to save them to your cloud storage.

If you're not running the app, you can still get interactive notifications when someone shares a folder with you; you can click the notification to accept the invite. Right-clicking the Dropbox taskbar icon automatically brings up a list of your most recent files. And you can use the "Windows Hello" face, fingerprint and iris detection features to unlock your Dropbox.

There's also a "quick search" feature in the app -- just start typing and Dropbox will show you files related to your query. And lastly, Dropbox is bringing some a feature that typically live only in its web view to Windows 10: you can add comments to your files and @ mention a shared user to bring their attention to something you're working on together.

While this app can run on any WIndows 10 device, be it a traditional desktop or a tablet, it seems like it'll make sense to run it on a device that doesn't already have the standard sync utility installed. Indeed, it's a bit confusing that there are now two apps you can use to manage your Dropbox for Windows, which probably explains why Dropbox is targeting this release to tablet users.

The company also says that a version for Windows 10 smartphones that includes the same features as you'll find for iOS and Android will be released in early 2016. That's good news, though the fact that there will soon be three different Dropbox apps for the Windows platform feels a bit more complicated than we'd hope for.

 

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Microsoft is now selling more powerful Surface Book and Surface Pro 4 models

http://www.theverge.com/2016/1/22/10814220/microsoft-surface-book-surface-pro-4-new-models

Microsoft is boosting its Surface Book and Surface Pro 4 lineup today. Both devices will now ship with powerful new models that include 1TB of storage, an Intel Core i7 processor, and 16GB of RAM. If you're interested in either of the new devices, be prepared to spend a lot of cash. Microsoft's top Surface Book is priced at $3,199, and the most powerful Surface Pro 4 costs $2,699.

Alongside the new models, Microsoft is also introducing a gold version of its Surface Pen. It's the same Surface Pen that ships with the Surface Pro 4, but this separate version will also include the Surface Pen Tip Kit that allows you to change the tips of the stylus for different writing and drawing styles. While the new Surface models are only available in the US and Canada, the new gold Surface Pen debuts in Canada, Denmark, Finland, Italy, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, and the United States today.

 

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Amazon accused of handing out its users' personal data

http://www.engadget.com/2016/01/25/amazon-social-engineering-hack/

Eric Springer is not happy, mostly because he believes that Amazon let a nefarious type get at his account. In a blog over at Medium, Springer revealed that he was the victim of a "social engineering" hack that exposed his details to an unnamed third party. With just a rough idea of Springer's location and his email address, the attacker tricked a customer services rep to give up almost all of his personal information. The attacker was subsequently able to use this data to trick Springer's bank into sending out a copy of his credit card.

Rather than attacking computers, a "social engineering" hack goes after the most fallible element in a system: its operators. Let's say, for instance, that you know the birthday, postal and email addresses of someone you really, really hate. You could use this information to contact a service provider that they use and pretend to be them, explaining away any missing data by saying you'd been knocked on the head. If the customer services agent believes your story, then they'd give you further pieces of information or, in the worst case, let you avoid standard security procedures altogether.

Springer, understandably, vents his anger at Amazon, which he says failed to understand that he was at risk of impersonation. That failure led to his account being compromised a second time just "a couple of months" later. The attacker attempted to get the customer services agent to hand over Springer's credit card data, which, he believes, they may finally have been able to do. This isn't an isolated incident, either, since a commenter to Springer's story was able to spoof their own account with similar levels of success.

It's quite a big charge to level against the mega-retailer, and one that could do some extensive damage to its reputation. We contacted the company to learn if it had any official response to the accusations leveled toward it by Springer. Unfortunately, it has not yet responded to us at the time of publication although we are very sure that Amazon will want to be heard on this topic. Those with long memories will recall that this isn't the first time that the firm has been slammed -- journalist Mat Honan lost access to his Amazon account after attackers impersonated him in 2012.

 

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A US health insurance provider has lost nearly a million customer records

http://www.neowin.net/news/a-us-health-insurance-provider-has-lost-nearly-a-million-customer-records

A US health insurance company, Centene Corporation, has admitted that it has lost six hard drivesthat contained the records of around 950,000 people.

Personal information such as customer names, addresses, social security numbers, health information and dates of birth are amongst the pieces of data that have been lost. The company says that there is no financial or payment information contained on these drives. The data that were lost related to people who received laboratory service between 2009 and 2015.

The company's chief executive, Michael Neirdorff, released a statement regarding the data loss, in which he said:

While we don't believe this information has been used inappropriately, out of abundance of caution and in transparency, we are disclosing an ongoing search for the hard drives

According to the company, the drives were being used as part of a data project, to improve the health outcomes for its members. Customers who have been affected by the data loss will be contacted by Centene Corporation and offered a free healthcare monitoring service.



Due to the significant amount of data lost, security researchers and analysts are worried about how people with ill-intent will be able to use the information contained illegitimately. Paul Farrington, from security company Veracode explained the potential issue in a statement:

if this data was found and accessed, it could lead to fraudsters piecing together a bigger picture of information on individuals that could be used to trick users into giving away money, power and information to people who would do harm.

There's no shortage of examples of user data falling into the wrong hands and being shared online - particularly on the dark web. Data from previous breaches, such as those affecting Hello Kitty andTalkTalk, have offered up plenty of information that could potentially be abused by identity thieves and other criminals.

Source: BBC News | Image: Centene Corporation

 

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Oracle's finally killing its terrible Java browser plugin

http://www.theverge.com/2016/1/28/10858250/oracle-java-plugin-deprecation-jdk-9

Oracle is taking the final step to rid the web of its terrible Java browser plugin. While the plugin started off life back in the '90s as an innocent way to bring app-like features to browsers, in recent years it has been a headache to users and IT admins struggling to fight against its mountain of security flaws and malware issues. Microsoft and Google have both killed off support for Java applets in Edge and Chrome, leaving Internet Explorer and Safari as the only alternatives for people who really need Java applications in their browser.


Google removed the technology needed for Java applets in September, and Microsoft's latest Windows 10 operating system shipped with its Edge browser six months ago without support for plugins like Java. Mozilla has announced plans to remove support for plugins like Silverlight and Java in Firefox by the end of the year. Oracle is now planning to deprecate the Java browser plugin in its JDK 9 release due in September.

It's hard to say exactly when Java browser plugins will fully disappear, but if you're using a modern web browser like Microsoft Edge or Google Chrome then you're already one step ahead. Businesses who still rely on Java browser plugins will be able to continue using them in compatible browsers for the short-term, but Oracle is providing them with a big warning that this is the final nail in the coffin of its Java browser plugin.

 

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Amazon is reportedly working on a more robust music service

http://www.engadget.com/2016/01/28/amazon-music-service/

Prime Music may not be the extent of Jeff Bezos' music streaming aspirations. According to the New York Post, the online retailer is prepping a so-called Spotify killer. More specifically, Amazon is said to be working on a standalone music service that would carry its own monthly fee as a separate offering from Prime Music. The new service will reportedly offer a more robust selection of tunes than what's available as part of an annual Prime subscription.

In terms of cost, Amazon's new service is said to be priced at $10 a month with a $3 or $4 monthly plan if you're willing to splurge for an Echo speaker. While the music expansion appears to be in the early stages, thePost reports that licensing meetings took place over the past few weeks with the company eyeing a fall launch. Amazon's established marketplace for both physical and digital music could make the retailer an attractive option for artists looking to offer fans all three formats in the age of streaming. Of course, we'll be curious to see if Amazon really can give Spotify and Apple Music a run for their money.

 

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Dell’s XPS 15 makes big laptops cool again

http://www.theverge.com/2016/2/2/10888636/dell-xps-15-review-windows-10

Dell’s XPS 13 is the most exciting laptop in a long time. It’s the best 13-inch Windows laptop out there, but a lot of people want a bigger screen. While 15-inch laptops are some of the most popular on the market, if you want a larger laptop what options do you have?

As I searched for the best Windows laptop, I never really considered larger, more powerful, laptops because I’m not usually a fan of bigger devices. Dell’s new XPS 15 has tempted me to try a laptop that’s a little bigger than I’m used to. It combines the same sleek design and edge-to-edge display that Dell used in the XPS 13, but everything is just larger. Dell has squeezed a 15-inch laptop into the frame of a 14-inch one, and it’s really designed to be a more powerful alternative to the smaller XPS 13.

Dell’s latest XPS 15 is going up against laptops like Apple’s MacBook Pro Retina, with enough power to play some games, edit video, or use graphically intensive apps on the go. Over the years, I’ve settled on 13-inch laptops for their portability and weight, but I’ve been using the XPS 15 for the past few weeks, and it’s one of the most powerful machines I’ve used in years. It’s a beast.

 

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Gmail now has over 1 billion monthly active users

http://www.androidcentral.com/gmail-now-has-over-1-billion-monthly-active-users

Speaking on Google's Q4 2015 earnings call, CEO Sundar Pichai announced that at the end of 2015, Gmail had over one billion monthly active users. That's an absolutely massive number, but considering that we're talking about the scale of Google, it's actually the seventh product from the company to surpass that milestone.

The one billion monthly active user number is also shared by Google Search, Android, Google Maps, Chrome, YouTube and Google Play. Considering the synergies between these products it's not too surprising that Gmail finally made its way up to the top, especially since Google announced that the user figure was over 900 million as of Google I/O 2015.

Pichai also notes that the growth in active Gmail users is fueled particularly by mobile users, though we could've guessed that considering the absolutely massive number of Android phones in the wild.

 

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Yahoo will axe 15% of jobs by year's end

http://www.neowin.net/news/yahoo-will-axe-15-of-jobs-by-years-end

Yahoo has announced what it calls an "aggressive strategic plan" which will see the company narrow its focus to areas it perceives itself to be strong in. The company hopes this will "fuel growth, drive and increase revenue", unfortunately for workers at Yahoo, the plan will also see current jobs being cut by 15%.

With her new plan, Marissa Mayer - CEO of Yahoo - wants to focus on Search, Mail and Tumblr as well as News, Sports, Finance and Lifestyle in 'growth markets' such as the US, Canada, UK, Germany, Hong Kong, and Taiwan. By focusing on these things, the company believes in can innovate in these areas more rapidly, making them more attractive to users. Regarding advertising, the company will 'be defined' by its two core offerings: Gemini and BrightRoll.

The new plan will see Yahoo's search business and Tumblr platform, become further oriented towards mobile users. By investing in 'forward-leaning mobile search', Yahoo hopes to redefine search on mobile devices, which they say will drive sustainable long-term growth. As for Yahoo Mail, the focus is on improving speed and stability, as well as making it easier for users to share, search and connect through the platform.

Due to the re-focusing on core business products, Yahoo will stop providing some services and products such as 'Games' and 'Smart TV'. Unfortunately, the changes will see the company shed 15% of its workforce. The company will exit five offices in Dubai, Mexico City, Buenos Aires, Madrid and Milan. Most of the changes outlined are planned to occur during Q1, but will have definitely been made by the end of the year.

Once the latest round of cuts have been made, Yahoo will have seen a 42% reduction in its workforce since 2012. The savings from the cuts are expected to be around $400 million annually in the short term. The company hopes that the plan will see modest and accelerating growth in 2017 and 2018.

Source: Yahoo via BBC News