| A Visual History of PC Game Graphics Posted: 04 May 2015 02:48 PM PDT  We take a look back at the storied legacy of PC graphics
Don't believe anyone who tells you that the PC isn't the king of video game graphics. Ever since the very first 3D graphics accelerators hit the consumer market, the video game industry has catered to the supreme power of the PC as the ultimate gaming, productivity, and entertainment system. Join us as we take a brief peek into the history of PC game graphics. All of the screenshots pictured were collected from MobyGames. |
| Newegg Daily Deals: LG Internal DVD Burner, Asus 24-inch Monitor, and More! Posted: 04 May 2015 01:30 PM PDT |
| Microsoft Expands Availability of Office 2016 to General Public Posted: 04 May 2015 11:08 AM PDT  Getting situated in a new Office
Make no mistake, Microsoft's head (and heart) is in the cloud, hence the growing number of subscription-based services. But if you're more grounded to the desktop, fear not, the Redmond giant hasn't forgotten about you. In fact, Microsoft today expanded the availability of its Office 2016 Preview suite as it seeks feedback from a broader audience leading up to the software's general availability this fall. Office 2016 introduces several changes and improvements to the productivity suite. Starting with Word, Microsoft is bringing co-authoring capabilities to Office 2016. When you and your team are online, you'll be also to what other editors are working on and what changes they're making, and see it in real-time. Individual applications will get smarter the more you use them, too. "Applications will learn as you work, taking advantage of subtle cues and clues to help you stay on task and get more out of Office," Microsoft explained in a blog post. There's a new search tool called "Tell Me" available in Word, PowerPoint, and Excel that brings up commands you need just by typing what you want to do. In addition, the suite introduces Clutter, a new Exchange feature that lights up in OUtlook and uses machine learning to analyze your email patters and de-clutter your inbox. It does this by moving lower priority messages into a dedicated Clutter folder. You can grab the Office 2016 Preview by going here. Follow Paul on Google+, Twitter, and Facebook |
| Microsoft CFO Discusses Windows as a Service Strategy Posted: 04 May 2015 08:04 AM PDT  Reacting to declining Windows sales
Microsoft surprised a lot of folks when it announced that Windows 10 would be a free upgrade for Windows 7 and Windows 8.1 users, especially after explaining that the new operating system was such a departure over previous versions that it warranted skipping a version number. As many speculated, the free upgrade is part of Microsoft's strategy of shifting to Windows as a service. Microsoft CFO Amy Hood talked a little about the shift and where the company is headed. Transitioning to a Windows as a service business model essentially means that Microsoft will be more focused on generating revenue from search, apps, and cloud-based subscription services that tie into the operation system. But why now? As Hood explained during a meeting with Wall Street analysts last week, as consumer PC shipments weakened, so did Microsoft's Windows sales. "We adjusted our approach in terms of SKU strategy, making sub 9-in. devices free," said Hood, according to ComputerWorld. "We added new pricing strategy for opening price point devices. And we had programs to drive genuine Windows attach in high-piracy markets." Microsoft hopes that by reducing and in some cases eliminating the cost of Windows of licenses, it will drive up device sales, creating a larger customer base for its services and ads. With the introduction of Windows 10, Microsoft will be taking a big step in that direction. Surprisingly enough, Bing is one reason why Microsoft can afford to gamble on this strategy. The revenue from Bing advertising, which has increased, has mostly made up for declining revenue of Windows licenses. PC gaming revenue also helped in that regard, just to a lesser degree. There's still the question of whether Microsoft's Windows as a service strategy means it will transition to a subscription cost of Windows. That could still be in the cards, though it's worth noting Hood didn't talk about or hint at such a model, and instead focused on revenue from tie-in services. Follow Paul on Google+, Twitter, and Facebook |
| Microsoft Acquires Surface Pen Technology from Israeli Firm N-trig Posted: 04 May 2015 04:16 AM PDT  Rumors of a deal between the two companies first began to swirl in February
For many Surface users, the Surface Pen is critical to the whole device experience. It is one of the things that sets Microsoft's device apart from most other tablets on the market. And who else would know this better than Microsoft itself? The Redmond-based tech giant has acquired the technology behind the digital pen from Israeli firm N-trig. "Today we are excited to have acquired advanced digital pen technology from N-trig Ltd., with whom we've partnered closely for several years," Microsoft announced Friday. "We can't wait to show you what we'll deliver for our Surface Fans in the future. Digital pens have a ways to go to be as good as pen and paper on some dimensions, and we'll get there. But more importantly, adding the ability to capture and share the work you do with a digital pen opens up possibilities that traditional pen and paper just can't match. Today's investment is another step that will let us push that innovation forward." A deal between the two was first rumored in February, when Israeli media outlet Calcalist claimed Microsoft had bought N-trig for a whopping $200 million. Late last month, however, the venerable Wall Street Journal entered the scene and brought that figure down to $30 million. It's not clear which — if any — of those figures is accurate. Follow Pulkit on Google+ |
| Lenovo’s Impossibly Light LaVie Z Laptop is Now Available Posted: 04 May 2015 01:05 AM PDT  The 13-incher comes in two flavors
The 13-inch LaVie Z notebook that we caught a glimpse of at this year's Consumer Electronics Show is now up for sale. The device has, however, put on a bit of weight since its unveiling as the "world's lightest laptop" in January, and it's also pricier than expected. But even then it remains a ridiculously light machine at a mere 1.87 pounds. The standard LaVie Z is priced at $1,499.00, and not $1,299.00, as was initially announced. In case you want the LaVie Z 360 — a variant capable of Yoga-like acrobatics — get ready to pay $200 extra. The latter's 360-degree rotatable screen aside, the two models are identical in terms of specs: 13.3-inch QHD (2560x1440) display, Intel Core i7-5500U processor, integrated graphics, 8GB of RAM, 256GB hard drive, 720p webcam, WiFi 802.11 a/c, Bluetooth 4.0, two USB 3.0 ports, HDMI-out and SD card reader. Follow Pulkit on Google+ |
| SolidRun CuBox-i is a 2-inch Cube with Quad-Core ARM SoC, 4GB of RAM Posted: 04 May 2015 12:16 AM PDT  Will come pre-installed with Android and Kodi home-theater software
Around two years back, Israeli company SolidRun launched CuBox-i, a line of ARM-powered 2-inch cube PCs with a starting price of $45. It's now upping the ante on that front with a device it says is the "smallest ARM quad core 4GB mini computer" out there. The new CuBox-i 4X4 marries a quad-core i.MX6 chip from Freescale with 4GB of DDR3 RAM. While the particular quad-core SoC (system-on-chip) isn't new to the range, the most amount of RAM seen in the current crop of CuBox-1 devices is 2GB. Other specs include two USB 2.0 ports, Ethernet, MicroUSB port, eSATA, WiFi 802.11b/g/n, Bluetooth 4.0, Ethernet, optical audio out, and IR. It will come with Android 4.4 KitKat and Kodi (formerly XBMC) pre-installed, though you'll be able to install your favorite flavor of Linux should you want to. "The CuBox-i 4X4 module addresses the growing need for increased high capability power efficient fan-less mini-computers," Dr. Atai Ziv, CEO of SolidRun, was quoted as saying in a press release. "Its unique nonmoving parts and passive cooling design increase reliability in various home, city and industrial floor environments targeting multimedia & digital signage, industrial and IoT applications." Quite clearly the CuBox-i 4x4 packs quite a serious punch for such a tiny device (although nowhere near as much as this bad boy), but how much will it cost? The company's website has the device listed for pre-order for $169.99, with shipping expected to begin in late May. Follow Pulkit on Google+ |
| Microsoft Puts Windows Media Center Out to Pasture Posted: 03 May 2015 11:33 PM PDT  Active development ceased in 2009
Windows Media Center hasn't been part of Microsoft's plans since at least 2009, when Microsoft disbanded the team behind it and ceased active development. And the Media Center add-on that has been available for Windows 8 is a paid offering, even though it boasts nothing new over the Windows 7 version. But Microsoft, it seems, has finally had enough. When the Windows 10 Technical Preview first came out in late 2014, some people noticed it was possible to get the add-on to work with the new OS by providing a valid Windows 8.1 Media Center Pack product key. This method was, however, fraught with several issues, and Microsoft advised users against adding the software to Windows 10 Technical Preview, saying it "did not intend for you to be able to use a purchased product key on a preview build." Looks like that was just a mistake, of which there won't be any repeat. According to ZDNet's Ed Bott, a Microsoft exec told him during the course of a private conversation at Build that there would be no update to Media Center for Windows 10. Nor will the current version be available as an add-on. So, in other words, existing Media Center users will have to bid farewell to the software the moment they upgrade to Windows 10. Seeing as how only a small subset of Windows users ever used it and given the rapid increase in the population of so-called "cord cutters" and "cord nevers", Microsoft didn't have much of a choice. Or do you disagree? Follow Pulkit on Google+ |
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