In the tech world, a lot happens in a week. Too much, in fact, for mere mortals with real lives to keep track of everything. That’s why we’ve compiled a quick and dirty list of the top 10 tech stories from this week. From the release date for Windows 10, to details on GameFly’s new streaming service, and Tim Cook’s jabs at Apple competitors on privacy, it’s all here.
On July 29, Windows users can get Windows 10 for PCs and tablets by taking advantage of a free upgrade, or buy all-new Windows 10 devices. The latest version includes a number of notable new features, like personal assistant Cortana, Microsoft’s new Edge browser, and integration with the Xbox. Microsoft will try to transition smooth the transition by notifying existing Windows users when the update is available, and scheduling it to install when the time is right.
It’s that time of year again! Apple’s Worldwide Developer Conference (WWDC) will kick off during the second week of June. Apple recently confirmed that it will livestream its WWDC event on June 8, starting at 10 a.m. PST (1 p.m. EST).The apple.com/live site states that the official stream is limited to Macs, iPhone, iPads, and Apple TVs. Apple TV users can watch the event, as long as their Apple TV software has been updated to version 6.2 or later. Apple says the live streaming video will work on Safari, but you will need Safari 6.0.5 or later on OS X v10.8.5 or later. If you’re unable to make the event, you can watch streaming video sessions from the WWDC app. As of right now, the app only features videos from previous years, but that will change when WWDC 2015 starts.
Apple’s iPhone 6 and 6 Plus was released in September, but rumors about the next-generation iPhone are starting to flood in. It’s being rumored that Apple will offer the 2015 iPhone in two different sizes — one small and one larger. Apple may call the new phones the iPhone 6S and the iPhone 6S Plus. Here’s our rumor roundup on iOS 9, and you can check out news from Apple’s developer conference, which will happen on June 8-12.
If you’re addicted to caffeine, you probably already know how challenging it is to drink eight 8-ounce glasses of water per day. However, it’s important to drink the daily recommended amount of water, as it helps with weight loss, skin complexion and fills you up. Luckily, there’s HidrateMe, a connected water bottle that comes with a sensor stick to automatically track how much water you drink throughout the day. The bottle also glows when you need to drink more. Hidrate, the company behind the water bottle, launched a Kickstarter campaign on June 1. So far, the company has exceeded its original $35,000 goal in just one day and is now over by $49,000, with 40 days left to go.
Bethesda officially announced Fallout 4, the latest game added to its RPG series, which is set to ship on PC, Xbox One, and PlayStation 4. The game’s website went live, showing off box art and confirming it won’t be released on Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3. Bethesda will host its own press conference at E3 this year, which will be held on Sunday, June 14 in Los Angeles, which is just one day before Microsoft’s opening press conference.
GameFly, the rental service that sends you games in the mail, is launching a new video game streaming service today. GameFly has also revealed today that it has acquired streaming service Playcast, which will power the new service. GameFly’s new streaming service lets users rent games for $7 a month each. GameFly’s service includes six bundles, each containing seven games focused on a different theme. One bundle offers Lego games while another offers adventure games such as Darksiders II and Batman Arkham titles. GameFly’s Streaming service also offers a “gamer pack” which comes with 16 games for $10 per month. GameFly says it hopes to build “the world’s premier multi-platform, console-quality streaming video game service.”
According to the American Customer Satisfaction Index, an independent national study, Samsung’s Galaxy Note 4 is the most popular phone this year, outscoring the iPhone 6. The Galaxy Note 4 has the highest score with 86 out of 100 points, which means that 86 out of every 100 owners said they were satisfied with their phones.
On Wednesday, Apple CEO Tim Cook was honored for ‘corporate leadership’ during Electronic Privacy Information Center’s (EPIC) event in Washington, DC. Cook spoke to the audience about customer privacy, ensuring security and protecting their right to encryption. Cook made some pretty strong comments which were direct at companies including Google, Facebook, and Yahoo. Cook made a jab at Google’s new product, Google Photos, which offers free unlimited media storage. The event was the first time EPIC (Everyday People Initiating Change), a nonprofit focused on emerging privacy, has honored a business leader with the award.
So, you’ve finally decided that you want to make the switch from iOS to Android. We’ve created a guide, that will help you make the switch. We’ll show you how to transfer contacts, music, photos and videos. We’ll also show you a few tips of how you can get used to Android. While most of your apps won’t be able to go with you, you can find a lot of them on the Google Play Store.
According to the Wall Street Journal, T-Mobile is looking to merge with Dish Network. Both companies have agreed that Dish Chief Executive Charlie Ergen would be the company’s chairman and T-Mobile Chief Executive John Legre would become the company’s CEO, one person familiar with the situation told the newspaper.
A virtual private network (VPN) encrypts your internet traffic and routes it through a server run by the VPN provider. Websites see the VPN server’s IP address instead of yours, and you can get around geo-blocks, censorship, and ISP throttling. The best VPN services are paid, but there are still a handful of free options that do the job well.
Most free VPNs come with a hidden cost, because running servers isn’t cheap and a company that doesn’t charge you has to make its money somewhere else. Many do so by logging your browsing activity and selling it to advertisers, while others flood you with ads and track you across apps.
There's nothing quite like curling up with a good book on a cold evening. As much as I love the feel of a physical book, books take up a lot of space, and carrying more than one on a trip quickly becomes a chore. That's where e-readers come in, and the Amazon Kindle remains one of the best options.
Amazon just refreshed its Kindle lineup with thinner, lighter designs, a new flush-front display, and colors that wrap from front to back. Add the Kindle Scribe and the Kindle Scribe Colorsoft to the mix, and you have more choices than ever before.
A good Android app should earn its place on your phone. It might make an everyday task easier, handle something the built-in software can't, or let you change an experience that never quite worked for you.
These 20 apps cover everything from quick notes and password management to automation and local file sharing. Some are free, others charge for advanced features, and a few take some effort to figure out. The point isn't to install them all. It's to find the ones that make your phone work better for you.