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Microsoft Security Essentials bombs tests, loses AV-Test certificate
- Microsoft Security Essentials was the only entry to fail AV-Test's certification between September and October -- an embarrasing slip for the once well-regarded virus protection solution. MSSE received a total of 10.5 out of 18 possible points, most notably falling short…
Pre-alpha build of webOS shown running on a Nexus S smartphone
- A team of volunteers at Phoenix International Communications have managed to port webOS onto a Samsung Nexus S. The feat was pulled off by running an app inside Android so it’s not a true-to-life port but either way, it’s a…
Dishonored beats sales expectations, deemed a new franchise
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With a fresh console generation around the corner, many large publishers have been hesitant to release new properties, especially those that lack mass appeal, but Bethesda's gamble on Arkane Studios' first-person stealth action title seems to have paid off...
Google enables larger attachments in Gmail with Drive integration
- Google is making it easier for users to send large files via email by integrating its cloud storage service Google Drive into Gmail. The move means users will be able to send files up to 10GB in size, or up…
Microsoft: 40 million Windows 8 licences sold so far, 85% launch the desktop on day one
- Microsoft has sold 40 million Windows 8 licenses after the operating system's first month of retail availability. Tami Reller, corporate vice president for Windows and Windows Live, revealed the number at a recent investor conference held by Credit Suisse but…
Doom 3: BFG Edition source code released on GitHub
- Game developer id Software has released Doom 3: BFG Edition’s source code to a GitHub repository under the GNU General Public License, giving the modding community a chance to tinker with the game’s engine and release their own creations without…
Next Windows Phone update to include VPN support, various fixes
- With the launch of Windows Phone 8 almost exactly a month ago, Microsoft is already looking forward to an interim update for the platform. Codenamed Apollo Plus, the update is said to include wireless and audio improvements, as well as…
Firefox 64-bit development quietly ended for Windows
- It appears Mozilla has quietly toe-tagged 64-bit builds of its Firefox browser for Windows. In a Google Groups discussion, managing engineer Benjamin Smedberg requested coders halt development on nightly builds of its 64-bit Windows distribution.
Loophole enables anyone to get a Windows 8 license for free
- Copies of Windows 8 Pro are freely available from Microsoft’s website for anyone who wants to try out the operating system. Normally, the software would expire after 180 days, a period that is meant to allow Volume Licensing customers to…
Nokia Here offers walking and driving directions on iOS
- Nokia is looking to capitalize on the much-publicized Apple Maps flop with the release of its own mapping alternative for iOS. Dubbed Here, the free HTML5-based app uses Navteq data (the same that a majority of in-car navigation systems use)…
Windows 8 user interface ripped apart by Nielsen Norman Group
- Windows 8 has once again come under fire over its questionable user interface. This time, it’s Jakob Nielsen from the Nielsen Norman Group voicing an opinion based on a recent case study conducted by the company. Simply put, Nielsen’s words…
Apple's OS X 10.9 to include Siri and Maps integration
- Apple’s OS X 10.9 is still a ways off -- it should arrive in third quarter of 2013 if the company sticks to its schedule from the past few releases. But early builds are already in testing and apparently they…
Opera Mobile unveils plans for download / streaming music service
- Opera Mobile, the Norwegian company behind the self-titled web browser, has unveiled plans for an all-you-can-eat subscription-based streaming music service to debut in Russia. The goal of Unlimited Music is to make tunes available in a simple and affordable way…
Microsoft launches 60-day trial for Office Professional Plus 2013
- Microsoft signed off on the release to manufacturing build of Office 2013 last month, meaning the coding and testing phase ahead of the productivity suite’s launch is over. Although general availability is slated for the first quarter of 2013, those…
Google improves Flash sandbox, Chrome safer than ever
- Google silently rolled out an update to Chrome which featured an unusual change, apparently one worthy of an announcement on the Chrome Blog: improved Adobe Flash plug-in sandboxing. The company claims its new method of fortifying Flash makes Adobe's plug-in…
BlackBerry Messenger gets free voice calls over Wi-Fi, available now
- Research In Motion is not expected to release its next generation BlackBerry 10 handsets until the first quarter of 2013, but the company has something for its loyal users in the meantime: free Wi-Fi calling over BlackBerry Messenger. Version 7.0…
Skype pulls password reset page over major security hole
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Reports have emerged about a security hole in Skype's password recovery mechanism that allowed any account to be hijacked knowing only the username and email address. The Next Web first reported the issue...
Internet Explorer 10 preview finally available for Windows 7
- Aside from Microsoft's unilateral decision to enable Do-Not-Track by default, the most controversial thing about Internet Explorer 10 may have been its limited platform support. Except for its first couple of previews, the browser has remained compatible only for flavors…
Elliptic Labs brings 'Minority Report' gestures to Windows 8
- A Norwegian company called Elliptic Labs is showing off a novel touch-less gesturing technology that uses ultrasound to bring Minority Report style controls to Windows 8 devices. The results are similar to what we’ve seen with Kinect and Leap Motion,…
Tech Tip: How to Change the Start Screen Background in Windows 8
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Besides not offering a way to bypass the new Windows 8 Start screen (not without the help of third-party utilities), surprisingly Microsoft is also limiting your options when it comes to customizing its appearance. You can choose from a couple color schemes and 10 stock background images, but that's about it. We've seen some workarounds before but they are cumbersome and the results are less than optimal.
Enter Decor8. Stardock’s Windows 8 customization app removes this limitation by giving users the ability to pick any picture they want as the Start screen background.
Built-in advertising: The Windows 8 feature you haven't heard about
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The advertisements are reportedly found inside some of the applications that ship with Windows 8 under the Modern UI (Metro) user interface like Finance, News, Travel and Weather. Advertisements in free mobile apps or even trial software are perfectly understandable, but...
GameFly launches PC game client, celebrates with BioShock giveaway
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Celebrating the official launch of its desktop client, GameFly is allowing users to download a free copy of BioShock. The software was in beta for nearly a year and its release represents a milestone for the company, which previously focused on mail-order game rentals but plunged...
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