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Showing posts from May, 2024

Thanks a bunch, Netflix – its Windows app is about to lose downloads

Web Hosting & Remote IT Support Netflix has managed to annoy a good number of its users with an announcement about an upcoming update to its Windows 11 (and Windows 10) app: support for adverts and live events will be added, but the ability to download content is being taken away. As reported by MSPowerUser , that means no more offline viewing if you're on a Windows device, something Netflix users are understandably upset about on Reddit . It essentially means the Windows app will be little more than a wrapper for the Netflix website. Netflix hasn't given any reason for ditching downloads on Windows: when Windows Latest asked about it they were simply directed to the relevant support document , which confirms that a new app is "coming soon", without the download option. "While downloads will no longer be supported, you can continue to watch TV shows and movies offline on a supported mobile device," the Netflix document says – so you're just goi
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Like the Fujifilm X100VI but want to swap lenses? The new X-T50 could be your best bet

Web Hosting & Remote IT Support The Fujifilm X100VI has grabbed the headlines so far this year, but the trending compact camera’s fixed lens might be too restricting for some people, who might instead prefer the new interchangeable-lens X-T50.  It has the same stabilized 40MP crop-sensor and X-Processor 5 engine as the X100VI and pricier Fujifilm X-T5 , offers a healthy dose of retro charm, and comes with an all-new film simulation dial that puts Fujifilm’s superb range of effects right at your fingertips. Read our in-depth Fujifilm X-T50 review The X-T50 is essentially a baby X-T5, with a smaller, plastic, and non-weather sealed body, and it’s cheaper. Logically it should replace the X-T30 II , which we've long rated as the best retro Fujifilm X-series mirrorless camera for beginners ; however, Fujifilm says the older model will remain on sale. It’s a similar situation to when the X-S20 was launched. It didn’t replace the X-S10 , but sits above it as a pricier and m
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Apple and Google have teamed up to help make it easier to spot suspicious item trackers

Web Hosting & Remote IT Support As part of iOS 17.5, Apple is finally rolling out its Detecting Unwanted Location Trackers specification, allowing mobile users to locate suspiciously placed AirTags and other similar devices. Simply, this update has been a long time coming.  To give a quick breakdown of the situation at large, Bluetooth trackers were being used as a way to stalk people. Google announced that it and Apple were teaming up to tackle this problem . The former sought to upgrade its Find My Device network quickly but decided to postpone the launch, partly to wait until Apple finished developing its new standard. With iOS 17.5, though, Apple states that your iPhone will notify you if an unknown Bluetooth tracker device was placed on you. If it sniffs something out, an “[Item] Found Moving With You” alert will appear on the smartphone screen.  Upon detection, your iPhone can trigger a noise on the tracker to help you locate it. An accompanying notification will includ
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'The Entire History of You': How a lone developer created free app that records everything you do on your PC — and allows you to rewind and search for anything in a weird homage to an episode of Black Mirror

Web Hosting & Remote IT Support We've all been there: you remember reading or watching something on your PC, but all attempts to locate the item again prove futile. Repeating past searches yields nothing, and your browser history is of no use either. You’re not sure where you saw the item, and eventually you begin to question whether you might simply have imagined it. There’s an early episode of Black Mirror called "The Entire History of You" in which "grain" technology allows people to record and replay their memories on demand. This episode, along with the Rewind app on macOS and FOMO (the fear of missing out), has led a developer to create a new open-source app. Windrecorder, the “personal memory search engine”, records everything you see and do on your screen and allows you to rewind and search through it. 15 minute blocks The app uses FFmpeg to record screen activity in 15-minute fragments and then indexes them using a Windows local OCR API and i
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Western Digital's new external SSD is aimed at content creators and offers 8TB of fast storage – but the firm plans to double capacity by next year

Web Hosting & Remote IT Support Content producers are churning out data in unprecedented volumes, with high-definition images and 4K/8K video content consuming an enormous amount of storage space. Creators typically need to store several versions of their projects, including the initial raw files, edited versions, and the published format.  Catering to this need, Western Digital has launched a new external SSD, the SanDisk Desk Drive, which comes in 4 and 8TB capacities.  External SSDs can operate at incredibly high speeds compared to their HDD counterparts, which means that content creators can not only store, but also edit their photos and videos directly from the drive itself, decreasing the time spent on transferring files, accelerating work efficiency while ensuring that the data is securely stored. 16TB versions planned  “As digital content creation continues to soar, there is an increasing need for high-performing and high-capacity storage solutions to help manage and
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How to watch Google I/O 2024 live

Web Hosting & Remote IT Support Google I/O 2024 , the search giant’s developer and software-focused event, is set for May 14, and it should be quite the event for fans of Android and AI.  That’s because we're expecting to get the lowdown on Android 15 , and find out which of the many new features we've seen rumored have made it into the full release, and likely hear about a whole lot of new software and tools based on generative AI. We’re not expecting to see any new hardware unfortunately – I/O tends not to be an event where Google launches hardware, though it has done in the past, as we saw with the Google Pixel Fold last year.  So read on for how to watch Google I/O 2024. How to watch Google I/O 2024? Google I/O will be livestreamed on May 14, with the keynote starting at 10am PT / 1pm ET / 6pm BST, which is May 15 at 3am AEST.  The best way to watch Google I/O will be on YouTube at Google's main account . But you can also go on over to the Google I/O websit
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Tech startup connects to two satellites in orbit from Earth via Bluetooth — using off the shelf chip and a software update

Web Hosting & Remote IT Support Most of us use Bluetooth every day for tasks such as streaming audio, sharing files, connecting to devices, and making hands-free calls.  That's because Bluetooth technology is typically designed for short-range communication between devices, and while the first generations had a very limited range of up to 30 feet, it can now achieve over 200 feet in real-world conditions. Tech startup Hubble Network , which has secured a $20 million Series A funding round from the likes of Transpose Platform and Y Combinator, has managed to stretch that even further, making a Bluetooth connection from Earth to space.  Building a network of satellites As the Hubble Network Blog explains, “On March 4, 2024, from the grounds of Vandenberg Space Force Base, Hubble successfully launched its first two satellites. These aren’t just any satellites; they’ve successfully reached their orbits and managed to receive signals [from Earth] from a simple 3.5mm Bluetooth
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Sennheiser's new wired headphones look like comfortable audiophile cans ready for travel

Web Hosting & Remote IT Support Sennheiser has launched the HD 620S , its latest pair of headphones that try to balance performance, noise isolation, and comfort. This model is a bit of an odd duck but in a good way. The line that it’s a part of, the HD 600 series, consists entirely of open-back headphones . These are great at outputting high-quality audio. However, they're not so good at blocking outside noise, making them a poor fit for travel. The HD 620S is swimming against the current by being a pair of closed-back headphones . Devices with this design are much better at stopping noise from leaking in.  The company states the cup covers are reinforced with steel that acts as “an efficient isolator”. Each one houses a 42mm dynamic transducer with a 38mm diaphragm engulfing the listener in a bubble of sound. Alongside them are 150-ohm aluminum voice coils ensuring clear vocal clarity and accurate output. The result is a pair of high-performing headphones able to cover a
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Matter 1.3 pushes the standard into your kitchen, laundry room, and garage

Web Hosting & Remote IT Support The Connectivity Standards Alliance (CSA) has rolled out Matter version 1.3 giving smart home brands another avenue to expand their tech into the kitchen and other areas of the house. One of the cornerstones in the update is the ability to control important, or more essential, household appliances. This includes ovens and cooktop stoves.  With the former, homeowners can check the “state of the oven”, like whether it’s preheating or cooling down, and control how it operates. You can instruct the device to begin broiling the ribs placed inside. Cooktop stoves will see a similar level of control. Users can turn it on or alter the temperature from afar. When it comes to laundry rooms, the CSA is adding support for dryers and enabling control over several functions like changing the drying mode. The machine will even send out a notification letting you know when your clothes are dry. If you’re curious about support for washing machines, that was add
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Apple Pencil Pro reportedly in the works – but keep the eraser ready on this rumor

Web Hosting & Remote IT Support There’s a good chance Apple will unveil a new stylus during its Let Loose event , but recently discovered clues suggest we might see an Apple Pencil Pro. User rsuOvO on X (the platform formerly known as Twitter) reportedly found multiple references to the Pro model in the code of the company’s Japanese website. At the time of this writing, you can still find the name by heading over to the web page , and then pressing the Ctrl and U keys at the same time. Scroll to about 60 percent of the way down and you’ll find the name “Apple Pencil Pro” littered throughout. The surrounding text is in Japanese. Since we can’t read the language, we ran the wording through Google Translate to get an idea of what it’s saying so take the following with a grain of salt. According to the machine translation, it just describes the accompanying GIF animation in detail. The text talks about how the event logo is drawn with shades of green and white before ending with
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iPhone 16 Plus: latest news, rumors and everything we know so far

Web Hosting & Remote IT Support The iPhone 16 Plus probably won’t be the most popular phone in the iPhone 16 line. In fact, based on past form it will likely be the least popular, with the iPhone 16 Pro Max probably set to take the top spot in sales, but this could still be an exciting handset. Thanks to leaks and rumors we already have a good idea of what to expect from the iPhone 16 Plus, even though it probably won’t land until September. So below you’ll find everything we've heard so far, including the rumored release date, price, design, and specs. We’re sure to hear plenty more rumors about this phone ahead of launch though, and we’ll be collecting them all here. As such, keep checking back if you want the most complete possible picture of the iPhone 16 Plus pre-launch. Cut to the chase What is it? The larger-screen alternative to the iPhone 16 When is it out? Probably September 2024 How much will it cost? Likely at least $899 / £899 / AU$1,649 iPhone 16 P
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Microsoft and Google vie for top spot in productivity and business app leadership in latest report — Google has a upper hand due to its platform dominance but Microsoft's LinkedIn emerges as the ultimate Pro social network

Web Hosting & Remote IT Support A new study analyzing Google Play downloads of productivity tools has shown an overwhelming majority of mobile users turning to their smartphones to navigate their professional lives and schedule day-to-day tasks. The report by SplitMetrics found the top apps in the business and productivity categories have amassed a staggering 4.7 billion and 55 billion downloads respectively. Microsoft’s LinkedIn leads the business category with a whopping 1.5 billion lifetime downloads, followed by video conferencing giants Zoom (1.1bn) and Microsoft Teams (426m), then OfficeSuite (195m) and Indeed (188m). In the productivity category, it’s Google that leads the way. Google Drive has racked up an impressive 10 billion lifetime downloads, followed by Google Calendar (6bn), Microsoft OneDrive (4bn), Google Assistant (3bn) and Google Keep (2.7bn). Productivity boosts all round The study also reveals the apps that have delivered the most significant year-on-ye
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Samsung's archrival strikes crucial partnership with Nvidia's closest ally to deliver key next-gen memory — SK Hynix teams up with TSMC to advance HBM development but could this move encourage TSMC to become like Intel?

Web Hosting & Remote IT Support South Korean memory giant SK Hynix, which recently announced plans for the construction of the world's largest chip factory , has now announced a major partnership with top Taiwanese semiconductor foundry, TSMC.  The two firms aim to cement their positions in the fast-growing AI market by developing and producing the next-generation of High Bandwidth Memory, known as HBM4. The production, scheduled for 2026, will make use of TSMC’s  state-of-the-art packaging technology. The project's initial focus will be on the improvement of the performance of the base die, the element of HBM that connects directly to the GPU. SK Hynix will reportedly adopt TSMC’s advanced logic process for HBM4’s base die, allowing for extra functionality to be packed into a minimal space. The two firms intend to optimize the integration SK Hynix’s HBM and TSMC’s CoWoS (Chip on Wafer on Substrate) technology. A strategic move for TSMC “We expect a strong partnership
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Amazfit's new low-cost wearable packs in a big display and 26 days of battery life

Web Hosting & Remote IT Support Fitness tech brand Zepp Health has quietly launched a new, low-cost smartwatch: the Amazfit Bip 5 Unity . As the name suggests, it resembles the previous Bip 5 model with a few design changes and most of the same features. A few were cut from the mid-range wearable. The Bip 5 Unity is slimmer than its counterpart, sporting a stainless steel middle frame rather than one made of plastic. It weighs less too, clocking in at 25 grams (minus the strap). Yet despite the smaller size, the smartwatch has the same 1.91-inch touchscreen capable of outputting an image resolution of 320 x 380 pixels.  (Image credit: Amazfit Bip 5 Unity) Inside is a 300 mAh battery with an average lifespan of up to 11 days before needing a charge. If you have Battery Saver Mode turned on, the device can last almost an entire month; up to 26 days. The screen is made out of 2.5D tempered glass to resist scratches and is covered in an anti-fingerprint coating. Other notab
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