General Gaming Article |
- Microsoft: Win 10 Will Protect States from Hackers
- Play Windows 3.1 Programs In a Browser
- Here’s What You’ll Need to Run Hitman Beta on PC
- AOC's Ultra Cheap U289VF Monitor Combines 4K and FreeSync
- Newegg Daily Deals: LG Black 31-Inch Monitor, Samsung 2TB HDD, and More!
- Acer Agrees to Pre-Install Microsoft Products on Android Devices
- Tech Productivity Tips and Tools
| Microsoft: Win 10 Will Protect States from Hackers Posted: 11 Feb 2016 06:52 PM PST Microsoft's Mandy Tidwell took to the company's blog this week to ensure governments that Windows 10 has the best security to thwart hackers. Tidwell says that security was a prime focus as Microsoft developed Windows 10, which was released last summer. The platform promises to protect governments from the growing rise of attacks better than previous Windows releases with several built-in features. For starters, Windows 10 offers Microsoft Passport. This service is a two-factor authentication process that combines a registered device with a user's PIN number, fingerprint, iris, or facial features. Thanks to this, attackers will have a hard time breaking into a government employee's account because they need that physical information. This also prevents employees from using a username and password, the latter of which is usually identical to other passwords employees utilize on external non-government sites. Another Windows 10 service that helps keep governments safe is a new security virtualization feature called Credential Guard, which separates credential identification information from the operating system. Thus, if malware does find its way on the Windows 10 device, the isolated information is extremely hard to reach. Backing up this service is Device Guard, which will lock down a device so that users can only run apps that are pre-authorized by the government agency. Finally, Tidwell points to the built-in Windows Defender client. It's an entirely new version of the company's malware scanner that runs quietly in the Windows 10 background. Windows Defender will scan all files that are downloaded and executed, automatically and in real time. The client also downloads and installs antivirus updates without the user's involvement and without the need to reboot the device. "As the number and intensity of cyberattacks increase, cybersecurity has become a major focus for governments around the world," Tidwell says. "Over the past few years, governments at all levels have been stepping up their protections, yet the threats continue to mount. Windows 10 has been designed to address security threats in a world of escalating risks." The blog update arrives just days after a Bloomberg report surfaced stating that Russia is threatening to ditch the Windows platform in government institutions and move to the open-source Linux platform. According to the report, 22,000 municipal governments are already prepared to make the switch. Why? There are claims that Microsoft could easily provide the U.S. government with secret information stolen from Windows-based Russian computers. Russia isn't the only country wanting to kick Windows to the curb. China banned the use of Windows 8 on its government computers back in 2014. The country supposedly stopped using the platform to "ensure computer security" because Microsoft ended support on Windows XP, which was highly popular in China. Microsoft said it was surprised by the move given it was working "proactively" with China's Central Government Procurement Center and its other government agencies. Tidwell says in the Microsoft blog that Windows 10 is the company's best platform yet. As of January, Windows 10 finally passed Windows XP in regards to the desktop operating system market, earning a 11.85% market share compared to Windows XP's 11.42% share. However, the new platform has yet to come close to Windows 7, which still holds 52.47% of the market despite the current free Windows 10 upgrade. |
| Play Windows 3.1 Programs In a Browser Posted: 11 Feb 2016 04:33 PM PST Following recent news that Windows 95 can be run in a browser without any plugins, the Internet Archive announced on Thursday that it has added hundreds of Windows 3.1 programs to its collection. Now you can relive the days of the early 1990s when consumers played games and carried out simple tasks in Microsoft's popular-but-now-ancient-looking 16-bit Windows platform. These programs work in a browser thanks to EM-DOSBOX, which is a forked version of DOSBOX that utilizes Emscripten to "cross-compile LLVM bitcode to JavaScript." As we reported at the beginning of the month, 19-year-old Andrea Faulds of Scotland also used Emscripten to get Windows 95 running in a browser. Emscripten is an emulator that compiles C and C++ code into JavaScript that can execute at near-native speeds. Unlike the Windows 95 emulation, curious Web surfers wanting to check out the Windows 3.1 programs won't have to load and navigate the operating first. For instance, you can play Roulette by clicking here. The game and emulator metadata is downloaded, followed by the game data, and then DOSBOX is loaded in the browser. To play, you'll have to hand mouse control over to the emulator; just hit the Escape button to release the mouse back to the operating system. "Indeed, the colorful and unique look of Windows 3/3.1 is a 16-bit window into what programs used to be like, and depending on the graphical whims of the programmers, could look futuristic or incredibly basic," the Internet Archive says. "For many who might remember working in that environment, the view of the screenshots of some of the hosted programs will bring back long-forgotten memories." Believe it or not, there are places that still use the ancient Windows platform. Back in November 2015, reports surfaced that a Paris airport's DECOR system, which traffic controllers use to inform pilots about weather conditions during takeoff and landings, runs on Windows 3.1. The platform crashed, preventing traffic controllers from providing pilots with vital Runway Visual Range information. The crash also revealed to the media that the airport still relies on an operating system that originally launched in 1992 and hasn't been supported by Microsoft since 2001. So why still use it? In today's world, Windows 3.1 demands extremely low hardware requirements. When it was released, Windows 3.1 needed a 80286 processor or better, 3MB of RAM if you wanted networking (4MB recommended), and 6.2MB of hard drive space although Microsoft recommended 14.5MB. Still, the platform is outdated and presumably dangerous to use given the lack of security updates. That said, do hackers even consider Windows 3.1 as a potential target? Luckily for us, we can relive the Windows 3.1 experience safely within out browsers thanks to EM-DOSBOX and JavaScript. For those who want to go even deeper down memory lane, the Internet Archive also offers a DOS Collection too that includes thousands of utilities, applications, and games! However, visitors can experience the site's entire Windows 3.x library simply by heading here. Have fun! |
| Here’s What You’ll Need to Run Hitman Beta on PC Posted: 11 Feb 2016 10:24 AM PST Being preparedAs you probably know already, Hitman is getting a reboot. A beta version will available to PlayStation 4 gamers tomorrow, followed by a beta release to Windows PCs on February 19, 2016 (a week from Friday). Can your PC handle it? That would have been tough to answer prior to today, but thanks to Steam, we now know what the required and recommended specs are. Here's a look at the minimum required specs:
And here's a look at the recommended specs:
Nothing jumps out as particularly brutal for either set—as long as you have a relatively modern PC, you should be able to play the new Hitman title without any performance hiccups. Keep in mind that the specs refer to the beta release—the final version is slated to release on March 11, 2016. Unlike previous Hitman titles, the reboot will be released in episodic fashion, with the first entry focusing on the prologue missions and Paris location. From there, Square Enix will publish new content every month. The "Intro-Pack" is available now for $15 from Steam, or you can purchase the "Full Experience" for $60. |
| AOC's Ultra Cheap U289VF Monitor Combines 4K and FreeSync Posted: 11 Feb 2016 09:54 AM PST 4K on a budget Going 4K doesn't have to be expensive, not anymore. AOC made sure of that with its new U2879VF monitor featuring a 28-inch display with a 3840x2160 resolution (@60Hz). The asking price? About $400 when it comes out next month. At that size and price combination, you wouldn't expect an In-Plane Switching (IPS) panel, nor do you get one—AOC opted for a cheaper TN panel. It's a definite concession, but for gamers looking to play titles at a high resolution on a decent sized monitor for not a ton of coin, the U2879VF certainly seems a viable option. In addition to a high-resolution display, the U2879VF support's AMD's FreeSync technology for smooth, stutter-free gameplay. It also boasts a 1ms response time, 1,000:1 contrast ratio (80,000,000:1 dynamic), 300 cd/m2 brightness, viewing angles of 178/170 degrees, and 10-bit color support (1.07 billion colors). AOC provides plenty of connectivity options—D-Sub, DVI, HDMI w/ MHL support, and DisplayPort, cables include (save for D-Sub). What you won't find are any USB ports or built-in speakers. It's pretty basic as far as monitors go—even the stand lacks any fancy ergonomic adjustments—but for the asking price and combination of a 4K resolution with FreeSync support, we imagine this one will find an audience. |
| Newegg Daily Deals: LG Black 31-Inch Monitor, Samsung 2TB HDD, and More! Posted: 11 Feb 2016 09:30 AM PST Top Deal: You've seen your share of monitors—black and white models, those bulky CRTs, early era LCDs that were thick and heavy, and today's crop. Each and every time, you tell yourself, "Self, I want a big display, but doggone it, the bang-for-buck is so much higher if I go smaller." Well, it's time you treated yourself, don't you think? If you're wanting to finally go big, then check out today's top deal for a LG Black 31-inch 5ms HDMI Widescreen LED Backlight LCD Monitor for $800 with $1 shipping (normally $945). This 31-inch beauty sports a 4096x2160 resolution with a 5ms response time and has plenty of ports—HDMI (x2), DisplayPort, Mini DisplayPort, and Thunderbold (x2). Other Deals: Asus Laptop Intel Core i5 6200U (2.30 GHz) 8 GB Memory 1 TB HDD NVIDIA GeForce 940M 15.6-inch Windows 10 Home for $600 with free shipping (normally $700) Turtle Beach Ear Force DXL1 Dolby Surround Sound Gaming Headset for $30 with free shipping (normally $50 - use coupon code: [EMCEGFE26] ;Includes 3.5mm Adapter w/ Purchase. Limited Offer!) Seagate Desktop HDD 1TB 64MB Cache SATA 6.0Gb/s 3.5-inch Internal Hard Drive Bare Drive for $45 with free shipping (normally $51 - use coupon code: [EMCEGFE23]) Samsung 2TB 5400 RPM 32MB Cache SATA 6.0Gb/s 2.5-inch Internal Notebook Hard Drive Bare Drive for $90 with free shipping (normally $100 - use coupon code: [ESCEGFE22]) |
| Acer Agrees to Pre-Install Microsoft Products on Android Devices Posted: 11 Feb 2016 09:17 AM PST Useful software or bloat? If you're not the type to install a custom ROM on your Android phone, then the first thing you're likely to do when buying a new handset or tablet is see which bits of pre-installed software can be removed. The rest can be tossed in a custom 'junk' folder (out of sight, out of mind, right?), leaving you with a relatively clutter-free device. That's all well and good, but what about pre-installed Microsoft software? If your phone or tablet came with Office apps already on there, would you remove them or use them? Microsoft's banking on you using them and is therefore making a concerted effort to get its software and services installed onto as many mobile devices as it can, platform be damned. It's latest partner towards this effort is Acer. Starting in the second half of 2016, Acer will start pre-installing select Microsoft apps and services on its portfolio of Android products. The specific apps include Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, OneNote, OneDrive, and Skype. "We're excited to partner with Microsoft to provide enhanced mobile productivity to our products," said ST Liew, president of Acer Smart Products Business Group. "By integrating the Microsoft software suite, Acer customers will enjoy productivity on-the-go along with the familiar computing experience on their smartphones and tablets." This is part of Microsoft's 'If we can't beat 'em, let's join 'em' strategy with regards to Windows on mobile devices. With a less than 3 percent share of the mobile market, Microsoft doesn't pose a real threat to Android or iOS. Maybe Windows 10 for Mobile will change that at some point in the future, but it won't happen today or anytime relatively soon. That's okay because Windows isn't the end game anyway. Microsoft's larger play—and this is true of Windows 10—is to get users hooked on its subscription services. Microsoft would obviously prefer if those users ran Windows on their various devices, and there are benefits to doing so, but for those who choose other platforms, Microsoft will happily take their money, as well. Heck, Microsoft makes a handsome royalty on every Android sold anyway, though that's a story for a different day. |
| Tech Productivity Tips and Tools Posted: 11 Feb 2016 12:00 AM PST Tech tips and tools that will help you be more productiveWhile we all wish we could have personal assistants to get ourselves through the day (because being an adult is hard), most of us have to forego that luxury. Luckily, computers and technology have come a long way, and can help us save time, money, and ease the headaches of our everyday tasks. Here are some of the helpful technological productivity tips and tools that can help you stay on top of your s***. Dual-monitor setupA lot of people make the mistake of using a single monitor when they work, but you can be almost twice as productive with two or more screens. With two monitors, you can split up tasks. For instance, I'm writing this article on one monitor and have a spreadsheet file on the other to handle a different task. Using a single monitor and having to switch between two tabs/programs just slows you down. If you can't get a second monitor for whatever reason, I suggest using a split-screen setup. For instance, with Windows 10, you can drag folders and browsers to either edge of your screen to simulate having two screens split down the middle of your monitor. Use a digital calendarMy personal choice of calendar is Google Calendar, but there are plenty of others to choose from, most of which will help keep you on task. The nice thing about Google Calendar is that I can set up meetings, deadlines, and appointments on my computer, and then view or edit them later on my phone and vice versa. As soon as I know that I have to schedule a meeting/appointment, I throw it into Google Calendar so I can get a quick glimpse of what's to come throughout the day/week/month whenever I want. Use a password managerWhether it's your email, Steam, bank, or whatever account, it can be hard to keep track of all your various passwords. There's almost nothing more frustrating than being stuck at a login screen, trying to guess your own password. We've all been there. Sure, lots of websites will allow you to forget your password and change it, but this can take several minutes to resolve, and then you're back to square one with having to remember that new password. Luckily, there are password managers such as KeePass and LastPass. I personally use KeePass as it's free, and as long as you can remember your one KeePass login, you can save all your various username, passwords, and URLs for various sites that require logins. You can even use KeePass to open URLs and automatically type the login for you, once you've got the program up and running. Get PocketEver come across an interesting article or an informative YouTube video, but don't have time to get to it right away? Often, even if you try and make a mental note to read it later, the article just ends up slipping through the cracks. The Pocket desktop browser extension (and app) resolve those issues. With Pocket, anytime you come across an interesting video or story, you can save it to your Pocket folder in the cloud, and catch up on it later when you have more free time. The mobile app also lets you read stories offline, which is great if you're on the train (or elsewhere) and don't have Internet access. Streak Chrome extensionHave you ever wondered whether an email you sent out was actually read? You're human, so of course you have. Luckily, there's the Streak Chrome desktop browser extension to help ease your mind. You can set it up so that you get pop-up notifications when your emails are being read, and if the recipient has location-enabled on their device, you can even see what city they're in while they're reading it. The only downside is that if you send an email to multiple people at once, it doesn't specifically designate who read the email, only that someone read it. Still, when sending an email to one person, you'll at least know whether you should follow up on your messages. Upgrade/build a PCDepending on what you do for a living, you may want to upgrade your PC. While a $580 i7-5930K CPU might sound like a lot, if you do video editing for a living, for instance, the speed boost can definitely be worth it in the end. Having at least a quad-core processor, 16GB RAM, a modern video card, and an SSD can also help cut down on various time sucks like rendering and load times as well. With better equipment, you can complete more tasks in less time. Even if your job doesn't revolve around editing video or complex statistical number crunching, simple things like having a quad-core CPU and enough RAM so that you can have multiple programs/tabs open without slowing down or crashing your computer, can be a godsend. Use SlimWare Utilities DriverUpdateIf you find yourself building a new computer (or multiple computers like someone who works in IT), you'll want to make sure that your new rig has the latest drivers to ensure that everything runs smoothly and without any hitches. But tracking down the latest updates can be be painful. Luckily, there's SlimWare Utilities DriverUpdate, which can detect, download, and install all the latest drivers in your computer for you. It can save you a ton of time, especially if you find yourself setting up many computers. It's also good for general computer maintenance, ensuring that you always have the latest product firmware. While it does cost $40, there's also a free SlimDrivers version, which will locate all the drivers you need to download for your PC, but you'll have to manually install each one. Use Ninite.comSpeaking of setting up new computers, once you have all the latest drivers installed, you'll want to download all your favorite programs. This too, however, can take a while if you have to manually download each program. Instead, head to the website Ninite.com, a great free resource that has a ton of web browsers, messaging clients, and lots of popular media tools. You can quickly tick a bunch of checkboxes and have everything downloaded and installed in one fell swoop. It's super convenient when setting up new systems, and can be a great time-saver. Talk to your AI assistantYes, Siri isn't as intricate as Samantha, the AI in the futuristic movie Her, but you'll be surprised by how helpful AI assistants like Siri and Ok Google can be. Using my Nexus 6P, I constantly use Ok Google voice commands to set calendar reminders, alarms, ask for directions, and more. Plus, using these voice features is much faster for getting answers than typing them out in your web browser. For instance, you can ask your voice assistant to tell you when your flight leaves or to check particular stock prices in a matter of seconds. If you've never spoken to your mobile device, it may seem awkward at first, but you'll eventually get used to it. In the event that you don't have a smartphone, Google has also added Ok Google voice support through Google search on the desktop. Keep a to-do list on the cloudWhether you're at work or at home doing the chores, it always seems like there's too much work to do as an adult. "I need to file my taxes, get a smog check, write that report, etc." With so much to do, it's easy to forget to follow through with everything, but you can change all that by filing your tasks in a to-do list. While you can keep a physical list on paper, the beauty of using an online list is that it's stored in the cloud, and you can view and edit it from any computing device. There are many resources such as Evernote or Wunderlist that do this, but I personally like using Google Drive/Docs. I create separate to-do lists for home and work usage to make sure that I'm on top of my personal and professional life. Use Netflix's "My List" featureAll work and no play might get the job done... until you burn out. So, if you like to unwind with a little Netflix from time to time, then I recommend using its "My List" feature. Adding awesome movies and TV shows to your personal list cuts down on the time you have to wade through the thousands of movies and TV shows to figure out what to watch. Generally, what you're trying to do here is to trim down the fat that encroaches on your relaxation time, so that you have more time throughout the day to focus on the more important things. Like going on a healthy diet, it's about having a cheat day every now and then, but you still have to learn how to cheat the right way. Save money on travelSpeaking of having cheat days, there have been numerous studies that indicate that having vacations are good for productivity. But you don't have to spend a fortune for a nice getaway to reset your mind. And as the saying goes, a penny saved is a penny earned. Luckily, there are tools like Airfarewatchdog that will notify you of crazy flight deals. There are also apps like Hopper, which allow you to type in a location and date, and it will notify you when there's a particularly cheap day to buy a specific airfare ticket you've been eyeing. Then, of course, there's Airbnb, which lets you lounge around people's summer homes on the cheap. Take advantage of navigation tricksIf the saying "time is money" is true, then you're paying dearly if you spend a lot of time stuck in traffic. Luckily, there are mobile apps like Waze, which will not only help you find out how to get to your destination, but will show you the quickest way to get there (with real-time traffic updates). Google Maps also has a bunch of tricks. For instance, using your desktop browser, you can type a destination into maps.google.com and then use the "send to your phone" button so that when you pick up your phone, the navigation is up and ready to go. You can also save or "star" addresses on the map so you know where they are when you've parked the car and need to walk to the address. Google Maps also allows you to save regions/locations for offline use, which is great in case you lose your signal or are traveling to a foreign country where your signal might not work. There are a bunch of other helpful Google Maps tips and tricks here. Batch images with IrfanviewIf you're like me, you've come across several occasions where you've needed to either compress or convert a bunch of images, maybe to help get file sizes down when sending email attachments, for instance. While you can shrink and/or convert images one by one through various imaging programs, the program Irfanview allows you to batch convert multiple images at once within seconds. Best of all, it's completely free. If you're a photographer (whether amateur or professional), a tool like this can be a great time saver. Use health/fitness programsResearch from the CDC indicates that a healthy person amounts to a productive person, but it can be hard to live a healthy life style if you're constantly slaving away at your desk. Luckily, there are health tools that will help get you in shape. Since we know that sitting for prolonged periods of time isn't healthy, you can use the Stand Up browser extension to periodically remind you to stand up and walk around. If you're trying to keep track of your calories and/or nutritional intake, you can download the MyFitnessPal app, which helps you log all your daily meals. In case you didn't want to buckle down and purchase a fitness tracker, there are free apps such as RunKeeper that can help you track your exercise. Keep track of your financesIt can be hard to be productive if you're always worried about your personal finances, but Mint.com (and its app), can track all of your spending for you. It can also provide you with weekly updates indicating how much you've spent throughout the week and how under/over budget you are in relation to your normal spending habits. There are tons of detailed reports here, and it can notify you when you have upcoming bills due and more. Use IFTTTShort for "If This Then That," IFTTT is a powerful tool that allows you to set up "recipes" to get your favorite programs and tools working together. For instance, if you have a bad habit of not returning phone calls, you can set up IFTTT to send you reminder emails to respond to those missed calls. You can also set up recipes that remind you to respond to any emails that you mark as important. If you have smart home devices like the Philips Hue Lights, you can set them to dim or change colors as it gets darker outside. There are thousands of combinations of recipes here and it can pretty much get as intricate as you want. Learn keyboard shortcutsWhether you're using Windows, Word, Chrome, or some other piece of software, it's always a good idea to learn keyboard shortcuts, as using them can save you precious minutes every day (and those minutes add up, folks!). You probably know that CTRL + C equals copy and that CTRL + V equals paste, but did you know that the Windows button + print screen button automatically screenshots your desktop and saves it as a PNG image file in your Pictures folder? Or how about Using the Windows button + M to minimize all your desktop folders and windows, so that you don't have to manually minimize each one? It's not all about just shaving a few seconds, however. What happens if your computer crashes and all your important tabs go away in Chrome? Well, you can press CTRL + Shift + T to restore them and pick up where you left off. You can find more helpful Windows shortcuts here, and some useful Chrome shortcuts here. And that rounds up our tips. Do you have any tools and recommendations of your own? Let us know in the comments below! |
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